The staircase leading to the sixth floor was unusually steep, and each step felt heavier than the last. Jin-Seok gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as if the Tower itself wanted him to falter before reaching the next trial. Despite his exhaustion, his resolve remained unbroken. The vision of the Tower's creation still lingered in his mind—a fragmented truth that demanded answers.
When he finally reached the top, he paused, taking in the sight before him. The new floor was vastly different from anything he'd encountered so far. It was a vast, shimmering expanse—a mix of solid ground and an endless abyss of light and shadow. The air itself seemed alive, crackling with a strange energy that made the hair on his arms stand on end.
[System Notification: Sixth Floor – Trial of the Abyss Initiated.]
Objective: Cross the Abyss.
Jin-Seok stepped cautiously onto the crystalline platform beneath him. The floor was translucent, glowing faintly with a bluish hue. Beneath the surface, tendrils of light twisted and coiled like living creatures. Ahead of him, platforms floated in midair, some solid and stable, others flickering as if on the verge of disappearing.
"Cross the Abyss?" Jin-Seok muttered to himself. "Of course, it couldn't be straightforward."
As he moved closer to the edge of his platform, a sudden gust of wind howled through the expanse. The void beneath the platforms shimmered, revealing a kaleidoscope of shifting images. Jin-Seok froze as he realized what he was seeing: memories. His memories.
There was his younger self, a scrawny boy struggling to wield a wooden sword. He saw his mother's tear-streaked face as she begged him to abandon his foolish ambitions. He saw the day he lost his family, the ruins of their village burned to the ground, and his promise to survive at all costs.
"Is this another trick?" he asked, narrowing his eyes. "Or is the Tower trying to break me again?"
A voice echoed through the shimmering abyss—not the cold, emotionless tone of the System, but something softer, almost gentle.
"The Abyss reflects what lies within," the voice said. "Your past, your pain, your regrets. They will be your guide or your undoing."
Jin-Seok tightened his grip on his sword, the weight of his memories threatening to drag him down. "I've already faced my past. I don't need a reminder."
The voice didn't respond, leaving him alone with the flickering platforms and the endless void.
The First Leap
Jin-Seok studied the platforms ahead of him. The nearest one seemed solid enough, its surface glowing steadily. But the others flickered erratically, their edges dissolving and reforming in rapid succession.
He crouched low, gathering his strength. With a deep breath, he leaped toward the first platform. His boots struck the surface with a resounding thud, and he exhaled in relief. It held firm.
The next platform was farther away, its surface dim and unstable. Jin-Seok hesitated, his instincts screaming that it was a trap. But as he scanned the surrounding platforms, he realized there were no safer options.
"Trust yourself," he muttered, taking a running start.
He jumped, his heart pounding as he soared through the air. The platform beneath him flickered violently as he landed, and for a terrifying moment, it felt as if it would vanish entirely. But it held, and Jin-Seok wasted no time moving forward.
[System Notification: Physical Agility Test Passed.
Skill Bonus: +1 Dexterity.]
"Nice to know you're keeping score," Jin-Seok muttered under his breath, his sarcasm masking the tension that coiled in his chest.
As he prepared for the next jump, the shimmering abyss below him shifted again. This time, the images were not of his past but of possible futures.
In one vision, he saw himself standing atop the Tower, a radiant aura surrounding him. The System's voice declared him victorious, the ultimate ruler of the realms. In another, he lay broken at the base of the Tower, his body lifeless and forgotten.
Jin-Seok tore his gaze away, his jaw tightening. "You're not going to scare me off," he growled.
The platforms began to shift, their movements erratic and unpredictable. It was as if the Tower itself was testing not just his physical abilities but his resolve.
The Whispering Shadows
Halfway across the Abyss, Jin-Seok paused to catch his breath. The leaps were becoming more treacherous, the platforms farther apart and less stable. He wiped the sweat from his brow, his mind racing as he calculated his next move.
But before he could act, the air around him grew colder. A dark mist began to seep from the edges of the platforms, swirling and coalescing into vague shapes.
"Not this again," Jin-Seok muttered, drawing his sword.
The mist solidified into shadowy figures, their forms resembling humans but lacking any discernible features. They moved silently, their bodies flowing like liquid as they approached.
One of them lunged at him, and Jin-Seok reacted instinctively, slashing through its form. The shadow dissipated with a hiss, but two more took its place.
[System Notification: Abyssal Shadows Detected.]
Threat Level: Moderate.
Tip: Use light-based attacks to disperse shadows more effectively.
Jin-Seok scoffed. "Light-based attacks? Sure, let me just conjure some sunlight."
He dodged another shadow, his movements quick and precise. Though his sword could cut through them, the shadows reformed almost instantly, their movements relentless.
"Think, Jin-Seok," he muttered, glancing around the platforms.
His eyes landed on one platform glowing brighter than the others, a faint beam of light emanating from its center. It was far away, but it was his best chance.
Sheathing his sword, Jin-Seok sprinted toward the edge of his platform. He leaped without hesitation, the wind rushing past him as the shadows pursued. The platform beneath him flickered dangerously as he landed, but the beam of light flared, driving the shadows back.
The light coalesced into a small, glowing orb, hovering just above the platform. Jin-Seok reached out and grasped it, feeling a surge of warmth course through his body.
[System Notification: Luminous Orb Acquired.]
Ability Unlocked: Light Slash.
Jin-Seok smirked, drawing his sword again. The blade now glowed faintly, its edge shimmering with light. As the shadows closed in, he swung the blade in a wide arc. The light cut through them like fire through paper, their forms dissolving into nothingness.
"Looks like the Tower gave me a fighting chance for once," he muttered, moving quickly to the next platform.
The Final Leap
The last stretch of the Abyss was the most challenging yet. The platforms were spaced impossibly far apart, and the void beneath them shimmered with a menacing intensity. Jin-Seok's legs burned from exertion, but he refused to stop.
With the Luminous Orb's power guiding him, he made the final leap, landing on a large, stable platform at the end of the expanse. The moment his feet touched the surface, the platform lit up, and the abyss dissolved into a gentle glow.
The Trial was over.
[System Notification: Trial of the Abyss Complete.]
Rewards: +2 Agility, +3 Mental Fortitude, Abyssal Shard.
A doorway appeared before him, its frame shimmering with golden light. Jin-Seok sheathed his sword, his breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Another trial down," he said, stepping through the doorway. "But I'm not stopping until I find the truth."
As the golden light enveloped him, Jin-Seok felt a renewed sense of purpose. The Tower's challenges were growing more dangerous, but so was his determination to conquer them.