[A gift from the Caladium Kingdom has arrived.]
[Do you accept?]
A blinking golden status window.
'If it is the Caladium Kingdom…'
Jin-hyuk was a bit shocked. This was a nation belonging to the Empire, which was hostile to the Murim.
And one of them was Caladium.
'Did they finally move?'
He had thought that a connection would be attempted one day, but this was too fast. Well, new variables had emerged, so they couldn't help but feel greedy.
At the same time, it also meant that the situation was becoming urgent enough that even the Empire of nobles had begun to put their pride aside.
'Both Murim and the Empire. To change the power composition of the Tower, they are trying to preemptively recruit players who seem skilled.'
So they were coming out with presents? Weren't they being cute?
Jin-hyuk smiled while looking at the list.
It was time to see what those who dominated the middle floors had sent him.
Tring!
[You have acquired the skill 'Hazy Body Odor.']
Acquisition Difficulty: F
Description: A skill that can erase not just your odor, but also your breath and even the slightest vibration in the air. When used, even wild animals cannot notice your presence.
(Time limit: 3 seconds, 3 uses, 24-hour cooldown)
[The system's deterrence is partially relaxed due to the patronage of a higher power.]
If it had been another floor…
This skill would have been helpful. Its activation time was short, but the number of uses was limited.
However, this was different in a situation where they had to escape through crazy patients and named monsters.
'As long as unique abilities and skills are sealed, F-rank skills are more valuable than S-rank ones.'
It was like earning extra lives.
And since it was given as a gift, it didn't violate the rules of the floor…
It seemed like those upper-floor dwellers were quite greedy.
'Let's use the skill.'
There was no reason to refuse something freely given to curry his favor. Nor was there a reason to feel burdened by it.
'If I'm walking a tightrope among factions anyway, I might as well suck up all the honey they offer.'
Classic push and pull.
That was the best position to take for the future.
Nice.
Now that he had acquired the skill, this consideration could be put aside. Jin-hyuk opened the gate to the psychiatric ward.
At that moment—
Woong!
[You have selected the 5th-floor 'Psychiatric Ward'!]
[Unique abilities and skills are sealed.]
[There is only one rule: escape the ward alive.]
A status window appeared, signaling the start of a new floor.
Jin-hyuk's vision blurred.
Damp air.
The foul smell of blood and waste.
Limited visibility that didn't allow him to see even an inch ahead.
All of it suggested that his survival chances were at their worst.
Tring!
[Ancient Dragon Macedrian's Magic Book has unlocked one skill.]
[You can use Eye of Gluttony!]
Another status window appeared. The eye was a skill that could function without limitation.
'This is why I chose that book.'
But—
'This place is disgusting. No matter how many times I experience it, I can't get used to the smell.'
Jin-hyuk frowned and shook his head.
At that moment—
"Uhh…"
"Terrible darkness. Ugh! Is this the starting point?"
"Damn it, why a place like this?"
He could hear other voices.
"Does anyone have something to light a fire?"
"We can't use abilities since they're sealed. This is like going back to the Stone Age."
These players, who had grown accustomed to having abilities, were suddenly deprived of them. It must have felt like modern people losing electricity.
"Uh? I have something in my pocket!"
"Pocket?"
"Yes. This feels…"
Clack!
Wheik!
A small flame appeared with the sound of a lighter.
There were five people inside the room, barely able to recognize one another.
A Western man and woman, an Asian woman, a Black woman—
And Jin-hyuk.
Five in total.
"Phew. I might survive now. If I'd known it would be like this, I would've chosen somewhere else."
"Um? I have something in my pocket too."
"Me too."
"Same here. A key."
Survival items were distributed randomly.
Everyone checked their pockets. Jin-hyuk did so first.
'A ballpoint pen…'
A common office pen.
Anyone else would have cursed the system. Jin-hyuk simply examined the tip and nodded.
'Not bad.'
A true veteran doesn't blame the situation.
They use what they're given.
And—
'All of them are newbies.'
From their clumsy reactions, it was clear none of them had experience clearing the psychiatric ward.
In the past, he might have dragged them along just to watch them panic.
But this wasn't a game anymore.
"I think we'll have to get through this on our own. Has anyone been here before?"
A large Western man asked.
"I tried it once, but that was a long time ago…"
"At the start, I heard that experience doesn't matter much on the 5th floor since the structure and items change."
"That's why I chose this. The mine closed too quickly."
Everyone had their own reasons. Jin-hyuk found none of them convincing.
"We've reached a goal."
"Let's talk slowly and then move."
While they talked, Jin-hyuk kept his eyes on the door.
'Now that the light's on, it's time for them to come…'
Lighting a fire didn't just give vision to the players.
It alerted the ward's inhabitants.
Step.
A faint sound.
The others were too busy talking to notice.
Step! Step!
The footsteps grew louder.
Now everyone noticed.
"What—what's that sound?"
"Lock the door! Lock it!"
"Kuak!"
They rushed to barricade the wooden door—
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door shook violently.
"It's here! In here!"
"Burn everything!"
"Purify them!"
"Blood of the heathen!"
"Tear them apart!"
Mad voices echoed through the room.
"Eek!"
"They're already here?!"
"We need to leave now! I can't hold the door!"
Former patients—now lunatics—who had sacrificed themselves to an unknown god.
Fight or flee.
But how do you fight without abilities?
They had to run.
"Hurry! We need to go now!"
The large man looked around.
Ba-dump!
Jin-hyuk's heart began pounding faster as the shouting grew louder.
Bang! Bang!
The door began to splinter.
Through the cracks, a bloodshot red eye stared back.
"No time left!"
Then—
"Here! This way!"
The Black woman pointed upward.
A vent.
If they climbed, they'd survive.
"Hurry!"
They tore off the vent cover and scrambled up.
Kwang! Pop!
A fist-sized hole appeared in the door.
Through it, a blade stained with blood was visible.
"Pull me up! Hurry!"
They pushed and pulled each other up.
One by one, they escaped.
But—
"What are you doing?! You! Come up!"
Jin-hyuk was still below.
"Damn it! Leave him!"
"We can't save everyone!"
"Tch."
The man clicked his tongue.
Clack!
The vent shut.
Fear peaked.
But—
'I don't know how you'll survive the future if you panic the moment your abilities disappear.'
Skills were only auxiliary tools.
The Tower held far worse horrors.
'That kind of thinking is for fanatics.'
Jin-hyuk held the pen.
Click!
The tip extended.
Kwang!
The door burst open.
Around thirty half-naked men stormed in, bodies twisted, eyes soaked in blood.
"Kill him!"
"Cut him apart!"
"God wants his blood!"
Rusty sickles and kitchen knives flew.
"I've always wondered something."
A question he could never ask the AI.
"Do mad people feel fear?"
He wanted to test it.
His body vanished like smoke.
Puak!
"Kuak?"
The pen pierced a man's temple. Blood sprayed.
"If you want to overwhelm someone, don't rush through a narrow entrance."
Only one or two could pass at a time.
Their weapons were useless here.
Puak! Uh!
Eyes. Under the chin. Uvula.
He struck unprotected vital points.
"Kuak!"
"Ack!"
Screams filled the room.
Cold. Efficient.
In moments, more than half lay dead.
"…"
"…"
Their momentum shattered.
Killers became corpses.
"What are you doing? Is that all?"
Jin-hyuk held the blood-soaked pen.
And at that moment—
Kwang!
A wall collapsed with a deafening roar.
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