The Beggar from Last Year

The "Tutorial Tower Guardian" encountered on the 10th floor takes on a different form for each person.

Some face a guardian in the shape of a goblin, others a kobold.

The reason is simple.

The Tutorial Tower Guardian changes based on the trauma buried in the challenger's subconscious.

And that trauma usually takes the form of a monster encountered in the Tutorial Tower.

After all, for modern 21st-century folk, it's rare to have trauma worse than the beasts met in the Tutorial.

But right now, the bastard in front of me has taken the form of a snake.

Is it because dragons are reptiles too?

I still haven't shaken off the lingering dread, and facing this massive serpent makes my body tremble reflexively.

This is too much.

I'm going insane.

At that moment, the giant snake—which had its eyes closed—began to slowly open them.

Two pairs of eyes fixed straight on me.

For a split second, its face looked so vicious I wondered, Is that even a snake?

As it stared me down and gaped its maw ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wide, hot flames began swirling around its neck.

“……”

Hot.

Insanely hot.

Could I even get close?

The heat pouring off the snake was so intense it made me think that instinctively.

Letting out a hollow chuckle, I wished fiercely in my mind.

Black scales erupted over my right arm.

Successfully activating Black Dragon, I clenched my fist tight.

It's just a Tutorial Tower monster anyway.

I can handle it.

The giant snake opened its maw toward me.

A massive blaze poured out from it.

It's a Tutorial Tower monster, so despite the looks, it shouldn't be that strong.

Taking a deep breath, I swung my fist with all my might to deflect the flames.

“……”

Everything but my "right hand" charred pitch-black.

So this is what dying feels like.

Pretty damn pathetic.

But since I respawn, my body's back to perfect condition. Gotta focus on that.

A spot far from the giant snake.

Sitting cross-legged, I let out a long sigh.

"Thanks to Black Dragon screwing with the system, I respawned on the 10th floor instead of the 1st, but…"

The snake was still coiled solidly behind the jade throne.

Conclusion: to leave the tower, I have to beat that thing…

"Can I even?"

The Tutorial Tower Guardian shifts based on trauma.

Yeah.

Trauma.

I got it wrong.

The trauma that bastard fed on is "Black Dragon."

It took the form of something so intense I couldn't even breathe just facing it.

No way ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠something like that's weak.

Of course it'd be ridiculously strong.

Stroking my chin, I pondered seriously.

How the hell do I beat that thing?

The answer I came up with was…

"Nothing."

Zero.

How am I supposed to beat that?

Just touching the flames turns me to ash.

No path to victory in sight.

I probably can't win head-on against that giant snake.

Yeah.

Head-on, that is.

"Hey there, snake buddy."

Step, step.

Left hand in my pocket, I walked toward the giant snake.

The snake uncoiled and rose as I approached.

Flames from "earlier" still flickered around its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠neck.

Without hesitation, I activated Black Dragon and charged.

It spewed flames at me without fail.

And I burned.

"Sending me off again, snake buddy?"

Step, step.

Left hand in my pocket, I walked toward the giant snake.

The snake glared as I approached.

Flames from "a while ago" still flickered around its neck.

I activated Black Dragon again and charged.

It spewed flames without fail.

And I burned.

"Getting boring, huh?"

Step, step.

Left hand in my pocket, I walked toward the giant snake.

The snake gaped its maw as I approached.

Flames from "hours ago" still flickered weakly around its neck.

I charged without activating Black Dragon.

It spewed flames without fail.

And I burned.

“……”

Step, step.

Left hand in my pocket, I walked toward the giant snake.

No more greetings needed.

Not for it.

Not for me.

We both knew what was coming.

The snake predictably gaped at me.

Flames from "days ago" flickered feebly around its neck.

I poured everything into Black Dragon and charged.

It spewed flames without fail.

And I extinguished them.

"You're weakening?"

That was the right call.

Monster or not, it's a living thing.

Living things tire eventually.

Even its flames have limits.

So I kept ramming my head against it.

Once, twice.

Dozens, hundreds, thousands of times…

So many deaths I lost count.

After endless battles, the giant snake's flames weakened.

If Black Dragon hadn't broken the system.

If I respawned on the 1st floor instead of the 10th.

I never could've tried this.

Grinning, I swatted the weakened flames with my right hand and kicked off the ground.

For the first time, the giant snake bared its fangs at me.

"Kyaaak!"

Boom!

Its head slammed into the ground.

I dodged back lightly and punched the empty air where its head had been.

Bam!

A massive explosion sent the snake's head reeling back.

Damn, it's tough.

Sync rate was 0.2% at first meet, now 0.7% and it's still hard to land a solid hit.

Deep breath, I thrust my right hand at its retreating head again.

But its tail whipped my gut first.

"Kuh…"

Whoosh!

My body lifted off.

Painful.

If I hadn't blocked with my right hand, it might've ripped me in half.

Can't let that happen.

Not when I've earned this chance.

Biting the inside of my cheek to ignore the pain, I smashed my fist into the tail now right in front of me.

Squelch from my hand.

Tail softer than the head?

One strike turned it to mush. Grabbing the crushed tail, I slammed it into the ground on the opposite side.

"Kieeeek!"

Thud-!

The giant snake thrashed wildly amid the quake.

Bouncing from the recoil, it wailed in agony and gaped wide.

I smashed my fist into its belly.

That instant—

"Ugh!?"

Whip!

Its ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠body coiled around my arm with alarming speed for its bulk.

Then it hurled me to the ground just like I'd done to it.

"Kuhuk…"

Stars burst in my vision, brief as it was.

But I can't fall.

Grinding my teeth, I forced myself up, spat the blood pooling in my mouth.

"Hoo, hoo."

"Ssek, ssek."

Me, it.

Both exhausted to the limit.

Difference: I'm mentally drained from hundreds of deaths.

It's physically worn from my headbutts.

I can do this.

One step toward it.

The snake halted, flames surging like it was its last stand.

"Kiiiiieeeeek!"

Whoosh!

The dim ruins lit like midday.

Heat piercing my skin.

Body burning away, I calmly raised my right hand.

"See ya in a bit."

Stab.

Right hand through its chest.

The snake froze, question mark over its head.

Coughing blood, I smiled faintly at it.

Blurring vision.

Collapsing body.

And—

Perfectly restored body.

Respawning instantly, pain gone, I clenched my fist at it.

Its position was exactly my respawn spot.

Dumbass.

Never guessed I threw myself there on purpose.

Spawned midair because it was standing there.

Plummeting, I eyed its head.

Head's insanely tough, as proven.

If I don't kill it now, repeat forever.

Need more power.

Firmer than now.

Stronger than now.

Unleashing full power, I clenched harder.

Crackle.

Thick black mist leaked from the scales.

It spread, growing denser.

Soon enveloping my right arm thickly.

Right hand wreathed in black mist.

Power doubled the moment it filled.

This'll do it.

The snake's pupils dilated looking up.

My reflection in its black eyes: smiling brighter than I've ever seen.

"Peekaboo, you fucker."

Thud.

Fist smashed its head.

Something solid shattered at my knuckles.

Krunch-!

Head cratered into the ground.

Sound that shouldn't come from stone.

Crack-

Vibrations cracked the ruins.

Pillars began crumbling.

Thump.

Strength drained post-strike, I tumbled down its body.

Spread-eagled on the floor, gasping raggedly.

I won.

The "alive" sensation sank bone-deep.

Ah, is this what life is?

Feels fucking amazing.

Tilting my head back, I looked at the dead Tutorial Tower Guardian…

…Still alive?

What the hell.

Its head was smashed in.

Caved-in crown, yet blinking at me.

I tried to rise and fight.

But my creaking body ignored the command.

Dead meat.

Fine by me.

Die, respawn, fight again.

Mentally fraying, but grit my teeth and—

Bright light surged from my feet.

The familiar floating sensation enveloped me.

Wrapped in light before I could react.

When I came to—

"…Where's this?"

I opened my eyes inside an unfamiliar building.

Cautiously opening the door, I stepped out.

Familiar layout.

Looking around, I followed the hall.

Stairs should be this way…

"No way it's actually…"

Actual stairs.

What déjà vu.

Frowning at the prickling sensation, I descended.

Half a floor down, glancing out a small window—I dropped my jaw.

"…This is the construction site?"

Right before entering the Tutorial Tower.

The view from my worksite matched perfectly.

No way.

Face hardening, I raced down to the 1st floor.

Bursting through the glass door, I dashed outside.

Staring at the snow-blanketed ground, I muttered.

"What the hell?"

I was only gone a week?

Why?

"Why's it winter?"

Whiiiish—

The wind cut like a blade.

Shivering, white breath puffing, I turned.

A familiar translucent window floated there.

Hard to hit exactly like that on purpose.

Sighing at the infuriating window.

4444.4 hours.

Cause was definitely then.

When I faced Black Dragon.

No other explanation for the anomaly.

Minutes felt like seconds.

Seconds like ten minutes.

Way more time passed than I thought.

Chucking bitterly, I squatted, scratching my head.

Climbed non-stop to beat Kim Taesung's record.

Gritted through hundreds of deaths.

Out now, and it's all pointless.

Vain emptiness hit. Eyes closed on the snowy street.

It was winter.