As I drove towards the tower location, I admired the familiar view. The curving roads adding to the charm, having me follow the natural terrain instead of driving through it.

From the road, I could see the new gate locations often flocked by people. They seem to have established groups, entering together. It must be easier that way, with strength in numbers.

Some gates were devoid of people, not a single person seemed to go there. Those were possibly the harder dungeons. I turned on the radio.

"Yes John, that's correct! From the information gathered, grade D skills are the highest anyone has got. They are not that uncommon either. Grade E is the most common, with grade F skills being rarer. Most grade F skills are not combat related."

"Is that so Jeff? I've heard they've done tests on aptitudes in the Netherlands. Could you tell us about that?"

"Certainly John! From the public records, people who are not fit for fighting usually gain non-combat skills. Most of these individuals are assisted in their awakening."

"Wow! Is that so Jeff?"

"Yes John, however, these skills are also quite useful! There are some skills that make menial labor a breeze, some chefs even achieved cooking skills! A lot of tradespeople received skills directly related to their trade."

“Thank you Jeff! For this next section let’s talk about…”

The news broadcast kept talking about worldly matters related to the system. Including the estimated death toll rising because of the dungeons. Vigilantes fighting governments, gang fights, even bar fights turning deadly.

That wasn’t surprising to me. The system event threw a wrench into the workings of the world. I didn’t get the impression that this system was evil; it didn’t force anyone into danger. But I had too little to go on. It called this the tutorial. What would come after, if we can complete it in the first place?

I arrived in Ruark, a town scattered along the main road to the city. No long term parking spots existed in town to my knowledge, so I headed for the trail to a freshwater fishing spot. I drove up as far as my car could. People would park here while they trekked the rest of the trail. I had gone here once for fishing, catching absolutely nothing.

Car locked, I brought my keys with me. The map on my phone pinpointed the location of the gate. Not wanting to waste any time, I activated my skill and ran through the forest.

…

A massive archway stood in front of me. Pristine white bricks stacked around the enormous portal. The humming from this portal was even more intense than the dungeons. In the middle of nowhere, such a location came to be. A flat surface, extending 5 meters in all directions from the portal, had been created. A small staircase led up to the square floor of the portal. It was all white bricks. I was no stone expert, but it looked out of this world. The portal’s white light gently flowed, creating an aura of tranquility instead of the usual swirling energy.

I didn’t know what to expect. Was I the first person to enter? Before I stepped through, I sent a message to Jennifer. The bright light almost blinded me, my whole body encapsulated by the gate.

My eyes focused. I was in a white circular room. Everything in this room was a matte white color, even the desk in the middle. Before I could approach, something jumped up from it!

“GREETINGS TRAVELER!!!”

!!!

I almost fell in shock! A tiny girl appeared from the desk! Her waist long emerald-green hair settled from her jump as she lowered her arms waving in surprise.

“Ah! Did I scare you? He hehe he!” Grinning mischievously, her eyes, mirroring the color of her hair, narrowed as her hands instinctively hid her mischievous expression.

She looked to be around the age of 8. What was she doing here? Had she got here before me?

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

“Little girl, why are you here? Where’s your parents?”

“Pah! Little girl? Me? I, Maomao, am the designated tower spirit for this realm! I’m as old as a book!”

Maomao? What a cute name…

“A book? Any book?”

“Yes! I was created yesterday by the great mother!”

She’s even younger than she looks…

Before I could respond, she cut me off.

“Age is not a concept for us, spirits! We live for our task!”

“Then what happens after? Do you disappear?”

“… Yes! I think so!”

“That’s… Hey how come you can speak my language?”

“Your language? Don’t worry! Everything in the tower will translate so everybody can understand!” She continued, “If you want to learn the many languages of other worlds, you can do so in the tower!”

She appears enthusiastic about her job.

“I don’t think I will be studying any languages for now. What am I supposed to do here?”

“As your guide, I will answer the questions I can! Your world is integrating with the world system. Your universe has had no influence of mana, so it has been left outside since the inception of your universe. The great mother has infused a tiny amount of mana to this world, letting you adapt.”

Finally! I was getting some actual answers about what was going on. My mind reeled at the things the little girl said.

“The purpose of the tower is to provide abandoned worlds with increasing amounts of mana, ultimately allowing your strongest specimens to reach the top. Everything inside is real. The system protects these worlds from outside forces, in return for existing in the tower.”

First contact with other worlds!

“Then, how will it differ from earth?– I mean our world?”

“The dungeons you have in your world will change in the future. Right now, they’re there simply for training. They aren’t real worlds. As for the tower, along with new functions, skills, techniques, upgrading, and other secrets to learn, the system will gradually change with the levels. Sometimes minor, sometimes major. The system as you know it is specifically tailored for introducing you to mana. I can’t share too much, but on the first level, you have to pick up the items yourself!”

“Is the world filled with monsters?”

“… Yes and no, there’s going to be monsters much stronger than you, but there are other humans, as well as other intelligent species. You will learn more when you go. You just have to be careful, take things slow, leave your current knowledge behind and don’t get ahead of yourself!”

I vigorously nodded.

“Then young traveler! Are you ready to enter the first level of the tower?”

I am more ready than ever! An otherworldly adventure awaits me!

I tried prodding for more information, but Maomao just looked away with a pout. She was tight-lipped with what might give me a head-start.

“Okay, I am ready! Please send me away, great Maomao!”

“Hehehe, yes! I am great! Okay, little grasshopper! Enjoy the kingdom of Theele!”

Ah, buttering her up works?

Before I could continue praising her for more information, I found myself in a dark void. I was compelled to enter a state of sleep, causing my eyes to forcefully shut.

…

I woke up through no effort of my own. Someone shook me awake.

“Hey hey! Are you awake? You’re in the middle of the road.”

As I opened my eyes, I saw a vast expanse of lush greenery stretching out into the distance. From afar, I could make out the grand silhouette of a medieval city, its massive stone walls standing tall and formidable. I pushed myself up from the dirt path I was lying on, still in a bit of a daze.

“Sorry sorry, I don’t know what happened…”

“Say, are you an outsider, kid?”

Ah! What should I say?

The man carried on when he noticed my guilty expression.

“Don’t worry! we get otherworlders from time to time. Is this your first visit?”

“Ah yes! The system recently changed our world, and I entered the tower.”

“I see… Kid, come with me! I’m heading to the city. Since you were unfortunate enough to not even be placed near a spawn point, I’ll help you out.”

Spawn point!? Did Maomao play a trick on me??