Chapter 11

Chapter 10: The Labyrinth of Labyrinth (4)

Jinhyuk, with trembling hands, checked the item that had appeared before him.

[Fortuna's Wheel of Fortune (Incomplete)]

Acquisition Difficulty: S

Description: Raises luck to the maximum for 10 minutes (one-time use). However, due to its incompleteness, the range of use is limited.

The wheel of fortune owned by Fortuna, the goddess of luck in Roman mythology.

Even though it was a one-time use item and incomplete, this was enough.

At least, it could create something more powerful than any weapon on the lower five floors.

‘Let’s see…’

Jinhyuk gripped the handle of the wheel.

It felt hot.

A burning magical power spread through his fingertips.

‘So, even a relic is a relic, huh.’

It had a subtle, spicy taste.

‘Yeah, this is what makes it charming.’

Jinhyuk chuckled and turned the handle 360 degrees.

Creak!

[The relic 'Wheel of Fortune' has been activated!]

[Your luck will be at its maximum for 10 minutes!]

Heavenly luck.

Though he didn't know the exact value, the luck he now possessed must be at an absurd level.

If he scratched a lottery ticket, he would win every time.

Even if he took a nap in a war zone where bullets were flying, he would be fine.

Of course, there was a condition.

The range of use was limited.

This was truly terrifying...

It meant that using luck in strange ways would be useless.

Most importantly, there was not a single line describing the extent of the range.

The luck he had obtained could turn out to be worthless, so it was naturally difficult to use.

However,

This only applied to amateurs.

Jinhyuk knew exactly where the boundary was.

‘Information I learned at a high cost.’

At the time, he had cursed thousands of times.

But thanks to that, he wouldn't make any more mistakes.

Let's start.

Jinhyuk took out 10 'Lotto Enhancement Scrolls.'

Enhancement success rate: 0.000012%.

1 in 8,140,000.

An enhancement scroll with the same probability as winning the lottery.

If he used this on a dagger...

[Enhancement successful!]

[Obtained a Rusty Dagger (+1)!]

A faintly red dagger.

As expected!

The corners of Jinhyuk's mouth turned upward.

Despite the extremely low success rate, with his luck maxed out, it was now a 100% success rate.

All he had to do now was repeat the same process.

Continuously, until he used all 10 scrolls he had bought.

Jinhyuk used the second enhancement scroll.

[Enhancement successful!]

[Obtained a Rusty Dagger (+2)!]

[...]

The color of the dagger changed slightly with each successful enhancement.

The blade gradually turned redder.

And finally,

[Enhancement successful!]

[Obtained a Rusty Dagger (+10)!]

[Cannot be enhanced further as it has reached the maximum level.]

[You have successfully created a +10 item, the first in the Korean server!]

[You have obtained 5,000 coins!]

[This achievement will be featured in the 'Hall of Fame' for one day starting tomorrow!]

+10.

The maximum enhancement level for an F-rank item.

He also obtained coins as a reward.

Whoosh!

Jinhyuk lightly rotated the dagger counterclockwise.

A smooth curve cut through the air.

It felt light and clean.

‘I like it.’

[Rusty Dagger (+10)]

Acquisition Difficulty: F (→A)

Attack Power: 280

Durability: 110/110

Effect: 3% Bleed Damage, 50% Lightweight

The attack power was decent.

It also had a bleed damage effect and a lightweight enchantment.

‘Now I have something useful in my hands.’

He wouldn't have to worry about weapons for a while.

***

A day had passed since the Tower of Trials opened.

On the first day, many players explored the tower and uploaded videos of their growth.

They tried to stand out in their own unique ways, striving to secure subscribers.

And the ordinary people living outside the tower...

They watched those players' videos.

For one reason.

To find the most outstanding and promising players.

Only then could they hope to clear the next floor of the tower within 90 days and prevent the extinction of humanity.

Right then, Jinhyuk, who was browsing the [Tower of Trials] community, paused.

He found something interesting.

[#Player Haemosu #Korean Server #Legendary Player #Tower of Trials 1st Floor, Goblin Dungeon Cleared in the Shortest Time!]

‘There are always guys who brag about this kind of thing.’

The video, which claimed to clear the Goblin Dungeon in 15 hours, had over a million views.

Converted at a ratio of 1,000 to 100, it was about 10,000 coins.

After deducting 90% as a fee, it amounted to 1,000 coins.

‘Haemosu, if I remember correctly, was a guy who made a name for himself in the lower levels...’

A name he remembered.

A rookie who had a brief moment of fame and then disappeared.

Definitely a player who used the nickname Haemosu.

‘Cleared in 15 hours...’

Jinhyuk clicked on the video with a bored expression.

A melee dealer was farming goblins.

Not a bad speed, for an average level.

Of course, from Jinhyuk's perspective, who cleared it in 3 hours and 40 minutes, it was just cute.

However, the reactions in the comments were completely different.

- Homona: Really impressive. Is it true that you cleared it in 15 hours solo?

- Taejeong: Seriously. I changed my underwear.

- Elf: Wow. I'll subscribe and only watch your videos from now on.

- Maltese Association President: 22222222

- 3D500: 3333333

The comment section was filled with exclamations of amazement.

They claimed that only this player could ascend the tower and save humanity.

But then,

- HumanBald: 15 hours isn't that fast. I know someone who cleared it in less than 5 hours.

Someone left a comment.

A comment that poured cold water on the celebration.

Naturally, a strong backlash followed.

- Taejeong: What's with the old man's syndrome? Your brain fiction is really disgusting.

- GodTie: Your tone is extremely annoying. Do you use honorifics on the internet?

- OffalSoju: Whoa, whoa. I cleared 50 floors in 1 minute. Of course, I have no proof. Just believe me.

Hundreds of comments filled with insults and sarcasm appeared instantly.

They mocked the keyboard warriors who only talked big from their rooms.

But amidst all the ridicule,

Jinhyuk didn't laugh.

HumanBald...

‘This person was also in the tower.’

How could he forget?

The guy he often played with up to the 20th floor.

After the 20th floor, he disappeared, but he was different from the flashy Haemosu.

He was fundamentally different.

‘A stork among sparrows.’

HumanBald was one of the few 'real veterans' Jinhyuk acknowledged.

***

“Hahaha! That's it! That's it!”

The man browsing the community cheered.

This man was Haemosu.

Or rather, Im Myunghwan, who used the nickname Haemosu.

“Look. It's working.”

“Wow. Look at the comments.”

“The whole board is talking about you. It was worth fighting the goblins. Haha!”

The men and women around Im Myunghwan high-fived and raised their voices.

“It's thanks to all of us. Thanks, guys.”

Im Myunghwan scratched his nose.

“Haha. People will think you did it all by yourself, right?”

“The editing was great. We supported you so subtly that no one will notice.”

“Right. Look. A truckload of people are offering to sponsor you.”

The video he posted as a solo play...

Was actually manipulated.

Four others had helped him.

Of course, they didn't openly assist him.

From a step behind, where the camera couldn't see, they buffed and debuffed to help Im Myunghwan.

To make him stronger and more spectacular, to grab people's attention at first sight.

‘Hehe.’

The corners of Im Myunghwan's mouth turned upward.

[Views: 1,235,095]

The number of views achieved in just 6 hours.

If he could gather viewers like this, he would be able to secure a large number of coins later.

Even considering the 90% fee.

‘Don’t be too resentful.’

Life is about the outstanding pioneers monopolizing everything.

While Im Myunghwan was lost in his dreams, laughing to himself,

Ding!

[A new video has been added to the Hall of Fame.]

Suddenly, a new video appeared.

Right at the top.

“What, what is this?”

Im Myunghwan jumped up from his seat.

He was so shocked that he almost bit his tongue, but he had no time to care.

“Someone... got a higher honor score than me?”

It couldn't be.

There was no way anyone could achieve a higher feat on the first day...

It was impossible.

But he couldn't deny it since he was seeing it with his own eyes.

“M-Myunghwan...”

“Show it to me. Now.”

“It must be a scam. This can't happen... It's impossible.”

“Shut up and show it now!”

Im Myunghwan shouted.

“Okay, okay.”

Finally, the video played.

Unlike the one Im Myunghwan posted, it was a short 5-minute video.

And it wasn't even edited.

But the content was beyond imagination.

“Wh-What...”

Im Myunghwan's jaw dropped.

It couldn't be helped.

This was...

‘It’s impossible.’

[First in the world to successfully enhance a +10 item!]

The appearance of a +10 item.

Further explanation was meaningless.

Calculating the probability was also pointless.

“The views... No, what about the comments? Tell me what's happening right now!”

Im Myunghwan shouted even louder than before.

His voice trembled.

The desperate, thin question...

“The views hit over a million in 15 minutes. It seems the word is spreading quickly.”

The answer shattered his hopes.

- Taejeong: A +10 item? Is this for real?

- Homona: Unbelievable. Is this even possible? I've only seen up to +5 before.

- Elf: What's the probability of a +10? It looks like he used the lowest-grade enhancement scrolls.

- SpeedWagon: It's 1 in 8,140,000, multiplied by 10.

- Elf: So, what's the exact probability?

- SpeedWagon: Figure it out yourself. No hands, no feet?

- Elf: Hey, you bastard!

- GodTie: But, to secure regular subscribers, you need to reveal information. Why are they all private?

- OffalSoju: Yeah.

- VeteranIdentifier: Who else? The player who fought the mangrove tree?

- GodTie: No way, really. It must be that person.

- OffalSoju: Wow, if it's that veteran, it's possible.

- Elf: I just got goosebumps. I'll only watch that person's streams from now on.

- Harvard5thYear3rdClass: I'll even take off my underwear and donate it.

The heat of the comments was scorching.

The achievement of clearing the Goblin Dungeon was quickly overshadowed.

The internet was flooded with stories about the newly emerged veteran.

“Wh-What...”

Im Myunghwan slumped into his seat.

He had only reached the 6th floor of the tower. He had planned to gather viewers in the early stages to win the competition.

‘It’s over.’

Completely.

“Which bastard did this! Ughhh!”

Im Myunghwan's scream echoed painfully.