<Tower Guardian/>
The grind never stopped.
Another day. Another set of brutal exercises.
It wasn't like I had a choice.
This world, this godforsaken world, was built on strength—of the body and of the mind. To survive, to make a mark here, I had to push through every ounce of sweat, every drop of blood.
The first few days had been hell on earth, and truth be told, they still were.
But today? Today felt different.
Maybe it was because I'd built a little more muscle, or maybe it was just stubbornness kicking in. I wasn't about to back down from this.
I repeated the mantra in my head, each word fueling me with a kind of cold, burning resolve—endure this if you want to be strong.
The words echoed in my skull as I gripped the bars for my last set of pull-ups. You'll thank yourself later, Noah.
I could feel the strain in my arms, the familiar burn creeping through my muscles, but I pushed through. I had to push through. Weakness was not an option. Not anymore.
An hour later, I was done. My body screamed for rest, but there was no time for weakness. I wasn't here to be just another face in the crowd. I was here to make sure that whatever happened, I would never be weak again.
I glanced at my HUD. The rewards were already tallied up.
Rewards:
+12 STR
6 Gacha Spins
1000 GED
I smirked. It wasn't much, but it was a good start. The grind wasn't about instant results. It was about building momentum.
I checked my status.
Noah Adler
Class: Technomancer (Unique)
Rank: C
Talent: Technical Specialist
DA: 65
EA: 70
STR: 73
INT: 77
WIL: 82
AGI: 62
END: 68
LCK: 10
Wait, what?
I blinked twice, staring at the screen.
Rank C?
My rank had gone up.
I wasn't imagining it. I'd leveled up.
That was a huge deal. It wasn't just the strength boost—I could feel it in my body, in my every fiber. The hard work was paying off.
I leaned back, stretching out my sore muscles. Codebreaker's working its magic.
Every time I increased my strength, everything else followed suit. Agility, endurance, even my luck—it all bumped up. It wasn't just physical training anymore; it was like Codebreaker had some hidden synergy with my body's growth. I wasn't sure how it worked, but I wasn't complaining.
Still, there was one thing on my mind: should I spend these Gacha Spins?
I stared at the spins, weighing my options. I could be cautious—save them, wait for a better moment. Or, I could take a risk. The world had no room for waiting.
"Alright," I muttered to myself, shaking off my hesitation. "Let's do this."
I activated the Gacha system.
Initiating Gacha Rewards...
Available Spins: 12
Let's go with two spins. Three spins per round, I thought. Time to gamble big.
The wheel spun, blurring with colors and shapes. My heart started racing. The gacha system had always been unpredictable. But the payoff could be huge.
You've received:
[Summon Drone Rogue: C Rank] – Summons a basic Rogue Drone for 10 minutes with enhanced stealth and reconnaissance capabilities. Cooldown: 15 minutes.
[Summon EMP Grenade: B Rank] – Summons three throwable EMP grenades designed to disable or overload electrical systems in an area.
[1 Free Pass: C Rank] – Free pass to C Rank training facility. Usage for 2 hours. One-time use.
The first spin wasn't bad. A drone and some grenades? Practical, sure. Not the jackpot I'd hoped for, but still useful.
I clicked the screen again for spin number two.
You've received:
[Mecha Suit Summon: B Rank] – Summons a large mechanized suit for combat or heavy lifting. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
[Electromagnetic Barrier (Passive) C Rank] – Creates a force field from electromagnetic energy that blocks physical and minor magical attacks. Cooldown: 30 minutes.
[Electrostatic Pulse (Active) B Rank] – Generates a burst of electricity that can disrupt or disable nearby technology. Cooldown: 25 minutes.
Now we're talking. A Mecha Suit. An Electromagnetic Barrier. An Electrostatic Pulse. These were solid rewards. Not exactly game-changers, but still way better than what I expected.
But then, just as I was about to swipe the screen to exit, something flickered in my HUD.
Codebreaker initiating…
Copying skills and items...
Upgrading Copied Skills and Items...
Wait, hold up.
The rewards didn't just stay at B or C rank. They upgraded. They leveled up.
You've received (Upgraded):
[Summon Drone Swarm: EX Rank] – Summons a set of small stealth drones capable of surveillance, minor attacks, or defense. Can be remotely controlled or set to automatic. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
[Summon EMP Barrage: EX Rank] – A barrage of EMP grenades that disables entire networks, including systems and electronics. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
[Unlimited Free Pass: EX Rank] – Unlimited access to Premium Rank training facility.
[Mecha Suit Summon: EX Rank] – Summons a fully functional EX-ranked mechanized combat suit with enhanced combat capabilities and heavy-duty protection.
[Electromagnetic Barrier (Passive): EX Rank] – A nearly impenetrable force field that blocks all physical and magical attacks for an extended period. No cooldown.
[Electrostatic Pulse (Active): EX Rank] – Generates a massive burst of electricity that disables advanced technology for several minutes. Cooldown: 10 seconds.
I just stared at the screen, my mouth dry.
I'd hacked the system. Not literally, but it felt like it. Codebreaker had turned my rewards into something far beyond what I expected. This was insane. EX Rank? These were the kind of abilities that people in higher ranks dreamed about. And now I had them.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. This was the edge I needed.
"Alright," I said to myself, my grin spreading. "This is it. Let's make some noise."
Just as I was about to get lost in my newfound power, a ping from my comm device broke my focus.
It was from Damian.
"Hey, little bro," his voice crackled through the device, heavy with tension. "Got a minute?"
I leaned forward, instantly alert. "What's going on?"
"I've got a tower mission tomorrow," he said, his voice low. "Guardian level. It's… gonna take longer than I thought."
My chest tightened. Guardian level? That was suicidal for someone of Damian's rank. He was barely a B Rank—no way he should be sent on a mission like that.
"Why the hell are they sending you?" I demanded. "You're barely B Rank. It's too dangerous."
"Because no one else will go," Damian shot back, a bitter edge to his words. "And the money's good. It helps with your academy fees and Brix's schooling."
The weight of those words hit me like a punch to the gut. Damian had always been the protective older brother, but this was different. He wasn't just risking his life for us—he was doing it because he had to.
I felt my throat tighten. I didn't know what to say. He was doing it for us… but it wasn't worth his life.
"Don't do it, Damian," I said, my voice lower than I meant it to be. "I got admitted to the GE Academy. Just got the notification. I can work part-time, or get a scholarship…"
His sigh came through the comm, weary and resigned. "We need the cash, Noah. You know that." There was a long pause. "I'll be back before you know it. Take care of the turf while I'm gone, okay?"
The line went dead.
I stood in silence, staring out at the neon-lit city below. The GAIA Towers loomed in the distance, their towering peaks shrouded in artificial mist. Somewhere in those towers, Damian was about to risk his life. And in 48 hours, I'd be walking into the academy, facing challenges I couldn't even begin to imagine.
The grind wasn't over. It was just beginning.
I clenched my fists, feeling the familiar hum of Codebreaker thrumming in the back of my mind.
Whatever came next—GAIA, the towers, the academy—I'd be ready. I'd make myself ready.
Because I wasn't waiting for control anymore.
I was going to take it.
**************
The next morning, a notification woke me from a restless sleep. It was from my Codebreaker HUD.
[New Mission: Protect the Tower Guardian.]
Objective: There is a breach from the otherworld inside the tower. Your mission is to protect the Tower Guardian from being conquered and destroyed.
Rewards for completion: 1 EX Skill
Failure: Imminent destruction of your world.
[Do you accept? Y/N]
Guardian level. My heart skipped a beat. And then, the comm device buzzed again. Damian's name flashed on the screen.
Something was wrong.