Amidst terrifying growls, the forest slowly turned illusory.
One in particular destabilised him as it echoed thunderously in the surroundings.
From the corner of his eyes and through the fading trees, he noticed a towering figure, its muscles bulging in an unholy display of power. Its green fur blended with the vegetation as his green eyes glinted with intelligence.
He paled at the sight of the monstrosity, almost falling from his branch.
"Who designed such a nightmarish beast?" He asked, his hands trembling in a mix of fear and hate.
It was another bear, much taller and larger than the one he fought.
After five seconds, he couldn't help but sigh in relief as the dangerous forest and its inhabitants turned into light and entirely disappeared as the room assumed its white, boundless appearance.
Soon, messages appeared before his tired eyes, causing him to smile brightly.
[Challenger Adam completed the first trial.]
[Reviewing process and rating it.]
[Brown bear, three wolves and one alpha wolf slain.]
"Hum, hum, and it was hard. You'd better give me a good rating!" Adam said, his eyes glowing with impatience as he remembered the promised rewards and how timely the last kill came.
After all, he hadn't hit any vital spots on the escaping wolf. Moreover, as the spear wasn't removed, its blood couldn't flow out, allowing it to survive for almost two days despite the wound.
[Rating: A]
"YEAH! Give the rewards now!" He exclaimed happily, his hands raised in triumph as his suffering was rewarded with an excellent rating.
[Achievement and title unlocked: First Floor's Conqueror]
[Boss not vanquished. Calculating rewards.]
His eyes widened in realisation. The green bear was the trial's boss! Cold sweat formed on his forehead as he imagined the fight. After all, the regular brown bear felt like a boss to him already.
[Granting enigmatic rank item to the challenger: Grimoire Lingua for his rating.]
"WHAT? Did I almost die for a stupid book? Change the reward, stupid tower!!" He yelled in outrage. What good could a book do him in his situation? He would have preferred a weapon or an armor.
However, another message swiftly appeared, brightening his mood.
[Attributing additional reward for being the first to conquer the first challenge.]
He waited with bated breath, his eyes alight with greed as the message finally shifted.
[Granting the uncommon weapon Beastbane Dagger.]
"Why did it drop to the uncommon grade? Give me an enigmatic weapon and an uncommon book, not the opposite..." Adam said, tears welling in his eyes. Why was the tower so cruel? He felt he suffered so much for nothing.
[Items granted by the tower are soul-bound. They can't be stolen, traded or lost.]
[Do you want to proceed with the second floor's challenge?]
His eyes widened in panic as the last message forced a despair-filled scream out of his mouth. "NO!! Let me out!" From all the things he could do, engaging in another deadly trial was the last he wanted.
A complex magic circle appeared below his feet as his scream lingered in the air. White radiant light, humming mysteriously, engulfed him once more and forced his eyes shut.
When he reopened them, he was back in the plaza, holding a ghostly grimoire and a dagger in his hands.
He checked his surroundings curiously, hoping to see someone else in the mysterious place. Sadly, even after two days, he didn't notice any changes.
Except for a detail that made him frown in displeasure. One of the giant holographic screens had a new entry.
[Dream place eleven's area: tower Rankings: First place: Adam.]
"... Why do you want to expose me? I know I said I would brag about my trial, but not by plastering my name in the sky. Now everyone will know my name!" He roared at the screen, his voice reverberating with rage, his features twisted in a grimace of fury. He despised attention, and the thought of his name being broadcasted sent shivers down his spine.
Little did he know that "First Floor's Conqueror" was displayed in bold, majestic font against a background mirroring the tower's forest. Bears' and wolves' paws decorated the letters, giving the title a primal charm.
He swiftly returned home, his angry stomps echoing lonely in the empty plaza as he tried to uplift his mood by thinking about his newly acquired items.
***
Sitting on his bed, he examined the dagger first. He didn't really know how items ranked in terms of rarity, but with such a cool name, the weapon couldn't be bad, right?
His eyes narrowed in concentration as he analysed its surface before a screen appeared, the description of the item unveiling itself in front of his eyes.
Beastbane Dagger:
Rank: Uncommon
Description: Crafted from the formidable fangs of a fearsome bear and an alpha wolf, the Beastbane Dagger exudes a primal and dark aura. Its razor-sharp blade, with a distinctive darkened hue, carries the essence of the ferocious creatures it was derived from.
Abilities:
Ferocity Enhancement: Infused with the raw power of the bear and alpha wolf, the dagger deals extra damage against supernatural or monstrous adversaries.
Animal Instinct: Wielders may experience heightened instincts, gaining a subtle awareness of their surroundings when the dagger is unsheathed.
"Wow, what a cool weapon. Wait..." he exclaimed before realising something.
He swiftly put his hand in his pocket, only to find it empty. The fangs of the bear and wolf were gone, saddening him a little. After all, he lost his boasting materials.
"Whatever, I got a cool and strong weapon made of them in exchange." He said, feeling a growing attachment to the dagger.
Then, he gazed at the grimoire in frustration. Enigmatic sounded much cooler than uncommon, and he couldn't help but feel it was wasted on a book.
Name: Grimoire Lingua
Rarity: Enigmatic
Description: The Grimoire Lingua, or the Tongue Whisperer, is a cryptic volume shrouded in spectral leather, its pages adorned with glyphs that seem to dance in spectral hues. This mysterious artefact goes beyond the mundane understanding of languages, delving into the arcane tapestry of communication.
Abilities:
Universal Translation: Enables the user to understand, speak and write any language.
Ephemeral Lexicon: The grimoire adapts to emerging languages and dialects, becoming a living lexicon that evolves with the tongues it encounters.
Mystic Resonance: The possessor gains an intuitive understanding of the emotional nuances embedded in languages. This resonance enhances the wielder's ability to decipher and interpret the true meaning behind words, facilitating a profound comprehension of linguistic subtleties.
"Huh?" His eyes widened as he read the description twice more to ensure he grasped the description accurately. What was wrong with that book? The effects were incredible, and it was even considered a living thing to some extent.
"Ok, I admit that this book is going to be really, really useful. Seriously? I'll never have to learn a new language in my life! Hahaha." He burst out in happy laughter, knowing how much time he would gain. After all, mastering a language took years of study and practice.
Throwing all his earlier prejudices, he embraced the book tenderly and kissed it in joy, creating a disturbing scene...
"Ahem, how are the rarities divided, anyway?" he asked after recovering from his intense emotions.
After a few minutes of thinking, he gave up, sure he would learn about them in the future, as the cries of a baby surprised him.
"Sigh, time to leave." He said with mixed feelings, forgetting a crucial detail.
A part of the damage he suffered inside the tower would be carried to his real body outside the Dream place!