7th Floor (2)
"…They didn't say anything about this on the expansion."
I stared carefully at the hovering message.
Generally, these trials made you wait for at least a day after passing the previous one.
There might be a serious problem if that rule changed without the system giving us any heads up.
'The wait time disappeared without any messages from the system…'
It was a little strange, but I was able to shake off the shock.
Anyway, I could understand the wait time disappearing.
It doesn't really change anything that I would have done, and it could actually help me.
'There might be more benefits if I get through the trials more quickly.'
Rushing into these would have been detrimental to me in the past, but not anymore.
I was already used to fighting at my current strength.
And I seemed to be pretty strong compared to my peers, as seen in the 6th trial.
'This is better than an otherworldly challenger invading my trial.'
Actually, it could be seen as a positive change.
'I can't be surprised every time something changes.'
It wasn't like anything in this world was normal.
Change was something that could come at any moment.
I wondered if everyone else has been experiencing the same changes.
'I was going to check up on the community anyway.'
「 You have entered the community. 」
「 Difficulty – Hard 」
「 Floor 7 Community (1671/2321) 」
TowerFairy: Have y'all noticed that the trial wait time has disappeared?
It didn't take long to find someone talking about the wait times.
I was wondering how people were going to react, but they didn't make it a big deal.
FookTheAdmin: Could you be any slower?
TowerFairy: Lol I'm just slow in general… FookTheAdmin: But I don't think it's that big of a deal. TowerFairy: Isn't it kinda important? There might be something that lets us start the trials earlier? MaxLevelConfidence: Lol that only pertains to the high rankers. What difference does it make to us? ContinentalScale: Facts, it takes days for us to prepare anyway. It makes no difference to people like us. TowerFairy: Stop attacking me with facts pls. But I guess that's true. I'm going home after this anyway.
I guess no one really cared as much as I did.
'…Maybe it's because they're low rankers.'
I didn't think there was anyone normal here.
Well, I guess it didn't matter if no one else cared.
No one cared about being a pioneer, and most of them just wanted to go back home after the 8th trial.
But…
'The vibes are a little different from the 6th floor.'
That was a little concerning.
Everyone was so bloodthirsty on the 6th floor, but the 7th floor waiting area was different.
Fluffy: Also, there was a fuckton of madlads on the 6th floor. Talking about stabbing people through the portal or some shit. YummyAchievements: Ah, that's probably because of the achievement you get from attacking without being seen. Fluffy: Damnnn they did that for an achievement? What the fuck? NerdWorkNerdWork: lmao that's not even that bad. I've seen someone kill their teammate after they've already cleared the trial. StandardHunter: They all went batshit after getting the trauma resistance skills lmaoooo. HighschoolArmyGirl: Hahaha, high-school-girl-chan was too scared to talk on the 6th floor! Dobermann: What the fuck? Anyway, they were pretty scary. I couldn't say anything either. Fluffy: I legit got chills from the bastards selling the resistance skills. Points really turn you into something else, huh. StandardHunter: They probably survived and are staying quiet because they feel guilty. The 7th trial is a solo one anyway. What can they do?
"…Things are definitely different."
There were a lot more conversations going on, and the atmosphere was much lighter.
Specifically, the people who have been weighing it down were staying quiet now.
'I guess the tension is lower now that everyone passed the 6th trial.'
Because after the 7th trial, we would be in the 8th floor waiting room.
"And we should be able to go back home after reaching that…"
Everyone was probably relieved to see that the 7th trial wasn't a group one.
Because now they know for sure that they won't have to kill any more people.
On the other hand, the ones who have been encouraging murder were all quiet.
Why?
'Because they also noticed that the 7th trial was individual.'
There wasn't any way to get extra points, and they would just be cursed out by everyone else.
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And the people who bought skills from them were probably not doing that well either.
"…"
However, this peace wouldn't last forever.
If we had to keep climbing the tower and there happened to be another group trial, the same thing would happen again.
I couldn't let them fool me.
At the end of the day, everyone here was my competition.
"Trial Evaluations."
「 6th Trial Evaluations 」
1st, Kim Seunghoon(SS-) 2nd, Oh Choonsuk(S+) 3rd, WhatsANicknameChange(S) 4th, Hunter(S-) 5th, Headygongdu(A) 6th, Frog(A-)
***
"Hey, I'm in the top 10 again."
Though 4th place was a little lower than last time, it wasn't too bad.
And all I need to do to get pioneer status is to be in the top 50.
I tapped into my details again, but there wasn't anything special.
'Almost the 8th floor…'
It was about time I'd learned what this pioneer thing was.
It would probably bring about a lot of changes.
'Just one more floor. No need to rush.'
As long as I could stay calm, I should be able to deal with anything unanticipated like that intruder.
And I even unlocked a new effect with necromancy, so it shouldn't be that hard.
As long as I didn't let my guard down…
'As for items, I don't think I need anything new.'
My current set should serve me fine for now.
The thunder blade and the covert shield should be enough for the 7th trial.
'I guess I'll get some potions just in case.'
「 You have bought a Potion of Life (D-). 」
「 1,500 points deducted. 」
「 You have bought a Poison Eater (E+). 」
「 1,200 points deducted. 」
For healing and poison, respectively.
I knew I already had accelerated regeneration, but just in case.
'Well, no use in staying here any longer.'
「 Do you accept the 7th floor trial? 」
After agreeing to the message, I stepped into the newly-formed portal.
Voom…!
「 Entering Tower of Trials Floor 7. 」
「 Difficulty – Hard 」
「 The objective of the following trial is 'proof.' 」
「 We wish the challenger a satisfactory ending to their choice. 」
…Something was off.
「 The 7th floor trial is starting soon. 」
「 Remaining time – 40 minutes 」
「 Trial success condition – Clear the three trials in the remaining time. 」
「 Trial fail condition – Challenger's death or time out 」
「 Trial success reward – Skill 'Wind's Grace (A-)' 」
「 Trial fail penalty – Death 」
This was different from all the other trials that I've faced.
I didn't hear any monsters nearby, and the clear condition didn't seem that clear either.
Clearing three trials?
'I don't really understand what that's supposed to mean.'
There weren't supposed to be more trials within this trial, so how could there be three?
What was I supposed to do if an intruder came in?
It's not like I can compete with them for the trial objective, since I have no idea what it is.
"…"
First of all, my surroundings were just a normal hallway made of stone.
I didn't see or feel anything at the end of the hallway though.
'It doesn't feel especially dangerous or anything.'
But I didn't have that much time to begin with, so…
At that moment, a message popped up.
「 Entering the first trial area. 」
「 Prove that you have overcome your fear. 」
I was about to react to the message as I was walking through the hallway, but my surroundings started to shift.
Shaaaaaa…!
"This is…"
Somewhere that I definitely remembered.
The sand and the cactuses—it was a scenery that I've definitely seen before.
"The tutorial trial?"
Yeah, this was definitely the first trial I faced when I came to the tower.
The only question is why…
"Is this a hallucination?"
It could be, since they were talking about overcoming fear and whatnot.
Maybe it was making me face a traumatic memory.
But that theory soon fell apart like the sand I gripped in my hands.
'It doesn't feel like a hallucination.'
At the very least, this environment felt real.
Overcoming fear, and the changing surroundings…
Maybe…
"Is it going to recreate my tutorial trial?"
That didn't seem out of the question.
The tower did just recreate everything else.
And then…
Kkkrrrooon!
The floor suddenly started to quake, and all the sand started to gather itself.
Also something that I've seen before.
"…As I thought, I guess they're going to recreate the golem too."
Hm, but the E-rank monsters wouldn't pose much of a threat to me now.
'Honestly, I could beat these guys blindfolded at this point."
I've been going through a rapid growth period during the trials.
Why were they even giving me a whole 40 minutes for this?
'Is it a freebie before I get to the 8th floor?'
Contrary to my thoughts, I gripped my sword and stared down at the lump of sand that was starting to pile up.
Well, I guess there were still two more trials left…
Kraaaaaaaang!
Then the sand erupted into a desert storm, and my ears began to ring.
At the same time, it started to form into a humanoid being as it grew slowly but steadily.
"…Huh?"
Sand golems were supposed to be E-rank monsters that even orcs could kill…
'What the-'
Even at a glance, it was way taller than the original height of six meters.
Ten meters—no—it was so tall that I could barely even look at it.
An oppressive aura enveloped me.
"…"
If the original sand golem was an E-rank monster…
The monstrosity that stood in front of me was at least a B.
"Grrrrr…!"
When its glowing red eyes met mine, I could instantly tell.
Killing three of these in 40 minutes is…
"Fuck."
—