Author note: The ">>" sign will be used to change points of view, so imagine it as a scene change
Chapter 5: Forged in Steel, Written in Stars
After entering the Transfer Tower, space distorted around Rael, and his body was pulled into a solitary room.
—
—
[Floor 0]
A young girl wandered through the streets, lost in thought.
[First Person]
I didn't accept that deal because I needed to save someone.
Nor because my life was miserable.
And certainly not because I was obsessed with power.
To most people, I was born into a "perfect life."
A wealthy family. Friends. Opportunities. Stability.
At least… that was how everyone else saw it.
But deep down, I was never truly happy.
My family consisted of my parents and my two sisters.
My older sister followed my parents into the business world and quickly became one of the most successful businesswomen in the country. Before long, everyone had already decided she would inherit the family legacy.
My younger sister became an international celebrity adored by millions.
And me?
I hated both worlds.
I didn't enjoy the spotlight surrounding my younger sister, nor did I care about the endless pursuit of money and status that consumed my older sister.
What I truly loved was painting.
Writing.
Expressing emotions through colors and words capable of moving people.
But those dreams didn't make money.
So naturally, my parents considered them meaningless.
A childish hobby.
Not something "worthy" of our family.
And after a series of events…
I ended up here.
As I walked through the streets of Floor 0, I saw things that should only exist in fantasy novels.
The floating buildings.
The stars above.
The countless races wandering through the streets.
Everything felt unreal.
"Isn't that an elf?!"
"And that's an orc!"
I stared at the people around me with sparkling eyes, but barely anyone reacted. To them, this absurd world was simply normal.
After several minutes of wandering, I finally arrived before the Transfer Tower.
[Are you ready, Miss Sakura?]
"It's Captain, Axis."
I clenched my fists tightly before stepping forward.
'I'll make you proud of me.'
—
—
[Third Person]
After entering the Transfer Tower, both Rael and Sakura were teleported into separate isolated rooms.
「Greetings, Trailblazer」
"The Guide?" Rael muttered.
「I will now explain the structure of the floors and the fundamental laws of the Tower」
Floating text circled around them as the robotic voice echoed through the room.
「You currently reside within the First Layer of the Tower」
「Advancement to higher layers becomes possible only after obtaining sufficient achievements and fulfilling the required conditions」
—>>
"And how many floors does the Tower have?" Sakura asked.
「The Tower is, by nature, effectively infinite」
「However, advancing between layers does not require the completion of every floor」
「Floors are generally categorized into the following types:」
—>>
「Individual Floors: Challenges specifically assigned to a Trailblazer」
「Convergence Floors: Competitive floors where multiple Trailblazers participate simultaneously. Only successful participants advance」
「Safe Floors: Territories conquered and stabilized by Trailblazers, functioning as havens and transportation hubs」
—>>
「To clear a floor, a Trailblazer must complete the assigned objective within the designated time limit」
—>>
"What happens if someone fails?" Rael asked.
「If a Trailblazer fails to complete the challenge but survives until the time limit expires, they are returned to the last Safe Floor visited」
「The Tower will eventually permit another attempt」
—>>
"So Trailblazers can't die inside the Tower?" Sakura asked hopefully.
「Incorrect」
The atmosphere suddenly became heavier.
「Survival is not guaranteed」
「The Tower's challenges are always theoretically possible to overcome. However, possible does not mean easy」
「As Trailblazers ascend, the difficulty of the challenges increases accordingly」
Both Rael and Sakura fell silent.
They already knew death was a possibility the moment they accepted Yato's offer.
But hearing it stated so directly still unsettled them.
「Trailblazers who accumulate achievements within the Tower receive Titles」
「Titles are not symbolic. They possess meaning and influence」
「Your current Title is: Nebula」
「This Title is granted to all beginner Trailblazers」
「Upon obtaining greater accomplishments, your next Title will become: Aegis」
The floating text shifted once more.
「One final reminder: aggression between Trailblazers is prohibited on Safe Floors」
「However… challenge floors are exempt from this restriction」
—
〔「Would you like to begin the First Floor challenge?」〕
Both Rael and Sakura stared anxiously at the interface before them.
Despite their hesitation, they eventually reached the same conclusion.
'There's no way the first floor can be that difficult… right?'
"Start the challenge."
The world distorted around them.
Then—
They vanished.
—
Rael slowly opened his eyes.
Before him stretched a vast field of golden grass surrounded by dark mountains.
Countless weapons were embedded throughout the land.
Swords.
Spears.
Axes.
Broken blades weathered by time.
The scene resembled an ancient battlefield frozen in eternity.
At the center of the field stood a man forging a sword.
The rhythmic sound of hammer striking steel echoed across the plains.
Clang.
Clang.
Clang.
The man suddenly paused.
Then turned toward Rael.
The moment their eyes met—
Rael felt chills crawl down his spine.
An overwhelming pressure crashed into him.
It wasn't simply strength.
It felt as though his very existence was being observed and dissected.
"...It's been a long time since someone arrived here," the man said calmly.
He was tall, with wavy brown hair and worn leather clothing. A large scar stretched across his face, and his gray eyes carried an exhaustion that seemed almost eternal.
「Floor: The Field of Eternal Blades」
「Objective: Land a single hit on the unknown man」
「Time Limit: 3 Months」
「Good luck, Trailblazer」
"W-What?!" Rael stared at the floating text in disbelief.
'How the hell am I supposed to hit this monster even once?!'
Still—
Maybe it wouldn't be impossible.
It was only one hit… right?
Rael steadied himself and clenched his fists.
The moment the distance between them closed, he threw a desperate punch with all his strength.
The man blinked.
"What was that supposed to be?"
He casually tilted his body aside, effortlessly dodging the attack before driving a kick directly into Rael's stomach.
BAM!
"AGH—!"
Rael collapsed to his knees, coughing violently as unbearable pain spread through his body.
For a moment, he genuinely thought he might black out.
"That punch was pathetic, boy." The man sighed. "I don't know why the Tower sent you here, but your luck must be terrible."
He casually pulled a spear from the ground and rested its blade against Rael's throat.
'This is bullshit! Wasn't the first floor supposed to be easy?!'
Rael gritted his teeth in frustration and humiliation.
But suddenly—
The man's expression shifted slightly, as if listening to something invisible.
"…I see."
He lowered the spear and turned away.
"From now on, you will address me as Sensei."
"Huh?"
"I'll train you for the duration of this challenge." The man returned to the forge. "So try not to disappoint me."
Rael stared at him blankly.
"You're… going to train me?"
"To complete this challenge, you at least need to understand the fundamentals of combat."
[Rael, this is an extraordinary opportunity]
"Do you know who this guy is, Axis?"
[Negative]
[However, he is certainly no ordinary existence]
Rael hesitated briefly before bowing his head.
"I'll be in your care… Sensei."
—
—
Meanwhile—
Sakura opened her eyes while massaging her temples.
Before her stood a magnificent library stretching endlessly into the distance.
Floating books drifted through the air.
Grand chandeliers illuminated the halls despite hanging from nothing.
The scent of ancient parchment filled the atmosphere.
At the center of the room, a woman reclined lazily atop an enormous chair while reading aloud from an ancient tome.
「Floor: The Library of a Thousand Tales」
「Objective: Land a single hit on the unknown woman」
「Time Limit: 3 Months」
「Good luck, Trailblazer」
"Eh?" Sakura blinked. "Isn't that too easy?"
"Oh my…" the woman spoke softly. "It has been far too long since I last received a visitor."
She slowly rose to her feet.
Sakura finally saw her clearly.
The woman possessed long dark hair, crimson lips, and elegant black horns extending from her head. Her black dress shimmered with countless jewels woven into the fabric.
"Sending an ordinary mortal here…" the woman sighed dramatically. "How unfortunate for you, little one."
Then—
She vanished.
"Eh?!"
Sakura instinctively entered a fighting stance.
The woman had somehow appeared directly before her.
Without hesitation, Sakura launched two punches followed by a kick.
"Oh?" The woman smiled faintly while effortlessly dodging every strike. "You're not terrible for a mortal. Martial arts training?"
'She's fast!'
Sakura shifted her footing and attempted another kick—
But her leg passed straight through the woman's body.
"What?!"
Before Sakura could recover—
The woman casually pushed her backward.
BAM!
Sakura crashed violently into a bookshelf.
Pain exploded through her body as books scattered across the floor.
She struggled back to her feet while trying to steady her breathing.
'The difference is ridiculous…'
She had absolutely no chance of winning.
And yet—
She still raised her fists again.
The woman observed her silently for a moment before smiling.
"…I like you."
"It has been quite some time since the Tower sent me an apprentice."
Sakura's eyes lit up instantly.
'I knew it! Just like those master-disciple arcs from fantasy stories!'
"I accept!" she declared without hesitation.
The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Do not assume I'll go easy on you, little girl."
Despite her words, amusement flickered in her eyes.
'If the Tower sent her here… perhaps she possesses talent worth nurturing.'
Then the woman smiled faintly.
"My dear apprentice…" She closed her book. "Tell me—do you enjoy stories?"