The bear's massive body crumpled to the ground, its lifeless form spreading across the floor.
Ares straightened, his grip firm on the spear that had ended the fight in one precise blow. Blood dripped from the blade's tip, bright and thick against the stark white floor.
Without a word, Ares gave the spear a quick flick, sending droplets splattering across the ground, and lowered it to his side.
For a moment, he stared at the bear. Everything about it—the texture of its fur, the musk in the air, the raw look of anger frozen in its dead eyes—felt unnervingly real.
Yet he knew it wasn't. The bear wasn't a living beast but a construct, a test created by the Zenith Tower.
"Unbelievable," Ares muttered under his breath. He crouched beside the beast, his fingers brushing the fur. It felt rough and warm, almost alive.
How could something so lifelike be artificial? Was it magic? Technology? Or perhaps a combination of both?
The advancements in this new Earth were baffling. Ares shook his head and rose, his thoughts lingering on the possibilities.
The people here were far beyond anything he could have imagined from his past life.
Rising to his feet, Ares strode to the door on the other end of the room. He pushed it open and stepped into the next chamber.
It was another plain white room, identical to the first. As the door clicked shut behind him, a second door across the room slid open.
Ares squinted into the space beyond. Then, emerging from the shadows, came a massive figure. The air turned cold in an instant, the temperature dropping sharply.
A three metre tall white wolf padded into the room, its shimmering white fur rippling with an otherworldly glow.
Its icy blue eyes locked onto Ares, and a low, menacing growl rumbled from its throat. Frost spread with every step it took, its pawprints freezing the pristine floor beneath it.
Outside the tower, the youths of Squad 4 gathered around the viewing screens, watching the unfolding scene with wide eyes.
"Squad Leader Ares has the worst luck," one youth muttered. "A Talo White Wolf? That thing's terrifying. They say it's one of the strongest lesser Primordial Fragments."
Another youth nodded grimly. "It's bloodline is usually B or A grade. No way anyone can take that down without using their bloodline ability."
"Quiet!" Sergeant Zeke snapped, his voice cutting through their chatter like a whip. "Keep your mouths shut and watch. If you want to learn something, now's your chance."
The group fell silent, their eyes glued to the screen.
Back inside the tower, the wolf snarled and bolted forward, a blur of white and ice. The floor beneath its paws shimmered with frost, and the air grew colder with each passing second.
Ares stood his ground, his spear resting casually at his side. He didn't flinch or shift, his calm demeanour unshaken by the beast's ferocious charge.
Swoosh!
The wolf pounced, its massive form soaring through the air, claws extended and jaws open wide. Just as it reached him, Ares moved.
With a swift feint, he sidestepped the beast's attack, spinning on his heel.
Puchi!
His spear lashed out like lightning, its tip driving straight into the wolf's eye and piercing deep into its brain.
The creature let out a single, sharp yelp before collapsing mid-air, its lifeless body crashing to the ground with a thunderous thud.
Outside, the Squad 4 youths stood in stunned silence, their jaws practically hitting the floor.
"Did… did he just kill that thing in one strike?" one whispered, his voice trembling.
"He's done it again!" another exclaimed. "How is that even possible?"
In the elite dorms' common area, a short youth stood beside the Sword King, his face pale with disbelief.
"How is his physical strength so insane? Does he have a bloodline that boosts it?"
The Sword King, a tall figure with piercing eyes, shook his head slowly. "No. He hasn't even activated his bloodline ability yet. What you're seeing is pure, unadulterated physical strength."
The short youth's jaw dropped. "But how? How can anyone have that kind of strength without using their bloodline?"
"It's partly because he's probably already broken through to the second milestone," the Sword King explained, his tone measured. "And it's clear that his bloodline grade must be exceptionally high. That kind of strength isn't normal, even for a prodigy."
Back in the tower, Ares continued climbing. The third floor presented a jaguar-like beast, the fourth a towering serpent, and the fifth an iron-scaled boar.
Each fell to a single, well-placed strike of his spear. His precision and efficiency left no room for error, and the camp outside grew louder with every victory.
"He's unstoppable!" one of them exclaimed. "Five floors and not a scratch!"
"How far do you think he'll go?" one youth asked, excitement evident in his voice.
"Eight floors, maybe nine," another guessed.
Lisa, standing at the back of the group, crossed her arms and smirked. "He'll clear ten. Just watch."
Ares stepped onto the sixth floor, and his eyes immediately widened in surprise. The plain white walls were gone. In their place was a sprawling forest, lush and vibrant.
Towering trees stretched toward a brilliant blue sky, sunlight filtering through the leaves. The air was fresh and crisp, carrying the earthy scent of nature.
"This… this can't be real," Ares muttered, his gaze scanning the scene. Birds chirped in the distance, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves. Even the dirt beneath his boots felt authentic.
He knelt and pressed a hand to the ground, feeling the cool, damp soil. "How did they manage to do this? A sky? Trees? Even the air feels alive. Is this still part of the tower?"
The question hung in his mind, but he had no time to dwell on it. Rising to his feet, he placed his spear against a nearby tree.
Then, with a deliberate motion, he unsheathed his sword, its blade gleaming in the sunlight.
Gripping the hilt tightly, Ares allowed a small smile to play across his lips.
"It's time to get serious."
_____
Power stone Goal!
50 PS - 1 Bonus chapter
100 PS - 2 Bonus chapter
200 PS (Quite an achievement as of now) - 3 Bonus chapters.