Few truly understood the Tower of Eternity. Its sudden appearance had reshaped the course of every race and realm across the universe. Gods, immortals, and mortals alike were baffled by its existence, its purpose, and especially its uncanny power to nurture growth. The Tower's influence spanned the three major realms, and its secrets remained deeply guarded even after millennia of exploration.
The Tower's leveling system, however, was misleading—contrary to what most believed, one's level didn't reflect true strength. Levels merely marked the limit a climber had reached within the Tower, with each floor presenting unique challenges. Real strength was revealed in a climber's stats, especially in those that hinted at a specialty, and even more so in the legendary gift of body reconstruction, a path only the Tower's most formidable challengers dared to undertake and yet so few knew of such a process.
Reece pondered these mysteries from the comfort of an inn near the Adventurer's Association, watching the shadows flicker on the walls. He had slipped away from the Association's bustling crowds and the watchful eyes of those who seemed overly interested in his business. A few floors below, he sensed the presence of spies—"curious observers" dispatched to track his every movement.
"They're a persistent bunch," Reece mused with an amused shake of his head, watching the thin threads of smoke swirl up from a nearby candle. "But I guess it was only a matter of time before they'd start keeping tabs."
"It's the curse of humans and all curious creatures," Prima's voice sounded in his mind. "Curiosity about the unknown, even if that unknown could very well be their undoing." There was a faint exasperation in her tone, a sentiment shaped by countless regressions and endless encounters with the Tower's inhabitants.
Reece shrugged, leaning back against the bedpost. "Think they'll stop at watching? Or will they be bold enough to attempt a recruitment pitch?"
"If they do, they're in for quite the disappointment." Prima's tone held a smirk. "Now stop dwelling on the peanut gallery and check that quest already, Master! I'd rather we know what we're up against and hope not much has changed."
With a sigh, Reece relented, bringing up the Tower's interface. He was greeted by the usual notifications, though one, in particular, stood out—a quest issued directly by the Tower itself. Most climbers relied on quests from the Adventurer's Association or placed orders themselves, but a direct quest from the Tower?
That was practically unheard of. Should anyone learn that the Tower itself had deemed him worthy of a quest, word would spread like wildfire, and his quiet climb would end in an instant. He would become the target of everyone's envy and fear, hunted by climbers, powerhouses, and even factions seeking to exploit his connection to the Tower.
With a sense of grim anticipation, he clicked open the quest notification.
[Quests (1 New)]
[Issuer: Tower of Eternity]
[Type: Growth]
[Rank: EX]
[Grade: Immortal]
[Details]
Greetings, entity Reece Elroy. Due to your recent achievements and improbable actions, you have garnered the attention of the Tower of Eternity's Guardians and have been selected as a reserve candidate to join the Guardians of Eternity.
To qualify for the reserve slot, you must fulfill the following requirements:
Clear the 100th floor within five yearsDefeat ALL floor bosses of ALL typesAchieve true demigod status by advancing your mana body rank
Failure to meet these requirements will result in disqualification from becoming a reserve Guardian.
Should you accept this quest, certain limitations imposed upon you will be released, but you will be subject to evaluations by the Tower's Administrators every ten floors.
If you decline, this opportunity will be revoked permanently, and all future actions will be under strict scrutiny.
[Accept] [Reject]
Reece scanned the quest's requirements, his relief palpable as he saw they matched the same parameters from his previous regressions. The quest was as formidable as he remembered, and though it promised immense rewards, Reece had no intention of playing by the Tower's rules.
"Good. They haven't changed a thing," he muttered, smiling at the prospect of rejecting the Tower's offer once again. Becoming a Guardian of Eternity, even as a reserve, meant ensnaring himself in the Tower's machinations, a fate he wanted no part in.
Prima's voice held a note of amusement. "So it's official: the Tower's 'lofty beings' are keeping an eye on you. How flattering."
"They can keep watching for all I care." Reece rolled his eyes, preparing to decline. "I'll just keep rejecting this ridiculous offer until they get the message."
He pressed Reject without hesitation, almost faster than the button appeared on his screen. The opportunity, coveted by countless climbers, was a trap he wouldn't allow himself to fall into.
Becoming a Tower Guardian, even of the mortal floors, was an honor any other climber would kill to achieve. Fights would break out, factions would rally, and even ancient races would take sides to secure such a coveted slot. Yet here was Reece, turning his back on it without a second thought.
[WARNING!! Reece Elroy, please confirm your rejection of the issued quest!!]
[Notice! No further opportunities of this nature will be presented! This rejection is final.]
[Accept Quest] [Reject Quest]
The Tower's system issued a rare warning, almost as if it were astonished at his decision. But without missing a beat, Reece confirmed his choice, dismissing the notification without hesitation.
Prima giggled in his mind, clearly enjoying the irony of the situation. "Oh, they'll be furious, Master. Can you imagine their faces right now? A mortal just slapped their invitation right back at them. You may have single-handedly ruined their day."
"Good," he muttered with a grin. "Let them stew in their disappointment. They can throw all the quests and offers they want; I'm not bending to their will."
With the quest rejection out of the way, Reece finally felt a sense of freedom. He'd checked the Tower's notifications, cleared his bags, and rejected the most pressing offer—all the variables that could shape his climb had been handled. Now he was ready to continue his ascent, this time with renewed focus and determination.
"Now that I've got my mana body back and at least twenty percent of my peak strength, I doubt I'll need the Tower's teleportation assistance," he muttered, pacing the room thoughtfully. As he moved, his [Soul Sense] picked up several presences approaching the inn—other climbers, some of whom he recognized from his tutorial cohort. Each of them seemed accompanied by figures wearing faction insignias, indicating that their loyalties had already shifted toward major or their respective organizations within the Tower.
Prima's voice was cautious. "Should I start setting up the runes for [Dimensional Traverser] just in case, Master?"
"Not just in case—get them ready," Reece replied. "We're heading to the fourth floor to clear it, then jumping to the fifth. It's time to throw off our trail and make things harder for anyone trying to follow."
As Reece spoke, Prima dove into their shared mindscape, drawing forth the rune patterns and spatial formulas for [Dimensional Traverser], a teleportation spell Reece had crafted by studying the Tower's teleportation process itself. Unlike conventional teleportation, [Dimensional Traverser] allowed him to mimic the Tower's climbing system, bypassing the teleportation locks that typically forced climbers to progress floor by floor. By slowing time and observing the Tower's teleportation mechanics across countless regressions, he had deciphered the intricate structure of the spatial formations and the runes needed to initiate them.
The Tower's teleportation system relied on a complex sequence of runes that anchored a climber's spatial coordinates, transferring them seamlessly to the next floor. Each floor was bound by unique coordinates that acted as a key, preventing unauthorized access. By replicating this system, Reece had essentially hacked the Tower's climbing process. Using a signature forged from primal mana, he could trick the Tower's system into believing he had climbed legitimately.
He chuckled as he activated [Dimensional Traverser], his voice laced with humor. "You know, if these poor fools knew I was a prime, they'd probably think twice about trying to trail me."
Prima's laugh echoed in his mind. "If they only knew the Tower itself is nothing but your playground, they'd never leave you alone!"
As the spell completed, a glowing portal appeared before him—a swirling gateway edged in golden-blue hues. It was a precise replica of the Tower's teleportation signature, marking his intended destination on the fourth floor. Reece took a final glance around his room, activating [Soul Sense] one last time. Downstairs, he sensed his pursuers reaching the inn's front desk, their presence causing the receptionist to panic. The poor attendant glanced nervously from one guest to the next, clearly overwhelmed by the gathering of powerful climbers demanding answers.
With a smirk, Reece stepped forward into the portal. [Dimensional Traverser] enveloped him in light, and within seconds, he found himself standing in the dense foliage of the fourth floor, the familiar sensation of the climb settling around him.
The forest here was of blood-red trees and undergrowth, with leaves that seem to glow faintly under the light, casting a scarlet hue across the forest floor. The air is thick with the smell of iron, and a strange, eerie silence permeates the area, broken only by occasional rustling in the bushes.
This floor would be easy, he thought. The Tower had laid out its trials, but he had the power, the skills, and, most importantly, the knowledge to overcome them. Behind him, the portal dissipated into thin air, leaving no trace that he had ever been at the inn. He had made his move, and soon, he would reach Liz on the fifth floor, continuing his climb with his path well and truly obscured.
"Well, Prima," he murmured, a sense of satisfaction filling him, "they're in for a surprise when they realize I'm long gone. Time to see what the Tower has in store for us next."