The Hunter Association Plaza was a sea of desperation.
Thousands of hopefuls gathered beneath the massive holographic spire. Most wore cobbled-together armor—baseball pads taped with sheet metal, motorcycle helmets, kitchen knives.
They were the "Fodder."
Asher stood near the back, leaning against a vending machine, sipping a grape soda.
"Look at them," Nova buzzed, hiding in his hood. "Lambs to the slaughter. The survival rate for the Tutorial Floor is 30%."
"Optimistic," Asher murmured. "In the beta, it was 12%."
Suddenly, the crowd parted.
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
Cameras blinded the area. A convoy of black limousines pulled up to the VIP entrance.
A young man stepped out. He had golden hair, a chiseled jaw, and wore a shimmering set of Silver-Plated Armor. A longsword engraved with runes hung at his hip.
[Player: Jax Silverwing]
[Class: Wind Walker (A-Rank)]
[Guild: Silverwing (Heir)]
The crowd erupted.
"It's Jax!"
"He just cleared the Sewer Dungeon in record time!"
"I heard he one-shot the Boss!"
Jax waved to the cameras, soaking in the adoration. "Please, no autographs! I'm just here to set the record for the Tower, just like I did in the Sewers!"
Nova twitched. "That liar! We killed the Sewer King! He just walked in and took a selfie with the corpse!"
"Let him talk," Asher said, finishing his soda. "Fame attracts attention. Attention reveals weaknesses."
Asher pushed off the vending machine and walked toward the registration circle. Unfortunately, his path intersected with the VIP entourage.
A massive bodyguard in heavy plate armor blocked Asher.
"Move, trash," the bodyguard grunted. "Mr. Silverwing is walking here."
Asher didn't stop. He didn't even look up. "The walkway is ten meters wide. Go around."
The crowd gasped. Silence fell over the plaza. Nobody spoke to the Silverwing Guild like that.
Jax stopped waving. He turned slowly, looking Asher up and down. He saw the jeans, the hoodie, and the cheap sneakers.
"A Civilian?" Jax sneered, stepping closer. "You must be lost. The janitor's entrance is in the back."
He activated his [Identify] skill.
[Name: Asher]
[Class: ???]
[Level: 3]
Jax frowned. The class was hidden? Must be a glitch, he thought. Or a trash class he's ashamed of.
"I suggest you leave," Jax said, his voice dripping with false pity. "The Tower isn't a place for tourists. You'll die in the first five minutes."
Asher finally looked him in the eye. His expression was bored.
"Jax Silverwing," Asher said calmly. "Your armor gives +15 Agility, but the chest plate restricts your lung capacity by 10%. You're breathing through your mouth. That's why your stamina recovery is terrible."
Jax froze. "What?"
"Also," Asher pointed to the expensive sword. "That blade is balanced for thrusting, but you hold it like a baseball bat. You bought your way to Level 5, didn't you?"
The crowd murmured. Jax's face turned beet red.
"You insolent little—"
Jax reached for his sword.
BBBZZZRRRT!
A massive siren blared across the plaza. The sky turned red.
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT]
[The Tower of Trials is opening!]
[Teleportation initiating in 10 seconds.]
"Saved by the bell," Jax hissed, lowering his hand. "Pray you don't spawn in my sector, trash. Or I'll teach you some manners personally."
Asher smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
"I'm counting on it."
[3... 2... 1...]
[TELEPORT!]
[Location: Floor 1 - The Ruined City]
Asher slammed onto hard asphalt. The smell of burning rubber and ozone hit him instantly.
He stood in the middle of a destroyed city intersection. Skyscrapers had toppled into each other. Cars were rusted skeletons.
[Mission: Battle Royale]
[Participants: 100/100]
[Objective: Survive until 10 Players remain.]
"Nova, scan," Asher commanded immediately.
"Scanning..." Nova's holographic eyes whirred. "10 enemies within a 200-meter radius. Most are panicked. Two are hiding."
"Good."
Asher drew the [Sewer King's Fang +1].
"Let's test the new stats."
From behind a crushed bus, a large man wielding a fire axe charged out screaming.
"DIEEE!"
It was a clumsy, terrified charge.
Asher didn't even use a skill. He just stepped forward.
[Agility: 51]
To the axeman, Asher simply vanished.
SWISH.
Asher appeared behind him. He sheathed the dagger.
A thin red line appeared on the axeman's neck.
[You have defeated Player 88.]
[Kill Count: 1]
"Too slow," Asher muttered. "Next."
Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the city block to the north. A massive pillar of wind rose into the sky.
"That's Jax," Nova said. "He's using an Ultimate Skill right at the start? What an idiot."
"He's calling for his guild members to group up," Asher analyzed. "He wants to form a team to hunt the solos."
Asher looked at the map. He was in the South. Jax was in the North.
Between them lay the "Central Supply Drop"—a crate marked with a golden beacon.
[Supply Drop landing in 5 minutes.]
[Contents: S-Rank Weapon.]
Asher's eyes narrowed.
"Nova, we're going for the drop."
"Are you crazy?" Nova squeaked. "Everyone will be heading there! It's a meat grinder!"
"Exactly," Asher said, shadows beginning to coil around his legs. "The more of them that gather... the more EXP I can farm in one go."