Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 403: The Shrine Where the Dead Sleep (1)

*SDS Broadcasting Station in Yeouido.*

The station was currently hosting a special feature covering the latest major events.

*[Episode 57 of “Solo Tower Raid Highlights”: “The End of the Mid-Floors”]*

“Haha. It’s truly an honor to introduce such famous individuals to our audience,” said MC Eom Taeyoung with a bright smile.

The guests included two prominent BJs (broadcast jockeys), *Molang* and *MonsterChickenBreast*, who had gained fame during the recent event on the first floor.

In addition, the master of the Red Fang Guild, *Oh Ji-won*, and *Kim Hee-woong*, leader of the Black Crow Guild, were also present.

The lineup alone virtually guaranteed high viewership ratings. After all, the key players of one of the most talked-about incidents had gathered in one place.

“Hello! I’m Molang!”

“Nice to meet you all. I’m MonsterChickenBreast.”

Both BJs greeted the audience with wide smiles.
Initially, the event on the first floor had created tension between the Veteran Corporation and the Red Fang Guild, but once the situation resolved, things couldn’t have turned out better for them.

“Well then, let’s dive right into it. Player Oh Ji-won, we’ve heard that you recently formed an alliance with the Veteran Corporation. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s correct. We’re currently maintaining a close relationship with the Black Crow Guild, which Player Kang Jinhyuk supports. Through this alliance, we plan to provide substantial support to the Black Crow Guild.”

“Wait, are you saying even Korean Automobiles is sponsoring them?”

“Of course. Player Kang Jinhyuk is a national treasure and a beacon of hope for the world. Naturally, as a businessman, I feel obligated to support him.”

Oh Ji-won spoke with such sincerity that it was hard to imagine the gaping wound on his shoulder.

“Wow! That’s fantastic. This should make raiding the Tower even more promising.”

“Totally! I’m really excited about this synergy too,” Molang chimed in.

“So, has Player Kang Jinhyuk shared any information about the upper floors with you?”

Right on cue, the topic shifted to Tower raiding strategies—exactly what most viewers had tuned in for.

Information.

That was the key.
The very reason so many people were watching this broadcast.

“Hm…”

Oh Ji-won took a sip of iced water.

“Several major guilds have already paved the way to the 30th floor through interactions with the Empire and the Martial World.”

The mid-floors of the Tower required the permission of the two dominant forces—the Empire and the Martial World—to proceed further.
Unlike the lower floors, no bosses needed to be defeated or specific conditions fulfilled.
Major guilds had successfully gained their favor through relentless lobbying, completing numerous quests, and investing vast sums of money. This allowed them to progress from the mid-floors to the upper floors.

“Yes, we’ve heard about that too. Many main attack teams are already heading upwards.”

“They’re making a huge mistake.”

“What?”

MC Eom Taeyoung blinked in surprise.

“A mistake…?”

“What do you mean?” Molang and MonsterChickenBreast echoed his confusion.

“To operate effectively on the 30th floor, they first need to obtain a specific item from the 29th floor. Heading to the 30th floor without it will lead to catastrophic losses.”

“Are you saying that even though they can technically access the 30th floor, they still need to go to the 29th floor first?”

“That’s exactly the key point.”

“Wow… How do you know all this so well, Oh Ji-won?”

Molang’s eyes widened as she asked.

“Player Kang Jinhyuk told me. He explained what players need to do to safely ascend to the 30th floor. I’m here today to share his insights and ensure there are no unnecessary sacrifices.”

It was now public knowledge that Jinhyuk had close ties with the Empire and had always been at the forefront of clearing floors.
Naturally, all eyes in the studio turned to Oh Ji-won, hanging on his every word.
The tension was palpable, and the studio was enveloped in silence, broken only by the sound of dry swallows.

“Naval battles.”

The *’sea’*, which made up 88% of the 29th floor.
To achieve their objectives, all players would need to join forces on that vast expanse of water.

—

*Slurp…*

The rich aroma of coffee filled Jinhyuk’s senses.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had coffee like this. It feels especially rewarding.”

Jinhyuk savored the coffee brewed by Rick.

“Haha. I’m glad you’re satisfied. Honestly, you might be the only person who truly appreciates these beans.”

Rick smiled warmly as he organized the books in the library.

It had only been two days since the first-floor event ended, yet so much had happened in that short time—enough to delay Jinhyuk’s planned trip to the 27th floor.

In the end, Jinhyuk decided to visit Rick to introduce some additional variables.

“Did you know about it, Mr. Manager? That those two forces have formed an alliance?”

Rick’s hand froze mid-motion at the sudden question.

“You mean Olympus and the Demon Realm? No, we only learned about it three days ago. Even for us, it’s challenging to gather information about the gods of the upper floors.”

The moment the two major forces united, the fragile balance of *Ragnarok* was shattered.
The overwhelming offensive left the resistance forces utterly unprepared, sweeping them away.
Even the sacred *Well of the Sun*, used to strengthen *Yggdrasil*, had been destroyed.

Only a handful of gods, including Odin, Thor, and Loki, had managed to escape.
Thousands of Valkyries and warriors had perished alongside Yggdrasil, turning to ashes.

‘This couldn’t have been achieved through ordinary means.’

Yggdrasil, the very symbol of Ragnarok, was engulfed in flames. Despite the gods’ desperate efforts to protect it, the World Tree burned relentlessly.
Even now, two days later, the fire had yet to be extinguished, indicating an attack of an unprecedented scale.

Such destruction could only have been wrought by one of the Tower’s rarest overseers.

*Perhaps even someone above Hastings.*

“Things are becoming increasingly complicated. I understand you’ve formed alliances with several friendly factions, but you must be cautious of the Demon Realm and Olympus,” Rick advised.

“…I suppose so.”
Jinhyuk rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

At this point, the best course of action seemed to be…

“May I ask you for a favor?”

“A favor, you say?”

“There’s a particular book I need to obtain, but it’s not an easy one to access. Especially since some of the materials required are difficult to even locate.”

“Oh? If someone like you considers it challenging, it must be quite extraordinary. May I ask what it is?”

“It’s nothing too special. Just an old book. The only unique thing about it is that it makes a sound similar to that of insects.”

For a fleeting moment, an unusual glint passed through Rick’s eyes.
But it was only for a split second.

“A book, you say… Most books can be found here, but if you provide more details, I might be able to locate it for you.”

“I doubt it’ll be here. More importantly, I’d like to request your help in acquiring these materials.”

Jinhyuk handed Rick a small note.

“Hmm… Now I understand why you said this would be tricky. These are extremely rare within the Tower… But since it’s a request from you, I’ll do my best to procure them. However, I’ll need you to grant me one favor in return later.”

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

*Woooong!*

A green gate opened once more, and Jinhyuk disappeared into it, leaving the library in complete silence.

—

“Stop hiding and come out,” Rick said, addressing the shadows beyond the rows of towering bookshelves.

*Step.*

Footsteps echoed through the dim corridor.

Emerging from the darkness was a figure over 2 meters tall, with a sly grin that curled upward.

It was *Nyarlathotep*, one of the primordial deities.

“Keuh! I see even with my presence completely masked, I can’t slip past the great Rick Hennessy.”

“You’ve been absent for a while, and now you show up?”

“I’ve been busy. You know how much effort it takes to prepare for the Apocalypse.”

“So, you’ve decided to cross a dangerous bridge after all.”

“That human’s unpredictability forced our hand. What choice did we have but to take some risks?”

Nyarlathotep, feigning exasperation, reached for a cup of coffee on the table and took a sip.

“Ugh. This coffee still tastes awful. How do people drink this stuff?”

“You just don’t appreciate the depth of flavor. Only those who truly understand can savor it.”

“Is there anyone who’d actually like this? I bet 100 out of 100 people would think it tastes like sewage.”

“…True. Almost no one appreciates it.”

Rick’s expression turned more somber.
Now and forever, there was likely only one person who would truly enjoy this coffee.

“Enough with the nonsense. Focus on your task.”

“We’ll handle our side. You focus on securing the *Necronomicon.* Judging by what that human just asked you, it seems like he’s after it as well.”

“Indeed. That’s what it looks like.”

Though Jinhyuk had only hinted at it, the traits he described matched those of the Necronomicon perfectly.

“When we do secure the book, I need to ask him one thing: how did he manage to track a forbidden tome whose location even we can’t pinpoint? Could he be more than a mere player? Perhaps a manager—or something greater?”

“Stop spouting nonsense and leave. If your presence here is discovered, it could throw the entire Administration Bureau into chaos.”

“Yes, yes. As you command.”

With that, Nyarlathotep’s figure dissolved into smoke.

—

*The Withered Swamp on the 27th Floor of the Tower.*

The *Shrine Where the Dead Sleep* was an ancient ruin infested with parasitic monsters.

“Clatter. Master, what a horribly creepy place,” T-Bone muttered.

“…It looks strange,” Frey added.

The habitat, reminiscent of a scene from *Alien,* sent shivers down their spines with just a glance.

“At least it’s quiet here. We won’t be bothered by others.”

Several raiding parties had attempted to conquer this place, but very few survived.

The key reason? Parasitic monsters became exponentially more dangerous when facing a larger number of enemies.

‘It’s no wonder the Demons chose this as their base of operations.’

Under the Demon King’s protection, the Demons could have accessed almost anywhere on the 20th floors. Yet Nietzsche had specifically chosen this ruin as their base.

They must have instinctively known that this place was safe.

Jinhyuk unsheathed *Crimson Lotus.*

*Whoosh!*

The +10-enhanced Crimson Lotus now emitted a fiery aura around its blade, a stunning visual effect.

‘It really is incredible.’

He was itching to test it out.

Even before the enhancement, the blade had been exceptional. Now that it had become even more powerful, Jinhyuk couldn’t wait to feel its impact firsthand.

The anticipation was maddening.