One and a half months after the start of training
-
"Real combat experiences?" Sakura looked at her sensei with a confused expression. She had just finished her physical training, as her sensei had insisted that a strong mind alone wasn't enough.
"That's right," her sensei replied. "Real combat experiences put you in real danger, and that accelerates growth. That's why you'll be fighting some monsters now."
"Monsters?!" Sakura exclaimed, shifting uncomfortably. "But isn't it just us on this floor?"
"For now." She replied with a smile.
And then, with a snap of their fingers, they were teleported to a large green plain.
Despite the beauty of the place, Sakura felt a growing tension as she looked around.
"Don't worry; you can admire the view for now. Let's walk while we talk, " the sensei said
Sakura hesitated before following.
After a few minutes of silence, her sensei finally spoke again.
"Sakura, I have walked through many realms, many different dimensions. Along the way, I've met countless people, each with different dreams—some noble, some twisted. But despite their differences, they all shared one thing in common. Do you know what that is?"
Sakura stared at her sensei for a moment. Her expression became complex, and she replied while lowering her head,
"No."
"They all believed, without question, in their purpose—unshakable convictions. Unbreakable wills. Without that, it's impossible to move forward. Inside and outside the Tower, there are obstacles far beyond mortal comprehension. If you ever encounter them, power alone won't be enough to overcome them."
Sakura glanced at her. "Why are you telling me this, Sensei?"
Her sensei's expression turned unreadable. "For certain reasons, I can't speak freely about some things. But know this—you are special in a way you don't yet understand. I believe in you." She paused, then asked, "But tell me, do you believe in yourself?"
-
[1st Person]
I stared at Sensei, my vision threatening to blur with tears.
Do I believe in myself? I should. But... the more I try, the louder the voices in my head get. With every failure, with every attempt.
'You're not good enough.'
'You'll never be more than a shadow.'
The more I tried to ignore them, the stronger they became.
[Captain, if you give your fears space, they will consume you]
'Axis?!'
The robotic voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. Despite its artificial nature, it sounded more human than the voices haunting me.
[Your words and images can shape the world, Captain. But only if you believe in them]
...
I clenched my fists and looked up at the sky.
"I… understand."
-
-
[Rael Pov]
*Clank* *Bam*
I swung my sword, slashing through the wooden training dummy before delivering a kick that shattered its torso. The remains collapsed onto the ground.
My sensei, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "You've improved. Are you ready for the next step?"
"Real battle, huh." I thought about the words with a faint smile. "I'm ready."
"Great. Follow me."
We walked side by side through the golden grass. With every step, I felt an inexplicable shift in the air, as though each movement carried the weight of a thousand.
And then, before I even realized what had happened, the scenery had changed.
A colossal castle loomed before me, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. It was breathtaking, but despite its beauty, an unsettling feeling crawled up my spine.
"Really, how big is this floor? One moment we were in an endless field, and now there's a damn castle?" I asked.
"It's bigger than you can imagine. This castle is home to several beasts. Your mission is to defeat all the monsters in the castle and the creature that awaits you on the top floor."
I listened to the sensei's words as I walked.
"Rael, wait."
I stopped my steps when I heard my sensei's voice behind me.
"I won't be helping you with this challenge. From this moment forward, you're on your own... good luck."
His voice was calm, but for the first time, I thought I sensed... concern?
"I've already made my decision, Sensei. Don't worry."
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. From the moment my training started, Sensei had always been there. His presence had become a constant—a source of security.
And now... he won't be here with me to protect me if I run into trouble. But I don't want to depend on other people forever.
[With me here, your survival rate increases dramatically, Rael. Be optimistic.]
I blinked. "Axis?! Where the hell have you been?!"
[This floor is constantly changing your body, so I'm evolving too. And because of these factors, I had to be absent for a while. Besides, it would have been counterproductive if I had interfered earlier]
*sigh*
"Anyway, with you here, I feel a bit more at ease."
I sighed a little relieved and turned back to Sensei. "I won't fail, Sensei."
"I believe in you." He replied with a neutral expression.
With that, I stepped forward—toward the castle.
-
"What an... unsettling feeling," I muttered as I looked at the castle walls. Upon entering the castle, I found an unusual quietness. The grand halls were eerily silent. Dust floated in the dim air, and long-forgotten chandeliers cast a faint glow over the walls.
[Mapping area...]
[Done]
A three-dimensional layout of the castle appeared in my vision. I ran my hand over the stone pillars, analyzing the holographic map Axis had generated.
"Well done, Axis." I complimented him as I used the map to guide me.
[The castle has only three floors. Looks like it won't take long to finish]
"It can't be that easy." As I walked, I noticed some bodies on the ground. They weren't moving, they looked dead. I looked around cautiously as I passed the bodies.
-
[3rd Person]
Behind Rael, one of the bodies twitched.
Then, its limbs spasmed violently, and its glowing green eyes snapped open.
[Rael, behind you]
"What-"
*Whoosh*
Rael immediately turned around and placed the sword in front of his body.
*Clank*
The sound of clashing metal echoed across the floor. Rael was shocked when he saw the creature that had attacked.
"What the hell is that?"
A rotting humanoid creature snarled at him. Its flesh was half-decayed, its nails twisted into grotesque claws. Its glowing green pupils burned with hunger.
The monster felt annoyed when he saw that someone had blocked his blow. It roared and attacked Rael's waist, trying to cut him in half.
"Too slow." With precise footwork, he sidestepped, driving his blade through the creature's arm, and pinning it to the floor.
The monster thrashed, trying to free itself, but Rael was faster.
He delivered a flurry of punches and kicks, shattering its ribs. With a final blow, he sent the creature flying across the hall—its arm tearing clean off.
"Is it dead?" Rael watched for a moment and noticed that the monster had stopped moving.
*sigh*
"That was easier than I thought." He said as he prepared to continue climbing the castle.
[Rael, it looks like it's not over yet]
As Rael pulled out his sword, which was stuck in the ground, Axis' words made him turn around.
And there it was, the monster was on its feet again. And worse, his arm was completely healed.
"What the hell?!"
[It seems to have regenerative properties. Besides, it's not just one]
"What do you mean-"
His voice stopped when he saw several bodies rising from the ground, all emitting a greenish glow in their eyes.
"1, 2, 3, 4 - Damn, there's a lot of them."
[Prepare yourself]
"You don't have to warn me about this." Rael pulled out his sword and put it in front of his face. Despite the number of monsters, his expression didn't show despair, but... confidence!
"Come at me." He smiled.