Floor 4 (3)
Yun-seok used the filter to display only conversations from Earth-born challengers. As a result, only the chats from ‘GrapeJam’ and ‘Kalopa’ appeared.
‘So, because they’re from Earth…’
The possibility had grown stronger. Of course, he didn’t think it was Kang Hyung-woo. There was no way Kang Hyung-woo, who had been nothing but an ordinary person when he returned home a few days ago, could be on the 4th floor at this point. Still, a nagging suspicion wouldn’t go away.
Until now, Yun-seok had only lurked in the chat, never once participating. He had nothing particular to say, and experience had given him a general aversion to such things. But now, unable to hold back, Yun-seok manipulated his tablet and messaged Kalopa.
No reply came.
Thinking maybe it hadn’t been seen, he repeated the message several times, but it was the same every time. Complaints started pouring in about spamming, and only then did Yun-seok stop.
Is he deliberately ignoring me? Or did he just leave the chat room?
He couldn’t tell. But he wasn’t out of options.
Nomination Ticket (Rank F): Designates an opponent for the duel. Total AP must match exactly, and cannot be used on the same target again. Sale price: 2,000 AP
‘Perfect, the AP matches exactly.’
If it was just a ridiculous coincidence, it would be a pointless waste of AP… but Yun-seok didn’t hesitate.
Your purchased item has arrived.
Please check your personal inventory.
Kalopa. He had to find out who was using that nickname. Even if it wasn’t Kang Hyung-woo, it was surely connected to that bastard somehow.
Using Nomination Ticket.
Please enter the target's nickname.
‘Kalopa.’
Matchable opponent.
Did that mean it was complete? The nomination ticket in his hand crumbled to ash.
Until next duel: 23:11:04.
Quietly checking the time, Yun-seok continued his training to adapt to his once-again strengthened body. Somehow, today time seemed to crawl by especially slowly.
Predator nominates you as duel opponent.
You can use a Defense Ticket to reject the nomination.
In the 4th floor waiting room, Earth-born challenger Lee Chang-hoon tilted his head at the sudden message.
“What the hell? Predator? Who’s this crazy bastard?”
Some challenger had spent AP to nominate him specifically. To reject it, he’d need a Defense Ticket worth a whopping 2,000 AP. Lee Chang-hoon couldn’t make sense of it.
“Why nominate me…?”
He hadn’t anticipated this, but he’d always behaved quietly in the chat room and never revealed his nickname during duels. Meaning, no one should have a grudge against him. So why this bolt from the blue?
“Fuck…”
Lee Chang-hoon felt his heart racing. The moment the nomination message appeared, an inexplicable anxious instinct surged up. A feeling that something was terribly wrong. His gut feelings like this usually proved accurate, so he couldn’t ignore it this time either.
The problem was, he’d just upgraded his gear and didn’t have that much AP left.
“Ah, damn… I already spent all my points…”
Lee Chang-hoon checked his remaining AP: exactly 300. Enough for one F-rank ticket. Without hesitation, he bought it. But…
Ticket use prohibited.
Such exploits weren’t allowed, it seemed. Biting his nails, Lee Chang-hoon pulled himself together. He’d been startled by the sudden nomination, but on second thought, total AP matched exactly, so it was an even matchup. No need to assume defeat already.
‘Besides, even if I die, I only lose one coin, right?’
Lee Chang-hoon had trained in kendo and loved games. Nothing special, but surprisingly, those experiences had greatly helped him survive in the Tower of Heaven. Thanks to that, even after reaching the 4th floor, he had three coins left—relatively comfortable. Of course, he had no intention of just dying.
‘Stay calm and first figure out who the opponent is.’
Lee Chang-hoon entered the chat room and searched for ‘Predator.’ The conversation history popped up.
The challenger named Predator was wondering if he was the same person as Kang Hyung-woo. It seemed they’d messaged right when he’d left the chat to look up what a nomination ticket was.
‘What’s this about Kang Hyung-woo? Why’s he looking for him here?’
Kang Hyung-woo was Lee Chang-hoon’s friend. Rich, good personality—they’d been close since middle school. They’d naturally drifted apart after college, but they still kept in touch occasionally.
‘Choi Yun-seok? Is that loser still hung up on it? Made things so convenient for me back then.’
Recalling school days, Lee Chang-hoon smirked. He briefly wondered if Predator might be Choi Yun-seok. Not impossible.
‘Kalopa’ was his gaming ID, and one day when Kang Hyung-woo was watching him play, he’d called in Choi Yun-seok to level it up for him. That’s how he’d made the rankings.
‘Wait… no way, is it really Choi Yun-seok?’
His smirk vanished as his expression changed. If Choi Yun-seok was really Predator, asking if he was Kang Hyung-woo upon seeing ‘Kalopa’ made perfect sense. Honestly, nothing else even came close to explaining it.
Still, Lee Chang-hoon dismissed it as ridiculous and shook his head.
‘Nah, no way. What kind of guy is he?’
A guy whose self-esteem was rock bottom. He couldn’t even meet Kang Hyung-woo’s eyes, let alone his own. When he’d even picked a fight with the class bully on Yun-seok’s behalf, the guy just took it without fighting back.
‘Impossible. How could that idiot make it this far?’
Lee Chang-hoon shook his head. This was surely just his imagination. But if that imagination turned out true…
‘Then I hit the jackpot, right?’
It’d be a free win. The Choi Yun-seok in his memory was a total pushover.
Assuming it wasn’t Choi Yun-seok, he messaged back, but no reply—probably left the chat.
In a fit of anger, Lee Chang-hoon threw out a threat and closed the chat. Then, for the first time in a while, he moved his body and practiced. He’d realized coordination between stats and skills was everything and had slacked off lately… but today, it felt necessary.
Prepare. Duel will begin soon.
Time flew, and the duel approached.
The moment the countdown began, Yun-seok’s eyes widened briefly. It had been seven years since middle school, but he recognized him instantly.
“Lee Chang-hoon…”
One of the perpetrators who, along with Kang Hyung-woo, had relentlessly bullied Yun-seok. Sure, they might have excuses—like they were just following orders or afraid of crossing Kang Hyung-woo. But Lee Chang-hoon didn’t fall into that category. He had the ability to stand up for Yun-seok against Kang Hyung-woo but instead joined in, tormenting him viciously.
START!
The duel started, restraints vanishing. For a moment, they stared from afar, like reuniting old acquaintances.
“…It really was you? Ha, this is fucking ridiculous.”
Lee Chang-hoon laughed incredulously, his eyes filled with disdain. A familiar gaze to Yun-seok.
“What were you thinking? If I were Kang Hyung-woo, were you planning revenge or something?”
“……”
Yun-seok stayed silent. Revenge? He hadn’t thought that deeply. He’d just needed to check. He hadn’t expected Lee Chang-hoon either. So now what? While he pondered, Lee Chang-hoon kept mocking him relentlessly.
“Hey, you pathetic loser. If you got dragged into a place like this, your only thought should be surviving and getting out. You still wanna pull this shit? Huh?”
“……”
“That’s why I hate losers like you. There’s always a reason for it, right? No normal ones among you.”
Yun-seok was genuinely curious. Why treat the victim like a psycho while acting like the perpetrator was normal? Anyone could see the bullies were the abnormal ones. Even if the victim drew a blade of revenge, no one could point fingers—they hadn’t lived it.
“So, what’re you gonna do about it?”
“……”
“Ignoring me? Say something, asshole!”
Lee Chang-hoon yelled, just like back in middle school. It helped Yun-seok steel himself easily.
“I was worried you might apologize or something… but you’re still the same.”
“Ah, so I’m revenge bait too?”
Lee Chang-hoon continued, exasperated.
“You’re such a joke. Still holding a grudge over shit from years ago?”
Yun-seok finally admitted it: no point talking. If anything was to be settled between them, it’d be through the duel—winner and loser decided. So he drew his sword.
Lee Chang-hoon just sneered again.
“Dual swords? Read too many comics?”
Yun-seok didn’t respond, just stared. Lee Chang-hoon raised his own sword—kendo training made it a sword too. His eyes showed clear annoyance at the dual blades. But separately, he didn’t rush in. Reminiscing the past was meant to psych him out, but admitting tension hurt his pride, so he played it cool… He wasn’t stupid.
‘What the hell… why’s he changed so much?’
Conditions here were equal, unlike on Earth. Same starting body, same 62,000 AP spent growing. No knowing who was superior until they clashed. Yun-seok had reached the 4th floor, so he surely had an ace.
“You… how many coins?”
With swords pointed, Lee Chang-hoon asked. Yun-seok thought he misheard. At this range, even one breath mattered. If Yun-seok had charged the instant he spoke, he’d have the advantage.
‘Does he not even know that basic shit?’
Maybe baiting carelessness? But the follow-up proved otherwise.
“We’re middle school classmates, after all. Killing a one-coin guy would feel off, y’know?”
If it really felt off, he wouldn’t ask. Asking about coins was surely to gauge Yun-seok’s experience. Now Yun-seok saw it clearly: despite trying to hide it, Lee Chang-hoon was extremely tense against him.
“Six, so don’t worry about weird stuff. Not my style anyway.”
Lee Chang-hoon’s brow twitched at the sarcasm. Anger aside, it complicated things.
‘For real? Six means undefeated so far…’
Bluff? Or truth? His dilemma didn’t last.
“Enough talk…”
As if bored by the standoff.
“Let’s start.”
Yun-seok closed the distance without hesitation.