The spiral staircase was narrow and endless.
Each step Ha-Joon climbed pulsed faintly beneath his feet, glowing with a dim golden light. Unlike the chaotic wilderness of the Endless Realm or the trial chambers below, the atmosphere here was... still.
Too still.
There was no wind. No monsters. No system notifications. Only the distant echo of his own footsteps.
Yet every instinct screamed:
"You're being watched."
---
After what felt like an hour of silent ascent, he reached a massive stone door. Symbols danced across its surface, shifting into readable words:
> [Welcome to the Upper Floors of the Trial Tower]
These levels are OPTIONAL.
They contain forgotten history, forbidden knowledge, and unsealed truths.
Recommended for Unique-Class Awakened or higher.
Danger Level: UNRANKED.
> Do you wish to enter?
Ha-Joon stared at the door.
Optional… yet somehow, it felt like the real test started here.
His hand moved on its own.
He pressed his palm against the stone.
---
The door opened without a sound.
A blast of warm air greeted him, carrying with it a strange scent—like old parchment mixed with fire.
The room inside was enormous, like a cathedral carved out of mountain crystal. Pillars stretched to infinity, and luminous books floated in the air, spinning in lazy circles. At the far end, a grand throne stood empty, draped in silver vines.
> [Upper Floor 1: The Archive of Forgotten Souls]
Trial: Discover the origin of the Endless Realm.
Objective: Survive the visions of the past.
Reward: Unknown.
Before he could react, a sphere of light zipped toward him and pierced his forehead.
And then—
He saw it.
---
A world before this one.
Bright skies. Cities made of floating metal. People who could fly without wings.
Ha-Joon hovered among them like a ghost, invisible and intangible.
> "They called themselves the Architects," a voice echoed, not from the system, but deep within his mind. "Masters of all known dimensions. They created this realm—not as a prison, but as a testbed… a forge."
Images shifted violently.
The Architects battled creatures that defied logic. Cosmic beasts made of stars. Serpents longer than planets. Some they captured. Others—they sealed away inside this realm.
And when the wars ended… they vanished.
All of them.
---
The vision snapped.
Ha-Joon gasped and fell to one knee, sweat pouring from his forehead.
> [You have glimpsed the truth]
Hidden Title Unlocked: "Seeker of Origins"
Trait Evolved: Limitless Evolution → Forbidden Adaptation
You now learn from ancient sources faster than any being.
Passive Boost: +10% Skill Growth from Trials and History-based Events
He blinked.
"What… was that?"
His heartbeat hadn't slowed since the vision ended.
The Architects.
The cosmic war.
The realm as a forge.
This wasn't just a survival world.
It was a crucible.
---
As he stood up, new options appeared before him—floating books, sealed scrolls, and silver orbs.
He touched one.
> [Skill Scroll Acquired: Tower Step Lv.1]
Allows short-range teleportation within tower floors.
Cooldown: 10 minutes.
He touched another.
> [Ancient Knowledge Absorbed: Weapon Reinforcement Technique – Crude Tier]
Crafting Skill Gained: Weapon Imbuement Lv.1
Then one last orb floated toward him—far more elaborate.
Gold-trimmed. Glowing with pulsing red veins.
He reached out.
> [Warning: This Memory Contains High-Density Temporal Energy]
Side Effect: May accelerate time inside the Endless Realm.
Do you wish to proceed?
Ha-Joon hesitated.
"Accelerate… time?"
He remembered how only one month had passed on Earth.
Here, he had already survived weeks. If time inside sped up further…
Would he still be able to return?
His hand trembled.
Then clenched into a fist.
"Even if time moves differently… I need to get stronger."
> [Confirmed: Absorbing Temporal Memory]
---
The moment he touched it, reality fractured.
---
He found himself standing on an ancient battlefield—clouds burned above, and ruins floated in the sky like shattered glass. Hundreds of humanoid warriors wearing obsidian armor fought against twisted monsters that looked like nightmares come alive.
And among them…
One man stood tall.
Eyes glowing crimson.
Hair black like Ha-Joon's.
He fought without weapons. Every step he took made the ground shatter. His fists tore through the monstrous horde like a god among mortals.
Ha-Joon stared in disbelief.
"He… looks like me."
The warrior turned—just briefly. Their eyes met.
For a split second, Ha-Joon felt a familiarity, as though that man was more than just a memory.
He felt like… the origin.
---
Then everything exploded into flame.
---
> [Memory Fragment Stored]
Secret Quest Unlocked: "Heir of the Lost Vanguard"
Objective: Prove yourself in battle to reclaim forgotten strength.
Progress: 0/100
Reward: ???
> Time Acceleration Engaged
1 Day in Tower = 1 Month Outside
---
Ha-Joon's mind reeled.
He had glimpsed a forgotten warrior.
Someone who may have once wielded power like the gods.
And now, the world outside would age faster—just one more day inside this tower would push the real world a month forward.
He needed to move carefully.
---
Still, with each new skill, memory, and truth, his power continued to grow.
And deep within him, something stirred.
Not rage.
Not revenge.
Resolve.
---
He turned to the staircase again.
The next floor awaited.
Before ascending, he opened his Status Screen:
---
[Status – Jung Ha-Joon]
Level: 6
Class: Survivor of the Impossible
Titles: Mist Survivor, Seeker of Origins
Traits:
• Forbidden Adaptation
• Endurance of the Unshaken
• Limitless Evolution (Integrated)
Skills:
• Energy Absorption Lv.3
• Sprint Lv.2
• Danger Sense Lv.2
• Improvised Weapon Handling Lv.2
• Pain Resistance Lv.3
• Tower Step Lv.1
• Weapon Imbuement Lv.1
• Focused Mind Lv.1
• Reactive Growth Lv.1
Quest (Hidden): Heir of the Lost Vanguard – 0/100
---
He smiled faintly.
"I won't run anymore."
---
Far beyond the realm, on Earth—
Exactly two months had passed.
Ha-Rin stared at a gate that had reopened for the first time since her brother disappeared.
It pulsed faintly.
Almost like it recognized her.
---