He pulled up his interface, reviewing his objectives one more time. The hidden item quest remained maddeningly vague, offering no clues beyond its existence. Frustration simmered beneath his calm exterior, but he pushed it aside. He’d start with what he knew and uncover the rest as he climbed.
Before stepping into the Tower, Jae-Hyun glanced at his messages. A brief exchange with Ahri from earlier lingered on the screen:
Ahri: “I’ve been making some progress. Leveled up twice since yesterday! The system’s inventory and shop options are… strange but helpful. You might want to check them out sometime. It’s different from what I’m used to, but I think I’m starting to figure it out.”
Jae-Hyun smirked faintly at her excitement. She was adapting quickly, even if she had started from scratch. Her determination was evident in every word.
Jae-Hyun: “Good. Keep pushing. I’m heading into the Tower again. I’ll update you later.”
With that, he dismissed the interface and stepped forward. The familiar sensation of the Tower’s pull enveloped him, and the bustling world outside faded into the surreal atmosphere within. His destination was clear—the twentieth floor and the mysterious NPC he had learned about. This time, he was ready to uncover the truth.
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Arriving at the twentieth floor, Jae-Hyun wasted no time navigating the dense, eerie forest that stretched before him. The monsters he encountered fell swiftly to his blade, his movements precise and unrelenting. Each step brought him closer to the boss chamber—and the NPC he now suspected held the key to the hidden item.
The forest seemed to close in around him the closer he got. The towering trees swayed slightly in a windless space, their shadows dancing unnaturally in the faint light. The atmosphere was suffused with an odd hum, as though the Tower itself was watching, waiting.
As he approached the chamber entrance, a figure materialized from the shadows, standing perfectly still in front of the massive, rune-etched doors. The NPC looked disarmingly human, dressed in plain, nondescript robes. Their expression was neutral, almost serene, with dark, deep-set eyes that seemed to pierce through Jae-Hyun.
“Welcome, adventurer,” the NPC said, their voice calm and measured. “You’ve reached the threshold of the twentieth floor’s final trial. Here is the key to proceed.”
The NPC extended a hand, revealing a small, metallic key adorned with intricate carvings that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Jae-Hyun took it without hesitation, his sharp eyes studying the figure closely.
“Is this the only thing you have to offer?” he asked, his voice cold and direct. He wasn’t about to leave without exploring every possibility.
The NPC’s serene demeanor shifted slightly. Their lips curved into a faint, unnatural smile that sent a chill down Jae-Hyun’s spine. “That depends,” they said, their tone dropping to something almost sinister. “Do you wish to play one of my riddles?”
Jae-Hyun’s grip tightened on his sword. The tension in the air was palpable, but his curiosity outweighed his caution. “What happens if I do?” he asked.
The NPC’s smile widened unnaturally. “If you succeed, you will be rewarded with something… extraordinary. But fail, and you die. Three attempts are all you will receive. Do you accept?”
Jae-Hyun considered the offer carefully. The risk was clear, but he had to accept it, it was the system order. With a nod, he said, “I’ll play.”
The NPC’s eyes gleamed with an unsettling light. “Very well. Here is your riddle:
I walk with you from birth to death.
I take many forms, yet remain the same.
To end me, you must end yourself.
Who—or what—am I?”
Jae-Hyun’s mind raced as he analyzed the riddle. The first attempt seemed obvious. “Time,” he said, his voice steady.
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The NPC shook their head slowly. “Incorrect.”
Frustration gnawed at him, but he didn’t waver. He thought deeper, considering the phrasing and its implications. The answer felt clear now. “Death,” he said, his tone sharper.
The NPC’s smile widened further, their expression almost unnervingly delighted. “You are close. But I never said the answer was to be spoken.”
Jae-Hyun’s sharp eyes narrowed as realization dawned. The NPC’s wording had been deliberate. The answer wasn’t meant to be spoken—it was meant to be acted upon.
“Here’s your answer,” Jae-Hyun said coldly, lunging forward with his blade aimed directly at the NPC’s neck. The strike was swift and precise, a killing blow.
Or so he thought.
But the NPC moved faster. Their hand shot up, catching the blade between two fingers with an effortless grace that defied belief. Jae-Hyun barely had time to register the speed of their reaction before the NPC’s serene expression twisted into something grotesque. Their smile stretched impossibly wide, their eyes gleaming with a malevolent light.
“Congratulations,” the NPC hissed, their voice a mix of amusement and menace. “You are the first to solve this riddle.”
With a flick of their wrist, the NPC released the blade and stepped back, their form shimmering faintly as they extended their hand. A small, crystalline pendant materialized in their palm. The gem at its center glowed with a soft, ethereal light, its surface etched with runes that pulsed faintly.
“Take it,” the NPC said, their tone returning to its earlier calm. “The Shard of Temporal Edge is yours. It will serve you well.”
Jae-Hyun hesitated briefly before taking the pendant. Its weight felt solid in his hand, the energy emanating from it both calming and invigorating. Without another word, the NPC vanished, leaving Jae-Hyun alone before the boss chamber doors.
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Jae-Hyun’s grip on the pendant tightened as he stared at the empty space where the NPC had stood. His heart pounded in his chest as the reality of the encounter sank in. The speed—the precision—it had been beyond anything he had ever seen. For the first time, he truly grasped the depth of the Tower’s mysteries.
“A millisecond,” he muttered to himself, his sharp eyes narrowing. “That’s all it would have taken. If they had been even a fraction slower…” He trailed off, shaking his head. The Tower wasn’t just a challenge of strength. It was something far more dangerous.
Exhaling sharply, he turned his attention to the pendant. The runes glowed faintly, and as he analyzed its effects, his breath caught. The Shard of Temporal Edge enhanced his reaction time, scaling it with his agility. The improvement was almost imperceptible at first, but as he tested his movements, he realized just how significant the boost was.
The pendant seemed alive in his hand, its faint hum resonating with his own energy. He flicked his wrist experimentally, marveling at the fluidity and precision of his movements. Each action felt sharper, faster—as though time itself bent slightly in his favor.
“This can’t be real,” he murmured, his sharp eyes widening slightly. The precision, the speed—it was almost too good to be true. And yet, the proof was in his own movements. He could feel it, the subtle edge that had been missing before.
A wry smile tugged at his lips. “I could say it was worth the risk,” he muttered under his breath.
He tucked the pendant away, refocusing his mind. The boss chamber loomed ahead, its massive doors etched with glowing runes that seemed to pulse in time with his racing heartbeat. Steeling himself, Jae-Hyun stepped forward, his fingers brushing against the door’s cold surface. He hesitated for a moment, a rare flicker of doubt crossing his mind.
The NPC’s speed, their eerie demeanor—it had shaken him more than he cared to admit. If they were just the gatekeeper, what kind of danger awaited within the chamber? His grip tightened on his blade, the weight of the Tower’s secrets pressing heavily on his shoulders.
A sudden, faint sound made him glance over his shoulder instinctively. The forest was silent, the shadows unmoving, but the memory of the NPC’s grotesque smile lingered in his mind. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something—or someone—was still watching.
“No turning back,” he muttered, pushing the doors open. A faint, ominous light spilled out, bathing him in its glow as he stepped into the unknown.
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Meanwhile, miles away from the Tower, Mi-Rae leaned against the cold stone wall of the Rank A Gate outpost, her armor still dusted with the remnants of the raid. Her fingers hovered over her phone, the faint glow of the screen illuminating her features in the dim light. She couldn’t believe she had her brother’s number—that he was alive, after all this time.
A rush of emotions welled up inside her. Relief, disbelief, and a longing that had been buried for so long all surfaced in an instant. She re-read his contact profile over and over, the reality of his presence slowly sinking in. Even though he looked so different now, the brother she had grown up with was still there.
Her fingers hesitated over the keyboard before typing a single message.
Mi-Rae: “I still can’t believe you’re alive. I’ve been thinking about you non-stop since earlier. How have you been? What happened all this time? Are you okay? I really want to hear from you soon.”
Hitting send, she let out a quiet sigh, tilting her head back to gaze at the stars above. “I just hope you’re safe, oppa,” she whispered to herself, the words carried away by the cool night breeze.