There was nothing but darkness.
No floor beneath him.
No gravity to hold him down.
Just an overwhelming silence that buzzed in his bones.
Then came a breath.
Shallow and ragged.
Zevy opened his eyes.
He found himself lying flat on a floor of polished black stone, smooth like glass but chillingly cold, reminiscent of a corpse. The space around him stretched infinitely into the void. No walls. No ceiling. No doors.
Just him.
And there it was, hanging silently in the air about twenty meters ahead a single silver apple, glowing softly like a dying star.
I blinked once.
No hunger.
No confusion.
No fear.
Just pure instinct.
I rose slowly, making sure to keep my balance. My body felt… off. It was as if it had forgotten how to bleed but still remembered how to break.
I began to exhale, trying to reclaim my original breathing rhythm. The air was thick with fog. It was biting cold.
I took a step forward, still confused on where I am.
That's when I heard the voice.
"My oh my what do we have here?"
It seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once. It was both male and female, a mix of whisper and roar. The kind of voice that seemed to smile as it spoke. I remained silent.
"It looks like we have another one. My boy do you know where you are?"
Zevy glanced at the apple. "No."
"Good. Honesty is a rare thing around here May I ask your name."
Zevalen blinked a few times, trying to understand because the air around him is making him uneasy.
"Zevalen"
The entity gives a chuckle
"Zevalen? What a strange name."
The air around him mad it hard for Zevy to breathe as if it was entirely impossible
" Well my boy the area you stand on at the moment is the Peloe Floor. The first of many. You can call me... Peloe."
The voice had a taste of dust and static. Zevy didn't say a word.
"Before you make your ascent, I need to ask: Why do you want to climb the Tower?"
There was a pause.
I replied flatly:
"I don't."
Silence hung in the air.
Then laughter.
"How adorable."
I cringe a little bit because her tone does not fit my liking but I shrug it off.
"You said that this a Peloe Floor which means that it is the lowest level."
"You catch on fast but yes this is floor 0 so in order to climb the tower you have to pass the basic test.
Basic test she says I try to understand the new information that cross into my ears and run straight to my brain.
"So the test what is it."
"Impatient little boy but that kind of spirit is needed for the tower, the test is simple you see that apple over there all you have to do is eat it."
I raised a brow. "That's it?"
"Yes but there is something you have to pass before doing that.
I get confused because the monster part threw me off. Then Peloe claps her hands and the lights flicker and then something like a gate where the apple is held pops up. I see the gate and I am filled with shocked as the gate is built in a mythical build. I hear a slither. What was that? From the far corner of the room, the black stone began to crack, much like a glass pane under immense pressure.
And from the depths of that crack, a serpent emerged.
It had no eyes, no skin just bone, sinew, and a wisp of smoke. It was longer than a building, with fangs that resembled swords. As it rose, its ribcage scraped against the floor, coiling protectively around the floating apple.
I simply watched, my face full of nervous sweats
The creature didn't hiss. It didn't roar.
I look at the creature which in my head I'm thinking I have already met my death I haven't even started on the first floor but I am having second doubts for this action.
"Well Zevalen it's on you do you wish to go past?"
I was still looking at the gate encaging the massive serpent in front of me I took a deep breath then nodded.
"Great well when you are ready."
I nod to her again. Peloe directs me to the gate and when she says begin i will be transported inside.
"Okay I'm ready."
"Alright then on three One, Two, Three Begin."
Then she tapped the floor with her staff and I find myself inside the gate. The serpent sees me and goes for the attack
I crept forward, heart racing. The serpent remained still. One step. Two steps.
Then, out of nowhere
WHAM.
The creature's body lashed out like a whip, smashing the stone beside him. I barely managed to roll aside, skidding on my shoulder, breath knocked out of me. Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor where he had just stood. It was too fast. Too powerful. I barely baited it, hurling a chunk of stone right at its flank.
The beast struck like a bolt of lightning. Seizing the moment, I dashed forward, but the serpent twisted, its tail catching me mid-charge.
CRACK.
I hit the ground like a ragdoll. my shoulder throbbed, my head buzzed. I coughed, tasting blood. I stood up. Again. The apple hovered in the air. I glanced at his hands bruised, bare, bleeding.
No powers.
No weapon.
Just pain.
I charged once more, zig-zagging with a hesitant rhythm. The beast twitched lunged too early. I slid beneath its body, the bony underside scraping my back raw. The air trembled. One rib grazed my side flesh tore open.
But I was already airborne arms outstretched eyes locked on the apple.
I reached for it.
Then I bit it down.
My teeth sank into the silver skin. Sweet. Metallic. The moment I bit. The world shattered. The serpent let out a final scream. Its body dissolved into sand and mist, vanishing into the floor.
I landed on one knee, panting, hands shaking. Blood dripped from my side. The apple was gone. I was still chewing. A single piece of flesh and juice slid down my throat.
It's over. Above him, a message carved itself into the air in shimmering silver light:
"Trial Complete."
"Ascender Identified: Zevalen."
"Proceeding to the next floor."
I stood slowly, my breath evening out.
Broken.
But alive.
I looked up at the cracked ceiling, now peeling open to reveal a bright light.
"All that for a piece of fruit."
"What kind of god sets a test like that…"
I paused still catching my breath. My fingers curled.
"...and why does it feel like I've done this before?"
Light enveloped him completely.