《Eternis》 Chapter 0: Prologue ¡°Boring¡­ seems like nothing is interesting around here. Is this what mortals call peace?¡± ¡°Master, peace in our kingdom brings happiness to the people; wars bring destruction and sorrow. Isn¡¯t that what they dreamed of so much?¡± ¡°Hahaha, Yeh¡­ I think so.¡± Sitting on his throne, the young boy replied as his gaze drifted toward the woman before him. The Palace they inhabited was majestic, bathed in the ethereal glow of the ''rivers of stars.'' Yet, his attention wandered elsewhere. The boy didn¡¯t care much for the peace that mortals yearned for. But he had crafted this kingdom, a seeming paradise, to fulfill the wishes of the people he cherished. Their smiles¡ªsimple yet powerful¡ªgave him the strength to endure such mind-numbing boredom. ¡°But... what if we made a new ¡®story¡¯? A tale of heroes or tragedy. One that could shatter the multiverses and beyond.¡± He said, excitement twinkling in his silver eyes as they gazed at the stars. Rising from his throne, he muttered:This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Peace reigns here, but the universe is a jungle where the law of the strongest prevails. And now... these insects wish to impose a ''fate'' on everyone. Hahaha, why obliterate them when I can use them for a little amusement?¡± A smile stretched across his face, his thoughts drifting to certain entities. ¡®¡­Master, your adventures always spiral into something unexpected. But, somehow, things always get better. Is that your plan?¡¯ the woman mused affectionately, watching him fondly. ¡°So, master... what will you do?¡± ¡°Hm, let me see¡­¡± He rose and soared into the starry sky. The woman followed silently, sensing something monumental was unfolding. "I will create a place where fate can''t bind them, where their desires and all they achieve may echo across time! Arise!" With his words, a black tower, shimmering with purple hues, erupted from the void. It spiraled through the dimensions, stabilizing itself like a bridge across the fabric of existence. ¡­ ¡°In this story, my name will be Yato. And you, my pretty Lady?¡± Yato asked after approaching the woman. ¡°Master, I will always be your Yerin. Yerin Elsher.¡± Yerin replied with a smile after deciding not to change her name. ¡°How cute you are, my little one.¡± Yato smiled. ¡°Now, let¡¯s see who my dearest brightest stars will be.¡± Two tiny golden spheres appeared in space; they flickered for a moment and shot off randomly, traversing the space in search of certain planets. - - - ¡®Henceforth¡­ the stage is set and curtains drawn. Ah, travelers from distant shores, what role will you play in this revelry?¡¯ ¡ªYato Chapter 1: The Golden Stars Part 1 After an unknown period since the creation of the tower... - - - ¡°Rael, help us.¡± *beep-beep* ¡°I always knew you were a useless son.¡± *beep-beep* ¡°It would have been better if you hadn''t existed.¡± *beep-beep* ¡°No, no, no. I''ll save you, please don''t abandon me-¡± ¡°Aaahhh!¡± *Heavy breathing* *beep-beep* With the continuous sound of the alarm clock, a young boy suddenly woke up from his turbulent sleep. He was sweating so much that the bed was already soaked, and a tear trickled down from his trembling eyes. ¡°Another nightmare...¡± ¡¾POV FIRST PERSON¡¿ I got out of bed, my body covered in sweat. I must shower immediately and get to school, or I might be late. After leaving my room, I entered the bathroom and saw my face in the half-broken mirror. My black hair was disheveled, and I stank. ¡°Ah, I''d better hurry.¡± I got into the shower, bathed, put on my clothes, and prepared to leave. My name is Rael. Rael Kazehiro. I''m 18 years old, and I''m just finishing high school. My life is that of an ordinary young man; I don''t have any striking features...but it wasn''t always like this. As I passed by my room again, I glanced briefly at the picture next to my bed, which showed a grown man and a woman hugging a child. ''I wonder... am I really worthy to bear your name?'' I closed my eyes as I thought. ¡°Rael, finish getting ready quickly, or you''ll be late.¡± Suddenly, an elderly voice snapped me out of my reverie. ¡°I''m coming, Ob¨¡chan.¡± I quickly went downstairs and saw the voice''s owner knitting a sweater. That''s my grandmother, my only family. ¡°My dear, I''ve prepared your lunch. Take it and leave quickly.¡± I took the lunchbox from the table, hugged my grandmother, and quickly left on my bike. - - After arriving at school, I said hello to some of my classmates. I didn''t have any friends here, but I didn''t have any enemies either. Only superficial relationships, the person closest to me being Kirishima. Kirishima was a shy nerd who spent most of his time reading books and playing puzzle games, which didn''t sound much fun. ¡°Morning, Rael-San,¡± Kirishima greeted, adjusting his glasses. ¡°Ah, morning...¡± I mumbled, still a little distracted. - - - *brrring* ¡°Okay, class, that''s it for today. Don''t forget to do your homework.¡± The teacher signaled. ''Ah, boring as always.¡¯ Studying sucked, but there''s nothing I can do about it. If I don''t finish my studies, I won''t get a good job, and I need that. I currently work part-time in a convenience store, but when I grow up, I intend to follow my parents'' path and start a business! ¡°Rael-san, you look tired. Don''t you think you''re trying too hard?¡± Kirishima asked. ¡°You should take a vacation.¡± ¡°Kirishima, if I were as talented and intelligent as you, I wouldn''t have to work so hard.¡± *sigh* Kirishima looked at me with a complicated expression. ''Hm, I wonder what''s on his mind.¡¯This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Anyway, don''t work so hard; they say people like that age very quickly (stress).¡± Kirishima quickly changed his expression and took his cell phone out of his pocket, inviting me to play a game. - - After the end of class, I headed for the store where I work. The location wasn''t great, and the place was too dangerous, but I had no choice. I urgently needed a job, as the money my parents had left me was running out. - - ¡°Thank you, and come again,¡± I answered the customer and looked at my watch. ''It''s time for me to go. I called it a day because I''d worked 30 minutes overtime. I changed in the staff room and got on my bike. ''I''d better not be too long; Ob¨¡chan might worry.'' I decided to speed up the bike. These streets also get pretty dangerous at night, so I''ll get back quickly. ...However, as I was coming back. ¡°You little shit, you think you can fool me?!¡± ¡°I swear it wasn''t me! It was o-¡± *Bam* What the hell is that? And that voice...Kirishima?!¡± When I turned around, I saw two men holding Kirishima down. They looked twice his size. They punched Kirishima in the face, causing his nose to bleed. ¡°Please, I told you it wasn''t me. Don''t hurt me!¡± ¡°And you think I believe you?¡± I looked at the situation, my heart pounding. I''m not close enough to Kirishima to risk myself for him, but this situation... doesn''t bring back good memories. Isn''t that why I lost everything I had? Was it because I was a coward? Am I always going to remain silent or run away? Kirishima was the only person who treated me like a friend/colleague. Shouldn''t I at least help him? But what if I get hurt? Will it be worth it? - - - The scene before Rael seemed like a ¡®movie scene¡¯. Two men held Kirishima, uttering grotesque threats. ¡°You little shit, I''m going to cut off every finger of yours for trying to trick me.¡± ¡°Please, I told you, it wasn''t me-¡± As another punch was about to be thrown at Kirishima ¡°HEY! Let him go!¡± A loud voice echoes through the alleyway. ¡°Huh? Who are you? Kid, get lost, don''t get involved in things that are none of your business.¡± The man spoke with a disdainful expression. ¡°Rael-San!¡± Rael sighed deeply and reached for his cell phone. ¡°Let him go, or I''ll call the police.¡± ... ... ¡°HAHAHAHA!¡± The man burst into laughter. ¡°Kid, do you know where you are? This is a place where the police don''t give a shit about you! We''re forgotten by this fucking society. Do you think you can threaten me with that? Good.¡± The man ordered his companion to go and hold Rael. ¡°Rael-San, get out of here!¡± Kirishima shouted as one of the men charged at Rael. - ¡¾1¡ã¡¿ Without thinking, I grabbed a hidden stone and tried to strike him, but perhaps because of my fear and weakness, it didn''t turn out to be a powerful blow. ¡°You son of a bitch!¡± The man cursed as he felt a slight pain in his forehead. I tried to fight back but was caught by the man and taken close to Kirishima. The difference in strength was too significant. ''Shit!'' I tried to use my brain at 200% to think of a way to counterattack. ¡°Now, let''s teach him a lesson-¡± Just as the man was about to strike my face, a crimson light erupted from an unknown place. My eyes closed unconsciously. *BOMMMM* A deafening roar tore through the air. A crimson beam of light exploded, reducing the nearby buildings to rubble. The ground trembled beneath my feet as dust and fragments of wood flew everywhere. ''Huh?!'' I breathed heavily, and when I opened my eyes, I saw something horrible. The light completely destroyed the man''s body, obliterating his entire upper body. ''W-What-'' Suddenly, the lower part of the man''s body fell on me, his organs spilling over my body. ¡°Aahhhh!!!¡± I screamed in despair, not understanding what had just happened. Kirishima and the other man looked towards the hole that had opened in the wall where the crimson beam had come from. ¡°What the hell-¡± ¡°Hahaha, did they really think they could kill me by just sending you here?¡± An unknown male voice spoke in a disdainful tone. ¡°You... Don''t be so cocky!¡± Another voice. I looked around and saw two men staring at each other; they ignored us completely as if we were mere insects. Then, a red energy was emitted from one of the men, covering his entire body. The energy condensed into a red blade. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± My eyes twitched, but it wasn''t just out of fear this time. This scene... was familiar. I remember it! I remember the day everything was taken from me; that energy was there, too! When I was a child, I didn''t understand. And when I grew up, I thought it was some kind of hallucination due to the trauma, but now... The scenes from the past came briefly to mind: the cries for help, the wails, and tears of despair. My parents, my family... *BOOMMMM* Another explosion. This time, the other man was cut in half by the residual energy of something that looked like a cut. My senses began to function again, and fear overtook me. ¡°KIRISHIMA, GET OUT OF HERE NOW! GET OUT!¡± I ran to Kirishima as fast as I could through the wreckage. ¡°R-Rael-San, You...¡± ¡°Don''t worry about me, go!¡± I shouted to Kirishima, who seemed paralyzed with fear. He stared at me with a complicated look for a moment, then grabbed the bike of one of the dead men and pedaled away as fast as he could. I turned my gaze to the two unknown men. ¡°You and the association overestimate yourself if you can deal with me like this. Or did they send you as a cannon fodder to test the waters? Hahaha.¡± The man who was emitting the Crimson energy spoke with a laugh. I wanted to run away, but for some reason, I can''t. My past, which I always believed was just a tragedy, was actually something contrived. After the men stared at each other momentarily, they suddenly turned and looked at me. ¡°Oh, it looks like we have a spectator.¡± The man said as he turned to me. He smiled, and suddenly - I felt a shiver run down my spine. *Whoosh!* *BAM* ¡°Tch. Damn it, kid! Get out of here, now!¡± The other man intercepted the attack that was coming towards me. I snapped out of my numb state, grabbed my bike, and ran away as fast as I could. In the background, I heard a macabre laugh and screams of agony. - - ¡¾POV THIRD PERSON¡¿ The man in black smiled as he crushed a heart that was still beating, and then he looked at the dead body next to him. ¡°Next time, I hope they send someone more qualified.¡± He said with a neutral expression. ''But now... I still have a toy I need to break. It''s okay if it''s just one, right?¡± he thought as he remembered Rael. - - *Heavy breathing* Rael entered his house after a few minutes of pedaling. He saw that his grandmother was already asleep. ''What a creepy feeling''. He thought. ''For some reason, I feel like I''m not safe here...'' ''Wait...Ob¨¡chan!'' If that man were following him, he would also be putting his grandmother in danger! *BOOMM* A dry noise echoed before the wall of his room gave way, revealing a gaping hole. The man emerged from the shadows, his eyes gleaming with malice. ¡°There you are,¡± he said, with a smile. ''Shit!'' Rael immediately tried to run away with his grandmother and call for help, but for some reason, his body seemed paralyzed. He couldn''t even open his mouth. - - - Under the moonlight¡¯s silver glow, a Young man hovered in the sky. His eyes shone like twin stars as he gazed down at the chaotic scene below. ¡°Let¡¯s see who my golden star is,¡± he murmured, an enigmatic smile curving his lips. Chapter 2: The Golden Stars Part 2 *whistling* *footsteps* ¡°The civilization of this planet still seems to be in a state of maturity, especially regarding technology. Well, considering that they had an early awakening, technology won''t advance much for a long time.¡± Yato commented as he walked towards Rael''s house. His slow, calm steps contrasted with the chaotic scene unfolding a few meters ahead. He decided to change his appearance slightly as he began his new adventure. Usually, his appearance was that of an 18-year-old. But now, he seems to be 23 years old. His silver hair fell to his shoulders, reflecting the moonlight. His silver eyes also looked like mirrors, revealing the deepest secrets of those who looked into them. His skin was as pale as living marble. ¡°Master, that boy looks like he''s in trouble,¡± Yerin said, now in the form of a white cat. ¡°I know, but he''s stronger than you think. Even if I weren''t here, he wouldn''t die today. But the consequences wouldn''t be good. Anyway, I don''t intend to let some irrelevant trash get in my way.¡± Yato said with a weak smile. ''Stronger than I imagine?'' Yerin looked at Rael for a moment. ''Maybe the master wasn''t talking about power, so what? ¡°It''s customary to knock on the door before entering, but forgive my inelegance.¡± Yato walked through the door and continued on his way. ''Sometimes I don''t understand you, master. You still choose to ¡°walk like a human¡± despite so much power. It''s incomprehensible. Yerin thought. Yato¡¯s voice broke her thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t spoil the fun, my little one.¡± - ¡¾1st person¡¿ ¡°W-What do you want from me?¡± My hands were sweating at the sight of that man. If this is a nightmare, I hope I wake up soon. I can''t move my body very well; even speaking is difficult. ¡°Oh, you thought I¡¯d let you go after what you¡¯ve seen? We''re a reserved kind; we don''t like too much attention. But don''t be so scared; at least you''ll have the honor of dying by my hand.¡± He said as he looked deep into my eyes. My mind raced. ¡°What are you?¡± I managed to ask, desperate for time. ¡°Oh? Are you curious about us? A corpse doesn''t need to know this, but I will tell you, consider it your last request. We''re humans just like you, but we are awakened.¡± ¡°A-Awakened?¡± The man then began to emit red energy from his body while appearing euphoric. A satisfied smile formed on his face. The pressure of his energy was strong enough to make the ground shake a little. ¡°Exactly! It''s a select group of people with their bodies exposed to an unknown energy. Fascinating, isn''t it? It makes us better. Superior. A higher form of life! Now...¡± His hand morphed into a crimson blade. ¡°Time to end this.¡± ''I don''t understand... why? Why take a life for something like this?¡¯ ''I don''t have any options. If I tried to scream, I could wake Ob¨¡chan and put her at risk. I don''t want that...'' Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! ''Is this my fate? To die in this miserable way?'' *Tock tock* ¡°Rael darling, what''s going on? I heard noises coming from your room. Is everything all right?¡± ¡°No...¡± I mumbled. I felt sweat running down my face, and a tear began to form. ¡°Oh, looks like you''re not alone-¡± ¡°No! Don''t hurt her, I beg you! Please!¡± ¡°Hahahaha! Ah boy, so that''s why you weren''t making much noise. Well, I like how you look now.¡± ¡°Rael, who''s there with you?! What''s going on?!¡± Ob¨¡chan called, rattling the locked door. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°What if I... do this!¡± The man expanded his blade and aimed for the door... ¡°STOPP!¡± I tried to stop him, but a hand made of energy pinned me to the wall. ¡°Rael-¡± *SLASH!* Suddenly, there was silence. My eyes fluttered, and my breathing stopped. I... lost the only person I had? ... ¡°NOO! OB¨¡CHAN! You bastard, I''m going to kill you-¡± ¡°Hey, hey, I''d ask you to calm down. Soon, the neighbors will complain about the noise, you know?¡± a calm voice broke through the tension. ''What?!'' That''s not the voice I expected to hear. When the door opened, I saw a young man with silver hair holding my grandmother by the shoulder; she was unconscious but seemed fine! I don''t know who this guy is, but he seems to have saved Ob¨¡chan. ¡°You... Who the hell are you? Which organization do you belong to? Don''t meddle in other people''s affairs.¡± ''...If they don''t know each other, then I have a chance! The man has become a little alert.¡¯ *Boredom yawn* ¡°It''s not easy to find people like you in this vast cosmos, so try not to die so easily. Anyway, how about we chat?¡± The silver-haired guy ignored the man and walked towards me. ''Chat?¡¯ - ¡¾3rd person¡¿ Yato calmly walked over to Rael and instantly destroyed the hand that was restraining him. Then Rael began to float over to a chair. ¡°What are you going to do to me? Are you an awakened human, too?¡± Rael asked, his voice hesitant. ''What the hell is happening to this world? Superhumans? Magic? You''re not going to tell me there are aliens, too.¡¯ Rael thought. ¡°Of course there are. Well, aliens isn''t an appropriate name. And no, I''m not an ''awakened human'' as you say. My aim here is to offer something.¡± ¡°Offer? wait, did you just read my mind now?!¡± Rael exclaimed. Yato just gave a weak smile and then snapped his fingers. Rael''s grandmother disappeared soon after. ¡°You-¡± ¡°Don''t worry; she''s in her room. I erased her memories, too.¡± ¡°ENOUGH!¡± A furious shout echoed through the room. The man walked up to Yato and Rael with a lopsided grin. Rael was a little afraid, but not as much as before. He felt safer now. The man then looked at Yato; ¡°You dare Ignore me, Punk? Well... I''ll make you-¡± ¡°Bow your head.¡± -Yerin. *Bam* ''What-'' As if under a decree, the man could no longer stand. Yerin pinned his body to the ground, and he couldn''t even lift his head. ¡°When did you get permission to speak?¡± Yerin looked at the man on the ground with contempt. ¡°You dare overestimate your insignificant existence here? Let''s see if you can do it a second time.¡± Suddenly, the man''s fingers began to turn 90¡ã and twist: all the fingers, one by one. *Crack* ¡°Ahhhhhh!¡± After that, Yerin made the man look into her eyes. The man began to convulse, blood pouring from his eyes. He begged and struggled; his eyes reflected the most horrible thing in the world as he looked into hers. ¡°S-Stop- AHHH!¡± Then, his tongue was cut out as he struggled. After a moment, he fainted, but not of his own volition. ¡°Noisy. You''ll spend the rest of your miserable life like this. You''ll see each day go by, or rather, you won''t see anything at all.¡± Yerin said after taking the man''s consciousness. ''My little one, your methods may end up scaring him.¡¯ Yato commented. He had hidden everything Yerin had done so as not to frighten Rael. But he didn''t quarrel with her for doing so. ''How cute you are.¡¯ - - ¡°Anyway, your name is Rael, right?¡± Yato asked with a weak smile. ¡°Oh, that''s right. Rael Kazehiro.¡± Rael didn''t ask how Yato knew his name; he couldn''t have been more surprised by anything today. ¡°Very well. You can call me Yato. Yato Mugenkami.¡± Rael noticed the man suddenly disappearing after shouting; apart from the cat Yato was carrying, nothing looked ordinary. ¡°So, what do you want from me? What are you if you''re not one of those awakened humans?¡± ¡°Hm, I''m someone from outside your planet.¡± ¡°Heh?! So you really are an alien?¡± ¡°You could say that. I''m here to make you an offer. Are you interested in becoming a Trailblazer?¡± ¡°Trail...blazer?¡± ¡°People who climb the tower are called Trailblazers. The tower is on a separate plane of existence designed to grant power to individuals who decide to climb it. It is a meeting point for many civilizations.¡± ... ''If that''s true, I can get what I want, but...'' ¡°You could die in the tower. Opportunities and risks go hand in hand. The decision is yours. If you agree, I''ll give you something to help you on your journey.¡± Yato answered what was on his mind. ¡°And what''s in it for you? Why me?¡± Rael asked with a complicated expression. ¡°Just for fun, thats it. Now, I''ll say goodbye. I''d wait two days; you have that long at most to make your decision. Anyway, even if you refuse, I can still give you some of the answers you want.¡± And then Yato disappeared. ¡°Wait-¡± Just as Rael was about to ask if he could repair his room, the walls were instantly restored, and everything returned to normal as if nothing had happened. ¡¾Welcome, Rael Kazehiro¡¿ ¡¾Analyzing¡¿ ¡¾Confirmed¡¿ ¡¾I am the system, created to assist specific individuals/Trailblazers on their journeys¡¿ ¡¾Waiting for decision¡¿ ¡¾Rael Kazehiro: Not confirmed¡¿ ¡¾Sakura Kanami: Not confirmed¡¿ "Sakura... Kanami?" Chapter 3: Fragments of the past *Beep-beep* The morning light filtered through the curtains as I opened my eyes, feeling every muscle in my body sore, as if I had been crushed by an invisible weight. The insistent beeping of the alarm pulled me back to reality. I turned off the alarm clock and got out of bed. Ob¨¡chan must be awake by now; I ensured she was okay last night. Everything that happened yesterday... seems like a crazy dream. I''m still a bit worried that those people will be able to find me, but it doesn''t seem likely. Yato took that man''s body, and I don''t know what happened after that. ''Speaking of which, who could he be? Yato...Mugenkami.'' Despite being very suspicious, he still saved my and Ob¨¡chan''s lives; I should at least thank him the next time I see him. But his actions are entirely meaningless. According to his words, he did all this just because he wanted to have fun, but is that all there is to it? ''So many powerful beings around me, but I''m too imposing to deal with any of them. I felt insignificant... Yato doesn''t seem like someone I need to worry about, but these awakened humans... I''m pretty sure they were responsible for my parents'' deaths! I clenched my fists in hatred as memories flashed through my mind. My hands started to shake... I''m scared but don''t want to live in the dark forever. ''Bastards!¡¯ ''I''m going to find out the truth about everything that happened.¡¯ - "Ob¨¡chan, good morning.¡± After coming downstairs, I saw my grandmother sitting while watching TV. "Oh dear, good morning. See this report, there''s been an accident near your work. Rael... are you sure you need to go to these places? The money your parents left is enough for us to survive for a while." "Report?" I approached the sofa with curiosity. ""Good morning, Ky¨­toshu. In Ha Long yesterday, an unexpected explosion in a series of abandoned buildings caused a major disturbance,¡±¡± ''That''s where those two awakened ones were fighting...'' I recognized the place while imagining the supposed reason they would give. Ha Long is the name of the city I live in, in the country of Ky¨­toshu. And the name of the planet is Kytherra. ¡°¡±Investigators concluded the cause was a gas leak due to outdated piping. Authorities have reassured residents that similar infrastructure across the city is undergoing urgent review.¡±¡± *sigh* ''As I imagined...'' "Ob¨¡chan, you don''t have to worry about me; I can take care of myself," I spoke in a firm voice to dispel her fears. ... ¡°Rael, when I lost your mother, I thought I¡¯d lost everything. But you... you brought me back to life. You¡¯ve always been strong. But strength is more than anger¡ªit¡¯s knowing when to hold on and when to let go.¡± "Ob¨¡chan¡­¡± ¡®I¡¯m not strong¡ªI¡¯m desperate.¡¯ But I can¡¯t tell her that. She¡¯s already lost so much; I can¡¯t burden her with my fears. "Our life was always difficult, but we always stood shoulder to shoulder. Your father was one of the people who helped us the most. He was a brilliant boy, and he got a great job and later opened a company, so our life improved from there. Until that fateful day..." My expression darkened as I imagined everything that had happened. "Ob¨¡chan, can you tell me everything that happened? I know you avoided telling me certain things, but... I''m not a child anymore." "..." "Very well. I think you should know everything. Rael... Your parents were killed during illegal experimental research. At the time, it was broadcast in the newspapers that they, along with another team, were conducting an illegal experiment and ended up being killed during the experiment. The explosion in the laboratory killed everyone... except you. They found you passed out far from where the explosion happened." "Illegal experiment?!" I stood up with a thoughtful expression. So it was reported that my parents were criminals?!This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. ''I don''t believe it...'' If I had known about this before, I might have believed it, but not now. "But I don''t believe anything they''ve said! I know my daughter, and I know she would never do those things-" *Cough* *Cough* "Ob¨¡chan!" My grandmother suddenly started coughing and shaking. Her health isn''t good, and she''s having a crisis. "Calm down!" I tried to calm her down by hugging her. "You''re an adult now, and I have little time left... *Cough* Promise me you''ll always move on... always." And then she closed her eyes. "Ob¨¡chan! Hang in there!" I tried to feel her breathing and saw that she was still alive. I immediately called the ambulance, my fingers trembling as I held the phone. "Hang in there, Ob¨¡chan! I can''t¡­ lose you now." - - ¡¾3rd Person¡¿ Rael was sitting in the hospital chair with a worried expression. His feet kept moving, indicating his anxiety. Then, a doctor walked towards him. "Your grandmother''s condition is stable, don''t worry. However, she will have to stay in hospital under medical supervision." Rael let out a relieved sigh. "All right..." - After spending some time in the hospital with his grandmother, he returned home. She was still unconscious, so he could only watch from a distance. When he got home, he lay down but couldn''t sleep. "Damn!" Seeing that he couldn''t calm down, he visited the house''s basement. His grandmother kept the family''s things there, and some brought back good memories for him. - The basement smelled of dust and time. Boxes stacked haphazardly held remnants of our family¡¯s life¡ªfaded photographs, forgotten toys¡­ and the memories - - "Rael, don''t run in the corridor, or you might get hurt." A female voice spoke with a sigh. "Ah, those children..." "Don''t be so hard on him. Children are full of energy. Weren''t we just like that?" A male voice replied with a weak laugh. This was Shizuka Kazehiro and the man with her was Tetsuya Kazehiro. *Quick steps* "Mom, Mom! Look what I picked up in the garden!" And then, Rael Kazehiro suddenly arrived holding a lizard. The poor gecko struggled in the child''s hand. "Rael, let go of this thing now! You''ll catch a disease!" Shizuka tried to catch her son, but he ran off. "Rael, come back now!" "No, Mom, I won''t let him go. I''ll put a name on him!" Rael said as he ran away from his mother. "Hahahaha!" Tetsuya laughed and started running after them, too. - - Rael smiled as he held up a photo of him running away from his mother with a lizard in his hand. His father took the picture. ¡®The sound of my father''s laughter. The aroma of flowers from the garden mixed with the scent of the hot soup my mother was preparing. Everything felt so simple, so safe back then.¡¯ *sigh* ''I''d better try to sleep.¡¯ When Rael was putting things back, he knocked over a bunch of boxes. ''Shit.'' He heaved a sigh and started picking up all the papers scattered on the floor, but then... "Huh?" [Research topic: Awakened humans] "What..." *Ring* *Ring* His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the telephone. He didn''t want to answer it, but perhaps it was someone from the hospital telling him about his grandmother. "Rael-San, are you? Thank God you''re alive!" "Kirishima?" Rael was surprised to see the voice on the other end of the phone. It was Kirishima, and he seemed fine. "Rael-San, I need to talk to you urgently! That day, I returned to the scene after a few minutes because I was worried about what might have happened to you, and I found something on the mans body." "What did you find?!" Rael immediately became interested. "Meet me at this address: ###### we''ll talk better there." *Hang up* Rael put his cell phone away and immediately got ready. This is something Kirishima found that could lead him closer to the truth. He would also have to check all the papers he had seen. - - Arriving at the location Kirishima had said, Rael saw that it was a warehouse. "Rael-san, this way." Kirishima suddenly appeared and pulled him inside. ''It looks like an abandoned warehouse.¡¯ "Rael-san... First of all, thank you!" Kirishima bowed his head. "Without you, I wouldn''t be alive today. And I''m glad you''re okay." "No need to thank me; I just did what I thought was right. And I''m glad you''re okay, too." Rael replied. "So, what did you find?" "Look at this." Kirishima reached into his pocket and pulled out two items. One of the items looked like an insignia shaped like a sword. The other item was shaped like a triangle. "I found these two items in the dead man pocket," Kirishima said. "Do you know what they do?" Rael picked up the two items with a curious expression. "The insignia seems to be an identifier. It''s probably to confirm identity in certain places. This triangle is a kind of voice transmitter, but it''s a bit broken, probably because of the fight." Kirishima then pressed the triangle, and a blurry figure of a man suddenly appeared. Rael stared at the scene in disbelief. ''It doesn''t look like something 100% technological; it must be done using some awakened person''s skill. ¡°Listen, ##%%##%#. Don''t fight to the death; he''s powerful awakened; try #$%#%####@. Meet us on Varhel Island on the agreed date. The coordinates are at ##$#%$####." And then the figure disappeared. ¡°Varhel Island...¡± Rael muttered. "Unfortunately, it''s not possible for us to find the location of that island; I''ve already tried. And we don''t even know how to fix this thing." Kirishima said. "Anyway, Rael-San, I don''t intend to get involved in these things. We can''t do anything about it... we''re just ordinary people. When I woke up the next day, I thought it had all been a crazy dream, but no." Kirishima looked down with a complex expression. Rael remained silent with a thoughtful expression. "Thank you, Kirishima. You''ve helped me a lot, and I now know how to go." "W-What? What do you mean? Don''t tell me... Do you intend to go after these guys?! Rael-san, it''s too dangerous-" Kirishima approached Rael, trying to convince him. "Don''t worry about me. I need to find these people; this triangle is my only clue. If I don''t discover what happened to my past, can I live in the present?" Rael clenched his fists. Kirishima looked at him with a complicated expression. He hadn''t imagined that showing Rael these things would lead to this. He didn''t even know what kind of past Rael had. "I have to go. See you, Kirishima." Rael took the two items and prepared to leave. Kirishima looked at his back with a worried expression. Then... "Rael-San!" Rael looked back. "Be careful." Rael smiled. "I got this." - - "Yato, come along. I accept your agreement." ¡¾Welcome, Rael Kazehiro¡¿ ¡¾The Tower watches its chosen¡¿ ¡¾Decision: Confirmed¡¿ ¡®If the truth lies in a place beyond the reach of an ordinary human, then I shall leave my humanity behind.¡¯ ¡¾Good luck on your journey, Trailblazer.¡¿ - - - High in the sky, his silver eyes emitted a glow that even the moonlight would envy, and a smile unfolded on his face. Chapter 4: The Tower ¡¸Identifying¡­¡¹ ¡¸Generating Status¡­¡¹ ¡¸Assigning initial characteristics to Trailblazers¡­¡¹ ¡¸Welcome to the Tower, Trailblazer.¡¹ ¡°What¡­ happened?¡± Rael groaned as he slowly opened his eyes. A robotic voice echoed in his mind, pulling his attention. When he finally looked around, his eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Ehhh?!¡± He was floating in space. He could see the stars shining in the void. ''Where the hell am I?¡¯ - ¡¸Here''s your Status¡¹ ¡ºName: Rael Kazehiro¡» ¡ºTitles: Nebula, Trailblazer¡» ¡ºAffiliation: None¡» ¡ºTraits/characteristics: Enhanced Adaptation, Universal communication, Axis¡» ¡ºOrigin: Kytherra¡¹ ¡ºClassification: Layer 1, Floor 1¡» - Rael''s curiosity was piqued as he examined the floating text with confusion. Many terms were unfamiliar, yet he couldn¡¯t deny the strange thrill of gaining these traits as a newly recognized Trailblazer. ¡¸Greetings, Rael Kazehiro¡¹ ¡°Who are you?¡± Rael asked when he heard the voice again. ¡¸I am The Tower. More precisely, The Guide. Whenever a Trailblazer is ¡°born¡±, it passes through here. My job is to answer a few questions before transferring it¡¹ ¡°Oh. Then tell me more about the Tower.¡± ¡¸The Tower is a structure designed to grant those who climb it the chance to ascend¡ªwhether for power, wealth, or their own goals¡¹ ''Ascend?¡¯ Rael thought about the meaning of the word. ¡°And how do I get back to my world? I can''t spend too much time in this place; I need to sort out certain things in my world.¡± ¡¸After entering the Tower, you can return any time you wish, as long as you are not on a challenge floor. And don''t worry about time in your world. The Tower has its own time flow, laws, and rules. So don''t try to take the laws of your universe as the rule here¡¹ ¡°Hm, you talked about ascending; what exactly does that mean? And who guarantees the Trailblazers'' safety if there are mighty beings here?¡± This was one of Rael''s biggest worries at the moment, and he was relieved to know that time didn''t work the same way here as in his world, so he wouldn''t have to worry about his grandmother and the case of the awakened humans for the time being. ¡¸Ascension is difficult for mortals to comprehend. To those who have ascended, their past existence appears as fragile and insignificant as a piece of paper. Yet, The Tower has its laws and regulating forces. Anyone who enters is subject to these rules, regardless of their external powers. The Tower''s will limits even gods or cosmic entities within its walls¡¹ Rael''s skepticism was evident as he listened to these statements, but he decided to believe them for the time being. ¡°Good. What are these characteristics? Are they all obtained just by being a Trailblazer?¡± ¡¸Enhanced Adaptation grants you the ability to overcome the volatile conditions of the Tower more easily. The Universal Communicator feature helps you understand several languages and makes communication between Trailblazers smoother. And finally, the Axis trait you possess seems to be a kind of artificial intelligence created to help you, but it''s not a trait of the Trailblazers¡¹ ''Maybe it was the help Yato said he would give me if I agreed? I didn''t trust him fully yet, but it was clear his influence reached further than I could comprehend.¡¯ ¡®And What the hell would artificial intelligence be?¡¯ ¡°What are the criteria for entering the Tower? And how do you bring people here?¡± ¡¸The Tower periodically opens portals to specific dimensions, planets, or locations to seek out individuals who wish to become Trailblazers. The Tower never forces a civilization or individual to enter the Tower; the choice will always be yours¡¹ ¡¸Time''s up, good luck on your journey, Trailblazer¡¹Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°Wait, I haven''t finished my questions yet-¡± ¡¸Starting transfer¡¹ The space began to distort, and Rael was ¡°pulled¡±. He started screaming desperately as he felt his head spinning. - - - ¡¾1st Person¡¿ ¡°Oh, my head!¡± I felt dizzy, but the sensation disappeared faster than I had imagined. Perhaps it was due to my characteristics. When my mind cleared, the sight before me was breathtaking. ¡°Beautiful...¡± It''s hard to put into words, but it was surreal. The buildings'' architecture looked like it was from a futuristic movie, but at the same time, some houses had older models, apart from the lush green vegetation on the buildings and houses. All the buildings also seemed to be floating because when he looked into the abyss below, there seemed to be nothing supporting them. ¡°It''s not surreal, it''s supernatural! So that''s what The Guide meant?¡± This place seemed like a new world; even the bright star in the sky was different. Up ahead, I could see a gate. (Welcome, Floor 0) ¡°Floor 0? Shouldn''t you start on floor 1?¡± ¡¾This floor seems to be a safe one¡¿ I almost jumped when I heard the sudden voice in my head. ¡°Man, you scared me.¡± I thought it was The Guide, but the voice didn''t sound so robotic. ¡°You must be Axis, right?¡± ¡¾Correct. A pleasure to meet you, Rael¡¿ ¡°Nice to meet you. So, what can you do?¡± ¡¾My ability depends not only on me but also on the Hosts because I evolve with them. But among my current capabilities, I can do probability calculations for decision-making, data analysis, mapping, forecasting, parallel calculation, verification-¡¿ ¡°...¡± I didn''t understand much of what Axis was saying... - After several minutes of Axis trying to explain himself and his capabilities, I finally understood somehow. Nothing was as technological as this on my home planet (Kytherra). According to Axis, my world is still in its infancy regarding technology, and this is due to the awakened humans and a few other factors. Axis is a super artificial intelligence designed to help specific individuals. I asked who these individuals were, and there are only two at the moment. Apart from me, there''s a girl called Sakura Kanami. ''Speaking of which, she has also accepted Yato''s deal. I wonder if she''s already in the Tower.'' I started walking while thinking. After passing through the gates, I could see the whole place more clearly and the people walking around. I saw creatures with crystalline skin that shimmered in the light, beings with multiple eyes and flowing robes, and humanoid figures with animalistic features. The diversity was overwhelming yet fascinating. ¡°Hey, you''re new here, right?¡± A middle-aged man wearing armor suddenly stopped me just after I passed through the gates. ¡°Yeah, any problems?¡± I asked with a confused expression. ¡°No, new Trailblazers can get lost, so you''d better get a map and an essential guide. Here you go.¡± ¡°Oh, thanks.¡± I took the map and the essential guide. I already knew where to go. ¡¾Scanning¡¿ ¡¾Saved map¡¿ ¡¾Assimilating information from the essential guide¡¿ ¡¾Done¡¿ ¡°No need to thank me; all newbies get one.¡± The man replied with a smile. "Are you a guard? Sorry, just curious.¡± The Guide''s statement that the Tower was a place where even powerful beings had to follow the rules piqued my curiosity. What is the need for a guard? ¡°Hahaha, don''t worry, it''s a common question. Yes, I am a guard at this post. I already know what you''re thinking: why do they need a guard? This floor 0 is safe, and safe floors don''t allow aggression between Trailblazers. However, threats aren''t just about Trailblazers.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked with a confused expression. ¡°Safe floors are areas conquered and designated as havens for Trailblazers. However, they can still be reclaimed under certain circumstances.¡± ¡°Taken back by whom? If external threats are still subject to the rules of the Tower, then is there any need to worry about them?¡± I asked somewhat skeptically. ¡°You''re right about that. External threats are still subject to the Tower''s rules. But what about threats from inside the Tower?¡± ¡°Threats from inside the Tower?¡± ¡°Exactly. Periodically, monsters can appear within certain floors of the Tower. These monsters can try to claim these safe posts, which is why it''s necessary for there to be guards.¡± ''So it''s not as safe as I thought, huh.'' I thanked the man and continued walking. I could see how busy they were as I passed through the streets. There were even traders selling seemingly random things. ''A currency system? Could there be something like that here?'' ¡¾Indeed. Trailblazers utilize a currency known as Lumen, earned primarily through climbing the Tower or via alternative means.¡¿ As Axis had assimilated the information from the essential guide, he gave me the answer. - After a few more minutes of walking, I finally reached my destination. Looking up, I could see the monumental building stretching into the sky. ''So this is the Tower? ¡¾Not exactly. What you see is merely a representation. Technically, you¡¯ve already entered the Tower, and this structure serves as a transport mechanism between its floors¡¿ ¡°Well done, Axis. Time to climb!¡± ¡®Even though Floor 0 felt peaceful, the sight of the towering structure ahead sent a chill down my spine. Somewhere above, challenges awaited that could crush someone like me. But I had no choice¡ªI had to move forward.¡¯ ¡¾Don¡¯t worry, Rael. Most Trailblazers don¡¯t die in the first week. The statistics are promising¡¿ ¡°...¡± - - - ¡°Ah, Axis, how do you think I''ll do?¡± ¡¾I imagine you''ll do well, Miss Kanami¡¿ ¡°Axis, I told you not to call me that. It''s Captain.¡± ¡¾Sure, Captain¡¿ Chapter 5: Forged in Steel, Written in Stars Chapter 5: Forged in Steel, Written in Stars After Rael entered the Transfer Tower, space distorted, and he was taken to a solitary room. - - (Floor 0) ¡¾1st Person¡¿ A girl was walking through the streets, lost in thought. - I did not accept that deal because I needed to save someone or was living a miserable life, much less because of my greed for power. I was born with what many would consider a ¡°perfect life¡± ¡ªa family, money, and friends¡ªat least, that''s how everyone saw it. But deep down, I wasn''t happy with any of it. My family consisted of my parents and my two sisters. My eldest sister decided to follow my parents'' path into business. Before long, she had established herself as one of the most successful businesswomen in the country and became the family heir. My younger sister became an international celebrity with millions of fans. And what about me? I didn''t like the spotlight my younger sister received or the profession my older sister chose. The truth is, I loved painting and writing¡ªpouring my thoughts into colors and words to move and inspire others. But this profession didn''t earn much money, so my parents didn''t support it. For them, it wasn''t very worthy. And so, after a few events, I ended up in this unknown place. As I walked through the streets of Floor 0, I saw so many things that I thought only existed in fictional stories. The buildings, the environment, the stars, the people, everything! ¡°Isn''t that an Elf?! And that''s an orc!¡± I stared wide-eyed at everyone around me, but they barely reacted, moving like this strange world was another day for them. After walking for several minutes, I finally saw the Transfer Tower. ¡¾Are you ready, Miss Sakura?¡¿ ¡°It''s Captain, Axis.¡± I clenched my fists and entered. ''I''m going to make you proud of me.¡¯ - - ¡¾3rd Person¡¿ After Rael and Sakura entered the transfer tower, they were both teleported to a solitary but separate room. ¡¸Greetings, Trailblazer¡¹ ¡°The Guide?¡± -Rael ¡¸I''ll explain how the floors work and the general rules of the Tower ¡¹ The floating texts circled Rael as the robotic voice spoke. ¡¸At present, you reside within the first layer of the Tower. Ascension to higher layers will be permitted only after acquiring sufficient achievements and meeting the requisite criteria¡¹ >> ¡°And how many floors are there in the tower?¡± -Sakura ¡¸The Tower is a structure of essentially infinite nature. However, ascending between layers does not require the completion of every floor. Each floor is categorized as follows: Individual floor: The Tower will determine when a Trailblazer should make individual floors Convergence floor: These are floors where Trailblazers compete against each other, and the runners-up move on to the next floor. Safe floor: Specific floors conquered by Trailblazers to serve as a haven and transportation through the Tower. To complete a floor, the Trailblazer must complete the Floor challenge in the given time¡¹ >> ¡°What if people don''t get through?¡± -Rael ¡¸If a Trailblazer doesn''t complete the Floor challenge, they are disqualified and taken back to the last safe floor they were on. The Tower will permit a new attempt after the designated time frame ¡¹ >> ¡°So Trailblazers don''t die inside the tower?¡± -Sakura. ¡¸Wrong. Trailblazers return to a safe floor, but only if they survive until the end of the challenge. The challenges will always be within the capabilities of the Trailblazers; it''s never impossible, but it''s different from being easy. The higher a Trailblazer climbs, the more difficult the challenges will be to match their level¡¹Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡¸After earning achievements in the Tower, Trailblazers earn titles. These titles are not just names; remember that. You are currently a Nebula, a title given to all beginner Trailblazers. If you get more achievements in the Tower, you''ll earn the following title: Aegis¡¹ ¡¸And finally, remember that Trailblazers are not allowed to attack each other on safe floors, but challenge floors are different¡¹ ¡²¡¸Do you want to start on the first floor?¡¹¡³ Rael and Sakura, in their respective rooms, looked at the interface anxiously. They became more hesitant when they learned that Trailblazers could die, but it was no surprise. They had known this could happen from the moment they entered here. ''Forget it. There''s no way floor one can be that hard, right?¡¯ they thought. ¡°Start the floor!¡± - - - After accepting the challenge, the Tower teleported Sakura and Rael to the Floors it had determined for them. Rael opened his eyes and saw a vast field of golden grass surrounded by dark mountains. Swords, spears, and various other types of weapons were embedded in the ground, creating an almost mythical scene. In the center of the field, a man was hammering a sword at the forge. He wore an expression of total concentration, but suddenly, something broke his focus, and he turned to look at Rael. Rael felt shivers run down his spine. He had never felt such an oppressive presence before. He had already felt a sense of pressure before that man awakened, but the sensation now was completely different. The man in front of him was not ordinary. It was not simply a question of pressure; it was as if his existence was being read. ¡°It''s been a while since I''ve seen people here.¡± The man said, approaching Rael. The man was tall, had wavy brown hair, and wore leather clothes. A large scar ran across his face, and his gray eyes looked dead as if he were always tired. ¡¸Floor: The field of eternal blades¡¹ ¡¸Objective of the Floor: ¡¸Hit the unknown man just once¡¹ ¡¸Maximum time to complete: 3 months¡¹ ¡¸Good luck, Trailblazer¡¹ ¡°W-What?¡± Rael read the floating texts with a bewildered expression. ¡®Seriously, how do you expect me to hit this guy?!¡¯ ''No, it shouldn''t be that hard. It''s just one punch, right? Rael steadied himself, clenching his fists as the man approached. Then, Rael threw a desperate punch with all his strength when their distance closed. ¡°What''s that?¡± The man looked at Rael with a puzzled expression. He turned his body sideways, dodged Rael''s punch, and kicked his stomach. *BAM* ¡°Ahhh!¡± Rael felt such pain that he thought he was going to faint. He knelt and put his hand on his stomach as his body shook. ¡°That punch was embarrassing, Boy. I don¡¯t know why the Tower sent you here, but you must be incredibly unlucky.¡± The man took one of the spears engraved in the ground and put it around Rael''s neck. ''Fuck it! Wasn''t the first floor supposed to be easy?!'' Rael struggled, refusing to accept such a humiliating defeat. But then the man suddenly changed his expression as if he was listening to something. ¡°I see...¡± He took the spear from Rael''s neck and returned to the forging table. ¡°Boy, from now on, you''ll call me Sensei. I will train you for the duration of the challenge, and I hope you can complete it. Don''t let me down.¡± ¡°Huh?!¡± Rael looked confused at the man''s back. ¡°You''ll... train me?¡± Rael got up groggily and headed towards the forge. ¡°But why?¡± ¡°To complete the Floor challenge, you at least need to know the basics of fighting. We''ll be training for three months.¡± The man replied. ¡¾Rael, this is a great opportunity, don''t waste it¡¿ ¡°Do you know who this man is, Axis?¡± ¡¾No, but he''s certainly no ordinary person¡¿ Rael thought for a moment and then bowed his head. ¡°I''ll be in your care, Sensei.¡± - - - Sakura opened her eyes after the migraine had passed. She saw a grand library, its corridors filled with floating books. Chandeliers that seem to hang in the air illuminate the place, and the scent of ancient scrolls fills the room. A woman lay down in a large central room with a mosaic floor, telling epic stories. ¡¸Floor: The Library of a Thousand Tales ¡¹ ¡¸Objective of the floor: Hit the unknown woman just once¡¹ ¡¸Maximum completion time: 3 months¡¹ ¡¸Good luck, Trailblazer¡¹ ¡°Eh? Isn''t that too easy?¡± Sakura muttered. ¡°Oh my... we have a visitor. It has been far too long since I¡¯ve had company.¡± The woman rose with a slow, deliberate grace, her imposing figure now fully visible to Sakura. The woman was of medium height and had long dark hair. She wore dark lipstick on her lips, and longhorns extended from her head. Her black dress sparkled with jewels. ¡°Sending an ordinary mortal to this floor... how unfortunate for you, little one.¡± The woman said as she looked at Sakura. Suddenly, she disappeared and appeared right in front of Sakura. ¡°Eh?!¡± Sakura was startled and immediately got into a fighting stance. She then threw two punches and a kick at the woman. ¡°Oh? You''re not so bad for a mortal. I take it you''ve practiced martial arts?¡± The woman commented as she calmly dodged Sakura''s blows. ''Damn, she''s fast!'' Sakura shifted her stance and launched another kick, but her foot passed straight through the woman¡¯s body as if striking a mirage. ¡°What?!¡± Sakura tried to regain her balance, but the woman pushed her, and she fell to the ground. The woman then unleashed a kick that sent Sakura flying and hitting one of the shelves. *BAM!* Sakura tried to get up while calming her panting. ''The difference... it''s too big!'' She had no hope of winning. But she still got up and returned to the fighting position. ¡°Hm... I like you. It''s been a while since the Tower has sent someone to visit me, so how about you becoming my apprentice?¡± The woman said with a sigh. ''Really, what does the Tower intend to do by forcing me to train a mortal?¡¯ ¡°I accept!¡± Sakura said without hesitation. ''Just like in the stories... so this is the apprentice and master arc?'' Sakura thought. Her eyes sparkled with excitement. ¡°Humph, don''t think I''m going to take it easy on you, little girl.¡± ''If the Tower sent her here, she must at least be a match for my abilities.'' The woman suddenly smiled. "My dear apprentice, tell me¡ªdo you like stories?¡± Chapter 6: To persevere is to learn, to bleed is to grow Chapter 6: To persevere is to learn, to bleed is to grow Rael curiously watched his Sensei hammering away with precision at a weapon in the forge. The heat of the fire danced around the man. Each strike of the hammer on the metal echoed like thunder, filling the place''s silence. ''Is this man really real or just something created by the Tower? And if he is real, why would he be in a place like this?'' Rael wondered. He suddenly felt strange calling this man Sensei, but somehow, it wasn''t bad. ¡°Sensei, can you explain this floor to me? I thought I''d have to face monsters, but this is a bit different.¡± Rael asked, breaking the rhythm of the hammer. ¡°The Tower determines your challenge. Never trust your expectations. As for this floor¡­ you could say it¡¯s my hobby.¡± ¡°Hobby?¡± Rael was confused. ¡°Yes. It''s a floor granted to me as a hobby, and here, I don''t have to worry about anything. No problems from the outside world can affect me, no disturbances. But in return, I have to fulfill certain obligations.¡± He replied as he looked at the weapon in the forge. ¡°I see...¡± Rael murmured as he watched the forging process. ¡°So this is all real.¡± ¡°Yes, but this body you''re seeing isn''t my real self. This ''me'' is just a manifestation, more precisely, an avatar. Anyway, we need to start your training.¡± Rael was curious about his Sensei''s first statement, but his anxiety increased when he heard about the training. ¡°What should I do, Sensei?¡± ¡°Right now, you''re just a powerless mortal. If you keep this up, your days are numbered. First, you will strengthen your weak body and learn to use Eternium.¡± He said as he approached Rael. ¡°Boy, I want to clarify this before we start. This training won''t be light, you''ll bleed, your bones will break, but it''s necessary. If you want to give up, I''ll let you leave the floor alive and return to your normal life. But if you want to continue, I hope you won''t give up until the end.¡± The man said to Rael. His eyes looked a little different as he said these words as if there was a glimmer of hope in them. Rael hesitated for a moment, but the memories of his past, his grandmother in the hospital bed... all the hardships they had been through together. ''Promise me you''ll move on, Rael.'' The promise he''d made to his grandmother. He clenched his fists. ¡°I''m ready.¡± - - ¡¾1st Person, Sakura¡¿ ¡°Eternium?¡± I questioned as I sat down. Sensei and I were sitting in the center of the library. ¡°Exactly. Eternium is a fundamental mystical energy that permeates existence. Manipulating Eternium allows you to manipulate aspects of reality and overcome the laws of physics.¡± I listened closely as Sensei explained everything. I had never felt so focused in my entire life. "Those who master Eternium are called Weavers¡ªindividuals who shape reality by turning ''what is not'' into ''what is.'' They make lies... truths.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that, Sensei?¡± I was confused about the meaning of the last statement. ¡°Weavers turn thoughts and lies into reality and truth. Watch this.¡± Sensei snapped his fingers, and suddenly, several fireballs appeared around him. ¡°Incredible! It''s just like in the movies.¡± I felt delighted. I approached the fireballs, but Sensei stopped me. ¡°These fireballs didn''t exist until now; they only existed in my thoughts. And using Eternium, I brought them into reality.¡± The Sensei snapped her fingers again, and the scenery distorted. The library disappeared, and I found myself in a vast open field, a great green plain. The Sensei shot the fireballs at the nearby rocks. *BOOM!* The large rocks were destroyed without a trace. ''Incredible...'' ¡°There are several types of mystical energy, but all of them are basically ''by-products'' of Eternium.¡± The Sensei stood up, walking over to me. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Different beings have different affinities with these energies. And there are also those beings who have acquired abilities through genetic mutations or pacts.¡± Sensei stood in front of me. ¡°So, my little one. Are you ready to become a Weaver? Because once you start, there''s no turning back¡­¡± The Sensei looked at me with menacing eyes, as if she would kill me if I gave up before the training was over. I swallowed, my nervousness attacking. But deep down, I also felt... excited about it. ¡°I... accept.¡± - - ¡¾Rael Pov¡¿ ¡°Ahh!¡± I groaned in pain as I felt my muscles breaking down. The Sensei gave me physical exercises to strengthen my body. At this very moment, I''m already doing the hundred-sixth push-up. The Sensei also explained to me how the Eternium works. Maybe that''s what the awakened humans of my world use, but I''m not sure. What''s more, I hadn''t realized it before, but my body had already become significantly stronger just by becoming a Trailblazer. ¡°Well done, you''re improving fast. This floor has a mechanism to help refine your body and speed up your progress.¡± The Sensei spoke and threw another weight on my back. Yes, one more. ''Damn.'' I was almost at my limit. - Then, after a seemingly infinite amount of time, I finally fell to the ground, unable to get up again. ''That was 187.¡¯ I thought as I breathed heavily. ¡®Only 813 more, and I''ll have a thousand. No big deal.¡¯ ¡°Get some rest. We''ll start the next training session soon.¡± ¡°Eh?! Isn''t that enough for today?¡± I asked as I gasped. ¡°No. You''ll need more than that if you want to complete the challenge. You''ll recover faster than usual here, so this is just the beginning.¡± I sighed, resigned, and mentally prepared myself for the next one. - ¡°We''ll train your posture and technique; I''ll also teach you about swords and martial arts. Get ready.¡± - Over the next few hours, I had to learn how to hold a sword, throw a punch, maintain posture, balance, and focus. Sensei is highly demanding. For every mistake I made, he made me repeat the exercise dozens of times. In some cases, I had to face direct blows, and I was able to understand our differences fully. Even though Sensei was restricting his power to match my level, I never managed to hit him once. - After several hours... *Slash* I swung my sword, trying to hit Sensei, but it still lacked precision. He blocked the attack with his sword. I tried to change my position to launch the next attack, but it still wasn''t perfect; it was hard for me to concentrate on several things at once. "Your body and mind are out of sync. Every swing you take is fighting against itself.¡± Sensei seized the moment and launched an attack on me. I desperately tried to defend myself by putting my sword forward. *Clang!* I was thrown backward and fell to the ground. Feeling my arm tremble from the shock. I couldn''t get up anymore; I was too tired. ¡°You¡¯re fighting with brute force. A sword is not a hammer. It¡¯s an extension of you. You''ll never strike your target until your mind and body align.¡± Sensei approached me with a tray of food. I had no idea where he''d gotten the food; it seemed like he''d created it out of thin air. ¡°On this floor, you won''t feel hungry or thirsty. However, I imagine you''d like something to eat.¡± He said after handing me the tray. I didn''t really feel hungry, but the food looked delicious... so I can''t waste it, right? ¡°Thank you, Sensei.¡± I thanked him with a smile. ¡°Your training is over for today. Get some sleep, and we''ll start right after you wake up.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I replied, nodding as I devoured my food. - - ¡¾Sakura Pov¡¿ ¡°Haah!¡± I concentrated my mind as hard as I could, trying to gather the Eternium circulating in the room and fire off a sphere of energy, but nothing happened... I needed to visualize the desired effect, understand it, and then ''turn it into truth.'' But no matter how hard I try, it doesn''t work. ''Ah, Sakura. Did you really think you were going to make it?'' ''It''s embarrassing the way she acts, like a child.'' ''You don''t have the talent. You''d better give up.'' ''How ironic, your parents don''t seem to support you.'' ''You''ll never be better than your sisters.'' ''No, no, no...'' ¡°It''s not working!¡± I shouted and slammed my hand on the table. My thoughts¡ªthose phrases, those memories¡ªwere suffocating me. I''d been trying for hours and hours, but nothing seemed to work. ¡°Maybe this isn''t for me...¡± Sensei stopped sipping his tea and stared at me. ¡°There are people who dedicate their entire lives to this. Months, years, decades, centuries, or even millennia, to achieve a simple effect.¡± Sensei said as his fingers moved through the air, and a bed suddenly appeared in the library. ¡°And you want to give up after a few hours?¡± His eyes emitted a terrifying glint, but it disappeared simultaneously. *sigh* ¡°Lie down and rest. We''ll continue as soon as you wake up.¡± I was discouraged... but I didn''t want to give up yet. I lay down on the bed and fell asleep a few seconds later. My mental fatigue consumed me in an instant. - - The woman watched Sakura fall into the dream world and sighed. As she approached, she saw that Sakura was shivering and mumbling incomprehensible things. Then she created a blanket and wrapped her up. ¡°How do you want others to believe in you if you don''t even believe in yourself?¡± She muttered as she calmed Sakura down from her nightmares. ¡°Rest well, little one.¡± Her voice was softer than the darkness in her eyes, but it carried a weight of unspoken care. Chapter 7: The Past that Binds, the Power to Break Free Chapter 7: The Past that Binds, the Power to Break Free ¡²This moment takes place at the same time as Chapter 1¡³ On a cold night, the glow of the moonlight illuminated a huge pool. Floating on the water, a girl with pink hair lay still, her blue eyes reflecting the silvery light above. -Sakura Kanami. Sakura closed her eyes and sank into the water. The cold engulfed her entire body and as she closed her eyes, her mind began to flood with memories. She saw herself in another time, another place¡ªa younger version of herself, just stepping into adolescence. She was in a luxurious room with another girl with the same hair color as her. Despite this, their looks were blurred enough to a level that it wasn¡¯t possible to tell which of them was who. Broken words, distorted voices. Gradually, the atmosphere began to break down. Then¡ªone sudden push. The sound of glass breaking echoed through the room. Two hands, once apart, reached for each other in desperation but failed to connect. After a few seconds, a thud sounded, along with the desperate cry of a child crying out for his sister. - ¡°Is this really how you want it to end?¡± Sakura suddenly jumped out of the pool. *cough* *cough* She clutched her chest, her breath ragged, her body trembling from more than just the cold. Had she imagined that voice? She looked around, but there was no one. Just the quiet rippling of the pool beneath her. Except... ¡°A¡­ cat?!¡± Sakura looked at the cat staring at her. Somehow, she felt as if the cat could understand her. The cat walked to the door and through it, entering the house. ¡°Am I going mad?!¡± Sakura came out of the pool with a dumbfounded expression. She thought that maybe she had already died and was in the afterlife and the cat was guiding her to hell, but the sound of her family talking in the kitchen entered her ears. She didn¡¯t hesitate and went after the cat. - After entering the house and walking through the rooms, she inevitably passed the kitchen, where she saw her parents and older sister talking to someone on the phone. ¡°My daughter, how¡¯s your trip going? I hear you¡¯ve managed to expand your following even further.¡± The man seated at the head of the table spoke without looking up from his phone. Ryusei Kanami, her father. ¡°Ah, yes. It¡¯s no big deal. I just did a few shows.¡± The female voice on the phone replied. ¡°Don¡¯t be modest, you and your sister are the pride of our family.¡± Victoria Kanami, her mother, spoke with effortless grace. ¡°Anyway. How¡¯s your condition?¡± Another woman spoke up. This woman looked like Sakura, only more mature. Naomi Kanami, Sakura¡¯s older sister. She quickly tried to change the subject when she heard her mother speak. When she looked up, she noticed Sakura standing in the doorway. ¡°Oh, Sakura. Sit down, let¡¯s have dinner together.¡± ¡°Sorry, Onee-san. I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Sakura dismissed her older sister as she lowered her head and tried to get out. Naomi squeezed her eyes shut with a trace of sadness crossing her face. Just then, the voice on the phone spoke again: ¡°Is Sakura there? ¡± ¡°Sakura, your sister wants to talk to you. Come here,¡± Ryusei spoke with a neutral expression. ¡°Sorry, Dad. I¡¯m not feeling very well. I¡¯m going to my room.¡± Without waiting for a response, she turned and hurried upstairs. At the same moment, she saw the cat in the hallway, heading towards her room. After leaving the kitchen, the place was silent for a moment. Naomi looked at her parents, clenched her fists, and left the table. Ryusei watched her go, his expression unreadable. - ¡¾1st person¡¿ I searched every corner of my room, but the cat was gone. Maybe I really was hallucinating. I sat on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened up to this point in my life. I needed to clear my mind. And for that, there was only one thing I could do: painting.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I sat at my easel, dipping my brush into the blue paint, mixing the colors with slow, methodical strokes. On the canvas, I had painted giant islands floating above the clouds. Mystical creatures soared through the sky, stars illuminating the endless expanse. I let myself get lost in it. Minutes passed, maybe hours. Painting calms my turbulent feelings, but this time... it wasn¡¯t working. ¡°Aahh!¡± In frustration, I grabbed the canvas and hurled it against the wall. Paint splattered across the floor, blue streaks staining the wooden surface. My father¡¯s conversation with my sister began to flash through my mind as I clenched my fists in anger. ¡°Girl, it will be hard for you to clean up this mess afterward.¡± A strange, deep male voice cut through the silence, making me jump. And there, at my window, a young man was sitting and staring at me. Those silver eyes were as mesmerizing as the moonlight, but frightening at the same time. ¡°W-What?! Who are you?! How could you try to rob the Kanami family home? You¡¯re dead!¡± I said in despair as I backed up to the door. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be so scared. My name is Yato Mugenkami. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Sakura Kanami.¡± I took a step back, but before I could react, his voice came again¡ªthis time, right behind me. ¡®When did he get here?!¡¯ I moved away towards the window. Fear washed over me. ¡°Do you want to throw yourself out of the window or something? Come on, I don¡¯t look that scary. I¡¯m here to make you an offer.¡± ¡°What do you want?¡± My voice wavered slightly. ¡°I know you love stories, so I don¡¯t need to explain much. I¡¯ll get straight to the point. My offer is for you to become a Trailblazer.¡± ... - After Yato Mugenkami explained his objective, a strange look crossed my face. ¡°Are you telling me that there are beings with superpowers in the universe and that I can get them by climbing a supposed Tower? Do you think I¡¯m an idiot to believe that?¡± I wanted to believe it, but that¡¯s crazy. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to believe it so easily, anyway.¡± Yato stood up and walked to one end of the room. That¡¯s where I threw the painting. And then, after that, I saw something that made me suspect I was going mad. The spilled paint lifted from the floor, returning to its containers. Yato picked up my canvas, running a hand over it. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful art. You have a talent for these things.¡± He ran his hand over the painting and then suddenly it seemed to come to life. The atmosphere began to change, and the next thing I knew, I was no longer in my room. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± I was incredulous as I looked at my surroundings. The creatures painted in the picture, the sky, the grass, and everything else have become... real? ¡°For those who possess power, the distinction between the Real and the Not Real is only what they believe.¡± While I was still recovering from the shock, I felt that my body was no longer on the ground. A deafening roar shattered the silence, and as I looked down, I saw massive scales and powerful wings beneath me¡ªI was atop a creature that could be a dragon. ¡°AAHHH!¡± I screamed in despair as I looked down at the islands that were already hundreds of meters below me. As I looked up at the fiery hues of the setting sun, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, my fear began to dissipate. ¡®It doesn¡¯t look so bad...¡¯ As time passed, I calmed down. I lay on the back of this giant creature as I enjoyed the view. ¡®Is this really real?¡¯ I had painted this world. Every stroke of my brush had crafted these skies, these islands, these creatures. But now, it wasn¡¯t just a picture on a canvas. It was alive. ¡°If you wish it were.¡± Suddenly Yato appeared beside me. ¡°If reality is dictated by perception, then tell me¡ªwhat makes this any less real than the world you come from?¡± I opened my mouth to respond, but the words never came. ¡°What are you? A divine being or something?¡± I asked as I looked at the silver-eyed young man. ¡°People call me many things, but it doesn¡¯t matter. No one will ever be able to define ¡®me¡¯. I¡¯m just ¡®me¡¯. Anyway, do you believe me now?¡± Yato asked with a smile, as if he already knew the answer. ¡°Yeh...I think so.¡± I replied as I looked at the view. The world I had created through that painting. I conveyed my feelings through that brush. And now, all of that has passed into the real world. It really is... magical! After several minutes of admiring the breathtaking vista, the vibrant colors faded as the world dissolved, and I found myself back in my room. The painting and the paints were no longer on the floor, indicating that it wasn¡¯t a hallucination in my head. ¡°You have a limited time to accept the deal. Think it over.¡± Yato said and turned around, about to leave. ¡°Wait. Answer me one question first. With this power, can I heal a person?¡± I asked as I walked over to the table. ¡°Yes,¡± Yato replied and disappeared. On the table, I saw a picture of three girls together, still children; on a ship. The girl in the middle had a hat on her head that read ¡°captain¡±. The other two girls stood next to her, smiling. ¡°I wish we could relive that moment forever.¡± - - - ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll accept, Master?¡± Yerin appeared next to Yato in the sky. ¡°Of course she will,¡± Yato replied with a smile. ¡°You were like that too, don¡¯t you remember? A girl full of ¡®impossible¡¯ dreams.¡± ¡°Master... that was a long time ago,¡± Yerin replied a little embarrassed. Memories of the past came to mind. ¡°And you¡¯re still the same? You and the others, pursuing ¡®unattainable¡¯ dreams and ambitions. But that¡¯s what drives the world. And I like to see how far you¡¯re willing to go for them.¡± Yato spoke and looked up at the stars. Yerin rolled her eyes, then reached out, running her fingers through his silver hair. ¡°You may have countless titles, Master,¡± Yerin murmured. ¡°But to me, only one matters.¡± Then, in a blink, she transformed back into a cat, curling up on his shoulder. ¡°How cute you are, my little one.¡± Chapter 8: Blade & Belief Chapter 8: Blade & Belief One and a half months after the start of training - ¡°Real combat experiences?¡± Sakura looked at her sensei with a confused expression. She had just finished her physical training, as her sensei had insisted that a strong mind alone wasn¡¯t enough. "That''s right," her sensei replied. "Real combat experiences put you in real danger, and that accelerates growth. That¡¯s why you¡¯ll be fighting some monsters now." ¡°Monsters?!¡± Sakura exclaimed, shifting uncomfortably. ¡°But isn¡¯t it just us on this floor?¡± ¡°For now.¡± She replied with a smile. And then, with a snap of their fingers, they were teleported to a large green plain. Despite the beauty of the place, Sakura felt a growing tension as she looked around. "Don''t worry; you can admire the view for now. Let''s walk while we talk, " the sensei said Sakura hesitated before following. After a few minutes of silence, her sensei finally spoke again. "Sakura, I have walked through many realms, many different dimensions. Along the way, I¡¯ve met countless people, each with different dreams¡ªsome noble, some twisted. But despite their differences, they all shared one thing in common. Do you know what that is?" Sakura stared at her sensei for a moment. Her expression became complex, and she replied while lowering her head, ¡°No.¡± "They all believed, without question, in their purpose¡ªunshakable convictions. Unbreakable wills. Without that, it¡¯s impossible to move forward. Inside and outside the Tower, there are obstacles far beyond mortal comprehension. If you ever encounter them, power alone won¡¯t be enough to overcome them." Sakura glanced at her. "Why are you telling me this, Sensei?" Her sensei¡¯s expression turned unreadable. "For certain reasons, I can''t speak freely about some things. But know this¡ªyou are special in a way you don¡¯t yet understand. I believe in you." She paused, then asked, "But tell me, do you believe in yourself?¡± - ¡¾1st Person¡¿ I stared at Sensei, my vision threatening to blur with tears. Do I believe in myself? I should. But... the more I try, the louder the voices in my head get. With every failure, with every attempt. ¡®You''re not good enough.¡¯ ¡®You¡¯ll never be more than a shadow.¡¯ The more I tried to ignore them, the stronger they became. ¡¾Captain, if you give your fears space, they will consume you¡¿ ''Axis?!'' The robotic voice snapped me out of my spiraling thoughts. Despite its artificial nature, it sounded more human than the voices haunting me. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡¾Your words and images can shape the world, Captain. But only if you believe in them¡¿ ... I clenched my fists and looked up at the sky. "I¡­ understand." - - ¡¾Rael Pov¡¿ *Clank* *Bam* I swung my sword, slashing through the wooden training dummy before delivering a kick that shattered its torso. The remains collapsed onto the ground. My sensei, who had been watching silently, finally spoke. "You''ve improved. Are you ready for the next step?¡± ¡°Real battle, huh.¡± I thought about the words with a faint smile. ¡°I''m ready.¡± "Great. Follow me." We walked side by side through the golden grass. With every step, I felt an inexplicable shift in the air, as though each movement carried the weight of a thousand. And then, before I even realized what had happened, the scenery had changed. A colossal castle loomed before me, bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. It was breathtaking, but despite its beauty, an unsettling feeling crawled up my spine. "Really, how big is this floor? One moment we were in an endless field, and now there¡¯s a damn castle?¡± I asked. "It''s bigger than you can imagine. This castle is home to several beasts. Your mission is to defeat all the monsters in the castle and the creature that awaits you on the top floor." I listened to the sensei''s words as I walked. ¡°Rael, wait.¡± I stopped my steps when I heard my sensei''s voice behind me. ¡°I won''t be helping you with this challenge. From this moment forward, you''re on your own... good luck.¡± His voice was calm, but for the first time, I thought I sensed... concern? "I''ve already made my decision, Sensei. Don''t worry." I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t scared. From the moment my training started, Sensei had always been there. His presence had become a constant¡ªa source of security. And now... he won''t be here with me to protect me if I run into trouble. But I don''t want to depend on other people forever. ¡¾With me here, your survival rate increases dramatically, Rael. Be optimistic.¡¿ I blinked. "Axis?! Where the hell have you been?!¡± ¡¾This floor is constantly changing your body, so I''m evolving too. And because of these factors, I had to be absent for a while. Besides, it would have been counterproductive if I had interfered earlier¡¿ *sigh* ¡°Anyway, with you here, I feel a bit more at ease.¡± I sighed a little relieved and turned back to Sensei. ¡°I won''t fail, Sensei.¡± ¡°I believe in you.¡± He replied with a neutral expression. With that, I stepped forward¡ªtoward the castle. - ¡°What an... unsettling feeling,¡± I muttered as I looked at the castle walls. Upon entering the castle, I found an unusual quietness. The grand halls were eerily silent. Dust floated in the dim air, and long-forgotten chandeliers cast a faint glow over the walls. ¡¾Mapping area...¡¿ ¡¾Done¡¿ A three-dimensional layout of the castle appeared in my vision. I ran my hand over the stone pillars, analyzing the holographic map Axis had generated. ¡°Well done, Axis.¡± I complimented him as I used the map to guide me. ¡¾The castle has only three floors. Looks like it won''t take long to finish¡¿ ¡°It can''t be that easy.¡± As I walked, I noticed some bodies on the ground. They weren''t moving, they looked dead. I looked around cautiously as I passed the bodies. - ¡¾3rd Person¡¿ Behind Rael, one of the bodies twitched. Then, its limbs spasmed violently, and its glowing green eyes snapped open. ¡¾Rael, behind you¡¿ ¡°What-¡± *Whoosh* Rael immediately turned around and placed the sword in front of his body. *Clank* The sound of clashing metal echoed across the floor. Rael was shocked when he saw the creature that had attacked. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± A rotting humanoid creature snarled at him. Its flesh was half-decayed, its nails twisted into grotesque claws. Its glowing green pupils burned with hunger. The monster felt annoyed when he saw that someone had blocked his blow. It roared and attacked Rael''s waist, trying to cut him in half. ¡°Too slow.¡± With precise footwork, he sidestepped, driving his blade through the creature¡¯s arm, and pinning it to the floor. The monster thrashed, trying to free itself, but Rael was faster. He delivered a flurry of punches and kicks, shattering its ribs. With a final blow, he sent the creature flying across the hall¡ªits arm tearing clean off. ¡°Is it dead?¡± Rael watched for a moment and noticed that the monster had stopped moving. *sigh* ¡°That was easier than I thought.¡± He said as he prepared to continue climbing the castle. ¡¾Rael, it looks like it''s not over yet¡¿ As Rael pulled out his sword, which was stuck in the ground, Axis'' words made him turn around. And there it was, the monster was on its feet again. And worse, his arm was completely healed. ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡¾It seems to have regenerative properties. Besides, it''s not just one¡¿ ¡°What do you mean-¡± His voice stopped when he saw several bodies rising from the ground, all emitting a greenish glow in their eyes. ¡°1, 2, 3, 4 - Damn, there''s a lot of them.¡± ¡¾Prepare yourself¡¿ ¡°You don''t have to warn me about this.¡± Rael pulled out his sword and put it in front of his face. Despite the number of monsters, his expression didn''t show despair, but... confidence! "Come at me.¡± He smiled. Chapter 9: Nightmares Embrace Chapter 9: Nightmare''s Embrace Sakura walked through the dense forest, lost in thought. Everything that had happened up to this point weighed on her mind. "No. I need to focus. Now isn¡¯t the time." She mumbled, clapping her hands against her cheeks to snap herself out of it. Each step felt different. The forest, once full of life, was dying before her eyes. Flowers withered, trees darkened, and the air grew thick with decay. It was as if the very essence of the land was being drained away. A chill ran down her spine. "What the hell is happening?" She knelt beside a cluster of plants, hesitant to touch them. ''Sensei called this place the Eternal Nightmare¡­ and the creature within it must be the cause.'' Then¡ªfootsteps. Somewhere in the distance. Her body tensed. Her ears perked up, scanning the area, but she saw nothing. ''Am I imagining things?'' And yet¡­ her instincts screamed in warning. ¡¾Analyzing¡¿ ¡¾Starting detection¡¿ ¡¾Captain, I detected a creature near you, but somehow-¡¿ ¡°It doesn''t appear,¡± Sakura added as she looked around. ¡°A camouflage ability?¡± ¡¾Done¡¿ Axis presented a small map and Sakura could see a red dot moving towards her. ¡°It''s getting closer-¡± *Whoosh* ¡¾Captain, dodge! ¡¿ Sakura barely moved in time. A thin cut appeared on her neck, but she didn¡¯t flinch. With incredible speed, she struck back. She didn''t know exactly where the enemy was, but she aimed for the head. *BAM* A sickening crack echoed through the air. A monstrous screech followed, ending with a loud thud as something slammed into a nearby tree. Sakura¡¯s breathing was heavy as she turned toward the sound. Her eyes widened. The thing that had attacked her was not human. It resembled a spider¡ªyet enormous, nearly her size. Its body was completely black, its red eyes glowing like embers in the darkness. Its legs were long and jagged, ending in razor-sharp blades that could slice through flesh with ease. Sakura stepped closer, examining it carefully. ¡¾It''s dead, but I doubt that''s the creature your sensei talked about¡¿ ¡°Hmm.¡± Sakura nodded. She stopped and watched the creature for a while. ... ¡°But somehow I don''t feel right around these things, it''s as if...¡± Before she could finish her sentence, Sakura fell to the ground with her hands on her head. ¡°Ahhh!¡± Her head suddenly began to hurt a lot. She desperately closed her eyes. But then, a bunch of voices pop into her mind. Her fears. ... ¡¾Captain, wake up¡¿ A distant, faint voice called to her, but the fear was louder. "No¡­ No¡­" She forced herself to her feet, desperation taking over. ¡¾Captain, wake up!¡¿Once again. ¡°I need to get out of here!¡± She ran¡ªblindly, aimlessly. ¡¾Sakura!¡¿ *heavy sigh* Sakura looked around with a confused expression. Her body was shaking, and she was no longer near that monstrous creature. ¡°What happened... Axis?¡± ¡¾Good that you''ve regained consciousness. Suddenly, you started mumbling incomprehensible words and ran off¡¿ ¡¾That creature seems to cause hallucinations, and it affected you¡¿ She sat down, taking a moment to steady herself.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Her Sensei¡¯s words echoed in her mind. "I think I understand why this forest is called the Eternal Nightmare," she murmured. "Thank you, Axis. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have made it.¡± ¡¾No need to thank me¡¿ Sakura gave a weak smile. ¡°I guess you''re someone I can call... friend?¡± ¡¾I don''t understand. My purpose is to assist you, but I am not human-¡¿ "But you look like one. You seem more human than they do..." she said as she lowered her head. ¡¾...¡¿ Shaking off the moment, she refocused. "Anyway, that creature caused hallucinations¡­ but how?" Her fingers brushed against the cut on her neck. Her eyes widened. "Is that it¡­?¡± - - *Slash* *Slash* Rael¡¯s blade cut through the undead, severing limbs as he ducked and weaved between attacks. "Tsk. Are these things going to regenerate infinitely?¡± *Clank* He blocked the attack coming towards his neck while thinking of ways to win the fight. "I can¡¯t win an endurance battle against them." ¡¾Rael, the head¡¿ Rael reacted instantly. He slashed toward a creature¡¯s neck. The undead recoiled, retreating in desperation, even sacrificing its arm to survive. But it wasn¡¯t enough. Rael lunged forward, delivering the final strike. *Slash* The creature''s head fell to the ground. And even after a few seconds, it didn''t regenerate. ¡¾It worked, but you''re being surrounded¡¿ Axis commented, and Rael realized that. More of the undead emerged, forming a tight circle around him. Their hollow, glowing eyes burned into him. There was no escape ¡°Shit!¡± In a split-second decision, Rael leaped into the air, using all the strength in his legs. He soared higher than he expected. For a brief moment, he marveled. "My body has changed so much in just a month and a half.¡±. As he descended, he gripped his sword and spun mid-air. A single and fluid motion. The undead heads hit the floor before their bodies. ¡°Well, it looks like it''s over.¡± He put his sword away as he thought. ¡°Let''s keep climbing.¡± ¡¾I noticed something strange about these creatures¡¿ "Huh? What do you mean?" Rael asked, confused. ¡¾In that last attack¡­ They moved with coordination. Almost as if they were following orders¡¿ ¡°You''re saying...¡± ¡¾Maybe someone was controlling them at that last moment¡¿ Rael showed a thoughtful expression as he listened to Axis'' resolution. "Sensei said there was a creature I should kill in this castle. Maybe that creature is controlling everything else. And if that''s true... it means it already knows I''m here." Rael exclaimed with a serious expression. ¡¾Detecting...¡¿ ¡¾I couldn''t find anyone in this part of the castle¡¿ "Then it must be waiting¡­ at the top.¡± He took a step forward. ''I''ll get through, no matter what.'' He clenched the hilt of his sword. - - Sakura continued walking, this time more aware of everything around her. The beautiful forest was no more, just dry branches and destruction. On some trees, she could see claw marks. And then, suddenly, a gray mist spread through the air. Thick. Unnatural. Suffocating. She tried to observe her surroundings, but the mist was impairing her vision. Then, a voice. Soft. Familiar. Wrong. ¡°Sakura... this way.¡± ''What?!'' A familiar voice. It was the voice of her older sister, Naomi. ¡¾It''s an illusion. Don''t fall for it¡¿ But she froze. Ahead, through the mist, a bluish figure emerged. Naomi¡¯s face. Naomi¡¯s smile. "Sakura; come. Everyone is waiting for you." Sakura almost stepped forward. For a moment, she could see the life she had always longed for, while she was inside this mist. ¡¾A perfect world is no use if it''s only in your imagination¡¿ Sakura stared at her sister''s ghost and then clenched her fists. ¡°Don''t you dare impersonate my sister, you bastard! I won¡¯t fall for your tricks.¡± ¡¾Generating map...¡¿ ¡¾Done¡¿ Sakura¡¯s gaze flicked to the map Axis had provided. Without hesitation, she took a different path than the one the illusion had urged her toward. The moment she did, a thunderous roar erupted from the mist, a roar of hatred. ¡¾Dodge¡¿ *Whoosh* A blade flashed past her face; it was the creature she had killed earlier. ¡¾Turn right in 3 seconds¡¿ Sakura twisted mid-step and delivered a brutal kick into the air. She didn¡¯t need to see her enemy¡ªShe felt it. Her heel connected with something solid, sending the invisible creature crashing into the ground. ¡°Sakura... stop.¡± Fragments of memories, fractured voices, and warped faces flooded her mind. "You¡¯ll never be strong enough." "You will always be a shadow." "You don¡¯t deserve power.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± She screamed. ¡¾Concentrate. Here comes one more of them¡¿ *Whoosh* She dodged and prepared to strike, but heard another sound coming. ¡®Damn!¡¯ She twisted her body unnaturally, her movements almost inhumanly flexible. The creatures missed. And They killed themselves. *Another roar* . ¡°I''m going to find you and make you pay for using my sister against me!¡± ¡¾Jump¡¿ Sakura jumped into the sky. Her body passed through a ¡°barrier¡± and she saw a gigantic creature on the other side. It looked like a giant spider, with a deformed face and crimson eyes. ¡°There you are.¡± Chapter 10: My choice Chapter 10: My choice After passing through the second floor of the castle, Rael pressed forward. The grand hall before him stretched wide, its marble floor cracked with age. A massive door stood at the far end. If he walked through it, he¡¯d reach the final room. But he knew it couldn''t be that simple. "You know, Axis, I never thought I''d be in a place like this," he muttered, stepping forward. "I never thought my life would change so drastically overnight. "I''m still not sure if I made the right choice¡­ but without this, would I really have any chance of finding the truth?¡± *Whoosh* An arrow shot toward his face. Rael didn''t flinch. He had expected it. Turning his head slightly, the arrow whizzed past, grazing his cheek. Blood trickled down, but he never took his eyes off the door. "I was never as talented as my parents," "But even so¡­ I always felt safe in their embrace. They never pushed me away.¡± *Whoosh* Rael charged forward, throwing himself to the ground, and skidding beneath them. He drew his sword mid-motion, keeping it close to his face as he sprinted. "After they were gone¡­ I told myself I¡¯d carry on their legacy. But is that really what I want? How would they see it?¡± As he ran, he looked at the map Axis had created and noticed some red dots on the ground. ''Traps.¡¯ Rael sidestepped sharply¡ªand the floor behind him erupted in an explosion. *BOOM* More arrows rained down. He slashed them aside, dodging between bursts of fire. "Coming here¡­ I know there''s no turning back. So, father, mother¡ªI hope you''ll support my decision." He jumped over the last bomb and stopped in front of the gate. *Sigh* Beyond the door lay a ruined chamber, its walls lined with shattered pillars. And in the center of the room¡­A figure lay motionless: A knight clad in black armor. Its faceless helmet tilted downward, its green eyes glowing ominously beneath the steel. Then it moved. Slowly rising, the knight''s movement echoed in the empty chamber as metal ground. Its green eyes locked onto Rael. It didn¡¯t speak. It didn¡¯t move. It simply stood there, waiting. ¡¾I don''t understand human emotions, let alone the weight of their decisions. But my existence was because of people like you. So I will help you to the best of my ability¡¿ Rael gave a weak smile and looked at the black knight. ¡°Then let''s begin.¡± - - Sakura looked at the arachnid monster as her eyes showed a little fear. ''Arachnis Nocturna.'' That''s the creature''s name. Its size easily exceeds 3 meters, and its entire structure seemed to cause instinctive fear in its prey. *Roar* Arachnis roared and shot towards Sakura. Its giant legs pierced the ground with every step it took. ¡¾Sakura, dodge!¡¿ But she didn¡¯t move. She couldn¡¯t. The fear gripped her heart too tightly. Those red eyes seemed to consume all light, leaving only a trail of blood in their wake. *SLASH* In a split second, the Arachnis'' leg struck Sakura''s stomach, sending her flying into a tree, which shattered on impact. ¡°Aahhhh!¡± Sakura groaned in pain. She touched her stomach¡ªher hand came away drenched in blood. Her head began to hurt; she struggled to stay conscious but failed. Her mind sank into an endless abyss. ¡°It''s over... I really am a failure. They were right, they all were.¡± She muttered. Her body didn''t want to respond to her commands, and her mind became too chaotic. ¡°I''m scared¡­Onee-san... Sensei¡­¡± Tears streamed down her face as her hand became soaked in blood. While she was lost in thought, Arachnis appeared in front of her and thrust one of his legs into Sakura''s hand, piercing them. ¡°Aahhhh!¡± ¡¾Don''t give up... not yet¡¿ ¡°It''s no use, Axis. I thought you were strong enough, but I was wrong...¡± ¡¾She''s only strong because you''re feeding her¡¿ ... Arachnis walked around Sakura slowly; as if savoring her despair. Her eyes glittered as she prepared the final blow. ¡¾Do you remember the conversation you had with Yato earlier? What it takes to win¡¿ ¡°In a fight, it''s not enough just to have willpower...¡± She muttered as she remembered the words she had heard. In a fight, just the desire to win isn''t enough. You need more than that, especially when you''re fighting something stronger than you. ¡¾Exactly. That''s why I''m here¡¿ ¡¸¡¾Hyper-Focus activated¡¿¡¹ ¡¸¡¾Accelerated thinking activated¡¿¡¹ ¡¾This will put a lot of strain on you, but make sure you put that spider in its place¡¿ *BOOMM* Arachnis struck his final blow, making a crater in the ground. When the dust cleared, there was no one left. Suddenly, Sakura appeared staring at him, their eyes meeting inches apart. Sakura''s blue eyes stared deeply into those blood-red eyes. It was as if all her fear had vanished. ¡°Have you ever had a nightmare?¡± She whispered. *Roar* The Arachnis roared in her face as it prepared an attack, but it wasn''t fast enough. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. With all her strength, Sakura punched him in the face. *BAM!* The creature flew backward, crashing into the trees. A trail of blood appeared on her face and she roared with rage. Even Sakura didn¡¯t fully understand what Axis had done. Her chaotic thoughts had vanished. Her mind focused solely on one thing¡ªvictory. The pain from her wounds faded into insignificance. ¡¾You don''t have much time¡¿ ... ¡°Understood.¡± - - Steel clashed against steel as Rael and the knight dueled at inhuman speeds. In Rael¡¯s eyes burned an unyielding will. In the knight¡¯s, only destruction. Their swords clashed, their bodies moving with supernatural swiftness, neither yielding ground. *Clank* Rael dodged a lethal strike and retaliated with a kick to the knight¡¯s head¡ªbut it barely budged. The knight countered instantly, catching Rael¡¯s leg and flinging him into the wall. *BOOMM* The wall was destroyed and Rael fell to the ground, his body weakening. Before he could rise, the knight was upon him, unleashing a relentless barrage of blows. *BAM!* Rael coughed up blood. Desperate, he raised his sword to counter¡ªbut the knight shattered it with a single strike. ''The difference... is too great. I don''t want to... lose here!'' Rael looked at the blade pointed at his head. ¡°Is it with this power that you intend to avenge your parents? Pathetic.¡± The knight suddenly said. Rael''s eyes widened, and he looked at the knight with an astonished expression. The knight''s face began to distort and take the shape of several faces. ''Those faces... The faces seemed familiar to him, but his memories were too blurry. ¡°Ambitions without power are nothing but dreams without meaning, flames without fuel to burn. Your parents would be ashamed of you.¡± The Knight spoke as his face changed to that of Rael''s parents in the last sentence. ¡°You bastard! My parents would never say that to me! No matter how much of a failure I was... they were always on my side.¡± Rael shouted as he clenched his fists in rage. The knight ignored Rael''s screams and brought his sword down on his neck. ''Axis, help me break this guy''s face!'' ¡¾You don''t have to ask¡¿ ¡¾Hyper-Focus activated¡¿ ¡¾Accelerated thinking activated¡¿ ''Just in time, Axis!'' Rael reacted immediately as he felt a change in his body and mind. He didn''t care what it was now, he just wanted to destroy that knight. The world slowed. His focus intensified. The knight¡¯s blade descended, aiming for his neck¡ªAnd at the last moment¡ªRael stepped aside. The sword missed by mere inches. The pain vanished from his body, replaced by a singular purpose. And then he fired a punch at the black knight''s face. *BAM!* The knight stumbled back, an almost confused reaction. ¡¾Remember, your mind has strengthened, but your body cannot keep up perfectly¡¿ Rael shot forward again. The two clashed in a brutal exchange of blows¡ªfists, kicks, dodges. But even as Rael reacted faster than ever, something became clear ¡ª His punches weren¡¯t enough. *BAM!* Rael fired a kick at the knight''s belly, then walked away. ''Any ideas, Axis? I don''t think we''ll be able to win like this,¡¯ He said as he breathed heavily, reaching his limit. ¡¾...¡¿ ¡¾Are you ready for a risky move?¡¿ Rael clenched his fists. His muscles ached, his breath ragged¡ªbut he nodded. ¡¾You''ll only have one chance, you''ll have to decide in a single blow...¡¿ ¡°But I''m without my sword-¡± ¡¾Remember what your Sensei said. Your body must be your blade¡¿ ¡°...¡± ¡°Understood.¡± - - ¡°Haaaah!¡± *BAM!* Sakura threw another punch. Arachnis flew back, slamming into the trees. Her breath came in gasps. She had the advantage. And yet¡ªshe couldn¡¯t finish the fight. Her stamina was fading fast. *Whoosh* Arachnis charged again. One of its legs struck out¡ªAnd pierced her arm. "Tch¡ª!" Sakura gritted her teeth. Pain flared, but she didn¡¯t falter. She kicked its leg away, making it stagger. She went for another punch¡ªBut then her body froze. A thick web wrapped around her arms and her legs, trapping her completely. ¡°What?!¡± She tried to break free, but her resistance was useless. ''Danm it!'' The Arachnis approached Sakura, walking through the webs. With every step the Arachnis took in its web, Sakura''s consciousness died. Before long, she could no longer keep her eyes open. She was overwhelmed. ... ''All my life, people never expected much from me. I was like a shadow... invisible to many.'' Her body sank into the ¡°abyss¡±. Plunging into endless darkness. ''However, a few days ago, I met people who put their trust in me... somehow.'' The image of Yato came into his mind. That sarcastic smile, but confident at the same time... ''In his eyes, I could feel that I was special and irreplaceable. He saw me... in a way that was very different from them.¡¯ And then the image of her sensei popped into her head. They had been together for over a month. Somehow, her sensei always said that they were alike. ''But how?¡¯ ''"Sakura, I remember that I used to be just like you when I was younger. A dreamy girl... hungry for ¡°stories¡±. Remember, dreams are the engine of achievement. Never give up on them.¡± ''Ah, that''s it... dreamy people. If only I could...'' Her eyes opened, and she saw a ¡°flame¡± in the middle of the endless Void. ''If only I could...'' Her hands reached out, refusing to give up. ''Be like you.¡¯ ¡°AXIS!¡± She was back. The real world came into focus. ¡¾Maximum capacity activated¡¿Axis, who was rescuing her consciousness to the best of her ability, spoke. She only had one chance, just a few seconds. That ¡°flame¡±, which she had longed to conquer... was now within her reach. She could have any ¡°color¡± she wanted in a world of endless possibilities. She finally knew... what ETERNIUM was. In her hand, an indescribable energy hovered, with infinite potential for change. At that moment, she felt as if she could do whatever she wanted. So he decided to burn away her nightmare. - >> - Rael opened his eyes, the knight''s blade right his neck, but he didn''t care. ¡°So that''s Eternium.¡± He muttered with a smile. His bare hands stopped the knight''s blade coming towards his neck. ¡°You said that ambition without power is nothing, right? Very well, I''ll kill you with one blow.¡± Rael''s eyes narrowed. He stretched out his hand; and a sword of energy formed, extending into the sky. The knight was horrified and backed away, but Rael held his body. ¡°Dad... Mom. I wish you... were with me now.¡± The sword energy emitted a heavenly glow, preparing to destroy anything. - >> - At the same time¡ªSakura¡¯s body ignited with flames. The webs burned instantly, turning to ash. Arachnis screeched, trying to escape¡ªBut it was too late. ¡°I finally understand... sensei.¡± As the flames converged, a single point formed, and then¡ª two voices emerged. ¡°Disappear!¡± 2x -Rael and Sakura *BOOMM!* A cataclysmic explosion erupted. Ashes remained where the forest once stood, and the castle lay in two pieces. - Rael flashed a smile, and his consciousness disappeared completely shortly afterward. ¡°I did it, Dad... Mom.¡± - >> - Sakura looked around, seeing everything reduced to ashes. Arachnis'' body had been completely burnt, leaving nothing behind. Sakura stood still, looking up at the sky. His attack had also burnt much of her skin, but despite the pain, she smiled. ¡°I hope you''re proud of me, Sensei.¡± ¡¾You did very well, Sakura¡¿ She smiled as she heard Axis'' words. ¡°It''s captain, Axis.¡± And then she fainted. Just before impact, someone caught her, Wrapped in warm arms. A familiar voice. Gentle and Proud. "I¡¯m proud of you, my little one." Chapter 11: Between Master and Student Chapter 11: Between Master and Student The low, rhythmic sound of the forge echoed across the golden plains. A man sat in his chair, eyes distant, lost in thought. ¡°He really did it...¡± His voice barely carried over the crackling flames. His gaze lingered on the unconscious boy before him¡ªRael. After defeating the Black Knight, the boy collapsed from exhaustion. ¡®I truly thought it would be impossible for him to complete this floor¡­¡¯ But against all odds, Rael had survived. And perhaps¡ªjust maybe¡ªhe had a chance. ''When was the last time someone completed this floor? Ah, I remember now... it was that child.¡¯ Memories of a child who dreamed of being king flashed through his mind. Perhaps now a new hope had arisen. He glanced at Rael, sharpening his blade absentmindedly. This boy¡­ reminded him of his past self; A younger version of himself¡ªonce desperate for power. His greed eventually led to curses falling on his shoulders, civilizations destroyed, and the deaths of people who had nothing to do with his problems. He had once believed that strength alone made a man. But now¡ªafter lifetimes of regret¡ªhe knew better. ¡°What does it mean to be strong?¡± He had asked himself that question countless times. And yet, even now, he had no answer. ''And now I''m here, training a boy who still believes that strength means revenge.'' He reached into his pocket and pulled out a worn piece of parchment. It was old, its edges frayed and crumbling. At one time, it had been a letter. Now, the ink was nearly faded, the words unreadable. But he didn¡¯t need to read them¡ªhe had memorized them long ago. He turned it over, and a single name was still visible: Siegfried "I abandoned this name¡­ a long time ago.¡± His immortality had become a burden, his legend a joke told by bards who would never understand the weight of his story. ¡®I hope you don¡¯t follow the same path I did, boy.¡¯ - - ¡¾Pov Rael¡¿ When I opened my eyes, I was no longer in the castle. After a few seconds, my vision became clearer. ¡¾Welcome back, Rael¡¿ ¡°Axis¡­? What happened?¡± ¡¾After you defeated the Black Knight, your sensei brought you back¡¿ ¡°Ah, so that''s it.¡± I let out a slow breath. I turned my head toward the forge. Sensei was sitting there, lost in thought. ''I wonder what he''s thinking. ¡°Good. You''re awake." Sensei¡¯s voice broke the silence. He glanced at me, then stood, crossing his arms. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "You''ve been asleep for a few days.¡± ¡°A few days?! Doesn''t that mean my time is even shorter?!¡± I tried to get up as quickly as I could, but suddenly I felt my body aching. ¡°Argh!¡± ¡°You''re not fully recovered, so don''t push yourself.¡± He told me as he approached. Then he put his hand on my shoulder. A warm, greenish light spread through my body, soothing the pain instantly. ¡°This will help for now, but you''ll still have to take a day off.¡± ¡°But sensei, I need to continue training. Besides, I managed to use eternium! Look at that.¡± I closed my eyes, concentrating. I tried to recall that moment¡ªthe feeling of raw energy flowing through me. I envisioned a blade of energy forming in my hands, willing it into reality. I could almost feel it. ¡°Like this-¡± When I opened my eyes, excited to show sensei, I saw nothing... ¡°Eh?! Why isn''t it working now?!¡± I did it the same way, but it didn''t work for some reason. ¡°Did you think it would be that simple? Last time you had help from your dear friend you called Axis, didn''t you? You still need to adapt properly. But don''t worry, it''ll be much easier now than before.¡± Sensei commented as he watched my failed attempt. I exhaled sharply. So¡­ he already knew about Axis. ¡°I see,¡± I confirmed after hearing his explanation. Sensei let out a sigh and sat down next to me. His expression was hard to read, but he looked serious. ¡°Rael, once you''ve gotten what you want, what do you intend to do next?¡± "Huh? Why are you asking me that?¡± ¡°Just answer it.¡± ¡°Well, I''ve never stopped to think about it...¡± I replied as I thought about the question. I honestly didn''t know the answer. What should I do? Give it all up and lead a normal life? Keep climbing the tower? ¡°I don''t know...¡± I replied with a sigh. I lowered my head, thinking about his words. I was left wondering what to do once it was all finished. I don''t even know if I''ll make it out alive after all this. In the end, was it worth it? "Rael... people who are gone never return." His voice was calm, but the words stabbed into my chest. "Unless you become someone truly powerful¡­ you¡¯ll never see them again. But that doesn¡¯t mean they stop existing.¡± He placed a hand on my chest. Over my heart. ¡°Take That.¡± Something suddenly flew toward me. I instinctively caught it. A piece of roasted meat. ¡°Huh?¡± I was confused as I looked at the piece of meat in my hands. ''Is this some kind of test?'' ¡°Sensei, I don''t need to eat inside this floor,¡± I replied as I looked at the meat. ¡°Since you¡¯ve been here a while, I thought you might enjoy a taste of home.¡± ¡°Sensei...¡± My hands trembled a little, but it wasn''t from fear or nervousness. A faint smile blossomed on my face. ¡°I see.¡± I bit into the piece of meat. I have to admit, it was really good. It reminded me a bit of my mother''s cooking. - - ¡°Your training today will be suspended. Let''s rest, I''ll take you to see more of this floor.¡± ¡°But Sensei, I''m completely fine- Ahh!" I attempted a fighting stance, but the pain returned. ¡°Your body and mind also need rest, Overworking yourself has consequences." *sigh* ¡°Alright.¡± While Sensei prepared his bags, I found myself lost in thought. I had been here for over a month, training under him¡ªyet, I knew almost nothing about him. I hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Sensei... can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± He replied, his eyes looking a little curious. "I realized¡­ I don¡¯t know anything about you." I met his gaze. "So, I¡¯d like to ask a few questions. Do you have any hobbies?" For a moment, he said nothing. Then, he murmured, his expression unreadable¡ª "Hobbies, huh¡­" He paused as if considering his answer. "I enjoy forging weapons." His fingers ran along the edge of a nearby blade. Then, after another pause¡ª "And hunting.¡± ¡°Hunting?¡± I wondered about the forging, but I didn''t remember seeing the sensei hunting. "When I was a mortal, my father used to take me hunting wild animals." His voice was steady, but something about it felt distant. Feeling his reluctance to elaborate, I shifted the conversation. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°I''m taking you to meet some beasts. It''s a quiet place, I imagine you''ll have a good time.¡± ¡°As long as they don''t eat me...¡± I commented while imagining what kind of beast could live in this place. Chapter 12: The dream of a child Chapter 12: The dream of a child In the vast library, where books stretched endlessly into the distance, the gentle clink of teacups echoed through the room. Near the wooden table, Sakura lay unconscious on a bed, her breathing steady but fragile. Seated at the table, her Sensei sipped tea, her eyes skimming the pages of a book. A quiet sigh escaped her lips. She had told countless stories¡ªsome tragic, some heroic. She had spent most of her life telling the tales of others, but could she do so forever? Once, she longed for others to tell stories about her. She dreamed of writing her own legend. But her ambition had led her astray. Over time, after assuming so many roles and identities, she had lost sight of who she truly was. Her gaze drifted toward the unconscious girl. "I shouldn''t get attached. Masters exist to teach, not to stay. But every time I watch her¡­ I feel like I''m about to make the same mistake again.¡± She set her teacup down with a soft clink, her fingers lingering on the rim. Tilting her head back, she stared at the ceiling¡ªor perhaps beyond it. "What is all of this for?" Her murmur barely stirred the air, too low to wake Sakura. "Why send this girl here and demand that I train her? Bringing someone like that into this world¡­ won''t it only lead to suffering?" The Tower¡¯s motives remained a mystery. No matter how many books she read, no matter how many stories she uncovered, the answers never came. *sigh* "It doesn¡¯t matter. If something is happening, I¡¯ll find out myself. After all, I am a storyteller¡ªthe best one at that." Across the library, a particular book glowed gold. Its title, inscribed in elegant script: Scheherazade, the Witch of a Thousand and One Tales. - - Far above, at the very peak of the Tower, a white-haired young man stood, gazing into the void. A small cat perched on his shoulder. "Master," she reported, "she''s become very attached to the girl." Yato smiled. His silver eyes flickered, traversing through countless layers of existence until he found the one he sought. "Even if she has abandoned her title, her ambition remains part of her. And I know she sees Sakura¡¯s potential too.¡± His thoughts drifted elsewhere¡ªto another promising figure. "Now, about the boy..." Rael¡¯s image surfaced in his mind. "He¡¯s progressing faster than I expected. The future is going to be fun." The cat purred as he stroked its head, watching the Tower¡¯s endless expanse unfold before him. - - Back in the library, Scheherazade closed her book and stood. "I suppose I¡¯ll need to create something new." With a blink, she vanished. She reappeared in a void of absolute nothingness. A place yet to be written. Her eyes glowed, and a book materialized in front of her. With a whisper, reality shifted. A breathtaking world unfolded¡ªrolling golden plains stretching endlessly beneath a sky filled with stars. Rivers of crystal-clear water carved gentle paths through the land, and mystical creatures soared through the clouds. ... "This will do." She took a deep breath as the wind brushed past her face. "It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve walked in a place this loud." She glanced toward the distance, where the library remained hidden beyond sight. "She¡¯ll wake soon.¡± - - ¡¾Sakura Pov¡¿ ¡°My head hurts!¡± When I opened my eyes, I felt an uncomfortable sensation in my body, and my head hurt a lot. ¡°But... I''m really alive! I had been sure I would die after that explosion, but here I was. My Sensei must have saved me. I looked around the familiar library, but she wasn¡¯t there. "Sensei?" I tried to sit up¡ªbad idea. Pain flared across my body, a burning sensation radiating beneath the bandages wrapped around me. ¡¾I recommend you avoid excessive movement. You have not fully recovered¡¿ "Axis! Good to hear your voice." ¡¾Hello, Captain¡¿ The presence of the AI was oddly reassuring. Left alone in this massive library¡­ wasn¡¯t as comforting as it seemed. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. "You¡¯re awake." My head snapped toward the voice. "Sensei!" "Don¡¯t push yourself," she chided, stepping closer. "Your body still needs rest. You¡¯ve been unconscious for a few days." A few days?! "I lost that much time?!" Panic surged through me. I don¡¯t have much time left to complete the Floor Challenge. As if reading my mind, Sensei shook her head. "I know what you¡¯re thinking. No, we¡¯re not training today. Today, you¡¯re going to rest." She placed a hand gently on the back of my neck. "But¡ª" "Quiet." I flinched at the firm tone. But then¡ªa strange warmth spread through me. The pain eased. ¡°This is¡­¡± It was the same feeling I¡¯d experienced while fighting the nightmare spider. ¡°Eternium.¡± An indescribable force¡ªone that had always been there, waiting. "It¡¯s just a restoration technique," Sensei explained. "You¡¯ll feel better soon.¡± "Oh..." "I was surprised you could tap into Eternium so soon," she continued, studying me. "Do you remember how it felt?" I closed my eyes. "It was like touching something that had always been there¡­ but had never revealed itself." I said. "Eternium isn¡¯t just power; it¡¯s an invisible current that has always run through the universe. And now, it flows through you, like a river that has finally found its true course.¡± She completed and gave a satisfied nod. Then, she gestured toward me. "You should be able to walk now. Come with me." "Where are we going?" "Somewhere to relax.¡± I walked towards her until I was standing next to her. After that, a strange circle appeared at our feet, and I already imagined what would happen next. ¡°I''ll have to get used to teleporting-¡± - - ¡¾Rael Pov¡¿ "I¡¯ll get him!" My entire focus was locked on my target¡ªa small white rabbit. Not just any rabbit. A Thief one. That damn rabbit had stolen my sword. This was embarrassing. Really embarrassing. The place I was in was stunning¡ªa vast, green plain bathed in golden light. The air was peaceful, warm, and inviting. While I was talking to my sensei while we were making roast meat, this damn rabbit stole my sword and ran away. Sensei said this place was home to many creatures, but who knew there would be such a rabbit? ¡¾Considering how absolutely incapable you were against it last time, I think your chances are low¡¿ ¡°It''s not helping, Axis,¡± I replied as I slowly approached the Rabbit. He was feeding, so now was my chance. ¡°Gotcha!¡± I jumped towards the Rabbit while trying to reach the sword, but what happened the next moment made my jaw drop to the floor. ¡¾Literally¡¿ *BAM!* The Rabbit dodged with one swift movement and kicked me in the face, and worse... it hurt more than I imagined. I fell to the ground but took advantage of the moment to roll towards the sword. ¡°Bastard!¡± The rabbit, that smug little demon, twitched its ears as if mocking me. *Bam!* Suddenly¡ª BAM! The rabbit collapsed instantly, unconscious before it even hit the ground. I barely had time to register what happened before my Sensei appeared beside me, effortlessly placing the rabbit somewhere safe. "These creatures are playful," he said casually, dusting off his hands. "But they¡¯re not evil.¡± - We eventually settled down on the grass, watching the sunset. Gold, violet, and deep crimson hues stretched endlessly across the sky to the horizon. Some small bird-like creatures fluttered toward us, their soft chirps blending into the evening air. One landed on my head and started pecking my hair. I was too tired to care. For the first time in a while, I felt at peace. I glanced at my Sensei. "Sensei¡ª" "Next month, we will continue your training." His voice was calm, but firm. "After that, you¡¯ll face your final trial. Once you complete it, you can return home." My fingers curled into the grass. Home. "Home¡­ huh?" I looked back at the sunset, my mind drifting into memories I had buried long ago. "Only if I still have a place to call home.¡± - - - ¡¾Sakura Pov¡¿ The teleportation circle lit up beneath us, and in an instant I found myself in the most breathtaking place I had ever seen. A vast sky stretched above me, filled with millions of stars, each twinkling like tiny shards of crystal. A river ran through the valley, its surface so clear it reflected the cosmos above. Exotic creatures roamed freely, their luminous forms casting gentle glows against the grass. I took a slow step forward, feeling the soft earth beneath my feet. "Sensei¡­ it¡¯s beautiful!" Sensei remained still, arms crossed, watching me with her usual neutral expression. "I¡¯m glad you like it." Her voice was calm, but I could sense a faint softness. "But I expected you to be more surprised about these creatures." I shook my head. "Actually¡­ I¡¯ve seen something like this before." I thought of Yato and the dream-like world he had shown me before I entered the Tower. Sensei¡¯s eyes flickered with curiosity. "Oh? The Tower¡¯s selection process is unpredictable even to me. I assumed you were chosen randomly." "I wasn¡¯t." I glanced at her, remembering the silver-eyed man who had given me a choice. "I was invited¡­ by someone. A mysterious man." Sensei tilted her head slightly. Before she could ask more, something small and fast shot toward me. A tiny dragon. I let out a yelp of surprise as the small, shimmering creature leaped onto me and started licking my face. "Hahaha! Are you a dragon or a dog?!" I laughed, running my hands over its scaly head. More tiny dragons appeared, circling me playfully. Then, suddenly¡ªthey stopped. They turned, lowering their heads, as if inviting me to climb onto their backs. I hesitated only for a moment. Then¡ªI climbed up. With a single mighty flap of their wings, we soared into the sky. The wind rushed past me, cool and exhilarating. Stars blurred around me as we rose higher and higher. Laughter lifted me, my arms outstretched, weightless. For the first time in so long, I felt free. I turned back¡ªtwo more dragons followed close behind. For a brief moment¡­ I imagined my sisters there. A tear rolled down my cheek before I even realized it. Then¡ªa hand rested gently on my head. I turned to see Sensei hovering beside me, standing effortlessly in thin air. Her gaze was calm, unreadable¡ªbut not unkind. I smiled softly. "I¡¯ll make things go back to how they were before." My fingers curled against the dragon¡¯s back. "I promise." --- Scheherazade''s Silent Thoughts Far below, standing on the soft grass, Scheherazade watched. Her golden eyes reflected the sky, but her mind was elsewhere. "A mysterious man, huh?" She glanced at the pages of an invisible book only she could see. "Another story unfolds." The stars shimmered, and the night whispered its secrets.