I wandered the recruitment area of the Government Guild for about fifteen minutes, quietly eavesdropping and scanning the groups forming around me. Most didn't want anything to do with someone like me—low-rank, solo, no guild ties.
But eventually, I found a group that didn't ask many questions.
There was Leo, the swordsman—a bit thick in the head, but enthusiastic enough to make up for it. He talked too much and swung his sword even more, but he was easy to deal with.
Then there was Lily, the archer. Quiet, observant, and precise. Her presence was barely noticeable… until her arrows flew. She didn't say much to me, just nodded once when we were introduced.
And finally, Yui—our healer.
She was a little odd. Kept glancing my way every now and then, her face turning red the moment I caught her looking. I didn't think much of it, just assumed she was nervous around new people.
With our makeshift team assembled, we headed out.
The Tower loomed in the distance, casting its endless shadow over Tokyo. The same black spire that appeared five years ago, untouched and unchanged by time. As we approached the first floor's entrance, the familiar pressure settled over me.
This wasn't just a building. It was a test. A monument left behind by beings who watched us from above like pieces on a board.
We stepped in.
And just like that—we were surrounded.
A wave of hostile goblins rushed us the moment our boots touched the floor. Crooked teeth, green skin, crude weapons. Primitive, but deadly in numbers.
I took a step back, letting the others move forward.
I wanted to see what they were working with.
Leo shouted, slamming his greatsword into the floor. "Come at me, you green freaks!"
A dull glow surrounded him as he activated a Taunt skill. The goblins hissed and turned, eyes locked onto him as he charged in, swinging wide.
Lily slid back, her body moving with a grace I wasn't expecting. A faint shimmer pulsed at her feet—a speed boost. She loosed arrows in rapid succession, each one burying itself into a goblin's forehead before they could even reach her.
Yui raised her staff, murmuring a chant, and a healing light flowed over Leo as he took hit after hit, his wounds closing as fast as they opened.
I watched them work, calculating.
Leo's skill? Nah. A taunt wasn't much use to someone planning to solo most floors. Drawing attention wasn't exactly ideal.
But Lily's speed boost—that was different.
"Luna," I said under my breath. "Copy Lily's movement buff."
"Confirmed," Luna replied. A soft glow traced across my interface as the skill was bookmarked under my available slots.
I turned my gaze to Yui. Healing spells could get expensive in the Tower—if I could use magic like hers, I'd save a fortune on potions.
"And hers too. Copy Yui's healing spell."
"Copy complete," Luna confirmed.
The system added both skills to my interface. My fingers itched with anticipation.
"Let's test this out…"
I activated the speed boost.
A strange warmth shot through my legs as the skill pulsed in my limbs. Everything slowed down—not literally, but my perception sharpened. The goblins ahead seemed to move like they were in syrup.
I launched forward.
In one smooth dash, I closed the distance between me and the goblins.
Slice.
Slice.
Two heads dropped to the floor before their bodies even realized they'd been killed.
Blood sprayed across the stone. For the first time in years, I felt something real. A flicker of satisfaction. Power—not from a fluke, or dumb luck, but my own two hands.
I could do this.
We pressed forward through the winding caverns of the floor, dispatching goblins with growing ease. I held back from using my new healing skill just yet—wanted to save it for when I really needed it.
The further we went, the thicker the goblin numbers became. But even with that, the team functioned well. Leo drew aggro, Lily pierced from the back, Yui supported with healing spells, and I—weaved between them, striking wherever there was an opening.
Eventually, we reached the large stone gate marking the end of Floor 1.
I stared at it for a moment, heartbeat steady.
Behind that door was the miniboss. My first real test.
"Looks like we made it," Leo grinned, wiping sweat off his brow.
"You ready for this?" Lily asked, glancing toward me for the first time with actual curiosity.
Yui opened her mouth to speak, then paused, looking at me with that weird spark in her eyes again.
I didn't answer.
I was already stepping forward.
My fingers brushed the cold stone door.
Let's see what I'm really made of.