In a pit filled with dirt, a man was digging with a madness that bordered on insanity. His breaths came in ragged gasps, sweat streaming down his face like rivers, yet his pace never slowed. His mind was consumed by a single thought: "Today… today I must find it at all costs. If I fail today, freedom will never be mine."
By the time he reached a depth of about 5 meters, a faint shimmer caught his eye amidst the heap of soil. Leon's eyes widened. Ah! With trembling hands, he brushed away the dirt and found a small, yet incredibly "shining stone" lying there.
"I found it! I've found it!" A man shouted, his voice trembling with joy. For the first time in months, a smile cracked the exhaustion off his face.
Suddenly, a heavy voice echoed from above the pit: "Leon! If you've found it, come out now."
Leon looked up to see a shadow standing in the sunlight. Oh no… He gathered his tools and, covered in dirt and exhausted, climbed out. As soon as he emerged, he faced an entire army. Dozens of men stood there, clad in gleaming heavy armor, their hands gripping sharp swords.
Their leader, standing at the forefront, fixed Leon with cold eyes and said, "So, you've found the stone? Hand it over."
Leon clenched the stone in his fist and said firmly, "Fine… but first, cancel our magical contract."
The leader let out a sly laugh. Heh! "Very well, I'll cancel it. But first, show me the stone."m
Hesitant, Leon handed over the stone. The leader raised it into the sunlight. Greed lit up his face. "This is it! Nothing can stop me from getting promoted within the Guild now!"
Leon interrupted sharply, "Cancel the contract first! You promised me that if I found the stone, you'd free me and erase all my debt. My job is done. You can't imagine how long I worked, using my skill, to find this!"
The leader took a deep breath and met Leon's gaze. "I know how hard you've worked."
Then, with a sudden gesture, two burly men leapt forward and grabbed Leon's arms.
"What… what are you doing? I've done your work! What's the point of capturing me now?" Leon struggled. No way!
The leader leaned close, his voice icy. "You asked for freedom? I'm giving you freedom… from life itself."
Leon's blood boiled. Argh! "I should never have trusted you!" He suddenly drew a small dagger from his pocket and struck with all his strength at the leader.
But the leader stood perfectly calm. Hmph…"I knew you'd do that."
Before Leon could reach him, black chains erupted from the ground, wrapping tightly around his entire body. He couldn't move an inch.
"I used my skill: 'Chain Trap'," the leader said proudly. "Within this trap, you cannot use your skills, nor move."
Despair filled Leon's eyes. Ugh… "You just used me…"
"Exactly," the leader replied coldly. "Your skill, 'Seeker's Instinct', was useful to us, but now your purpose is over. My Guild Leader's order was clear: after using you, you must be eliminated."
"I'll kill all of you!" Leon screamed. Gah!
But the leader drew his dagger and, without mercy, drove it into Leon's stomach, striking again and again. Leon's breaths faltered, his body went cold.
As he suffered, only one thought remained in his mind: "Why did I trust them? If only I hadn't taken their money… none of this would have happened."
[System panel]
[The player has died].
****
Darkness consumed his vision, and Leon's story ended there… or perhaps, it was the beginning of something new.
Leon opened his eyes to a blinding "white light". His entire body felt cold, yet he realized he was breathing.
"Am I… alive?" he whispered. Wow…
When he fully opened his eyes, he was stunned. He wasn't in a deep pit—he was lying in a small, old room, on a bed. His hands were clean, and his stomach bore no pain from the dagger.
"How… how did I get here? The Guild should have killed me in the Tower…" Huh?
Suddenly, a loud knock came at the door. A harsh, angry voice bellowed: "Leon! What are you doing in there? How dare you ignore my debt!"
Leon froze. Uh-oh… He got up and stood before the mirror. His face had changed completely—he now looked like a young man.
"How is this possible? Have I really gone back into the past?" Oh no…
The door rattled again. Leon asked, "Who is it?"
The door opened, revealing a stout man named Javier, his face twisted with disdain. "When are you paying me? If you don't today, you'll do my work, or you know what I'm capable of."
Suddenly, Leon remembered everything. "Yes… this is the moment when I took his money. I've really gone back to the past." He also recalled how Javier had trapped him in a theft case. Damn it!
Javier stepped closer. "What are you looking at? If you don't work, I'll break your bones."
Leon met him with cold, piercing eyes. Enough! The fear that had once gripped him was gone, replaced by a quiet, burning anger. "I have no money now, and I won't do your work. Leave, now."
Javier shouted in disbelief, "Are you insane? Do you want to die?"
Leon cut him off. "Do what you must. I have no time for you. Leave!" He pushed Javier out of the room.
Seeing the determination in Leon's eyes, Javier hesitated, realizing that staying any longer could be fatal. Muttering curses, he left.
Leon sat in his room, holding his head. "This is the day… I've really returned to the past. I must go to the Tower." Yes… finally!
Talking to himself, he recalled that the Tower had appeared about 40 years ago. At first, no one knew what it was, until a "Blue System Panel" appeared for everyone to see.
[System panel]
[• Enter the Tower and clear its floors.
• Each floor houses dangerous monsters,
but offers rewards that make you stronger.
• Not only humans, but beings from other dimensions also climb the Tower.
• Whoever reaches the top floor first gains "Ultimate Authority" and can rule over any dimension. One wish of their choice will be granted.]
"Greed drove people to climb the Tower, but it was far from easy."
Leon reflected on past memories. "Forty years have passed, but only "30 floors" have been cleared. When I died in the future, 130 years had passed, and only "73 floors" were cleared. The greatest fact… time doesn't age you inside the Tower." Hmm…
He clenched his fists. "I must grow stronger within the Tower. I know about every floor's rewards and hidden treasures. In the next two years, I must make myself so powerful that no one can surpass me. Otherwise, the strongest will set their own rules and claim all the rewards for themselves." Yes!
A fire ignited in his eyes. "I will take revenge on everyone." Heh… they'll regret it!.