Jonathan Sterling's heart raced, a frantic drumbeat against the heavy weight of silence.
The doctors exchanged solemn looks, their murmured words "terminal," " few days left"—clawing at his sanity.
He squeezed his eyes shut, the plush hospital bed suddenly feeling like a cold, unforgiving steel gurney.
Just a few days ago, he had stood at the pinnacle of the world. Jonathan Sterling, the youngest billionaire to grace the cover of Forbes.
His empire was his legacy, built from nothing but ambition and an unyielding desire to win.
Family? Friends? Love? Those were luxuries he had no time for, mere distractions from his relentless pursuit of success.
And he had succeeded.
But now, what good was all that wealth and power when his own body had betrayed him? Cancer, the silent predator, had been gnawing at his insides while he was too busy chasing fleeting victories to notice.
Here he was, staring down the end of his story. His billions were powerless against the grim finality of death.
With nothing but time and regret as his companions, he turned to the only escape within reach—a novel he'd picked up on a whim.
It was a silly story about a magical academy filled with Aliens and destined heroes.
As he read, he found himself lost in its vivid descriptions.
The clash of spells, the rivalries and friendships, the grandeur of a world alive with magic—it all painted a picture so vibrant, so different from the sterile confines of his hospital room.
The heart monitor beside him slowed, its beeps growing further apart.
The intervals stretched into what felt like eternities before there was nothing. Silence.
And then…
A jolt.
Jonathan gasped, his eyes flying open to a burst of color.
Sunlight streamed through intricate stained-glass windows, casting shimmering patterns across a room that was both unfamiliar and strangely familiar.
He tried to sit up, but his body felt wrong—smaller, weaker. Panic tightened his throat as he scanned his surroundings.
Where was he?
He had never seen this room before, but why did it seem so familiar? More importantly, how was he still alive?
He rubbed his face with his hands, but they stopped him short. His hands were smaller than usual.
Suddenly, words appeared before his eyes, floating in the air like a hologram:
[You are blessed by destiny.]
[You have gained access to the system.]
A system? Like those RPG games or novels?
The words continued, ignoring his growing confusion:
[Loading… 1%... 25%... 75%... 100%.]
[Accessing memories of the previous owner.]
A surge of foreign memories overwhelmed him, flooding his mind with images and emotions.
He saw the boy whose body he now inhabited.
The boy's name was Lucian Eryndral, the third son of the prestigious Eryndral family.
The system chimed again:
[System activated.]
[Objective: Conquer the Ascension Tower.]
Jonathan blinked. "Conquer? What tower?"
As if responding to his question, new text appeared:
[The Ascension Tower is a realm of trials and growth. Each floor represents a new challenge, a step closer to true power. Only those who reach the top can claim the mantle of destiny.]
Destiny? Growth? Power? Jonathan stared at the floating words, his mind racing. Why was he here?
Then he recalled it—the surname "Eryndral" was from the very novel he had read.
His eyes caught sight of a mirror across the room.
The reflection wasn't his. It was the face of someone else. Red eyes, black hair, and a frail body. Yet, he—or rather, Lucian—was undeniably handsome.
He searched his newly accessed memories. The reason for Lucian's frailty surfaced quickly.
A rare mana disease.
This disease caused a person's mana core to fracture, leading to a slow and painless death. There was no cure.
Lucian had been too afraid to reveal his condition to his family. He feared that in their desperation to find a cure, they might do something far worse.
So, he had run away, leaving a note behind claiming he wanted to explore the world.
Jonathan—or Lucian, now—took a deep breath.
"I've transmigrated," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
The mirror caught his eye again, reflecting the face of his new reality.
This was no longer Lucian's life. It was his.
"Blessed by destiny, huh?" Jonathan muttered, his lips curling into a humorless smile.
He had built an empire from nothing once. He had clawed his way to the top through sheer determination and willpower.
Now, he would do it again.
Lucian Eryndral might have been naive, but Jonathan Sterling was not.
"This is my second chance," he whispered, the flicker of determination in his chest growing into a roaring flame.
He rose from the bed, his legs shaky but steadying with each step.
The system floated silently, waiting for his next move.
"System," Lucian called out, the words sounding strange in his new body.
In response, a translucent interface appeared before him, glowing faintly in the air.
[Ascension Tower - Accessible]
[Status]
Lucian's brow furrowed. It seemed this was an active system, not a passive one like the protagonist's system in the novel he had read.
It didn't give quests or penalties. Instead, it mentioned an "Ascension Tower."
His frown deepened. "What tower? There wasn't anything like that in the novel," he muttered under his breath.
Maybe this tower was something unique, something created solely for him.
"Status," he said slowly, testing the system.
[Name: Lucian Eryndral]
[Mana Core: Fractured]
[Current Floor: --]
Lucian's shoulders sagged as he scanned the sparse details. "That's it?" he murmured, disappointment creeping into his voice.
There were no stats—no strength, agility, or intelligence indicators like the protagonist's system.
He let out a long breath, trying to make sense of it all. "Hoo."
His gaze fell on a rectangular device resting on a nearby table—a mobile phone. Reaching for it, he pressed the screen, which flickered to life.
[8:23 AM]
[May 5, 2160]
A single notification caught his attention: an email.
[From: Zenith Academy]
Congratulations Mr. Lucian Eryndral,
We are pleased to inform you that your application has been selected by our academy. Please ensure your presence at our academy for the ranking test on May 19, 2160.
He frowned slightly. 'There's still two weeks left until the test'.
In this world, if a person awakened, they were required to join an academy.
It was a compulsory rule set by the government to develop and regulate awakened individuals.
"Ascension Tower," Lucian muttered, testing the system again.
A prompt appeared before him:
[Do you wish to enter the Ascension Tower?]
[YES] [NO]
"No," he said immediately, shaking his head.
Jumping headfirst into an unknown place without preparation was nothing short of stupidity in this world.
Curious, he asked, "What is the Ascension Tower?"
This time, the system responded:
[The Ascension Tower is a realm of trials and growth. Each floor represents a new challenge, a step closer to true power. Only those who reach the top can claim the mantle of destiny.]
"So, you can understand what I'm saying," Lucian remarked, intrigued.
The system, however, gave no response.
Lucian sighed and tried again. "What do you mean by 'Current Floor'?"
Again, silence.
"Figures," he muttered. It seemed the system only provided basic information. The rest, he would have to uncover on his own.
He leaned back for a moment, then stood and walked over to the window. Opening it, he froze, his breath catching in his throat.
What he saw amazed him.
Large skyscrapers pierced the sky, gleaming in the sunlight.
Modern architecture stood proud, a testament to human ingenuity, while sleek, futuristic vehicles zipped through the streets below.
"I really am in the novel," Lucian whispered, awe in his voice.
Lucian's thoughts raced as he stared at his trembling hands. He knew one thing for certain: survival in this world was impossible with a fractured mana core.
There was no cure, no way to mend something so vital to life here.
His only hope was the system.
Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "Ascension Tower."
The familiar blue window appeared before him:
[Do you want to enter the Ascension Tower?]
[YES] [NO]
Lucian hesitated for only a moment before firming his resolve. "Yes."
As the word left his lips, his surroundings began to blur. The familiar confines of his room dissolved into a chaotic haze.
When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in a dystopian landscape.
Ruined buildings stretched endlessly before him, their skeletal remains twisted and broken.
The ground was cracked and barren, devoid of any sign of life.
A chill ran down Lucian's spine as he took in the destruction. It was as if the earth itself had been abandoned, left to crumble under the weight of despair.
But what drew his attention most was the massive black spire looming in the distance.
Its ominous presence dominated the landscape, casting a shadow that seemed to stretch forever.
The spire was dark and foreboding, its surface smooth and unyielding like polished obsidian.
Before Lucian could take a step, the towering doors of the spire creaked open.
The sound echoed through the desolate world, a deep, resonating invitation.
Lucian swallowed hard as he gazed into the darkness beyond the doors.
It was as if the spire was welcoming him in, daring him to take the first step into the unknown.
His fists clenched as he steadied his breathing. 'There's no turning back now'.
With cautious determination, Lucian stepped forward, crossing the threshold into the Ascension Tower.