[ Congratulations! Reincarnated 'Seth' had an outstanding performance on Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials, 'The Tomorrow War,' completing the mission by efficiently eliminating 432,873 White Spikes in a record time of 2 days and 17 hours. Obtaining a God-Level Super Rating SSS! ]
[ Do you wish to make your rating public in the Reincarnation Space? ]
I slumped onto the snow, the system message shining almost glued to my face, and I couldn't help but smile.
I had done it again... once more.
I shifted my gaze towards Dan and James.
They watched me, confused, unable to comprehend how I could move so fast or face the White Spikes head-on and emerge unscathed.
They were also surprised by that "weapon from the future."
Their expressions of astonishment were amusing to me.
Ignoring their stares, I turned my attention back to the system.
"Send me back. I don't intend to waste any more time here."
A blink later, I was back at the Tower of Trials.
Was it cold of me not to say goodbye to them? Perhaps.
I had a list of excuses, things that would have sounded convincing after everything we had been through together. I could have told them one before disappearing.
But I simply didn't feel like it. It made no sense.
With the destruction of the alien ship and the eradication of the White Spikes, the future had changed. And with it, he had ceased to exist.
That must have been what Dan and James thought when they saw me disappear before their eyes, along with the weapon from the future I was holding.
Now, standing before the Tower of Trials again, I observed the message of my rating floating in front of me.
The satisfaction of having reached the top once more was something I didn't intend to hide.
"Make it public."
Just like last time, I wasn't going to hide.
Let the world know of my greatness! MUHAHAHAHA!
In the Reincarnation Space Plaza, silence instantly took hold of everyone when the system announced a new God-Level Super Rating SSS.
No one could believe it. Most had thought that something like that wouldn't happen again so easily.
What was even more surprising was that, this time, the rating did not come from the Safe Zone.
No!
This time, the feat had been achieved in the most dangerous place of all, the Tower of Trials.
The air vibrated with murmurs and contained exclamations. Some looked up at the sky, towards the bluish reflection of the system floating above the plaza, reminding them that someone, somewhere, had achieved the impossible... once again.
In a matter of minutes, the Reincarnated took out their phones, capturing the news in photos and frantically sharing it online.
In a few hours, the name "Seth" flooded all platforms, from clandestine forums to official news channels.
The appearance of a second SSS Rating—and in the Tower of Trials, no less—was an event that resonated in every corner of the world.
Debates immediately erupted.
What would Seth do with his strategy?
That very strategy that had allowed him to complete the first floor with the highest possible rating.
The general conclusion was the same: Seth no longer needed the strategy. After all, no one could return to a floor they had already completed.
So, why keep it? It was logical to think that he would sell it to the highest bidder, to the country, corporation, or group that offered the greatest benefits in exchange.
The competition to obtain the strategy could be brutal.
In a matter of hours, entire governments called emergency meetings, multimillion-dollar corporations offered absurd rewards, and the names of the most powerful began to leak onto lists of potential buyers.
A silent, invisible struggle was brewing behind the scenes.
Everyone wanted the same thing: the secret behind Seth's ascent.
Because, although he was still on Floor 1 of the Tower of Trials, not even the World Ranking Number 1, Shiva, had ever achieved something like this!
Were they not witnessing the birth of the future number one?
Seth was quickly bombarded with countless friend requests in the Reincarnation Space.
Poor attempts to get close to him, to win his favor, to fake a friendship that would never be reciprocated.
And while the whole world was still talking about his feat, in the center of that whirlwind of ambition, rumors, and greed, there he remained... Seth.
Ready to take the strategy with him to the grave.
...
[ Reincarnated Seth, you have completed your mission. Your rewards are as follows:
— Reincarnation Points: 33,000
— All Attributes +30
— Personal Dungeon Card (Special Item, stored in your Personal Warehouse)
— Gold Chest x1 (stored in your Personal Warehouse) ]
When the rewards began to materialize in front of me, I couldn't help but smile at the colossal amount of Reincarnation Points I now held.
No less than 11,000 additional points compared to my last God-Level Super Rating SSS!
It was an impressive achievement on its own... but what truly intrigued me was the special item that appeared almost at the end of the list.
The system showed me its description:
[ Personal Dungeon Card: Not much description is needed; the name makes it clear. Allows you to obtain a Personal Dungeon of a random type, with free access and exit. ]
"A... personal dungeon?" I murmured, frowning.
I couldn't help but feel a chill of curiosity. What kind of dungeon would it be? One based on a world I knew, or something completely new? What if it was a place too dangerous for my current level?
For an instant, my mind filled with possibilities, but at the same time, a prudent voice resonated in my head. It wasn't the time.
"It will be better to save it for now."
I carefully stored it in my Personal Warehouse, although the mere idea of having my own dungeon made me smile with anticipation.
Meanwhile, the other Reincarnated watched me with shining eyes and open mouths. I felt their gazes like needles in my back, anxious, greedy.
I smiled, amused.
The Gold Chest I obtained as a reward for getting a God-Level Super Rating SSS materialized in my hands.
But before they could approach, I vanished in a blink, returning to the safety of my Personal Storage Space.
Showing the Gold Chest had been a calculated move, not an impulse decision. The more mysterious I appeared, the more valuable the God-Level Super Rating SSS looked, the higher the value of my knowledge would become.
Because, of course, even I have a price. And if the offer is tempting enough... resisting would be difficult.
But not yet. Not now.
Perhaps when I climb a few more floors in the Tower, then yes, it will be the ideal time to negotiate.
I shook my head, pushing those thoughts aside, and looked at the Gold Chest I held in my hands.
"I hope it's something good, like last time..." I whispered.
I've never liked surprises, but at that moment I wished the system was in the mood to indulge me.
I rubbed my hands together, hoping for a great surprise.
I took a breath, placed my hands on the edge of the chest, and slowly opened it.
The Gold Chest disappeared in a flash of light, and almost immediately a new window appeared before my eyes.
[ Congratulations! You have opened the Gold Treasure Chest and obtained the skill: Matter and Energy Absorption (Kevin Levin) from the Ben 10 dungeon. ]
[ Matter and Energy Absorption (Osmosian): Allows you to absorb anything you touch, whether material or organic, and utilize its physical properties. You can absorb matter and energy, gaining their properties, such as resistance, strength, or conductivity. You can also absorb the DNA and powers of other beings to temporarily use their abilities. ]
My eyes widened.
"No way..."
For a second, I forgot to breathe.
Kevin Levin. Kevin damn Levin.
I couldn't believe it. That ability came directly from one of the series I loved most as a child.
I remembered those Saturday mornings, sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal, watching Ben 10 while holding a figure of my favorite alien, Diamondhead, in my hand.
And especially that Christmas, when I was just five years old...
I couldn't help but smile at the memory, still feeling embarrassed.
That day, I woke up early, overflowing with excitement, to find a box wrapped in bright green paper under the tree.
I opened it, and there it was, the toy Omnitrix.
I immediately put it on, expecting to transform. But, of course, nothing happened. I stared at it for a moment... and then burst into tears.
My parents couldn't help but laugh out loud. My mother knelt down and ruffled my hair, telling me that maybe it would work when I was older.
That was one of the few times I saw her laugh so genuinely, and my father too.
"I guess you were right, Mom," I murmured with a nostalgic smile. "I just had to grow up a little more."
In the future, perhaps I could obtain the Omnitrix. Now I knew that one of the Tower of Trials floors was based on Ben 10.
I shook my head, trying to maintain my composure as the system displayed more information about the skill.
[ Basic Level: You will be able to cover your body with a thin layer of the absorbed material to protect yourself from incoming damage. ]
[ Competent Level: Your body will completely turn into the absorbed material, both externally and internally, significantly increasing defense depending on the material. ]
[ Expert Level: You will be able to alter your body, generating spikes, transforming your hands or feet into weapons and tools. ]
[ Master Level: You will be able to absorb multiple materials at once, including liquids. If you absorb mud, objects will pass through you without harm. You will also be able to absorb unconventional materials, such as chewing gum or fire. ]
[ Supreme Level: You will have the ability to regenerate any damaged or destroyed body part, and even increase body size and mass. You will also be able to manipulate and project the energy you absorb and accelerate your healing factor with it. ]
"Hey, guide fairy," I said, still smiling. "How much does it cost to upgrade each level?"
A simple glance at the higher levels made me want to level it up immediately.
[ Level Upgrade Costs for "Matter and Energy Absorption": ]
[ Upgrade from Basic to Competent: 1,000 Reincarnation Points. ]
[ Upgrade from Competent to Expert: 10,000 Reincarnation Points. ]
[ Upgrade from Expert to Master: 50,000 Reincarnation Points. ]
[ Upgrade from Master to Supreme: 100,000 Reincarnation Points. ]
I read them slowly, mentally tallying each figure. 1,000. 10,000. 50,000. 100,000. My pulse quickened and then stabilized.
That was a lot of Reincarnation Points...
I currently had 33,000 Reincarnation Points, plus the 11,000 additional points from selling the minerals I obtained in the Safe Zone dungeon.
With what I had, I could afford to upgrade to Competent and still have points left to upgrade to Expert.
[ Do you confirm the expenditure of 1,000 Reincarnation Points to upgrade to Competent Level? ]
"Confirm."
[ 1,000 Reincarnation Points consumed. ]
[ Remaining Reincarnation Points: 42,006. ]
[ Skill "Matter Absorption" upgraded to Competent Level. ]
"Now upgrade it to Expert," I said firmly.
[ Do you confirm the expenditure of 10,000 Reincarnation Points to upgrade to Expert Level? ]
"Confirm."
[ 10,000 Reincarnation Points consumed. ]
[ Remaining Reincarnation Points: 32,006. ]
[ Skill "Matter Absorption" upgraded to Expert Level. ]
Excited, my gaze went to the briefcase placed on a small table in my Personal Storage. It was the Quinque Ginkui, created from Noro's Kakuhou.
I took a step forward, took a deep breath, and placed my hand on its metallic surface. The briefcase was metal, cold to the touch.
I wasn't willing to wait any longer to test my new ability.
A tingling sensation spread through my fingers, and suddenly I felt something beginning to flow from the briefcase into me...
I watched fascinated as the process slowly spread, my skin, my muscles, my internal organs, everything began to acquire a metallic tone, first on the surface, then inside, as if every cell was melting and reorganizing under a new pattern.
A shiver ran down my spine as the sensation of weight and density grew, and an almost childlike laugh escaped my lips.
It wasn't fear, but pure excitement; after all, it was the first time I had and used real powers.
I could accelerate the absorption, I thought, concentrating, and turn into metal in an instant... but I didn't want to yet. I wanted to see every phase of the process, appreciate how my body slowly and completely changed, to feel every part of me transform.
My arms and legs gradually became harder and heavier, my lungs and heart also acquired a metallic density, and yet every fiber of me remained conscious and flexible; it felt strange, though not uncomfortable.
A huge smile lit up my face as I looked at myself, carefully inspecting my body.
I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but take a peek at my little friend too...
I slowly scanned my body, admiring the result. Then I shifted my attention to my right hand, focusing my intention on it.
First, the palm elongated and transformed into a long, sharp blade, shiny and perfect. Then, in a blink, it rounded into a spiky ball, a compact and dangerous mass. Finally, with a fluid movement, a double-edged axe emerged, heavy and sharp.
"The second floor... shouldn't be too complicated with these abilities," I murmured, with confidence and excitement shining in my eyes... "or at least I hope so."
My body returned to normal in just an instant, and I decided to leave my Personal Storage.