I never truly believed in second chances, but now I do. My name is Kiri Tanto. I lived on Earth, and the last thing I remember was my death. I was on my way home with groceries—yes, groceries—when a woman crossed the road. Her brown hair was pinned with a gold butterfly hair accessory. She didn't see the speeding truck. I pushed her out of the way, and just before losing consciousness, I saw a bright green pixelated light enveloping the world. That's all I remember.
I expected to wake up to the sound of medical equipment beeping or a surgeon's voice, but instead, it was the sun. The sun shone in my face, jolting me awake. I felt something crawling on my skin—a butterfly, which I promptly killed by slamming my hand against my face. I looked at my hand, still lying down, with the corpse of the butterfly on it. After a few seconds, it turned into a mesh of red and green pixels.
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You have obtained three butterfly wings.
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What was that? A voice—a voice that didn't belong to me—rang in my head. It sounded robotic. And what's this about three wings? I sat up against a nearby tree and looked at my surroundings. From atop the small mound, I saw cities sprawled sporadically around. In the distance, groups of horses, sheep, and cows grazed. But that wasn't the most unusual thing. There were slimes—yes, slimes—the generic fantasy enemy. They were balls of pure energy with a core in the middle, moving like snails. There were slimes of every color: red, white, blue, silver, black—anything you could imagine. The nearby cities all seemed to have numbers for names: 61, 90, and 348.The closest being 63rd. There was also a giant river, the width of a football field, stretching on and on to my left.
"What's going on?" I mumbled to myself.
I wasn't the only one who seemed confused. There were other groups of people who, like me, had just awakened in this strange world. Scattered like ants across the vast expanse of plains, some of the less fortunate didn't wake up under trees and were being followed by slimes.
I remembered ATWT, or Ascending the World Tree, a 2D game with magic, skills, and everything you could imagine. It was in its beta phase, which I participated in, and it was supposed to release today, May 20, 2035. Was that what the pixelated green light was?
As I began to rise from beneath the tree to head toward the nearby city, everything around me suddenly froze. The slimes, the horses, the cows—everything except for the people I had mentioned earlier.
"Welcome, humanity. Welcome to the World Tree."
A massive figure appeared in the sky, encircled by a cascade of green pixels. He donned a red overcoat that billowed like a cape, and his face was shrouded in darkness. Only his glowing white eyes were visible, piercing through the shadow.
"I'm sure you are all confused and wondering why you are here," he continued. "You have been brought to this world to defeat the boss on the 100th floor and claim a treasure beyond your imagination: one wish. Anything you desire. Want to return to Earth? I can do that. Want to bring someone back to life? I can do that. However, there are stipulations. First, you must survive and defeat the final boss. Those who remain in the cities will not get their wishes. Only those who fight their way to the top will gain their wish."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "This world is vast and perilous. Each floor has its own unique ecosystem and challenges. You must adapt to survive. Trust no one, and be wary of alliances—they can be your greatest asset or your ultimate downfall."
"Remember, the system is your lifeline."
"Every battle you win brings you one step closer to the ultimate prize, but it also draws you nearer to the final confrontation."
"I understand your fear and hesitation. Know this: the weak will perish, but the strong will thrive. Forge your own path, and remember, every decision you make has consequences."
"Your journey will be arduous, filled with trials and tribulations. But remember, the greatest rewards come to those who persevere. The wish at the end of this journey is not just a prize—it is a testament to your willpower and strength."
In front of me, a blue screen appeared:
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Would you like to name your system?
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I said no, and the system showed me seven tabs: Player, Inventory, Friends, World Chat, Quest and Missions, PvP and Item Recipes .
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Name: Kiri Tanto
Age: 17
Race: High Human
Class: Unassigned
Title: Undetermined
Level: 0
Strength: 0
Speed: 0
Health: 100
Perception: 0
Luck: 0
Mastery: 0
Skills (Max 5):
Universal Language Lv MAX
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On the player screen, I could see all my stats, which were at zero, and a miniature version of me wearing leather armor . I noticed that the clothes I was wearing before had been removed, and now I was dressed in the leather starter gear. A rugged, brown tunic crafted from supple hides, with reinforced shoulder pads and a lace-up front for a snug fit. Accompanied by matching bracers and leggings with a subtle pattern, it seemed like I could equip armor and items here. However, I also noticed that there was no intelligence stat and no mana stat, which struck me as odd.
The gigantic man—no, the Game Master—began to speak again.
"Let it be known : if you die in this world, you die forever."
I glanced at the world chat. People with all kinds of names were freaking out, asking why this was happening and if we could respawn. People began to complain, saying that this was too hard and that they had left things behind. To which the Game Master responded:
"I will allow each of you to bring one item from your past life on Earth to aid you in traversing the tower. However, the item must adhere to specific weight and size limitations—so no cars or similarly large objects."
One-of-a-kind items never appeared in the game, at least not during the beta test. The closest things to unique items were relics, which granted players a reward for completing a quest. For example, a chalice that, if you killed a certain number of mobs within a time limit, rewarded you with gold, experience points, or a special skill.
In front of me, a screen displaying all my possessions appeared. Some items, like toys I used to play with or books I once owned, seemed not particularly useful. However, the most valuable item was the World Atlas.
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The World Atlas
Rarity: (1/1)Written By: Kiri TantoDescription: Made during the beta this item contains an accurate detailing of the floors within the World Tree, including information on the bosses and background stories about each floor.
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The World Atlas contains information on all the floors in the game from my time as a beta tester. It includes item crafting recipes and other important things.I smiled to myself. I will clear this tower!!!
"These items also have one more stipulation," the Game Master said. "If you die with the item, it will be put in the auction house so these rare items won't be lost forever."
The Game Master continued, "Congratulations, humanity is now immortal."
Time began to move again, and the people I saw in the distance stood there, whether out of fear or some other emotion. All I knew was that I needed to get to a city as fast as I could because if I didn't, all the items would be gone. Since this isn't a game where everything respawns, once items are gone, it will be impossible to get more.
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Inventory (5 max items):
3x Butterfly Wings
Wallet: 10x Gold
Unassigned Skill points: 10
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I looked in my inventory, noticing the 3 butterfly wings. I assigned 2 skill points to each skill, when I tried to apply skill points to mastery nothing happened, the stat remained at 0.
In the game, you could gain skill points and inventory slots when you level up, but I had no way to beat even a slime in this state. However, I did notice that I got a little bit stronger and faster.
I ran to the closest of the nearby cities, which was city 63.
There were horse-drawn carriages and merchants traveling in every direction along its main highway. The city's heart boasted a robust blacksmith, a variety of shops, and a venerable library, providing both essential goods and wisdom.
There were no guards at the front gate, leaving it open for me to enter. I was scared. The bustling city was very hectic, with horses going in each direction and merchants trying to sell whatever they could.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed an elderly merchant with striking white hair that made him stand out.
"One loaf of bread for one bronze!" an old merchant yelled.
I walked over to him from the center of the road.
"Old man, how much is 10 platinum worth?"
"They've finally arrived, " he muttered before he continued to explain.
"100 bronze is 1 silver.
1000 silver is 1 gold.
10 gold is 1 platinum."
"Thanks, old man," I said as I gave him one silver, which he thanked me profusely for.
I noticed that since I had the money in my wallet, the system must deduct it when I make a purchase .
"What's your name, old man?" I asked over my shoulder.
"Josef … Valente ," he replied,a smile forming on his lips. .
"Josef, how do I get to the Adventurer's Guild?"
"Just keep going down this road. It's the big building at the end; you can't miss it."
"Thanks, Josef."
After a few minutes, I finally arrived at the Adventurer's Guild. At the road's end stood the grand Adventurer's Guild, a beacon for aspiring players. The guild resembled a fortified castle, standing imposingly at the end of the 63rd's main highway. Inside, the grand hall buzzed with activity. Tables and booths filled the space, where adventurers consulted with attendants, planning their next great quests.
The hall was a tapestry of colors and sounds. Adventurers in silver and gold armor mingled with those in simpler leather gear. Some bore intricate designs, their armor adorned with family crests or symbols of past achievements. The clinking of metal and the hum of conversation created a symphony of adventure.
A towering figure in gleaming silver plate armor, likely a seasoned warrior, chatted with a mage whose robes shimmered with a soft, magical glow. Nearby, a group of rogues, their dark leathers blending into the shadows, exchanged hushed whispers. A cleric, her white robes marked with golden runes, offered blessings to a departing party of explorers.
A trio of archers, their bows slung across their backs, compared notes on the best hunting grounds and the air, the air was thick with the scent of adventure.
I waited impatiently for an attendant to be available observing the activity around me. When one finally freed up, I approached her.
She had striking black hair that framed her face, a common trait among the guild staff I'd noticed. Her attire contrasted sharply with the adventurers' armor: a sleek, tailored suit. The suit bore the guild's emblem: a detailed compass with a prominent north point. Each point ended with a diamond, all colorless except for the one pointing north, which glowed with a light blue hue.
"How can I assist you today?" she asked, like she had asked this question hundreds of times, while still looking over at one of her colleagues.
When she finally looked at me and froze like she had seen a ghost, almost everyone in the room turned to stare at me.
"What's wrong?" I asked, still nervous that I had done something wrong.
She shook her head, quickly composing herself. "I'm sorry. It's just... I've never seen a High Human before."
"High Human?" I said, confused. "What's the difference between that and a human like you?"
She took a deep breath before replying, "Only High Humans can change this world."