‘…’

Ha Gangwoo opened his eyes slowly.

A white ceiling and a fluorescent light seared into his retinas.

‘What happened.’

He pressed a hand to his forehead, groping for the memory.

‘Ah.’

And then it clicked. Why he was lying here.

‘I lost.’

His brow furrowed.

The feeling was the same as before. That helplessness when Lucifel tore his arm off, when Antero sliced his head clean off.

‘So that’s what a Max level feels like.’

He’d known it was hopeless, but it still churned in his gut.

‘Well, a level 33 beating a Max level was never going to happen.’

Ha Gangwoo bit his lower lip and pushed himself upright. Every movement sent a dull throb rippling through his abdomen.

‘Where am I.’

He looked around, scanning the room.

White curtains, an IV stand, a needle taped to the back of his hand. A hospital room.

As if answering his thought,

the curtain slid open with a soft rustle,

and a woman popped her head in.

“Oh! You’re awake earlier than I thought. Are you okay?”

A pale blonde foreigner in glasses.

Strangely, she was speaking a foreign language, but he understood every word.

‘Amazing.’

The System’s translation feature he’d only ever heard about.

Ha Gangwoo pulled the needle out of his hand and got to his feet. The blonde woman fluttered, looking flustered.

“You should rest a bit more… Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m fine.”

At Gangwoo’s refusal, the blonde woman gave a resigned shrug and pulled something from her pocket.

“You really ought to rest a few more hours… Here, take this.”

A small card, the size of a business card. A Catalog.

“What is this?”

Ha Gangwoo frowned in confusion, and the blonde woman smiled as she answered.

“Hyorin said it’s an apology gift. She said your training is marked complete, so don’t worry.”

“I see.”

Ha Gangwoo accepted the Catalog the woman handed him.

[Catalog]

Grade: D

Description: Randomly acquire one of the D-grade active skills.

A D-grade Catalog, no less.

‘Generous.’

A D-grade Catalog cost at least a million Gold. And she was giving it away as an apology gift.

‘Well, that last hit was a bit much.’

Thinking back, when an instructor here for training knocks a trainee unconscious, it was probably only fair.

Ha Gangwoo pocketed the Catalog without a second thought.

‘If I’ve passed the course, what does it matter.’

And he’d learned something valuable from it all.

An Association-affiliated Max-level Player—definitely a veteran Hunter.

The experience of meeting someone like that—talking with her, sparring with her—wasn’t something that came easily.

His grip tightened on the Catalog in his hand.

Right now, this instant, he wanted to leave for a Scenario, level up.

*Max level versus max level—what would that even look like?*

And he was curious.

Seo Hyorin hadn’t used her Trait or her class skills.

Just raw power from high Stats. Gangwoo had been outclassed by pure numbers.

That was why he wondered. If they’d been on equal footing, what would’ve happened?

*Good call, choosing the Association.*

A satisfied smile tugged at Ha Gangwoo’s lips.

Someone had said the Association’s signing bonus was low, right? It was definitely lower than the guilds’.

But the amount was more than enough to make him happy.

And on top of that, a system where high-level Players personally mentored you. He couldn’t have asked for more.

“I’ll be going, then.”

Gangwoo tucked the Catalog into his Inventory and walked outside. A blonde woman called out to stop him.

“Um…excuse me!”

The urgent tone made him turn around to look at her.

The blonde woman fidgeted with her phone, then spoke in a quiet voice.

“Um…could we take a picture together? Just one?”

An L-Grade Player. Ha Gangwoo.

He was already a celebrity at the Association.

***

[MP is insufficient.]

Ha Gangwoo’s body materialized on the Association’s empty rooftop.

*Annoying.*

He scrunched his face, scratching the back of his head.

He’d originally planned to sit in the Association lobby and take a break. But every person who passed by asked for an autograph, a photo, or just kept talking to him.

So he’d fled here with Invisible, to this deserted spot.

Gangwoo dropped onto a bench on the rooftop with a *thud*.

*Let’s get sorted fast.*

Association training was over. He needed to prepare.

[Gold owned: 548,525,310 Gold]

Gangwoo looked at his gold balance and allowed himself a satisfied smile.

The signing bonus from the Association was a whopping 500 million Gold. There was no reason to hold back.

*Let’s buy it now.*

Gangwoo immediately opened the DLC Shop.

[DLC Shop]

–

DLC – Book of Job Change: Blood Devil – 100,000,000 Gold

–

(Refresh)

An item worth a full 100 million Gold.

It had seemed impossible to buy before, but not anymore.

[You have purchased the DLC – Book of Job Change: Blood Devil.]

[Gold owned: 448,525,310 Gold]

100 million Gold vanished in an instant. But he felt on top of the world.

The moment he bought it, a corona of light gathered in front of him.

[DLC – Book of Job Change: Blood Devil]

Grade: A

Description: The DLC – Blood Devil has been released~!!! Use your enemies’ blood to enjoy a variety of skills and actions. (Caution! Due to the nature of the skill, you may lose your reason.)

Effects

-Acquire the Job-Change Quest: ‘Blood Lord’.

Ha Gangwoo stared at the Book of Job Change, a deeply satisfied smile spreading across his face.

A single book, bound in chains, its cover blazing with intricate patterns. Even its appearance was extraordinary.

‘Use it now?’

Thump-thump—

What kind of job would it be? Just staring at it made his heart race.

Originally, he’d heard that a job change was only possible by going to the Tower of Job Change after finishing Scenario 1.

But this item in front of him seemed to have no conditions attached at all.

The moment he used it, he’d get a class—just like that.

Still,

‘A job-change quest, huh…’

It wasn’t an instant job change; it looked like he’d need to clear something called a job-change quest first.

‘What should I do?’

Ha Gangwoo rubbed his chin as he stared at the DLC pack.

No matter how he thought about it, using it right away felt too rash.

For one, the description on the DLC made it clear this was a class that used blood.

It sounded good, but who knew? Maybe an even better job book would show up.

‘Better hold onto it for now.’

Ha Gangwoo tucked the Book of Job Change into his Inventory and promptly opened the DLC Shop.

[DLC Shop]

–

–

–

(Refresh)

‘Let’s check it out right now.’

The Gold he had on him was a whopping 400 million Gold.

There was no need to hold back.

He’d wanted Gold in the first place solely to use the DLC Shop.

That’s why this moment had him so excited.

Ha Gangwoo immediately clicked the refresh button.

[The list has been updated.]

[DLC Shop]

DLC – Another Story – 20,000,000 Gold

DLC – Warp Altar Update II – 50,000,000 Gold

DLC – Costume Update – 100,000,000 Gold

In that instant, three items appeared in the previously empty shop window.

Every single new item was expensive.

‘…’

Yet a smile spread across Ha Gangwoo’s face.

‘Nothing beats having a ton of Gold.’

Because even after buying all of them, he’d still have Gold left over.

Smiling, Ha Gangwoo sat cross-legged on a bench and examined each item one by one.

[DLC – Another Story]

Rank: B

Description: A DLC containing an alternate ending for Skypier (Scenario 1). Enjoy the scenario with new skills and items through a hidden boss and various episodes.

Effect

– Adds 21 new items.

– Adds 43 new skills.

– The final story changes.

– The final reward changes. (Rewards may fluctuate greatly depending on the ending.)

Quantity: 1

Purchase Price: 20,000,000 Gold

‘Skypier?’

Ha Gangwoo stroked his chin, organizing his thoughts.

‘Is this like an expansion pack for Scenario 1?’

‘The main quest for Scenario 1 involves entering a world called Skypier and following its main quest.’

This DLC changed the rewards for Scenario 1 and added a new story.

‘Not bad.’

His next destination was already Skypier, Scenario 1.

The timing was perfect; he needed exactly this item.

Without much hesitation, Ha Gangwoo purchased [DLC – Another Story] on the spot.

The moment he used the DLC, the rectangular pack dissolved into a corona of light and sank into Ha Gangwoo’s flesh.

[DLC — Another Story has been used.]

[21 new items have been unlocked.]

[43 new skills have been unlocked.]

[The final story will change.]

[Final reward has changed. (Rewards may vary significantly based on the ending.)]

Ha Gangwoo pushed the clamoring System windows aside and clenched and unclenched his fist.

Nothing felt different. No new power thrumming under his skin, no tangible change.

‘Did it work?’

He frowned, raising a hand to his neck as if to check for something.

‘Maybe I’ll find out when I get there.’

This DLC was essentially an upgrade to Scenario 1. Seemed like the only way to know was to go see for himself.

‘One down, at least.’

A satisfied smile tugged at his lips as he moved to the next item.

[DLC — Warp Altar Update II]

Grade: B

Description: Adds functions previously absent from the Warp Altar. Inconvenient features have been improved, allowing you to use the Warp system more easily and conveniently.

Effects

– Grants 1 Warp Ring (Warp Altar Exclusive). (Equipping the ring allows instant travel to a Warp Altar from anywhere, anytime.)

– Warp Altar movement update: Enables travel to any location regardless of distance or dimension.

– Warp Altar installation update: Adds a ‘Recall’ function for Warp Altars.

– Grants 2 Warp Altars.

Quantity: 1

Purchase Price: 50,000,000 Gold

Gangwoo’s brow furrowed as he read the second item.

‘Warp Altar?’

He’d already bought a DLC for that. Only now it was back with a ‘II’ tacked on the end.

The price had jumped tenfold. Looked like it was just a bundle of improvements to the existing effects.

The exact value wasn’t clear.

‘Hmm…’

Gangwoo rubbed his chin in thought, then made a decision.

‘Using it’ll answer that fast enough.’

This wasn’t something he could figure out by just thinking it over.

He reached into his Inventory and pulled out a Warp Altar.

*Shriiink* — A black disc-shaped item snapped into his palm as if magnetized.

Under normal circumstances, installing it once meant it was permanent. That was why he’d kept it saved.

But the description said a Recall function had been added.

That meant he could install it, then take it back.

Gangwoo immediately went up to the Association rooftop and placed the altar there.

A circular plate the size of a well cover. On it, an array of unknown symbols and a strange, flickering flame.

The altar sat incongruously against the modern building’s skyline.

It was blatantly obvious, but he could always recall it. He stepped onto the platform.

‘How do I use this?’

As if answering the question, a System window appeared.

[Please select a destination.]

– Warp Altar 1 — [Set location name.]

– Warp Altar 2 — [Current location.]

‘Hmm…’

Gangwoo narrowed his eyes and studied the status window.

‘Warp Altar 1’ was obviously the one he had installed at Antero’s Sanctuary.

Without hesitation, he selected Warp Altar 1.

*Ziiing-*

[Movement impossible — different dimension.]

The system window vibrated and the refusal message flickered up.

‘No go.’

Anyone would have been annoyed. But a smile spread across Ha Gangwoo’s face.

It was one of the items listed in [DLC – Warp Altar Update Ⅱ].

[Warp Altar Movement Update: Travel to any location regardless of distance or dimension is now possible.]

That was what it meant. Turns out it was content that would enable dimension travel, currently impossible.

No need to hesitate.

‘Buy.’

[You have purchased DLC – Warp Altar Update Ⅱ.]

The DLC pack popped into view the moment he bought it.

Of all the DLC items out now, this one looked the most crucial.

Antero’s training aside, the Warp Altar cut travel time to almost nothing.

Even the location of ‘Scenario 1’ was a fair distance away.

But with this item, a day could become a single second.

So Gangwoo used it immediately.

Ding-

[You have used DLC – Warp Altar Update Ⅱ.]

The instant he used it.

[Warp Altar Movement Update: Travel to any location regardless of distance or dimension is now possible.]

[Warp Altar Installation Update: A ‘Retrieve’ function has been added to the Warp Altar.]

A jumble of system noises.

[You have acquired a Warp Ring (Warp Altar exclusive).]

[You have acquired Warp Altar x2.]

Three items popped into view.

Gangwoo slid the Warp Ring onto his finger, his gaze tense.

Originally, you had to stand on an altar to use the transport system.

But the description said you could activate it anywhere with just the Warp Ring.

So Gangwoo swallowed dry spit and called the Activation word to mind.

‘Warp Ring.’

Ding-

[Please select a destination.]

-Warp Altar 1 – [Please name this location.]

-Warp Altar 2 – [Your current location.]

‘It works.’

As expected, the DLC product exceeded expectations. Anyone could see it was a broken ability.

But tension still clung to Gangwoo’s expression.

‘Please let it work.’

Because this experiment would determine whether Antero’s training was possible or not.

Ha Gangwoo swallowed again, then activated the Warp Ring.

The moment he selected the location.

Swish-

[You have moved to ‘Warp Altar 1’.]

His view changed.

***

A barren landscape. A field of battle studded with countless embedded weapons.

That vast stretch of earth spread out before his eyes.

‘It worked.’

In that instant, a grin broke across Gangwoo’s face.

Right at that moment.

Clang!

The sound of swords clashing rang out.

Gangwoo shifted his gaze toward the noise.

Antero, swinging his sword with sunken, dark-circled eyes.

‘Jo Seunghyun?’

There was Jo Seunghyun, the one he’d left behind on the 5th floor.

Must have won the tournament somehow.

‘Good job.’

Ha Gangwoo felt a swell of pride he hadn’t expected as he watched the scene.

Clang! Clang! Jo Seunghyun blocked Antero’s sword strikes with everything he had.

He felt a pang of reluctance to disturb the scene.

‘Let’s head back.’

He’d confirmed the Warp system, anyway.

Gangwoo reactivated the Warp Ring.

In that instant—

a soft pop and a lurch—

in under a second, he was back on the Association rooftop.

The blazing red sun cast a fiery glow on the darkening sky.

‘This is really nice.’

A smile curled on Gangwoo’s lips as the sheer cheat-like nature of the DLC sank in once more.

‘One item left.’

He immediately checked what remained in the inventory.