Chapter 6
4. First Floor Trial (1)
<Sanctuary Altar>
Level: First Floor Trial
▶ Objective: Earn at least 20 points and survive within the time limit.
▶ Reward: Receive all of the following:
500 Points
Hunter’s Leather Equipment Set
Entry to the First Floor of the Tower
▶ Bonus Reward: ???
▶ On Failure: Return to <First Floor Trial Waiting Room>
[Pass the First Floor Trial by scoring at least 20 points.]
[Gain 1 point for each gnoll defeated.]
[You are safe upon entering the <Altar> and registering your name.]
[However, after entering the <Altar>, you cannot leave, and defeating gnolls inside won’t earn you points.]
[Remaining Time: 1 Hour]
Defeat 20 gnolls, then enter the <Altar> to rest and clear the trial.
If it gets too dangerous, go straight into the <Altar> and aim for the next round.
The rules were simple.
[Starting <First Floor Trial>!]
The surrounding walls lowered, revealing a single altar in the distance.
It looked like it was carved from a massive glacier.
Grr! Arf!
Between the path to the altar, gnolls with dog-like heads charged forward with howls.
“Tankers, hold the line!”
“Archers, fire your arrows!”
Fwhiiing…!
Clang!
Players with shields took the front to block, while the archers behind loosed their arrows.
For a group that just met, their formation was surprisingly well-organized.
But the gnolls were no easy prey.
They deflected arrows with shields, batted them away with swords, or, even when hit, went berserk like rabid beasts, swinging axes and tearing with fangs.
“Ugh…!”
“Damn, they’re stronger than I thought…!”
These creatures were smarter, larger, more organized, and more vicious than goblins.
And above all—they were relentless.
“Why are these bastards so strong?!”
“They’re nothing like goblins!”
“Damn it!”
“Stick together!”
To make matters worse, the area was freezing.
The fact that an altar made of ice still stood intact said it all.
Unlike the warm-furred gnolls, the players wore all kinds of gear, none meant for cold weather.
‘If this becomes a drawn-out battle…’
‘We’re at a disadvantage.’
‘Can we even survive?’
It took two players just to withstand one gnoll. Three to push one back. Four to finally bring one down.
And there were dozens—hundreds—of gnolls gathered near the altar.
“Aaaargh!”
“Die! Just die already!”
Grrrr!
Like wet paper, humans and gnolls tangled in a chaotic mess of killing and dying.
Then, one human pierced through the swarm like an awl.
“Dangerous!”
“Maintain formation!”
“It’s more dangerous to help someone charging in alone!”
Splat!
The players all assumed the same thing:
That lone player would soon die.
Mauled beyond recognition by the gnolls.
It was only natural.
These players had just cleared the tutorial.
The strongest monster they’d killed was maybe ten goblins.
That wasn’t even enough to level up.
No decent stats, no real experience.
Even if they accessed the <Shop>, they didn’t have enough points to buy skills.
That’s why they grouped together.
Because they were weak.
Because they couldn’t handle these gnolls alone.
“Huh?”
“What the…?”
But what unfolded before their eyes was nothing like they expected.
“Why are the gnolls moving like that…?”
The lone player, Lee Jinhyuk.
The gnolls facing him hesitated.
It was strange.
“Aren’t those things super aggressive?”
“Monsters don’t just stop fighting like that. This doesn’t make sense.”
“What the hell…? It’s like they were hit with something?”
Unbeknownst to the others, it was all thanks to the <Gradry Petal Extract> applied to Jinhyuk’s sword.
<Gradry Petal Extract> has two effects people rarely know:
First — [Colorless and odorless to humans, but emits a stench unbearable to creatures with sharp senses, like gnolls.]
And this scent isn’t something that can just be tolerated.
Like forcing your eyes to stare at the sun until your retinas burn, the gnolls experience searing pain in their noses from the extract.
Even in the cold, where scent spreads slower, it was still more than enough to affect the nearby gnolls.
It was a bit expensive, but there was a reason Jinhyuk used it.
Slash!
Grrr!
Grrraaah!
[You have slain a gnoll. 1 point earned.] x4
[You have received 5 points.] x4
The <Veteran Sword> in his right hand pierced gnoll skulls with no mercy.
The reversed grip of <Bloodfang> in his left hand slit open their throats with precision.
Splatter!
Blood sprayed like a fountain, blinding the air, but he didn’t blink once.
Calm and composed, his focus never wavered from his next target.
“Oh my god…”
“Is that even human?”
To the others, Jinhyuk looked like a wolf in the middle of a sheep pen.
Thanks to his high Strength stat, even a light strike could kill.
Thanks to high Endurance, he never tired.
Thanks to high Agility, enemies looked slow and his body moved freely.
“No way. A guy who just finished the tutorial can fight like that?!”
“That’s impossible.”
Forgetting about fighting gnolls, the players stared at Jinhyuk in awe.
As they say, knowledge sharpens perception.
Those who knew more about the Tower were even more shocked.
‘No way.’
‘That movement…’
‘Who the hell is this guy?’
They knew—without some kind of visible special skill, pulling off that level of performance with just two swords was unheard of.
[The Constellation <Crimson Hair> is shocked by your combat prowess!]
[The Constellation <King of Muspel> is greatly intrigued by your might.]
[The Constellation <Eternal Flame> claims to be the “True Constellation.”]
It wasn’t just the players watching in stunned silence.
Even the Constellations—beings who had seen countless players—were captivated by this monster named Lee Jinhyuk.
They were openly showing interest.
[You have slain a gnoll. 1 point earned.] x6
[You have received 5 points.] x6
“We shouldn’t be standing around like this!”
“Everyone, get back in formation!”
“This is our chance! Run to the <Altar>!”
Jinhyuk was simply cutting down gnolls at the front, trying to stack as many points as possible.
But to the other players, it was an opportunity.
With one man perfectly holding the gnolls at bay, they could now approach the altar.
If they missed this golden chance, they didn’t deserve to survive.
“Anyone with 20+ points or who can’t keep going—get inside!”
“Hurry! Time’s running out!”
Whether they’d met their goal or were just scared—players streamed through the gap toward the altar.
[*Warning! The <Altar> has reached full capacity. (100/100).]
But the altar could only hold 100 people.
Given that over 1,000 players had gathered, it filled up fast.
Fortunately, that wasn’t the end.
[Additional Altars have been generated.]
New altars began appearing in various spots.
“There! Go there!”
“Quickly!”
The only problem was—they were quite far away.
Grinding their teeth, the players regrouped and carved a new path.
‘It’s better to regroup for now. To achieve my goal. And—’
Glance.
‘To satisfy the Constellations watching.’
Jinhyuk had one goal: to achieve the highest score ever recorded.
Not just among these players—but in the Tower’s entire history.
To do that, managing stamina was essential.
Even with his overwhelming Endurance, it wasn’t infinite.
Though he moved efficiently and targeted only weak points, his stamina was dropping fast.
Joining the group to recover, then going solo again—was the best plan.
“Let’s head to another altar.”
With Jinhyuk joining them, the other players looked visibly relieved.
Having a powerhouse on your side was always welcome.
“Got it.”
“We can’t let that young man fight alone!”
“If we stay still, we’ll die anyway!”
“Charge!”
A strong leader boosts morale just by being present.
And morale greatly influences combat performance.
[*Warning! The <Altar> has reached full capacity. (100/100).]
[*Warning! The <Altar> has reached full capacity. (100/100).]
He couldn’t save or help everyone.
But the truth remained—Jinhyuk’s presence saved many who otherwise would have died.
Thanks to him, players could take turns entering the altar.
‘Before regression, I never really analyzed it, but the altar’s structure is roughly like this.’
Even in this chaos, Jinhyuk examined the altar closely.
‘Good. This section is sturdy. The joints—especially the diagonal ones—are the weak points.’
[The Constellation <Eternal Flame> sheds tears at your sacrifice to save others!]
[The Constellation <Eternal Flame> sponsors 2,000 points!]
[The Constellation <Crimson Hair> is satisfied with your combat display.]
[The Constellation <Crimson Hair> sponsors 1,000 points!]
‘As expected.’
Jinhyuk had a precise understanding of what the watching Constellations desired.
That’s why he acted in a way that satisfied both their expectations and his own goals.
As a result, he racked up points and also earned support from the Constellations.
Huff… Huff…
The only issue now was—his stamina was nearly depleted.
His breath tasted metallic in his mouth.
‘Guess I’ve got no choice.’
He had taken the front line for too long.
And with fewer players left, the situation was only getting worse.
‘I won’t collapse over something like this.’
He pulled out another bottle of <Gradry Petal Extract>, coated his sword, and swung it again.
[Remaining Time: 5 minutes 20 seconds]
[*Current Altar Capacity: 73/100]
Only 5 minutes left.
Four altars remained.
Only a few players stayed outside, swinging their weapons to try and kill a few more gnolls.
[Would you like to register your name at the altar?]
[*Registering will complete the quest and ensure safety.]
‘I could just enter and pass the trial easily now.’
But Jinhyuk’s true enemy was a Constellation.
A transcendent, divine being.
Among them—the one he must face is <Pure Radiance>, one of the most powerful.
To stand against a being like that, he had to devour every reward and uncover every hidden piece possible.
No—even that might not be enough.
‘Which is why—’
Flash!
‘I’m still not done!’
Jinhyuk sprang from the altar and dashed toward another.
[Activating Skill: <Enchant: Flame>]
‘My goal is to break the highest score any player has ever set.’
Fwoosh!
‘The only way to do that—’
Both his swords erupted in flames.
‘—is to destroy the altar itself.’
Destroying the altar was a hidden mechanic—a sort of prank by the Constellation managing the first floor.
It was included because no one thought any player could ever pull it off.
Which is exactly why Jinhyuk aimed for it.
Overcoming the “impossible” was the only way to ascend stronger.
His flame-cloaked blades slashed forward.
Fwoosh—!
The gnolls, frightened by the fire, initially backed away—but quickly changed tactics.
Realizing they couldn’t push through alone, they grouped up, sacrificing outer members to break through the flames.
It was a smart move.
But only against average players.
Against Jinhyuk? It meant nothing.
[You have slain a gnoll. 1 point earned.] x12
[You have received 5 points.] x12
[Your level has increased!]
The gnolls’ tough hides, which were already easy for Jinhyuk to slice through, now caught fire and burned even faster.
[The Constellation <King of Muspel> covets your dominance and flame.]
