Conquering End Difficulty: Floor 21
On the way home from the End difficulty 21st floor. Buzz.
The vibration rang out as I headed home, so I checked my phone.
What the hell is this? We're not close enough to be chatting like this.
But her tone in messages is pretty nice. In person, she's a total bitch. No wonder successful people in the real world are the worst.
I gave a vague reply, then stuck the blue key into my studio apartment door and turned it. It was past midnight, so my daily Tower entry limit had reset.
'Don't push yourself? Not an option right now.'
I was going insane with the urge to cast magic right that second. I stepped into the darkness.
"Let's go to the 21st floor."
"Right away, sir."
I asked the same elevator guy, and the doors soon closed.
Vrrr—.
Unlike the first floor, the ascent took a bit longer. Maybe that's why the elevator guy struck up a conversation.
"You're that guy, huh."
"Pardon?"
"Meetings got called starting from lunch yesterday because of you. Haha, the Management Bureau was in total chaos. It was hilarious."
"Sorry about that."
I said something I didn't mean.
Ding!
The elevator's hum and arrival chime rang out together.
021st Floor Arrival (END)
The doors opened as the alert popped up.
"Have a good trip."
The same farewell. Whether it's good or bad is still unknown territory.
'End difficulty......'
I took the first steps in the world as the very first person ever.
A warm breeze brushed my cheek. My vision filled with grass growing as tall as me.
Familiar scenery. Floors 21 to 30 are themed around the elves' forest.
I'd already seen it fighting Arakhan.
'Normally, it'd be two giant plants.'
Info on non-boss monsters in the lower-ish floors was public. Hunters had filmed and uploaded videos.
'As long as the enemies don't change......'
I held my breath and advanced. Luckily, my highest-tier trained magic was fire, so the matchup was favorable.
"......What the."
I could see the enemies I had to face.
Like giant pitcher plants. Twice the height of an average man, with grass on either side whipping like lashes.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Grazed even slightly, and your bones would shatter—terrifying speed.
A gaping mouth squirmed alive on top. Exactly 16 of these fear-inducing foes.
'Difficulty bumped up to eight times normal?'
It was the kind of thing that begged for "You're kidding."
No hunter fresh on 21 could clear this.
My mouth gaped open.
"This shit's easy as hell?"
Impossible's for the incompetent. I'm different.
The tension was pointless. I'd worried about brand-new monsters.
'Plants turning monstrous are still just weeds.'
I snapped my fingers.
A spark bloomed at my fingertip from the friction, streaking skyward.
The moment that speck hit its target height.
"Burn."
I poured in mana, and a fierce pillar of fire slammed down.
⟦Kieeeek—!⟧
Not a pleasant sound. Who knew plants could scream?
Perfectly incinerated one. I gestured in the air, summoning a sudden gust. No need to burn more mana.
Just the right breeze.
In a forest, fires spread like crazy.
⟦Kiee—!⟧
The giant plants thrashed their heads wildly, hunting for the shaman somewhere.
Pointless.
Those grass-tentacle arms couldn't reach my hiding spot.
Mages don't fight head-on.
1 vs. 15 by numbers.
Cowardly? Prioritize my safety, done.
Soon the flames spread to scorch around me.
'My resistance keeps it cozy anyway.'
I cloaked myself in mana; even my clothes stayed fine.
A short wait later.
Time Elapsed: 00:05:20
An anonymous hunter has updated the End difficulty 21st floor record.
Republic of Korea region: Ranking changes will be announced to all affiliated hunters!
First clear rewards distributed! Settlement in progress.
As expected—clear it, and I'm first and rank one everywhere.
No one else on this difficulty yet.
No need to push for extra rewards; perfect for a mage.
'If the bumped difficulty means proper benefits, this was a smart choice.'
Heart pounding, I quickly looted the 15 corpses. Mana stones the size of coins littered the burning ground.
'Too hectic last time to grab 'em.'
Money. Main income for regular hunters.
Can't miss a penny if I want a place in Seoul.
Shoved them all in my pocket, and another alert popped.
All additional rewards replaced with Roulette.
Roulette?
A tacky spinning wheel appeared before my eyes.
Pam—bbam!
It spun with upbeat music. Did the Tower have this kind of reward?
I stared blankly as it slowed... and stopped on a tiny 'S' section.
Acquired Braham's Self-Defense Manual!
Pop! An old book dropped. What the hell.
'S rank means rare, at least. Good?'
Who's Braham? Am I the only one out of the loop?
Tossed the loot on the desk. Showered first thing back home.
"Heh heh heh."
Drying my hair, I gazed at the 15 mana stones and grinned. At least 100,000 won each—1.5 million a day. 1.5 million!
Wait, hourly rate, technically.
"I'm rich now."
Lighthearted, I flopped onto the bed. Logged into the system via 'Hunter Gallery'.
If I'm keeping this up, I need their info. Time to get used to it.
"Hm?"
The board's mood was off.
Too late for regrets now. I'm not sharing info anyway.
One post caught my eye.
Normal's the safe pick, right? I'm an F-rank awakener......
'Right, new difficulty option opened for humanity.'
I'm just the first; seems open to all now.
Crazy demons driving him to death.
I know from experience—not F-rank survivable.
You have been blocked.
Tried posting a reply in a hurry, but got blocked. Rage surged to my throat.
She didn't even need my nick—insane processing speed.
'Thanks!'
Who else is this reliable? As generous as those huge tits, great personality too.
Wanna hug her.
Didn't matter what trash said. Hope my warning reaches in time.
But no post from the newbie, no matter how long.
Probably dead.
"......"
Felt shitty. Idiots egged him on, but choice was his. No one's fault, no guilt on me.
Still.
After a moment's thought, I started a new post.
15 giant plants on 21. Hope clueless newbies don't make bad choices.
P.S.: Got an old book as S-grade reward. Anyone know info, share?
Dogs always barking at goodwill, shitting everywhere.
Enough. Messaged her.
She got it perfectly, short and sweet.
Comments started vanishing; board mood shifted.
See? That's power.
Love you, prophet.
Can't spill details due to restrictions.
But who'd lie in a dump like this? Dude's insanely capable IRL.
Perfect character too. Never seen anyone so flawless. Pulls up the hunter average from shit-tier.
Show respect.
Last, a shoutout from gallery troll Lee Han-seong, and everyone started believing me.
Finally satisfying reactions.
But as I said, regrets useless. No more free info.
'Newbies shouldn't screw up now.'
Closing the gallery, one comment hooked me.
"That's what it was."
But as a mage, maybe different? Hopes up, I opened Braham's book.
"......"
Quite some time passed.
"What the fuck does this say."
Closed the last page, spat frustrated curse.
Zero clue. Every phrase vague, disjointed—impossible to parse. What world's language is this twisted shit? Mana-readable was miracle. Sell as comment said.
Pop!
Then a light pop, and the grimoire Forbidden Book of Divine Punishment appeared.
"What......?"
No time to question—the grimoire flipped open. Teeth sprouted from the pages, chomping my book.
"You crazy bastard!"
Crunch crunch!
Rushed to stop it, but dodged quick. Even burped.
"Jealous of another book or what?"
Been feeling it lately—this thing's alive?
Whoosh!
It flew at my stunned face, shoving text in.
Grade 1 Naraksik () 0/1
Explanation: Body plummets to the abyss, but salvation blooms in the breath.
Water-attribute defense technique created by the famed Roosevelt family.
And into my mind.
Braham's (48, empire-shaking mage) memories flooded in.