Tower- Third Floor
Safe Zone
This place was different from the previous floor. The walls were destroyed and the floor was the only part of the room that had stone bricks on it.
Outside of it, most of the floor was only dirt. Rocks were lying on the floor and grass was growing on it. In the most clear area there were stone bricks, or what it was a time ago, now he could only see remaining fragments.
He still doesn't know what beast has caused the damage, but he will find it soon.
Almost two days had passed since he arrived on the third floor, but he hadn't started the exploration. As he did in the previous floor, he has been training a little, wanting to reach 50% as fast as he could.
But it was difficult, the only stat he could increase with training in this place was his Dexterity. Although he didn't know the next step on the training after the external manifestation, he continued like that.
All this time he has been training and the only objective in his mind was being more lethal. He knew that meanwhile he wasn't too confident, he could easily clear these floors, at least until he met another Fragment. But that's not enough, a simple dog almost killed him on the second floor, he started to notice something.
He could enhance his body with chakra, but it's a crude internal manipulation. It just showed a thin layer without substance in the surface of his skin and didn't provide any protection.
The armor works in some situations, but ever since he saw how the dog damaged his vest, he no longer trusts it.
So he has been trying to make an external manifestation of chakra.
He tried to send the chakra gathered on his arm to go to the exterior, but it didn't work. He could move it inside of him, but trying to make it the same to the exterior was a dream.
His chakra was firmly clinging to his body and didn't want to go outside.
It was like he tried to kick it out and tell him to come back with money to pay the rent or he won't be allowed back in...
Stopping these absurd thoughts, he was thinking on what should be his next step.
He hadn't stopped his meditation practice and now it's almost an instinct to him. When he's deep inside himself, he could use the Red to heal faster, but he hadn't discovered another use apart from healing.
The Fox's chakra tangled on his own chakra continued decreasing as he gained a little more control of his own chakra. But he didn't think it was the end once he managed to manipulate all of his own.
The more he controls, the harder it becomes to control every piece of the remaining part, but at least he is progressing.
Letting out a sigh, he approached the Dwarf.
Time to buy another piece of armor and see if he could stack it.
Last time he didn't think about it, but the feeling of insecurity since the dog almost ripped off his shoulder was vivid on his mind.
Even though he couldn't do that, he will ask for other things.
As he walked to the tent, Naruto saw the Dwarf comfortably sleeping with his blanket. He didn't understand why it was still too clean if he was always using it.
Naruto has already asked where he got it but the Dwarf told him that it's a secret and he will show the place later.
As always as he approached him, the Dwarf awoke and greeted the kid.
"Morning, Naruto. Do you need something?" He said with a sleepy face.
"Morning, mm. Is there something I can buy? For protection, I say." Naruto replied with a smile. These interactions have become routine in the last months.
The Dwarf shook his head."No, the things you have are the best you can equip at this moment."
"Ah... okay, thanks. But at least something to my forearms?"
Even though Naruto was disappointed, he has his priorities.
"Yes, I have that. Take this." Rummaging through his shelf, the Dwarf took out an item.
[Light leather Brassard: Creating in the practice of a Craftsman in training. Protect your arm from minor monsters. Can be used with gloves. +2 Defense]
Looking at the item he got, his bad mood got a bit better.
"Don't be mad, you don't need to be worried about equipment now. The only thing you need to do is to be careful, you know they can't take more than a few hits from you." The Dwarf continues when he sees him in a better mood.
"If you are careful, nothing bad will happen, at least on these first floors."
"Mm! Thanks, sir. I think I have to be faster, I don't want to stay here without leaving for years." Naruto nodded with determination. He wants to get free of this place, well no, at least be able to return to see his friends and master.
Taking notes in his small book, Naruto tried to remember the important things. As he was writing, he remembered that he also needed to go to the 5th floor to meet him.
Corvinus.
The strange man who the Dwarf calls "Eyes".
Probably he has a special ability that involves that? His friends also can fit in the same category, they have special eyes.
"I wonder If I can get something like that? It looks cool, huh." He felt envy, he always liked how they looked with their eyes. The red and the white eyes have their own charm and he wanted to have the same, or at least something similar.
"Uf, I have to stop fantasizing." Naruto shook his head. He has enough things to be busy for a while and couldn't lose time in fantasies.
Looking at his little notebook, Naruto was thinking about what he should add to the current objectives.
Besides going back to the village, he has to climb to the 5th and 10th floor. One to meet Corvinus and the other to gain the permission to leave the tower to take care of his business.
He also has to ask Ego what's the next part of his training, he has been training the method he gave him but didn't have any idea on how to continue. It's been years and he hadn't any idea on how he could use the Seams or that imaginary space.
All Ego told him was to continue doing it and the objective, but not how to do it.
The annoying part was that because of the change in his body, the progress he had made now looked insufficient because the receptacle(himself) is now bigger and the amount necessary to fill a limb has increased.
The good thing was that because of his [Adaptability] and [Dexterity] he just needed some weeks to do it and get stronger than before.
Or that was what the Dwarf told him yesterday, but he didn't tell him why it was like that. The Dwarf told him that he will get the answers to it on the 5th floor.
For now, he will continue his training and try to get to the 5th room before the year ends to get some answers and help with his problem.
Controlling 3 types of energy isn't easy and doing it without any guidance only makes it harder.
All this time in the tower he was just brute forcing the progress with his terrifying talent, he got trapped here just in the moment where he was about to learn other methods.
And he could progress like a bull crashing into a wall because he could heal any injury he suffered using the healing water of the fountain, his Red and the natural recovery of his body which for some reason has become stronger since he achieved yellow tier.
He doesn't understand why that was happening, but it was a good chance so he has no complaints and he noticed that the more he heals from injuries, his body recovers a little faster than before.
His stats didn't change that much, but he could feel how his passive recovery was better. He supposed that was because of a hidden stat or something similar to his meditation, something the System didn't recognize, at least for now.
Naruto tried to use his inner vision to notice any change, but the only thing he could see was his chakra channels and the Fountain.
Thinking about that imaginary space, Naruto didn't know what to do with it. He didn't notice when it became normal to him to have it, just because he knew that it maintains its existence because he thinks it's real but at the same time he knew that it's something unnatural.
Contradictory feelings filled him as things became more incomprehensible to him.
Why did Ego give him that method?
What are the Seams?
When he reaches the 10th floor will he continue being human?
What to eat tonight?
How old is the Dwarf?...
All kinds of questions occupied his mind as he got confused.
The feeling of not knowing what is happening to him dazzled the kid.
Things didn't become easier once he got here.
His body is changing and he trusts them that it isn't dangerous, but not knowing what it is annoys him.
But more than his body, his psyche is changing.
With nothing to hold it back, its true nature has gradually gained ground.
Things that he didn't notice but continue changing as he continues in there.
As his thoughts got more confused, Naruto slapped himself.
The thud sounded in the silent room and Naruto didn't notice how a shoe hit him until he recovered his senses and looked at the stash.
The Dwarf was looking at him annoyed.
"Haha, I'm sorry!" Ashamed, Naruto gave him a shy smile and promised.
"Stop thinking too much, don't rush." Saying that, the Dwarf covered himself with his blanket again.
Nodding to him, Naruto shook his head and clenched his fists.
"Huf! I can do it. I just need time, let's continue."
Filled with determination, Naruto continued his training in the silent tower.
The pain in his limbs as he got hurt kept echoing in Naruto's mind.
But he continued.
He cannot fail his own will.
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Last week was my birthday, so I was away.
Thanks for reading.
Have a nice day.