Kang-dae stood on the sidewalk of Myung-dong, his sister Min-ah leaning against him, still shivering from the shock. Behind them, the Iron Fist Gang stood like a silent army. In front of them sat the old, crumbling building—a relic of a past that Kang-dae was about to erase forever.
"Brother, what are we doing here?" Min-ah asked, her voice small. "The police... the Vulture... they'll be looking for us."
"Let them look," Kang-dae said, his eyes fixed on the holographic interface only he could see. "By the time they find us, we'll be standing in a fortress they can't even touch."
[System Prompt: Would you like to use the 'Instant Construction' skill?]
[Current Project: S-Rank Myung-dong Sky-Tower.]
[Warning: This will cause a massive 'Reality Distortion'. All witnesses will experience temporary blindness.]
"Do it," Kang-dae commanded.
Suddenly, the world went silent. The sound of traffic, the distant sirens, even the wind died down. A pillar of pure, white light descended from the heavens, slamming into the old building. The ground shook with the force of an earthquake, but the tremor was localized to only one square block.
[Ding! Instant Construction: 10%... 40%... 80%... 100%!]
[The Sky-Tower is Complete.]
As the light faded, the people of Seoul who were nearby rubbed their eyes in disbelief. Where a rotting, three-story brick building had stood just seconds ago, there was now a structure that defied the laws of physics.
A 120-story spire of obsidian glass and silver steel rose into the clouds. It glowed with a soft blue bioluminescence, and massive digital screens on its exterior began scrolling with the words: KANG-DAE INDUSTRIES: THE FUTURE BEGINS NOW.
The Iron Fist Gang members fell to their knees. Scarface Choi couldn't even speak; his jaw hung open as he stared at the skyscraper that had appeared out of thin air.
"Min-ah," Kang-dae said, gesturing to the grand entrance where automated security droids were already taking their positions. "Welcome to your new home."
Within minutes, the internet exploded. Social media was flooded with shaky videos of the "Ghost Tower." News helicopters began circling the spire, their searchlights bouncing off the reinforced glass.
Inside the penthouse, which was larger than a football field and filled with technology that wouldn't be invented for another century, Kang-dae sat on a throne-like chair.
[Ding! You have achieved the 'Global Shock' milestone!]
[Reward: 100,000 Experience Points.]
[Level Up! Level Up! Level Up!]
[You have reached Level 8!]
[New Feature Unlocked: 'The Marketplace'. You can now buy technology and soldiers from other dimensions.]
His phone rang. It wasn't Secretary Kim or the Vulture this time. It was a restricted number.
"Mr. Kang-dae," a deep, distorted voice spoke. "You have changed the balance of power in this world too quickly. You have twenty-four hours to hand over the technology behind that tower, or we will level the entire Myung-dong district to the ground. You aren't the only one with a 'System', boy."
Kang-dae's grip tightened on his phone until the screen cracked. A cold, predatory smile spread across his face.
"So," Kang-dae whispered, "The real game finally begins."