Bloodied Calculations
Opening his eyes in the waiting room of the first floor, Ji-hyun's face twisted into a frown.
The cause of death: decapitation. His chest had been crushed, and his neck cleanly severed.
"Should I thank them for killing me so neatly?"
No matter how accustomed he became, the sensation of death was something he could never get used to.
Since this place wasn't reality, he couldn't be sure if it was the true feeling of death. But that intensely repulsive tactile memory seemed to linger not in his body, but in his soul. Unconsciously, he rubbed the back of his neck to check for wounds.
'As vicious as ever.'
Indeed, it was Hell mode.
He could tell the designer's intent for the first floor right from the first encounter.
It was meant for him to flee down the corridor behind the Orc Warrior and head to the next floor. Of course, it wouldn't be that straightforward. Fundamentally, the Orc Warrior's movements were incomparable to those of an ordinary person who had just arrived here.
An impossible task, but Ji-hyun wasn't some green rookie fresh to the Tower. He already had experience fighting Orc Warriors, so their 'patterns' were starting to come into view.
This floor's Orc Warrior showed limited movements compared to those on the upper floors. It wielded a terrifying axe, but its usage was simplistic.
'About eight attack patterns.'
Not a small number, but laughable compared to upper-floor Orc Warriors. Even if physical specs were irrelevant, the technical gap was like that between an adult and a child.
The intent was probably to read those patterns, dodge attacks, and proceed to the next floor.
But Ji-hyun chose a different path.
What he aimed for wasn't clearing the first floor.
'I need to draw attention.'
The constellations watching the Hell difficulty tutorial—they had to notice him.
Clearing Hell mode first for the top spot would certainly attract interest.
Of course, that wasn't a bad option either. It would almost guarantee a constellation's blessing.
But that wasn't what Ji-hyun was after.
The Tower's freedom was considerable, and though he hated to admit it, its rules were fair.
Greater challenges yielded greater rewards.
There was no reason to clear it as intended. Instead of the obvious path, he would take the detour—essentially raising Hell difficulty even higher.
This was the best way to achieve what Ji-hyun wanted.
Hell mode's top reward was a constellation's blessing, but that wasn't all. Items, skills, experience... he would take everything obtainable in Hell mode. And for that, he needed a constellation's blessing.
So,
'I'll get a constellation's blessing on the first floor.'
And the method he chose for that was—
a snuff film.
The protagonist, drenched in blood, faced the monster.
No part of him looked unscathed. One eye was neatly gouged out, and his body was covered in gashes. Eerily, aside from the eye, there were no fatal wounds.
His vibrant movements and lively gaze burned with clear passion. One death and countless injuries—he hadn't wasted any of those experiences.
Even seasoned experts would struggle to notice the subtle differences, but Ji-hyun was gradually adapting to the Orc Warrior's attacks. Despite the overwhelming size difference, he grasped the limits of the orc's attack methods and began devising strategies around them.
He exploited gaps in each pattern, factoring in the surroundings, attack range, and action-reaction forces.
Blood and shattered objects littered the area in chaos. No furniture remained intact, and the blood-soaked floor was chilling.
Blood loss made his body numb. He'd avoided fatal hits, but now his flesh was screaming its limits. If not for the body of a 70th-floor adventurer inhabiting Kang Ji-hyun's frame, he'd have collapsed from injuries long ago.
God of Magic pinches their nose at the bloody stench.
Unlike the translucent Tower message windows, this screen had a bluish effect overlaid, with elegant white script in cursive font appearing on it.
Ji-hyun's expression didn't change, but his fists clenched tight.
The opportunity had arrived.
Special messages expressing a constellation's emotions and actions. He'd heard about them before. But getting complacent would mean missing the chance.
This just meant the constellation was interested in Ji-hyun—it wasn't a declaration of granting a blessing.
Besides, the constellation was the God of Magic. Magic could handle multiple foes alone.
He couldn't let this slip.
Why had the God of Magic taken interest in him?
Not because they enjoyed this snuff film—the message conveyed near-disgust. So, some element in this setup piqued their interest.
Probably—
'Calculation and patience, leading to growth.'
Three keywords flashed in his mind instantly.
God of Magic watches with a dubious frown.
Ji-hyun's eyes lit up. His gambit had hit the mark. If the god had read his intent, their compatibility was likely high.
The next message proved his thinking correct.
Now beyond mere evasion, Ji-hyun began counterattacking. Without a proper weapon, punches were his only option.
His raised-fist stance wasn't bad at all—honed climbing the Tower.
The problem was the spec gap.
The Orc Warrior bellowed dismissively and swung its axe. But that pattern was long analyzed; he deliberately escaped the empowered arc, blocked the handle with his forearm, and rammed his shoulder into the orc's chest. Even the glancing pain in his arm was heavy, but ignoring it was key to avoiding being bisected.
Ji-hyun's eyes gleamed. Fierce calculations whirred in his brain.
Size, strength, weight—all incomparable. Direct attacks were futile. A natural prediction, bordering on common sense.
However—
Thud!
The Orc Warrior staggered and collapsed awkwardly.
Confusion flickered in its red eyes before it rose furiously, targeting Ji-hyun's throat. Unavoidable distance. Ji-hyun's eyes shone. He somehow dodged the throat strike. But his left hand was caught.
The orc lifted Ji-hyun's body into the air by the hand alone. Enraged, it grabbed the dropped axe and cleaved him in half.
Ji-hyun rose, drenched in cold sweat.
Pushing pain and fear deep down, he stood.
Two deaths and resurrections.
But the second death's harvest was substantial.
Ji-hyun glanced at the constellation's reaction.
God of Magic scowls at the stench of blood.
God of Magic fiddles with their stopwatch.
Yes!
Ji-hyun barely suppressed a cheer. The constellation had grasped his intent.
The orc had 'patterns'—like a game, coded to use specific ones at set moments.
That was what Ji-hyun targeted. Distinguishing patterns, devising counters, gradually adapting.
Survival time per attack lengthened. Or he dodged quicker, seizing initiative.
Mentioning the stopwatch meant the God of Magic had read him.
'Constellation? Ah, keep it simple. Constellations are variety show viewers, and we're the entertainers. Viewers need interest to keep watching. The problem is their tastes vary wildly, making mass appeal tough.'
Words from someone who'd gained a constellation's blessing.
Linking that to the first floor's layout birthed this method. His body suffered, but it would appeal to someone—and it did.
Thankfully, analysis was on track.
Now, proceed with the '攻略' as planned.
Without hesitation, Ji-hyun crossed the waiting room's line. Instantly, the Orc Warrior charged with murderous intent.
It felt like watching a pro wrestling match with rehearsed spots.
God of Magic thinks it feels like déjà vu.
The Orc Warrior staggered down again, axe on the floor. Its right hand lunged for Ji-hyun's throat, but he bent fully at the waist to evade, propped on his hand, and whipped a kick like a lash.
Krraaagh!
The first agonized cry. No face armor, and it was a mighty warrior, not a golem. A weighty kick to the face naturally hurt.
No time to rejoice at the solid hit—it wasn't fatal. Ji-hyun retracted his leg hastily, but the orc recovered faster, more brute force than anything.
The orc's muscular bulk tackled Ji-hyun. A body slam leveraging size. But he rolled obliquely, escaping.
Panting heavily, sweet breath escaping, Ji-hyun gasped.
God of Magic fumes, calling it vicious.
But like a horror movie once started, the God of Magic couldn't stop Ji-hyun's brutal blood-soaked film.
Scenes chained together. Ji-hyun's attack chances grew, survival time shifting from seconds to minutes.
A single lapse would tear off a limb, but his mind was steel wire—tension held taut, never slack.
The story flowed per his script.
But then the God of Magic intervened.
God of Magic asks 'you' why you're doing such a thing.
The first words directed at 'Kang Ji-hyun' from a constellation.
Ji-hyun smiled inwardly but didn't show it.
God of Magic expresses irritation.
God of Magic declares you can't possibly be an idiot.
They knew he understood first-floor clears. Why this 'pointless' ordeal?
But Ji-hyun didn't answer. His silence—as if no response was needed—drew fervent reactions.
God of Magic tells you to stop immediately.
And the God of Magic's will became magic, ensnaring Ji-hyun...
'Something's off?'
Pausing briefly, Ji-hyun tilted his head, then deftly dodged the Orc Warrior's kick with practiced motion. A step and a half back. That distance let the orc's leg—thick as a blunt weapon—whiff through empty air.
God of Magic is astonished.
God of Magic shouts that this can't be happening.
What's with this constellation now?
This time, an inescapable force truly bound Ji-hyun.
"!"
The moment he tried to shout about interference, he noticed the Orc Warrior had frozen too.
What?
God of Magic examines the adventurer's body.
'My body?'
Ji-hyun looked puzzled.
An ordinary young man's body. Not heavily trained, just adequately fit.
Worried about losing interest, Ji-hyun tensed slightly, but the constellation's reaction exceeded expectations.
God of Magic cries out in shock.
God of Magic points at you with a trembling hand.
God of Magic shouts, asking what the hell you've been eating.
What out-of-nowhere nonsense was this?
Now it was Ji-hyun's turn to be shocked.