Chapter 10 – Unyielding Vanguard
The oppressive weight of the Tower's entrance dissipated as Jae-Hyun stepped deeper into its enigmatic depths. The air around him felt still, unnervingly so, as though the Tower itself were holding its breath. Shadows coiled faintly at the edges of his vision, twisting unnaturally before dissolving into nothingness. Despite the eerie calm, a faint hum of energy lingered in the atmosphere, a constant reminder of the Tower’s latent power.
The first floor was eerily unremarkable—a dense, mist-shrouded forest stretching endlessly in every direction. The artificial light filtering through the canopy above bathed everything in an otherworldly glow, neither warm nor cold, but disconcertingly neutral. Jae-Hyun took a cautious step forward, his sharp blue eyes scanning the undergrowth for signs of movement. The sound of rustling leaves drew his attention, but it was nothing more than a falling branch. His muscles relaxed slightly, though his mind remained sharp, instincts honed from countless battles.
"So, this is how it begins," he muttered, his tone low, edged with faint disappointment. "I suppose the first floors were never meant to challenge anyone seriously."
A soft ripple of shadows heralded Kaelzar’s silent appearance beside him. The massive Shadow General’s crimson eyes glowed faintly, his imposing form blending seamlessly into the Tower’s dim ambiance. Kaelzar didn’t speak, but his presence exuded an unspoken readiness, a silent assurance that he would act at a moment’s notice.
As Jae-Hyun pressed forward, the monotony of the forest floor grated on him. The monsters he encountered—small, timid creatures that barely posed a threat—fell quickly to his blade. Each kill was met with a faint shimmer of energy absorbed into his being, a system notification confirming the minor increase in experience. Despite the ease of these encounters, Jae-Hyun couldn’t shake the feeling that the Tower was merely toying with him, lulling him into a false sense of security.
By the time he reached the seventh floor, the monotony had begun to lift. The air grew heavier, and the faint sounds of movement in the distance hinted at stronger enemies. Jae-Hyun’s expression remained calm, though his grip on his blade tightened slightly. The system notification that appeared after defeating a particularly resilient creature caught his attention:
System Notification: Congratulations! Level Up!
The familiar surge of energy coursed through his body, momentarily invigorating him. His senses sharpened, and his movements felt smoother, more precise. Yet, the brief thrill of progress was overshadowed by a gnawing unease. The Tower’s design wasn’t meant to challenge him just yet, but Jae-Hyun knew better than to underestimate what lay ahead.
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The atmosphere shifted drastically as Jae-Hyun ascended to the tenth floor. The dense forest gave way to a sprawling arena, its stone floor etched with intricate runes that pulsed faintly with a dark, crimson light. Massive pillars stretched toward the unseen ceiling, their surfaces adorned with carvings of long-forgotten battles. The air was thick with tension, a palpable pressure that seemed to weigh on his very soul.
At the center of the arena stood the boss. The creature—a hulking, armored behemoth—towered over Jae-Hyun, its jagged weapons glinting menacingly under the dim light. Its movements were slow but deliberate, each step echoing ominously through the cavernous space. Jae-Hyun’s sharp gaze narrowed as he inspected the creature, the system’s notification appearing almost mockingly before him:
System Notification: System Notification: Boss: Floor 10 Guardian, Level: 21 Special Trait: Resistance to Physical Damage
Jae-Hyun’s jaw clenched. “Of course this bastard had to resist my attacks,” he muttered, his voice dripping with irritation. “He’s more than ten levels under me, and his only resistance had to be to me.” His grip on his sword tightened as his frustration flared. He had been preparing to test his abilities, to gauge the difficulty of the Tower, and instead, it felt like the system was mocking him.
The Tower Guardian roared, its deep bellow echoing through the chamber as it charged. Jae-Hyun sidestepped the initial swing of its axe, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the ground. He countered with a swift strike, his blade biting into the creature’s side. The Guardian barely flinched, the faint glow of its resistance absorbing the impact.
“Damn it,” Jae-Hyun growled, leaping back to avoid another swing. His mind raced, frustration simmering beneath the surface. This was supposed to be a straightforward test, not an exercise in futility.
“Kaelzar!” he barked, his voice sharp. The Shadow General materialized beside him, his massive form towering over Jae-Hyun. Without hesitation, Kaelzar lunged at the Guardian, his shadowy blade carving through the air. The impact was immediate—Kaelzar’s attacks bypassed the resistance, slicing deep into the creature’s armor.
Jae-Hyun watched for a moment, his irritation giving way to grudging acceptance. “At least someone can get through,” he muttered. As Kaelzar drove the Guardian back, Jae-Hyun moved to flank it. He called out, “Kaelzar, your sword!”
The Shadow General tossed his weapon to Jae-Hyun, the shadowy blade dissolving into his hands and reforming as a perfect fit. Jae-Hyun gripped it tightly, a faint grin tugging at his lips. With a burst of speed, he closed the distance and delivered the final blow, the shadowy blade piercing the Guardian’s core. The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing into a heap, its body dissolving into shimmering particles.
System Notification: Boss Defeated. Level up!
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Jae-Hyun exhaled sharply, his irritation ebbing as he glanced at the notifications. He had leveled up, but the fight left a bitter taste in his mouth. The Tower had already shown its unpredictability, and he couldn’t afford to underestimate it again.
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As Jae-Hyun prepared to leave the arena, the system’s voice echoed in his mind, its tone laced with an unsettling mix of authority and amusement:
System Notification: 10/? Floors Completed. Special Trial Unlocked: "Unyielding Vanguard."
The world around him shifted abruptly, the arena dissolving into a void of swirling shadows. When the darkness receded, Jae-Hyun found himself standing in a familiar courtyard. The sight of it sent a jolt through his chest—this was his childhood training ground, meticulously recreated down to the smallest detail. But the air was heavy, suffused with an unnatural stillness that set his nerves on edge.
Before him stood a figure cloaked in shadow, its features an almost perfect replica of his own. The system’s voice rang out again, sharp and commanding:
System Notification: Trial Objective: Surpass yourself. No allies. No shadows. Only you.
As if to emphasize the point, Jae-Hyun’s attempt to summon Kaelzar was met with a derisive response:
System Message: "Too reliant on others, are we? Prove your worth alone."
Jae-Hyun’s jaw tightened, a spark of frustration igniting within him.
It was him.
A perfect replica stood before him, mirroring his stance, his weapon, even his cold, calculating expression. The replica moved first, lunging forward with speed that matched Jae-Hyun’s own. Their blades clashed, the impact ringing through the courtyard.
Jae-Hyun dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding a follow-up strike. Even as he moved, the replica’s blade nicked his arm, drawing a thin line of blood. The pain was sharp, grounding. “Damn it,” he hissed, retaliating with a series of precise strikes. The replica blocked each one with ease, its movements fluid and relentless.
The fight dragged on, each exchange leaving Jae-Hyun more frustrated. No matter how fast he was, no matter how calculated his attacks, the replica was always a step ahead. Cuts began to accumulate on his arms and legs, each one a stark reminder of his own limitations.
“You’re not stronger than me,” Jae-Hyun growled, his voice low and fierce. “I’ll prove it.”
He shifted his stance, abandoning his usual calculated approach. Instead, he allowed his instincts to take over, his movements becoming more unpredictable. The replica hesitated for the first time, its strikes faltering against Jae-Hyun’s sudden ferocity.
A grin spread across Jae-Hyun’s face as he pressed the advantage, his blade carving through the replica’s defenses. With a final, decisive blow, he shattered the replica, its form dissolving into wisps of shadow.
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Jae-Hyun dropped to his knees in the aftermath of the trial, his breath ragged and his body trembling. Sweat dripped from his brow, mingling with the faint trails of blood seeping from cuts across his arms and legs. The remnants of his shadowy replica dissolved into the air, leaving behind an oppressive silence in the familiar courtyard. He remained there for a moment, gripping his sword tightly, the weight of his victory heavy in his chest.
The trial had pushed him further than he anticipated, forcing him to adapt, to overcome his own instincts, and to question his reliance on the power he had cultivated. Despite his exhaustion, a small, bitter smile tugged at his lips.
“So even the system thinks I’ve been too reliant on shadows,” he muttered to himself, his voice low.
A golden notification flared in the corner of his vision, pulling his attention upward.
System Notification:
* Special Trial Completed: Unyielding Vanguard
* Rewards:
* Stats Buff: All stats +1% per floor cleared.
* Item Acquired: Abyssal Core
The second line caught his attention.
Abyssal Core: A fragment of pure potential. Function unknown.
Jae-Hyun stared at the description for a moment before dismissing the notification. “Typical system,” he muttered, pushing himself upright. The soreness in his muscles and the sting of his wounds served as a stark reminder of how close he had come to failure. Even now, the cuts inflicted by his replica felt as though they lingered, ghostly remnants of the trial’s intensity.
The courtyard dissolved around him, replaced by the dim, eerie expanse of the Tower’s boss chamber. The transition was seamless, almost jarring, as though the trial had never happened. Yet the fatigue in his limbs and the dried blood on his skin told him otherwise. He took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening as he assessed his surroundings.
The other shadows greeted him immediately, forming an organized line in front of him. Each one held out their spoils: small, low-tier crystals gathered from weaker monsters throughout the earlier floors. Jae-Hyun glanced at the haul, nodding slightly. “Good work,” he said, his tone clipped but approving.
A ripple of movement at the back of the group caught his attention. Kaelzar stepped forward, his towering form casting a long shadow across the room. In his massive hands, he held a larger crystal—a mid-tier low crystal, shimmering faintly with condensed energy. Kaelzar presented it with a silent yet unmistakable air of pride, his crimson eyes glowing faintly as if to say, Look what I can do.
Jae-Hyun blinked, taken aback by the sight. For a moment, he simply stared, then sighed, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “What, are you trying to compete with them now?”
Kaelzar didn’t respond—he never did—but his imposing stance spoke volumes. The massive Shadow General loomed silently, his posture almost expectant. Jae-Hyun shook his head, his smirk widening. “Fine, fine. Good job, Kaelzar.”
The faintest shift in Kaelzar’s stance suggested satisfaction, though his expression remained as stoic as ever. The sight of the fearsome Shadow General behaving almost like an overachieving pet lightened the oppressive mood of the Tower, if only for a moment. Jae-Hyun allowed himself a soft chuckle before turning his attention back to the task at hand.
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The next steps were clear. Jae-Hyun opened his status interface, his sharp blue eyes scanning the updated stats. The buff from the trial had already taken effect, enhancing his skills beyond their previous limits. The increased potential was palpable, though the weight of his earlier struggle lingered in his mind. The replica’s relentless attacks had exposed weaknesses he hadn’t fully acknowledged, forcing him to reevaluate his reliance on brute force and shadows.
His gaze flicked to the Abyssal Core in his inventory. Its purpose remained unclear, but its presence felt significant—a fragment of something larger, something he couldn’t yet grasp. The system’s cryptic nature was nothing new, but the core’s importance was undeniable. He would have to uncover its secrets later.
Before pressing onward, Jae-Hyun decided to retreat to the safety of his quarters. The trial had drained him, and even his enhanced stats couldn’t mask the exhaustion weighing on his body. The day had stretched long, and the toll of the Tower’s challenges demanded rest.
As he stepped out of the Tower, the cool evening air greeted him, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere inside. The city beyond the Tower’s shadow buzzed with life, its streets illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns and bustling with adventurers. Jae-Hyun pulled his hood lower, blending into the crowd as he made his way back to his apartment.