The Villain's Story



[You have entered the Tower of Trials.]

The blinding light disappeared. I found myself, along with numerous others in front of a large rugged wall.

It ascended into the skies above, daring us to climb it.

"So this is the first trial huh…"

I muttered as I read the notification in front of me.

[Welcome to the Tower of Trials.

Conquer the first floor, and climb to the top.]

I stared at the rugged cliff that seemed endless with a questioning gaze.

'This is the first floor? Why are there multiple others with me then?'

I questioned, according to the information I had received, The Tower tested everyone differently, the trials they would face would be accustomed to their strength and potential…

Then why do I see everyone here? Are there hidden monsters equivalent to me in such a large number among humanity?

No…that cannot be the case.

"...gulp."

Suddenly, I heard someone gulping, My ears picked up the sound and I turned my head towards it…only to find a student only 10 or meters high up climbing the wall…wetting himself.

"..."

It was obvious that I was disappointed, I was expecting something…else.

"It's only ten meters…are you scared of h-".

Suddenly, I came to a realization, my eyes observed the other students and I finally understood it.

The moment they began climbing the wall…was the moment the Tower of Trial's first trial activated. It should be showing others different things according to their strength.

My hypothesis was proven correct when multiple students had the same reaction.

"Why is it so high…"

A student, only 40 or so meters high said, his body shivering.

"...shit."

Another one, who hadn't even started cursed as soon as his hand touched the wall.

I was correct, the tower was showing everyone different things.

However, some students still climbed the rugged cliff with ease. A quick mana scan confirmed that they were stronger than average.

"So that's how it is huh…"

I muttered to myself. I prepared to climb the rugged cliff.

I used Ice mana to cover the tips of my fingers with claws that could stick inside the cliff and then went ahead.

I jumped and grabbed a stable footing on the cliff, mainly supported by my hands of course.

"..."

Just like I had expected, the Tower of Trials did give everything something else.

The students beside me disappeared, and there was a sense of serenity.

I looked up and saw the endless cliff. It was the same as before.

I looked down, but this time, instead of finding the ground where it was, I found nothing.

Just a sea of clouds below me… The ground was gone.

"haha…"

I let out a dry laugh and composed myself.

I steadily began to climb, fortunately, I had the two Supreme dragons to keep me company.

[Supreme Dragon Of Chaos Sulera's marvels at the design of the Tower.]

[Supreme Dragon of Frost Lanesha encourages you!]

I paid attention to the words of Suleras.

"How so?"

I asked and fastened my pace.

[The Supreme dragon Of Chaos Suleras says that the Tower is a Unique structure, it is a group of confined worlds, each world has its tragedy or conditions…It also isolates everything. It messes with the astral laws and isolates itself…It is a peculiar structure. You can only escape either when your will to challenge dies or…you die.]

"..."

I stayed silent and gazed at the endless cliff above me, I lowered my head to see the sea of clouds and wondered.

'...strange.'

I thought. It was strange how above me was an endless cliff that stretched as far as I could see and below me were clouds, getting farther and farther as I climbed.

[Supreme dragon Of Chaos Suleras says the tower has certainly been created by a Supreme being, even higher. Only such beings have the power to confine entire worlds.]

Yeah, I agree with that. Heck, I even think someone on Ariel's Level did this just for fun.

The power to stop the time of entire worlds and confine them into such a small space and even turn them into trials that could be taken time and time again…

It was an unbelievable feat…But then again, Supreme Beings were also Unbelievable.

Entire Galaxies could be torn apart by them in days, every one of them was so powerful…

And then there was Aranus, who scared them shitless.

'...'

I was once again reminded of the sheer difference in strength. Aranus was someone who could consider the Supreme beings as babies, and these supreme beings could consider me less than an ant…

Such was the world, cruel to the weak.

[The Supreme Dragon of Chaos Suleras says you should focus on the trial.]

I laughed.

"Haha…"

Yeah, I should focus on the trial instead of reminding myself again and again what a useless existence I am.

"This is weird…"

I muttered I had climbed this cliff for so long, but it wasn't getting any less.

[Trial Of Perseverance.]

I recalled the name of the trial and thought…

'There has to be a secret condition.'

There has to be one. I refuse to believe all I have to do is climb to the top of this endless cliff through Sheer Determination.

If that was it, no one would overcome this trial. I had been climbing this for hours, in a frightening space but even then I was nowhere close to reaching the top of this Endless cliff from what I could see.

Think Alan…think!

If the trial was truly set to be such, the number of people that had passed the first floor would be scarce, even in the previous year, multiple people passed…I am both stronger and have more stamina than them, there is no way they reached the top whilst I am not even close.

[Supreme Dragon of Frost Lanesha says the answer is clear.]

[Supreme Dragon of Chaos Suleras advises Lanesha to keep quiet and just observe.]

The answer is clear.

Hmm….

"Maybe…?"

I muttered and looked down at the sea of clouds below.

The distance…is closer. No matter how much I climbed the clouds were as close as they were before.

I activated Dragon eyes, just for confirmation, however…

[The Tower Of Trials forbids the usage of such a skill in this stage!]

"Are you kidding me?"

I said, irritated.

"Damn it."

Well, seeing that it restricted the usage of Dragon Eyes I think I have a gist of the answer.

"A trial to persevere…"

Persevere and climb the endless cliff as long as you can. When I thought about it…climbing this cliff is impossible. No one can do it.

The sea of clouds is the answer.

"Haha…."

I laughed. I smirked as I found the answer.

The purpose is to persevere, not succeed.

To survive, or to climb for as long as you can, and then fall into the sea of clouds as you tire out.

I let go of the cliff and dived towards the sea of Clouds. The winds brushed against my face.

The key is that sea of clouds, Once you fall into it…after having persevered for as long as you have. But you can also jump inside the cloud even if you have not reached your limit. Like if an accident occurred during your climb. The gate to the next floor is the clouds, no matter how you reach them…as long you put in the sincere effort that the tower recognizes...

You pass.

I disappeared into the sea of clouds and heard the notification from the Tower. I smirked.

[You have cleared the first trial.]