The Tower's Evaluation. For most, it was a mysterious, critical rite of passage that determined not just their class, but whether they'd survive to see the Tower's heights or if they'd perish on their first climb. Reece surprisingly felt the weight of it as he waited, as did every other climber in the room, though each was likely to have a different future depending on their evaluation's outcome.
For a climber in the tutorial, everything they did, every struggle, every battle, was observed by the Tower itself, a silent judge assigning unseen marks. Those who made it through the tutorial were left to wonder: would they be granted a second chance or thrown into the Tower's depths, forever unprepared?
The Tower's system, powerful and omniscient, didn't hold their hands, nor did it intervene directly. Every choice was the climber's own, every failure theirs to bear alone. Yet the Tower offered a few forms of guidance, hints here and there, nudges toward survival—if they were clever enough to heed them. Most climbers came in without knowing much about the Tower's unpredictable hazards or its deadly creatures, the kind that made even the seasoned think twice. In the end, it wasn't the Tower's job to protect them. It was, however, the Tower's prerogative to assess their worth.
"Only those with the potential to survive would see the heights," Reece thought, recalling what he'd observed over his regressions. Those who lacked that spark of strength, that raw survival instinct, wouldn't last. For the Tower, this made sense: climbers who couldn't handle the threats of the lower floors weren't worth risking its resources on. And so, the tutorial culled the weakest, allowing only those with resilience and grit to proceed.
But even for the prepared, the Tower held no mercy. The tutorial's evaluation stage was the final line, the last checkpoint before a climber truly began their journey. For some, this meant the beginning of something powerful, a life of glory or vengeance. For others, it was a reminder that they weren't ready, a barrier they couldn't hope to breach.
Reece's eyes drifted across the room, his thoughts buzzing with anticipation. He'd noticed the steady influx of newcomers, souls with the same determination that he once held, hoping for a path to greatness or a chance to leave behind their lives on Earth. But as Reece watched the room swell with nervous climbers, he saw what most couldn't—tired eyes, bodies marked by the struggles of the tutorial. Some were beaten down, barely able to stand after the grueling trials. And if the tutorial had taken this much out of them, Reece knew their chances in the Tower were slim at best. Only about nine hundred from the three thousand he had made out before had made it this far, a stark reminder of how unforgiving the Tower was, even in its "introduction."
"Many of them still don't realize what they're in for," Prima's voice hummed quietly in his mind, sharing his thoughts.
Reece replied inwardly with a sigh, "They won't understand until they see it. Until they feel the real weight of it, they're just clutching at dreams."
As the remaining survivors settled into the room, the air began to shift. Reece's system interface flickered to life, and a silhouette emerged above them—a familiar figure shrouded in dim light, his silhouette still sharp with an imposing intensity that quieted every murmur in the room. The Tutorial Administrator had arrived.
"Congratulations, trial takers," he began, his voice echoing throughout the chamber. The air lightened, and a wave of relieved sighs and quiet exclamations rippled through the crowd. Some even wept, clutching their hands in gratitude or disbelief. For them, this was everything—they had passed, they had survived. Every breath, every exhausting moment had been worth it for this validation.
But Reece felt no relief, only a faint tension as he waited for what would come next.
"Alas, I wish it were that easy for you all to celebrate…" the Administrator continued, his voice suddenly colder. "If you thought the tutorial was hard, then return where you came from and never climb…" His tone sharpened, cutting through the momentary joy like a blade, and the room fell dead silent, a shiver of dread sweeping through it.
The Administrator allowed a pause to hang, his form unmoving as the reality of his words sank into the crowd.
"Now… you are all currently in the evaluation phase that will determine your star rating and class. Your star rating will indicate your potential to climb, while your class will define the paths you may take," he explained, his words stripped of any encouragement. "I'll spare you any further details; there are others who are… patient enough to handle that."
A flicker of disdain could be heard from his tone as he looked down at them, his gaze pausing only briefly on Reece before continuing, indifference etched in every line. "Therefore, I'll keep my message simple—don't die. Try to live your lives in fulfillment, if you can manage that."
And with that, the Administrator vanished, leaving a hollow silence in his wake. For a moment, no one dared to speak, as if the room had been left in suspended disbelief. Then, voices broke through, indignant and frustrated, growing louder as climbers voiced their disappointment.
"Who the hell does he think he is!" one man shouted, fists clenched. "Coming in here, no explanation, no details—what kind of Administrator is that?"
"Yeah, exactly! What's with just popping in and out like that?" another woman added. "There should be some kind of complaint system for this!"
Reece barely restrained a chuckle at the complaints surrounding him. For all their fire, he saw only naivety. "They don't realize… most Administrators look at commoners like this as ants," Prima noted dryly. "They don't know how to read the signs, poor guys."
"Well, their problem, not mine," Reece replied with an inward shrug. His gaze shifted to his own interface, already buzzing with several notifications, and he brought them up in front of him.
[Notifications:]
[Congratulations! You have reached the Tower's evaluation stage.]
[Congratulations! You have successfully completed the tutorial in record time.]
[Congratulations! Your star rating has been set to 9.5/10, making you eligible to potentially clear the mortal floors of the Tower!]
[Due to your record-breaking achievements, your name has been deemed worthy of being recorded in $%^#@$T# ]
[Please select: Do you wish to leave your name or an Alias?]
[Congratulations! Due to your achievements, you have been awarded an SSS rank evaluation! Click here to see potential classes.]
"Well, look at that," Reece thought, a chuckle escaping his lips as he scanned the notifications. "It seems the Tower's buttering me up well."
"Definitely, Master. You've made it into the Akashic Records, and now it wants your name," Prima replied, a hint of amusement coloring her tone. "It's like an invitation… no, a dare to join its ranks as one of its guardians."
Reece shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Unfortunately, I've got bigger fish to fry than the Tower's little games." He selected the Alias option, deciding on a name that was both a declaration and a challenge to himself. With the Tower now aware of his achievements, it would be best to keep some form of anonymity—at least for now. The Tower would still know his real identity, of course, but using an alias allowed him to evade the attention of those looking to exploit or target him for fame among many other reasons alone.
[What is your name?]
The interface displayed a text box beneath the prompt, and Reece typed his chosen alias without hesitation.
"Prime."
The interface glowed with confirmation. [Alias name recorded. Congratulations, Prime! Please select your class!] A list appeared, displaying the classes available to him based on his evaluation.
[Class List – Please Choose One:]
Spellblade – Requires SS evaluation and above
Battlemage – Requires SS evaluation and above
Scholar – Requires SSS evaluation and above
Arcane Warlord – Requires SSS evaluation and above
"Huh… they're different this time," Reece murmured, his brow lifting in mild surprise as he studied the list. "Given we practically ran through entire zones, I figured there wouldn't be much to work with here. I'm intrigued."
"Which are you going to choose, Master?" Prima's voice held a touch of curiosity as she eyed the choices along with him.
A grin formed beneath his mask. "Well… Arcane Warlord has a nice ring to it, dontcha think?" He selected the fourth option, and the system's response was immediate.
[Congratulations! You have selected the Mythical Class: Arcane Warlord!]
[An Arcane Warlord is a rare and formidable combatant, seamlessly blending high-level martial skills with potent magic of any tier. Often feared and respected in equal measure, Arcane Warlords are capable of bending both physical and magical forces to their will, making them nearly unstoppable in battle.]
[Congratulations! You are the first to attain a Mythical Class! Awarding 2 skill books of your respective class. Skill books have been deposited into your inventory.]
[Notice! Inventory full. Please proceed with necessary leveling to increase space!]
[Notice! Your evaluation has been completed. Please click here to proceed to the first floor!]
"Well, that's one thing off the list," Reece thought, a feeling of satisfaction washing over him. With the tutorial behind him and a class assigned, he was ready to leave this stage behind.
But before he could take a step toward freedom, a shout echoed across the room. "What the—what is that?"
Reece followed the speaker's gaze upward, his expression hardening as he saw the screen hovering in the air above them. An ominous line of text scrolled across its surface, marking each climber's performance in the tutorial. He grimaced, knowing this would complicate things.
[54,234,340,976,032nd Tutorial Rankings]
1.Prime – Clearance time: 2 hours, 51 minutes – Rating: 9.5/10
2.Elvaroe Santiago – Clearance time: 3 days, 20 hours – Rating: 6.9/10
3.Jerald Alcussa – Clearance time: 3 days, 23 hours – Rating: 6.8/10
4.Elara Alcussa – Clearance time: 4 days, 10 hours – Rating: 6.2/10
5.Veridiana Wyst – Clearance time: 4 days, 15 hours – Rating: 6.1/10
…
…
…
The list continued, but Reece hardly needed to read further. His name—or rather, his alias—stood at the top, an undeniable absurdity of clearance and speed that would draw every eye. There would be whispers, rumors, likely even challengers. Those who saw him as an obstacle or a prize were now keenly aware of his existence, and he wasn't looking forward to dealing with it.
"Ah, shit… I need to get out of here… pronto," he thought, annoyance simmering in his mind as Prima laughed softly, amused by the predicament.
He selected the button to proceed to the first floor, hoping to slip away quietly before the others could react. But as he activated the command, a blinding white flash filled the room, drawing every eye toward him. In an instant, Reece felt his chance at an unnoticed departure slip from his grasp as the glow enveloped him, marking the end of the tutorial and his leap into the Tower's true depths.