Six years ago, an unidentified Tower suddenly appeared before humanity along with the system.
Yet people had no idea what the Tower looked like or where it was located.
The only reason people even knew it was a "Tower" was from the translucent message windows generated by its system.
At the exact moment the Tower appeared, a chosen few Awakeners emerged with the ability to climb it.
By drawing on the Tower's Qi accumulated in their bodies, Awakeners wielded superhuman abilities.
Soon, official testimonies from those who had climbed confirmed the Tower's existence.
Mysterious minerals and technology brought back by the Climbers pointed toward a new path of advancement for humanity.
But the Tower was not merely a treasure trove where one could gain gifts without consequence.
Urging the Awakeners to continually climb higher, the Tower set a time limit of one month per floor.
Any nation that failed to clear its highest floor within that month paid a heavy price.
In this new world, a nation's power was measured by the strength of the challengers climbing its Tower.
True to their nature as adaptable survivors, humans began reshaping their lives around the reality of the Tower.
Each nation established a bureau to support its Awakeners, protecting them while preventing homegrown talent from leaking overseas.
And now…
An emergency meeting was convened early in the morning at the Korea Awakener Bureau.
Beep-beep-beep!
A high-pitched ringtone chimed through the conference room.
Yet no one uttered a word of complaint.
That phone belonged to Jinhyuk Oh, the director of the bureau.
Flipping over his incessantly ringing phone in the middle of the meeting, Director Jinhyuk Oh let out a heavy sigh.
"What did you find, Section Chief Lim? Is the challenger affiliated with our bureau?"
At Jinhyuk's question, every eye in the room shifted toward Ah Young Lim.
Ah Young shook her head with a gloomy expression.
"No, sir. There haven't been any new challengers undergoing the tutorial through the bureau over the past few days."
"Then are you saying an unaffiliated Awakener actually cleared the entire tutorial?"
"We sent official notices to inquire with every guild, and since they all claim to know nothing… it's very likely."
Murmurs stirred throughout the conference room.
A few days ago, a sudden announcement from the Tower had popped up before all Awakeners.
Surprisingly, the announcement declared that the First Tutorial Conqueror had finally emerged.
That alone was shocking enough, but there was an even more astonishing twist.
"I can hardly believe it. Clearing the whole tutorial without receiving any items or strategy support? And by a Korean, of all people?"
The United States, China, Germany, Japan.
Beyond them, there were plenty of nations across the globe far stronger than Korea both economically and militarily.
Yet the first person to clear the tutorial came from South Korea—a feat no other Awakener worldwide had accomplished.
Even before other countries could express doubt, people right here in Korea found it hard to believe.
Switching his phone to silent as it started ringing again, Jinhyuk scanned his surroundings.
"We must find out who it is. We have to be the ones to locate and protect them first, no matter what."
Jinhyuk spoke in a heavy, serious tone.
It wasn't just quick-moving superpowers like the US and China—the entire world was hunting for this Awakener's identity.
On the surface, they'd undoubtedly claim it was just to gather information on the tutorial.
But unless you were a naive child, anyone could see right through that.
In the modern age, Awakeners were economic powerhouses and vital defense assets protecting the nation from the Tower.
There was simply no reason for any nation to pass up the First Tutorial Conqueror.
"We must locate them at all costs. Since they just finished the tutorial, they'll come to register as an Awakener. Concentrate all available personnel at the registration centers!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Section Chief Lim, contact the NIS and request their cooperation in keeping foreign bureau Awakeners from approaching!"
"Understood!"
As the attendees shouted back in unison, their eyes gleamed with anticipation at finding the First Tutorial Conqueror.
* * *
Across every class, only the select few who reached true mastery earned special privileges and prestigious titles.
The most famous examples were Mages attaining the rank of Archmage and warriors earning the title of Master for their chosen weapon.
Total Rebirth was a unique privilege warriors could achieve even before gaining such a title.
It began by accumulating Qi within the body, infusing it into the physical frame, and refining it into aura.
Once that aura reshaped every bone and muscle, the body underwent a total rebirth.
So why on earth did this happen to me…?
Taeho stood in front of a full-length mirror and examined his body.
The skinny frame he had reverted to upon regressing was gone, replaced by a firmly sculpted physique.
He had even grown taller, noticeably raising his line of sight.
It was certainly a good thing, yet Taeho found himself in a tricky spot.
Will I even be able to wear the armor?
The armor was sized for Taeho's body back during the tutorial.
With his height and build changing so drastically, there was a very real chance he wouldn't fit into it at all.
Taeho pulled the equipment out of his inventory.
Sure enough, the armor felt too small for his body.
Even to the naked eye, it looked far too small to wear.
But having read the item information, Taeho knew that 「Flexibility」 was among the armor's passive effects.
If it has「Flexibility (Lv. 2)」, it might be able to handle this much.
Flexibility was a passive effect that enhanced elasticity, allowing the gear to expand and fit larger body types.
At level 2, Taeho thought it would be able to stretch enough.
Sure enough, as he crammed his body into the armor, he felt the volume of the metallic gear gradually expand.
"Phew. That worked."
Having barely squeezed into the armor, Taeho checked the fit.
It was so tight that it felt less like wearing armor and more like putting on a skintight rashguard.
Still, simply being able to wear it was a relief, so he didn't complain.
"Since things turned out like this anyway, I might as well head into the Tower's first floor."
Taking off the armor after all that effort without accomplishing anything felt like a complete waste.
After all, entering the Tower was only permitted once a day.
To start climbing from the first floor, he needed to keep up a diligent pace.
Having resolved to climb, Taeho prepared to enter the Tower.
However, there was one problem.
"Why won't this go in?"
Taeho stared at the egg with a troubled expression.
It was the mysterious egg he had received from Ari'mir as a tutorial reward.
Yet for some reason, it couldn't be stored in his inventory.
An inventory couldn't hold just anything.
Modern weapons like firearms and grenades, as well as food, couldn't be stored inside.
The inventory only accepted items that originated from the Tower, so Taeho couldn't fathom why the egg was being rejected.
Can eggs just not go in? I've never heard of a restriction like that, but who knows?
With no other choice, Taeho wrapped the egg snugly in a blanket and tucked it deep inside his backpack.
After zipping it shut, he slung the bag over his shoulder.
Until I find a solution, I'll just have to go like this.
Taeho gulped down the Americano he had prepared beforehand.
With his senses sharpened by the caffeine, he focused his intent on entering the Tower.
Do you wish to enter the Tower?
A message window instantly materialized.
Taeho nodded.
"Enter."
Entering the Tower.
The moment he answered, Taeho's body floated gently upward and vanished from the room in less than a second.
* * *
You have entered the Republic of Korea's Tower Floor 1.
The first floor of the Tower was a dark rainforest where sunlight barely broke through the canopy.
Before Taeho could even take in his new environment, a new message window popped up.
Floor 1 Trial: One day, giant larvae invaded a peaceful forest and began gnawing on the trees. Protect the forest from the giant larvae.
Clear Condition: Defeat 10 giant larvae.
Time Limit: 3 hours
You cannot exit the Tower until death, failure, or forfeit.
Remaining forfeit attempts: 10
"Giant larvae, huh?"
Taeho pulled a hammer out of his inventory.
Resting the hammer over his shoulder, he took a deep breath.
Along with the rich scent of pine and damp earth, the Qi of the Tower washed heavily over him.
The trial begins.
With that prompt, the first floor, which had been frozen like a still photograph, sprang to life.
Calmly stepping forward, Taeho scanned his surroundings.
Chirping birds and rustling wind filled the forest with a lively clamor.
As he kept walking, he recalled information regarding the Tower.
Unlike in the tutorial, death inside the Tower was permanent.
Furthermore, if one returned without passing the trial, injuries sustained inside the Tower carried over directly to reality.
But that also meant one thing.
As long as I successfully clear it, even if I leave barely breathing, I'll be fully healed upon exiting.
A heavy, damp sound resonated through the air.
Concealing himself behind a tree, Taeho spotted a larva as big as a bull gnawing away at a trunk.
Spotting his first target, he took a deep breath as his gaze sharpened.
First, gather Qi.
Expanding his Qi perception, Taeho drew in the Tower's Qi permeating the first floor.
Qi was the primary source of power for any challenger climbing the Tower.
As Qi flowed into his circuits, his mind cleared and vigor flooded his body.
Let's see what happens when I use full power.
This was his first combat since acquiring the War Smith class.
If he wanted to climb the Tower moving forward, he needed to grasp his current capabilities.
Bam!
Enhancing his leg muscles with Qi, Taeho launched himself toward the giant larva.
The sudden surge of speed caught him off guard for a fraction of a second, but he channeled that explosive momentum into his swing, driving the hammer squarely into the creature's body.
Pop!
"Huh?!"
Drenched in foul fluids, Taeho froze in shock.
The larva hadn't just been crushed by the hammer—the strike had caused the giant bug to completely explode on impact.
What the hell? Giant larvae should have low attack power but high defense.
Squelch!
While he stood stunned, other larvae noticed his presence and began swarming toward him.
Though he was being surrounded by enemies, Taeho actually welcomed it.
Perfect. I can test it out right away.
He struck the head of the nearest giant larva.
Instead of going all out with added momentum like before, he delivered a casual strike, like playing Whac-A-Mole.
And yet…
Splat!
"…I'm certain now."
Splattered in fluid once again as the larva's head shattered, Taeho reached a conclusion.
The giant larva had exploded earlier for a simple reason.
The Elite-grade hammer's damage had completely overwhelmed its defenses.
Enraged by the death of their kin, the remaining larvae surged forward.
Yet not a trace of tension showed in Taeho's eyes.
"Hurry up."
Splat—
Taeho casually popped the head of a larva that had wriggled up to his feet before extending a generous offer to the swarm.
"I'll grant you all a quick, painless death in one hit."
As if using even that much Qi were a waste, Taeho slashed the output in his circuits and closed in on his hesitating prey with long, confident steps.
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