Zane manages to enter a hole which makes things complicated. He did not enter the hole through the same entrance because there were already heavy guards there. But he knew another entrance. But the expression on his face was contorted and annoyed when he arrived at his destination.
"It's not here?"
Exactly two weeks ago, he was suddenly in a dark hole that looks like a giant waterway. He did not know why the owner of the body was in that hole. There was a possibility that Gilbert and the others ordered it.
"It couldn't be…"
When Arnold thought he was dead, he suddenly woke up and heard a roar not far from him. A human infected with the blast radiation wants to eat it. Luckily, he can cast his magic skills.
But when he entered the place again, there was nothing to get, no bit of information that he needed.
"Why can I be here? Was it because of my unreasonable request to the Princess? At that time I asked to be revived, is this what I got?"
He repeated this question countless times in his head but as he had expected, he didn't get a single answer. Out of nowhere, suddenly he heard his mom's voice. "I'll not ask why you're trying to change. Just don't go astray, and don't go too far away from home."
"Why would she say that? Now he seemed to have understood. His Mom felt anxious. Zane realized that he too had the same worries that he was having now — that he might leave for somewhere further away, that he might go somewhere far away and not return at all.
He slapped both his cheeks hard with his hands. That woke him up. He was no longer attached to his past life. There was no one to remember him in this world and nothing else for him to leave or regret.
No, just one. Zane's eyes sank as he started to walk "Just like when I was fighting with the knights, maybe now I also have a mission that I have to complete here"
Not from the past, but the future. No, more accurately, something that he would encounter in the future. If it was 2033 now, something would appear someday, and this world would fall. If this was a world where Arnold the Archmage did not exist, then this world would only get worse, not better. That is if he did nothing.
On his way home, Zane observed his surroundings while walking on the busy streets. The sky was blue. A tall steel fortress surrounds and protects the city from the mutants that are outside the fortress city. Being in the bustling and lively landscape seemed to make one feel strangely excited. Until now, he would not have thought that he would miss this moment. Even though the world that is now is far different, he wants to protect the future that he would be living in.
Zane turned his head and muttered while looking far into the horizon.
"I'm going to become a hero in this world."
* * *
Zane walked leisurely and arrived home. It wasn't hard finding his way back. While preparing to be discharged, he noted down his house address in advance. An apartment. Zane entered the house feeling awkward.
"Click—"
As soon as Zane entered after opening the door with his keys, he could see the living room and four rooms at once. It wasn't that huge for four to live, but it was apparent that they were so well-to-do since it was an apartment.
Seems that they aren't back yet. it was early evening. Even though it was time for office workers like her mom to get off from work, her mom had yet to return. She usually comes early. But, the city guardian is different they usually ended late, and sometimes they might rarely come home within a week.
I think we may have a late dinner…. There's still some time. Zane went into what seemed to be his room. In a small room of 12 square meters, Zane sat on the bed that took up half that space.
Even though it was his first time, it didn't feel unfamiliar. A weird feeling came to him. It was a different sense of relief and comfort from his room in the past. It seemed that his body remembered this place.
Pull yourself together. He was quite affected by his mother. It wasn't in the wrong way. Instead, he liked comfort, relief, and warmth, which was different from before. But from now on, these emotions would become poison to him.
"Smack—"
Zane slapped both of his cheeks hard. Pull yourself together, he repeatedly muttered in his mind.
From now on... I'll be back as Arnold. He had lived as Zane for a couple of weeks, and it would stay that way in the future. But besides that, as an Archmage, no one else would be able to catch up to Arnold.
I'm now…. As if chanting a spell, Zane continued muttering in his mind. Arnold. As the spell was finally controlling Zane.
"Whoosh—"
Zane's hand stretched forward and grasped his wide-open hand tightly.
"Rip!"
Zane made a tear in the air, and a space formed. A "magical door" was made in such a way that only Zane could see it.
"Now, we will practice until the body is ready for everything"
Zane walked towards the door. And after taking the first step, the landscape changed in front of Zane's eyes.
* * *
Zane opened his eyes. The white space came back to him. A familiar place, one that he had seen before. The warm feeling from earlier subsided quickly. Zane's eyes changed to those from his past life.
[Welcome back to the Tower of Magic.]
A familiar voice immediately greeted Zane as soon as he opened the door.
[Mr. Arnold or I say Mr. Zane now, how are you?]
Zane smiled.
The Tower of Magic. A place commonly referred to as an abyss by a magician. Tower of Magic is just a tale for ordinary magicians. Only those who get the title of Archmage or high magician will be able to gain their abyss world like this.
So what's in this tower? Everything. His collection of magic robes, magic weapons from magic books, orbs, wands to staff, worthless items that only he has. Until, loyal souls always follow wherever Arnold goes, even to the afterlife.
The Tower of Magic was also the place where Arnold trained, creating dungeons that only he and his loyal followers could practice to the place where Arnold made unique magic that had never been found before.
Now in a new body, to fulfill his greatest desire, he must train the body, make a plan for how he will face the challenges that will come his way, and prepare everything he needs.
"You saw me from here right, Asmodeus? This body is too weak. Looks like I'll be here a long time.
[Then let's start Mr. Zane. Are you going to train this body instantly or the old-fashioned way?]
Zane smiled back at the figure that seemed to be covered in white light. Understanding Zane's intention suddenly came back a voice that was quite loud.
[Gyan Zane, begins to enter the Tower of Magic, the first-floor dungeon. Floor 1/13]
[Choose the level of difficulty.]
[Grade F to S]
[As the level goes up, the level of difficulty increases and the reward for clearing each level gets better.]
The explanation for the trials appeared in front of Zane's eyes. In the past, the dungeon tower was divided into a total of 100 levels. However, now he could clearly see that the maximum height of the tower was only 13 floors. The most manageable level started at Grade F, and the difficulty would have reached its highest point at Grade S.
It wasn't a tough question for him. Since Zane's body is now occupied by Arnold, he always likes a challenge— will choose the most difficult way to shape his body physically and mentally without wasting time and clear the level with perfection.
The choice was up to him. And….
"Of course grade S." Zane's choice was already made.
[You have chosen Grade S.]
Zane had chosen Grade B in his past life. It was quite difficult and as tough as it was, the reward was quite rewarding.
The trials did not start easy. But…. It's not enough with just this.
Arnold knew that the end of the Tower of Magic was on the 100th floor. That was because he was the maker. But as long as he lived in the past, he himself never once touched the last floor. However, now that he saw the stark difference, there was no relief in his eyes. He knew that something had changed there. Something terrible was waiting for him. Even though he likes challenges, he is not one bit as reckless as now. He had never tried a Grade S challenge like now.
But now things looked different. He didn't know when danger would strike. He doesn't know who is the enemy of the world he lives in now. He can only prevent his failures in the past from happening again. He did not want to feel the pain of meeting death. He didn't want to waste his second chance at life.
High risks, high returns. Zane thought as the world began its fall. What would happen if he had chosen a level of greater difficulty? What if he had taken a tougher route? Zane soon came to regret his choice for the first time.
this time…. That was how he made up his mind then.
[Unique Skill: Soulmaster unlocked]
[Grade S of the Tower of Magic First Floor will start.]