The world around the Tower was silent.

Not the peaceful silence of a sleeping city, nor the gentle quiet of an empty field. It was a heavier kind of silence, one that seemed to press down upon everything nearby. The massive structure rose into the darkness like a monument carved from shadow itself, its upper reaches disappearing into the night sky.

A lone figure approached it.

Yuto walked steadily toward the Tower, his footsteps echoing faintly across the stone pathway leading to the entrance. The towering structure loomed over him, its sheer size making him feel insignificant by comparison. Even from this close, he could not fully comprehend how large it truly was.

He stopped before the enormous entrance.

For several moments, he simply stared.

Then, without hesitation, he stepped forward and entered.

The interior was not what he expected.

After seeing the intimidating exterior, he had imagined something grand and mysterious. Instead, he found himself standing inside a surprisingly ordinary lobby.

The room was spacious and brightly lit. People moved throughout the area carrying papers, equipment, and supplies. Attendants worked behind various counters while visitors waited in short lines. Conversations drifted through the air, creating a constant hum of activity.

It felt more like a government office than the entrance to one of the most dangerous places imaginable.

Yuto paid little attention to any of it.

Ignoring the crowds and the surrounding activity, he headed directly toward the reception desk.

A young woman stood behind the counter. Upon noticing his approach, she offered a professional smile.

"Welcome to the Tower. How may I help you today?"

Yuto stopped before her.

"I’m an Ethereal," he said. "I want to enter the first floor."

The receptionist blinked.

For a brief moment, she seemed uncertain if she had heard him correctly.

"You wish to enter?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Immediately?"

"Yes."

Her eyebrows rose slightly.

The surprise on her face became obvious.

Most Ethereals who arrived at the Tower spent days preparing themselves. Some spent weeks. Others delayed for months before finally taking their first step inside.

Yet the young man standing before her appeared ready to enter at once.

No hesitation.

No preparation.

No second thoughts.

The receptionist studied him carefully.

"I hope you don’t mind me asking," she said, "but why the rush?"

Yuto’s expression remained unchanged.

"I have nothing left in this world."

The woman fell silent.

"There isn’t any reason for me to stay behind," he continued. "So I need to go."

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Eventually, the receptionist nodded.

"I understand."

She stepped away from the desk.

"Please follow me."

Yuto did so.

The woman led him deeper into the Tower.

The ordinary lobby gradually disappeared behind them as they passed through several corridors and security checkpoints. The deeper they traveled, the quieter the atmosphere became.

Eventually, they arrived before a door.

The receptionist opened it.

"Please enter."

Yuto stepped inside.

A woman sat waiting on the opposite side of the room.

The moment he saw her, he froze.

She was beautiful.

Strikingly so.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, with an allure that hit him like a sudden spark. Her figure was incredibly sexy—slim and graceful, yet deliciously curvy in all the right places, with a narrow waist that flared into full, feminine hips and a generous bust that strained subtly against her clothing. Long, silky hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a flawless face with high cheekbones, full lips, and striking eyes that seemed to glow with quiet confidence. She carried herself with a natural, effortless elegance, every subtle shift of her body radiating poise and sensuality.

Yet it was not her appearance that captured Yuto’s attention.

It was something else.

Something far more important.

The aura surrounding her.

The instant he sensed it, realization struck him.

A Paragon.

The difference between them felt overwhelming.

Even sitting calmly in a chair, she radiated power.

Not intentionally.

Not aggressively.

It simply existed around her.

A reminder that they stood on entirely different levels.

The woman smiled.

"My name is Lyla."

She gestured toward the empty chair across from her.

"Please, have a seat."

Yuto obeyed.

Once he sat down, Lyla folded her hands together.

"I’ll keep this brief."

Her expression remained calm as she began explaining the rules of the First Floor.

"The moment you enter, the Tower will assign you a mission."

Yuto listened carefully.

"Completion of that mission is mandatory."

Her voice remained steady.

"Until the mission is completed, you will not be allowed to leave the First Floor."

Yuto nodded.

He had expected something along those lines.

Then Lyla’s expression became more serious.

The subtle shift immediately caught his attention.

"There’s something else you should understand."

The room suddenly felt quieter.

"The First Floor is much more dangerous than most newcomers realize."

Yuto remained silent.

"Every year, countless people enter believing they’re prepared."

Her eyes met his.

"Many discover too late that they were wrong."

A faint chill ran down his spine.

Lyla leaned back slightly.

"My advice is simple."

She paused.

"Assume everything wants to kill you until proven otherwise."

The words settled heavily in the room.

Yuto frowned.

"Everything?"

"Everything."

Her answer came instantly.

"A creature."

She raised one finger.

"An object."

A second finger.

"A location."

A third.

"Even something that appears harmless."

The seriousness in her voice left no room for doubt.

"Treat it as a threat first. Ask questions later."

A cold sensation crawled through Yuto’s body.

For the first time since arriving at the Tower, genuine nervousness surfaced.

His palms felt damp.

His heartbeat seemed louder than before.

The reality of what awaited him beyond the portal was finally beginning to sink in.

This was not a game.

This was not an adventure.

People died in the Tower.

And soon he would be stepping inside.

Lyla observed him quietly.

After a moment, she gave a small nod.

The nervousness had not made him reconsider.

He was still here.

Still determined.

"Good luck."

Yuto nodded.

"Thank you."

Lyla pointed toward the door.

"The transfer chamber is several levels below. Follow the signs and you’ll find it."

Yuto rose from his seat.

Without another word, he left the room.

The journey downward took several minutes.

As he descended deeper into the Tower, he noticed the temperature changing.

The air became colder.

Step by step, the warmth faded away.

The chill intensified until each breath felt sharper than the last.

Eventually, he reached a massive chamber.

The reason became immediately obvious.

At the center of the room stood a portal.

Dark energy radiated from it in endless waves.

The sight alone made his stomach tighten.

The portal swirled continuously, black and violet currents twisting around one another. Malicious energy seeped from its surface and spread throughout the chamber like an invisible fog.

The unnatural cold originated from it.

Yuto stood motionless.

Staring.

The oppressive atmosphere weighed heavily upon him.

Every instinct screamed at him to turn around.

To leave.

To run.

Yet he ignored them.

Slowly, he began walking forward.

One step.

Then another.

The portal grew larger with every movement.

Its dark surface twisted endlessly before him.

Finally, he reached it.

Yuto stopped.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

Then he turned around.

Lyla stood in the distance.

Watching.

She said nothing.

Neither did he.

The silence stretched between them.

Eventually, Yuto inhaled deeply.

A single breath.

Then he turned back toward the portal.

And jumped.

The moment he entered, reality shattered.

His body felt stretched and compressed simultaneously.

He was burning hot and freezing cold at the same time.

Up and down ceased to exist.

Left and right vanished.

His senses twisted into impossible shapes as unseen forces dragged him through the swirling darkness.

The experience lasted only seconds.

Yet it felt far longer.

Every moment seemed endless.

The pressure continued to build.

Stronger.

Stronger.

Stronger.

Until finally—

Everything went black.

When Yuto regained consciousness, he found himself lying on the ground.

A groan escaped his lips.

Slowly, he pushed himself upright.

His head throbbed.

His muscles ached.

For several seconds, his vision remained blurry.

Then it gradually cleared.

He was no longer inside the Tower.

At least, not the part he had known.

Beneath him stretched a rough rocky floor unlike anything he had ever seen before.

Yuto steadied himself and looked around.

The First Floor had welcomed him.