Chapter 13
Player Lee Kang-han.
He broke world records during the tutorial.
And even smashed through the maze map in a ridiculous way.
He was still in the Iron rank, but his strength was so overwhelming…
That the nickname “Heavenly Demon” didn’t seem out of place.
But—
“An E-rank…?”
How could an E-rank show that kind of power?
Even though the detailed inspection results were attached,
Director Shin Kyung-chul couldn’t believe the report.
Normally, E-rankers struggle to even pass Iron.
Even if they push through with effort and grit,
most end up stuck at Bronze and give up.
But Lee Kang-han had already set two world records.
“…I just can’t believe it. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes, sir. That goblin chieftain he defeated has never lost to even an SSS-rank before. How could an E-rank beat that kind of monster?”
“Right. I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I also lost to that goblin chief once.”
“Ah, I didn’t mean to say that to offend you, Director…”
“I know, I know. You’re not the type to sneak insults like that.”
As Kyung-chul smiled gently, the nervous staff member was sweating bullets.
“Wait… he even refused to meet in the evening?”
“Yes. He said he had something to do every night…”
“Hmm. Is that so…”
He declined an invitation from the Tower Management Bureau Director?
That was new. Still, Kyung-chul nodded.
If the other person didn’t want to meet, it wasn’t right to force it.
“If he really is E-rank, I guess he’d feel pressured.”
“Yes. When we reviewed other cases, some lower-rank traits showed overwhelming power, but they all had limits.”
“Limits?”
“Yes, like… they’d be powerful for only 10 tower entries. Those are conditional or time-limited traits.”
There were many kinds of unique traits.
Some gave great power in the beginning, but their effects weakened over time.
If “Heavenly Demon Physique” was truly E-rank…
It would probably get weaker after a few more tower runs.
“Alright. A shame, but we’ll just have to keep an eye on him. You can all go home for now.”
“Yes, sir!”
With that, the staff left the office, and Director Shin Kyung-chul got into his car.
‘I thought the Heavenly Demon would surely be SSS-tier…’
Ever since last year, the Tower’s difficulty increased drastically.
Even the U.S., the global number one, couldn’t keep up with the score system.
That caused international tensions, even among allies.
Korea had managed on its own until now…
But when player support got cut, many left the country, and scores began to fall.
‘The government still doesn’t get how serious this is… If things go on, Korea will be the first advanced nation to collapse due to tower overload.’
Last month alone, 32 towers appeared in Korea.
Half of them were in Seoul.
As if targeting the most populated areas…
Even Gangnam’s property market, once thought unshakable, was now falling.
One shining tower in a luxury apartment complex looked like a warning sign—
As if 1,000 towers would soon crush the area.
“Director, we’ve arrived.”
“Thanks.”
In the upscale neighborhood of Hannam-dong…
Director Shin entered his home with Lee Kang-han’s file in hand.
‘Even if he’s listed as E-rank, I still need to watch him.’
His power was real.
As he flipped through Kang-han’s file—
‘Mother: Missing. Father: On business in the U.S. …They might try to recruit him.’
Right then—
“Dad, you’re home?”
From inside the mansion, a dazzlingly beautiful woman walked out.
Shin Kyung-chul’s face lit up.
“Yuri! Weren’t you on a business trip?”
“It ended early. The contract went smoothly.”
His only daughter, Shin Yuri.
CEO of the player agency GLASS, and one of Korea’s most famous women.
Not just as a young entrepreneur, but a celebrity-level public figure.
‘She works too hard. I wish she’d enjoy life a bit more.’
Even on a Sunday, she was returning from work.
Kyung-chul sighed.
“You should go on dates or something while you’re still young.”
“You’re one to talk, Dad. You worked today too.”
“That’s because it was an Awakening Day this month. I usually rest Sundays.”
“So? Did anyone interesting show up?”
“Why? Looking for a client?”
“I’m not that shameless, Dad. I don’t scout newbies.”
He chuckled and set the documents down on the table.
“There was someone interesting—someone called the ‘Heavenly Demon.’”
“Heavenly Demon?”
At that, Shin Yuri made a strange face.
“Yeah. He broke records again this time. Thought he’d be SS at least. But… he turned out to be E-rank.”
“E-rank…? I didn’t see the news. I was asleep on the plane. Uncle mentioned a crazy strong player though.”
“Yeah. He beat the Goblin Chieftain.”
“He beat the chief?!”
“But he measured as E-rank… We think it might be a time-limited trait.”
“That’s a shame…”
Still, her eyes sparkled.
Despite the jet lag, she was suddenly full of energy.
“But why is he called the ‘Heavenly Demon’?”
“You don’t know? Well, in martial arts novels—”
“Oh, I know that. I used to read a lot of wuxia!”
Kyung-chul smiled as he remembered.
Back when the Tower first appeared, his daughter started reading martial arts novels obsessively.
‘That was when she was suffering from early Tower Syndrome…’
As he reminisced—
“Actually, I’ll just watch his videos myself.”
Yuri went to her room… and came running back moments later.
“Dad!”
“Yeah?”
“Can you give me his info? His address? Phone number?”
Red-faced and bright-eyed, she looked more energized than ever.
‘She only watched the video for a few minutes… Was it really that impressive?’
She rarely asked for anything.
This was the first time in years she made such a personal request.
“Yuri, I’m still the Director. I can’t just give out personal information.”
He was strict when it came to personal boundaries.
“Seriously? Not even a little?”
“No.”
“…”
Whip!
She tried to sneak a peek at the file.
“Ah-ah! I said no.”
He flipped the file over.
“You know how dangerous it is to abuse your position like that, right?”
“…Okay.”
She seemed to give up.
But then—
“Still… his name is Lee Kang-han, 24 years old, used to work at a logistics center, took the test in Yongin branch—this stuff’s all public, right?”
“Well…”
“Then I’ll find him on my own. That’s fair, right?”
She started listing everything she remembered, determined to track him down herself.
“Even if you do find him… what are you planning to do?”
“Dad, you know my player trait, don’t you?”
Kyung-chul’s expression hardened.
‘So that’s why she’s so interested…’
He knew her trait very well.
And if she believed Kang-han had something to do with it…
He couldn’t stop her from investigating on her own.
“But isn’t that a bit of a stretch?”
“No.”
With confidence in her voice, she said—
“It’s not a stretch. I’m sure of it.”
“If I meet him… I think I’ll finally find the clue to my trait.”
Sigh.
Kyung-chul let out a deep breath.
“…Just don’t cause too much trouble for him, okay?”
“Yes, Dad.”
Yuri bowed politely.
“I’ll handle the rest from here.”
And with that, she left the room.
The next day
‘No portal last night, huh.’
Lee Kang-han reviewed his sleep footage using the new camera.
He just thrashed around and screamed like usual.
No portals like in the previous nights.
‘Maybe it’s because I didn’t enter the tower yesterday.’
He skipped the tower last night because he got home late after shopping.
‘Alright. From now on, I’ll go in first thing in the morning.’
With that, he got ready and activated the tower.
[Use Iron Tower No-777 Admission Ticket?]
‘Yep. Better use it before it expires.’
If he ranked up to Bronze, he might lose the chance.
He tapped [Yes].
[Tower of Infinity – Floor 2]
[Entering Iron Tower No-777]
[You are the first human to enter Iron Tower No-777]
[Tower reward gain increased by 100%]
‘Nice. Double rewards!’
Maybe this would make up for the low-tier tower.
Smiling, Kang-han entered the tower.
Based on the videos he saw, this was supposed to be a treasure chest map.
He was confident in his strength—he’d just smash the chests open.
That’s what he thought…
“…Huh?”
Blue skies and fluffy white clouds stretched before him.
And he was standing on a narrow cliff edge.
He peeked down.
It was a bottomless abyss.
‘One slip and it’s instant death.’
‘Wasn’t 777 supposed to be a treasure vault?’
A lucky number like 777…
Maybe the treasure was hidden on the cliff?
He was still scanning his surroundings when—
White treasure chests began floating down from the clouds.
[Entering “Sky Vault”]
[Dodge the Guardian’s attacks and collect treasure!]
‘Guardian’s attack?’
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, a massive arrow came crashing from the sky.
‘Ah, this must be it.’
Kang-han dodged just in time.
The arrow struck the cliff with a thunderous boom!
The glowing white arrow was bigger than his body.
Even after landing, it crackled ominously.
