World's First EX Hunter
Let's think positive.
If I escape from the 7th floor, I'll become the world's first hunter with an EX-rank skill.
Hunters receive a basic skill upon escaping the Tower...
Its rank is determined by the floor they entered.
But no hunter has ever entered the 7th floor from the start and successfully escaped.
Not even with top-notch gear and veteran hunters as teammates.
A rookie escaping the 7th floor? That's just plain impossible.
I thought that to myself while dodging incoming bullets.
I'd made too much noise back at the hospital.
Every hunter and monster in the neighborhood seemed to have swarmed in.
Tut-tut-tut-tang!
These guys fired at the slightest sound. Even the game wasn't this bad.
Detection Skill has risen to level 8.
"Keeei..."
I sensed monsters ahead.
I picked up a large shard of glass and hurled it hard into the alley across the way.
Crash!
"Kiaaa!"
They rushed straight toward the noise.
But my Detection Skill was picking up more and more monsters—and hunters.
Time to bail.
I'd already secured the essential loot.
I bolted toward the nearest descent exit.
I didn't want to spend another minute on the 7th floor.
The subway station near the hospital.
Pretty dangerous spot, but I didn't have the luxury of being picky.
Right now, nowhere was safer than the hospital.
Even as I ran like mad, I kept my footsteps as quiet as possible.
Stealth Skill has risen to level 7.
Scummy hunters ambushing near exits was common...
But doing it on the 7th floor? Total idiots.
Anyone who made it this far had top gear, skills, and plenty of consumables.
If they wanted, they could rain grenades.
No loot was worth more than your life.
"Hoo, haa..."
Catching my breath with effort, I descended to the subway platform.
Follow the tracks straight, and I'd reach the inter-floor zone.
But a goblin was detected nearby.
Straggler?
It hadn't spotted me yet.
But it was blocking the path—I couldn't just slip by.
I'd tossed the broken gun earlier.
My only weapon was this one dagger.
I'd swept up loot in such a rush I hadn't checked it properly...
Nothing that looked like a weapon.
That thing over there had a gun, though.
A cheap double-barrel shotgun, but with no decent armor, I had no way to block it.
...Gotta do it.
If even the Hell Dog Handler feared this dagger, it had to be something special.
I gripped it tight and tossed a rock the other way.
Thud!
"Heek?!"
I lunged at the startled goblin in one go.
"Kiaaaak!"
I stabbed in a hurry, so my aim was a bit off.
Still, the blade sank into its arm.
As I choked its neck and tried to pull the blade free...
Suddenly, its body went limp.
"Huh, what?"
Playing dead?
An arm stab wouldn't make it dumb enough for that.
Heart attack?
Then, the goblin's corpse dissolved into smoke.
"Wha... what?"
This had to be the dagger's power.
Instant-kill item or something?
An instant-kill that leaves no body.
Definitely powerful... but why a dagger?
You have to get up close.
Instant kill dagger (Key survival item)
The Tower Escape game had tons of factions.
Lots on the 7th floor especially...
But I'd never heard of a Death Priest character or faction.
First things first—head down.
I grabbed the shotgun and kept walking the dark tracks.
Soon, a steep stone staircase appeared.
"Yes!"
7th floor escape—success.
Bit of a mess, but it worked out like magic in the end.
"Haa..."
Down the stairs I went, until the inter-floor zone finally appeared.
A rest area between floors.
My personal space, safe from others.
Of course, I couldn't stay forever.
Two-hour limit—overstay, and you're kicked out.
Arguably the kindest, most merciful part of Tower Escape.
Shouldn't it be eight hours at least?
No time to dawdle.
In the cramped inter-floor zone, I sought out the merchant first.
Inter-floor merchant.
A goblin ripping off insane markups between floors.
Prices were pure robbery.
Buy low, sell high.
But right now, it was my lifeline for supplies.
A voice came from the cluttered shop, chain-link fences everywhere, narrow entrance—like a pawnshop.
"Looking for something?"
"Hold on."
Under the dim bulb, I dumped out my backpack.
Time to check the loot I'd swept up.
First up: three Hellhound skulls.
Prime material and sellable item.
Sold 'em without hesitation.
"These first."
"600 gold."
"Fine."
No point haggling.
This guy doesn't budge a penny.
Next: a hooded cloak.
From the Hell Dog Handler.
◈ Boosts Stealth Skill level
◈ Excellent insulation and defense
No decent armor on me—this was mine.
The goblin merchant finally looked me over properly.
"You... no basic skill, total newbie. And you came to the 7th floor?"
"...Got drunk and stumbled in."
"Puhahaha! Human idiot! And you still took down the Hell Dog Handler?"
I ignored him and kept checking loot.
◈ Infinite heat source, counters extreme cold (6F essential)
The very reason I'd taken down the Hell Dog Handler.
Guaranteed drop, so of course it was here.
This would get me through the 6th floor's chill.
No more pricey thermal kits for me.
No other valuable loot, sadly.
I sold the junk and browsed his wares.
"Got winter gear? Something in my size."
Inter-floor merchants resell what hunters dump, so stock varies.
But cold-weather stuff? Had to have it.
Plenty of 7th-floor escapees would've sold theirs.
"From the 7th without winter gear? Drunk for real, huh. Here, human. Full set with gloves and boots—313 gold."
This punk.
Over half my Hellhound skull cash—gone.
No choice, though.
"Can I try it on before buying?"
"No. You stink, human. Wash up over there."
That was the whole reason for new clothes.
Rotted stench.
Rolling in the corpse pit had soaked it in.
Smell was so foul, it'd give me away from afar.
I bought soap, scrubbed clean, and came back.
Size was roughly right—lucky.
"I'll take it."
"Need anything else?"
6th floor had endless snow, so water wasn't an issue.
Food—I'd scraped some together yesterday.
"Got a suppressed gun? Around 200 gold."
"200 gold? Human, you're less scrupled than a goblin. Sell that cloak?"
"Nope. You'd lowball it anyway."
Stealth boost? No way.
Weapon? I'd skip—dagger was enough.
In Tower Escape, combat was always last resort.
Didn't mean unavoidable fights didn't happen plenty.
"200 won't buy Tower gear. This is 300."
Soviet suppressed pistol.
After agonizing, I offered the double-barrel shotgun from his kin.
"Trade for this and my remaining gold?"
"Deal. No safety—watch it."
He said it right after taking the gun and cash.
Crazy bastard.
Game never mentioned that.
"Hey, warn a guy."
"Your ignorance is the crime."
Fair enough.
Ignorance was the greatest sin—heaviest punishment.
I dropped the argument, unrolled my sleeping bag, and crashed.
At least the mag was full.
"Wake me with five minutes left."
"Human, really a first-timer?"
Slept like a rock the rest of the time.
Precious—no shivering from cold or nerves.
Couldn't really sleep on 7th floor.
Woke every hour fearing company.
Goblin gave surprisingly good service.
"Human! Up! Five minutes!"
"Ah, thanks."
Packed the bag quick, stood.
Full winter set plus Eternally Burning Heart.
6th floor prep—done.
Bad news: No direct exit to outside from 6th.
Needed a special item for that.
Even pros rarely had one.
Saw news about America buying them at insane prices.
One of those, and you're set for life.
Ah, Escape Life popped in my head—ruined my mood.
Pathetic loser.
No wonder his girl dumped him.
"One minute. See ya, human."
"Yeah."
Did this goblin do well-wishes?
Fwaaah!
Next instant.
Dropped right in the snowy wasteland.
Blasting cold wind hit instantly.
Hid in the hood quick, but it pierced my clothes.
Dropping like this between floors meant low risk of instant ambush by hunters or monsters.
But one unexpected issue.
Where the hell am I?
6th floor, sure...
No clue on exact spot.
Entire surface was blanketed in snow—hard to navigate.
No standout landmarks anyway.
Probably map edge.
Game pinpointed location in one second.
Not here.
No directional signs, so I just walked.
Colder than imagined.
Without full winter gear, 100 meters would've been my limit.
Blizzard helped—footprints covered.
Can keep going like this for now.
6th floor split into surface and underground.
Theme: abandoned mines.
Best loot in the dark, dangerous depths.
Surface? Way poorer, but safer.
Escape my goal—stick to surface.
Underground paths too linear—no dodging enemies.
Clatter.
Pistol kept banging my hip—unsettling.
No safety felt like rolling dice every step.
Couldn't ditch it, though.
Against hunters, way better than dagger.
How many hours like that?
Forced March Skill has risen to level 1.
Triggers when stamina hits limit.
Feet freezing solid just as a small cabin appeared.
Too tiny and plain for a landmark, but good for a break.
Something showed up. Direction seems right.
Blizzard limited visibility—might've missed others.
Checked surroundings, opened door, pulled out Eternally Burning Heart.
It gave off faint heat.
"Sniiff."
Gripped hard—flared hot.
Frozen limbs thawed in seconds.
Hot enough to cook with.
No smoke—eco-friendly, no detection risk.
"Food... almost gone."
Not a prime farm spot—barely any loot.
Why I hadn't run into hunters yet.
Munching my last scraps, I pondered.
Way short on rations.
Won't make 5th floor like this.
Hit the mining village?
One of few surface farm spots on 6th.
Village guaranteed food.
Maybe meds and more.
Just skim the outskirts and GTFO.
Plan set, I dozed fitfully.
Hours later...
Creeeak!
Scratching footsteps outside the door.