The End of Floor 1 (5)
"This is the 9 o'clock news. At around 7:49 PM yesterday, we finally succeeded in conquering the first floor of the long-awaited Doom Tower. As a result, emergency martial law was lifted at 5:37 AM today, and all media censorship and restrictions on associations have been completely removed. The government has announced it will strictly crack down on organized terrorism and criminal activities by religious groups or citizen organizations exploiting the Tower's curse."
"Yes, I'm here at the downtown plaza. Since early morning, crowds of citizens have gathered to commemorate the 'first day without the curse.'"
"Some are shedding tears and embracing each other, while others quietly gaze up at the sky. On-site citizens are expressing disbelief with comments like 'I can't believe it' and 'Is this really the end?', but they're also showing relief at escaping long-held fear. Some are spontaneously placing small candles and flowers to mourn those who sacrificed themselves during this time. This has been a report from the scene."
Crunch— The salty tang of potato chips flooded his mouth as he chewed.
He'd only gotten four hours of sleep, but this was the most entertaining news he'd ever watched in his life, so he was pretty satisfied.
"Ahh—"
The pretty anchor, field reporter, policy experts, and more continued the broadcast. Then, a voice that somehow felt like it was targeting him directly rang out.
"Huh?"
The potato chip heading to his mouth plopped onto the floor.
Luckily, the one shouting to reveal his identity was some doomsayer with a sign around his neck reading "Accept the End and Be Saved!" The people watching the interview nearby were frowning too.
It's rumored some countries are internally reviewing extreme measures like 'sacrificing part of humanity to raise overall survival chances,' and the Climber Association reacted fiercely, calling it "another extremist act shoving climbers into the jaws of death without hesitation."
Beep—!
"Tch—"
Reactions were split: those wanting to enjoy the festival now, and pessimists insisting it was just delayed by a year. There was also subtle pressure to "find the Doom Tower Floor 1 conqueror!"
If they find me, they'll shove me right back in the Tower?
Honestly, it didn't matter much to him... but the moment he registered as a climber, things would get annoyingly hectic.
Cash in the Tower items through the Climber Association...
The Climber Association, where climbers gathered, handled cashing out pinnacle items for those wanting to hide their identities, along with legal support and personal protection. They weren't exactly trustworthy saints... but they handled money cleanly for a fee.
Barter Tower materials via the Hub System, then sell to the Association to make a living.
"For now... guess I gotta head back in?"
Nothing helped the world more than climbers frequently entering the Towers. From Normal difficulty up, you could extract materials via the Hub System and sell them.
Easy mode only allowed purchases... but with his Super Special Very Easy Mode, sales should work too.
Do you wish to enter the Tower?
"Yes."
Doom Tower Floor 1
New Origin Tower Floor 2
"Hmm. Doom Tower first."
He had to grab what was left after clearing. Rent was tight this month anyway.
*****
The Towers discriminated against climbers.
Easy difficulty climbers could only get clear rewards. Over half even had binding restrictions.
All gear, herbs, Magic Stones, etc., from conquests couldn't be taken to Earth. Only trading or buying via the Hub System was possible.
Normal difficulty gave unbinded rewards on clear—meaning sellable to others. Most Hub System market listings were from Normal players.
Hard difficulty climbers could gather resources, mine, collect monster byproducts in the Tower environment. Money duplicated, basically. Sure, monster-infested areas made relaxed farming impossible... but snagging a few was still huge. Limits on quantity and weight per climber, but profits were massive anyway.
Any Hard climber walking the streets was pulling tens of billions in annual salary.
Survival? Gathering worked the same as Hard.
But there was one critical difference.
"Hup! Hup!"
He snapped the necks of his hobgoblin sunflower pals effortlessly and entered the cave.
This was the difference between Survival and Hard.
The presence or absence of the invisible wall restriction he'd likened to a transparent barrier before.
Hard climbers couldn't even imagine what lay beyond this creepy cave. But he knew—as a citizen, he could see it.
Beyond that cave: the spot with the giant centipede, sunlight pouring in, an underground colossal tree stretching to the ceiling, and a beautiful lake cave beyond. No one told him; he just knew.
This was the real goldmine honey pot.
Brimming with excitement, he surveyed the cave forest.
Only after a while did he realize his hands were empty when he looked down.
"Why?"
He'd searched everywhere—nothing.
No wonder Hard users cursed up a storm...!
They unlocked the function, but nothing spawned. Like scientists dissecting otherworld critters for thrill, picking at pinnacle creatures yielded crap efficiency.
Climb that tree maybe?
He looked up at the colossal tree, its green and faint golden shimmer rippling. Sunlight filtered through leaves, casting leafy patterns across the vast underground. A beautiful, mystical sight.
Hold on—sunlight pouring in?
The surface was breached.
The hobgoblin-guarded spot was a vast cliff with just a cave mouth; you couldn't cross without passing through.
But now?
A new world unfolded beyond a space the Tower never permitted anyone to pass. Maybe a glimpse into the true nature of this Tower-created world.
"So how the hell do I climb this?"
Bigger than any Earth tree. No way up. Slipping and snapping his neck would end it. Pie in the sky, basically.
"Probably nothing special anyway..."
As he suppressed pointless frustration with that thought, a message floated over the distant lake.
No—the message was moving!
"Huh? Whoa!"
Splash—! With that sound, something surfaced briefly, splashing before diving. A massive koi.
Swimming like a jewel, emitting golden light, it blurred mistily in the beautiful lake like an insubstantial liquid or hologram. The light seemed to seep from deep within its body, not external.
And clearly floating above its head: a message.
Yeah, he got it. That was the main treasure of Doom Tower Floor 1.
A mystical creature only Tower conquerors could see, invisible in reality. Captivated, he fixed his gaze—until it sank to the lake's depths.
"No fishing rod?"
Of course not. Real-world items couldn't be brought in. Making one himself? Impossible.
Like the cave beyond, just something to gawk at like forbidden grapes?
Maybe lunge at it...?
Hoping curiosity might draw it near, he waded knee-deep into the lake and stood still for hours.
Hours later, it hadn't shown its face once.
"Yeah, figured. Didn't expect anything anyway."
Standing so long made his knees ache and calves burn.
"Ugh..."
No one else would kill or snag it, right? He'd never heard of a hidden. The term was his own game analogy anyway.
Maybe no one found it, or they hid the info... but a rare thing like that probably wasn't catchable by just anyone.
Others faced that massive man-eating centipede there.
Even if the Tower favored solo play, hidden rewards went to the first finder only, right?
Growing inexplicably anxious, a message appeared before his eyes.
24 hours have passed since all Towers' Floor 1 conquests.
A curse will be applied to all climbers upon Tower entry. This curse converts to a blessing upon clearing the Joint Trial.
The concept of Floor 1 Joint Trial is neutral.
The corresponding Floor's Joint Trial will be imposed on all climbers.
Guild function unlocked.
Origin Tower Floor 1 curse applied: 'All skill acquisition probability reduced.'
"Ah, ah?"
Joint Trial. Climber curses. An ominous new Tower function unlocked, its message resounding everywhere.