The dense forest began to thin as Alden, Hiroshi, and Eva approached the safe zone. The air grew lighter, and the oppressive tension of the forest faded, replaced by a sense of calm. Ahead, a glowing barrier marked the entrance to the safe zone, its light pulsing gently like a heartbeat.
"We made it," Eva said, her voice filled with relief. She clutched Hiroshi's arm, her face pale but hopeful.
Hiroshi nodded, though his expression was wary. "Let's not let our guard down just yet. We don't know what's waiting for us inside."
Alden remained silent, his mind already calculating the possibilities. If this is a safe zone, it's likely a place to regroup and recover. But what about the rewards? And what happens next?
As they stepped through the barrier, the world around them shifted. The forest vanished, replaced by a serene, open space bathed in soft golden light. At the center of the safe zone stood a familiar figure the panda admin, still dressed in his suit and bow tie, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Welcome, climbers!" the panda said, clapping his hands. "Congratulations on being the first to reach the safe zone. You've completed the first trial, and that deserves a reward."
A notification appeared before each of them:
[Quest Completed: Survive the Forest]
[Reward: 10x Accumulated Experience]
[Bonus Reward: First Clear Bonus – Enhanced Skill Upgrade]
The trio's eyes widened as a surge of energy enveloped them. Alden felt his body grow stronger, his mana reserves expanding. He quickly summoned his status window to check the changes:
Status Window:
Name: Alden
Level: 3 (↑2)
Mana: 120/120 (↑20)
Skills:
Impact Vault (B) → Impact Vault (A): [Absorb/Rebound]
Enhanced: Can now absorb and store more energy. Rebound damage increased by 20%.
Alden clenched his fists, feeling the increased power coursing through him. Level 3… and my mana has increased by 20. This is just the beginning.
Beside him, Hiroshi was also checking his status window, his expression a mix of awe and excitement.
Status Window:
Name: Hiroshi Nakamura
Level: 3 (↑2)
Mana: 120/120 (↑20)
Skills:
Seraph's Wings (A) → Seraph's Wings (S): [Feather Control]
Enhanced: Can now control up to 4 feathers. Feather speed and precision increased by 30%.
Hiroshi's angelic wings shimmered as two additional feathers materialized, bringing the total to four. He flexed his fingers, and the feathers danced in the air, responding to his will with flawless precision.
"This is incredible," Hiroshi said, a grin spreading across his face. "I can feel the difference. My control is so much better now."
Eva watched in awe, her own status window showing modest improvements. She hadn't been as active in combat, but the experience gain had still pushed her to Level 2.
The panda admin cleared his throat, drawing their attention. "Now that you've completed the first trial, you have a choice. You can leave the tower and return to your world, or you can challenge the second floor whenever you feel ready. The tower will always be here, waiting for you."
Eva's eyes lit up. "We can go home? But… what about the monsters? The chaos?"
The panda chuckled. "The tower's influence has already begun to change your world. Whether you stay or leave, the changes will continue. But don't worry—those who survive the tower's trials will gain the power to face whatever comes next."
Hiroshi frowned, his fists tightening. "So we're just supposed to abandon our world to its fate?"
Yeah, Hiroshi, because with our three new feathers and a bit more mana, we're practically Avengers material. Next stop: world domination! Alden thought, suppressing a smirk.
"Not at all," the panda replied. "The tower is a place of growth and opportunity. The stronger you become here, the better equipped you'll be to protect your world. But the choice is yours."
Alden listened intently, his mind racing. If we leave now, we'll lose the advantage of being first. But if we stay, we risk everything. Still… power is the key to survival. And I need more of it.
He glanced at Hiroshi, who was clearly torn. Perfect. He's the ideal pawn brave, idealistic, and easy to manipulate.He wants to be a real-life hero, and I'm more than happy to let him play the part.
"What do you think, Hiroshi?" Alden asked, his tone carefully neutral. "Should we stay and grow stronger, or go back and face the chaos head-on?"
Hiroshi hesitated, his gaze shifting between Alden and Eva. "I… I don't know. I want to protect our world, but I'm not sure if we're ready."
Eva placed a hand on his arm. "Whatever you decide, I'll follow you."
Alden suppressed a smirk. Good. They're looking to me for guidance. Time to steer them where I need them. Can't have our hero get a rude awakening from a 9mm to the head talk about a plot twist gone wrong.
"I think we should stay," Alden said, his voice calm but firm. "The tower is our best chance to gain the power we need. If we leave now, we'll only be putting ourselves and our world at greater risk."
Hiroshi nodded slowly, his resolve hardening. "You're right. We'll stay and grow stronger. For our world."
The panda admin clapped his hands again. "Excellent choice! The second floor awaits whenever you're ready. But for now, rest and recover. You've earned it."
As the panda vanished, the trio found themselves in a comfortable resting area within the safe zone. Soft cushions and warm light surrounded them, a stark contrast to the dangers they'd just faced.
Alden sat down, his mind already plotting his next move. Hiroshi is the perfect shield strong, loyal, and naive. As long as he believes I'm on his side, he'll do whatever I need him to do. And Eva… she's just another tool to keep him in line.
He opened his status window again, studying the changes:
Status Window:
Name: Alden
Level: 3
Mana: 120/120
Skills:
Impact Vault (A): [Absorb/Rebound]
Enhanced: Can now absorb and store more energy. Rebound damage increased by 20%.
With each level, I grow stronger. But I'm not invincible yet. A gun could still kill me. I need to get strong enough that even bullets are no threat. Only then will I have the upper hand when negotiating with the authorities. They'll see us as threats, uncontrollable factors. But if I'm powerful enough, they'll have no choice but to treat us as equals… or better. And I need to reach the 5th floor which is the minimum requirement to sponsor myself. At that time, I could leave.
As Alden closed his status window, a faint smile played on his lips. He sighed and thought, Things are finally starting to get interesting.