The Tower of Trials.

This place, often called a “hunting ground,” is one of the publicly managed gates overseen by the government, allowing players under Level 20 to freely grow and develop.

Suho’s primary reason for coming here, as he told Jo Jin-hwi, was to clear the Tower. However, his more fundamental reason, naturally, was rapid growth.

After all, his level had essentially been reset to the beginning.

In addition…

“I have to get my hands on it here.”

A hidden piece concealed only within the Pangyo Tower of Trials. That was one of Suho’s objectives for coming to this place.

Suho then checked his status screen.

**[Ahn Suho]**

- Lv: 10
- Class: Healer
- Strength: 20
- Health: 20
- Mana: 20
- Senses: 10
- Bonus Stats: 0

He had deliberately not raised his Senses. Compared to other stats, the Senses stat—which activated features like dynamic vision and Mana Detection—was not immediately necessary.

Having finished his preparations, Suho held his freshly printed Hunter license and made his way to the entrance of the Tower of Trials.

“Tanker needed!”

“Looking for one melee dealer!”

“We have a supporter!”

As he approached the entrance of the Tower, he noticed a crowd of people. They were all waiting to form parties for hunting expeditions since party play was far more efficient than soloing in the Tower of Trials.

“Of course, with more members, the experience each person gains will decrease…but in the long run, it’s better to go in together.”

However, Suho had come with the intent to climb alone, as he’d told Jo Jin-hwi. He knew all there was to know about the Tower of Trials.

Suho handed his license to the entrance staff member and requested entry.

The staff member glanced back and forth between the license and Suho before asking, “Are you alone?”

“Yes.”

“Your license number shows you passed the exam just yesterday… Are you sure it wouldn’t be better to join a party since it’s your first time here?”

Since the Tower of Trials was a public gate, all the staff managing it were civil servants—KHA members, in other words. Hence, the advice.

Although the Tower of Trials was meant for beginner hunters under Level 20, accidents still happened here.

“No, thank you. I’m more comfortable on my own.”

“Well…if you’re sure.”

Even so, they couldn’t force someone who insisted on going in alone. There was no rule against it.

After paying a small entry fee, Suho stepped through the door opened by the staff, revealing a portal beyond it. Without hesitation, he walked straight into it.

**[Entering the Tower of Trials.]**

**[You may quit the Tower of Trials at any time…]**

The related system messages appeared as he entered the tower.

He remembered all of this and quickly skipped through the instructions. There wasn’t much to worry about in the Tower of Trials since one could quit at any stage.

“The moment I declare my intent to quit, I’ll be teleported back to the entrance of the first floor.”

As long as he avoided pushing himself beyond his limits, there was minimal risk of death in the Tower of Trials—one reason beginner hunters favored this place.

Entering the first floor, he found himself in an area about the size of a small stadium.

**[You have entered the first floor.]**

**[The first-floor challenge will now begin.]**

With that notification, slimes started appearing in his field of vision.

“Right, slimes on the first floor.”

Suho pulled a sword from his inventory. It was the beginner’s sword granted by the system upon selecting his class. Although he’d purchased other weapons at Dongdaemun Market, for now, the beginner’s sword would suffice.

Suho began swinging his sword, ready for a full-scale climb.

***

“Is he crazy?”

After hanging up, Jo Jin-hwi stared at Suho’s phone number for a while. At first, he thought he must be a madman. But considering Suho’s high exam score and the way he spoke, he didn’t seem to be lying.

“What on earth is he planning?”

Despite the bizarre proposal, Jo’s gut still pointed to Suho, something that weighed on his mind.

Finally, after some deliberation, he made his decision.

“Well, who knows? If it works, great; if not, so be it.”

Jo Jin-hwi began drafting an article about Ahn Suho.

***

According to Suho’s memory, the official record for the Tower of Trials’ highest floor cleared was the 49th floor. However, this was based on his previous life; the current known record was only 29 floors, achieved through party play.

“It’s only natural to rely on party play.”

The Tower of Trials raised the level of monsters proportionally with each ascending floor. For instance, on the 19th floor, players would encounter Level 19 monsters.

Therefore, those aiming to break records would form parties consisting of Level 20 hunters, the maximum level allowed to enter the Tower, as it was the most efficient way.

Yet, a player once broke this standard method—a man known as the “Fortress King,” Jang Pyung-ho.

**[You have cleared the 18th floor.]**

**[Proceeding to the 19th floor.]**

Once Suho had hunted every monster on the 18th floor, a portal to the next floor appeared. He stepped through the portal without hesitation, and as soon as he entered, the challenge began.

**[You have entered the 19th floor.]**

**[The 19th-floor challenge will now begin.]**

The monster on the 19th floor was a single creature. Its name was Red Gaen, a red-skinned, white-haired monster with a single horn on its head, often nicknamed the “Red Ogre.”

As soon as it spotted Suho, it charged toward him. In response, Suho swung his sword with explosive precision.

Slash!

The blow from his sword carved a deep wound into Red Gaen’s neck before it even reached his attack range. A fountain of blood erupted from the wound, and Red Gaen collapsed to the ground, dead, without getting close to Suho.

**[You have defeated Red Gaen.]**

**[You have cleared the 19th floor.]**

**[Proceeding to the 20th floor.]**

After defeating Red Gaen, a portal to the 20th floor appeared in front of him. But instead of heading to the portal, Suho approached Red Gaen’s body and turned it over.

Unlike most Tower monsters that faded away upon death, Red Gaen was an exception, as he carried the hidden piece Suho sought.

Suho tore off a bone necklace hanging from Red Gaen’s neck. Made of sharp animal teeth, the necklace itself couldn’t be equipped—it wasn’t a system item. But the necklace wasn’t what he needed; it was the “small key” hidden among the bones.

“There it is.”

The key, made of bone and camouflaged among the other decorations, was hard to identify unless one knew what to look for. But Suho recognized it right away.

After all, it was the Alpha and Omega of the famous “Fortress King” Jang Pyung-ho.

Holding the key, Suho activated Mana Detection to scan his surroundings. Soon, he found a peculiar groove nearby—a keyhole described by Jang Pyung-ho.

When he inserted the key, it fit perfectly. As he turned it, a click sounded, and the key slipped further into the hole.

**[You have discovered Red Gaen’s hidden lair.]**

Rumble!

The system notification informed him that he had found Red Gaen’s lair. Simultaneously, a new rectangular portal appeared, shimmering in front of him.

“So, this is the famous Fortress King’s stronghold entrance.”

The “Fortress King” Jang Pyung-ho was once an ordinary, unremarkable Hunter. One day, however, he found Red Gaen’s key in the Tower of Trials and acquired a unique skill: “Pocket Dimension House.”

Though Pocket Dimension skills were relatively common, with many items in the world offering storage capabilities, Jang Pyung-ho’s skill had a unique trait.

“In Jang Pyung-ho’s Pocket Dimension House, living beings could enter.”

While traditional inventories or storage spaces couldn’t contain living creatures like people or animals, Jang Pyung-ho’s Pocket Dimension House allowed all life forms to enter. This was what made him world-famous as the “Fortress King.”

Once he barricaded himself inside, no one could pull him out.

For that reason, Jang Pyung-ho had acquired several nicknames beyond Fortress King, including “King of Turtling” and “King of Hiding.”

As Suho set foot in the Pocket Dimension House, the scenery around him transformed, revealing its interior.

“This is the Pocket Dimension House…”

It was Suho’s first time inside the House, as only those permitted by Jang Pyung-ho could enter. Unlike a typical, empty storage space, this place resembled the interior of a normal house, albeit arranged to Red Gaen’s taste. Of course, Suho could redecorate it as he pleased.

Just then…

**[The owner of the Pocket Dimension House has died.]**

**[The Pocket Dimension House requires a new owner.]**

**[Do you wish to become the new owner of the Pocket Dimension House?]**

A prompt from the system.

As expected, the Pocket Dimension House was a skill that bound itself to its owner. With its previous owner dead, it now awaited a new master.

Suho nodded without hesitation.

**[You are now the new owner of the Pocket Dimension House.]**

**[Congratulations!

 You have acquired the Pocket Dimension House (S).]**

**[The Pocket Dimension House is now bound to you.]**

**[The Pocket Dimension House will respond to your Mana.]**

An “S” grade symbol was attached to the Pocket Dimension House—a clear indicator of its rank. However, no bonus stats were awarded, as this was simply a discovery, not an achievement of mastery.

As the skill bound itself to Suho, the House’s interior began to change. With a faint rumble, the space expanded, growing larger, since Suho’s Mana surpassed that of Red Gaen.

Not only that, but the room’s decor, initially set to Red Gaen’s taste, transformed to match Suho’s vision of a clean, modern space, resembling a typical Korean apartment living room.

“So it really does respond to the user’s Mana.”

At that moment, the small key Suho had taken began to crumble and disintegrate.