Elyno opened his eyes to darkness. For a moment, he had no idea where he was or how long he'd been lying there. Then the outline of the cracked ceiling came into focus, and the dull ache in his arms and shoulders reminded him.
I fell asleep.
He shifted, joints protesting, and let out a shaky breath. Judging by how heavy his body felt, he must have been asleep for hours—maybe longer. He turned his head toward the faint sliver of moonlight peeking through the boarded window.
Night again?
Slowly, he pushed himself upright, running a hand across his face.
"Damn… I must have slept twenty hours."
The thought made him laugh under his breath—thin, tired amusement that vanished as soon as it came. He felt like he could lie back down and sleep another day if he let himself. But the hunger gnawing at his belly wouldn't let him.
He stood, joints cracking, and shuffled to the corner where he'd stacked what supplies he'd managed to scavenge. A dented pot. Salt. A few scraps of dried meat. He pulled everything out and set water to boil over a small flame.
Soon, the rich scent of simmering broth filled the ruined room. He tore pieces of meat into the pot and watched as they slowly softened. Tengri, roused by the smell, padded over and sat patiently by his side, tail thumping against the floor.
"I didn't forget you," Elyno murmured, a smile tugging at his lips. He set aside a generous portion for his companion, and the wolf tore into it without hesitation.
Only when the pot was empty did he feel truly awake. His mind felt clearer, sharper—focused on the single scrap of parchment he'd left on the windowsill.
The ticket.
He picked it up, reading the inscription again.
This ticket grants entry to the Ork Tower. No Yang or loot will be awarded. All EXP gains are increased by 200%.
The weight of it settled in his hand.
I've been given this chance… I have to use it.
He let out a slow breath, heart thudding.
Time to see how far I can climb.
He closed his fist around the ticket and felt the world ripple.
Everything dissolved in a shimmer of blue light.
When he blinked again, he was standing in an enormous stone hall. Rows of columns disappeared into the darkness above, and at the center of the chamber, a massive iron gate glowed with cold runes.
Above it, luminous letters hovered in the air:
1st Floor
Objective: Kill 100 Gray Orks.
He felt something tighten in his chest.
100…
Elyno slipped the silver EXP Ring onto his finger. It pulsed faintly, the rune etched in its surface flaring to life.
Then he drew his twin daggers.
The first Gray Ork charged out of the gloom—massive shoulders hunched, small red eyes glinting with mindless hunger.
Elyno stepped forward.
The first kill came easily. So did the second. Ten minutes passed, then twenty. Each kill seemed simpler, his strikes more precise. Every time he paused to breathe, a familiar chime announced another milestone:
Level Up.
The notifications came so fast he almost stopped reading them. He felt the power growing inside him—raw, exhilarating.
An hour and a half later, the last Gray Ork collapsed to the ground. Silence descended over the floor.
Elyno stood motionless, heart thumping.
Level 16.
Sixteen… in just one floor.
He opened his stat panel. Thirty unspent points blinked at him, waiting.
Without hesitation, he poured six points into Agility. The moment he confirmed, he felt something subtle shift in his body—his limbs lighter, his reactions sharper.
Another chime.
Shadow Skill leveled up. Invisibility duration increased to 20 seconds.
He exhaled, a shiver rippling down his spine.
If I keep pushing… I can become something more than prey.
He raised his hand to the panel again and allocated the next twenty points to Intelligence. A new passive skill appeared:
Clarity
Automatically reveals enemy weak points.
Elyno's eyes widened. As if in response, faint silver lines began to shimmer across the walls—paths of least resistance, vulnerabilities no one else could see.
The last six points went into Mana.
Current Stats:
Strength: 6
Agility: 30
Mana: 10
Intelligence: 30
A thrill of anticipation coursed through him.
Next floor.
When he passed through the gate, another inscription blazed overhead:
3rd Floor
Objective: Kill 50 Green Orks.
The Green Orks were larger, their skin mottled and thick as old leather. Their status panels confirmed his suspicion—Level 12.
He realized quickly this fight wouldn't be as effortless.
Each Ork took nearly ten minutes to bring down. Their blows were heavy, shattering stone when they missed him by inches. Even with Clarity revealing their weaknesses, Elyno had to rely on every ounce of speed and precision.
One by one, they fell.
Hours crawled past in a haze of adrenaline and pain.
When the final Green Ork crumpled to the ground, Elyno sagged to one knee, panting.
Level 20.
35 stat points acquired.
Before he could allocate them, a message flickered into his vision.
Message from ???
You should consider investing in Strength. Eventually, speed alone won't be enough.
Elyno stared at the text. He knew it was right. No matter how fast he was, if his strikes couldn't break through armor, he'd be helpless.
Fine.
He selected every point and committed them all to Strength.
Strength: 41
No new abilities manifested—but he felt heavier, solid in a way he hadn't before.
Fourth floor.
He advanced.
4th Floor
Objective: Kill 24 Blue Orks.
These monsters towered over him—Level 25, hulking and brutal.
"Five levels above me…" he murmured.
The first Blue Ork lumbered forward, war axe raised.
Elyno closed his eyes, centered his breath—and slipped into Shadow Veil.
He moved like a phantom. Clarity lit a thin silver thread across the Ork's exposed neck. When his daggers struck, the Ork let out a strangled roar. But even a perfect strike wasn't enough to end it.
Thirty minutes later, it finally fell.
And there were twenty-three more.
Nine hours passed.
By the time the last Blue Ork hit the floor, Elyno's muscles burned so fiercely he thought he might collapse.
Level 28.
Another thirty stat points.
He split them evenly—half to Agility, half to Intelligence.
A notification chimed:
Shadow Skill: 40% progress toward Level 3.
His stomach clenched. It had been nearly thirteen hours since he'd eaten.
He pulled a ration from his inventory, forced himself to swallow.
Half an hour later, when he rose, he felt steadier.
One more floor.
Final Floor – Boss Chamber
His steps slowed as he approached the towering iron doors.
I've struggled this much just to get here… What kind of monster is waiting behind that door?
He checked his stats one last time. Twenty-five unspent points.
Speed alone won't save me. I need power of the mind.
He put every point into Intelligence.
Intelligence: 70
A new skill appeared:
Prison
Manipulates the target's perception, inducing hallucinations and confusion.
Level 1 – Manipulation only.
Elyno swallowed.
I'll have to unlock hallucinations later.
He pushed the doors open.
The chamber was vast—and empty.
A red warning flashed:
Error: Boss Not Found.
Light erupted around him. The tower dissolved in an instant.
When he blinked, he was back in his shelter.
Tengri yelped and bounded toward him, pressing its head against his chest. Elyno let out a shaky laugh and buried his fingers in the wolf's fur.
"You missed me, huh?"
For the first time in days, he felt something like peace.
But it didn't last.
He stood and looked toward the window. In the distance, the arena's torches burned like a crown of blue fire.
Time to see if all this training means anything.
He whispered to Tengri:
"Come on. Let's sign up."
When he reached the arena's gates, he placed his hand on the registry stone.
Tournament Registration Confirmed.
Prize for First Place: 300,000 Yang.
Elyno stepped back, heart hammering.
No matter what happened next, he knew one thing:
He would never be prey again.