A light breeze brushed against Rain's long, silvery-white hair.
The wind was strong enough to wake him from the darkness, yet gentle enough to do so peacefully.
As Rain's light blue eyes adjusted to his surroundings, he remembered what had happened — the tower, and his acceptance.
Thinking about it more carefully, he realized he did not truly understand what climbing the Tower of Thyriss meant.
When Rain looked around, he found himself in a vast forest. It reminded him of forests he had seen before, yet the trees here were larger — and far more beautiful.
More… extraordinary.
The forest itself felt alive in a way that seemed impossible, as though it had not been created by the world he knew.
So absorbed in the scenery, Rain failed to notice the many other people around him at first.
Most of them spoke in worried voices.
"Where are we?" an older man asked.
Others murmured in confusion, their unease spreading through the crowd.
Rain slowly pushed himself to his feet. Then he began counting the people one by one, carefully using his finger to keep track so he would not make a mistake.
There were sixty of them.
None of the faces were familiar.
Rain wondered who all these people could be.
Soon, the large group began to wander through the forest. Some of them seemed excited — much like Rain himself.
But most of them looked deeply afraid, their faces filled with confusion and uncertainty.
The forest air smelled fresh and clean. Rain's surroundings reminded him of the fantasy books he had read so many times before.
It felt as though the forest itself was magical.
After a few minutes of wandering, a small part of the group gradually gathered together. Without being invited, Rain quickened his steps so he could stand closer to them.
One man spoke first.
"Guys… I think we're inside the tower."
Some of the others dismissed the idea as nonsense, while a few seemed willing to believe him.
Another voice spoke up. "Does anyone have any idea what this place is supposed to be?"
The group fell into uneasy silence until someone else answered.
"Maybe it's a test! Maybe this is some kind of government operation or spy agency—"
Before he could finish, the entire group suddenly recoiled.
People stepped backward as if they had seen a monster.
Rain turned in the same direction.
And he saw it too.
At first, Rain thought it was a man.
Then a woman.
He couldn't tell.
The figure floated silently in the air. The space around it felt wrong — heavy and oppressive. There was something ominous about its presence, something that demanded respect even though it had never earned it.
Everyone grew completely still.
Including Rain.
It felt as though even the smallest movement could mean death.
Run — and die.
Shout — and die.
Even breathing felt dangerous.
This figure felt like a god.
Slowly, the figure descended toward the ground. When its feet touched the earth, it began to walk forward in slow, deliberate steps, stopping about ten feet from the group.
It stood there for several long moments without speaking.
The figure did not seem to have a face — or perhaps Rain simply could not see it. Its head was concealed beneath a dark covering.
Long black hair flowed down its back like a woman's, yet its body moved like liquid shadow. Its form shifted constantly, never remaining the same for long.
One moment it held the shape of a toned man.
Moments later, its body softened into the outline of a woman.
Then it changed again.
The figure wore no clothing, yet nothing of its body was truly visible. Its form was too dark — too unnatural — for any clear details to be seen.
The silence stretched on for an uncomfortable length of time.
Until finally, the figure spoke.
"My name is Ashlore."
Surprisingly, the figure's voice was far calmer than its overwhelming presence suggested.
"I will be your instructor for the first few floors."
Some of the tension around the group lessened slightly, but no one spoke. Instead, they glanced at one another in uncertain silence, as though sharing the same unspoken question.
Rain wondered the same thing.
'What in the world are floors?'
"I shall now teach you some of the things you should know before attempting to complete this floor. Although I am sure some of you already know this information."
Ashlore spoke in the same calm, steady manner.
"Each floor has a difficulty. The greater the difficulty… the greater the rewards."
"The difficulty is randomized. You will never know the difficulty of the next floor. It will always remain unpredictable."
Ashlore continued speaking, but the calmness in the voice now felt different — thinner, almost strained. There was a faint sense of impatience beneath the words, as though these same sentences had been spoken countless times before.
"You may find the difficulty of this floor, the method required to clear it, your skills, and all other relevant information by speaking a single word."
Ashlore paused.
"Essence."
The figure waited in silence while confusion spread across the group.
"That will be all," Ashlore said at last. "I shall see you in the void."
As it became clear that Ashlore was about to leave, several people found the courage to speak.
"Wait!" some of them called out.
But it was already too late.
Ashlore vanished without warning.
There was no movement, no sound — only the sudden absence of the figure. It dissolved into shadow as though it had never truly been there at all.
Rain looked around. Most people seemed worried, confused by Ashlore's words. A few, however, appeared calm, as though they were already integrated into this strange environment. Many of them whispered the word, almost automatically: "Essence."
They seemed to look at things Rain couldn't see, as if a hidden layer of reality had opened before them.
Compelled, Rain uttered the words himself. "Essence."
And unexpectedly…
Words appeared out of nowhere. Floating in the air, luminous and silent, as though they had always been there, waiting to be noticed.
Name: Rain
Rank: Sovereign
Class: Blooded
(You command the flow of life within yourself. Your hunger stirs… waiting to awaken.)
Attributes: None
Essence: None
The words filled his vision. Rain read slowly, patiently—but the meaning didn't sink in all at once. Almost as if the screen knew he hadn't finished comprehending it, the words shifted, spewing out more.
First Floor
Trial: Survive the Goblin Forest
Difficulty: Harsh
State: Mortal
You are unawakened among your kind.
You are a disgrace to your blood.
You are seen as weak.
Do not mask your desires.
Do not flee from them.
Drink of desire — and awaken.
Rain's eyes widened. His mind raced.
'What could all these words mean?'
'Disgrace to my blood?'
'Drink of desire?'
All the words flooding Rain's vision left a dull ache behind his eyes.
With a quiet exhale, he dismissed them. The glowing text dissolved like mist in sunlight, and the forest returned in full clarity.
Around him, the others stood unnaturally still. Most stared into empty air, eyes unfocused, likely reading the same invisible script. Whatever Ashlore had thrown them into, they seemed to be slowly grasping it.
But out of the sixty Rain had counted… two stood apart.
They weren't just calm.
They were prepared.
The young man looked around twenty. Black, scruffy hair. Roughly six feet tall — the same height as Rain. There was something steady in the way he stood, like someone accustomed to danger.
Beside him stood a young woman of similar age. Long black hair fell to her waist, smooth and deliberate. Her eyes were dark, observant. She was shorter — perhaps five-six — but the way she held herself made that irrelevant.
They both wore fitted black clothing, practical and unadorned.
And they held weapons.
Real weapons.
The man gripped a longsword, its steel faintly catching the filtered sunlight beneath the trees. The woman held a staff — not decorative, not theatrical. Solid. Purposeful. The kind Rain had only ever seen on television… or described in fantasy novels.
They stood away from the others, secluded beneath the shade of a towering tree, as though instinctively separating themselves from the unarmed flock.
Rain hesitated only a moment before approaching.
As he stepped closer, both of them looked up. Their gazes sharpened immediately.
Curious.
Guarded.
"How did you guys get those weapons?" Rain asked. His tone was light, genuinely curious. There was no hostility in it — only fascination.
They looked at him.
Then at each other.
Rain couldn't fully decipher their expressions. Surprise, perhaps. Or confusion.
They leaned closer, whispering too quietly for him to catch the words.
Finally, the young man spoke. His voice was low — not loud, but edged.
"Who are you?"
The tone startled Rain slightly. Still, he held his ground. A wide, easy smile spread across his face.
"My name is Rain…" He paused, then added, "Rain Luther."
The two exchanged another glance. Whispered again.
"Do you remember this guy?" the guy muttered.
"Not at all," the girl replied, quieter but far less severe. "I would definitely remember."
They straightened.
The guy sighed, tension still lingering in his shoulders — but before he could speak, the woman cut in.
"You can equip your weapon by saying, 'Essence… Inventory.'"
Rain blinked.
"You'll see your equipment there."
The guy immediately nudged her, irritation flashing across his face, as if she had revealed something she shouldn't have.
They began to bicker in hushed but heated tones.
Rain didn't fully understand why.
"Thank you so much," he said with a bright smile.
The girl paused mid-argument and gave him a brief smile in return before turning back to continue their dispute.
Rain stepped away, deciding not to involve himself in whatever history they shared.
He found another tree and sat in its shade, he exhaled slowly.
Then he whispered:
"Essence… Inventory."