Chapter 1.

The rain falls incessantly, soaking me to the bone, washing away the blood and mixing it with the mud that accumulates beneath my skin. My eyelids, heavy and defeated, blink at the assault of the icy water, trying in vain to shield the little dignity I have left as I lie on the ground.

My body is a discarded toy, lifeless, devoid of any will or strength. How the hell did I end up like this? I, Kiyoshi Fujiwara, the jewel of a lineage of warriors as ancient as the mountains that rise above our home, defeated, immobilized by betrayal and cunning, not by strength and skill.

Shigeru, my “brother,” that snake, raised in my shadow, fed with scraps of recognition, looms victorious. Never, not even in the most contemptible of my dreams, had I seen such determination in him, that desire to tear my life away. He, always the weakest, the object of scorn, a bubble of air in the pure Fujiwara bloodline, is now my executioner.

How could he do this to me? I, who have trained day and night to achieve greatness, mastering all martial arts and ancestral techniques of my family. He shouldn’t even be able to touch me! My skills are unmatched for generations, my control of reiki is as precise as a scalpel. I am the embodiment of all our clan values, the apex of generations of effort. I don’t deserve this pathetic fate! Defeated like a dog in the mud.

“Surrender already, brother,” he tells me. “You’re no match for me.”

Insolent! His audacity is like a dagger plunging into my insides. I, the chosen one, anointed from the cradle with the favors of destiny to be great, to honor and magnify the Fujiwara legacy... how could I be inferior to this unworthy parasite?

“Never... will I surrender... to you,” I gasp through clenched teeth, tasting iron in my saliva.

Indifferent to my challenges, he remains still. His katana, no, our family katana, handed down for a hundred generations, still throbs with the heat of my blood. The sight of that symbol of our honor in his impure hands ignites a fire of rage within my chest, a poison spreading through my veins.

“You were always a damned arrogant one, looking down on Kyou and me as if we were lesser beings. Believing yourself superior just for belonging to the main branch of the clan. Well, look at what you’ve become.”

And he’s right, I did, and I would do it again. Why not? Weakness has no place in the world. Those worms were a disgrace to the clan. They never showed the talent in reiki that I possessed since childhood. They were scum unworthy of our surname. That’s why I treated them like trash, so they’d know their place: beneath my feet.

“Look at yourself, ungrateful weakling,” I spit at him with disdain. “You’re still the disgrace of the clan, insignificant dust beneath my sandal. Your rebellion changes nothing. The elders from the other clans will hunt you down until they kill you. You’ll die as a nobody.”

He gives me a look of pity. He has no right! As if he, a wretch crawling in the dirt, could feel anything for me other than envy.

“How pitiful you are. Even now, facing imminent death, you cannot accept reality. Your arrogance has blinded you completely,” he shakes his head slowly as if I were a lost cause.

Shut up, damn it.

Don’t you dare talk to me like that.

When I recover, I will make you pay for this humiliation!

But Shigeru seems to read the violent promise of vengeance in my eyes because he sighs with regret and stares at me. Then I understand: he’s going to kill me. I feel a visceral terror which I quickly hide behind a mask of pride.

No.

I am a Fujiwara.

I do not fear death.

“You are nothing but a coward. If you had any honor, you would kill me face to face, not taking advantage of my state. But you can’t even do that right, damned scum.”

He shakes his head, almost sadly. Then he raises the katana over me, aiming straight for my heart.

“Rest in hell. Tell our father and the others that I will soon join them down there.”

Damn, damn. If only I could move... but my body remains paralyzed, refusing to obey my desperate orders. Shigeru tightens his muscles, ready for the final thrust. Then I quickly close my eyes, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing the emotions in my pupils.

A sharp pain invades me and then... everything turns dark.

The next thing I feel is a cold and damp surface. I open my eyes slowly, disoriented. Where am I? This place looks like a cave. How can this be possible? The last thing I remember is Shigeru’s sword over me. But I’m still alive, somehow.

I try to move and to my surprise, my body responds. The effects of Shigeru’s paralysis must have worn off. I rise slowly. I’m in pain but seem to be unharmed. Then, I begin to walk, leaning on the damp wall, looking for some exit or hole to escape through.

But it’s useless, after what seems like an eternity, I find no way out of this cursed cave. Damn Shigeru, he will pay for this humiliation. The next time we meet I will kill him with my own hands. No one mocks me and lives to tell about it.

Exhausted and furious, I end up collapsing onto the ground. It is then that an exquisite and seductive aroma reaches me. It smells like freshly cooked food. My senses sharpen instantly and my mouth waters. There must be an exit nearby.

Gathering the little strength, I have left, I stand up and follow the trail of that so irresistible scent that awakens the hungry beast inside me. The delicious aroma intensifies, becoming almost irresistible. I quicken my pace until I reach a fork in the tunnel and glimpse a faint light at the end.

With a racing heart, I head toward that light, stumbling a couple of times from the weakness of my body. Finally, I reach what looks like an underground kitchen, with shelves, utensils, and several steaming cauldrons from which wafts the intoxicating aroma that makes my guts roar.

Next to a wooden table, I make out a young woman from the back who does not stop going back and forth carrying pots, dishes, and other trinkets. She wears her long hair in a striking light blue color, tied in two ponytails that swing cheerfully with each movement. She wears a simple knee-length white dress and a pink apron with ruffles that give her a childish air.

Suddenly, the very clumsy one trips and everything she holds in her arms falls noisily to the ground.

“Damn, not again!” she exclaims with obvious frustration while kneeling to pick everything up.

I take advantage of her carelessness to approach her stealthily from behind and speak to her sternly:

“Hey you! Can you tell me where the hell I am? Answer right now!”

The young woman startles and lets out a little yelp, then turns around swinging a wooden spoon clumsily.

“Ah don’t scare me like that! I almost had a heart attack,” she tells me with a scared expression while placing her hand on her chest.

I frown impatiently. This stupid girl, how dare she make me wait for an answer.

“I have no time for nonsense, I demand that you tell me right now where I am before I lose my patience with you,” I tell her in a threatening tone.

The girl blinks confused, processing my words. Then, inexplicably, she sketches a faint smile that disconcerts me.

“Ahhh I see, you must be new. Welcome to the Penglai Tower, you’re on floor 0,” she explains in a friendly tone, as if my previous threat had not made the slightest impression.

Penglai Tower? Floor 0? What the hell is this madwoman talking about?

“I have no idea what you’re babbling about. Explain yourself better before I decide to cook you in that cauldron,” I warn her coldly.

The young woman’s eyes widen with surprise and then she lets out a nervous giggle, scratching her nape.

“You sure have a dark sense of humor. Alright, I’ll explain it to you. This is the Penglai Tower, a huge place with hundreds of floors that reaches up to the sky. Each floor has different trials and inhabitants. You managed to climb up to here, my humble abode.”

I look at her incredulously, processing the information. I have no idea how I got to this place, but there must be a way out and return for revenge.

“Okay, let’s assume I believe you. Now tell me how the hell do I get out of this damn tower,” I demand dryly.

She puts a finger to her lips, thoughtful.

“I’m afraid you can’t leave yet. The only ones who can leave the tower are those who manage to pass all the tests and reach the top. You have a long way to go.”

She’s saying I have to go through hundreds of floors to get out of this rat trap. Ridiculous, I don’t plan to waste my time with such stupidity.

“Either you tell me right now how to get out, or I swear...”

I am interrupted when a cauldron begins to bubble loudly.

“Oh heavens, the soup! Excuse me for a moment, I must take care of this,” she quickly tells me with an apologetic smile, turning to stir the steaming content.

I clench my fists. This damn insolent girl dares to ignore me after giving me such absurd and unacceptable “explanation”. I am about to strangle her when a delicious aroma reaches me, making my stomach roar like a wild beast.

The young woman approaches me again, now holding a steaming bowl.

“Come on eat, you need to regain strength. You won’t get anything with that attitude. If you want to go out, you will have to ascend floors like everyone else.”

I’m about to rudely answer her but hunger is stronger. This damn girl is right, I need to replenish energy now that I am weak. I will find a way out later.

The soup transports me to paradise. The flavor is exquisite, a perfect explosion of spices and fresh vegetables that melt in my mouth. I close my eyes in ecstasy and proceed to devour the contents voraciously, without manners. No matter how much I try to contain myself it is so delicious that soon I empty the plate completely and still want more. She smiles satisfied.

“How good that you liked it. I can serve you another portion if you are still hungry,” she tells me sweetly.

“It’s passable,” I respond dryly, although inside I’m dying for another dish. This girl doesn’t need to inflate her ego anymore.

She laughs and refills the plate putting it in front of me. I devour it with equal or greater speed at her amused gaze.

“Okay, let’s say I believe you for now. I still have many questions, so you’d better answer honestly if you don’t want to end up frying your head in boiling oil,” I say after finishing eating. “For starters, what exactly do you do on this floor, besides feeding strangers and talking nonsense?”

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The blue-haired girl blinks nervously and stutters in response:

“My name is Kasumi, and well you see... basically, I dedicate myself to cooking. I know it’s not much, but it’s the only thing I’m somewhat good at,” she responds shyly. “Then part of the food is sold, to earn some coins...”

“Wait, wait,” I interrupt her. “You’re telling me that you cook food every day and then go sell it. What the devil would someone want money for in a place like this?”

The girl’s eyes widen and she lets out a small exclamation, as if she had just remembered something important.

“That’s right, I forgot! You see, deep in the caverns there are not only dangers and challenges. There is also a small village where those who cannot or do not wish to try to ascend the tower live, like me,” she explains.

Then she scratches her cheek and closes her eyes for a moment.

“With the money they give me in the market, I can buy the ingredients and supplies I need to keep cooking. I also pay for clothes and personal hygiene items,” she responds simply.

I frown in disbelief. All this seems ridiculous to me.

“Let me see if I understand,” I tell her mockingly. “You live in a cave underground, cook food for strangers, and then sell it to them in exchange for money that you then use to cook more food. Do you not realize how absurd and useless that all sounds?”

She startles and lowers her head, ashamed.

“Y-yes, you’re right, I’m worthless. Someone as clumsy as me couldn’t aspire to something better,” she laments sadly. “But I do what I can with the few skills I have to survive down here.”

I roll my eyes in annoyance. Clearly, this naive creature has no great intelligence. I decide to press the subject to discover more details.

“Tell me again about the underground village. Are you telling me that there is a kind of town full of people living here in the caves? That sounds pretty ridiculous.”

The young woman nods timidly.

“Yes, the underground village has hundreds of inhabitants. There are also many businesses and services.”

“Services? What kind of services could there be in a cave?” I ask skeptically.

“Well, there are inns, restaurants, taverns... there are also many equipment shops for those looking to ascend the tower. Weapons, armor, magical items, and more. Merchants get those goods from the higher floors,” she explains patiently.

All this is increasingly absurd to me. How the hell can there be merchants and a prosperous economic system deep in underground caverns?

“Let me see if I understand... according to you, there are people down here stupid enough to pay for food and unnecessary goods instead of simply taking what they need by force. Are they imbeciles?” I ask sarcastically.

The naive girl fervently denies with her head.

“No, no, not at all. You see, most of the ones here have a lot of money and resources. They are nobles from the higher floors in search of thrills or money. They are used to certain comforts and luxuries, so they are willing to pay for them even in such an inhospitable place. That’s why there are so many businesses thriving down here.”

I look at her as if she had grown another head. Everything she describes seems unreal, like a fairy tale for credulous fools.

“Ah, let me guess,” I tell her sarcastically. “I suppose you are one of those rich nobles from high society in search of thrills, and that’s why you sell soups in a cave instead of hiring servants to do that. It makes a lot of sense.”

Her cheeks blush with shame and she stammers:

“N-no, of course not. I’m just a talentless fool. I have no skills for battle or magic, so selling food is the only thing I can do to avoid dying of hunger being as useless as I am...”

“And isn’t there any governing authority? Some leader or council of elders maybe,” I inquire with curiosity, ignoring her self-deprecation.

Normality in these kinds of places dictates that the elders — whose only competence tends to be gathering dust and years — gravitate towards some spectrum of power.

She gently shakes her head.

“Not that I know of. The village is quite chaotic and everyone looks out for themselves. Criminals roam freely, so I always have to be careful when transporting my goods.”

I nod slowly, weighing the information. An anarchic den ruled by the law of the strongest. Perfect.

“I see... interesting,” I murmur. “Tell me more about how this place works. How do they maintain some order without any authority?”

The girl bites her lip, hesitant. I can see the internal debate in her eyes, weighing how much to share with a stranger. Finally, she gives in, either because of my persuasion or her own naivety.

“Well... they say that the higher floors send emissaries from time to time to ensure that everything runs with relative order,” she whispers. “But no one knows for sure if that’s true. There are many myths and legends...”

“Alright, since you seem to know how this place works, tell me what is needed to start ‘ascending,’“ I ask her with crossed arms.

The young woman seems to think for a few moments and then responds:

“Well, the first and most important thing would be to get the proper equipment. You can’t venture into the higher floors without good armor, weapons, provisions, and that kind of thing. The dangers above are unimaginable.”

I snort with sarcasm at her naivety. As if I needed cheap armor. With my powers and Fujiwara lineage, it will be enough to overcome any trial. Although I admit that extra information about this place does not hurt.

“And I suppose the acquisition of such equipment requires a large sum of money, right?” I respond, raising an eyebrow.

She nods energetically.

“That’s right. The armors, weapons, and magical items brought from the upper floors are incredibly expensive. I could never afford them with my meager earnings,” she responds dejectedly.

“Fine,” I say. “In that case, take me to that village right now. I need to evaluate my equipment options as soon as possible. Then you will guide me to the test of this floor.”

The young woman’s eyes widen, clearly surprised by my order.

“Do you want me to guide you? B-but the caves are very dangerous, and I am very clumsy. Surely you would find a much more suitable guide in the village,” she responds, stuttering nervously.

I glower at her. I have no time for her insecurities.

“I wasn’t asking your opinion,” I warn her darkly.

The girl pales and nods quickly. After that, I see her hurry from one side to another picking up an old cloak, a small dagger, and a lantern. Then she slings a leather satchel across her chest.

“A-alright, I w-will guide you without fail. P-please follow me,” she responds, then turns around and begins to walk shakily.

I smile inwardly and follow her closely through a series of barely lit rocky tunnels by torches. The path is winding and ascending. With each step, the light becomes more intense until we finally emerge into a gigantic cavern, whose height is lost in the gloom.

Before us stretches a picturesque conglomerate of rustic stone and wood buildings, intersected by cobbled streets teeming with all kinds of people. Just like the village that the brat described.

“Here we are, welcome to the underground village. The market is over there,” she tells me, pointing to a street. “Good luck with your shopping, I have to get back to cooking.”

She’s about to sneak away when I grab her arm firmly, eliciting a whimper.

“You’re not going anywhere just yet. You’ll guide me to the market and then to the inn. I’ll need your knowledge to identify the right traders,” I say sharply, then drag her along with me.

Kasumi nods, rubbing her sore arm. We walk among the crowd, passing through stalls of vegetables, meats, and fish until we reach a spacious square with various more luxurious-looking stands. She leads me to a booth manned by a burly, bald man with a full beard. Behind him, all sorts of armor, swords, axes, and maces are on display.

“Here you can get decent quality basic gear for the first few floors,” Kasumi whispers to me.

I approach the stall, and the man sizes me up, assessing me.

“Looking to gear up for the climb, boy? I have excellent items brought from floors 10 to 30,” he says confidently.

He starts showing me all sorts of rusty trinkets that clearly aren’t even good enough to wipe your ass with. I contain my irritation while the moron continues trying to pass off his junk as “first-level” gear.

Finally, I feign interest in a light dagger and leather armor just to avoid suspicion and prepare to leave.

The merchant rubs his hands greedily.

“That’ll be 15 gold coins for the dagger and 30 for the armor, friend,” he says with a revolting smile.

I pretend to search my pockets and put on a distressed expression.

“Oops, it seems I forgot my money... you’ll have to give me the dagger, ‘friend,’“ I reply with false geniality.

The man huffs and crosses his arms, refusing.

“None of that! Pay or get out!”

In a blink, I move behind him and knock him out with a precise blow to the nape of his neck, leaving him unconscious on his stand.

“Shame... I hate dealing with scum like you,” I spit on his body.

Suddenly, I hear a horrified gasp behind me. I turn to see Kasumi staring at me with wide eyes and hands over her mouth, clearly shocked by my actions.

“Hey, hey... that was not cool,” she stammers timidly. “You shouldn’t go around hitting and robbing people...”

I roll my eyes with annoyance. This stupid girl clearly doesn’t understand how things work in this cruel world.

“The only purpose of scum like him is to serve their betters. And I am far superior to this trash,” I explain coldly. “That’s how things work, kid. The weak serve the strong. It’s the natural law.”

She shakes her head, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and pity. I find that look revolting.

“Still... violence begets more violence,” she murmurs. “If we act with kindness, we can...”

I cut her off by grabbing her arm sharply, bringing her face close to mine.

“Listen to me, brat,” I hiss. “I’m not here to make friends or sing friendship songs. I just want to get out of here and take my revenge on someone. So, save your ridiculous sermons because they won’t move a hair on me. Got it?”

She nods, pouting. I push her away with disdain and turn around.

“Now let’s continue; I still need provisions,” I order coldly.

I grab her arm roughly and drag her with me before she can protest further. Making our way through the market crowd, I briefly stop at some stalls to steal useful provisions and equipment: food, a water bottle, a sharper dagger, a cloak. The distracted merchants don’t notice, and if they do, they dare not confront me after witnessing what happened with the vendor.

“Alright, I’m ready. Now take me to the ‘boss’ room so I can ascend once and for all,” I order curtly.

She seems to hesitate for a moment, twisting her hands nervously.

“I... would rather not go near there. Bosses scare me a lot. But follow me; I’ll show you the way from a safe distance,” she responds fearfully.

Rolling my eyes impatiently, I follow her out of the market and through a winding stone tunnel that ascends in a spiral. After walking for about 15 minutes, Kasumi stops and points ahead, where a huge arch flanked by statues leads to a gigantic chamber.

“When you cross, the test will be activated. Good luck...”

Without a word, I grab her arm roughly and throw her forcefully into the chamber. Kasumi lets out a little yelp as she flies through the air and lands inelegantly on her backside.

“Ow, that hurt,” she complains with teary eyes, rubbing her sore backside.

I roll my eyes with annoyance and cross the threshold, approaching her to roughly grab her by the neck of her dress and lift her to my height.

“Cut the drama, brat,” I tell her coldly. “I have no patience for your childish antics.”

She gives me a few weak taps on the chest, gasping.

“B-but why did you do that? You’re very mean! Now I won’t be able to get out of here... I’ll be considered part of your group for the test,” she whines.

I shrug indifferently.

“That’s not a problem. We’ll just have to beat the boss, and that’s it.”

Her eyes widen dramatically, and she shakes her head frantically.

“No, no, no! I already told you I have no combat skills. I’m completely and utterly normal. They’ll tear us to pieces,” she sobs. “I’ll never get out of here...”

I watch her tantrum with amusement. This child is so predictable.

“Look, don’t be so dramatic,” I tell her, dropping her abruptly. “Just don’t get in the way, and we’ll be out of here in no time.”

Kasumi continues to whimper and rubs her sore backside. I ignore her outright and stand on guard, hearing heavy footsteps coming from the darkness.

A massive creature at least 3 meters tall emerges from the shadows, covered in thick fur and bone plates. It has crocodile jaws brimming with sharp teeth and wields a huge serrated axe.

“So you will be my next victim...” the beast purrs in a cavernous voice. “I will crush your insignificant body and devour your bones.”

I smile, it’s the smile of a cat playing with a mouse that still thinks it has a chance. Activating my power is as easy as breathing, and instantly, I feel a surge of energy coursing through my veins.

The monster roars and charges at me, swinging its heavy axe. With my enhanced reflexes, I manage to dodge the attack like a shadow, moving behind it to deliver a quick succession of strikes to vital points.

The creature howls in pain and fury. It tries to crush me with a powerful swipe, but I keep slipping through its claws, occupying multiple positions around it, confusing it. It’s an enraged bull in a too-small arena, and I’m the matador, dancing on the edge of its horns.

“Wow, wow, someone is in a very bad mood today,” I taunt as I dodge another heavy charge. “What’s wrong, buddy? Does it bother you that much not to be able to catch an insignificant prey like me?”

The creature roars in frustration, panting from the effort. Several of its scales are fractured, and it bleeds dark blood from numerous wounds I’ve inflicted. But its thirst for violence seems to know no limits.

“Damn insolent scum! I will gut you alive!” it bellows out of control.

Its bloodshot eyes seem to burn with demonic fire as it lunges at me again in a desperate attempt. I smile coldly as I easily dodge it and position myself behind it.

“Oh, oh, oh... I’m afraid your insignificant charges will never be able to reach me, my reptilian friend,” I say with false condescension. “You see, I move on a completely different scale than you. It’s known as quantum mechanics.”

The monster turns furiously, looking at me baffled. I smile even wider.

“Oh, that’s right, surely your tiny lizard brain can’t even comprehend such complex concepts,” I continue taunting. “Let me explain it to you so that at least you die knowing why a superior being like me can crush you so easily.”

The creature growls threateningly, but I detect a glint of doubt in its gaze. Excellent, it’s time for my advanced physics lesson.

“You see, at the quantum level, particles exist in a state of superposition, occupying multiple states or positions at the same time,” I begin to explain slowly, dodging more swipes. “This is due to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle. Fascinating, isn’t it?”

The monster looks at me confused and roars again, swinging a tail swipe that I easily evade.

“Oh, you better pay attention because the best part is coming,” I say with false concern. “It turns out that this principle of superposition can be exploited to access a state of ‘quantum entanglement.’ Thus, my wave function collapses, allowing me to occupy multiple positions simultaneously. Amazing!”

By this point, the creature seems completely disoriented.

“I’m afraid this quantum mechanics class is over, buddy,” I pronounce coldly.

In a blink, I position myself behind it and twist its neck with a precise movement. Its horrific head is turned at an unnatural angle, and its body collapses heavily, shaking the ground.

Finally, silence.

I dust off my hands with disdain and walk calmly to a paralyzed Kasumi, who looks at me open-mouthed from a corner.

“A-amazing... you defeated it so easily,” she stammers in amazement. “You have amazing powers.”

“Of course, I do,” I say, ruffling her hair condescendingly. “Unlike you, I’m not useless. Now let’s go, there are still more insects to crush in this place.”