Before the tower emerged, its location was known as the Valley of Death—a desolate, forsaken place infamous for spawning ruthless, monstrous creatures.
It was an accursed land where the air was thick with poison, the soil was barren, and survival was nothing more than a fleeting illusion.
Yet, when the tower appeared, everything changed in an instant.
The monstrous beings vanished without a trace, their existence seemingly erased from reality itself.
The once-toxic land became pure, the air breathable, and for the first time in history, the Valley of Death became habitable.
The transformation was miraculous, but it was also an enigma. No one knew why the tower had come into existence or what purpose it served.
However, one undeniable fact remained—the power it radiated was immense, and it had absorbed something crucial from both humanity and the devout followers of the divine.
To reclaim what was lost, an unprecedented alliance was formed.
Humans and the devout, who had often stood on opposing sides, came together with a shared goal: to confront the mystery of the tower and regain their lost power.
Together, they constructed a massive city at the tower's base, a metropolis unlike any other.
They named it in stark contrast to the tower itself.
This city, the "End of the Beginning," was built with a singular purpose: to prepare for the tower's challenge.
Every street, every building, every guild within its walls was dedicated to ensuring that those who entered the tower had the best possible chance of surviving its trials.
Despite its dangerous purpose, the city thrived.
It became a melting pot where people of all races, backgrounds, and beliefs converged.
The most important institutions in the city were the Adventurers' Guild and the Mercenaries' Guild—two organizations dedicated solely to sending people into the tower. Their members risked their lives exploring its depths, and in return, they reaped great rewards.
The tower was perilous beyond imagination, but that danger came with vast riches. Artifacts, lost knowledge, and treasures of unfathomable value could be found within its walls.
Those who braved its depths and returned alive were handsomely rewarded.
A young woman clad in the white robes of a saint stood at the city's entrance, gazing upon its towering walls and the sprawling urban landscape beyond.
She was accompanied by a group of knights, their armor gleaming under the sunlight.
"So this is the 'End of the Beginning'?" she mused aloud. "Quite the investment."
Her gaze, however, was drawn beyond the city—to the massive tower itself.
It was vast, immeasurable, and more than anything, it exuded an overwhelming presence.
"Saintess," an elderly knight beside her spoke, his voice carrying the weight of experience. "Are you certain about this decision? You still have the right to turn back."
The young woman shook her head firmly. "My mind was made up from the start. Humanity needs the assistance of the divine. This time, I shall repay that kindness by retrieving God's stolen power."
The knight sighed but did not object further. "If that is your will… then follow me."
With that, the saintess and her knights made their way to the Adventurers' Guild, where they would take their first step toward entering the tower.
After a brief exchange with the receptionist, each member of the saintess's group was given a glass pendant.
"What is this?" she asked, holding up the delicate object.
"It's your rank identifier," the receptionist explained. "Glass is the lowest rank. It's fragile, though we've reinforced it enough to withstand minor impacts. Still, if you want to prove yourself, you'll have to earn higher ranks."
Before they could dwell on the matter, they were handed another item—a waiver.
The knight beside her frowned. "What is this?"
"A contract," the receptionist said bluntly. "A legal agreement stating that the guild holds no responsibility for your death."
The saintess scanned the parchment, her expression unreadable.
"The tower is extremely dangerous," the receptionist continued. "Every year, over four thousand people die inside. And that's just the recorded number. Who knows how many never even make it onto the official lists?"
A tense silence followed. Several of the knights swallowed hard, their resolve wavering.
Just then, their attention was drawn to a nearby man with a muscular build, who was laughing and drinking with his comrades. He was missing both arms and legs.
"Once you're inside, escape is not guaranteed," a grizzled adventurer nearby muttered. "You have to find a Return Scroll if you want to make it out alive. Otherwise… well, you get the idea."
The old knight accompanying the saintess removed his helmet, revealing the horrifying scars on his face—half of it was missing, with exposed bone visible.
"That man over there," he gestured toward the amputee, "was once a famous adventurer. He was unlucky and lost his leg and arm—but he survived. By some miracle, he found a Return Scroll and escaped. Now, he's retired, living off the fortune he made selling the treasures he found inside the tower."
A grim reminder. The tower offered wealth, but survival was never guaranteed.
Still, despite the chilling stories, the saintess did not waver.
"We're going in," she said firmly.
Approaching the Tower
Their group made its way toward the colossal structure. Near its entrance, a military camp had been established, bustling with adventurers and mercenaries making last-minute preparations.
Even though they all knew stepping inside was akin to digging their own graves, the potential rewards were simply too great to ignore.
A younger knight hesitantly asked, "Why don't we just form a massive group instead of going in small teams?"
"I'd tried that before," the elder knight replied. "It doesn't work."
"Why not?"
"You'll see soon enough."
As they approached the tower's great entrance, the saintess watched as a group of adventurers pushed open the massive gates and stepped inside.
Going in is easy… but leaving is almost impossible.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward. The knights followed behind her, their hands gripping their weapons tightly.
The moment they crossed the threshold, an unexplainable force took hold of them.
Darkness enveloped their vision. Their bodies felt weightless, as if drifting in an endless abyss.
Then, a voice echoed in their minds.
—Floor 0—
And with that, everything went black.
***
As soon as they opened their eyes, the first thing they saw was an ancient ruin. This was Floor 0—the ancient city.
Everyone remained vigilant, cautiously scanning their surroundings, ready for any potential threats.
"Relax, this is just the tutorial floor. You're safe here."
A voice rang out, catching their attention. They immediately turned to see the source—a young man with red hair that partly covered his eyes, dressed neatly in an archer's attire.
"A human... but there's something emanating from him..." The Saintess clenched her hands, her gaze filled with concern.
Only one person remained calm—the old knight. Without hesitation, he stepped forward.
"What?! Wait, Sir! Didn't you say the tower was extremely dangerous?!" A younger knight exclaimed.
But the old knight paid no heed and continued walking until he stood before the red-haired man. Then, with great respect, he greeted him.
"Greetings, Sir Samuel. It has been a long time."
His formal tone left the knights bewildered, while Samuel immediately recognized him.
"Oh! It's you? This is your third time returning to the tower."
"To be remembered by you is an honor."
Seeing the friendly exchange, the Saintess couldn't help but grow curious.
"Oh, I suppose I forgot to mention something important?" The old knight spoke, breaking the silence. "The tower is home to beings so powerful that they could wipe out entire kingdoms. They are the floor guardians. And the man you're seeing today is the one who governs everything below the 10th floor."
"We call him 'Mentor'."
"M-Mentor?!"
"Yes. Compared to the dangers lurking in this tower, he is probably the safest person you could meet."
"Huh?!"
"You're praising me too much," Samuel remarked, glancing at the old knight before turning to face the others. A warm smile appeared on his face.
"As introduced, I am Samuel, and I will be your guide, helping you survive in this tower for as long as possible."