Black Tower Floor 2: Scorpion Swarm and the Dragon Legend

Before climbing the second floor of the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Black Tower, I headed to the Hunter Gallery to review the lessons I'd learned on the first floor. What I'd realized while icing my stomach yesterday was simple: always check the walkthrough guides before going in. 'Cuz pain sucks...'

The answer was overwhelming info superiority. Only perfect intel lets you crush your enemies. Sure, there were other places to get info besides the Hunter Gallery—like Kim Ha-yeon, or Park Chae-rin, who I wasn't super close with yet. But Hunter Gallery info was totally free. No hour-long appointment just to look at it, no awkward obligation to buy someone a meal later.

'Floor 2 target... scorpions?' Honestly, I'd figured I'd only ever see the real things in a zoo or stuffed. Facing a venomous creature was a bit worrying. But me, Lee Ha-neul—the guy who smashes bugs without flinching. And I've got a tactical nuke for bug-slaying: partial Polymorph on my right arm.

I activated it to inspect the dragon arm. Solid scales, a palm made of thick, tough hide—heavy and massive. Thanks to chowing down on magistones like crazy, it was way bigger than before. 'Dragon form keeps growing, but why am I stuck like this...?'

Anyway, one smack from this brutal palm would obliterate any bug. I had the perfect counter-weapon, but knowledge is power. More info is always better. 'Trading info for a burger? That's a sweet deal.'

I pulled out my phone and messaged Kim Ha-yeon from my contacts.

She must've been salty about missing out last time...? I was about to message that I was heading in—no signal inside the tower—when another ping ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠came.

Burger bliss unlocked more info from happy Kim Ha-yeon. ...But didn't she have tons of cash? She just likes freebies? Whatever, if she's happy, cool.

With solid intel now, I was closing the gallery when a post grabbed my eye—I had to click.

"What the hell is this...?"

Apparently, HunterGellers were buzzing with rumors I was Geumryeon Guild's backed-up prospect hunter. So, only one thing to do.

My post blew up instantly, hitting the recommendations. The confused HunterGellers were kinda hilarious—I couldn't stop grinning.

"Oh right. Time for the tower."

I could've kept bantering, but I'd be glued to the gallery all day. Shaking it off, I prepped for Black Tower.

Couldn't ignore Mystic Desert heat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠or scorpion venom, so I grabbed heat resistance potion with dragon scales and antidote, then entered Black Tower.

Right inside: a dimly shaded cave. Sandy floor, stone walls, sunlight from an exit nearby—shade kept it bearable for now.

"What? Conditions are brutal."

Looked like protecting zero-combat NPCs. "All survive" meant hustle. 'No telling when I'll drink, so heat potion first...'

"Shiiiik—."

"Wh-what?!"

While chugging the potion, I was suddenly surrounded by a scorpion pack. Not normal ones—these were cat-sized, ten of 'em.

"Kyaaack!!!"

"Shiiiik!"

...What scorpion's that big? My shrunken body meant even three rushing could lynch me. Not happening...!

I hurriedly Polymorphed my arm and started pulping the scorpion mobs.

Splat splat splat—!!

"Die die die dieeeee!!!!"

No skill, just one-sided massacre. They didn't even get a hit—smashed flat. Good enough since I didn't get stung...?

Catching my breath, that scream replayed. 'Even huge, that was way too girly...'

This was weird. I used to send any bug to bug heaven, manly as hell. Right—scorpions are arthropods with venom. Normal to freak, weirder not to!

"...Won't freak next time!"

No one around, but I yelled my resolve. Anyway, hustled to meet conditions.

Not a long cave—sunlight from exit lit everything. To find soldiers and scorpions, head out.

"Ugh, sunlight's blinding."

As eyes adjusted, distant broken wagon appeared.

'Scorpions...!'

Big ones like before, facing people moving the wagon. Gotta be the supply soldiers from conditions.

'Dunno what they're supplying, but extra rewards? Fine by me.'

Extra reward needed all alive. One dead, no bonus...!

"Gasp...!"

"Is that...?"

Soldiers froze in terror at my mystery arrival. 'Crap...!'

Missing scorpions closing in.

"To your side!"

"Huh? Uwaaak!"

Thwack—.

One distracted soldier got full sting. Idiot, don't get hit! No choice—tossed my antidote.

"Antidote! Don't get stung again!"

Confirmed it went in, then clenched fist, smashed nearest scorpion. Distant ones: earth basic magic Rockfall one by one.

'Eek, goosebumps every time one gets close.'

Bugs still gross even if no biggie. Smashed the last—familiar tower window popped up.

First place easy today! Screenshotting for HunterGellers...

"Um..."

"Huh?"

The voice was from one of the supply soldiers I'd saved near the wagon.

"Thank you. You saved our baby bro."

"No biggie, just did what needed doing."

"Are you... the legendary dragon from the legends?"

"...Huh?"

What? As I puzzled over the nonsense, he launched into a legend tale. Boring old story: black dragon saved them long ago, returns in crises, blah blah.

'Who makes promises like that?' Weird, but whatever. Tower NPCs spout odd legends often. Probably some lore about a black dragon vowing to help humans.

During the dull spiel, one soldier piped up.

"But if the dragon showed, doesn't that mean crisis incoming?"

"Hey now, that's no way to talk to our savior!"

"But it's true tho..."

The ominous one got dragged off. Aigoo... tough break.

"Don't mind him. Newbie, no brains."

"Dunno. First time here."

Sorry, no such promise from me. After a long trek, we hit a sand-walled camp.

One soldier stepped in—new window blocked view.

Ooh, condition reward! ...20 seconds? Close call. Almost missed extra.

"Gotta head out."

"Already?"

"Yeah, time's up."

"Hm... Can't send our benefactor empty-handed. Take this?"

He handed a leaf-wrapped lump.

"What's this?"

What? Wasn't Ruby of the Desert the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reward? Super rare extra...?! Eyes sparkling, he chuckled explanation.

"Salamander meat. Nutritious, desert staple."

"Ah. Thanks."

Oh. Meat... Saved on dinner? Good-bad?

Tick—.

Grabbed salamander meat—instantly booted from Black Tower.

"Hm... Nothing."

Back home, I scoured Hunter Gallery and net for that tale. Zilch on any black dragon helping folks in towers.