"Is this a dream? No, that couldn't be possible. I always return at that amount of time."
Then... does that mean I really... came-
Before I could finish my thoughts, there was a loud banging on my door.
"Mister Angel, if you don't give me my money by next Friday, consider yourself homeless!"
"I-I will?"
"You better!"
Then the sound of footsteps walking away.
I... came back.
My whole body was engulfed in happiness, and a smile started creeping on my face.
And there I was in the middle of the room. Clenching my fist with my eyes closed and holding a giant smile.
***
After coming back to my senses, I checked what the date was...
2030 July 22nd.
Only five days were left until the towers' tragedy was born.
Which meant I couldn't waste any time.
I quickly turned on my computer and checked for an airline ticket for Seoul, Korea.
Suddenly, a faint spark was produced in Angel's left eye.
Angel stood up from his seat in confusion.
What was that? A spark? From where-
Wait...!
-[Regression Lv.1 has successfully been activated.]-
That was a system message! But this is the world before the 'Players.' Does that mean I can open the Player Status?
Talking a giant gulp, I spoke the following words.
"Status open...!"
[Due to the unexpected time, you have been given back 5% of your overall status.]
[Due to the unexpected time, your stats have been reset.]
[Angel Nicolas Age: 20
STN: 100 HP: 100 STM: 100
MANA: 100 AGI: 100
Unique Skill: Regression Lv.1, Looking at the Stars Eye Lv.1, Demonic Sword Flame Lv.1, Angel's Will Lv.1, Swordsmanship of the Legendary Sword Gods Lv.1, Skyscraper of Hell Growth Lv.1
Skill: Elemental Aura Lv.1, Cloaking Lv.1, Masking Lv.1, Body Enhancement Lv.1, Great Weapon Senses Lv.1, Boulder Defense Lv.1, Convincing Voice Lv.1, Wind of Anemoi Lv.1, Regeneration Lv.1, Quick Sense Lv.1, Complete Magic Control Lv.1
Title: Giant Slayer, Dragon Slayer, Legendary Beings Grace, Tri-Horn Clan Approval, Monsters Greatest Enemy
Tower Coins: 1000000]
Only 5% of my original status!
"..."
No. This is good. Any one of these Unique Skills would've made anyone else an S-Class Player. I should be grateful that it's already giving me such a head start.
I wonder if the shop is also available?
I opened my mouth once again.
"Shop open."
[The Skyscraper Shop is currently unavailable.]
Damn.
Well, at least I still have these skills. Although, I now need to collect every single important skill from scratch. To survive this tragedy.
Firstly, I had to obtain 'that'.
***
Five days later.
South Korea, National Museum of Korea.
After buying a plane ticket and flying to this country, I headed to their national museum.
This museum would be filled with people after the rise of the towers. And would soon be destroyed.
This is also the place in which 'that' is located.
2:58 P.M.
Two minutes left.
The reason for such a landmark to be destroyed was due to the great items that were found inside the moment the towers emerged.
2:59.00
One minute left.
2.59.20
It's going to start again.
2.59.40
This complete nightmare will repeat itself.
2.59.55
But this time...
2.59.59
... I won't fail for the sake of humanity.
3.00.00
The peaceful people of the earth were doing their everyday things until...
Giant and tall towers came from the ground worldwide, causing massive destruction and deaths.
"Aaaaah!!"
"What going on?!!"
"Is the world ending?!!"
A message.
[Humanity must clear the tower's 150th floor within 1095 days
or...
every living being-]
Yeah, yeah, I know.
[Cloaking Lv.1 has been activated.]
With my presence now hidden from others, I rushed into the museum's front doors.
[Congratulations! You have been permitted to fight for humanity as a 'Player.']
The first thing that catches your eye upon entering is the shining items all around the museum.
"Get your hands off this! I grabbed it first!"
"Hahahaha!"
"I will be the most powerful person in the world!"
It looked like the people were already fighting for the items.
I ignored the madness that was spreading and looked around the entire building.
Was it on the first, second, or third floor?
I spotted my feet and closed my eyes.
After a moment or two, I sensed a faint light in the darkness.
That's it!
I ran up to the third floor, where I saw it. I didn't just see it, but also the sight of someone holding it.
"Hoho, what a nice weapon this is. Hmm? Oh, did you also sense the power of this?"
A middle-aged man had what I wanted the most right now in his hands.
A long metallic-looking object with its entire being drenched in blackness. It looked as if it was darkness itself. However, there was also some distorted feeling from it.
There it is. The 'Sword of Dark Dimensions.
It was the primary weapon I used in the past... Or the future, I should say.
"Hoho, it seems that you also want this treasure. But it's too bad since I got my hands on this first, so it technically belongs to me, no?"
"Yeah, but I don't care if that's the c-"
Before I could finish my sentence, the man rushed me with the sword fully unsheathed, swinging it multiple times and destroying a museum section.
I could easily dodge these attacks since this guy's swordsmanship was pretty low.
[Looking at the Stars Eye Lv.1 has been activated.]
[Pi In-Su Age: 41
STN: 500 HP: 500 STM: 500
MANA: 500 AGI: 500
Unique Skill: NONE
Skill: Joseon Swordsmanship Lv.1, Keen Eye Lv.1, Berserker Power Lv.1, Flash Sprint Lv.1
Title: NONE
Tower Coins: 0]
[Keen Eye: Ability to sense a significant item nearby.]
This must've been the skill that helped him find this sword so fast.
I continued to dodge the incoming attacks from the old man.
It doesn't look like he'll hand it over.
"You're pretty talented to dodge all of my attacks. And this sword is just incredible. Just look at the damage it left."
The museum on the third floor was completely wasted with slashes from the old man. Normally, this couldn't have happened. But since one of the sword's abilities could raise someone's stats five times the amount, this resulted from such strength.
Good thing I came prepared for a situation like this.
"...?"
I took out a sword that had a rusted blade from my hip.
[Ring-Pommel Sword S-Rank
Ability: The user is granted 40% ATK and AGI.
Another additional 20% ATK and 30% AGI if the target is human.
Included Skill: Electrifying Blade Lv.1]
[You have met the conditions for Electrifying Blade.]
[Electrifying Blade Lv.1 has been activated.]
[Electrifying Blade: Increases the attack speed of swords, spears, and lances.]
"Hoho, you still want to continue this fight? Are you sure you can keep up, even with that sword?"
"Shut up and brace yourself."
"You'll regret this."
[Pi In-Su has activated Berserker Power Lv.1]
[Pi In-Su stats have increased.]
The old man's body started to swell up with a bit of green mana oozing out.
[Elemental Aura Lv.1 has been activated-Type-Fire.]
Flames engulfed the sword I was holding and my whole body.
The amount of mana emitted was enough for everyone in the museum to stare at us.
The amount of mana in this one spot was emitting was enough for everyone in the museum to become still.
With the old man's body now twice its original size, he lifted the sword and spoke in a deeper voice.
"I will not show any mercy."
"Me neither."
At the end of those words, we both leaped at each other.
The fight didn't even last three seconds.
An arm flew in the air with blood spewing out the end. The hand of the arm was still gripping something tightly.
"Aaaaaah!! My arm!!"
'What happened?! How did he cut my arm off so fast?!'
"There we go."
I grabbed the distracted arm and forcefully opened the fingers on the sword's hilt.
[You have obtained the Monarch-Rank weapon 'Sword of Dark Dimensions'.]
"You bastard!!"
The old man rushed at me, full of killing intent.
With a single swing, the head of the man was no longer attached to his body.
[You have eliminated the Player 'Pi In-Su.']
"It feels good to have this back."
Chapter 2: Head Start Pt.1-End