Sniper's Shadow Takedown
Shadow Walk was a useful skill, but it had plenty of flaws.
First off, you could only use it from within shadows, and the effect pretty much vanished the moment you moved.
But the Transcendence version was different.
Kim Yu-na and I slipped out through the factory's side door.
About 300 meters to the high-ground building where that sniper bastard was holed up.
The duration should be plenty.
I'd maintained it for over ten minutes during training.
Companion limit: one person max.
While the skill was active, no one could spot us—not with the latest night-vision goggles, not even other skills. I'd tested it all.
Pababat!
Gripping Kim Yu-na's hand, I dashed up the slope. My right hand clutched the rifle.
Of course, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any hunters who got in our way.
Mercy is the privilege of the strong.
And in here, everyone was weak enough to die at any moment.
Tok tok.
Kim Yu-na tapped my shoulder and whispered softly.
"You okay?"
"Still got plenty of time left."
"Good. Don't push yourself."
Off in the distance.
Two hunters descending the mountain to surround the factory. Probably with the sniper.
We let them pass and headed straight for the sniping spot.
No matter how OP the Transcendence skill was, it broke the instant you attacked. So we just let them go for now.
Once we dealt with the snipers, those guys would get hit from both front and back.
'There.'
The building hiding the sniper was a two-story hilltop ruin. Spacious, rundown, littered with trash and debris.
I was rushing ahead a bit impatiently when my Perfect Sense skill picked up something off.
'Hold up.'
I raised a fist to halt Kim Yu-na and scanned the area closely.
That's when I spotted something suspicious under the trash and debris pile at the entrance.
Wire.
Connected to what looked like a Claymore mine.
Cleverly hidden low, so touching the upper debris or trash would set it off immediately.
Damn, that was a pro-level trap.
Learned something new today.
"Gotta jump it."
I pointed ahead, and Kim Yu-na blinked us over with her space movement.
Paat!
We bypassed the trap cleanly and climbed the stairs to the second floor.
The bastards had no clue we were there, totally focused on the factory.
"No movement yet?"
"They're scared shitless. Like turtles hiding in their shells."
"They must've looted the factory good. Tons of nice spoils, right?"
"Saw some earlier—their gear's top-notch."
All they cared about was killing us and taking our stuff.
Made my conscience feel a lot lighter.
Would've done the same even if it didn't.
Swik.
I aimed at the sniper. Kim Yu-na targeted another one.
The Transcendence skill Heavenly Veil had one more bonus effect, but...
Duration was almost up, so I skipped it.
Took a steady breath, then squeezed the trigger.
Pishut!
The bullet nailed the sniper's head dead-on.
He was wearing a helmet, but...
Those are for pistol rounds, ricochets, shrapnel. Not direct rifle hits.
Plus, my rifle was loaded with 5.56mm AP rounds—armor-piercing, through and through.
Pishut!
"Huk!"
Kim Yu-na followed up, dropping another.
The last one swung his LMG at me, but I was faster.
Pishut!
Headshot again.
Three down. Just the two we saw earlier left.
We rushed to the window, scanning for their buddies.
They were prepping grenades for the factory.
Zero guard on our side—totally exposed.
Pishut!
Perfect Sense for calm aim, another headshot.
Kim Yu-na didn't blink, finishing the last one.
"Whew, done. Your Transcendence skill is insane. Recoil okay?"
"Manageable."
Everything going exactly to plan in this brutal hellhole.
It felt weirdly exhilarating.
But the moment I staggered slightly from skill backlash,
My Perfect Sense pinged something wrong.
The LMG gunner—head clearly penetrated— was rising up on his torso.
"Kuh... I'll kill you!"
'What?!'
I dove behind the concrete wall on reflex.
Tudung dudung dung!
Chunks of concrete flew everywhere amid the roar.
How the hell did he survive a headshot?
Resurrection skill or something?
No time for panic or questions.
Just make sure he stays down this time.
"Newbie!"
Pabat!
Kim Yu-na blinked behind him, seeing me pinned.
I fired full-auto the second he turned in panic.
Pishushut!
Emptying the 30-round mag.
First few rounds ricocheted off his vest.
'Tungsten-core AP rounds?'
Tanking multiple rifle hits? That vest was high-end as hell.
But even top Tower body armor isn't invincible.
Modern vests use ceramic plates that shatter to absorb impact.
Might stop three rounds, maybe. Beyond that? No way—per Go Ji-ho.
"Kraaak!"
Full-auto meant rounds sprayed outside the vest too.
He finally collapsed in his own blood.
"Ugh..."
Chik, chik!
Still alive after a full mag?
Humans are tough sons of bitches.
Swapped mags and approached. His vest was shredded rags.
Front and back plates shattered—total junk now.
Taang!
Kim Yu-na put one in his head.
"Resurrection skill, probably. Heard about it before. Can't let your guard down."
"Scared the shit outta me. But damn, this guy's vest is premium."
"Russian-made, looks like. Super heavy, a pain to move in. Only Go Ji-ho wears stuff like that in our team."
Go Ji-ho's got the biggest pack, thickest vest, and a ballistic shield to boot.
Tried lifting it once in training—nearly screamed.
No idea how he hauls that around.
We looted the dead hunters' gear fast.
Packs had nothing special, but the equipment itself was high-grade. Worth good money.
"Straight down to the sewer exit now?"
"Yeah. Elevator here—take it to the fourth floor and..."
As we dragged gear to the elevator,
A weird unease hit my gut.
Something's off.
Everything's gone too smoothly.
In Tower Escape games, the deadliest moment is nose-deep in corpses looting spoils.
Plus, the area's been eerily quiet lately.
Fifth floor's cramped—gunfire should've been constant.
'No way.'
Scanned nearby with Perfect Sense...
Five hunters creeping up the steep path, stealthy.
Heard the fight, coming for the fisherman's profit.
"Crows!"
"What?"
Factory enemies cleared, so Go Ji-ho's main force would link up soon, but...
Could we hold till then? 2v5 right now.
Transcendence and heavy Perfect Sense use had me drained.
Kim Yu-na burned skills too.
If they pushed with strong skills, we'd be in trouble.
Scoped the factory—Go Ji-ho signaled from the window.
Pointing down with index finger.
'Don't force it. Head downstairs.'
Kim Yu-na nodded.
"Main force hits the sewer exit. We take the elevator first."
"We'll end up in different areas though?"
Rendezvous at the temp point later, but till then, just us two.
Kim Yu-na tossed loot packs into the elevator.
"We're already split. And who knows what weapons or skills those crows have?"
"Fair point..."
They were pushing confidently—must have some ace up their sleeve.
No point holding out and getting killed or hurt.
Building might have more traps from the sniper crew.
Still, I tried buying time.
"Kaaak!"
Scream from below—probably Sang Ha-jun's sniper shot.
They rushed inside desperately.
But first floor had the sniper crew's booby traps left.
Kwaaang!
Now 2v3.
"Fuck, what?! Traps still active?!"
"Push in! We die if we can't take this!"
Caught from behind, they charged blindly.
Ting!
"Grenade!"
Kim Yu-na slammed the close button without hesitation.
Dding!
First-floor entrance caved in—they couldn't stop it.
Doors opened in the basement to stone stairs.
"Ugh, so heavy."
Kim Yu-na griped but shoved packs and loot out fast.
I grabbed one per hand and headed down.
Two down already—Go Ji-ho and main force should handle the rest easy.
Reading my worry, Kim Yu-na said,
"Don't sweat those guys. Especially Go Ji-ho."
"Yeah, guess not."
Wouldn't have told us to go first if he wasn't sure.
Hell, he dropped two in seconds.
Finally hit the Inter-floor Zone. First time in a month hearing the Goblin Merchant's greeting.
Not exactly thrilled.
"Human! Back at last! With a teammate this time!"
Skill aftereffects throbbed, but I could tough it out.
Barely a blip compared to Transcendence's power.
Kim Yu-na and I set aside everything else to check the loot.
Grabbed whatever in the rush—still sorting it.
"Sell the vests. Wrong size anyway."
"Guns?"
"Need 'em? Keep one decent if there is."
"Hmm..."
Fourth floor: fog lake.
Monsters sensitive to noise—LMGs a bad idea.
Sniper rifle looked okay, but...
Fog lake's visibility kills it.
"Pistols suck too. Sell everything."
"Right?"
Dead weight otherwise.
Might keep if hauling to third floor, but...
Split from team—minimize baggage.
Their packs? Mostly useless.
Foreign rations? Risky if they taste like ass. Wastes a precious meal slot.
"Grenades only. Appraise these."
"Sure! Gimme a sec, human!"
While the Goblin Merchant tallied, we prepped chow. Combat rations this time.
Safe spot—eat hearty.
"...Total eight thousand gold!"
"What?"
Factory loot not even appraised yet, and 8k gold?
My rifle and armor set cost 3k at regular shops...
Generous for an inter-floor merchant.
"Two pristine vests, three guns—one LMG! Ammo galore!"
Packs and med supplies bumped the price too.
Regular shop? Easy 12k.
'No wonder hunters camp exits all day...'
One loaded hunter snagged? Instant life-changer.
We sold without regret, picked prime factory loot.
Spare pack space let us grab barrels and parts.
"How much for these?"
"Two thousand gold."
"Deal."
No big expectations anyway.
Prime parts go to outside shops.
Ten thousand gold already.
With main force's haul? Quota met.
But we needed way more.
"Fourth-floor rally point by the lake, right?"
"Yep. Lakeside abandoned building."
Central zone—easy access, low loot competition.
Perfect spot.
We rested till time was up.
Kim Yu-na seemed unfazed.
This level crisis? Routine for her.
No deaths or injuries.
She even pulled recording gear.
Tower fucks with complex electronics, especially wireless.
Stripped-down phone cam, probably.
“Yuna fans worldwide, hi! Tower crisis today! Split from the team—just me and newbie Kang Hyun! Other members? Alive, but linking up won't be easy!”
“Whoa...”
Filming in this? I'm a variety junkie, but that's next-level.
“Now, combat rations mukbang with the newbie!”
Got me curious.
"Yu-na, why hunt? You could do real travel YouTube now—fame, money. Why risk it here?"
She chuckled.
"My fame's 'cause I'm a hunter. Without that, no edge as an entertainer. Tried pre-hunter."
"Ah..."
Unknown travel YouTuber days, huh.
She analyzed her appeal cold.
Real issue though:
"Plus, I spend big."
"How big?"
"Ten mil won monthly basics? Love shopping, trips."
"Gasp..."
Yeah, can't quit hunting on that burn rate.
Other expenses too, probably.
'Yu-na's a no-go.'
This one's Tower-bound for life!
Pocketed those feelings neatly.
Two hours up, descended to Tower 4th Floor fog lake.