The air was thick with the scent of blood and the metallic tang of victory. Ethan stood amidst the carnage of the sixth floor, his chest heaving, and his staff slick with the ichor of fallen beasts.
Well, it was not the same staff he got in the tutorial. He had gotten a better one from the system store. It had cost him quite a lot of DP, but he did not mind the cost.
After all, the staff allowed him to use 4 types of beginner magic just by putting mana through it.
The constellation "Whisper of Ruin" has helped him to awaken his Mana, and he was grateful for their support.
The once-pristine grassland was now a battlefield, littered with the corpses of creatures that had dared to stand in his way.
The system's notifications flashed before his eyes, one after another, each one a testament to his growing power.
[Floor 6 Cleared.]
[Rewards Distributed.]
Ethan smirked as he felt the full weight of his power settle into his bones.
The Charm ability that was now at its maximum level thanks to the constellation support was no longer just a tool—it was an extension of his very being.
He could feel it thrumming beneath his skin, a subtle yet irresistible force that radiated from him like heat from a flame.
It was intoxicating, this sense of control, and this knowledge that he could bend others to his will with nothing more than a glance or a word.
He stretched his arms, feeling the tension in his muscles ease. The floors had been a challenge, but they had also been a proving ground.
Each victory, each kill, had solidified his resolve.
He was no longer the boy who had been abandoned by the world.
He was the Earth-King, and the Tower was his to conquer.
"Hey system, return me to the first floor," he commanded. He had gotten to know about the intelligence of the system, and he was under the illusion that he had conquered it by making it answer to his commands.
[Returning to Floor 1: Luminaris.]
The world around him blurred, the grassland dissolving into a swirl of light and color.
When his vision cleared, he was back in the grand hall of the Explorers' Guild, the crystalline spires of Luminaris stretching high above him.
The air was alive with the hum of activity, the chatter of explorers, and the clatter of weapons and armor as the explorers walked around.
After spending some time clearing up to the 6th floor. The other explorers have also started climbing, and the atmosphere in the hall was brighter than before.
But as Ethan stepped forward, the noise seemed to dim, as if the very building was holding its breath in anticipation of his arrival.
He didn't have to wait long for his power to make its presence known.
A woman, no older than twenty-five, was the first to notice him.
She had been walking briskly, her eyes focused on a scroll in her hands, but as she passed Ethan, her steps faltered.
Her gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, she seemed frozen in place.
Her lips parted, her breath catching in her throat as if she had been struck by something she couldn't quite comprehend.
Ethan's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile.
He didn't need to say a word.
The Charm ability did the work for him.
Her resistance crumbled in an instant, her will bending to his like a reed in the wind.
She stepped closer, her eyes wide with a mixture of awe and desire.
"You…" she whispered, her voice trembling. "You're… incredible."
Ethan reached out, his fingers brushing against her cheek. She shivered at his touch, her body leaning into him as if drawn by an invisible force. "What's your name?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, like velvet.
"L-Lila," she stammered, her cheeks flushing. "I… I don't know what's happening, but I can't… I can't look away."
"You don't need to," Ethan replied, his tone dripping with confidence. "Lead me to your room."
She nodded, her eyes glazing over as she led him without question.
The other explorers in the hall watched in stunned silence, some with envy, others with unease.
A few tried to intervene, stepping forward to block Ethan's path, but as soon as their eyes met his, they too fell under his spell.
Their protests died on their lips, their bodies stepping aside as if compelled by some unseen force.
Lila led Ethan to her private room, the door closing behind them with a soft click.
What happened next was inevitable.
The Charm ability left no room for resistance, no space for doubt. Lila was his, body and soul, and when they emerged an hour later, she was no longer just a woman—she was a fanatic, her eyes shining with an almost religious fervor.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "Thank you for choosing me."
Ethan waved her off dismissively. "You may go," he said, his tone cold and detached. "I have no further use for you."
She nodded, her expression one of utter devotion, before she turned and walked away, her steps light and eager.
Ethan watched her go, a smirk playing on his lips.
This was the power of Charm at its peak.
It wasn't just about seduction—it was about control. And control was something Ethan intended to wield with ruthless precision.
As he made his way back to the main hall, he noticed a group of six men huddled in a corner in the passage, their voices low and urgent.
They were an odd assortment, each one distinct in appearance and demeanor, but there was a common thread that tied them together—a sense of danger, of unpredictability.
These were not ordinary newbie explorers.
These were rogues.
In other words, people like him.
Ethan's interest was piqued. He approached them, his steps silent, his presence unnoticed until he was almost upon them.
The first to notice him was a burly man, his massive frame tensing as he turned to face Ethan. His eyes narrowed, but before he could speak, another guy, a short sword holder, stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade.
"Who the hell are you?" The short sword holder demanded, his voice sharp and edged with suspicion.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, his Charm ability already at work. "I'm Ethan," he said, his tone calm and measured. "And you are?"
The short sword holder hesitated, his grip on his weapon loosening slightly.
Another man, who looked furious, stepped forward, his eyes blazing with anger. "We don't answer to you," he snapped, though his voice lacked its usual bite. "We saw what you did earlier, man."
Ethan placed a hand on the furious man's shoulder, his expression unreadable. "Easy," he said, his voice smooth and controlled. "Hear me out."
The charm of his voice was enough to drive out the fear in their wary hearts.
The dangerous atmosphere calmed down instantly as they all relaxed their expressions and looked at Ethan.
A man whose face had a map of new wounds studied Ethan with a calculating gaze. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone lacking hostility.
"Nothing," Ethan said as he smiled while raising his two hands.
The last person in the group, a man in knight armor, his imposing figure clad in heavy plate, crossed his arms over his chest. "Then what do you want with us if you are not looking for trouble?" he growled, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
Ethan smirked, his Charm ability weaving its way into their minds, completely softening their defenses, bending their wills.
Ethan stood before the six men, his presence commanding, his charm ability radiating like an invisible aura.
The tension in the air was palpable, but Ethan's calm demeanor and the subtle influence of his power kept the men from acting on their initial instincts to attack or flee.
They were wary, yes, but they were also curious.
And curiosity, Ethan knew, was the first step toward submission.
"You saw her, didn't you?" Ethan began, his voice smooth and confident. "The woman who followed me without question. The one who looked at me like I was her entire world."
The Burly Man crossed his arms, his massive frame blocking the light from the guild building grand hall. "Yeah, we saw her," he grunted. "What of it?"
Ethan smirked. "That was the power of Charm. My ability. With it, I can bend anyone to my will. Men, women—it doesn't matter. They all fall in line eventually."
The short sword holder's hand twitched toward his blade, but he didn't draw it. "Sounds like a cheap trick," he muttered, though there was a flicker of interest in his eyes.
"A cheap trick?" Ethan chuckled, his tone dripping with amusement. "Tell me, if it's so cheap, why couldn't any of you stop me? Why did you all step aside when I walked by?"
The younger, furious man bristled, his fists clenching. "We didn't step aside because of you," he snapped, though his voice lacked conviction. "We just… didn't care."
Ethan's smirk widened. "Is that so? Then why are you still standing here, listening to me? Why haven't you walked away?"
The men exchanged uneasy glances. The Calm but Deadly Man stepped forward, his expression unreadable. "What's your point, Ethan?" he asked, his voice steady. "Why are you telling us this?"
Ethan's gaze swept over the group, his Charm ability subtly weaving its way into their minds. "My point is simple," he said. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to offer you something far greater than whatever petty squabbles or ambitions you've been chasing. I'm here to offer you power."
The Scarred Man's eyes narrowed. "Power? What kind of power?"
Ethan's smile turned predatory. "The kind of power that comes from being aligned with a being far beyond your comprehension. A being who has taken an interest in me—and, by extension, in all of you."
As if on cue, a system notification appeared before each of them, glowing with an otherworldly light.
[Message from Constellation: Whisper of Ruin]
[Greetings, Explorers. I am the Whisper of Ruin, a being of immense power and influence. I have chosen Ethan Caldwell as my Apostle, and through him, I offer you a chance to rise above your current limitations.]
[Join him, and you shall be rewarded with strength beyond your wildest dreams. Refuse, and you shall remain as you are—weak, insignificant, and destined to be forgotten.]
The tall, armored man's eyes widened as he read the message. "What the hell is this?" he growled, though there was a hint of awe in his voice.
Ethan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. "This is your chance," he said, his voice low and compelling. "This is your opportunity to become more than just another group of rogues scraping by on the lower floors. With the Whisper of Ruin's guidance, we can ascend the Tower together. We can become unstoppable."
The men hesitated, their resistance crumbling under the combined influence of Ethan's charm and the Constellation's promise of power.
The Burly Man was the first to break. "What do we have to do?" he asked, his voice gruff but eager.
Ethan's smile was triumphant. "All you have to do is sign a contract. A simple agreement that binds us together as allies. In return, the Whisper of Ruin will grant you strength, and I will lead you to victory."
Another system notification appeared, this one bearing the details of the contract.
[Contract of Allegiance]
[By signing this contract, you pledge your loyalty to Ethan Caldwell, Apostle of the Whisper of Ruin. In return, you shall receive the following benefits:]
[1. Enhanced stats and abilities.]
[2. Access to exclusive rewards and resources.]
[3. The opportunity to ascend the Tower under the guidance of a powerful ally.]
[Note: In times of great need, you may be called upon to offer your life in service of Ethan Caldwell. Do you accept these terms?]
The men read the contract, their expressions shifting from skepticism to acceptance.
The unfairness of the terms was lost on them, buried beneath the weight of Ethan's charm and the constellation's promises.
To them, it seemed like a fair deal—a small price to pay for the power they so desperately craved.
The short sword holder was the first to sign, his name appearing in glowing letters beneath the contract.
The others followed suit, one by one, until all six had pledged their allegiance to Ethan.
[Contract Accepted.]
[Welcome, New Followers of the Earth-King.]
Ethan's grin widened as he felt the bonds of loyalty solidify. These men were his now, body and soul. They would follow him to the ends of the Tower—and beyond.
"Now that we're all on the same page," Ethan said, his tone light and conversational, "let's talk about your progress. How far have you gotten in the Tower?"
The calm but deadly man spoke up. "We've cleared up to the third floor," he said. "But the fourth floor… it's been a challenge. We were lucky to know that you can quit exploring a floor if you want to quit."
Ethan nodded, as if he had expected as much. "The fourth floor is a significant jump in difficulty," he said. "But with my help, you'll clear it in no time."
The Constellation's voice echoed in Ethan's mind, a whisper only he could hear.
[Why stop at the fourth floor? Take them higher. Show them what true power looks like.]
Ethan's smirk returned. "In fact," he said, "why don't we skip the fourth floor altogether? Let's aim higher. Let's show the Tower what we're made of."
The men exchanged glances, their earlier hesitation replaced by a growing sense of excitement.
They didn't question Ethan's plan.
To them, it made perfect sense.
After all, they had known him for years, hadn't they? He was their leader, their friend. Of course they would follow him.
"Hey, System teleport our group to the 4th floor, we will be clearing it as a team"
[Teleporting to Floor 4: The Caverns of Despair.]
The Caverns of Despair were as foreboding as their name suggested. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and the faint, acrid tang of something rotting.
The walls of the cavern glistened with moisture, and the faint glow of bioluminescent fungi cast an eerie, greenish light over the group as they ventured deeper into the labyrinthine tunnels.
The sound of dripping water echoed in the distance, a constant reminder of the oppressive atmosphere.
Ethan led the way, his staff glowing faintly in the dim light. Behind him, the six men followed, their weapons drawn and their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.
The Burly Man carried a massive warhammer, its head crackling with faint sparks of energy—a gift from the Whisper of Ruin.
The Short Sword Holder's blade gleamed with a sharp, silver light, while the Younger, Furious Man clutched a pair of daggers, their edges shimmering with a faint, venomous green.
The Calm but Deadly Man carried a bow, its string humming with tension, and the Scarred Man's fists were wrapped in spiked gauntlets that glowed with a faint, fiery aura.
The Tall, Armored Man brought up the rear, his heavy plate armor clinking softly with each step, a massive shield strapped to his back.
The first sign of trouble came in the form of a low, guttural growl.
Ethan raised a hand, signaling the group to halt. The sound grew louder, echoing off the cavern walls, until a pack of shadowy creatures emerged from the darkness.
They were wolf-like, but their forms were twisted and unnatural, their eyes glowing a sickly yellow.
Saliva dripped from their jagged fangs as they circled the group, their movements predatory and deliberate.
"Stay close," Ethan said, his voice calm but commanding. "Don't let them separate us."
The wolves lunged.
The Burly Man swung his warhammer in a wide arc, the weapon crackling with energy as it connected with the first wolf.
The creature let out a yelp as it was sent flying, its body slamming into the cavern wall with a sickening crunch. The amount of damage he dealt was overwhelming for the wolf.
The short sword holder darted forward, his blade flashing as he sliced through another wolf's throat.
The younger, furious man let out a roar as he plunged his daggers into the side of a third wolf, the venom on his blades causing the creature to convulse and collapse.
The calm but deadly man loosed an arrow, the projectile whistling through the air before embedding itself in the eye of a fourth wolf.
The Scarred Man charged forward, his gauntlets glowing brighter as he delivered a series of brutal punches to another creature, each blow accompanied by a burst of fiery energy.
The tall, armored man raised his shield, deflecting the attack of a wolf that had tried to flank the group, before bringing his sword down in a powerful strike that cleaved the beast in two.
Ethan watched from the center of the group, his staff glowing brighter as he channeled his Charm ability.
The wolves hesitated, their movements slowing as they were overwhelmed by the sheer force of his presence. One by one, they fell, their bodies littering the cavern floor.
[Floor 4 Enemies Defeated: Shadow Wolves.]
[Rewards Distributed.]
The group pressed on, their confidence growing with each victory.
The Whisper of Ruin's promise of continuous support was fulfilled as their weapons and armor grew stronger and showed mysterious powers with each floor they cleared.
The fifth floor was a dense, misty forest, the trees towering high above them, their branches twisted and gnarled. The air was thick with the scent of pine and decay, and the ground was soft beneath their feet.
The enemies here were more cunning—giant spiders that dropped from the trees, their venomous fangs glistening in the dim light. The group fought with a ferocity that surprised even themselves, their newfound power allowing them to dispatch the creatures with ease.
The sixth floor was a frozen wasteland, the air so cold it burned their lungs. The enemies here were ice slimes, their bodies made of shimmering, crystalline ice.
The group's weapons glowed with fiery energy, the heat melting through the elementals' defenses as they carved a path through the frozen landscape.
The seventh floor was a volcanic plain, the ground cracked and glowing with molten lava.
Fire slimes emerged from the fissures, their bodies wreathed in flames. The group's armor protected them from the worst of the heat, and their weapons struck true, each blow extinguishing the slimes' fiery forms.
The eighth floor was a floor filled with cute, deadly rabbits. Their teamwork proved useful again as they dispatched them effortlessly.
The ninth floor was a desolate wasteland, the sky a swirling mass of dark clouds. The enemies here were like a mini collection of all the monsters they have fought so far.
They were massive, hulking slimes, spiders, and rabbits. The group fought with everything they had, their weapons glowing with the power of the Whisper of Ruin as they brought the beasts down one by one.
[Floor 9 Cleared.]
[Rewards Distributed.]
When they finally returned to Luminaris, as they could not proceed to the 10th floor, the group was unrecognizable.
Their weapons and armor gleamed with newfound power, and their eyes burned with the fire of victory.
The other explorers watched in awe as they made their way through the grand hall, their presence commanding respect.
Ethan stepped forward, his staff glowing with a faint, golden light. "We have proven ourselves," he said, his voice ringing out across the hall. "We have cleared the ninth floor, and we have done so as a united force. This is only the beginning. The Tower is ours for the taking. I will lead as the Earth-King!"
The rest of the group stood behind him, their loyalty unwavering. They didn't realize that they had been charmed, that their devotion to Ethan was the result of his power and the Constellation's influence.
To them, it felt natural, as if they had always been meant to follow him.
Even the powers they used to defeat the monsters were not their own, the purpose of the tower was to strengthen explorers, but in their case, while they had leveled up. They did not really grow as they were spoon filled by the constellation.
The Whisper of Ruin's voice echoed in Ethan's mind, a whisper only he could hear.
[You have done well, Earth-King. The Tower trembles at your approach. Continue to rise, and soon, all will kneel before you.]
Ethan's smirk widened. He was no longer just a challenger—he was a king and as a king, he had to make sure his rule was safe.
While he was sure that none of the normal explorers could keep up with him.
The same could not be said to the transcendent soul group. He had to end things with them immediately.