The Gap

The identity of the Nightmare 2nd Floor clearer was revealed.

Person123.

Once again, he revealed the fact that he had cleared it simply by posting the 2nd Floor's information in the communication window.

\[Polearm: So Person123 pulled it off again in the end.\] \[ExcitedParty: Hahaha I knew it would be that guy!\] \[Devic: Is the First Conqueror really on another level?\]

The 2nd Floor information revealed in this way was enough to shock people.

\[Asparagus: Isn't that a typo? The Gap between Platforms is 8 or 9 meters?\] \[Haengguru: Hard Difficulty is about 5 meters, so it's not impossible.\] \[Andromeda: What's impossible isn't the distance, it's the Platform Size. If it's about 25cm wide and long, that means you can barely stand on it with two feet.\] \[Pullup: But how many inches is 25cm?\] \[Songgyeong: Look it up yourself, you fucking American.\]

Climbers who had tried to clear the 2nd Floor, especially Hard Difficulty climbers, knew just how ridiculous that was.

And it wasn't just that, but also traps like the Illusionary Platform, Glowing Platform, and Rising Floor.

That wasn't the end: Door Breaking, Infinite Stairs, Tower Exterior Climb, the Boss Monster Minotaur, and finally surviving the Collapsing Tower Summit...

Just how the hell did he beat that? That was everyone's shared thought.

The 1st Floor was the same, but even compared to Hard Difficulty, Nightmare Difficulty was truly on another level.

"He did it again this time."

Max's expression gradually darkened as he read the 2nd Floor information post on the communication window.

He naturally knew the 2nd Floor would be harder than imagined.

But this was beyond even that. , to think it would be this atrocious.

Looking at it now, Jack's failure was a given. Clearing this kind of thing without any information was simply impossible.

...And yet, Person123 had cleared it.

Just what was his true identity?

"If I had challenged it, I would have died without a doubt. I was lucky."

Taylor also spoke with a pale face while reading the post.

She was originally scheduled to challenge the Nightmare 2nd Floor, but the 2nd Floor clearer appeared just before that, allowing her to narrowly avoid entering.

Person123 had organized and written the information down to the finest details, even more so than for the 1st Floor. It was a consideration that showed his care for other challengers.

Now they just had to thoroughly prepare for the 2nd Floor clear based on this information, but... it was difficult enough even with the information. Taylor let out a sigh.

"Max, at the very least, I don't have the capability to be a Front Runner for Nightmare Difficulty. No matter what I do, I don't think I can surpass this person."

Max also nodded silently.

A project started under the goal of saving humanity and establishing the United States as the Frontrunner of Nightmare Difficulty.

At this moment, both Max and Taylor realized it that it was impossible.

It would be fair to say their will to fight was broken.

If the 2nd Floor was like this, what would the 3rd Floor and 4th Floor be like?

They had no choice but to admit it. The First Nightmare Conqueror had something special.

\[Is he really an Unregistered Climber?\]

That was Max's question.

If Person123 was a climber hiding his identity and receiving no support from any Nation, it made no logical sense how he could be so unrivaled. Or did he get something incredible as the First Clear Reward for the 1st Floor?

Whatever it was, if he was too difficult to surpass, they had no choice but to chase hard after his tail.

Perhaps the other Nightmare Clearing Nations were all thinking the same thing.

---

After finishing the 2nd Floor Hidden Strategy and organizing and posting the information, I spent a leisurely daily life for a while.

- Hard Difficulty Record Holder Wang Kai clears 10th Floor...

- Climbers clash again in 5th Floor Common Area...

- Best version of Normal Grade skill table compiled...

Sitting on the subway with my earphones plugged in, I scrolled through the posts.

It was a Community Site named 'Babel', where posts mostly related to the tower were uploaded.

There was the communication window, but this place was also good for catching up on various latest news, so I usually browsed it whenever I was bored.

- Guns don't even work on high-level climbers...

There was a post with an eye-catching title, so I clicked on it.

The title of the linked video was “How Threatening Are Climbers?”. It was an interview video with a foreign Professor.

- ...So, Professor, do you believe that climbers will become a massive threat to our society in the future?

- Rather than saying they will definitely become a threat, I would like to say they harbor the potential to become one at any time. This is a perfectly natural concern. They are already superhumans who are breaking past the standards of a Normal Human.

The Physical Ability of high-level climbers transcends our imagination. Comparing the results of experiments on climbers' Physical Ability conducted by various institutions, including the US Climbing Bureau, we can now establish a certain standard.

For example, a 9mm Pistol Bullet cannot inflict a meaningful level of damage on a climber at Level 20 or higher. It can't even properly pierce the dermal layer of the skin, and the bullet either bounces off or embeds itself shallowly. The toughness and elasticity of their skin, enhanced beyond their limits, make this possible.

- Then are you saying guns don't work on climbers Level 20 and above?

- At the level of handguns used by the Police. The results would be different with stronger guns, but this is strictly based on Level 20. Climbers also continue to level up and grow stronger as they climb the floors. And currently, the officially highest-level climber is Level 36.

- Yes, you are speaking of Wang Kai, the Record Holder for Hard Difficulty.

- If Level 20 is at that level, can you imagine how resilient the bodies of Level 30 climbers are? What about Level 40? And what about the superpowers known as Skills? Honestly, I am afraid. Of course, currently, the climbers who have reached Level 20 or higher are only a tiny minority, but they will gradually increase in the future.

Throughout our vast history, Humanity has developed technology and gained immense power, but when we look solely at the Human species, there has never once been a Power Imbalance from within. Of course, I am not talking about the level of imbalance where a man is physically stronger than a woman, or an adult stronger than a child.

No matter how strong an ancient warrior was, he could not defeat ten Soldiers alone. No matter how strong a modern martial artist is, one cannot beat a gun or an artillery shell. Yet, a severe Power Imbalance of that magnitude is occurring in our current reality. Can you imagine how society will unfold in the future?

- ...It feels quite precarious.

- Of course, climbers are necessary beings for the Survival of Humanity. If they don't climb the tower, the world will end, and only chosen climbers can climb the tower. That is why the imbalance grows even more bloated. If one day a climber suddenly appears who wants to use that imbalance to overturn the structure of society from its roots, how on earth will we stop him or her?

Even now, climbers possess their own communities, and they are also steadily raising their voices through the Association and other means. We need to think about this seriously before it is too late: about the future that will arrive under the assumption that Nightmare Difficulty continues to be cleared and the world survives...

The content was interesting.

This person seemed to take the social chaos that increasingly stronger climbers would cause quite seriously.

But this was also just talk for when the world didn't end.

What was more interesting was the part about being able to withstand guns at Level 20 and above.

Hmm... Is it really to that extent?

I tried stretching the skin on the back of my hand.

Thinking about my current physical ability, I didn't find it all that surprising.

- This stop is Sillim Station.

I got off the subway and headed to the meeting place.

I had dinner plans with my friends today.

"Oh, Seohyeon is here." "Sorry. I'm a bit late." "It's fine. That punk Sangcheol said he was five minutes away earlier, but he's still not here."

As I met up with my friends and waited for today's main character, a foreign car approached and stopped nearby.

The driver's side window rolled down, and Sangcheol's face popped out.

Everyone stared in surprise.

"Whoa... What's with you?" "What, did you buy a car?"

Sangcheol smiled a bit smugly and said.

"I'll go park the car really quick. Wait up."

Watching the foreign car glide down the road, my friends each chimed in.

"That guy really made it, huh?" "They say climbers make a lot of money." "But hasn't it been less than a few months since he became a climber?"

Our Sangcheol, who had eventually taken a leave of absence from school to become a climber, thankfully hadn't died.

We all gathered today because Sangcheol said he was treating us to a meal.

We moved to an expensive Korean beef restaurant and excitedly began our meat feast.

"How is being a climber? Is it doable?" "It's totally doable. I might just try challenging the Easy 2nd Floor." "Hey, hey, don't do it. Don't you make a lot just from the 1st Floor?"

I think it was said that the highest percentage of climbers were those who never entered the tower at all, and the next highest were those who only cleared the 1st Floor and did Magic Stone Farming through repeated clears.

Sangcheol was also making money by clearing the Easy 1st Floor and selling the magic stones he got from there.

"A Goblin isn't a weak monster either. When I first entered, it was like..."

Sangcheol was busy talking about this and that and showing off.

Since he was buying us expensive food as the price for his bragging, it was only right to listen, so I gave appropriate reactions while happily munching on the meat.

"If it's the Easy 1st Floor, you're Level 1, right? Then how much stronger did you get?" "Hehe, quite a bit stronger. Even at Level 1, it's not a Normal Person Level." "Hey, then let's arm wrestle just once."

One of my muscle-pig friends who loved working out boldly challenged Sangcheol.

Of course, the result was obvious. Sangcheol smirked and effortlessly pinned his arm down.

"Wow shit, he's seriously freaking strong." "Hey, let's go a round with me too!" "Bring it all on. Do you want me to just hold your wrist?"

With some alcohol in our systems, everyone got excited and rowdy.

I asked Sangcheol while grilling the meat.

"Hey, Sangcheol. I heard climbers chat in the communication window and stuff." "Huh? Yeah." "What name do you use?" "Me? Cheolsang. Sangcheol backwards, so Cheolsang. Why do you ask out of nowhere?" "Just because."

I thought it would be nice to spot him in the communication window while passing by.

After stuffing ourselves with beef and coming out, we wandered around the busy streets and hung out.

"Should we do the Punching Machine? Bet on the score?" "Deal. But isn't Sangcheol cheating?" "Then I'll deduct 100 points from my score."

We were in the middle of betting on scores while hitting the Punching Machine.

BANG!

Suddenly, we heard something explode next to us.

We were startled, and the passersby were all surprised and stared too.

There was a group hitting another Punching Machine next to us, and looking over, we saw that the Punching Machine was completely smashed.

"Fuck, what's this? It broke even though I hit it gently."

The man who hit the Punching Machine laughed while dusting off his hands. The man's friends also giggled.

An arcade employee who came out in surprise looked back and forth between them and the smashed machine with a dumbfounded face.

"Excuse me... Did you do this, sir?"

The man replied brazenly.

"Yeah. And?" "No... If you break the machine..." "I just punched it? A punching machine is there to be punched. What do you want me to do about it breaking?"

The man was not an ordinary person.

It was because that wasn't human strength. Was he a climber?

Seeing the men shamelessly trying to just leave, the employee urgently blocked them.

"Y-You can't just leave!" "What? Fuck, then what do you want me to do? You want me to pay for that?"

The man growled.

"Get lost if you don't want to get beaten up. I'm a climber, you know? If I hit someone wrong, I could kill them."

He was indeed a climber. What was with this crazy bastard?

The employee turned pale at the blatant threat of killing him right to his face.

"S-Still, if you just leave..." "Ah, shit. This guy really."

The man raised his hand as if he were really going to hit him.

I was about to shout to stop him, but Sangcheol shouted first.

"Excuse me!"

The man looked back this way.

Sangcheol spoke with a shrinking demeanor.

"Y-You shouldn't cause a scene like that after smashing the machine." "What are you? You wanna die?" "Don't swear... You're not the only climber here, I'm a climber too, you know?"

The man tilted his head and laughed.

"Oh, really? What are your difficulty and floor? I'm Normal 4th Floor."

If it's Normal 4th Floor, is that Level 6?

Sangcheol, who had stepped forward with a forced sense of justice, couldn't say anything more and kept his mouth shut.

"Hey you punk, what are you? What level are you?"

I intervened.

"Stop before I call the Police. You seem drunk."

The man stared at me as if he were dumbfounded.

"No, but why are these brats acting up so much? Do you really want to die?"

Even though I took out my phone for him to see, the man strode toward me.

Fortunately, the man's friends stopped him.

"Hey, hey, let's stop, Minseong. This is really going to get out of hand."

The murmuring passersby.

The man looked around and clicked his tongue, tsk.

"Hey, I'll see you again."

He glared at me one last time before leaving with his friends. See me again, my ass.

I approached the pale-faced clerk and spoke to him.

"Are you okay?" "Yes, yes. Thank you..." "Should I call the Police for you? What a crazy bastard."

It was my first time seeing a climber causing a scene on the street like this.

With a strong sense of civic duty, I called the Police on behalf of the flustered clerk.

"Hey, you did well. Fighting a psycho like that will only be your loss."

Our friends subtly comforted Sangcheol, whose pride was probably a bit hurt.

"But Seohyeon, this guy's guts are no joke either, huh? Stepping up to a climber and saying everything he needed to say." "Exactly. I see you in a new light." "Honestly, I was scared shitless on the inside."

My friends laughed at my words.

I wasn't joking; I was really nervous earlier.

I stepped up, but if a fight had broken out there, it would have been extremely troublesome.

It was late, and the mood had become awkward to keep hanging out, so we just disbanded.

The friends who lived in the same direction as Sangcheol took his car, and the rest, including me, headed to the subway station.

"...?"

What's this now.

I glanced back to one side and said to my friends.

"Guys, I think I left something at the restaurant, so go on ahead." "Really? Let's go together." "No, no, it's fine. You guys go first."

I parted ways with my friends and entered a secluded alleyway nearby.

A moment later, there was a man who followed me into the Alley.

It was that guy from earlier.

"What, you knew I was following you?"

The climber man smiled fishily, radiating hostility toward me.

Strangely enough, I could feel this hostility from far away, so I noticed he was tailing me and lured him this way.

Was this also the effect of the Sixth Sense?

Since it was a skill that detected danger, I figured it might be able to detect even hostility directed at me like this.

"You punk, why are you suddenly mute? You were acting up just fine earlier."

I ignored the man's words and looked around.

There were no passersby, and there didn't seem to be any CCTVs either.

"What are you looking for? Looking for someone to help you?" "Why do you live like that?" "What?" "Why do you live by going around causing scenes like that. Do you want to show off as a climber that badly?"

Just seeing him chase after me and do this because I embarrassed him a bit showed he was far from normal.

The man approached me with a face flushed red with anger.

"...I was going to let you off if you just begged on your knees at my feet, but I guess not. You're really going to die today."

The man's fist flew at me.

I caught the fist that was so sluggish it made me want to yawn.

The man tried to shake off my hand. But when it didn't budge an inch, his face gradually became flustered.

"T-This punk... Aaaagh! Argh!"

When I applied a little pressure, the man twisted his whole body and screamed.

Talk about exaggerating! I didn't even squeeze that hard.

When I let go of his hand, the man hastily backed away.

"F-Fuck. Are you a climber too? You son of a bitch, tricking people?" "I never tricked you." "Shut up! You motherfucker, I'll kill you!"

The man's hostility grew stronger and stronger until it turned vicious.

I narrowed my brow.

This now felt closer to murderous intent rather than hostility.

The man pulled a knife from his back pocket and charged at me, accelerating.

He seemed to have used a skill that momentarily made him faster, but to me, he was still as slow as a turtle.

I grabbed the wrist of the man swinging the knife at me once again.

CRACK!

"Kuaaaagh...!"

This time, I broke it.

The man collapsed to his knees with a feeble scream.

Since he genuinely tried to kill me just now, I didn't think it was excessive at all.

What should I do with this crazy bastard.

I couldn't drag him to the police station myself, but I couldn't just leave either. He was a nuisance to deal with.

\[But this is pissing me off for no reason.\]

Some people are suffering like dogs, forcing themselves to climb a tower they don't even want to climb, terrified that the world might end.

And all this retard does as a so-called climber is go around picking fights and showing off his strength.

I squatted in front of the disoriented man and met his eyes.

The murderous intent I felt through the Sixth Sense Skill.

I had a vague feeling that I could do it too if I tried.

Recalling the sensations of the moments I fought for my life in the tower, I drew out a hundred percent of my intent to kill the man and glared at him.

"H-Heeek..."

At that, the man, with a pale face, trembled like an aspen tree.

Looking down at his pants, he was even pissing himself. Ah, gross.

"P-Please spare me. I was wrong. Please spare me..."

I spoke to the man who was repeating his apologies as if his soul had left his body.

"Go to the police station and turn yourself in for breaking the Punching Machine." "Yes, yes. I'll turn myself in." "And don't go telling anyone about what happened here with me." "Yes, I-I won't say anything."

I suddenly noticed a wallet dropped near the man and picked it up.

"Kim Minseong, born in “95, Seoul Seocho-gu Gangnam-daero..."

I rattled off the information written on his Resident Registration Card and gave him one last warning.

"If you cause a scene anywhere again, I”ll track you down and kill you. Got it?"

The man hiccuped and nodded his head like crazy.

I left him there and walked out of the Alley.

What kind of bullshit is this in the middle of the night after a good meal.

Still, my understanding of the Sixth Sense Skill had gone up, so I had gained something in my own way.