{Tower PvP Arena - Zone 10 Arrival}
The massive gates of the Tower PvP Arena groaned open, revealing a sight that stole the breath from even the most seasoned climbers. Group 10 stepped through the threshold, their footsteps echoing against polished stone as they entered what could only be described as a monument to combat itself.
The arena stretched before them like an ancient colosseum reborn through Tower magic—towering walls of enchanted marble that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, rising tier upon tier until they disappeared into the afternoon sky. Floating magical screens hovered at impossible angles, each one displaying different views of the arena floor below. Banners bearing the crests of various Tower factions fluttered without wind, suspended by invisible forces.
But it was the sound that truly overwhelmed them—a wall of noise that seemed to press against their very souls. The crowd wasn't just full; it was beyond capacity, with climbers packed into every available space, some even floating in mid-air thanks to flight abilities or magical assistance.
The noise was a physical force—thousands of voices creating a symphony of anticipation.
"Is that him?!" "The record breaker!" "I can't believe he's real!" "Look at that mask!"
Climbers pressed against barriers, craning their necks for a better view. Some had clearly traveled from distant floors just for this moment, their excited chatter filling the air with electric energy.
Jin-Seok entered last, his black mask catching the arena's ethereal lighting. The moment his presence registered with the crowd, something extraordinary happened.
"JIN-SEOK!" "THE MASKED ONE!" "HE'S HERE!"
The deafening roar didn't fade—it transformed, becoming something deeper, more primal. A hush that somehow carried more weight than any scream.
The Tower Administrator, usually unflappable in his centuries of service, stopped mid-stride. His eyes swept the impossible gathering before him, and for the first time in decades, genuine surprise flickered across his features.
"Those first four trials?" he said, his voice carrying easily through the enhanced acoustics as Zone 10 group walked toward the entrance of the fifth trial. "Child's play. This is where your story really begins."
{Group 10's Disbelief}
The other members of Group 10 stood frozen, their heads tilted back as they tried to process the sheer scale of what surrounded them.
"What the hell is this crowd?" one of them whispered, his voice barely audible above the ambient noise.
"Are we really still in newbie trials...?" another asked, the question hanging in the air like a challenge to reality itself.
Jin-Seok's voice cut through their amazement—calm, measured, but carrying an undertone that made even the Administrator pay attention.
"Is it always this packed?"
The Administrator turned, his ancient eyes meeting Jin-Seok's through the mask's shadow. For a moment, vulnerability replaced his usual composure.
"No..." he said, his voice trailing off as he looked back at the arena. "I've never seen anything like this. Even I don't know why they've all come."
The admission hung between them like a confession.
{Tower-Wide Broadcast}
Across the Tower's countless floors, magical screens flickered to life simultaneously. The Tower's broadcast system, usually reserved for major events and emergencies, carried the arena's feed to every corner of the massive structure.
In common areas, climbers pressed closer to viewing screens. In guild halls, conversations died mid-sentence. Even in the most remote training chambers, the broadcast demanded attention.
The arena stands themselves told the story—a sea of faces from every floor, every faction, every walk of Tower life. Veterans who hadn't left their high floors in years sat beside fresh-faced newcomers. The crowd's energy was palpable even through the magical screens, a mixture of anticipation and something else... something that tasted like witnessing history.
"Did you see the Gravity Trial replay?" "Impossible... how did he move like that?" "Four nightmare trials in one day—that's not human!"
An older climber shook his head in disbelief. "I've seen seasoned veterans fail that trial."
The crowd's energy was electric, and one phrase kept repeating: "the Masked One." The crowd was reaching fever pitch, their chants growing louder: "SHOW US THE RECORDS!" "WE WANT TO SEE THE MASKED DEMON!" "JIN-SEOK! JIN-SEOK! JIN-SEOK!"
{The Hype Master's Entrance}
The floating magical microphones that surrounded the stadium began to pulse with golden light, and the crowd's energy shifted into pure electricity. They knew what was coming.
Razzel Vox materialized in the arena's center, his presence commanding the space like a force of nature. The Tower's premier host and commentator, Vox had built his reputation on making even mundane trials feel epic. But today, his usual theatrical flair carried genuine awe.
His voice, enhanced by Tower magic, rolled across the arena like thunder:
"HE BROKE FOUR NIGHTMARE TRIALS IN A SINGLE DAY! Where did he come from? NOBODY KNOWS! What's his background? A COMPLETE MYSTERY! But what we DO know is that he's already carved his name into Tower history!"
Vox's voice rose to a crescendo.
"This unknown talent—this TERRIFYING prodigy—has left his mark on our Tower with record-breaking clears that seasoned veterans can only dream of! THE MASKED DEMON WHO SHATTERED EVERY NIGHTMARE DIFFICULTY RECORD—RYU JIN-SEOK!"
The name echoed through the colosseum, bouncing off the magical barriers and seeming to multiply with each repetition. The crowd's reaction was a tapestry of human emotion: gasps of disbelief, roars of appreciation, whispers of awe, and underneath it all, a current of nervous energy that spoke to something deeper than mere entertainment.
{Reactions Across the Zones}
In the viewing areas designated for Zones 1 through 9, the reactions painted a picture of the Tower's complex social dynamics.
"Who is this guy?" The question rippled through multiple groups, spoken in dozens of different tones—some curious, others suspicious.
"He cleared the Maze in nightmare difficulty?"
"Let's see how he handles real combat," someone else muttered, though their voice carried more uncertainty than confidence.
"Damn... he's the one everyone's talking about." This came with a mixture of admiration and something that might have been resignation—the recognition that the playing field had just shifted permanently.
{The VIP Hierarchy}
The VIP section, normally reserved for the Tower's elite, buzzed with tension that had nothing to do with the upcoming trial. Tower royal families' elders sat alongside Top Blue Star Guild representatives, Merchant Union Executives, and Sky Federation leadership—power players who normally commanded any room they entered.
But today, they seemed diminished. Dozens of whispered conversations filled the chamber, each one underscored by a nervous energy that was almost tangible. Despite their status, their eyes kept drifting upward to another room—one that shouldn't have existed above theirs.
The room above was cloaked in barriers so dense they seemed to warp the light around them. Observation seals layered upon observation seals created a space that was more fortress than viewing box. Even these titans of Tower society glanced up with curiosity tinged by respect, but none dared approach.
{True VIP Room: The Apex Balcony}
Above even the VIP room, in a space that defied the arena's apparent architecture, three figures occupied what could only be called the apex of Tower society. The barriers surrounding this room weren't just for privacy—they were a statement of power so absolute that even acknowledgment of their presence required permission.
Currently, three individuals graced this impossible
--------------------------
Group 10 came expecting a trial.
What they found... was a stage.
A crowd roaring one name—
Ryu Jin-Seok.
The Masked Demon.
The anomaly who broke nightmare trials like they were nothing.
Four clears in a single day.
And now, thousands watched—
not a climber, but a question.
Above them all, a room long untouched stirred.
No names. No voices.
Just presence.
Three figures.
Watching what no one thought worth watching.
Why now?
Why this moment?
No one knew.
But something had changed.
From trial... to turning point.
From silence... to the
start of something vast.
_________________________________________________
{An Original Series by Celestial Raven}