A Promising Tree Differs from Its Cotyledons
Unlike Isana, I, Han Do-yoon, was a tower specialist hiker. Traveling from the edge of the tower city Gehenna to the central tower? Just hop on a portal.
The spatial folding device that connected distances was free for anyone to use. So while Isana spent hours exploring the city, I zipped straight to the tower and cleared the first floor like it was my second lap around the loop.
First things first: I need flint, oil, and a chicken.
I'd just arrived in the Tower World, so of course I didn't have any local currency. But there was always a way to get what I needed. Items useful across worlds always fetched a decent price.
"Trade this for flint, oil, and a chicken."
The general store in front of the tower was where climbers stocked up on consumables. The owner at the time was Alfonso. A month later, he'd decide to return home and hand the shop off to some customer—though by my standards, I had no idea who the second owner was. Apparently, the place changed hands twice while I was in the tower.
"One of those clock things, huh? Hmm... how does it work?"
"Like this... matches that one over there, right?"
"Pretty finely made... looks like something from Earth."
"Luxury item. You can't get it without military connections."
Pure bullshit—it was an electronic watch I'd bought in front of a military base. Scratched to hell, but the performance charmed Alfonso. Without a word, he sent a slave to fetch the flint, oil lamp, and a chicken.
"Hope it's a live one."
"Chicken coop's separate."
"Instructions are separate too."
"...Fine, service with a smile. Good deal."
The battery would die soon anyway, making it useless here. I was the one coming out ahead.
With the essentials secured, I headed for the tower. The massive black iron gate was too huge for any person to open manually, but willpower mattered more. Stand before it, will yourself inside, and it opens and closes.
Plenty of residents hesitated in front of the tower, some backing away and fleeing altogether. But I stepped in as casually as opening a door.
My vision went white... A forgotten landscape flashed before my eyes for a moment. Then the world I knew blacked out.
Everything beyond black and white vanished, replaced by a familiar message.
Welcome back to the Tower, Han Do-yoon. The filthy, weak betrayer who poisoned a great hero.
"Keep it short."
The Tower welcomes the weak.
"...Yeah, call me whatever. What's with the time stop all of a sudden?"
Though this is an irregular 'return' from a past Earth rather than Earth itself, per Tower rules, privileges earned previously will be re-granted to the weak.
"Privileges?"
Skills earned through effort are excluded.
System
The System skill was something every tower resident got upon entering. Anyone who'd played an online game could use it easily, packed with convenience features—mastery of it decided your future.
Predatory Emotion
You can now check information on substances whose emotions have ended.
The skill I'd used so effectively before. The one that turned me into a gluttonous gourmet and set me on the path to alchemy.
Thousand-Year Prison
The Tower curses you for breaking its rules.
Your physical abilities are restricted. In exchange, you gain infinite mana.
The curse—or blessing—from floor 50. It was a blessing because even the Tower wanted me breaking rules. I'd exploited loopholes to deal with a headache of a guy, sacrificing to take him out. Penalty for rule-breaking: the curse. Reward for helping the Tower: the blessing.
Safe House
Your existing Safe House has been reset.
The Safe House privilege created a safe space inside the tower. Every floor had a manager. When one stepped away temporarily and I filled in, the Tower granted me this personal space perk. I'd turned it into my private workshop.
...Privilege granting complete.
Hunt 5 wolves
The blackened world restored itself. The vibrant, beautiful forest spread out again.
I took a deep breath of the fresh forest air and flexed my hand. The Thousand-Year Prison didn't lower physical stats—it capped growth. I'd never wear plate armor again. Not that I planned to.
But infinite mana makes up for it.
I snapped my fingers, and a tiny spark flared and vanished. That was my limit for now. Infinite mana fuel, but my engine's displacement couldn't burn it all.
I bought flint figuring I wouldn't get privileges right away on floor 1 entry. Guess I didn't need it.
In the Tower World, alchemists were a type of mage. Like how Earth scientists branched into biotech, environment, astronomy, etc., mages did too. All scientists learned basic math and calculus; alchemists mastered elemental magic as fundamentals.
Until I set up my workshop, I'll play mage for a bit.
Memories resurfaced. Floor 1 looked like a peaceful forest outside the city. But wolves lived here. A modern person could take one 1v1 using terrain, but two or more? You'd get eaten.
I got cocky, lost an arm, then luckily ate a hallucinogenic herb.
My arm got ripped off right at the start. While staunching the bleeding, pain made me bite a random grass tuft for a gag—it turned out to be a hallucinogen pumping endorphins. I went mad dog, biting wolves to clear the floor. Probably why I got my eating-specialized skill.
Can't pull the same stunt.
I spread oil around and released the chicken from its coop. Abandoned to nature, it clucked frantically, legs pumping as it chased bugs in the underbrush.
I planned to kill it myself.
With Thousand-Year Prison back and mana flowing, magic was no issue. I aimed at the blissfully ignorant rooster.
Pop! A translucent orb shot from my fingertip.
It shattered the little head of the chicken enjoying its first true happiness. Crunch! The clucking stopped, replaced by the thick scent of blood spreading through the forest.
I waited for wolves to gather at the corpse. Floor 1 was a small 3km radius space—wolves swarmed fast.
-Grrr.
-Woof! Woof!
Wolves gathered in seconds, spotting prey and competing instantly. They stared down over the chicken carcass—until the alpha appeared.
-Grrrrrr!
A massive wolf shoved through the pack. Its huge maw dwarfed the tiny chicken. Just before it chomped, I ignited the oil I'd spread.
Snap... The simplest 1-circle fire spell, but it fizzled.
Why not? Magic erectile dysfunction?
Snap again—spark flew. Tiny match-flame hit oil, whooshed into a wall of fire.
-Awoooo!
Wolves panicked, trapped by flames. But the forest burned faster. Oil centered on the chicken formed a tightening ring of fire, choking their air.
You have defeated 10 wolves.
◈ Charred Wolf Pelt
Form of Heaven, Shadow of Sound, Blade of Tower
I skimmed the piling messages. Items from floor 1 were chump change after climbing to 99.
Mana stones and junk... perfect for workshop setup.
Mulling what to buy first, I paused.
Wait... what was that last one?
I opened the Tower's inventory system and scanned the stacked items. Spotted something that shouldn't be there.
Form of Heaven... Shadow of Sound... Blade of Tower?
A plain-looking longsword at first glance. But I knew its true nature.
Divine Relic
Attack Power: ∞ | Durability: ∞
A divine relic bestowed upon the Sword Saint who transcended sword heart and formless realms. Its former owner slew a Star Apostle invading the Tower World and severed a now-vanished 'concept.' The Tower dubbed her a sword god and granted this weapon—but even Sword Saints can't read hearts, leading to catastrophe.
Special Effect: Usable only by Isana (unconfirmed otherwise)
Why slip me something I can't even use?
The journey to claim this sword flashed in my mind. A drug-hazed, faded memory.
Snapping out, two doors had appeared. One led to a dim cave. The other to familiar Gehenna.
Advance to floor 2 or return to the city?
No rush on the tower—it's always there. But the alchemy workshop? Sooner the better.
I opened the second door and returned to Gehenna.
"What? Super rookie?"
"Eek...? Even if it's easy, floor 1 in 30 minutes? And 10 wolves?"
"Where'd this monster come from... Ladder for top rankers broken again."
Floor 1 Fastest Time
1st: 00:29:32 / Han Do-yoon
2nd: 00:35:31 / Karia Redheart
3rd: 00:38:18 / 'Deceased Resident'
4th: 00:40:11 / 'Deceased Resident'
5th: 00:45:42 / 'Miho'
The record update popped as I exited. I ignored it since it was me, but residents buzzed. Updates stole buffs from each rank. Floor 1's was Wolf Hunter's Blessing: no first strikes from wolf monsters, bonus damage, alpha status.
Lower ranks probably weakened: less aggro, less damage, no alpha recognition, lower affinity. Wolves spawned constantly in forest floors, so it mattered.
...Not to me after 99 floors, though. My favorite was Bug Repellent Blessing—no mosquitoes or bugs. Personal SSS-tier.
Karia Redheart... pushed to 2nd because of me.
Karia Redheart, a companion's name. Her final moments on 99—joints shattered, body broken—flashed.
...Stealing her floor 1 buff means a bad first impression.
She was probably grinding her teeth right now: Han Do-yoon? Who the fuck is that?
"Who's Han Do-yoon?"
"Earth human by the name."
Pushing through the crowd outside the tower. Then... a familiar face. Isana. Hadn't entered yet. Glancing nervously, hesitating—she didn't match the Sword God I knew. That attitude killed nine out of ten entrants.
I watched her pass without recognizing me, then pulled the sword from inventory.
Guess I'm handling disposal myself?
What should Isana without me look like? Surviving brutal flu, grimacing through a tough night in Gehenna, then storming the tower with venom?
That flaky mindset now? 100% disaster.
I'd hoped she'd return sword-ready. But I'd made her this hesitant mess—my fault mostly.
I approached her at the door, yanked her half-in body out, and shoved the future divine relic into her hands.
You have transferred 'Form of Heaven, Shadow of Sound, Blade of Tower' to Isana.
"Can't send you in empty-handed. You'd worry."
"You...!"
"Do well."
I pushed her back inside.
She'll make it.
Starting armed gave her a huge head start. Even if she was a sword noob now, a promising tree differs from its cotyledons—I believed in her.