Chapter 11: The Tower of Trials
Lucian had always known that guilds were necessary. Without one, a Hunter was a stray dog—no resources, no backing, and no protection. So, he had done the logical thing: he tried to join one.
The result? Humiliation.
He went from one guild to another, each rejection burning deeper into his pride. The biggest guilds didn't even acknowledge his existence. The smaller ones laughed him off. ScavengerX, Crimson Valor, The Hollowed Blades... one by one, they all turned him away. He was weak in their eyes. A nobody.
Lucian clenched his fists. He had to get stronger. Strong enough that the world would have no choice but to acknowledge him.
So, he called Neo's school to pick him up.
"Oh, his guardian already picked him up ten minutes ago," the teacher said over the phone.
Lucian's heart stopped.
"What?" His voice was barely a whisper.
"His guardian, Mr. Lucian," the teacher repeated. "Didn't you—?"
The phone fell from his hand before she could finish.
Lucian ran. Faster than he ever had before. His legs burned, his lungs screamed, but he didn't stop. His mind was blank with a single thought repeating over and over again. Neo. Neo. Neo.
He reached home in record time. His front door was slightly open. Lucian rushed inside, his breath ragged.
There, on the couch, Neo was sleeping peacefully.
And beside him sat a man.
The stranger exuded a quiet strength, dressed in dark, elegant clothing. Handsome. Refined. And yet, something about him sent a shiver down Lucian's spine.
Lucian's eyes flared with fury. "What the hell are you doing in my house? Are you the one who—"
"Shhhh." The stranger raised a single finger to his lips. His voice was calm, eerie. "Don't wake him up. He's sleeping so soundly. You wouldn't want to ruin that, would you?"
Lucian's blood boiled. "I don't give a damn about your games. Who the hell are you?"
The man smiled. "Ah, names. How unnecessary. But fine. You may call me..." He paused, thinking. "No, actually. It doesn't matter. All you need to know is that I'm here to give you an opportunity."
"Opportunity?" Lucian growled. "Give me my brother back. Now."
The man chuckled. "Oh, Lucian. You are far too weak to make demands."
Lucian snapped. He threw a punch with all his might, aiming for the man's face.
But he was gone.
Neo was gone.
Only the man's voice remained, lingering in the air. "Try the Tower of Trials. Give it a try, and maybe—just maybe—I'll give Neo back. Or else..." His laughter echoed in the empty space before fading away entirely.
Lucian stood frozen, his breath heavy, his heart hammering. Damn it. Damn it. DAMN IT!
With no other choice, he activated the skill.
A black hole tore open before him.
The world twisted, stretched, and swallowed him whole.
---
When Lucian opened his eyes, he was in darkness. A void. A suffocating abyss that swallowed all light.
Then, a voice.
"Welcome to the Tower of Trials."
The words rang out, vibrating through the air.
"The tower is divided into 1,000 floors. Each floor holds monsters, beasts, and horrors beyond comprehension. Clear two floors, and you may leave. But beware—failure means death."
A sword materialized in his hands. Before he could react, the ground beneath him shifted. The darkness parted.
And Lucian found himself in hell.
The first floor was chaos. Harpies screeched from above, their talons sharp as blades. Wolves with glowing red eyes lunged from the shadows. Serpents coiled around his ankles, fangs sinking into his flesh.
Lucian swung his sword, cutting through a wolf, then spun to decapitate a harpy. But for every enemy he killed, ten more took its place. He fought desperately, slashing, dodging, pushing his body to the limit.
Then—
Pain.
A sword-like claw ripped through his stomach.
Lucian gasped.
He died.
Then, he opened his eyes.
Back at the beginning.
He died again.
Revived.
Died. Revived. Died. Revived.
It was endless. No matter how hard he fought, no matter how much he struggled, the monsters overwhelmed him every time,and he didn't know what was reviving him,he couldn't die,he couldn't give up as well,
Lucian lost count of how many times he had been torn apart. He had died a hundred times. A thousand. Maybe more. Time became meaningless.
But something changed.
With each death, he grew stronger. His swings became faster. His reactions sharper. His mana—his body—adapting, evolving.
Then, finally—
Victory.
Lucian stood alone on a battlefield of corpses, his chest rising and falling heavily. Blood soaked the ground. His body was trembling, wounds covering him from head to toe. But he was alive.
"First floor cleared."
Lucian dropped to his knees, panting.
Then the ground shifted.
"Proceeding to the second floor."
"Wait—!" Lucian barely had time to protest before the world melted away.
The second floor was worse.
A giant stood before him. Twelve feet tall, its muscles bulging like steel cables. Its skin was a dark, sickly shade of gray, and its eyes glowed with an unholy light.
Lucian barely had time to react before the creature swung a fist the size of a boulder.
He dodged—barely—but the shockwave sent him flying. He hit the ground hard, coughing up blood.
Lucian groaned. "You've got to be kidding me."
The giant charged.
Lucian pushed himself up, gripping his sword tightly. This wasn't just a battle. This was survival. If he lost here, if he died one more time... would he keep reviving? Or was there a limit?
He didn't want to find out.
The fight was brutal. Every attack from the giant shattered the ground, sending shockwaves through the air. Lucian was fast, but the creature was relentless. His sword barely cut through its tough hide.
Then he remembered the book's training exercises. The insane, impossible training that had pushed his body to its limits. Carrying a 300kg boulder through the city. Running across rooftops with his legs burning. Striking a dummy until his arms gave out.
That training had broken him. But it had also made him stronger.
Lucian dodged the giant's next attack and leaped onto its arm. Climbing up its body, he stabbed his sword deep into its neck. The giant roared in agony, stumbling backward.
Lucian didn't stop. He twisted the blade, then pulled it out and stabbed again. And again. And again.
With a final, pained cry, the giant fell.
Lucian collapsed beside it, his chest heaving.
"Second floor cleared."
A portal appeared before him.
He had done it.
And a new voice came going to floor 1 again,Lucians needs to clear the floor 1,2 again unlike the first felt the power to get stronger,he was pissed but couldn't do anything
Lucian stared at the portal while it was fading away,and he was sent to floor 1, his body aching, his mind exhausted.
Then, slowly, he smiled.
"I'm coming, Neo."