I fell into a strange world.
There seemed to be no clearer way to describe my current situation.
There were no particular omens.
I had simply followed my routine of working my convenience store part-time job, engaging in community activities, and then going to sleep.
But when I opened my eyes, a scene unfolded that was far from my cramped studio apartment.
Gray walls.
And candlesticks hanging on the walls.
It didn't feel like a dream. I had slapped my cheek, and the pain was very real. Even pinching my thigh brought clear pain.
The situation was so dreamlike that it paradoxically convinced me it was reality.
'...Should I have been nicer when I was browsing forums?'
I hadn't even been that harsh on the forums yesterday.
No, before browsing forums, shouldn't I have lived my life diligently to avoid falling into a cesspool of a world like this?
I moved forward very cautiously.
Thump.
Something tripped me.
My gaze fell to my feet. What I had tripped on was a skull.
Rumble….
It was clearly a human skull.
My mind was filled with confusion.
What kind of world have I been thrown into?
The presence of a skull meant this was a space where people could die.
Faded bricks. The smell of dirt mixed with mold.
Well, it's not like it's a dungeon, right?
I walked slowly. All I could do now was walk, following the flames of the candlesticks.
I stopped soon. My footsteps.
[ 1 ]
A black number caught my eye.
1.
…Does this mean this is the first floor?
Is this building made of floors?
For now, I had no choice but to keep walking.
Crunch!
I heard the sound of something being chewed.
The problem was that the source of the sound was right in front of me.
I crouched down, using a slightly protruding gray wall as cover.
'Fuck.'
Crunch!
Something was consuming something.
A Giant Ant.
Judging by its body height alone, it was a Giant Ant, at least 100cm tall, chewing on something.
'...It's a person.'
It looked like a person. And someone already dead.
It was having its flesh eaten by the ant without moving.
The ant's large mandibles moved. And each time, dark red blood flowed down.
Snap!
I held my breath.
I couldn't tell if it was because I was behind it or because it was engrossed in its meal, but one thing was certain: it didn't know I existed yet.
'There's a weapon.'
Right behind the ant.
Probably a spear used by the person currently being eaten by the ant.
The only thing that could kill that ant right now was that spear.
If that Giant Ant finished its meal and approached me, I would die before I could even grab the spear.
The opportunity was now.
Moving my body immediately to grab that spear was the best option.
I lowered my body as much as possible and moved forward slowly.
I advanced, holding my breath completely.
Crunch! Crackle!
Listening to the gruesome sounds, I reached out with both hands.
Towards the spear behind the Giant Ant, which was still eating.
Click.
'...Got it.'
The spear felt quite heavy, but not so much that I couldn't lift it. Thank goodness I'd been lifting empty barbells at the gym often.
Just as I was about to thrust the spear forward, I felt a gaze. A chilling predator's gaze.
The Giant Ant's black eyes were staring intently at me.
I moved my body quickly. Stepping forward with my right foot, I thrust both arms forward.
Fwoosh!
The spear struck the ant's head directly.
I swung the spear shaft towards the ant's legs as it staggered backward.
Crunch!
My heart pounded rapidly.
The momentum was on my side. I thrust my arms forward relentlessly, fighting for my life.
Towards the Giant Ant's head. Dozens of times.
Soon, a pool of teal blood formed on the ground.
It seemed I had succeeded in killing it for sure.
The Giant Ant, its head crushed, didn't move.
My entire body was drenched in sweat by then.
My black shirt was stained with the ant's sticky blood.
"Ugh…."
Perhaps it was because I had exerted all my strength, but my arms began to ache as if they had been torn off.
[Experience has increased.]
[Current Experience 30%]
[Your level will increase when your experience reaches 100%.]
[As your level increases, the rate of experience gain will slow down.]
Level?
By this point, my mind was reeling. Where on earth have I been thrown?
My gaze was still fixed on the mangled ant.
And then on the dead person behind it.
"What the…?"
The clothes were completely different from the modern clothes I had been wearing until just a moment ago.
They looked like clothes from the Western medieval era.
Something floated above the corpse's head.
[NPC - Fleeing Citizen]
Not a name, but the designation 'Fleeing Citizen'.
"An NPC, you say…."
Every situation I encountered was surreal.
I carefully searched the dead citizen's clothes.
There was a pocket hidden beneath the clothes.
Inside the pocket was an item with a very familiar feel.
I took it out.
"A phone?"
What, a phone suddenly popping out here?
Only unrealistic situations had unfolded until now. And suddenly, a piece of modern civilization appeared.
Its form was identical to a smartphone.
I pressed what looked like the power button.
Ting-
The screen turned on.
Suddenly, blue light flashed on the screen, and a hologram-like interface unfolded before my eyes.
And then, text appeared.
[ Transcendent Gallery ]
I raised my hand and scrolled down.
There were quite a few posts.
Just like the community gallery I used to frequent before coming here.
For now, I clicked on a random, eye-catching post.
Title: Anyone noticed any promising rookies lately?
Author: oo
-
I've been a bit busy with real life lately, so I haven't been able to check Climbing Gallery. It's been a while since I visited Transcendent Gallery too, haha.
-
Haven't really seen any new faces that stand out.
-
Seriously, these kids nowadays have no willpower. They all just look for the easy way out.
-
So, where did you clear? Normal? You're not one to talk when you're just a finisher of Easy difficulty, are you?
-
Sword of Light) Do you know the sword?
-
Are you never tired of being a sword fanatic?
It seemed 'Transcendent Gallery' was shortened to 'Transcendent Gallery', and 'Climbing Gallery' was 'Climbing Gallery'.
I pressed the back button. Then I clicked on the most recently uploaded post.
Title: Why the hell are they stopping me from posting on Climbing Gallery, damn system
Author: Archmage
- I'm going crazy with frustration. Why can't they win something they can clearly win because they're scared? It's only floor 35! Whether your arms are burning or your legs are torn, just push forward and kill it! You get healed when you clear a floor anyway, so why are they dawdling like this?
-
You're giving too much advice when it's not your problem. Are you really an Archmage?
-
Easy Mode Finisher, scrub detected. Know that not everyone is a scrub like you. This person is a Hard Mode finisher. Can't you tell from their Fixed Nickname?
Fixed Nickname.
A Fixed Nickname meant someone who consistently used a unique nickname within the gallery.
-
Damn, 60% are from Easy Mode, so aren't you from Normal too? You're just another scrub, a commoner. Why are you relying on that Archmage?
-
Easy <<<<<<<<<< Normal
-
Hahahaha, your self-awareness is too high. The difference in level between Normal and the God-tier Hard Mode players is that much. It's only about two walls difference between Easy and Normal.
-
Shrine Maiden) Hawa-wa, everyone, you shouldn't fight.
-
Boomer.
-
Sword of Light) Do you know the sword?
It was dizzying.
The only thing I felt certain about was that the people writing posts and commenting in this Transcendent Gallery seemed to have already completed their conquests, rather than currently undertaking them.
So what was I?
I still had no clue where I was, but it seemed certain that this was the first floor. Which meant I was at the starting point. Unlike the people chatting on the gallery.
For now, I should post something and see the reaction.
I pressed 'Write Post' and started composing.
The keyboard projected into the air like the holographic keyboard, making writing easy.
Tap tap-
I decided to use 'ㅇㅇ' as the author. It seemed people who didn't use fixed nicknames here used that, just like a real forum.
After finishing the post, I pressed upload.
Title: Did you guys all finish? I think I'm on floor 1, what is this?
Author: oo
-
Seeing a 1 on the wall, I think I'm just starting. Are you all done? What exactly is this place? I just killed a Giant Ant.
As soon as I posted it, comments started coming in.
-
Idiot, why are you posting such bait? This is Transcendent Gallery, how can a climber post here? It's not funny at all.
-
If you have nothing to do, wash your feet and go to sleep~~
-
Shrine Maiden) Hawa-wa, it's not funny.
-
To Climbing Gallery.
-
Hahahaha, 'To Climbing Gallery', what the hell, are you crazy? How can you go to the climber's gallery? If they let you return, will you climb again?
-
Get lost. I absolutely will not climb again. I still have severe PTSD.
They don't believe me.
I was about to write another post begging them to believe me when.
Another comment arrived.
-
Head Admin) I don't know what happened... but what they're saying might be true? I checked the location coordinates, and it's 666.666.66.532. The 666 indicates Climbing Gallery users' coordinates.
Head Admin?
Is that the same role as the Head Admin I know from other galleries?
Someone with the authority to delete posts or ban users.
Anyway, as soon as the Head Admin's comment appeared, it was as if time had stopped, and no comments were posted for a moment.
And then.
After that brief silence, comments began to flood in like crazy.
-
What the hell?? Is it real? How can a climber be on Transcendent Gallery? What's going on?
-
And on floor 1 too??? No way, lol.
-
Floor 1 or not, it's impossible for a climber to come to Transcendent Gallery, seriously.
-
Shrine Maiden) Hawa-wa, I apologize for my previous slip of the tongue.
-
Sword of Light) Do you know the sword?
There were so many comments that I couldn't scroll to the end.
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Archmage) What, such a crazy thing happening all of a sudden? Can you use magic by any chance?
-
Pioneer) ??
-
Scum Sword Saint) Tell us more details.
-
Absolute Monarch) Where are you from?
-
Heavenly Demon) So you're saying you're on floor 1 now? What's the difficulty?
-
Secret Room Theorist) An anomaly has occurred - this world is made of giant secret rooms.
-
Ice Queen) Freeze! Frozen!
-
Elf) Are you perhaps a different race?
-
Damn, look at all the humans who usually lurk coming out, lol.
-
Seriously, it's pulling out all the lurkers. It's surprising, indeed.
-
All the monsters are coming out.
It was clear that all the attention of the Transcendent Gallery had shifted to me.
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