Chapter 58

Chapter 8. End (8)

Hall of Fame.

A place where only those who have achieved the highest scores on each floor can have their names listed.

Naturally, having one's name on the Hall of Fame meant that one had accomplished something truly outstanding.

It also indicated that one had come closer to the gods.

It was a glory that any player would aspire to.

But Yeonwoo shook his head.

[You have refused registration.]

[However, even if it is not made public, your achievements are deeply engraved in the tower and can be registered at any time if you wish.]

Eveke's eyes widened slightly, and he chuckled mischievously.

"Indeed, you, ###, possess a very different disposition from others. There have certainly been such individuals before, who, despite their outstanding skills, did not wish to be publicly recognized."

Eveke seemed to interpret Yeonwoo's choice for a different reason.

'Well, it doesn't matter anyway.'

For Yeonwoo, it was simply that he did not want to reveal his real name, but since such a misunderstanding was not bad, he did not respond.

"Then, I will now distribute the rewards."

The players' attention was focused. They wondered what kind of rewards would be given for such an overwhelming amount of merit points.

One thing was certain.

The tower, which had been quiet since Artia, would become noisy again.

Eveke spread his palm wide.

Then, a cluster of light formed in the air, and a blue box with a question mark appeared.

The item box containing the rewards.

The box floated for a moment and then disappeared.

A new message appeared on Yeonwoo's retina.

[You have obtained 'Zeus's Key' as a reward.]

[You have obtained 'Lion Mane Helmet of the Beast King' as a reward.]

[You have obtained 'Eveleth's Egg' as a reward.]

...

Yeonwoo looked at the artifacts he had received and smiled slightly.

Each one looked good.

Among them were artifacts used by ancient rulers.

'But they can all be exchanged for different items.'

However, there was one thing that caught Yeonwoo's eye.

A key the size of a palm, shining yellow like a topaz.

'Zeus's Key.'

[Zeus's Key]

Category: Miscellaneous

Grade: C+

Description: A key to open the treasury of Zeus, the god of the sky. The method of use is unknown.

Despite its divine name, Zeus's Key was only classified as a C+ grade.

This was likely due to its divine name alone.

In reality, with just this key, there was nothing that could be done, so it could have been classified as an F-grade miscellaneous item without any issue.

This item was probably unique.

If someone who didn't know saw it, they might question how such an item could be a reward for the top player in the tutorial.

In fact, many top players in the tutorial treated it as a miscellaneous item, discarding or forgetting it.

But.

'Quite a few players have reportedly discovered the key's true nature while clearing the upper floors and regretted it.'

However, even knowing the secret, the path ahead was not easy.

To complete the key, 11 more materials were needed.

And, of course, the remaining materials were all hidden pieces.

Each one was as difficult to obtain as Zeus's Key.

'But I must open the treasury of Olympus.'

It was a key he had barely obtained with great difficulty. He must not lose it.

His grip on the key tightened.

Then.

Yeonwoo couldn't help but chuckle.

'But... now that I have this, it feels like it's really over.'

It had been a short period of less than a month, but the sum of everything he had experienced during that time felt more arduous than the four years he had spent in Africa.

'The things I will face in the future will be even more intense.'

Yeonwoo put all the rewards, including Zeus's Key, into his bag and slung it over his right shoulder.

There were too many eyes on him.

Most of them were admiring gazes.

He planned to check the details in a quiet place without other players.

Clap!

When Eveke saw that Yeonwoo was ready, he clapped loudly to change the atmosphere.

All the players, including Yeonwoo, turned their attention to him.

"Well, that's it. All the challenges are over. Congratulations to everyone, and I hope to see you often if the opportunity arises. Those who have earned the right to ascend the tower will receive a separate announcement, and even if you don't receive it, I hope you will use the next opportunity. That's all."

Eveke greeted them elegantly.

"The exit is below."

He disappeared with the wind.

Then.

A curtain of light descended over the heads of Yeonwoo and the players.

[Great performer, you have proven that you have the qualifications to ascend the tower. The tower will wish for your firm resolve to become a god.]

[Do you wish to enter the tower?]

A blue portal opened at Yeonwoo's feet.

Just as he was about to step through, Pant suddenly shouted and strode over.

His expression was slightly pained, as his injuries had not fully healed.

"Hey, masked guy!"

Yeonwoo looked at him with a disinterested gaze.

"What is it?"

"Follow me. From what I saw in G-sector, it seemed like you had a knack for artifacts. Let's put all that aside and have a fair fight. If you're a warrior, you won't refuse, right?"

Pant growled, determined to take revenge.

But.

"Surrender."

Yeonwoo raised his hands high with a bored look.

Pant was taken aback.

"W-What?"

"Surrender. Let's say you won. Isn't that fine? Surely, a warrior wouldn't torment someone who has surrendered, right?"

Pant was flabbergasted.

In his understanding, the word "surrender" couldn't be used so easily.

"Fine."

But Yeonwoo, finding it too troublesome to deal with him further, immediately activated the portal.

"Damn! We're not done talking yet!"

Pant, coming to his senses late, reached out to grab Yeonwoo, but he was already gone.

"Damn! What kind of guy is that!"

Pant clenched his temples.

From start to finish, it felt like he had been toyed with by Yeonwoo.

Edora, who was standing behind, chuckled lightly.

Thus.

The long tutorial came to an end.

* * *

A new rookie has appeared!

The moment the tutorial ended, rumors spread quickly through the tower via various communities.

The one who dominated the tutorial.

The one who achieved the unprecedented 500,000 merit points.

The one who swept through G-sector, monopolizing everything and even defeating the unicorn tribe's royal siblings, Pant and his sister.

Thus, the nickname "Monopolizer" was born.

Each of these achievements was enough to cause a stir.

As a result.

Many clans were intrigued.

As the history of the tower grew longer, the number of players who completed the tutorial increased, but it became harder to find notable talents.

In this context, the appearance of a new rookie could not help but draw their attention.

Many people tried to uncover the rookie's identity.

Many people moved.

But there was little they could find.

The rookie always wore a mask to hide his face and refused to reveal his name, not even registering in the Hall of Fame.

It was known that he had a friendship with the Kan and Doyle duo, but when it was revealed that they had only met in a mercenary relationship, everyone was confused.

Ultimately, the information about the rookie was shrouded in mystery.

Clans began to make swift moves to recruit him.

But.

Strangely, even after a considerable amount of time had passed since the tutorial ended, there were no reports of the rookie being sighted.

It was as if all the rumors that had spread throughout the tower were lies, and there was no trace of him.

It was as if he had evaporated.

As time passed.

Interest in the rookie grew, fueled by all sorts of speculation and rumors, like a snowball.

* * *

Whoosh!

Yeonwoo winced at the blinding light that stabbed his eyes.

'Dizzy.'

His eyes stung, and his vision swayed. It felt like he was experiencing high-altitude flight, causing dizziness.

He thought he wouldn't have to go through such an experience unless he activated a skill after becoming a player.

'Maybe the spatial transition magic is a bit different?'

Perhaps it was the process of his body adapting to a completely different world.

Fortunately, his mana circuits activated, stabilizing the spinning world.

The dizziness subsided quickly.

Thanks to this, Yeonwoo could comfortably observe his surroundings.

'This is the world of the tower, right?'

The world before him was vast.

Endless horizons were lined with various houses and buildings, and people in all sorts of attire bustled along the streets.

Despite the chaotic mix of so many things, it felt beautiful.

A scene that could only be seen in movies or dreams.

A spontaneous exclamation of awe escaped his lips.

But there was one thing that stood out.

In the center of the endless city.

A very tall tower stood.

Its top was lost in the clouds, and the 99 floors emitted a mysterious aura.

Even just standing there, it had a magnetic pull.

'The Tower of the Gods. Obelisk.'

A scene he had seen many times in his brother's diary.

But there was a huge difference between seeing it in the diary and seeing it in reality.

Awe.

That was the only word that could describe it.

A utopia where worlds and universes, dimensions and dimensions, intersected like a spider's web, and countless civilizations and races thrived.

Or a world of intersections.

But.

'Inside there, they are there.'

To Yeonwoo, it looked like a den of devils, filled with his enemies.

The top-ranking players and outstanding clans. Those involved with his brother were all rulers of the tower.

To them, his brother's every action must have seemed like a challenge, and his brother was no match for them.

'But now, the story is different.'

Yeonwoo planned to see them through his brother's eyes and speak to them with his brother's voice.

And.

He intended to return the same to them.

'This is the real beginning.'

Between the white mask.

Two fiery lights burned fiercely.

* * *

Every player who ascended the tower had the desire to reach the final 99 floors and become a god.

But someone with a different mindset was about to ascend the tower.

The Monopolizer.

Or the one who would be called the Black God in the distant future, as he stepped into the tower.