Dae-Il Memorial Hospital, Oksu, Seoul.

“Byung-Ho-ah you came ta visit during the weekdays?” In the Lobby the surprised voice of the old nurse went unnoticed by many.

“I won’t be able to come this weekend so I thought of dropping by early.” Said Byung-Ho politely.

“It must be an important job for you ta change the day of your visits. It’ll feel weird not seeing you around comin’ Sunday after so long. I am sure Min-Jun would be sad ta hear it.” The Nurse shook her head. She had seen him visit on the same day for over nine years. He came every Sunday with a new set of flowers and a box of donuts for the nurses without fail.

“I feel the same, but it can’t be helped.” Even today he had fresh flowers in hand and arrived like every other day handing her the box of Donuts.

“Don’t feel down, I am sure he’d understand if you explain it ta ‘im.” The nurse patted his back with a gentle smile. A while later the younger nurses in charge of cleaning the private rooms came back to the station and gave them a thumbs up from afar, “You can go in and meet him.”

Byung-Ho nodded and walked down the hallways. He greeted the doctors, nurses, and patients he knew on the way. They smiled in his direction and went on their way murmuring about his untimely visit. Even if they talked on the other side of the hallway, he could hear them loud and clear. Trying to ignore the whispers he reached the room, with a slow push he opened the door and entered.

“I am back Min-Jun.” He said with a smile but got no response.

With a wry smile, he closed the door behind him. The slight scent of disinfectant that didn’t bother him before, now felt too strong to him. But, pushing it to the back of his mind he walked over to the table near the bed.

“You know the Tower that appeared at Namsan Peak? The one that has magical items inside it. I’ll be entering it tomorrow.” His voice filled the room as the cold air from the window entered. The flowers on the bedside table rustled in the wind, they still looked fresh but he removed them and emptied the water in the nearby sink.

He peeked at Min-Jun’s reaction but he was looking the other way.

“It is dangerous but don’t worry, I am not going in alone. Do-Yun Hyung and Miss Kim are also entering. Both of them are really strong, much stronger than me. They can defeat Monsters the size of buildings with a single punch just like the characters of the anime you showed me.” Byung-Ho smiled pouring fresh water in the vase before arranging the new Hydrangea he brought with him.

“They are both great people… but I fear that I might mess things up. You know how weak I am right? I can’t do anything properly even now, but Do-Yun Hyung said that I am doing fine. But that scares me even more. What if I make a mistake at a crucial moment? I can’t get the thought out of my head.” He sat next to the bed and looked at Min-Jun before continuing, “I know that keeping negative thoughts in my head isn’t good, but it is a habit I can’t get rid of. If you just tell me like you used to, maybe that will help… no I am sure I will stop thinking that way… so…”

“…” Min-Jun didn’t speak. He continued to look towards the window through which rays of sunlight entered the room.

“Well… can you give me a good cheer before I leave?” Byung-ho looked at the frail hand on the bed. Many tubes and wires were connected to him as the mechanical beeps resounded in the room.

“I guess not, huh…” Byung-Ho’s eyes landed on the floor. After a brief moment, he looked up again, this time his eyes seemed to shine bright.

“I’ll bring some souvenirs from the Tower. You’ll forgive me then, right? Like I told you last time, Do-Yun Hyung said that there are many amazing things. There is this chalice that has water which can make you immortal, talking swords and witch hats, Flowers as tall as skyscrapers that can eat elephants, and you know there is this sea that…” Byung-Ho kept speaking so that the room doesn’t fall silent.

He spoke of things Do-Yun told him, recalling the things he had seen beyond the Gates, the training he started to do, the things he ate, and the interesting items he got. The Tower too sounded like an interesting place that would allow him to tell Min-Jun a lot of new stories, but there were also dangers inside it.

“I know you’d like to visit it too. You always liked such things. So, get well soon. I’ll take you there when you are healthy… And I’ll get stronger to protect this time.” Byung-Ho smiled as silence finally settled in.

He glanced at his wristwatch, the visiting hours were over but nurses didn’t come to get him. He could stay longer, however he didn’t want to create problems for them. With one last look at Min-Jun, he stood up, took his backpack, and walked towards the door.

“I’ll be back next week with lots of new stories to tell. Take care Min-Jun.” With care, he closed the door and walked towards the exit. Saying his goodbyes to the nurses from afar, he left the place.

One of the Younger nurses who enjoyed the Glazed Donuts looked to her left. Back at the Nurse station, the Middle-aged Nurse felt sad watching him leave with his head down. Not only her, but most of the nurses at the station had similar reactions. Most of them had seen it for years, even the newer ones had seen it enough time.

“They must be real close for him to visit that often.” One of the newer Nurses said. She also liked that he brought something for them every time, but still, it felt bad when he left that way.

“Both of those boys used to help the old patients around here when they were lil’ kids. Min-Jun wanted ta be a surgeon so he came by for community work, and Byung-Ho tagged along. Inseparable those two.” The older Nurse said, she remembered it like yesterday. Even in those times, these kids brought snacks for the nurses and patients.

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“Wait hasn’t patient Min-Jun been in a coma since…” The newer nurse stopped herself.

“It was around that time that it happened… But, I can never believe that a boy that bright tried to take his own life. But, it would be better if he got better, at least the poor boy wouldn’t have to continue seeing him that way…” She closed her tired eyes, a groan escaped her lips as she realized it, “Seems like old age is getting to me to let my mouth run like that.”

The nurses around her chuckled, cause rather than old age this was an old habit of her. However, none of them minded it one bit. As she spoke the words on their minds.

.

.

.

Late at night, Do-Yun sat in his living room. He watched an old movie that he missed a lot with a plate full of red meat in his hand. His eyes glued to the screen he ate a thin slice of the meat dripping with blood.

Biting down on the rubbery and cold piece of meat he did his best to chew it. If it didn’t taste like rag dipped in bleach it would’ve been easier. Regardless, he swallowed it without a single shift on his face.

[Extra Skill Poison Resistance (D) has reduced the effect of Monster Meat (D+). Due to the low level of the Skill it cannot nullify the poison completely.]

[Status Effects Dizziness, Weakness, Organ Damage, and Internal bleeding have been applied.]

Do-Yun’s stomach churned in anguish, his vision started to distort. But he ate another slice of meat, and then another, and another. He continued till nothing remained on the plate before drinking the blood.

His body rejected it, and he could feel that struggle. Almost as if he had eaten burning charcoals. The effect of eating Monster meat was fatal for weak people. Getting up to his feet Do-Yun picked up the bin from nearby and vomited. Everything he had eaten came out in an instant. Only the taste of iron remained in his mouth. The red intertwined with pasty yellow vomit inside the bin. He groaned at the sight and placed the bin on the floor

[The Proficiency of Extra Skill Poison Resistance (D) has reached 100%]

[The Extra Skill Poison Resistance (D) has evolved into Poison Resistance (D+)]

His hand trembled as he sat down on the couch again. Slowly this weakness started to fade away and his skill worked. His upset stomach also calmed down as the natural healing kicked in.

‘I still didn’t get it.’ Do-Yun groaned again. He started this a week ago.

Thanks to the high vitality and Aura his body got healed if he meditated for an hour. But the skill he aimed for needed more effort.

“If I keep at it till morning I should get my hands on it.” Do-Yun scratched his head. He could feel it from the speed of his natural healing. He was close.

Inside the kitchen and took out another block of meat from his refrigerator. Cutting it into thin slices he took them back to the living room. The dual rings around his heart churned as Aura spread throughout his entire body. It reinforced his muscles, bones, and organs like he wanted. And then he continued to eat the slices, triple the amount of what he ate before.

[Extra Skill Poison Resistance (D+) has reduced the effect of Monster Meat (C). Due to the low level of the Skill it cannot nullify the poison co...]

[Main Skill Adaptation (EX) has started to adapt to Monster Meat, Progress 5%......]

Ignoring the pain akin to having his guts wrung out, Do-Yun circulated Aura to maximize his natural healing. Aura, one of the multiple energies in the system. Just like other, it embodied an attribute.

‘An energy that represents life.’ It boosted every Physical attribute of the user. And that is why Do-Yun chose it. Using this, he could get the most important skill he’d need for his plan.

[Main Skill Regeneration (E) has been acquired!]

The first rays of sunlight came into the room and fell on his face. He opened his eyes and looked at the sun through the window. A small smile crept up on his lips when he read the system alert. After days of eating the crappy meat, he finally got it.

“With this, I am ready to challenge the Tower for real.” After a good stretch, Do-Yun got ready to leave. It didn’t take long for him to leave the building, outside the main entrance the Van waited for him.

“You are late.” Unhappy, Eun-Young said.

“Sorry, the preparation took longer than I expected.” He smiled getting into the front seat.

“What do you mean? Everything we need is in the van.” Eun-Young felt that he was lying, but he wasn’t. This turned into a confusing situation.

“Mental preparation I mean.” She scoffed at that excuse.

He of all people needed Mental Preparation? She hadn’t heard something so ridiculous in years. The ones who needed Mental preparation were them. The closer they got to their destination the higher the pressure that weighed down on them.

After showing their identification and documents at the 1st entrance, they made it to the Nam-sam Peak without any hiccups. On their way, they saw numerous tanks, watch towers, and even helicopters flying around. But to them, none of it seemed threatening. Not as much as their destination at least.

A Tower so tall and wide that it could dwarf any manmade structure. Its exterior painted in a mix of dark black and blood red looked daunting. Air itself twisted around it as they could hear the tortured wails from the statues of gargoyles and beasts that were placed alongside the outside wall as decorations.

‘Is that blood coming out of the eyes of the statues?’ Eun-Young thought suppressing the chill all over her body. She had felt this sensation strengthen the closer she got to the tower in the past month, but today it became more vivid cause she stood right under it.

“So, you two ready?” Do-Yun turned to them, and as expected this didn’t have much effect on him.

“Yes,” Regardless, Eun-Young secured the large bag on her shoulder. Turning back wasn’t an option for her.

“…Yes Hyung.” Byung-Ho powered through the fear too, his hand still trembled but overall he was holding on better than she expected.

“Alright then, follow me.” Do-Yun walked towards the double door at the foot of the Tower.

It was huge enough for a commercial plane to pass through it. Made of jet black metal the Door had minimal artistry on it as compared to the rest of the Tower. Aside from some tangled vines and flowers along with runic language nothing else of note was present.

‘The first time I entered the Tower I almost died for real.’ Do-Yun used to be scared of this place. If his past self knew that he willingly entered the Tower this time, he’d probably call him crazy.

‘But, I didn’t have Regression at that time. So, I think he’ll understand.’ That was the difference between them. The Tower was scary no doubt, but during his long life, Do-Yun had seen more terrifying things than mere Monsters that could kill him.

[Are You Sure About Challenging The Tower?]

[Yes/No]

Unlike the normal blue screen, an ominous red system panel appeared in front of the three.

“Yes.” Said Do-Yun.

Eun-Young and Byung-Ho agreed inwardly unlike him.

The runic language on the door shined at their acceptance and with a flash of light that covered their bodies, they vanished in thin air.

[Number Of Challengers That Have Entered Through This Entrance: 3]

[Current Progress: Floor 1 (Not Cleared)]

[Time Limit: 23 Days, 05 Hours, 58 Minutes]