Novia's thoughts lingered on Shiddharth even as she made her way to the inn the next morning. She had freshened up quickly, still feeling the embarrassment from their previous encounter, yet unable to stop her mind from replaying his teasing words.
"And yeah… that black mole on the right side of your waist… it's actually quite beautiful," Shiddharth had said casually, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Novia's cheeks had immediately flushed a deep crimson. Her heart had raced as a confusing mix of irritation and flustered curiosity surged through her.
"You…!" she had shouted, swinging a small hammer at him, but he had caught it effortlessly, a teasing grin spreading across his face before he casually walked away.
Her mind had gone haywire after that moment. Does he… like me? she wondered, biting her lip. No… he's teasing me, but… why did he motivate me about myself? Does he… really care? Her thoughts swirled uncontrollably, illogical and chaotic, yet somehow persistent. Every time she recalled the mole, a blush returned to her cheeks, leaving her both annoyed and secretly delighted.
The next morning, Novia arrived at the inn for breakfast, hoping to find Shiddharth. She scanned the room, but he was nowhere in sight.
"Is Shiddharth not coming for breakfast?" she asked the young girl sitting beside her.
"He left early this morning for climbing the floors," the girl replied calmly, chewing a piece of meat. "He said he won't return until three days from now, after clearing up to the 96th floor."
Novia's eyebrows knitted together. "Three days? That's… impossible for anyone to climb that fast. Even seasoned hunters take much longer."
Nitya shrugged between bites. "Apparently, he's not ordinary. We'll just have to wait."
At the 64th Floor – Hidden Class Quest
Shiddharth stood over the Red Dragon Egg, his eyes scanning the glowing inscription hovering above it.
"It looks like you're full… then shall we move on and complete the hidden class quest?" he murmured, almost playfully, as if speaking to the egg.
The message from the Tower confirmed it:
[The Slayer Hidden Class Quest]
Strengthen your heart
Immunity to all ***** attacks
Gain a power of ****
##@#@#@ (Condition not met)
#@&@#&@ (Requires the @#@&# slab)
Upon accepting the quest, Shiddharth felt his surroundings shift. A sudden swirl of energy pulled him in, and a notification appeared:
[Your skill "The One Who Can Resurrect" (SS-Class) has been sealed – you are outside the Tower.]
[Your skill "Defy The Tower Law" (???) has been sealed – you are outside the Tower.]
"Not inside the Tower…" he muttered, scanning the area. "This world… it's enormous. One could never know it fully. Every corner hides something new."
He blinked as the desolate cityscape came into view. Buildings lay shattered, streets cracked and littered with debris. A massive hole hovered in the sky, pulling fragments of the city upward, yet the city seemed alive—regenerating its missing parts almost instinctively as the void consumed them.
From the distance, a lone figure emerged, walking steadily toward him.
"Finally… free from this hellish place," the man muttered under his breath, eyes narrowing as he spotted Shiddharth.
Before Shiddharth could respond, a Tower message appeared:
[Defeat the #@&@# to obtain the Slayer Class.]
"Wait… he wants me to kill him?" Shiddharth murmured in surprise. "I thought this would be a test to prove my worth… not just kill him outright."
The man spoke again, irritation creeping into his voice. "Why are you standing there? Haven't you come to kill me? Now, kill me!"
Shiddharth hesitated. His instincts screamed that the man wasn't resisting intentionally. Still, he summoned energy into his fist and swung a powerful punch into the man's chest.
Bang!
The sound echoed across the ruined cityscape, but the punch had no effect. The man's body remained unscathed, as if carved from impenetrable stone.
"Seems I need more force…" Shiddharth muttered, focusing even more energy. He struck again with everything he had, but the result was the same—his attacks were futile.
"Is this your full power?" the man finally said, a mixture of surprise and mild irritation in his voice. "Why don't you even use Urza in your fist?"
"Urza? What's that?" Shiddharth asked, genuine confusion crossing his features.
"You don't know Urza… and yet you've come to this place?" The man's tone sharpened. His eyes burned with disappointment, expecting a worthy adversary. "How do you intend to defeat me if you don't even know Urza?"
Shiddharth's mind raced. He drew his sword and swung, but again, the strike left not even a scratch. His frustration grew, yet he realized brute force alone would not suffice.
"Teach me how to use Urza," he said finally, exhaustion and resolve intertwined in his voice.
"It will take a long time to master," the man replied calmly. "But we have infinite time. Let's begin."
Fifty Years Later
Time had passed almost unnoticeably in that strange, timeless city. Shiddharth had endured decades of training under the man, mastering Urza to its fullest extent. Every motion, strike, and defense became instinct, flowing seamlessly with his energy. His body and mind had adapted to an entirely new realm of power.
Finally, the day came when he would test his mastery. He drew the sword given by the man, channeling Urza throughout its blade. A surge of energy enveloped the weapon, causing the air to hum with intensity.
He swung with all his might, aiming to split the man in two.
Bang!
The impact resounded across the city, yet the man remained unharmed. The sword shattered, but the man's body did not even flinch.
"Even Urza… fails?" the man whispered to himself, disbelief and awe mingling in his voice.
Shiddharth's expression darkened, eyes burning with exhaustion and pent-up frustration. "I… I am tired," he shouted into the open sky, voice echoing across the desolate city. "I want to rest… I want this endless torment to end!"