Without hesitation, Aiona began her explanation.
"I can answer questions within my authority level," she said calmly. "I can also provide hints for upcoming floor challenges, as long as they fall within that same limit. In addition, I manage your start room and related functions."
Kael frowned slightly. "Manage the start room? What exactly is there to manage?"
Aiona floated a little closer, her wings fluttering softly. "Unlike most start rooms, yours exists in a stable space. This allows you to store items here or modify the environment to your preference. I oversee those functions, so you may inform me if you require any adjustments."
Kael’s brows drew together.
A stable start room?
From what he knew, start rooms weren’t reliable. Many hunters had tried storing items in them, only to return later and find everything gone. It led to the common belief that start rooms weren’t truly fixed spaces, but something closer to temporary constructs.
And yet, his was different.
A faint sense of satisfaction settled in his chest. This alone solved a major problem. Inventory space was limited, and hunters constantly struggled with storage. Having a place that was secure and accessible, even if only once a day, was a huge advantage.
He looked back at Aiona.
"You said you can answer questions and give hints, but you keep mentioning authority. What exactly does that mean?"
Aiona nodded slightly. "Tower guides are entities created by the Tower Master to assist exceptional challengers."
Kael immediately cut in. "Tower Master? You’re saying someone created the tower?"
"Insufficient authority," Aiona replied without pause. "I cannot answer that."
Kael let out a quiet breath, rubbing his temple. "Then what can you answer?"
"My current authority level is limited," she said, her tone lowering slightly. "I can only provide basic information. I’m sorry if I’m not very useful right now... I must seem useless right now."
Kael blinked, caught off guard. "When did I call you useless?"
He shook his head lightly, dismissing it. "Forget that. How does your authority level increase?"
"As a guide, I am bound to the challenger I serve," Aiona replied. "Your performance within the tower directly affects my authority. As you grow stronger and achieve higher results, my capabilities will also expand."
Kael nodded slowly. That made sense.
Aiona paused briefly, then added, "Speaking of results, you have an unclaimed reward from your tutorial."
She raised her small hand, and a faint glow gathered in the air before condensing into a small box that floated toward Kael.
He stared at it, surprised. "Unclaimed reward? I already got Tower Coins from the tutorial."
"That was the standard reward," Aiona explained. "Exceptional performance yields additional compensation. This is separate."
Kael looked at the box for a moment, then reached out.
The moment his fingers touched it, a screen appeared before him.
[Do you want to claim the reward?]
[Yes / No]
He selected yes without hesitation.
Another notification appeared immediately.
[Reward claimed.]
[+200 Tower Coins]
[+50 EXP]
[Infinite Reward Multiplier — Activated!]
[Multiplier: x5]
[Reward adjusted:]
[+1,000 Tower Coins]
[+250 EXP]
A small smile formed on Kael’s lips.
"Not bad."
The screen flickered again.
[You’ve Level Up x2!]
A subtle surge of strength flowed through his body. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it was clear. His body felt lighter, stronger, more responsive.
Without wasting time, Kael pulled up his status.
---
[Name: Kael Voss]
[Title: -]
[Class: Void Sovereign]
[Class Perks: Void Absorption, Null Field, Sovereign Claim, Echo Strike]
[Level: 3] [16%]
[Health: 556]
[Mana: 360]
•—Stats—•
[Strength: 17]
[Agility: 14]
[Endurance: 17]
[Intelligence: 24]
[Vitality: 18]
[Constitution: 19]
•—Stat Points: 6—•
•—TC Balance: 1,000—•
•—Talent: Infinite Reward Multiplier—•
---
Kael stared at the screen for a moment, then let out a quiet breath, a grin forming despite himself.
"This is more like it."
He dismissed the screen.
It was time.
Kael focused, willing the next step, and a new interface appeared before him.
[Please select your trial difficulty:]
[Normal / Nightmare / Hell]
He stared at it.
Difficulty determined everything. The challenge, the risk, the reward. Most hunters chose Normal. It was safe, predictable.
A smaller group chose Nightmare. Higher risk, but better rewards. Those who survived it often rose far above the rest.
But Hell...
No one chose Hell.
Kael’s eyes lingered on it.
A cautious part of him leaned toward Nightmare. It was the logical choice. Balanced risk and reward.
But another part of him pushed back.
With his stats, his class, and most importantly, his talent... his growth rate was already abnormal. If rewards scaled with difficulty, then choosing the highest level would accelerate everything.
Faster growth. Faster power. Faster money.
Three months was far too short to earn three billion credits, even on Nightmare difficulty, unless luck was on his side and he got a high multiplier.
That thought alone tipped the scale.
Kael let out a slow breath, then shook his head slightly.
"No risk, no reward."
He selected Hell.
[Difficulty set: Hell]
[Adjusting floor parameters...]
[Proceeding to Floor 1...]
The world shifted instantly.
When his vision cleared, Kael realized something was very wrong.
He wasn’t standing.
His fingers were dug into rough stone, gripping tightly as his boots pressed against a narrow ledge. His body was angled against a steep cliffside, the rock cold and uneven beneath his hands.
Below him...
Nothing.
A deep gorge stretched endlessly downward, swallowed by thick fog. He couldn’t even see the bottom.
Kael’s grip tightened instinctively, his heart skipping.
One slip... and that was it.
A chill ran down his spine as he forced himself to stay still.
Then the notification came.
[FLOOR 1 — HELL DIFFICULTY]
[Mission: Survival]
[Objective: Reach the cliff’s summit]
[Warning: You have disturbed the Iron Leg Queen’s territory. Her brood is aware of your presence. They are coming.]
Kael froze.
"They are coming...?"
The words barely left his mouth before a faint sound reached him.
Scraping.
From below.
Slowly, he turned his head.
His breath caught.
Dozens of creatures were climbing toward him. Their bodies were massive, each one the size of a large dog. Their limbs... no, their legs looked like sharpened metal spikes, digging into the rock with ease as they moved.
Fast.
Too fast.
"You’ve got to be kidding..."
Fear hit him instantly, sharp and cold. For a split second, regret flashed through his mind.
Hell difficulty.
This was what it meant.
But there was no time to dwell on it. The choice was made. There was no going back.
Survive.
That was all that mattered.
Kael forced his gaze upward. The summit was far above, easily two hundred meters or more. His jaw tightened.
He had never done any climbing in like this before. The closest thing he had to experience was watching clips on tit-tok
But that didn’t matter now.
He had to do it to survive. No matter what.
If ordinary people climbed mountains then he could also do it. Now that he was awakened? He was stronger than them, had far greater stamina. Even without experience, raw strength could carry him a certain distance.
His eyes hardened with resolve, his grip tightening against the rock.
A sharp scraping sound snapped him out of his thoughts. The creatures were closer now.
Kael didn’t hesitate.
He reached upward, fingers locking onto a jagged edge, and pulled himself higher.
He had to survive this. He couldn’t afford to fall here, not with a sister depending on him... and a mother he still had to save.