A Few Steps from Escape
Just a few steps to escape.
Maybe 50 paces... 100 at most?
But the finale wasn't going to be a cakewalk.
There were way too many hunter teams clustered around the abandoned hospital, plain as day.
It would've been nice if we could just take turns filing into the exit.
But the team holding the basement didn't look like they had any intention of playing nice.
Bang!
A vicious burst of gunfire echoed from below.
They were probably blocking the path to keep anyone from charging in blindly.
At this point, ambushes were pointless anyway.
Everyone assumed they'd be there and stayed on guard.
One team in the basement, one locked in a standoff, and another Korean team on the third floor.
The hospital was pretty big, but cramming three teams inside? That was a powder keg waiting to blow.
Bang, bang!
For a clash of about ten people, the gunfire was surprisingly restrained.
They were still feeling each other out.
I used the lull to sweep the patient rooms and storeroom.
I was about to bail soon, but more loot was always better.
True to its rep as a prime loot zone, I hit the jackpot.
Recovery Potion!
A miracle drug that healed all external wounds in seconds.
With enough of it, you could even regrow a severed limb.
How much would this fetch if I sold it?
Nah, better keep one at home. Like tiger balm for emergencies.
There were also way better painkillers and antiseptics than what I'd scavenged on 7F.
You had to hit the dangerous spots for the good stuff.
An ironclad rule in Tower Escape.
Oh, and an Enhancement Potion!
A brew that boosted strength or durability.
In the game, it was a powerhouse consumable—expensive and potent, with brutal aftereffects that kept you from spamming it.
I was getting lost in the farming when the gunfire below finally cut out, replaced by a massive racket.
Screeech, screeeeech!
What the hell now?
This wasn't some alarm clock.
It felt deliberate, like they were cranking out max noise.
A noise grenade or something.
They're luring zombies?
Plenty of zombies still lurked around the hospital.
Herd them into the basement, and you could crush the team down there.
I maxed out my Perfect Sense skill from inside the storeroom.
A tidal wave of zombies was surging in.
Grreeek...
Gaaah!
Dragging monsters into the mix was a dirty trick, sure.
But squatting in the basement to block everyone else's escape? That was dirtier.
Still, the basement crew had their own ace up their sleeve.
Squeeeeak!
Something shot up from the basement stairs, blaring an equally deafening noise to lure the monsters.
It was mobile—the sound was moving freely.
A basic skill?
One that let you bait monsters at will? Handy as hell.
Problem was, it climbed the stairs to the second floor.
Caaack!
The zombies mindlessly chased the bait up the stairs.
Like a fishing lure—close enough to grab, but always slipping away.
It's coming this way?
I held my breath in the storeroom.
Too many zombies.
Stepping out now, even with Stealth, I'd get swarmed.
Just keep going up to the third floor.
There was another hunter team up there—they'd handle it.
The bait made it to the third, but the zombie horde overflowed into the second-floor hallway.
The hospital was huge, with multiple stairwells.
Block one, and they leaked through the others. Obvious.
I aimed my gun at the storeroom door, ready.
If they passed by, great.
But luck wasn't on my side.
A stray zombie from the hall finally shoved the door open.
Keeek!
The lock had been busted ages ago—I couldn't even bar it. Total disaster.
I squeezed the trigger without hesitation.
Pfft! Pfft!
Zombies dropped, clueless.
But they kept pouring in, endless and fearless.
Pffft...
The 50-round mag emptied in seconds.
I'd panicked and gone full auto.
Click!
Couldn't hold any longer.
I swapped mags and dove out the window.
A rickety fire escape clung to the outside...
Praying it wouldn't collapse.
Down to first floor? No way.
The team that lured the zombies would loop back soon.
Ended up climbing the fire escape to the third floor.
The Korean team up there was already in the thick of it—gunfire nonstop.
Bratatat!
Left the fire door shut and slipped in through a window again.
Third-floor patient room.
No zombies yet.
But the shots were closing in.
Shit, incoming!
The Koreans must've picked this spot near the fire escape as a fallback.
I ducked into Shadow Walk, finally getting a good look at them.
Five in total, handling it with surprising calm.
"Mag change! Ammo check—how much you got left?"
"Two mags!"
"Three extended mags."
I've got about 100 rounds.
I thought it, and the team leader—a burly guy—nodded.
Built like a tank, muscles screaming 3 plates at 500 reps.
Military fatigues fit him like a glove—definitely ex-army.
His left arm hefted a massive tactical shield...
Smeared with zombie gore.
That thing wasn't standard issue.
And it hummed with some weird energy.
Basic skill enhancement?
Probably blocked hunter bullets too.
Why else lug that beast around?
His free hand gripped a submachine gun.
"Hold up—the second-floor shooting stopped."
"What?"
The team's lone woman spoke up.
Stunner—ringing a bell...
Ah, the ad model from my cafe gig.
Face plastered on promo shots and cup holders—burned into my brain.
Prettier than the guy models, too.
Couldn't recall her name, though.
Figures—I've been neck-deep in Tower Escape my whole life.
Self-reflection could wait—bigger fish.
"Second-floor team's moving?"
"Not a team. Sounded like one guy."
Sharp instincts—veteran for sure.
"So where's he at now?"
A guy snapped irritably; the leader replied.
"...Third floor."
No way he'd gone to first.
Obvious conclusion.
I prepped to slip out the fire escape stealthily, but...
Zombies from the second-floor storeroom spilled out the window—the escape screamed in protest.
Screeeeech...
It finally gave out and plummeted.
Kaboom!
Retreat cut off.
The leader, spraying over his shield, bellowed.
"Second-floor hunter! Show yourself! We won't shoot if you don't first!"
Voice cut through the gunfire and groans like a knife.
Guy like that? One sneeze and I'd lose a kid.
After agonizing, I dropped Stealth and stepped out.
The connected zone was obvious anyway.
A proper sweep, and I'd be made.
They jumped when they spotted me late.
"Gah! Guns down!"
"When the hell did you get up here?"
No words—just yanked the pin on a grenade.
Ting!
"Wha—?!"
Tower grenade that floored bosses in one.
Safety lever gripped tight...
Shoot me now, we all die.
Crash!
Meanwhile, the leader toppled furniture to barricade the hall, picking off zombies with precise shots.
Handed off to a teammate, swapped mags, and approached me.
Casual as hell in the deadliest spot on third.
"Take off the mask."
"...Why?"
"Could be a wanted hunter soloing."
Hunters got wanted posters?
Made sense—constant shooting, killing, looting. Weird if they didn't.
"And who might you be, hunter sir?"
"Go Ji-ho, Korean hunter. Alpha Team leader."
Spilling it straight-up.
No poison gas worries on third.
I slowly removed the mask, showing my face.
Reactions weren't what I expected.
"...Kid?"
"Wait, Korean?"
"Yeah."
No fight? Music to my ears.
The shield guy eyed me closely.
"Not in the hunter registry. Unregistered... nah, solo means rookie?"
"You got the whole Korean hunter list memorized?"
"Obviously."
Casual affirm to his subordinate.
I spilled the truth after mulling.
Better than unregistered outlaw vibes.
"...Just entered the Tower. First escape."
"Couldn't have soloed in—teammates?"
"Had one. Suicided."
Harsh summary, but facts.
Escape Life's face flashed—jaw clenched involuntarily.
"What floor start?"
"...Fifth."
7F? No buy.
Fudged for plausibility.
Predictably, the half-masked idiot piped up.
"Total bullshit! Rookie with that gear from fifth? Entering the Tower means he's no normie!"
Spitting in his own face, dude?
"Didn't plan on this shithole either, asshole."
My sincerity landed?
Go Ji-ho mediated.
"Korean hunter, not criminal? Good enough. Talk after escape."
Zombies mostly cleared, but below was heating up.
No time for beef here.
"Get it. Escaped cons sneak in sometimes."
The ad model chick said it nice, but...
Gripped her gun tight.
I clutched the lever, asked.
"Cons enter the Tower?"
"Hunters can anytime, anywhere. Exit's fixed—grabbed right after."
Korean entry? Pop out Gwanghwamun Tower front.
Guards galore.
Warned off aggression.
"..."
I shoved the pin back in.
Leader nodded approval.
"Pushing basement now. Rookie, rear guard."
"Why trust him back there?"
Half-mask griped; leader ignored.
"We clear the path. Keep 10 paces. Close in, we shoot. Yu-na, watch the rear."
"Got it."
She nodded, stepping ahead.
Name clicked: Kim Yu-na.
Path cleared? Fine by me.
"Sang Ha-jun, push east stairs. Pull back if rough. Rest, standard op."
"Yes sir."
Quick orders, masked up, Go Ji-ho led the charge.
For real—frontlining.
Snnniff!
Half-mask held his breath hard.
Blasted through the zombie pack, third to second.
Kaboom!
Spares no explosives—overwhelming firepower.
Finally thinned the herd.
"Go!"
Go Ji-ho shield-first into basement.
Bratatat!
Insane gunfire, blasts.
But he pressed deeper, no retreat.
Panicked screams from basement hunters.
Kaaaagh!
"F-Flanking too!"
Steamrolling like that.
Shield overpowered, or his basic skill?
Just line up and escape now...
Tower wouldn't let me off easy.
The second bait team closed in.
"They're pushing in!"
"Chase 'em!"
Every damn team.
No scavenging—just big-score hunting.
Itched to sprint the basement morgue direct exit, but...
Too close, shots incoming.
Ting!
Yanked a smoke grenade, lobbed first-floor hall.
Whoosh!
Smoke choked the air instantly.
Max Perfect Sense in the haze.
Pfft, pfft!
Kragh!
"Hit! I'm hit!"
Even Perfect Sense couldn't pinpoint vitals in this.
They entering yet?
As I itched...
Go Ji-ho yelled.
"Yu-na! Bring the rookie!"
"This way!"
She snatched my wrist.
Next instant—
Flash!
Teleported with her through the passage.
Gasp!
Kim Yu-na's basic skill?
Short-range team teleport? Bullshit OP.
No wonder the modeling gig.
"In!"
Through the long, dark basement hall—I finally escaped the Tower.
Fwosh!
Escape Complete
World first: Cleared 7F completely without a basic skill.
Achievement Reward: Acquired Reacher Trait
First clear reward: Acquired EX-rank basic skill, Transcendence
Global Announcement: Hunter confirmed who fully escaped 7F without a basic skill. 8F unlocked.
Tunnel spat us into Gwanghwamun Square.
I'd survived.
No time to savor it.
Teammates stared me down.
Long silence finally broke.
"Fifth floor, huh?"
"Just lucky timing?"
"...Think so?"
Go Ji-ho grabbed me in a bear hug.
---