After beating the first wave of enemies, I had just a little time to catch my breath before the next round kicked off.

Standing in the middle of the big room, I looked around at all the bones scattered everywhere. It was quiet for a moment, but I knew it wouldn’t last long.

Soon enough, the room lit up again with those summoning circles in each corner.

This time, however, the enemies that emerged were armored skeletons, each brandishing weapons with far better quality then previously seen. It was clear that the Tower was escalating its challenge.

"Great... now they're getting serious. As if things weren't hard enough before."

The first wave had been a brutal introduction, but this... this was a far to much for a first floor's introduction.

As I rekindled my Self-Immolation, feeling the familiar sear of flames against my skin, I steeled myself for the battle.

The armored skeletons advanced, their movements more coordinated and dangerous than their predecessors.

The first skeleton reached me, its sword aimed straight at my torso. Reacting purely on instinct, I dodged to the side, barely avoiding the blade.

My counterattack was clumsy, a simple punch fueled by my burning aura. The skeleton recoiled from the impact, but it was hardly enough to bring it down. Their armor absorbed much of the impact, proving that these foes would not be as easily defeated.

Surrounded by enemies, I found myself constantly on the move, trying to keep them at bay. My dodges were

awkward, my movements untrained and desperate. Each time I focused on one skeleton, another would find an opening, its blade cutting through my flesh.

The same scenario as the previous one happening once again in real time. But against much harder opponents to deal with.

I found myself constantly moving, relying on agility to keep the skeletons at bay.

Facing the relentless tide of armored skeletons, I quickly realized brute force alone wouldn't suffice.

As the skeletal warriors closed in, an idea sparked within me—a tactical shift that could offer me a slight edge.

Seizing the opportunity, I lunged at the nearest skeleton, its body covered in armor. With a swift move, I wrapped my arm around its skeletal frame from behind, hoisting it up as a makeshift shield.

The skeletons, devoid of any semblance of self-preservation or concern for their kind, continued their assault, their weapons clanging against the armored shell of their comrade.

Each strike intended for me found its mark on the unfortunate skeleton I held, its armor rattling with the impact of blows from its brethren.

"This might actually work..."

The strategy was strange, yet effective. The captive skeleton's armor bore the brunt of the onslaught, sparing me from the direct hits that had previously marred my flesh.

As the skeleton in my grasp began to crumble under the unrelenting attack, I wasted no time. Dropping its battered form, I darted towards another well-armored foe. With a quick maneuver, I repeated the process, hoisting it into position as my next living shield.

This cycle of desperation and survival became a rhythm. Grab, defend, and discard—each action carried out with a growing sense of adaptation. The skeletons, for all their relentless aggression, couldn't counter this simple yet effective tactic.

You have gone past your body's limit! You have gained 1 Vitality Stat!

As the notification of my vitality increase flashed before my eyes once more, a grin inevitably found its way across my face, an almost reflexive response to the reminder of my uniqueness.

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Each acknowledgment from the system wasn't just a digital affirmation; it was a nod to my singular path, a journey no one else was on.

I had always considered myself stoic, a man unswayed by change or fortune.

But as I delved deeper into my potential, as I peeled back the layers of what I could become, I felt a genuine sense of self emerging—a vibrant, undeniable presence that was all my own.

A chuckle escaped me, "To think I considered myself stoic, unchangeable. But here I am... climbing faster then most"

"Wealth, power... they unveil our true selves, don't they? And what I see... what I'm becoming... I welcome it."

This realization was akin to the transformation wealth brings.

Many proclaim they'd remain unchanged if fortune smiled upon them, yet reality often tells a different tale.

Wealth, like power, reveals our true nature, for better or worse. And here I was, in the throes of discovering mine.

I had once believed that even amidst power, my humility would stand unchallenged.

Yet, the thrill of discovering my abilities, the intoxicating climb of my stats, shifted something within me.

My humility, though not entirely forsaken, was now accompanied by an unapologetic thirst for more—for greatness that I had begun to embrace without reserve.

This hunger for power, it pulsed within me, driving me forward. But it was a craving not born of malice or a desire to dominate the weak. It stemmed from a deep-seated yearning to explore the extent of my being, to push the boundaries of what I was capable of.

I glanced down at my hands, still glowing with the raging flames of my power. "This hunger for strength, it's not about dominion over others. This power... I'll use it, yes. But on my terms. To carve out my destiny. Not as a tyrant, but as someone who wield it with purpose."

Recognizing this didn't cause me a crisis, but rather gave me a clear vision.

Yes, I sought power, relished it, and would undoubtedly use it to carve my path.

I'd do it my way, following my own rules that, even though they might change a bit, always stick to a basic principle—not to hurt those who can't protect themselves.

This understanding didn't weaken me; it fortified my resolve. It was a realization that the 'true me'—the version of my true self was being forged in the heat of battle and growth.

The current dangers were fleeting; my future was boundless. I reveled in the struggle, in the pain, for it was forging me into something beyond their understanding, beyond their reach.

At times, I seized the nearest skeleton, using its armored body to absorb the blows aimed at me. Other times, I faced my adversaries head-on.

With the toll of the continuous battle becoming increasingly evident. With a quick glance towards my bag, still lying on the floor where I had left it to avoid damage from my flames, I knew what I had to do.

Darting back, I retrieved another health potion from my dwindling supply. The liquid's restorative properties worked quickly, mending the wounds that marred my body and replenishing a percentage of my health.

I moved through the skeletal ranks with a mix of offensive and defensive maneuvers. With each fallen skeleton, the room slowly began to clear, the number of adversaries dwindling as I pushed through the exhaustion. But as the final skeleton collapsed into a heap of charred bone and ash, a profound silence fell over the room.

Congratulations! You have completed the second wave.

You have defeated 40 'Reinforced Skeletons'! You have earned a tally of 40P!

Third wave will begin in 120 seconds.

As I deactivated my flames, taking deep breaths I assessed the room around me. The quiet was a stark contrast to the chaos of moments ago.

As I awaited the impending third wave, I leaned down to pick up my bag, ensuring my remaining health potions were secure and within easy reach. The physical toll of the battles was evident in the dwindling number of potions; I had just two left.

A strategic part of me lamented the need to use another so soon, but survival was paramount. Therefore, I decided against it since I wasn't sure how many waves were still ahead.

Two minutes. That's all I had to prepare, to catch my breath and steel my nerves for the third challenge to come.

In that brief moment, I assessed my situation. The helmet I had been wearing was now just a wreck of what it used to be, and I had discarded it. Fortunately, there were many pieces of armor scattered on the ground from the defeated skeletons. So, I decided to pick up a new helmet and a light chest armor. Although they didn't offer much protection, it was still better than nothing, especially since I had no idea what kind of enemy I would face next.

The Tower didn't wait long to introduce the next wave. The brief interlude ended as abruptly as it began. The summoning circles flared to life once more, heralding the arrival of the third wave.

"Bring it on!"