{Kobold Skirmish Begins}
He ducked under the first swing, swept the attacker's legs with a clean low spin, and drove the butt of his stick into its chin.
Pop. Jaw snapped sideways.
Two more slashed from both sides.
Jin-Seok spun between them, disarmed one with a twist of the wrist, and used the stolen dagger to gut the second in a single move.
> Jin-Seok: "Three."
Another kobold charged, screaming.
Jin-Seok flipped his grip and hurled the dagger straight into its eye.
> Jin-Seok (muttering): "Four."
---
{Kobold Scouts – Mid Hunt}
He moved through the woods like a predator. Smooth. Efficient.
Seven kobolds lay in a heap behind him now. Bones cracked. Necks twisted.
Jin-Seok was a storm of momentum—dodging low, striking fast, never wasting motion.
> Random Climber Nearby: "Hey—hey! Was that Jin-Seok?! He just—he killed that pack in like five seconds!"
Another Climber: "Shut up and stay low. That guy's not normal."
From a tree branch above, a kobold scout chittered, aiming a jagged dart.
Too late.
Jin-Seok ripped a throwing knife from his belt and flicked it upward.
Thunk. It dropped like a sack of meat.
Another tried to run.
Jin-Seok leapt straight from a tree root—bam!—landing a knee in its back mid-fall, flattening it into the dirt.
> Jin-Seok (checking his hand): "Fifteen."
---
{Final Pack – Forest Clearing}
At the far edge of the forest, the last group waited.
Eight kobold warriors with cracked bone armor. One large chieftain among them, bigger than the rest and wielding a warped greataxe.
The chieftain snarled, raising its weapon with a roar.
> Jin-Seok (walking slowly): "Guess you're the main course."
No tricks. No flash.
He dashed forward.
The first kobold swung low—Jin-Seok vaulted over it, landing a heel straight into the second's skull.
Crunch.
The chieftain charged. Jin-Seok sidestepped the heavy blow, ducked under a backswing, and jammed his stick into its ribs with brutal force.
One, two, three more strikes—
The warriors tried to crowd him, but it was like fighting the wind. He spun, slammed an elbow into one's throat, then back-kicked another into a tree.
The chieftain staggered up—
Jin-Seok ripped a fallen spear from the ground and hurled it like a javelin.
Straight through its chest.
> Jin-Seok: "Twenty-five."
One by one, the kobolds' bodies shimmered faintly—then disintegrated into light, leaving behind drops. A few scattered Tower coins. Pieces of rough fur. Cracked kobold fangs. One even left behind a rusted iron dagger with faint runes.
Jin-Seok crouched briefly, sifting through the loot.
> Jin-Seok: "Huh. Trash gear, but the coins are decent."
He pocketed the Tower currency and glanced toward the tree line.
> Aris (dryly): "Another clean sweep. You sure you're not allergic to actual challenge?"
Jin-Seok (grinning): "If it comes with better drops, I'll risk the rash."
---
{System Completion Prompt}
> [Tower System Notice]
Floor 3 Objective Complete.
✅ Kobolds Defeated: 25/25
You are now eligible to ascend to Floor 4.
> Aris (muttering): "That's what I meant when I said you didn't need me yet…"
Jin-Seok: "Just wait. You'll get your spotlight."
A soft chime echoed in the air.
Jin-Seok exhaled slowly and stepped away from the chieftain's corpse. Blood dripped from the tip of his stick, mingling with the forest floor.
> Aris (smug tone): "You should really consider giving that stick a name. It's practically your partner at this point."
Jin-Seok (grinning): "Nah. The stick stays humble."
He turned toward the sunlight peeking through the trees. Floor 4 was waiting.
But before he could walk away, he heard rustling from the far trees—two climbers in leather armor peeked out, pale-faced.
They'd seen everything.
> Climber 1 (whispers): "That guy... is climbing solo with a stick."
Climber 2 (shaking): "Forget the kobolds. He took out the chieftain like it was nothing."
Jin-Seok gave them a lazy glance.
> Jin-Seok: "You two hiding for long?"
(They froze.)
Jin-Seok (shrugging): "Smart call."
Then he turned and walked away.
---
{Safe Zone – Forest Exit}
Jin-Seok stepped through the trees, crossing the invisible threshold into the safe zone.
No monsters. No threats. Just a grassy clearing with a glowing stone monolith in the center—a floor portal humming quietly with power.
He took a quick breath, rolled his shoulders, and stepped forward.
> Jin-Seok: "No reason to drag it out."
One hand touched the monolith.
A ripple of light spread from his palm—and in a flash, he was gone.
---
🌪️ {Floors 4 & 5 – Effortless Progression}
> [Tower System Notice]
✅ Floor 4 Objective Complete
You are now eligible to ascend to Floor 5.
---
> [Tower System Notice]
✅ Floor 5 Objective Complete
You are now eligible to ascend to Floor 6.
> Jin-Seok: "Huh. Already?"
Jin-Seok stepped through the glowing portal with a wooden stick slung across his shoulder.
No hidden bosses. No time limits. Just predictable enemies and stale mechanics.
> Jin-Seok: "Kinda boring, honestly."
---
🎪 {Floor 6 Safe Zone – Festival of Mayhem}
The light faded as Jin-Seok emerged into the Safe Zone…
…then stopped mid-step.
> Jin-Seok: "...What the hell is this?"
Before him spread a full-on climber carnival—flags whipping in the wind, alchemists testing potions with small explosions, swords clanging in mock duels, and vendors yelling over one another.
It was like a fantasy-themed county fair had crashed into a weapons expo.
> Jin-Seok: "Wasn't gone that long."
---
🏮 {Weapon Trials Announced}
A loud barker shouted from atop a makeshift announcer's stage.
> Barker: "Climber Showcase begins in ten!
Sign up for the Weapon Trials—30 rounds, one weapon each!
Win big, gain fame, earn sponsors!"
A climber jogged up to Jin-Seok.
> Climber: "Yo! You registering? Masked guys do well with the crowd."
Jin-Seok: "What's the prize?"
Climber: "Free gear, potions, weapons, etc."
(Jin-Seok glanced at the rows of hopeful contestants nervously juggling daggers.)
Jin-Seok: "...Sure. Why not."
The clipboard shook in the volunteer's hands.
> Volunteer: "Name?"
Jin-Seok: "Masked Entrant #99."
---
💰 {Kale Enters – Quiet Observation}
Kale strolled into the festival, spinning a coin between his fingers. His eyes scanned over the potion stalls, a few flashy duelists, and the smell of sizzling meat skewers.
> Kale: "Another gimmick market. Watch, half of them can't even hold a sword properly."
Then he heard:
> Announcer: "Now entering the Trials: Masked Entrant Number 99!"
Kale casually glanced over.
His smile froze.
His pupils narrowed.
> Kale: "...That stance. That walk. That lazy grip…"
(He looked again.)
Kale: "That's him."
Without hesitation, Kale turned and marched straight to the betting table.
> Kale: "Put me down. Masked #99—every round. Every event. All of it."
Bookie: "Wait, what? You haven't even seen him fight—"
Kale: "Don't need to."
(He tossed a fat pouch of gold onto the table.)
Kale: "He'll win."
---
🏹 {Weapon Trial Highlights – Montage Style}
▸ Round 1 – Daggers
Jin-Seok walked to the center. Six daggers on the table.
He tossed them up without looking—thup-thup-thup-thup-thup-thup—each struck a target mid-spin.
Silence. Then roaring.
▸ Round 3 – Hammer
He picked up the massive stone maul like a stick.
BOOM. One swing. Boulder dust.
▸ Round 6 – Spear
A whirl—he threw it mid-spin. Three targets dropped simultaneously.
▸ Round 9 – Whip
Snap-snap-snap. Three falling apples exploded mid-air.
▸ Round 14 – Chained Sickle
He spun it lazily, flicked it out, and caught the chain with his finger on return.
▸ Round 20 – Longbow
He blindfolded himself with a cloth from his pocket.
> Jin-Seok: "Just to make it fair."
Thwip-thwip-thwip. All bullseyes.
The announcer was losing his mind. Bets flipped every round. Kale was smug. The crowd was screaming.
> Crowd Member: "Who is this guy?!"
---
🌪️ {Weapon Trials – Final Round Begins}
The crowd gathered thick around the stage now, shoulder to shoulder, buzzing with excitement. Rumors flew nonstop—
> "They say the past champion's returning!"
"From Floor 20! He's undefeated!"
"No way #99 can win again… right?"
The announcer stood tall, mic crystal buzzing with reverb.
> Announcer: "Ladies and gentlemen! You've seen twenty-nine weapons… twenty-nine wins…"
(He gestured dramatically toward the arena.)
"And now—the Final Round! The reigning champ returns to defend his record… give it up for—BLADEWALKER VORUS!"
A storm of flame burst from the platform edge.
A tall, lean man in sleek crimson armor stepped forward, dragging a blade across the stage. It sparked with enchanted heat.
His hair was silver. His gaze cold. His steps arrogant.
> Vorus: "Step aside, kid. The Trials are my stage."
The crowd roared. Several fans held up signs:
"VORUS 4EVER ❤️🔥"
"MASKED WHO??"
> "He made it back just for this!"
"He solo-cleared Floor 20!"
"#99's gonna fold, bro—no way he wins again!"
---
🥷 {Masked Entrant #99 Returns}
Then the second figure entered—calm, loose, a wooden stick slung across one shoulder.
No armor. No aura.
Just quiet steps.
> Jin-Seok: "Sup."
> Vorus: "...You're using that?"
Jin-Seok (spinning the stick lazily): "You're using that?"
The crowd laughed. Some booed. Some yelled. Some bet more.
> "Ten gold on Vorus!"
"Make it twenty! That masked guy's toast!"
Kale didn't flinch. He stood with arms crossed beside the betting table, already smirking.
> Kale: "Raise all my bets again. I said all of it."
---
⚔️ {Final Round – Sword vs. Stick}
Vorus shot forward—blur-fast—and swung low.
Jin-Seok ducked.
Stick up. Tap to the wrist.
Clang!
The sword spun out of Vorus's hand.
> Crowd: "...?!"
He lunged to recover it—but Jin-Seok was already there.
One foot landed on the sword.
The other cracked into Vorus's gut with a snap.
> Vorus (choking): "Guh—!"
He stumbled.
Jin-Seok let him catch his breath.
> Jin-Seok (calmly): "Want a rematch?"
Vorus growled and rushed in barehanded. Big mistake.
Stick flicked out.
Tap to the chin.
Spin to the back of the knee.
Final sweep—wham—flat on his back.
The crowd fell silent.
Then:
> Crowd: "HE WON!! HE ACTUALLY WON!!!"
Cheers exploded across the arena.
Coins flew into the air. Vendors screamed. Fans lost their minds.
> Announcer (shouting): "AND THE WINNER—WITH A PERFECT RECORD—MASKED ENTRANT NUMBER NINETY-NINE!!"
🎉 {Aftermath – The Stick Reigns Supreme}
Jin-Seok didn't pose. Didn't bow.
He just looked down at Vorus.
> Jin-Seok: "Thanks. You actually tried."
Vorus, still wheezing, barely nodded.
💸 {Kale's Payday}
Kale was already collecting his winnings, grinning ear to ear.
> Kale (to himself): "That's right. Bet on the stick."
> Betting Clerk: "S-Sir, that's... that's over six thousand gold in winnings—" Kale: "Bag it."
He turned just as the crowd around him burst into wild reactions.
> "Masked #99's the real champion!" "Who even was that guy?!" "I want his autograph—and maybe his stick too!"
"Is he even human?!?"
"I just lost everything betting on Vorus. I'm gonna puke."
Kale chuckled and started weaving through the crowd.
> "Alright, where is he… Jin-Seok?"
"He has to be somewhere—"
He pushed past booths, checked side alleys, even bribed a potion vendor.
Nothing.
> Kale (muttering): "That bastard. Slipped away again?"
_______________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}