After activating [Talent: Greater Risk, Greater Reward L2], Kale was abruptly teleported to a vast, strange white room. Three choices appeared before him: an item, a skill, and stats. He quickly realized that this must be the effect of his talent's second level.
He pondered his options carefully. Taking a powerful skill would likely become a burden under his cursed talent. His stats were already abnormally high for someone at his level, and increasing them further might only make future battles more punishing. The only logical option was to select an item, as he currently lacked any significant or usable gear. His last trial had pushed him beyond his limits, and he needed better equipment to survive.
When the next window opened, it displayed a wide array of items. His eyes were instantly drawn to a legendary weapon, the Heavenly Demon's Tear, a blade renowned for its immense power. From what Kile had taught him about the Tower's treasures and monsters' weaknesses, Kale knew this weapon would be a formidable choice. However, something else caught his attention—something most others would have overlooked.
Amid the legendary items was an unassuming piece of equipment: a simple mask. It was hardly ever used by players, starting with a low initial rank of F3. But Kale knew its true value—this was the Mask of the Fool, an artifact that grew stronger alongside its user. He had heard the legend whispered before.
The Legend of the Fool spoke of the strongest player to ever set foot in the Tower. His power was so great that he could have slain the gods if he wished, but he was betrayed by those he loved, earning him the title "The Fool." Before his demise, he scattered his power across the Tower. The legend claimed that whoever gathered the essence of his power would inherit his legacy, and perhaps even revive him. While most dismissed this tale as a myth, Kale knew the truth. The gods had collected almost every piece of the Fool's power, except for one: the Fool's Mask, said to be the strongest of them all.
Without hesitation, Kale chose the mask. Not only did he recognize its immense potential, but he also needed it for another reason—concealment. As the brother of Kile, Kale was infamous in the Tower, and if people discovered he was advancing through the floors, they would quickly connect him to Lord. The higher-ups might already know, but at least the mask would help him blend in, for now.
The moment he made his choice, Kale was teleported to the 4th Floor's main hall. A flood of notifications immediately overwhelmed him as new features and titles unlocked with his progress. Many features were still locked, but several titles caught his attention.
[Feature Titles Unlocked]
[Title Unlocked -> Trap Master (Common)]
[Title Unlocked -> The Super Rookie (Epic)]
[Title Unlocked -> The One Who Surpassed His Limits (Legendary)]
[Title Unlocked -> The Fastest Lv50 (Epic)]
[Title Unlocked -> The Path of God (Epic)]
[Title Unlocked -> Fool's Legacy Candidate (Legendary)]
[Title Unlocked -> Over Heaven (Mythical)]
[Title Unlocked -> Over Hell (Mythical)]
The ranking notifications for the Tower's third trial followed:
[Tower Ranking Trial 3]
Lord: 90,873
Shiva: 68,862
Zeus: 40,274
Sun Wukong: 38,726
Brane: 35,383
Kile: 34,394
Odin: 33,272
…
Once Kale arrived at the 4th Floor's main hall, he wasted no time and immediately put on the Fool's Mask. As soon as it settled over his face, he felt a faint pulse of energy, as if the mask had acknowledged its new owner.
A few adventurers nearby glanced in his direction, curiosity in their eyes. Kale smirked beneath the mask. Even though I stand out because of this mask, I'd stand out even more without it, he thought. His reputation as Kile's brother would attract too much attention. The mask, though unusual, was a necessity.
Meanwhile, in a grand chamber, Kile sat across from Odin, the weight of recent events heavy in the air between them. The Tower had been shaken, and both knew why.
"Kale's been missing from the 1st Floor for a while now," Odin finally broke the silence. "And now, this new contender—he's somehow obliterating the legendary records we thought would last forever."
Kile's expression hardened. He knew exactly what Odin was hinting at. "I've been watching Kale, but for the last two months, he's vanished," Kile said, voice steady. "There's something else you should remember, though."
Odin raised an eyebrow. "You mean Kale's talent?"
Kile shook his head. "No, not his—mine. One of the main reasons I ascended to this position is because of him. We were both in the same tutorial trial. The difficulty was absurd—abnormally high—but so were the rewards. It wasn't any ordinary trial. It was where my talent evolved."
Odin's eyes narrowed. "Your talent evolved? That's unheard of. No one in the Tower's history has had their talent rank up."
"Exactly," Kile said, his tone serious. "My talent, The Chosen One, became something more during that trial. It evolved because of Kale's presence—his own cursed talent interacted with mine. The risks and rewards spiraled out of control, forcing my talent to ascend."
Odin's gaze sharpened. "And now you think Kale might be causing similar reactions in the Tower?"
"Yes," Kile replied. "He's following the same pattern—warping the trials, pushing boundaries. But this time, it feels different. His very presence seems to be disrupting the Tower's balance. If my talent could evolve because of him, who knows what's happening now."
Odin leaned back in thought, considering the implications. "If Kale continues to rise, this could shake the very foundations of everything we know."
Kile nodded gravely. "It's already started."