Rating is 3.5 but accidentally clicked 4 stars. I remember recommending this novel to other users in the past because it seem to be a good series. Honestly, the 2nd part of the novel is quite weak because of excessive expansion of worldview but I like the ending the author made for this series. The focus of mobile game Pick Me Up is to clear the tower with 100 floors. There's a thousand if not millions of worlds which is divided to upper and lower dimensions. The earth is included... more>> in upper dimension. All of the worlds included in lower dimension was destroyed. Using the fact that only the highest-level observations affect the causality of the lower dimensions, the administrator of the game launch it to earth. After all, users are manipulating the world view of the same name as their hero's lobby. It seems that if the protagonist clears the floor by protecting the city that perished from the lower layer, the city does not perish from the higher layers, it seems to change the past, but at that point it is still unknown whether this is a simple simulation or in the real world. Users can randomly pick 1-3 star rating heroes and 3-5 stars for paid gacha. The MC was summoned to one of the worst S-class world view because it was already devastated and destroyed but it was seeking a comeback by aiming to break the 100 floor of the tower through our MC. The difficulty of the world is 4, one of the hardest if not the hardest with the rating of the regular world ranging from 1 to 3.

Pros:

The MC was summoned to the most difficult world so expect some action. MC is a typical protagonist which is powerful. Story is quite enjoyable and sensible in the 1st half.

Cons:

The material, setting, world view, etc. Are not bad. The characters have very similar personalities and no characteristics. In particular, it is a little unconvincing to just obey the protagonist without any special reason or connection. As soon as the protagonist entered the game, he adapted immediately. I think the MC is very insensitive from the start, but he was forced to stick to his human aspects. The story line itself is not bad, but it was a pity that the actions and personalities of the characters following the events in the 2nd half seemed to be inconsistent, improbable, and unattractive. This is because the world view was so stretched it looks like it was forced. The dialogues became so childish in the 2nd half and it is regrettable that the supporting actors' airflow and immersion have decreased due to the main character's power inflation. Anyway, it's still worth watching because of the ending and the 1st half. <<less

Ummm I read the manhwa first than this novel and yeah I didn't regret reading it again cause there is so much things that makes more sense or something (not like the manhwa is hard to understand) but fr the MC is likeable always got em brain tactics !

definitely worth reading!

I'm so glad this story got picked up for translation, I've been loving the manhwa and have been so eager to read the novel version!! Personally I love how MC blends a coldhearted, ruthless personality that places survival as #1, with a caring & even sometimes gentle persona. Yes, it's the typical tower-type isekai, with MC getting hella OP quickly and a lot of the common elements, but I love the mystery of this plot, the character development, and how well laid out the battles are. Things don't always go... more>> perfectly according to plan, but MC is a badass who overcomes those challenges in creative ways. There's also stellar development of the other characters, not just focused on the MC. Can't wait for the rest of the story! <<less

I don't know why some people are saying the side stories are bad. I loved the side stories. They really fleshed out a lot of characters that were pretty much cardboard in the main chapters.

But they are pretty emotional. Expect to have tissues handy. I guess if you're expecting action, then you might be disappointed. Might as well just go read solo leveling then (which is on another level with the action, but emotionally? Shrug) Aaron's side stories are more similar to the later chapters of SSS-Class su*cide Hunter (which... more>> I really recommend if you're looking for more than just action).

I can see why people think the ending was rushed, but I don't think it was. Would you rather they still just slog through more levels after knowing the truth about the whole game?

Maybe there's a sweet spot between the short ending chapters of this novel and the too-long ending of omniscient reader's viewpoint

Spoiler

(that doesn't even get a proper resolution)

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. Although Han's agency does get lost a bit and he ends up just going with the flow until the end when he actually decides something. But you can tell it was a big decision, because there was no easy answer.

Spoiler

Would you choose to be a battery to keep the universe going, or fight a constant battle infinitely? Is there much of a difference? Imo, not really until he gets his mind back because of his team members.

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Near the end, there's also a pretty big twist that honestly is pretty cliche and should've seen coming, but you don't because it's actually not common in these types of stories. Which just made it so much more interesting.

Overall, this was a really good story and I loved every part of it. The ending was far better than some other stories, tbh. At least there was a conclusion, one that made sense. I think I would put this story in the same level as the heavy weights of omniscient reader's viewpoint, and SSS-Class su*cide hunter. <<less

This story has a very strong early portion. The first half of it is very good, tense, and action-packed. Unlike a lot of other novels where the MC is just OP and can solo everything, Loki has to work in a team. The story has real stakes and pressure.

Unfortunately, the mid to late chapters are way too rushed. The pacing is all off. The story goes from like an 8.5/10 to a 3/10 at about the 70% mark. The ending is still alright though, I think it's quite nice. Overall,... more>> the story is not too bad.

Honestly, the Aaron side stories are the most boring side stories I've ever read. There is absolutely no need to go in depth into the backstories of every high ranking member of Niflheim. It's not necessary to the plot or even interesting at all. I just slogged through them so I could get to the Anytng side stories, which were good fun. <<less

Minor spoiled - 3.5/5 but I give a 4 instead

Well, I just completed the novel version because I liked the manwha.

There is a lot of disappointment in story development and how Author plans things. After the 50th floor The Tower climbing part is really rushed there's no more tactical fight MC just got power leveling with a somewhat cheat ability and soloing almost every boss later.

Side chars from Townia like Belquist or Jenna get negated till the very end of the story. Although, They still get a little scene meanwhile... more>> the heroes from Niflheim got the main spotlight instead.

a little spoiling about the ending

Spoiler

The Ending is pretty forced but Author really pushes a Happy end and I liked it so, I still recommned this novel

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I LOVE THIS STORY (especially the manhwa~)

Before my complaints, let me state there is zero romance in the Novel. Which will be a positive and negative to some. Despite it looking like there may be romance or even a harem rarely, trust me that there will be no romantic plots in the Novel.

Now I love this novel BUT... my wish to 5 star this and love is only for the main story, as the side stories which were really in reality post epilogue stories were really sh!t. The ending... more>> arc was also pretty bad in my opinion, and the novel had a quality drop after they cleared floor 40 or 50ish I say. It felt like the author ran out of ideas and passion. The floor missions started to become generic and lackluster. So much that the author started to straight up skip some floors with mo information of what happened there at all. EVEN A BOSS FLOOR!

Side characters started to become cardboard cutouts too towards the latter half, other than the MC and

Spoiler

princess/master/Issel.

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Due to how drawn out (filler), and stale it was, I started skimming the last arc once he

Spoiler

broke past the 90th floor *wink*

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Really suggest skipping those side story ones once you reach his side story (the ones before his are pretty relevant to the story conclussion), but I doubt you'll listen if you finished the novel. The 4 chaps of content spread between the Aron filler is also somewhat needed to know for Anythng's side stories. <<less

I picked up this novel after reading the first 20 or so manhwa chapters. I didn't start from the beginning, but picked up where the last available chapter of the comic left off, I also read MTL, so take this review with a grain of salt.

What drew me in was a very cool concept. Death game is not a fresh genre by any means, but the author gives the reader a fresh POV, and when the majority of Korean novels are, at least to some extent, Solo Leveling clones, not... more>> making a new clone already puts the author above the 90% of all Korean writers. Not only that, the setting is mysterious, the world building is excellent, the characters have character growth, the system isn't lazy, and the action is really good. When I look at how the events gradually unfold into something bigger, taking the story in unexpected but exciting directions, I can tell right away that the author has planned the story beforehand, something I rarely see in web novels. The last time I felt that was when I was reading RTW, until it got bad. I'm not saying this novel won't be the same towards the end, but so far so good.

I recommend reading both the novel and the comic at the same time, because the artist does great character designs that wonderfully complement the story. <<less

If you've ever read a Korean tower climber before, then you've already read this series. You'll recognize every character, every personality trait, every interaction, every "character arc", etc., etc., etc. The only bit of originality here is the somewhat unique setting. Beyond that, it's basically just copy pasta.

For those that haven't read a Korean tower climber before, please be aware that the protagonist is an a**hole. Thanks to the change in setting, he's actually moved out of the anti-hero spectrum and is a straight up villain. That doesn't matter to... more>> the people in-universe though as everyone either worships the ground he walks on or dies. There are no other options. This reaction from what are effectively NPCs is the norm in this genre, but in better series the MC does actually have redeeming qualities due to not having willingly engaged in literal human sacrifice, so I would recommend those instead. <<less