Shiddharth was now overwhelmed with frustration. His countless attempts, the endless strikes, the long years of training in that strange world—all seemed futile at that moment. With a sudden surge of anger, he clenched his fist and hurled a punch into the sky, aiming directly at the swirling, ominous hole above him.
A surge of Urza energy coursed through his arm, crackling and radiating power unlike anything the world had ever seen. As his fist made contact, the hole shuddered violently and then, with an ear-splitting sound, shattered like fragile glass. A strange emptiness filled the air. The city, the void, the lingering debris—they all began to vanish, dissolving into nothingness.
"Ahhhhh… this is what it feels like to die," the man from before murmured softly, a faint smile crossing his weathered features.
"Thank you… thank you, my disciple," he added, his voice almost echoing with relief and reverence, before disappearing completely into the fading void.
Shiddharth's vision blurred as the last remnants of the strange world melted away. When his surroundings stabilized, he found himself standing in a lush, sunlit garden. The same man he had trained with was now laughing, playing with his children, a simple, peaceful life stretching before him. The serenity and warmth of the moment struck Shiddharth deeply, reminding him why he had endured so much.
Before he could dwell on it, his vision shifted again, and he was suddenly transported back to the 64th floor of the Tower.
A flurry of notifications appeared before him:
[You have defeated #@&@#]
[You have completed the Hidden Class Quest]
[Your Class is now The Slayer]
And his status window updated dramatically:
[Name: Shiddharth Malhotra]
[Species: Human]
[Title Equip: One Who Beats the Death]
[Level: 54]
[Class: The Slayer]
[Stats]
Strength: 65 (+876)
Stamina: 76 (+754)
Agility: 54 (+823)
Intelligence: 50 (+789)
Mana: 30 (+900)
Urza: 5 (Urza stats can be increased by using Mana in a 1:100 ratio)
[Skills]
As Long As I Hold A Sword (SSS-Class, can be grown)
The One Who Can Resurrect (SS-Class)
Defy The Tower Law (???)
Weapon Forging (S-Class)
Fist Master (SS-Class)
Fire Resistant (S-Class)
Urza Master (???)
[Achievements Slide]
Shiddharth stared at the window, blinking in astonishment. "My stats… they've skyrocketed again. And… Mana? 900? I've never seen it increase this much in the Reset Floor. And this Urza… it's only five, yet its potential is far greater than I imagined. Even after mastering it for fifty years, this is only the beginning." He shook his head, both in disbelief and exhilaration.
With renewed determination, Shiddharth resumed his climb. He defeated each Boss Monster along the way, meticulously feeding their remains to the Red Dragon Egg.
Birth of the Red Winged Knight
When he reached the 87th floor and fed the dead body of the Boss Monster to the egg, it began to tremble violently. Cracks formed along its surface, and suddenly, a tiny, fragile baby Dragon emerged.
It wobbled unsteadily in Shiddharth's palm, falling immediately to the ground as if it were too newborn to stand. A faint cry escaped its tiny throat.
"Shh… shh… don't cry," Shiddharth murmured softly, crouching down to soothe it. "Here, take this."
He handed the baby Dragon a small, glowing green stone. The creature sniffed it curiously before devouring it in a single gulp, its cries turning to tiny chirps of satisfaction.
[Name: Red Winged Knight]
[Species: Dragon]
[Title Equip: None]
[Level: 1]
[Class: Pet]
[Stats]
Strength: 23
Stamina: 56
Agility: 32
Intelligence: 8
Mana: 6
[Skills]
Dragon's Breath (locked)
Dragon's Fear (locked)
Hell Fire (B-Class) ]
A note appeared: "Skills locked will be unlocked as the dragon levels up. Dragon can level up by consuming Urza points from its owner. Lower-level dragons consume more points; higher-level dragons consume fewer points."
Shiddharth's eyes widened in frustration. "What? It needs Urza points to level up… and I only have five after fifty years of training?!" He clenched his fists and shouted at the Tower, "This is ridiculous! You expect me to use Urza points on this little thing?!"
But abandoning the dragon was not an option. He sighed, placing it carefully in a soft pouch, determination settling in his heart. There was no choice but to climb, complete hidden missions, and gather the stats required for both himself and the dragon.
Return to 51st Floor
After defeating the 96th-floor Boss and completing his current missions, Shiddharth returned to the 51st floor, where Jun Si, Novia, and the others had set up camp. Despite the countless battles he had faced, his gaze softened at the sight of familiar faces.
It had only been three days in the Tower since he had left. Fifty years in the other world had passed in mere seconds here—another bizarre quirk of the Tower.
"You came faster than expected. I thought you'd arrive at midnight," Novia scolded, her eyes narrowing. "And without saying goodbye, no less!"
Shiddharth grinned lightly, summoning the baby Dragon in his palm. The little creature wiggled, licking its own tiny feet and scratching its head with the other.
Novia's eyes went wide, and she gasped softly. "Wow… so cute! I never thought dragons could be this adorable! The ones I fought were terrifying… but this little golu-molu is… amazing!" She gently picked up the dragon, holding it delicately, her earlier frustration replaced with fascination and delight.
"Take care of him for a while," Shiddharth said, a hint of amusement in his voice. "I need to visit Jun Si. It's time to clear the 97th floor."
Novia froze, her eyes widening in disbelief. "Clear the 97th floor? Are you out of your mind? Don't you realize the level gap between you and the Boss? You couldn't even scratch him at your current level!"
Shiddharth met her gaze calmly, a faint smile on his lips. "I agree—strength alone is not everything. Experience, strategy, and skills matter just as much. You'll see."
Novia hesitated, biting her lip. She had no idea of his full capabilities. She assumed Jun Si had helped him along the way, but in truth, Shiddharth's power far exceeded anything she had imagined. Her words, meant as caution, only reflected the limits of her knowledge.