Chapter 8: The Tower Entrance Exam
The following morning, the city of Velaris Prime buzzed like a living circuit. Hover-trams zipped through translucent tracks, vendors yelled about rare loot, and guild recruiters scanned the endless flow of fresh graduates streaming toward the Awakening Plaza.
Today was the Tower Entrance Exam—the first step for anyone who wished to rise beyond the ordinary.Three months after awakening, every candidate was required to prove their worth before the gates.And for the first time in history, Aiden Cross had arrived not as the forgotten dropout... but as the Drop Maker.
Aiden stood near the registration dome, his hood drawn low, hiding the faint scars on his jaw. Shade trotted quietly beside him, tail low and eyes scanning every movement around them. The small wolf had grown slightly overnight—its fur gleaming faintly in the sunlight, cold mist rolling from its breath.
Aiden placed a hand on its head. "Stay close. Don't bite anyone unless they ask for it."
Shade gave a small grunt that almost sounded like a chuckle.
The crowd ahead shifted as holographic screens projected live rankings of known prodigies:1. Lira Vane – Elemental Authority (Rank: A)2. Dante Krill – Weapon Synthesis (Rank: A-)3. Kai Ren – Shadow Assimilator (Rank: B+)
Kai's name flashed for a second longer than the others.Aiden's lips tightened slightly. He hadn't seen him since that day—since the betrayal.
The announcer's voice echoed over the plaza."Candidates! Line up for your evaluation scan! Your Awakening Record will be cross-checked with the Tower database!"
Aiden moved to the line, his black coat swaying gently. Behind him, some students whispered.
"Who's that guy with the wolf?""Probably some beast tamer.""No, look at the collar. That's not registered... Wait—his wolf's mana feels weird.""Whatever. If he's not on the records, he's going to get flagged."
Aiden ignored them. His system pinged softly.
[Notice: You are entering a monitored zone. System concealment is recommended.][Conceal Drop Maker Ability? – Yes/No]
"Yes."
The familiar faint shimmer covered his window before fading, leaving only basic information visible.He stepped forward when his turn came.
The examiner, a stern woman in silver armor, scanned him with a floating orb. It pulsed once, twice… then hesitated.
"Name?"
"Aiden Cross."
Her brow furrowed as the orb blinked red. "No class registered. No university affiliation. You've been inactive since Awakening Day?"
"Something like that."
The woman glanced at Shade. "And the creature?"
"Companion," Aiden replied flatly. "Bonded."
She hesitated. "Unregistered bonds are rare. Proceed to testing ground four. You'll be grouped with free candidates."
As he walked away, Shade growled softly.
"Yeah, I know," Aiden muttered. "They already think we don't belong."
The testing grounds were massive—open stone fields surrounded by containment barriers.Each section hosted dozens of examinees fighting simulated monsters or sparring with trainers. The crowd was loud, filled with bursts of mana and the sound of clashing steel.
Aiden's group gathered around a tall man wearing the tower's emblem. His nameplate read Instructor Verran.
"Listen up!" Verran barked. "You've all had three months to train after awakening. Today, we see if you're tower material. Fail here, and you'll spend your lives as scavengers outside the gates!"
He gestured toward the sealed arena beside him.Inside, a pack of spectral beasts roamed—wolf-like, their bodies flickering with red light.
"Your task is simple," Verran said. "Survive for five minutes, and you pass. Kill one, and you earn tower points. Kill more, and we'll talk about class sponsorships. Understood?"
Everyone nodded.
Verran's eyes fell on Aiden last. "You. The silent one with the mutt. You're up first."
A few candidates snickered.Aiden said nothing. He stepped forward as the barrier opened and the cold air swept across his face.
Shade padded beside him, silent as a shadow.
Inside the arena, the ground was cracked stone. Mist seeped from vents along the edges.The moment the barrier sealed behind him, the wolves turned their glowing eyes toward Aiden. Six of them.
[System Warning: Hostile Entities Detected – Rank D Spectral Wolves]
He crouched slightly, hand hovering over his dagger.Shade's fur bristled, a low growl rising.
"Focus," Aiden murmured. "Don't waste energy."
The first wolf lunged. Aiden sidestepped, dragging his blade across its neck—a flash of blue light, then nothing.The wound didn't stick. The creature phased through him.
"Tch. Ghost-types."
He exhaled and called his window.
[Activate Drop Maker – Target Marking Mode]
Symbols spread through his vision, locking onto each wolf. The system hummed.
[Temporary Weak Spot Revealed: Spectral Core – Chest Region]
"Got you."
The next time they lunged, Aiden moved first. His dagger cut into the air where the chest glowed faintly—and this time, the blade connected. The wolf shattered into mana fragments.
[Kill Confirmed: Spectral Wolf][Drop Gained: Fragment of Spirit Cloth (Uncommon)]
Shade leapt past him, fangs snapping on another wolf's throat. The ice in its bite spread instantly, freezing the creature mid-lunge before it shattered into shards.
The crowd outside gasped.Verran leaned forward, watching closely.
"Those aren't beginner reflexes," he muttered.
Aiden moved smoothly, each motion deliberate—no wasted strikes, no showy moves. When the last wolf lunged from behind, Shade intercepted, body glowing faintly blue.
[Bond Skill Activated: Frost Veil]Temporarily increases defense and agility for both bonded entities.
Aiden felt the chill run through him, his body sharper, lighter. He dashed forward, driving his blade straight through the last wolf's chest.
Silence followed.
[Exam Segment Complete: 5/5 Eliminated][Evaluation Rank: S][Drops Collected: 5]
The barrier faded.
When he stepped out, whispers erupted across the field.
"Did you see that?""He cleared all six in under two minutes.""Wait, isn't he unregistered? How the hell did he do that without a class?""That wolf... that's not a normal bond beast."
Verran approached, his eyes narrowing. "You're not a beginner."
Aiden wiped the blood from his dagger. "Does that matter?"
Verran smirked slightly. "No. But it makes me curious. You pass. Top rank." He glanced down at Shade. "Keep your beast under control inside the tower. Anything that attacks another climber without cause gets killed on sight."
Shade growled softly. Aiden's hand brushed its head. "He doesn't bite unless I do."
Verran's smirk widened. "Good. Then I expect to see you again—if you survive your first climb."
Later, as the crowd dispersed, Aiden stood near the edge of the plaza, watching the holographic leaderboard update. His name appeared briefly at the bottom before flashing up several ranks—then stopping at #7.
"Not bad for someone who doesn't exist," he murmured.
Shade tilted its head, letting out a small whine.Aiden crouched, rubbing behind its ear. "We'll need resources soon. Potions, weapons… and maybe a place that doesn't smell like burnt metal."
The wolf blinked, tail wagging once.
Before they could leave, a familiar voice echoed from behind.
"Aiden."
He froze. Slowly, he turned.
Kai stood a few meters away, the same black hair and sharp gray eyes as before—only now, his aura had changed. The shadows around him shimmered faintly, bending to his will.He was stronger.
"It's been a while," Kai said quietly.
Aiden's jaw tightened. "You left me in that gate."
"I had no choice," Kai said, stepping closer. "The gate was collapsing. You were—"
"Don't lie." Aiden's tone cut sharp. "You looked me in the eyes when you ran."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. The air turned heavy. Shade stepped forward, growling.
Kai exhaled softly. "You've changed."
"So have you." Aiden's gaze flicked over the shadow armor wrapping Kai's arm. "Guess betrayal pays well."
Kai's jaw tensed, but he didn't respond. "You should be careful, Aiden. The towers aren't kind to people like us. Power attracts enemies. And you… you reek of something dangerous."
Aiden turned away. "Good."
As he walked off, the system flickered in his mind.
[Hidden Quest Unlocked: The Path of Two Fates]Objective: Surpass Kai Ren within the Tower's First Trial.Reward: ???
He smirked faintly. "Looks like the system agrees."
Shade trotted beside him, quiet but alert. The city lights stretched before them—beyond them, the looming towers that pierced the night sky like silent gods.
Each tower was a world. Each floor, a war.And Aiden Cross was ready to climb.