When the light faded, Roman — now hidden under the guise of Reven — stood in the Tower's starting plaza.
It was nothing like Earth. The skies above swirled in endless twilight, tinged with violet hues. Floating islands drifted lazily overhead. The land beneath his feet felt unreal — solid, yet humming with magic so ancient it almost felt… divine.
Before him stood a monolithic gate engraved with celestial runes and dragon-scale-like patterns. It pulsed softly as a screen of light appeared in the air:
[Welcome to the Tower of Trial — Dimensional Authority of the Divine.]- Awakened: Reven -- Identity Masked: Approved -- Rank: B-Class (Registered)- Class: Unverified- Ticket: Temporary Challenge Key – Valid for 20 Floors
Tower Function:"This is the domain where mortals are tested to become gods. Each floor presents a trial — of strength, wit, will, or soul."
Rules:– 1 Floor = 1 Trial.– Pass a floor to gain EXP, skills, and loot.– Rest points every 5 floors.– Death in the Tower = Death in Reality.– One ticket permits only 20 consecutive floors.– Failure to clear a floor within 48 hours results in forced ejection.– Hidden Challenges and Hidden Rewards may appear at random.
The higher you climb, the closer you come to Divinity… or Madness.
Roman narrowed his eyes.
This wasn't a simple dungeon.
This place was a divine forge — where the gods tested souls and laughed at their struggle.
But to him, it was more than that. This Tower, created by gods to shape their chosen champions, would now become his weapon to destroy them.
He clenched his fist.
"20 floors… That's my first step."
He stepped through the gate. A brilliant flash engulfed him.
[Entering Floor 1: The Plains of Bloodmist]
The first floor opened to a vast crimson field, blanketed in thick red fog. Twisted trees bled sap. The air smelled of iron. In the distance, dozens of feral beasts stirred — creatures twice the size of lions with bone protrusions, eyes glowing with rage.
[Objective: Survive the Hunt for 30 Minutes]
The beasts charged.
And Roman — Reven — smiled.
What makes the Tower different?
It grants experience and evolution faster than the outside world.
Each floor adapts to the user's potential, meaning challenges scale with hidden abilities, not just visible rank.
After every 5 floors, he can rest, receive loot, and optionally exit to return stronger with better tickets.
Beyond the 20th floor, only permanent entrants or divine candidates can proceed.
That's why this temporary ticket — though limited — was priceless.
If he could conquer the first 20 floors, Roman would not only grow stronger, but he'd awaken more of his class potential, sharpen his undead abilities, and uncover the Tower's secrets.
And maybe… just maybe… he'd find pieces of the Dragon God's lost artifact waiting for him at the 100th floor.
"Let's begin, Tower," Reven whispered, lifting his obsidian scythe."I'll turn your test into a graveyard."
As the crimson fog curled around Roman's boots, he stood silently in the Plains of Bloodmist, scythe in hand.
Dozens of beasts charged at him — grotesque hounds with molten eyes, their bodies stitched with bone and fire.
[Tower Objective: Survive the Hunt for 30 Minutes][Number of Enemies: 48 Bloodfang Hellhounds (Lv. 20–25)]
Roman narrowed his eyes.
"No need to survive… when I can dominate."
His shadow rippled.
[Summon: Valgrim — King of the Bone Wyverns]
The ground shattered as a vortex of black mana exploded behind him.
From the darkness rose a winged titan — Valgrim, draconic bones clad in spectral flame, wings made of night and shattered steel. His empty eye sockets burned with violet soulfire.
The beasts screeched to a halt mid-charge.
[Bloodfang Hellhounds are inflicted with: FEAR status][Fear Resistance Failed!][Enemies' agility reduced by 60%. Combat effectiveness down.]
Roman raised his obsidian scythe — Voidrend — glowing faintly with deathly runes.
"Valgrim. Feast."
The wyvern king surged forward, wings beating once — a gust of cursed wind threw half the hounds into the air. Valgrim's maw opened.
[Skill Activated: Dragon Breath — Bonefire Nova]
A burst of pale flame erupted from Valgrim's jaws, consuming eight enemies in a pillar of white fire. They melted before they could even scream.
[8 enemies slain. EXP +880][HP Regeneration Triggered: +350 HP][Mana remains full.]
Three beasts lunged toward Roman from behind. He didn't flinch.
[Skill Activated: Death Step]
He blinked through shadows, appearing behind them mid-lunge. With one smooth swing, his scythe cleaved the air.
[Voidrend Slash — 10% Unlocked Effect: Soul Rend]
The slash didn't just cut — it shattered their souls, turning their bodies into ash.
[3 enemies slain. EXP +330]
"Too slow."
Valgrim leapt into the air, flapping once — dark clouds churned above.
[Skill Activated: Wyvern King's Descent]
He dove like a meteor, crashing into the swarm of monsters with a shockwave of death mana. Bones snapped. Ground ruptured. Fifteen enemies were torn apart by the impact alone.
[15 enemies slain. EXP +1,500]
Roman calmly walked forward, steps echoing across the blood-soaked field.
One hound — larger than the rest — tried to escape, limping into the mist.
"You're not allowed to run."[Skill: Chain of the Grave]
Spectral chains burst from the earth, wrapping the beast and dragging it back screaming. Roman stabbed Voidrend into its skull.
Silence followed.
[All Enemies Slain][Bonus Objective Cleared: Complete Annihilation][Time Elapsed: 4 minutes 11 seconds][Level Up! Lv. 1 → Lv. 4][Stats increased.]
Roman Elhart — Updated Status:
Level: 4
HP: 2,500 / 2,500
Mana: 6,600 / 6,600
Strength: 25
Intelligence: 130
Agility: 47
Endurance: 22
Death Mana Affinity: 98%
Undead Dragon Command: 1 / 5
Available Summon Slots: 1
Artifact: Voidrend (10% unlocked)→ Passive: Soul Rend — Attacks destroy soul energy of low-level enemies.→ Active: Shadow Pulse Slash — (Locked until 20% unlock)
Summon: Valgrim (Lv. 35 — Loyalty: Devoted)
Roman lifted his scythe to the sky. Fog parted before him as the gate to the second floor revealed itself.
"Let's see what gods have prepared next."
And with that, Reven ascended — unstoppable, reborn, and no longer the hunted.
He was death incarnate, climbing toward vengeance.