There stood a tower so tall that it touched the heavens. The tower cast a shadow over the land, which seemed to have no end. The tower's yellow bricks had cracks all over, but the aura that the tower radiated engulfed onlookers.
The tower was unlike anything that Dorian had ever seen. He could not see the end of the tower, for it tore through the sky. It was a stair to heaven, but the past of this tower suggests otherwise.
What seemed to fill his vision was not even half of the tower. The tower was used to house dangerous criminals, where the lower-level criminals occupied the lower positions of the tower, while the dangerous Ascenders used to be placed in the upper cells.
It is said that the torture that the tower used to inflict upon the criminals, no man would even ask for their enemies.
This tall tower symbolises the might of the kingdom and mainly-
Justice.
"Please be ready for your next rounds. The next rounds will start in an hour." The young girl's voice resounded through the rune-artefact.
Dorian left his room and made his way towards the hall.
Since the second entrance was going to start in the next hour, there were some important things to be addressed. It was not too difficult to spot the young man who drew attention everywhere he went.
Wallace.
Dorian saw Wallace experiencing microsleeps.
"Can I really trust this guy?" Dorian mumbled.
"Yes, you can", Wallace shouted towards that direction.
'This stupid fucker should really tell me his attribute. We're about to fight some noble dorks.
Dorian walked closer to Wallace and asked him, "What's your attribute?"
Wallace did not hesitate and answered in an instant, "My senses are enhanced."
Dorian was stunned, "That's it?"
"Yes. My senses are enhanced"
"..."
"What? Do you think my attribute is useless?"
"Yes", Dorian answered honestly.
They were going to challenge Harry and Simon, the two noble pair who have teamed against each other. But Dorian can switch places with an object, and Wallace's senses are enhanced. This is a weird combination of abilities.
"What's your attribute then?" Wallace asked.
"I can switch places with objects by snapping my fingers within a distance of 200 meters."
Wallace put his hands on his chin, again like what he did earlier in the first test. As if he were a philosopher, Wallace had a computing look to his eyes.
Wallace squinted his eyes as he said, "Creep"
Dorian seemed to understand what Wallace was implying, but he did not respond to the weird noble prince.
"What are the limitations of your senses?" Dorian asked.
"Well, I can see everything to the perfect detail as far as my eyes' vision can extend. So, if there were a mountain and I were in another region, I would see if you would wave your hand at the peak. I can smell like a hound, and hear like a snow tiger."
'That's actually useful. His attribute is the combination of 5 attributes....wait, what about taste and touch?'
"What about taste and tou-"
"You do not want to know", Wallace replied with a disgusted look on his face.
'It seems he had to experience some horrific things to learn more about his powers'
***
The airship landed in the plaza of the tower.
After a quick briefing and giving introduction to the building, the entrants were allowed to ride the elevator to their respective floors. The tower of loom comprised 10,000 floors.
[Floor no 8009, please make your way]
The translucent paper appeared infront of Dorian and Wallace.
Dorian, along with Wallace, followed others who had stepped into the pulley elevator. The wheels and gears shifted here and there, producing loud clanking noises. The pulley travelled at immense speed while Dorian and Wallace were left completely unaffected.
The elevator-like pulley opened into a slit entrance to the tower. Wallace and Dorian entered through the slit entrance. The floor revealed itself to the duo.
The floor was large there were torches along the circumference of the tower. The slit like entrance led to a long pathway towards the inner area of the circle.
Probably due to the old history of the tower, the floor looked entirely like a cell. There were chains and handcuffs placed here and there. There were blood smears over the ground and the walls. Old wooden furniture, which seemed like a chair and a table, was placed towards the end of the floor.
Dorian and Wallace soon saw some people approaching from the other side. Their steps were reverberating on the confined floor.
Even though their shadowy figures could be seen, Wallace recognised the other two people.
Simon and Harry.
Their shadowy figures were soon revealed to Wallace and Dorian. The smirk that they carried irritated Dorian.
"It seems that the royal highness will get eliminated today, ehheheheheheh"
The fat nobel, Harry shouted.
"The royal highness has an errand boy to his side; whatever the challenge, you will be eliminated. If we eliminate you here today, our family will be in the spotlight for defeating you, Wallace. It seems little 'prince' will go crying to his mommy today"
This time, it was the tall and lanky nobel, Simon.
'They're like this since they were kids, always teasing other kids of their age. I know how they are, but Dorian...." Wallace thought to himself and turned around to see Dorian.
Dorian had a smirk on his face; it seemed like he had finally found something amusing.
'There really are idiots in this world,' Dorian thought.
[It seems everybody is well acquainted with their floors. For this next stage, it will a 2v2 challenge with each other. There will be 3 challenges, and the best of three will win and continue onto the next stage.
The fat Harry pointed at Dorian, "Hey, errand boy, don't look too sad. We'll win the first and second, so you'll go home fast."
'This guy's really good at provoking me'
[For your next challenge...]
A hole opens from the ceiling, and a box opens out.
Dorian looked at the transparent box several which he had to turn his head directly upwards, it was several meters off the ground.
[There will be a box with a key]
The box had a golden key inside the transparent pane of glass.
[The first person to get the key and open the door wins]
A door opened towards the side of the circular floor.
The door had a key slot.
[Please note that if you touch the key, you're eliminated.]
'Open the door without touching the key..WHAT?'