Gossip and whispers ran amok within Anthor City. Both families that called the city home and travelers just arriving were tossed into disarray considering the recent events.
“I heard the sword’s impact was supposed to wipe out the entire city.”
“Sword? I heard it was a fight between experts!”
“It’s true! There’s a sword in front of the palace.”
“I saw it as well. It’s the legendary sword of Marumen!”
Claude stood at the side of the road with folded arms. An herb stuck from the side of his mouth as he nibbled on its tip. His ears perked up as more passersby spoke about the wild events that happened just a few nights back.
“The city would have been wiped out, if it weren’t for Advisor Karbone-“
“Don’t you mean Karbone Anthor? He’s more than just a mere advisor!”
“What are the odds that Olgren had a brother… one willing to sacrifice it all for the sake of the kingdom.”
Claude scanned the crowds with a careful eye. Eventually, a smile bloomed on his face as he spotted two familiar figures.
“Claude, my love!”
Rosa waved at him with one hand, while the other held onto the edge of her white hat. Beside her was Meysi, who wore a simple black skirt that was ornamented at the top with a blue ribbon.
“Were you able to find the sweets you wanted?”
He grinned as they approached, but he could immediately sense their lack of success by the crestfallen look on their faces.
“No… apparently the city was under attack, so some of the residents are still recovering.”
“It’s a pity then. Speaking of the attack, I heard news that a legendary sword had fallen…”
Claude’s voice lingered as he stared expectantly at Rosa. Meysi failed to conceal a small chuckle as Rosa scowled with balled fists.
“You men, all the same! What about our sweets! Tasty pastries! Instead, all you can think about is some lousy sword.”
“Ehh-heh.”
Claude scratched the side of his head and averted his gaze. Fortunately, a small voice saved him from despair.
“Actually, I’d like to see the sword too.”
It was Meysi who rescued him. The moment she spoke, Rosa’s pouty expression melted away.
“If our Meysi says so, then we go!”
Claude gave a self-deprecating smile, but he knew that Rosa would have given in even without Meysi speaking up. However, these playfully difficult qualities were what he liked about her.
With all the commotion and restlessness from the citizens, it wasn’t difficult to find the sword’s impact area at the palace entrance. The trio circles around the outer fringes of the crowd, observing the organized chaos within.
“Next! Next up!”
A broad shoulder man with a chiseled jaw stood upon a pedestal. He roared out with cupped hands before turning to a hunched over man who remained panting within a sizable crater.
“Hey, get on out of there. Your turn is up!”
“Yea, let someone else try!”
The crowd jeered and cried out, seeing that the exhausted man wasn’t leaving as quickly as they’d like. Claude rubbed his chin in thought while Rosa rolled her eyes. She was able to read his mind as clear as day.
“Hey friend, what’s going on here?”
Claude nudged the man next to him, who turned to him with an enthusiastic smile.
“Oh this? We’ve been at it for days my boy! The person who can take the sword away gets to keep the sword. Thems the rules! Name’s Hugh, by the way.”
Hugh thrust his hand forward for a handshake, which Claude acknowledged. While shaking his hand, Claude sized him up, taking note of his grass-stained overalls and brown mustache tinged with grey.
“Look there, another one is going to give it a go!”
He revealed a crazy grin as he gestured to the sturdy man making his way into the crater. Claude looked on with intrigue.
Was he stronger than that man? He couldn’t say for certain. From a distance, their builds even seemed somewhat similar, but there was something about the way he carried himself that set him apart.
“Wait a second… these people aren’t level one?”
He asked his new friend.
“No! That fellow is probably level three or so. We’ve got folks of all levels here. From level one to level ten, but just keep watching and you’ll see. Level doesn’t matter much for this gorgeous sword.”
“L-Level ten?!”
Claude nervously scanned the crowd. It didn’t take long for him to come across a segregated section of individuals, each of them maintaining aloof expressions as if their status were above the heavens.
“Yea! Yea! Those lads there are from the tenth floor. One level per floor, as they say. But not to worry, we’re all on the same team here. It’s a spirited event! No one would make trouble with Master Tonfe overseeing things.”
Hugh looked on with blazing eyes and excitement.
“Look! He’s going for it now!”
He pointed to the man within the crater, who’s thick hands were fully grasped onto the sword’s hilt.
“Hyahhh!!!”
The man roared out to the sky as his veins bulged and writhed. His shirt ripped around his biceps, and his face flushed beet red.
“Nope, he’s not gon’ take it away.”
Hugh shifted his weight onto one leg and curled his lip in disappointment. Sure enough, the man let go of the sword and fell to one knee. His chest heaved and the next moment he roared to the sky in frustration.
“Next challenger! Come on now!”
The man on the pedestal roared without any sympathy. Meanwhile, Claude nudged Hugh once more, full of questions.
“I don’t understand something.”
“What’s that friend?”
Hugh hooked his thumbs through the straps of his overalls.
“This is a sword of legends, right?”
“Right.”
“Why doesn’t someone just take the sword away in a storage ring? Once they’ve secured it, they could train day and night in order to wield it.”
Hugh gave Claude a strange look, before bursting into a fit of laughter.
“My friend… you know that they have to be able to lift the sword in order to put it in a storage ring, right?”
“Of course I know that, but they would just have to lift it a tiny bit. That’s nothing compared to fully wielding the sword.”
Hugh stared at him with a playful smile.
“Well there partner, you just said it yourself. They would have to be able to lift the sword.”
“Yea, but just a little bit.”
The two men stared at each other in silence, before a certain realization dawned on Claude.
“Y-You can’t be serious? They can’t even lift the sword a tiny bit?”
“Nope!”
“What about those chaps that are level ten!”
“Nope!”
Claude looked around, both flabbergasted and confused.
With every level up came a natural increase in attributes, regardless of one’s specialization. The only way for someone to level up was by completing their floor trial. This meant that those who were level ten had already completed their ninth-floor trial, which was a task as difficult as flying over the moon. Yet, there they stood—patiently with crossed arms.
“But why? I don’t understand.”
Hugh leaned in close with a skeptical look in his eye.
Stolen novel; please report.
“You’re not from around these parts, but there’s many legends of the sword for the natives of Anthor City. Supposedly, the sword’s weight does not care for your level, that is because it’s true weight is even heavier than what a tenth-floor veteran can lift. However, legends say that its weight will adjust according to the level of that who is trying to wield it.”
Claude’s eyes lit up in understanding.
“Ohh, so they already tried to take the sword away but failed. Since they can’t take it away themselves, why are they still here?”
“Huh? Same as the rest of us! We want to see who can finally take this damn sword away.”
Claude grinned from ear to ear. The excitement was infectious, especially considering that it would be a feat that not even a level ten adventurer could accomplish. Hugh stroked his greying beard with a light nod.
“Also, rumor is that ole’ Tonfe is just letting normal people have a shot. Supposedly, his new disciple only just recently completed their floor one trial, yet he’s potentially strong enough to lift the sword!”
“I wonder what it must be like to be so talented.”
“Right? Talented enough to already be scouted by Master Tonfe! Pretty incredible that guy. Although, for some reason… Tonfe hasn’t brought him out yet. He just sits there drinking wine all day.”
Hugh pointed toward a rather large individual who was laughing merrily with a few other eccentric looking adventurers. Wine seemed to flow endlessly from his gourd and directly into his mouth, yet he never seemed to spill a drop even while talking.
“Let me give it a go.”
A booming voice hung above the heads over the spectators. The crowd shifted, making way for an enormous man. His chest burst out from the seams of his clothes, and his every step seemed to shake the immediate vicinity.
“That guy is gigantic!”
Rosa exclaimed quietly to Claude and Meysi.
“Way too big…”
Meysi murmured in response, but Claude had other thoughts. The moment he laid eyes on the man, he felt no small amount of dejection.
“Ahh, it’s doomed. That man is surely going to take the sword away.”
He groaned as he shook his head.
“Finally! You took your damn sweet time!”
A bony and thin man snapped at the beefy challenger. His cheeks were sunken in, and even though he was incredibly tall, his head and shoulders drooped unusually low.
“Eh? Is this him? Your disciple? The bet is still on, right? Eh? I’m even letting you go first!”
Tonfe glugged wine in between words as he scanned the large newcomer from head to toe.
“Heh, this is him! Remember the deal, Tonfe! If my disciple is able to take away the sword, then you owe me one flask of Heavenly Stout.”
The bony man rubbed his hands together, almost as if he had already won the bet. Tonfe paid him no heed and instead remained fixated on the absolute goliath of a man.
“Yes, yes. Let’s see how he does! Afterwards, my disciple will step forward, and if he can take it away then you owe me a branch from your Ageless Willow.”
Claude and Hugh shared an understanding glance upon hearing the wordy exchange.
“So it was a competitive bet all along. That’s why Master Tonfe hasn’t acted. He was waiting for his friend’s disciple.”
“It seems like the commoners never stood a chance. It was always in Master Tonfe’s hands!”
The two watched on as the new challenger stepped into the crater. His muscles bulged and wiggled as he grasped onto the sword’s hilt with his two meaty hands.
“Take the sword away!”
The bony man commanded with an arrogant look in his eyes.
“Huuurrrrrrrhhhhh!!!”
The goliath of a man surged with energy. His feet dug deeper into the dirt, and his face turned tomato red.
“Haaaahhhh!!”
His faced eventually turned purple as he roared out loud with his whole being. However, no amount of yelling was going to allow the sword to come loose. Eventually, he collapsed beside the blade, void of any remaining strength.
“Y-You… buffoon! Get yourself off the ground! You’re embarrassing me!”
The ancient master snapped at his disciple in anger.
“Bahaha! Looks like it’s my turn then!”
The fat and merry man wagged his braided beard as he made his way through the crowd.
“Step aside you fools.”
“Ah, it’s Master Tonfe. A pleasure to be in your presence.”
Despite the bulbous man’s comical appearance with his shirt riding up his belly and a wine gourd at his waist, every man of strength gave him the upmost respect.
“As I recall, strength is not your specialty. Have you come to try your hand at the sword?”
However, it seemed that not everyone was aware of the deal he had made with the bony man. Each of them beamed a bootlicking smile as they tried to get closer to the old master.
“Bah, nonsense with that.”
He chugged some wine, letting out a deep belch.
“Gahh, that hits the spot. No, no. Disciple! Where are you?!”
Master Tonfe roared out loud and swiveled in place. He cast his gaze toward a particular direction before forming a hearty smile.
“Ah! There you are! Come greet your master, and while you’re at it, come take this sword away.”
The crowd parted as if they were ducking away from Master Tonfe’s vision, all except one individual. A stalwart man stared off into the distance with a faraway look. Mystery was etched into the very fiber of his being as if his existence were some clandestine secret. No one could read his thoughts, nor did he give any indication as to what heavenly divinations he was uncovering.
“T-Talru?!”
Rosa stuttered in shock as the trio stared at their long-lost group member.
“That idiot… he’s probably thinking about what to eat for dinner.”
Meysi spoke from the side as she crossed her arms. Claude nodded his head in agreement with a knowing smile. Despite Meysi’s harsh assessment of Talru, everybody could hear the relief in her voice.
Nobody spoke of it, but Meysi was the last to see Talru alive before now, and the other two knew that his unknown fate must have weighed heavily on the poor girl’s heart.
Talru turned to Master Tonfe.
“Oi, old drunky, what’s for dinner?”
The crowd all recoiled in shock at the utter disrespect Talru had for Tonfe.
“Blast it! Get over here and lift this here sword boy!”
Master Tonfe’s red cheeks shook angrily as he wagged his fist through the air.
“But I’m hungry…”
Nonetheless, Talru sulked toward him, mumbling under his breath.
“Lift the sword first, then we can talk about dinner.”
Master Tonfe spoke softly, his fake anger all but evaporated. The crowd watched the exchange with bewildered gazes.
“I-Is this discple sincere about his teachings?”
“Who knows… I guess they’ll figure it out…”
The crowd whispered amongst themselves. At the same time, Talru’s eyes lit up with energy and confidence as he made his way toward the sword. However, after taking just a few steps, he paused with wide eyes as he turned to the crowd.
“Meysi? Claude! Rosa!”
“Talru! We’re here!”
Rosa shouted back with excitement. Claude waved at him with a silly smile while Meysi shifted away her gaze with flushed cheeks.
“Stay right there, I’m going to go lift that sword then this old man is going to treat us to food!”
Talru called out with confidence.
“What?! Blasted fool! When did I agree to that?”
“Yes, yes. I’ll lift the sword now.”
Talru walked up to the sword and stared at it strangely. He squinted his eyes as if he were studying it. The crowd waited with bated breath, each more nervous than the person beside them.
Finally, Talru rolled up his sleeves and grasped the hilt with both hands.
“Food awaits.”
He sucked in a final breath, before pulling with all his strength!
“Hrrggh!”
Veins popped up along the length of arm, while the ground beneath his feet crumbled to dust. Every fiber of his being was pushed to the extreme as he mustered every ounce of strength in his body to accomplish this singular task.
His shirt ripped and his pants tore as his muscled wiggled and bulged. The intensity within his gaze was nothing like before as he fought against fate itself and howled into the air.
“Hyahhhh!!!”
With a resounding cry, the sword finally shifted upward! Although the blade was only moved the smallest of margins off the ground, it could be said that Talru had indeed done the impossible—and lifted the sword of legends.
“My lord, he did it!”
“Who is this man?!”
“Incredible! A hidden talent amongst billions!”
“Master Tonfe really lucked out here…”
Master Tonfe gave a hearty chuckle as he cried out.
“The sword of legends! Within my grasp! Ahaha! I’ve done it! We’ve done it! We’ve struck the ultimate riches! Quickly now boy, take the sword away into a storage ring!”
Just as the rotund man gave the command, Talru dropped the sword back to the ground and stood up straight.
“Whew, that was a lot of effort!”
His chest heaved as he took in deep breaths, but then… he walked away!
“How was that, Claude? Hah! Pretty strong, aren’t I?”
Talru stumbled and swaggered his way toward his family, passing by Master Tonfe without even the slightest acknowledgement.
“Yep, all strength and no brains, as usual.”
Claude smiled back as his eyes shifted between his brother and the old master who was now boiling with anger.
“You-you-you… blasted disciple! Take the sword away! Why aren’t you taking the sword away!”
Master Tonfe stamped his feet on the ground while Talru dug a finger into his ear, clearly not putting any weight on his master’s lecture.
“No way. That sword is way too heavy. Definitely too heavy for someone like me to use.”
Talru waved his hand through the air as he mindlessly spoke out loud. Surprisingly, a small voice interjected from behind him.
“Um, Master Tonfe, sir. You initially only told Talru to lift the sword, but you didn’t tell him to take the sword away.”
Meysi stood at Talru’s side with a somewhat defiant look in her eyes. Talru glanced at her, initially shocked that she had stepped forward in the first place, but then pleased knowing that she had his back.
“Ehh?! And just who do you think you are girl?!”
Master Tonfe took a wild swig of from his wine gourd as he stared at Meysi with a crazy eye.
“She’s in for it now…”
“Master Tonfe once was nicknamed the Mad Ton Demon…”
Random voices filtered in from the crowd as Meysi took on the brunt of the attention, but despite the pressure, she continued to defiantly stare at the boisterous man.
“Eheh, I like this girl. Boy, what god’s luck have you chanced upon?! Indeed, the world is cruel.”
Master Tonfe let out a belch as he mumbled the last few words.
“Huh, leave my Meysi alone or I’ll fight you. Besides, I can’t take the sword away.”
“M-My Meysi?”
Meysi’s face poofed into a tomato as she whispered at the side.
“What?! Foolish boy! You’re the only one here who could possibly take the sword away at all!”
“Well not anymore I can’t.”
Talru pointed behind Master Tonfe, directly toward the location of the sword, and he continued speaking.
“See? That guy is already taking it away.”
“Huh?”
Not only Master Tonfe, but everyone within the vicinity swiveled their heads toward the sword.
A black cloaked figure effortlessly held the sword with one hand as he briefly inspected it. With two simple swipes through the air, he then walked off. The crowd separated in fear as they didn’t dare stand in his way. After a few short seconds, another cloaked figure joined in, and together they walked off into the distance.
Talru watched the two travelers leave, knowing full well who they were.
“Well, there are only two people that could possibly use that sword.”
He muttered with a shrug before turning to his family.
“Claude…Rosa…Meysi, I wish to ask of you something important. Would you join this silly fool on an arduous journey through the tower? A thrilling adventure through every floor, with more secrets to be discovered and trials to overcome.”
Claude gave an awkward smile and scratched his head. Seeing this, Rosa snuck her hand into his and intertwined their fingers.
“Talru, your brother and I have decided to stay here on the first floor and build a family. We’re strong enough to handle our own here, but we could long sense that we don’t have a place traveling through this dangerous tower.”
Hearing this reply, Talru revealed a bitter smile and took a step back.
“I-It’s no problem. I understand that-“
“However!”
Rosa interrupted him with a sharp voice before turning her attention toward Meysi.
“I think someone else would love to join you on that adventure. What do you think, Meysi?”
Seeing that she was being targeted, Meysi shifted her gaze away once again. She had only just recovered from Talru’s brash statement from earlier, and now she was under fire once more. Rosa smirked upon seeing Meysi’s flustered appearance.
“Meysi? Would you like to come with me on a journey?”
Talru’s expression brightened as he stared at Meysi with hopeful eyes.
“Of course I would…”
Without a second thought, Talru swept Meysi off her feet and twirled her around in a circle.
“Master Tonfe! Let’s go eat!”
----
Sans walked alongside Elsie and stored his new sword inside a storage ring.
“Do you not want to tell them goodbye?”
She spoke up from beneath her cloak, but her eyes constantly scanned him over. His presence was a stark compared to just a few days prior. From his aura alone, Elsie could tell that he had leveled up, implying that Borgash, the previous king of Anthor, had passed away.
However, the most striking difference was his virtually vacant expression. It was as if he were running from all the pain and sorrow by simply not acknowledging its existence.
“No… The less people I interact with the better…”
Sans’ reply was dull, almost lifeless, but there was nothing Elsie could do about it. He stared at the upcoming portal with heavy eyes. This was the center portal that linked Anthor City to all other major cities on floor one. Normally, a price, in the form of spirit shards, would have to be paid to travel through, but there was one exception—which was traversing floor levels.
“Let’s move on to the second floor. You and I have a duel to settle, once and for all.”
With those final words, he disappeared into the portal.