The Tower That Should Not Exist
INSIDE THE GRAVITY GATE
Garud's body trembled.
Not from gravity—
From resonance.
The crushing force paused for a fraction of a second.
His system flickered.
Bond Reaction Detected.
A warm pressure spread through his chest.
Garud opened his eyes.
He smiled.
"So… you awakened too, Karna."
The gravity increased again.
Garud clenched his fists and stood taller.
Good.
Now I don't walk this path alone.
BACK IN THE VILLAGE
Karna leaned against a broken wall.
Blood dripped from his knuckles.
He exhaled slowly.
I'm not a burden anymore.
The villagers were safe—for now.
Children cried softly.
Elders whispered prayers.
The broken gate dissolved into mist.
Silence returned.
For three seconds.
BOOM
The ground shattered.
A sound like the world itself cracking open echoed across the land.
The sky darkened unnaturally.
Villagers screamed again.
Karna's head snapped up.
THE BLACK TOWER
It rose without warning.
A tower of absolute darkness—
So tall that its top vanished into the clouds.
No glow.
No runes.
No system announcement.
Just void.
Karna felt it.
A pressure far heavier than the demon gate.
This… is different.
SYSTEM DELAYED RESPONSE
After several seconds—
The system finally reacted.
UNKNOWN STRUCTURE DETECTED
Threat Level: UNMEASURABLE
Classification: ???
Karna swallowed.
A TOWER UNLIKE ANY OTHER
The villagers could not comprehend it.
But Karna felt something instinctively.
This tower isn't meant for everyone.
His Rune Master instincts screamed warning.
Every floor… is separate.
Another world.
Unbeknownst to him—
Across the entire Earth—
Only five such towers had appeared.
Five pillars of absolute darkness.
Five trials meant not for survival—
But selection.
KARNA'S DECISION
Karna tightened his grip on his bow.
He looked at the tower.
Then at the villagers.
Garud isn't here.
If I rush in… they'll be defenseless.
He lowered the weapon.
"No reckless moves."
"Not yet."
The tower remained silent.
Watching.
FAR AWAY — THE DEMON GOD
The Demon God chuckled softly.
"One of the Five Black Towers has awakened."
"Interesting… Shiva's heir isn't even present."
His gaze shifted.
"Then who will climb it first?"
INSIDE THE GRAVITY GATE
Garud's system flashed again.
World Event Update:
Black Tower Emergence — Detected
Garud frowned.
"Black… tower?"
The gravity increased once more.
Training Phase Continues.
Garud clenched his jaw.
Hold on, Karna.
Don't step into darkness alone.