Solo Max-Level Newbie
chapter-130

Chapter 130: The Tundra, the Freezing Land (1)

The seventh floor didn’t have any boss monsters. Starting at the beginning and reaching the end was all it would take to unlock the eighth floor.

Simply put, all one had to do was to complete the course for it to be recognized as a clear.

Of course, that sounded deceivably easy, but due to the extremely harsh environment, a significant amount of time and sacrifice was needed to conquer this level.

And now, at the moment…

The ‘Dan-Gun Guild,’ which had been stuck at the ice-covered sea for days on end, was in serious spirits.

“Damn it. So we’re blocked off by the eastern sea as well?”

The man who cursed was Jang Eun-Seok, a high-ranking member of the Dan-Gun Guild.

Eun-Seok, a top-ranking player who’d proven his worth on numerous occasions, was now plagued by the current predicament in front of him.

“Yes. It seems very likely that it will be difficult.”

“Haah… for now, let’s just report on the current situation. We need to see just how crappy things are.”

Upon Jang Eun-Seok’s command, a middle-aged man spread out a sheet of paper on the table.

It was a magic scroll that recorded the guild’s real-time situation.

The player’s health status, food supplies, and other crucial items were listed in a row.

“The wind is too strong and humid to make fire easily. Those with flame-based magic are squeezing out their mana as much as they can, but…”

It was a temporary fix.

After all, the mana each person can wield is limited.

“Food procurement isn’t going smoothly either.”

A woman with long hair added her remark.

On the seventh floor, one could not use supplies or items related to battle except from other floors or from outside the tower.

This meant everything had to be self-sustained here.

This implied that they had to consider cold survival essentials as part of the raid.

“Movement is also limited due to frostbite.”

“Catching a cold is the least of our worries. At this rate, there might even be casualties. Hypothermia cases keep popping up.”

One bad news after another followed.

The raid team was composed mainly of those who had some experience in clearing the seventh floor.

However, the gap between their sufficiently grown past selves within the game’s standards and their current underdeveloped state, where they were seeking a shortcut for the initial clear, was simply too wide.

Much wider than expected.

Boom!

Jang Eun-Seok slammed the table hard.

Snow piled upon the table scattered all around.

“So… what’s with all the complaints? Are you saying we should just acknowledge our failure and turn back?”

His voice was filled with anger.

Eun-Seok swept his chilling gaze across the room, making those who met his gaze flinch.

Although the Tower of Trials had been conquered up to the sixth floor, the Dan-Gun Guild had never succeeded in being the first to conquer any floor within their six chances.

At best, they were mere participants in other guilds’ successes. It was far too shabby a record for a guild reputed as one of Korea’s seven best.

And now, to give up when the guild internally called for self-purification!

Moreover, weren’t the ‘Feathers of the Phoenix’ said to be the key for the seventh floor’s strategy right across that sea?

With just one more step to reach their goal, Eun-Seok planned on proceeding with the raid by any means necessary.

“But, there’s no way to cross the sea.”

“We can’t cut down the trees in the forest, as you know. And if we try to cross it bare-bodied, we’d have to worry about the sea temperature and getting eaten by sea creatures.”

The strategic team provided an objective assessment.

Of course, Eun-Seok wasn’t the type to accept that.

“So, didn’t I ask you to find that solution?”

“Excuse me?”

“Didn’t you hear? I asked whether all of you, with your high salaries and incentives, can’t even come up with one solution.”

“That’s a bit harsh…”

“Cough! Be quiet.”

As a female player tried to express her discontent, the middle-aged man quickly intervened.

“Following the captain’s words, we’ll find a way. However, depending on the situation, please consider the possibility of giving up on the initial strategy and preparing for a prolonged battle.”

“Focus solely on finding a way for now. Put aside any thoughts of Plan B in case of failure.”

The discussion ended there.

Everyone began to get up and went off to perform their assigned roles.

But just then…

“Ca-Captain! I think you need to come out and see this!”

Off in the distance, someone called out urgently for Jang Eun-Seok.

At the same time, a very familiar player approached the guild’s encampment.

＊＊＊

‘The cold here is seriously fierce.’

Jin-Hyuk whistled to himself as he surveyed the frozen tundra.

The wind felt like a cold blade cutting through the air.

Even though he was wrapped in layers of magical protection, it was hard to bear.

‘Naturally, for lower-level players, every minute and second here must feel like hell.’

It wasn’t for nothing that this floor didn’t have any boss monsters.

Without one, the floor itself was already the ultimate obstacle threatening survival.

‘Despite this, they’re still managing to look like a top guild, more or less.’

Some of the players were quite high-leveled.

The balance within the raid team was also well managed.

While Jin-Hyuk was evaluating the Dan-Gun Guild’s camp, Jang Eun-Seok and a few other players approached him.

“Hello…”

“What brings player Kang Jin-Hyuk here?”

His greeting was casually dismissed.

Jang Eun-Seok directly demanded a reason, his question dripping with suspicion.

“I heard there was some trouble with conquering the seventh floor, so I decided to take a look. Seems like you’re really struggling with the cold, indeed.”

“Thank you for your consideration, but your help isn’t needed. We are perfectly capable of handling the strategy ourselves.”

Eun-Seok set boundaries sharply. It was a polite way of telling him off—if it were someone else, they might have been told off in rather harsher terms.

However, Jin-Hyuk made an innocent face and blinked his eyes.

“Huh? I never said I was here to help.”

“What are you…”

“I’m actually interested in the ‘Feathers of the Phoenix’. That’s all I’m saying.”

Think about it logically.

Who, in their right mind, would come to this freezing place just to help others? If I were that kind of a saint, I would be working for UNICEF, not in the Tower of Trials.

As his true intent surfaced, Eun-Seok’s face stiffened.

“Are you saying that you want to invade the area we’ve secured?”

“Funny. How can you talk about securing the area when the seventh floor just opened? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the entire world belongs to the Dan-Gun Guild.”

After Jin-Hyuk finished speaking, he suddenly pointed up to the sky.

“Wow! Look, a bird from the Dan-Gun Guild is flying over there. I guess I’ll have to apologize if the oxygen I just breathed belongs to Dan-Gun Guild too?”

“This is a provocation.”

“It’s fair competition.”

The tension between them was palpable.

But Eun-Seok couldn’t go any further in this confrontation.

The opponent was not just any player—it was Jin-Hyuk.

“Fine. Whoever gets hold of the ‘Feathers of the Phoenix’ first shall have the right to it.”

Eventually, Eun-Seok took a step back.

“Does that mean it’s okay for me to join the Dan-Gun Guild’s raid party?”

“As long as you don’t interfere, it’s fine to grant you a corner of our premises. But if you break this agreement, then you must leave this place.”

Good.

With the raid leader’s permission secured, it was time for action.

“Then, I’ll be in your care for the next few days.”

Jin-Hyuk smiled faintly.

＊＊＊

Jin-Hyuk quickly moved on.

His destination was the forest on the complete opposite side of the sea, an area overgrown with coniferous trees.

‘There are still people guarding it.’

He could see five players gathered at the entrance of the forest.

In truth, they were more like frozen rabbits than guards to Jin-Hyuk’s eyes.

As he approached, the other players took notice of his presence.

The large man hurriedly started to speak.

“This area is off-limits…”

But he couldn’t finish his sentence.

The moment he saw Jin-Hyuk’s face, his eyes widened as if they were lanterns.

“Wha-?”

“Kang Jin-Hyuk?”

“Is it really him? Why here…?”

They all exclaimed in surprise.

They never expected to encounter such a person of interest in a place like this.

“I have some business deep inside the forest. Of course, I’ve already received permission from Raid-Leader Jang Eun-Seok.”

They said not to interfere, but never said where not to go.

This is why one should be clear and precise in the Korean language.

Yet the mention of entering the forest gave rise to unexpected turmoil.

“No, please don’t! This forest of all places…”

“That’s right. It’s too dangerous. We’re not controlling access for nothing.”

“If it’s food you’re looking for, it’s better to try by the seaside. I’m telling you this sincerely for your sake, Player Kang. Please don’t take it lightly.”

Their voices trembled.

Their eyes had gone cold.

Their faces were thoroughly gripped with fear.

Considering they belonged to one of the seven guilds, the Dan-Gun Guild, their reactions seemed excessively fearful.

‘Even after reaching the sixth floor and gaining some experience, they’re still so petrified, huh?’

Jin-Hyuk smirked.

Well, he understood.

The creatures lurking in the forest were obnoxious enough to make even top A-rank players groan in annoyance.

Still, stepping into the forest was the best course of action to get the ‘Feathers of the Phoenix.’

There were also a few suspicious points that could only be clarified by going in.

“Don’t worry. I can manage on my own.”

Jin-Hyuk shrugged and headed deeper into the forest.

Although snow reached up to his thighs, he walked lightly over it, almost not touching the ground.

For someone who had mastered ‘Sword Demon Emperor’s Step’ to a certain extent, this was easier than breathing.

Whish.

And just like that, Jin-Hyuk disappeared into the forest.

“No, he shouldn’t have…”

“Damn, what do we do?”

“We need to report this. It’s not like we can stop the ranker with our power. The higher-ups will understand.”

“What is he thinking? That forest is too much for an S-rank to handle alone…”

They were worried—understandably so.

After arriving here, they had sent several squads into the forest in search of food, firewood, and lumber to construct a raft.

But not a single person returned alive.

Whether A or B rank, regardless of numbers, the result was the same.

Everyone who entered vanished without a trace, effectively hijacked.

Finally, Jang Eun-Seok had forbidden access to the forest and was searching for other ways to cross the sea.

And now, at this very moment, Jin-Hyuk had entered that forest.

If only they had the power, they would have stopped him.

But it was too late for regrets.

‘He must return safely….’

As these thoughts circulated among them, a loud noise came from the side.

“What are you doing standing around! What’s the plan for letting him go in there?”

Hearing the report from the large man, Jang Eun-Seok yelled out in anger.

His red-hot face showed he was clearly incensed.

“That… that’s…”

“Follow him right now.”

“Huh?”

“Player Kang Jin-Hyuk said earlier he came here to get the feathers. In other words, the way to cross the sea is somewhere in that forest.”

Eun-Seok didn’t know what it was, but one thing was certain: the solution was in the forest.

So…

“Chase him immediately. We’ll also form a team and join you soon.”

With those final words, Eun-Seok terminated the communication unilaterally.

The remaining five players were left alone, with dry swallowing noises audible in the tension.

…Enter that place?

Into the forest?

Whooosh!

A blizzard whipped up within the forest.

The footprints where Jin-Hyuk had walked had almost entirely faded.

If they were to follow, they needed to act now.

＊＊＊

Not long after entering the forest, Jin-Hyuk found himself scrutinizing a giant rock, and a curious spark flickered in his eyes.

‘As I suspected, this is what caused all the trouble.’

Now he understood why the Dan-Gun Guild had failed.

It made sense.

Jin-Hyuk looked up at the rock. And there, he saw it.