Our journey back to the starting village, despite successfully completing the mission, was filled with a somber silence. Gareth’s injury weighed heavily on all of us. At first, we had chatted and laughed, but now no one spoke—only the sound of our footsteps and the rustling of the wind through the trees filled the air. The battle with the Steel-Fanged Wolves had drained us, and our minds felt just as exhausted as our bodies. John walked at the front, while I stayed at the back, helping Isabel support Gareth as we moved.

By the time we reached the village, night had already fallen. A few torches burned in the square near the inn, their light mixing with the scents of alcohol and food. Laughter from a few drunken men echoed through the buildings, while merchants engaged in their evening conversations. Yet, despite the noise, the unease in my chest did not fade.

John pushed open the inn’s door and stepped inside. The warmth of the room welcomed us; the fire in the hearth cast a dim glow over the wooden tables. Travelers, adventurers, and villagers filled the space, talking and drinking. Despite the noise, knowing this place was safe gave us a slight sense of relief. John walked up to the counter and leaned toward the innkeeper.

“Give us four rooms. We’re all exhausted,” he said in a dry voice.

The innkeeper barely looked up before mumbling beneath his thick mustache, “There are a few rooms upstairs. But I take payment upfront.”

John pulled out a small pouch and placed a few gold coins on the counter. “Is this enough?”

The innkeeper counted the coins before nodding. “You can take the keys. If you want food, order before the kitchen closes.”

John took the keys and handed one to each of us. “Get some rest until morning. We’ll head to the guild and report our success first thing tomorrow,” he said, his face tired. Then he turned to me. “Alex, make sure you rest as well. We have work in the morning.”

As I held the key tightly in my palm, my thoughts went to Gareth. We were all in bad shape, but he was the worst off. I frowned and looked back at John.

“What about Gareth?” I asked, my voice carrying a trace of anger. “Can’t we find a potion or a healer for him?”

John shook his head, giving me a bitter smile. “Things like that are rare and expensive in the tower. Even if we killed a hundred, no, a thousand Alpha Wolves, we wouldn’t have enough money to afford a healer’s help.” He shrugged, a cold smirk forming on his lips. “Welcome to the filth of the tower, Alex.”

His words hit hard, but they weren’t lies. I knew the rules of this world. The weak were left behind. Still… leaving Gareth like this… It felt like a cold stone sat in my stomach.

Gareth must have overheard us, because he called out while climbing the stairs with Isabel’s help. “Don’t worry about me. I’m tougher than I look. Isabel will patch me up, and I’ll rest for as long as I need.”

John didn’t say anything else. He simply took his key and went upstairs. One by one, the others followed, disappearing into their rooms. Left alone, I let out a deep breath and walked toward mine.

Inside, the room was small but comfortable enough. A single bed, an old wooden desk in the corner, a chair, and a few worn fabrics hanging on the walls. The pale light of the moon slipped through the window, casting soft shadows across the floor.

I placed my belongings next to the bed. My Luminous Blade and Poisoned Dagger rested on the desk, while I carefully removed my Silence Boots and set them in the corner. Then, I approached the window and looked outside.

The sky was clear. A large, glowing moon hung over the village. Outside, the sounds from the inn had faded, and the square was nearly empty. The moonlight draped over the rooftops, and my thoughts churned in my head.

Gareth… If you’re not strong or rich enough to afford healing in this world, you’re nothing. I know this. But still… There has to be a way. I’m not someone who gives in to despair. I find solutions.

I stared at the moon for a while longer, weighing possibilities in my mind. Eventually, despite my exhaustion, my thoughts refused to quiet. When my eyelids finally grew heavy, I slowly turned toward my bed.

In this ruthless world of the tower, maybe there is a way out. Maybe what we’re looking for is closer than we think.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

That night, my mind wouldn’t rest, and even in my fatigue, my sleep remained light.

Yet even before fully waking, I knew something was wrong.

Rustling.

Someone was moving in my room.

The moment I realized it, I held my breath. Keeping my eyes barely open, I caught sight of a shadow in the dim light. Someone was rummaging through my bag. No… It wasn’t just anyone.

Roy. Damn it, Roy.

His sneaky movements, his trembling hands, and the small items he pulled from my bag—this was no mistake. This was theft.

For a moment, I froze. My mind was sharp, but the weight of sleep still clung to me. What should I do? Should I catch him silently? Or—

Then Roy lifted his head.

Our eyes met.

For a second, neither of us moved. Then, a flicker of decision flashed in his gaze. He grabbed my bag.

“You bastard!” I shouted, but it was too late. Roy leapt out of the window, landing on the rooftop with unbelievable agility.

My eyes widened. “No way…”

But I didn’t have much time to think. He was running away with my bag, and I couldn’t just let him slip away without a fight. My instincts moved faster than my thoughts. I ran to the window, climbed onto the ledge, and leapt to the next rooftop. My feet slammed against the wooden planks, knees bending to absorb the impact. My breath hitched, but I straightened up immediately and sprinted after Roy.

“Roy! Drop the bag, or I swear I’ll make you regret being born!”

Roy didn’t even bother to reply. He just ran faster. And that’s when I realized... this guy was fast.

He was light. Every step he took flowed perfectly, his body moving in sync with the momentum. Despite the weight of the bag, he glided through the air like the wind carried him.

As for me, no matter how quick I was, without using the tower’s system stats, I didn’t even come close to Roy’s speed. But I had no intention of giving up.

The distance between us grew, but I tracked every move he made. When he spotted a gap, he leapt across it in a single bound, spinning slightly mid-air, and landed flawlessly on the edge of the next rooftop.

“Son of a—!” I cursed, jumping after him. But my landing wasn’t as smooth. My foot slipped against the wood, and I nearly tumbled forward. I barely managed to regain my balance at the last second.

Roy turned back and snickered.

“You think some newbie fresh out of the tower can catch me?”

My rage peaked. “DROP THE BAG! Or I’ll strangle you with my bare hands!”

Instead of answering, Roy reached the edge of the rooftop and leapt without slowing down. This time, there wasn’t another rooftop waiting — just a wide gap between two buildings. But Roy flew through the air like gravity didn’t exist, catching the ledge on the other side with his fingertips and pulling himself up.

For a moment, I froze in shock. Then I realized I had no choice but to jump.

“Shit, shit, shit…” I muttered, pushing myself to run faster.

If I stopped, I’d lose. If I hesitated, I’d fall. If I didn’t catch him, Roy would disappear for good.

I channeled every ounce of strength into my legs and launched myself into the void.

Those few seconds in the air felt like an eternity. My heart pounded against my ribs. I stretched my hands out — and caught the ledge. But I couldn’t fully absorb the impact, and my right hand slipped. Dangling by my left hand, I tried to pull myself up, my shoulder screaming in protest as my muscles trembled.

Roy watched me struggle and smiled.

The night wind howled in my ears. My fingers clung desperately to the edge, arms shaking. I tried to haul myself up, but my strength faltered. My fingers slipped, and then...

I let go.

I fell into the void.

Those few seconds of falling stretched out endlessly. My heart hammered wildly. At the last moment, I bent my knees to absorb the impact, but I still hit the cobblestone street hard. The stone beneath my feet cracked, and my breath caught painfully in my chest.

Dazed, I lifted my head.

Up on the rooftop, Roy stood silhouetted against the dim light, already widening the distance between us.

I cursed, grinding my teeth. Chasing him like this was useless. He’d used speed stats. And me...

My eyes scanned the narrow alleys. Roy was running, but his escape routes were limited. The village walls were too high to climb — he couldn’t scale them. If he wanted to get out, the only logical route...

The North Gate.

The plan formed in my mind instantly. I had to cut him off.

I narrowed my eyes, steadied my breath, and ran in a different direction.

I wouldn’t chase him. I wouldn’t follow him. I’d predict his path and intercept him before he could escape.

I sprinted through the alleys, feet pounding against the ground. The wind lashed against my skin, and my heart raced. People crowded the streets; I crashed into someone in the market, knocking their loaf of bread to the ground. A few meters ahead, I accidentally collided with a street vendor’s cart. The wooden rack toppled over, crates spilling onto the street, vegetables rolling everywhere. The vendor’s furious yell pierced the night.

“Hey, you idiot! Watch where you’re going!”

“Sorry!” I shouted, but I didn’t stop running. If I stopped, I lost.

I pushed myself harder, drawing closer to the North Gate. My breaths were ragged, but my body moved instinctively, each motion driven by sheer determination.

Above me, Roy’s voice echoed from the rooftops.

“So what if you figured out my plan? Even if I run right past you, you’ll never catch me!”

He was still above, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, but his movements were growing more frantic.

But I would stop him.

I would cut him off.

One last alley. One final turn. The gate loomed ahead of me.

I slammed to a stop right in front of the North Gate, legs burning from the exertion.

Roy was seconds away. Just a few more rooftops, and he’d reach the gate. I had to wait until the perfect moment — the plan would only work if my timing was flawless.

I counted the seconds.

3...

2...

1...

NOW.

"[SHATTER]!"