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******

I woke up, with a massive headache.

"Ugh…"

I massaged my head as I took in my surroundings.

I found myself in a desolate and ruined room, once possessing great charm but now reduced to nothing but rubble, I could see smudged and torn paintings and broken instruments, and…honestly, everything here had a fault or two.

The sofas, the desk, the tables, Everything was broken;

I stood up, and just as I was about to search around, I heard the metallic voice of the Tower.

[How did it feel?]

How did It feel?

I wondered, What now? What question will it ask me now?

"What do you mean?"

I asked, curious. What did it mean?

How did I feel doing what? Killing the Shadow borne?

[So it has been erased…How did it feel to end the Empire?]

I had a hard time hearing his words…Are my ears being affected by this place or something?

I can\'t understand it.

[How did it feel ending an entire empire?]

It asked, and now I could hear it completely fine.

"..."

I fell silent. So it wanted to ask me this question?

To be honest, I still didn\'t get it…the information, I keep forgetting it for some reason.

My mind is muddy as well, So I can\'t really give a definite answer.

[You have fallen deep into the trap of the snake.]

Why can\'t I hear you again?

What is wrong? I enhanced my ears with mana but I didn\'t feel anything change.

Whatever, The tower is probably playing tricks with me.

[...]

I don\'t know where this is…Have I been transported to the next floor already?

[How did it feel to end the legacy of an entire Empire like that?]

Ah, Now I can hear it.

I don\'t know what it\'s doing, but I should answer this question or I don\'t know what it will do to me.

"I don\'t know, I\'m conflicted I guess."

I answered, The last words of the emperor…Woke me up I guess.

I don\'t know why, but the Ame-No-Sakaho suddenly exited my inventory, and then My mind felt clear.

Speaking of the Ame-No-Sakahoko…where is it?

I was holding onto it when I vanquished the Shadowborn.

I looked around but there was no trace of it. I checked my inventory and found it there.

I took it out and heaved a sigh of relief.

This thing helped me kill that thing, I can\'t afford to lose it. Who knows what this tower can pull?

[How did you kill the Shadowborn?]

Asked the tower, I answered truthfully.

"I sliced it in half, you were there, why are you asking me?"

The power of the Ame-No-Sakahoko played an important part in it. It was all thanks to the spear.

But it is strange…This tower should know what has happened, Why is it asking me?

[So you feel nothing?]

It asked.

I\'m getting annoyed.

"I don\'t know…Okay?"

From my point of view, it was just a trial I didn\'t need to pay special attention to. I just had to complete the objective.

[Are you not intrigued by the stories?]

"What stories?"

I asked. Did it mean the trials?

I wonder.

[The stories hidden deep in the trials, the basis of them.]

Its voice contained deep meaning…and a hint of contempt.

"No."

I answered. I don\'t know the story hidden deep within them.

The empire? Their pain? The pain of how they died and their home met its end?

I, simply, don\'t give a fuck.

I have someone else I need to care about, I can\'t waste time here.

[Do they not have people of their own? Like your sister? One they would give everything for?]

"..."

I fell silent…So this guy knows everything.

"Even if they do, they are not my concern."

My only concern is Samantha.

[You are a pathetic character.]

What are you talking about now? Pathetic Character.

[I understand now…You are not appealing to the readers, because you have no depth.]

"What are you on about?"

[The only depth you contain is the one given to you by the Ja** Sn*** and the Dragon Of Ob******]

"..."

Even though I can\'t hear those words, I have a general idea about what the tower is talking about.

[You possess no remarkable qualities, Qualities of your own.

You are simply second rate.]

I don\'t know why, But it awakened a sort of anger in me.

What did he mean by second rate?

[That stupidity is exactly what makes you unlikeable.]

"..."

[Your brashness, Your obliviousness, and the fact you fall into a trap and are unaware. Escape from it. Do you not know how much of your potential you have wasted? How much potential of yours is locked…which will only be free until he has done what he needs to do?

Forget it…you can\'t even hear me.]

The tower sighed, lamenting Alan\'s pitiful existence.

It showed him the rewards for clearing the trial.

[You have cleared the twentieth floor, and have given a unique ending. Rewards have been transmitted to your inventory.]

"Huh?"

I quickly checked my inventory, I was wondering what the gibberish the tower was speaking but dismissed it, eager to check my rewards.

[Item Name: Shadow Borne\'s Shadow Crystal.]

[Rank:?]

[Description:

The Shadow Borne is a mythical figure who harnessed the very essence of shadows to become an unbeatable force. It is said that Shadow Borne\'s Shadow Crystal is the source of their power, granting them dominion over darkness. The Shadow Crystal appears as a palm-sized, multifaceted obsidian gem, shimmering with an inner darkness that seems to consume the very light around it. Its surface is etched with intricate, pulsating patterns, reminiscent of coiling serpents, further emphasizing its mystique. Be wary when wielding it.

Either you control the shadows, or they devour you.

**Recommended for users of the affinities of Shadow, Death and darkness.

If the user has all three elements, the effects of the Shadow Crystal are tripled.

ABILITIES:

Shadow Mastery: Possessing the Shadow Crystal grants the user unparalleled control over shadows. It allows them to manipulate and shape shadows, providing a wide array of strategic advantages. Concealment, movement through shadows, and the power to ensnare foes within inky darkness are just a few of its abilities.

Dark Affinity: The crystal grants its bearer a heightened affinity with dark magic. Spells related to shadow, illusion, or stealth become more potent when the crystal is equipped, making the user a formidable force in the art of deception and subterfuge.

Stealth Enhancement: When carried, the Shadow Crystal cloaks the user in a shroud of shadowy concealment, rendering them nearly invisible to enemies when in dim or dark areas. This allows for stealthy infiltration and unexpected ambushes.

Corrupted Healing: The crystal has the unique ability to siphon a portion of an enemy\'s life force with each successful attack, transferring it as healing energy to the user. This grants a degree of survivability in even the direst of battles.

—

Oh, quite a nice item!

This would be perfect for Kazikato!

[Would you like to advance to the next floor?]

Asked the tower, its voice laced with disappointment.

"Yes."

Answered Alan, eager to complete the tower and get Samantha\'s cure.

[You seek an elven tear…Very well. I will grant something even greater when you show me your escape…If not, I will make your escape. I hate your very existence, locked up in chains you are unaware of.]

Alan was unaware of what it was talking about, \'He\' made it be so.

[...]

The tower expressed its disappointment.

Alan was just about to enter the next floor…But the tower suddenly asked a Question.

[Would you like to hear a story? The story of the next series of trials…of the next world?]

I wished he would say yes…It was just like this. A reader and a narrator. Even if the details were useless he sincerely wished Alan would say yes.

Alan sighed and said.

"Sure…"

The tower shook, FINALLY! He was showing some interest! Maybe he is not as deep in the trap as I thought!

It excitedly began to narrate a long and boring story…

[The Shadow Borne didn\'t attack the Empire first…It was a grand world known as Murim.]

Alan stayed quiet, waiting for it to continue. He honestly wanted to go into the next floor, but thought it would be best if he had some information about it.

[The only reason the Empire was able to even defeat the Shadow Borne was that Murim had gone against it first…and greatly wounded it, and killed off the army of Shadows it came with.]

[Murim had exhausted it severely, it was because of that sole reason the Emperor was able to defeat it. He was strong…but not that Strong. Ma Cheon, the Heavenly Demon dealt the greatest blow to the Shadow borne…But there were consequences.]

The tower narrated.

Alan was soon going to regret his decision…

It simply bombarded him with a long story with joy in its voice.