Arin and Kael continued walking down the main road.
Captain Nikolas had already disappeared into the crowd, leaving them alone in the noisy town.
Kael stretched his arms behind his head.
"Well," he said, "that was the most helpful guard we've ever met after dying."
Arin ignored the comment.
His eyes were fixed on a large wooden building ahead. A massive sign hung above the entrance.
BEGINNER'S GUILD
People constantly walked in and out of the building. Some wore armor. Others carried strange weapons or glowing magical items.
"This must be the place," Arin said.
Kael grinned.
"Adventure time."
They pushed open the heavy wooden doors.
The moment they stepped inside, the noise hit them.
Laughter.
Arguments.
Clattering mugs.
The guild hall was enormous. Long wooden tables filled the room, occupied by dozens of climbers. Some looked like hardened warriors, others like scholars or mercenaries. Scars, armor, and weapons were everywhere.
Kael slowly looked around.
"Wow," he whispered.
"This place looks like a bar fight waiting to happen."
Near the back of the hall stood a long desk. Behind it sat a young woman flipping through several papers.
A wooden sign beside her read:
RECEPTION
Arin pointed.
"Let's go."
They walked toward the desk.
Several people glanced at them as they passed. New faces were easy to spot.
Kael leaned closer to Arin.
"Do you think we look like beginners?"
"You died by turning an oxygen tank into a jetpack," Arin replied.
"...Fair point."
Suddenly-
A massive thug stood up from a nearby table.
The man cracked his knuckles.
"Well, well," the thug growled. "Fresh meat."
Another man stood beside him.
Then another.
Soon a group of rough-looking climbers surrounded them.
Weapons drawn.
"Hand over everything you've got," one of them sneered.
Kael slowly raised his hands.
"Gentlemen," he said nervously. "We literally died five minutes ago."
A knife appeared inches from his face.
"Then dying again should be easy."
The thug punched Kael.
Another grabbed Arin.
Coins scattered across the floor as they were robbed.
Then-
Reality snapped back.
They were still walking normally across the guild hall.
No thugs.
No robbery.
Just people talking and drinking.
Kael suddenly started giggling to himself.
Arin glanced at him.
"What?"
"...Nothing."
"You imagined something stupid again, didn't you?"
Kael kept smiling.
"Maybe."
They reached the reception desk.
The woman behind it looked up.
She had dark hair tied neatly into a ponytail and sharp, intelligent eyes. Her voice was professional, though slightly tired.
"Hello," she said calmly. "Welcome to the Beginner's Guild."
Kael raised a hand awkwardly.
"Hi."
Arin spoke.
"We're new here."
The woman nodded.
"I figured."
She slid a sheet of paper across the desk.
"Name?"
"Arin."
"Kael."
She wrote something down.
"My name is Nina," she said. "Guild receptionist."
She looked up again.
"So... what would you like to know about surviving in the World of the Dead?"
Kael leaned forward eagerly.
"We'd like to know about the rules here."
Nina nodded slightly.
"Fair question."
She set the paper aside and folded her hands.
"The most important thing to understand is this: you may start climbing the Tower Beyond Death whenever you want."
Arin frowned.
"Whenever we want?"
"Yes," Nina replied. "Climbers are not forced to enter the tower. Some spend years preparing before taking the first step."
Kael tilted his head.
"So... how do we actually start climbing?"
Nina answered simply.
"You just think about it."
Both boys blinked.
"...What?" Kael said.
"When you decide to begin the climb," Nina explained, "all you have to do is think about starting the climb."
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then-
Kael vanished.
Just like that.
One second he was standing beside Arin.
The next-
He was gone.
Arin stared at the empty space.
"...What?"
He slowly turned toward Nina.
"What did you do?" he demanded.
Nina blinked.
"I didn't do anything."
"You just said something and he disappeared!"
Nina sighed.
"...Your friend didn't accidentally think about starting the climb, did he?"
Arin froze.
Realization slowly spread across his face.
He closed his eyes.
"...He did."
Nina leaned back slightly.
"Your friend might be a little stupid."
Arin rubbed his forehead.
"Yes."
"Yes, he is."
After a moment, Arin took a deep breath.
"...Before I go after him," he said, "I need to understand the rules of the tower."
Nina nodded approvingly.
"Smart decision."
She folded her arms.
"When a climber begins the ascent, they are given the chance to choose one power."
"Only one?" Arin asked.
"Yes," Nina replied. "You may only possess a single power."
"But that power will grow stronger each time you conquer a floor."
Arin listened carefully.
Nina continued.
"There are many ways to climb the tower. You may climb alone, as a duo, or as part of a team."
"But once you make that choice... it cannot be changed."
"No going back," Arin said quietly.
"Correct."
"You may only have one power," Nina continued, "but you can earn many titles."
"Titles?" Arin asked.
"Yes."
"Titles are rewards given by the tower when someone does something extraordinary."
"Winning impossible battles. Discovering secrets. Defeating powerful enemies."
"The tower remembers those achievements."
"And every title grants small advantages."
Arin nodded slowly.
"That sounds useful."
Nina's expression darkened slightly.
"There is another rule."
"When someone dies inside the tower..."
"They become nutrients for the tower."
Arin's eyes narrowed.
"And if someone dies outside the tower?" he asked.
"They sometimes become monsters," Nina said calmly.
"Some of the dead refuse to climb. They become violent... twisted."
"They prey on weaker newcomers."
Arin nodded slowly.
"So that's how people die outside the tower."
"Yes."
"There's another rule," Nina continued.
"You cannot leave a floor once you enter it until the floor is cleared."
"And every floor contains ten missions."
Arin absorbed the information carefully.
Then Nina added one more thing.
"One more thing."
Arin looked up.
"Everything that happens inside the tower can be watched from outside."
"...Watched?"
"The tower shows the climb to the outside world," Nina explained.
"People can choose which climber they want to watch."
Arin frowned.
"So the entire afterlife can watch someone die?"
Nina shrugged slightly.
"Entertainment is rare here."
Silence hung in the air.
Then Arin asked one final question.
"How do I form a duo?"
Nina answered immediately.
"When you enter the tower, think about the person you wish to invite."
"If they accept, the tower will form the team."
Arin nodded slowly.
Good.
That meant he could find Kael.
Wherever that idiot had ended up.
Arin looked toward the guild doors.
Then back at Nina.
"...Thanks."
Nina gave a small smile.
"You're welcome."
"And good luck."
"You'll need it."
Arin closed his eyes.
Then he thought about starting the climb.
_
___________End of chapter ___________
Tower Rules
• Every climber can choose only one power at the start of the climb.
• Powers grow stronger after clearing each floor.
• Climbers may earn multiple titles by accomplishing great feats.
• Each floor contains 10 missions that must be cleared.
• You cannot leave a floor until it is fully completed.
• Death inside the tower means becoming nutrients for the tower.
• Some dead who refuse to climb may become monsters outside the tower.
• Climbers can form solo, duo, or team parties, but once chosen it cannot be changed.
• The climb can be watched by spectators, but they cannot help the climbers.
End of tower rules