Min-hyuk stared at the system warning before blankly shifting his gaze toward the campfire.
The feeling he had just experienced was, even by his own standards, sheer madness.
He knew he had to be cautious, yet he couldn’t stop himself from thinking, ‘Should I try using it just a little bit?’
It was because every part of the battle had been effortlessly enjoyable.
It was so comfortable that it felt less like a struggle and more like a game.
“…I still shouldn’t use it, though,” he muttered.
He felt like he had just experienced why hunters crossed over into the territory of villains.
It was a sensation that felt like he would enter a realm of pure pleasure if he went just a little further.
Fearing that he might never be able to return once he crossed that line, he sealed the Domain of Madness.
He figured he didn’t need to go that far anyway, as he was more than capable of clearing up to the 10th-floor range without it.
*Zzap.*
“…”
Was it an aftereffect of what happened earlier?
A strange stimulation surged through his body.
It felt as if the combat techniques he had seen within the Domain of Madness were being branded into his very flesh.
“This is crazy.”
He felt as though the sealed Domain of Madness was trying to wedge itself out again.
The temptation to try it just one more time kept surfacing, but he steadied his mind and headed out of the tower.
As soon as he did, the familiar notification of an Impeccable Clear appeared.
**[Korea Tower Notice: A safe zone has been established on the 12th floor of the Korea Tower due to the completion of a special quest.]**
When the system notice appeared, Min-hyuk checked the 12th floor just in case.
**[※ Exploration of the 12th floor is prohibited for five days!]**
“Hmm…”
The system had blocked it off completely.
Since he had already finished his repeated clears of the lower floors and completed floors 10 and 11, he had nowhere left to go in the tower.
Min-hyuk threw his half-tattered clothes into the trash and headed for the shower.
While he washed, system windows continued to pop up.
Information regarding the Korea Tower appeared first.
**[The collapsed bridge has been repaired. Players on floors 11–19 may now visit floors 1–9.]**
**[Players crossing the bridge can only receive rewards for an S-rank clear or higher.]**
**[Players crossing the bridge are limited to one repeat clear of floors 1–9 every three days.]**
**[Special quest difficulty for floors 1–9 will increase for players crossing the bridge. Acquisition quests will be generated upon achieving an S-rank clear three or more times for torches and ten or more times for simple campfires.]**
He had expected the system to balance things, but the conditions were stricter than he thought.
Still, it was infinitely better than when entry was barred entirely.
As soon as guards appeared near the repaired bridge, new gates began to open within the fortress.
**[A gate allowing players from the India Tower to enter the 10th-floor base has been created.]**
**[A gate allowing players from the China Tower to enter the 10th-floor base has been created.]**
**[A gate allowing players from the USA Tower to enter the 10th-floor base has been created.]**
**[A gate allowing players from the Indonesia Tower to enter the 10th-floor base has been created.]**
**[A gate allowing players from the Pakistan Tower to enter the 10th-floor base has been created.]**
**[Due to urbanization, the central axis of the fortress has been converted into a Free Trade Zone. Within this area, players may trade freely without going through the Shop. A 1% transaction fee applies.]**
**[A monument displaying the clear rate target has been constructed in the plaza.]**
**[10th Floor Clear Rate: 11%/60%]**
**[Time Limit: 9d: 23:31:45]**
System windows flooded his vision.
Interestingly, the hunters, who usually posted verification threads immediately, were quiet.
There was a reason for it—a special event Min-hyuk hadn’t intended was unfolding at the base.
**[Congratulations! Player OOO has set up the first stall in the Free Trade Zone!]**
**[Congratulations! Player MMM has made the first Shop transaction!]**
**[Congratulations! Player OO has accepted the first special quest and begun the clear!]**
As notices for even these trivial achievements popped up, the hunters who had entered after clearing the 10th-floor special quest began scurrying all over the place.
These notifications weren’t just appearing on the 10th floor; they were broadcasting to the entire Korea Tower.
Other hunters could see exactly what was happening at the base through these real-time updates.
— Why are there so many notices popping up? —
ㄴ It’s probably because they’re the first-ever achievements.
ㄴ They’re broadcasting even the most trivial things.
ã„´ Wow… for those guys, those notices are life achievements.
ã„´ For real. Their names are etched in the notifications because they got the timing right.
ã„´ They should play these at their funerals: “Behold the deceased’s incredible achievements!”
Envious comments filled the boards every time a minor notice appeared.
However, the sentiment soon shifted as the Hunter Net forum was taken over by a single topic: the clear rate for floors 10 through 15.
— Stop playing around and clear your quests! It’s still in the 10% range! —
ㄴ What are the guys on floors 11–15 doing? Clear them already!
ã„´ This is frustrating. Do your jobs first, no matter what!
ã„´ We’re doing it, so shut up!
ㄴ I’m saying this because the clear rate is only 11%!
ã„´ Why are you guys making a fuss when you’re not even the ones doing it?
ㄴ They’re just jealous. Leave them alone.
Despite the bickering between the veteran hunters and the rookies, the clear rate for the 10th floor rose rapidly.
**[10th Floor Clear Rate: 23%/60%]**
In an instant, it broke into the 20% range.
Since progress was also being made quickly on floors 11 through 15, the clear rate curve remained stable.
Perhaps because of that, Min-hyuk decided to show some mercy to those who had come from other towers.
**[Base Notice: Players from other towers are requested to join the 10th-floor base stabilization operation starting seven days from now.]**
Everyone had likely come to reap the benefits of floors 1 through 9.
So, he posted a notice telling them to enjoy themselves for a week and then put in some effort for the base during the final three days.
He also provided a service for those currently working hard.
**[Base Notice: Transaction fees will be waived for ten days for those who contribute to the clear rate goals for floors 10–15!]**
When he waived the fees, the system window displaying the Hunter Net boards exploded.
— Yes! I knew I could count on you! —
ã„´ As expected! You never disappoint!
ã„´ Disappoint? Disappoint the Master? Are you crazy?
ã„´ Is the guy above me insane? Who do you think you are to be “disappointed” in him?
ã„´ He’s lost it.
ã„´ I-I’m sorry. I lost my mind for a second.
Hunters cheered at the notice of the tax exemption celebrating the base opening.
Even more envious posts appeared.
To be honest, 1% didn’t seem like much.
However, since hunters from five different countries were also acting as purchasing agents—buying slime jelly or torches at high prices to resell in their home countries—1% of a large transaction was a significant amount to save.
Watching the posts get buried under the usual praise, Min-hyuk turned his attention back to the base.
“This is actually fun.”
Min-hyuk grinned as he looked at the system window.
It felt like playing a game at home; he could look down at the entire 10th floor from above and click on various things.
He could see how much each shop had sold, the durability of the watchtowers, what materials were being traded most frequently, and more.
Everything happening at the base was visible through the system window.
The current momentum was fueled by the opening hype, but once that energy started to flag, the clearing rate would likely stall.
As Min-hyuk pondered how to keep the fire burning, he noticed the fortress’s next objectives.
**[Development Strategy – Phase 1 Tasks]**
**[1. Create harvest quests for the 9th-floor farms and ranches and build processing plants.]**
**[2. Clear roads on the 9th floor!]**
**[3. Create a guild of peddlers belonging to the 1-8 floor bases!]**
**[4. Repair the watchtowers across the bridge!]**
**[5. Expand shop buildings!]**
**[6. Expand the soldier training grounds!]**
There were six tasks in total.
Normally, he would have to tackle them one by one, but he didn’t have the time.
‘I need to grow and stabilize this place as quickly as possible.’
Rather than struggling to defend, it seemed better to end this unstable situation early through aggressive investment.
Once he finished his thoughts, he immediately shared these tasks on the forum.
Simultaneously, he launched several events.
**[Base Notice: A campfire will be awarded as a reward for the first-place clear rate!]**
**[Base Notice: Transaction fees will be waived for one month for the top ten trading towers!]**
**[A cooking competition will be held! The winner will be allowed to sell food in the central district for one month!]**
**[An equipment competition will be held! Merchants will produce and sell the winner’s equipment for one month. 10% of sales will be paid as royalties!]**
**[A campfire reward will be given to the player with the most special quest clears!]**
It might have seemed like he was throwing events together haphazardly, but hunters were the type to move on their own as long as they were given a playground.
They only failed to participate before because they didn’t have the means; once given the chance, they would move more proactively than anyone else.
This was a hypothesis he had already verified through his previous forum events.
“I should wrap this up too.”
Realizing it was time to conclude the forum events he had been running consistently, he pulled out the campfires he had been saving up.
**[Notice: Forum events will be discontinued!]**
— Since it has been decided that it is time to focus on the base, forum events will be stopped. Base quests for hunters on floors 1–9 will begin soon. Future events will be conducted through those quests. —
Along with the simple post, he sent out campfires to those who had ranked first in each category, using it to promote the base events.
Soon, peddlers would be dispatched by those who cleared the special quests, and the lower-floor hunters would need to clear their quests as well.
This would increase the participation of lower-floor hunters in the base’s development.
Materials would flood in.
From those, food and basic equipment would be crafted.
And with the events added on top… wouldn’t it be a waste to just focus on defense after setting such a massive stage?
With that thought, Min-hyuk posted his reflections on the forum.
─ The reason the 12th-floor safe zone was created! ─
After explaining how the safe zone had been formed, Min-hyuk shared his conclusions.
— The key is aggressive clearing. You cannot grow by just meeting the minimum requirements. For the sake of your own growth, move aggressively. Your aggressive actions will bring stability to the base. —
As soon as he posted his sincere advice, comments began to flood in.
— That’s only possible because it’s you, Mr. Min-hyuk. —
ㄴ We’ll die if we do that!
ㄴ If I try to follow you, I’ll literally split in half.
ã„´ Even the minimum conditions are tough.
ã„´ Sir… this isn’t it…
As everyone claimed it was impossible and that it could only be done by Min-hyuk, a certain hunter posted a verification thread.
─ [Hunter Certification (10th Floor) — Skill Grade: C] — 10th Floor A-rank Clear. ─
— I’m posting this first because I know people will doubt me. If a C-grade like me can do this, those with higher skill grades should be able to aim for S-rank. —
With a C-grade skill user achieving an A-rank clear, the post instantly shot to the top of the boards.
There were two key factors.
First, the player had been trying to emulate Min-hyuk’s strategies since his early clearing videos.
By repeating clears, regularly eating tower food to increase basic physical stats, and using elixirs and internal energy cores, they had achieved explosive growth.
Second, they had armed themselves with basic equipment that had been posted at low prices through Min-hyuk’s forum events.
These two changes allowed a C-grade to achieve an A-rank clear on the 10th floor.
— For the record, I was F-grade. Based on how I grew on floors 1–9, my skill evolved on the 10th floor. Now, I’m planning to aim for another evolution on the 20th floor. —
Following the C-grade’s post, other hunters began uploading their own certifications.
— I’m D-grade, but I still got a B-rank on the 10th floor. —
— I’m E-grade. I almost died, but I managed a B-rank clear. —
As more verification posts appeared, the sentiment in the comments of Min-hyuk’s post began to shift.
‘If you want to grow, move aggressively!’
This alpha-male mindset began to spread rapidly among the lower-floor hunters.