Chapter 2: The Beginning
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 2: The Beginning
A musty, stale odor.
The shrill, ear-splitting drone of cicadas.
The sweltering air.
It was the scent of summer.
‘It’s hot.’
Kang Jun-hyeok had once stood at the pinnacle of power, reaching a state where ambient temperature meant nothing to him. He had reached a level where he could have stepped naked into a furnace and felt no change.
But now, the air—only a few degrees warmer than usual—felt oppressively direct. It was proof that the transcendent power that once coursed through his veins had vanished without a trace.
“…”
Jun-hyeok slowly turned his head. His cramped studio apartment came into view. Then, he saw his phone lying haphazardly on the floor.
He reached out and turned it on. The screen lit up, displaying the date.
July 12, 2030.
“…”
Jun-hyeok’s brow furrowed.
It was a date etched into his memory. More accurately, it was a date he had no choice but to remember.
July 12th.
It was exactly three days before he was summoned to the Tower.
“I’ve returned to the past?”
His voice echoed quietly in the dilapidated room.
* * *
Bubble, bubble.
A spicy aroma wafted up alongside the sound of boiling water. After stirring the contents of the pot, Jun-hyeok turned off the stove and carried it over to the table.
He picked up his chopsticks.
He snagged a bundle of noodles from the pot, let them cool for a heartbeat, and shoved them into his mouth.
“Mmm.”
Spicy. Sweet. Salty. Ramen—a chaotic, beautiful blend of flavors.
An involuntary smile played on his lips. It was a taste he hadn't experienced in hundreds of years.
Jun-hyeok devoured the ramen in an instant. He even brought out a bowl of rice and mixed it into the leftover broth.
“Phew.”
Only after his stomach was full did his frantic mind begin to settle. His gaze grew calm and steady.
‘…I really came back.’
To three days before he entered the Tower.
As for how he had returned, the answer was immediate.
‘High Priest Milarepa.’
At the very end, the man had handed Jun-hyeok a single gem.
The Returning Gem.
There was no need to wonder what its effect was. The name alone, combined with the fact that he was standing here now, made it undeniable.
“So an item that could send someone to the past actually existed in the Tower.”
Jun-hyeok had cleared the 100th Floor. It was a monumental achievement that no one else had ever accomplished. However, that didn't mean he understood everything about the Tower. There were many things he remained ignorant of.
The gem was likely a unique item Milarepa had obtained for himself while clearing the Tower. He must have saved it, refusing to use it until the very end.
And he had handed such a thing to Jun-hyeok.
“…Why, High Priest Milarepa?”
No. He knew the reason.
It was likely because Milarepa believed that even if he went back himself, he wouldn't be able to change the future of ruin. He must have judged that Kang Jun-hyeok—and only he—could change it. That was why he handed it over after confirming Jun-hyeok’s resolve at the final moment.
Jun-hyeok let out a hollow, involuntary laugh.
“How ridiculous, Milarepa. I never gave you anything in return.”
Jun-hyeok had been generous to those around him, but only toward the weak. He had only yielded his power to those so pathetic they would have died instantly without his help.
In contrast, Milarepa was strong. Because he was a powerhouse who didn't need Jun-hyeok’s help, he had never received anything from him.
Yet, at the very end of ends, the one who gave him this chance wasn't the weaklings he had empowered, but Milarepa, who had reached the heights through his own strength.
The irony was almost unbearable. Jun-hyeok chuckled to himself as he stood up. Heading to the bathroom, he turned on the cold water and washed his face.
What did Milarepa expect of him?
And what must he do?
Through the gaps in the towel as he wiped his face, Jun-hyeok’s eyes were visible—sunken into a bottomless depth.
* * *
Ten years ago.
A single message arrived in a world where everyone was living their ordinary lives.
[Hello, everyone.]
[After a long, long war, the Master of the Universe has changed.]
[The new Master intends to discard the current universe and create their own.]
[In that process, the current universe will be entirely erased.]
[However, that is far too cruel. Therefore, I intend to give you all a single chance.]
[The Master of the Universe will bestow a Tower upon you. Climb the Tower. Conquer the floors and reach the end. Use the power you gain there to overcome the trials. If you do, the Master of the Universe will not erase your universe.]
[So, to everyone living in the current universe—do your best!]
It was a sudden, joke-like message.
Naturally, people were bewildered and refused to accept it. Most thought it was a prank in poor taste.
Unfortunately, they realized within a single day that it was no joke. Countless people suddenly vanished, and half of them never returned.
The world they knew was utterly shattered.
People began to climb the Tower—some voluntarily, others by force. In the process, countless lives were lost. Death was no longer a story on the news; it was a part of daily life.
But in exchange, those who survived the Tower gained immense power.
Now, ten years later, people had adapted to the broken world, and most had forgotten the peaceful past.
And throughout those years, Kang Jun-hyeok had still not been able to enter the Tower.
The reason was simple.
The invitations to the Tower were issued sequentially. To gain power, one had to receive an invitation. Jun-hyeok belonged to the group that received theirs quite late. In terms of percentage, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was in the bottom 10%.
‘There was a lot of talk about this back then.’
Why weren't invitations given to everyone at once? Why was there a time difference? Many theories and opinions were exchanged.
‘Well, the reason was simple enough.’
A simple lack of capacity. And luck.
He had returned to a point in time three days before his invitation was set to arrive.
Jun-hyeok spent those three days gathering information. Since it was something from so long ago, his memory of the current state of affairs was a bit hazy.
[The American Player, Michael Smith, has announced his challenge to the 33rd Floor. If his challenge is successful, he will reach the 14th rank among Players.]
[The conflict between the Baekdusan Guild and the Verdant Guild is still ongoing. The government has issued a call for calm, but it seems to have little effect.]
“So the 33rd Floor is the current ceiling for top Players. The first Test is in about two months. The raid is in three. And the universe integration is in half a year.”
Jun-hyeok organized the information while flipping through channels. Familiar faces appeared on the TV. There were those he missed, and those he despised. Jun-hyeok paused as he continued to flip through.
[Now! Please welcome one of Korea’s only top 100 Players! The Sword Saint, Yoo Jin-ha! Everyone, a round of applause!]
Amidst thunderous applause, a man with a striking appearance appeared.
A handsome face. A confident smile. A sense of self-assurance that bled into every gesture.
Jun-hyeok knew that face better than anyone.
The final battle. There, he was the "Hero" who had been blubbering like a child while clutching the Holy Sword.
“Tsk.”
Jun-hyeok clicked his tongue and turned off the TV in disgust. He stretched lightly and checked the condition of his body.
‘Now then.’
It was almost time.
Jun-hyeok sat still on the edge of his bed and waited. A few minutes later, a massive ripple resonated.
Vrooooom.
A ripple that blanketed the entire Earth, one that could not be explained by science.
At that moment, a message arrived in front of Jun-hyeok.
[Congratulations!]
[You have received an invitation to the Tower!]
[From now on, you may challenge the Tower of your own free will! Along with numerous benefits!]
[But before that, there will be a brief test to see if you are qualified to climb the Tower.]
At this very moment, tens of thousands of people across the globe were likely receiving this same message.
Most of them would be in despair. The fear of being forced into a horrific space would be overwhelming their bodies.
The Kang Jun-hyeok of the past hadn't been much different. He hadn't particularly wanted to put his life on the line to fight. The fact that his parents had been invited to the Tower on the day the world broke and never returned was one of the reasons.
But not anymore.
“It’s here,” Jun-hyeok muttered, as if he had been waiting.
It was time for everything to begin anew. His eyes were cold and focused.
In his past life, he had been fragile. It wasn't a matter of strength, but of mindset. He pitied the weak and couldn't bring himself to abandon them. He went beyond protecting them, even yielding the power he rightfully deserved to them.
The reason was simple. He was strong enough that he thought he’d be fine even after giving away his strength. He believed the weak simply hadn't had the opportunity, and that if they were given enough power, they would be an asset to the front lines.
But he was wrong. The enemy was far more powerful than he had imagined, and those he had shown grace to were of no help on the battlefield.
In his past life, he was weak-willed and repeated nothing but wrong choices. As a result, they were destroyed.
Milarepa’s final words came to mind.
‘Please, this time, do not make choices you will regret.’
“I have no intention of regretting anything.”
Jun-hyeok’s lips curled into a wry smile.
This time, he would not yield the power he deserved to others. The Holy Sword, the Lemegeton, the Spirit King, the Ten-Thousand-Year Fleeceflower, and the Stalactite Milk—he would claim them all.
Not only that, he now possessed information. Information about the Tower—high and deep—where countless treasures lay buried. He could obtain things his past self never could.
He would become strong. Far stronger than in his previous life.
And he would stand before it with dignity, challenging it with the proper qualifications.
[0th Floor Quest starting.]
[Prove yourself.]
With his resolve set, Jun-hyeok’s body was teleported into the Tower.