The Fifth Floor's city never truly slept. Lanterns flickered in every color, casting long shadows on the stone streets. The air buzzed with dozens of languages, all made clear by the Tower's magic. But beneath the laughter and trading, a current of tension ran like a hidden river. Everyone here was a survivor, but not all would stay that way.
We'd found a corner of the dormitory hall to claim as our own. The bunks were hard, the air thick with sweat and old fear. Tomas was already snoring, armor at his side, his shield within arm's reach. Maya sat cross-legged on her bed, braiding her hair with trembling hands. Rhea lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, lips moving in silent calculation. Jin, for once, was quiet, his eyes fixed on the knife he spun between his fingers.
I couldn't sleep. My mind kept replaying the moment Jin went down on Floor 4—the blood, Maya's frantic hands, the way everything almost slipped away. I stared at my palm, flexing my fingers, feeling the faint hum of telekinesis. I'd gotten stronger, but it hadn't been enough to keep everyone safe.
A voice broke the silence. "You ever think about quitting?" Jin asked, not looking up.
Rhea snorted softly. "You? Never."
He shrugged. "I'm not saying I will. Just… sometimes I wonder if I'm cut out for this. I thought I was fast enough. I wasn't."
Maya's voice was gentle. "You survived. That's enough for tonight."
Tomas muttered in his sleep, something about rats and stew, and we all smiled a little. The tension eased, just a hair.
I sat up, swinging my legs over the side of the bunk. "I think about it. Not quitting, but… what happens if we don't make it? If we're not good enough?"
Rhea rolled over, her eyes catching the moonlight. "Then we die. Or worse. That's the Tower. But we're still here. That means something."
The silence settled again, heavier this time. I closed my eyes, listening to the city's heartbeat, and finally drifted off.
I woke to shouting in the square. Sunlight slanted through the windows, harsh and cold. Tomas was already up, polishing his shield. Maya was gone—probably hunting for herbs. Rhea and Jin were arguing over breakfast, their voices low but tense.
I pulled on my boots and stepped outside. The square was crowded, Hunters milling around the leaderboard. A new team had arrived overnight—veterans, by the look of their gear, their faces hard and closed. Their leader, a woman with a scar running from her eyebrow to her jaw, surveyed the crowd like a wolf among sheep.
I found Maya by a stall, haggling with a merchant over a pouch of blue leaves. She looked tired, but determined.
"Sleep okay?" I asked.
She shook her head. "Nightmares. But I found something that might help with pain. For Jin."
We walked back together, passing a group of Russian Hunters trading stories with a Brazilian squad. The translation magic made it all seamless, but the tension was real—every team was sizing up the competition, looking for weaknesses.
Back at our camp, Jin was sharpening his blades, Rhea braiding her hair. Tomas was reading a battered notebook, his lips moving as he memorized something.
"Plan for today?" I asked.
Tomas closed the notebook. "We scout. Talk to other teams. Find out what's waiting on Floor 6. No fighting unless we have to."
Jin grinned. "You mean no showing off."
Tomas smiled, but his eyes were serious. "We got lucky last time. Let's not make it a habit."
We split up, moving through the city in pairs. Maya and I wandered the market, listening for rumors. Most teams were tight-lipped, but one French Hunter, a boy with a missing ear, warned us, "The next floor is worse. Not just monsters—traps, too. People disappear."
Maya frowned. "Disappear how?"
He shrugged. "Just gone. Sometimes you find blood. Sometimes nothing."
I felt a chill crawl up my spine. "Thanks for the warning."
Rhea and Jin watched a duel in the arena—a German mage against a Japanese swordswoman. The fight was brutal, magic and steel clashing, but when it was over, they bowed and shook hands. Respect, even in violence.
We regrouped at noon, sharing what we'd learned. Tomas was grim. "The veterans say Floor 6 is a meat grinder. The monsters swarm, and the traps are everywhere. We need to be careful."
Jin tried to lighten the mood. "Careful's my middle name."
Rhea rolled her eyes. "Pretty sure it's 'reckless.'"
Maya handed Jin the pouch of blue leaves. "For the pain. Don't overdo it."
He took it with a grateful nod. "Thanks, doc."
We spent the afternoon preparing—checking gear, mapping out strategies, practicing formations. I worked on my telekinesis, lifting heavier objects, trying to split my focus between two things at once. It was hard, sweat beading on my brow, but I could feel the skill growing, sharpening.
Telekinesis: Lv. 7 → Lv. 8
Tomas drilled us on shield formations, Maya practiced her healing under pressure, Rhea worked on chaining wind and lightning, and Jin ran stealth drills, vanishing and reappearing like a ghost.
As dusk fell, we gathered in the square for dinner—hard bread, dried meat, and a little cheese. The food was bland, but it filled our bellies.
A group of Hunters from the Russian team approached, their leader—a tall man with a broken nose—eyeing us with wary respect.
"You are Iron Vines," he said. It wasn't a question.
Tomas nodded. "That's us."
The Russian smiled, but there was no warmth in it. "You move fast. Too fast, maybe. The Tower does not like arrogance."
Rhea bristled. "We're not arrogant. Just good."
He laughed, a harsh sound. "Everyone is good, until they die. Be careful, Americans. The Tower is hungry."
They walked away, leaving a chill in their wake.
Jin broke the silence. "Friendly bunch."
Maya's hands trembled as she packed away her herbs. "They're right, though. We need to be careful."
Tomas put a hand on her shoulder. "We will be. We're in this together."
We finished our meal in silence, the weight of the day pressing down on us.
That night, I couldn't sleep. I slipped out into the city, wandering the empty streets. The lanterns cast strange shadows, and every footstep echoed. I found myself at the edge of the square, staring up at the leaderboard.
Iron Vines—still at the top of the rookie division. But the gap was closing. Other teams were catching up.
A voice spoke behind me, low and cold. "You're the telekinetic, aren't you?"
I turned to see the veteran woman with the scar, her eyes sharp as knives.
"That's me," I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
She studied me for a long moment. "You're strong. But strength isn't enough. The Tower breaks everyone, eventually."
I swallowed. "Maybe. But I have to try."
She nodded, almost approving. "Good answer. Just remember—your friends are your shield. Don't let them down."
She melted into the shadows, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
Morning came too soon. We gathered our gear, checked our weapons, and made our way to the exit gate. The city was quieter now, the crowds thinner. Some teams had already moved on. Others lingered, their courage faltering.
As we waited for our turn, we saw the girl from Ironstar Rookies—the one with the bandaged arm—standing with her mentor. She looked pale, her eyes hollow.
"I can't do it," she whispered. "I'm sorry."
Her mentor hugged her, then took her badge. "You survived. That's enough."
She walked away, tears streaming down her face. Her team watched her go, silent and solemn.
Jin watched her, his jaw tight. "She was good. Better than me, probably."
Maya squeezed his hand. "You're here. That's what matters."
Tomas looked at each of us, his voice steady. "We go in together. We come out together. That's the only rule that matters."
Rhea grinned, but there was a shadow in her eyes. "Let's show the Tower what Iron Vines are made of."
We stepped through the gate, the world dissolving into light.
Abel's Status
Status: Abel
• Race: Human
• Level: 5
• Class: None
• Skills:
• Telekinesis (Lv. 8)
• Swift Strike (Lv. 1)
• Swordsmanship (Lv. 2)
• Pain Tolerance (Lv. 2)
• Quick Thinking (Lv. 1)
• Titles: None
• Sponsor: The Mind Tyrant
As the Tower reshaped itself around us, I felt the weight of every step, every choice. The city behind us was a crossroads—a place where dreams lived and died. Ahead was only darkness, and whatever waited in the depths.
But we weren't alone. Not anymore.