The forest greeted him with silence.
Not the kind of silence that brought peace—but the kind that stalked just before a predator struck.
A blur of motion.
From the shadows, a goblin lunged—filthy, green-skinned, dagger in hand. It snarled mid-air.
Lysander didn't flinch.
One step forward. One fist cocked.
CRACK.
The goblin's skull caved in like glass under pressure. Its body crumpled to the ground without a sound.
A flickering screen appeared before him:
> You have slain [Goblin - Lv. 1].
Experience Gained.
He blinked. "One punch?"
Before he could process it, five more goblins burst from the brush, teeth bared, howling in broken tongues.
They didn't get far.
Lysander moved like a reaper—swift, precise. No sword. No weapon. Just fists, and fury.
Five bodies hit the dirt.
The screen pulsed again:
> You have slain 5 Goblins.
Experience Gained.
Congratulations! You have reached Level 2.
HP and MP restored.
You have gained 2 Stat Points.
"Huh," he muttered. "That was fast."
He flexed his fingers, glancing at the display as it hovered beside him. "Back on Solari, even baby wyverns hit harder than these things."
Still, a system was a system. He tapped the window mentally, allocating points.
Strength: +1
Agility: +1
Stamina: +1
Sensitivity: +1
> New Stats:
Strength – 101
Agility – 101
Stamina – 101
Sensitivity – 101
A subtle change surged through his body—his muscles coiled tighter, his reflexes sharper, senses cleaner.
The forest felt slower now. He was moving faster.
"This world really plays by numbers," he murmured. "And I'm good at math."
He pressed onward.
More goblins fell beneath his fists. Their crude weapons shattered like toys. As his kill count rose, so did the experience needed to reach the next level. By the time the last goblin choked out its death rattle, he was drenched in sweat—but smiling.
A new screen flashed violently red.
> WARNING: BOSS MONSTER DETECTED
Objective: Defeat the Goblin King
A guttural roar tore through the trees.
From the mist emerged a beast—towering, armored in jagged bone, wielding a club the size of a tree trunk.
The Goblin King.
Lysander grinned. "Finally, something fun."
The two clashed like titans. The king swung wide—Lysander ducked under the blow, heat flaring from his core. Ember licked along his skin.
First Awakening: Ember Ascension – Active.
He moved faster than sight. One punch, two, then a spinning heel kick that cracked the king's collarbone. The beast roared, club smashing into the earth.
Lysander weaved through the dust storm, uppercutting the goblin king under the jaw. Flames burst from his fist. Bone shattered.
The beast stumbled back—
—and Lysander struck its heart with a burning palm.
The Goblin King dropped.
Silence.
Then—
> Hidden Quest Cleared: Slay the Goblin King
Rewards: 200 Gold Coins
Bonus EXP Awarded
Current Level: 7
Remaining Stat Points: 10
Before he could speak, light swallowed him.
---
He landed in a vast marble hall, pillars stretching into an endless ceiling. Floating lanterns flickered with soft light. Arcane glyphs traced glowing paths across the floor.
A voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere.
> "Welcome. You have successfully cleared the Tutorial."
"You are now in the Lobby of the Tower."
"Region: C-130."
"Lobby?" he repeated.
A flutter of wings.
A figure descended from the light—a radiant woman cloaked in celestial robes, her silver hair trailing like starlight. Haloed wings stretched behind her. Her eyes held galaxies.
He read the name above her head:
> [Seraphina – Floor Manager – Lv. 500]
His breath caught. "The voice… was you."
Seraphina smiled. "Indeed. I am Seraphina, the Manager of the Tower's lowest floor." She gave a twirl, her voice sweet. "Your beautiful guide."
Lysander stared. "So what now, oh beautiful manager?"
The air chilled.
Seraphina's smile twisted. Her face morphed—something darker, colder.
"What now? Oh, sweet child of Solari..." Her voice dropped an octave. "You participate in a game where your life is the wager."
Lysander's grin sharpened. "My life, huh? Sounds like an exciting game."
Her coldness flickered into surprise. "You're… different."
She floated down, arms crossed, regal. "All humans from Earth have been summoned here. All must climb the Tower. Every floor is a trial. Survival is optional. Advancement is not."
A massive screen shimmered to life.
> Tutorial Rewards Calculated…
Total Gold Coins Earned: 5,000
You are the Highest Scorer in Region C-130.
Your Name is Recorded in the Tower of Babel.
"Public rankings," Lysander mused. "Good. Let them know the name."
The screen flashed again:
> Shop Now Open.
He browsed.
A sleek combat jacket caught his eye—dark, lined with mana-resistant thread. He bought it.
Next: weapons.
A blade sang to him from the display—a steel longsword inscribed with ancient runes. A perfect fit for his class.
> Purchase Confirmed.
Item Equipped: [Steelblade – Tier 1]
Seraphina clapped her hands. "Time's up, golden boy."
She pointed toward a glowing portal behind her.
"The First Floor begins now."
Lysander cracked his neck, sword humming at his hip.
"Let's see what your Tower has to offer."
He stepped through the portal—flames rising in his wake.
---
To be continued…