The Frozen Player Returns

this time.

“Is it lagging?” Seo Jun-ho hit the message box without thinking, and a new message appeared. 

[Do not fret.
The rewards are still being calculated.
-Administrator Gray.]

“……?” Seo Jun-ho’s eyes widened.
The rewards are so good that the Administrator has to calculate them himself?

He stood there silently, and System messages poured out. 

[Hero’s Mind (A) has evolved to Hero’s Mind (S).]

[You are now completely immune to all telepathic abilities below S-rank.]

[Keen Intuition (B) has evolved to Keen Intuition (A).]

[You have received the title ⟬Limit Breaker⟭.]

[All stats have increased by 20.]

[Congratulations, genuinely.
-Administrator Gray.]

“……” Seo Jun-ho couldn’t believe his eyes. 

My skill ranks increased? Two of them, at that? 

This was the first time this had happened to him… No, actually, he’d never even heard of this happening to anyone else. 

It’s a good thing Hero’s Mind evolved.
My mental power gets drained whenever the Frost Queen uses her powers.
Now, she could use more powerful abilities more often.
In short, she was the one that had gotten stronger. 

I didn’t expect Keen Intuition to evolve either.
Even at B-rank, the skill was incredibly useful.
But now that it was A-rank, it was practically an intelligence skill.

Not only that, I got 20 stat points.
That’s twice as much as last time. 

“Ah!” He suddenly exclaimed. 

⦊ ‘I don’t know if you’re honest or just childish…’

He realized why Administrator Gray had said those words.

“The Cave of Trials rewards its players based on how much they struggle.” It was a given that he would receive more rewards than other players. 

’

So Gray has been watching me since then.
Of course, Seo Jun-ho had simply spoken his honest thoughts at the time, but it had turned out for the better. 

“And a title…” It was his third one now. 

⟬Limit Breaker⟭

Rank: A

Description: A title given to those who broke through their limits in the Cave of Trials.

Effect: Every time you level up, a random stat increases by 1.

“……!” He was so shocked that his brain short-circuited.
Seo Jun-ho read the effect over and over.
“I’m not misreading this, right…?”

“What is it?” The Frost Queen peeked over his shoulder and nodded as she read the description.
“I believe it simply means what it states.”

“Right?” He pinched his cheek just to make sure he wasn’t dreaming.
“…Ow.”

“Do not worry.
You are awake.” 

Only after the Frost Queen confirmed this did he start to feel excited. 

A random stat increases by 1 every time I level up? If others received 5 stat points when they leveled up, he would receive 6.
And if it keeps accumulating… What if I reach level 130?

He would have over 100 bonus stat points.
If he reached level 230, it would be more than 200; if he reached level 330, it would be more than 300. 

“Amazing…” 

The luck he never had for the past 25 years was starting to come all at once. 

I was born in the wrong generation.
Seo Jun-ho nodded quietly and turned around.
At some point, a Gate had been created in the middle of the cavern.

“Let us go.
I am weary of these cavern walls.”

“Same here.
I think I’m gonna go crazy if I stay here any longer,” he muttered, turning to her. 

* * *

“Mm.” Jampa was watching the Gate today as well.
It has already been a month, but it seems that he has no thoughts of coming out. 

It was the first time this had happened.
Even if someone reached the 9th level, it only took them around two weeks.

Perhaps… Jampa shook his head, trying to get rid of his darker thoughts.
He wasn’t stupid, so he knew that it would be a big scandal if Seo Jun-ho didn’t emerge.
It would be the first time that such a world-famous rookie would disappear in the Cave. 

“Phew… My mind is unsteady.”

“It’s cold underground.
Please go back up, Jampa-nim,” his subordinate said.
He sighed and started up the stairs. 

Beep— Beep— Beep—

A sound started to go off behind him. 

“What is that sound?”

“The ranking list! The ranking list is being updated!” 

’

Jampa hurried back to see it.
“Did he finally clear the 9th level?”

“I don’t believe it.
I didn’t know that he was on the same level as the Nine Heavens…”

“Haa, I disagree.
He’s not quite up to their standards.” Jampa thought about the situation from an objective standpoint.
“Kim Woo-joong and the others only took two weeks to reach the 9th level.”

“Ah…! I didn’t think about that.” 

Seo Jun-ho had taken longer than them, which meant that he was inferior in some way.
Still, Jampa clapped.
“Even with that, he has achieved something amazing.
Korea has produced yet another outstanding player.”

“Yes, indeed… Huh?” A strange look filled their eyes.
And as if it were contagious, Jampa’s eyes also widened. 

The ranking list had changed, but Seo Jun-ho’s name wasn’t simply added.

[Cave of Trials Rankings]

2.
Specter – 9th level

2.
Rahmadat Khali – 9th level

2.
Tenmei Mio – 9th level

……

2.
Wi Cheon-hak – 9th level

2.
Shin Sung-hyun – 9th level

2.
Kim Woo-joong – 9th level

……

After thirty years, the Cave of Trials rankings finally shifted.
All the names went down by one. 

“Is it possible…?”

“N-no way… It can’t be.” 

They couldn’t fathom what was happening before them and shook their heads.

A new name appeared above Specter. 

[Cave of Trials Rankings]

1.
Seo Jun-ho – 10th level

2.
Specter – 9th level

……

He had broken through the limits.

A new legend was created.