Darkness.
Not the peaceful kind.
Not the kind that lets you rest.
This… was suffocating.
Auren Veyl opened his eyes.
And instantly—
His body froze.
"This…"
His breath came out slow.
Cold.
Heavy.
He wasn't inside the Spire anymore.
No.
He stood in the middle of a vast stone plaza, surrounded by towering structures that looked ancient… yet strangely alive.
The sky above—
It wasn't blue.
It was crimson.
Clouds twisted like living entities.
The air pulsed with something unfamiliar.
Something… powerful.
"…So it began."
Auren whispered.
A translucent panel flickered before his eyes.
[System Notification]
[World Integration Phase 1 Complete]
[All Chosen Entities must conquer the next layer within 90 days]
[Failure Condition: Total Collapse of Civilization]
Auren stared at it.
Unshaken.
"Same system… different scale."
He clenched his fist.
And felt it.
Power.
Weak… but real.
Not the borrowed strength from inside the Spire.
This was his body.
His real body.
And yet—
The rules of the Spire applied here.
"…Interesting."
Around him—
Chaos erupted.
"What is this place?!"
"Why is the sky red?!"
"Is this some kind of illusion?!"
People screamed.
Ran.
Panicked.
Auren didn't move.
Because he already knew.
"This is no illusion."
This was the world now.
The Endless Spire hadn't just been a trial.
It was a preparation.
And now—
Reality itself had become the next stage.
Auren turned.
Slowly.
His eyes scanned the environment.
Every detail.
Every movement.
Every anomaly.
"There should be an entry point nearby…"
If the system followed its previous structure—
Then early-stage Event Zones would appear.
Small trials.
Limited rewards.
But—
Hidden within them—
Were true advantages.
Auren began walking.
Not randomly.
Not aimlessly.
With purpose.
As he moved through the streets, he passed countless people running in the opposite direction.
Some cried.
Some prayed.
Some simply froze.
One man grabbed his arm.
"Where are you going?! We need to get out of here!"
Auren looked at him.
Calmly.
"Out?"
He tilted his head.
"Where?"
The man froze.
Speechless.
Auren gently removed his hand.
And continued walking.
Because there was no escape.
Only progression.
After several minutes—
He reached it.
A wide underground chamber.
Hidden beneath broken stone steps.
The moment he stepped inside—
A message appeared.
[Entering Minor Event Zone: Rooted Trial]
Auren smiled faintly.
"Found it."
Inside—
About twenty individuals stood scattered.
Not panicking.
Not shouting.
Watching.
Waiting.
Auren's eyes narrowed.
"These are not ordinary people…"
Their posture.
Their awareness.
They were the same as him.
People who had experienced the Spire before.
No one spoke.
Because everyone understood one thing:
Only a few would gain the reward.
Auren stepped forward.
Toward the center.
A dry fountain stood there.
Cracked.
Silent.
But not for long.
The ground trembled.
Krrrrrrrr…
Water surged upward.
Violently.
From its center—
Something began to grow.
A tree.
Massive.
Twisted.
Alive.
Dark veins pulsed along its bark.
Branches spread like claws.
And hanging from them—
Glowing fruits.
Auren exhaled slowly.
"Just as expected…"
Others reacted immediately.
"Take them!"
"Don't hesitate!"
Chaos erupted.
People rushed forward.
Climbing.
Pushing.
Fighting.
Because they believed—
The fruits were the reward.
Auren didn't move.
"…Fools."
Because he knew the truth.
This was only the beginning.
The real reward came after.
He stepped back.
And waited.
One by one—
The fruits were taken.
Consumed.
The moment the last one disappeared—
Silence fell.
Then—
The tree screamed.
A monstrous, guttural sound.
Its branches twisted violently.
Roots burst through the ground.
"Too late…"
Auren murmured.
Panic returned.
People ran.
Screamed.
Fell over each other.
Within seconds—
The chamber emptied.
Leaving only—
Auren.
And one more.
A tall man.
Sharp eyes.
A confident smirk.
"…You didn't go for the fruits either."
He said.
Auren glanced at him.
"…You didn't either."
The man laughed.
"Because I'm not stupid."
Auren said nothing.
Because he had already decided—
This man…
Would be useful.
For now.
The tree roared again.
Its vines rose.
Ready to strike.
Auren lowered his stance.
"…Let's begin."