AECS 04

Chapter 04

Tutorial (2)

For a moment, his vision went dark.

And when it became clear again—

“Hmm.”

He found himself inside a creepy cave.

A strong, fishy smell filled the air.

[To fight in a dungeon, you must form a team of summons.]
[Maximum 5 summons per team!]
[Player ‘Baek Jin-woo’ currently has only 2 summons.]
[Would you like to assign ‘Wind Fairy’ (EX-Class) and ‘Fur Gorilla’ (F-Class) to Team 1?]
[Y/N]

“Yes!”

As soon as he clicked, Lamba and the Fur Gorilla were automatically summoned in front of him.

• Ugh, it stinks! I smell wolves!
• Grrr…!

As they prepared for battle—

[A hungry gray wolf is roaming nearby.]
[Defeat the wolf and escape the cave.]

Grrrr…

A low growl echoed through the cave.

At the same time—

A golden light rose from beneath Jin-woo’s feet and wrapped around him.

[A ‘Shield’ has been created for the player.]
[The shield will remain until your summons are dismissed.]
[The shield nullifies all damage.]

“Ah.”

It was the same system from Battle of Summoners.

A system meant to protect the player while summons fight.

‘But this is reality now…’

[Warning!]
[If you are attacked without a shield, you will die.]

“Of course.”

Jin-woo let out a dry laugh.

No matter how similar it was to a game—

This was real life now.

If he failed, he would die.

‘Climbing the tower will be even harder now.’

Still…

He could manage.

He had already done this thousands of times.

The strategies were all in his head.

Grrrr…

The wolf’s growl got closer.

“Lamba.”

• Yes!

“Start swinging your staff.”

• Okay! Here I go!

Whoosh, whoosh!

Lamba lazily swung her small staff.

[Skill]

• Wind Pressure: Each swing increases a summon’s attack speed by 3%.

It was a buff skill.

The more she swung, the faster the Fur Gorilla would attack.

• Grr?

The gorilla tilted its head.

Welcome.

First time getting buffed?

• GRAAAH!

Feeling the power, the gorilla’s eyes sharpened.

In front of it—

A wolf slowly approached, drooling.

‘Wow.’

It was huge.

Sharp teeth, red eyes, rough fur—

‘It’s real.’

If they lost—

That wolf would tear him apart.

“Ha…”

His legs were already shaking.

His heart raced wildly.

What if the gorilla lost?

In the game, that would never happen.

But this was real.

• Grrr! Bark! Bark!

The wolf suddenly leaped.

“Gorilla!”

Jin-woo shouted.

• GRAH!

The gorilla rushed forward.

• Fur Gor! Fighting!

Whoosh, whoosh!

Lamba kept swinging her staff behind.

She had no combat ability.

If the gorilla died, it was over.

CRUNCH!

The wolf bit into the gorilla’s shoulder.

Blood splashed.

• Ahhh! Fur Gor! Are you okay?! Don’t die!

But the gorilla fought back.

• GRAAAH!

It grabbed the wolf’s neck with one hand and punched its stomach with the other.

• Grrk!
• GRAH!

A brutal fight began.

Punches vs claws.

The wolf scratched the gorilla’s stomach with its hind legs.

Now, there was only one thing to rely on.

“Lamba!”

• I know! I’m swinging as fast as I can!

Whoosh, whoosh!

Speed.

That was everything.

Her buff kept increasing the gorilla’s attack speed.

Right now, it was small.

But later—

It would become completely broken.

• GRAAAAAH!

After some time—

The gorilla’s punches became much faster.

The wolf weakened.

Minutes passed.

• GRAH! GRAAAH!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The gorilla smashed the wolf into a bloody mess and roared in victory.

[Dungeon Clear!]
[Fur Gorilla (F-Class) leveled up to 2.]
[Strength +1]
[Wind Fairy (EX-Class) leveled up to 2.]
[Intelligence +1]
[Reward acquired.]
[Low-grade Strength Rune x2]

“Haah…”

Jin-woo relaxed.

And realized something.

‘If you win, it’s easy.’

If you lose—you die.

If you win—you just watch.

Simple.

But not easy.

[Dungeon disappears.]

Whoosh!

His vision flipped—

And he returned to the empty field.

Two runes in hand.

‘First…’

He needed more information.

Dungeons.

Tower.

Fusion Center.

Everything.

* * *

Baek Jin-woo’s younger sister, Baek Ah-jin, age 22—

She was a rune farming player.

She cleared low-level dungeons and sold runes to promising players.

She used to be a good student.

But after Jin-woo’s accident, she became a player to support the family.

“Thank you as always, bosses!”

At sunset, she walked out of Jamsil Tower with a smile.

Today was a good day.

She usually made 100,000 won per day.

But today—

She got a mid-grade rune.

Worth 100,000 each.

Total: 200,000 won.

“Hehe.”

She headed to the bus stop.

She could take a taxi—

But she saved money.

Rent, living expenses, hospital bills…

Too many burdens.

‘I got lucky today.’

She had a rare summon.

Shadow Elf (C-Class).

From a mid-grade scroll:

[E-Class: 94%]
[D-Class: 5%]
[C-Class: 1%]

At first, she spent everything raising it.

Now, she could farm alone.

‘By the way…’

Did her brother get home safely?

Ring…

“Hello?”

“Oppa! Did you get home? I should’ve come pick you up…”

• Good timing.

“Hm?”

• Dad said you sell runes?

“Hey!”

She frowned.

“Call it rune retail business, okay?!”

• Whatever. Is the Fusion Center there? Jamsil Tower?

“Yes… but why? You haven’t done the tutorial yet, right?”

• I already did.

“WHAT?!”

People nearby stared.

She didn’t care.

“Oppa! I told you it’s dangerous!”

Many people died in early tutorials.

“Did you at least get 5 summons?!”

• I went in with 2.

“WHAT?!”

She almost fainted.

• But I survived.

“….”

• I need runes and fusion. Guide me.

“Wait…”

He hung up.

“…Oppa?!”

She blinked.

Was he always this reckless?

Three years ago—

When the world changed—

Towers appeared across the world.

Korea: 2
Japan: 4
USA: 13
China: 57

People believed it was based on population.

1 tower per 25 million people.

Jamsil Tower and Haeundae Tower became towers.

Player Zones formed around them.

Dungeons, raids, runes, fusion—

Everything was there.

Property prices skyrocketed.

A bus arrived.

Jin-woo got off, wearing a hoodie.

Ah-jin stood with arms crossed.

“Hey, sis.”

“Why are you pushing yourself?!”

“I’m in a hurry.”

He needed to grow fast.

Three years lost.

Everything reset.

“I’ll give you allowance later.”

“I earn more than you.”

“Maybe I’ll become the best player.”

“Yeah right.”

She laughed.

“Everyone thinks that. But most quit—or become farmers like me.”

“Really?”

He smiled.

‘Not me.’

‘I have EX-Class.’

“And Rachel? Genos? They’re geniuses.”

“Yeah?”

He smiled wider.

‘They used to follow my advice.’

“Anyway, guide me.”

Let’s see.

What the Player Zone looks like in reality.