STCB 19

STCB

Posted by Zoe, Released on June 24, 2025

Chapter 19 – Floor 3 Trial (1)

Whoosh—!

Third Floor Trial Waiting Room.

As soon as they arrived, the overwhelming heat hit them like a wall—so intense it felt like their strength was being drained away.

“Ugh…”

“Drink the <Flame Resistance Potion>. Hurry.”

Players were clearly struggling, worn down by heat that was worse than they had expected.

Desperate to adapt, they gulped down expensive <Flame Resistance Potions>.

‘Not that it’s going to help much,’ thought Lee Jinhyuk.

Cheap potions could only ward off the heat for a short while.

Without natural resistance to heat or flames, it was impossible to truly overcome the core problem.

Eventually, they’d run out of stamina before finishing the trial.

‘Before regression, I thought I’d die too. It was so hot that even ice would melt in seconds.’

Lee Jinhyuk, however, was perfectly fine in the heat.

That was because the Imoogi (Korean lesser dragon) he had merged with could instinctively adapt to extreme environments like heat or cold.

Moreover, thanks to the cold aura of <Eternal Frost>, which never melted under any condition, the scorching heat was greatly suppressed.

[Constellation <Eternal Flame> shyly greets you.]

“Greetings.”

[Constellation <Eternal Flame> tilts its head, noticing how much you’ve changed.]

“Quite a lot has happened.”

Constellations could only watch the players’ trials—they didn’t know what Jinhyuk had done in the second-floor trial, <Dead Run>.

[Constellation <King of Muspel> snorts with his arms crossed.]
[Constellation <Dawn King of Zhonghua> laughs heartily, saying he’s heard the rumors.]
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> is pleased with your location.]

The constellations who had offered him apostlehood were among the first to arrive, and more constellations began tuning in.

“Whew…”

Unlike previous floors, the players here made no effort to cooperate.

“I’ll go ahead first.”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. See you on the 3rd floor.”

Fwoosh—!

Players whispered to the air and disappeared one by one.

That’s right—unlike earlier floors, the third-floor trial was strictly solo.

[Players who are ready may challenge the 3rd floor trial at any time.]

As if on cue, a holographic window popped up.

Players could now take the trial whenever they chose.

‘No need to delay.’

Ssshhh.

‘I came fully prepared anyway.’

Jinhyuk signaled his consent.

[Starting <3rd Floor Trial>!]
[You have acquired the Main Quest <Flame Challenger>.]

<Flame Challenger>
Grade: 3rd Floor Trial
▶ Objective: Challenge the Granite Colosseum.
▶ Reward: Choose one:

5,000 Points

One set of professional-grade equipment

Buff usable in the 4th Floor Trial
Guaranteed Reward: Right to enter the 4th floor
▶ Bonus: Additional rewards based on how many stages are cleared

[Bonus rewards and EXP will accumulate and be distributed after the trial ends.]

The 3rd-floor trial was unique.

You could continue or stop based on your own strength.

Because players could exit after just clearing Stage 1, passing the trial wasn’t that hard.

‘That’s why most just clear one stage and bail.’

As Jinhyuk warmed up and stretched…

[Teleporting to Granite Colosseum to begin Main Quest <Flame Challenger>.]

He was transported with a flash.

* * *

Lee Jinhyuk arrived at a granite-built colosseum.

SCREEEEE!
HISSSSSSS!

The audience seats were filled with a distinct reptilian race.

With red scales and vertically slit yellow eyes—these were the dominant species of the 3rd-floor <Lava Ocean>.

The Lizardmen.

[Many constellations are watching you.]

The colosseum sky shimmered with stars of every color.

So many constellations had entered just to see Lee Jinhyuk.

[Many Lizardmen are watching you.]
[Lizardman Lord <Kukokawik> enters.]
[Lizardman Grand General <Lakuowak> enters.]

Was it because of the constellations’ attention?

Or because he had been smashing records up the Tower?

Even the Lord and Grand General of the Lizardmen entered to observe.

[You are beginning to receive wide attention!]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> wonders what your strategy will be.]

‘Constellations and Lizardmen want a flashy performance.’

How do you satisfy the constellations, get points and rewards, and grow stronger?

‘Easy. Just give them a dopamine-fueled performance.’

Jinhyuk smiled at his watchers.

‘Just a little seasoning, and we’re good.’

He briefly closed his eyes, then looked up.

“Dear Constellations.”

[Constellation <Eternal Flame> listens intently.]

“How far do you think I can go?”

A Lizardman wearing a golden crown shifted in his seat.

Kukokawik, Lord of the Lizardmen, the ruler of the 3rd floor.

“How about you, Grand General?” he asked with a sly smile.

His brother Lakuowak, a hulking Lizardman closer in size to a drake, covered in armor and wielding a massive mace, replied,

“He’s arrogant.”

He frowned.

“To ignore the Lord and only talk to the constellations in our domain… that’s blatant arrogance.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“And we don’t even know if he’s strong enough to back it up.”

“You sense nothing from him?”

“Yes. I’d have to see him fight to be sure.”

“Your instincts are sharp.”

Lakuowak peered down at Jinhyuk.

“Our Grand General is a recognized ‘Ranker’ of the Tower.”

“You flatter me.”

The Tower ranks players who’ve cleared floor 15 and beyond.

Being in the top 10,000 earned you the title Ranker, and the top 100 were High Rankers.

Given how vast each floor was and how many players existed, even being a Ranker gave tremendous influence.

And even Lakuowak couldn’t feel anything from Jinhyuk?

Kukokawik looked at his trembling hands.

‘He’s no ordinary human.’

Living creatures have a primal instinct—a food chain hierarchy.

Even a mouse that’s never seen a cat freezes in fear when one approaches.

Lords like Kukokawik are even more attuned to that instinct.

‘Something’s different.’

Dread, worse than what he felt before drakes or wyverns, wrapped around him.

‘I thought he was a “monster” metaphorically… but he’s a literal one.’

“This human…” Kukokawik closed his eyes.

“Must not climb any higher. He’s a monster that will devour us all.”

[Constellation <Dawn King of Zhonghua> laughs at you.]
[Constellation <King of Muspel> bursts out laughing.]
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> suggests declaring a Divine Word now.]
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> warns that gambling is bad.]

‘I guess the rebellion hasn’t happened yet.’

Jinhyuk glanced at Kukokawik.

‘He’s still intact.’

Kukokawik, ruler of <Lava Ocean>, was known as a benevolent king and the child of the previous unifying Lord.

‘He always had sharp instincts.’

He’d likely sense something ominous in Jinhyuk, even if he couldn’t pinpoint the Imoogi’s power.

That was enough.

‘Because now, he’ll raise the trial’s difficulty.’

If Kukokawik maxed out the difficulty, two major benefits would come:

The Tower would offer better rewards.

[The higher the difficulty, the greater the rewards.]

It would draw in more constellations.

‘A record-breaking rookie crushing the hardest 3rd-floor trial? That’s gold.’

[Lizardman Lord <Kukokawik> has manually adjusted the trial difficulty.]
[You may decline and take the standard version.]

Kukokawik raised the stakes.

Jinhyuk assumed it was the maximum difficulty.

The only downside was that he wouldn’t know who he was fighting until the trial started.

[Many constellations are examining Kukokawik’s trial settings.]
[Constellation <Eternal Flame> expresses concern for you.]
[Constellation <Crimson Hair> approaches with gleaming eyes.]
[Constellation <Fire that Killed the Mother Goddess> declares a Divine Word.]