[Max's POV]
The bluish, swirling portal manifested before me.
I stepped into it — ready to face the challenges of the Tower.
---
[3RD POV]
1st Floor – Entrance Gate of the Slime Dungeon
Many Players were gathered in front of the massive gate, forming parties to raid the dungeon.
Today was especially hectic — new climbers for the month had just arrived to begin their journey up the Tower.
Among them stood Nolan Ro'nark, alongside other boys and girls of the Genesis Program.
Each wore armor and equipment of Rare or Epic Rank.
Only Nolan gleamed in full Legendary Rank gear.
They were discussing strategy when, suddenly—
---
A glowing system panel materialized in mid-air before every player.
---
[Congratulations to Player 'Max The LimitBreaker' for recording a feat worthy to be added to the Myth List of The Tower!]
[He is the first Player in the Tower's history to achieve such a feat even before starting the climb. For such a feat, he is awarded 1000 Myth Points.]
---
For a few seconds, silence.
Nobody dared to breathe — then, chaos erupted.
"Who is this god among men!?" one player shouted.
"Surely, he must be from one of the top ten families… but I've never heard of anyone named Max," another muttered, confusion plastered on his face.
"The Tower said before climbing — doesn't that mean he's starting today with us?" a broad-shouldered player said, resting an unsheathed sword on his shoulder.
"But how can someone earn a thousand Myth Points before even entering!?" yelled another, disbelief dripping from every word.
Nolan's group exchanged glances.
Rogan, one of the prodigies from a branch family, finally asked,
"What are you thinking, Boss?"
Nolan's eyes narrowed, his voice calm but sharp.
"If we exclude the Isaldor and Gigas Families this year, we're the third strongest group. And now, the Tower itself recognizes a newcomer. We need to find out whether he's friend… or foe."
Everyone nodded silently.
"Let's go," Nolan said coldly, turning toward the dungeon entrance.
His team followed in disciplined formation.
---
[Max's POV]
The portal's glow faded.
I emerged near a cluster of Players — new like me — chatting about formations and strategies.
Then, the Tower's announcement echoed through the air.
All heads turned toward the sky.
All but mine.
While they were distracted, I moved — quietly, quickly — toward the dungeon gate.
The system flickered before me.
---
[Dungeon Name: The Slime Brood Marsh]
[Environment: Swamp–Forest Domain]
[Dungeon Type: Exclusive – Slime Habitat]
[Rank: E+]
[Dungeon Boss: Verdant Ooze Tyrant]
[Recommendation: Party of 5+]
---
I took a deep breath.
Chatter about me was already spreading, but I wanted to avoid the clichés of arrogant young masters before they found me.
Raw power? I had plenty.
Control? None.
I knew how to wield a sword — but I'd need Lamina for this. Slimes weren't something I could punch to death.
"It's always the first steps that are the hardest," I murmured, gripping my blade.
And stepped through the gate.
---
The world warped.
My senses blurred — gravity twisted — and then… stillness.
I stood on a floating patch of land surrounded by murky swamp water.
Dim light shimmered through the haze. The air was thick and damp.
All around me, smaller islands dotted the misty marshland.
I drew my swords.
Lamina thrummed in my hand, vibrating with anticipation.
The only sound — soft bubbles bursting on the swamp's surface.
"Well, the boss chamber's at the center," I whispered.
"But I should test myself against some slimes first."
---
As I leapt to the next patch of land—
Something shot at me.
Instinct took over.
My cloak flared, shielding me from the impact.
I landed in a crouch, scanning the fog.
Nothing.
But then — a faint ripple beneath the surface.
---
[Mud Slime]
[Rank: E-]
[Remark: Slow but stealthy in the swamp]
---
I smirked slightly.
'So this is my first encounter. Good thing my cloak's upgraded… but I can't depend on gear forever. I need my own defense. My own creation.'
Mana flowed through me, endless and alive.
I began channeling it — guiding it outward — forming a shimmering barrier over my body.
The process took a minute, but it felt… effortless. Natural.
Not time to think.
Time to act.
Three new projectiles hurtled toward me.
"Obviously, they're in groups. They're slimes," I muttered.
Mud balls struck my mana shield — splattering harmlessly against the invisible barrier.
Not even a drop touched me.
A grin tugged at my lips.
A system notification blinked, but I ignored it.
Lamina hummed in my hand, begging to be unleashed.
Slime cores — that was the key. But I couldn't see them in this murky swamp.
So I waited.
Another volley came — five mud balls.
I didn't dodge.
My eyes tracked every arc, every ripple.
I lunged.
One clean swing — a crunch echoed as my sword sliced through the unseen core.
---
[You have killed a Mud Slime. Loot stored in inventory.]
---
I barely glanced at the notification.
Four swings later — four slimes down.
---
[You have killed a Mud Slime. Loot stored in inventory] ×4
---
The first obstacle was cleared.
I exhaled slowly.
Even beasts I'd hunted before weren't this subtle. Their stealth was clumsy compared to these creatures.
"So this is the Tower, huh…" I muttered.
"Promises, allure — and death for the inattentive."
Lamina hummed softly, almost pleased.
I blinked at the blade.
"Wait. Do you have a gender… or will you someday?"
The hum softened — shy, almost bashful.
I chuckled. "Got it."
Then, another panel appeared before me.
---
[You have taken the first step towards creating your own Mana Art. Would you like to give it a name?]
---
"Oh… so that's what Art means."
I nodded subconsciously, filing the thought away for later.
After clearing the 1st Floor.
The loot window caught my eye — simple, but meaningful.
---
[Energy Crystal ×5; Mud Essence ×5; Myth Coins ×50]
---
I smirked and activated my Innate Ability.
---
[Energy Crystal ×250; Mud Essence ×250; Myth Coins ×2500]
---
Perfect.
I dismissed the system window and walked forward, mana shield gleaming faintly around me.
Goal: Clear the first floor today.
Completion: 100%.
---
[3rd POV]
Floor 600+
A woman with crimson hair sat lazily on a violet throne, her long nails painted the same blood-red hue.
A golden-blood-colored chalice rested in her hand, faint ripples stirring its surface as she took a slow sip.
Her lips curved into a faint smile.
"Max the LimitBreaker, huh…"
Her voice was soft, yet it carried through the hall like a whisper of thunder.
"An anomaly among us. Let's see if you're just luck and promised potential… or true strength and tenacity worthy of climbing the Tower."
---
Floor 800+
Far above, a floating island the size of the moon drifted in silence.
Forests blanketed its surface—ancient, endless, alive.
At the center stood one colossal tree, its branches swaying gently as two enormous, rounded eyes opened upon its trunk.
The island trembled as a voice rumbled through the void.
"Someone powerful has entered the Tower. Let's see if he reaches higher floors with the same bang… or fades into background noise."
---
Across countless floors, powerful beings stirred.
Some ruled.
Some climbed.
But all turned their gaze toward the newcomer who had shaken the Tower—
—on his very first day.