Chapter 67 – The Blade of a New Path

He let out a quiet breath before stepping into the car.

Just as the door was about to shut—

Something caught his eye.

A billboard.

A massive display loomed over one of the Awakener Association buildings, showcasing a new "Rising Star Hunter Team."

A party of six stood on the screen, all wearing high-grade armor, weapons gleaming under artificial light. The words beneath them read:

[C-Rank Dungeon Cleared! The New Faces of Power!]

But Kyung-min didn't care about any of them.

His grip on the door tightened.

He only focused on two faces.

Seok and Min-jun.

His former friends. The ones who had betrayed him.

They stood at the front, grinning for the cameras.

Celebrated. Admired.

For a moment, Kyung-min felt nothing.

Then—a quiet smirk tugged at his lips.

Enjoy this while it lasts.

Because soon—he was coming for them.

The door clicked shut, and the car pulled away from the scene.

The Time Distortion

As the city streets blurred past them, Kyung-min leaned back, exhaling.

"How long has it been since I went in?" he asked.

The butler didn't hesitate. "Thirty minutes, Young Master."

Kyung-min narrowed his eyes.

"...Only thirty?" "That time difference…" he muttered.

His fingers tapped idly against the hilt of his new twin daggers—Urgrik's Twin Blades.

He had spent at least six hours inside. Every second had felt real—his battles, his exhaustion, his kills.

But outside? Barely half an hour had passed.

The butler gave him a sideways glance through the rearview mirror. "Time dilation in Tower Dungeons is a real phenomenon. One hour outside equals one full day inside. The deeper you go, the worse it gets."

Kyung-min hummed in thought.

So Floor 0…

If time in normal Tower Dungeons passed faster… then did Floor 0 operate in reverse?

Had he spent what felt like days in the abyss, but an entire year passed outside?

His grip tightened.

That place... What exactly was it?

But there was no answer.

For now.

He exhaled. "Tch. That's annoying."

"That's the nature of Towers," the butler said. "Though, given your pace, you seem to be handling it well."

Kyung-min didn't respond.

He reached into his Dimensional Storage Ring, pulling out the twin daggers from the Goblin Captain.

Urgrik's Twin Daggers – E-Rank

🔹 Fast attack speed

🔹 Chance to inflict minor bleeding

Weapons and Worth

They weren't bad weapons—fast, sharp, good for bleeding damage.

They were decent, especially for an E-Rank weapon. But they weren't enough.

But compared to high-end awakeners? These were nothing more than trash-tier.

His butler's gaze flickered toward the blades.

"Forgive me for saying this, Young Master, but those daggers are… beneath you."

Kyung-min raised a brow. "And?"

"There are blacksmiths," the butler continued. "Awakened ones. They forge, refine, and upgrade weapons using monster cores, mana stones, and other materials." "Would you like me to arrange something?"

Kyung-min's brow furrowed. "That… is really game-like."

The butler chuckled. "Not anymore. It's just reality now."

Kyung-min glanced at the twin daggers again.

The butler chuckled lightly. "There is an old forgemaster I am familiar with. Before the awakening era, he made knives and machetes for a living. When he awakened, well… it was only fitting he became a blacksmith."

Kyung-min scoffed. "That's… actually kind of ironic."

"Perhaps. But his skill is undeniable."

"So where do I go?"

"Shall I take you there now?"

Kyung-min smirked.

"Take me there."

The butler turned the wheel, guiding the sedan toward the outskirts of the Awakener District.

"Of course, Young Master."

The car turned toward another district.

The Blacksmith

The car came to a halt in front of a modest but sturdy forge.

The air was thick with the scent of burning coal and molten metal. The rhythmic clang of hammer striking steel echoed from within.

Kyung-min stepped out of the car, adjusting his mask as he followed his butler inside.

A single old man stood at the forge, shirtless, his muscles hardened from years of labor. His skin was tanned, his beard speckled with gray, but his sharp eyes gleamed with experience.

He didn't even glance up at first, too focused on the red-hot metal beneath his hammer.

But then—

He stopped mid-swing.

His gaze shifted, locking onto Kyung-min's butler.

"...Well, I'll be damned," the blacksmith muttered, setting down his hammer. "Of all the faces I expected to see today…"

The butler gave a polite nod. "It has been some time, Master Jang."

The old man, Jang Ho-seok, cracked a grin. "Still as stiff as ever, huh?" His eyes flickered toward Kyung-min. "...And this is?"

The butler stepped aside slightly, allowing Kyung-min to come forward. "My Young Master."

Jang's brows lifted. He studied Kyung-min for a moment before scoffing. "Hmph. Another rich brat looking to buy his way to power?"

Kyung-min smirked beneath his mask. "Something like that."

Jang barked out a laugh. "At least you're honest."

His eyes flickered to the daggers in Kyung-min's grip. "Lemme guess. You want those upgraded?"

Kyung-min handed them over. "Can you?"

Jang took the weapons, turning them over in his hands. His fingers traced the edges, his expert gaze analyzing every flaw, every imperfection.

"They're not bad," he admitted. "But they're not great either."

He glanced at Kyung-min. "You want 'em reforged or enhanced?"

Kyung-min crossed his arms. "What's the difference?"

Jang grinned. "Reforging means breaking 'em down, melting 'em, and forging 'em into something better. Enhancement keeps the structure intact but pushes the material to its limits with runes and enchantments."

Kyung-min's eyes gleamed. "Which makes it stronger?"

"Depends on your style." Jang tossed the daggers up and caught them. "You wanna keep 'em light and fast? Enhancement is better. You want something with more weight—more power? Reforge 'em."

Kyung-min tapped his chin.

The choice mattered.

Would he keep the daggers as agile, fast-striking weapons with better enchantments? Or would he reforge them into something stronger, heavier, and deadlier?

Jang Ho-seok grinned, waiting for his answer.

The forge burned hot.

The decision was his.

Kyung-min crossed his arms, staring at the twin daggers in Jang Ho-seok's hands.

"Reforge them," he said simply. "Make them stronger, but keep their speed."

Jang raised a brow. "So you want both?"