Splash of Blood
Splash!
“Graaah!”
The minotaur let out a final bellow before crashing to the ground with a thud.
You have successfully conquered the 50th floor of the Magic Tower.
The results of my month's hard work were on full display in the minotaur's temple.
Success in solo-clearing the 50th floor. Of course, I hadn't used Abyss of Hell.
“Stats window.”
I opened my status window.
Title: Massacre from Hell | Remaining Stat Points: 0
Massacre Points: 4325
After conquering the hidden stage a month ago, I'd earned a new title. I still hadn't figured out how to use the massacre points. The five remaining stat points from the title had all gone into agility, making it stand out way higher than the rest.
Considering my current fighting style, agility felt a bit more advantageous. Anyway, for taking down bosses, I could just use Abyss of Hell.
Over the past month, I'd aimed to repeat the 50th floor, but Choi Seung-rok's advice—that experiencing floors 1 through 49 again would sharpen my combat sense and first-time experience—convinced me. Today marked the end of my solo climb from floor 1 to 50.
Weapons: two daggers. After the hidden stage, I'd realized I needed proper gear and asked the Hunter Association president for a pair. I hadn't named them yet—no deep attachment—but I'd grown pretty familiar with dagger combat.
Confidence for the 51st floor? Sky-high. Now it was all about mind control.
I'd planned to head home, rest up, and do some image training, but...
“Oh, you're back?”
“Good to see you.”
Uninvited guests were already lounging in my living room like they owned the place, watching TV. My brother and Choi Seung-rok.
“Bro, if you're coming over, give a heads-up. I was gonna do image training at home today.”
“Figured you might be nervous, so we came to cheer you on.”
“No footage, no image training.”
“True... but still, within the predictable range...”
Last week, over dinner with the three of us, Choi Seung-rok had mentioned how I “self-harm the second I enter the tower.” Ever since, my brother had been dropping by often. No matter how many times I explained it was for the skill, he didn't buy it.
“Deok-su. Check the TV first.”
“Huh? What's that old guy doing there?”
Kim Cheol-su was holding a press conference on TV.
“I'm the one climbing the tower—why's he...”
“Association president called earlier, said to do it together. Why do you leave your phone at home?”
“Too annoying to carry in the tower.”
“There's a storage locker out front.”
“That too.”
“Sigh. Eaten yet?”
Sensing my resolve against carrying a phone, my brother changed the subject.
“Nah, not yet.”
“Let's eat together soon. Last day—family should dine as one.”
“Bro... I'm not heading off to die tomorrow.”
The media's pessimistic spin on my challenge lately had him thinking I was signing up for some legal euthanasia campaign.
“Deok-su. Rethink tackling the 51st solo tomorrow. Everywhere you go, it's all about you—and not a single positive word.”
“Watch the news, hear what people say.”
Right on cue, TV featured a so-called hunter expert.
“Joining us for tomorrow's 51st-floor attempt is hunter specialist Professor Kim Eung-ok. Hello.”
“Hello.”
“Professor, your take on Kang Deok-su's 51st-floor challenge tomorrow?”
“Hate to be pessimistic, but I'm not optimistic about success.”
“In numbers?”
“Honestly, under 10%.”
“Bro, you know that's all bullshit, right?”
I glanced at him. His eyes were bloodshot red, like Blood God Transformation was about to trigger any second.
“An inexperienced S-rank soloing a floor that stumped three veteran hunters? Success would make Kang Deok-su one of the world's top hunters. But that's exactly why it's no easy feat.”
“Heh... why phrase it like that?”
I was unfazed as the guy in question, but my brother looked downright gloomy.
I shot Choi Seung-rok a glance, silently begging for backup.
“Not 10%, but 20%. No need to worry too much.”
10% or 20%—same difference. Far from helping, it sank my brother deeper.
“No—at least say it's a sure success. No big deal. That's what you gotta do.”
“Sure success. No big deal.”
Choi Seung-rok parroted, staring at my brother.
Fucking parrot?
Probably killed too many monsters—forgot how to talk to people.
But is Choi Seung-rok, who doesn't know about my EX-rank skills, even the right guy to comfort him?
Whatever anyone said, the die was cast. Proving it was on me.
Dawn broke, and I headed to the Korean Magic Tower.
As always, its spot smack in central Seoul drew crowds of gawkers and reporters, packing the entrance.
“Kang Deok-su Hunter! One word on your resolve for this conquest!”
“Uh... I'll give it my all.”
Joo Tae-su would've just ignored them, but that was still tough for me.
“Mr. Kang!”
Word had spread globally—U.S. and Chinese networks were here too. My challenge mattered that much.
Would you like to enter the 51st floor of the Magic Tower?
Yes.
I stepped inside without hesitation. With all those people outside, it was more uncomfortable out there.
As Kang Deok-su entered the tower, broadcasts began the countdown.
“Now! Kang Deok-su Hunter has begun his conquest!”
No matter the odds, an S-rank's life hung in the balance—eyes were glued nationwide.
Kim Cheol-su watched from his office too.
“Please...”
He just hoped I'd prove him right. Failure tomorrow—whether the five hunters succeeded or not—meant backlash for him.
“Hoo...”
Cold air rushed in again. But this felt different from the 50th floor's cavern.
“Sea breeze...?”
Stepping in revealed it: the theme was ocean.
“Kraken or something...?”
1:59
Short timer too. I stabbed a dagger into my side.
Sting.
“Kuh!”
Familiar now after practice.
Blood God Transformation
A method I'd devised in the hidden stage to quickly berserk for mob clears. Over the month, I'd stabbed various spots to master—adapt to—the technique. Note: floor 42, thigh stab nearly killed me. Agony with every step.
Conclusion: shallow side stab was best. Key: trigger with one stab.
Without faith in Abyss of Hell as instant-kill insurance, I'd never pull this madness. EX-rank safety net lets me max S-rank skills.
Anyway, I'd hit my target benchmark from a month ago.
Thoughts swirled, but tower climbs taught me: during conquests, empty the mind, focus solely on the raid.
I plunged into the shimmering portal.
Floors 50+ theme: ocean. No water at entry, but ankles-deep upon entering the stage.
Field effect, huh.
Unlike lower floors' mere aesthetics, the field now impacted gameplay.
“Kiaaak!”
Bipedal humanoid with squid head. Honestly, comical enough for a chuckle if not such a critical moment.
Pshh!
It spat ink-like fluid from its mouth.
Sizzle...
Hit the wall—melted part of it. Acid-coated, apparently.
I closed in at invisible speed, stabbed its neck, pulled out. Thanks to Blood God Transformation. Then rolled back two somersaults.
Sizzle...
Its blood had corrosive effects too. Compared to lower floors, more petty traps now.
“Hoo.”
Blood poured from my side. Self-imposed time attack.
Whatever—limit's two hours anyway.
Shock death or timeout death: same end.
As HP dropped, eyes bloodshot in sync.
Whoosh!
I charged, took one down, pivoted to the next without breather.
Stab! Stab! Staaab!
Twenty-ish mobs cleared in under five minutes.
I dashed across the hall to the next stage.
Shwooo!
Ceiling split—waterfall poured from above.
“What the—?”
Water rose to my knees in no time.
“Kueeek!”
More squids there, spears in hand this time.
They charged like warning lights flashed.
Whoosh!
I carved pretty slices into the not-so-fast squids.
“Kuek!”
This is manageable.
Cleared the rest, moved to next room.
Shwooo!
Waterfalls from both ceilings now. Waist-deep. Legs felt sandbag-weighted.
Blood God let me outpace them despite handicap, but other S-ranks must've struggled here.
This room's full clear took about twenty minutes.
“Hoo... hoo.”
1:19
Plenty left, but rising water brought mental pressure like no other.
Next: chest-high, probably. Deep breath, straight to next room.
Shwoosh!
Water overflowed again. Chest to neck in seconds.
Hoo... good thing I'm tallish—almost drowned.
Average height would've submerged me. No real difference—swim anyway.
Splash!
Dove in. Underwater combat: two issues. Visibility shit, and I was drunk as a skunk.
Fuuuck...
That explained the mounting dread.
Hoo... stay calm.
“Hup!”
Surface for air, dive again.
Just vermin anyway.
Focus on mind control. Then—a harpoon from the side.
Splash!
Tried quick dodge, but body lagged.
Kuh!
Shallow gash on side, but spotted foe—rammed dagger into its neck.
Bubble bubble.
It spewed air bubbles, went limp.
Hugged its corpse piggyback, wrapped tentacles around me.
Problem: murky water, no visibility. Wait for them to come.
Key: survive first attacks.
Stab! Stab!
Two harpoons from the side. Squid corpse-shield worked perfectly.
Shoved shield toward source, closed in. Squid-heads couldn't distinguish friend from foe.
Narrowed gap via corpse, stabbed new one.
“Kieeek!”
Added fresh shield. Repeated a dozen times—no more attackers.
Surfaced finally.
“Hooah!”
Fuck... oxygen tank for 52+ mandatory.
Advice to future 51 challengers: bring scuba gear.
Luckily, fewer mobs than prior stages. Tower had some mercy.
“Hoo... short break.”
Full breaths, entered next.
Shwooo.
Water rose as expected. Headroom like a person's skull-width—barely breathable.
No air? Might as well awaken fish for tower climbs.
Scanned alertly, no time for thought.
Humans adapt. Eye sting lessened, visibility better.
Shwick!
Something blurred past—fast! Squid probable, but excessively so. Water-amplified, matched my speed.
Clang! Clang!
Metal scrape rang in ears.
Whoosh!
No time to think—blade incoming.
Kagak!
Dodged? Nah—arms up defensive, blocked. S-rank gear held.
Motion stopped—I reached past blade for foe.
Pshuk!
Sharp pain pierced hand.
Guhk!
Fuck, how many weapons?
Kicked away desperately. First real terror since tower start gripped me.
Could legit die here.
Insurance-less S-rank? Panic city. Glimpse during hand stab: squid, sword in hand. Heard of three-sword style—eight-sword? First.
What mad bastard designed this?
No retreat. Reached for Abyss of Hell.
Aha!
Idea flashed. Flattened to floor fast.
Straight-line swimmers: hard to hit grounded target.
They flipped upside-down, swords paddling water toward me. Heads exposed.
Shwick!
Frog-jumped off floor using gravity.
“Kieeek!”
Vibration carried scream underwater. Used launch accel to stab head; miss? Drop, retarget.
No learning from them, thankfully.
Ten minutes repeat: all dead.
0:49
Am I kinda talented? Felt proud sans Abyss of Hell.
Stage end: not portal, but doors.
Stared at familiar door underwater.
“Huh?”
Boss room.