THE FIRST NAME BURNS
The stairs did not end.
Leon climbed until his breath turned into mist, until the air grew heavier and the silence too complete. The Tower seemed to watch him—stone, shadow, and void all holding their breath as he ascended.
He didn't know how long he walked.
Seconds?Hours?A lifetime?
Time inside the Tower didn't behave.
Finally, a faint glow appeared at the top of the stairs. Leon tightened his grip on the railing, bracing himself as he crossed into—
FLOOR 2 — THE ROOM OF MIRRORS
The space was circular, smaller than the first. Dozens of tall mirrors stood in a perfect ring around the center, each framed in silver, their surfaces pitch-black.
No reflections.
Only darkness.
A chill crawled up Leon's spine.
He took one step forward—and every mirror flickered at once.
The System chimed.
[Second Trial: Face the Forgotten Self]
Objective: Survive your own memories.Reward: First Name Burn.Penalty: Assimilation.
Leon's jaw tightened.
"Memories?" he muttered. "Fine. I've faced worse."
One of the mirrors rippled, surface turning liquid-like before forming an image.
A guild hall.A table.Laughter.
Shadows that resembled his former teammates leaning back, drinks in hand.
And in the center—Jareth Mallon, captain of the Dawnslayers, smiling easily as he clapped someone on the back.
Leon's fingers curled into fists.
The mirror showed him at the far end of the table—quiet, tired, ignored.The outlier.
Leon watched silently as the memory continued.
Jareth leaned forward, voice low, grin sharper than steel.
"Someone's gotta die in the boss phase tomorrow. Leon's the obvious choice."
Laughter.
Mocking. Cruel. Familiar.
"Piece of trash.""Free loot with legs.""Don't even need to push him—he'll fall on his own."
Leon's breath hitched.
His nails dug into his palms.
He remembered everything.Every laugh.Every whisper.Every name.
The glass trembled, reacting to his emotions.
Leon lifted the parchment.
The 9,999 Names List pulsed, letters glowing faintly.
At the top, still burning with fresh hatred:
— Jareth Mallon
The mirror version of Jareth raised a drink.
"To dead weight!"
Leon moved.
He didn't scream.He didn't shake.
He simply raised the List toward the mirror.
The parchment came alive.
Dark flames burst from it like hungry serpents, latching onto Jareth's projected face. The image warped, twisted, shattered—the mirror splintering from the inside out.
The Tower shook.
The System roared.
[Name Burned: Jareth Mallon]
+1% to ALL STATS permanently.
Strength: 93 → 94Agility: 107 → 108Vitality: 88 → 89Intelligence: 95 → 96Sense: 111 → 112
A wave of cold power slammed into Leon's chest.
He gasped, nearly staggering.
The feeling wasn't like gaining a skill or leveling up.This was raw, emotional power—his hatred, his memory, his betrayal crystallized into strength.
The List whispered:
One of 9,999 erased.
The parchment's ink rearranged, revealing a second name—one Leon didn't recognize.
— Mara Voss.
Leon stared.
"What…? I don't know that person."
You will, the List murmured.
His eyes narrowed.
"Why is she on the List?"
She will harm your sister in the future.
Leon froze.
His heartbeat slowed, then roared like a dragon in his ears.
"Future?" he whispered. "The List… knows the future?"
I know all names. Past. Present. Future.I know every wound you will ever suffer.
Leon felt his throat tighten, but he forced himself to breathe.
"Then show me."
The parchment dimmed.
Not yet. Climb first.
The remaining mirrors began to glow one by one—filling with new memories.
His mother's funeral.Seris crying alone.His guild laughing behind closed doors.The day he failed his first Trial.The day they stopped using his name altogether.The day they decided he was better off dead.
One mirror spoke—not with sound, but with a voice inside his mind.
"Leon Valtaris? Never heard of him."
Leon stepped forward, boots echoing against the obsidian floor.
He didn't lift the List this time.
He punched the mirror.
It exploded into shards.
The System chimed approvingly.
[Memory Rejected.]
Another mirror lit up.
A younger Leon, trying to fit in.Trying to smile.Trying to be useful.
He smashed that one too.
[Memory Rejected.]
The third mirror showed Seris—his sister—searching for him, calling his name until her voice broke.
Leon froze mid-step.
"…Seris."
The reflection showed her trembling, clutching a small charm he had crafted for her years ago.
A twisting knife of guilt carved into him.
He reached toward the surface—
The shadow behind her attacked.
Leon's eyes widened.
The mirror shattered before the creature could reach her.
But not from his touch.
A new message appeared.
[Sister Clause Activated Early.]
Your rage has accelerated a future plot armor layer.
Leon stood there, silent, trembling, trying to steady his breath.
"Sister Clause… activated early?" he whispered. "Already?"
He swallowed hard.
"…Seris. I swear I'll find you."
The last mirror lit up at the far end of the chamber, displaying a single line of text:
"Who will you become when no one remembers you?"
Leon didn't walk.
He didn't run.
He teleported—the shadows bending beneath him, propelling him forward instinctively.
The List flared.
Dark fire burst outward like a tidal wave.
The final mirror didn't just break.
It evaporated.
The room went silent.
Then a door of black marble rose from the floor.
[Second Trial Complete.]
Reward Unlocked: Personalized Skill]
You have gained:Ruler's Authority Lv.1 → Lv.2New Passive:Unseen Crown— Your presence cannot be diminished by others.— Your name cannot be erased.
Leon's breath steadied.
The reward felt right.
Not power.Not strength.
Dignity.Identity.
The things they tried to take.
Leon stepped toward the marble door.
Before opening it, he glanced at the List one more time.
Two names remained visible now.
— Mara Voss— A blank line
He frowned.
"…Why is there an empty space?"
The List whispered back:
For the name you have not learned yet.But soon will.
Leon pushed the door.
Wind howled through the next stairwell.
A cold, hostile presence waited above.
Leon smirked slightly.
"Floor 3," he murmured. "Let's see what you are."
He began climbing again.
The Tower rumbled as if eager for him.
The shadows behind him whispered one word:
Sovereign.