Chapter 8: Beginner's Mind (2)
“Moonlight Sword Radiance... Wh-why is someone like you here all alone...”
She, who had been frozen stiff, turned her body and head with an awkward jerk that sounded like it might creak. Her build was small and delicate, much like Kim Ji-eun's, and the shorts peeking out from under her cropped hoodie made it clear—this little thief was a girl with tanned skin.
She's a different race.
Her eyes trembled golden within the hood, and I definitely spotted the long, pointed ears poking out between strands of her hair.
“If I don't hide them, even more annoying people than folks like you will come swarming.”
“S-sorry! Mercy just this once! I really didn't know who you were!”
As I took off my cap, she dropped to her knees in a flash and held out my wallet with both hands, reverently.
Quick judgment. In her panic, she'd found the best option available and executed it without hesitation.
“...What's your name?”
I retrieved the wallet from her shaking hands and pulled off her hood. Her body flinched hard even when I just forced the hood back—no resistance at all.
As expected, she was a dark elf from Samael, another world connected to the tower just like Earth, her long ears protruding from her short ash-gray hair.
“Shadis. But please, don't report me to the Federation! Punish me yourself if you want. Just no reports!”
“You must've been sanctioned before, judging by how terrified you are.”
Shadis grabbed my pant leg in fear, pleading desperately. The Federation Council sanctions criminals. It might seem impossible for mere resident second-class citizens to punish first-class challengers, but they can—and do.
Even as a group of residents, they represent the essential backbone keeping the tower's social system running. Challengers can't deny wanting a structured system and civilization themselves, so they invest in the Federation to maintain order.
In short, the Federation isn't just a residents' alliance—it's the tower's dominant power.
“If you know how scary the Federation is, why use a challenger's power to commit crimes? You could earn more legitimately—and honestly—by conquering just one dungeon than what's in my stolen wallet.”
I couldn't help lecturing Shadis naturally. Sure, superhuman power makes crime easy, but challengers face aggravated penalties for offenses. Better to pick any dungeon and grind loops for survival.
“...You're right. Someone like you wouldn't get it. You're too strong, too amazing—you just climb straight up without a hitch.”
But Shadis just hung her head and muttered through gritted teeth at my advice.
Looks like I'd touched a nerve I shouldn't have. Everyone has a story, after all. The issue is whether others acknowledge it depends on what you do.
“You have no idea what it's like for people like us...”
“I get the sentiment, but don't get cheeky. All you know about me is a few news articles and the rumors gossips spread, right?”
I chuckled and pulled Shadis to her feet. Her tightly shut lips and unfriendly gaze were all too familiar.
Of course—they're the eyes I used to give Jeong Chan-su back when no matter what I did, I couldn't catch up to the protagonist.
“Just don't report me. That's all you promised.”
“Eek.”
I grinned and slid my sunglasses down, scanning her up and down. She flinched and covered herself with her hands.
I had no idea what misunderstanding she had, but I just planned to use her for my scheme. According to the community strategy users posted, I needed one assistant for the new power I'd gain here.
I'd been wondering who to recruit—turns out, someone I could work harder than a paid mercenary without complaints just fell into my lap.
I generally avoided outside activity and exposure, but at this position, image management was unavoidable.
“Be ready at the designated spot and time tomorrow. One minute late, and I'll assume you're fleeing—straight to the branch chief with your identity for arrest.”
“O-okay...”
Knowing the weight of my threat, Shadis nodded heavily, unable to refuse. She seemed too broken to run.
I watched her retreating figure—limp steps like her soul had fled—with satisfaction, then replaced my cap and continued down the street.
I had things to do with Shadis, but one I could handle alone—so that's what I'd tackle today.
Amid the users debating strategy, one point they all agreed on: get new abilities on 30F.
Abilities are a step below traits—a sort of passive skill. Acquired as tower rewards while climbing, they're core to a challenger's power, synergizing powerfully or creating fatal weaknesses when combined.
I'd used the possessor's knowledge for optimal synergies, reaping benefits so far. But the problem? The so-called meta kept shifting.
The possessor me only knew the one tower from the story. Through Fate Road's constellation community, they shared data and experience from countless towers—things I couldn't imagine. And it evolves in real-time.
Even cutting-edge swordsmanship like Gale Sword and Shredder Sword might get outclassed later by better, more efficient styles.
I have 30 abilities at current max. As they say, scrap over half and fill with better ones.
Glancing at my status window, I recalled the strategy perfectly, sorting keepers from getters.
The Gale vs. Shredder debate rages, but overlapping abilities exist. These are what I'd get now.
Entering Dungeon: Collapsed Underground Passage
At the dungeon entrance, where challengers gathered prepping for battle, I plunged in alone without hesitation.
A dungeon set in ruined subways. Enemies: 30F-appropriate weak magic beasts—variant spider swarms. Small ones child-sized, giants bull-sized.
Need time to adjust?
In the dim emergency lights of the dank, silent subway, massive spiders crawled walls and ceilings, baring fangs at me.
Gripping a plain sword with no power infused, I started combat naturally—but chuckled at my noticeably heavier body compared to before.
The slashed stats' disconnect was huge. Still, no way I'd lose to bugs like these.
Trait: Radiance (S). The power I'd resolved to claim after seeing this world—and succeeded. One of my mana conversion enhancements, it alters and amplifies my powers' nature and form.
“---!”
With a gale swirling my body, brilliant yet soft light poured from my sword and entire form, burning and purifying the approaching spiders and their venom.
30F beasts melted from this noble moonlight before even touching my blade.
Seeing Radiance's light dispel darkness and scorch foes, I recalled fans' gallery mentions.
Towers have fixed rewards, but new ones emerge. Unknown even to Fate Road constellations—their true power and effects a mystery.
For me and them, it was one of the few pure thrills we could watch with bated breath.
Efforts to claim this power weren't wasted—my lips curved up involuntarily.
“Die already.”
“---!”
The dungeon boss: a queen spider nesting in shattered subway tracks. Train-car sized, she wasn't felled by light alone.
But after purifying her venom clouds, I slashed off her front legs, fangs, and cleaved her head in two.
...Gotta adapt fast.
By then, faint dizziness hit. I'd forgotten the slash, burned mana lavishly like usual—mana shortage struck.
Now I got why rankers (or near-rankers) cause more lower-floor incidents. The stronger you are, the worse the disconnect.
Ability Selection (E)
But I got the reward. Choose one E-grade ability. Time for users' strategy pick: Quick Step.
Record this?
Before that, I paused and summoned another window beside me—a camera angled to self-record my fresh dungeon clear.
“Ugh.”
It felt awkward as hell, but no choice. I had mountains of questions for them, and to get sincere answers, this was necessary!