After a restful ten-hour sleep, Jay was roused by the morning sun streaming into his room. Glancing at the antique alarm clock he'd thrifted, he quickly dressed and checked his phone, discovering 10 missed calls from his boss. Discontent with his job, he sent a hasty resignation letter, citing unforeseen circumstances.
Once he hit the send button, his mind immediately shifted to the tower, eager for the ring to transport him there. However, the ring had a limited range of one kilometer, preventing its use from his current location. Jay decided to grab breakfast and change into casual attire, anticipating the influx of tourists and onlookers following the recent news.
Sporting a black hat and mask, a white zip-up, and breathable pants, Jay aimed to blend in while observing the tower. Driving to a nearby car park, he stepped out, ready to assess the situation.
Over a hundred soldiers surrounded the tower, armed and vigilant. A diverse crowd of commonfolk gathered, with half cheering in support of the army and the other half envious, wishing they could enter the tower.
After observing for five minutes, Jay witnessed an intriguing development. A group of ten soldiers emerged from black SUVs, led by Derek, the man he had encountered the previous night. Instructed by Derek, they placed their hands against the tower and chanted "enter" before vanishing through the portals.
The townsfolk erupted in excitement, capturing the magical moment on their phones for social media. Jay, having already completed the first floor, recognized the importance of maintaining an edge. Determined to be the first to conquer the tower, he strolled around the perimeter and found a discreet spot behind some bushes. Focusing on the thought of entering the tower, he was promptly greeted by Rose upon arrival.
"So, what does the next floor have in store for me?" Jay asked curiously.
"You'll know when you challenge it," Rose replied, handing him a small vial with yellow-green liquid inside. "What's this?" Jay asked. "You'll know when you need it," Rose replied, chuckling. "So mysterious," he remarked with a laugh before heading to the training area.
Jay pulled his spear from his ring and began warming up, stretching and getting the blood flowing through his body. Rose set the bot to replicate an average level 3, with evenly distributed stats and a sword for Jay to face.
As soon as Jay stepped over the line, the dummy, imbued with mana, dashed towards him with incredible speed. As they approached, Jay swiftly thrust his weapon towards the training dummy's chest, jabbing to create distance.
The dummy stepped to the right, dodging the attack before using its momentum to swing its sword horizontally, aiming for Jay's exposed neck.
Jay immediately imbued himself with mana, feeling tiny lightning snakes spark in his soul. He rolled under the strike at the very last second. While the dummy was off balance, Jay exploded with his leg, kicking it in the ribcage with incredible power.
The training dummy went flying, and Jay took chase, penetrating its heart with his spear a second later.
"Very good!" Rose remarked. "You've made such quick progress with your lightning talent. To think you'd reach the sparking stage in just one night. You must have practiced tirelessly."
"You have no idea," Jay replied.
"I think you should work on it a little bit more before entering the second stage. It will make things a lot easier. I can't give you too much information, but the more speed you have, the better. I'll help train you a little since I've helped some of the other challengers."
Rose led Jay to another area where the mana in the air was a lot denser. "Watch this," she said.
Rose immediately drew the mana towards her body, igniting flames on her fists. "Each element has attributes, as you know. Fire is one of the most destructive out there, so I and many others use the flames in our attacks. Lightning is even more destructive than fire."
"But to learn to use lightning in your attacks is something that's still very far away for you. On the other hand, tell me what an attribute of lightning is, Jay."
"It's fast," he replied.
"Yes, it's very fast," Rose said. "Try to let the lightning sparks in your soul guide you to move. Use the attribute to increase your speed. You might gain some unexpected rewards for doing so," she told him.
"Okay!" Jay replied, excitement bubbling within him at the prospect of getting stronger. He approached one of the heavy bags and infused himself with mana. His soul ignited the mana, creating dazzling strands of lightning that danced around his body. Jay felt the electricity coursing through him, and, ready for action, he threw a swift punch at the bag, using the mana.
"ISSHH!" His fist connected with the bag, and he exhaled with the motion. It was a good start, but Rose, the ever-patient instructor, had more to teach.
"Instead of using the mana, focus on the electricity itself. Let it guide you," Rose instructed.
Jay absorbed her guidance and, in his next attempt, he felt the mana inside him transform into lightning strands. The sparks danced like playful dragons, and when the lightning ran up his arm, he seized the opportunity to launch another punch at the bag. "POWW!" The impact sounded like a gunshot, leaving Jay in awe of his newfound abilities.
"HOLY SHIT, ROSE, DID YOU SEE THAT?" Jay celebrated, thrilled at the results.
"Incredible," Rose thought to herself, "but there's more. What about defence?"
"Tell me, Jay, what's the best way to defend against an attack?" she asked.
"Not get hit, I guess," Jay responded.
"Exactly. Work on moving away from attacks. Channel the lightning into your legs, use it to move," Rose advised.
Jay stood still, allowing the electricity to flow around him. The lightning moved erratically until, finally, it surged towards his leg. Like a bolt of lightning, Jay zoomed five meters to the right. Exhausted, he bent over, feeling like he might hurl up his breakfast.
"Hahaha," Rose chuckled, "you'll get used to it. Strengthen your inside."
Jay didn't reply, his face pale, and his body drained. Just as Rose was about to lead him to the mana room for a swift recovery, a screen appeared in front of Jay's face.
*Lightning Mastery: Level 1 Unlocked!*
Feeling sick was totally worth it for this, Jay thought. "Congratulations," Rose replied, "looks like your hard work paid off. Rest up a bit, then you can challenge the first floor."
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*Meanwhile, in another space*
Derek and Rose were teaching the soldiers the ins and outs of the tower. The soldiers composed of : Alex Kim (Fire), Daniel Park (Water), Jason Lee (Earth), Emily Choi (Healing), Justin Kang (Nature), Olivia Yoon, Ryan Han, Nathan Shin, Lauren Jung, and Lily Song (Water)
After finding out their elements, they decided on the formation that they would fight in. They would have five on the front line, with the two wings being close combat fighters, while the other three hold defensive weapons, three in the middle line that consist of both offensive and defensive weaponry, and two in the back line, for long range support.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Once they had finished determining their formation, they embarked on a mission to fight the first floor.
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As the soldiers advanced into the first floor, Jay stepped through the shimmering green portal, propelling himself to the second floor stage.
Upon opening his eyes, Jay found himself in a starkly different environment. Instead of the bright skies from the previous floor, he was now in a dimly lit cavern. The expansive space had only one clear path, leading him forward into the unknown.
Jay enhanced his vision by infusing mana into his eyes, casting a dim glow that illuminated the damp surroundings. Water droplets echoed as they fell from jagged rocks above, creating a symphony of eerie sounds in the cave.
The ground beneath Jay's feet was solid rock, without a single crack to be found. Undeterred, he pressed forward, the anticipation building with each step.
After what felt like a mere five minutes, Jay reached the entrance to the first room. Preparing for potential challenges, he drew his spear, assuming a battle stance, and enveloped himself and his weapon in a shroud of mana.
Upon entering the room, Jay was met with a sudden confrontation. Ten king cobras, their hoods flared and fangs bared, hissed menacingly. Jay's realization struck swiftly—this was why Rose had provided him with the antidote.
Determined, Jay flourished his spear, jabbing it with lightning speed toward the closest snakes. His strikes were precise, piercing their heads instantly. However, the wild creatures showed little intellect in their attacks.
One cobra, coiled and poised, launched itself at Jay with astonishing speed. Jay gracefully sidestepped and, in a swift motion, pierced it mid-air. Undeterred, three more snakes advanced, attempting to overwhelm him simultaneously.
Jay danced with agility, leaping back, jabbing his spear into two snakes' heads before stomping on the third as it lunged and missed. With only two adversaries remaining, Jay intensified his efforts, ending the battle with a flurry of precise strikes.
Breathing heavily, Jay pressed on toward the next room, adrenaline coursing through him as he braced for whatever challenges the tower had in store.
Jay's realization hit him, he needed to end these fights swiftly, or exhaustion would make him an easy target. Entering the second stage of the cave, he was met with a grotesque sight – four creatures with human feet and the twisted bodies and heads of snakes. Failed creations, it seemed, attempting to merge the features of humans and snakes into a monstrous hybrid.
The snake-human hybrids moved with unsettling coordination, forming a semi-circle that closed in on Jay, predators encircling their prey. Jay wasted no time, jabbing at the first creature, exploiting the advantage of his spear's range. With agile footwork, he dodged strikes from the other snakes, countering with precise jabs, reminiscent of a seasoned counterpuncher in boxing.
His movements became a dance, the rhythmic clash of his spear against snake-flesh filling the cavern. Jay's Spearmanship level steadily climbed as he adapted to the creatures' strength. Yet, these hybrids were tougher than the snakes from before, they withstood simple jabs.
Realizing he needed more potent strikes, Jay shifted his strategy. Drawing upon the mana within him, he charged his spear with energy. Precision became his weapon he targeted the weak points with surgical precision, similar to the strategy of a master counter puncher.
With a surge of power, Jay thrust his spear into the leftmost snake's femoral artery, blood gushing as the creature hissed in pain before collapsing to the ground. Unfazed, Jay smoothly swung his spear, decapitating the advancing right snake with a single, fluid motion.
Left with only two adversaries, Jay's tension eased, but his focus remained razor-sharp. The spear thrust with lethal force towards the left snake, Jay circled away from the snake on the right. His weapon pierced the snake's head, rendering it lifeless.
Now, only one opponent remained. Jay, empowered by his recent successes, swiftly executed the final enemy. A surge of adrenaline fuelled him as he readied himself for the challenges that awaited in the next stage of the cavern.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 4!*
Tower add one additional point into each stat, and open my stats page
User: Jay Kim (Level 4)
Titles: The first.
Affinity: Lightning.
Magic: 9.
Mana: 9.
Agility: 6.
Strength: 6.
Health: 6.
"Close status page," Jay commanded, feeling a surge of strength and energy coursing through his body.
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Having triumphed in the second room, Jay surged forward, invigorated by his recent level-up. The third room greeted him with a well-lit cavern, revealing even more advanced creatures. These hybrids, standing at a mere five foot seven inches, possessed human limbs but snake heads.
Two brandished spears, matching their height, while the other two wielded short daggers with sinister intent.
Jay, now more attuned to his heightened abilities, swiftly infused himself with mana. The energy responded more obediently, flowing through his body with newfound efficiency. Converting the mana into three crackling strands of lightning, Jay prepared for the clash.
Twirling his spear and bending his knees, Jay became a tempest of lightning and steel. He thrust towards one of the spear-wielding hybrids, but it gracefully evaded while its companion struck forward. The dagger-wielding snakes closed in, intensifying the pressure on Jay.
Realizing the peril, Jay aborted his attack, narrowly evading the incoming spear. With a swift motion, he thrashed his spear, catching one of the dagger snakes off guard, its chest pierced, collapsing to the ground.
The two spear wielders advanced, launching coordinated attacks. Jay, understanding the urgency, dodged the first spear, expertly parrying the second with the staff of his weapon. Seizing the opportunity, he retaliated, thrusting at the snake holding a dagger, piercing its body cleanly.
As it fell, the dying snake hurled its dagger towards Jay. Unprepared for the sudden assault, Jay moved to dodge, but the venom-laced blade grazed his ribcage. The pain, though manageable, escalated as the venom coursed through his system. Jay realized he needed to conclude the battle swiftly, or death would embrace him.
The remaining two snakes closed in, spears poised. Jay, who's life force was draining, waited for their attack. As the strikes came, he danced to the side, evading the first and, instead of blocking, he parried the second. Jay called one of the lightning strings to his aid, His spear instantly sailed between the snake's eyes like a bullet, ending its life immediately.
Retreating, Jay unleashed the second lightning strand, piercing the final snake's head, concluding the fierce battle.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 5!*
*Additional Reward for reaching level 5 to be received after completion of the floor*
*(Spear Master Level 2 Unlocked: New Skill - Flurry: User instantly jabs three times in any direction, taking the amount of time it would take to attack once)*
Despite the fatigue, Jay's health and energy returned to their peak. However, the venom still coursed through his veins, blurring his vision once again. Swiftly, he retrieved a vial from his backpack and drained its contents – a weaker antidote provided by Rose.
The venom's potency lessened, yet it lingered. Jay, unsure of his options, commanded his mana to expel the poison. In doing so, he sacrificed 60% of his remaining mana.
Exhausted but determined, Jay pressed forward to the final stage, ready to confront whatever awaited him in the depths of the cavern.
As Jay stepped into the final room, he was taken aback by the sight of the ultimate creature. This being possessed the tail of a snake, yet its upper body exuded an alluring human form. Jay couldn't help but be captivated by her enchanting presence. Her face held a breath taking beauty, with curves in all the right places that immediately drew Jay's attention.
"Well, aren't you handsome?" the Naga purred, catching Jay off guard. To his surprise, she spoke. "You can speak?" he stammered. "Of course I can, I've been so lonely down here. I'm glad a challenger as good looking as yourself was able to come find me," she said, her tone flirtatious, her eyes subtly suggesting more as she stepped towards him.
"So, what do you say, challenger?" she teased, a mischievous chuckle escaping her lips. Jay felt an undeniable attraction, and his spear began to lower.
The Naga noticed his reaction and chuckled teasingly, her eyes tracing the subtle change in his demeaner.
In Jay's conflicted mind, the awareness that he had to kill her persisted, yet he found himself unable to break his gaze from her captivating eyes and alluring figure. It was as if he were entranced.
He began to move towards her, trapped in this daze he made his way towards her bed.
A sudden realization struck him when he glimpsed a skeleton's corpse absentmindedly hidden beneath the bed. As the Naga prepared to strike, her fangs inches away from Jay's neck, the final bolt of lightning in his legs triggered, and he swiftly dashed back five meters. The Nagas fangs smacking upon each other, sinking into air.
Fully alert now, Jay raised his spear, pointing it directly at the Naga. With her bewitching charm foiled, and no other means of defence, she surrendered, pleading for her life.
"Were you going to let me live if I hadn't snapped out of it?" Jay questioned. "Exactly," he stated before unleashing 30% of his nearly depleted mana to cast Piercing Strike.
A thunderous "BANG" echoed as a large hole appeared in the beautiful Naga's face, ending her life instantly.
*Congratulations On Clearing The Second Floor, Challenger!*
*Congratulations On Being The Fourth To Clear This Floor!*
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 6!*
*Level 5 Bonus reward: Basic Book of Lightning*
"Oh?" Jay thought, excitement coursing through him. "A book of lightning! This is just what I needed," he exclaimed.
After collecting the valuable snake skin and fangs, he exited through the green portal. Exhausted, Jay bid farewell to Rose after dropping off the materials, hoping to craft some Armor for himself, and headed home, succumbing to sleep instantly.