Chapter 1
I regret that day.
The day I awakened, the message that appeared before my eyes.
[You have awakened as a Player by the choice of the Tower.]
[Your unique trait is blossoming.]
[Your unique trait ‘Pocket Dimension’ has previous usage records.]
[Would you like to load the records?]
I didn’t mean to accept it out of curiosity.
“Haa…”
Two years have passed since then.
I’m a Player, yet I’m just doing part-time jobs here and there.
It’s because I couldn’t use the trait I had worked so hard to awaken.
Recently, I’ve been working a night shift at a convenience store.
With no customers around, I let out a long sigh and opened my status window.
[Lv.1 Kang Sun-woo]
Class: Pocket Dimension User
Rank: EX
Strength: 10 (+)
Agility: 10 (+)
Mana: 10 (+)
Stamina: 10 (+)
My class is Pocket Dimension User.
【Traits】
- [Pocket Dimension] Synchronization in progress… (Progress 99.9%)
The [Pocket Dimension] trait had been in synchronization progress since the moment I first awakened.
A Player’s trait is 90% of the time.
Yet, it was basically on strike, unable to be used.
“What’s the point of being EX rank then?”
Without power, I’m just a slightly tougher human.
The limits were painfully clear.
But that life was over now.
Two years of waiting, every time the synchronization value increased, my tears increased too.
The synchronization rate, which rose only 1% per week, finally hit 99.9%.
“I’m finally climbing the Tower too.”
After finishing my last convenience store shift, I returned home, cleaned up, and sat properly.
With a solemn heart, I waited for the synchronization to complete.
Now everything was ready.
It was time to ascend the Tower as a real Player.
On TV, commercials featuring famous Players air every day.
All are Players awakened at high ranks.
In today’s world, they have the same recognition as celebrities or sports stars.
The reason is this.
The trials set by the Tower.
The Tower periodically gives humans specific missions called trials.
Sometimes, it demands clearing a certain floor within a time limit.
Other times, it forces the collection of specific items.
Everyone now knows the fate of nations that failed to carry out these tasks.
The Tower collapses, and monsters pour out endlessly from the resulting gates.
Players have limited power outside the Tower, so nations unable to handle these disasters suffered catastrophic damage.
As a result, Players are now extremely valuable for being the only ones who can enter the Tower.
If you are a top-ranking Player challenging the frontlines of the Tower, your value is beyond money.
“Anyway, I’m a Player now too.”
EX rank.
Considering that the highest existing rank is S, I couldn’t help but laugh.
I struggled to contain a smile that kept creeping up.
[Synchronization complete.]
Finally, synchronization was complete.
I calmed my pounding heart and opened the status window again.
And without hesitation, I checked the trait.
【Traits】
- [Pocket Dimension]
「Available commands: Open Gate, Close Gate」
Commands were now available.
Simple, perfect.
“Open Gate.”
The moment I spoke, a gate appeared.
It was just under 2 meters in size.
“Shall I go inside?”
Actually, everything started from loading the previous usage record.
Anyway, checking was necessary to use the ability…
Without hesitation, I stepped into the blue-lit gate.
The gate led to the mid-slope of a mountain.
As I glanced around, my eyes accidentally fell to the valley below, and I froze.
“What is this?”
A massive civilization lay beneath my feet.
One that looked far more advanced than modern times.
“Could this be the ‘previous usage record’…?”
The civilization filling the basin was too vast to take in at a glance.
To examine it closely, I descended into the city.
“Is this real?”
I touched the outer wall of a nearby building.
It was real.
Honestly, descending the mountain, I had wondered if it was an illusion or mirage.
But now I knew.
It was no hallucination.
It definitely existed.
“…”
Yet, separate questions arose.
Even from the outside, the civilization was full of unfamiliar elements.
Dusty, moss-covered cityscape.
Signs in unfamiliar languages.
Buildings with structures I had never seen.
A gray city that had lost its light.
Finding traces that confused my mind, I finally chose a direction.
“Let’s go there.”
The target was the round core I had seen from above.
It looked like the central power source for the city, with branches extending out from it.
After about two hours of walking, I reached the core center.
Up close, it was even larger than I had imagined.
A core hovering above a fairly big building.
And structures supporting it.
“So, now that I’m here, what do I do?”
I wondered if there might be a switch or something.
Carefully inspecting the surroundings, I found nothing until I touched the wall.
A faint light glimmered across the structure, and a voice came.
[Registering user mana pattern.]
[Recorder code verified… Target identified.]
[Inherited records detected. Initiating successor protocol.]
[…Limited access granted.]
[Insufficient power.]
[Function limited.]
[Power saving mode ON]
[Security combat drones 3 units – reboot complete]
[Public communication network – limited restoration]
[Urban purification module – partial operation]
[Civilian guidance AI ‘NEIA’ calling…]
「Beep-」
A high-pitched tone pierced my eardrums, and a blue light appeared in the air.
At its center, a small holographic projection appeared.
“…What is this?”
And someone spoke from the projection.
『Welcome, Successor. I am the citizen guidance AI of this city, NEIA.』
『The information currently available is limited, but I will provide maximum support if requested.』
A wave of relief washed over me.
A sentient being I could communicate with.
The projection showed a female android silhouette, tidy in appearance.
Her expression and speech felt strangely familiar and natural.
『Currently, the city operates in power-saving mode of the 6th-generation energy network, and some zones are closed. Operational rate of city facilities: 0.01%.』
『Please let me know if you require any assistance.』
“…Then first, tell me what I can use in this city right now.”
『Currently available modules are:』
– Core reactor status monitoring
– Activate one combat drone for extermination
– Access city map
– Combat record module
– Review engagement data
– Call emergency response device (limited alert level)
『Other functions are locked due to energy shortage.』
Honestly, I had many questions, but my attention went to the drones, which seemed useful for combat while climbing the Tower.
“What’s the operational range of the combat drones?”
『Currently limited to the vicinity of the core center.』
“So, outside the gate, the city outskirts, they can’t operate?”
The holographic woman’s eyes glowed, then she replied.
『Converted the three security drones into invasion drones and transferred command authority to you, Successor.』
Since the core center lit up, the three drones flying overhead came to me and started patrolling.
“So I can control them freely?”
『Yes. Recognizing your purpose as exterminating threats outside the city, I have repurposed the drones. Should I revert it?』
“No, perfect.”
I quickly left the Pocket Dimension.
“Close Gate.”
I closed the gate and attempted to enter the Tower.
Entering the Tower is simple.
As long as I can operate the status window, I can enter from anywhere.
[Do you wish to enter the Tower?]
“Yes, I will enter.”
[No previous records found.]
[Entering the lowest floor lobby of the Tower.]
The one-room apartment in front of me instantly transformed into a gray space.
The musty smell of bricks stung my nose.
“So this is the Tower…”
I had wanted to enter it for two years.
Finally, I was at the starting line.
“Phew…”
But I didn’t linger in admiration.
First, I needed to test my ability.
I immediately challenged the first floor.
[Do you wish to challenge Tower Floor 1?]
“Yes.”
At my voice, the space transformed again.
This time, it was a dense forest.
[Floor 1 is a tutorial zone.]
[Complete the given mission within the time limit.]
[Mission: Defeat Monsters – Goblins 0/30]
[The safe zone will soon be lifted. Prepare for battle.]
Before the safe zone lifted, I quickly opened a gate.
The blue gate opened, and three 1-meter combat drones appeared.
“I wonder how strong they are.”
I was skeptical.
Even as an EX rank ability, they were just minor drones operating in power-saving mode.
“I hope they can handle all the goblins safely.”
Would it even be possible?
“The drone on the right.”
It lifted lightly, as if understanding my command.
“You protect me.”
The drone immediately flew above my head and hovered.
The remaining two drones were ordered to hunt goblins.
“Left drones two, exterminate all goblins on the field.”
As soon as I gave the command,
The safe zone lifted exactly on time.
The drones rose and disappeared, presumably hunting goblins.
“Don’t get destroyed badly.”
My dream depended on it.
I desperately hoped.
Flash, whoosh.
Kaboom.
A thunderous sound like artillery echoed beyond the horizon.
“Wh…what is this?”
[Mission: Defeat Monsters – Goblins 6/30]
[Mission: Defeat Monsters – Goblins 8/30]
[Mission: Defeat Monsters – Goblins 12/30]
…
The kill count started rising at an incredible speed.
Flash, boom.
Every time a light flashed beyond the horizon…
The next moment, an explosion followed, and the kill count increased.
No doubt, the forest’s changes were caused by the drones.
The act of slaughter.
[Mission: Defeat Monsters – Goblins 15/30]
Flash, boom.
Every time the light flashed,
[Defeat 30 Goblins – 20/30]
…
The goblins were killed in waves.
At this speed, how strong were they really?
Boom… boom boom boom.
Finally, as the kill count approached 25,
I saw goblins running from the opposite end.
They didn’t seem to attack.
Looking closely, there was no hostility in their expressions.
They were clearly struggling to survive.
The faces of prey fleeing disaster.
I even felt a bit of sympathy.
Flash.
A light flickered above.
Looking up, I saw it.
Ziiiiiing.
The drone I had instructed to guard emitted the light.
It even formed a cannon, charging energy at its tip.
When the light peaked,
Flash. Kaboom.
The fleeing goblins melted away under the beam.
Fssss-
Ding-
[Mission: Defeat Monsters – Goblins 30/30]
The mission was completed in the blink of an eye.
