The Dude Who Nabbed the Ultimate Cheat Stigmata (1)

"…Whoa, insane."

My jaw dropped. My eyes went wide. The barrage of notifications was just that shocking.

'Clear rewards 5x?'

Pilgrim's Tower boss floor clear rewards. 20 stat points and 11 low-grade healing potions. Getting all that five times over?

'Stats are nuts, but…'

100 stats is huge. Compared to Pilgrim's Tower climbers, I'm now four floors ahead. Even against Hwang Hee-chan who's cleared up to 30F, I'm only six floors behind.

But even better than that?

'Potions get duplicated!!!'

55 low-grade healing potions. Apply my enhanced Golden Rule trait and fuse everything I've gathered up to 19F into mid-grade potions…

'I could make seven, right?'

I've already got two. Just one or two more to go for mid-grade potion crafting. With those, I can cure my sister.

"Se-rin-ah…."

"Kiiing?"

"Do-hwa, sis's treatment is in sight now!!!"

"Kyaeeeeung!!!?"

I scooped up Do-hwa and started jumping around. Dopamine was firing on all cylinders.

"Plus a legendary armor worth billions each, and an artifact to boot!!!"

"Kyaeeung!!"

"Thanks for the thumbs up, Luca!!!"

Not that this is what she wanted or anything. But hey, freebies are freebies.

I was already thrilled, but then—

"…Huh?"

Right in the middle of my celebration. Another window popped up.

The Dominator trait lets you turn first-clear bosses into summons. And now the enhanced version got registered or something. Turns out its level was 350.

'That piggy bastard, I wouldn't use it even if you paid me…'

"…For enhancement?"

Thud. I set Do-hwa down on the floor.

She'd been wriggling happily in my arms just a second ago, now looking up at me like what's up?

"Kiiing…?"

"Do-hwa, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wanna get stronger?"

"Kyeng!!"

"Okay, trait enhancement swap! Fusion!"

I reached out my hand right away.

"Do-hwa, you ready!!"

"Kyeng!!!"

"Let's go!!!!!"

The summon from 1F—honestly cute but useless otherwise. I hit the button to enhance Do-hwa with it.

Click. A crisp sound rang out.

A blue energy burst from my hand.

"Ooh…!?"

"Kyaeeeeung!!!"

I panicked. Do-hwa, on the other hand, wagged her tail and leaped up excitedly.

The blue energy wrapped around Do-hwa instantly. A mystical light exploded outward.

The result was astounding.

"Kyaeng!!!"

As Do-hwa landed, her appearance had changed noticeably. Her fur gleamed with luster. Her eyes sparkled with vigor.

And most importantly, she now had two tails.

"…Do-hwa, Lightning Speed!!!"

"Kyeng!!!"

Just to test, I commanded the trait activation. Do-hwa barked acknowledgment, then dashed off.

Her speed accelerated rapidly…

—Whiiiiiish!!!

"Ooh!!"

Three times faster than that orc from before? With my Dragon Eye trait, I can track it fine. But anyone else would struggle to react.

—Tap.

"Kyeng!!"

"Good girl, perfect!!"

This makes her a real asset. Speed that even overwhelms me. She can draw enemy aggro, making fights way easier.

Screw easier—Easy Tower's a cakewalk for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Do-hwa now. She could auto-clear up to 50F solo.

"Picking you up on 1F was the right call!!"

"Kyaeeung~."

I laid Do-hwa down and scratched her belly like crazy. The moment I'd gained my tiny, cute, total cheat summon.

After the dopamine fur party, I started sorting through the remaining notifications. More precisely, while rolling around with Do-hwa, another one popped up.

"Hmm…."

No clue what a "laborer" is. But Luca being freed is good. No more forced NPC sacrifices either.

Problem is, strategies change too. No reliable bait means awakeners face tougher choices now.

Clueless ones will freak out.

'It's still Easy Tower, so difficulty's whatever… but just in case.'

No helping it. Time to play Iron Man.

'This should do it.'

I posted on the in-Tower community, detailing every change I'd seen, word for word.

Comments exploded immediately.

"Whoa, these suckers are quick."

Probably vets camping the Tower. They'd been waiting for newbie SOS posts; now they're flipping out over my fresh intel.

'Yeah, spread it far and wide for me.'

Truth is, posting on the gallery with my Iron Man alt would be easiest and surest… but if I did?

Everyone'd know I'm an Easy Tower climber. Hate that.

I've shared the info—figure it out yourselves.

"Kyaeeung…?"

"Nothing. Alright, Do-hwa! Let's head home!!"

"Kyeng!!!"

I closed the flaming comments and walked off with Do-hwa.

Whoosh—!!

The portal's clear light enveloped us, and—

"Sweet, so sweet~."

This is what 5x rewards taste like. Plus a perfect upgrade title boosting all stats by 50 over my old one. Stomach's full just looking at this, but—

"…That's number eight."

The mid-grade potions needed for my sister's treatment. Only a few steps left—what could be better?

No quality boost this time, but whatever. Clear 3F and it's guaranteed.

'Not rushing, but let's prep anyway.'

"Trait enhancement swap, Inventory."

Ching— I reached forward, and a stack of papers appeared in my hand. Armor summon and selection tickets from 2F.

I tore them without hesitation, and—

"Okay."

Rare-grade shoes acquired. Dragon Armor makes most armor inefficient anyway. Mobility's the exception.

And they look stylish enough to wear outside.

'Big win already, but…'

"Not done yet!"

One more. I summoned something from inventory and gripped it tight.

Achievement reward: artifact summon ticket. And the legendary armor summon ticket.

—Gulp.

'Even Hwang Hee-chan rocks Uniques…'

I'm the first in Korea to snag Legendary gear. Hell, worldwide, they're rare as hell. Only one in Japan in East Asia, right?

And this precious thing. Went straight into my mouth.

—Rip.

"……."

But, well. Got an invisibility hat.

'Where to even use th—wait, plenty of uses, but.'

For some reason, it rubbed me the wrong way. Annoyed, wanted to chuck it in inventory corner.

Not tossing it, though.

'Something'll come up… or sell it.'

Fling— Tossed the hat into inventory. Casually used the artifact ticket too.

"Oho."

This one's useful. Great for ambushes, dodging management bureau eyes too.

Alright, you're mine.

—Clack.

'Effect is…'

Tested it on Do-hwa after. Full mana injection: blink and I'd vanish on her. Even pets were slower than usual.

"Pair with invis hat, and I could do bad stuff without getting caught? Like sneaking into women's baths."

Naughty thoughts bubbled up for a sec, but—

"Kiiing?"

"Kidding. That's illegal."

Me, Ryu Hwi-min. A man who wants to be proud in front of his sister. Not a hint of weird stuff.

Shook my head hard to clear the cobwebs.

"Anyway! Trait enhancement swap, Golden Rule!"

Whoosh—! Hand out again.

Palm aimed at something unfamiliar.

—Vrrr….

'Yeah, you've waited long, huh Stigmata?'

Stigmata. Symbol of world-class awakeners, given to those who conquer Pilgrim's Tower 2F.

The cross containing it glowed softly, like take me already.

'Only one, so no 5x… probably.'

"Where you at."

Now I'm a top-class awakener too. Muttered as I gripped the cross.

It melted away instantly—flowing up my arm as pure energy.

…But now, way more brilliantly.