https://i.imgur.com/lzAVvWq.png [https://i.imgur.com/lzAVvWq.png]

Asher's first choice in the shop was a rather unconventional one - a taunting skill. While most individuals would opt for an offensive skill to gain an early advantage in the trial, Asher was acutely aware of a significant vulnerability shared by all necromancer class practitioners. This vulnerability lay in the risk of their summons being isolated from them.

In stark contrast to the typical necromancer, Asher did not command a legion of summons capable of fending off formidable foes or groups of enemies. Instead, he had a sole, faithful summon by his side. To safeguard against the peril of being singled out by adversaries, Asher made the strategic decision to teach his ally with a taunting skill. This skill would divert the attention of his foes away from him, granting him precious moments to control the battle.

Fortunately, he stumbled upon the "Provoke" skill, which was a common rank and a more budget-friendly price tag, making it accessible for him to acquire.

Would you like to learn this skill or teach it to your 'Animate Guardian'?

"Teach it to my 'Animate Guardian'!"

Your 'Animate Guardian' has learned 'Provoke'!

"Alright, now that we have a means to redirect the enemy's focus away from me, it's time to find a suitable weapon for him. Let's explore the Equipment section of the shop and see what options we have available."

A plethora of choices flooded Asher's senses as he perused the shop's offerings. The array of weapons was staggering, each varying in type, rank, and effects, accompanied by a diverse range of price points. To narrow down his options, he wisely utilized the shop's filtering feature. He set the filter to display only weapons with a price tag below 195 points, aligning with the remaining balance he had at his disposal and he then filtered that option to first showcase the highest point choices.

"Huh?! This is...exactly what I needed!" Asher exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he spotted a particular item amidst the filtered results. It was as if fate had guided his search. The item before him was a perfect match for his current needs.

https://i.imgur.com/itn3Vmj.png [https://i.imgur.com/itn3Vmj.png]

As Asher scrutinized the Spikeshield, a smile spread across his face. It struck him that this wasn't merely an ordinary shield; it was the animate guardian's best option at this very moment. His reasoning was quite simple: the newly acquired "Provoke" skill, instilled in his guardian, could seamlessly synchronize with the Spikeshield's versatile attributes.

With the Spikeshield firmly in the guardian's grasp, it could now entice adversaries, coaxing their focus while wielding the shield for a blend of offense and defense. The shield's menacing spikes not only deterred attackers but also doubled as close-combat weaponry. What's more, it possessed an additional boon—reflecting 5% of damage back at the assailant. This feature rendered it the perfect choice, granting his guardian the ability to safeguard itself while augmenting its close-quarters combat prowess.

Asher found himself realizing that he didn't require a separate sword. The Spikeshield, in essence, was both his guardian's protector and its weapon. Despite its relatively steep price compared to other options, it was the sole magical-grade item available within the filtered selection he had been presented with. This find left him with no doubt that he had made the most strategic choice he could secure at this time.

Items come in a hierarchy of power and rarity, each tier stronger then the next. At the bottom of the hierarchy lie the Common items. These unassuming tools are as numerous as grains of sand on a beach. They are the simplest, the most easily obtainable, and often the most overlooked items.

Rising above the common, we find the Magic tier, where items are imbued with lesser enchantments. Magic items are quite uncommon but still acquirable they can either be looted, bought or crafted. They usually are imbued with a single enchantment providing advantages that the common could never provide.

Beyond magic, we venture into the realm of rarity. Rare items, as their name suggests, are not only imbued with formidable power but are also exceptionally scarce, often acquired through arduous trials, victorious battles against formidable foes, or by exchanging hefty sums of currency. Much like their magical counterparts, rare items possess enchantments, but these extraordinary enhancements draw from a pool of choices that far exceeds the one's available on a magic item. What sets them apart is the astonishing capacity for enchantment, with some rare items boasting up to five imbued properties, each carefully selected from a vast reservoir of possibilities.

At the pinnacle of the hierarchy, we encounter the Unique items, legendary in every sense of the word. Each one is a singular creation, unparalleled in its might . A sword forged from a fallen star, a bow that never misses its target, a mirror that reveals hidden truths—these are the game-changers, the artifacts that turn ordinary beings into legends.

The ranks of common, magic, rare, and unique can also be seamlessly applied to skills, enhancing the complexity and depth of the abilities wielded.

You have purchased a 'Spikeguard Shield' for 180 points.

Your 'Animated Guardian' has unequipped the Two-Handed Bow 'Wooden Crude Bow' & the Off-Hand Quiver 'Rusty Quiver'

Your 'Animate Guardian' has equipped the Off-Hand shield 'Spikeguard Shield'

Having expended every hard-earned point at his disposal, Asher felt a sense of readiness washing over him as he prepared to confront the looming challenge of his next trial. With his strategy meticulously crafted around the synergistic pairing of the Spikeguard shield and the Provoke skill, he was poised for what lay ahead. His plan was simple: to allow his animate guardian to bear the brunt of the battle while he focused on accumulating more points to enhance not only his own stats but also those of his faithful summon.

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However, the system had yet to signal the commencement of the forthcoming trial. While awaiting its notification, Asher decided to re-enter the community chat room, anticipating that fellow participants might have already made use of their question vouchers. He hoped to glean valuable insights about this place and the intricacies of its workings from their knowledge-sharing.

CucumberConnoisseur - Has anyone put their question vouchers to use?

Sword&Syllable - Indeed, I did. I inquired about the creator of the Tower of Awakening, only to be met with a response that my voucher rank fell short of accessing that information. Interestingly, the system permitted me to pose another question, as if unanswered responses didn't count as responses. I then tried to inquire about the number of floors in the tower, only to encounter the same prompt...

CucumberConnoiseur - Hm... It appears that the scope of our questions is restricted by the rank of our vouchers. Given their common rank, it seems that we are limited to asking straightforward and uncomplicated questions, not delving too deeply into the intricacies of this place. How about posing a query regarding the consequences of failing to successfully complete a trial?

Sword&Syllable- Let me make an attempt... Alright, this time I received a response. It appears that failing to progress beyond the first five floors of the trial will result in our return to Earth, with no possibility of returning here. However, if we fail beyond the fifth floor...

CucumberConnoisseur- What is it?

Sword&Syllable- Failing beyond the fifth floor means... death.

ZigZagZephyr - Death!

JellyBean - How can that be...

SilentWatcher - ....

"As I suspected, if my grasp of this is accurate, the initial five floors serve as tutorials, while progressing beyond the fifth floor marks the commencement of the true trial..."

Sword&Syllable - How about you guys? What question did you ask?

JellyBean - I was concerned for my family, and so I posed a question about Earth and what was currently going on there, only to receive yet another unanswered response. Similarly, when I inquired about the number of individuals who had been transported to this place, I encountered the same silence. Frustrated by these broad question leading to no answers, I shifted my focus and asked the system to explain the attributes and their functions.

CucumberConnoisseur- Oh! What a great question to ask. What did it say?

JellyBean - Here's the detail i've been provided:

"Strength" bestows a 1% increase in physical damage for each point invested.

"Vitality" offers al 10-point boost to maximum health with each allocation.

"Intelligence" Augments both mana reserves and magical potency. Each point contributes an additional 0.5 mana and amplifies magic power by 0.5%.

"Dexterity" For every point invested, it enhances critical strike chance by 0.5% and amplifies critical damage output by an additional 0.5%.

Sword&Syllable - Those stats do indeed make sense. Thank you for sharing this valuable information; it will undoubtedly assist us in tailoring our skills and abilities more effectively. How about you Zephyr?

ZigZagZephyr: Ha! You bet I asked the most crucial question!

JellyBean: Really? I have my doubts...

ZigZagZephyr: Pfft! As if someone like you could grasp the mind of a gamer!

JellyBean: Gamer? Wait... don't tell me...

ZigZagZephyr: That's right! I had the system handpick the absolute best skill for my class, taking into account my unique skill! Hahaha!

SilentWatcher: ...

CucumberConnoisseur: ...

Sword&Syllable: ...

JellyBean: That idiot...

ZigZagZephyr: Why is everyone suddenly so quiet? The system provided me with the answer, and it's the most game-breaking skill that perfectly suits me! All I need is to save up... let me see... oh yes! 19,705 points!

"... is he a fool?"

CucumberConnoiseur - Ahem... Anyway, what about you BananaBard?

BananaBard - Oh yes. I asked if there was a way for us to return to Earth without failing a trial, and there is! Upon clearing the 5th floor, we'll have the opportunity to return to Earth for a limited time. While it didn't provide specific details, it did confirm that this option becomes available at that stage.

JellyBean - Oh my god, thank god. That is great news.

Sword&Syllable - indeed, it's a relief to know that we have the option to return to Earth after clearing the 5th floor. This information brings a sense of reassurance, thank you Bard. What about you SilentWatcher?

SilentWatcher - ... Sub-Class... When?... Answer... Floor 10...

Sword&Syllable - Oho~, that is a great question to ask. So will we be able to select our subclass after clearing the 10th floor.

"The 10th Floor, huh... It looks like I'll need to ensure I've developed a solid build by the time I reach that stage, or else my foundation will be all over the place."

Asher listened intently as the conversation in the community chat room continued, and he learned two crucial pieces of information. The first was about the 10th floor, where he could finally choose his subclass, a prospect that filled him with anticipation and excitement. However, when the topic shifted to the 5th floor and the possibility of returning to Earth after clearing it, Asher's reaction was surprisingly muted. The reason was simple, yet profound—he had no one waiting for him back on Earth. His family and friends were distant memories, lost in the transition of passing time.

While the option to return held meaning for many, Asher had become disconnected from the life he had left behind. His focus remained on the path ahead, the mysteries of the Tower of Awakening, and the excitement it provided to his dulled out life. For him, the 5th floor's promise of returning to Earth was a gesture from a past life that held little sway in his current journey, Yet, like anyone else, he still harbored a few tethers that kept him anchored to the mundane world known as Earth.

The 'Third Floor' is about to open! Please prepare yourself to face the Third part of the trial.

Transporting Asher Gray to the third floor! Best of luck