"So this… can't be your home, right?" Sketch asked, eyes wide with unbelief as he looked around.
A fortress loomed ahead, bluish-silver walls gleaming under banners of red and white. Its scale swallowed the horizon, gates yawning open as streams of adventurers poured in and out. Some bore greatswords strapped across their backs, others carried spears, hammers, or strange hybrid weapons that fused metal with claw or fang. A few weren't even fully human. Their tails swished, horns curved, eyes glowed faintly with bestial light.
Definitely not what they'd expected.
"I was expecting something creepy and nightmarish," Spam muttered, flailing her arms in mock horror. "No offense, Ego."
"None taken." Ego replied flatly. Her crimson gaze lingered on the fortress a little too long. "I expected the same. I don't know if this is my home yet, but there's only one way to find out."
Key rubbed his chin, already thinking ahead. "Then we split up. Me, Sketch, and Gamble. Ego with Speedy. Spam with Nythra."
"Sounds like a plan." Speedy's lips curled into a small smile as she looked his way. "You all be safe..and you-" her eyes softened, "try to behave."
Key chuckled, the corner of his mouth tilting upward. "Will do."
And with that, the group scattered into the crowd, swallowed by the fortress gates.
Key, Sketch, and Gamble
The three drifted with a line of adventurers headed toward the outer path, where stone trails wound past checkpoints and markets. Voices clashed with the clang of metal, laughter mixing with shouted warnings.
Sketch leaned close, grinning. "So..you and Speedy, huh? Been hitting it off since that shit at Ero's village."
"You have no idea." Key's smile was brief, thoughtful. "That was an important breakthrough for her. I'm glad I could support her through it."
Gamble's hand landed on his shoulder, heavy and solid. "Take care of her. She's been through a lot."
"Of course." Key nodded firmly. Then his gaze shifted between them. "What about you two? What's your story?" He asked, curious to know more about them.
Sketch's grin faltered. His steps slowed. "Guess I'll go first."
His gaze drifted off, distant. "I was born on the Lower Isles. Family was poor..real poor. I had to step up since I was the only one with mana. They called me a prodigy. I blended my art with magic, carved my own path. Adjusted quick. Learned faster." His voice tightened. "But then—" His jaw clenched, words dragging. "They betrayed me. My own family. Once they had enough coin, they sold me out. Higher-ups tossed me into the Abyss like trash. And here I am."
The silence pressed heavy, broken only by the shuffle of boots on stone.
Gamble finally spoke, voice gravelly. "I was raised in war. Midlands never knew peace. Beasts raided season after season. The weak didn't survive. I did." His eyes flickered, remembering something harsher than words could capture. "One day, I shielded a kid from a beast's strike. Thing's attack teleported me to the Abyss, but the kid made it."
"Damn that's badass." Key said with a smirk, getting a chuckle from Gamble.
"I appreciate it." He replied.
Sketch smirked faintly, though the edge was brittle. "Yeah, we've all got shitty backgrounds. Still..keep the positivity, right?"
Key started to answer. "Yeah, indee-" but a voice cut through.
"You three must be new around here. Never seen your faces before."
Four figures stepped out from the flow of the crowd.
The first was tall, broad-shouldered, white hair cropped short. His polished armor gleamed as green eyes studied them with casual confidence.
Beside him stood a leaner man, long black hair tied back, purple eyes sharp beneath the scar that cut across one. His samurai armor—black streaked with purple and white—looked worn from battles but carried an elegance.
On the other side, silver curls spilled over the shoulders of a woman whose blue eyes gleamed like crystals. Her armored dress shimmered faintly, heels clicking as she shifted her stance with deliberate grace.
Next to her, another young woman leaned on a sword, pink ponytail bouncing as she tilted her head. Creamy-pink eyes sparkled above caramel skin, her combat skirt and stockings giving her a striking mix of charm and lethality.
Key held their gazes calmly. "Hm. Yeah, you could say that. Name's Key. That's Sketch, that's Gamble. Who are you?"
The white-haired man stepped forward with a grin. "Pleasure. Name's Gio."
"Yin Ming." the black-haired added, voice cool and reserved.
"Hello!" the pink-haired girl beamed, bouncing slightly on her heels. "I'm Isis. Nice to meet you all!"
"Last but not least…" the silver-haired one smirked wide. "Rose. You must be heading to the Tower of Oblivion as well?"
Confusion flickered across Key, Sketch, and Gamble's faces.
"Tower of Oblivion?" Sketch echoed. "The hell is that?"
Gio chuckled, scratching the back of his neck. "Guess you really are new. Figures. Adventurer's Pass always draws fresh meat."
Yin Ming's expression sharpened. "The Tower's the entrance to Oblivion itself. You don't just wander in blind."
Key's eyes narrowed. 'Oblivion? That sounds a lot like the Abyss..'
"Explain."
Rose tilted her head, silver curls glinting in the light. "It's simple. The Tower's a gate. Each floor takes you deeper into the unknown. Stronger monsters. Greater rewards. Fame, wealth, power..it's all there. For anyone brave enough to climb."
Isis bounced excitedly. "It's amazing! Every floor feels like its own world. Ruins, forests, deserts, you name it! And the higher you go, the stronger you get. It's the fastest way to rise in rank."
"But," Gio cut in, grin fading, "most don't make it past the third floor. That's where Oblivion shows its teeth. You go too high unprepared, and the Tower doesn't just kill you..it devours you."
Gamble's eyes narrowed. "Devours?"
"Your soul.." Yin Ming said quietly. His gaze slid back toward the fortress. "That's why this place exists. Survivors crawl back here, if they're lucky. Or wait for the next batch of fools."
The silence that followed was heavier than before, broken only by the din of adventurers around them.
Key finally spoke. "So what rank are you all? And mind showing us the way to this Tower?"
"Of course not, Key!" Isis beamed, almost reminding him of a certain speedster. "And us? We're one of the strongest groups. A-Rank Adventurers."
"A-Rank?" Gamble snorted. "Doesn't look like it."
Key and Sketch chuckled, while the four bristled at the jab.
"Hope you say the same when we're dragging your asses off the first floor." Gio shot back with a smirk.
That only made Key and Sketch laugh harder.
Gamble stayed quiet, lifting a hand to motion them forward.
"Tch. Fine. Let's go. Try not to get lost."
Key grinned. "Whatever you say, Timmy Tough Knuckles."