Floor 3: Goblin Castle

Threat Level: H - G+

To advance to the next floor, defeat the king of goblins in this castle.

The blonde man stands there with his mouth open staring at me, his party behind him similarly stunned. A man in the back looks confused, "High Ranker venting?" a big man wearing platemail next to him says, "Naw you saw that infusion that was a advancement, a high ranker this low wouldn't get anything from simple gobs." a the two females of the group stay silent but their eyes burn into me.

Floor 3: Goblin Castle Cleared Solo Speed Clear

Are you ready to advance to the next floor?

Before I get bombarded with questions and to avoid the group infront of me, I accept quickly. A flash of light and I find myself standing in the starting room of the next floor, a long stone corridor is a few feet in front of me, a signpost stuck in the ground to the right of the door to the corridor.

Floor 4: Goblin's Labyrinth

Threat Level: G+

You have stepped foot in the Goblin's Labyrinth filled with goblins, and more, watch your step you never know what you might step into.

Taking a breath my body aches slightly but those aches are quickly disappearing.. the advancement in level seems to have done wonders for my body and possibly my mind, I feel less constrained. 'Though twenty-five stat points for a single level is a ridiculous amount, though in hindsight 10,000 experience for a first level. Others would have taken weeks, maybe months, depending on how they fight to how fast they can recover, body downtime, teammates.. so many factors. Lets review the changes then, before clearing this floor hopefully soon. [Ancient Steps of The Dark] has revealed its true essence, [Dark Connection] hmm, ominous but I feel it is oddly fitting. It was always a connection, not just an observance like the original was, a manipulation of its properties? If that is the case I may be able to do a lot more with it. But originally the training methods were for.. those who never had the connection. Ah..' my thoughts roll from one instance of my use of the skill to the next before it revealed its true essence, finally becoming an embodiment of the Dark. 'Now that was a true strain on the skill and my energy, I felt as if I had been wrung out and dipped in lead. The advancement was a well timed coincidence, after that fight with all the goblins even after the growth of the Dark, I never felt a strain like i did when i embodied. I don't think I would have been able to move for awhile if that ended and I was left without a recovery option, it may have had made leave the Tower and put myself into the hospital for recovery for a while.'

Turning my attention to my 25 stat-points, I peruse my stats, power, range, taken care of by use of the Dark. If anything I need Endurance and Agility, increase my speed and stamina in general and I will be able to handle the strain on my body by using embodiment better. Strength is really a non-issue right now but it might be in the future. Assuming I get 25 stat points every level, I will be able to cover the gap on the next round through. I have more or less stopped using normal weapons, maybe if they were uniques, or above uncommon they would be worth the use but right now. nothing.. Throwing 15 points into Endurance, and 10 in Agility after a moment's thought I remember something.

--- The Academy ---

Elise stands at the board her hand flicks to the side as words made of energy scrawl across the board. "The application of stat points, when allocating them for the first time is an ordeal for most Climbers, their bodies unused to the sudden influx of energy being used to bring their stats or categories as some call it to new heights. When first starting out it is recommended to do stat point infusions two to three points at a time." a kid sitting in the front row his voice comes out slow, "I'd heard rumors, can the stat infusions cause Climbers to get back side-effects? or even worse.. Die?" that question seems to pull everyone's attention as they all stare with rapt attention at what the S-Rank Climber has to say on this. Elise twirls a pen in her right hand as she taps a finger on the podium in front of her. "Ah that rumor. It has a kernel of truth unfortunately. While leveling and advancing higher has a natural benefit to the bodies ability to adapt to its new height, the sudden influx of power can be hazardous if improperly done. System guided infusion is intricate, but say you advance 10 or more stat points at a time, 20, 30, the strain for the lower rank climbers bodies is way to much to handle. One example is a man who just passed level 10 who saved a bunch of his stat points between levels, dumped all those points into endurance at a critical moment to avoid death. However it proved to be fatal for him when Endurance one of the stats that governs the body, has to destroy to build itself again. The moment he put those points into endurance, his body which was already in a critical situation couldn't take the strain and caused him to die from the influx of energy destroying and rebuilding his body." The shocked looks on everyone's face was testament to this knowledge.

--- Tower Floor 4 ---

'Oh... yay.' The energy flooding into my body, flowed smoothly, no pain, no pressure. Standing there confused, I open my mouth, "what.. oh.." 'Adaptation to all energies in this world... obviously this counts as an adaptation toward this energy. I am fortunate very very fortunate, I can imagine the history books if anyone found out, "Died due to placing too many stat points at once." especially in multiple aspects of the body.' Taking a breath as the energy flooding me subsides, flexing, twisting my body, the muscles in my legs tense as I launch myself forward stopping in front of the signpost that was beside the door. Pushing at my connection with the Dark after the occurence from before, the connection feels stronger than before but the growing hunger that the description states worries me. Before it felt like a thought was all that was needed to use the it, but now it felt as if thoughts were unnecessary, an instinctual use possible applications, the shadows spring up around me shifting, flowing, solidifying then receding away. Sending a thought to the [NETWORK] to see if it will respond, a feeling of 'not ready' comes back to me along the path I sent it. Deciding to skim the rest of my Status I stop for a moment on my currency for the Tower.

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Currency:

Tower Coin 1,445

'Well, thats a nice load of currency, hopefully I get the chance to come across a Tower Shop, spend some of that sweet coin. Hopefully get something nice. And worth it unlike a certain stupid book.' Putting my attention back to the task at hand in front of me. 'That reminds me this floor was going to be a labyrinth, how did i forget that, I should have raided the food stores of the Castle before.. but then again never know what goblins have in there food stores... bleh.' reading it slowly, it has warnings from other Climbers scribbled onto it, warning of traps, pitfalls, fake chests, etc. Things all Climbers should keep an eye out for naturally.

'If I recall correctly, I should-' my words die out as a flash of light pings from behind me. A voice coming from it the moment it end, "Now which spot did I wind up at, hopefully not one of the corner rooms. I hate those." a young man maybe 20 years old stands there a scruffy black beard on his face, bushy eyebrows, and a shaggy part on his head hides blue eyes looking about. Spotting me he hops forward, "OH! A NEWBIE!" landing next to me with a big grin on his face, "WELCOME TO THE TOWER! FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN YOU HERE!" he yells right next to me, my ears ringing slightly from the sound. Both palms of my hands naturally wind up on them to deaden the sound. The man smile turns sheepish, "Sorry been known to get a little excited when meeting new people. Names Kuro, Kuro Light. Be climbing for over 4 years Family business, specializing in tracking, scouting, and traps. Now now don't look at me like that!" staring at him with a skeptical look on my face. "And how should I look at you then, strange guy shows up, tells me family business of what tracking scouting and traps. Seems sketchy." i reply dryly. He chuckles, "Yea, yea. Sorry anyways first time through the Labyrinth? Got that lost and confused look of a newbie!" tilting my head 'Do I really or would you just talk to anyone if you could.' shaking my thoughts away, "Yea, newly awakened, starting climbing a couple days back now." That gets a awed look from him, "Did you get separated from your party?" shaking my head in a no, his mouth drops down "That is crazy you telling me you made it all the way to Floor 4 on your own in that small amount of time, what's your name kid?" Forgetting my manners, I reach out a hand which he takes in a friendly handshake, "Nihr, it is nice to meet you Kuro." Looking back down the corridor, there was a sound, then silence. A smile graces my face as the shadows of the corridor hid what I just did, two Goblin Ambushers were walking in our direction got devoured without being the wiser.

Kuro tilts his head after the handshake and says, "Well met, Nihr, well since you have the confidence I won't keep you, got to go earn my own keep for the day. Do a run of the labyrinth, maybe Floor 5. Can earn some nice coin on five. Well take care, and don't forget to pay attention to your surroundings!" he books it past me as his words finish, "WooHoo!" he cries as he disappears down the corridor. My mouth is open slightly as I watch this man not give any consideration to labyrinth environment. But it ultimately brings a smile to my face, "At least not all people I have met so far have been scum." Letting Kuro have a 10 minute lead, should be enough with all the twists and turns of the labyrinth. The fourth floor is a labyrinth, but all paths ultimately lead to the stairs to the next floor, there isn't even a boss on this floor, disappointing in my opinion.

~Roughly Ten Minutes Later~

Popping up to my feet from against the wall with the signpost, I start walking into the dark corridor, the Dark spreading along the walls, ceiling and floors for a good distance in both directions, since the moment I stepped out of the "waiting room" that I teleported into on the floor, I turned around and it was replaced by a corridor in the opposite direction. 'Guess I didn't need to wait the ten minutes.' Deciding to continue on I slowly make my way through the corridor coming across a pitfall that something has already fallen into, a goblin corpse lines the spikes on the ground. using shadows to make a bridge across the pitfall, I step across easily. 'Solid constructs check. Hold weight check.' Stopping once more creating a blanket of shadows in a dome around two sections of the wall, I walk past as arrows launch out the gaps in the walls getting devoured in the domes of shadow.

~Roughly 30 minutes of walking later~

'Well that was anticlimactic, kind of sad I didn't see Kuro again. Maybe on the next floor?' Looking back at the things I came across on this floor, killed a dozen ambushers, some skirmishers, a couple goblin assassins. I start walking towards the stairs, when something in my range reads weird. I turn my head to just beyond the stairs, surely not.. "I mean the Tower has been climbed by all Tiers and Ranks for a long time now.. how would they.." walking along the outcropped edge of the border of the stairs, to the far wall, that has a small lip. I stand there looking at a single brick on right hand side maybe just below the waist. "TRICKY TRICKY WHO IS TRICKY I AM TRICKY, BE CAREFUL ON YOUR WAY DOWN!?!?!" a loud voice sounds from the wall in front of me. Making me jump back, tendrils of dark shooting from my back latching onto walls next to me tossing me back to the other side of the stairs. Nothing happening after that.. I stand there on guard, waiting for anything. A few footsteps behind me, I turn sharply and Kuro steps around the corner. "Tricky got you with a voice trap?" the confused look on my face must have said it all, as Kuro bursts out laughing, "He is supposedly a high rank climber who is a prankster, he leaves voice traps or small prank traps, nothing that can cause major harm directly or indirectly. At most you would of had a few bumps falling down the stairs to the next floor." he chuckles good naturedly as he walks past me heading down the stairs, "Come on Newbie!" he shouts back up to me. "THE ARENA AWAITS!"

Relaxing my guard with a smirk I follow him down the stairs to the next floor. The log for the floor pops up as customary as I step through the threshold for the floor.

Combat Log Floor 4: Goblin's Labyrinth, Speed Clear

Dark has fatally decimated:

Goblin Ambusher(Lvl 8-11) x 12

Goblin Skirmisher(Lvl 9-12) x 3

Goblin Assassin(Lvl 12, 13) x 2

Experience Earned: 698

Tower Coins: 103

All Item Drops Devoured by the Dark, it has grown.

Floor 5: Goblin's Arena

Threat Level: H - F

You have stepped foot in the Goblin's Arena, fight in the arena to win glory, prizes, and wealth, compete with your fellow climbers or against them. This is for sport, Violence and Bloodshed! Shops are available at the goblin's stalls if anything suits you. Be warned for if you attack neutral parties, Guardians will descend upon you.