Chapter 5 – The First Night Ends
The forest had gone eerily silent.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and death. Corpses of Lernaian Hounds littered the ground, their bodies cold and lifeless. And at the center of it all stood Kang Joon-ho, his clothes drenched in black blood, his blade still glistening under the moonlight.
The Alpha was dead.
The remaining monsters—once aggressive and bloodthirsty—now cowered in his presence. They didn't dare approach. They could feel it. Something about him had changed.
And he knew exactly why.
[Skill Acquired: Alpha's Dominance]
Lesser monsters instinctively fear your presence. If their level is lower than yours, they are less likely to attack unless provoked.
Joon-ho's gaze flickered across the system message.
A skill that commanded fear.
Useful. It wouldn't stop stronger monsters, but it would make dealing with weaker ones far easier.
His stomach rumbled, reminding him of a more immediate problem.
Food.
He exhaled, glancing down at the corpse of the Lernaian Alpha. The flesh of these monsters wasn't ideal—bitter, tough, and laced with lingering traces of mana—but it was edible.
And right now, he wasn't in a position to be picky.
Survival Instincts
Joon-ho knelt beside the Alpha's corpse, pulling out his knife. He worked efficiently, slicing through the thick hide with steady precision.
The liver and heart—those were the best parts.
Even in his past life, when he had nothing, he had learned how to make use of everything.
With swift movements, he carved out the most nutritious portions, setting them aside. Then, he moved toward the lesser hounds, repeating the process.
By the time he was done, he had enough food to last a day.
Now for the next step.
Fire & Rest
He needed fire. But starting one in a damp forest at night was difficult—unless you knew how.
Joon-ho searched the area, picking up dry bark, small twigs, and pieces of moss. He arranged them carefully in a pile, then reached into his inventory.
[Beginner's Survival Kit]Dagger (Standard Issue) [Used]Flint and SteelBasic Rations (x2)Beginner's Health Potion (x1)
Flint and steel.
A simple but essential tool. He struck the flint against the steel, sending out small sparks.
Once. Twice.
By the third attempt, the dry moss caught flame.
The fire spread to the twigs, then the bark, and within minutes, he had a steady fire.
Joon-ho skewered a piece of monster meat onto a sharpened branch and held it over the flames.
As the scent of roasting flesh filled the air, he sat back, finally allowing himself a moment to breathe.
He had survived the first night.
The Survivors
As he ate, faint footsteps approached from the distance.
Joon-ho didn't move. He already knew who it was.
A young woman hesitated at the edge of the firelight.
She was dressed in tattered clothes, her body covered in dirt and scratches. Her eyes—wide and filled with exhaustion—locked onto the cooked meat in Joon-ho's hands.
Her stomach let out a quiet, pitiful growl.
A survivor.
There were still others left alive, scattered across the forest, clinging to whatever hope they had. Most wouldn't make it.
This girl, though—she had managed to find him.
Joon-ho didn't speak. He merely looked at her. Waiting.
If she was weak, if she begged, if she expected him to hand her food out of kindness—then she was useless.
But the girl understood.
She hesitated, then clenched her jaw. Without a word, she walked forward, knelt beside the fire, and grabbed a nearby corpse of a hound.
She didn't beg. She didn't ask. She worked.
She used a jagged stone to cut into the flesh, tearing out a chunk of meat for herself. She skewered it onto a branch, placed it over the fire, and waited.
Joon-ho smirked.
Not completely useless, then.
A New Player
The girl finally broke the silence.
"…Did you kill the Alpha?"
Joon-ho took another bite of his food. "Obviously."
She swallowed, her expression unreadable. "You're strong."
"I know."
A small pause. Then—
"…Teach me."
Joon-ho raised an eyebrow.
Most people asked for protection. They wanted to hide behind the strong.
But this girl—she wanted to become strong.
He studied her. Short hair. Lean build. Calloused hands. She wasn't completely ignorant of hardship.
Finally, he spoke. "What's your name?"
She hesitated before answering.
"…Yoon Ha-ri."
A memory flickered in the back of Joon-ho's mind. That name.
In his past life, Yoon Ha-ri had died early in the Tower. Eaten alive by a Chimera on the first major floor.
But she had been talented. Had she lived longer, she could have become someone powerful.
Interesting.
Joon-ho leaned back, tossing a cleaned bone into the fire.
"You want me to teach you?" His voice was calm, yet sharp. "Then survive until morning."
Ha-ri's eyes widened slightly.
Joon-ho gestured toward the darkness beyond the firelight.
"There are still monsters out there. If you can make it through the night without dying, I'll consider it."
A test.
If she was too weak, she wouldn't live to see sunrise. If she was strong enough—then maybe, just maybe, she might be worth keeping alive.
Ha-ri tightened her grip around her makeshift weapon.
Then, she stood up and walked into the darkness.
Joon-ho watched her disappear into the fog, his smirk widening.
Let's see if you make it.
The fire crackled softly.
Above them, the first night in the Tower was coming to an end.
And soon, the real trials would begin.