[Congratulations]: First group to reach Room S.
[Congratulations]: First group to destroy the Minotaur’s Temple.
[Congratulations]: First group to defeat a Starred Guardian (Level 15).
Before we can react, a column of golden light crashes down from the cracked ceiling. It’s an Angel. He’s different from Ariel. He’s rocking full white-gold plate armor and mechanical wings humming softly. And he actually has a face. A human face. Handsome, smug, with a sharp, well-trimmed beard.
[Angel - Bastien]: Greetings, Tourists. I am Bastien.
He floats down to our eye level, studying us with a mix of curiosity and sheer disbelief.
[Angel - Bastien]: I must admit that I am impressed. You are the very first group in the history of this Tower to defeat the Minotaur. A 1-Star monster, level 15… while you are technically only on Floor 5.
Chris narrows his eyes, confused. “Wait… that’s impossible. Arthur’s group, ‘The Awakened’, they already did it, right? They’re on Floor 10! They must have passed through here!”
Bastien bursts out laughing.
[Angel - Bastien]: Arthur? That cheap paladin? He has never set foot in this room.
He waves a hand, projecting a hologram of the labyrinth into the air. It’s a massive web of rooms connected by threads of light.
[Angel - Bastien]: Arthur’s group did not solve the Level 1 riddle. They were lucky… or rather, they chose the easy way.
He taps Room E.
[Angel - Bastien]: To leave the infinite loop of Level F, it is mandatory to go through Room E. It is the only bottleneck. But once in Room E…
He traces a line shooting straight from Room E to a massive skull icon, the normal Boss.
[Angel - Bastien]: If you choose any letter EXCEPT D… you are teleported directly to the Floor Boss Room. It is the emergency exit. The path of cowards.
He shifts his finger to Room D.
[Angel - Bastien]: The same thing applies to Room D. If you choose anything other than C, boom! You head toward the Boss. And so on.
I stare at the diagram, finally grasping the sheer scale of our stupidity. Or our genius.
“Wait…” I say slowly. “You mean we didn’t have to run the whole F-E-D-C-B-A-S sequence? We could’ve just done F-E and bailed?”
[Angel - Bastien]: Exactly. The complete F-E-D-C-B-A-S sequence is the ‘Perfectionist’s Path’. The complete code leads to Room S, the one you are in, which contains the Hidden Boss.
He looks at us with an amused glint.
[Angel - Bastien]: Few GodRunners have grasped the ranking logic. And those who did… they are all dead. Either crushed by the mass of Room B or burned alive in Room A. You are the first to witness the letter S.
I drop my shovel. It hits the stone with a dull clank. “We just cleared Hardcore Mode without even knowing it,” I sigh. “We ground through all the optional bonus levels while everyone else took the elevator.”
[Angel - Bastien]: Precisely. You have chosen the path of suffering. But suffering pays.
He snaps his fingers. Three chests materialize in front of us.
[Angel - Bastien]: Here is your reward for completing the Secret Path.
He floats closer, gliding over the debris. His gaze lingers on our glowing gear: my necklace, Chris’s armor, Kim’s rifle.
[Angel - Bastien]: Given your feats, your Sponsors must have harvested an enormous amount of Divine Power. It is no wonder they bet on you at Floor A by taking you as Representatives. It was a risky but calculated investment.
I widen my eyes, the dots finally connecting in my tired brain. The timing. The urgency. Lilith’s suspicious generosity.
“Wait…” I say. “So our Sponsors picked us at that exact moment, right before Room S, because we were the only group crazy enough to make it here? They dumped all these items and skills on us to maximize our chances of dropping the Hidden Boss?”
[Angel - Bastien]: Precisely. Normally, a Sponsor is limited in the help they provide to their Representative. They cannot give them a Mythic or Epic weapon without spending an astronomical amount of their own power. It is a prohibitive cost.
He points to the invisible corpse of the Minotaur.
[Angel - Bastien]: But if behind this investment, there is a feat that no one has ever been able to achieve… it is an enormous profit for them. The divine power obtained through your victory is double what they spent. It is a colossal return on investment. But it is a risk. If you had died, they would have lost their stake.
He smiles admiringly.
[Angel - Bastien]: Furthermore, when a Sponsor chooses a Representative for the first time, all rewards given during the contract signing benefit from a 100% discount in Divine Power cost. It is the System’s welcome offer. They used their ‘free ticket’ to gear you up like kings against an impossible challenge.
I whistle through my teeth. “Gamblers,” I breathe. “Degenerate gamblers putting their whole stack on three losers at a thousand-to-one odds.”
Chris looks down at his shiny armor in a new light. “So… my Sponsor risked his power for me? He believed in us that much?” He grips his shield, eyes shining with naive determination. “I won’t disappoint him!”
Kim looks pale. She strokes the grip of her rifle, suddenly realizing she’s holding a bet that could have bankrupted a divine entity. “They’re insane,” she murmurs. “They turned us into high-risk financial assets. If we failed, they lost everything.”
She shakes her head, snapping out of the dizzying thought to focus on the concrete reality. She turns back to the Angel, her gaze cold and professional once more. “Alright. We understand the mechanic. We delivered the jackpot to our owners. But what now? You said the real Boss was waiting for us?”
The Angel points at the red rune etched into the floor.
[Angel - Bastien]: He is still waiting for you. But after defeating a 1-Star Monster at Level 15… the standard Level 5 Guardian is going to feel like a walk in the park.
He disappears, leaving us alone with the three golden chests sitting in the middle of the ruins.
“Christmas came early,” I comment, stepping up to the first chest. I pop it open. A blinding light bursts out, enveloping the three of us.
[Group Reward]: Unique Title “Maze Breaker”. Effect: +20 to ALL Attributes (Permanent). Description: For those who chose the hardest path when ease was reaching out to them.
If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
“+20 everywhere?!” Chris chokes. “That’s huge!”
We move to the second chest. It’s the bank.
[Material Loot]
- 60,000 Cosmic Gold pieces.
- 10 Health Potions (Medium).
- 10 Mana Potions (Medium).
- Guardian’s Bastard Sword (Rare) [Class: Porter] | Effect: Heavy Blow (Chance to stun the target with every hit).
I whistle. “Here, kid. With this, you’re hitting like a freight train.”
Chris takes the sword, eyes shining with awe. It’s heavy, black, and utterly brutal.
“And the last chest…” I say, lifting the lid. It’s the jewelry store. Three black velvet cases.
[Rare Accessories]
- 1 Wind Earring: +20 Attack / +20 Speed / +200 HP.
- 2 Fortress Rings: +20 Attack / +20 Defense.
I hand out the items quickly. “Kim, the earring is yours. You need the speed and damage. Chris and I will take the rings. We need the tankiness.”
We equip the items in silence. I feel the power rushing through my veins. It’s intoxicating. My aches are completely gone. I feel like I could bench-press a truck. I close my eyes and pull up my status to check the final tally.
[PLAYER STATUS]
Identity: Beno?t de Balzac | Race: Human | Age: 40
Class: Garbage Man | Rank: None
Global H(Human) Ranking: 34
Power: 293
[Attributes]
HP (Health): 1,030 / 1,030 (+120)
MP (Mana): 20 / 20 (+20)
Attack: 132 (+50)
Magic: 20 (+20)
Defense: 121 (+50)
Magic Defense: 20 (+20)
Speed: 74 (+30) (54 km/h)
[Skills]
Observation of the Useless Level 1
Recycling Level 1
Public Nuisance Level 3
Sleeping Beauty’s Kiss (Legendary) Level 1
Lord of the Dancefloor (Epic) Level 1
[PROGRESS REPORT]
+100 HP (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 HP (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 MP (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Attack (Title: Maze Breaker)
+5 Attack (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 Attack (Fortress Rings)
+5 Attack (Permanent Bonus: Recycling -> Epic Ax)
+20 Magic (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Magic Defense (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Defense (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Defense (Fortress Rings)
+10 Defense (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 Speed (Title: Maze Breaker)
+10 Speed (Combat against Minotaur)
I stand frozen in front of the screen, my finger trembling over the ranking line. “34…” I whisper, breathless.
“What’s 34?” Chris asks, walking over.
“My global ranking among humans. I’m the 34th most powerful guy on the planet.”
Chris stops dead, his jaw hitting the floor. Even Kim snaps her head up from checking her magazine, frowning in pure shock. We just went from desperate survival to the global elite in a single boss fight.
“The Top 50?! That’s impossible!” Chris yells, absolutely hyped. “Quick, I have to check mine! Status!”
[PLAYER STATUS]
Identity: Christian de Balzac | Race: Human | Age: 13
Class: Porter | Rank: None
Global H(Human) Ranking: 22
Power: 335
[Attributes]
HP (Health): 1,920 / 1,920 (+320)
MP (Mana): 520 / 520 (+20)
Attack: 90 (+45)
Magic: 20 (+20)
Defense: 205 (+56)
Magic Defense: 20 (+20)
Speed: 70 (+30) (53 km/h)
[Skills]
Logistics Resilience Level 1
Minor Interception Level 1
Equipment Cleaning Level 1
Worg Frenzy Totem (Epic) Level 1
Cursed Swamp Totem (Epic) Level 1
[PROGRESS REPORT]
+300 HP (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 HP (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 MP (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Attack (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Attack (Fortress Rings)
+5 Attack (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 Magic (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Magic Defense (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Defense (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Defense (Fortress Rings)
+16 Defense (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 Speed (Title: Maze Breaker)
+10 Speed (Combat against Minotaur)
“Twenty-second!” he yells, busting out a victory dance. “Uncle Ben, I’m 22nd!”
I let out a nervous laugh looking at his numbers. 205 Defense… at thirteen years old, he is without a doubt the best Tank GodRunner on Earth. With 1,920 HP, he’s a walking brick wall. He’s a pocket battleship. Monsters are going to exhaust themselves before they even scratch the paint.
“Good job, kid,” I say, ruffling his hair, genuinely impressed. “You’re officially the family bodyguard.”
Kim pulls up her own screen, a glint of cold satisfaction in her eyes.
[PLAYER STATUS] Identity: Kim de la Fayette | Race: Human | Age: 26
Class: Screaming Sentry | Rank: None Global H(Human) Ranking: 33
Power: 294
[Attributes] HP (Health): 670 / 670 (+270)
MP (Mana): 770 / 770 (+20)
Attack: 185 (+60)
Magic: 20 (+20)
Defense: 69 (+20)
Magic Defense: 20 (+20)
Speed: 125 (+50) (63 km/h)
[Skills]
Chaos Ballistics Level 1
Rupture Cry Level 1
Sniper Eye Level 1
Tracker Shot: The Joker’s Bullet (Epic) Level 1
[PROGRESS REPORT]
+200 HP (Wind Earring)
+50 HP (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 HP (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 MP (Title: Maze Breaker)
+500 MP (Light Precision High Armor)
+20 Attack (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 Attack (Wind Earring)
+20 Attack (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Magic (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Magic Defense (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Defense (Title: Maze Breaker)
+20 Speed (Title: Maze Breaker)
+10 Speed (Combat against Minotaur)
+20 Speed (Wind Earring)
“Thirty-third,” she states simply.
The silence that follows is heavier than the Minotaur’s fist.
“Thirty-third in the world? Right ahead of me,” I note.
“185 Attack, 125 Speed,” she continues, adjusting her new earring. “I’ve got almost zero health, but the first thing that looks at me sideways is catching a Joker’s Bullet before they even realize we’re in the same zip code.”
I look at my two teammates. A thirteen-year-old kid who is the 22nd most powerful human alive, and an elite sniper sitting at 33rd. And me, the Garbage Man, bringing up the rear at 34th.
“We’re three rejects who weren’t even supposed to clear the first floor,” I say, scooping up my spade. “And now, we’re the elite of this damn Tower.”
Just as I’m about to stow my spade, a chime rings out. It’s different from the usual notifications, pinging simultaneously for me and Chris.
[Notification: You have been mentioned (@) in the Global Human Chat]
A window pops open on its own. The Global Chat. Until now, it was just a silent, grayed-out feature we couldn’t access. But right there, a single white message cuts through the constant stream of data.
[Empress Savina]: @Ben? @Chris? It’s Claire. I have just reached Floor 10. I don’t know if you are still alive, or if you will ever receive this message. But I will not stop writing until I have an answer. I’m begging you, if you hear me, don’t die.
The silence that follows is suffocating. Chris drops his sword. It hits the stone with a heavy THUD, but he doesn’t even flinch. His eyes are locked on the screen. “Mom…” he whispers, his voice thick with a swallowed sob.
My heart clenches. Claire. My little sister. She made it. She hit Floor 10, where the System finally unlocks the Global Chat for the survivors. She didn’t waste a single second. The instant she got speaking privileges, her first thought was us. She doesn’t know about our global ranks. She has no clue we just slaughtered a Level 15 Boss. To her, we’re probably just forgotten corpses rotting in the early hallways.
Chris scrambles at his interface, fingers flying frantically across the holographic keyboard. “Mom! We’re here!” he yells, desperately trying to type a reply.
But every time he touches the screen, a red window flashes.
[Error: Writing access to Global Chat is restricted to players of Floor 10 and above.]
“Damn System!” Chris rages, punching the hologram. “We’re right here! Why can’t we tell her?! She’s going to think we’re dead!”
I drop a heavy hand on his shoulder. I feel like absolute garbage. “Chris, calm down,” I whisper. “We’re still on Floor 5. The System locked us out. We can read, but we can’t type back. Five more floors until we can actually talk to her.”
He turns to me, tears streaming down his face. Normally, a kid his age is deep in his rebellious phase, trying to push his parents away. But not Chris. Ever since he lost his dad, Claire is his whole world. She’s his mom, his confidante, his best friend. He lives entirely for her approval and her love. Seeing him like this, utterly broken by a simple chat message, reminds me exactly why I swore to protect him.
A second message pops up.
[Empress Savina]: I am going to keep climbing and become stronger for the next scenarios. Ben, if you’ve still got him with you, keep him alive. He is all I have left. We will find each other at the dungeon exit.
Chris slumps against the shattered pillar we just wrecked. Silent tremors rack his shoulders. Next to us, Kim looks away, her grip tightening on her rifle. Even she, with her icy exterior, seems hit by the kid’s raw grief.
I look away, unable to stomach my sister’s message. Keep him alive. I just turned him into the 22nd ranked warrior on the planet, and he’s only thirteen. Is that keeping him alive? Or did I just toss him into the meat grinder faster than the rest?
“Chris,” I say, kneeling in front of him. “You hear that? She is climbing. She isn’t giving up. So we aren’t either.”
Kim steps up, her usually cold gaze softening at the sight of Chris breaking down. “Floor 10,” she says quietly. “That’s where the real game starts. That’s where we answer her.”
Chris scrubs his tears away with a violent swipe of his sleeve. The sadness instantly morphs into fierce resolve. He snatches up his sword. In that split second, he truly looks like humanity’s greatest Tank.
“Five floors,” he says, his voice suddenly sounding older. “Five floors and I answer her. And after that, we finish this shitty scenario and get the hell out of here.”
I nod. We’ve got the stats, we’ve got the gear, and now, we’ve got a reason to run that even the System can’t ignore.
I stand up and point at the massive runic circle pulsing with a scarlet glow in the center of the room. “Then we start right now,” I state, my tone leaving zero room for debate. “This circle drops us right on the Floor 5 Guardian.”
We move forward in a wedge formation. Kim takes point, her movements sharp as lightning. Chris holds the center, his defense turning him into a walking bastion. And me, bringing up the rear, Excali-Spade resting on my shoulder. As soon as our boots hit the glowing engravings, the world shifts.