Ep.5

Mara couldn't in good conscience send Aiden into the Tower as he was. He needed proper support as she knew something impossible was going to happen within the tower.

But Aiden still had zero clue as to what was happening as Mara was practically dragging him into the Hunter Bureau.

Because at its heart was the supermarket for Hunters. Anything and everything could be found however it wasn't a place someone like Aiden could simply enter.

Only after reaching the 5th Rank could a hunter enter the Bureau Market and even then some of the cheapest items still costed millions of dollars.

"M-Miss Thorn I'm sure I'll be able to manage whatever is in the tower. Besides I don't have the funds to buy even a health potion from here."

Mara stopped at the front desk and swiped her badge and grabbed a visitor's pass for Aiden.

"If wish to survive then you need actual protection."

"W-What? What do you mean?"

Aiden didn't believe the danger he was in.

And Jacob was sure that anyone would have their jaw dropped if the saw what he was making in the Tower.

"I give you Life, Thyrum. I trust you know your mission."

As the Beast came to life Jacob heard a dark and bone chilling voice.

"Yes… my Lord… I shall carry the duty you have given me… I live to serve you."

Thyrum was a fire Drake, a Subspecies of a True Dragon.

But that didn't mean that it would be easy to kill.

'Now all that's left is to wait and watch.'

Jacob flew up onto the edge of the cliff that overlooked where the Tower entrance was and where Thyrum was resting.

Jacob spared no expense to his creations but simply creating Thyrum and his abilities were tiring.

But it still didn't compare to how exhausting the Rewards Jacob had to create were.

'I'm sure he will quite like this reward… should he survive. But I suppose it is my hubris to think someone like him could complete my tower without help.'

Even at that moment Jacob was reading Aiden's book as saw how much help Mara was providing.

"M-Miss Thorn please just stop! I can't take it anymore! I can't accept these gifts there just too much."

"Hush! If you hope to live to see tomorrow then use these!"

Boots enchanted with Misty Steps which was a low level teleportation spell. A pair of Wyvern Poison Daggers that could cut through metal like a hot knife with butter. Healing potions that could even regrow a limb. These were just a few of the things Mara had bought for Aiden.

But even these few things had already cost Mara several hundred million dollars.

This led Aiden to ask many times over to stop but his requests fell on deaf ears.

"Why are you doing this?! You don't know me! You don't owe me anything."

Before long Aiden looked like a true Hunter fitted with proper gear. However Jacob was displeased as he watched.

'You cannot overcome obstacles with just gear alone. Experience is required otherwise it will be their demise.'

After all what good is a weapon if you don't know how to use it.

Gaia had begun to sense Mara's desperation to both cure her brother and help Aiden survive the tower.

'Mara… you must let go of your fears. If this boy is to survive the climb then he must remain in his element. The difference between him and you is too vast to cover with just equipment.'

Mara was still imagining her brother slowly withering away and saw much of him in Aiden. So her fears were there as well.

'Your right Gaia… I'm still the same old reckless fool. I have to do this properly.'

Mara stopped dead in her tracks before taking everything she had bought besides a Health Potion, the Wyvern poison daggers and the Misty Step boots.

"I am sorry Aiden… I was a fool. let's head back to the tower."

Aiden felt a bit of sweat dripping down his spine as he was once again dragged off.

All while Jacob was watching or rather reading his book of Aiden.

Only now he had hope that Aiden could defeat Thyrum.

'Now he has a chance of victory… Gaia must have brought Mara out of her fears… good. Now I can heal her brother after the test.'

Jacob felt anticipation for the first time as he watched Aiden walk through the tower's gate and even from over a mile away from the gate he could see that Aiden was shocked to see his surroundings had changed.

"What the hell? I know Miss Thorn told me to keep an open mind to what I might see inside but this is just… amazing. It's like it's-"

"Another world? You are correct."

Aiden felt the air burning as if the sun was a few inches from his face and turned to find Thyrum towering over him.

"W-What are you? How can you speak English?"

"I am Thyrum and I am your challenge. In order to pass and prove yourself worthy you must defeat me in combat. If you succeed then you shall gain a Title."

Aiden raised an eyebrow as he didn't know what Thyrum meant.

"Title? What do you mean? Is it like a skill Stone? Will I gain a new skill?"

Thyrum showed the brand in his hand that was identical to Aiden's and spoke with utmost confidence.

"Listen close Challenger… these Markings are called Titles. Should you defeat me then your Mark will awaken and you will have a new power unlike anything humanity has seen."

Aiden looked closely at Thyrum's mark and notice a flickering glow while his own mark wasn't even flickering.

"Who created these marks and why was I chosen?"

Aiden watched as Thyrum turned to where Jacob was but the distance was too far for Aiden to see Jacob clearly.

"That is a question you will have to ask yourself. That is… if you survive."

Aiden subconsciously ducked as Thyrum swung his tail to try and hit Aiden but only turned a boulder into pebbles.

"Hey! What the hell!? I thought we were just having a conversation!"

"The time to talk is over! Now we shall see if you are worthy to become a Dragon Slayer!"

Aiden gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on his daggers as he started his fight with death itself.