Igarashi Shoichi's breath echoed in the narrow, winding stairwell as he climbed, each step heavier than the last. The stone steps seemed endless, stretching into the shadows above. His heart pounded, and his mind buzzed with fragments of questions he couldn't answer. Who was he? Why was he here? The only thing he knew was his name, Igarashi Shoichi. Everything else was locked away, hidden deep in his mind.
He pushed forward, unsure what awaited him on the next floor. His surroundings were quiet, too quiet, but somehow the air was growing thicker with tension, as though something was watching him. His hand tightened on the old, leather-bound book he had found earlier. It had told him to ascend, to climb, to reclaim what was lost. The only way out of this mystery was up.
As Shoichi rounded the next bend, he was suddenly met with the flickering light of torches illuminating an archway ahead. He slowed his pace, cautiously approaching the light, his muscles tense with anticipation. The moment he crossed the threshold, his surroundings changed.
The stairwell opened into a vast chamber, much larger than the previous ones, with tall stone walls and a high ceiling draped in shadows. In the center of the room stood a large, muscular figure, his back to Shoichi. His thick arms were crossed, and the air around him felt heavy, charged with something powerful.
Shoichi hesitated. The man turned around, revealing a sharp face with a confident smirk and eyes that burned with fierce determination.
"Didn't think I'd run into anyone this early," the man said, his voice low and rumbling, like distant thunder. His gaze swept over Shoichi, assessing him. "You don't look like much of a threat. Name's Kazuma. What's yours?"
Shoichi blinked, the man's casual demeanor catching him off guard. "I… Igarashi Shoichi," he replied, his voice quieter than he'd intended.
Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Shoichi, huh? You here for the same reason as everyone else?"
Shoichi hesitated. "I don't even know why I'm here. My memories… they're gone. All I know is I have to climb."
Kazuma's smirk widened. "Sounds about right. That's how this place works. The Tower strips you of everything, even your past. But you want answers, don't you? Then you climb. And if you're lucky, you'll survive long enough to get what you want."
Shoichi studied Kazuma. The man was broad and powerful, with an air of confidence that suggested he had already cleared more than one floor. Something about his presence was reassuring, like he was used to facing challenges head-on.
Kazuma's eyes flickered toward the staircase that continued on the other side of the chamber. "We're not alone here, though," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "This floor's different. I've been waiting for someone to show up."
Shoichi's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Kazuma chuckled. "The first quest. You didn't think this was just a walk up some stairs, did you?"
Suddenly, the chamber began to shift. The stone walls rippled, like water disturbed by a pebble, and in their place, an enormous maze of corridors formed before their eyes. The ground quaked, and the torches flickered as the walls solidified, sealing the path ahead.
"The Tower tests us," Kazuma said, cracking his knuckles. "Each floor, a different challenge. This one's a maze, and we're supposed to find the way out. But it's never that simple."
Before Shoichi could respond, a deep voice echoed through the room, neither human nor mechanical, but something in between. The voice reverberated through the walls and into their bones.
"Welcome, climbers. Your task is simple: find the artifact hidden within the maze and bring it to me. Only then will you be allowed to ascend. Those who succeed shall unlock their true potential. Fail, and you will remain trapped on this floor forever."
Shoichi's stomach churned as the voice faded, replaced by a deathly silence. He glanced at Kazuma, who seemed unfazed.
"I've been through a few of these already," Kazuma said, rolling his shoulders. "Stick with me, Shoichi. I'll make sure you don't get lost."
Shoichi wasn't sure why, but he nodded. Something about Kazuma's confidence put him at ease. For now, he would follow.
Together, they entered the maze. The air grew colder as they moved deeper into the labyrinth, their footsteps echoing off the narrow stone walls. Kazuma took the lead, his sharp instincts guiding them through twisting turns and dead ends. Shoichi stayed close, keeping his senses alert for any sign of danger.
As they turned another corner, Kazuma stopped abruptly, holding up a hand to signal silence. Shoichi froze, listening. In the distance, a faint sound echoed through the halls—a soft, rhythmic thumping, like the beating of a heart. It grew louder with each passing second.
"What is that?" Shoichi whispered.
Kazuma narrowed his eyes. "Something's coming."
The air grew thick with tension as the sound approached. Suddenly, the walls at the far end of the corridor began to warp, and a shadowy figure emerged. It was unlike anything Shoichi had ever seen—an entity made entirely of swirling darkness, its form shifting and pulsing like a living void.
"An administrator's guardian," Kazuma muttered under his breath, his fists clenching. "These things guard the paths. We'll need to get past it to reach the artifact."
Shoichi's heart raced as the creature moved toward them, its shape constantly shifting. He could feel the weight of its presence, like a black hole drawing him in. Kazuma, however, didn't seem shaken. He cracked his knuckles and squared his stance.
"I'll take care of this. You keep your eyes open for the artifact," Kazuma said, his voice low and steady.
Before Shoichi could protest, Kazuma surged forward. With a roar, he swung his massive fist at the guardian. His strength was incredible—far beyond anything Shoichi had expected. The guardian recoiled from the impact, but quickly recovered, its shadowy form twisting around Kazuma, trying to envelop him.
Shoichi watched in awe as Kazuma fought, his strength and skill apparent in every move. But he couldn't let himself be distracted. The artifact—the key to the next floor—had to be close. As Kazuma battled the guardian, Shoichi scanned the maze, his eyes searching for any clue.
His gaze fell on a small, faintly glowing object nestled in the corner of the room, partially hidden behind a pile of debris. The artifact. It was a smooth, glass orb, radiating a soft, blue light.
"I found it!" Shoichi shouted over the sounds of battle.
Kazuma grunted in response, delivering a final crushing blow to the guardian, which dissolved into shadows. He glanced over his shoulder at Shoichi, a triumphant grin on his face. "Good timing, kid. Let's get out of here."
Shoichi grabbed the orb, feeling its warmth pulse through his fingers. The moment he touched it, the maze began to tremble. The walls shifted once more, and the path to the exit opened before them.
The same deep voice echoed through the chamber once again. "The first task is complete. Those who pass shall be granted their true power. Proceed to the next floor."
As the words settled in the air, Shoichi's body suddenly surged with warmth. A sharp, intense sensation ran through his veins, and for the first time, he felt something deep within him—something cunlocking. It was as if a door had been opened in his soul, releasing a force that had been dormant.
He gasped, clutching his chest. Power. He could feel it, an ability stirring inside him, one that had been locked away with his memories. He didn't know what it was yet, but he knew that something had changed.
Kazuma clapped him on the shoulder. "Feels weird, huh? That's your ability waking up. Happens to everyone after clearing the first floor."
Shoichi nodded, his breath still shallow. The energy pulsing through him was chaotic and unfamiliar. He held up his hand, and as if responding to his will, the air around his fingers began to shimmer, then twist. A nearby stone on the ground crumbled to dust, decaying in seconds.
Kazuma raised an eyebrow. "Huh. Looks like you've got something dangerous there. Be careful with that, or you'll end up crumbling everything around you."
Shoichi stared at the disintegrated stone, his mind racing. Void Entropy—that's what it felt like. A power that could break down matter and energy, accelerating decay. But it was unstable, uncontrolled.
Kazuma stretched his arms, unconcerned. "Mine's simple," he said, flexing his fingers. "Pure strength. No fancy tricks, just power." He grinned. "Now, come on. Let's see what else this Tower's got in store for us."
Shoichi, still catching his breath, nodded. He could feel the energy pulsing through him, waiting to be fully realized. But there was no time to dwell on it now. The next floor awaited, and with it, more challenges.
Together, they stepped through the newly opened path, leaving the maze behind.
As they ascended the stairs to the next floor, Shoichi couldn't help but wonder what other trials lay.