Kale stepped into the 5th Floor's main hall, his breath catching in his throat at the sight. The atmosphere was different—grander, livelier, and far more bustling than the halls of the previous floors. The walls gleamed with intricate carvings, glowing faintly with magical runes that pulsed with power. Giant banners hung from the ceilings, emblazoned with symbols of victory and legend, each representing a player who had left their mark on the Tower.
The hall itself stretched far into the distance, with towering pillars that seemed to touch the heavens, creating a feeling of awe and grandeur. A sprawling marketplace buzzed with activity, players haggling over weapons, armor, and rare items. The energy was palpable, filled with the tension and anticipation of those who knew that from this point on, the Tower would get unimaginably harder.
Kale noticed that many of the players here looked seasoned, their gear far more advanced than what he had seen on lower floors. These weren't just regular players trying to survive the trials—many were from higher floors, coming down either to farm experience, help friends, or gather rare items.
"Looks like things are getting serious," Kale muttered, his eyes scanning the crowd.
It made sense. The Tower was designed to weed out the weak, and from the 5th floor onward, the trials would begin to separate those who would rise to the top from those who would fall. For normal players, this floor was the beginning of something brutal, but Kale knew he had an edge.
He opened his status window and noticed something new—a title glinting in golden letters: The Mythical Rank Hero (Legendary). A small smile played on his lips as he read the description.
[The Mythical Rank Hero (Legendary)]: You have unlocked one of the key requirements to participate in the One True Hero quest. Hero-related skills are enhanced.
This was huge. Kale had been waiting for something like this—a concrete step toward the ultimate goal of becoming the One True Hero. He knew the Tower wouldn't give that title easily, but now he was closer than ever.
His attention shifted to Nandaki, his prized skill. It too had undergone a transformation. The name had changed to Hero's Nandaki (S1), though it remained at S1 rank. The description, however, was different:
[You have unlocked 10% of Nandaki's potential. Hidden information revealed: Nandaki is a weapon that can change classes.]
Kale's eyes widened at that last part. A weapon that could change classes? That was new information, something that had never been revealed before. He always knew there was something special about Nandaki, but this opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. The idea that he had only unlocked 10% of its potential was both thrilling and terrifying.
Still, there wasn't much more to discover about it for now, and Kale shrugged. "Guess I'll figure that out as I go."
He couldn't help but reflect on how unexpectedly smooth the 4th floor had been. His cursed talent, Greater Risk, Greater Reward, hadn't even activated during the trial, which meant the Tower hadn't deemed it necessary to ramp up the difficulty for him. It made sense, though. The 4th floor had been easy—perhaps too easy.
"I already have powerful skills," he mused. "Now the only thing I need to focus on is climbing the Tower, and fast."
Kale opened the Tower's ranking list, his curiosity piqued. He scrolled down to the most recent rankings for Trial 4:
Sun Wukong: 31,682
Lord: 30,273
Brane: 28,187
Kale: 28,102
Shiva: 27,872
Zeus: 25,454
Odin: 24,234...
Kale's name gleamed in the top four, higher than he had anticipated. He wasn't first, but he was proud of his position nonetheless. Being so close to the top gave him a rush of satisfaction.
"I always knew I had potential," Kale said with a grin, "but seeing it like this... it feels even better."
He then glanced at his accumulated karma—12,323,234. It seemed like a lot, but Kale knew how much the top players earned. This amount was nothing compared to the elite, but for now, it was good enough. He had enough karma to buy what he needed.
He scanned the marketplace, looking for a decent sword. After some searching, he found an Epic weapon, gleaming with power. It cost him a whopping 10,000,000 karma, but Kale knew it was worth the investment. The next trial would be much more intense, and he needed the best equipment he could get.
After making his purchase, Kale made his way toward the portal for the next trial. The portal itself was far more majestic and menacing than anything he had encountered before. It was a towering archway of black stone, pulsating with dark energy. Strange symbols danced across its surface, radiating a sense of danger and foreboding. The air around it seemed to hum with anticipation, as if the portal was alive, waiting for its next challenger.
Kale approached it cautiously, reading the options presented to him:
1. Battle Royale (Exclusive to Heroes)
2. Standard Trial
His eyes lingered on the first option. The Battle Royale. If he won, he would be sent directly to the 10th floor, bypassing five entire floors. The rewards for winning the Battle Royale were also exponentially greater—far better than completing a hundred standard trials. However, the difficulty was rumored to be off the charts. It was a fight to the death against other hero-class players, all of whom would be as skilled and powerful.
But one reward caught Kale's attention more than anything else: Hell's Keys. They were essential for his long-term plans, and the only way to obtain them was by winning the Battle Royale.
His fingers hovered over the options for a moment, but the decision had already been made.
"I have to choose the Battle Royale," Kale whispered to himself. "There's no other way."
With a deep breath, he selected the Battle Royale option, knowing full well that he was walking into one of the most dangerous trials of his life.
"Let the gods send their best. I'll cut them down just the same," Kale muttered, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "This isn't about surviving anymore. This is about winning."
The portal began to glow with a sinister light, and Kale felt a rush of adrenaline. The stakes were higher than ever, but he was ready. He had fought against impossible odds before, and he knew that this time would be no different. He was determined to win, to claim Hell's Keys, and to ascend the Tower faster than anyone ever had.
The dark energy swirled around him as he stepped through the portal. "If the Tower wants to test me, it better be ready. I'm coming for everything."
As the world around him shifted, a final thought echoed in Kale's mind:
This isn't just a trial. It's the beginning of something much, much bigger.