"These ten towers...what exactly are they?" Arthur asked filled with curiosity.
"This is actually common knowledge..." Kagekawa scratched his cheek, "Just as the name implies, there are a total of ten towers. Each of these towers is scattered across the world in constant motion!" Kagekawa spread out his arms while enthusiastically explaining.
"Moving?... How do towers move?" Arthur couldn't come up with an answer.
"Haha! I wish I could tell you but I'm not quite sure myself but the question I can ask is why they move! They move to people that are deemed worthy Arthur, isn't that interesting?!" Kagekawa had a wide grin on his face.
"Worthy?... Aren't those towers they? How can they determine if someone is worthy or not?"
"I apologise Arthur but I cannot tell you the answer to that as well."
Arthur frowned a little, "Fine...so what's the benefit of me exploring these so-called towers other than satisfying my curiosity?"
"Rewards Arthur! Bountiful rewards and treasures. There is no limit to the variety of rewards you can get! You'll get many great rewards for exploring these towers and an even greater reward for completing a tower!"
Arthur's face showed some interest and excitement but still, he felt a little apprehensive of the idea, "Rewards...aren't you being a little too vague in your explanations?" He crossed his arms while raising an eyebrow.
Kageakawa then stroked his chin and closed his eyes, "Hmm...let me give you an example of a reward then. A set of armour that can make your strength, speed and durability quintuple once you wear it. Something like that, I guess?" Kagekawa turned his head to the side.
"You guess...?" Arthur didn't sound very convinced but he still wanted to explore these towers, especially if it meant it could grant him more power to defeat Sedah, "Tell me, will it be enough to beat Sedah if I go through all these towers?" Arthur asked with a straight and serious face.
"Just now the reward I described, was on par with a lesser reward. If you clear all these towers, your chances of beating him will definitely be much higher, as it stands now, you have no chance of beating him, but I assume you understand that very well yourself."
"Yes...I do." Arthur gritted his teeth a little.
"I believe it was Sedah's intention for you to complete these towers. He's given everyone a time limit of ten years, but I believe this is mainly directed towards you. Ten years for ten towers, ain't that perfect?... What a joke!"
"?"
Kagekawa scratched the back of his head, "My whole life and I only amounted to clearing six towers. Even the great hero Sedah, who lived a much longer life, only cleared nine towers. He's got high hopes for you in beating him. Can't blame him...I do too. After all, if there's anyone that can beat him, it's you, Arthur."
Arthur stood up put his chair and clenched his fist and looked down, "I'll clear all these towers in ten years and collect these great rewards to be Sedah."
"Slow down, kid. It's easy to say until you actually clear one of these towers. The challenges you'll face in these towers will be difficult. Every aspect can be tested in these towers from your strength to your sanity." Kagekawa gave a serious glare to Arthur with his one eye; instantly, the tension in the room shot up. "There hasn't been a single person whose completed all these towers. Either because they weren't deemed worthy or they died before they could. It's not some kind of fun game. These adventures are a matter of life and death."
"I know all too well about death." Arthur stared back at Kagekawa with the same fierce glare. He could not forget the crime Sedah committed and this fuelled him to go on.
"Haha!" Kagekawa waved his hand and smiled, "Well, I was just making sure you knew how serious this is and giving you a little scare but it seems that was unnecessary. My bad, Arthur!"
"I know and thank you for that. Since Sedah's only cleared nine...that just means once I clear ten I'll have a leg up on him! Ah! Master, I did want to ask you, what kind of rewards did you get from clearing those six towers?"
Kagekawa couldn't help but admire Arthur's optimism, "...Right! My rewards, huh? Well, I got-" Amygdala tightly placed her hand on Kagekawa's shoulder with animosity.
"Kagekawa, I will absolutely not allow Arthur to enter these dangerous towers. Especially since our wedding is so soon, isn't that so Arthur?" Amygdala tilted her head while having a smile on her face, which didn't mask her rage very well. It seemed as if her hair started to move like tentacles out of anger.
"Ack! Arthur...please help me. Control your wife please. Think of something...please..." He quietly spoke and gestured to Arthur, who had a scared look on his face, and without thinking, Arthur held onto Amygdala's hands.
"Please, let me enter these towers. I swear I'll marry you straight after! I promise! I love you Amygdala!" Arthur looked down at her hands while blushing.
Amydala immediately turned red after Arthur's straightforwardness. Steam came out of her head, "Love...love...he loves me! Kyaah!" She mumbled to herself. Amygdala let go of Arthur's hand and started to cover her face with her hair as she became coy.
"F-Fine...I guess I have no choice." She said with her voice being muffled.
"Thank you, my dear wife." He held her hands again.
"W-Wife-kyahhh. He called me his wife even though we aren't married yet!" She frantically ran to Arthur's room to lie on his bed so that she could calm herself down from the overwhelming joyful emotions.
Chronos anxiously turned to both Arthur and Kagekawa, "What should I do? How can I help? Tell me, can I join Arthur in-"
"-Absolutely not, you cannot join Arthur in facing these trials," Kagekawa said with a completely serious expression.
Chronos looked down in disappointment.
"However, when Arthur does tackle these towers across ten years, I will train you so that you become stronger! You will be under my guidance while Arthur is away completing the towers!" Kagekawa then got out of his chair and knelt. He placed his hand on Chronos's shoulder, "I look forward to seeing how strong you'll become as well. Haha!" Kagekawa smiled, giving a hearty laugh.
Chronos looked at Kagekawa with bright eyes, "I'll make sure to become stronger and help Arthur while beating up every god! I promise!"
Kagekawa gave him a pat on the back while smiling, "Haha! That's the spirit!"
A question suddenly struck Arthur's mind, "Master, how exactly do I enter these towers once I find them...Or I guess they find me?"
"Don't worry, you'll know if they deem you worthy that is. You will have to do a bit of seeking though." Kagekawa gave a smirk that pointed towards Arthur.
Arthur scratched the back of his head, "...I guess I'll just figure it out then. Master, I'm going to pack some supplies and head out for a while. It's probably best to start early, right?" Arthur then bowed, "Thank you for your guidance and hospitality!"
Kagekawa was surprised at Arthur's well-mannered actions, "Ahem! Arthur, I suggest you leave the country of Vastos and travel to the east. Arthur, it'll benefit you to explore the whole world and engross yourself in exploring and chasing the vast riches of this world, while also seeking these towers to claim their bountiful reward. Become an adventurer like no other, Arthur!"
"Yeah, I will!... East, huh? I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to explore the whole world. Maybe now is the perfect time to do so."
"The first country you'll pass through that's to the east of Vastos is Sahrak Darin and it is quite a beautiful and magnificent country!
An excitement also grew in Chronos while hearing Kagekawa, "I want to travel around the world with Arthur!" He blurted out with a big grin as he clenched both his fists in the air out of excitement.
7