The city lay under a dull gray sky, quiet except for the occasional hum of traffic and distant voices. Kael Ardin, sixteen, walked through the streets, his mind half-occupied with school, training, and the usual frustrations of his life. He had never considered himself special, just clever enough to get by, agile enough to dodge trouble, and stubborn enough to keep trying when things got difficult. His sneakers scuffed the wet pavement as he thought about nothing and everything at once.
Suddenly, the air thickened, vibrating in a way that made his chest tighten. A strange heat and static buzz seemed to pulse around him. The clouds above twisted unnaturally, forming a circle of red and blue light that pulsed like a beating heart. Kael stopped, staring, his senses screaming that something extraordinary was happening. Before he could even move, an invisible force gripped him, lifting him off the ground with a power that defied gravity. His body felt weightless as the world spun wildly around him.
The streets, the cars, the people all dissolved into streaks of color and energy. He was falling, spinning, and yet he did not hit the ground. Light enveloped him, bright and searing, and the sound of the city was replaced by a deep, resonant hum that seemed to vibrate through his bones. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to panic, but he had no choice. The world around him was gone.
When he landed, it was hard, the impact jarring every muscle in his body. He lay on a smooth black surface, staring up in awe. The hall he found himself in was enormous, so vast that he could not see the edges. The walls shimmered with colors that changed and flowed, etched with glowing runes that seemed alive. A spire of light twisted upward from the center, connecting the floor to the ceiling, radiating a power that made his hair stand on end.
Other youths appeared in the hall. Some looked human, some had scales or feathers, others had wings or strange glowing markings. Their expressions varied from fear to determination. None spoke, yet the air was thick with tension. Kael realized that this place was not like anything he had known. The world outside seemed a distant memory, replaced by a realm that was alive and waiting.
Then a deep, commanding voice filled the hall. The sound resonated inside Kael's chest and ears simultaneously, making him feel small and exposed.
"Welcome, candidates. You are now in the Hall of Selection, the gateway to the Tower, a realm separate from your world. This Tower is unlike anything you have known. Every floor holds trials, opponents, puzzles, and secrets. Many have tried to reach the summit. Few have survived beyond the early stages. The Tower is alive. It observes your every movement, evaluates your decisions, and adapts to your actions. Your survival, your skills, and your creativity will be tested.
This is your tutorial. Survive, observe, learn—and move forward. Only those who understand the Tower, even in its smallest test, will have a chance to climb higher. Fail, and the Tower will not forget. The lessons are harsh but fair. Survive them, and you will see what comes next."
A holographic interface appeared before him, formed from the glowing runes around the hall. Symbols floated in the air:
Strength 7
Speed 8
Endurance 6
Intelligence 9
Willpower 7
Precision 8
Reflexes 7
Resistance 6
Physicality 7
Combat Skills:
Passive Skills:
Crafting / Item Skills:
Rare / Advanced Skills:
Kael's eyes widened as he absorbed the information. These numbers reflected his current state. As he trained, fought, and explored, they would change, increasing or decreasing depending on his actions and experiences.
A sudden shimmer in the corner of his vision caught his attention. From the shadows emerged small, slithering creatures, their bodies black and sleek, eyes glowing red. They hissed and lunged at him with unnerving speed.
Instinctively, Kael grabbed a metal support beam lying nearby and swung at the nearest creature. A flash of light appeared on the interface. "Melee +1 Experience. Critical Hit."
Beside him, a girl with long silver-blue hair moved with precision and grace, twin daggers in hand. She dodged a strike and slashed at a creature with fluid motions that made Kael momentarily pause in admiration.
"Watch the traps!" she shouted. "They use everything around you!"
Kael's heart raced. Perception +1 Experience blinked on the interface as he spotted a hidden pit trap near his feet. Reflexes increased after he dodged another creature, and his strength ticked upward after he slammed the beam into a creature's head. He began to see a pattern. The Tower was teaching him, testing him, and rewarding him simultaneously.
Ayra, the silver-haired girl, fought alongside him, blending melee strikes with bursts of elemental magic. The creatures fell, but more appeared. Their attacks were coordinated, faster, smarter. Kael's mind raced. He realized that surviving would require more than strength or reflexes. It required creativity, observation, and adaptability.
The hall itself seemed alive. Faint glimmers traced the runes on the walls, guiding his vision to a raised platform at the center. A chest appeared there, glowing faintly. It contained a basic weapon and light armor, enough to protect him from the early trials. Kael equipped the items and felt his attributes adjust slightly. Strength +1 Endurance +1 Precision +1
He glanced at Ayra, who nodded at him, her eyes fierce yet calm.
Kael took a deep breath. The creatures circled, their glowing eyes fixed on him. The Tower waited silently, alive, aware of every heartbeat, every thought. This was not just a tutorial. This was a crucible.
Every strike, every dodge, every decision mattered. Survival was more than a physical challenge. It was a mental and tactical one. The Tower would test him in every way possible, and only by learning and adapting could he hope to reach higher floors.
Above, the spire of light pulsed rhythmically, as if challenging him to rise, to see, to grow. Kael stepped forward, side by side with Ayra, ready to face the trials of the Tower. This was his beginning, the first step in a world unlike anything he had known.
The voice echoed one final time, calm but firm:
"Remember, this is only the tutorial. Observe, adapt, survive. The Tower will watch your every move, and it will not forgive carelessness. Learn from each encounter, and you may climb higher. Fail, and you will remain here, trapped in the lessons you could not master. Now go. Survive, and see what lies beyond."
For now, only one thing mattered: survive, observe, and push onward. The Tower was waiting.