The morning arrived, and the warm rays filtered through the window and touched sleeping Fang Raon's face.
It woke him up, and he slowly opened his eyes.
'…This feeling. Sunrays? How long has it been since I've felt the warmth of the sun on my skin? It's been a long time.
'Ever since I came to Megaworld, I haven't felt the sun on my face. My apartment was in a location that was in the middle of the floor. It is surrounded by other apartments, hallways, and elevators.
'It looks like I got a nice room in here.'
He thought.
However, he was sad that he couldn't see the sun with his own eyes, but Black Online's sun should suffice for now.
In that moment, the room's door opened, and Chaewon came in with a metal cart with a single food tray on it.
"Ah, good morning. I was coming here to wake you up for breakfast."
Chaewon said with a smile and pushed the cart next to the bed and pressed the button on the bed to lift the head up.
"…I'd like you to bring me to the pod after eating."
Fang Raon said.
"Okay. I think the nice doctors want to take a few tests in the evening, so be done by then, alright?"
Chaewon said.
"Ok."
Fang Raon said.
She fed him the breakfast, which was some yogurt, a slice of toast, and a cup of orange juice. It was enough to get energy up.
She then brought him to the pod, lifted him inside, and pressed the starting button before closing the lid.
The pod started humming, and Fang Raon seemed to have fallen asleep, and she then left the room.
…
"…"
Fang Raon opened his eyes, and he was greeted by the beautiful sight of the winter wonderland with its snowy village.
The chimneys puffed smoke, and the lights sparkled through the frosty windows.
He opened his hand and closed it.
"Ah… I didn't think one day I would be happy to be able to move again. This feels euphoric. I wish this was the real world."
Fang Raon spoke to himself.
If he could, he honestly wouldn't even want to go back to the miserable real world, where he was useless.
In here, he didn't want to be useless.
Fang Raon looked over to the distance—at the tower—it was calling his name like a singing siren.
'Why do I need a party? It is just the 2nd floor. How many have beaten the 2nd floor alone, I wonder?'
Fang Raon lifted his chin and approached the tower.
The marketplace surrounded the tower, and everyone was minding their business, but there was an old man holding a book.
[Heroes of the Tower]
"What is that book, old man?"
Fang Raon asked.
"Ah…"
The old man turned his blind eyes to the young man and smiled with his yellow, rotting teeth.
'…Blind.'
Fang Raon saw himself in the old man and wondered whether he was also going to look like that when he was old.
However, he doubted he would actually live that long, as he was going to be brain dead in a couple of years.
"Heroes of the Tower… It records the names of all the men and women who have helped conquer the tower.
"It records the name of everyone who had the 'First Clear' on each floor, and it also has names of players with different special achievements."
The old man said.
First Clear—it was what every player had been after since the dawn of Black Online, as it was the greatest honor a player could achieve.
First Clear honor only came to the players who were first to clear the floor, and that honor could only come once per floor.
Whenever someone cleared the floor, a "World Announcement" would appear in the skies above every floor, showing the names of players who cleared the floor.
It was what everyone was after—fame.
"…Does it show how many players have Solo Cleared this floor?"
Fang Raon asked.
"Ah… Solo Clear. Is that what you are after, young man, hmm? It is risky, and nobody really goes for it, but there have been a few that have done it.
"There are four players that have Solo Cleared the 2nd floor!"
The old man said.
"That means there is only space for one more name in the book, isn't that correct?"
Fang Raon said.
"…Correct. Only the names of the first five players who have Solo Cleared the 2nd floor will be recorded in the book. Everyone else that comes after that will be forgotten."
The old man said.
"…Does World Announcement come after Solo Clear or only Floor Announcement?"
Fang Raon asked.
"…World Announcement is only for First Clears. It will be Floor Announcement for Solo Clear such as this."
The old man said with a knowing smile.
Floor Announcement—pretty much the same as the World Announcement, with the message appearing in the skies, but it was specific to a certain floor.
Thus, if someone happened to Solo Clear the 2nd floor, the announcement would only appear on the 2nd floor.
"Leave a space for me in the book, old man."
Fang Raon said and approached the tower with a serious look on his face. There was no fear in his body.
If he happened to fail the raid, he would die, and he would start from nothing once more and would have to pay 500 dollars for another game card.
He couldn't afford that.
"…Be careful, young one. It's never wise to chase after glory when the weight of death is weighing on your shoulders!"
The old man shouted.
"I am not chasing glory. I am chasing death."
Fang Raon's eyes looked cold, and as he stepped up the stairs, he pulled out the Tower Key he purchased from Lurian's Merchant Wonders store.
The tower doors reacted and opened for him.
The Tower Key disappeared from his hand, and he stepped through, disappearing into the depths of the tower.
"…Wait, did that player just go in the tower alone?"
A player asked from his friend.
"Huh? I don't see anyone. Maybe you were dreaming?"
"No, I could swear that only one player entered the tower just now. The doors are still closing, so someone definitely entered the tower just now!"
"Uh, oh… well, that player is dead then!"