The Devourer's Due

My fist collided head-on with the Talon Flame's beak.

The sound that erupted from two creatures of flesh and blood was indistinguishable from an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠explosion, shaking the entire mountainside.

From my hand all the way to my shoulder, the Thorn Armor I had deployed in preparation for the clash with the Talon Flame was completely shattered.

“Tsk.”

I frowned. My shoulder throbbed. The arm that had struck the Talon Flame bounced back the opposite way and now hung limp. It looked dislocated, completely out of its socket.

That aside.

“That was too close.”

I glanced down at the ground. The Talon Flame lay collapsed there, its body twitching intermittently.

“Krruk...”

The impact must have been considerable. What made the Talon Flame so terrifying was its incredible speed, overwhelming attack power, and the fact that it ruled the skies. In exchange, its durability was hopelessly weak. Precise timing and sufficient power—meet those two conditions and anyone could hunt it.

The Talon Flame must have taken heavy damage from the fist collision, because it soon dropped its head.

“H-he really hunted the Talon Flame.”

“What the hell did I just see?”

The voices of the Hwarang prospects were thick with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shock. What was there to be so surprised about?

I ran my left hand over the Talon Flame’s corpse. The soft texture against my palm felt pleasant. Its feathers were prized materials for crafting armor.

Now it’s my breakfast.

Without the slightest hesitation, I activated Devour.

“Oh.”

A short exclamation slipped from my lips. I had expected an essence related to speed, but this was far better than anticipated. An essence that let me read an opponent’s capabilities. Perception-type skills were considered high-rank even inside the Tower. While Eagle’s Eye fell a little short of true “perception,” absorbing related essences as I climbed the Tower would create a powerful synergy effect.

Once I devoured the essence, the dislocated bone snapped back into place. My arm still tingled, but it moved without issue.

To think I’d take down this bird-brain so quickly.

The Talon Flame’s territory covered all of Emirit Mountain. If I hadn’t fought the Hwarang prospects—including Park Jongwon—I would have had a hard time drawing its attention. The explosive roar of magic, my own Roar, the cold ring of metal. All the noise from the battle had echoed across the ridge like a dinner bell for predators. In the end, the Hwarang team’s blunder had done me a favor.

Since we had this connection, it would be nice if they cooperated a little more.

“Even if you’re leaving, you should at least say goodbye.”

I turned around. The Hwarang prospects, who had been sneaking away from the battlefield, froze mid-step.

The white-faced prospects stared at my claws. Even Park Jongwon, who had fought until the bitter end, looked on with a rigid expression. I flashed them a grin.

“I’ll spare your lives.”

Come as you please, but leaving requires a toll.

* * *

After some peaceful negotiations, I relieved the Hwarang prospects of five intermediate potions.

“Safe travels. See you around.”

I waved at the prospects as they hurried down the mountain ridge. None of them even turned their heads. They clearly wanted to put as much distance between us as possible, as quickly as possible.

I never expected to score potions like this. I gazed at the sloshing red liquid with deep satisfaction. Potion recovery speed and potency varied by grade. Intermediate grade could reattach a severed arm or leg—though it took some time. Five of them were more than enough insurance for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dangerous situations.

If I don’t use them, I can always sell them.

Intermediate potions went for about fifty million won each on the market. To someone living in 2025, that was an enormous sum. I’d save them for now and sell them at full price once I returned to the outside world.

While they were handing over the potions, one of the prospects shouted desperately.

“Aren’t you afraid of retaliation from the Hwarang Guild?”

“Nope. Go ahead and report it. Tell them another player took your potions.”

The prospect’s face turned beet red as he ground his teeth. Only an idiot gets robbed and then complains about it. I snorted. As if the Hwarang Guild would welcome that report. Prospects were players with “potential.” Getting suppressed and robbed by an unsupported player in the tutorial stage? Reporting that would likely get him expelled. Or he’d have to return all his gear and spend his days doing menial chores to repay the guild’s investment. It was obvious who stood to lose more.

Oh, right. I leveled up. Time to distribute my stats.

“Status window.”

I stared at the status window with a satisfied smile. Looking only at the listed information, I seemed less like a tutorial participant and more like a seasoned veteran from the Tower’s lower floors. Knowing the future truly was incredible. Thanks to steadily accumulating essences through Devour, every stat had broken past fifty. On top of that, Dragon Heart granted bonus magic power every time I used the skill. For the time being, I wouldn’t have to worry about running out of mana no matter how many skills I used.

I still have a long way to go.

I clenched my fist tightly, burning with renewed determination. The true enemies hidden behind the Tower—the Old Gods. To face them, I needed to grow stronger faster. I had to monopolize the Tower’s hidden secrets and devour every monster essence with Devour to obtain the power necessary to defeat them.

After rekindling my resolve, I reached into my pocket. The wooden training doll. It was the reward I’d obtained from the basic training ground. After the continuous battles, twelve hours had passed and it was ready to use again. Items like this were worth keeping close.

I pressed the button on the doll’s neck with my right hand.

The ten-centimeter doll expanded to human size. I had grown used to the sight by now. With my elongated claws, I sliced off the doll’s head—the one that had copied my own face.

Damn, luck really was on my side. I had devoured eleven different essences so far. The wooden doll had copied ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the one I wanted most. If only it worked like this every time. If I kept using it, I would eventually collect two essences perfectly.

“Haaam—”

A yawn heavy with drowsiness escaped me while I was burning with motivation. Come to think of it, I haven’t slept at all. Since entering the tutorial stage, I hadn’t taken a proper rest once. Even with the Earth Mother Goddess’s Protection and Devour, I couldn’t completely shake off the fatigue. Before my regression I could move for days without sleep, but entering the Babel Tower had made me unconsciously follow those old habits.

Time for a short break.

Rest was also part of combat. I turned and re-entered the red cave. Emirit Mountain was mostly rocky terrain with almost no trees. Sleeping in the open would leave me completely exposed to monsters. Just in case, I activated Thorn Armor over my entire body.

It had been a while since I last slept while staying on guard. Keeping my senses sharp enough to wake at the slightest sound, I gently closed my eyes.

* * *

“Mmm…” A short groan escaped me. The fatigue that had clouded my mind vanished cleanly. Fortunately, nothing had happened while I slept. Because I had kept my senses razor-sharp, any hint of hostility or killing intent would have woken me instantly.

I flexed my fingers and toes. My body responded immediately. Thanks to the rest, my physical condition was at its peak.

Time to move.

I squeezed through a gap in the rocks. The moment I emerged from the cave, sunlight pouring over the ridge slammed into my eyes.

“Ow, flashbang.”

Coming out of darkness made the light feel even harsher. I squeezed my eyes shut, then slowly opened them. The sunlight gradually softened. On the opposite horizon, a round moon was beginning to reveal itself. Unlike yesterday, it was nearly full. It still couldn’t shine through the sunset, but it was definitely a full moon.

I thought it would be today or tomorrow.

I fiddled with the pocket. The moonstones inside clinked against one another. It was a good thing I had bought them on the first day even if I had to push myself. If I had gone to the merchant now and returned to Emirit Mountain, I would have run out of time.

Lucky me.

With a faint smile, I strode forward along the ridge. The goal of this climb was the summit of Emirit Mountain. More precisely, the long cliff just below the peak.