Warehouse Hideout and Descent into the Mists
The sniper was taken care of, but tonight's sleeping arrangements were the real problem.
I'd mulled it over when I regenerated my left arm on 6F, but...
No clever solutions came to mind.
5F's field was just too damn cramped.
The best plan was to drop to 4F as fast as possible.
But the ambushing hunters had me pinned away from the escape routes.
I climbed to a spot with a better view and spotted one of them.
'Still at it, huh.'
Even with monsters patrolling diligently, they stuck to their posts. Impressive dedication.
The issue was they had claimed every decent hiding spot nearby.
A good hide meant a good sniper perch, after all.
In the end, after agonizing over it, I slipped into a warehouse right next to them.
A big warehouse with a smaller inner door—double-layered setup.
Honestly, not the greatest spot.
Too close to the outside, on the first floor, and patrols swung by occasionally.
Hunters could easily reach it too.
But as they say, it's darkest under the lamp.
The ambushing hunters outside would stand watch all night anyway.
I closed the door silently and pulled rations and drinks from my backpack.
Spread out snowfield troll hide on the floor and used the Eternally Burning Heart for heat.
Bang! Baaang!
Gunfire echoing from afar even after sunset.
Set the perfect mood.
I tried catching some shut-eye during the quiet spells, but it never lasted.
Baaaang!
"Kieeeek...!"
'Gonna lose my mind.'
Perfect Sense picked up every damn noise.
Couldn't turn it off without risking danger.
Sleep quality was trash.
Better than digging a snow trench and shivering through the night, though.
Snatched some catnaps to recover stamina, then slipped out at dawn.
The ambushers near the sewer exit hadn't budged.
No signs of movement anytime soon.
'Time to hunt for another exit.'
I was prepared for a long game there from the start.
I skirted the outskirts toward the train station.
Less cluttered than the abandoned factory zone.
More monsters roamed, upping the risk.
But fewer hunters too.
Plus, the station had a direct escape route.
If luck broke my way, maybe snag it?
Clinging to that hope, I moved out.
Sticking to the shadows, hopping from one to the next while dodging watchposts.
Bang bang bang!
Especially heavy gunfire.
Chills shot down my spine.
That was the boss's racket.
5F train station boss: Twin Head Ogre.
Wielded a heavy machine gun like a personal weapon, and with two heads, no one-shot headshot kill.
Tons of minions too—way deadlier than the Hell Dog Handler.
Still, challengers showed up regularly.
Only way to open the direct escape was to drop the boss.
'Someone's tackling the boss!'
Kwaaaang!
Grenades and gunfire mixed in a frenzy.
Looked like clean sniper work had failed.
I belly-crawled on high ground, watching the chaos.
Monsters swarmed in droves, but the five-man team that bagged the boss was ready.
Lured them into their defensive line and picked them off fast.
Bang!
"Gaaak...!"
Traps set, grenades flying without mercy.
Going home anyway—might as well empty the inventory.
Way more extravagant than expected. Threw me off.
'This'll draw every corpse-picking crow in the area...'
Their goal was clear: escape.
Without the boss, the monsters' assault fizzled quick.
Soon as they lost steam, one hunter dashed into the rail yard.
Going for the train—the 5F direct escape.
Of course, other hunters didn't just spectate.
Bang!
Fight erupted en route to the train.
Some after the boss loot, no doubt.
The team ignored the spoils, boarded the train.
Long enough for others to pile on.
"Wait! Take us too! We'll pay the fare!"
Hunters approached guns down, negotiating.
Money meant gold, obviously.
Besides the Goblin Merchant,
regular shops post-Tower escape were fairer priced.
I figured the offer would get ignored, but...
The train crew yelled back.
"How much!"
"...700 gold per head! Four of us!"
"1200 gold!"
While haggling short, hunters edged toward the train, but...
Tatadang!
No cover around the train—turned to Swiss cheese quick.
Deliberately parked there, probably.
The train itself? Tower-made, bullets barely scratched it.
Haggle wrapped at 1000 gold.
'No need to watch more.'
Too cheap.
1000 gold bought two potions at the inter-floor shop.
I'd skipped most loot so far...
Proper farming from 7F down? I'd be loaded.
1000 gold for a hunter's life? Dirt cheap.
Total trap.
Sure enough.
They boarded, doors sealed tight, train started accelerating.
Kwaaaang!
Explosion and gunfire right after.
Grenade inside the train.
Bang, baaang!
Who survived?
Probably the boss-killers.
Top-tier gear and skills.
Ignored them, checked the fallen boss.
Amid the mess, one goblin survived.
Played dead from a bullet, popped up, snatched something from the boss, then scampered off snickering.
'Weird one. Can't slack on monsters.'
Not a hunter— no hesitation needed.
Waited till it hit a good spot, amped Perfect Sense.
Shiiiing!
Rifle and I became one.
Figured it was an inter-floor goblin—squeezed the trigger.
Pew!
Chest hit, instant kill.
Flopped forward dead.
Baaaang!
Outskirts erupted in loot-grab bloodbath.
I bolted down, checked the goblin corpse.
Held a small pouch.
'Wait, this?'
Looked like the one from Tower Escape game.
Snatched it—notification popped.
◈ Stores items in a small pocket dimension.
Jackpot.
Not huge capacity, but subspace was subspace.
Carry way more gear now.
My backpack half-empty anyway—no biggie yet.
Great for stashing consumables like antiseptics, bandages, mags.
'Descent escape... found it!'
Trail beside the rail yard.
No ambushers—everyone loot-hunting from the ruckus.
I bolted in without looking back.
Sprinted the trail like hell, then stone stairs appeared like magic.
Goblin Merchant greeted me.
"Oh, human! Quick this time!"
Seven floors total, ignore 1F—already halfway.
Full escape in sight.
I rented the tub without hesitation.
Nothing beat a soak for fatigue.
He chattered excitedly beside me.
"Play it right, you could be the first hunter with an EX-rank skill!"
"...No one escaped straight from 7F?"
"Nope! One made it to 3F but died just short."
"Whoa..."
Almost there and croaked.
Can't drop guard till the end.
Per-floor danger? 2F and 3F rivaled 5F.
Low floors drew crowds of hunters.
Soaked an hour, then showed him my loot.
"Appraisal fee?"
"Nah. Got something good?"
Hid the Death Priest's Ritual Tool.
Obvious rare item.
Offered the subspace pouch first.
"What about this?"
"Nice find, human. Fits a small backpack's worth."
Game item—sky-high price.
Boosted farming efficiency, essential for all hunters.
Die carrying it? Brutal loss.
"1500 gold for that!"
"Not selling."
"Human, showing it off and not selling's illegal."
"Bullshit."
Goblin stomped, bummed out.
"This then?"
Next: gas mask from 6F mining village.
He pouted but inspected closely.
Item lust unbeatable.
"Tower-made, perfect condition. For 3F?"
"Yeah."
3F poison zone.
Some safe spots, but hunter hordes made it deadly.
Meant to buy one—score.
Worst case, would've sold the Eternally Burning Heart.
"Tower gas mask's tough. Blocks fire too."
"Really?"
CBRN and fire protection.
Filter lasts forever—unlimited use.
"Sell? 400 gold."
"Want me dead on 3F?"
"N-no. Pass 4F, buy back for 600."
Sell to me, resell to me?
Korea's corps could learn from this.
Stayed full two hours in the Inter-floor Zone.
5F rushed descent spawned me worst spot.
'Whew, more wiped than I thought.'
Short clear, but exhausting.
Not just sleep deprivation...
Oddly draining.
Perfect Sense effect?
Hyper-focus skill—makes sense.
'Trouble. 4F's fog lake... Rely on Perfect Sense. Normal use should be fine?'
No point fretting.
Decided to brainstorm stream catchphrases for post-escape.
"Human! Five minutes left."
"All set."
"...Human, eat something bad? You look off suddenly."
Lame reaction.
What'd this shady goblin know?
I stood slowly.
Fwaaah!
Moments later, rotten wooden shack.
Half-collapsed, no shelter value.
Damp air welcomed me.
Shiii...
Fog beyond silent.
No bug chirps.
Local monsters: vision degenerated, hyper-sensitive to sound.
Sharp mantis-like close attackers.
Blindingly fast, one slash shreds top armor like paper.
4F stocked with these? Tower Escape's hell-mode proof.
Low defense though—bullets dropped 'em easy.
'Thick fog timing. Find the path first.'
I spread Perfect Sense and stepped into the mist.