Planet Earth, Somewhere in Antarctica.
It was a full eclipse night; the sky and the ground were enveloped in total darkness. The only sound came from the wind, howling through the barren landscape. In the distance, a flickering light emanated from a bonfire in an open field.
In the area illuminated by the fire, countless corpses littered the ground, their lifeless bodies a gruesome testament to violence. Blood pooled around them, painting the snow a vivid red. Each victim bore a single slash across their throat—simple, yet deadly.
Amidst the eerie silence, a faint, shuddering breath echoed from the shadows. It was weak and labored, as if drawn from the depths of despair. But in the surrounding darkness, there was nothing—only the dying wind and the macabre scene before it.
As the eclipse progressed, the shadows began to recede, revealing a man lying on the frozen ground. His body was marred by countless cuts; some wounds were cauterized by fire, while others were encrusted with frost. His breathing grew shallower, golden eyes fluttering as he fought to stay conscious.
"So, this is where it all ends…" a low chuckle escaped his lips, a sound both bitter and resigned. "To think that after all I've endured, my demise would come from mana depletion..."
With a flicker of determination, he continued, "Looks like I'll have to enter the Tower. Leaving Earth behind... I still have so many things to do here... so many people to end… and make her pay for what she has done..."
The Tower of Madness—simply called the Tower—was a place every intelligent being with awakened mana received an invitation to enter. It promised opportunities and dangers in equal measure. For Earthlings, it was the only path to progress, as the mana on the planet was scarce and diminishing year by year. Humans had reached a point where moving forward seemed impossible. Countless Awakeners had accepted the invitation, but the number of Returners could be counted on one hand.
| You have completed the steps to enter the Tower and received an Invitation. |
| All your levels will be lost; you will return to the beginning of your mana journey, but your knowledge will remain. Countless treasures and opportunities await you inside, along with countless dangers and competitors lurking around every corner. |
| Think wisely before deciding; once accepted, you will be transported away from your home world. Do you accept? |
"Like I have any other choice in this situation," he murmured, a small laugh escaping him. Izaak had seen this screen for ten years, ever since he awakened his mana. He had postponed his answer countless times, knowing deep down that it still wasn't the right moment. Yet life had a way of complicating matters.
With his body in such disarray, Izaak recognized that his time was running out. The only choice left was to accept and enter the Tower. He moved his hands as if pressing something in the air, a blue light enveloping his body. In the blink of an eye, he was gone.
| Congratulations to Izaak Silva. You have entered the Tower. |