The doors of the tower closed behind Azrael with a resonant thud, sealing him inside. The air was thick with an otherworldly energy, and the walls seemed to pulse faintly, as if alive. The first floor stretched out before him, a vast expanse that was both familiar and alien. In the game, this floor had been a tutorial zone—a simple forest filled with weak monsters designed to teach players the basics. But now, it felt different. The trees were taller, their branches twisting unnaturally, and the air carried a faint, metallic tang that made his skin prickle.
Azrael took a deep breath, his mana flaring instinctively around him like a protective aura. The light from his mana illuminated the dim surroundings, casting long shadows that danced eerily across the ground. He glanced at his holographic status screen, which hovered faintly in the corner of his vision:
Level: 1
Strength: 13
Agility: 17
Vitality: 14
Mana: 30
Soul Power: 10
Bloodline: #####
Skills: None
Unused Stat Points: 0
The numbers were a reminder of how far he had to go. In the game, he had been a legend, a player with stats in the hundreds and a repertoire of skills that could level entire floors. Now, he was starting over. But he wasn't the same person he had been five years ago. He had experience, knowledge, and a physique that was already far beyond human. He just had to adapt.
A soft chime echoed in his mind, and a new message appeared on his screen:
"Welcome to the First Floor of the Tower of Eternity. Objective: Survive and locate the exit. Rewards: Treasures and knowledge await those who prove themselves worthy."
Azrael smirked. The tower hadn't changed much. It still loved its cryptic messages and vague objectives. But he knew better than to underestimate it. The first floor might seem easy, but the tower had a way of surprising even the most prepared challengers.
He began to move, his footsteps silent against the soft, moss-covered ground. His heightened senses picked up every sound—the rustle of leaves, the distant chirping of birds, the faint creak of branches swaying in an unseen breeze. It was almost peaceful, but Azrael knew better. The tower was never peaceful.
It didn't take long for the tower to test him. A low growl echoed through the trees, and Azrael froze, his body tensing instinctively. From the shadows emerged a creature—a wolf, but unlike any wolf he had ever seen. Its fur was pitch black, its eyes glowing a sickly green, and its teeth were unnaturally long, dripping with saliva. It was a Shadowfang, a common monster from the first floor of the game. But like everything else in the tower, it seemed… different. More real. More dangerous.
The Shadowfang lunged at him without warning, its movements unnaturally fast. Azrael reacted on instinct, sidestepping the attack with ease. His agility stat might not be as high as it once was, but it was still far beyond human limits. The wolf skidded past him, its claws tearing gouges into the ground.
Azrael summoned a ball of light in his hand, the mana swirling into a compact sphere. He hurled it at the wolf, and it struck the creature square in the chest, exploding in a burst of radiant energy. The Shadowfang howled in pain, its body writhing as the light seared its flesh. But it didn't go down. Instead, it turned to face him again, its eyes burning with fury.
"Tougher than I remember," Azrael muttered, his mind racing. In the game, a single mana blast would have been enough to kill a Shadowfang. But this wasn't the game anymore. The rules had changed.
The wolf lunged again, and this time Azrael was ready. He dodged to the side, his movements fluid and precise, and delivered a powerful kick to the creature's side. The impact sent the wolf flying into a tree, where it crumpled to the ground, unmoving.
A chime sounded in his mind, and a new message appeared:
"Shadowfang defeated. Experience earned."
Azrael's eyes narrowed. No stat points, no treasures—just experience. The tower was stingier than he had hoped. But he wasn't surprised. The tower had always been a harsh mistress, rewarding only those who truly earned it.
As Azrael ventured deeper into the forest, his mind wandered back to his time in the game. The first floor had been simple, but there had been secrets—hidden paths, rare treasures, and shortcuts that only the most dedicated players could find. One such secret was a Luminite Shard, a rare item he had only heard about in passing. It wasn't flashy or legendary, but it was valuable. In a place like the tower, where every advantage mattered, the shard was one of the few things worth chasing on the first floor.
He adjusted his course, heading northeast. The forest seemed to resist him, the trees shifting subtly to block his path. But Azrael was persistent. He had spent years navigating the tower's tricks and traps, and he wasn't about to be deterred by a few stubborn trees.
As he walked, he encountered more monsters—Shadowfangs, giant spiders, and even a pack of skeletal wolves. Each fight was a test of his skills and adaptability. Without the abilities he had relied on in the game, he had to rely on his instincts and the raw power of his stats. But he was learning. Every fight taught him something new, and every victory brought him closer to understanding the tower's new rules.
After what felt like hours, he finally found it—a small clearing, bathed in an ethereal light. In the center of the clearing was a pedestal, and on the pedestal rested a glowing crystal. Azrael's heart raced as he approached it. The crystal was a Luminite Shard, its surface smooth and cool to the touch, pulsing faintly with mana.
But as he reached out to touch it, the ground beneath him trembled. From the shadows emerged a massive creature—a Guardian Warden, a monster that hadn't existed in the game. It was a towering beast, its body covered in thick, armored scales, and its eyes glowed with a malevolent light.
Azrael cursed under his breath. Of course the tower wouldn't make it easy. The Guardian Warden roared, its voice shaking the trees, and charged at him.
The fight was brutal. The Warden's scales were nearly impervious to his mana blasts, and its attacks were devastating. But Azrael was relentless. He used his agility to dodge the beast's attacks, striking at its weak points with precision. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he found an opening. The Warden reared back, exposing its underbelly, and Azrael unleashed a concentrated blast of mana, striking it square in the chest.
The Warden let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing to the ground. A chime sounded in his mind, and a new message appeared:
"Guardian Warden defeated. Experience earned. Level up! You are now Level 2. Stat points awarded: +3."
Azrael quickly allocated the points, boosting his Mana to 33, his Soul Power to 11, and his Agility to 18. The changes to his mana and agility were noticeable—a slight increase in power and speed—but the increase in Soul Power was different. He didn't feel any immediate change, no surge of energy or sharpening of his senses. Instead, he felt… something else. A faint, almost imperceptible hum in the back of his mind, like a door waiting to be opened. He couldn't explain it, but he knew the stat held hidden potential. It was a mystery, one he would have to unravel in time.
He turned his attention back to the Luminite Shard. This time, there were no surprises. He reached out and touched the shard, and a surge of energy coursed through him. A chime sounded in his mind, and a new message appeared:
"Luminite Shard acquired. Mana stat permanently increased by +5."
Azrael grinned as he felt the change. His mana reserves expanded, the energy within him growing denser and more potent. It wasn't a massive boost, but it was a start. And more importantly, it was proof that the tower's secrets were still there, waiting to be discovered.
As Azrael left the grove, he noticed a change in the forest. The trees were thinning, and the air was growing colder. He knew what that meant: he was approaching the first boss. In the game, the first boss had been a Forest Guardian, a towering beast with the body of a bear and the antlers of a stag. It had been a tough fight, even for experienced players. But Azrael wasn't worried. He had faced worse.
The clearing was just as he remembered it: a massive stone archway marked the entrance, and beyond it stood the Forest Guardian. The beast was even more imposing in person, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light, its roar shaking the ground beneath his feet.
Azrael didn't hesitate. He charged forward, his mana flaring to life around him. The Forest Guardian lunged at him, its claws tearing through the air with terrifying speed. But Azrael was faster. He dodged to the side, his movements fluid and precise, and delivered a powerful blast of mana to the beast's side.
The fight was intense. The Forest Guardian was fast and powerful, its attacks forcing Azrael to stay on the defensive. But he was patient, waiting for the right moment to strike. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he saw his opening. The beast reared back, exposing its chest, and Azrael unleashed a concentrated blast of mana, striking it square in the heart.
The Forest Guardian let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing to the ground. A chime sounded in his mind, and a new message appeared:
"Forest Guardian defeated. Experience earned. Level up! You are now Level 3. Stat points awarded: +3."
Azrael quickly allocated the points, boosting his Mana to 36, his Soul Power to 12, and his Agility to 19. The changes to his mana and agility were noticeable—a slight increase in power and speed—but the increase in Soul Power remained elusive. He still felt that faint hum in the back of his mind, a quiet promise of something greater. He didn't know what it meant, but he was determined to find out.
As Azrael stepped through the archway, the forest faded away, replaced by a swirling vortex of light. The second floor awaited, and with it, new challenges and mysteries. Azrael felt a surge of excitement. The tower was no longer just a game—it was his reality. And he was ready to conquer it, one floor at a time.
As Azrael stepped through the archway, the forest faded away, replaced by a swirling vortex of light. The second floor awaited, and with it, new challenges and mysteries. But before he could take another step, a chime sounded in his mind, and a new message appeared:
"First Floor cleared. You may now exit the tower or proceed to the next floor."
Azrael paused, his expression calm and calculating. The first floor had been… underwhelming. The monsters, the traps, even the Forest Guardian—none of it had truly tested him. His Arch-Angel Physique and natural affinity for mana had made the challenges feel almost trivial. But he wasn't foolish enough to think the tower would stay that way. The first floor was just the beginning, a taste of what was to come. And if the tower followed the same pattern as the game, the difficulty would spike dramatically from here.
He glanced at the swirling vortex leading to the second floor, then shook his head. "Exit the tower," he said aloud.
The world around him blurred, and he felt a strange pulling sensation, as if he were being dragged through space and time. When his vision cleared, he found himself standing in the middle of his small apartment in Seoul. The city lights glowed faintly outside his window, and the familiar hum of traffic filled the air. It was as if nothing had changed—except everything had.
Azrael glanced at his hands, still glowing faintly with mana. The tower was real. The system was real. And he was no longer just a gamer. He was a challenger, bound to the tower's whims. But unlike most, he wasn't afraid. He was excited.
Azrael spent the next few hours experimenting. The first floor had been easy, but he knew that wouldn't last. The tower would throw harder challenges at him, and he needed to be ready. He sat cross-legged on the floor of his apartment, his eyes closed, focusing on the flow of mana within him.
In the game, mana had been a tool—a resource to be managed and shaped with precision. Creating a sphere of mana had been simple, almost second nature to him. But now, as he focused, he noticed something different. The mana inside him felt… alive. It wasn't just a tool anymore; it was an extension of himself, flowing freely and responding to his will with an almost unsettling ease.
He reached out with his mind, trying to shape the mana into a simple sphere. It formed instantly, glowing with a radiant light that filled the room. But this wasn't just any sphere of mana. It was denser, more potent, and far more efficient than anything he had created before. The mana felt limitless, as if it could be shaped into anything he desired.
A chime sounded in his mind, and a new message appeared:
"Skill Created: Blessed by the Mana."
Azrael opened his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. He opened his status screen to check the details:
Skill: Blessed by the Mana (Passive)
Effect: Grants unparalleled control over mana, allowing it to be used more efficiently and potently. Stenghtens the affinity toward users natural elements, letting them use them freely.
Note: This skill is a manifestation of the user's Arch-Angel Physique, reflecting their divine connection to the essence of mana.
Azrael's smile widened. This was more than just a skill—it was a reflection of what he had become. The Arch-Angel Physique had elevated him beyond the limits of ordinary humans, granting him a connection to mana that was almost divine. He could feel the difference, the way the mana responded to his will as if it were an extension of himself.
He spent the next few hours experimenting with the skill, pushing its limits. He summoned a blade of pure light, its edge so sharp it seemed to cut through the air itself. He created a shield of radiant energy, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly glow. He even tried his hand at space magic, warping the air around him to create a small pocket of distorted space. Each creation was effortless, a testament to his newfound power.
As the sun rose, Azrael stepped out into the city. The streets were bustling with people, their faces filled with the same fear and confusion he had seen the day the tower descended. The holographic screens were everywhere, displaying the same messages and stats. The tower had changed everything, and no one knew what to do.
Azrael moved through the crowds unnoticed, his hood pulled low over his face. He didn't want attention—not yet. His goal was clear: grow stronger, master the system, and conquer the tower.
He made his way to a small café on the outskirts of the city, a place he had frequented during his time as a gamer. It was quiet and out of the way, the perfect place to gather his thoughts. He ordered a coffee and sat in the corner, his mind racing.
The tower was real, and so was the system. But what did that mean for the world? For him? He didn't have the answers, but he knew one thing for certain: he couldn't afford to waste time. The tower was a place of endless challenges and opportunities, and he needed to be ready for whatever came next.
And just as he had a moment ago thought of not wanting to attract any attention on himself, a system notice appeared in front of him, and his face froze.