I was just the typical product-of-society office worker, living off minimum wage, with a 9-to-5 job. The repetition of daily beat downs by my boss or constantly being the target of workplace gossip was getting tiring. At some point, the monotony became unbearable to the point that I could barely get out of my bed in the morning. The stress that I endured daily was only let off after I came home.
All young boys and girls fantasize about a pure romance with the person of their dreams. This was something that I had hoped for and remained the center of my life even as I grew older. Yet, overtime, I began to realize that this dream was unachievable, so I began to absorb myself into novels. It served not only as an escape from my job, but I had felt that it turned me into something that I was not, something better. Despite me reading many, the only novels I read spoke of a beautiful woman who was naive and was unable to protect herself so she let handsome men take care of her instead.
It was that very night, after I had finished rereading my favorite novel for the third time before the final chapter came out, that I had died.
I was walking from my apartment to the convenience store across the street to pick up my favorite instant ramen for dinner. I donned a dark grey jumper, yet still I could feel my hands as they seemed to turn into small icicles. I passed the same small restaurant adjacent to my broken down complex to reach the crosswalk. I waited, as cars passed by, for the light to switch to that white silhouette of a man that told me that the road was safe for me to enter. Finally it switched, and I started walking looking down at the ground as to not meet others eyes, like I had done something shameful. Then I was blessed with extreme luck, there, on the ground, lay a $100 bill laying on the street. I bent my stiff knees and eagerly grabbed that dark green piece of paper that, for some reason, meant so much to me. I thought that it was my lucky day. The universe was finally paying me back for all the trials and tribulations that it put me through, but I was wrong.
Suddenly, I could see bright white lights creeping quickly towards me, so quick that I could only see what it was right before the impact. My weak body was no match for the large transportation bus that would not let anything slow down its path. My body shot away from where I had previously knelt and it felt as if my soul had been left behind, but I knew very well that it hadn't. I wished it had left, at least then I would not have felt every bone in my body fracturing into tiny pieces. In that cold weather, I began to warm up from the blood that seeped out from unknown parts of my body like it had to get somewhere.
That situation seemed ironic in a way. I was the woman who needed saving, but still no handsome man, or person at all, had pulled me out of the agony that I was in. It was nothing like the novels I had read, or maybe it was because I wasn't pretty that no one saved me.
In that moment of sorrow, still I was angry. Not angry at myself, but upset that I could not read the final chapter of that novel. As I took in my last breath, I murmured my final words, "Now who is going to tell me what happens in the final floor?"
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My consciousness seemed to idle in a world of complete darkness for what seemed like ages. Even as I tried to scream, there would be no answer and even as I tried to peel my eyes open, no light could be seen. I thought that I was dead, finally. I was constantly overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness, even though I never had any friends or family when I was living, still the people in the streets made me feel that I was not alone. Yet, it was not sad. It was the one place where nothing I did matter, it was like I was sleeping, yet I did not dream. It was the only moment that I had truly felt at peace.
All of a sudden, the darkness shifted to a blood red color and I felt the same sensation of warmness that I had felt as I had died engulf my body. Once again I felt that I had arms, legs, feet fingers, what a beautiful sensation often taken for-granted. I slowly tried to wiggle my fingers as if I was Mozart composing music on a piano. Then came my toes which moved as well, but they did not move with the same grace as my fingers did. I was hesitant for a moment to open my eyes after so long. I was worried that I would be disappointed that I was still living. I decided to sit up first and then open my eyes, but when I used my strength, I still was unable to move. I was being held in something or by someone. I quickly peeled open my eyes to see what situation I ws in.
I could see smoke emanating from a warm fire. The light painted beautiful shades of yellow and red on the seemingly cold stone walls. The room was the size of any classroom that I had grown up in, yet the stone walls indicated that it was part of a large cave. From the position that I was in, there was no indication of an opening in the room that could be used to get in or get out. Slowly, I harnessed my maximum strength to shift my body around to see what was holding my limbs. As I saw what was behind me I quickly used all my might and pushed it away, and scurried to the opposite side of the room.
I was being held by some creature, not a human, but something else. The creature resembled a dragon or a dinosaur with a long body and a distinctive face, but that would be impossible because neither of those things resided in Tokyo especially in the 21st century. It was clearly still breathing, but it was muffled and I could see blood dripping down its body flowing out of a large incision along its spine. The blood that was dripping was different from the typical red, it instead was a dark blue like the depths of an ocean or the sky as it shifts from night to day.
I assumed that I must have been in a dream. I had heard that some people have odd dreams after they experience extreme trauma, maybe that was it. I must have been so badly hurt that my body fell into a coma.
This new thought seemed to momentarily turn off the switch for all the fear that had piled up within the previous minutes.
I looked around the room once again and noticed that behind the creature was a small opening in the cavern that was partially obstructed by the body. I realized that I would have to pass the creature once again to get out of this place I was stuck in.
I took only a few minutes to think of my plan, when I felt that familiar warm sensation again. And something trickled into my eye, stinging it. I wiped my forehead, then held my hand in front of my face only to see a stain of crimson blood covering it. I was frantic, but ,glancing back at the creature, I could see dried blood on its claws. Fuck, it got me. I began to feel light headed, and I knew that the only way to survival would be out that tiny passage.
I went back to staring at the fire in contemplation of my next move. That is when I saw a long sharp metal rod laying in the ashes under the fire. The metal had turned a bright white indicating the extreme temperature that the fire had put into it. That same moment, I saw the creature's reptilian foot begin to move. I quickly turned my face to that mysterious "thing," and I watched it as its eyes peeled open like I had just previously done. It stared directly into my eyes and I could feel an extreme pressure exuded by it. In the moment, I felt possessed by something, then I rushed to the fire and firmly grasped the metal rod. I screamed as the metal burned my hands turning my skin into ashes in an instant, but I continued to endure. I gathered all my strength then threw my arms behind my head and struck the creature in the spine where its previous cut was. I could smell the burning of the flesh and hear the cries of the monster. The dragon roared in undeniable anger and it curried enough strength to begin to try and shake me off. The head of it turned around widening its mouth as if to bite me once again. I threw my hands up again, yet this time I dug deeper into the dragon's body cavity. I could feel the push back as I tore through the layers of its body. The final struggles of the monster began to subside and its breathing had stopped. Immediately after I could hear it take its last breath, a blue screen appeared in front of my face.
Congratulations on defeating the Great Dragon, Ruler of the Eight Worlds. What was going on? What was this notification? It was just like a scene in a novel, where the male lead had finally defeated a monster and was gaining the skills. Then more screens began to pop up...
Title gained: Dragon Slayer
This title is given as a result of defeating the Great Dragon, Ruler of the Eight Worlds who was able to complete all floors until Floor 98. Grants an additional boost of 100% to all stats. Associated with "Control" skill which exudes a great pressure on enemies that makes stats 10% lowered for 10 minutes (Proficiency 0%). Associated with "Eternal Beast Body" skill which grants the user a reinforced body with heightened senses along with greater defense (Proficiency 0%). This skills associated benefits are temporarily locked and will be revealed as proficiency level increases.
Title gained: 1st Tower Ascender
This title is given to the human who was accidentally relocated to Floor 13 of the tower before the opening of the tower on their home planet. Associated quest: Complete floors 14 through 60 of the Tower before other humans are able to climb to Floor 13. Associated with "Trailblazer" skill which gains additionally rewards and has a 100% likelihood of gaining a rare artifact from completing a level or finding hidden chests. As new accomplishments are achieved skill will produce better rewards and generate higher rankings (Proficiency 0%).
Artifact gained: Dragon's Eyes
The eyes of the dragon, Ruler of Eight Worlds, grants the user the ability to see the mana flow of the world. Additional skill granted for the 1st Tower Ascender: the user is able to use the memories of the Dragon at their will to navigate through the tower.
Artifact gained: Dragon's Mana
All the mana that had been circulating through the Great Dragon has been greatly condensed and is turned into a consumable item to be used only by those with the "Eternal Beast Body" and gives an unlimited supply of mana from the immortal. This consumable is slowly used as proficiency increases and level increases so the body does not explode as a result.
Artifact gained: Dragon's Treasury
An artifact that was passed down from generations within the Dragon family that has held the belongings of the Great Dragon for the entirety of its life. The space inside the Treasury can be accessed by teleportation runes engrained within and contains 100 hectares of land. Space inside artifact increases as user's level increases.