The Tenth Floor's Trial (1)
A single soul, unable to accept its own death, wails in grief.
Exhausted from its endless crying, it sinks into deep sorrow, growing as cold as a block of ice.
Sorrow, when deepened to its absolute limit, becomes a grudge.
Right now, the grudge harbored by Jang Man-hong was entirely directed at Lee Jin-hyuk.
The despair of failing to crush a rising star before it could grow.
The resentment of being utterly overwhelmed by a mere 9th-floor player.
The grief of never being able to taste blood again.
All of these coalesced into a bitter grudge, amplifying his power.
—!!!!!!!!!!!
But it wasn't just his own grudge fueling him.
The surrounding wraiths and Wailing Ghosts were drawn by the commands and emotions of Jang Man-hong, a higher-ranking specter.
They began to flock to him, swelling his power even further.
Kaaaaah!
The twin swords in Jang Man-hong's hands began to overlap like the upper and lower fangs of a wolf.
Countless Wailing Ghosts became the individual teeth of the beast, threatening to swallow Lee Jin-hyuk whole.
At the same time, the freezing energy of the Ice-Sinking Ghost seeped in, beginning to freeze him solid.
Frost Fang Slash.
It was a strike far more powerful than the Molar Slash of his living days, now infused with the chilling power of the Ice-Sinking Ghost.
Jang Man-hong was certain that even the Heavenly Demon, the absolute ruler of his faction, would not dare to face this strike head-on.
It was stronger than any technique he had ever executed in life.
—...!!!
And so, he was absolutely sure.
With this final grudge...
He would crush and kill Lee Jin-hyuk, the man who possessed the potential to become the strongest player in history, with his own hands.
Only then would his grudge be appeased, and his desires fulfilled.
In the face of death, even those steadfast eyes of Jin-hyuk would surely be stained with despair and defeat.
But something was off.
The reactions of the Constellations watching him were surprisingly lukewarm.
"Jang Man-hong."
Above all, the eyes of Lee Jin-hyuk, who was staring directly at him, did not waver in the slightest.
"Is that the best you've got?"
*Whoosh!*
Flames enveloped Jin-hyuk's body, and his form condensed into a single point.
Since the movement skill was still active, Jin-hyuk's body accelerated as if being sucked through time and space.
*Flash!*
Before Jang Man-hong could even register it, Jin-hyuk was right in front of his nose.
—!!!!
Realizing he was in danger, Jang Man-hong desperately drew in even more of the surrounding Wailing Ghosts.
The Constellation [Satan] clicks his tongue, warning that overeating beyond what the vessel can handle can turn into poison.
The Constellation [Baal] laughs incredulously, asking if he is really one to talk.
In truth, Jang Man-hong could no longer absorb any more Wailing Ghosts.
He was already at his limit.
His arms, now grotesquely bloated and far larger than they had ever been in life, were proof of that.
But what choice did he have?
This was the only way to counter Jin-hyuk, who had closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
"Too late."
—!!!
A brilliant white flash erupted from the sword Jin-hyuk held in both hands.
With all his power concentrated into a single point, its piercing force was enough to penetrate even a star.
—!!!!!!
Before he could even turn his head, Jang Man-hong's face was struck dead-on by Jin-hyuk's light.
—Kaaaaah! Aaaaah!
—Eeeeeeh! Eeeeeeh!
Emitting bizarre shrieks, the wraiths and Wailing Ghosts scattered in an instant.
The moment they were struck by Jin-hyuk's attack, they dissolved into nothingness.
—!!!!!!
Though he had been caught off guard by the unexpected speed, Jang Man-hong wasn't worried.
Even now, his Frost Fang Slash was right on the verge of crashing down on Jin-hyuk's head.
No matter how fast the boy was, there was no escaping from this distance.
—!!!!!!
Jin-hyuk simply thrust his sword forward once more.
As the Wailing Ghosts screamed and dissolved, the ice swords held by Jang Man-hong began to crack and shatter.
With part of the wolf's maw formed by the Frost Fang Slash destroyed, the balance of the technique collapsed.
The Constellation [Satan] expresses regret over the crumbling fangs.
Jin-hyuk's thrusts continued to rain down.
Countless lines of light carved through the air, tearing the fangs apart.
—!!!!!!
Despite already being dead, a look of sheer disbelief washed over Jang Man-hong's face.
How could he spam such a powerful skill repeatedly like this?
You must be wondering how, Jin-hyuk thought.
But to Jin-hyuk, this wasn't a skill.
It was a sword technique.
A sword technique infused with his own will.
Because his stats were amplified by his traits, every single strike carried devastating power.
However, the most prominent difference was speed.
With his agility stat boosted, the powerful flames and beams of light moved too fast for the naked eye to track.
They ruthlessly pierced through Jang Man-hong's spiritual body, disintegrating it.
—!!!!!!!
Yet, Jang Man-hong was no easy opponent.
He had fought countless battles in life, eventually becoming one of the most formidable mid-tier rankers in the Tower.
Having survived so many battles meant he knew exactly what moves to make to secure victory.
Even in an unfamiliar situation like this.
—!!!!!!!!
*Whoosh!*
With a desperate roar, Jang Man-hong unleashed the Wailing Ghosts.
◈ [Fear]
◈ [Confusion]
◈ [Slow]
The Wailing Ghosts.
Ordinary people would faint or die just from hearing their wails, suffering from all kinds of status ailments.
By releasing them, Jang Man-hong bought himself precious time.
While the ghosts swarmed and tore at Jin-hyuk, he could widen the distance and strike again.
Wailing Ghosts, huh?
A smirk played on Jin-hyuk's lips.
But there was one thing Jang Man-hong didn't know.
"Do you really think that kind of trick will work on me?"
Due to the skill's effect, you are cleansed of all status ailments.
First of all, the power of mere Wailing Ghosts could never inflict any status ailments on Jin-hyuk, who possessed the vessel of a Constellation.
And that wasn't all.
Jin-hyuk knew how to handle Wailing Ghosts better than anyone else in the Tower.
The most important thing when dealing with Wailing Ghosts...
Jin-hyuk clenched his teeth.
...is to make them recognize a clear difference in power.
Currently, Jin-hyuk didn't possess any skills to control Wailing Ghosts.
But before his regression...
Jin-hyuk had held the title of the 'Wailing King.'
Why?
Out of all the possible titles, why was he called the Wailing King?
The reason was simple.
Before his regression, Jin-hyuk was the absolute king who ruled over the Wailing Ghosts.
Indeed.
Whether fighting against the Constellations or climbing to become the number one player in the Tower, he was the one who had dominated and utilized these spirits.
Trying to control Wailing Ghosts in front of Jin-hyuk was like trying to teach a fish how to swim.
*Flash!*
Normally, any player reaching the 9th floor would fall into despair and helplessness the moment they saw Wailing Ghosts.
But Jin-hyuk, as if dealing with old acquaintances, effortlessly suppressed them.
*Crack!*
Stepping right into the center of the swarm that sought to bind him, he delivered the final blow.
*Flash!*
With a light that dyed the entire world white, Jang Man-hong was completely obliterated.
—Keeeeeeh! Eeeeeeh!
—Kaaah! Aaaaah!
With the Ice-Sinking Ghost that controlled them gone, the Wailing Ghosts lost their anchor and began to scatter in all directions.
You have defeated the Ice-Sinking Ghost, Jang Man-hong!
Your level has increased by 20!
Perhaps because he had defeated Jang Man-hong, a mid-tier ranker who had transformed into an Ice-Sinking Ghost, his level shot up.
It was a massive jump of twenty levels.
It was a bit of a shame that he couldn't retrieve the points that had vanished when the man died the first time.
Ignoring all conditions, you have cleared the Main Quest: [9th Floor Trial].
Numerous Constellations are watching you.
The Constellation [Satan] laughs as he watches you.
*That bastard.*
Since Satan was the one who had harmed Kaelion, Jin-hyuk harbored a deep grudge against him.
Uncaring of Jin-hyuk's hostility, Satan merely looked at him with greed.
Far more intensely than any other Constellation.
Many Constellations are enthusiastic about your achievement!
Treated as an exceptional case, the name and achievements of Player [Lee Jin-hyuk] have been recorded in the 9th Floor Hall of Fame.
In any case, Jang Man-hong was completely gone, and the 9th-floor trial was cleared.
It was finally over.
From now on, you may challenge the 10th Floor Trial at any time.
*There are Constellations showing interest in you!
Presenting the list of Constellations who desire you.
*WARNING! The Constellation selection has been canceled by an unknown force.
You may now freely enter and exit the 10th floor of the Tower!
Moving to the 10th floor of the Tower, [Murim].
Before he could even look at the Constellations' offers, Jin-hyuk's body was warped away.
*Where am I?*
Jin-hyuk opened his eyes to find himself in a dense, lush forest.
Like the 5th floor, the 10th floor was a milestone floor, meaning its trial would follow a different format.
Even so, bypassing the Constellation selection process entirely was highly unusual.
*Something interfered.*
He didn't know what or who had intervened, but he had skipped the step of choosing a Constellation.
Of course, for Jin-hyuk, who had no intention of choosing a Constellation anyway, this was a welcome outcome.
Yet, it left him feeling uneasy and slightly annoyed.
There was a massive difference between choosing not to do something and being prevented from doing it.
*The Constellations want me. But there's an entity capable of interfering to this extent?*
This would surely spark massive outrage and division among the Constellations.
They were already on edge due to the interference of Jormungandr, Baal, and Satan.
"Well, they can figure that out themselves."
His confusion and annoyance were brief.
It was already done, and there was nothing he could do about it right now.
In times like this, it was best to focus on the tasks at hand.
Finding Kaelion and Elruin came first.
Exhaling slowly, Jin-hyuk brushed himself off and scanned his surroundings.
*Where exactly am I?*
Before his regression, Jin-hyuk had spent a considerable amount of time on the 10th floor.
Many of his former allies and factions originated from this place.
Even so, he couldn't immediately identify his location.
The 10th floor, Murim, was a world that perfectly mirrored the geography and scale of ancient China.
While it wasn't as vast as the lower floors, it was still too large to pinpoint his exact location instantly, especially in a dense forest like this.
"And I have so much to do."
Namgung Hun, Dang So-wol, and even the Heavenly Demon Cheon Hyang-un all called this place home.
Although they would eventually unite to fight against the Constellations in the future, at this point in time, they were likely trying to kill one another.
Altering this history was the core of his grand plan.
*Dang So-wol and the Dang Clan. Majuron and the witches. The Heavenly Demon Cult and Cheon Hyang-un. The Murim Alliance and the Evil Sect Alliance.*
There were hundreds of other things he needed to take care of.
Just as he had done on the 5th floor.
*But the most urgent thing is finding Kaelion and Elruin.*
[10th Floor Trial]
▶ Objective: Defeat a 'Strong Practitioner'.
🎁 Reward: Permanent right to enter the 10th floor.
🎁 Additional Reward: ???
☠ Failure Penalty: Returned to the 9th floor. (Can retry after 100 days.)
• The 'Strong Practitioner' specified in the Main Quest refers to a player who has cleared the 10th floor or higher.
• However, the criteria for the 'Strong Practitioner' designated by the Tower will vary depending on the player's current status.
• *The 'Strong Practitioner' must be stronger than the player who received the quest.
• Defeating the 'Strong Practitioner' within the time limit will clear the Main Quest.
Time Remaining: 5 years
The 10th-floor trial had a simple structure, much like the one on the 5th floor.
Of course, there were differences.
While the 5th-floor trial required surviving the entire three years to clear, the 10th-floor trial did not.
He just had to defeat someone stronger than himself.
In other words, he simply had to choose any player who had cleared the 10th floor and defeat them.
*Though the problem is that 'defeat' usually means subduing or killing them.*
Regardless, he had a lot of work to do here.
He needed to start moving immediately.
*Alright. First, let's find Elruin...*
*Rustle.*
Just then.
Something began to rustle in the bushes.
"...!"
Sensing an unusual presence, Jin-hyuk tensed slightly.
He raised his sword, preparing for a potential threat.
*What on earth is that...?*
"Uwooooooooooh!"
A thunderous roar echoed through the forest.
On the other side of the bushes, a man wearing nothing but a few leaves to cover his lower body was throwing wild punches.
*Ah.*
The moment Jin-hyuk saw the man's physique and face, a wave of complex emotions washed over him.
*I started climbing the Tower about five years earlier than in my past life, didn't I?*
In his previous life, he had entered the Tower ten years later than his companions.
And even after entering, he had hesitated for about five years.
*Right. At this point in time, this guy would definitely be here...*
"Russeeeeeeeell!"
With a single punch from the man, dozens of trees collapsed, and the bandits hiding among them were sent flying high into the sky.
"Mighty!"
At that exact moment, the leaves covering his lower body fell apart.
"Sigh..."
Jin-hyuk let out a deep sigh, having witnessed an eyesore the very instant he arrived.
*Russell. You're causing trouble again.*