The world was swallowed in light.
Kira felt the pull again—the same crushing, suffocating force he'd experienced in his past life when the Tower first claimed its chosen. It was like being dragged through a black hole, every nerve screaming in agony.
When the light faded, the smell of iron and damp stone filled the air.
They stood in an impossibly massive hall—black marble stretching endlessly, illuminated by floating blue flames that swayed like they were breathing.
And then… he appeared.
A being descended from above, wings of black feathers tipped with crimson. His skin was pale as bone, his eyes molten gold with slit pupils, and his smile was both beautiful and venomous. The air around him burned cold.
> "Welcome, Climbers…" the figure's voice slithered into their minds, bypassing their ears entirely.
"I am your Administrator. The one who will oversee your ascent… or your demise."
His tone dripped with the kind of arrogance only something far older and deadlier than humanity could possess.
> "You have been selected by the Tower. This is not a choice. You will climb. Or you will die."
Blue screens erupted before every climber's eyes, transparent windows filled with alien text.
---
[ Tower System Notification ]
[ Status Window Unlocked ]
[ Class Assignment in Progress… ]
[ Calculating Rank and Class based on: Strength, Intelligence, Behavior, Soul, Potential… ]
---
The Administrator's wings spread wide, shadow swallowing the entire hall.
> "Class. Rank. Traits. All will be bestowed now.
Class types are unique to each of you. No two Climbers will share the same class type.
Your rank reflects your starting worth. For most… it will be pathetic."
A man near the front frowned, muttering to his friend.
> "Pathetic? Heh… we'll see about that. I used to be military. If this is a game, I'll—"
Without warning, he bolted toward the glowing gates at the far end of the hall.
"Hey, wait! What are you doing?!" someone shouted.
The man ignored them, shouting back over his shoulder.
> "Screw this! I didn't sign up to be someone's pawn!"
He made it only three steps before a black spear materialized in the Administrator's hand and flew like lightning.
The impact was instant. The spear punched through his chest, pinning him mid-air before dissolving into smoke. The man collapsed to the marble floor, lifeless.
A wave of horrified gasps rippled through the crowd.
> "H-he killed him…"
"No way… that wasn't even a warning…"
"We're screwed…"
"We can't even run…"
The Administrator's smile widened, voice now a whip of cold malice.
> "Rule One: You will obey the Tower.
Rule Two: No retreat.
Break the rules… and I will break you."
No one moved after that.
---
One by one, the status windows finished loading. Whispers filled the air—some awed, some crushed by disappointment.
---
Kira – Status Window (Epic Rank – pre-rewind)
Name: Kira
Level: 1
Class: Shadow Assassin (Epic)
Rank: Epic
Strength: 38
Agility: 57
Endurance: 34
Intelligence: 45
Perception: 54
Luck: 16
Unique Trait: Shadow Reflex – Instincts sharpen to inhuman levels in combat. The body moves before the mind commands, reacting to threats at impossible speed.
Kira smirked faintly. Still good enough… for now.
---
Yoo Jin-Ho – Status Window
Name: Yoo Jin-Ho
Level: 1
Class: Arcane Knight (Unique)
Rank: Unique
Strength: 42
Agility: 40
Endurance: 39
Intelligence: 61
Perception: 44
Luck: 21
Unique Trait: Mana Dominion – Can bend mana in the surroundings to amplify both offense and defense.
Yoo Jin-Ho's jaw dropped. "Ha! Look at this! Unique Rank! Arcane Knight! Did you see that?!"
"Wow… lucky bastard…" someone muttered enviously.
Another hissed under his breath, "Bet he's dead in the first trial anyway."
---
Lee So-Min – Status Window
Name: Lee So-Min
Level: 1
Class: Divine Archer (Unique)
Rank: Unique
Strength: 33
Agility: 55
Endurance: 31
Intelligence: 47
Perception: 60
Luck: 19
Unique Trait: Sky's Oath – Every arrow fired will never miss its intended target within sight.
So-Min quickly closed her screen, keeping her face neutral. No way I'm letting them know what I got. People kill for less…
---
Then came the bad ones.
A tall man's grin froze when he saw his window.
> Class: Spear Janitor (F-Rank)
Unique Trait: None
"S-Spear… Janitor?!" he shouted, voice cracking.
Someone snorted loudly, unable to hold it in. Even the Administrator tilted his head in faint amusement.
Another poor soul, short and trembling, read aloud:
> Class: Rock Thrower (E-Rank)
Unique Trait: None
A silence hung for three beats before someone muttered, "Congratulations, Caveman Mode unlocked," sending several climbers into laughter.
---
And then… the temperature seemed to drop.
Han Dae-Sung – Status Window
Name: Han Dae-Sung
Level: 1
Class: Blood Reaver (Unique)
Rank: Unique
Strength: 49
Agility: 46
Endurance: 44
Intelligence: 36
Perception: 39
Luck: 15
Unique Trait (Permanent): Bloodlust Incarnate – Strength, speed, and senses grow stronger with every drop of enemy blood spilled. Cannot be sated without killing.
The crowd went silent.
The crowd went silent.
"…What the hell is that…?" someone whispered.
"Blood Reaver? That… that sounds like a serial killer's class."
"I don't want to be anywhere near him…"
Han's eyes swept across the hall, slow and deliberate, like a predator memorizing every face. The Administrator's gaze lingered on him—almost admiringly.
Kira's instincts tightened like a drawn bowstring. That man… enjoys killing. He won't stop at monsters.
---
The Administrator floated higher, voice rolling like distant thunder.
> "Your first trial will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves… and pray your 'value' isn't a mistake."
The blue flames flared along the walls, sharp shadows cutting across tense faces. Some climbers clenched their fists. Others trembled so hard their knees knocked together. Someone in the back was quietly weeping.
And in that suffocating silence… the Tower seemed to breathe.
---
[Tower System Notification]
First Trial will begin in 10 minutes.
Recommendation: Form a party or proceed alone at your own risk.
---
The hall exploded into noise.
"Stick with me, I've got healing spells!"
"You? I saw you miss a goblin at point-blank range."
"Better than going in blind!"
A tall man in black armor smirked like a wolf let off its chain. "Finally… real combat."
"Is this guy serious?" muttered a young archer.
"It's just like the VR raids," a woman chuckled, "except if you die… well, you die."
Two people slumped against the wall, pale and silent. One murmured, "We're not making it out of here." The other just stared at the floor.
Near the center, a man in gleaming armor twirled a glowing blade with theatrical flair. "Don't worry, peasants! Arcane Knight Yoo Jin-ho will clear the path!" he declared. No one paid him any mind.
---
Kira remained still, eyes scanning. The noise was useful—chaos hid movements. And somewhere in that chaos stood Han Dae-Sung… smiling faintly at nothing, like he was already tasting the kill.
---
A quiet voice drew Kira's attention.
"You're not moving yet."
Lee So-Min stood at his side, hood low, blending into the crowd. Calm eyes, steady breath.
"We've met before," she said lightly, as if commenting on the weather.
Kira remembered. After the rewind—an alley, masked men, her terrified face. He had cut them down, and she had seen his face. He'd allowed it.
She glanced at the scrambling climbers. "Better to stand with someone who knows what they're doing."
He regarded her for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. Follow my lead."
She didn't smile, but her posture shifted, as if she'd just stepped into safer territory.
---
[Tower System Notification]
First Trial will begin in 5 minutes.
---
Groups formed. Arguments flared. Lone wolves checked their gear.
Kira's gaze locked onto Han Dae-Sung. The man wasn't talking to anyone—just watching. His eyes moved lazily over the crowd, but they lingered on certain people a heartbeat too long… like he was choosing who to bleed first.
That thing isn't here to climb the Tower. He's here to hunt.
Lee So-Min asked softly, "What now?"
"Wait," Kira said. "And watch him."
---
[Tower System Notification]
First Trial will begin in 1 minute.
---
Boasts rang from one corner, desperate prayers from another. The blue flames leaned toward the massive gate at the far end of the hall.
Kira flexed his fingers. Every piece was in place.
Han Dae-Sung's smile widened.
---
[Tower System Notification]
First Trial will begin in 10 seconds.
9… 8… 7… 6… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…
The gate opened with a sound like the world cracking apart, spilling cold light and the sharp scent of fresh blood into the hall.
Kira's hand found his weapon.
In the storm to come, no one would notice a single body falling.
---