The Story is Told to the Protagonist.

‘This world, and this power. What on earth has happened….’

There’s no way to know for sure right now.

Moreover, what’s this in the Prayer column…

[1 hour left.]

‘Ah, this isn’t the time.’

Let’s worry about that later. Time is short.

This is the introduction I’ve simulated numerous times.

I know exactly what to do for the most ideal route.

Although there’s an hour left, I need to hurry. If I finish preparing first, I can start first.

‘First, let me check my initial skill.’

On the first floor, everyone is given an F-rank skill.

Given how difficult it is to obtain skills in this world, this holds great significance.

A setting unknown to new climbers.

This isn’t a skill given by simple randomness.

The F-rank skill given by the tower indicates the direction of my talent.

‘My talent is….’

Ding!

[Would you like to receive the skill ?]

‘Huh?’

[Grasping] appeared.

Grasping as in grabbing with your hand.

‘This pops up…?’

Ah… Of all things, this shows up.

This means my talent is in the fighting category.

The close combat tree has the highest late-game value but is very weak in the beginning.

‘Not being able to use weapons at the start is really tough…’

That’s why there are almost no fighters in the tower.

The few that exist are all talented individuals who dominate the early stages with just their fists.

The problem is….

‘I don’t have any talent.’

As time passes, statistically about 0.1% of Earthlings become climbers and ascend the tower.

The selection criterion is talent. It’s the top 0.1% of talent.

But I just forced my way in, I’m not originally cut out to be a climber.

Naturally, I’d be in the remaining 99.9%, not the 0.1%.

‘Sigh….’

Things are getting complicated from the start.

I have [Body that Defies Heaven], but I’m still uneasy.

This is a trait that wasn’t in the original work, so I’m not sure how powerful it is or how to use it.

‘…It’s okay. It’s not like I have no competitiveness at all.’

I may not have talent, but I know a lot.

The only way for me, who has no talent or anything, to survive the early stages.

A way to at least match the starting line with geniuses.

That is, the hidden piece.

“Show me the list of available skills.”

[List of Available Skills]

…

A catalog pops up.

Choosing something other than the recommended skill?

Why do you think it’s recommended? It’s a crazy choice that no one would normally make. I don’t even know if this is possible.

‘But this is the right choice.’

In fact, the recommended skill is your own talent, so you’ll get it soon anyway even if you leave it.

Instead, if you choose another, the range is ‘all F-grade skills’.

You can obtain skills here that are nearly impossible to acquire otherwise.

‘Such an absurd opportunity won’t come again.’

And I’m the creator of these skills.

I know all types of skills and how to use them.

I selected a skill.

[Are you sure you want to choose this skill?]

[We recommend choosing .]

Not a chance.

What I’m going to choose is none other than the skill that the protagonist obtains on the first floor by chance.

And I’m confident I can use it better than her.

An extreme efficiency tree only possible in the beginning.

This skill will be the starting point for that.

“I’ve decided.”

[You have received the skill .]

I’ve obtained the skill, but it’s not over. The hidden piece I mentioned is separate.

This skill is just a means to obtain it.

[Please designate the starting point for the trial.]

A rough map appeared in front of me.

‘Straight to where Seol Ga-ram is… Huh?’

As I was scanning the map, I realized something.

‘…Where did Seol Ga-ram start again?’

Come to think of it, she was unconscious during the entire waiting time on the first floor and was randomly assigned.

She herself doesn’t know where her starting point is. In other words, her location has never been mentioned in the original work.

‘It’ll be difficult to meet her right away on the first floor.’

As an alternative, I designated the location of the hidden piece.

‘Let’s get the hidden piece right away.’

[You will soon enter the first floor trial. Get ready.]

I walked in front of the basic weapons that were displayed. Without hesitation, I approached and pulled out a blunt dagger.

It’s a good weapon to handle at the beginning without any special skills. The best early pick is a blunt weapon, but with my low strength stat, I couldn’t use it right away.

‘I should be able to meet Seol Ga-ram on the 2nd floor at the earliest, or by the 5th floor at the latest.’

Let’s meet her and correct the early story and convey future information.

Seol Ga-ram suffers from various adversities from the beginning, so I need to meet her quickly and prevent as much of it as possible. For a better future.

‘And clear the 10th floor, which is the condition for returning to Earth.’

It’s uncertain how far I can go with the protagonist with my talent.

‘It’s absolutely impossible to go all the way.’

Because I’m not a main character or a genius, just an ordinary person.

For now, if I can just clear the 10th floor, I can go back and forth to Earth, and I’ll have some leeway.

‘Let’s think about how far we can go together after that.’

I chose this skill more for the early stages than the later ones.

The tower’s trials are a universe-scale competition. From the first floor, you have to fight against monstrous geniuses and monstrous races from various planets.

That’s why I, who have no talent, need a sure-fire guarantee to survive the competition with them.

‘Ability scores.’

The hidden piece on the first floor that can be obtained through this skill will boost my ability scores. And to a level incomparable to my competitors right away.

[The first floor trial begins.]

I closed my eyes. A moment later, the air touching my skin turned cold.

When I opened my eyes, the location had changed.

***

[Survive for 24 hours protecting the jade bead, or steal it and head to the next floor.]

[Beware of monsters.]

A dreamlike forest full of gems unfolded before my eyes.

‘Wow….’

I can’t help but be amazed.

A forest covered in purple pre-dawn darkness. However, gem tree fruits, moss, fireflies, etc. emit light.

Pastel-colored light is lightly draped around like a curtain.

The tension from just a moment ago completely dissipated, and I just stood there with my mouth open, admiring the view.

‘Really… this is the first floor I described.’

I suddenly realize that I’ve entered a different world, that the adventure has begun.

As I took a step, a pebble from the grass field hit my foot. I picked it up and examined it – it’s a gem.

Ding!

The skill reacted and a message appeared in front of my eyes.

[Unprocessed Sapphire]

A high-quality sapphire imbued with natural mana. When using the ‘Tears of Gems’ skill, it emits a bright light, drawing the attention of nearby hostile targets.

‘This should be useful if I’m careful of the monsters in this area.’

I’ve already found a useful gem.

‘As expected, [Tears of Gems] was the right answer.’

The F-grade skill [Tears of Gems] consumes gems to produce various effects.

And the background from the 1st to 3rd floor is a gem forest. Gems are everywhere.

I put the sapphire in my pocket.

‘If I can just find an emerald, it’s a free pass up to the 5th floor.’

And only through this skill can I fully consume the hidden piece on the first floor.

‘Still, it’s a shame to have given up the [Grasping] skill.’

Since that’s my main growth route, I need to obtain it eventually.

The difficulty of skill generation in this world is extremely high. Considering my talent, it will take a long time.

‘When will I get it… It won’t take more than a year, right?’

It’s daunting.

Putting aside the regret, I headed towards the cliff nearby.

The reason I chose this place. The hidden piece is at the bottom of this cliff. But….

‘Woah, shit…. How do I get down?’

Looking down makes me dizzy. Wow, I can’t see the bottom.

However, about four stories down, I can see a protruding rock. There’s a cave in that wall. That’s the place.

‘I thought it was manageable because I described it as four stories high, but this is really high.’

If I fall straight down, my legs will definitely break.

‘Sigh…. If I had the [Grasping] skill, I could somehow climb-‘

Thunk!

Huh.

With a dull sound, my legs suddenly gave way and I collapsed.

I looked down while fallen. A harpoon had pierced through my thigh.

“Huh…? Ah….”

Strangely, the pain came only 2 seconds later.

“Uh, uh-ah, aaaaargh-!!”

My head jerked back from the pain. A scream tears through my throat and palate.

I tried to look at my leg again but my stiffened neck wouldn’t move. I forcibly rolled my eyeballs.

A metal chain was connected to the harpoon stuck in my thigh.

And I hear a mocking laugh.

“Kukukuku….”

It matches the direction from which the chain extends.

When I turned my eyeballs backwards, I saw a man in a worn coat. The chain was extending from his crossbow.

As his coat flapped, his face was revealed.

I see a bright red skin color and yellow glowing eyes that are not of an Earthling.

‘Not an Earthling but from another planet… Ah!’

I know who it is.

“You…!”

Wood-colored coat, tattered cowboy hat. A perverted crossbow with a chain attached.

A climber from another planet and a villain who harms Seol Ga-ram’s comrade later. It’s definitely him.

‘But he’s supposed to meet Seol Ga-ram’s team on the 15th floor….’

That bastard, of all places I meet him at the starting point of the 1st floor?

“Easy, so easy~”

He turns the lever on his crossbow while humming.

The chain winds around the lever like a fishing line, and then tightens. The harpoon pulled at the flesh and bone of my thigh.

“-!!”

My vision went white with pain.

“Aaaaargh-!!”

My hands reflexively grabbed my thigh. The thigh, stiff as a rock from shock, didn’t move at all, as if it wasn’t part of my body.

The body attached to the thigh is being dragged. My whole body is trembling, and my eyeballs are losing strength, about to roll back.

“Uh, kheok, kheuheok…!”

“Come here~”

Instinctively, I flailed my hands and scratched the ground frantically. I need to grab onto something.

When I felt a rock under my palm, my hand was already gripping it tightly.

When my body suddenly stopped, the pain in my leg intensified. My mind is becoming hazy.

‘No, if I let go… I must, grab…’

My vision went black.

[Activating trait .]

[Modifying content.]

‘Gra, sp….’

[Skill ‘Grasping’ has been created!]

My consciousness returned. I gasped for breath that had been cut off.

“Heu-!”

I’m still holding the rock. Did I faint for a moment? My hand was white from gripping it so tightly.

“Wow, such stro~ng power!”

As the lever stops, he now pulls up his crossbow like fishing. The chain tightens, and my leg along with my pelvis slightly lifts off the ground.

“Keu, grrrr….”

I have to endure. I have to grit my teeth and endure.

The dragging has stopped but nothing has changed. He was still the fisherman, and I was still the catch.

‘I can’t feel my leg….’

Along with the relief of no pain, fear of physical loss suddenly rushed in.

‘So, somehow…!’

Then, I saw a blue light in the corner of my vision.

“Oh!”

It’s the sapphire. It must have fallen out of my pocket.

At that moment, a solution flashed through my mind.

The message that appeared at the start of the trial.

[Survive for 24 hours protecting the jade bead, or steal it and head to the next floor.]

[Beware of monsters.]

‘Monsters.’

The first floor is not just a simple jade bead stealing game.

Monsters live in the gem forest on the first floor. Powerful monsters intended to be avoided, not caught.

They were sparsely distributed, with one placed near this hidden piece.

[Unprocessed Sapphire]

…When using the ‘Tears of Gems’ skill, it emits a bright light, drawing the attention of nearby hostile targets.

And I know how to deal with that monster.

‘Even if I can’t catch it, I can avoid its attention.’

At least, I can screw over that bastard.

The deliberation wasn’t long. I immediately reached out and grabbed the gem.

[Casting skill ‘Tears of Gems’.]

Crash!

The moment the sapphire in my hand shattered, blue light covered my vision.

The harpoon man was also surprised and confused.

“Wh-what!”

Whoosh-!

After a moment of radiance, the light subsided.

The harpoon man forgot to pull the lever and stood still for a moment, on guard.

I turned my head towards him.

Has the pain driven me mad? I couldn’t suppress a laugh at the scene about to unfold. My facial muscles twitched, and a smile distorted by pain leaked out like a convulsion.

“Kik….”

“…Quickly spill what you did.”

Ah, I’ve raised his alertness.

But what can I do. I can’t help but laugh.

That’s when it happened.

“If you don’t speak, I’ll show you what real pain is-“

A red light suddenly grew from the forest behind him.

Kwakwaboom-!

A fireball flying towards us exploded on the harpoon man’s back.

“…!!”

Die, you bastard.

But it wasn’t time for me to laugh either.

The explosion was much stronger than I thought, and I was caught up in it, my body thrown backwards.

“Heuk!”

Even as my breath was cut off by the heat and my eyes closed, my instinct sensed danger.

My airborne body is falling for too long.

“Ah, no!”

It’s the cliff!