Hyeonu Kim

Hyeonu Kim (김 현우 Kim Hyeonu) is the protagonist of the series. He was trapped in the Korean tutorial tower for twelve years as a result of being "cursed". After thousands of runs of killing monsters, gaining experience, and maxing out his stats, he was finally released from the tower.

Outside the tower, he's famously known worldwide as the "Advanced Player", as numerous trainees has encountered him while in the tower. Now that he's out, he has become more a phenomenon, gaining him praise from many and animosity from others.

History
Hyeonu Kim's parents died when he was young. He was left at a children's home by his uncle, who then ran off and stole his inheritance.

In 2006, around the time towers and monsters appeared on Earth, he was one of the first to be unwillingly transported to the Korean tutorial tower along with a number of other trainees. Once clearing the tower once, he and his newly made companions would exit through the gate at Level 99. However, he was instead sent back to Level 1. After a second run he discovered that he has been inflicted by a curse, which prevented him from ever leaving the tower. After learning this, he became infuriated and despaired over the situation for a while. His determination to return to the outside world combined with the sheer boredom, motivated Hyeonu to attempt various different methods in hopes that they would lift the curse. He tried increasing his stats to the maximum level, completing a tower run all alone, completing ten runs at a time, etc. For five years he did whatever he could to try to escape, but to no avail. Eventually, he accepted his situation, and tried his best to distract himself from his fate by role playing and performing various stunts. He taught himself some rather flimsy, but effective martial arts knowledge through the anime and comics he watched. He passed this knowledge on to two students he took under his wing during his stay at the tower.

On his 1,349th run, his player HUD revealed that the curse had finally been lifted. With this rejuvenating news, ecstatic, Hyeonu made a mad dash for the exit, clearing the tower in record breaking time.

After breaking free, news of his emancipation spread throughout the world. Now that Hyeonu was out, he was practically stronger than any hunter or monster in the world. Shortly after his return, he participated in the Hunter Assessment Exam, acting very nonchalantly and casual about what was to others a very serious event, confusing people as to his reason of his attendance. He passed with flying colors (and flying rubble too), and shocked the world with his overpowered abilities.

Stats
As of Chapter 96, Hyeonu Kim's stats are:

Appearance
Hyeonu Kim has short, dark brown hair and red eyes. He has an average build and is notorious for wearing nothing but a black tracksuit and black slippers in all of his appearances in the manhwa.

Personality
Hyeonu usually comes off as laid-back and indifferent to many of the dangers that approach him. During the Hunter Evaluation, he was seen acting unconcerned and completely calm as he walked up and casually punched each monster to death that appeared. His confidence never wavers, even during the time he was completely surrounded in an alleyway by assassins from the Ares Guild. Perhaps, it's due to his extended stay in the tower that has dulled his sense of danger.

When it comes to being attacked or mistreated by other people, he acts arrogant and savage, never holding back on those who cross him. During his fight against Cheongang Shin when Hyeonu was restrained with his magic chains, he never once broke his cool demeanor, and defeated him without a sweat. However, given that he's insanely strong, his large ego is no surprise.

He's also a guardian of the 9th Floor, A.K.A. Earth, and is tasked by the system of the world to protect it. although it seems Hyeonu's main reason for saving the world is to gather information to take revenge on the person who cursed him, not because of heroism. This shows that Hyeonu is not particularly a heroic character, and is primarily motivated by selfish reasons.

Despite this, he is overall a good and respectable person, who has saved plenty of lives.

Friends
Sihyeon Kim - Hyeonu met Sihyeon in the Tower and they became friends alongside Seoyeon and Seokwan. He cares for Hyeonu a lot, despite not showing it, always helping him deal with the many annoying reporters after Hyeonu.

Seoyeon Lee - One of Hyeonu's friends from the first generation tutorial tower summons. She often worries and nags the most about Hyeonu's recklessness, but that's because she cares about him. On one account, Hyeonu mistook Seoyeon's friendly concern, for romantic interest, which greatly irritated her.

Seokwon - The third friend from Hyeonu's group during the first generation of tutorial tower summons. He is not as mentioned as Shiyeon and Seoyeon, and not much of him is known other than he is generally a positive and chill person. He often has a smile on his face and is the least concerned when it comes to Hyeonu's daring decisions.

Mi Ryeong - The leader of the Imperial Guild, and dominates China. She is Hyeonu's former disciple from within the tower and is obsessed with him. She competes with Hanarin for his love. Mi Ryeong was taught affection and how to stand up for herself by Hyeonu, and therefore has sworn absolute loyalty to him. After they are reunited, Mi Ryeong consistently follows him around.

Hanarin - She is Hyeonu's other disciple. She was saved by Hyeonu from her previous teammates who tried killing her in the tutorial tower. She acted as more like a companion than a disciple in the tower, but also has the same obsessive affections for him as Mi Ryeong and competes with her for his love. After emerging from the tutorial tower, Hanarin established the Illumiti in North America for him.

Cheonma - Cheonma was previously a climber that Hyeonu killed, who Hyeonu met a second time through a different dimension. Hyeonu traveled to said dimension to ask Cheonma to teach him some martial arts, a request that Cheonma immediately denied. After a scuffle, that which included tens of thousands of deaths and rebirths, Cheonma began to teach Hyeonu after being impressed by his unbreakable resolve. They have a rather rocky relationship, though each hold some form of respect for the other.

Quotes
" People just got to cover what they need to cover why are they complaining?" ~ Hyeonu Kim's response to Sihyeon Kim's question on why he wore the same tracksuit all the time, even to formal events.

" Ten seconds ! That's the amount of time you were my mentor now let me show you the proper way! " ~ Hyeonu Kim to Cheonma