The Player that Can’t Level Up

take care of everything.
He finally decided to test the lich’s hunting skill, so he let Hart and the newly regenerated durahan battle the skeletons. 

Hart turned out to be a stick in a gunfight.
Gi-Gyu murmured, “So it’s clear the durahan is much stronger than you.”

“I’m sorry, Grandmaster…”

The durahan growled in pleasure, “Grrrr!”

From what Gi-Gyu had seen, he concluded that the lich’s strength increased with the gate control level.
Since it was still low, the lich was a toothpick in a gunfight.
Thankfully, as they killed the countless skeletons and formed their army, the gate control level increased quickly. 

Within two short days, Gi-Gyu achieved a 100% gate control level.
He announced in pleasure, “Now you’re much stronger and useful.
Don’t you agree, Hart?”

“This is all thanks to you, Grandmaster,” Hart murmured.
Gi-Gyu worked like a donkey during the last two days to help Hart get stronger.
There were moments when Gi-Gyu thought he saw tears in that lich’s hollow, bony eye sockets.
In the end, everything worked out, and it was a now little stronger than when Gi-Gyu first fought it. 

Gi-Gyu asked, “So you’ve complete control over this gate now?” 

“Yes.
The gate doesn’t have many skills yet, but the monsters inside are now in our control, Grandmaster.”

Gi-Gyu frowned before asking, “And how do I leave this place?”

“You just need to ask Master Brunheart,” replied Hart. 

To the lich, Brunheart was the owner of this gate.
Therefore, Brunheart was its master, while Gi-Gyu, Brunheart’s master, was the grandmaster.
Gi-Gyu nodded and announced, “Let me out, Brunheart.”

[I’ve been waiting for you to say that, Master!]

Brunheart’s voice rang in the form of a system announcement as Gi-Gyu was once again surrounded by total darkness.

***

“I gotta check one more thing, and then we’ll leave.
Combination took so long that I forgot about Lou’s new skill for a second.” Gi-Gyu frowned as he looked down at the worn, old watch on his wrist.
He had spent two entire days battling those skeletons: Way more than what he would’ve liked. 

Lou insisted.

-Don’t forget about Grant.
We need to try it out too.

“I know that.” After replying to Lou, Gi-Gyu yelled, “Open!”

Slowly, Brunheart, embedded in Gi-Gyu’s chest, began to rotate.
The gate door opened, and the skeletons jumped out one by one. 

“Uwahhhh!” Gi-Gyu exclaimed in excitement.
Previously, they attacked Gi-Gyu on sight; now, they just stared in confusion. 

Suddenly, lich Hart jumped out and roared, “How dare you stand so tall in front of Grandmaster? Bow, you morons!” 

Then, dozens of skeleton soldiers simultaneously kneeled and bowed deeply to Gi-Gyu.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he asked Hart, “You can leave the gate too?”

Gi-Gyu didn’t know that even the gate manager could leave the gate.
The lich explained, “I can do this now because of the gate’s stockpile energy from the crystals.”

Gi-Gyu promptly ordered, “Then shouldn’t you be returning immediately?”

“Of course, Grandmaster…” Hart turned around obediently. 

“You’re wasting the crystals just by being outside the gate, right? I’ll call you later if I need you,” explained Gi-Gyu.
He was satisfied with everything he had learned so far.
He now had full control over the monsters inside the gate, and he could even call for the gate manager.
Once all the monsters returned to the gate, Gi-Gyu closed it. 

“This is basically…” murmured Gi-Gyu.
He had been so busy increasing the gate control level that only now did he see the parallels. 

“…a gate break!”  He just realized two things: He controlled a disaster, and he would never sell another crystal again.

***

“Did you just leave the Tower?” Tae-Shik asked when Gi-Gyu entered his office.
Tae-Shik had something to discuss, so he had been patiently waiting for Gi-Gyu’s return for the past three days. 

Gi-Gyu replied, “Yeah.
I had to familiarize myself with a few things.
Actually, I still have a few left to learn about.”

When Gi-Gyu sounded disappointed, Tae-Shik smiled and told him, “I’m sure you can check those things later.
You’re already strong enough.
It could be a problem if you become too powerful too fast.” 

Gi-Gyu nodded and laid down on the sofa, utterly spent.
He entered the Tower after the sparring match with Tae-Shik without taking a rest.
And after two days of battling the skeletons, Gi-Gyu needed sleep. 

Also, Death’s aftereffects were especially long-lasting. 

‘Definitely not something you break a piñata with.’  

However, Death, as a skill, could deliver a fatal blow to his enemies, so he had to master it somehow. 

“So, how did it go?” Gi-Gyu went right to the point.
He wanted to return home and rest, so there was no time for chit-chat. 

“What do you mean? You’re a ranker now, of course.”

“That’s it?” Gi-Gyu asked in shock, surprising Tae-Shik with his shock.
Tae-Shik explained, “What did you expect? I did tell you there were two ways to become a ranker, right?”

“Yes.”

One way was to fight another existing ranker to steal his ranker status.
The other was to take over a dead ranker’s position with the association’s help.
Tae-Shik chose the second method for Gi-Gyu, so Gi-Gyu didn’t have to do much to get this prestigious title. 

Gi-Gyu murmured, “I feel a little empty now…” 

Every player’s dream was to become a ranker.
Yet, he became one without much effort, so he found this whole deal a bit surreal. 

Tae-Shik explained, “For now, your face is registered only in the Korean association records.
Depending on the situation, we may have to release your identity.
But the old man has been implementing new policies to clean up the association, so I don’t think you have to worry about your safety.”

“All right.” Gi-Gyu wasn’t worried at all.
He knew Tae-Shik and the association president were doing their best to protect him.
Besides, Gi-Gyu felt like he was now strong enough to protect himself even if his identity became known.
Of course, he wanted to avoid being a public figure at all costs. 

“Well, I’ll see you later then,” Gi-Gyu announced.
He was so tired that he only desired the warmth of his bed now.
He was about to leave the office when Tae-Shik yelled, “Hey! You still have to do one thing before it’s official!