NOVEL NEXT chapter 7
7 – 0th Floor, Tutorial.
The solo clear bonus obtained by defeating the golem was invested in agility and stamina.
Agility became 15, stamina became 12.
The reason for distributing to stamina instead of strength was that the stamina stat affects vitality and durability.
As a result─.
Vitality became 120, durability became 12.
‘I don’t know how these numbers apply, but…’
As long as I reach Seoul, it doesn’t matter how I get there.
If increasing my stamina stat improved my survivability, that was all that mattered.
Maybe thanks to that?
“You.”
The opponent asked as they fell.
“Are you really a newbie player?”
This time, it wasn’t a pretty female knight or a large golem, but a greenskin race often seen in fantasy.
An orc.
A race with impressively protruding tusks outside their mouths.
The orc muttered with a face that couldn’t believe it.
“A newly summoned human, being this strong…”
I looked down at the orc and asked in return.
“Are there no humans in the dimension you live in?”
“…There are no humans dressed like that. Except for the humans of Earth….”
Everyone showed similar reactions.
With this, I had no choice but to come to one conclusion.
“Looks like Earth-born players are treated like trash.”
“…….”
Seeing the orc not particularly denying it, I was convinced.
‘Thank goodness I didn’t go up and continued to challenge.’
Solo clear bonus.
If I had gone up without this, I would have been crushed by this race and that race, and suffered a terrible fate, right?
‘It’s obvious even without seeing it.’
Just imagining it gave me goosebumps.
Tsszzzt-.
The orc’s body turned into blue particles and disappeared.
“Phew.”
I passed the third test smoothly as well.
This time, unlike the previous two tests, I managed without getting hurt anywhere.
It was an achievement if it was an achievement.
With this, the points I obtained were 10.
1 for the first clear bonus, and 9 for the solo clear bonus.
‘Feeling secure.’
It wouldn’t be a huge number.
Considering the entire Tower of Struggle, I would be behind most players from other dimensions.
But, thinking about starting without even this?
It takes my breath away.
In that sense, it was reassuring.
How I would use this was entirely up to me.
I caught my breath and went out of the cave.
The clear bonus could only be received by returning to the room.
I immediately allocated the 3 points.
What matters to me now is stamina.
Increasing vitality raises the chances of survival.
[0th floor, choose]
1. [To the next floor]
2. [Continue the trial]
The options proposed by the tower appeared again.
Of course, I chose number 2.
The option to ascend was practically non-existent.
‘What about Park Ji-hoon?’
One of the stone gates inside was glowing red, indicating he was still undergoing the trial.
“Impressive student.”
Im Soo-jin approached and spoke to me.
The gap between her and me had now widened to the extent of heaven and earth.
Though Im Soo-jin herself might not realize it.
‘Does she know what kind of fate awaits her if she ascends?’
If she knew, she wouldn’t be standing here like this.
She’d be desperate to earn even a single point.
I turned my attention away from Im Soo-jin.
I had no obligation to worry about her future.
Instead, I moved towards the stone gate to challenge the remaining trial.
‘Let’s finish this before Park Ji-hoon comes out.’
There’s no need to compete with Park Ji-hoon over the last trial.
I just need to enter first, clear it, and claim the reward.
‘What can he do about it?’
Will he try to take it from me?
How?
[What are you doing?]
A message from the assistant.
I frowned instinctively.
The timing was so perfect that it felt blatantly intentional to stop me.
To be honest, it was unpleasant.
“Am I not allowed to go in?”
[That’s not it, but Player Park Ji-hoon is taking the test right now. Shouldn’t you wait until he comes out?]
“……”
The likelihood of a meaningless wait is high.
Why?
Neither Park Ji-hoon nor I would give up the solo clear bonus.
Unless one of us relinquishes our greed, negotiation is impossible.
The relationship with Park Ji-hoon is bound to sour.
It’s a relationship that will deteriorate anyway.
There’s no need to consider the other party.
Therefore, I had only one choice.
Ignore the assistant’s message and challenge the remaining test.
‘And secure 3 points.’
Park Ji-hoon might betray me, but my abilities won’t betray me.
I ignored the assistant’s message and stepped beyond the stone gate.
* * *
Miraculously, I defeated Cuhul Tan.
“Huff, huff.”
Park Ji-hoon glared at Cuhul Tan, blood pouring out.
Cuhul Tan burst into laughter at his appearance.
“I don’t know how you plan to handle the aftermath. Aren’t you afraid of the administrator’s sanctions?”
“I have a way to block it all.”
Did he think I acted without any plan?
“Humans are different from monsters like you.”
“Of course, they’re different. Ugly, filthy, and weak. Claiming to be the same species as us is an insult to our Felinaeo race.”
“No.”
Park Ji-hoon smirked.
“We’re not a species that doesn’t use our brains like you beast heads.”
“…Tsk tsk.”
A man soon to die.
Why bother caring?
Kuhul Tan lost interest in Park Ji-hoon.
Even if he didn’t intervene, the administrator would erase him.
Kuhul Tan’s body turned into particles and disappeared.
“Ptui!”
Park Ji-hoon spat out blood roughly and returned to his room.
‘The error human?’
He checked the stone gate.
Six blue lights and one red light.
“Damn it!”
He couldn’t believe it.
They really made the first move.
‘I have to kill him.’
He never intended to let him live from the start.
To obtain the hidden piece of the tutorial, Park Ji-hoon had to be the only one left alive.
Park Ji-hoon’s resolve meant he would kill the error human as painfully as possible.
[Player Park Ji-hoon.]
“…Where is the lady?”
[In the previous room.]
“Send her this way.”
No room for complacency.
Park Ji-hoon planned to use every means available to kill the error human.
“Summon the weapon too.”
[Understood.]
“…Do I really need to keep acting?”
Mori didn’t respond.
Saying unnecessary things could get them caught by the administrator.
Tszzt-.
Mori summoned a weapon in the white room.
It was the basic armament provided to new players.
[Longsword (purple)][F]
Category: Weapon
Stats▼
【Attack Power: ＋2】
【Durability: 10/10】
Options▼
【Bleed Lv.1】
A purple-colored weapon signifying the lowest performance in the Tower of Struggle.
A weapon that even the 5th-floor players, like Park Ji-hoon, wouldn’t use even if given for free.
‘Even this trash weapon makes a big difference between having it and not having it.’
Attack Power 2.
It seems like an insignificant number.
But this difference is bigger than you think.
‘When you experience firsthand the precarious situation where a difference of 1 in attack power means the difference between life and death… you can never take it lightly.’
The higher you climb the tower, the more players realize the value of 1 stat point.
That’s why they even risk infiltrating the tutorial.
‘I’ll show you properly. As a senior.’
Park Ji-hoon grinned.
Lim Soo-jin, led out by the helper’s message, appeared.
“Huh? Student. Where did you get that weapon…?”
Lim Soo-jin, completely unaware and off guard.
Thud-!
Without a moment’s hesitation, Park Ji-hoon stabbed Lim Soo-jin.
“Why, why…?”
Lim Soo-jin’s expression changed gradually.
First, confusion, then distortion, and after checking his condition, even a whimper.
In the end, he screamed as if he couldn’t believe the situation.
“Ah, ah, aaah! S-save me. Somebody save me…! aaah!”
She struggles to escape.
But she cannot run away.
Park Ji-hoon twisted and pulled out the longsword that was stuck in Lim Soo-jin’s body with all his might.
Blood spurted out.
“Ahhh! Ahhh!”
Is the blood pouring out of her body really her own?
If it keeps pouring out like this, won’t she really die?
Even though she was stabbed, ironically, Lim Soo-jin did not feel any pain.
Her brain was denying the situation.
And so she died.
Feeling despair.
Her face covered in tears and blood.
Even though they met for the first time today, one couldn’t help but feel pity for her final moments.
A desperate death.
“You’re here?”
Park Ji-hoon glanced at Oh Ryoo-in and asked.
“……”
Oh Ryoo-in looked at Lim Soo-jin and then at Park Ji-hoon with a hardened face.
“Don’t be too scared. It’s not as painful as you think.”
Park Ji-hoon approached Oh Ryoo-in without even thinking of wiping the blood off his sword.
Step by step.
‘He’s really scared.’
Everyone reacts like that when they see a sword for the first time.
Park Ji-hoon chuckled inwardly as he swung his sword at Oh Ryoo-in.
Oh Ryoo-in easily dodged the sword.
“You’ve invested in agility?”
Oh Ryoo-in received 13 bonus points.
First clear bonus 1, solo clear bonus 12.
Park Ji-hoon received 7 bonus points.
A skill level of about 6, he could easily cover with his experiences.
‘How did you distribute it? Depending on that combination too.’
Most new players invest their points in strength.
Because the immediate visible effect is significant.
Vitality?
They find the situation of getting hit by the opponent’s attack itself uncomfortable, so how could they invest points in stamina?
It feels like a waste.
Magic?
Why, when there are only F-rank skills?
F-rank skills only add coefficients to actions, so they don’t particularly feel the need for magic.
The same goes for other things.
In the end, players turn their eyes to strength.
‘Using their heads a bit.’
In that sense, investing points in agility means they have some sense.
‘About 15 in agility, the rest in strength.’
The mind of a new player.
‘Obvious.’
Park Ji-hoon smirked.
He continued his attack smoothly.
The longsword sliced through the air, rushing towards the error person.
Whoosh-!
“Ugh!”
The error person seemed flustered, trying to dodge the sword.
Park Ji-hoon’s momentum grew even stronger.
It was then.
Smack-!
In the blink of an eye, the error person’s kick landed on Park Ji-hoon’s abdomen.
A sharp roundhouse kick.
“…This, Taekwondo….”
Not an ordinary skill.
Only then did Park Ji-hoon realize how the error person cleared the test.
“You’ve been working out, haven’t you?”
Just because everyone’s stats are fixed at 10 doesn’t mean they all start from the same line.
‘Skills honed and polished don’t disappear.’
That’s why martial artists are strong.
Knights, wizards, other races…
They’re different from humans on Earth.
“Even so.”
Park Ji-hoon checked his vitality.
“A newbie is still a newbie.”
Even if he threw that fancy kick a dozen times, he couldn’t kill himself.
“Your chances of beating me are zero.”
Park Ji-hoon subtly activated his F-rank skills.
Just enough to not get caught by the administrator, matching the number of new players.
【Light Footsteps】 【Shout】 【Stomp】 【Charge】 【Thrust】
Instant acceleration 150%.
Physical damage is quadrupled!
Longsword attack power, additional option: bleeding.
You can’t withstand it with just 100 vitality.
Of course, it only matters if it hits.
“……”
Park Ji-hoon’s sword sliced through the air.
The error person stepped aside, dodging the thrust.
“…Dodged this?”
The movement was unusual.
Should I say it got faster?
“Did you invest more in agility?”
“Faster than I thought.”
“That doesn’t change anything.”
Park Ji-hoon swung his sword.
He didn’t activate a skill, but the blade was still sharp.
The moment he allowed a strike.
The momentum of the Error Man would be broken.
The Error Man knew this too.
Thud-.
So, no more playing around.
“The skill you learned. Smite.”
Park Ji-hoon smirked.
“A skill as simple as it gets.”
Just hitting the opponent hard, dealing additional physical damage.
“Trying to beat me with that?”
“I already won.”
“…?”
Park Ji-hoon felt like the Error Man had grown taller.
‘No, it’s me.’
Park Ji-hoon’s view had lowered.
As his body collapsed, his line of sight plummeted.
“Why!?”
Park Ji-hoon hurriedly checked his life force.
【Life Force 0】
“…!”
【Indomitable Will, activated】
A skill that allows one to continue fighting when life force falls below 5%.
Thanks to Indomitable Will, he was holding on without dying.
However, Indomitable Will couldn’t defy the fate of death.
‘I’m dying? Me?’
Park Ji-hoon gritted his teeth.
“Damn it!”
An unbelievable reality.
“You, you too! Damn it! Did you come down to the lower floor? You b*stard!”
“What are you saying.”
Park Ji-hoon shouted loudly.
“Fuck! Damn it! I’m going to kill this b*stard! Mori! Restore my stats!”
“Mori?”
“Quickly! You, b*stard!”
Mori refused Park Ji-hoon’s demands.
‘If I lift the stat restrictions, the administrator will notice.’
Then Mori would die too.
‘It can’t be helped. It’s better to pull back and run away now….’
At that moment.
“You’re doing something quite interesting.”
A voice that echoed in Mori’s ears, one he didn’t want to hear.
It was the administrator of the tutorial on Floor 0.