4th Floor Ascension Tower Exam
Kim Jehyun gazed at the Golden Goblin before him. Even from their first meeting, it had felt surreal to converse with a goblin.
"Long time no see, Kak Kak."
"My name is Almani... kak kak. Please call me... kak kak. Almani... kak kak."
"Got it, Almani Kak Kak."
"... kak kak."
The Golden Goblin Almani's expression soured dramatically. Fair enough—even Jehyun thought he'd dragged the joke out too long. He felt awkwardly sheepish.
"Ahem. Anyway, good to see you after so long. I'm here to check out some magic-using artifacts today."
"Kak kak. The time has finally come for you to equip one. Kak kak."
"Yeah. Mind showing me some for stage 4?"
"Understood. Kak kak. Please wait a moment. Kak kak."
Almani bustled into motion. Behind him loomed towering piles of treasures. Jehyun watched as Almani rummaged through them, picking out various items.
'All that stuff was what Arkanios collected in his lifetime, right?'
—Indeed. Items gathered by Lord Arkanios over thousands of years. An endless assortment of treasures in staggering quantities. The sheer volume left Jehyun awestruck. Even claiming just a fraction would multiply his current strength several times over.
As these thoughts swirled in his mind, Almani poked his head back out.
"Kak kak. Stage 4 magic-using artifacts. Kak kak."
Jehyun examined the artifacts laid out before him. There were staves and wands, but his eyes went straight to the gloves. Lately, glove-type magic tools were all the rage. Gloves with mana amplifiers on the back of the hand performed on par with staves or wands and were far more practical in combat.
"Let's see..."
Jehyun checked the lowest-quality gloves among them.
Official beginner gloves of the Silrak Royal Magic Corps.
Grade: Common
Equip Requirement: Level 30+ (4th Circle+)
Magic Attack Power: +100
Mana: +1
Mental Strength: +1
Wind Magic Attack Power: +2%
Wind Magic Casting Speed: +2%
'Not bad.' Jehyun's eyes sparkled as he reviewed the options. The base attack power matched common-grade items available on Earth, but these came with extra stats and two additional effects.
'And mental strength is the real honey here.'
Mental strength was a stat he had access to, but it couldn't be raised directly with stat points. The difference between having it or not was huge for Jehyun.
He shifted his gaze to the priciest-looking one next.
Beginner amplification gloves crafted by an apprentice dwarf. Despite being an apprentice's work, the exceptional craftsmanship makes it suitable anywhere.
Grade: Legendary
Equip Requirement: Level 30+ (4th Circle+)
Magic Attack Power: +190
Mana: +5
Mental Strength: +5
Elemental Magic Attack Power: +10%
Elemental Magic Casting Speed: +5%
Elemental Magic Mental Strength Cost: -5%
"Oh. This is seriously good."
Jehyun's eyes lit up again. Acquiring this would be a massive boon until he advanced to the next stage. Especially against mid-grade spirits from corrupted trees in the Polluted Spirit Forest—it would make them far easier to handle.
"Kak kak. Does it please you? Kak kak."
"Yeah, this one's great. How many points?"
"Kak kak. One moment. Let me check... Kak kak. With 30% off, just 512,000 points. Kak kak."
"... "
As expected. Jehyun's current points were a measly 45,200. Way short.
'A pie in the sky.'
Smacking his lips, he asked the price of the common-grade one from earlier.
"Kak kak, one moment... Normally 90,000 points, but... kak kak. 50% off makes it 45,000 points. Kak kak."
"Sigh, seriously—how long am I supposed to grind points for this? Why's everything so damn expensive?"
Jehyun grumbled. He'd exploded in points at level 30, but even now, only around 45,000. Still nowhere near enough for a stage 4 legendary artifact.
"Fine, give me that one at least. Wait... no, hold up. Stop. Hang on."
Jehyun nearly bought the common one but halted abruptly. A notification window had popped up before his eyes.
A Chance for the Legendary Artifact You Crave
📍 Mission: Claim 1st place in the 4th floor Ascension Tower exam.
📍 Conditions: No team formation. No artifact use.
🎁 Rewards: Stage 4 Legendary Artifact Exchange Ticket. 100,000 points.
"This is..."
An unexpected sudden quest. Jehyun's eyes sparkled as he read through it.
* * *
The day of the 4th floor Ascension Tower exam dawned. The exam hall buzzed with far more people than the lower floors.
From 4th Circle onward, one was classified as a full-fledged mage, so the Ascension Tower demanded stricter verification. The scale of the exam reflected that.
Repeat challengers and fresh faces alike gathered for this exam. Spectators flooded in unprecedentedly too.
"Whoa, even more people here to watch than last time?"
"Yeah. Probably all here for Kim Jehyun like us."
"Makes sense. Hey, check it out—tons of 5th and 6th Circle mages too."
"No way... Guess it's true no one up high doesn't know Kim Jehyun now."
"Fair. The issues he's stirring up aren't just one or two."
As the conversing crowd said, Kim Jehyun remained a hot topic. Rumors swirled that he'd played a major role in slaying Kim Manseok, a shadowy 6th Circle mage, drawing even more attention to his prowess.
"Heard the Tower Master might name Kim Jehyun his successor."
"Wouldn't be surprised. None of the five disciples were expected to surpass him. But Kim Jehyun's already hailed as a genius who will."
The Magic Tower prized merit above all. Even with the disciples' legitimacy, if Jehyun's skill outshone them, he'd have a high shot at succeeding the Tower Master. High-floor mages' interest now zeroed in on him.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Park Miyeong, presiding over today's 4th floor Ascension Tower exam. Helping me is Mage Lee Donggyu."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Lee Donggyu, deputy administrator."
"Yes, we've got a huge crowd here today. Seems interest in the Ascension Tower exams is growing by the day!"
"Haha, yeah. Not every exam draws this much, but whenever that one participates, it's insane. I was really looking forward to how this one would go because of him."
"You too, Donggyu? I'm excited for the spectacle myself. Could you explain the exam format?"
"Sure. It's the usual for 4th floor: flag capture, of course."
The proctors began explaining the 4th floor Ascension Tower exam. Flag capture. Examinees could form teams of up to 10, one taking the 'King' role with the team's flag. Lose it to another team, and the whole team was out. More flags captured meant higher scores; top 20% advanced.
"Now, time to form teams!"
At Park Miyeong's words, participants steeled themselves—it was here. Average 150 entrants; this time 167, likely 17 teams of 10.
"Prepare your teams. Note: teams under max 10 get bonus points for shortages!"
All nodded and headed to the registration desks. Manual (submit roster) or auto (random assignment). Some mixed: partial roster, rest random.
'Hope I team with Kim Jehyun.'
'Better ally than enemy.'
'If he's on our team, let him be King?'
'Avoid his team at all costs.'
'He didn't pre-form one, right?'
Many glanced at Jehyun, wondering his team. Under their stares, his turn came.
"Next, entrant 64—submit your form."
"Here."
Jehyun, who'd filled it out on-site, handed it over.
"Processing now. Entrant 64... Uh, is this filled correctly?"
"Yes."
"It says solo team. Confirm for real?"
"Yes. Proceed."
"...!"
The staffer's words stunned nearby participants into staring at Jehyun.
'Solo?'
'Crazy... Bold as hell.'
'Arrogant much?'
The hall erupted in murmurs. No one had expected Jehyun to go solo. Reactions varied: suspicion, disapproval, excitement.
"Teams assigned. ...This is fun, haha. First solo ever—kinda caught us off guard."
"Yeah. With everyone waiting, let's proceed. 18 teams total. Rules explained, so—exam start!"
With the proctors' cue, the unprecedented 4th floor exam began.
* * *
The 4th floor map was vast, accommodating over 100 participants.
"Mountainous terrain."
13th team's King, Ahn Sangcheol, muttered.
"Better for Kim Jehyun than plains, at least."
Solo versus groups: mountains beat open fields. Terrain offered cover against encirclement.
"Still overwhelmingly disadvantaged... Anyway, first to spot him gets lucky—free flag."
Full team? Avoid. Solo? Just prey.
"Why go solo, though?"
Teammate Yoo Hangil voiced what all wondered.
"One of two. Drunk on power and arrogant. Or... some scheme."
They brainstormed but drew blanks.
"Whatever. We're not just hunting him. Focus on us."
Then—
"...Isn't that Kim Jehyun?"
"What?"
All turned. Pitch-black robe with phoenix emblem—Jehyun's outfit.
"Strutting openly?"
Jehyun crossed the mountain path boldly. From their foothill vantage, Ahn Sangcheol huffed in disbelief.
"Thought he had a plan... Just arrogant after all."
Tsk. He clicked his tongue. Fair, with his rumored strength.
"Time we teach this genius a lesson?"
They chuckled and nodded.
"Rat trap formation."
Ahn Sangcheol ordered. 13th team spread wide, encircling Jehyun.
Positions set, Ahn stepped out before him.
"Hey, Kim Jehyun. Too overconfident? Even pros get hurt."
"Hm. Perfect."
"What?"
Ahn frowned at Jehyun's non-sequitur.
"Nothing. Just right for warming up."
They'd bitten the bait without realizing. Jehyun's lips curled.
Simultaneously, mana gathered in his hands.