Climb Begins (1)
Users with magical power abilities.
This was the term used to refer to those who awakened special abilities on Earth—104.
And surprisingly, even in other dimensions, the title was almost identical… only the “language” differed.
It was unclear whether even this was intended by the system, but in any case, irregulars from other dimensions were also magical ability users, and they too possessed awakened abilities.
The awakened ability of Gamou, an irregular from Earth—531, was…
Tzzzzzz.
His body gradually grew larger as Gamou transformed into a massive bear-man.
His awakened ability was beast transformation.
Not only Gamou, who had transformed into a bear, but also around him were various magical ability users from other dimensions, each with miscellaneous awakened abilities, preparing to activate them.
They weren’t strong enough to attempt climbing the Tower, but they had enough ability to survive as raiders. These types gathered to form a guild called Mad Dog, and as a result, they had been living fairly well in this world.
At least, until now.
But as they moved, Seon Yul had already grasped all their movements through Cheon Li Yu.
“So the dogs finally took the bait.”
Dealing with dogs that had bitten the bait didn’t seem difficult.
In the first place, he had lured them here to handle them quickly and easily.
First, Seon Yul used Real Painting—Camouflage to disappear from the sight of the dogs chasing him.
“Huh!?”
“What!?”
The Mad Dog irregulars, who had spread out and were closing in while surrounding Seon Yul, were startled when their target suddenly vanished.
They looked around frantically to find him again, but their level couldn’t detect Seon Yul, who had perfectly blended into the surroundings using camouflage.
Instead, their position flipped… from hunters to the hunted.
Swish. Whirl!
“Ghk!”
A strand of Arachne thread shot out from the darkness, instantly dragging one of them into the shadows.
Using Real Painting—Camouflage and even his Absolute Space ability, Seon Yul moved like a ghost, unpredictably eliminating them one by one.
There were a total of 20 Mad Dog irregulars brought by Gamou to capture Seon Yul.
But it didn’t even take 10 minutes for all 20 of them to be hunted down instead.
“Darion! Katella!!”
Gamou shouted the names of his subordinates, who had disappeared one after another until none remained, as he frantically looked around.
“W-what is this… why…”
He couldn’t understand the situation.
And then…
Srrrk.
Seon Yul, whom he had been searching for, appeared right in front of him, still in bear form.
Just as naturally as he had vanished, Seon Yul reappeared. Gamou glared at him and growled:
“You bastard!!”
Consumed by rage and unable to think rationally, Gamou charged straight at Seon Yul.
A gigantic bear, over 5 meters long, rushed toward him with overwhelming pressure.
But Seon Yul had already prepared before revealing himself.
BOOM!
At the exact moment Gamou charged, a shell was fired from behind him.
Naturally, the shell fired from behind Gamou was faster than his charge toward Seon Yul, who was about 7 meters away.
BOOM!
Focused only on Seon Yul ahead, Gamou was struck directly in the back by a shell fired from the entrance of Absolute Space… a K3 stealth tank, and was sent rolling across the ground.
His body didn’t shatter thanks to the increased physical defense from beast transformation, but it was clear he had taken heavy damage.
“Grrr…”
Beast transformation greatly enhanced not only defense but also regeneration, meaning that if he endured the pain of broken bones, he could recover within a minute.
Gamou knew this and tried to avoid a second attack by lifting his head.
But the moment he raised his head, he realized something had gone terribly wrong.
Shrrrrk, whip! Crunch!
“Ghk!”
Thin yet incredibly strong threads wrapped around his mouth.
Seon Yul used Arachne thread to bind Gamou’s mouth and forcibly pry it open.
“Ghk! Ghhk!”
Then he placed his right palm in front of Gamou’s mouth.
Naturally, the palm bore the tattoo of Absolute Space, forming a black hole.
“I told you, didn’t I? Stop barking nonsense.”
Trembling.
Gamou shook as he listened. He wanted desperately to escape, but with a broken spine and bound by Arachne threads, he couldn’t even lift his arms.
“You said you’d kill me, right?”
After staring at him for a moment, Seon Yul spoke his final words without delay:
“In your next life, try being born human instead of a dog.”
Whiiiiir, dududududududududu!
Seon Yul activated a Gatling gun and fired hundreds of armor-piercing rounds straight into Gamou’s mouth.
Bang bang bang bang!
And just like that, Gamou’s head exploded, and he died.
From the start, Gamou and the Mad Dog members were no match for Seon Yul.
Every last one of them was eliminated.
And thanks to cleaning them up so neatly, Seon Yul received an unexpected bonus.
Level 70.
His total experience, which had stagnated for a long time, had steadily increased after taking down several raiders recently, and with Gamou’s defeat, he finally reached level 70.
“Guess killing dogs gives rewards.”
Seon Yul grinned and quickly opened his status window.
—
— [Stigma Level] 70 (00.09%) (Stigma Points: 1)
— [Unique Ability] Absolute Space <EX> (Level 15)
— [Level Perks]
Level 1 → Gain “Hyper Regeneration” inside Absolute Space (lost upon exit)
Level 10 → Can use “Powerful Strike” inside Absolute Space (5-minute cooldown)
…(omitted section)…
Level 60 → Can use “The Dead Tell No Tales” inside Absolute Space
Level 70 → Can install an independent “Absolute Space (Bunker)” not connected to existing Absolute Space.
Fixed structure, cannot be removed for 15 days once installed
Entrance must remain open, but access can be restricted to designated beings
Initial size: 20 pyeong area, 4m height (square space)
Can be expanded using magic stones
Only one bunker can exist at a time
— [Acquired Skills] None
—
“Absolute Space bunker? What’s this?”
Seon Yul tilted his head.
He had expected a level 70 perk, but once again, something completely unexpected appeared.
“…It might actually be useful.”
At first glance, it didn’t seem helpful in combat, but after thinking it over, it might be more useful than expected.
“I’ll think about how to use it later.”
Deciding it wasn’t immediately necessary, Seon Yul began cleaning up the surroundings.
With the noisy dogs taken care of, it was time to return to daily life.
***
“We’ll be back within a month, but if something happens and we don’t return, use this and go home on your own.”
Seon Yul handed Jun Hyeok an emergency return stone.
Seon Yul and Cheon Li Yu were finally preparing to enter the Tower of Life.
“I won’t need to use this.”
Jun Hyeok said confidently as he accepted it.
“And the Absolute Space entrance I left open in the back room… keep it as it is. If anything dangerous happens, evacuate there.”
“That’s connected to your Absolute Space?”
“No, that one’s independent. Oh, and if you need supplies, I’ve stocked things inside, just go in and take them.”
“So it’s like a safe storage?”
“Exactly.”
Seon Yul was already using the Absolute Space (bunker).
He had installed it in the storage room behind his shop and moved all his goods there.
Especially fresh items like monster meat.
“Don’t worry about the shop or me. Just make sure you come back safe.”
“Got it. It’s our first climb, so we’ll be careful.”
“And don’t cry while we’re gone.”
“I didn’t cry!”
Li Yu and Jun Hyeok had grown close enough to joke freely.
After parting with him, the two headed straight to the Tower of Life.
The tower entrance will be open for four days starting today.
The current highest cleared floor was the 59th.
Not too fast, not too slow.
A stable progression.
Seon Yul had Cheon Li Yu wait inside Absolute Space before approaching the entrance alone.
“First time entering?”
At the entrance, heavily guarded by powerful-looking elves, one asked while scanning him.
“Yes.”
“You’re entering alone?”
“Yes.”
The tower allowed solo or team entry, and difficulty varied accordingly.
Most truly skilled climbers preferred solo play.
“Good luck.”
After final checks, Seon Yul entered the tower.
Step by step, he crossed a clear boundary…
Flash!
A vast green field spread before him.
It didn’t feel like the inside of a tower at all.
“Wow…”
After a brief moment of awe, he opened Absolute Space.
Tzzzt.
It opened normally.
Inside, Cheon Li Yu was there.
“Did it work?”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
But a question arose:
“Does this count as solo play… or duo?”
He couldn’t verify that yet.
“Let’s head out and look around first.”
Each floor had conditions to clear to proceed upward.
Those conditions changed constantly, though patterns existed… and Seon Yul had studied them.
“Let’s go!”
This climb was a new challenge.
And through it, Seon Yul intended to accomplish everything he needed to do.
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