Eren sat cross-legged on the Phantom Gate floor, turning the Phantom Crystal over in his hand. It shimmered faintly, its surface etched with intricate glyphs he didn't recognize. The idea of returning to Earth, even for a short time, was tempting—but also terrifying.
"What's the catch?" he muttered, staring at the smooth, glowing stone.
The Tower had proven itself to be anything but generous. Every reward had come with a hidden cost or complication. Yet, this crystal was his only link to the world he had been ripped away from. He couldn't just ignore it.
A small notification appeared in the air before him:
Phantom Crystal Usage Instructions:
• Duration: 3 hours of Earth-time.
• Limitations: Interaction with others is permitted; however, Tower-related technology and mana will be suspended during the visit.
• Cooldown: Usable once after each cleared floor.
Eren's heart raced. Three hours wasn't much, but it was enough to check on the world he had left behind. Enough to remind himself of why he was fighting to survive.
He pressed the crystal to his chest. The glyphs began to glow brighter, and a faint hum filled the room. The air around him shimmered like heatwaves on asphalt, and before he could process what was happening, the world shifted.
When the light faded, Eren found himself standing in his apartment.
It was exactly as he remembered it—untouched and eerily quiet. His desk was cluttered with old projects, bits of wiring and soldering tools strewn about. The half-empty mug of coffee he'd left behind still sat on the counter, now stale and cold.
"Home," he whispered, a lump forming in his throat.
Eren moved to the window, pulling back the curtains. The city skyline loomed in the distance, but something was off. The streets below were emptier than usual, and a strange tension seemed to hang in the air.
Turning on the TV, Eren flipped through the channels. News reports flooded the screen, all talking about one thing: the Tower.
"…the mysterious structure appeared two months ago…"
"…reports of people disappearing, believed to be connected…"
"…global governments are scrambling to understand the phenomenon…"
He froze. Two months?
Time flows differently in the Tower. By his count, he had been inside for just over a week, yet months had passed here.
Eren's mind raced. He needed to make the most of his limited time. Grabbing a notebook from his desk, he started jotting down everything he had learned in the Tower so far—descriptions of the floors, notes on mana, theories about its mechanics.
He hesitated for a moment before writing down the word that had haunted him since his title appeared: Flux.
"Maybe someone out there can make sense of this," he muttered.
Before he could lose himself in his thoughts, a faint hum filled the air. The crystal, still in his pocket, began to glow.
"Warning: Return to the Tower imminent. Remaining time: 30 seconds."
Eren barely had time to collect his thoughts before the world blurred again.
When he reopened his eyes, he was back in the Phantom Gate.
The transition was jarring, the sterile silence of the Gate a sharp contrast to the familiar chaos of Earth.
Eren sat on the floor, staring at the Phantom Crystal. It had gone dull, its energy seemingly spent.
"Two months," he whispered. "How much time will pass before I can go back again?"
Shaking off the lingering unease, Eren stood and turned his attention to the Tower's interface. The token balance from his previous floors had grown enough to afford new equipment.
He navigated to the store, his eyes scanning the list of available items.
"Survival Gear Package: 80 Tokens."
"Advanced Energy Storage Cell: 50 Tokens."
"Basic Knowledge Scroll (Mana Theory): 100 Tokens."
The last one caught his eye. Knowledge about mana was scarce, and every scrap of information could mean the difference between life and death.
"Knowledge is power," he muttered, purchasing the scroll.
The scroll materialized in his hand—a thin, metallic sheet inscribed with flowing, glowing text. As Eren unrolled it, the glyphs rearranged themselves into words he could understand.
Mana Theory – Beginner Level:
• Mana is an energy source that permeates living beings and environments.
• It can be harnessed, stored, and manipulated through runes, crystals, and other conduits.
• Overexposure to mana may result in mutations or physical degradation.
He paused at the last point. "Mutations? Degradation?"
The creatures he had fought on previous floors suddenly made more sense. They weren't just constructs of the Tower—they were living beings, corrupted by mana.
Eren's mind spun with possibilities and questions. If mana could corrupt, what did that mean for him?
The Tower chimed again, signaling the next floor's activation.
Eren packed his upgraded gear, his grappling hook, enhanced bolts, and now, a better understanding of what he was up against.
"Alright, Tower," he said, stepping toward the portal. "Let's see what you've got this time."
End of Chapter 8