Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Hermes' Winged Sandals and the Iron Golem
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‘Hermes’ sandals and an Iron Golem?’
Shin Yu-hyun couldn’t help but be surprised. Just like on the first floor, he had received legendary-grade equipment as a reward.
And on top of that, a 5-star Iron Golem.
Flash!
In an instant, a burst of golden light exploded before Shin Yu-hyun’s eyes.
By the time the light faded, a luxurious-looking box and a massive figure stood before him.
“To think they’d give me rewards like this again.”
Shin Yu-hyun couldn’t stop a smile from spreading across his face. Following Hades’ gauntlets, Quinear, from the god of the underworld, he had now obtained another piece of legendary equipment.
His gaze then shifted to the Iron Golem.
The hulking giant, standing a full five meters tall and clad in jet-black steel armor, exuded an overwhelming presence even as it simply stood there motionless.
Its arms in particular were abnormally massive, reminiscent of a Flesh Golem.
‘It looks like a Flesh Golem dressed in black armor.’
Yet even with just the armor added, it possessed a rugged, heavy charm that put the Flesh Golem to shame.
And its performance was incomparable. If the Flesh Golem was a low-grade 5-star boss, then this Iron Golem was a top-grade 5-star boss.
‘Another trump card added to my arsenal.’
Shin Yu-hyun curled the corner of his mouth as he eyed the Iron Golem.
In truth, when the Iron Forge Group had attacked his clan with magic beasts last time, the spoils Shin Yu-hyun obtained weren’t limited to soul points, magic cores, Red Essence, and Life Essence.
He had two more hidden away as trump cards.
Adding this 5-star boss Iron Golem made it three.
‘I can’t reveal all my cards.’
The same went for other superhumans. They never revealed a full thirty percent of their power.
Shin Yu-hyun also kept his black magic and undead summoning skills under wraps.
For use when the time was right.
‘Next up…’
Shin Yu-hyun turned his eyes to the black box placed before the Iron Golem.
Hermes’ sandals were probably inside.
Click.
Without hesitation, Shin Yu-hyun opened the box.
‘Hmm. Looks good, but…’
The design was a bit too unique.
No, honestly speaking, compared to modern shoes, it looked downright outdated.
The color was a shiny silver, and it was an ankle-high boot with small wing ornaments on both sides.
“They expect me to wear this around?”
In this day and age, it was far too eye-catching for everyday use.
‘It really has that old-school vibe…’
Just like with Quinear last time, Shin Yu-hyun felt a twinge of doubt.
Was this really something the first Immortal King had obtained from the ancient gods?
“Insane.”
Shin Yu-hyun’s eyes widened as he checked the details of Hermes’ sandals. The unique skills were ridiculously overpowered.
Blink allowed short-range teleportation within a few meters, while Sky Step let him walk on air.
It was akin to one of the advanced forms of lightness skill: Walking on Air.
Finally, Change was a skill that allowed the wearer to freely alter the design of Hermes’ sandals, Talaria—exactly what Shin Yu-hyun had been worried about.
‘With this, I can fight in the air.’
He had already been planning for aerial combat: either acquiring a flight-capable artifact or mastering Walking on Air.
But flight artifacts or abilities were a distant prospect. Even Walking on Air required reaching 7-star master level.
Now, with Talaria, aerial combat was within reach.
And it even came with short-range teleportation via Blink?
‘It’s like they prepared exactly what I needed in advance.’
The Tower of Trials had been created by the first Immortal King for his successor.
The rewards for clearing it must have been gathered and prepared by the first Immortal King as well.
Did that mean he knew what equipment his successor would need?
‘I’ll find out what the next floor’s reward is soon enough.’
Either way, as long as it helped him crush the Getia worshippers and magic beasts, he didn’t care what it was.
‘I have to stop them no matter what.’
Can I really do it?
He had already discarded such weak thoughts. It wasn’t about whether he could—it was that he must.
Failure would only bring hell crashing down on Shin Yu-hyun once more.
Shin Yu-hyun removed his military-style boots and slipped on Talaria.
Shin Yu-hyun changed Hermes’ sandals into a plain black design.
‘Light and comfortable.’
Talara was as light as a feather, with excellent elasticity and cushioning.
‘I need to get used to handling it.’
Time in the real world flowed slowly while inside the Tower of Trials.
So he could practice Talaria’s unique skills here until he was proficient, then return.
It wouldn’t hurt for the skeletons to train and hone their skills in the meantime.
With that, Shin Yu-hyun decided to stay on the second floor of the Tower of Trials until his prepared rations ran out.
Namdu Group Artifact Research Institute.
Basement Level 4, Multipurpose Lab.
“Director, experiment prep is complete.”
“Got it. Stand by.”
Nam Yeon-ah nodded at the 30-something researcher’s words and looked down at the multipurpose lab from the control room.
At the center of the lab sat a crystal fragment connected to cables.
Until now, Nam Yeon-ah had researched the crystal device fragment alone.
But with no real breakthroughs.
Like other dungeon drops, it was made of materials unknown to Earth, and its purpose was a mystery.
‘This is the product of an advanced civilization.’
She had determined it was artificially created. The crystal’s molecular structure was as complex as an electronic circuit.
Like a semiconductor made from high-density integrated circuits.
‘Who made it?’
Nam Yeon-ah wasn’t alone—humanity had long questioned dungeons.
From the system given to hunters, to the unknown dungeon spaces, magic beasts, and items.
Nothing could be explained by modern science.
Yet the crystal fragment Shin Yu-hyun had asked her to investigate was an even greater mystery.
Without his advice, she wouldn’t have even grasped its purpose.
‘But that ends today.’
Nam Yeon-ah smiled at the crystal.
Today, in Basement Level 4’s multipurpose lab, she had prepared various experiments with her team of researchers.
To uncover the crystal’s true nature.
“Begin final checks.”
Nam Yeon-ah glanced at the crystal through the control room’s bulletproof glass, then turned and gave the order.
“Yes, understood.”
“Mana connection cable check. Clear.”
“Power connection cable check. Clear.”
“6-star magic core mana output confirmed. No issues.”
“Power system check. No issues.”
“Crystal status. No issues.”
“All crystal inspection systems normal.”
At Nam Yeon-ah’s command, the control room researchers checked and reported each item as clear.
“Commence crystal analysis experiment.”
And so the crystal investigation began.
Black Tortoise Hall underground training ground.
“It’s been a while.”
Shin Yu-hyun gave a wry smile.
Having conquered the second floor of the Tower of Trials and returned, his appearance had changed slightly. His hair and stubble had grown a bit.
Even if real-world time barely passed, the time spent inside the tower affected his body.
‘My stats have risen nicely.’
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction.
Conquering the second floor had greatly boosted his Dominance. Thanks to commanding nearly 1,500 undead.
And training on the second floor had raised his other stats too.
Shin Yu-hyun smiled in satisfaction at his status window.
The new unique trait Necromancy (SSS) upon reaching 4-star.
Presence Detection (S), gained from real combat experience in his previous life and battling thousands of monsters on the first floor.
And on the second floor, his stats had improved.
Strength and Agility up by 1 each, and Dominance by a whopping 4.
‘Might have been impossible without the second floor.’
On the second floor, Shin Yu-hyun commanded over 1,000 undead.
Possible because defeated enemy zombies could join his side.
If he had to summon undead from corpses, it would have taken time—mana was required for each.
Even with Chakra’s efficiency, he’d have run dry and needed constant breaks.
‘Fitting for the Tower of Trials—the difficulty is no joke.’
When the 5-star bosses swarmed on the second floor, cold sweat had dripped down his back.
He couldn’t summon boss-grade familiars like Chiron or White Wolf, nor use his hidden trump cards.
Facing multiple 5-star bosses with basic undead felt daunting.
But luckily, there was a key: defeating the enemy undead faction’s 5-star boss golems let them join his side.
Without that rule, even Shin Yu-hyun would have struggled.
‘The rewards match the challenge.’
The Tower of Trials offered immense rewards for its difficulty.
And crucially, Shin Yu-hyun grew stronger with each visit.
Whether his own power or his undead legion.
“Time to rest today. I’ll tackle the third floor later.”
Like the first floor, the third would take a real-world week.
As Shin Yu-hyun turned to head from the underground training ground to his room in Black Tortoise Hall,
Vrrr!
His smartphone vibrated in the inner pocket of his DF coat, a melody ringing out.
‘Who could it be?’
Shin Yu-hyun tilted his head and pulled it out.
‘Nam Yeon-ah?’
The caller was none other than Nam Yeon-ah.