Chapter 12: Fragment of the Imoogi’s Core (1)
Boom!
The monster guarding the second-floor trial, the undead made from the shed skin of an Imoogi—Five-Headed Death Snake (Odu Sasa)—collapsed.
[Multiple constellations are shocked!]
Their attention turned to the astonishing achievement—one that no one had ever accomplished before.
‘Even before regression, no one managed this.’
Back when Lee Jin-hyuk was the top-ranking player, the moment the Tower fell to <Pure Radiance>, even then, the three accomplishments he’d achieved—tutorial, floor 1, and now floor 2—remained unmatched.
Three historic feats in a row. It was no wonder the constellations were taking notice.
‘Aren’t they giving me any more points?’
[The constellation <Eternal Flame> is observing you.]
[The constellation <King of Muspel> is watching you.]
Apparently not. Jin-hyuk clicked his tongue in disappointment.
‘Well, I’ve already earned a huge haul anyway.’
Approaching the fallen corpse of Odu Sasa, Jin-hyuk licked his lips.
‘If I can’t get more points, I’ll just sell this thing.’
[Time Remaining: 5 days, 21 hours, 22 minutes]
‘You need rest to soar higher later.’
After slaying Odu Sasa, Jin-hyuk took time to recover his stamina.
Luckily, the goblin undead he had summoned from elsewhere were doing the work for him.
[The constellation <Eastern Blooming King> is impressed by your leadership!]
[The constellation <King of Muspel> is pleased with your majesty.]
The goblin undead were tightly wrapping up Odu Sasa’s corpse under Jin-hyuk’s command.
Though its body carried lethal venom, it was no concern—the undead weren’t affected by poison.
‘They’re obedient and efficient.’
There was plenty of space to store items too.
He was organizing them into the bags and pouches left behind by fallen players and monsters.
‘The <Goblin Chieftain> skill really is better than <Goblin Slayer>.’
The goblins were even bringing him food and potions. It was incredibly convenient.
‘With this Imoogi’s hide and materials, I should be able to rack up quite a bit of points.’
Currently, Jin-hyuk had around 65,000 points.
If he cleared the final mission as first place, he’d gain 115,000 more.
Still, to copy two desired skills, he’d need over 300,000 points.
‘If I can sell Odu Sasa’s corpse, I’ll get a major boost.’
He had rested well, prepared food and emergency potions, and the goblin undead would continue working in his absence.
He had already given them precise instructions.
Currently, he was the only living player on the second floor. And undead wouldn’t attack fellow undead.
“Time to move.”
The cleanup operation after the 2nd-floor trial had begun. Jin-hyuk turned toward the pit where Odu Sasa had first appeared.
“Who knows what might be in there.”
[The constellation <The Fire That Killed the Mother Goddess> nods approvingly.]
[The constellation <Eastern Blooming King> says curiosity often leads to fortune.]
[Skill <Enchant: Flame> activated.]
With flames surrounding his <Advanced Sword>, he began descending the pit’s inner wall.
Though he told the constellations it was curiosity, he was moving with a clear goal in mind:
‘The Imoogi’s Core Fragment.’
Ssshhh—
‘It’s down there.’
“You can find one in the lower levels. Yeah, there’s definitely one. Urgh… That crazy girl Majuron stayed there.”
Tang Sowol, the Poison Witch.
A player with unparalleled knowledge of poisons, cores, elixirs, spells, and witchcraft within the Tower.
“Ah, there is one. But it’s guarded by something called the ‘Cleaner’ that appears if you fail the 2nd-floor quest.”
“A Mang. Basically, a monster called an Imoogi. That core is the mana it’s stored up before shedding its skin.”
“Why it left that massive mana core behind, I don’t know. But one thing’s for sure…”
“That core holds an overwhelming amount of mana—far more than any player can handle.”
The Imoogi’s Core.
Comparable to a Dragon’s Heart, it contained a vast concentration of mana.
Obtaining it would provide enough mana to eliminate all concerns for the foreseeable future.
“Why didn’t I get it back then? Ha, no way we could. Not me, not even Majuron.”
“Even though she stayed on the 2nd floor for three years.”
There were two major problems.
“First, you can’t even kill the thing. Once a player clears a trial, they can’t attempt it again. And a player just arriving on Floor 2? No way they beat Odu Sasa.”
Tang Sowol knew everything—its venom clouds, the four toxic heads, the fire breath from the center head, and the nearly impenetrable scales.
She was sure no new player could defeat it.
“Second, even if you got through the trial, getting the core is a problem in itself. It’s in the pit where that monster came from.”
Rustle.
As Jin-hyuk recalled their conversation and descended the pit wall…
Sssshhhh—
A surge of movement.
Snakes began emerging.
From 10 cm to 10 meters in size, and some were even spewing the same venom as Odu Sasa.
“Ugh. Annoying.”
[You’ve slain a Lesser Corpse Snake x12 – Gained 2 points each.]
[You’ve slain a Giant Corpse Snake x3 – Gained 15 points each.]
[Your EXP has increased.]
They resembled mini versions of Odu Sasa.
But to Jin-hyuk—who had gained several levels recently—they posed no threat.
‘Not even worth calling a threat.’
In fact, they helped.
By climbing across the entwined snake bodies, he reached the bottom more steadily.
The snakes began backing away, realizing his strength.
He arrived in the pit’s depths—pitch-black darkness and snake-shaped carvings everywhere.
‘A massive circular passage… It’s like it was made for them.’
Eventually, he found a doorway leading to the underground temple.
Boom!
Breaking it open with his fist, he ventured inside.
It was eerily pristine—no dust, like someone had been cleaning it.
Ssshhhh!
A cloud of venom mist—far stronger than before—poured from deeper inside.
[You are afflicted with <Status Effect: Poison>. HP is decreasing.]
[You are afflicted with <Status Effect: Curse>. All stats reduced.]
‘Yup. She said this part would be dangerous.’
[Your skill <Indomitability> cancels all status effects.]
He was safe.
As long as he had <Indomitability>, no status effect could touch him.
‘Seems like the tower designers didn’t want you to get the core just by killing Odu Sasa.’
The passageways formed a maze—clearly intended for Odu Sasa to move freely through.
‘A bit hard to navigate, but it’s fine.’
Looking carefully, faint traces remained—worn floor tiles from Odu Sasa’s massive body repeatedly traversing the area.
‘Of course. A creature that size leaves a mark after commuting every ten days.’
Despite some interference from corpse snakes, Jin-hyuk reached his destination.
He found it.
A beating jewel, pulsing like a heart.
Swirling with red, green, and black energy—like a tiny storm.
“Looks like I need to climb those stairs to claim it.”
[The constellation <Eternal Flame> is worried for your safety.]
[The constellation <King of Muspel> snorts.]
‘With that much energy, it’s clear how the main body was sustained.’
Not just poison—dark magic, demonic energy, and curses swirled around it.
An item no ordinary player could touch.
‘Even if others reached this place, without fighting Odu Sasa, they’d never survive this storm.’
Step.
Jin-hyuk stepped onto the stairs. The storm grew stronger, lashing at him.
‘Guh!’
Even with <Indomitability> blocking status effects, the sheer aggression of the dark energy damaged him.
But thanks to leveling up seven times and his excellent armor <Eternal Frost>, he could endure.
[Many constellations are watching you with interest.]
Grab!
Finally, he reached the top and seized the gem.
[Item <Imoogi’s Core Fragment> resists your ownership!]
The core began emitting even stronger rejection—as if it refused to accept him as its master.
‘An item resisting me? You’re just a material, not even a complete gear.’
“Sure, the poison mist is deadly. But the real danger is the core itself.”
“That thing is real, not a fake. The Imoogi—being a dragon that never became one—poured all its resentment into it.”
“No way an ordinary human body can endure it.”
“But if you arrive just after regression, you can beat Majuron to it and claim it first.”
The Imoogi’s core—the final curse of a creature that failed to become a dragon.
That’s why no human body could hold its energy.
Normally, the 2nd-floor trial would end with Odu Sasa’s defeat, and players would move to Floor 3 for the hidden piece.
‘If I had returned to my old body, I wouldn’t be able to absorb this. But…’
Grip.
‘Now it’s different.’
Jin-hyuk’s current body wasn’t human.
It was a vessel of a constellation—the most perfect physical form in Tower history, capable of absorbing divine consciousness and power.
Combined with the hidden pieces he’d acquired, he could withstand even this poison storm.
“Don’t resist me.”
Screeech!
The memories and emotions of the Imoogi—its resentment, pain, and failure—struck him like a scream.
But they couldn’t affect him.
And so, Jin-hyuk subdued the core.
[You have acquired the item <Imoogi’s Core Fragment>.]
{Item}
<Imoogi’s Core Fragment>
Grade: Heroic
Type: Miscellaneous
▶ A remnant of the Imoogi’s accumulated poison and mana. Currently contaminated by residual dark energy and vengeful thoughts.
Contaminated or not, it was incredibly useful.
‘Can’t use it until I finish the 2nd-floor trial, but…’
If he could properly absorb it, he’d never have to worry about mana again.
[The constellation <King of Muspel> is pleased by your dominance.]
[The constellation <Eternal Flame> breathes a sigh of relief.]
[Many constellations are now watching you closely.]
Jin-hyuk stared at the core in his hand.
Then without hesitation—
He swallowed it whole.
[Many constellations are horrified!]
[The constellation <Eternal Flame> covers their eyes in disbelief!]
[The constellation <King of Muspel> stands up in shock!]
