The golden light faded as Jin-Seok stepped onto the seventh floor of the Tower, his eyes adjusting to the dim yet soothing illumination. Unlike the previous floors, which had been either hostile or unsettling, this one felt eerily calm. The air was cool and carried the faint aroma of ancient wood and parchment. A vast expanse of stone stretched before him, bordered by towering shelves filled with scrolls, books, and artifacts that shimmered faintly in the low light.
It was a library—one unlike any Jin-Seok had ever seen.
[System Notification: Seventh Floor – Trial of Knowledge Initiated.]
Objective: Decipher the enigma of the Silent Vanguard.
Jin-Seok scanned his surroundings warily, his hand instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. Despite the stillness of the space, the System's message had made it clear—this was another trial. And in the Tower, trials rarely remained calm for long.
"Silent Vanguard?" he muttered, his voice echoing faintly through the hall. "What's that supposed to mean?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the air shifted. A soft, rhythmic tapping echoed from deep within the library, like the deliberate steps of someone—or something—approaching. Jin-Seok turned toward the sound, his body tense.
From the shadows of the towering shelves emerged a figure clad in silver armor, its surface dull with age. The figure carried no weapon, yet its presence radiated authority. It stopped a few meters from Jin-Seok, standing motionless like a statue.
Jin-Seok's grip on his sword tightened. "Who are you?"
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it raised a gauntleted hand and gestured toward the nearest shelf.
Jin-Seok frowned. "You want me to look for something?"
The figure remained silent, its gesture unchanging.
"Guess that's a yes," Jin-Seok muttered, lowering his sword slightly.
He turned to the shelf, scanning its contents. The books and scrolls were ancient, their titles written in languages he didn't recognize. Some shimmered faintly, as if imbued with magic, while others looked so fragile that a single touch might reduce them to dust.
The Vanguard's Puzzle
As Jin-Seok searched, a faint glow caught his attention. Nestled between two thick tomes was a small, crystalline plaque. He carefully pulled it free, the object warm to the touch. Its surface was etched with intricate symbols, their patterns shifting and changing as he looked at them.
[System Notification: Item Acquired – Vanguard Plaque.]
Description: A key to the Silent Vanguard's enigma.
Before Jin-Seok could inspect the plaque further, the armored figure moved. Its hand extended toward him, and the space around it shimmered. In an instant, the library's serene atmosphere dissolved.
The shelves began to shift and twist, their forms warping into an intricate maze. The air grew heavier, filled with the low hum of magic.
"Of course," Jin-Seok said, exhaling sharply. "It couldn't just be a simple library."
[System Notification: Vanguard Maze Activated.]
Objective: Navigate the maze and uncover the Vanguard's truth.
Jin-Seok clenched his jaw and began moving cautiously. The once-linear aisles were now a labyrinth of towering shelves, each filled with books and artifacts that seemed to pulse with life. The crystalline plaque in his hand grew warmer, its glow intensifying whenever he approached certain shelves.
"Looks like you're my guide," he muttered to the plaque.
Following the plaque's guidance, he navigated through the maze. Along the way, he noticed strange patterns carved into the shelves—symbols that matched those on the plaque. Whenever he passed these symbols, the maze seemed to shift subtly, opening new pathways or closing old ones.
The First Guardian
As Jin-Seok rounded a corner, the air grew colder. A low growl echoed through the maze, followed by the sound of claws scraping against stone. Jin-Seok drew his sword, his muscles tensing as he prepared for a fight.
From the shadows emerged a creature unlike anything he'd seen before. It had the body of a wolf, but its fur shimmered like liquid metal. Its eyes glowed with an intense, otherworldly light, and its movements were unnervingly smooth.
[System Notification: Abyssal Guardian Detected.]
Threat Level: High.
"Perfect," Jin-Seok muttered, raising his sword.
The creature lunged without warning, its speed blinding. Jin-Seok barely managed to sidestep, the creature's claws grazing his arm. He countered with a swift slash, his blade sparking against the creature's metallic hide.
"Figures you'd have armor," he said, gritting his teeth.
The creature snarled, circling him with predatory precision. Jin-Seok adjusted his stance, his mind racing. His ordinary strikes weren't enough—he needed to exploit its weak points.
The plaque in his hand pulsed suddenly, and Jin-Seok's gaze shifted to a faintly glowing pattern on the creature's chest.
"A weak spot," he realized.
The creature lunged again, and Jin-Seok waited until the last moment before sidestepping. As it passed, he drove his sword into the glowing mark. The creature howled, its form shuddering before dissolving into a cloud of shimmering particles.
[System Notification: Abyssal Guardian Defeated.]
Rewards: +2 Strength, +1 Dexterity.
Jin-Seok exhaled heavily, lowering his sword. The maze shifted again, the shelves rearranging themselves into a new configuration.
"Guess that was just the first round," he muttered, gripping the plaque tightly as he moved forward.
The Heart of the Maze
After what felt like hours, Jin-Seok reached the center of the maze. The shelves parted to reveal a circular chamber, its walls adorned with intricate carvings that pulsed with light. In the center stood a pedestal, atop which rested another crystalline plaque.
The armored figure from before was there, standing silently beside the pedestal.
Jin-Seok approached cautiously, his sword ready. "So, this is the end of your trial?"
The figure didn't respond. Instead, it gestured toward the second plaque.
Jin-Seok hesitated before stepping closer. He placed his plaque on the pedestal, aligning it with the one already there. The two plaques merged, their symbols intertwining into a single, cohesive pattern.
[System Notification: Trial of Knowledge Complete.]
Rewards: +3 Wisdom, Vanguard's Insight.
The carvings on the walls began to glow brighter, and Jin-Seok felt a strange warmth envelop him. The symbols seemed to come alive, their patterns flowing like water as they formed an image—a depiction of the Tower itself, surrounded by shadowy figures.
"This Tower… it's more than just a place," Jin-Seok murmured, his eyes narrowing.
The armored figure raised its hand once more, and the light in the chamber coalesced into a doorway. Without a word, the figure stepped aside, allowing Jin-Seok to pass.
Jin-Seok hesitated, his gaze lingering on the carvings. The Tower's secrets were deeper than he'd imagined, and the trials were becoming more than just tests of strength and will—they were unraveling the very fabric of his reality.
With a deep breath, he stepped through the doorway, ready to face whatever awaited him on the next floor.