The Tower of Trials. Formed from the World Tree, the living being of this planet, an infinite and eternal source.
Even when Elix had been just a game, no one could fathom the size of the World Tree. People said it grew from the very core of the planet, but no one could guess its height or breadth. Tens of millions—no, hundreds of millions—built Empires and challenged the Tower, yet there was always room left to conquer. At times it seemed as if the Tower was as vast as an entire nation on Earth.
Yes, this path they walked was not a single road. Players believed there were billions of such roads. Theories suggested that identical paths stretched out side by side, encircling the Tower, and that hypothesis had been taken as fact by many.
Every Empire had its own road, occupied and used. The Tower’s scale was so immeasurable it could accommodate all Empires combined.
“Seeing it for real is different, huh, hyung?”
“Yeah. Stay close to me, understood?”
“You stay close to me.”
Jaeyoung grinned with his usual mischievous smile. Sehyun looked at that smile, then started toward the entrance of the Tower. After they had walked a while, the three men finally caught up, panting heavily, just as the entrance came into view.
A massive iron door, with protruding cogs beside it—the very sight Sehyun had grown sick of staring at on his game screen.
Sehyun turned toward the breathless men.
“Can you tell me what your abilities are? For reference, I only have a single offensive skill. I’m a frail support type. No healing skills, no buffs.”
“Uh, uh… I… I can use ‘Strengthen’ to smash rocks and things….”
“Okay, next.”
“…I can turn my fingernails into vines. Just briefly, to catch someone’s ankle….”
“I can pull out my hair and use it as a spear. But… once I let go, no one else can use it….”
Hearing their hesitant explanations, Sehyun regretted not dragging everyone into the training hall yesterday and forcing them through drills. With a visible sigh, he pulled out the bow he’d crafted and the crossbow Yoon Jeha had made. He handed the crossbow to Jaeyoung.
“I’ll say this once, so listen carefully. Our goal today is not to clear. Our goal is to collect magic stones. Ten will be enough. Which means… we have to kill ten monsters. I heard Squad 2 cleared the first floor yesterday. They could go up to the second, but we can’t. We’re heading to the first floor. Anyone object?”
Of course not.
The men stared at Sehyun desperately, like they would agree to anything as long as it meant surviving.
“No objections? Then we’ll go to the first floor. Now, positions. The kid and I are fragile support. We’ll stay in the back, firing arrows. If I go into melee, I’ll die in one hit. My HP is 9. Any complaints?”
This time, their faces showed plenty of dissatisfaction, but no one spoke up.
“We’ll shoot from the back. Spear guy, you take the front. Vine guy and strong guy right behind him. Best scenario: vine guy scans the monster, binds its legs, spear guy attacks from the front, strong guy from behind. Got it?”
“H-how are we supposed to—”
“Wait, this isn’t right—”
“Why don’t you take the front? Bows can shoot from anywhere, right?”
“Oh really? Then fine, every man for himself. I was planning to fire first from the back to cover you, but since you want to save your own skins, forget it.”
Sehyun turned his back without a second thought. Immediately the men cried out, scrambling to agree. With positions settled, Sehyun turned the cog beside the massive door. The number plate above the iron gate shifted from ‘2’ down to ‘1’ with a grinding sound.
After confirming the number, Sehyun locked the cog and placed his hand over the round orb embedded in the door’s center.
Screeeech—
The bone-chilling noise scraped their ears as the iron gate slowly gaped open. A cold draft leaked out like mist, raising goosebumps. It felt like standing before death itself.
So this is what it feels like.
Sehyun gave a bitter smile and stepped into the darkness. The three men followed, trembling. Jaeyoung held the crossbow, expression calm, almost fearless—and that only made him look more fragile.
“What are you doing? Take the lead.”
It was only the first floor. If they stayed sharp, they could handle it. Sehyun, for a moment, forgot Baek Dohyun’s warning. He forgot about that “fear.”
He encountered it about twenty minutes later.
The dungeon inside the Tower was a cavern, vast and deep like an anthill. Though no light sources were visible, it was bright inside. The mist at the entrance vanished after a certain point.
The sheer scale of the cavern and the looming darkness above sent chills down the spine. The ceiling never lowered, never brightened.
Like standing at the bottom of a cliff. Without thinking, anyone could tell: this was the habitat of flying-type monsters—the most troublesome, the worst kind to fight.
“…This isn’t what Squad 2 described.”
“They said the ceiling was low. Here it’s high. Is this… a different place?”
“Yes, different. Likely flying-type monsters. Tower dungeons randomize terrain and monster types every entry. Completely different from before.”
“F-flying type?!”
“How the hell do we fight that?!”
The men spun around at Sehyun, shouting. Their voices echoed through the rock, when suddenly a piercing shriek split the air above.
Kkkiiiiaaaahhh—
Like nails raking a chalkboard, it tore through their eardrums. Everyone froze, Sehyun included. The men’s eyes rolled white as they whipped their heads around in panic.
Kkkiiiiaaaahhh—
The shriek came again, closer this time. Their legs shook, knees buckling. Sehyun clutched Jaeyoung tightly and sharpened his senses.
No one dared breathe. Not even swallow. They stood like men with blades at their throats, motionless.
Then, with a thundering crash, two bat-like monsters appeared. The ground split, dust clouded the air. Through the haze, eerie blood-red eyes shone, bleaching their minds blank.
The instant reality struck, their bodies were seized by primal terror.
As the monsters’ eyes rolled, murderous intent poured through their bones, paralyzing thought. Only one instinct rose: survive.
Fear Infection. None could even move their fingertips. Rationality slipped away.
Baek Dohyun’s words returned to Sehyun. Killing was not the problem. The only way to survive was to overcome this fear.
Kkkiiiieeekk—
The bat beasts spread their wings wide and unleashed roars that shattered their ears. The next sound was the screaming of the men, faces blanched.
“Uaaahhh!”
“Aaagh!”
“Aaaahhh! Aahh!!”
Mad howls spilled from their throats as they collapsed backward, crawling frantically to escape. Sehyun could not even scorn them. Standing was all he could manage.
Tremble—
His bow hand shook violently. His body would not move. Fear Infection had numbed his limbs, smothered his will. He had to break free, had to fire at least one arrow—but his arms refused.
Through the haze of terror, he caught sight of Jaeyoung.
“J-Jaeyoung…?”
The boy was no longer at his side. He had snatched up the crossbow and was charging the monster. Sehyun’s eyes widened in shock.
Jaeyoung rushed forward, crossbow braced to his chest, and pulled the trigger.
The bolt flew, and in Sehyun’s vision it moved in slow motion.
It tore through the air, straight into the monster’s brow. The beast shrieked hideously, clutching the bolt, flailing backward.
But Jaeyoung did not stop. He raised the crossbow again, aiming for the second beast.
The monster’s claws, brimming with killing intent, slashed down at him first.
That sight, that moment, stretched out before Sehyun in agonizing slow motion.