Chapter 72: Defense of the Base (1)

Chapter 72: Defense of the Base (1)

The sudden declaration to attack the fourth floor caused an uproar around the world.

"What in the world is this madness!?"

"Are they starting right now? Are they serious about this?"

"Insane! Summon all the rankers, right now! This is an emergency. Drop everything and get over here!"

"Do we have the candidate list for base points? Bring it! And all the fourth-floor data we've been gathering, too!"

Executives of the major guilds were hollering frantically. As it's common knowledge in wave-based defense to occupy a strategically advantageous location among the numerous base points.

Every single second was precious in order to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

The attack would begin just 8 hours from now, so they had to lead their teams to the fourth floor.

Moreover, they had to devise plans on how to conquer the fourth floor within the remaining time.

While everyone was busy bustling about until dawn, Jinhyuk stretched in his comfortable bed, waking up.

Crack! Creak!

His joints found their place. It was an incredibly refreshing feeling.

As if he had been reborn.

'It feels like all the fatigue has been washed away in one go.'

One needs sustained energy for a new fight.

Of course, the rest wouldn't have it that easy.

'They must be in the worst of conditions.'

Thanks to the late announcement of the conquest, all their heads, which had been rolling around all night without sleep, would be ragged both in mind and body.

But what can they do? This isn't a sport played in a stadium.

He had no reason to play fair with his competition.

Especially since the fourth floor was structured to yield greater rewards the fewer the competitors.

[Time remaining until the first wave arrives: 1h:37m:51s]

It was time to head to the fourth floor.

* * *

The fourth floor of the Tower of Trials.

This was where countless players once gave up on the game, facing their first major obstacle.

No wonder, since they had to fend off 100 waves of regular and special zombies, not to mention the need for thousands of possible combinations of defense towers and even the means to sustain life within the base.

Above all, the absurd penalty of resetting the entire game if no one could clear the 100 waves created a chaotic scene filled with user resignations and curses.

It was not for nothing that the Tower of Trials was known as a failed game.

And now, at this moment.

Whoosh!

A player appeared at the entrance to the fourth floor, bathed in bright light.

'This place is as depressing as ever.'

Consistent with its zombie theme, the fourth floor was totally apocalyptic. Unlit buildings and abandoned cars, streets where civilization seemed to have vanished completely.

It was a bittersweet feeling that couldn't be helped.

Maybe this sight was a mirror projecting the future of humanity.

That's when it happened.

Ding!

A status window appeared in front of him.

[You have entered the fourth floor of the Tower of Trials for the first time.]

[In 20 minutes, other players will also be able to enter the fourth floor.]

It was a 20-minute privilege earned by being the first to clear the third floor.

This would be the decisive time for success or failure on this floor.

'I better hurry.'

Jinhyuk started running towards the north. However, the road was treacherous, hindering his speed.

Roads disappeared due to sinkholes, and walls blocked by creeping vines. Obstacles were more than plentiful.

'Faster... even faster!'

As Jinhyuk regulated his breath and picked up more speed, less than 10 minutes remained.

Crash crash crash crash!

Cutting through obstacles with 'Grave of Swords' and fixing gaping holes with 'Ice Sculpting', how long had he been running?

Finally, Jinhyuk came to a stop.

He had reached a grand World Cup stadium.

'I made it in time.'

With other players soon to enter, securing a desired base point needed quick action, hard though it may be, since there were players with abilities to accelerate or teleport.

'Where is it...'

There.

Jinhyuk placed his palm on one of the pillars at the stadium's entrance.

At that moment.

[Using 'Priority Base Designation Right!']

['Sangam World Cup Stadium' has been designated as your base!]

A red flag rose over the World Cup stadium.

It was a warning:

'The owner here is decided, so look elsewhere.'

'Good.'

Jinhyuk nodded in satisfaction and entered the stadium.

The once green field where 22 players competed was now gone, replaced by barren dirt and dust.

Exactly.

'Just as I wanted.'

Dirt and dust.

Signs heralding the end of life, but also hinting at the birth of a new one.

[Scattering 'Soft Pellets' 1 kg.]

[Planting 'Seeds of Sol' x5.]

[Getting 'Natural Water' 50 L ready.]

Jinhyuk took out the rewards he got from handling the soulless.

The seeds and pellets buried in the soil.

Among countless defensive measures available on the fourth floor, Jinhyuk chose 'plants'.

'I'll place plants at each entry to the stadium and the last one in the center.'

[Time remaining until 'Seeds of Sol' hatch: 55m:33s]

[Time for 'Soft Pellets' to hatch: 5h:19m:10s]

By the time the first wave of zombies arrived, these plants would dutifully act as robust breakwaters protecting the base.

The seeds, useful as food, would soon sprout as well.

That's when.

Ding! Ding!

Consecutive blue status windows appeared.

[Brother, I'm contacting you because you told me to do so once you reach the fourth floor. Taemin is here with me.]

[Jinhyuk, I've arrived. Is this the entrance to the fourth floor?]

Yoo Yeonhwa, his powerful ally, and Lee Taemin, as well as Teresa, the Saintess of Amsterdam, had contacted him.

"Grow well and strong. I'll be back soon."

Jinhyuk poured a generous amount of 'Natural Water' over the recently planted seeds.

[The growth speed of the plants increases by 20%!]

* * *

About 10 minutes later, Jinhyuk arrived back at the original spot.

The starting point of the fourth floor was now crowded with hordes of players.

'Looks like the famous major guilds have all joined.'

Despite the rush, a huge crowd had gathered, lured by the enticing rewards.

Well, it's not every day that you can choose an A-grade random box.

Even those who gave up on the Tower of Trials in the early stages would have researched enough to know that A-grade represents the top 5%.

And depending on the items they get from it, their future strategies would change accordingly.

While Jinhyuk was scanning the crowd.

"Brother!"

"Hyung!"

Yoo Yeonhwa and Lee Taemin waved their hands upon spotting Jinhyuk.

"Jinhyuk!"

The platinum-haired girl, Teresa, also smiled brightly.

Yoo Yeonhwa he had met yesterday, but it had been quite a while for the other two.

"Sorry for calling you all of a sudden. Things escalated quickly, and I didn't have time to explain."

"No, it's obvious I had to come since you called, Hyung."

"I'm not affiliated anywhere anymore, so it doesn't matter. And I much prefer being with Jinhyuk."

Hmm...

That makes me feel a little guilty.

After all, he had every intention to use the three as excellent workers(?).

Violating labor laws like a ruthless employer, with them as diligent part-timers.

This is the ideal position Jinhyuk was aiming for.

"Did everyone prepare well?"

"Preparation was thorough, but more importantly, brother. Are we okay with just us?"

"Huh?"

"There's going to be a nauseating number of zombie waves coming at us."

Yoo Yeonhwa shivered slightly.

It was the horrific memory from the past, filled with the smell of blood and chunks of flesh.

"I can summon creatures too, but my level is still too low. Especially during the waves with the mutated zombies, it's tough..."

Lee Taemin added.

Even for seasoned players, facing waves unprepared was daunting.

However.

"Doesn't that make it even more fun?"

A blissful smile graced Jinhyuk's face, as if thrilled by the prospect of facing a higher difficulty level.

"Fun...? Brother, this isn't a game, you know? If we get bitten by a zombie here, we really die."

"Haah. Hyung still hasn't gotten rid of his old habits. Isn't that self-abuse?"

"Jinhyuk... you're like a pervert."

All three sighed softly.

They were too quick to despair. What now?

"I even selected the stadium as our base."

"Huh!? Sta, stadium? You don't mean Sangam Stadium, right? Please say it's not."

"Yeah."

"Hyung, are you crazy? That's one of the toughest base points, it's a large one that requires at least 100 people to defend!"

I know that.

And it's also the spot with the juiciest rewards.

"But you guys went as far as the 20th floor, right? Don't whine. You know as well as I do that it's better to gather as much fortune as possible early on to make the climb easier."

"That's true, but..."

"Ugh, I can't. Only brother could handle that. It's too much for us."

Not every expert player is the same.

Some are like stale water, atop which oil and fossils float.

Yoo Yeonhwa and Lee Taemin had the misfortune of sharing a boat with one of the most formidable ammonites.

While the two were in distress,

"Excuse me, Jinhyuk. May I ask one question?"

Teresa, who had been quiet, raised her hand.

"Yes, go ahead."

"As far as I know, to proceed with this defense battle, we need a minimum number of members, and it appears we're short."

"Oh? Now that you mention it..."

"Yeah, I was so focused on the stadium I forgot about that."

Yoo Yeonhwa and Lee Taemin were also startled.

They needed at least five people.

But there were only four of them.

One more person was necessary to carry on with the base defense battle.

"The last person will be arriving soon."

Jinhyuk reassured them.

Just then.

Boom!

A loud noise came from a distance.

'Tsk, tsk.'

This guy just can't make a quiet entrance.