Safe Zone 5

The rhythmic clang of the hammer against metal echoed through the blacksmith's workshop, a steady, reassuring beat that filled the air with purpose.

The heat from the forge cast flickering shadows on the walls, illuminating the determined face of the blacksmith as he worked on Elira and Rin's armor.

Elira stood beside me, arms crossed as she watched the sparks fly. "I never expected to get this kind of help so soon," she murmured.

Rin, standing slightly behind her, looked between her older sister and the blacksmith with an almost guilty expression. "Well… I guess I'm still relying on you a lot, Elira," she admitted softly. "I mean, my skill is [Tamer]. Without you, I wouldn't even be able to clear these floors properly."

Elira sighed, shaking her head with a small smile. "You're doing fine, Rin. Just because you don't fight directly doesn't mean you're not useful. Tamer skills can be ridiculously powerful if trained right."

"But I still need to depend on you," Rin insisted. "You have [Sword Mastery], and you're the one clearing most of the trials while I just… support."

Elira turned to face her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "And we're doing it together. I don't mind carrying you for now, because one day, you'll be the one saving me. That's what sisters do."

Rin's eyes glistened slightly, but she quickly nodded, determined. "Yeah. I'll get stronger, too."

Alice, who had been casually leaning against the counter, sighed dramatically. "Well, aren't you two just adorable," she teased. "But don't get too comfortable. The Tower trials only get harder from here."

That reminded me of something. "Wait… isn't it supposed to be impossible to team up before the 10th floor trial?" I asked, frowning. "I thought that was one of the Tower's rules?"

Alice's expression didn't change as she met my gaze. "Normally, yes. But the Tower doesn't just follow one rigid set of rules—it adapts. It decided that you, in particular, were better off exploring alone rather than teaming up with random people. That doesn't mean other explorers from Earth haven't been teaming up when possible."

That was… interesting. The Tower wasn't as rigid as I thought. And I couldn't trust everything I read from the forum until I verified it.

Before I could ask more, another question came to mind—one that had been bothering me for a while. "Speaking of Earth… what do you know about the 'Earth-King' guy?"

Alice's ears twitched slightly, her eyes sharpening at the mention of the name. "I've been waiting for more reports before taking action," she admitted. "If up to ten people or at least two Transcendent Souls report his actions, I can escalate it. Otherwise, I can't intervene directly."

That meant she had been watching but unable to act.

The blacksmith, who had been silent during our conversation, suddenly snorted. "Of course someone's supporting him. A Constellation."

Everyone turned to look at him.

"That's the only reason he's able to use those 'mysterious powers' of his," the blacksmith continued, setting down his hammer with a heavy thud. "That power is not something that should be in the hands of a mortal. He's not some genius. He has backing."

Alice's expression darkened. "Constellation intervention in the newbie district is against the rules."

Elira and Rin exchanged confused glances, but I caught the serious undertone in Alice's voice. She wasn't just annoyed—she was genuinely angry.

Alice crossed her arms. "The whole point of the Tower is to foster strong explorers, not let outside forces pick favorites. Direct interference has even led to the deaths of promising challengers before they could grow."

She straightened, her usual casual demeanor gone. "As a guide, it's my responsibility to prevent that."

A notification blinked before my eyes.

[Administrator Intervention Detected: A System Poll Has Been Initiated.]

I blinked as a transparent system window materialized in front of me. At the same time, Elira and Rin gasped—clearly, they could see the same thing.

There were only two options presented:

[Report the Constellation interfering in the Newbie District.]

[Do not report.]

I didn't even hesitate before selecting Report.

Elira and Rin did the same, their choices locking in one by one.

After some seconds of hesitation from Alice.

Alice's eyes glowed, confirming the result. "Good. The Tower Master will deal with the Constellation accordingly. You'll all be compensated, and actions like this will be prevented in the future."

I exhaled, surprised at how easily something that felt so big was handled. "That's it?"

"The Tower isn't just a chaotic mess," Alice replied. "It has its own rules. Breaking them has consequences—even for Constellations."

The blacksmith grunted. "Speaking of Constellations… we have our own limits, but you should be asking about something else."

I frowned. "Like what?"

"Gods."

The air in the forge seemed to grow heavier at that single word.

"The Gods have more authority and freedom than Constellations," the blacksmith continued, his voice steady. "They don't need to sneak around and break rules like Constellations do. But because they have more power, they're usually more restrained and tend to take a passive stance."

Alice nodded. "In fact, getting the blessing of a God is far better than having a Constellation as a sponsor. Their power is stronger, their influence greater."

Elira furrowed her brow. "Then why doesn't everyone just get a God as their sponsor?"

The blacksmith smirked. "Because it's not that simple."

He picked up a metal cup from the nearby workbench and held it up. "This… is like a Constellation's power."

Then, with his other hand, he gestured toward a large barrel filled with water. "And this is the minimum power of a God."

Rin's eyes widened. "That much of a difference?"

The blacksmith nodded. "A Constellation's power is like a cup of water—useful, but limited. A God's power? It's an ocean. Vast, deep, and all-encompassing."

I absorbed that information carefully. Having a God as a sponsor was rare.

Alice stretched her arms. "There's another reason, too. If you get a God as your sponsor, Constellations won't dare interfere with you anymore."

"Then isn't that a good thing?" I asked.

The blacksmith chuckled. "Depends on how you look at it. Gods may be more powerful, but their rules are stricter. If you accept a Constellation's blessing, you might have some obligations, but they're usually flexible. Gods, on the other hand…" His eyes darkened. "They own their chosen. Once you're under a God's rule, there's no turning back. If you become an apostle, you get more benefits but at that stage, you can't leave anymore"

A shiver ran down my spine.

Alice smirked at my reaction. "Still want to go for a God's blessing?"

I crossed my arms, deep in thought. The choice between a Constellation and a God wasn't just about power—it was about freedom. I was fine just the way I am.

Sure, the Goddess of space had given me knowledge and I had received messages before that some other Gods were interested in me. I was not going to take any rash actions until I am sure of everything.

Elira glanced at her feets, as if considering the same thing.

Rin, however, simply grinned. "Well, we have to survive the 10th floor before we even think about sponsors, right?"

The blacksmith let out a hearty laugh. "That's the right mindset, kid. Survive first, then worry about the rest."

The blacksmith grunted as he hammered a final strike on the anvil, the ringing sound cutting through the forge like a clear bell. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, then lifted the freshly upgraded armor pieces onto the table. "Alright, your gear is done."

I opened my system interface, curious about how much the armor had changed after the blacksmith's enhancements.

Elira's Armor and Sword

======

[Iron-Plated Guardian Breastplate]

Description: A basic iron breastplate designed for beginner warriors. After reinforcement, it provides decent protection against slashing and piercing attacks but remains weak against magic.

Durability: Medium

Effects: +5 Defense, +5 Agility

=====

[Iron Sword]

Description: A basic sword designed for beginner warriors. After reinforcement, it provides increase in attack power and strength.

Durability: Medium

Effects: +10 Attack Power, +1 Strength

=====

[Swift Striker's Boots]

Description: Simple boots that allow for faster movement and quieter steps. Suitable for all purposes

Durability: Medium

Effects: +2 Agility

=====

Rin Armor and Weapon. She wears the same boots as her sister.

=====

[Light Leather Hunter's Vest]

Description: A lightweight leather vest, offering little protection but granting increased movement speed. The blacksmith's enhancements have made it slightly more resilient.

Durability: Medium

Effects: +3 Agility, +2 Defense

=====

[Swift Striker's Dagger]

Description: A lightweight Knife made to skin animals skins. Designed for butchers and beginner warriors.

Durability: Medium

Effects: + 7 Attack power

=====

Even with the upgrades, these were still beginner-tier items. If they wanted to survive long-term, they'd need much better gear.

Rin beamed as she picked up her vest and spun in place excitedly. "Wow! It feels so much sturdier now!"

Elira nodded, checking out the metal of her sword. "This will hold up better than before. Thanks."

The blacksmith smirked. "Don't thank me yet. I expect you to use them well."

Alice stretched her arms as she nod to herself. "Well, now that we've handled that, let's get back to something important—your compensation for enduring the Constellation's unfair interference."

I turned to her, intrigued. "What exactly do we get?"

Alice's expression turned serious. "Full compensation will be granted after the 10th floor trial. Additionally, every individual from the original 100 people summoned from Earth who died will be revived immediately."

A heavy silence filled the room.

"Wait… revived?" I asked.

Alice nodded. "The Tower's purpose isn't to exterminate challengers, it's to test them and help them grow. Those who died early due to outside interference—such as that Constellation's meddling—will be given another chance."

Rin clutched her hands together. "So… some of the people we lost might come back?"

"Exactly. Not 'some' everyone dead from your summoned group will be revived"

It was probably rare to hear of anything like this in the Tower, but then again, if the interference had been against the rules, it made sense that the Tower master would correct it.

"The 'Earth-King' fate will be left to the fellow explorers. He will be striped of the blessings the constellation has given to him." Alice final words made me happy. Even though the dead people were coming back. The 'Earth-King' has to pay for his actions.

But before anyone could respond further, a sudden System Notification appeared in front of the three of us, glowing ominously.

[Urgent System Alert: Dimension #44567782 is at Risk of Destruction.]

[You must select the explorers that will defend it.]

[The 10th floor event time will be changed to 5 minutes more.]

A deep silence filled the forge. The weight of those words hit like a war hammer to the chest.

I swallowed. "What... just happened?"

Alice's ears twitched, her expression unreadable. "Your home dimension is in trouble. And the Tower is selecting candidates to stop whatever is happening. This is your goal and purpose in the tower"

Before we could process that fully, another message appeared.

[Countdown to Deployment: 05:00 Minutes Remaining]

The countdown had begun.

"Tch." Elira clenched her fists. "So much for a break."

The blacksmith sighed, rubbing his temples before focusing on us. "You three better start preparing. This isn't something you can take lightly."

I didn't waste time. I immediately checked out my newly reforged Cloak of Shadows and my Sturdy Leather Boots.

=====

[Cloak of Shadows]

Description: Made for blending into the night. Or hiding from your responsibilities.

Durability: High (Adjustable in special Conditions)

Effect: +10 Agility, +20 Defense, Regeneration

=====

[Sturdy Leather Boots]

Description: Perfect for long treks and quick escapes. It has been upgraded with Void materials and made to withstand Cosmic Energy

Durability: High

Effect: +10 Agility

=====

Elira strapped on her breastplate and tightened her gauntlets. She grabbed her sword from the table and gave it a quick swing, checking the balance.

Rin adjusted her leather vest and equipped her dagger, flipping it between her fingers with a nervous expression. "I hope I don't freeze up…"

"You won't," Elira reassured her.

Alice crossed her arms. "Good. Get yourselves in order. The Tower doesn't send explorers into battles they can't win… but that doesn't mean this will be easy. It is a test to select the best from your dimension so give it your all"

She was finally acting like a guide as she claimed to be.

The seconds ticked away.

[Countdown: 0:30 Seconds Remaining]

I exhaled, steadying my nerves. Whatever was waiting for us beyond this, we had no choice but to face it.

[Countdown: 0:10 Seconds Remaining]

The space around us began to distort, rippling as if reality itself was being pulled apart.

Alice gave us one final look, then smirked. "Good luck, you three."

[3… 2… 1…]

The world twisted and folded around us—then everything went white.