Chapter 5: Forged in Steel, Written in Stars
After Rael entered the Transfer Tower, space distorted, and he was taken to a solitary room.
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(Floor 0)
【1st Person】
A girl was walking through the streets, lost in thought.
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I did not accept that deal because I needed to save someone or was living a miserable life, much less because of my greed for power.
I was born with what many would consider a “perfect life” —a family, money, and friends—at least, that's how everyone saw it.
But deep down, I wasn't happy with any of it. My family consisted of my parents and my two sisters.
My eldest sister decided to follow my parents' path into business. Before long, she had established herself as one of the most successful businesswomen in the country and became the family heir.
My younger sister became an international celebrity with millions of fans.
And what about me? I didn't like the spotlight my younger sister received or the profession my older sister chose.
The truth is, I loved painting and writing—pouring my thoughts into colors and words to move and inspire others. But this profession didn't earn much money, so my parents didn't support it. For them, it wasn't very worthy.
And so, after a few events, I ended up in this unknown place.
As I walked through the streets of Floor 0, I saw so many things that I thought only existed in fictional stories.
The buildings, the environment, the stars, the people, everything!
“Isn't that an Elf?! And that's an orc!”
I stared wide-eyed at everyone around me, but they barely reacted, moving like this strange world was another day for them.
After walking for several minutes, I finally saw the Transfer Tower.
【Are you ready, Miss Sakura?】
“It's Captain, Axis.”
I clenched my fists and entered.
'I'm going to make you proud of me.’
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【3rd Person】
After Rael and Sakura entered the transfer tower, they were both teleported to a solitary but separate room.
「Greetings, Trailblazer」
“The Guide?” -Rael
「I'll explain how the floors work and the general rules of the Tower 」
The floating texts circled Rael as the robotic voice spoke.
「At present, you reside within the first layer of the Tower. Ascension to higher layers will be permitted only after acquiring sufficient achievements and meeting the requisite criteria」
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“And how many floors are there in the tower?” -Sakura
「The Tower is a structure of essentially infinite nature. However, ascending between layers does not require the completion of every floor. Each floor is categorized as follows:
Individual floor: The Tower will determine when a Trailblazer should make individual floors
Convergence floor: These are floors where Trailblazers compete against each other, and the runners-up move on to the next floor.
Safe floor: Specific floors conquered by Trailblazers to serve as a haven and transportation through the Tower.
To complete a floor, the Trailblazer must complete the Floor challenge in the given time」
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“What if people don't get through?” -Rael
「If a Trailblazer doesn't complete the Floor challenge, they are disqualified and taken back to the last safe floor they were on. The Tower will permit a new attempt after the designated time frame 」
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“So Trailblazers don't die inside the tower?” -Sakura.
「Wrong. Trailblazers return to a safe floor, but only if they survive until the end of the challenge. The challenges will always be within the capabilities of the Trailblazers; it's never impossible, but it's different from being easy. The higher a Trailblazer climbs, the more difficult the challenges will be to match their level」
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
「After earning achievements in the Tower, Trailblazers earn titles. These titles are not just names; remember that. You are currently a Nebula, a title given to all beginner Trailblazers. If you get more achievements in the Tower, you'll earn the following title: Aegis」
「And finally, remember that Trailblazers are not allowed to attack each other on safe floors, but challenge floors are different」
〔「Do you want to start on the first floor?」〕
Rael and Sakura, in their respective rooms, looked at the interface anxiously. They became more hesitant when they learned that Trailblazers could die, but it was no surprise. They had known this could happen from the moment they entered here.
'Forget it. There's no way floor one can be that hard, right?’ they thought.
“Start the floor!”
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After accepting the challenge, the Tower teleported Sakura and Rael to the Floors it had determined for them.
Rael opened his eyes and saw a vast field of golden grass surrounded by dark mountains. Swords, spears, and various other types of weapons were embedded in the ground, creating an almost mythical scene.
In the center of the field, a man was hammering a sword at the forge. He wore an expression of total concentration, but suddenly, something broke his focus, and he turned to look at Rael.
Rael felt shivers run down his spine. He had never felt such an oppressive presence before. He had already felt a sense of pressure before that man awakened, but the sensation now was completely different.
The man in front of him was not ordinary. It was not simply a question of pressure; it was as if his existence was being read.
“It's been a while since I've seen people here.” The man said, approaching Rael.
The man was tall, had wavy brown hair, and wore leather clothes. A large scar ran across his face, and his gray eyes looked dead as if he were always tired.
「Floor: The field of eternal blades」
「Objective of the Floor:
「Hit the unknown man just once」
「Maximum time to complete: 3 months」
「Good luck, Trailblazer」
“W-What?” Rael read the floating texts with a bewildered expression. ‘Seriously, how do you expect me to hit this guy?!’
'No, it shouldn't be that hard. It's just one punch, right?
Rael steadied himself, clenching his fists as the man approached. Then, Rael threw a desperate punch with all his strength when their distance closed.
“What's that?” The man looked at Rael with a puzzled expression. He turned his body sideways, dodged Rael's punch, and kicked his stomach.
*BAM*
“Ahhh!” Rael felt such pain that he thought he was going to faint. He knelt and put his hand on his stomach as his body shook.
“That punch was embarrassing, Boy. I don’t know why the Tower sent you here, but you must be incredibly unlucky.”
The man took one of the spears engraved in the ground and put it around Rael's neck.
'Fuck it! Wasn't the first floor supposed to be easy?!' Rael struggled, refusing to accept such a humiliating defeat.
But then the man suddenly changed his expression as if he was listening to something.
“I see...”
He took the spear from Rael's neck and returned to the forging table.
“Boy, from now on, you'll call me Sensei. I will train you for the duration of the challenge, and I hope you can complete it. Don't let me down.”
“Huh?!” Rael looked confused at the man's back. “You'll... train me?”
Rael got up groggily and headed towards the forge. “But why?”
“To complete the Floor challenge, you at least need to know the basics of fighting. We'll be training for three months.” The man replied.
【Rael, this is a great opportunity, don't waste it】
“Do you know who this man is, Axis?”
【No, but he's certainly no ordinary person】
Rael thought for a moment and then bowed his head.
“I'll be in your care, Sensei.”
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Sakura opened her eyes after the migraine had passed. She saw a grand library, its corridors filled with floating books.
Chandeliers that seem to hang in the air illuminate the place, and the scent of ancient scrolls fills the room. A woman lay down in a large central room with a mosaic floor, telling epic stories.
「Floor: The Library of a Thousand Tales 」
「Objective of the floor: Hit the unknown woman just once」
「Maximum completion time: 3 months」
「Good luck, Trailblazer」
“Eh? Isn't that too easy?” Sakura muttered.
“Oh my... we have a visitor. It has been far too long since I’ve had company.”
The woman rose with a slow, deliberate grace, her imposing figure now fully visible to Sakura.
The woman was of medium height and had long dark hair. She wore dark lipstick on her lips, and longhorns extended from her head. Her black dress sparkled with jewels.
“Sending an ordinary mortal to this floor... how unfortunate for you, little one.” The woman said as she looked at Sakura. Suddenly, she disappeared and appeared right in front of Sakura.
“Eh?!” Sakura was startled and immediately got into a fighting stance. She then threw two punches and a kick at the woman.
“Oh? You're not so bad for a mortal. I take it you've practiced martial arts?”
The woman commented as she calmly dodged Sakura's blows.
'Damn, she's fast!'
Sakura shifted her stance and launched another kick, but her foot passed straight through the woman’s body as if striking a mirage.
“What?!” Sakura tried to regain her balance, but the woman pushed her, and she fell to the ground.
The woman then unleashed a kick that sent Sakura flying and hitting one of the shelves.
*BAM!*
Sakura tried to get up while calming her panting.
'The difference... it's too big!' She had no hope of winning. But she still got up and returned to the fighting position.
“Hm... I like you. It's been a while since the Tower has sent someone to visit me, so how about you becoming my apprentice?” The woman said with a sigh.
'Really, what does the Tower intend to do by forcing me to train a mortal?’
“I accept!” Sakura said without hesitation.
'Just like in the stories... so this is the apprentice and master arc?' Sakura thought. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Humph, don't think I'm going to take it easy on you, little girl.”
'If the Tower sent her here, she must at least be a match for my abilities.'
The woman suddenly smiled.
"My dear apprentice, tell me—do you like stories?”