Joo Hyun's heart was still racing, his pulse hammering in his ears, but the battle on the First Floor had left him feeling something he hadn't expected: satisfaction. His body buzzed with newfound strength, his movements smooth and effortless. The monsters he had faced were formidable, yet with his chosen attributes, talents, and skills, he had overcome them with relative ease.
The power... is real.
He looked around the battlefield, the fallen monsters scattered around the field, their bodies slowly vanishing into the air in flashes of light as if they had never existed. It was strange. For a moment, the violence of it all seemed to sink in, but the empty feeling was quickly replaced by curiosity. What was this place? What exactly awaited him on the next floor?
He raised his gaze to the towering walls of the Infinite Tower. The structure seemed endless, an impossibly high spire of stone and magic that stretched far into the sky. Somewhere deep within it was the answer to all his questions, but he would need to climb. And climb he would.
Joo Hyun didn't have time to linger. The system's notification had already echoed in his mind, urging him to move forward. He wasn't sure how much time had passed, but it felt like the Tower had a strange way of measuring time—one that didn't quite align with the real world. There was no telling how long the trial of the First Floor would last, but now, the real challenge was just beginning.
---
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
The First Floor has been cleared. Proceed to the Second Floor when ready.
Joo Hyun felt a pull within his chest, almost like a magnetic force urging him to step forward. He didn't question it. The Tower was guiding him, and if he wanted answers, he needed to keep moving.
As he approached the portal that would take him to the next floor, he took a moment to steady himself. His mind swirled with possibilities. What new challenges awaited him? Would the monsters get stronger? Would the Tower test his abilities in ways he couldn't predict?
The moment he crossed the threshold, he was engulfed in a brilliant light. His surroundings blurred for a split second, and when the world returned to focus, Joo Hyun was no longer standing in the grassy field. The air felt heavier, colder. The sky was now a deep shade of purple, with swirling black clouds that occasionally flashed with violet lightning.
This wasn't a simple change of scenery. There was something menacing in the air, a palpable tension that made Joo Hyun's skin prickle.
"Welcome to the Second Floor," the system's voice echoed once again, its tone unwavering as ever. "This floor will test your adaptability. Prepare for the unexpected."
A sense of foreboding crept up Joo Hyun's spine. He looked around, scanning the horizon for any signs of movement. The land was barren, with jagged rocks sticking out of the cracked earth. There were no signs of life—no monsters, no creatures—just an eerie silence that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
That was when the ground shook.
It was a subtle tremor at first, nothing more than a faint vibration beneath his feet. But then, the earth cracked open with a deafening roar, and massive, stone-like creatures emerged from the cracks. They were colossal, their bodies resembling living boulders with glowing red eyes. They roared as they surged toward Joo Hyun, each one the size of a small building.
He froze for a moment, feeling the weight of their immense power. These were no ordinary monsters. He could feel their strength radiating from their massive bodies. They were stronger than anything he'd faced so far, and their sheer size and force made them seem almost invincible.
Adaptability, huh?
Joo Hyun's mind raced. He didn't have time to hesitate. He activated Void Step, disappearing just as the nearest stone creature swung its massive arm in an attempt to crush him. He reappeared behind it, his senses heightened by his Intelligence attribute. Without missing a beat, he drew upon the fire energy of his Elemental Affinity and launched a wave of flames at the creature's back.
The fire seared through the stone, but it didn't seem to faze the creature. It roared in anger, spinning around to face him, its glowing red eyes burning with fury. It swung its enormous fist, and Joo Hyun barely managed to evade the attack by diving to the side. The force of the strike caused the ground beneath him to shatter, sending rocks flying.
This is going to be tough.
The stone creature didn't slow down, and more of its kind began to emerge from the cracks in the earth. Joo Hyun could feel the odds stacking against him. If he wasn't careful, he might be overwhelmed.
He needed to think. His instincts screamed at him to keep moving, to keep evading their attacks. He couldn't afford to get hit by their massive fists. But the fire didn't seem to be enough.
What if I try something different?
Joo Hyun's mind flashed to the Copycat skill. The idea came to him in a heartbeat. The skill allowed him to mimic any attack or ability used against him. He didn't have to rely solely on his own abilities—he could learn from his enemies.
He stood his ground, focusing intently on the stone creature as it charged at him again. As its fist descended upon him, he waited, watching every movement closely. At the last moment, he activated Copycat, and just before the creature's fist could land, he copied the very technique it used to swing at him.
Joo Hyun's arm shot up with a speed and power that took him by surprise. The punch he delivered connected with the creature's own fist, and the impact was enough to cause the stone monster to stagger backward, its balance thrown off by the force of the strike.
It worked!
Emboldened, Joo Hyun pushed forward, using his own strength and the creature's attack to his advantage. He struck again and again, each hit growing stronger as he copied the moves of his foe. The massive stone creature staggered, slowly but surely, until it finally collapsed to the ground in a heap of shattered stone.
One down, but how many more are there?
The ground continued to rumble as more of the stone creatures emerged, but this time, Joo Hyun wasn't as concerned. With Void Step, Martial Arts Mastery, and Copycat, he could handle them. They weren't invincible—he had the power to overcome them.
As he fought, he realized something important. The Second Floor wasn't just about raw strength or speed—it was about adaptability, about learning from the enemies he faced and using their strengths against them.
The system chimed again, signaling the end of the battle.
---
[SYSTEM ALERT]
You have defeated all enemies on the Second Floor. You have gained 500 EXP.
The Second Floor has been cleared. Proceed to the Third Floor when ready.
---
Joo Hyun stood, panting heavily but satisfied. His body ached from the intense battle, but he felt an exhilarating sense of accomplishment. The Tower was growing more dangerous, but so was he. He was no longer just a salesman, a man drifting through life. He was a player in this strange and unforgiving world, and with every step he took, he felt more certain of his path.
The Third Floor awaited, and Joo Hyun knew one thing for sure: this was only the beginning.