Thud... Thud...!!!
The vibrations intensify as the massive Cyclops approaches.
The boss with the highest mortality rate on the 17th Floor.
Also known as the Nightmare of the 17th Floor.
One might dismiss it as merely 20 meters tall, but its true scale becomes apparent up close.
Humans must crane their necks just to see a 3-meter troll, overwhelmed by its presence.
So what about a 20-meter behemoth? It's equivalent to a seven-story commercial building.
And its power? Mass increases eightfold when height doubles.
So what about a 20-meter Cyclops?
Assuming humans are 2 meters tall for simplicity, it's ten times taller and a thousand times heavier.
While larger creatures generally have lower strength-to-weight ratios, surviving with such a physique means it's overcome that limitation.
Thud...thud...thud, thudthudthud!!
The creature begins charging toward me.
'Look at that... Is that even possible?'
The Nightmare of the 17th Floor.
A 20-meter giant comes running.
A slight cognitive dissonance occurs.
'How can something that massive move like that...'
With every blink, its hulking form draws nearer. Crimson air barriers form around it as the ground shakes violently, making it hard to stand.
The assumption that large monsters are slow is pure prejudice. Their bone and muscle structures represent the pinnacle of biomechanical resilience.
[Kwaaaaaaah!!!!]
The Cyclops roars as it charges.
The intense sound pressure makes my ears ring.
'How did people even kill that thing back then...'
The standard strategy involves speccing into giant pit traps, trapping it, and unleashing all attacks before it climbs out.
But I don't need such tricks now.
I gather strength from my legs.
[Deep-Rooted Ancient Tree]
A skill that immobilizes me temporarily while granting immense strength and defense.
Using this, I stand firm against the quaking earth.
[Sky Breaker]
One of SS-rank Karios Dairn's javelin techniques - a grounded spear throw aimed skyward.
All buffs stack to six tiers.
As the creature reaches for me, Divine Power surges through my body as I hurl the spear with all my might.
Shu-pang...!!
The spear tears through the air like light, piercing the Cyclops' eye with pinpoint accuracy.
[Kruee...?]
A gaping hole appears in its eye, revealing blue sky and the spear flying upward through it.
Puhwaak!!
Torrents of blood pour onto the earth as the massive body collapses.
Kuuuung...
[10th Wave cleared. Reward: 10,000 points]
"Phew... That took some effort."
Now I truly feel it.
'I... have already surpassed my past self.'
Recalling how I once crawled between its legs in a past life only to be shocked by a dick larger than my body, my current 17th Floor self is undoubtedly stronger than my past version.
- What? How?
- ???
- (Generic swearing about cheating)
- Eyes are weak points but...
- Did anyone else see that energy rising from her body?
"Ahem... I'll invest in Hero upgrades immediately before proceeding to the next wave."
Retrieving my spear, I now tackle 3-4 waves at once.
All points go into Hero upgrades while maintaining proper rest and Divine Power replenishment.
"We have ample time."
Though challenging, progressing wave by wave after enduring the early stages feels manageable.
Flying monsters and subterranean creatures appeared mid-way, but knowing their counters made them trivial.
Repeating cycles of rest when exhausted and fighting when recovered brought me to the 39th wave before I knew it.
A grueling 16-hour marathon.
Every moment except meal times was combat.
"Haa... Haa..."
A full moon now hangs in the sky.
'Damn... This is exhausting.'
[Hero's Strength +151%]
[Hero's Agility +151%]
[Hero's Defense +151%]
[Hero's Divine Power +151%]
My stats have grown tremendously.
The feeling of gradually approaching my past life's physique helps me endure these trials.
[Remaining Time: 37 hours 22 minutes]
Checking the time with slight relief, I collapse onto the dirt and sleep.
***
The next day repeated similarly.
The only difference - I stopped at the 48th wave.
Only two waves (49 & 50) remain, yet I halted here.
"Still insufficient. I'll visit the basement dungeon first."
- ???
- Shouldn't you just clear it? You're almost done
- What's she doing?
"Hmm... Did I forget to mention something?"
Truthfully, I delayed explaining to avoid viewer complaints.
"Umm... Have you heard about the 17th Floor's hidden ending?"
- What? Only the true ending exists for 17F
- Eh? I think I've heard of that?
- ?
- That was a thing?
- ??? : Do you know the Way?
- What? But I've heard rumors too
- Is it some urban legend?
Exactly.
Only the true ending is publicly known for the 17th Floor.
The true ending requires fully clearing the basement dungeon and activating all resource bases before clearing.
But as seen in chat, rumors about a hidden ending circulated like campfire tales.
"No. There's a hidden ending you all don't know about."
Today, I'll put those rumors to rest.
***
Past. Approximately 7 years ago.
Before factionalism divided us.
Seven guild leaders including myself gathered in Korea's alliance conference room.
"This is the last footage from our guild's party member."
The blonde leader of Oseong Guild showed a video.
"Wait, that's the 17th Floor?"
"Don't tell me... The hidden ending?"
Everyone tensely focused on the screen.
The footage showed someone summoning 1st Floor goblins on the 17th Floor, then forcibly entering the monster portal while pushing them through.
Then...
[You have entered Hell]
An unfriendly message flashed before disappearing alongside the portal.
"Wh-what? Since when do portals close?"
The panicked man fought goblins in the video.
After a grueling battle, he defeated them...
Only to face every monster legion from Floors 1 to 50 awaiting him.
Behind them stood a bleak black tower under crimson moonlight.
"Th-this can't be!!"
The video ended as monsters overwhelmed and killed him.
Everyone watching understood.
This was proof of a hidden ending.
Though all wanted to suppress this information, I reported it to the World Awakened Alliance.
Unfortunately, the Alliance deemed it insufficient evidence for official recognition. Standard procedure, though regrettable.
The footage and documentation were archived under the 17th Floor's hidden ending speculation section before being removed due to extreme difficulty - deemed either a bug or forbidden zone.
Rumors persisted, but no challenger ever cleared it.
***
"Well, those in the know are aware. But nobody's survived entering that portal."
Chat grows restless.
But I resolved to do this from the start.
- Why force this? Is it for the mission? You don't have to Do-hee...
- Fr cancel this fucking bitch don't go
- This feels dangerous
- Don't you trust Lee Do-hee?
- Ahem... Still looks seriously risky
- At least explain why! It's not just for the mission right?
"No. Mission-wise, clearing Wave 50 quickly for the next floor would be better. But..."
My reason for pursuing the hidden ending.
My past mistake.
Guilt over promising talents who died because of my self-righteous report.
'Had I stayed silent, fewer would've died challenging this... Not entirely my fault, but I bear responsibility.'
"I want to show everyone. Guilds and talents are likely still secretly attempting the 17th Floor hidden ending. Understandable - the rewards and fame are immense."
"That nobody's succeeded means they're all dying. Talents with good traits and relative strength attempted this - isn't that tragic?"
- True
- Lol their strength became their poison
- Do-hee you too...
"Right. I could fail too. But I believe I won't. I'll show you how difficult the 17th Floor hidden ending is, what it takes, and what strength is required to clear it."
I'll demonstrate.
Show how brutal it is.
This historically difficult hidden ending I publicized - I'll clear it to atone.
Normally, people wouldn't attempt hidden/true endings even knowing about them.
But those strong enough to try shouldn't die so pointlessly.
"Thus, I'll farm points in the basement dungeon first!"
The 10-stage basement dungeon has no gimmicks - pure combat.
I clear all stages in 6 hours.
Except the final high-ranking demon boss, I slaughtered everything effortlessly.
Emerging, night had fallen again.
"Haa... I'll rest briefly before entering."
[Remaining Time: 19 hours 32 minutes]
I shower with bottled water, eat, replenish Divine Power with breast milk, and nap for 3 hours.
*
Dawn breaks.
Watching the rising sun, I sprint across the wasteland.
Map's edge.
I reach the portal spawning point.
Black liquid covers the perimeter - perhaps intentionally blocking exit.
"Well, shall we begin...?"
- Shivers
- This feels nerve-wracking?
- Please
- What if this map's designed to prevent exit...
- Fighting
My tension peaks too.
Slender fingers open the system window to summon Wave 49.
Woooooong~~!
An oval portal opens 5 meters high, monsters pouring out.
Wave 49: The Undead Legion.
Liches, skeleton knights, dullahans, abominations march forth from the portal.
But,
Whooosh!!
My spear swing scatters them like common skeletons. Ignoring regenerating foes, I spearhead through.
[Welcome to Hell]
Well, at least it's somewhat informative?
As the system message vanishes, the portal behind me closes while remaining undead swarm forward.
"Heheh... Think you stand a chance?"
All buffs stack to 10 layers.
Adding Hero buffs...
[Hero's Strength +355%]
[Hero's Agility +355%]
[Hero's Defense +355%]
[Hero's Divine Power +355%]
<Final Stats>
Strength : 1365
Agility : 1760
Defense : 873
Divine Power : 11106
- ????
- Are those human stats?
- Wait, holy fuck lol
- What?
- Wow;;
- Wait, hold on!!!
- This ain't right you fucking bitch
Not quite my past life's peak, but I feel nearly equivalent power returning.
"Hahahahaha... DIE!!!!"
[Bandit's Blade]
Divine Power forms a crescent blade that flies outward.
Every undead in its path gets bisected.
Such skills scale with skill level, Divine Power consumed, and max Divine Power/Agility stats.
Agility - while literally meaning reflexes - is currently theorized as fine muscle control aiding all physical/magical manipulation.
Overwhelming power sweeps away all monsters. Those struck by Divine Power disintegrate without regenerating.
The 50th Floor's final boss, Black Dragon, senses the disturbance and unleashes Dragon Fear.
Gruaaaa───Kryaaaaaa!!!
Not sound but shockwaves pound my entire body.
A 50-meter behemoth wielding various magics - sharing top mortality rates with the 10th Floor boss...
[Meteor Spear Fall]
I leap skyward and hurl my spear.
Excessive skill output ruptures blood vessels as I bleed.
"Haaaaaap!!!!"
Unlike my 4th Floor imitation, this throw leaves a meteor-like red trail.
Like a falling asteroid, it strikes the dragon directly amidst crimson radiance.
Kwa-gwagwagwagwang!!!
A colossal explosion creates a massive crater.
The skill's name - Meteor Spear Fall - comes from its minor-planet-impact resemblance.
The 50th Floor's final boss dies instantly without resistance.
But no clear message appears.
"As expected, something's there."
The black tower standing tall under crimson moonlight.
Spiked protrusions make it worthy of the name "Demon King's Castle".