Nightmare 1st Floor Clear

[Person123: This is Clear Information for Nightmare 1st Floor. Upon entry, you start in a Cavern-like area, similar to other difficulties. You are also given a single longsword as a weapon. If you wait, three Goblins will emerge simultaneously from the Straight Passage ahead. Two are armed with longswords, and one with a spear. Once all three are defeated, the next three Goblins will appear. It's unclear if the next three appear immediately after defeating the previous three, or if there's a set time. The next three are armed with a sword, a sword and shield, and a bow, respectively. In my subjective opinion, the Goblins tended to charge in recklessly rather than attempting coordinated attacks. I exploited this by engaging them one by one, striking and retreating until they were defeated. However, in the case of Spear Goblins and Bow Goblins...]

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After writing the information post, I went to school.

I listed the information as detailed as possible, minimizing my subjective opinions.

*I'm no combat strategy expert, after all.*

*The experts will figure out how to deal with the Goblins and devise strategies.*

When I returned, the Climber Communication Window was in an uproar.

[Retriever: Can that post be true? I can't believe it.]

[Patrock: It's on a completely different level compared to Hard Difficulty, isn't it...?]

[Light: There's a boss monster? On the 1st Floor?]

I was observing people's reactions when I belatedly noticed something.

[Whispers (1,651)]

A corner of the Climber Communication Window was filled with whisper notifications.

*Was there even a feature like this?*

When I entered, they were endless, like an email inbox unchecked for years.

Amidst countless whispers, there were just saying hello, expressing thanks, asking about my level, or what rewards I received.

There were a few messages that stood out.

[Lucas: Greetings, Person123-nim. I am Director Van Baker of the U.S. Tower Climbing Management Agency. First, I thank you for the information you have provided. The reason I am sending this whisper is none other than...]

[Seongcheon: Greetings, Person123-nim. I am the Head of Climbing Operations for the People's Republic of China. Thank you for fearlessly disclosing the information for Nightmare 1st Floor. The reason for my contact is to convey the words of our Chairman of the People's Republic of China...]

[Podrick: Hello, Person123-nim. I am from Russia's...]

These were requests from national entities wishing to engage in dialogue.

There was also one from Our Nation's Special Climbing Department.

*Oh, I'm not buying it.*

Ignoring them all, I closed the Climber Communication Window.

*I've given them the information, so I hope they prepare well for the 1st Floor Clear with it.*

I lay down on my bed.

Closing my eyes, I thought about the future.

*It would be great if others worked hard and more Nightmare Conquerors emerged.*

*But I can't just not prepare myself.*

*After all, someone will have to clear Nightmare 2nd Floor within a year.*

*What if I have to do it again?*

*I'd have no choice but to do it.*

*I don't want to die. And I don't want the world to end.*

“What else can I do but do it?”

The Tower allowed for Repeat Clears of floors that had already been cleared.

Repeat Clears only awarded magic stones, which were the Climbers' main source of income.

*I'm not interested in magic stones.*

*However, a message definitely appeared after I successfully cleared the 1st Floor.*

“It said a Hidden Route was opened...”

But even when one searched online, there was no information about Hidden Routes.

*It's probably related to the First Clear Reward.*

*Other difficulties reportedly gave skill stones or items as First Clear Rewards, but there was no mention of anything like a Hidden Route.*

*I'll just have to enter the 1st Floor again and check it myself.*

*There wasn't much danger.*

*Because they said you could exit a cleared floor anytime, even if you didn't clear it completely again.*

*And I've gotten stronger.*

*My Physical Ability has surpassed human limits, and I've gained skills.*

*I know all the information about what will appear and what to do.*

*It would be much easier compared to my first desperate attempt.*

*I should go back to the 1st Floor soon.*

* * *

A few more days passed without anything special happening.

“Hey, I actually became a climber.”

While attending a lecture and having lunch with friends as usual, one of them said something out of the blue.

“What are you talking about?”

“Seriously. I'm not kidding.”

Sangcheol's face was serious. He didn't seem to be joking.

*Not just I, but even my friend became a Climber.*

*Am I cursed or something?*

While my other friends were dumbfounded, I asked.

“What difficulty?”

“Easy Difficulty. I'm thinking about it right now, whether I should take a leave of absence next year and challenge the Tower.”

Another friend tried to dissuade him.

“Are you crazy? Do you want to die?”

“I won't die. They say Easy Difficulty is a piece of cake. The 1st Floor survival rate is over 98%.”

Sangcheol said, his eyes shining.

“I looked into it, and apparently, the annual income from magic stones just from clearing the 1st Floor is easily hundreds of millions. Plus, if you become a Climber, you get military exemption and all sorts of other benefits.”

“No, aren't you going to be a doctor? After all that hard studying to get here.”

“That's why I'm thinking about it. But we still have a long way to go to become doctors. With military service, it'll be about 7 years until graduation... When I think about it, this path doesn't seem so bad.”

“Hey, but that path's future is still uncertain. And if 2% means risking your life, is that a low probability?”

Although he said he was thinking about it, Sangcheol seemed to have already half-decided.

I also expressed my concern.

“If you're going to do it, be careful. Have you looked into Climbing Training Facilities?”

“Yeah, I looked into all of it. They say you learn Swordsmanship and stuff there.”

My friends all said he was crazy, but from my perspective... I don't know.

After all, it had become a world where you couldn't even know what the future held a year from then.

Meanwhile, I was still attending school.

[Rhinoceros: Greetings, Person123-nim. I am Max, in charge of training the Climbing Team at the U.S. Tower Climbing Management Agency. I am contacting you because there are aspects of the information you shared for which I would like to seek your advice.]

Returning home, I checked the Climber Communication Window and found such a whisper.

*It's not that Director guy who sent whispers multiple times before.*

When read, it wasn't an offer to talk or to give me something.

It was purely about asking questions regarding the Clear Information.

[Rhinoceros: Through the information you have provided, we are currently planning to extensively train members to clear Nightmare Difficulty. Otherwise, the world will once again face an Apocalyptic Crisis a year from now. They will stand on the front lines of the Nightmare Difficulty Clear solely for Humanity. We believe that your willingness to provide information for Nightmare 1st Floor without any compensation is that we share the same goal. If we could converse...]

*Should we extensively train members to clear Nightmare?*

*Yes, this is it.*

*If it's something like this, there's no reason not to reply. It's more than welcome.*

I sent a reply.

* * *

“So, what do you think? How much potential do you see?”

U.S. Tower Climbing Management Agency Headquarters.

Max poured himself some coffee and replied to Director Van Baker's question.

“Director-nim.”

“Yes?”

“Let's say I have to enter a building full of rifle-armed rebels, alone, with just one pistol. Through the front door. And these damn bastards are threatening to detonate a nuclear switch they've stolen, so retreating isn't an option.”

“...”

“Potential, or whatever you want to call it, is buried deep underground. It's ridiculous to even discuss it. We just have to do it because we have to.”

“Is it that bad? Even with the maximum possible preparation?”

Max shook his head. *He still doesn't get it.*

“It's that bad. It's not a matter of preparation. I seriously doubt if the person who cleared this without any information is even human.”

Nightmare 1st Floor.

The information shared on the Climber Communication Window could be summarized as follows:

Facing two Sword Goblins and one Spear Goblin simultaneously.

Immediately after, facing one Sword Goblin, one Sword and Shield Goblin, and one Bow Goblin simultaneously.

If the Stone Gate begins to close, somehow finish the battle and escape through the Passage.

As you exit into the Passage, a giant iron ball rolls down; run forward and enter the Recess in the middle of the Passage to Evade.

Upon proceeding further, the final boss, a Knight Goblin, appears. It possesses far superior strength to a Human and is equipped with full plate armor.

Beware of a surprise attack from a Crossbow Goblin that suddenly appears during or after the battle with the Knight Goblin.

All of this must be accomplished bare-handed, with just a single sword.

Injuries cannot be treated mid-way.

*...How did he do it? Is it even possible?*

Reality was not a movie.

A Climber challenging the 1st Floor is still just an ordinary person with no abilities.

No matter how skilled, facing three Goblins armed with cold weapons simultaneously on flat ground with no cover was already nonsense.

Let's say one somehow defeats all six, and knowing about the Stone Gate or the rolling ball allows for preparation.

*And finally, a Knight Goblin?*

*Having to defeat a monster stronger than a human, covered head-to-toe in plate armor? And while also worrying about suddenly incoming arrows?*

*It was just utter bullshit.*

There was a clear reason why tens of thousands had died.

Yet, his mission was to somehow train members capable of fulfilling those insane conditions...

It was a matter the Government had staked its life on.

No one wanted to experience the helplessness of the Day of Ruin again, just a few days prior.

Max, a former Delta Force operative, a veteran CQC Instructor, a Climber who had cleared Hard Difficulty up to the 3rd Floor, and originally the Hard 1st Floor Instructor, took on the role of Chief Instructor for this Nightmare Member Training Project.

Recruitment for Nightmare Climbers had already begun across the nation. Unprecedented conditions followed.

They would be thoroughly refined and then sent into the jaws of death.

It was questionable what the survival rate would be, but if it was a necessary sacrifice for the survival of Humanity, there was no other choice.

“But didn't you say you'd made contact with him?”

“Yes, sir.”

“...Is there no way to get more active help, beyond just consultation?”

Max clicked his tongue and replied to Director Van Baker's subtle question.

“Please tell the Director-nim and the higher-ups to stop doing anything more useless. I'm worried that if they bother that person too much, even my contact will be cut off.”

Max thought about that person.

Person123.

The sole Nightmare 1st Floor Conqueror at present.

*He knew Director Van Baker had repeatedly tried to initiate contact but was ignored.*

*Still, he had just tried contacting him once, hoping to get detailed advice regarding the posted information, and surprisingly, a reply actually came.*

[Person123: Hello. What are you curious about?]

Asking various questions and exchanging opinions led to a productive conversation.

*Of course, he couldn't definitively say the information was entirely true, but if he were to nitpick, there was nothing else to rely on anyway.*

*Max felt he also understood roughly what kind of person he was.*

*'At the very least, he's someone who acts for Humanity.'*

*His action of revealing all the Nightmare 1st Floor information without expecting any reward proved that.*

*And the fact that he actively replied to requests for clear advice, even while rejecting all of Director Van Baker's attempts at conversation.*

*He was indeed likely an Unregistered Climber with no intention of revealing his identity.*

*But it was clear that he also wished for more Nightmare Conquerors to emerge.*

*In that case, they just needed to do their best and achieve results on their end.*

“Now, please go. I'm busy too.”

“Hmph, I wonder who the Director is around here. Anyway, I'll leave it to you.”

Van grumbled and left.

Max finished his coffee and tidied the scattered documents on his desk.

*It was daunting, but there was still a glimmer of hope.*

Among the Nightmare Climbers newly called by the Tower after the Nightmare 1st Floor Clear, there was one who applied to the project faster than anyone else.

*Max knew this person, a comrade he'd fought alongside during his time in the military.*

*He was also the biggest monster Max had ever seen in his life.*

*As a Delta operative, he had achieved so many legendary feats that his nickname was 'God of the Battlefield'.*

“That friend might actually be able to do it.”

*Producing as many Nightmare 1st Floor Conquerors as possible.*

*Max intended to do his utmost in his assigned role.*

*For the sake of the world, and to establish this nation as the leader in Nightmare Difficulty Clears.*

* * *

Saturday morning.

I went to bed early yesterday and woke up early this morning.

I stretched and cleared my mind.

*This time, with my family all asleep, was optimal.*

[Would you like to enter the Nightmare 1st Floor?]

“Shall I go?”

*To do a Repeat Clear.*

*I was curious to see how much easier it would be to face the Goblins in my current state.*