It was a brand-new day.
I woke slowly, stretching my body, feeling the smooth circulation of power beneath my skin. Lightning whispered softly through my veins—calm, obedient. Today felt no different from the others.
Yet instinct told me otherwise.
This day carried weight.
I rose, preparing myself for the daily trial.
Then—
The system's voice echoed.
> [Good morning, Host.]
[Are you ready for today's trial?]
I ignored it for a few seconds, closing my eyes and focusing inward. I examined my physical state, my energy flow, my soul stability.
Perfect.
Only then did I turn toward the glowing blue interface hovering before me.
"Yes," I said quietly—to myself.
The moment the word left my lips, a pillar of light erupted beneath me.
The world dissolved into white.
---
When my vision returned, I frowned.
A tower stood before me.
No enemies.
No chaotic battlefield.
No overwhelming killing intent.
Just the tower—and the distant sound of thunder rolling through unseen skies.
The structure pierced the clouds, impossibly tall, its surface dark and ancient. Its presence radiated an invisible pressure that did not crush the body—but tested the spirit itself.
I narrowed my eyes.
"System," I asked calmly, "care to explain?"
> [Previous trials were preparatory exercises.]
[They existed to condition the Host for the Tower.]
I looked forward again.
"You mean that tower?"
> [Affirmative.]
I stepped toward it.
Up close, the pressure intensified—not hostile, not oppressive, but absolute. Like a silent judge watching every breath.
I entered.
The interior was vast—far larger than its exterior suggested. An endless white space stretched outward in all directions. As I crossed the threshold, the massive red door behind me dissolved into nothingness.
Then a voice echoed.
Not the system.
Something older.
> "Stage One."
The environment shifted instantly.
The white void transformed into a lush green field—endless grass swaying under an unseen wind. No trees. No hills.
But I felt them.
Dozens.
Hundreds.
Thousands.
Weak energy signatures—nearly identical.
Individually insignificant.
Together… annoying.
Then they appeared.
An army of green orcs surrounded me.
Tall, muscular humanoids with rough green-to-gray skin, broad faces, and long protruding tusks. Their bodies radiated raw strength, aggression, and an insatiable thirst for war.
I sighed.
Individually, they were disappointing.
But their numbers?
That made things interesting.
More importantly—my senses told me the real fighters were hiding in the back.
Fine by me.
I moved.
Staying surrounded was not part of my plan.
In an instant, I appeared before the closest orc and threw a punch.
A light punch.
The pressure alone cracked the air.
BAM!
My fist was blocked at the last moment by a metal shield.
BAM!
The sound rang across the battlefield as the orc was launched backward, crashing into those behind it.
The shield remained intact.
No dents.
Before I could reflect, an axe swung toward my neck.
"Too slow," I muttered.
I bent slightly, dodging the blade, then drove my fist upward.
The orc's head vanished.
Its body flew backward, collapsing into its comrades.
The slaughter continued.
They were weak—but their numbers made them excellent training tools. Perfect for sharpening awareness, timing, and control.
After twenty minutes of constant movement—punching, kicking, weaving through bodies—I grew bored.
There were still big fish on the board.
Why waste time on minnows?
Blue energy erupted from me.
Not violently.
Not explosively.
Simply… absolute.
The wave expanded outward with me at its center.
Millions of orcs were vaporized in seconds.
The grass disintegrated.
The air burned.
Yet the ground beneath remained perfectly intact.
Not cracked.
Not scorched.
As if nothing had happened.
A feature of the Tower.
BOOM!
A green energy sphere slammed into my back.
BOOM!
It warmed my skin.
And made me smile.
So—this was where the real trial began.
I turned slowly.
Before I could fully face my attacker—
BAM!
A green fist smashed into my face.
Before my body could adjust, five more powerful energy signatures surged forward.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
BOOOOOM!
A sphere of condensed energy engulfed me, detonating violently.
The blast wasn't enough to harm me—
But it was strong enough to tear the grass apart and raise a massive plume of dust.
I stood within it.
Unmoved.
Unshaken.
My smile widened.
"Good," I said calmly.
"Now this feels like a trial."
.