Chapter 19: The Awakening Test (4)

Shortly after, a new magic stone was prepared.

It was a large, intermediate magic stone with a blue hue.

“Yes, over here… huff, huff. It’s all set.”

The examiner panted for breath.

To think they’d finished preparing in less than a minute.

They must have been quite terrified.

Good.

Now, shall we begin?

Jinhyuk took his stance, dagger in hand.

Vrooom!

The blade turned red once again as magic power flowed into it.

‘There’s no need to hold back on the strength.’

Earlier, he had held back a little.

There was no point in going all out on a low-grade magic stone.

[Your ‘Gap’ stat has been activated to its maximum capacity.]

The strong magic force was conveyed through the tips of his fingers.

Jinhyuk’s lips curled into a smile.

Yes, this is it.

‘Strong, Strong, Weak, Strong’ (强强弱强).

An overpowered stat that was strong against the strong, and overpowering against the weak.

Now to see just how much he had progressed over the past month…

It was time to confirm that with his own eyes.

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

Sparks erupted as the blade swept across the side of the magic stone.

＊＊＊

“This… How is this possible.”

The examiner’s jaw trembled.

A month had passed since the Tower of Trials appeared.

During that time, countless awakeners had come here to take the test.

Most of them didn’t even possess the minimum amount of magic power required by the magic stones.

Below F-rank.

In other words, they were deemed unqualified.

Of course, a select few among them received a rank.

And they had earned the right to climb the tower.

But, no one.

Not even the S-ranks, not the rankers.

None had ever completely sliced through a magic stone before.

It was unthinkable.

Because…

It was a ridiculous idea.

Crack, crack, crack!

The bisected magic stone made a noisy clatter as it fell apart.

The cut surface was glowing red.

It was proof that his speed, power, and magic were all perfect.

[1st place, Kang Jinhyuk. Measurement: 20,895. Rank S]

The birth of a new S-rank.

And in reality, since all measurements above 10,000 were classified as S-rank, his actual rank was much higher.

More than double.

…A monster.

“Um… S-rank, con, congratulations. I will report this to the higher-ups, so please wait a moment. What was the number… again?”

The examiner fumbled with his phone.

‘It’s not Korea that’s the problem.’

It was the arrival of a mega rookie that required reorganizing the world rankings.

At least at the level of a department head… No, such a case would have to be reported directly to the association chairman.

At that moment, however.

“Wait a moment.”

Jinhyuk grabbed the examiner’s arm.

“Yes?”

“Were you about to report to the higher-ups just now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Please delay that for about a week.”

“Delay it? What do you mean?”

The examiner tilted his head, not understanding.

“It’s for personal reasons. After a week, I won’t mind if you report to the association or spread it on the internet.”

“But that’s not something I can decide.”

Manipulating information.

If caught, he didn’t know what kind of punishment he’d face.

Even changing lower ranks was a serious crime, let alone hiding an S-rank.

For a whole week, no less.

“I can’t do that! I really, really can’t!”

He fervently refused while bowing repeatedly.

As expected, he reacted this way.

Jinhyuk nodded, as if he had expected this response.

He wanted the benefits of being an S-rank, but there was a need to hide his rank until he finished a certain task.

To do that, he first needed to manage this examiner’s mouth.

“I’ve learned a couple of things in my life.”

“Lea…Learned things?”

Step.

Jinhyuk took a step forward.

Simultaneously, a faint light shimmered from the dagger he held.

“The first thing is that ‘you can’t be sure about human affairs.’”

‘Absolutely not,’ said the subjunctive mood that added ‘even if I die.’ It lacked credibility.

It had to, as the affairs of the world could change with any situation.

“The second is ‘a close fist is scarier than a distant law.’”

‘The chairman is at the top floor of the building, and I am right before your eyes.

So it’s better to make a good decision if you don’t want to end up in trouble.

Swoosh.

Jinhyuk lightly played with the dagger.

Did his threat work?

The examiner’s complexion turned noticeably pale.

The opponent was S-rank.

A superhuman, barely fitting into the category of mere mortals.

A person who could easily kill another if they so desired.

“A week! Is a week good enough?”

The examiner replied urgently.

Jinhyuk stopped in his tracks.

“Yes. That’s sufficient. Afterward, you can do as you please.”

In fact, he’d prefer they actively advertise it by then.

Only then could he proceed smoothly with the plans he had in mind.

“Understood. I will announce Kang Jinhyuk’s rank exactly one week later.”

Eventually, the examiner made a decision.

“Surely, you won’t change your words or do anything like that, right?”

“No, no way. I promise you, on my name.”

“Sorry, but I just don’t trust verbal promises.”

The most unreliable thing in the world is a promise given by word of mouth.

Even if they say they’ll take it to their graves, it’s often spilled over a drink, isn’t it?

He needed something more certain…

A token that could kill him if he broke the promise.

Flames ignited on Jinhyuk’s fingertips.

[Lv1 ‘Soulbrand’ activates.]

It was the very mark he had placed on Park Hana.

“Don’t worry, it won’t hurt. Just endure it for a moment.”

Sssss.

He branded the soul with the mark.

The examiner frowned, but it was only for a moment.

With this, he bought a week’s time.

“Until then, please use the initial measurement result.”

“F-rank, you mean?”

“Yes.”

Jinhyuk nodded.

With that, the examiner hesitantly opened his mouth.

“So… what about the second test?”

“We’ll see about that.”

“F-rank… unbelievable… It only makes sense if you’re ranked higher than us, isn’t there a problem?”

Taemin and Yeonhwa exclaimed in unison.

They couldn’t accept the results.

Especially since both had witnessed Jinhyuk’s skills inside the Tower of Trials, they couldn’t believe the rank F.

“It’s a temporary rank. After a week, they’re going to measure again, just wait.”

He sugar-coated the truth.

There was no need to reveal he was S-rank here.

“Ah…”

“Well, if that’s the case, I guess.”

Reassured by the term ‘temporary rank,’ both nodded.

“Oh right. Oppa, how will you handle the second test?”

“I’ll get right on it.”

“On the first floor, there’s a lower dungeon that we have some in our possession. How about it? Should I look into it for you?”

“No, I’ll be enough on my own from now on.”

What lies ahead is too dangerous.

No matter how skilled Taemin and Yeonhwa were.

Well, to be frank, at this point, there’s not a single player in the entire world, including myself, who could go to the first-floor ruins and go all the way.

Not by normal means, that is.

‘So I’ll have to use abnormal means.’

The Tower of Trials had always been a place where you had to survive by shortcuts rather than the proper way.

“Don’t worry about me. The two of you keep climbing the tower.”

They had already promised that.

To see each other again later.

So until then.

They needed to focus on their own growth.

＊＊＊

After parting ways with the two, Jinhyuk immediately accessed the [Tower of Trials] community.

‘Looking in the recruitment section should do.’

Usually, high-rankers formed raid parties at the guild level.

Those below D-rank often teamed up as individual players to fill the numbers.

And for a ruin like this, you needed hundreds of people.

[Recruiting players to join the raid in the ‘Corridor of the Fallen’ on the first floor. (000 members)]

He found it.

Given its high difficulty, he thought there might not be any challengers.

‘Lucky.’

Jinhyuk promptly called the listed number.

-Beeeeep…

The call was answered almost immediately as the ringtone sounded.

-Hello?

-I’m calling from the community post. I’m interested in the raid. Is there still room for one more?

-Of course, we have space!

The man quickly responded.

Apparently, there was an urgent need for people.

Well, usually only those with guts would even consider going there.

-By the way, what’s your rank?

-F-rank.

-Ah… F. Hmm. I see.

-Is there a problem with the rank?

-No, that’s not it. Even if you are of low rank, you can go as a part of the carrying or mining team. You just won’t be entitled to a share of the loot found in the ruins. Carriers and miners are hired on a daily wage basis.

Lower risk but also significantly less reward.

That’s fine.

The goal of going to the ruins wasn’t for loot distribution anyway.

-I’m okay with a daily wage.

-Then, can you come to the tower entrance right away? The carriers are already here waiting; I’ll explain the conditions in detail once you arrive.

-I’ll be there in 20 minutes.

The call ended.

Jinhyuk called a taxi and headed straight to the appointed place.

About 20 minutes later?

He finally reached his destination.

‘Near the entrance… that should be around here.’

Jinhyuk weaved through the crowd, looking around.

Then,

He saw a group of men gathered together.

Judging by their size…

‘Are these the carriers the guy on the phone mentioned?’

As Jinhyuk approached, a bespectacled man in a suit greeted him with a bright smile.

“Are you the one who called earlier?”

“Yes. My name is Kang Jinhyuk.”

“Hello. I’m Seunghwan Oh, the assistant manager at Matching Management.”

Seunghwan Oh welcomed Jinhyuk warmly.

“Is that the guy who said he was the last one?”

“Finally, we can start; we’ve been waiting for an hour already.”

“Haha, understood. Let’s initially get the raid approval out of the way. Right. Press that approval button, and you’re all set.”

Seunghwan Oh showed each candidate who applied as a carrier a 30cm status window.

“Now you too, Mr. Jinhyuk.”

Finally, Seunghwan Oh showed Jinhyuk the same status window.

It contained nothing special.

Just the question ‘Do you agree to join the raid as a member?’

By agreeing, you’re then officially part of the raid.

Jinhyuk pressed the approval button.

Then.

[You have officially joined the raid.]

[You have met the requirements.]

[The second update will now apply.]

[Language patches for 103 different countries have been applied.]

[A raid-specific quest begins.]

“Oh, there it is!”

“And me too; look at this! A raid-specific quest, that’s something.”

Excited voices filled the air.

[#1 First Successful Raid on the Relic]

Difficulty: S

Objective: Eliminate the boss monster and reclaim the throne in the deepest part of the ruins.

Reward: You are granted the right to choose one of the holy relics. (However, if you fail to kill the boss monster, the choice of holy relics will be limited.)

Multiple status windows appeared in front of Jinhyuk.

The boss monster.

Retaking the throne.

And the choice of holy relics.

He already knew all this information.

But.

‘What’s this?’

Before Jinhyuk was something different that others didn’t have.

[A privilege for ‘the first conqueror of the tower’ has arrived.]

Another status window had emerged.