Floor 2 Joint Trial (1)
“Status Window.”
His status window gleamed like a freshly washed car, transformed beyond recognition.
He'd used the Membership Ticket to buy 21 top-grade magic stones for the price of 30.
Meditation ★★★★
- Accumulates energy in the body while in a stationary pose.
- Upon releasing the stationary pose, energy is continuously consumed, dramatically boosting overall physical abilities during consumption.
- Energy consumption rate can be adjusted.
- Remaining Energy: [0% / 100%]
With an extra skill slot and physique slot each, he'd slotted in abilities that synergized with Clone Generation.
He wasn't sure if Meditation applied to clones, but given the safety net of his difficulty cheat, it was the best pick.
Clones supposedly inherited the same physique and abilities, so he could just summon one and leave it be if needed.
That had cost two top-grade magic stones, by the way.
The remaining enhancement stones were bought with the last top-grade one exchanged for advanced stones.
'They take a 30% fee, but whatever...'
This Joint Trial's theme was Origin. Based on surviving that ancient Earth tsunami jungle from Origin Tower Floor 1, he'd picked up Poison Resistance Body and Extreme Adaptation Body to endure environmental hazards like cold and heat.
Plus Vitality Amplification and Druid's Metabolism to toughen up a weak, frail body.
Higher grades really made a difference. Instead of slotting separate minor boosts for strength, stamina, and agility, the ones he had now took just one slot each but delivered way more punch across the board.
'I'm not invincible, so gotta stay cautious.'
Even with cheat mode and money paving the way, his base was still that of an ordinary guy. He wasn't leaping dozens of meters or shattering rocks with a punch like some fantasy superhuman.
He'd felt that desperation on Floor 2—no room for arrogance.
After closing his eyes for a few hours of waiting,
Floor 2 Joint Trial begins.
The concept of Floor 2 Joint Trial is Origin.
Floor 2 Joint Trial difficulty varies based on total number of climbers. Joint Trials allow voluntary entry.
Every 48 hours, the Floor 2 curse 'Reduced Cardiopulmonary Endurance' strengthens.
Final Joint Trial clear requires Survival difficulty climbers only.
“......?”
His body felt fine. He'd expected to be dragged in like last time.
He cracked his eyes to scan the messages.
“Ah... those fucking towers—”
He pulled up the tower info right away.
Total Climbers: 8,012,526
Time Limit: 461 days, 15 hours, 24 minutes, 18 seconds
Climbing Record: Floor 3
After conquering Floor 2, one change had rocked the community: new climbers dropped from 300,000 to 100,000.
And... over 10,000 climbers had died climbing already.
He'd cursed the towers out back then, but this made even that feel off-limits.
If those extra 200,000 near-normals had joined?
-Floor 2 Joint Trial difficulty varies based on total climbers.
The difficulty would've spiked insanely.
Actual climbers made up only about 20% anyway. Most were Easy or Normal Floor 1 folks chasing enhancement stone health/anti-aging perks or cash.
How many would enter the Joint Trial?
“We're fucked.”
Actual climbers were mostly fit guys. Tower life toughened them up, turning speech rough and cocky.
Now the community overflowed with soft, plant-gallery or cat-mom vibes.
Early quitters must've shown up, itching to jump into Floor 2 Joint Trial.
“Fuck it... Enter.”
Entering Floor 2 Joint Trial.
*****
Primeval ancient Earth.
Humanity back then lived as part of nature, ignorant of the world.
Knowing nothing, they could learn anything; unable to do anything, they could try everything.
All was mystery and threat. Forms unshaped, laws blurred, existences undefined.
Skies rippled like seas, earth breathed and shifted, nameless things birthed and vanished in cycles.
“This world is beautiful and mysterious.”
And mystery holds no answers.
Or rather, it shouldn't.
****
“So? Tell me more.”
He addressed the hexagonal something overgrown with vines and moss.
Boring at first, but it grew captivating—like old folktales.
Click.
Its head popped open like a tint cap, a blue gem outputting voice beyond.
Humanity in league with mystery, the Arcana, built the Origin Tower. They believed this beautiful world shouldn't be caged like a bird. But the tower corrupted, and their vision burned to ash.
“So the Arcana all died?”
Yes.
“Ah... really? You made by those Arcana too?”
Yes.
Towers defied common sense. Was this a simulation or some real cosmic world? Either way, they'd been pulled into the Arcana's mysterious realm.
Amid vast, beautiful nature—waterfall roars, earth's breaths—he asked the cube.
“Pulled into Doom Tower Floor 2 Joint Trial, and it's here?”
A probe. If this was a real world separate from the Arcana and AI, aid might be possible.
If true, Origin Tower wiped out its creators—wouldn't the Arcana program revenge?
'Not buying it wholesale, though.'
Origin Tower seeks proof of existence's certainty, answers' reality.
“Too deep, no clue.”
From the tale, Arcana probably weren't chatty types anyway. Ascetics spout baffling shit from a modern view.
Building that mad tower for "mystery must be free"? Not normal thinkers.
Around him: lakes, waterfalls, forests, mist—stunning harmony.
Colorful stag beetles sipping sap, unfamiliar birds scattering skyward, white rabbit-rodent hybrids darting off.
Utterly peaceful, no threats.
Yet this serene trial outdid the Mercury defense's hell. Floor 2 naturally tougher than 1.
“No answers.”
Other entrants surely existed, but no human presence.
Nearby ruins: moss-vine choked, millennia-old, post-apoc vibe.
“You know Joint Trials? Other climbers been here?”
First question: Yes. Second: No answer.
“Riiight...?”
He'd half-hoped, half-dreaded meeting otherworldly folk if towers bridged dimensions. Not yet, apparently.
“Okay. Spill everything on Joint Trials.”
I can tell. But current progress forbids access.
Clack.
“Hey! Hey! Wait!”
It slammed shut like a sassy girl rejecting him and vanished.
We were bonding! You like me too, right? I felt the vibes—
No response, even calling like Bixby. Turtling up inside.
No point sticking.
“Guess I'll wander.”
Nothing urgent screamed "do this."
Floor 1: walls and monster hordes—obvious.
'Escape the world?'
Nah. Others predicting something? Curse ramps every 2 days—no picnics from smart folks.
Time attack key.
“Monsters, traps...”
Nothing risky in sight. Critters mostly herbivorous; carnivores fox or weasel-sized max.
'Need to test cheat difficulty limits...'
Floor 1 bounced him out entirely. Same here? No other climbers visible—likely.
A third zone, maybe.
-Mystery holds no answers. Or shouldn't.
-But tower corrupted, vision to ash.
AI stele's words. First tower convo ever. Key NPC?
Arcana built it, so
“Prioritize ruins.”
Arcana made Origin Tower. Ruins screamed centuries... millennia old, unignorable legacy.
Beyond umbrella mega-trees, waterfalls cascaded like overflows.
Dodging sprays under tree canopies for shade, onward.
Unidentified but harmless bug chirps, novel beasts fleeing eye contact.
“Haa...”
Stumped.
Over roots taller than him, through thick underbrush.
Fantasy tale forest-lake backdrop: a cliff.
Summoned the flying silk, hopped on.
“Up that cliff.”
Poked its belly; fins waved lazily, ascending.
Dozens of meters high, but no fear—just awe at cool breeze, epic vista.
Cliff top: vast blue meadow.
Puddles from palm-sized to lake-huge teemed with alien aquatics.
Ahead, unnaturally plopped: another stele.
Mystery is not a path, but a fork. Is it truly?
“.........?”
Frankly? Zero clue what to do in Floor 2 Joint Trial.
