Chapter 11 - Bridges to the Heart
The golden notification flickered before Jae-Hyun and Ahri, its ominous message lingering in the air between them, carrying an almost palpable weight. For Jae-Hyun, it was a grim reminder of the responsibilities he had just shouldered, while Ahri felt a knot tighten in her chest, the uncertainty of what lay ahead gnawing at her resolve. Her sharp eyes, usually resolute, betrayed a flicker of vulnerability as they darted to meet his, searching for reassurance. Neither spoke immediately, the weight of the Abyssal Bond’s activation sinking in. Ahri’s sharp eyes, usually so resolute, wavered with uncertainty as she glanced at him.
System Notification: Abyssal Bond has been successfully established. Initialization commencing.
Ahri’s gaze drifted downward as her legs trembled slightly. She gripped the hilt of her sword for balance, her breathing shallow. “Something feels… off,” she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Jae-Hyun stepped forward, steadying her with a firm hand on her shoulder. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone clipped but laced with concern.
“I don’t know,” Ahri said, shaking her head. “It’s like… everything inside me is shifting. I feel weaker.”
Before either could say more, a new notification appeared, its words cold and unfeeling.
System Notification: Abyssal Bond initialization complete. Adjusting parameters. Resetting linked partner’s stats to Level 1 for system synchronization.
Ahri’s eyes widened as her system interface blinked to life, revealing her new stats. Everything—her level, her strength, her agility—had been reduced to its bare minimum.
“Level 1?” she whispered in disbelief. “What… why?”
Jae-Hyun’s expression darkened as he scanned her interface, his sharp gaze narrowing on the explanation provided.
System Explanation: The Abyssal Bond establishes a unique connection, redistributing potential. Linked partner will start anew, allowing exponential growth through synergy with the bond holder.
“It’s a reset,” he said after a moment, his tone flat. “The system is rebuilding you from the ground up to align with the bond. You’ll grow faster, but it means starting over.”
Ahri exhaled slowly, her grip tightening on her sword. She glanced at her trembling hands, her expression a mix of fear and determination. “So, I’m weak now,” she said, her voice firmer than before. “Weaker than I’ve been in years.”
“For now,” Jae-Hyun replied. “But you’ll catch up. Faster than you think.”
She let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You make it sound so easy.” Her tone softened as she met his gaze. “But you know what? I don’t care how hard it is. If this bond means I can fight beside you, really fight, then I’ll take whatever challenge comes with it.”
For a moment, Jae-Hyun said nothing, his cold eyes studying her intently. Then, with a curt nod, he said, “Good. Because there’s no going back now.”
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The Tower loomed ahead of them, its shadow casting a dark veil over the bustling city streets below. Jae-Hyun and Ahri walked in silence, their footsteps echoing faintly against the cobblestones. The weight of the Abyssal Bond hung between them, unspoken but palpable. Ahri’s movements were steady, but Jae-Hyun could see the strain in her posture, the subtle tension in her shoulders as she adjusted to her weakened state.
Just as they approached the Tower’s imposing entrance, a sharp voice cut through the murmur of adventurers milling about. "Hey, you. Step aside." The tone was commanding, leaving no room for argument. Jae-Hyun turned, his cold gaze locking onto the towering figure approaching them.
The man was massive, his armor gleaming with the insignia of the Aegis Legion. His features were sharp and imposing, his expression a mixture of disdain and confidence. He was the vice-leader of the Aegis Legion, an individual whose reputation for dominance preceded him.
Ahri tensed beside Jae-Hyun, her hand instinctively gripping the hilt of her sword. "Do we have a problem?" Jae-Hyun asked, his voice calm but edged with warning.
The vice-leader smirked, his dark eyes narrowing. "You’re blocking the way. Figures someone like you wouldn’t know your place."
Jae-Hyun’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t move. "The Tower isn’t reserved for guilds. Or have the rules changed?"
The smirk faded slightly, replaced by a scowl. "Watch your tone. You’re lucky I don’t feel like teaching you a lesson right here."
Ahri stepped forward, her sharp gaze unwavering. "We’re not looking for trouble."
"Good," the vice-leader said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Stay out of our way, and you might survive long enough to be relevant."
As he brushed past them, he moved closer to Jae-Hyun, his massive frame almost eclipsing him. Without warning, the vice-leader placed a hand on Jae-Hyun’s shoulder and gave a firm push. Jae-Hyun instinctively planted his feet, attempting to resist the force, but it was like trying to stop a landslide. The vice-leader’s strength was overwhelming, and with a deliberate escalation, he pushed harder. Jae-Hyun stumbled back several paces, his heels scraping against the cobblestones as he fought to maintain his balance. The sheer ease with which the vice-leader had overpowered him sent a chill of frustration coursing through his veins, a stark reminder of the gap in their strength. Jae-Hyun instinctively tried to resist, planting his feet firmly, but the vice-leader’s sheer strength was overwhelming. The initial shove forced Jae-Hyun back a step, and before he could fully recover, the vice-leader escalated, using far greater force.
Jae-Hyun staggered several paces, his heels scraping against the cobblestones as he fought to maintain his balance. The vice-leader smirked, his dark eyes narrowing with satisfaction. "Don’t test me," he said coldly, his voice heavy with menace.
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The air seemed to grow heavier as the vice-leader walked away, his aura radiating power that made the surrounding adventurers instinctively step aside. Jae-Hyun’s sharp eyes lingered on the man’s back, his mind burning with a mix of frustration and recognition of the vast gap between them. The system interface flickered briefly in Jae-Hyun’s vision, displaying the vice-leader’s rank.
Rank: A - Very High (Dark Red).
A surge of frustration welled up within Jae-Hyun. The vice-leader’s casual dismissal stung, a reminder of the gap that still existed between them. For a moment, he clenched his fists, his mind racing with thoughts of how far he still had to go.
Ahri glanced at him, her sharp eyes filled with concern. "Are you alright?" she asked softly, her voice steady.
Jae-Hyun brushed her question aside with a curt nod. "We need to get going," he said firmly. "The Tower’s not going to wait."
The moment they stepped through the Tower’s entrance, the oppressive atmosphere of the first floor enveloped them. The mist-shrouded forest stretched endlessly, its eerie stillness broken only by the occasional rustle of unseen creatures. Ahri glanced around warily, her grip on her sword tightening.
"It feels… different," she said, her voice low.
"You’re not used to it yet," Jae-Hyun said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Give it time."
Ahri hesitated, then summoned her interface, frowning as she studied the unfamiliar layout. Her system was simpler than his, with fewer options and a more streamlined design. The skills listed were sparse, basic spells and sword techniques she had mastered long ago.
"This doesn’t make sense," she muttered. "Why does it feel so… restrictive?"
Jae-Hyun leaned over, his sharp eyes scanning her interface. "Your system’s built for synergy," he explained. "It’ll adapt as you grow. Focus on what you have for now. Also, to activate your system, think the command ‘system’ in your mind. The rest should be self-explanatory."
Ahri nodded, her expression thoughtful as she closed the interface. "Alright," she said, her tone more confident. "Let’s do this."
The first floor’s monsters were weak, barely posing a threat as Jae-Hyun and Ahri moved through the dense undergrowth. Jae-Hyun’s shadows dispatched most with ease, their fluid movements a stark contrast to Ahri’s more measured attacks. She fought cautiously, testing her limits with each swing of her sword, each spell cast. Her movements lacked the precision she was accustomed to, but there was a quiet determination in her every step.
By the time they reached the fifth floor, Ahri was visibly tired, her breaths coming in short, controlled bursts. She wiped the sweat from her brow, glancing at Jae-Hyun with a faint smirk.
"I think I’ve found my limit for now," she said, lowering her sword. "I need a break. Besides, I still have a daily training quest to finish."
Jae-Hyun nodded slightly, his gaze unreadable. "So you’ve got those too," he said simply. "Take the time you need. You’ll need your strength."
Ahri gave him a mock salute before stepping back toward the Tower’s exit. “Don’t go too far ahead without me,” she called over her shoulder, her tone light despite the exhaustion in her voice.
Jae-Hyun watched her leave, his sharp gaze lingering on her retreating figure. With a brief exhale, he turned and made his way to the Tower's teleportation hub, activating the option to return to the tenth floor. The familiar sensation of displacement washed over him as the system whisked him to his destination. Without hesitation, he stepped forward, resuming his climb deeper into the Tower alone.
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The monsters on floors ten through twenty were noticeably stronger, their attacks more coordinated and their defenses more resilient. Jae-Hyun’s shadows moved with precision, striking down the creatures with practiced efficiency, but even they struggled to keep up with the increasing difficulty.
Jae-Hyun’s blade cleaved through another monster, its body dissolving into shimmering particles as he exhaled sharply. The battles were taking longer, each floor demanding more time and effort than the last. He paused briefly, wiping the sweat from his brow as he surveyed the forested terrain around him.
“It’s taking too long,” he muttered, his tone edged with frustration. “I didn’t expect to start struggling so early; I thought I was stronger.”
He glanced at the system interface, his sharp eyes narrowing as he reviewed his progress. Two levels gained since starting the climb, bringing him to Level 39. Yet, despite the increase in power, the monsters seemed to scale with him, their strength keeping pace with his own.
As he dispatched another wave of enemies, a fleeting thought crossed his mind. “It sucks I can’t summon these things,” he murmured. “Is it because they’re created by the Tower?”
The idea lingered, gnawing at the edges of his thoughts as he pushed forward. By the time he reached the twentieth floor, exhaustion was beginning to set in, his movements slower and less precise. He paused just outside the boss chamber, his gaze flicking to the system notification that had been nagging at him since he first entered the Tower.
System Notification: Hidden Item Detected. Location: Floor 20.
Jae-Hyun’s sharp eyes lingered on the notification, its words resonating with a sense of mystery and promise. His mind raced with possibilities—what could this item be, and why was it hidden? For a brief moment, he felt a flicker of excitement, tempered by the realization of the challenges ahead. "Whatever it is," he muttered to himself, "it must be important if the system is pointing it out."
Jae-Hyun’s sharp eyes scanned the area, searching for any clue or anomaly that might lead him to the item. Minutes stretched into hours as he combed through the dense forest, his frustration mounting with each passing moment. Finally, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, he let out a sharp exhale, straightening and brushing the dirt from his hands.
“Enough for today,” he muttered. “I’ll deal with the boss tomorrow.”
With a final glance at the imposing chamber door, Jae-Hyun turned and began the long descent back to the Tower’s entrance.
Jae-Hyun exited the Tower, his steps purposeful yet heavy with the weight of unfinished business. The cool night air wrapped around him, a sharp contrast to the stifling tension of the Tower’s upper floors. His mind raced with thoughts of the hidden item quest, the struggles he faced climbing from floors 10 to 20, and the shadow of inadequacy cast by his earlier confrontation with the Aegis Legion’s vice-leader. Despite leveling up twice during the climb, the realization that the Tower’s challenges were steadily growing gnawed at him. He had assumed his progress was solid—perhaps even exceptional—but now it felt like the road ahead was steeper than ever.
As he walked through the bustling streets, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He glanced at the screen to find a message from Ahri:
Ahri: Don’t forget—the Silver Talon Guild’s raid on the Rank A Gate is tomorrow. Apparently, Mi-Rae is going to be there.
His steps faltered slightly, her words stirring a mix of emotions within him. Mi-Rae. He hadn’t seen his sister properly in years, not since their family had been torn apart. Even though he had caught glimpses of her and learned bits about her current situation, the thought of confronting her directly felt daunting. Still, he couldn’t let the opportunity pass. If she was going to be at the Gate, he needed to see her. The question was, how?
Jae-Hyun: Got it. Thanks for the heads-up.
He pocketed his phone and exhaled slowly, his gaze drifting toward the distant silhouette of the Tower against the night sky. Tomorrow would bring another set of challenges, but for now, he needed to rest and prepare. The faint ache in his limbs reminded him of how taxing the day had been, but his mind refused to settle. Sleep would come, but not easily.