Chapter 283: Seventy-Fourth Floor, Prison Break (1)

Earth, on the seventy-fourth floor.

[Did you see the video of Kwon Su-Hyeok from today? Dude’s insane.]

I got to work and watched the video that dropped this morning. Then, I realized he straight-up filmed a legendary episode. Destroyed something like a flaming Bark’s Moving Castle with a single axe swing lmao.

- oo: Nah, the part where the whole world turned blue was even sicker.

- oo: ikr I thought a god was descending.

- mm: Light Su-Hyeok!!!

- jack: 1.2 billion views in 6 hours 👏

- oo: Honestly, I could do that too.

- kk: Fuck off.

- baby: Su-Hyeok’s just a baby, we need to protect him.

- god_suhyeok: Did you guys know a Church of Su-Hyeok just got founded?

- oo: What kind of BS is that lol

- king_suhyeok: A religion popped up in the U.S. worshipping Kwon Su-Hyeok as a god AHAHAHA.

- sanciel: As expected from Great America!

- oo: But tbh if you watch today’s video, you could believe he’s a god.

- god_suhyeok: oh yeah, f’real. Not gonna lie, I already follow the Church of Su-Hyeok. Once Su-Hyeok clears the tower and comes down to Earth, I’m calling dibs on being the Pope.

- naesihote: You’re all nuts. The part that cracked me up was when the fighters tracked down Su-Hyeok’s parents to ask how they taught him to fight like that lol.

- oo: Huh, seriously? Link pls.

- naesihote: Just search it up. “Fighters and Kwon Su-Hyeok’s parents.”

***

[18 hours 21 minutes until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Cole, did you send me that beauty-enhancing elixir because you think I’m ugly?

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): What? Of course not.

I chuckled to myself as I read his reply. Despite the message being remarkably brief, I could vividly imagine Cole’s flustered expression. He was probably agonizing over how to respond properly.

Even so, I could guess his reasoning for sending the potion. It was entirely in line with Cole’s thoughtful nature. Since he had already spoken with Ha Hee-Jeong, he likely knew I had an elixir on hand. He had probably chosen this one deliberately.

Taking two elixirs or potions at once has been known to potentially cause issues.

Of course, I could always take the second one later, but considering how scarce elixirs had been lately, he had probably factored into his decision as well. By now, only top-ranked or completely broke climbers remained. Everyone was desperate for elixirs, making them nearly impossible to find. Moreover, high-quality elixirs were hard to come by.

In fact, I hadn’t expected a gift in the first place. The one he had sent was clearly valuable, and I appreciated it all the more for that.

Hmm.

Even now, Cole hadn’t sent a follow-up message, likely because he was still drafting a response.

I decided that I had teased him enough. Even though we weren’t face-to-face, the exchange had been entertaining. There was no need to push it further and make things more awkward for him.

I sent another message.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Mwahaha, Cole. I was just messing with you. Don’t take it too seriously. Thank you!

After a long silence, Cole finally replied.

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): Haha. I knew that.

It was obviously a lie, but I didn’t call him out on it.

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): You mentioned having an elixir, and since I doubted I could find a better one, I thought this may be helpful. I hope it suits you.

As gifts went, it wasn’t bad at all. It offered a modest boost to my base stats, and really, who would object to becoming more attractive?

Not that I really need it.

I had already gone through a metamorphosis, so I wondered how much it would actually improve my looks.

A faint grin tugged at my lips at the silly, self-indulgent thought. Despite the playful narcissism, I genuinely appreciated Cole’s gesture.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Absolutely. It’s fantastic. I’ll use it well!

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): That’s a relief. Haha.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Thanks again.

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): Not at all. I should be thanking you. I received something far more valuable.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Then let’s just say we’re both grateful.

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): Haha. That sounds fair.

Since Cole and I weren’t exactly close, the exchange was starting to feel a little stiff. It was time to bring the conversation to a close.

- Kwon Su-Hyeok (Seventy-fourth Floor): Anyway, thank you again. I need to go and train now, and you should rest too. I’ll see you around.

- Cole Spruce (Seventy-fifth Floor): Yes, I’ll see you on a future floor.

After saying farewell, I closed the message window and leaned back in my chair.

Hmm.

Originally, I had planned to take the elixir and start training once Ha Hee-Jeong came out of the shower. Now that I had unexpectedly received a potion, however, I found myself hesitating.

Although they are different, I can’t take both at the same time.

I would have to schedule my training well to get the most out of each.

After giving it some thought, it seemed wiser to start with Soetherheim’s Potion. Realistically, the order didn’t matter all that much, but I figured taking the elixir that would boost my physical prowess would be a bit more effective post-workout.

To be completely honest, though, I was just a little curious to see just how much better I could look.

Alright, that settles it.

With the decision made, there was no reason to hesitate. I uncapped the potion and brought it to my lips. The icy liquid slid down my throat, so vividly chilling that I could precisely feel it trail along my esophagus.

From deep within my chest, a cold sensation began to spread outward.

Thump—

Perhaps as a reflex against the chill, my heart pounded harder, sending a warm feeling spreading through me.

I made my way to the training room and closed my eyes.

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has drunk Soetherheim’s Potion. His identity as a ‘Challenger’ has been confirmed, increasing the absorption rate.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skin has become porcelain-smooth, and his hair has gained a healthy sheen. Additionally, his facial bone structure has been adjusted.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s circulation has accelerated. All stats increased by 1.」

...

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has drunk Root of the Earth. His identity as a ‘Challenger’ has been confirmed, increasing the absorption rate.」

「Invisible message: Strength and stamina increased by 3, agility by 2, and mana by 1.」

***

[6 minutes 31 seconds until the rest period ends. Please take a rest.]

Compared to the other climbers, I was roughly a floor behind. Despite that, I used the rest period to its fullest—I had long decided to dedicate every moment to training and growth.

After completing my second training session, I stood in front of the mirror in the bathroom.

“I really did get better-looking.”

Even though I had checked earlier, and no matter how many times I looked now, I still came to the same conclusion—my reflection was undeniably more handsome.

It was oddly fascinating. It wasn’t as though my face had undergone a dramatic change like plastic surgery. The features were all still mine, but just subtly more refined and well-balanced.

Of course, my skin had also become baby-soft and immaculately clear.

Amazing how such minor changes can create such a transformation.

At this point, I could even be considered more handsome than Cole.

Amused by the thought, I stepped out of the bathroom. Doppy, who was half-dressed and getting ready, jumped in surprise when he saw me.

Just like earlier.

“Why do you look so startled?”

“I still haven’t gotten used to your face!”

“Really? It’s not like it changed that much.”

“But still, you got insanely handsome!”

He wasn’t wrong. Moreover, my attractiveness didn’t just come from the conventional standard of handsomeness you would find back on Earth. Sure, I would be considered attractive there too, but now, there was a certain elegance to my presence.

“It doesn’t look weird, does it?”

“Not at all! But you kind of feel harder to approach now! Can I have one of those, too? Please?”

Doppy glanced up at me, eyes full of hopeful curiosity. His innocent envy was kind of adorable, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ll buy you one later once I get plenty of points.”

“You’ve already got a lot though!”

“Still, you never know when I will need them again.”

According to Ha Hee-Jeong, it was wise to keep accumulating achievement points. There was a major overhaul coming to the shop soon, and no one could predict when or where those points would come in handy.

One quick example that came to mind was when I had ordered a custom-fit set of armor from the Dimensional Forge. Even with the voucher, it had cost me an additional 20,000 achievement points.

A less costly example, but also important, was the climbing suits and leather armor I was going through every couple of floors. Endless Furnace’s apostle had burned my previous one on the seventy-third floor, so I had been forced to purchase yet another one. They weren’t expensive, though, so I didn’t feel like it was a waste.

Suited up in the new gear, I let my mind wander again.

My divinity seems to be increasing bit by bit.

It was faint, but if I paid attention, I could definitely sense it. My divine power was growing at a slow but steady pace.

I wasn’t entirely sure why.

Honestly, I had assumed divinity could only grow by gathering followers or believers. After all, most gods—especially the powerful ones—were thought to rule over entire planets.

I haven’t converted a single follower, though. So why is it increasing?

Since awakening my divinity, I hadn’t once been the object of anyone’s worship.

Now that I thought about it, my divine power had continued to grow steadily even after its initial awakening. It couldn’t have been solely because I had defeated an apostle.

After the fire spirit had knocked me unconscious, my divinity had strengthened as well.

Does divinity grow the more it is used, rather than through an increase in followers, like I initially assumed? That does make a bit of sense. The gods’ influence barely reached some of the worlds I traveled to, after all.

Then again... no, that wasn’t quite right. While not incorrect, it was more likely that both factors played a role. Divinity could be cultivated through personal effort, but the presence of more believers would certainly amplify it as well.

If that weren’t true, gods wouldn’t bother extending their influence in the first place.

I couldn’t say for certain.

Still, I have no idea how to actually train divine power.

Although I could sense it, I had no clue how to utilize it effectively.

I had made numerous attempts in the training room, but so far, all I had managed to do was fleetingly enhance my physical strength—brief bursts like I had used back on the seventy-third floor.

Divinity.

I had hoped it would be a god-like force, one capable of creating something from nothing.

Clearly, I still lacked the ability to wield it properly.

Blue Dawn Breeze said it could even turn back time on a planetary scale.

Maybe, given time, my abilities would evolve as well.

In any case, my divine energy was presently so limited that even briefly using it would nearly drain me.

At best, I could manage one or two attacks. One use left me completely drained, while two left me utterly immobile, too exhausted to move a muscle.

I also still can’t control it precisely.

It felt similar to mana in some ways, but controlling it was several times more difficult.

Ideally, I would find someone like Angelina to teach me.

Still, based on how things had gone up to this point, I was fairly certain that trials involving divinity would begin to appear eventually. The tower always offered chances for growth.

If not immediately, then sooner or later.

Whether it came in the form of structured instruction or brutal, high-pressure situations that forced an awakening, I couldn’t know yet. Regardless, it was something I needed to contemplate more deeply, with time.

“Doppy, are you ready?”

“Of course!”

As Doppy’s booming response rang out, I turned my attention to the system window.

Two minutes remaining.

It was time to continue climbing.

I muttered into the air, “Send me to the seventy-fourth floor.”

***

[Welcome to the seventy-fourth floor of the Tower of Ordeal: Prison Break.]

[Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has been imprisoned in the infamous interstellar facility, Al Ferhadeen.]

[Overcome the conditions presented and escape. Time remaining: 167 hours 59 minutes.]

My vision sharpened, and the messages floated clearly before me.

A prison break? Not just from any prison, but one of the most notorious? Moreover, in the galaxy?

The tower’s message offered no hints on how to escape.

Something about this feels off.

A sinking feeling settled in my gut.

Unsurprisingly, my instincts were right. As my surroundings came into focus, I found myself staring at dark blue iron bars—prison cell bars.

I felt noticeably heavier than usual, as if my movements were being restricted. Even extending my sensory field was a challenge.

I quickly scanned the area, but there was no sign of Doppy, Ryun, or Yoonie.

Feeling a strange pressure on my wrists, I looked down. Both of my hands were bound by white cuffs.

To make matters worse, I had no equipment on me. I was wearing nothing but a prison uniform, which also meant Mung-chi was gone.

“

Whew.

”

After letting out a sigh, I glanced down at the cuffs, and a notification appeared. The moment I read it, a curse slipped uncontrollably from my lips.

“What the fuck.”