The floating text pulsed, almost as if it was laughing at him.
[Tower Manager]
Oh? Straight to business? Fine, fine. No need to be so tense, Nathan. I have good news for you.
Nathan exhaled sharply. "Just get on with it."
[Tower Manager]
Heh. Alright. I've officially registered you as a Hunter.
A new notification popped up in front of him.
---
[Status Update: Hunter Registration Complete]
Name: Nathan
Race: Human
Class: Unknown
EXP: 30/100
---
Nathan's eyes flicked across the information. His lips tightened.
"So I finally have a window status," he muttered.
[Tower Manager]
Yep. You're officially part of the Tower now. You'll gain experience just like any other Hunter. Once you reach 100 EXP, you'll level up, and who knows? Maybe you'll even unlock a class.
Nathan folded his arms, mulling over the information. It wasn't surprising, considering the system-like nature of the Tower.
"So, EXP comes from fighting, right?" he asked.
[Tower Manager]
Bingo. And that's not all.
A new notification appeared.
---
[New Feature Unlocked: Tower Shop]
You can now purchase items using Tower Points.
Tower Points can only be earned by hunting mindless monsters, Beast Etc.
---
Nathan raised an eyebrow. "A shop?"
[Tower Manager]
Indeed. A place where you can buy gear, skills, consumables, and even rare items. But don't get too excited—Tower Points aren't easy to earn. You'll need to hunt the mindless monsters roaming the Tower to get them.
Nathan scoffed. "Figures. So no freebies?"
[Tower Manager]
Come on, now. Do I look like a charity?
Nathan clicked his tongue. "What kind of items are in the shop?"
[Tower Manager]
Heh. You'll have to check it out yourself. Go on—open it.
Nathan hesitated for a second before speaking.
"Open Tower Shop."
A blue holographic window materialized before him.
---
[Tower Shop]
Weapons:
Rusted Sword – 5 TP
Iron Dagger – 8 TP
Reinforced Club – 10 TP
Armor:
Tattered Leather Vest – 4 TP
Worn-Out Gauntlets – 3 TP
Consumables:
Small Health Potion – 2 TP
Stamina Recovery Herb – 1 TP
Special Items:
??? (Locked)
---
Nathan's brow twitched. "Everything's… so cheap?"
[Tower Manager]
Cheap? Ha! You don't even have a single Tower Point yet. Try killing a monster first, then tell me how 'cheap' it feels.
Nathan exhaled. "Fine. Where do I find these mindless monsters, beast or whatever?"
[Tower Manager]
Oh, don't worry about that. They'll find you.
As soon as those words appeared, an eerie sensation crawled up Nathan's spine.
The night air thickened.
A low, guttural growl echoed from beyond the cave entrance.
Nathan's instincts screamed.
Something was coming.
And it was coming fast.
---
[Warning!]
A mindless monster has detected your presence.
Prepare for battle.
---
Nathan clenched his fists.
"So it begins…"
Crushed by Reality
Nathan barely had time to react.
A monstrous shadow lunged at him from the darkness—a grotesque creature with elongated limbs, its mouth stretched unnaturally wide, jagged teeth glinting under the eerie glow of the Tower's night.
His body stiffened. His instincts screamed at him to move.
But he hesitated.
And in that split second—
BAM!
A massive force struck his abdomen.
"Gah—!"
Nathan was sent flying. His back slammed against a jagged rock, pain exploding across his body. His vision blurred as he gasped for air.
The monster didn't stop. It closed in, its malformed body twisting unnaturally as it leaped at him again.
Nathan barely managed to roll to the side before its claws tore into the ground where he had just been.
This isn't a game.
A horrifying realization gripped him.
I could die. I can actually die.
Fear paralyzed him. His mind raced, but his body refused to move fast enough.
The creature swiped again—this time, its claws raked across his arm.
"ARGH—!!"
A sharp, searing pain shot through him. Blood gushed from the wound, dripping onto the ground.
His breath hitched. His heart pounded.
His mind was spiraling.
I can't…
I can't win.
The creature loomed over him, its glowing red eyes locked onto its helpless prey.
Nathan's hands trembled. His entire body ached. He wanted to move, to fight back—but his body refused to respond.
He was nothing.
Weak.
Powerless.
A failure.
I don't want to die.
Terror consumed him as the monster raised its claws for the final strike.
I—
I CAN'T—!!
SHLINK—!!
A flash of silver.
The creature stopped.
A clean, swift cut split its torso open.
Its body froze—then, in an instant, disintegrated into a mist of black particles.
The overwhelming presence that suffocated Nathan vanished.
A familiar scent surrounded him.
Warmth enveloped his body.
His trembling breath hitched as a gentle hand cupped his head, pressing it against a soft, familiar chest.
"It's okay."
A soothing voice.
A gentle embrace.
"Don't be scared."
His body finally gave out. His muscles slackened as exhaustion consumed him.
Domina held him tightly, cradling his head against her as if he were a small child.
His mind was still reeling.
One second, he was at death's door—utterly powerless.
The next, he was in her arms, safe, warm… protected.
Nathan's vision blurred—not from pain, but from something deeper.
A crushing sense of humiliation.
He was useless. He couldn't even fight back. He was saved.
Like a helpless child.
Domina gently stroked his hair, her voice soft.
"You did your best," she whispered.
Nathan gritted his teeth.
His best?
His best was getting beaten to the ground like a damn ragdoll?
He clenched his fists, his breathing ragged.
But despite the anger boiling inside him—anger at himself—he couldn't deny it.
For the first time… he truly felt fear.
The fear of death.