Eren leaned against the Phantom Gate's cold, obsidian wall, staring at the cryptic message that had just vanished from the interface.
"Craftsman of the Flux?" The title echoed in his head. It wasn't the reward he'd expected. He had assumed tokens, maybe another blueprint. But a title? And what was with the systems being "unavailable"?
It was unsettling. He wasn't even sure what a "flux" was, let alone why the Tower thought it described him.
"Well, this is just great," he muttered, pacing back and forth in the small room. He needed answers, but the Tower wasn't exactly forthcoming with explanations.
Eren turned to his workbench, deciding to distract himself with productivity. The grappling hook had proven invaluable on the last floor, and he wanted to expand on its design.
He opened the Phantom Gate's store, scrolling through the available items. One caught his attention: "Advanced Gear Mod Kit: 120 Tokens."
It was steep—nearly his entire savings from the last floor—but worth it. The description mentioned tools for integrating mana into existing tech, allowing for greater versatility.
"Purchase confirmed."
A compartment opened on the wall, revealing a sleek black box. Eren took it back to his workbench, eagerly unpacking its contents.
Inside were tools he had only dreamed of back on Earth: a compact mana welder, a crystal-shaping rig, and a small analyzer that could measure a crystal's mana output.
"This is incredible," he whispered, running his fingers over the delicate instruments.
Hours passed as Eren tinkered, testing the new equipment. He managed to enhance his mana bolts, embedding tiny runes he copied from the obelisk into their surfaces. Though he didn't understand the runes' full function, his analyzer showed a 15% increase in mana output.
He also upgraded his drone, adding a mana-charged capacitor to extend its range and a more sensitive mana sensor to detect anomalies like the obelisk's energy pulse.
Satisfied, Eren leaned back, wiping sweat from his brow. The workshop was starting to feel like a second home, the one place in this bizarre Tower where he had some semblance of control.
But the nagging questions remained. What was a flux? Why didn't he have access to the systems the Tower clearly supported?
The Tower didn't give him much time to dwell. A chime rang out, signaling the next floor's activation.
"Floor 7 Initiated. Mission Objective: Survive."
Eren tensed. That single word—survive—set his nerves on edge.
Gathering his gear, he approached the portal. His enhanced drone buzzed to life, circling him like a loyal companion. His modified pistol and mana bolts were holstered at his hip, and the reinforced grappling hook was securely strapped to his pack.
"Alright, Tower," he muttered. "Let's see what you've got this time."
Stepping through the portal, Eren was hit by a blast of frigid air. Snow covered the ground, the landscape a vast, frozen wasteland. Jagged ice formations jutted up like teeth, and the sky was a dull, oppressive gray.
A deep growl echoed in the distance.
Eren crouched, pulling out his drone. He sent it ahead, its mana sensor lighting up almost immediately. Multiple heat signatures appeared on the small screen—large, fast-moving.
"Wolves?" he guessed, watching the shapes converge on his position.
The first creature emerged from the fog—a monstrous amalgamation of flesh and ice, its eyes glowing with malevolent blue light. It wasn't a wolf. It wasn't even close.
Eren raised his pistol, firing a mana bolt. The shot hit the creature's shoulder, shattering part of its icy carapace. It howled, staggering back, but another two creatures emerged from the mist.
"Fantastic," Eren muttered, firing again.
The battle was a blur of motion and adrenaline. Eren used his grappling hook to stay mobile, zipping between icy outcroppings and taking shots when he could. His upgraded drone proved invaluable, drawing the creatures' attention with its buzzing while feeding him real-time data on their movements.
But the creatures were relentless. One managed to clip him, its icy claws tearing through his jacket and leaving a shallow gash on his arm.
Gritting his teeth, Eren fired a bolt directly into its gaping maw. The creature exploded in a shower of ice and gore.
Finally, after what felt like hours, the last creature fell. Eren collapsed against a jagged rock, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Objective Complete. Return to the Phantom Gate."
The portal shimmered into existence ahead of him. He stumbled through, the warmth of the Gate's interior a welcome relief.
As he tended to his wounds, the Tower's voice echoed again:
"Mission Debrief: Survival mission success. Performance Evaluation: Above Average. Additional Reward Granted."
A single token materialized in his hand, larger than the others. Its surface shimmered with faint glyphs.
"Phantom Crystal Acquired: Allows limited return to Earth."
Eren stared at the crystal, his mind racing. "Limited return? What does that even mean?"
The Tower offered no answers.
End of Chapter 7