[Tower of Trials, 4th lobby,]
Elijah rested his tired body as soon as he arrived at the lobby. He slumped down and lay down on the ground, his chest heaving up and down. His body was covered in wounds. He looked at his sword, the Sword of Sundering hellfire was looking worn out.
“Damn it.”
He sighed and got up, ignoring the exhaustion that plagued his body and mind. He accessed the system interface and bought an enchanted whetstone.
Buying a potion that brought his weapon to its top condition would have been better, but Elijah didn’t necessarily have the leisure to buy such an expensive item. Furthermore, he felt at peace when doing this. The mere act of sharpening his blade, in the solitude that he found himself in, with nothing but the grinding of the whetstone accompanying his ears, was peaceful to him.
It may have sounded odd but he felt at peace whenever he did some sort of manual labor when he was tired or exhausted. It felt calming to him.
[…]
Even the tower, as omniscient as it claimed to be, was confused at what the fuck was Elijah doing?
He had the points to buy a potion, of course, it would be a hit on his wallet but he had the funds! It didn’t understand why he refused to choose comfort, especially when he was exhausted like this.
[You are a strange creature.] .𝒎
Mused the tower as it stared at his actions.
“Shut up.”
But Elijah did not share the same attitude as it, he was already tired of the tower’s bullshit and heinous ways of conducting trials. The thought of its disgusting gaze looming over him as it watched in glee as the worlds, the innocents it trapped were killed in order to ‘complete a trial’.
He was tired of this thing, in simple words.
Elijah, in the silence of the lobby, slowly grinded away at the whetstone, restoring his blade to it’s optimum state.
[Supreme Dragon of Fire Agri comforts you and says you are doing well.]
Even Agri’s praise was nothing to him right now.
He was too tired to give a fuck.
Eventually, he had succeeded, and without giving his body enough rest, dared to challenge the fortieth floor.
[Supreme Dragon of Fire Agri advises you to rest.]
“I can’t.”
The tower watched silently, amused.
“The more I delay it, the more Elton is suffering from the curse.”
[Supreme Dragon of Fire suggests you rest.]
“I want to challenge the fortieth floor, so teleport me there already.]
Elijah ignored Agri’s advise, and commanded the tower to transport him into the next trial.
The tower, in it’s usual mechanical voice laughed. Although Elijah couldn’t see it, he was sure it was laughing right now. It truly enjoyed the conversation between the supreme dragon and the boy akin to an ant in front of it.
It truly wondered why the Supreme dragon tolerated such behavior, even the successors didn’t have this much leeway…well, those of other dragons didn’t.
Well, it was not it’s place to judge, so it left it be and said.
[Very well.]
As soon as he said it, a string of messages appeared in front of Elijah on bright blue displayed
[You have challenged the 40th floor.]
[The trial of thyself begins! Defeat yourself, which is bound by none of your limitations but possesses all of your strengths!]
[Good luck, challenger!]
*******
[Tower of Trials, 41st to 49th floors, Alan Peccator Pov]
“Help!”
A woman, desperately called for help as she ran through the debris carrying a child. The woman frantically ran away from the monsters, holding the crying child in her embrace.
Unfortunately for her, a monster appeared from behind and swallowed her whole in an instant, her child(?) was not spared as well.
‘…!’
I did not know why, neither did I know how, but my body moved. It was not of my own volition but I, like a hero, rushed towards the woman in order to save her just as the monster had appeared behind her…
But I was too late. A feeling of regret and sorrow washed over me as the monster ran away, looking for more prey to devour. I wanted to chase after it, but no matter how much I tried to move I could not.
‘…Am I shorter or something?’
I wondered. Or is the world maybe too big this time? I, stand at an impressive height of 6’8. I don’t know whether that is great or not for dragon’s or draconians, but compared to humans it definitely is.
“Argh!”
Suddenly, the screams of multiple people echoed out once again, and a piercing headache accompanied it.
I, with my own eyes saw an entire city being brought down to ash, demons of various sizes riding monsters and wrecking havoc in both the skies and grounds. Eating and devouring any human they could find. Numerous awakened tried to fend the demons off, but it was obvious.
Everyone is dying, we are losing.
Again, without my own volition, my head turned around to see a man with bright orange hair, under a chunk of debris.
It seems his lower body has been completely crushed, and he would die soon enough if he didn’t receive any immediate first aid.
Without wasting another second, I rushed over to him, screaming. 𝘦𝑎.𝒸ℴ
“Elton!”
Huh? This voice…?
Before I could question it any longer, I was already using all my strength to lift the debris and free the man stuck under it.
To my horror, the man was unconcious, meaning he won’t be able to crawl away as I lifted up the debris.
‘Shit!’
This was highly unlike me, But here I was, trying to help a random person I didn’t even know. But one thing I was certain of was.
I know this voice.
This cheerful, high pitched, and normally charismatic voice…I know who it belonged to.
But, before I could entertain the thought any further, A chill ran down my spine as I, in a fit of desperation, kicked the man away from the debris. Immediately afterwards, I jumped back, narrowly avoiding what appeared to be a whip made up of complete black darkness.
I looked towards where the whip came from, and an enraged voice escaped my lips.
“You!”
I looked at the black humanoid mass with red scarlet eyes with contempt, a hidden rage burning inside my body which wanted nothing more than to kill that son of a bitch.
I could feel a hot energy overflow within my veins, a power so vengeful, so filled with hate…Flames materialized on my body as I took out a sword from apparently no where at all.
Before the sword was doused in flames, the blade reflected the face of the wielder…which was supposed to be me.
But I saw someone else. Red, scarlet eyes that were as deep as blood, a handsome face which had a head adorned with bright, orange hair.
I…was Elijah.
Updated from 𝑖𝘦.𝒸𝘰𝘮