Floor One

Day 2 — Core Tower

The Core Tower loomed like a broken monolith over the horizon, its blackened stone twisting upward into storm-lit clouds. The gates rumbled open, and a wave of players funneled inside—most from the Dreadnaught Guild, led by their steel-armored commander, Dreadnaught Rex.

Michael and Micha followed behind the crowd, walking shoulder to shoulder. Flash spotted them and jogged over, grinning.

"Yo! I knew you two would show up," Flash said, slapping Michael's back.

"Wouldn't miss it," Michael replied with a chuckle. "Clearing the first floor? That's when the game really begins. You have to be here for that."

"And we gotta get stronger," Micha added, tightening his gloves.

Flash nodded. "Survival. That's all that matters now."

As the players stepped deeper into the tower, a UI notification echoed across their screens:

[Dungeon Instance: Core Tower – Initiated]

Layers Remaining: 3

• First Layer: Goblin Swarm

• Second Layer: Goblins & Skeletons

• Third Layer: Floor Guardian – Night Goblin Lord

⸻

First Layer: Goblin Swarm

The first chamber was wide and cracked, dimly lit by floating crystals embedded in the ceiling. The moment players crossed the threshold, a screech echoed out—and dozens of [Goblin Scouts – Lv. 9] burst from the shadows.

Rex raised a hand. "Players… fight!"

The battle erupted.

Swords clanged. Magic flashed. Screams and roars filled the air.

Michael surged forward, blade shimmering with wind energy. He activated [Air Slash]—the arc sliced through two goblins in one clean motion.

[+60 XP]

[Goblin Scout Defeated ×2]

Micha ducked under a spear and plunged his twin daggers into a goblin's chest, spinning with fluid grace. "Tch—too easy."

Behind them, Dreadnaught Rex was leveling entire groups with his bare fists. His armored gauntlets struck with the force of a warhammer, turning goblins into red data fragments in a single blow. It was clear why he was called The Juggernaut.

[Player "Rex" has defeated 12 enemies]

Suddenly, a scream rang out.

"Somebody help me!"

A lone player had been separated, surrounded by five snarling goblins. His back was against a cracked pillar, HP already in the red.

Michael and Micha heard it and locked eyes.

"Michael—you take the left. I'll flank right!" Micha shouted.

"Got it!"

Michael charged, slashing and weaving through goblins with focused precision. His blade danced.

[Goblin Scout Defeated]

[+30 XP]

Micha hit the right side with a flurry of dagger strikes, using [Shadow Dash] to blink behind his target before driving his blade in.

[Goblin Scout Defeated ×2]

[+60 XP]

"Thanks… I was almost dead," the player gasped.

"Stick with the group next time," Micha said, offering a hand. "You live longer."

The first layer was cleared.

The heavy doors to the second layer groaned open, revealing a narrow descent into a vast, sunken crypt. The air was colder here, dry and thick with the scent of dust and ancient bones. Faint torches flickered along the walls, casting eerie shadows across broken stone coffins and shattered armor littered across the battlefield.

[New Zone Entered: Crypt of the Second Layer]

[Enemy Types: Goblin Bruiser – Lv. 11 | Skeleton Swordsman – Lv. 12 | Skeleton Marksman – Lv. 13]

Michael paused, sword resting on his shoulder, breathing steady but sharp. Micha stretched out his wrists, his daggers still dripping with crimson code from the last fight.

Suddenly, a burst of gunfire echoed from the far end of the crypt.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three Goblin Bruisers collapsed, heads dissolving into pixels as glowing blue rounds pierced them one after another. A figure emerged through the torchlight haze—Asura. Her braid swung behind her like a whip, and her pulse rifle still smoked from its last shot.

"Sloppy," she said, glancing toward a pair of panicking players behind her. "Stay with the group next time."

Her electric blue eyes scanned the room, locking briefly onto Michael. She tilted her head.

"You two—sword and daggers. You handled the first wave well. Names?"

"I'm Micha," Micha said, giving a quick nod. "That's Michael. My day one."

Michael stepped forward, trying to seem casual. But his cheeks were red as a bell pepper. "We're just doing what it takes to survive."

Asura smirked. "That's a good answer."

A sudden screech came from deeper in the crypt—Skeleton Marksmen emerged from alcoves on both sides, notching bone-tipped arrows.

"Get down!" Asura shouted.

Michael dropped into a slide as an arrow skimmed over his head. Micha ducked and rolled behind a pillar.

Asura took position beside Michael, her rifle shifting modes with a whir. "Cover me. I'll pick them off."

He nodded and deflected two incoming arrows with his blade. "On it!"

She dropped to one knee, aimed, and unleashed a burst of semi-auto fire—each shot glowing faint blue, pure Pulse energy.

[Skeleton Marksman Defeated ×3]

[+240 XP]

Michael blinked. "Damn, that's precision."

"Pulse Caster class," she replied without looking at him. "We don't miss."

Micha flanked the remaining skeletons, flashing through their ranks with brutal dagger strikes. His agility was unmatched—clean kills, one after another.

[Skeleton Swordsman Defeated ×2]

[+180 XP]

[Michael has reached Level 15]

[Micha has reached Level 17]

The enemies fell. The room went quiet again.

Players regrouped, panting and shaken.

Asura looked over her shoulder at Michael. "You fight like someone who's been in a real battle."

Michael hesitated. "…Just been watching how others move. Like I said just trying to survive."

She narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. You read your opponents well. You both ever consider joining the Dreadnaught guild you two would be really helpful?"

Michael shrugged. "Not really my style."

Micha smirked. "We're doing our own thing."

"Mmm okay but the deal is open." She said.

Micha leaned in and muttered under his breath, "She's totally into you."

Michael gave him a look. "Can we not die first before you start matchmaking?"

Asura stood, brushing a strand of hair back into place. "We're getting close. Once we breach the gate ahead, the final chamber will activate. Rex is already moving to prep the boss strategy. You two—stay sharp."

She turned and walked off with a confident stride, reloading her weapon with a spinning flick.

Michael watched her go, then muttered, "She's intense."

"Yeah," Micha said. "But she's not wrong. You were going crazy."

Michael chuckled "I had to show off in front of her."

They both chuckled.

Flash leapt forward, his blade gleaming as it sliced clean through a skeleton creeping up behind them. Bones shattered into glowing shards, dissolving into code.

[Skeleton Swordsman – Defeated]

[+90 XP]

He landed, spun around, and shot them a quick glare.

"No time for laughing—keep your head in the game."

"Right!" They both said.

[Current Objective: Final Layer - Night Goblin Lord]

[Boss Room Ahead – 50 meters]

New Zone: Core Tower – Third Layer: The Throne of Ash]

A wide gate loomed ahead, twisted iron embedded with glowing red glyphs. Beyond it, darkness pulsed like a heartbeat.

[Current Objective: Defeat the Floor Boss – Night Goblin Lord]

As the gate creaked open, a gust of cold, fetid air swept out. The chamber beyond was immense. Stone pillars stretched into blackness above, their tops lost in shadow. Bones littered the cracked floor like discarded warnings.

The Night Goblin Lord stepped from the shadows, at least ten feet tall, wearing cracked obsidian armor. Its eye sockets glowed molten red, and in one hand it gripped a jagged war axe the size of a grown man.

[Night Goblin Lord – Level 25]

[HP: ████████████████████]

[Boss Battle Initiated – Combat Lock Engaged]

Dreadnaught Rex stepped forward, raising his fist. His massive form was bathed in orange light from the boss room torches.

"Positions! hold formation!"

Flash gave Michael and Micha a look. "Stick close to me. By from what I heard from Rex this thing's AI is aggressive and can phase through attacks."

Michael nodded. Micha rolled his shoulders, blades shimmering.

"Let's finish what we started."

The battle erupted.

Rex charged in first, slamming a glowing uppercut into the boss's chest. The Night Goblin Lord staggered but didn't fall. It let out a roar, the sound warping the air as shockwaves blasted outward.

Michael dove to the side, pulling Micha with him just in time.

"Flash, left flank!" Asura barked, already firing in controlled bursts. Her shots sparked off the boss's shoulder, drawing its attention away from weaker players.

Flash darted in a blur, slashing across the back of the boss's leg.

[Critical Hit – 233 DMG]

Micha leapt up the boss's back, planting both daggers into its shoulder, dragging down like a zipper of bloodless code.

Michael sprinted in, blade glowing.

"Now!"

He and Micha struck at the same time—one from above, one from the side.

[Weak Point Hit – x2 Damage]

[Night Goblin Lord – HP 30%]

The boss howled. Red runes ignited along its armor.

"It's entering Phase Two!" Asura warned.

The boss slammed its axe into the ground—runes exploded, launching shockwaves that knocked back several players.

Michael and Micha were thrown apart.

"Michael!" Micha coughed, sliding against the stone.

Michael barely rolled to his feet in time to block a swipe from the axe. Sparks flew.

The Night Goblin Lord raised its weapon for a finishing blow—

But Flash appeared behind it, slicing its hamstring. "NOW, MICHAEL!"

Michael's sword flared with neon energy. He triggered [Sky Breaker Slash]—his strongest move yet.

He sprinted up the boss's swinging arm, leapt from its shoulder, and drove the blade down—

Right between its molten eyes.

He ran up the boss's arm as it swung, leapt off its shoulder—and drove the sword straight into its face.

[Critical Hit – 59 DMG]

[Boss HP: 0%]

[Night Goblin Lord – Defeated]

The boss froze… and shattered into thousands of crimson shards.

[Victory Achieved!]

[+650 XP]

[Michael has reached Level 19]

[Loot Acquired: Fractured Relic Blade – Tier B | Bound]

The glowing sword appeared in his inventory—a sleek, dark-metal weapon with faint purple circuitry etched along its edge.

[Fractured Relic Blade]

Type: One-Handed Sword

Rarity: Tier B

Special Effect: Increases attack speed by 10%

As the players recovered, silence filled the chamber.

Then someone clapped.

Dreadnaught Rex stepped forward, helmet still cracked from battle.

"Nice strike… Michael, right?"

Michael blinked. "Y-Yeah."

"That final hit was clean. You've got potential."

Other players nodded, some muttering compliments. Flash smirked and patted Michael on the back.

"See? What'd I say? You just made your mark."

Micha threw an arm around Michael's shoulders. "Who knew my best friend would be the one to drop the boss and unlock Floor One?"

Michael chuckled.

[Floor 1 Unlocked – You may now ascend]

Asura approached, still calm but a hint of a smile at the corner of her lips.

"That sword suits you."

Michael looked at it in his hand, then back at her. "We all made it through thanks to the team."

She tilted her head. "Maybe. But not everyone could've landed that strike."

He glanced at Micha, who just grinned. "That's my day one."

The players had dispersed hours ago. Cheers had faded. The victory posts were already flooding the global chat.

A few fire pits flickered outside the now-quiet gates of the Core Tower, casting orange light across the broken stone. The air was still, heavy with the silence that always follows chaos.

Michael sat on a ledge overlooking the landscape of Floor Zero—the distant lights of Aetherhold barely visible. His new sword, the Fractured Relic Blade, rested against his shoulder.

Micha walked over and dropped beside him, tossing a can of virtual soda from his inventory. Michael caught it.

They sat in silence for a beat, sipping, listening to the wind.

Micha broke the quiet first. "We did it."

"Yeah," Michael said, nodding slowly. "Floor One."

"That boss was no joke… but you nailed the last hit. You saw the way Rex looked at you? Even Asura."

Michael exhaled slowly. "Feels strange."

"How so?"

He turned the new blade in his hand, watching the way it caught the light. "Because this… this doesn't feel like a victory. It feels like a warning. Like… that wasn't the hardest part."

Micha leaned back, folding his hands behind his head. "Then we get stronger. Like we said—Floor 100, together. We've got time."

Michael looked over at him, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah… together."

Micha grinned. "You know, I think people are gonna start remembering your name after this."

Michael turned back to the horizon, his voice quiet. "Let them. Just not all of me. Not yet."

The wind picked up slightly, rustling the tattered banners left by the Dreadnaught guild's temporary encampment. A shadow passed across the moon—something moving high above, silent and fast. Neither of them noticed.

[System Message: You may now ascend to Floor 1]

[Warning: All Progression Beyond This Point Will Trigger Advanced Combat Scaling]

Micha stood up and offered Michael a hand. "Next stop?"

Michael grabbed it, pulling himself to his feet. He sheathed his sword.

"Floor One," he said. "Let's find out what kind of hell waits for us there

They walked toward the portal together.

Just before they stepped in, Michael paused and looked back one last time—toward the tower, toward the battlefield, toward the path that had already started to change him.