"I have a suggestion," she said. "Since you're all new here, I'll take you to challenge the Tower of Trials. It's excellent for training, and if you set a notable record, you'll be rewarded."
Axel's eyes sharpened. "Tower of Trials?"
Matias let out a low whistle. "I've heard of that place. Tests your strength, magic, and mind, right?"
Aeris nodded. "More than that. The difficulty adjusts to your level, so even a Guardian like you, Mat, won't have an easy time."
Mat smirked. "Sounds fun."
Dario frowned slightly. "And what happens if you fail?"
Aeris tilted her head. "Nothing. You get thrown out, bruised and humiliated, but alive." She paused before adding, "However, if you pass the trials, the rewards are worth it. Gold, rare items, even titles that grant special privileges."
Axel crossed his arms. "So it's not just about raw strength?"
"Exactly," Aeris said. "Even Paladins struggle because it doesn't just test power it tests aptitude. A higher aptitude means you're far stronger than others at your level and have the potential to go further."
Mia, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "How many trials are there?"
Aeris raised a finger, then started counting. "Nine. Life, Death, Desire, Love, Hatred, Vengeance, Strength, Wisdom, and Determination."
Dario scoffed. "That sounds unnecessarily dramatic."
Aeris smiled faintly. "Each trial forces you to confront something within yourself. Strength alone won't get you through."
Axel's interest deepened. "How often can we challenge it?"
"Once a month," Aeris replied. "You need a challenge card to enter. I can get you each one."
Mat cracked his knuckles. "I'm in. Sounds better than wandering around aimlessly."
Axel gave a small nod. "Me too."
Dario sighed. "Guess I don't have a choice."
Mia frowned. "I'll pass. I prefer healing over fighting."
Aeris nodded. "That's fair." She turned on her heel. "Then let's not waste time. Follow me."
With that, the group moved, their steps firm with anticipation.
-----
Axel and the other stepped into the tower yard, the flickering image of the structure barely materializing before him. The portal, a door-like opening, stood as the only tangible feature glowing faintly with a gray light. This was the first level, but Axel had no illusions about how simple it would be.
An assassin staggered out caught his attention. The man's clothes were torn, sweat dripping down his face, his body shaking from exhaustion. He had clearly pushed himself beyond his limits.
Axel raised an eyebrow. Looking at the man hardly standing on his feet.
The assassin shot Axel a look full of irritation. "what you looking at ? This place is a beast. You'd be lucky to make it past level three," the assassin spat. He leaned against a nearby pillar, clearly unable to do much more.
Axel said nothing but kept his focus on the tower.
Aeris walked over, holding three entry cards in his hand. "Here. These are yours," he said, handing one to Axel.
"those are..." Axel said bluntly, already guessing .
Aeris looked toward the tower. "Nine levels. White, black, gray, green, silver, blue, purple, gold, and red. The higher you go, the harder it gets. The difficulty scales depending on your aptitude your strength, your skill. If you can't complete it, you don't get a reward."
Axel's gaze flickered back to the assassin. "And no one gets a reward unless they finish, right?"
Aeris nodded. "Exactly. Only those with real aptitude like war souls, skilled summoners, or anyone with exceptional abilities stand a chance of completing this trial in other words those are much stronger than than expected for their levels,but till now it has never been completed. the highest is level 7 by the first prince himself"
"The first prince?"Mat surprised.
Aeris then added"he's basically the the oldest prince in the elven kingdom, it's said that he's a very skilled summoner, who can summon various creatures to aid him in battle. There's also the second prince but he's incomparable"
Mat added" between him and axel, who wins?
Aeris clarified"he's now at the forth level while Axel is at level three and their abilities zre different. Axel summons the dead while the prince makes pact with living creatures".
Axelfelt curious about the prince but he quickly stopped thinking about it. glanced around, feeling the weight of the eyes watching him. The both Dario and Mat had noticed the word "summoner," and the excitement was clear. Axel could already feel the anticipation in the air.
He muttered to himself, barely loud enough for anyone to hear, "Too bad I'm not a summoner." He paused, his hand tightening around the entry card. "Unless... maybe it's about how many minions you can summon. If that's the case, I might have a shot, maybe the prince reached that level thanks to the creatures he summoned."
Aeris caught his eye. "That's the spirit. But it's not just about numbers. The tower can test more than your raw power it'll push you in ways you won't expect."
Axel didn't respond, his mind already running through possibilities. He was a necromancer, not a summoner. But that didn't matter. He could control more minions than any so-called summoner could dream of.
Aeris continued, explaining the only reward anyone knew of so far. "The Holy Cup. It's an elven artifact, used to enhance the life force of wood spirits. It's useless to humans, but for elves, it's invaluable."
Axel barely blinked. "Doesn't matter much to me."
"I figured," Aeris replied, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "Still, the challenge is worth the risk. You can't afford to take it lightly."
Just then, Dario stepped forward, his eyes determined. He activated his entry card with a flash of mana and walked toward the portal. The crowd fell into an expectant silence.
The assassin scoffed under his breath. "I give him three minutes, max."
Axel, watching the assassin, couldn't help but feel a slight tension in his chest. Dario's no slouch, but the tower's a different kind of challenge.
Minutes passed before Dario returned. He staggered out of the portal, gasping for air, his body slumped from exhaustion. He didn't say a word as he stood in front of the crowd.
"Level three," Dario managed, his voice barely audible. He wiped his brow, clearly drained. "Couldn't push further."
The assassin sneered. "Three levels. Pathetic."
Axel didn't respond, but he felt the weight of the assassin's ridicule. His gaze shifted to Mat, who stepped forward next. No hesitation. No fear. Mat activated his entry card with ease and stepped into the portal.
A few minutes later the colour changed indicating higher levels of trials being passed quickly.white, black,gray, and green.
The assassin's thoughts immediately began racing. Level four? No way. He's not that strong. He won't make it past that, from his clothes it's obvious he's assassin like class like me.
Axel shifted his focus, waiting. The tension in the air thickened. Mat didn't return as quickly as Dario had. The assassin's thoughts grew louder, full of doubt. Level four? Impossible.
Finally, the green turned blue, Mat returned. His face was pale, sweat dripping from his forehead, but there was no hesitation in his stride. He was still standing, still breathing. But he didn't stop. Without a word, Mat turned and headed back into the tower.
The assassin watched, stunned. Level five? How? He's not an elite. He shouldn't have made it this far.
The crowd murmured in surprise as Mat walked heavily.
Axel couldn't help but feel a growing excitement in his chest. If Mat had made it to the level 5 then it wasn't just about strength. It was about endurance. About surviving the tower's brutal tests.
The assassin, still watching Mat's retreating form, couldn't hold back his disbelief. This isn't right,a human? Level five? Impossible... Only true elites of the elven kingdom make it that far. This tower isn't easy for anyone, especially for assassins.
Axel stepped forward, taking in the tower one last time. He could feel the tension of the crowd, the weight of their expectations. The assassin's disbelief still hung in the air.
The time had come.
Axel murmured to himself, "I'll make it if no one has made it before , it will a testament to my ability".
With that, he activated his card, and walked in.
---------
Axel stepped forward. The world around him shifted, and in an instant, he stood on a barren battlefield. No walls, no cover just an empty space stretching endlessly. The sky was a dull, motionless gray, giving no sense of time. Three humanoid monsters stood ahead, their thin yet muscular frames tensed, claws twitching in anticipation.
He lifted his hand, feeling the familiar pull of his summoning magic. Then, he stopped.
No point wasting effort on the first level, I will just keep my minions to higher levels.
A Golden glow swirled around his outstretched arm. In a flash, an exotic scythe materialized in his grip, its curved blade radiating a faint red aura. He spun it once, feeling its weight settle perfectly in his hands.
"Alright," he muttered. "Let's get this over with."
The first monster lunged. No hesitation, no testing just pure aggression.
Axel tilted his head slightly, dodging its claws with ease. His scythe flicked forward, a quick diagonal slash. The blade sliced through its chest, and before it could react, Golden Ghost Fire ignited from the wound. The creature shrieked as the flames burrowed into its soul. Its body twisted, then dissipated into a wisp of air.
Axel exhaled. Too easy but the body's useless, I can't use them for summoning.
The remaining two monsters hesitated. They weren't mindless. They had seen what happened.
Axel's grip tightened. He pulsed Soul Shake, sending an invisible wave crashing over them. Their bodies twitched—fear, hesitation, the momentary break in instinct.
That was all he needed.
He shot forward, moving faster than their eyes could track. One monster barely turned its head before his scythe carved through its torso in a single, fluid arc. The other tried to jump back, but Axel flicked his wrist. A thin streak of Ghost Fire burst from his blade, latching onto the creature's body. The Ghost flames tore through its essence, eating the soul while he slashed directly severing the heads.
Both dissolved into wisps of air.
Axel lowered his weapon.
Three down already? Maybe I should've tested my minions after all.
Then, the ground rumbled.
A fourth monster emerged, larger than the others. It didn't snarl, didn't charge recklessly. It stood firm, muscles coiled, waiting.
Axel narrowed his eyes. This one's different.
Without warning, it vanished.
His instincts flared. He spun to the side, barely dodging as claws tore through the air where he stood a second ago. A thin cut burned across his cheek.
Fast.
He turned, swinging his scythe in a wide arc, but the monster had already moved. It blurred again, striking from the side. Axel twisted his body, using the flat of his blade to block just in time.
The force sent him sliding back.
Alright, so it's not just fast—it's strong, too.
Axel smirked. "Fine. Let's see if you can handle this."
A surge of Ghost Fire erupted from his palm, swirling into a blazing wave. The monster leapt back, avoiding most of it, but a few embers caught its arm. It snarled, shaking them off before dashing in again.
Axel was ready.
He stepped forward instead of back, dodging at the last second. His scythe whirled in a downward arc, striking deep into the creature's side. It staggered, but didn't fall.
He didn't let up.
One more swing clean, precise. The blade cut through its throat. The monster choked, eyes flickering with the last remnants of resistance before its body turned into mist.
Silence.
The battlefield faded.
Axel rolled his shoulders, barely winded. That was it?
A faint glow flickered above the tower outside.
White turned to black.
I wonder what level 5 where mat stopped is like?
The surrounding s changed and a new reality appeared.