On the eve of the year 2076, reality twisted into something unrecognizable—a fantasy turned nightmare.
Game-like towers of unimaginable height descended from the skies, anchoring themselves to the Earth with terrifying permanence. Along with them came the monsters—feral, ruthless, and entirely immune to modern weaponry. Guns, bombs, even nukes—none of it worked.
But humans, ever the curious creatures, stepped into these towers. And that curiosity was our undoing.
Countless lives were lost as the towers devoured all who entered. Worse still, by venturing inside, humanity unintentionally taught the monsters how to exit. And once the beasts spilled out into the world, it was carnage. Cities fell, governments crumbled, and humankind teetered on the edge of extinction.
But not all hope was lost.
In certain regions, individuals succeeded in slaying the monsters—but only inside the towers. Those who accomplished this feat awakened to supernatural powers—bending water, air, fire, and even all four elements with their will alone.
These heroes were called The Awakened.
They became the vanguard of humanity, wielding their newfound powers to push back the tide of monsters and reclaim the world.
Thus began a new age—an age where the strong ruled, and survival of the fittest became law.
It was soon discovered that any human who killed a monster inside a tower would Awaken, and those who climbed to higher floors would face greater monsters—and in return, be granted even greater rewards.
From that moment forward, mankind began grinding for power, for wealth, for recognition. A race to the top. A ceaseless ascent.
The Era of Power had begun.
---
"Hhaaahhh…"
A loud, exaggerated sigh cut through the classroom.
Heads turned to the source—Zyphera Drakonis, slouched at the back corner desk, his cheek pressed against the surface as if gravity had grown heavier just for him.
His expression made it clear: irritated, restless, utterly bored.
Another day in this prison they called a school.
What irritated Zyphera most wasn't the homework or the lectures—it was the rule. The one rule that kept him shackled: no one could enter a Tower without completing two years of mandatory Tower Survival Education.
Two years.
To some, that wasn't long. But to Zyphera, time was precious. Two years was an eternity—an unbearable delay in his path to power.
---
DING
The school bell rang, echoing through the halls.
Before anyone else could react, Zyphera was already on his feet and out the door, pushing through the throng of students like a storm. He ran—not because he had somewhere to be, but because he needed to breathe.
The school gates finally behind him, he slowed down, inhaling deeply.
Freedom.
For the first time all day, his lungs felt full.
Only then did he begin to take in his surroundings.
And that's when he saw her.
She stood beneath the sun, a silver-haired girl with eyes like molten gold—bright, radiant, ethereal. Her features were flawless, otherworldly, and her short height only added to the illusion that she was someone to be protected... or possessed.
She looked close to his age—somewhere between 18 and 20. But there was something more about her—something dangerous.
Zyphera's body moved before his mind caught up.
Step by step, he approached her and gently tapped her shoulder.
She turned to face him.
And that's when it happened.
As he met her gaze, his vision shattered into blinding white.
Then—darkness.
---
Zyphera opened his eyes.
The room was blurry, the light muted. He blinked, then rubbed his eyes until the haze cleared.
He was back in his studio apartment. Small, cramped—but familiar.
Still disoriented, he stumbled to the bathroom. Cold water splashed against his face, grounding him back into reality.
He looked up into the mirror—and froze.
His eyes.
They were no longer dull brown.
They burned like dawn—vivid amber with golden streaks swirling like fire.
He leaned closer, his heart thudding.
The longer he stared, the more he felt like he was being pulled into them—like he was gazing into an endless abyss lit by a rising sun.
"What the hell is going on…?" he muttered.
Whatever it was, he didn't have time to figure it out.
He had school.
---
By the time he arrived, the lesson had already begun.
"Pay attention!" barked the instructor. "This is important—details about monster kills and their effects—"
The door opened.
All heads turned.
Zyphera stood there, unbothered, casually strolling into the room.
At the front of the class was Aisha Kindle—a beautiful, silver-eyed woman with an aura of quiet power. A retired Awakened, she had chosen to dedicate her life to preparing the next generation for the dangers of the Towers.
Though kind and patient, even Mrs. Kindle found Zyphera's behavior difficult to tolerate.
Yet, as he approached her to apologize, something shifted.
She looked into his eyes—and froze.
Her smile faltered. Her breath hitched.
Her mind felt foggy, as if she'd walked into a dream. All the irritation, all the frustration she had once felt toward Zyphera vanished like smoke.
Her heart raced, her thoughts scattered.
She tried to speak... but couldn't.
It was like his gaze had erased the part of her that disliked him—had overwritten her emotions with something else.
Something... unnatural.
Zyphera noticed her change in demeanor immediately. A faint smirk played at his lips.
Whatever happened to his eyes—it had power.
And now, he was going to learn just how far it could take him.
Zyphera's POV
As I stared at Mrs. Kindle, a sudden orange-hued screen appeared in front of my eyes.
---
STATUS
Name: Aisha Kindle
Age: 25
Titles: C-Ranked Awakened, Teacher
Class: Fire Mage
Status: Hypnotized
Stats:
Constitution: 100
Strength: 40
Agility: 20
Intelligence: 20
Magic: 200
Mental Solitude: 5
Unique Talent:
Scholar (A) — Learns skills and knowledge 10× faster than the average human.
Skills:
Fire Ball (E)
Fire Resistance (C)
Fire Bolt (D)
Summon Fire Fox (A)
Fire Control (A)
---
If this screen is accurate—then damn, she's skilled. Why the hell would someone like her retire from the Tower? She's got solid magic stats and a top-tier learning talent. That kind of setup is gold in the Tower's grind.
"I'm sorry for being late," I said casually, but her vacant stare told me her mind was elsewhere. She didn't even react. Her eyes flickered faintly—blank, unfocused.
Hypnotized. That's what the screen said. Guess I should test this.
"Mrs. Kindle, would you kindly accompany me to the infirmary?"
That should be enough. If she's in control of herself, she'll tell me to go alone—I'm fully capable. But if the hypnosis holds…
"Okay, class, I'll be right back," she said, then reached out and held my hand like I was a helpless child. No hesitation. No questions.
Hook, line, and sinker.
As we walked slowly through the hallway, another message flashed in the same glowing orange:
---
Skill: Lustful Gaze
Duration: 100 seconds
Mana Consumption: 20%
---
So it's active. I have about 99 seconds left before her consciousness returns. That's not much time—but enough to test a few things before the spell fades.
She's walking too slow. I might lose the opportunity before I even get anything worthwhile. Might as well start here.
"Mrs. Kindle, kindly transfer all the funds from your bank account into mine."
"Of course. What are your banking details?"
I gave them to her. Without pause, she accessed her account and sent everything over. Only $1,000—but free money is still free money. Not bad for a warm-up.
Now for something deeper. Let's see how far the command structure holds—especially when it comes to Tower access.
"Mrs. Kindle, after work, I want you to accompany me into the Tower. You'll tell the gate guards I'm under your protection."
"And since you're C-Ranked," I added, "you definitely have the privilege of bringing one unawakened person into the Tower."
A flicker in the screen.
---
Target: Aisha Kindle
Status: Resisting Order
---
Resisting? Interesting. Why? Fear? Caution? Some buried self-preservation instinct? Or maybe she actually gives a damn about what happens to me. Stupid.
"Mrs. Kindle, you'll be sure to follow through with the order, right?"
This time, I didn't frame it as a polite request. This was a direct command—firm, sharp, undeniable.
"Okay," she replied flatly.
There it is. I guess sometimes all it takes is a push.
---
Skill: Lustful Gaze
Duration: 10 seconds
---
Almost out of time.
"One last thing," I said. "Give me a goodbye kiss."
Another alert appeared, this time glowing hotter than the rest.
---
System: Lustful Intent Detected
Skill Effect Enforced
---
So the true function of this skill… it's not just hypnosis—it's dominance. Control dressed as desire. I could get used to this.
Mrs. Kindle leaned in and kissed me. Her lips were soft—so soft that they actually caught me off guard. I felt a pulse run down my spine, my skin prickling with goosebumps. She didn't hesitate, didn't blink. Just obeyed.
And when she finally pulled away, a faint breeze met my lips—cold in contrast. I missed her warmth instantly.
---
Skill: Lustful Gaze
Duration: 0
---
Just like that, it was over.
"Zyphera, why does someone as grown as you need goodbye kisses?" she asked, blinking like she was coming out of a dream.
She remembers? Everything?
But she's not freaking out. She's calm. Curious, even. That's… unexpected. Maybe the skill leaves a haze. Or maybe she liked it.
"It's not like it's a bad thing," I shrugged. "And honestly, I like your kisses."
Let's see how she plays this.
"Well… I guess I can keep that going for a while," she said, her cheeks glowing cherry red.
Cute. But the moment was mine. She could blush all she wanted—I was already thinking three steps ahead.
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