Chapter 04

[What the heck? What the heck? Who got SSS rank?

Seriously, I have no idea.

• It came out of nowhere LOL
• Clearing the 17th floor is already insane, but SSS? Crazy.
• I didn’t even know something like SSS rank existed, LOL.

When the announcement for clearing the 17th floor appeared, people reacted with confusion.

There were only two raid teams in Korea considered top-tier.

One was Kim Jinwoo’s First Raid Team, and the other was the Second Raid Team, which had rapidly grown after recruiting members from Jinwoo’s team.

But among them, the First Raid Team had practically already disbanded.

There were even rumors that Kim Jinwoo himself, the raid leader, was immigrating to America.

Naturally, nobody expected anything from him anymore.

So when people first heard the announcement of the successful clear, they assumed the second raid team had done it.

After all, Park Jinsu’s raid team was the most likely candidate.

But as time passed, it became known that Park Jinsu’s team had not even begun the raid yet.

And it was also revealed that the only raid team currently challenging the Tower was Kim Jinwoo’s.

[As expected of God Jinwoo.]

He’s simply the light.

• Captain Korea, I believed in you~~
• He was only kneeling to gain momentum; that’s what this is.

Public opinion, which had spent all this time criticizing Kim Jinwoo, instantly changed direction.

Considering he had achieved the miracle called SSS rank, it was only natural.

[Baek Jinsol’s expression after seeing the announcement during his stream JPG]

LOL he looks completely shocked.

• LOL betrayal bastard. Serves him right.
• Seriously, why did he even join Park Jinsu’s raid team? Idiot, LOL.
• What’s the point of being handsome if you’re such a pathetic guy? LOL
• Seriously LOL
• Only Goddess Sohee stayed loyal~ Praise Goddess Sohee~

As Kim Jinwoo’s public image improved, Baek Jinsol’s reputation, which had been rising as the next-generation ace, completely crashed instead.

He had betrayed Jinwoo and joined Park Jinsu’s raid team, yet he still failed to take the title for clearing the 17th floor.

Since he had achieved nothing noteworthy, internet users naturally viewed him coldly.

[The president must be pissed LOL.]

He kept saying he didn’t care whether Kim Jinwoo moved to America or not LOL

• If he really immigrates, I’m killing the president.

└ LOL What exactly can you do?

• But honestly, if Kim Jinwoo leaves Korea, over 90% of the blame belongs to the president.
• His approval ratings are about to collapse right after taking office. LOL

Of course, the people who felt uneasy after seeing the announcement were not only the former raid members who betrayed Kim Jinwoo and joined other teams.

The president himself had constantly clashed with Jinwoo ever since he was elected, so he was bound to react even more negatively.

***

Jinwoo and Lee Sohee ignored the golems on the 17th floor and quickly passed through.

On the 18th floor, they used an item purchased on the 10th floor called the “Crystal Compass” to avoid the traps inside the maze.

Of course, they also achieved SSS rank on the 18th floor.

[19th Floor Mission: Defeat the Giant Anaconda.]

[Completion Condition: Eliminate the Giant Anaconda.]

Each floor had a completely different mission, and the 19th floor’s mission was “Defeat the Boss Monster.”

Lee Sohee nervously looked around.

The 19th floor was a swamp area, and Lizardmen were hiding throughout the marshes.

Even places that looked empty might have hidden Lizardmen lying in ambush.

“Captain, this place really looks dangerous.”

Jinwoo answered calmly.

“It’s not much different from before.”

At that moment, giant lizardmen emerged from the swamp and approached them.

Lee Sohee trembled in fear as she looked toward Jinwoo.

Jinwoo calmly drew his sword.

Then he infused mana into it and created sword energy.

Wooooong.

“W-What is that?”

Blue light flowed from the sword in Jinwoo’s hand, causing Lee Sohee to stare in shock.

“It’s sword energy.”

“S-Sword energy?”

“It’s a technique that attacks by infusing mana into the blade.”

Lee Sohee still looked confused, but Jinwoo gave no further explanation.

The Lizardman had already reached them.

Slash!

Jinwoo swung his sword toward the Lizardman before him.

The mana bursting from the sword pierced straight through the creature’s body.

Even though lizardmen had tough hides, the sword energy pierced through them in a single strike.

The Lizardman collapsed instantly, and Jinwoo moved toward the next one.

The other Lizardmen could not block the sword energy either.

When one of them swung its spear toward Jinwoo, he quickly twisted his body to dodge the attack.

Then he immediately swung his sword again, severing the Lizardman’s arm before striking down its torso.

The Lizardman fell without even being able to react.

As battle after battle continued, Jinwoo used sword energy to overwhelm every Lizardman.

Watching the scene, Lee Sohee felt goosebumps spread across her arms.

‘I… I didn’t even get a chance to step in.’

She herself was considered a ranker.

If only long-range dealers were counted, she was among the top ten in the entire world.

Yet before she could even make a move, the battle had already ended.

That was how overwhelming Jinwoo’s combat power was.

‘Captain’s attack power right now wouldn’t lose at all compared to Yamada Kenshin, who’s called the strongest damage dealer.’

In fact, he seemed even stronger.

And it was not just his attack power that had increased.

His movements had also become incredibly fast.

It was almost as though he had acquired a B-rank or higher skill.

“Let’s go.”

Jinwoo said that to the lost-in-thought Lee Sohee and continued walking forward.

Another Lizardman appeared and attacked, but Jinwoo defeated it instantly.

Finally, they arrived before the 19th floor’s boss monster, the Giant Anaconda.

They were probably the first raid team to reach this point on their very first attempt.

• KUUOOOOH!

The Anaconda slowly revealed itself from the swamp and let out a threatening roar toward the two of them.

Lee Sohee bit her lip tightly at the roar before quickly regaining her composure and using her skill.

“Arrow of Light!”

A glowing white arrow flew toward the Anaconda.

The Anaconda screamed in pain, then immediately charged toward Lee Sohee in fury.

Papapabak!

Jinwoo carefully observed the Anaconda’s movements while calmly swinging his sword.

His movements were graceful and swift, almost like a dance.

The Anaconda tried to wrap its massive body around Jinwoo, but he escaped with astonishing speed.

Slash!

He unleashed another sword energy attack toward the Anaconda the moment it exposed an opening.

The creature writhed in pain and counterattacked, but Jinwoo was slightly faster.

“I’ll help too!”

Lee Sohee continuously fired Arrows of Light.

But the Anaconda ignored all of her attacks and focused solely on Jinwoo.

KWAANG!

Every time the Anaconda slammed its body around, the surrounding terrain was completely destroyed.

Trees shattered, and the ground caved in as though an earthquake had struck.

Even in such terrible terrain where it was hard to even stand properly, Jinwoo moved agilely and continued attacking the Anaconda.

Finally, he severed its head.

“Wow…!”

Lee Sohee shivered as she witnessed Jinwoo’s overwhelming combat power.

Was Captain this strong? Strong enough to defeat the Anaconda alone?’

She knew it herself.

She had been completely useless in this battle against the Anaconda.

That only made it even more shocking.

The boss monster of the 19th floor, which nobody had ever defeated before, had essentially been cleared by Jinwoo alone.

[You are the first to clear the 19th floor of the Tower of Babel (Korea).]

[19th Floor First Clear Reward: C-Rank Random Skill Book, 5,000 Karma, Tower Seal.]

[You have achieved SSS Raid Rank on the 19th floor of the Tower of Babel (Korea).]

[SSS Raid Reward: B-Rank Random Skill Book, 9,999 Karma.]

Meanwhile, Jinwoo smiled in satisfaction as he looked at the messages before him.

The rewards were incredible.

The SSS rewards alone were already amazing, but now he had also received the first-clear rewards.

‘The Random Skill Book is one rank lower, but that doesn’t really matter.’

What truly mattered was the “Tower Seal.”

The Tower Seal was basically like becoming the lord of a castle in a game.

Just as a castle lord collected taxes from players, a Hunter who possessed the Tower Seal could collect entrance fees from Hunters entering that floor.

‘I’m definitely going to squeeze out the maximum amount possible.’

***

Yamada Kenshin was engaged in a fierce battle against the 19th-floor dungeon boss, the Giant Anaconda.

His body was already covered in wounds, but he still refused to retreat.

“I’m ending this today no matter what!”

Kenshin strengthened his resolve and charged forward.

Flames burst from his sword as he slashed toward the giant anaconda.

“Crimson Flame Sword!”

The Anaconda let out a painful scream and thrashed violently.

The tankers failed to dodge the thrashing body and were struck directly.

But Kenshin did not stop.

“Everyone, focus! We finish this in one go!”

Shouting to his teammates, he swung his sword once more.

The team members followed his commands and did their best from their respective positions.

Some blocked the Anaconda’s attacks with shields, while others provided support fire with ranged skills.

The Anaconda’s momentum visibly weakened.

Watching the dying Anaconda, Kenshin sensed it instinctively.

The end was near.

But at that moment, words suddenly appeared before his eyes.

[The Tower of Babel (Korea) has successfully cleared the 19th floor.]

[The Tower of Babel (Korea) has achieved SSS Raid Rank on the 19th floor.]

Kenshin froze for a moment.

Shock and rage appeared on his face at the same time.

‘Korea? Korea cleared the 19th floor?’

Kenshin clenched his fists tightly and gritted his teeth.

His teammates also stared at him in shock.

“Damn it! How could Korea do it?!”

Kenshin bit down hard.

If another country had taken it first, it would have hurt less.

But the fact that Korea’s raid team, which he thought had already collapsed, became the first to clear the 19th floor made the shock unbearable.

‘Has Kim Jinwoo returned?’

His anger would not calm down easily.

Kenshin clenched his fists and took deep breaths while trying to steady himself.

But the moment Kim Jinwoo’s face came to mind, even greater anger surged within him.

“Ghk!”

“Kenshin!”

But he had relaxed too much while facing the boss monster.

During the brief moment Kenshin stopped attacking, the Anaconda recovered from its injuries.

And the moment it recovered, it body-slammed Yamada Kenshin, the greatest threat.

‘Damn it!’

Having suffered serious damage from a brief lapse in focus, Kenshin gritted his teeth and pulled out a potion.

It was the last potion he had bought on the 10th floor.

Gulp. Gulp.

Now that even this was gone, they could no longer continue the raid.

“Retreat! Fall back!”

In the end, Japan’s raid team chose to flee even though the Anaconda was nearly dead.

‘Kim Jinwoo, just wait. Next time, I’ll win.’

He made that vow internally while quickly escaping from the Anaconda.

***

As news spread worldwide that Korea had successfully cleared the 19th floor of the Tower of Babel, rankers across the globe were thrown into shock.

“No way! Kim Jinwoo is back?”

China’s ranker Wang Lichang could not hide his surprise after hearing the news.

The return of Kim Jinwoo, once his rival, wounded his pride.

America’s ranker James Collins also fell into deep thought after hearing the news.

“So Captain Korea has returned to the Tower.”

Sitting in his chair, he closed his eyes and organized his thoughts.

He carefully considered how Jinwoo’s return might affect him.

Fortunately, his relationship with Jinwoo had never been particularly bad.

That meant forming an alliance was entirely possible.

‘I need to obtain information about the 20th floor from Captain Korea, and if there’s a shop on the 20th floor too, I absolutely must secure its important items.’

Thinking about possible cooperation with Jinwoo, Collins began making plans.

Meanwhile, Russia’s ranker Kristina Pimenova looked excited after hearing the news of Jinwoo’s return.

‘As expected! Just like I predicted! I knew he would definitely come back!’

The moment Jinwoo achieved SSS rank on the 17th floor, she had already become convinced of his return.

And just as expected,

Jinwoo had instantly cleared both the 17th and 18th floors.

‘And then he even conquered the 19th floor, which nobody else could clear. As expected, he’s amazing!’

Praising Jinwoo almost like worshipping a god, Kristina soon opened a photo of him on her phone.

Her phone contained thousands of pictures of Kim Jinwoo.

Thus, people reacted in many different ways to the news of Jinwoo’s return.

And it wasn’t only rankers who reacted strongly.

From business leaders to politicians,

People from every field began responding to the news of Kim Jinwoo’s return.