Tower of Paradise

When I finally managed to open my eyes, I found myself in a completely white space, an unknown place I had never seen before. Confusion invaded my mind as I tried to process what had happened.

How did I get here?

I remembered the gem I had touched a second ago out of mere curiosity.

Wasn't it supposed to be a stellar core? What is this strange place?

Questions piled up in my mind like an avalanche, while the warm sensation I had experienced moments before began to dissipate.

Suddenly, an ethereal voice resonated in the void:

[Welcome to the Tower of Paradise.]

My body tensed instinctively at that unknown voice, which continued:

[Arceus, will you begin the evaluation?]

At that precise moment, a wave of information flooded my mind. The Tower of Paradise...

A place that many considered terrifying, where those who managed to overcome the first floor would obtain special abilities and become "Awakened."

My mind began working quickly. This first step was equivalent to absorbing a stellar core, which meant that the tower offered an alternative route to awakening, without needing to find one of those elusive cores.

The tower had the peculiar habit of kidnapping different species, usually between fifteen and thirty years old, once a month. Those randomly chosen were transported to this world, and if they managed to overcome it, they not only gained powers but also returned to the real world.

An ironic smile crossed my face as I considered my situation.

Lady Luck finally smiles at me, I thought clenching my fists. I had entered the Tower five years earlier than anyone else, which meant I could awaken much earlier than the rest.

Five years of advantage to strengthen myself... the possibilities were fascinating.

I felt my eyes change, reflecting the wisdom of my past life.

I've always believed that life is a series of decisions, each with the power to alter the course of our destiny. As long as we follow life's path, we'll always have the chance to make new decisions. There's no point in regretting past mistakes when the future is waiting to be shaped.

Novels and cartoons had always been my escape, my window to fantastic worlds where everything was possible. Now, standing in this white space, I felt that my moment had finally arrived.

This is my opportunity.

The ethereal voice interrupted my thoughts:

[Select the Tower's difficulty. According to the difficulty, the dangers of the Tower's stages increase along with the growth rate and reward.]

I carefully analyzed my options: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Hell. It was a complex decision, with no evident right or wrong answer.

After a moment of reflection, I made a bold decision: I chose Hell difficulty.

The voice resonated again:

[Choose your weapon]

A voice echoed in my mind while I was lost in my thoughts.

A variety of weapons appeared before my eyes, as if I were looking at a video game screen. They were typical beginner-class weapons, most without ornaments or accessories, clearly made only for practical purposes.

Which should I choose?

Sword, spear, katana, axe, hammer, bow... the options were varied.@@novelbin@@

After careful analysis, I determined that melee weapons would be the best option.

Although ranged weapons offered the advantage of maintaining a safe distance in battle, that would only be useful if I had someone to protect me.

Sticking a sword in someone's face definitely had a different kind of pressure compared to sticking them with a staff.

With the exception of the bow and staff, any other ranged weapon had to be discarded.

For the same reason, blunt weapons like clubs were also out of consideration; they weren't sharp or intimidating like a sword, and were usually too heavy.

After considering all variables, the only viable weapons for me were the spear, sword, and axe. There were multiple variants of each, except for the axe. Although there were some axes that weren't excessively heavy, they simply didn't appeal to me.

Only the sword and spear remained. Most would think the spear would have an advantage due to its reach and ease of use, but reality was different.

The spear was an advanced weapon that no beginner could easily master. It would only be more effective than the sword if the user could maintain the correct distance, which would be difficult if the enemy managed to get close.

I didn't know what kind of enemies I would find... I didn't even know if I would encounter any, but if they turned out to be stronger, faster, and more precise than me, using a spear could be problematic.

Despite everything, I chose the spear.

I chose it because it seemed safe, because it would allow me to fight at a distance, because I was afraid to use a short weapon. It was a coward's choice, but something about it attracted me. I felt I would use it for a long time, despite it being a difficult weapon to master.

My heart was pounding when I saw it... It was as if we were destined to be together, as if we were inseparable.

I hadn't seriously considered using another weapon. I trusted my decision and began looking for a spear that would suit me.

Finally, I selected a decent-sized one-handed spear, which instantly appeared in my hand. It was much heavier than I expected.

[The objective of the following test is 'survival'.]

[We wish the user a satisfactory ending for their choice.]

[Reward for success in the test: Unlocking an innate ability]

[Penalty for failing the test: Death.]

—...Shit.

If my life had a turning point, this would definitely be it.

My voice was lost in the void as I watched the scene before my eyes begin to transform.

The white space surrounding me began to fill with color, as if an invisible artist were painting reality around me.