The Tower's White Miracle

Towers emit black light.

Rampaging towers lose their light.

Some even call them massive, soot-covered ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tombstones.

But right now.

The tower on Jeju Island, which had become a useless eyesore, was shining once more.

Not with black light.

But with a brilliant white glow.

Bureaucrats, journalists, camera directors.

Everyone on site had lost their words, staring only at the mystical sight.

Complete silence.

Korea's non-alliance declaration?

Forgotten in an instant, wiped clean like a blank slate.

Whoosh!

The light enveloping the entire tower gathered at the summit and shot toward the sky.

Splitting into multiple clusters high above.

[Saaaaah—]

It descended across Jeju Island.

And then.

"Holy...!"

"My God...!"

A miracle occurred.

The land touched by the light began regenerating at a rapid pace.

Cracked earth turned fertile.

Bare trees sprouted leaves.

Clear water flowed in the streams.

And that wasn't the end.

Scattered throughout the landscape were people, dazed and bewildered.

Who are those people...?

Where did they come from all of a sudden...?

A truly supernatural phenomenon.

Amid the chaos enveloping the venue, Cha Minhyuk and the Korean delegates felt their hearts swell.

'This... this wasn't in the plans at all.'

'Could it be the power of Hitchhiker?'

Shivers, shock, ecstasy.

They'd gotten a heads-up.

Just that he'd use a cooldown reset to push straight to the 40th floor.

The miracle unfolding on Jeju Island in the screens now was utterly unprecedented.

But they were certain.

It had to be Hitchhiker's power.

Who else could perform such a miracle?

'Regenerating barren land.'

Cha Minhyuk felt a profound relief wash over him.

When all of Jeju's monsters had been swept away by the meteor, one image had come to mind.

The Jeju residents now huddled in refugee centers across the mainland.

The dream of them returning to their original homes.

Of course, it would only happen with Hitchhiker's permission.

'My thoughts naturally extended there.'

To the issue of land regeneration.

A field where research had been impossible due to swarms of monsters.

Not just Korea.

Every nation faced the same.

Only a handful of superpower nations like the US might have made progress.

That's why he'd been slightly rattled by Elliot's words earlier.

'No need to worry at all.'

Of course, jumping to conclusions was unwise.

Hitchhiker might have other plans for the territory.

Then the communication arrived.

Orders regarding Jeju Island.

"Understood."

Cha Minhyuk's lips curved upward.

Meanwhile, Elliot was overwhelmed by a sense of utter powerlessness.

His carefully laid equipment venture had been overshadowed by the meteor, stealing the world's attention.

And now the land regeneration project loomed with dark clouds.

'Even outside tower competition, we're getting crushed like this...?'

It felt like every move was blocked.

Was failing to find Hitchhiker leading to such fatal consequences?

There was still hope.

Jeju's regeneration.

It might not be Hitchhiker's power, but a natural reward from the monsters' annihilation.

As joy and sorrow intertwined.

The Jeju tower ceased its light emission.

And began pulsing softly.

A gentle, warm white.

At the tail end of this magical moment, someone spoke as if snapping out of a trance.

"Hitchhiker...?"

A single murmur.

But not from one person alone.

Everyone at the site had Hitchhiker on their minds.

The summit hall descended into total pandemonium.

Questions exploded toward the man most likely to have answers.

Cha Minhyuk.

"Does Korea know anything about what just happened?"

"We have no details. But as everyone suspects, we believe it's related to Hitchhiker."

"What special plans does Korea have for Jeju Island going forward?"

"Dispatching an investigation team is the obvious next step. We'll identify the suddenly appeared individuals and survey the regenerated land."

Camera shutters fired relentlessly.

Delegates from every nation strained to gather every scrap of info.

"What about the alliance! Didn't the alliance proposals appeal to you?"

"Not at all. There were far more excellent proposals than we deserved, but we judged Korea has sufficient competitiveness on our own."

Then.

"What about that promise—"

The questioner trailed off.

The promise. It meant the holy water supply.

Status ailment trials from the tower were still in effect.

But going solo?

It would be rational for Korea to cut off holy water supplies.

As anxiety spread.

"Regarding the promise, there will be no reversal."

Cha Minhyuk quelled the unease.

Sighs of relief echoed everywhere.

A deep gratitude toward Korea welled up once more.

If they wanted, Korea could rampage like the US, China, or Japan.

Of course.

'We're not supplying holy water without countermeasures.'

Cha Minhyuk recalled Hitchhiker's message from yesterday.

And the most important part.

New consumables? What could they be?

Thick anticipation and excitement filled Cha Minhyuk's chest.

Then came the question ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no one had dared ask, gauging the mood.

"Has Korea successfully made contact with Hitchhiker?"

In the sudden silence, Cha Minhyuk steadied his breath and answered.

"Yes. We have."

The summit hall flipped upside down once more.

New round, day 2.

The world couldn't sleep properly.

From the meteor fall in the previous round.

To the end of this emergency summit.

Shocking events had unfolded without respite.

The summit sparked a flood of search terms dominating portals.

Korea immigration. Korea visa.

Korean language study. Immigration prep procedures, etc.

The mood was dead serious.

Not for everyone, though.

But replies poured in soon enough.

The post was quelled in seconds.

The symbolism and impact of a "perfect safe zone candidate" was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠immense.

For top nations.

Or bottom ones.

Rampage risk was something everyone lived with daily.

And among countless posts, one exploded with views and upvotes.

A second analysis post too.

Arguing Korea called the emergency summit out of consideration for others.

Why?

Korea, flooded with global love calls.

For solo play, skipping the summit would've been better.

They could've delayed announcement to sow chaos.

Atop Jeju's tower summit.

Carmina and Yulia, checking the laptop at the table, whipped around to face him.

Then.

"Ack! Too bright!"

"We cannot even dare to look upon you, Your Majesty?"

Even Hati covered its eyes with paws, mimicking them.

Hey, don't do weird stuff.

Hati's watching and learning.

Click.

Ahem, photo snapped first.

Anyway.

Korea's global reputation was piercing the heavens.

"But those analysis posts! So sharp! Whoever wrote 'em has eagle eyes lol!"

"Both posts were pre-written and scheduled by Mr. Cha Minhyuk."

Carmina dropped her nacho, eyes shaking like she'd learned Santa was her dad.

"Octopus uncle... manipulating opinion...?"

"Hehe, but if people's thoughts differed, it wouldn't have gotten this response."

Yulia was right.

The agency posts were just the spark.

The blaze came from massive agreement.

Favorable views on Korea.

'Helpful in many ways.'

International standing.

Or future voting events this round.

Whoooosh—

A cool breeze blew.

He looked down at the tower base.

People gathering, dazed, on the restored landscape.

"Every time I see it, it's amazing! Original residents revived! Any awakeners among them?"

"More new faithful join. Joyful."

Residents' revival.

Like Nosferatu and Lumentia tower purifications.

Probably those killed by monsters inside or outside the tower.

Government rescue teams would handle ID checks.

And Jeju Island.

'No rampage risk ahead. Plenty of uses.'

Quick question.

How'd he purify Jeju's tower, impossible before?

Leveling up as an awakener.

Hit 40, teleported via spatial magic to test. Success.

Other areas like Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do probably need higher levels.

Vaster land, after all.

"37 to 40! Massive power leveling!"

"Thanks to using two reset tickets."

Three from last round rewards.

Used two today.

He'd pondered.

Save till round end for surprise score spike.

Or snowball early via fast climbs.

Chose the latter.

Endgame would be 70s floors with longer clears.

Last-day bursts tough.

And.

36-40 extra rewards summary.

Two reset tickets. Hot streak.

"Master! I pulled those, right? Labor reward! Hanwoo beef out! Tuna sashimi too!"

"Hehe, I pulled one too. No need to thank. But limited Glenfiddich whiskey dropped? Leader?"

You pulled mana stones.

Memory tampering now?

Anyway.

Stockpiling feels enriching.

'And 40-floor tower coins x100.'

400,000 tower coins acquired.

Lumentia's towers could start reactivation soon.

This pace, phase 2 mission quick.

Only two left.

System, you watching?

This too easy?

"Leader, shouldn't we test the new skill too?"

He turned.

Allies peering at the 40-floor skill tooltip.

He'd pondered it.

How to use it to build buzz?