I opened my eyes for a moment, but it felt as if the whole world was spinning around me, and everything seemed blurry. My eyes struggled to focus on the dark corners of the room. Slowly, I tried to lift my head, but immediately fell back again; my body was weighed down with an overwhelming fatigue. Every muscle felt as if it had turned to stone, and even breathing was a challenge. There was a heaviness on my chest, as though the world had placed its burden directly upon me.

"How long have I been asleep?" I thought, but no answer came. My mind was foggy, and a jumble of thoughts swirled chaotically in my head. Then, I noticed the faint light of my workshop. I was still in the same place, but I had no grasp of how much time had passed. All I knew was that I needed to get up and pull myself together.

I moved my arms slowly. My hands trembled, but I finally managed to press them against the floor and prop myself up slightly. Every inch of my body ached, as though I had been lying in one position for hours. Gradually, I stood up, each step sending sharp, thorn-like sensations through my legs.

“Will all this be worth it?” I asked myself, and then answered, “No, it has to be.”

Once upright, I tried to steady myself as I scanned the room. The dim light of the workshop still bothered my eyes, but I was slowly adjusting. It was time to prepare. I began by placing the grappling hook mechanism I had crafted into my bag, followed by a few other items I thought might come in handy. Knowing I could face hunger and thirst in the tower, I made sure to pack food and water. I placed my arrows at the top of the bag, securing them with zippers for easy access.

I attached my bow to one of the hooks on the outer surface of my backpack, where I could reach it quickly. I fastened a belt with two sheaths to my waist and slid my daggers into them—my light-emitting dagger on the right and my poisoned dagger on the left. I clipped a portion of my bombs to hooks on the belt and stored the rest in my bag. Around my neck, I placed the amulet I had crafted. Finally, I donned my flexible armor and boots.

“I’m ready to go.”

Stepping out of my dilapidated old workshop, I lifted my head to the sky. The night was darker than ever, but the moon and countless stars illuminated the darkness.

“Don’t worry, Mother. I will save you...”

With quick steps, I began my journey toward the tower. As I passed through the streets, my thoughts grew louder. Even though I had embarked on this path to kill that bastard, I knew I couldn’t do it. There were two main reasons why: The first was that if I wanted my mother’s mana flow to return to normal, I needed him. Mana flow is incredibly complex and unique—a method so rare that only a handful of individuals can control it. Each has their own unique approach to manipulating mana flow, meaning the person who disrupts it is the only one capable of restoring it. The second reason was simpler: I was weak.

My strength isn’t enough to defeat that bastard. I know this better than anyone because he’s the greatest hunter who ever lived—and my father.

After walking a bit further, I arrived at the entrance of the tower. Finally, I was about to step inside...

As the massive structure loomed before me, the world seemed to fall silent for a moment. No whisper of the wind, no echo of my footsteps—everything had paused, as if sanctifying this moment. The tower stood before me like a void, a presence, a judgment. It was so colossal that no matter how much I craned my neck upward, its summit remained unseen. It was as though it were plunged into an infinite darkness, untouched even by the moonlight.

It had no windows. It was a massive, cold column made of bare stone. The stones were perfectly arranged, clearly crafted by human hands, yet the structure seemed far too terrifying to belong to humanity. The surface of the stones was so smooth that it appeared even time itself had feared touching them. There were no cracks, no blemishes. There were no traces of battle either, for this structure seemed to have transcended wars, existing beyond the realm of conflict. It looked as though it had stood in this exact state since the moment it came into being—motionless, yet alive, an ever-present threat.

There was no sign of its peak; it seemed as though the sky itself merged with it. The tower pierced through the clouds and blended into the stars. The light of the full moon slid across its uniform surface, unable to find any gaps or protrusions. The light seemed to be absorbed, swallowed by the tower’s darkness. Darkness and stone—those were the only two things present.

As I drew closer, the sheer scale of the tower made me feel insignificant. With every step, I felt its immense presence watching me, weighing me. Even though it had no windows or openings, the darkness inside seemed to breathe. The silence around it was no longer just an absence of sound—it was a vibration, emanating from within the tower. The stone path beneath my feet grew colder as I approached, and the surrounding night deepened and became eerily still. It was as if, here around the tower, the world’s entire sound had been devoured.

“BLADES ON SALE! HALF PRICE! GET THEM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE!”

The sudden cry of a vendor shattered the ominous silence, reminding me of the hunters frequenting the area to buy supplies before venturing into the tower.

“For these hunters, it’s just another day. Nothing to be afraid of,” I muttered to myself.

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I straightened my back, lifted my head, and kept walking.

The door... There it was. A massive, gaping black opening shrouded in stone. But it wasn’t so much a door as it was a chasm leading into an abyss. It had no hinges, no handles, yet it was no less intimidating. This was the only way inside the tower, but the dark void it revealed felt like a boundary to another world. I couldn’t see what lay within, only feel the icy air brushing against my face. Whatever was inside, it was no ordinary danger. Even from the threshold, I could sense an anger, a warning emanating from within.

I saw other hunters entering the tower casually, chatting as if it were nothing unusual. They were likely high-ranking hunters. But there were also people who had no choice but to enter the tower—some venturing inside for the first time, their faces betraying their anxiety and fear.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the line of hunters. As I reached the gate, a deep fear gripped me. Could I really do this? But the question didn’t matter—because I had to.

With both hands, I pushed the tower’s doors open and stepped inside...

Darkness. There was only darkness. The moment I set foot inside, a cold mist enveloped me. This wasn’t the chill of the outside wind; it felt alive, pressing down on me, seeping into every breath. The tower’s darkness consumed everything. My eyes failed to perceive anything for a moment—only emptiness surrounded me. I held my breath. Something deep inside me whispered that this place recognized me, that it was measuring me.

I moved forward cautiously, planting each step firmly. The stone floor was cold and smooth, inscribed with symbols that faintly pulsed with blue light. With every step, it felt as if the symbols were awakening beneath my feet. Their glow was erratic—sometimes shining brightly, sometimes fading entirely. This light kept me from being lost in the dark, yet it also amplified the sense that unseen eyes were watching my every move.

The first thing I noticed was the absence of walls. I was certain I had entered a tower, yet this space felt open, like an endless expanse. My eyes locked onto the massive black pillars stretching into eternity. They were as smooth as the exterior of the tower, but adorned with intricate carvings. Human figures, colossal creatures, and lightning-like patterns etched into the pillars seemed to shift and tremble, as if alive. The vibration wasn’t just something I saw—it resonated through every part of me.

As I moved forward, I noticed that the entire area had changed. The ground was no longer stone; I was stepping on damp soil and a moss-covered surface. Even the air smelled different. I was in a forest. But this forest was unlike anything I had ever known. The sky was pitch black; there was no moonlight, no stars. Yet, it wasn’t completely dark, as a faint green glow emanated from the trunks of the trees, softly illuminating the surroundings.

These trees weren’t like those in a normal forest; their branches spiraled upward, and their trunks coiled around themselves as if squeezing each other. Each tree emitted strange noises, like a living creature breathing—soft hissing, and occasionally, a low moan.

Small glowing particles hovered around the trees, drifting like fireflies through the air. The scene could almost have been soothing, but there was something else that stopped me from feeling at ease. A shadow—or more precisely, a presence.

The moment I stood still, I noticed a pair of glowing orange eyes watching me. At first, it was just one pair, but as I focused more on the darkness, I realized there were dozens of them. They stared at me from high branches, distant shadows, and the darkness behind me. As I moved, they subtly shifted as well. They were silent. No sound came from them, but I could feel their gaze, their intent.

I took a step. The damp leaves under my foot crunched softly. Even this faint sound echoed through the forest, and one of the orange eyes suddenly flared brightly. The creature that owned the eyes slowly emerged from the shadows. Its legs were four long, slender stalks, and its body was thin, elegant, but menacing. The faint growl it emitted sent chills down my spine.

I took a deep breath. “Stay calm. Don’t make a sound,” I whispered to myself. Here, everything depended on how quickly I could decide what to do. If I remained still, perhaps they would ignore me. Yet, I had a strong feeling that this place was no ordinary forest. It wanted something from me.

I continued walking for a while. Although these strange creatures looked terrifying, they seemed harmless—or perhaps they had simply decided not to attack me yet.

As I ventured deeper into the forest, I noticed an unusual symbol embedded into the trunk of a tree. Unlike the others, this symbol glowed like gold and pulsed gently. I approached it, and as I got closer, I heard a whisper. At first, I thought it was the wind, but then the sound formed into meaningful words:

“See me… take me… escape…”

The orange eyes around me flinched as if they had heard the voice. The creatures began to move closer from the shadows. I hesitated for a moment. What was I supposed to do? The eyes grew more intense, their owners edging nearer with every step I took.

I reached out and touched the symbol on the tree. The moment I did, a burst of light radiated from it, and the creatures suddenly retreated. For a brief moment, the forest fell completely silent.

The surface of the symbol where I had touched it sank slightly inward, and a key emerged. It was golden, adorned with intricate engravings, and seemed like it had been given to unlock the path ahead.

As soon as I took the key, the orange eyes reappeared—this time in greater numbers.

Through the trees, I spotted a bridge. I couldn’t see where it led, but I had no other choice. I decided to take my chances. If the worst came to pass, I could use one of my poison bombs at the entrance to the bridge to keep the creatures at bay.

I quickened my pace toward the bridge, trying to stay cautious. The creatures were following me, and now they seemed more aggressive.

As my steps transitioned from the damp ground to the stone surface of the bridge, the ominous hum of the forest abruptly ceased. Before me stretched a long, narrow bridge, its sides opening into an endless abyss of darkness. It was made of stone tiles, each etched with intricate patterns, as if bearing the weight of ancient history. A faint glow emanated from the carvings, as though they were waging their own battle against the surrounding darkness.

The silence around me was profound. The hissing growls of the orange-eyed creatures had faded, finally ceasing altogether. I turned my head, only to see that the creatures hadn’t stepped onto the bridge. They hovered in the shadows, restless but unwilling to move forward. Their eyes glowed like dim flames in the dark, yet none dared to cross onto the bridge.

This realization brought a fleeting sense of relief. The bridge seemed to be a safe zone under the laws of this place.

“So, this is as far as they go,” I muttered, cold sweat still beading on my forehead. Taking a deep breath, I began to walk forward slowly.