Scorching Pursuit in the Tower
Mu-hyuk's old acquaintances from the Black Guild were also making their way through.
"Whew, it's definitely getting hotter as we go."
They too had entered the Tower of Trials.
"Hasn't it been hotter since we hit the hall?"
"Yeah, feels like it."
The guild master leading them, Hyuk-su, wiped the sweat dripping from his brow with the back of his hand.
"Man, if it gets much worse, we might collapse from exhaustion."
"Whoa, that'd be insane."
"Let's keep pushing for now."
"Got it!"
The Black Guild halted as they advanced.
Krrrng...!
A monster had appeared, and they needed to deal with it.
"Tanks up front!"
The tanks stepped forward, blocking the beast's attacks. They had the sense to draw their swords and taunt it whenever aggro threatened to shift.
"Tanks, you two okay?"
The creature was a Red Orc Berserker.
Level 155.
It should have been a tough fight, but thanks to their gear, it wasn't as bad as expected.
"Yeah, still good!"
"Shield's +6 enhanced—plenty of room!"
Hyuk-su grinned at the sight.
Enhancements really make the difference.
"Still, don't push too hard—rotate out!"
"Yes, sir!"
They took their time, no rushing.
Calmly dispatched the beast, then pressed on.
They reached the far end of the massive hall.
"Hmm, hold up."
Hyuk-su raised a hand, halting the group.
"A ton of branching paths."
The problem was the heat haze shimmering from every one, distorting the air.
Meaning those paths were even hotter than this hall.
"I'll scout ahead first."
"Ah, sure."
Hyuk-su's expression hardened the moment he stepped into a branch.
Your stamina drains rapidly due to the intense heat.
HP decreases by 10 every 10 seconds.
Damn...!
If it got hotter the farther in he went?
HP would drain faster and harder.
The monsters weren't the issue.
Surviving the heat was the real trial—he realized it in that instant.
He retreated hastily.
"Hoo... haa."
"Guild master, you alright?"
"How was it?"
Hyuk-su turned to face his guildmates.
"HP started ticking down the second I stepped in."
"N-No way...!"
"Wasn't too bad, though—we could push a bit farther. But it ramps up quicker the deeper you go, and the heat's way worse. We'll probably need to head back to town at least once to prep. So, what do you all think? Stock up on heat countermeasures now, or push on?"
The guild fell silent, pondering.
"Uh, guild master...?"
One man called out to him then.
"Yeah? Got an idea?"
"N-No, not that..."
Hyuk-su tilted his head.
"Uh, I mean—Mu-hyuk's coming from that side...!"
At the name Mu-hyuk, he whipped around.
Sure enough, there he was.
Mu-hyuk spotted him too, eyes widening slightly.
"Fancy meeting you here."
"Ah, yeah. You're here too, Mu-hyuk."
"Of course."
An item suddenly came to Hyuk-su's mind.
"Oh, right—heard you flooded the auction house with enhanced gear."
"Yep, dumped all the stuff I'd crafted at once."
"Any left for Black Guild?"
"Naturally."
Hyuk-su beamed.
"Thanks."
"No biggie. It's the deal. Not great chatting here—hit me up when we log out."
"Will do."
They exchanged quick greetings, and Mu-hyuk's group passed by.
Eh...?
Hyuk-su's eyes sharpened.
It felt cool. Definitely.
As Mu-hyuk brushed past, the heat vanished for a split second. No illusion—he locked eyes on them.
"Branching paths—which way?"
"Pick anywhere."
"Roger."
They chose one without much thought and dove in. Watching their casual ease, Hyuk-su was convinced.
Something's up.
He called out urgently.
"Mu-hyuk!"
"Yeah?"
"That path's brutal heat... you good?"
"Ah, yeah. Pretty toasty."
"I see. Got it."
Their gazes met briefly.
"Alright, good luck."
Mu-hyuk turned away.
And quickened his pace.
Once he was far enough...
"Check Illusion TV."
"Mu-hyuk's channel?"
"Yeah."
A guildmate fiddled with his interface and spoke up.
"Uh, he's not streaming right now."
"Figured. Vice guild master?"
"Yes."
"Check a couple things."
"Like what...?"
"When Mu-hyuk went offline from Illusion TV. And which auction items suddenly dropped in quantity right after."
"Auction house has too many to comb through..."
"Hm, then just check stuff we rarely use."
"On it."
A cryptic smile tugged at Hyuk-su's lips.
*
Mu-hyuk glanced back as he walked.
"Hmm."
They'd come far—no sign of the Black Guild master.
Sharp instincts.
He might have caught on.
Whatever. Doesn't matter.
Even if Black Guild cracked the heat puzzle, it wouldn't faze him. He was confident they'd clear faster anyway.
He faced forward again, raising a hand. Three Red Orc Berserkers had appeared.
Mu-hyuk summoned minions to handle them, then immediately cast Revive.
Krrrng.
He moved on with the revived orc berserkers in tow.
More orc berserkers appeared.
Dealt with them.
"Revive."
He built up their numbers a few at a time like that.
"Easier than I thought, bro?"
"All thanks to the shards, yeah."
"Totally. Oppa’s prep game is god-tier."
They kept a cheerful vibe as they exited the passageways.
Another hall appeared—and the moment they entered, Mu-hyuk felt the heat for the first time since picking up the shards.
"Uh...?"
"Not just me, right?"
"Yeah, heat's picking up a bit."
Curious, Mu-hyuk stowed the Cold Energy Shard in his inventory.
Blazing heat slammed into him like a gut punch.
Your stamina drains rapidly due to the intense heat.
HP decreases by 20 every 10 seconds.
He pondered the message briefly.
20 HP every 10 seconds.
120 per minute.
1,200 in 10 minutes.
That was as far as his math went. His mind fogged up—thinking felt impossible in the swelter.
Just 30 seconds without the cold shard, and sweat soaked him.
"Haa..."
He hurriedly pulled it out again.
Most of the heat faded.
A little lingered, but it was just mild late-spring warmth now.
Passing another hall brought the full brunt of it. Early summer midday sun levels.
"Oppa."
"Yeah?"
"This cold shard thing."
"Mm."
"It's... melting?"
Mu-hyuk pulled out a bunch from his inventory and divvied them up equally.
"This should hold us."
"Whoa, you're the best!"
The deeper they went, the faster the shards melted.
"Gotta hustle before we run out."
"Yeah, got it!"
"Understood, my lord."
"Okay, let's move."
Hunting was a breeze, so they kept good pace.
But after three more halls, even with shards, sweat drenched them.
"I'm down to a few already."
"Me too..."
Mu-hyuk was in the same boat.
"This is bad..."
No shards left, and they'd have to turn back.
"Wait, hold on."
Mu-hyuk furrowed his brow, stopping.
Another hall ahead.
Stairs at the far end.
"Entrance to floor 2!"
"N-No way! Let's go, hurry!"
Sung Min-woo bolted.
Your stamina drains rapidly due to the intense heat.
HP decreases by 10 every 10 seconds.
The heat overwhelmed the shards, gnawing at HP.
But they didn't stop. The entrance was close.
As they dashed past the hall's center, the ground rumbled—a mid-boss spawned right at the entrance.
A hulking Red Orc Warlord.
At the same time.
Black Guild master Hyuk-su listened intently to his vice guild master's report.
"Cold Energy Shard and Hot Energy Shard—those two?"
"Yes. Right after Mu-hyuk went offline from Illusion TV, 400 of each hit the auction house. They usually sell maybe 10 a day—super slow movers. I was digging for heat-related stuff and it jumped out."
Hyuk-su chuckled.
"Knew I could count on you, vice guild master."
"Haha, no sweat."
"Good work."
"Thanks."
"Tell everyone to grab about 100 each."
"On it."
Hyuk-su bought his share too.
So that's it.
Explains how Mu-hyuk and his crew breezed through the heat.
But...
Questions swirled.
How'd he know? And why the hot shards too?
Does he already know about floor 2 in a tower this new?
He shelved the doubts—this was a huge help regardless.
"Everyone stocked?"
"Yes!"
"Then let's roll."
Back into the tower. As heat built, he pulled a cold shard from inventory. The swelter vanished like magic.
"Whoa..."
Eyes turned to Hyuk-su's murmur.
"Ah, haha. You just use a cold shard?"
"Nah, not yet..."
"It's brutal now, right? Give it a shot."
The whole guild pulled theirs out.
Whoosh.
A wave of coolness sent shivers through them.
"W-Woah...!"
"Incredible!"
"Guild master, this is freezing good!"
"Heat's totally gone...!"
Hyuk-su shushed them frantically, finger to lips.
"Shh!"
"Ah...!"
Too late—nearby players stared.
"Hey, feeling cool over there?"
"Uh, well..."
"What's in your hands?"
"How do we get that chill? Spill!"
"Black Guild, right?"
"Some special trick?"
Hyuk-su bowed his head amid the barrage.
Damn it.
Word spreading would just ramp up the competition.
He steeled himself.
"Guildmates."
"Yes!"
"Pick up the pace."
They bolted at full speed. His guild followed suit, stomping the ground. Nearby players chased on instinct.
"H-Hey!"
"Tell us!"
"Chase 'em!"
One hall down.
"What? HP's draining!"
"Ah, crap...!"
Two halls passed.
"Guild master!"
"What!"
"They're not following anymore!"
"Oh, really?"
Hyuk-su stopped, checking behind.
No players in sight.
"Phew, close one."
The shards kept the heat at bay for now.
"This stuff's amazing. Almost melted, though."
"Mine too—grabbed a fresh one."
Everyone looked relaxed.
"Plenty of spares?"
"Loads."
99 cold shards left in inventory each.
"Let's hit floor 2 before these run dry."
"Yes, sir!"
They'd catch Mu-hyuk for sure.
With that resolve, they marched on.