Chapter 21: The Gap
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: The Gap
The identity of the person who cleared the 2nd floor on Nightmare difficulty was finally revealed.
Saram123.
Once again, he announced his achievement simply by posting a detailed guide for the 2nd floor on the communication window.
[Polearm: So it really was Saram123 again.]
[ExcitingParty: Hahaha, I knew it! Who else could it be?]
[Devic: I guess the first person to clear the 1st floor really is just built different.]
The information regarding the 2nd floor was enough to leave the community in a state of absolute shock.
[Asparagus: Is that a typo? The gap between the platforms is 8 or 9 meters?]
[Haeng-gu-reu: Hard difficulty is around 5 meters, so it’s not entirely impossible, but still...]
[Andromeda: The distance isn't the only problem; it’s the size of the platforms. 25cm by 25cm? You can barely fit both feet on that.]
[Pull-up: Wait, how many inches is 25cm?]
[Song-gyeong: Look it up yourself, you damn American.]
Climbers who had attempted the 2nd floor—especially those on Hard difficulty—knew exactly how absurd those numbers were.
And that wasn't all. There were traps like illusion platforms, glowing platforms, and rising floors. Then there were the trials: breaking down reinforced doors, climbing infinite stairs, scaling the outer wall of the tower, facing the boss monster Minotaur, and finally, surviving the summit of a collapsing tower...
How on earth did he clear that? That was the question on everyone's mind.
The 1st floor had been daunting, but compared to Hard difficulty, Nightmare was truly in a different dimension.
* * *
“He did it again.”
Max’s expression darkened as he read the post. He had known, of course, that the 2nd floor would be harder than he could imagine. But this was beyond his wildest nightmares. He never expected it to be this atrocious.
Looking at it now, Jack’s failure was inevitable. It was impossible to clear a trial like this without prior information.
...And yet, Saram123 had done it. Just who was this person?
“If I had tried, I would have died for sure. I got lucky.”
Taylor spoke with a pale face as she scrolled through the post. She had originally planned to challenge the 2nd floor of Nightmare, but the clear notification had appeared just in time to stop her from entering.
Saram123 had organized the information even more meticulously than he had for the 1st floor. It was a thoughtful gesture that showed he cared for the safety of other challengers. Now, they could use this information to prepare... but even with the guide, it was daunting. Taylor let out a heavy sigh.
“Max, I’ll be honest. I don’t have the capacity to be a front-runner for Nightmare difficulty. I don’t think I can ever surpass this person, no matter what I do.”
Max nodded silently. The project had started with the goal of saving humanity and establishing the United States as the leader of the Tower’s most difficult path. In this moment, both Max and Taylor realized that goal was a fantasy.
Their morale was utterly crushed. If the 2nd floor was already like this, what would the 3rd or 4th floors look like? They had to admit it: the first Nightmare clearer was something special.
Is he really an unregistered climber? Max wondered.
If Saram123 was an independent climber hiding his identity without state support, it made no sense how he could be so peerless. Or perhaps he had received an incredible reward for being the first to clear the 1st floor.
Whatever the case, if they couldn't surpass him, they had no choice but to follow closely in his footsteps. Perhaps the other nations attempting Nightmare were reaching the same conclusion.
* * *
After finishing the 2nd floor’s hidden route and posting the information, I spent some time enjoying a relaxed daily life.
- Hard Difficulty record holder Wang Kai clears the 10th Floor...
- Another clash between climbers in the 5th Floor Common Area...
- Latest version of the Common-grade skill table compiled...
I sat on the subway with my earphones in, scrolling through posts on a community site called ‘Babel.’ Most of the content there was related to the Tower. While the communication window was the primary source of info, Babel was better for keeping up with general news and trends.
- Guns don't even work on high-level climbers lol
I clicked on a post with an eye-catching title. The linked video was titled ‘How Threatening Are Climbers?’ It was an interview with a foreign professor.
— “So, Professor, do you believe climbers will become a major threat to our society in the future?”
— “I wouldn't say they are definitely a threat, but rather that they possess the inherent potential to become one. This is a perfectly natural concern. They are already superhumans who have exceeded the standards of normal humans. The physical abilities of high-level climbers are beyond our imagination. If we compare the results of physical tests conducted by various institutions, including the US Tower Climbing Management Bureau, we can now establish certain benchmarks.”
The professor adjusted his glasses.
— “For instance, a 9mm handgun bullet cannot inflict meaningful damage on a climber of level 20 or higher. The bullet will either bounce off or be embedded shallowly, failing to even penetrate the dermis. The toughness and elasticity of their skin, strengthened beyond human limits, make this possible.”
— “So you're saying guns don't work on climbers level 20 and above?”
— “At the level of handguns used by police, yes. The results would be different with high-caliber firearms, but this is only based on level 20. Climbers continue to level up and grow stronger as they climb higher. Currently, the highest-level climber officially recorded is level 36.”
— “Yes, you're referring to Wang Kai, the record holder for Hard difficulty.”
— “If level 20 is already at that stage, can you imagine how strong the bodies of climbers in their 30s are? What about level 40? And what about their supernatural abilities, their skills? Honestly, I am afraid. Of course, only a tiny fraction of climbers have reached level 20 so far, but their numbers will only grow.”
The professor’s voice grew solemn.
— “Throughout our long history, humanity has developed technology and gained great power, but if we look at the human species alone, there has never been a power imbalance within our own ranks. I am not talking about the kind of imbalance where a man is stronger than a woman. No matter how strong an ancient warrior was, he could not defeat ten soldiers alone. No matter how strong a modern martial artist is, he cannot defeat a gun. But a severe imbalance of that magnitude is our current reality. Can you imagine how society will change?”
— “...It sounds quite precarious.”
— “Of course, climbers are necessary for the survival of humanity. If the Tower isn't climbed, the world will end, and only the chosen can climb it. This only makes the imbalance more pronounced. If one day a climber appears who wishes to use that power to flip the structure of society from its roots, how will we stop them?”
The content was interesting. This person took the social chaos caused by superhumans very seriously. But then again, that was only a concern if the world didn't end first.
What was more interesting was the part about level 20s being bulletproof.
Hmm... is it really that much?
I tried stretching the skin on the back of my hand. Considering my current physical stats, it didn't seem all that surprising.
“This stop is Sillim, Sillim Station.”
I got off the subway and headed toward the meeting place. I had dinner plans with friends today.
“Oh, Seohyun’s here.”
“Sorry. I’m a bit late.”
“It’s fine. That bastard Sang-cheol said he’d be here in five minutes... ten minutes ago.”
As I waited with my friends, a foreign luxury car pulled up and stopped nearby. The driver’s side window rolled down, and Sang-cheol’s face popped out. Everyone stared in surprise.
“Whoa... what is this?”
“What, did you buy a car?”
Sang-cheol gave a smug grin. “Let me just park this real quick. Wait up.”
My friends whispered as they watched the luxury car glide away.
“That guy really made it big, huh?”
“They say climbers make a lot of money.”
“But hasn't it only been a few months since he became a climber?”
Our friend Sang-cheol had taken a leave of absence from school to become a climber. Thankfully, he hadn't died. Today’s gathering was happening because Sang-cheol had offered to treat us to a meal. We moved to an expensive Korean beef restaurant and began feasting.
“How’s being a climber? Is it doable?”
“Totally doable. I’m thinking of challenging the 2nd floor of Easy difficulty soon.”
“Hey, hey, don’t push it. Don’t you make enough just from the 1st floor?”
I recalled hearing that the highest percentage of climbers were those who didn't enter the tower at all, followed by those who only cleared the 1st floor and farmed mana stones through repeated clears. Sang-cheol was earning his living by clearing the 1st floor of Easy difficulty and selling the mana stones he obtained there.
“Goblins aren't weak, you know. When I first entered...”
Sang-cheol was busy bragging. Since he was buying us expensive beef as the price for his stories, it was only right to listen. I gave him the appropriate reactions while munching on the meat.
“If it’s Easy 1st floor, you’re level 1, right? How much stronger have you actually gotten?”
“Heh, quite a bit. Even at level 1, you’re not at a normal person’s level anymore.”
“Hey, then let’s try arm wrestling.”
One of my friends, a gym rat who loved working out, boldly challenged him. The result was obvious. Sang-cheol smirked and easily pinned his arm to the table.
“Holy crap, he’s seriously strong.”
“Hey, let me try too!”
“Come at me, all of you. Should I just hold your wrists?”
With some alcohol in our systems, everyone got rowdy. I asked Sang-cheol while grilling the meat, “Hey, Sang-cheol. I heard climbers talk to each other on the communication window.”
“Huh? Yeah.”
“What name do you use?”
“Me? Cheol-sang. Just Sang-cheol reversed. Why so sudden?”
“Just curious.”
I thought it might be nice to look out for him if I ever saw him in the chat. After stuffing ourselves with beef, we walked around the busy streets to hang out.
“Should we hit the punch machine? Bet on the score?”
“Deal. But isn't Sang-cheol cheating?”
“Then I’ll give you guys a 100-point head start.”
We were just about to start when—
CRASH!
A loud, explosive sound erupted nearby. We jumped, and passersby all turned to look. At a different punch machine nearby, the equipment was completely shattered.
“Shit, what? It broke even though I hit it lightly.”
The man who had hit the machine laughed while shaking out his hand. His friends cackled along. The arcade employee rushed out in shock, looking back and forth between the thugs and the broken machine.
“Excuse me... did you do this, sir?”
The man replied nonchalantly, “Yeah. So?”
“No... if you break the machine...”
“I just punched it. Isn't a punch machine made for punching? What do you want me to do if it breaks?”
The man was no ordinary person. That wasn't the strength of a normal human. When the group tried to leave, the employee hurriedly blocked them.
“Y-you can't just leave!”
“What? Fuck, then what do you want? You want me to pay for that?” The man growled, stepping into the employee's space. “Get lost if you don't want to get hit. I’m a climber, okay? If I hit someone wrong, I could kill them.”
He was a climber, as expected. But what was wrong with this lunatic? The employee turned pale at the blatant death threat.
“B-but if you just leave...”
“Ugh, seriously. This guy...” The man raised his hand as if he were actually going to strike.
I was about to shout to stop him, but Sang-cheol beat me to it.
“Hey, you!”
The man turned toward us. Sang-cheol spoke up, though he looked a bit intimidated. “Y-you can't just break the machine and act like a thug.”
“Who the hell are you? You want to die?”
“Don't curse... you're not the only climber here. I’m a climber too, you know?”
The man tilted his head and then laughed mockingly. “Oh, really? What’s your difficulty and floor? I’m Normal 4th floor.”
Normal 4th floor would be level 6. Sang-cheol, who had stepped up with a sense of justice, couldn't say anything more. He kept his mouth shut, his face turning red.
“Hey, you piece of shit, I asked who you are. What level are you?”
I stepped in. “Stop it before I call the police. You seem drunk.”
The man looked at me as if he couldn't believe his ears. “No, seriously, why are these brats acting so cocky? Do you really want to die?”
Even though I pointedly pulled out my phone, the man strode toward me. Fortunately, his friends held him back.
“Hey, hey, let’s stop, Min-sung. This is going to get out of hand.”
The crowd of onlookers was murmuring. The man looked around and clicked his tongue. “Hey, I’ll see you again.”
He gave me one last glare before leaving with his friends. See me again? My ass.
I approached the pale employee. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes. Thank you...”
“Should I call the police for you? What a complete psycho.”
It was my first time seeing a climber act like a common thug in the streets. I called the police on behalf of the dazed employee, fulfilling my duty as a citizen.
“Hey, you did well. Fighting a psycho like that only hurts you.” My friends subtly comforted Sang-cheol, whose pride seemed wounded.
“But Seohyun, man, you’ve got some guts. Standing up to a climber and saying your piece.”
“Seriously. I see you in a new light.”
“Actually, I was terrified inside,” I lied. My friends laughed.
I wasn't joking about being on edge, though. I had stepped up, but it would have been a massive headache if a fight had actually broken out in public. It was late, and the mood had soured, so we decided to head home. The friends living in the same direction as Sang-cheol took his car, while the rest of us headed toward the subway station.
“...?”
What now?
I glanced back and said to my friends, “Guys, I think I left something at the restaurant. You go on ahead.”
“Really? We’ll go with you.”
“No, no, it’s fine. Just go. I'll catch the next train.”
I parted ways with my friends and entered a secluded alleyway nearby. A moment later, a man followed me into the shadows. It was the guy from before.
“What, did you know I was following you?” The climber smirked maliciously, radiating hostility.
Strangely, I could feel his hostility from a distance. That was how I had noticed he was tailing me and lured him here. Was this an effect of the Sixth Sense? Since it was a skill for detecting danger, it seemed it allowed me to sense direct malice.
“Hey, you piece of shit, why’d you suddenly go mute? You were so cocky earlier.”
I ignored him and looked around. There were no passersby, and there didn't seem to be any CCTV.
“What are you looking for? Looking for someone to help you?”
“Why do you live like that?” I asked.
“What?”
“Why do you live your life acting like a thug? Do you want to brag about being a climber that badly?”
The fact that he had followed me here just because I’d talked back to him showed he was far from sane. The man approached me, his face flushed with rage.
“...I was going to let you go if you begged at my feet, but I’ve changed my mind. You’re dying today.”
The man’s fist flew toward me. I caught it. It was so slow it almost made me yawn. The man tried to pull his hand away, but when it wouldn't budge, his face filled with bewilderment.
“Y-you... Argh! AGH!”
When I applied a little pressure, the man twisted his body and screamed. I hadn't even squeezed that hard; what a drama queen. When I let go, the man scrambled backward.
“S-shit. Are you a climber too? You son of a bitch, you tricked me?”
“I never tricked you.”
“Shut up! You bastard, I’ll kill you!”
The man’s hostility grew stronger, turning into something murky and dark. I narrowed my eyes. It felt more like killing intent than mere hostility now.
The man pulled a knife from his back pocket and lunged at me with a burst of speed. He seemed to have used a skill to accelerate, but to me, he was still as slow as a turtle. I caught the wrist of the hand swinging the knife.
CRACK!
“GYAAARGH...!”
I broke it this time. The man collapsed to his knees with a pathetic scream. Since he had genuinely tried to kill me, I didn't feel like I was being excessive.
What should I do with this lunatic? I couldn't exactly drag him to the police station myself, but I couldn't just leave him here either. He was a nuisance.
But he’s really pissing me off.
Some people were working their asses off climbing a tower they didn't even want to enter because they were worried the world might end. And this idiot was using his status to pick fights and show off.
I crouched down in front of the dazed man and met his eyes. I recalled the sensations from the moments I had fought for my life in the Tower. I glared at him, channeling every bit of my intent to kill.
“H-hiieek...”
The man’s face turned white, and he began to tremble like a leaf. Looking down at his pants, I saw he had even pissed himself. Disgusting.
“P-please spare me. I was wrong. Please spare me...”
I spoke to the man, who was repeatedly apologizing as if he’d lost his mind. “Go to the police station and turn yourself in. For breaking the punch machine.”
“Yes, yes. I’ll turn myself in.”
“And don't you dare tell anyone what happened here.”
“Yes, I-I won't say a word.”
I noticed a wallet that had fallen near him and picked it up. “Kim Min-sung, born in ’95, Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul...” I read out the information on his ID card and gave him one final warning. “If I catch you acting like a thug again, I’ll find you and kill you. Got it?”
The man nodded frantically while hiccuping. I left him there and walked out of the alley. What a mess to deal with after a good meal. Still, I had gained something—my understanding of the Sixth Sense skill had increased.