Jun Si and his guild members were tirelessly searching from the 1st to the 10th floor, combing every corridor, every inn, every shadowy corner for any sign of the new hunter. The thought that someone had recently awakened, potentially powerful, consumed them. Their minds raced with questions: Who was he? Where did he come from? Could he be an ally—or a threat?
In a dimly lit inn on the 3rd floor, a group of lower-tier hunters sat together, whispering. The smell of stale ale mixed with burnt candle smoke filled the room.
"Have you heard? The Light is moving," one said, lowering his voice as if speaking too loudly might summon trouble.
"Yeah," another replied, leaning back on his chair, eyes narrowing. "They're looking for a new hunter who supposedly awakened recently."
A third scoffed, taking a slow sip from his mug. "Why make such a fuss over something so small? It's probably nothing."
"You don't understand," said a fourth, voice laced with quiet panic. "Earth's energy is completely depleted. There shouldn't even be any survivors. If someone has truly awakened, it means the planet… it must be in fine condition. Somehow, it survived."
The group fell silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of that thought. Another hunter muttered, "We can't leave the Tower. I wanted to know what world we're in now… the kind of technology they had. But if someone's awakened, we may have to report it immediately."
"Exactly," the fifth chimed in, leaning forward aggressively. "If they're looking for this hunter, they should come themselves. Why are they wasting our time to track him down?"
Suddenly, the inn's door slammed open. A man came running, sweat and dust clinging to his clothes. "Unexpected movement on the 51st floor!" he shouted.
The room froze. "51st floor? How… how is that possible?" the fifth exclaimed, disbelief twisting his features. "It hasn't even been two days since the tracking mission began! No one has ever cleared more than ten floors in a single day—and now he's on the 51st? That's impossible!"
Meanwhile, Jun Si had received the same report. He quickly sent messages to all his guild members: gather at the 52nd floor entry portal immediately.
Eita, always observant and alert, glanced at him. "Guild master… who exactly are we looking for?"
Jun Si's gaze hardened, the weight of responsibility etched into his sharp features. "Think about it. If no one could survive on Earth, yet someone has awakened recently, then this is not an ordinary hunter. He was likely transmigrated from another world. And if he is as powerful as the reports suggest… it is better to approach him as an ally before he becomes a threat."
On the 51st floor, Shiddharth moved silently through the dim corridors. The air was thick with the scent of decay and ozone from residual magic. Monsters that had once prowled here lay defeated in his wake. His footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor as he approached the boss room.
"Now… where is the stone he mentioned?" Shiddharth muttered under his breath, scanning every inch of the chamber.
From the shadows, a voice boomed, dripping with arrogance. "How dare you ignore me, mortal fool?"
Shiddharth crouched, pressing his ear to the wall, sliding his hands along the rough stone as he searched. "It should be around here…" he murmured, feeling for the faint vibration of hidden energy.
The boss roared again, anger flaring. "You insolent creature! You dare mock me?" It unleashed a wave of power, a jagged slash of dark energy. Shiddharth didn't even flinch. To him, it was mere child's play. The attack barely grazed his clothes.
"Patience," he whispered to himself. "I need to stay alive… the hidden quest only appears if I survive this."
The boss, sensing its attacks were futile, became frenzied. Its enormous claws swiped, but Shiddharth continued his search methodically. Finally, he found it: the hidden stone, embedded in a niche of the wall, pulsating with dark energy. With a swift motion, he crushed it in his palm.
Black flames erupted, thick and suffocating, enveloping the boss monster. Its body convulsed, transforming into a Death Org. Skeletons became visible through the swirling shadows, a thick circle of dark energy forming around its head like a crown of doom.
"Yes! This is the hidden boss," Shiddharth said, voice tense with exhilaration. "Its level has risen significantly."
He clenched his fist and released a surge of energy so immense that the Death Org dissolved instantly. The chamber fell silent. Where the monstrous body had been, a single red egg lay on the ground, pulsating with latent power.
System Messages flashed around him:
[You have completed the hidden mission of the 51st floor]
[You have defeated the Death Org]
[You have received the Red Dragon Egg]
[Level Up! Due to hidden quest, experience points doubled]
[You have reached level 25]
[Achievement: Dragon Slayer – met]
[Hidden Class Quest unlocked: The Slayer]
[The Slayer: Defeat a Dragon after reaching level 25 to acquire this class]
Shiddharth's mind raced. Kaun never mentioned a hidden quest… either he missed it or he had no knowledge of it. Interesting…
A faint rumble of hunger nudged him, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since leaving the Reset Floor. Monster meat at the Reset Floor had never satisfied him; it lacked taste, lacked warmth. But now, free in the fresh air, he decided to remedy that minor discomfort before pressing on.
He stepped through the portal that shimmered before him. On the other side, 50–60 warriors stood in rigid formation, weapons glinting in the soft light.
"Massssstttttterrrr!" Jun Si's voice broke the tense silence, eyes wide and wet. The young man before him—the one he had trained under—stood tall and unmistakable. His heart surged with emotion.
Recognition struck like lightning. The figure in front of him… it was his master, Shiddharth. Younger, vibrant, yet carrying the aura of immeasurable power he had only dreamed of achieving. Jun Si couldn't contain himself. He rushed forward, arms wrapping tightly around the figure he had revered for so long.
Years of longing, frustration, admiration, and devotion poured into that single embrace. The guild members watched silently, some blinking rapidly, understanding the magnitude of the moment without needing words.
Shiddharth chuckled softly, feeling the warmth of their connection, a rare moment of humanity amidst the Tower's unyielding cruelty. "It's been a long journey, hasn't it?" he murmured, his hand gently resting on Jun Si's back.
"Yes… too long," Jun Si replied, voice choked with emotion. "But you're here now. That's all that matters."
In that instant, the weight of the Tower, the battles fought, and the dangers yet to come seemed almost bearable. For now, the past was reconciled, and hope—true, unshakable hope—was reborn.