1. Beginning the Journey

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the city as countless eyes turned toward the massive structure that pierced the heavens. The Tower. A monolith of endless floors, a world unto itself, where climbers sought fortune, power, and answers. It was a known challenge—the higher one climbed, the stronger they became. But it was also a graveyard, where the ambitious perished, swallowed by the unknown.

At the base of the Tower stood a young man with sharp, determined eyes. His clothes were plain, his frame lean but wiry. He was not adorned in the armor of a noble warrior, nor did he carry the air of someone who had been trained in the finest academies. Yet, there was something about him—a quiet intensity, a resolve that had been forged through hardship.

His name was Kael.

Kael had grown up on the streets, scraping by with odd jobs and scavenging. His parents, once climbers themselves, had vanished within the Tower's depths when he was just a child. With no inheritance, no legacy, and no name to rely on, he had struggled his entire life. Now, he stood before the very thing that had taken everything from him, ready to stake his own fate within its walls.

He wasn't entering the Tower for glory or adventure. He was here for survival.

For years, he had watched as climbers who returned from the Tower rose in status, gaining wealth and power beyond measure. The rewards within the Tower were unlike anything found in the outside world—rare artifacts, skill tomes, stat enhancements. Even the weakest climbers who survived a few floors could change their fates overnight. Kael needed that chance. He was tired of starving, tired of scraping by. If there was even a sliver of an opportunity to claw his way out of poverty, he would take it.

But Kael wasn't just entering on a whim. He had done his research. The Tower had different difficulty settings, and the rewards were proportional to the challenge. While most chose the normal or easy difficulty, Kael had made up his mind—he would climb on the hardest setting.

The decision wasn't out of arrogance or recklessness. It was because he had no other choice.

Those who climbed the Tower on higher difficulties gained better rewards—stronger skills, higher stat increases, and rarer items. It was a gamble, but one he had to take. If he entered on a lower difficulty, he might never earn enough to truly change his life.

A deep breath. A final look at the outside world. And then, he stepped forward.

As he passed through the Tower's entrance, a cold sensation ran down his spine, as if unseen eyes were appraising him. A floating screen materialized before him, glowing faintly.

[Welcome, Climber.]

[Please select your difficulty setting.]

Kael didn't hesitate.

[Chosen Difficulty: Hell Mode.]

The moment he confirmed, the air around him shifted. A force tugged at his body, and in an instant, the world around him shattered like glass. Darkness swallowed him whole, and the next thing he knew, he was no longer standing in the grand hall where climbers usually gathered.

Instead, he was alone in a void of swirling mist.

A new notification appeared before him.

[Due to your chosen difficulty, you have unlocked a hidden trait.]

[Analyzing potential...]

Kael's heart pounded. He had heard rumors that those who selected extreme difficulties sometimes awakened unique traits, but the chances were abysmally low. Had he actually beaten the odds?

[Hidden Trait Acquired: Predation]

[Effect: Upon killing an enemy, a portion of their stats and a chance to acquire one of their skills will be granted to you.]

Kael stared at the words, disbelief washing over him. This... this was beyond what he had hoped for. An ability that allowed him to grow stronger by defeating others? It was practically designed for survival.

Before he could process further, another message appeared.

[Due to special conditions met, you have obtained a Guide Spirit.]

[Designating Guide...]

A pulse of energy rippled through the air, and suddenly, a spectral figure materialized before him. A tall, cloaked being with an ethereal glow, their eyes sharp with both wisdom and mischief.

"Ah... so you're my new partner," the spirit mused, crossing their arms. "Didn't expect to wake up today. The name's Azrael. You'd better not get yourself killed too quickly—I've been asleep for a long time, and I'd rather not go back just yet."

Kael blinked. A talking spirit? And it had personality?

Azrael smirked. "You're in for one hell of a ride, kid. Let's get started."

And just like that, Kael's journey in the Tower had begun.