「K」-Pop
「K」-Dramas
「K」-Food
「K」-Something-or-other
「K」-Whatchamacallit…
And so on.
We live in a world where everything gets a 「K」slapped in front of it. By now, that's become such an ordinary part of daily life that it's hardly worth mentioning.
Korean culture has grown so influential globally that its reach is undeniable. But even so, there was one exception…
In the era of the 「Demon King's Tower」, where humanity's very survival hung in the balance, Korea just couldn't seem to make its mark.
Why?
The reason was painfully simple.
The conditions for manifesting a 「Breaker.」
The awakening conditions for these so-called new humans, the 「Breakers」, had long been one of humanity's most studied subjects. Nearly every nation had raced to crack this puzzle.
And that made perfect sense, when you thought about it. Only 「Breakers」 could climb the 「Demon King's Tower」, and only they could subdue the monsters.
After all that research, only one conclusion emerged:
The awakening of 「Breakers」 strictly followed a "law of population proportionality."A maddeningly simple principle—the larger the population pool, the greater the number of samples.
In other words, countries with populations in the hundreds of millions had overwhelmingly higher odds of producing more 「Breakers」, along with genius-level S-rank talents—or even beyond, those freakish outliers who defied all categorization.
Simply put, the more populous the nation, the greater its advantage.
The United States, China, India—and even Japan, which boasts more than double the population of Korea.
It was almost inevitable that these nations would dominate the 「Demon King's Tower」era. Korea, meanwhile, did have a relatively high number of capable Awakened for its population size. But as the saying goes, there's no match for sheer numbers; when faced with overwhelming quantities, the limits were clear.
And yet, now—
That long-entrenched balance, unchanged for decades, was being shaken to its very core.
By just one person.
Using the initial 「K」, an unidentified Awakened was writing a new legend.
***
Tokyo, Japan –
Monster Defense Agency
Tok, tok, tok.
A middle-aged man tapped the conference room table. On the central screen, footage played of the 「Balrox」 Tokyo Rift incident from a few days ago.
Nishimura Kaku – The head of Japan's Monster Defense Agency, the nation's second-most powerful figure, enjoys the full confidence of the Prime Minister. He himself was once an S-rank 「Breaker」 who operated with immense magic power.
A legendary man of Japan, known by the epithet "Magic Slayer Nishimura."
Unfortunately, during the recent 「Balrox」Rift incident, he had been overseas on business. As a result, he had been unable to command the situation on-site and had only watched the events unfold on TV.
Perhaps that was why his dissatisfaction ran so deep. But what bothered him most of all was Balrox's final moments.
Keeeeng!
KRRROOOOAAAAGH!!!
On screen, the Balrox's heart—its magic core—exploded.
SKREEEEEEEEE!!!
The creature let out a shriek and collapsed, meeting its end.
Nishimura stared at the footage, his gaze piercing.
His honest reaction was one of sheer admiration.
"No matter how many times I watch this, I still can't believe it. Truly killed in a single blow."
"The strategy team has classified the individual as a manifestation-class ability user."
"Manifestation-class?"
"Yes. In both the Avalon and Balrox cases, the cause of death was an internal explosion of the mana core. To achieve that, only a manifestation-class skill could have done it."
"Hmph!"
Nishimura let out a light chuckle.
"Are you telling me that a mere manifestation-class managed to pierce through those creatures' mana barriers?"
"Th-then what do you—"
"No. That's a new kind of Awakened we've never seen before. Even type classification… analyzing it with existing data is completely meaningless."
"But… so far, no such reports have—"
"That's exactly why existing data is completely meaningless."
He picked up another document from the desk. It contained analytical data on 「K.」
"What's the status of tracking this one?"
An unidentified ability user with unknown traits! And a 「K」who appeared out of nowhere to conquer the Tower.
In fact, while the general public assumed these two were the same person, intelligence agencies from various nations had practically ruled out that possibility.
"From the 1st Floor to the 4th Floor, they've shattered every existing record. And it's not just a matter of shaving off a few seconds. They didn't just halve the previous records—they pushed them into a realm that defies all common sense."
The newly updated world records.
'Is this even truly possible?'
The 「Balrox」 incident was one thing, but this individual called 「K」 was clearly no ordinary 「Breaker.」
Nishimura, having once been an active 「Breaker」 himself, knew this well. Between the 「Demon King's Tower」 and the 「Breakers,」 there existed so-called "compatibility."Depending on one's affinity and unique traits, certain floors could be advantageous or disadvantageous.
This was precisely the decisive reason why Japan's Defense Agency—and various other national agencies—had concluded that 「K」 and the unidentified ability user were not the same person.
And yet, even so, these records were simply too absurd.
"This isn't a typical speed run. Satellite analysis shows that during that time frame, magical wave activity from Korea—specifically the Seoul area—was barely detectable."
"What does that mean?"
"It means he barely used any power. As if he strolled right through as easily as taking a walk."
Nishimura's brow furrowed, and his expression hardened. And it wasn't just him—everyone in the conference room was stunned.
Setting a world record without even going all out?
That was something that even he, let alone Japan's current S-rank Awakened, could never have achieved.
'Even if Yuto went to the 1st Floor with his current abilities, would he be able to do this?'
Nishimura asked himself.
Kagura Yuto, Japan's No. 1 ranker. He was Japan's strongest 「Breaker」, known by the epithet "Thunder Strike Sword."
Of course, Kagura Yuto had no way to enter the 1st Floor, so there was no way to verify. But Nishimura judged that, in all likelihood, it would be difficult.
That was how absurd the current world records were.
'And on top of that, that wasn't even his full power?'
That also meant this streak of record-breaking was likely to continue.
"What's the South Korean government's response?"
"They're in complete disarray over there as well. The National Assembly is in an uproar. It's clear they're scrambling because they don't know who it is either."
"That's a relief!"
That was welcome news, at least.
"I hear they've even formed a special task force at the government level. But it seems they haven't made any significant progress yet."
"What fools."
Nishimura let out a snicker.
"We need to find that guy… that 「K」. Before the South Korean government does."
"And once we find him, what do you plan to do?"
"Bring him over to our side, of course."
"And what about this unidentified ability user…?"
"His abilities are certainly tempting, but the most important thing is conquering the Tower. That's why 「K」… he takes priority."
"But why doesn't 「K」 reveal his identity? With that much power…."
"Hmph! He's just driving up his price. People like that are almost always egomaniacs! You've all dealt with enough of them to know, haven't you?"
"If we make a move, the South Korean government won't sit idle this time."
Japan's aggressive maneuvering—this was a highly sensitive issue.
In the era of the 「Demon King's Tower」, recruiting 「Breakers」 had long since become a perfectly natural occurrence. Even at this very moment, fierce recruitment wars were raging between countless nations.
But when it came to an S-rank 「Breaker」, the situation was entirely different. Because this was a matter directly tied to national security.
"If we take 「K」 this time too, South Korea won't stay quiet."
"Hmph! What are those nobodies going to do about it?"
Nishimura was confident.
He acknowledged that South Korea was a remarkable country, but in his assessment, Japan's national power still stood above. And he was certain that in the current era of the 「Demon King's Tower」, that gap was widening once again.
"But will 「K」 even agree to come over to our side?"
"He will come."
Nishimura spoke with conviction.
"If he set a world record, he must have received the reward for it… and if so, he may have become aware of what that reward truly entails."
"Won't he?"
"Then we just make him an offer he can't refuse. Heh heh."
This was precisely why he was so confident.
"And…."
Nishimura rose from his seat.
"If he can't be controlled, he must be eliminated. For the sake of the world's balance."
He had just uttered something terrifying.
***
Ding!
▶ Item Information
―Name: Unique Trait Enhancement Rune
When used, enhances the user's trait by one level.
※ Untradeable
Hmm…
As expected, another untradeable item. Ha-min was no longer surprised. He had more or less expected this.
"Ooh!!! Hamin-nim, this is totally huge, sir!"
Bellamon was making a fuss. Naturally, this was his first time seeing such an item.
"Hurry up and use it, sir!"
"Should I?"
He had experienced this before, but this item… there was no other choice but to use it.
Untradeable items could not be transferred to anyone else under any circumstances, after all.
There was no need to hesitate.
Ding!
【Do you wish to use the 「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」?】
'Use!'
It was his second time, so he didn't hold back.
【You have used the 「Unique Trait Enhancement Rune」.】
The major difference from last time was that he no longer had to desperately hope for a recovery skill.
'Either way, the goal hasn't changed.'
Ding!
【「Absolute Command」 has grown to Lv.3.】
【A new command has been added.】
What would it be this time?
Thump-thump!
New encounters and growth were always thrilling, no matter how many times.
Gulp!
Ha-min opened his status window with a flutter in his heart. And what came into view was a new entry!
Ding!
【Abyss has been added.】
A third Absolute Command had been added.
…
Abyss??
Of course, this too was an unfamiliar command.