Episode 19: Floor 50 (2)
《Purchased Legendary Sorcerer’s March Helm (Accuracy).》
《Purchased Legendary Sorcerer’s March Boots (Accuracy).》
“Phew. Finally done.”
I collapsed onto my bed after buying the last piece of Caligo’s set equipment.
Checking my bank account, I saw only 20 million KRW left.
I’d poured billions into gear, and I don’t even want to think about how much.
It’d make my stomach hurt.
‘Low-level gear is this expensive? I don’t even want to imagine later…’
I sold all my summon vouchers to barely afford this.
The thought of spending this much every time I add a summon makes my head spin.
Still, no regrets.
It was necessary.
Honestly, I’m relieved to still have 20 million left—enough to live on for months.
‘Is Floor 50 still notorious these days?’
The thought of climbing Floor 50 tomorrow kept me awake.
For adventurers, reaching Floor 50 means proving yourself.
Globally, it’s veteran status; domestically, it’s around the top 100 rankers.
A position to hold your head high.
The community buzzes with heated reactions about Floor 50.
- Floor 50 feels like hell. Couldn’t even touch it—used an escape scroll and bailed.
- Is that Varg bastard even clearable?
- Ugh, if I could just beat 50, I feel like I’d cruise to 90.
└ LOL, 90’s tough, but 50’s design is brutal. It gets stupidly hard out of nowhere.
Floor 50 seems to truly test an adventurer’s talent, judging by the panic it sparks.
The boss, Varg, is a spider-like monster—human upper body, spider lower half.
Its head, adorned with giant spider eyes, has a human face embedded, weeping blood tears.
It’s like the twisted epitome of vampire aesthetics.
Vampire-ruled areas spawn grotesque creatures like Varg.
But the government’s strategy guide feels off.
‘Party play?’
From Floor 46, they recommend party play.
Aberrant enemy patterns make larger teams safer, they argue.
I get it—party play was added for latecomers and beginners.
But the problem is, boss stats scale with party size.
If I were only targeting the ‘surface boss’ of Floor 50, it wouldn’t be a bad strategy…
“Still thinking like a newbie. No need to follow that guide.”
Floor 50’s hidden boss: ‘Varg, Zealot of Blood’.
Tomorrow, I’ll end that thing.
***
《You have cleared Floor 49 of the Tower of Strife: Tomb of the Fading Night Desert.》
《Unbelievable record!》
《Clear time: 12:11》
《You have broken the Clear Time Ranking #1.》
《Clear rank: SSS》
《You have broken the Clear Rank record.》
《Level up! Adventurer level is now 46.》
Hell yeah.
The money spent was worth it.
Cleared Floor 45 in 22 minutes, but Floor 49 in just 12.
Not just me—the summons feel their growth too.
“Clothes make the man, huh? Not bad for a slug, Caligo.”
“Hah! I can shine without relying on your cheap tricks now, Hertia!”
I’m getting excited myself.
How fast can I clear?
Where’s my limit?
Who’s more of a Legend Seven master—past Lucifer or current Oh Hyun-woo?
My heart won’t stop pounding.
‘Yeah, this is the fun I used to chase.’
The thrill of strategy.
The catharsis of success.
The anticipation of growth.
I’d forgotten too many emotions, scraping by just to survive.
I’d lost sight of what made me tick, what I loved.
But now, I remember.
I love conquering challenges most of all.
‘Let’s see. Gear checked, artifacts equipped, emergency escape scroll ready.’
I’ve planned and prepared, but variables are inevitable.
I’ve got an escape scroll just in case, but I hope I don’t need it.
《Entering Floor 50 of the Tower of Strife: Palace of Blood.》
***
A massive fortress greeted us on Floor 50.
Screams echoed from beyond walls drenched in black blood, as if doused by buckets.
- Aaaagh!
- Aaaah!!!
The atmosphere was starkly different from previous floors.
No fodder mobs—just a sprawling palace.
“The stench of rotten blood… disgusting,” Hertia muttered.
“My new concoctions will get a proper test here, Sage,”
Caligo said, trembling with excitement.
“Calm down, Caligo. Your excitement could ruin the plan.”
“…My apologies, Sage. I lost my composure.”
Caligo’s the key to this raid.
If he messes up from overzealousness, we’re in trouble.
“Let’s begin.”
“Yes!”
《Entering the Palace of Blood.》
Entering the Palace of Blood, Oh Hyun-woo took a deep breath.
The air, thick with the stench of blood, filled his lungs.
A slow grin spread across his face.
Unlike the game’s dungeons, the vivid sensations—rotten blood assaulting his nose, icy air brushing his skin, faint footsteps of soldiers—electrified his body.
His heart raced with the same thrill he felt during the tutorial.
‘It’s bigger than expected. Some troops are stationed beyond Hertia’s reach.’
‘Hertia’s Law’ wasn’t limitless.
Even its vast power couldn’t cover the entire Palace of Blood.
Hertia would need to move herself to break through.
“Hertia.”
“You called?”
“Take Iron and climb the right upper wall. Kill the one in black armor, helm, and red sword.”
“Your will is my command.”
Hertia shot forward at Hyun-woo’s order.
Click.
Landing gracefully on the wall, Hertia stretched languidly.
The soldiers guarding the wall drew swords and nocked arrows, tensing at her arrival.
Their breaths faltered in the heavy air, but Hertia smiled nonchalantly.
“Heh. No need to try so hard. You won’t touch a hair on my head, no matter how desperately you wish.”
Click.
With the sound of her heels, a black curtain unfurled rapidly.
Chilling threads of death slipped through the soldiers’ armor gaps.
A sinful aura enveloped them, making breathing feel like a crime.
Snap!
Her fingers snapped.
A vortex of death roared across the wall, swallowing the soldiers in a deafening mix of wind and screams.
“Aaagh!!”
The soldiers, unable to move, despaired as death approached.
But the black-armored commander was different.
He drove his sword into the ground, clinging to life.
Brave before death, he strained to withstand the vortex.
When the roaring stopped, he looked up, locking eyes with Hertia.
He’d survived her attack—now he just needed to swing his sword.
But something was wrong.
He tried to pull his sword and advance, but his body wouldn’t obey.
“Hmm. Not stationed there for nothing, I see,” Hertia said, a haughty smile curling her lips.
“But how impudent. Before *him*, you should kneel.”
Hertia raised her hand high.
Iron, waiting below, was pulled up by the artifact’s power.
Whoosh!
A massive boulder soared through the air, crashing onto the wall.
“Iron, strike down!”
As Hertia swung her raised hand downward, Iron’s giant fist slammed into the commander’s head.
“Eek!”
BOOM!
The wall collapsed entirely.
Screams and blood stained the ground red.
Soldiers crushed under rubble couldn’t even scream, their forms unrecognizable.
“Huff!”
Iron rose slowly from the debris, dusting himself off and looking at Hertia in disbelief.
Her fierce glare made him bow his head.
“Master!”
Hertia’s call prompted a relaxed smile from Hyun-woo.
“Well done, Hertia. Now, Iron, show your new skill.”
“Y-Yes?!”
Hertia left the terrified Iron behind, striding lightly toward the opposite wall.
“Iron, charge the wall!”
“W-What?!”
“Stop that stupid look and make a hole bigger than your body!”
Hertia activated the artifact, forcibly hurling Iron.
《If I’m a Knight, I’ll Do It! frontline effect activates.》
《Iron covers eyes and charges straight!》
Iron’s massive body barreled straight from the base of the wall.
The soldiers paled at the sight of the oncoming boulder.
“Fire arrows and magic! Stop that charge! STOP IT!!”
Their shouts turned to screams.
The wall crumbled in an instant.
Hyun-woo issued the next command.
“Caligo, Temina.”
His low, cold voice echoed.
“Leave none alive.”
“I’ve been waiting for this!”
“My flames will consume them all!”
In the Palace of Blood, filled with despair and death, Hyun-woo’s demons heralded the return of their master, igniting a festival of blood.