Chapter 5
3. Blood Frenzy (2)
The Celestial <Crimson Hair> is the only Celestial who originated as a goblin.
Despite being a goblin — one of the lowest-ranked races — she managed to ascend to the position of a Celestial thanks to one particular skill: <Blood Frenzy>.
Goblins, being the weakest race, had the advantage of being able to boost their stats more drastically than others.
<Crimson Hair> leveraged this trait to create and utilize the skill <Blood Frenzy>.
Among all the frenzy-type skills in the Tower, it possessed the most powerful force — but its side effects were just as unimaginable.
While using the skill, one would fall into a <Madness> state, unable to distinguish friend from foe.
After the skill ends, the user would collapse into a <Fatigue> state, unable to move a finger.
The penalty after using this power was something no player could afford.
Using it in battle meant instant incapacitation and death.
But for Lee Jinhyuk, this was a non-issue.
Thanks to <Indomitability>, it was practically a penalty-free skill.
“That’s why I aimed for it.”
Frenzy-type skills came with various penalties.
Some reduced your stats permanently. Others required special items to activate.
But <Blood Frenzy> only involved “status conditions” as penalties — no permanent downsides.
For Lee Jinhyuk, who was immune to such effects, this skill was practically the strongest one available.
“Even objectively, it gives the biggest stat boosts.”
[The Celestial <Flame of Eternity> is appalled by your actions.]
[The Celestial <Flame of Eternity> donates 1,000 points out of concern.]
Was <Flame of Eternity> worried about that? A small point donation popped up.
“He must really like me,” Jinhyuk chuckled.
“No need to worry too much. I’ll handle it just fine.”
[The Celestial <Flame of Eternity> nods, trusting you.]
‘Skill window.’
{Skill Window}
<Stellar Archive>
Grade: Rare
▶ Stores the powers of Celestials in the form of skills.
▶ Can store 1 skill per 10 levels.
▶ Requires the Celestial’s relic and points to replicate a skill.
▶ Skill replication upgrades the grade of <Stellar Archive> and reveals additional effects.
[Normal-grade special effect]
▶ Removes level and point requirements for the next skill replication.
[Rare-grade special effect]
▶ Can copy 2 skills with 1 relic during next acquisition.
*Points are consumed for both skills equally.
*Both skills must be copied to upgrade to the next grade.
[Currently Stored Skill]
Normal: <Blood Frenzy>
*Points required for next skill: 200,000
“What the hell…”
Jinhyuk gawked.
“Two hundred thousand points?!”
He expected it to be expensive due to its power — but this expensive?
“When am I ever going to make that much?”
Maybe back when he was the #1 ranked player, but as a newbie now, it was unthinkable.
“Even the 2,000 points from <Flame of Eternity> were a big deal…”
And now the target was 200,000 points. Technically 400,000 if going for two skills.
“I can get two skills with one relic, so I better choose wisely.”
He wouldn’t be finding another relic anytime soon.
All he could do now was save up as much as possible.
[The Celestial <Crimson Hair> furrows her brows.]
[The Celestial <Flame of Eternity> gives her an awkward smile.]
Was it because she realized her relic was gone?
Uncharacteristically, <Crimson Hair> began observing the tutorial area — a region Celestials normally ignored.
‘Well, no one would expect the Goblin Chief in the tutorial zone to be coerced and betrayed by a human.’
No human had ever been strong enough to make a Goblin Chief betray his own.
In fact, this was the first time a Goblin Chief had even been captured.
“One last one left.”
[You have defeated the <Goblin Chief>!]
[You gained 100 points!]
Slash!
The final Goblin Chief’s head was severed.
“That’s the end of that.”
He had killed 10 Goblin Chiefs — monsters most players wouldn’t even encounter.
A feat no one in the Tower’s long history had ever achieved.
“The more accomplishments you rack up in the Tower, the greater the rewards.”
His heart pounded with anticipation for what kind of reward he’d receive.
[You have defeated 10 Goblin Chiefs.]
[Main Quest <Goblin Hunt> completed.]
[You are being transported to the 1st Floor Trial Waiting Room.]
Whoosh—!
Even before the final goblin’s head hit the ground…
Pop!
A white beam of light wrapped around his body.
1st Floor Trial Waiting Room
This place was nothing like the lush forest of the tutorial.
The walls were made of solid ice, forming a maze-like enclosure.
Flash. Flash.
“Ugh…”
“We made it!”
“Damn those goblins… scarier than I thought.”
“Over here, bro! Over here!”
Just like Jinhyuk, numerous players who had cleared the tutorial began gathering.
Former party members regrouped as they arrived.
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the tutorial!]
[You are now a ‘Player’.]
[Once you clear a floor’s trial, you can freely enter that floor anytime!]
[The <1st Floor Trial> will begin shortly.]
[Remaining time: 34 minutes]
“So it’s about to begin.”
The Tower’s trials were divided into three stages:
Enter the waiting room for the floor trial.
After waiting, proceed to the floor’s trial.
Complete the trial, then either sign a contract with a Celestial or move to the next floor.
This was the 1st Floor Trial, and he was currently in the waiting room.
“Enough time to prep and claim rewards.”
The trial itself lasted 1 hour, followed by a 12-hour cooldown.
Sometimes you had to wait up to 13 hours — or start the trial a second after entering.
Thankfully, he had some time to prepare.
“Quite a few survived.”
“Well, the tutorial can be done in under an hour if you’re quick.”
From the 1st floor onward, players from all over got randomly mixed together.
Most had no knowledge of the Tower.
Only a few who were born and raised inside the Tower acted as guides.
‘I got pushed around a lot when I first started climbing too.’
He chuckled, recalling Tang Xiaoyue, Russell, and Chun Hyangwoon — all Tower-born players.
Now, as someone from the outside world, he knew the Tower better than anyone.
What an irony.
‘Let’s check my rewards.’
[Your level has increased!]
[You gained 1,000 points.]
[You can select one of the beginner weapons.]
[You acquired <Beginner’s Sword>.]
<Beginner’s Sword>
Grade: Normal
Type: Sword
[Attack Power: 20]
“Pretty good for a normal-grade item.”
Jinhyuk tested the sword with a few swings.
This was the standard reward for clearing the tutorial.
[Your level has increased further!] x4
[You gained 1,000 points.]
[Select one of the following two skills:]
▶ <Goblin Slayer> (Heroic)
▶ <Goblin Chief> (Heroic)
“Oho.”
Jinhyuk let out a whistle of admiration.
“Heroic skills, huh.”
No one really knew how the Tower determined rewards.
But Jinhyuk remembered the best tutorial reward back in the day was 300 points and an Epic-grade skill: <One Against the Horde>.
And now he could pick between two Heroic-grade skills.
‘Heroic — that’s even above Epic.’
<Goblin Slayer> granted bonus damage and benefits against goblins.
<Goblin Chief> enhanced control and dominance over goblins.
[The Celestial <Flame of Eternity> is curious about your choice.]
[The Celestial <Crimson Hair> is watching you closely.]
After a moment of thought, Jinhyuk chose one.
‘Considering the trials ahead, long-term this makes more sense.’
Swoosh.
‘Yeah, this one.’
[You have selected <Goblin Chief>.]
<Goblin Chief>
Grade: Heroic
▶ Allows you to dominate goblins and give them commands. (Skill potency scales with [Mana] stat.)
▶ The lower the target’s level and intelligence, the stronger the effect.
▶ Defeating other Goblin Chiefs lets you absorb a portion of their Mana stat.
The skill Jinhyuk picked was <Goblin Chief>.
It was the one used by the goblin leaders he killed during the tutorial.
The ability to dominate weaker enemies using Mana had a clear advantage.
[The Celestial <Crimson Hair> is pleased with your choice.]
“I don’t need <Goblin Slayer> to kill goblins anyway.”
More importantly, <Goblin Chief> was a hidden piece for a future skill.
‘Status window.’
{Status Window}
Name: Lee Jinhyuk
Race: Human
Level: 8
[Strength: 29] [Stamina: 29] [Agility: 29]
[Mana: 5] [Divine Power: 0]
He was already level 8.
Despite the XP penalty, killing the Goblin Chiefs gave a massive level boost.
“Ten regular goblins wouldn’t even give you one level. You need to kill at least five berserkers to hit level 2.”
Mana hadn’t increased though, since it wasn’t a stat that leveled up naturally.
‘Time to prep for the next trial.’
[Accessing <Auction House>.]
An interface appeared, and various items displayed before him.
The <Auction House> was usable anywhere in the Tower.
Here, players could buy items listed by others using points.
‘Alchemy materials list.’
He needed to save points to get the next skill from <Stellar Archive>.
But he only had 4,000 points now.
Whether he had it or not — 200,000 was a long way off.
‘Better to focus on the next trial than hoard pennies.’
[You have purchased <Gradri Petal Extract>.] x10
[100 points consumed.] x10
<Gradri Petal Extract>
A common alchemy ingredient.
The next enemy was gnoll-like monsters — dog-headed humanoids.
They had a keen sense of smell and were particularly weak against sour scents like <Gradri Petal Extract>.
[1,000 points consumed.]
[Skill <Enchant: Flame> acquired.]
<Enchant: Flame>
Grade: Rare
▶ Imbues a selected weapon with the fire attribute using Mana.
Jinhyuk spent 1,000 points to acquire a basic skill that enchanted his weapon with fire.
[The Celestial <Flame of Eternity> applauds your choice.]
[The Celestial <King of Muspel> has heard rumors about you and arrives.]
“Perfect.”
With the extracts secured in his inventory, a commotion rose around him.
“We need to group up!”
“This trial is way easier than the last!”
“Exactly! We just need to run. Stick together this time!”
The 1st Floor Trial was called <Sanctuary Altar>.
Once the trial began, an altar would appear.
The goal was to fight off nearby gnolls and enter the altar.
Once inside, the trial was automatically cleared — a simple objective.
Only catch: gnolls were much stronger than goblins.
But since these players had survived the tutorial, they were better prepared.
“Over here! Hurry!”
“Stick together!”
Blending in with the crowd, Jinhyuk poured one bottle of <Gradri Petal Extract> over his sword.
‘Now then…’
[Time Remaining: 0 seconds]
[Main Quest <Sanctuary Altar> acquired.]
“It begins.”
