The heat waves radiated from the smithy, curling and flickering like living flames. They tried to devour everything in their path, yet Shiddharth and Novia remained undeterred, fully absorbed in their work. The sparks of molten metal danced across their focused faces, reflecting determination and absolute concentration. Not a single glance was wasted on the blistering heat that sought to overwhelm them—it was as if the world itself had paused around their singular purpose.
Finally, the Dragon Sword was complete. Despite its pitch-black hue, it gleamed with an otherworldly brilliance, shining like a lone star in a darkened sky.
"This… this sword is incredible. Truly a masterpiece," Novia whispered, awe lacing her voice. Her hands lingered over the blade, feeling the subtle vibrations of its latent energy.
Shiddharth's eyes shone with anticipation as he took the sword in his hands. "Yes… I've never felt anything like this. The power emanating from it—it's alive."
He ran his fingers along the blade. "It's like it's… hungry. I can feel it wanting to devour my energy, to consume it, to grow stronger." The sheer magnitude of the Dragon Sword's aura made it clear: this weapon was not meant for the faint-hearted. Its power was deadly, bordering on uncontrollable.
"I want to see its limits," he muttered, stepping outside the hut.
Raising the sword skyward, he focused all his Urza into it. The energy began to surge, expanding outward in a storm of raw power. The intensity grew exponentially, until Shiddharth could barely control it. His body trembled under the strain, his stamina draining with every pulse of the sword's energy.
Finally, with a roar that echoed through the Tower, he released the accumulated Urza. The surge shot upward like a comet, breaking through the floors above and shattering the Tower's defenses.
[Warning]
[Tower has suffered critical damage]
[Tower cannot maintain structural integrity]
[Tower is drawing energy from #@&#@#&#@]
[Tower is attempting recovery]
[Tower has detected a variable]
[Tower is analyzing variable]
Jun Si stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief. "What… what kind of power was that?"
Novia's mouth fell open, her voice trembling slightly. "Is… is that even possible? Can the Tower… really be destroyed?"
Before anyone could respond further, Shiddharth collapsed to the ground, unconscious from the overwhelming strain. Novia rushed to his side.
"What happened? Hey! Are you okay?" she exclaimed, panic flashing in her eyes.
Realizing the severity, they carried him to a nearby priest, hoping the magical and divine healing would restore him. But despite their efforts, Shiddharth remained unconscious. His stats—already beyond comprehension—were too high for conventional restoration methods. His body was not in mortal danger, yet his energy reserves had been drained far beyond normal recovery.
Days later, Shiddharth awoke in a small, sunlit room. Novia sat nearby, half-asleep, her hair falling loosely around her shoulders.
"Hey… Novia, it's time. Aren't you coming downstairs?" a voice called from below.
Shiddharth wanted to respond, but seeing her rest, he chose not to disturb her. Quietly, he slipped out of bed, careful not to make a sound, and made his way to the door.
"Novi…" Jun Si began to speak, but Shiddharth gently interrupted.
"She's still sleeping. Don't wake her," he said quietly. Together, they went downstairs to have breakfast.
After finishing their meal, Shiddharth was about to return to his room when a new message appeared:
[Tower Manager is summoning you]
A portal materialized in front of him. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to speak briefly with Kaun and inquire about the Tower's damage from his attack. Stepping through, he was immediately confronted by the Tower manager's stern gaze.
"Did you even realize what you did?" Kaun's voice thundered with controlled anger.
"What?" Shiddharth asked, genuinely puzzled.
"You nearly destroyed the entire Tower!" Kaun growled. "Do you understand the consequences of your recklessness?"
"I… I was testing my new sword," Shiddharth admitted. "Who could have known it would have such destructive potential?"
Kaun's expression softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "And you didn't consider the other hunters. If the Tower collapses, everyone inside would have perished with it."
Shiddharth's brows furrowed. "Wait… why didn't anyone warn me beforehand? And now… is everything going to be okay?"
Kaun sighed. "I intervened. I had to act quickly to stabilize the Tower. Without my interference, the consequences would have been catastrophic."
"There's still… an issue," Kaun continued. "To restore the Tower fully, I had to form a contract with someone. It's minor compared to your power, but… you'll need to face him."
"Face someone? Who?" Shiddharth asked, surprise mixed with curiosity.
"It's nothing compared to you," Kaun explained. "But someone desired to challenge the person who nearly destroyed the Tower in a single strike. And given the Tower's fragile state, a contract was necessary."
Shiddharth nodded, understanding. "Alright… I see. So when do I fight him? I also want to test my sword. I feel it could have unleashed even more power if I had full control."
"Not yet," Kaun replied. "You must first complete the 100th floor. Once you do, use the Wish Gem to enter the battlefield. Only then will you face him. Timing is crucial."
Shiddharth absorbed the information, realizing the importance of this path. Whoever could fully restore the Tower was immensely powerful, and the stakes could not be underestimated. His fight would need precision, strength, and strategy.
On the 100th Floor – Before the Boss Room....
Shiddharth paused in front of the Boss room, the weight of the moment settling on him. Before facing the final challenge, he retrieved a small rectangular slab from his inventory.
[Tower Relic: One-time use]
[Can record life experiences and serve as a hidden reward in other Towers]
"I want to share my journey," he murmured. "This will help future hunters understand the trials ahead, so they won't suffer the same way I did."
He held the relic carefully, aware that its one-time use could carry his lessons far into the Tower's future. With determination shining in his eyes, he prepared to enter the room and face the ultimate challenge.