Hellish Aches and the Solo Eighth Floor Plan
I woke up with my whole body throbbing.
Hellish muscle pain.
Even after a bath yesterday and nearly an hour in the massage chair, it was still like this.
Yesterday, after my conversation with the Association staff wrapped up, the team finally got to wash up and grab some food.
Hunter work is grueling manual labor—hauling at least 40kg around while walking and running all day.
Skip meals, and the weight just melts off.
This time, we got a pound of premium flower-cut sirloin steak to go from a famous steakhouse...
But given the situation, I could barely taste it.
Still, I forced it all down.
"Ugh..."
The soreness was worse than before.
And this was with my Regeneration Skill at level 8.
Probably from dragging that sled around on 6F.
Go Ji-ho's weight wasn't a joke.
But thanks to me taking the brunt of it, Team Leader Go Ji-ho was resting comfortably in a hospital bed.
Sang Ha-jun, who'd been admitted alongside him, had sent a photo.
Go Ji-ho had originally needed the ICU...
But after chugging mana potions, his condition improved enough for a shared room with Sang Ha-jun.
'Maybe I should pay a visit.'
I washed up, scarfed down a simple breakfast, and took a taxi to the hospital.
Checking my smartphone's video channel on the way, it was total chaos.
Overnight, the official announcement had dropped: I was an EX-rank hunter.
My old videos were being dug up and recirculated like crazy.
I checked the internet news too.
The Association had gone all-in, even releasing the Gwanghwamun Tower CCTV footage.
Predictably, there were doubts about it being fake...
But the Goblin Merchants had vouched for it.
Hell, even Choi Il-hyeok—now with Bravo Team—did an interview.
This guy got kicked off the team, but damn if he didn't spin it well.
But hearing that last bit, I decided to forgive him.
"We're here."
"Thanks."
The taxi pulled up, and I hurried into the hospital.
The other team members were already there.
Go Ji-ho waved me over with a grin.
The room's TV was still blaring stories about me... kinda embarrassing, honestly.
"Kang Hyun totally spilled the tea, huh? Must've been eating you up inside."
"You know it. Couldn't even brag about it anywhere..."
I played along with the joke and checked his color.
Looked good.
Mana potion dripping slowly from the IV into his veins.
'Family's here too.'
His wife and daughter were there for the visit.
They'd probably need a caregiver... but the Association would cover it all.
"How's the body holding up?"
"Great. Was dying without the potions..."
That inter-floor Goblin Merchant had diagnosed him spot-on.
Guy knew more than he let on.
Sang Ha-jun chuckled from the opposite bed.
"Kang Hyun, worry about me a bit too."
"You good, Ha-jun?"
"Inflammation's a given... but miraculously, no infection."
The Tower's antiseptics and antibiotics did their job.
"No other issues?"
"Nah. Glass marble's holding the shape, so the socket won't collapse... saved the left eye, barely."
Still, infection risk meant at least two months' rest.
Looking at it, the team was basically wrecked.
To get Go Ji-ho's treatment, we'd need to clear 8F.
At first, I thought about recruiting from other teams...
But on second thought, blindly padding numbers was risky.
There was one nagging issue.
'The shop said they'd provide 8F info.'
Would ask when buying more mana potions.
"Um, excuse me... a moment?"
"Sure."
Go Ji-ho's wife called me out to the hall.
She seemed to know the gist.
I took the lead.
"I'm heading to 8F."
"...What? No, please don't push yourself..."
"Push? I'm the world's first EX-rank hunter."
Speaking of, why was the Association taking so long?
I'd asked for 10,000 gold.
Just as I calmed her down, the staffer arrived.
"Kang Hyun Hunter, here's your 10,000 gold."
"Nice, you pulled it off."
"Alpha Team leadership has been officially transferred to you."
Everything falling back into place...
"But. The 10,000 gold aid comes with a condition. To avoid equity issues among hunters."
"What condition?"
"Alpha Team plans to challenge 8F on next entry, right?"
"Yeah."
I confirmed, and he nodded.
"Bravo Team's heading to 6F soon. Lend us the Eye Key then? One member's out, so we're bringing a newbie. Making an S-rank hunter."
An artifact we risked our lives for, and they want to borrow it?
8F was standalone, per intel.
All exits were direct escapes, so no need for the Eye Key.
Entry weight limits meant I wasn't taking it anyway.
But of all teams, Bravo with that Choi Il-hyeok punk.
"Gotta check with Team Leader Go Ji-ho first."
"Understood. Wait outside?"
"Grab a coffee downstairs."
Look at me, talking like that.
Position makes the man, huh.
Glanced in the mirror: an EX-rank hunter staring back.
Back in the room, Go Ji-ho's answer was refreshingly straightforward.
"Bravo? Can trust 'em. Their leader's solid."
"Oh, yeah?"
Makes sense—they'd seemed tight last time.
"What's Bravo's leader like?"
"Classic yes-man. Association and government love him. Never says no."
"No kidding, didn't peg him for that."
"Right? But he's nice to everyone."
Because yes-man.
Probably just yes to us too.
"Says if we lose it, we're dead. Crawl out solo if you have to—bring it back."
"Got it."
Scored the 10k gold outright, not a loan.
Rental fee for the key.
I'd hand it to Bravo's leader personally.
"Truly grateful, Team Leader Kang Hyun. Oh, and... any recruits in mind?"
"Nah, not right now."
"But 8F..."
Hmm.
Did I need to spill my strategy?
Maybe he'd get it—he was Association.
I laid it out while organizing my thoughts.
"Higher-ups think we gotta fill all five slots, right?"
"Yes."
"8F can't be cleared by five. Not till strategies are established."
"...Pardon?"
Sipped my coffee, conviction growing.
"8F has entry weight limits."
Clothes included, 10kg per person.
The rule that forced the American team to retreat.
10kg was insane.
Threw all human Tower-clearing know-how in the trash.
Food alone? Maybe 2-3kg max.
Water via purifier capsules, fine...
But food was the killer.
"2kg food lasts 2-3 days. Unless scavenging more inside."
"But... 8F has food and water, right?"
"Sure."
Or clearing it would be impossible—no need to consider.
Kept it simple.
"Say you find 2kg more on 8F. One person gets 2-3 extra days... five people? It's a snack."
"Ah...!"
If you knew the route and blitzed it, maybe.
First-timers? Time sinks in.
Move cautious, scout everything.
More food and time burned.
"Five heads don't mean five times the info. Padding numbers blindly is worst-case. 8F needs elites only."
The staffer got it.
"Understood. Keeping this internal."
"Good."
Stopped by the shop for more mana potions—and 8F info.
Goblin Merchants welcomed me.
"Welcome."
"Tell me more about 8F."
They grinned comfortably.
"Of course. What curiosities? We can't spill everything..."
"Optimal clear party size?"
"More the merrier."
Expected.
Tower-clearing 101.
Rephrased.
"Zero intel, first run?"
"Then... we recommend 1-2."
Bingo.
They'd slipped extra info in the first answer.
8F had decent food/water drops.
Otherwise, more numbers wouldn't help under 10kg cap.
But not a cakewalk.
1-2 for first-timers.
Could hide one with Heaven's Veil.
Wanted Kim Yu-na...
But she'd drag Han Ju-won.
Two team members hospitalized already.
Lose one more? Unsurvivable.
Decision made.
'Gotta solo 8F.'
Can't spam Transcendence forever.
Solo maximizes Stealth Skill.
"10kg limit applies even with sub-space bags?"
"They count toward the limit, effectively raising it."
"Oh?"
So maybe 12-13kg total.
Still no rifle or vest.
Rifle body alone: 4.3kg.
Ammo pushes 12kg solo.
Ammo's sneaky heavy.
Vest over 10kg solo—no go.
Helmet, night vision? Forget it.
Pistol, dagger, essentials—tight fit.
"Where's Go Ji-ho's treatment on 8F?"
"Mana heart cure? Check central zone or Potion Warehouse. Central's biggest, riskiest."
"..."
No lucky early grab and dash.
Ditch gear, suffer solo.
"Any exit conditions?"
"Some, but most none."
"...What do you want from 8F?"
Their quest.
Mentioned late; they licked their lips.
"There's a Mirror Room on 8F."
"Mirror Room?"
"Room full of big and small mirrors. Right by central zone—easy find. Bring as many shards as possible."
"Shards for?"
"Priceless alchemy material. But don't enter mirrors. Not first time."
Enter mirrors?
Sounded no ordinary mirrors.
"...If I can."
"Thanks."
Felt like a test quest.
Check if I could reach it.
Merchants rarely this eager—for mere alchemy mats? Nah.
"Oh, 30 more mana potions."
"Bulk buy! Thank you!"
Beep!
Left shop; phone blew up.
Ignoring most—busy day—but recognized the name.
The ones who'd gifted my pistol: 2011 Nightfall Custom.
Answered; they greeted first.
What friends?
Sent Go Ji-ho's hospital pic instead.
Ding!
Remembered the deep black iron ore from last time.
Rare upgrade material.
Not much, just enough for custom.
HTT buddy's tone turned serious.
"...Thanks."
Didn't need to go that far.
Normally I'd say so...
But now? I needed all the help.
Favors, miracles—whatever.
Rushed back to the hotel to pack.