Reis returned to the Gathering Square, the white light filling the space with the same still brilliance it had held since his departure.
Everything was exactly as before. The noise, the clamor, the tangled voices filling the air.
Faces from distant worlds passed before him, strange features speaking of origins he had never known.
Humans moved in small groups, exchanging information and making deals, while among them walked other races with gray or silver skin and long ears that glimmered under the light.
Here, there were no strangers, for everyone was a stranger bound together beneath the vast domain of the Tower.
The square stretched endlessly, a floating city without earth or sky.
Benches and tables spread out as if arranged by an unseen mind, crowded with players trading and talking about the floors they had conquered.
At the edges, restaurants displayed glowing dishes and drinks that released pearly vapors.
Scents mingled into a dizzying blend of burnt honey, cool spices, and metallic smoke.
In the corners stood strange game stalls, tests of strength and wit, and illusionary duels that seemed too real to be mere projections.
The sounds of bargaining, laughter, and victory cries intertwined with soft whispers selling rare weapons and fragments of hidden knowledge.
The noise never ceased, yet it disturbed no one. Everything here was alive, filled with ceaseless motion that refused to rest.
Reis paused for a moment, folding his arms and breathing deeply.
The air around him was not as calm as it seemed, but alive with a strange pulse that belonged to no single world.
He still hadn't grown used to this place that knew no stillness, a realm where reality and illusion blurred until the boundary between them disappeared.
Everything here reminded him that he was no longer part of the earth he once knew.
Suddenly, the familiar blue light appeared before him, the system window that never missed its timing:
[Congratulations! Level Up: 1 → 4].
[Achievement: Floor One Conqueror].
[Rank: SS].
[Time Recorded: 6 Hours].
Reis raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the numbers that made little sense.
"Four levels at once?".
He quickly recalled the rating shown after the battle, the SS grade now displayed again by the system.
A rank never recorded for a beginner, one thought impossible for a first attempt.
Perhaps he was the first to bring down the Erdtree Guardian so swiftly on his initial try.
The thought made him smile faintly, but it brought no pride, only a quiet unease that lingered in his chest.
It felt as though the system itself was watching him with eyes that never slept.
Before he could think further, another window appeared with a single line.
[The Shop Feature will unlock at Level 5].
It vanished quickly, replaced by a much larger one that filled his entire view.
[Global Ranking Feature Unlocked].
The screen stretched before him, a wall of blue light suspended in the void, displaying endless lists of player names.
Their numbers were countless, their levels ranging from one to ninety, their faces shifting between reality and imagination.
Some kept their real appearances, while others hid behind strange symbols and mythical avatars.
Each name glowed in a unique hue, some framed by golden borders pulsing softly, others marked with rare emblems that gleamed like ancient medals.
The system flickered again.
[Would you like to share your ranking?].
Reis stared at the question for a long moment, his eyes tracing the stream of names cascading down the screen.
He didn't yet know what this simple choice concealed.
He tapped the question mark icon, and a new window appeared with a brief explanation.
[You may share your level and rating with others without revealing your true identity, once activated, a new stat called "Popularity" will be added].
[Further details: The higher your popularity, the greater your rewards. Gifts, followers, support, and all that comes with fame in this crowded world of watching eyes. Popularity is not just a number, but a hidden form of power, granting you access to currency, tools, abilities, and even rare enchantments unavailable for purchase].
The system repeated its question:
[Would you like to join?].
Reis looked at the screen for a brief moment, then pressed "Confirm." To him, it was just another tab in the system. There was nothing to lose by trying.
The next window appeared immediately.
[Would you like to appear under your real name, or enter a new one?].
A small warning followed.
[Names already in use cannot be selected.]
Reis sighed with faint irritation and began typing names one after another.
[Dark Reis — already taken].
[Just Reis — also taken].
He lifted his brows and muttered: "You're kidding me".
He tried again, but each name returned the same message: "Unavailable".
He thought for a moment of using his full name, Zereis Van Valeria, then hesitated.
That name was tied to his original system. Linking it here might not be wise.
As if sensing his hesitation, a new message appeared.
[Would you like me to suggest suitable names?].
Reis pressed "Yes" without hesitation.
Names flooded across the screen, some strange, some absurd, others completely meaningless.
[Reis6529].
[Van Reis].
[The Dapper Boy].
[The Sorrowed Blade].
[Shadow of the Horizon].
He muttered as he scrolled: "What kind of nonsense is this?".
Then his finger stopped on one name, simple yet holding something of his quiet nature, something of the ashes he left behind in battle.
He selected it.
[Name registered successfully.]
[New Name: DARK ASHES].
[Level: 04].
[Popularity: 0].
[Floors Cleared: 1].
[Rank and Achievement: Floor One Conqueror, Rank SS].
[Clan: None].
Another window appeared:
[Would you like to display your information in the Global Rankings?].
Reis accepted without hesitation.
The names on the screen shifted rapidly, rankings changing with every second, until his name finally settled far below, barely visible.
He didn't mind. He closed the window silently.
Lifting his gaze to the artificial sky above, he saw a sea of moving light, blue threads weaving into a living fabric of data.
The scene seemed endless. Then, another message appeared.
[Remaining Time in Tower Space: 66 Hours].
[Would you like to enter Floor Two?].
Reis stared at the question blankly, his thoughts scattered. Everything around him moved at a pace that left no room to breathe.
System alerts kept flashing, options multiplied, and the path ahead seemed already decided by an unseen hand.
He felt no excitement like the others. The battles, the rewards, the climb, none of it stirred him anymore.
He spoke softly, without hesitation.
"Exit the Tower".
The lights around him went dark in an instant.
The air stilled. The ground vanished.
Darkness coiled around his body, pulling him away.
When he opened his eyes again, he was in his room.
The bed was there. The table. The clock showing twelve fifteen past midnight.
Only fifteen minutes had passed here. Six full hours there.
Reis removed his shirt and stepped into the bathroom. Cold water fell over his shoulders, silent and cleansing, washing away more than blood or fatigue.
He stayed there for a while before returning to his bed, collapsing onto it and staring at the dim ceiling.
The quiet around him no longer felt like peace. The real world did not seem more real than the Tower.