A day has passed since my "final" return.
I have 2 classes now, something that, by nature, should not exist.
And yet... I have it.
(EX+)[Gluttony]
"Gluttony... It spoke about draining my enemies of their power. I can't help but get excited. Let's start, shall we?"
.
Using the money I originally spent on "Hire A Team", I bought some gear.
Unfortunately for me, the gear was purchased at the ACA, meaning I might run into ex-guild members or faces I'd rather not see.
I took a taxi to the ACA, and stepping out, the sound of pictures flicking and cheers instantly resounded in my ears.
But the pictures and cheers weren't for me.
"I-It's the Sword Saint! Sword Saint Jin!"
Accompanied by 2 bodyguards, the handsome man with tanned skin and snow-trimmed hair walked with an ethereal swagger, the coat tails of his expensive designer suit riding in the wind.
"Wow, what's he doing here?" I said.
The old me would have swarmed in to see him too, but the me now couldn't care less.
"The sword saint is one of the 11 S-Rankers in the nation; his strength is unparalleled. Lucky bastard, I bet you're happy with that class, huh?" An air of jealousy was swelling in my voice.
But the hostile tone disappeared, "But, I've got something even better than that... Gluttony!"
"Let's go get my gear," I finished.
In the large ACA building, scouts of all kinds waited around, the reason was because of the evaluation system.
When a person is evaluated, if they have a Class rank of at least B, it's announced publicly, and first come, first served.
That's not to say those below that can't get scouted, it just takes a bit of questioning, and for said person to reach out first.
But that isn't a problem, especially not for the 5 guilds.
[Sorcerer's Staff]
[God Speed]
[Saber Guild]
[Dragon Flame]
[Empire]
These 5 guilds rule the nation and hold insane power.
The sword saint, Jin, is the guild master of the Saber Guild.
People would do anything to get a chance with the 5 guilds, and I was one of them.
After getting an A-Rank, Sorcerer's Staff took me in, then they had forsaken me.
'I don't blame you anymore, you bastards. But I'll just have to show you how I'll rise above you all.'
As I stood at the counter to get some gear, I heard my name being called, the voice using a smug, condescending tone.
"Well, look who it is, my favorite senior, the useless Kael."
I turned, my jaw clenching in anger.
"Woah, calm down... I'm just greeting my Ex-Peer. But aw man, look at you... so lost."
A pale face, sleek blonde hair, and green eyes, a handsome, yet punchable face.
I used to be above him in rank; we're both from the Sorcerer's guild. He was the first to recognize my incompetence and believed my rank of [A] was undeserved.
After getting cut, he ridiculed me until my contract was officially ripped in two. I wished to give a good punch in the face, but even if I died 100 times, I knew I couldn't defeat him.
"What do you want, James?" I said, trying to calm myself.
"Just saying hello, the usual."
"Well, I'm busy." I retorted.
"Busy? You? No way. If you aren't here to join a guild, which I know is impossible, then what are you... Oh, you're buying some gear, huh?" His face turned into a distorted smirk; he saw his opportunity to humiliate me.
"Don't you think buying gear is kind of useless? I mean, you'll just die... and return to being just as weak as you were," James chuckled.
"Don't worry about what I'm doing. Just sit back and watch, I'll show you, I've changed."
I threatened, my hand squeezing his shoulder as I walked past him.
He wasn't scared, "Sure, I'll be watching your failure." With a grin.
I got my gear and left not long after.
It was a lightweight armour, meant for maneuvering, and body protection from unavoidable attacks.
I also bought this..
(C-)[Chivalry Sword]
[Desc: A regular sword, no buffs.]
It wasn't much, but I'll try my best to use it.
I was still a bit afraid, but after I remembered my ability had evolved, and the limit of uses was removed, an almost evil grin appeared on my face.
My stats were at an F-Rank.
I moved forward, now at the entrance of the tower.
Anybody, if awakened with a Rank and permit, can challenge the tower.
The only thing you must be officially permitted to do is the challenge of the next advancement floor.
The world is currently on the 34th floor, and has failed the 35th floor 3 times.
As I got closer to the tower entrance, guards stopped me, asking for my Climber's I.D.
I complied, showing it to them.
"Pass."
I let out an exhale, inching my feet closer, before fully entering the tower.
***
On the first floor, as said, it's like a tutorial mostly.
Goblins, orcs, and a boss.
Taking you through stages, with the mapping of a dungeon castle of some sort.
I've been through it so much, I know the entire floor plan. The only thing that I had never come across before was that hallway and the door to that throne room.
Thinking about it, I got curious, wanting to see if it's still there.
I saw two goblins conversing in a strange language as they moved back and forth.
I gripped my blade, rushing ahead and bringing the sword down from above my head.
"ARGH!"
"KIREEEIK!" The now-dead goblin shrieked in agony.
His companion glared, rushing at me with its powerful spiked club.
It was fast, but by now, I had fought it a lot, so I knew its attack pattern.
'Swing down, fient, jump attack, rush.'
I surprised myself, because before, muscle memory was something I always lost upon returning.
'How is it... that I know its moves now?'
-Slice.
The head of the goblin plopped onto the floor.
I breathed heavily, flicking the blue blood from my sword.
Then I saw it...
[Do you wish to drain?...]
I smirked, "I nearly forgot, let's test you out, shall we?" I said with a smirk.
[Draining...]
I felt my body becoming lighter, as the goblin's body became skinnier by the second, until they were nearly skeleton-like.
[+2 Strength]
[+1 Durability]
[+3 Agility]
"Ahahaha!" I moved through the dungeon, my stats, which had never risen before, soaring up and up.
"This is it! With this... I can do it. I can finally clear this damned place!"
[+1 Strength]
[+1 Strength]
[+2 Durability]
[+2 Agility]
[+1 Sense]
[+1 Durability]
...
I made it to the halfway point, and I was getting ready to keep going.
-Fwip!
The sound of a bow snapping its arrow.
[You have died.]
[Returning...]
My first death.
When I opened my eyes, I was on my bed once again, but this time, I wasn't confused or saddened.
I was ecstatic.
Opening my stat panel, my smile grew and grew.
"In just one go, I went from that to this. With regressor, and gluttony.. I'm a cheat, huh?"
Standing up, cracking my fingers...
"Well, how about it? let's do it again, once more." My eager smile never wavered.
.
.
[To Be Continued]