For a long while, I remained silent, trying to process what I had just heard. What Eldric was saying sounded unreal. The system had such power as to erase the past and create new Lords? And if that were so… what exactly was it?

"I wonder—what exactly is the system?" I finally asked, furrowing my brows. "You keep referring to it, but no one has ever explained to me what it really is. Is it something that can be controlled? Is there some force behind it? Or is it simply a mechanism that operates on its own?"

Eldric raised an eyebrow, as if he hadn’t expected such a question.

"The system is the foundation of everything that exists for the Lords," he replied after a moment's thought. "It establishes the laws, grants us power, and allocates territories. Every Lord is bound to it, whether they like it or not. But if you’re asking whether someone controls it…" He

hesitated for a moment, his face taking on a strangely serious expression. "In my time, no one knew the answer to that question. There were theories that the system was self-aware, that it created us, but there was no evidence of its intentions. It simply... was."

I grimaced.

"So, no one really knows what it is, yet everyone submits to it?" I observed.

"We had no choice," Eldric replied. "You try to fight something that permeates your very existence. If the system recognizes you, you're a Lord. If not, you'll never be one. That's just how the world works."

I wasn't entirely satisfied with that answer, but before I could press further, Eldric drew in a deep breath, as if he’d suddenly remembered something important.

"Chaos Tower…" His tone sharpened, and his gaze became piercing. "I have seen what it is capable of, but I do not know how it functions from within. Rumors have circulated about it, but most of them were mere conjecture. You use it, so tell me… how does it work? Do you have control over it? Can you choose what appears, or does it operate according to its own logic? What limitations does it have?"

I hesitated for a moment. My instincts told me that Eldric wasn’t asking these questions without reason. There was more in his gaze than simple curiosity—I could see in him a hunger for knowledge and a tension, as if he were teetering on the edge of discovering something he wasn’t sure he wanted to know.

"I don’t choose the beings I summon," I began cautiously. "The Tower gathers some sort of data… something that even I do not fully understand. It creates beings rather than merely summoning them. Each one has its own system—they can evolve, gain experience…"

Eldric clenched his fists.

"So it is true…" he muttered to himself. "That damned Tower can really create beings… and if that is the case…" He suddenly broke off, as if struck by a powerful thought.

I raised my eyebrow, watching as Eldric began to pace nervously in place, his face contorted with tense, unreadable emotion. He muttered something under his breath, his hands clenching and then relaxing in a nervous gesture.

"A miserable curse…" I heard a quiet whisper. "A power that cannot be tamed… Is it really the only way?"

He suddenly stopped, his gaze darkening. There was a stark conflict within him. Here was Eldric—a powerful Lord, now degraded to a mere disembodied existence—contemplating whether he truly wished to be resurrected by means of a power that, throughout his life, he had regarded as the degeneration of the Lords.

"It should not exist…" he finally said, more to himself than to me. "But… I have seen what that damned Tower can do. Am I really ready to become something like that?" He clenched his jaw and then shook his head, as if trying to dispel those thoughts. "If that's the only way…"

"You… you can use the Chaos Tower," he eventually declared, his eyes fixed on it. "You can transfer data into it."

"Well… yes," I replied cautiously. "But what are you getting at?"

A gleam flashed across Eldric's face—a gleam I could have sworn I had seen before among merchants when they stumbled upon a brilliant scheme.

"You can resurrect me."

I blinked, unsure if I had misheard.

"What?" I asked.

"If the Chaos Tower creates beings based on data… and I am nothing more than a fragment of consciousness, that means I can be reconstructed. You just need to transfer my data into the Tower, and it will do the rest."

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I took a deep breath, trying to process this new information.

"Even if that's true," I said slowly, "why should I do that?"

Eldric offered a half-smile.

"Because I can give you something in return. Access to the Trial."

I squinted.

"Trial?"

"Only those who have conquered all nine floors of the Tower can enter it," he explained. "But I can get you in."

I bit my lip.

"And what am I supposed to find there?"

"Title," declared Lord Eldric. "I created this Tower to pass on my legacy to the one who inherits it. I wanted my heir to have a solid foundation for the future, so I tied it to access to the Trial. If you complete it, you will earn a unique title that will set you apart from the other Lords."

I remained silent for a moment, weighing his words.

"So it's simple," Eldric added, folding his arms. "You will take my data to the Chaos Tower and create a new version of me. And in exchange, I'll grant you access to the Trial."

I watched him for a long moment, feeling a growing irritation.

"Wait, wait..." I raised my hand, frowning. "You get a second chance at life, and in return I get nothing but some title? That's hardly a fair trade. Resurrecting someone is worth a bit more than entering some Trial, don't you think?"

Eldric looked at me, raising an eyebrow, his face adopting an expression of indulgent irritation.

"Some title?" he snorted. "You don't understand its value. Every completed Trial upgrades that title, increasing all your stats by five points. It may seem small to you, but that's not all. If you complete all the Trials, you'll receive the ultimate bonus—a permanent 30% boost to all your stats."

He fixed me with a steady gaze, noticing that I still wasn't convinced.

"Imagine you have a thousand points in every stat. And then suddenly, thanks to that title, your stats rise to thirteen hundred. At that level, you are unbeatable against someone who hasn't completed the Trials. This isn't just about prestige or a reward for the chosen; it's a fundamental difference that determines who rules and who perishes."

He stepped a bit closer, his eyes flashing with stern determination.

"This title is the key. Every completed Trial makes its power grow, and all your stats increase by five points. It's not just a reward; it's a tool for building true might. If you complete every Trial, you'll not only gain an upgrade but also the ultimate bonus—a 30% increase to all your stats."

"Imagine," Eldric continued, looking at me intently, "that you have a thousand points in every stat, like most Lords. With this title, you'll have thirteen hundred. At that level, no one who hasn't completed the Trials stands a chance against you. It's the difference between mediocrity and dominance."

He fixed his gaze on me, his voice ringing with stern certainty. "This title is not merely a symbol; it is the foundation that makes a Lord a true force to be reckoned with."

I pressed my lips together, analyzing his words. If what he was saying was true, then it really wasn't just any title. Every Lord in the world strove to increase their stats, and an additional 30% was a colossal difference. Lords fought each other to the death; the balance of power was never even—and he was offering me an advantage that no one else could obtain.

But was it worth the price I had to pay? Resurrecting someone like Eldric... I was risking the creation of a powerful ally or an enemy I would never be able to control. I wasn't naive.

Nevertheless, that title—its value was undeniable. Such an increase in stats would give me an advantage that no one else could achieve by any other means. In a world where everyone fought for power, where even a single point could decide life or death, a 30% boost was a chasm.

"Alright," I finally said. "I agree."

Yet deep down, I knew that nothing compelled me to keep my promise. I could complete the Trials, earn the title, and simply... not input his data into the Chaos Tower. Eldric had no guarantee that I would keep my word, and I had no intention of risking the resurrection of someone who might pose a threat to me.

Eldric smiled broadly, as if he had just won a game whose rules only he knew. Before I could say anything, a system notification appeared before my eyes:

[SYSTEM]

Contract Agreement:

Parties: Lord Eldric & Lady Ashira

Content: Lord Eldric grants Lady Ashira access to the Trial. In exchange, Lady Ashira will transfer his data to the Chaos Tower and use it to create a new being.

Do you accept the terms? [YES] / [NO]

I grimaced, casting a sharp look at Eldric. Of course, something like this had to happen. For a moment, I really thought I could trick him like a preschooler swindling candy. Naivety. Lords are not fools, and Eldric was undoubtedly not about to leave anything to chance.

I sighed softly, feeling my irritation grow. After a moment of hesitation, with little choice left, I extended my hand and accepted the terms of the contract. After all, the title was still worth it...

The agreement was made.

The termination of the contract by either party will result in immediate execution.

I froze, a cold shiver running down my spine. Immediate execution? The system truly left no room for manipulation. I glanced at Eldric, who continued smiling as if he took pleasure in my reaction.

"Something wrong?" he asked with undisguised mockery.

"You really leave nothing to chance, do you?" I snapped, clenching my fists. "I should have expected that."

"Of course," he replied with a shrug. "If I'm going to give you such a valuable reward, I must be sure that you uphold your part of the deal."

I rolled my eyes, though inside I was furious. In an instant, my plan to withdraw from the contract without consequences crumbled to dust.

Suddenly, I felt an intense pulsing of energy around me. The air thickened, as if space itself were reacting to the agreement. Eldric raised his hand, and a spark of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"It's time to begin," he announced, and his voice echoed around us.

The ground beneath my feet began to tremble. The air glowed with a gentle, golden light, and before me a monumental gate appeared, covered in ancient symbols that pulsed with raw energy.

"Soon you will find out if you are truly worthy of this power," Eldric added, a trace of amusement in his voice.

I gazed at the gate as it slowly took shape before me, and an increasing tension surged within. There was no turning back.

I glanced at Eldric one last time. In his eyes flickered a mixture of satisfaction and something I could not quite decipher.

I didn't intend to ponder it further. Clenching my fists, I took a deep breath and stepped forward, crossing the threshold of the gate.