"HAAAAA-!"

Jiho's scream as his adrenaline seemed to reach its peak reverberated throughout the summit of the grand canyon.

This time, everybody, except for the Nature Alchemist, simultaneously attacked the Insane Harpy, who was regenerated or more like revived and strengthened by the Tower of Growth.

"Focus, Jiho!"

Russell shouted at him. He almost wanted to smack him in the head to straighten his flood of thoughts. Jiho was probably thinking about the Tower of Growth that recognized his mysterious swordsmanship.

Fighting the Insane Harpy who seemed to go on a rampage, Jiho's body, as well as his eyes, was still emanating a golden aura, gleaming as though he was the embodiment of valor who fought for a long time on a battlefield.

"I wonder how a battle with High-Rank players involved will look like...?"

Amelie muttered, standing beside Russell.

According to the Cosmic Question, and the affirmation of the Goddess of Night, Russell was truly reincarnated, though there were mysteries that were surrounding it. As someone who reincarnated and had written the mysterious unpublished novel, Russell didn't have any idea or he did want to imagine a battle that involved High-Rank players, but he was certain of one thing...

"Maybe it would be a catastrophe."

He replied before glancing at his younger sister and Amery, fighting side by side. For some reason, the Insane Harpy, Karas, wasn't targeting the others. She only focused her aim on Jiho, whose mysterious swordsmanship also hinted at his true identity, as though the Tower of Growth itself had exclusively given him the challenge to prove himself.

"Let's go! Aim for the Boss' eyes, but don't get swept by the lightning sword."

Russell and Amelie moved, aiming for great timing to distract Karas' momentum.

After some time, the lightning sword seemed to intensify as it began to turn golden, becoming a golden lightning sword. Though its appearance just shimmered, it seemed to cut through the air. The Boss Monster, Karas, then spoke, but this time, her voice seemed to overlap with millions of other voices. Everyone, without the exception of Samantha and Russell, felt shivers run down their spines.

"DIE HERE, LOST ONE!!"

The golden lightning sword materialized and became solid, made of unknown. Karas then cleaved it down with all her might towards Jiho, but everyone, even Celine would be stricken by the heavy slash due to its massive area of effect.

Karas' strike produced golden miniature feathers, and these feathers, after two to three seconds, solidified and turned into golden, curved single-edged blades. These golden blades rained down along with the lightning strikes from the clouds as though the golden feather blades were tethered from the heavens.

Jiho, who seemed desperate for an answer, tried to compose himself at that moment. He then heard a subtle sound in his ears.

[You have assimilated too much with the Attribute: Will of the Sword (SSS+)!]

[The Second Movement of the mysterious swordsmanship can be performed without any physical backslash!]

Without hesitation, holding tightly the sword in both his hands, Jiho lunged forward and struck back with all his might, with every power he could muster. He didn't know why, but he has this certain emotion that finishing this trial would lead him to some answers... not about himself, but about the death that surrounded his family.

[Swordsmanship of "???", Second Movement: Defying Star Strike!]

At that moment, his entire body and soul seemed to be bathed in lava due to the extreme hotness he was currently feeling, and his sword's golden aura was amplified, which seemed to feel his deep emotions and will to cut down the formidable target in front of him. The flying golden blades aimed at each one of them, as well as the golden lightning sword solely aimed at Jiho... gradually, but quickly melted!

"HAAAAA-!"

Slash-!

"SCREEEEECH-!"

With a loud screech in a million voices, Karas fell to the cliff, to the abyss of the grand canyon.

***

After Karas fell, Jiho slumped down on the arid grand canyon, breathing heavily due to physical exhaustion. His emotions, on the other hand, felt relieved for some reason.

As though the Tower of Growth had heard his untold plea for answers, a series of System messages, exclusive to him, resounded in his head.

[You have passed the mysterious trial of the Tower of Growth!]

[The Tower of Growth's Administrator will be summoned to give you the "???" Shard.]

As though time had frozen still, bright, blue lights suddenly appeared in the middle of the grand canyon. Then, a figure appeared out of it.

[The Tower of Growth's Administrator has revealed his presence.]historical

Russell, who's trying to gauge the depth of the abyss from where they were transported, faintly smiled inwardly because the story's progression based on his unpublished novel and the reality was somewhat different yet the same.

***

The others, who had no idea about what was happening, were painted with shock and apprehension upon the unexpected presence.

All of them received the System message that the Administrator of the Tower appeared. And now, in front of them, a towering, having a stature of 3 meters, well-built man with purple eyes and brown hair was now standing.

Although the Tower itself was mitigating the pressure that the Administrator gave off, it was still more than enough for Russell and the others to have their hearts beat faster. Glancing around the players, the Administrator spoke.

"Congratulations on clearing the tenth floor. Every one of you, under the will of the Tower, will be given the necessary rewards.

"And you, Han Jiho, will receive twenty Glory Shards for proving your worthiness."

Snapping his big fingers, the Administrator who didn't introduce himself, added.

"Also, that golden sword will be your additional reward for clearing this floor. That will be all."

"W-wait-! I have a question."

Jiho, who mustered his remaining strength, from slumped down to sitting down, asked the Administrator who was about to leave.

"W-what's the mysterious swordsmanship I have that had been recognized by the Tower? And why does my Star Contract filled with question marks...? Also, do you know anything about me... My parents?"

He had many questions in his mind but chose to ask what he thought was appropriate at this given opportunity.

"Collect all the Glory Shards, and you will find your answer. But since you asked, it should be alright for me to divulge very simple information... a hundred Glory Shards is equivalent to one Glory Fragment.

"It would at least give you a sense of understanding that the two of them are two different things. You either find a Glory Fragment itself or numerous Glory Shards.

"Good luck in your journey, Lost One. Seek your story!"

[The partial information of the Authority: Fragment of the Lost Lights has been unlocked.]

[Collected "Glory" Shards: 40/10,000.]

[Collected "Glory" Fragment: 0.4/100.]

Jiho browsed his Status Window and saw the "???" information was changed to "Glory."

***

The Administrator, who was about to leave after finishing his business, stopped for a moment. Then, a second or two later, he glanced at Russell with an unknown expression before he snapped his fingers.

After snapping his fingers, a golden portal was made, then numerous individuals came out of it.

Russell's deep blue eyes constricted due to the subtle action of the Administrator.

'I see... it's one of the unexpected.'

Russell muttered as the System entered everyone's ears.

[The will of the Tower has allowed the variable to take place.]

[...will be transported and combined with the existing Player Party.]

'This is...'

Russell let out a self-deprecating laugh inwardly as he saw Rumia and Elizabeth appear on their floor suddenly. It was as though what was meant to be — for these major people, just like in his unpublished novel — had to happen.

"S-Samantha...?"

"R-Rumia...?"

The two were perplexed. This perplexing moment turned contagious as everyone, as seconds passed by, was painted in confusion. But they were glad about the sudden and unexpected change regardless of the factor about the occurrence.

Russell looked at them as a thought surfaced in his mind.

'It would mean another thing...'

As though the Tower had answered his thoughts, System messages entered everyone's ears.

[The difficulty of each floor will now be double.]

[Every fifth floor, two Boss Monsters will be summoned.]

'There we go.'

Russell didn't know whether to laugh or cry as the Administrator's last action clearly suggested that the Administrator knew something about him. But, with the Administrator's action, Russell surmise that it was for the better, at least he hoped.

***

"W-why did you do it...?"

Standing in front of a prison cell, the Baron asked her detained 14-year-old daughter from a concubine, who died giving birth to the girl.

"F-father. I had no choice... It's the Tower of Growth's will. It told me to kill someone, but I had no control over my body at that moment. Please! You have to believe me!"

"Y-you... What do you mean?! You successfully conquered the Tower, right!?

An incredulous look appeared on the Baron's face as he didn't manage to control his voice.

At that moment, some of his men entered the dungeon prison and said with a tone of urgency.

"B-Baron! We discovered bodies! Nine bodies!"

Without waiting for the Baron to react, the girl in prison spoke.

"F-father! It must be the soldiers you asked for me to be escorted in the Tower! T-they must have stolen other players' Growth Rate, too!"

The Baron's face, who heard a terrifying circumstance, paled.

***

In the Royal Capital of Cassiopeia, a conference meeting was being held.

"Your Majesty, what do you plan on doing regarding the Obelisk Organization's request?"

The King of the country, or one of the High-Rank players, pondered for some time before he spoke.

"Stand still for now. Some of them are hiding something since they're not saying anything worthy of attention in the last few months. But, in any way, try to discreetly monitor the notable figures' movements."

Although Cassiopeia was the Land of the Noble that sounded like it came out of Medieval times, it was still affected by the influence of modern technology.

One of the King's trusted men was about to speak when the door to the meeting hall opened. A man with rough breathing didn't even glance around to check the identity of the people inside, instead, he spoke with urgency and fear in his voice.

"Y-your Majesty! It's an emergency! Simultaneous suicides and murders are reportedly happening throughout the country!"

***

Ding-!

Jolted awake from writing school reports, Ayleen, the Basic Mana Theory professor of the A-1 class, read the message from her smartwatch. It's a message that was sent to each member of the Obelisk Organization.

The content of the message was simple: Watch or read the news.

Feeling that the order was simple yet infinitely important, Ayleen took the time to browse the latest news of the renowned media company.

She slowly read the eye-catching breaking news.

– BREAKING NEWS: Widespread deaths throughout the Cassiopeia are happening! Suicide and Murder? What's the cause?

– BREAKING NEWS: A mother had killed her thirteen-year-old son... A genius player of the Sky Academy!

– BREAKING NEWS: A couple of players committed suicide, causes unknown!

As she browsed through the grim news that was being screened in her vision, another piece of news caught her purple eyes. But this time, a sense of foreboding disaster enveloped her mind.

– BREAKING NEWS: A Baron of Cassiopeia stated that it was caused by the Failure Penalty of the Tower of Growth!

Ayleen's mind turned blank. But then, upon finishing reading the news, her memory seemed to dig itself out as she remembered something... a prank of a mystery person who told her to mobilize the Obelisk Military.

"But I threw the paper away!"

She exclaimed, her expression painted with grim. Composing herself, Ayleen called one of the highest authorities in the Obelisk Organization — Artorious Hall.

"Sir, please mobilize the Obelisk Military to provide a widespread semblance of order and contain the failed players."

Without much detail regarding the Failure Penalty, it's all she suggested to do for now.

***

"Leon, take care of your younger sister."

Leon's father, Draxian spoke firmly. They were to challenge the Tower of Growth at this moment. Leon was with Mira, three of his goons, and five S Rank players from the Guild — to assure conquering and to receive the increase in Growth Rate.

"I will father."

'But I don't need baggage to carry on my back.'

Leon thought as he bowed to his father. Draxian then just smiled at his son.