The return trip to the tower was uneventful, thanks in no small part to Helios’ special permission token. Hunter slipped past the guards without issue. Fortune was on his side. The guards at the gate weren't the shady types working for Vassilus. But he couldn’t bank on that being the case every damn time.

Scaling the boundary walls wasn’t an option anymore. Now it was fortified with a protection array by order of his Uncle Eratos.

As the tower loomed into view, a grin split his face.

Jo’s script skills were impressive. By the time he was ready to leave, she had finished the protection script for foraged items. That meant those golden apples in his storage ring could be kept indefinitely without them rotting. All he needed now was to tame that goddamn Night Mare and he’d have a solid plan for sneaking in and out of the city under the cover of darkness.

But that wasn’t all Jo had given him. She'd fussed over him like a mother hen when he told her he had one last stop before returning to the tower. She’d insisted he take a fork, a plate, and even fancy napkins from Xuthos’ ill-gotten stash.

On the side, the bastard was running a smuggling operation with sea pirates.

Hunter surveyed his surroundings as he neared the tower. The rolling green coastal hills were quiet, except for the roar of the ocean crashing against the rocks. The setting sun cast the tower in a burnt orange light, highlighting the worn mythical creatures etched into its surface.

His eyes narrowed. “Well, that’s new.” Before him was the emblem of a horse. It stood out in sharp contrast compared to the worn nubs of the other creatures, barely recognizable now.

Hunter reached out and touched it.

The silvery outline of the archway shimmered into existence, its clean angular lines drawing him in. Casting a glance over his shoulder towards the city, he scanned the horizon. No one was in sight. With a final, determined step, he crossed the threshold into the dim entrance of the tower.

Once inside, Hunter jogged back to the guild room, hopping over those bottomless puddles with a newfound caution. The chained trapdoor rattled ominously underfoot as he leapt past.

I really need to ask Tower what the hell is down there.

The guild room was as deserted as he’d left it, but now, Hunter noticed the layers of dust and grime coating the empty shelves and storage cabinets. Dust bunnies rolled across the floor on some ghostly breeze wafting up from metal grates.

“Could use a bit more light in here.”

At his spoken words, spirit lamps around the room grew brighter, casting a harsh glow over everything. Under the stark lighting, the place looked barren.

That’s when he noticed the back wall. The room stretched out about twenty paces further, ending in thirteen pillars standing shoulder height. On the first one was the symbol of a horse.

A flicker in his vision and a scroll appeared with a notification. Hunter focused on it, and it sharpened into view.

Tower: Welcome first initiate, please place your affinity artifact on your assigned pillar for inspection.

"Affinity artifact?" Hunter's voice echoed in the vast chamber as he prowled the row of pillars. All were unmarked, except for the first one with its etched horse symbol.

Returning to it, he noticed a glow illuminating a rune on the top surface. His mother's medallion was the only thing that came to mind, but why the hell didn't the tower say so outright?

"Hey, Tower." He felt like a damned fool talking to a building. "You mean this medallion of mine?"

A pause. Then words materialized on the scroll in his vision.

Tower: Affinity artifacts vary. In your case, yes, it is the medallion. Place it on your assigned pillar to proceed.

With a sigh, Hunter pulled the medallion from his inventory. It hummed with a familiar energy, an earthy chi he hadn't noticed before. Had that something to do with his new Refiner senses? Images of his mother wearing it flashed in his mind. He paused, bowing his head in silent tribute before placing the medallion on the glowing horse rune.

The light flared, nearly blinding him. Instinct made him reach out, but the heat forced him back. Hell, if it melted his medallion…

But as the light faded, the surface shifted, interlocking the medallion into place, like a puzzle of stone and metal.

Tower: Medallion owner - Katina Filo, Second Star Core Former, status: deceased. Current holder - Hunter Filo, First Star Refiner. Generating tutorial recommendations…

Hunter blinked, trying to shrink the scroll from his vision. But the words 'status: deceased' remained, cold and impersonal. His mother was more than a damn statistic.

A flash in his vision snapped him back to the present. The tower's relentless updates grated on his patience. Maybe if he named the damned thing, it would stop behaving like a heartless automaton.

Tower: Tutorial room ready for access. Please enter the door to your right and make your selection. Would you like a list of recommendations before you proceed? Yes/no?

Hunter shook his head, bewildered by this unexpected turn. Claude had never mentioned a tutorial. His eyes darted around the room, spotting the newly appeared door.

"What happened to the Refiner Gate I unlocked? I don't need a tutorial; I learn on the go." He imagined Nic's incredulous expression if he knew what the tower was suggesting. School was behind him; he thrived on hands-on experience, not handholding.

No response.

"Skip the tutorial. I want the gate."

Tower: Enter the door to your right and choose a tutorial. Would you like recommendations?

The tower was as stubborn as a damn mule.

Heat clawed up Hunter's throat like a rabid beast. This damn tower was testing his patience, repeating the same message over and over. He glanced around the guild room, weighing his options. Walk out? But then, where the hell would he go?

Jo's voice echoed in his mind, her words as clear as if she were standing next to him. "Don't do anything rash." He clenched his jaw, imagining her smirk. "Quit your bitching and do the damn tutorial!"

With a huff of resignation, he yanked open the door and stepped into the tutorial room. Same sterile, barren look as the guild room. As the door closed behind him, the scroll in his vision pulsed with a green light.

Tower: Entering tutorial mode. Please wait...

"Take your time." Hunter grumbled under his breath. Did the tower care about his impatience? Could it get angry? Probably not, but he didn't want to test that theory.

Tower: Would you like to see a list of recommendations before you proceed? Yes/No?

Persistent little shit.

He flung his arms in the air. "Sure, why the hell not?"

Tower: Sorry, I did not understand. Would you like to see a list of recommendations before you proceed? Yes/No?

Damn! This was going to take forever. Rubbing his forehead, he took a deep breath to calm his rising frustration.

"Yes, Tower, I'd like to see a list of recommendations before I proceed." As much as he wanted to charge in blind, he knew information could be his best weapon.

Tower: Thank you. The priority list of recommendations for Hunter Filo, First Star Refiner with Earth affinity are as follows.

* Training Deck

* Cultivation for Dummies

Hunter frowned at the list. This wasn't what he signed up for. What the hell was "Cultivation for Dummies" or a "Training Deck" and why, for the love of all things holy, did he need to know it?

The tower remained silent, as predictable as a rock. He wasn't getting anywhere with this drip-feed of information. Maybe he needed to be more assertive.

"Tower, thank you for showing me the list and the tutorial room, but I'd like to take a hard pass and move to the Refiner Gate now. It's open, and I wish to enter."

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Tower: Yes, the gate is unlocked, but you cannot enter until your first tutorial is complete. Please choose one from the following options...

He scanned the list of cultivation options. Basic Refiner Cultivation Practice was available, but every other cultivation stage – Founder, Core Former, Soul Stabilizer, Order, Impact, Legacy – were all grayed out.

"Why can't I access the higher stages, Tower?"

Tower: As a First Star Refiner, you only have access to training scrolls suitable for your current stage of cultivation. If you acquire a skill scroll, you can access the technique immediately and train that skill here in the tutorial room.

"Wait, what's a skill scroll?"

Tower: A skill scroll grants immediate access to the associated skill in these areas: Martial Technique, Cultivation Technique, Crafting, Other.

Hunter's lips curved into a smirk as he pulled out his new knife—the one he'd swiped off Vassilus's goon. These training scrolls sounded interesting.

"Can I earn these skill scrolls by completing tutorials?"

Tower: Skill scrolls can be found in reward chests located in the Guild Room upon completion of Gate Challenges, Quests, and Trials.

His shoulders slumped. So, he'd have to wait. Glancing at the knife in his hand, an idea began to form...

"Is aura sense training part of my Refiner tutorial?" He hoped for a shortcut through the tower's cryptic maze.

Tower: Yes, aura sense training is part of your Refiner tutorial. Would you like to proceed? Yes/no?

“Yes! Please!”

Text scrolled across his vision, speeding by faster than he could follow. "Slow down!"

The text slowed to a maddening crawl. Hunter sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Just a little bit faster…”

… You stubborn hunk of stone.

With a flicker, the text picked up speed, settling at a more manageable pace. He quickly understood the concept of his first aura sensing technique.

Lifting the dagger, he began swirling chi in his core, letting it flow through his body. It felt more intuitive, easier than when he was just a measly Pre-Refiner.

"Identify." The command came out as a growl, sweat beading on his forehead.

Words, glowing like fireflies in the night, formed above the knife.

Uncommon Item: Stolen from Val Martigan. Mithril Dagger. Ogre Grade.

Val Martigan?

“Was that the mad-eyed bastard from the alleyway? Or had he stolen it off someone else?” The tower remained infuriatingly silent. It probably had something to do with its clear disdain for the ogres.

Hunter was too drained to push further. “I feel like I ran a marathon. I’ve used so much chi to power my aura sense that I’m down to my reserves.”

Tower: That feeling will pass once you gather more chi and refine it. The more you practice the faster you will progress through the Refiner stage giving you greater capacity to store more chi in your core.

Hunter grunted. “Right now it feels like having a bladder the size of a walnut and trying to chug a gallon of ale.”

Tower: Not only is your core an energy well for storing chi, it also contains your life essence. Comparing it to a bladder is rather crude and highlights your ignorance on certain aspects of cultivation. The tutorials are there for your benefit, ignore them at your peril.

Hunter hated to admit that Tower was right. As eager as he was to get started inside the Refiner Gate he could see the benefits of running through a tutorial first. He decided to check out a few more options before requesting access to the Refiner Gate. “What else have you got for me that’s not on my priority recommendation list?”

Tower: I have a separate list for renovations.

Foundation Phase Milestones: Basic Repairs, Routine Maintenance, Moderate, Significant, and Extreme Renovations

The tower's renovation section was extensive, starting with basic repairs in bold script and leading up to extreme renovations. Basic repairs were within his reach, but the advanced levels were grayed out, just like the higher cultivation stages.

He'd have to climb the ladder one rung at a time.

Realizing he had the items Tower needed for the bathhouse renovation, Hunter had an exciting thought.

Once he fully repaired the guild room, and decked it out with new supplies and furniture he’d be able to stock it with delicious snacks. Then he could say goodbye to relying on fish jerky for nearly every meal.

"Tower, I've brought back the requested items for the bathhouse renovation."

Tower: Please place the items in the receptacle provided for further analysis.

Hunter glanced down, and a wooden crate materialized at his feet. He carefully deposited the items and watched the crate glow before vanishing.

Bizarre tower magic.

But he supposed it made sense. Maybe the tower needed someone inside to give it direction? That would explain why it hadn't fixed itself up when it was empty.

Tower: Congratulations, Hunter Filo, First Initiate. You have successfully supplied the tower with the necessary items. You have passed the initiation phase as an entry-level caretaker. Would you like to retrieve your reward? Yes/No?

"Hell yeah!" Excitement surged through him. What kind of kick-ass reward had he earned?

A glow lit up the floor at his feet, and his reward appeared.

Hunter frowned. He bent down and picked it up. "Is this some kind of mistake?"

Tower: I may be in need of repair, but I do not make mistakes. Would you like to place the straw broom in your inventory?

Hunter wiped his brow and took a swig of water. With the little energy he had left, he decided to see if looks were deceiving.

"Identify." He held the broom aloft.

Common Item: One Straw Broom. Acceptable uses include sweeping dust and shooing away tower vermin.

"Just great." He spun it around like his old gravedigger shovel before storing it in his ring.

The tower, it seemed, didn't get sarcasm.

Tower: You are correct, First Initiate. It is great.

Hunter shook his head. "Sorry, Tower. I wasn't being straight with you. I was expecting something more... substantial than a broom."

Tower: Thank you for your clarification. Honesty is the best policy. I am sorry you were expecting something more than a broom. Perhaps it will ease your disappointment to know that this broom once belonged to one of the finest sanitation experts in all the multiverse. He came from humble beginnings but went on to become a powerful immortal cultivator. If it was good enough for Aurelius Broomsage, it's good enough for me. Does that ease your disappointment?

Hunter stifled a sigh, not wanting to sound ungrateful.

He had no idea who Aurelius was, but if the man managed to climb from the bottom of the cultivation heap to the top of Immortal Mountain, maybe there was hope for him yet. "Thanks, Tower. Yeah, that helps. I appreciate the insight."

And with the broom safely tucked away in his ring, he turned his attention back to the renovations. He was eager to get started, but first, he wanted to level up. After all, he'd sweep and clean a hell of a lot faster if he was at a higher stage of cultivation.

The next option on the tutorial list brought a smile to his face.

"Think it's about time for some weapons' training."

Tower: One moment, generating weapons training deck....

Hunter's smile widened into a grin.

***

Tower: Don’t touch that.

Hunter withdrew his hand from the enigmatic wooden cabinet. "Don't you think I should know the difference between a Tower Defender and a Tower Monster? Why label it as a Cabinet of Curiosities if curiosity isn't allowed?"

Tower: That time will come. Right now, focus on preparing for what you'll face inside the gates. There, you will gain more information before your first encounter.

Furrowing his brows, Hunter stepped onto the holly and horse emblem engraved on the stone floor that read: Start.

The floor beneath him opened like a trapdoor. A dented metal helmet emerged, followed by basic loose armor. As the trap door closed, a wind-like howl surrounded the chamber.

Hunter shielded his eyes as thin pieces of coastal grasses pegged his bare skin and gathered towards the trap door. As the wind calmed, metal clanged off the stone floor and grew, stuffing itself with straw. It’s face remained inexpressive with a simple sack cloth covering.

"This is it? Practice with a straw dummy?" Hunter shrugged, shaking his head. "It doesn't even have a weapon!"

Withdrawing his rusty dagger, Hunter threw the broken piece of steel at the straw dummy. He frowned as it deflected off the motionless opponent.

“Come on, straw man, attack.” Hunter lunged forward, expecting the dummy to strike at his advance.

Pivoting to the side, he frowned as the dummy remained unmoved. He waved the blade of the mithril knife in front of its expressionless face. “I thought this was weapons training.”

Hunter shrugged, gripping the hilt of the knife and thrust the blade multiple times across its chest, neck and face. He wasn’t used to the weight of the knife, but by the time Hunter finished, the shredded dummy remained standing. “Really? What do you want me to do?”

He returned the knife to his storage ring, scanning for something else useful. Besides the questionable Night Mare, the only thing left was the broom.

Twirling the broom in his hand, its weight reminded him of the shovel he’d used on Death Island. With a quick combination attack, the broom’s base struck the chest, folding the dummy in half. With one more sweep across the straw legs, the armor clanged to the ground, straw dusting the floor.

Tower: Congratulations. You've defeated your first NPC in the weapons training deck.

Hunter rested the broom against his shoulder, and a notification appeared:

[Weapons Mastery: 3]

[Armor Mastery: 1]

“Why are these next to zero?”

Tower: You should be pleasantly surprised to find that your base status points were transferred from your prior lifetime experiences. You gained +1 point in weapons mastery for defeating the NPC.

“So all of my grave digging days have accounted for something more than spectacular.” Hunter produced a crooked smile, wishing the tower could understand his sarcasm.

Tower: Would you like to review your other base stats?

Hunter shook his head. “Let’s focus on that once I enter the gate.”

Tower: You have more tutorials to review before you may enter.

Hunter frowned and exited the weapons training deck, returning to the guild room. "Show me what the other tutorials are then."

Two doors glowed in a soft yellow light. The first one revealed: Beast Training.

Hunter raised an eyebrow. “Could I train my beast companion, Night Mare, in there?”

Tower: Yes. Would you like to proceed? Yes/no?

“No, let’s move on.” Hunter’s gaze shifted to the other lit door.

Crafting Tutorial.

“I would think that my skills crafting traps on Death Island would be sufficient to bypass this tutorial.”

Tower: This tutorial can be postponed. Would you prefer to delay? Yes/No?

“Yes.” The glowing light faded from both doors. Hunter scanned the room. “That's all? Only four tutorials?”

Tower: For you, yes. Other initiates may require different tutorials. There's a library with cultivation scrolls and a workshop for crafting. Would you like to visit them now?

“No.” Hunter scoffed. “I've had more training outside the tower digging graves than any of these tutorials have provided. Let's go and get this Refiner Gate done.”

Tower: Tutorial session has ended. Your comments are quite fitting for your path. You're as confident as a Horse.