Wind brushed across Levi's face, bringing the faint smell of saltwater and dew-soaked grass. Morning light washed over the Floating Island, turning the surface of the sea far below into a sheet of silver. The island looked peaceful. Serene. Almost beautiful.
But to Levi, it felt like a cage.
He stood in the training grounds. A circular arena built of blue stone tiles, cracked from age and weather. Weapons of different kinds rested on wooden racks around the field, untouched and rusted.
Levi swung a sword.
Clang.
Again.
Clang.
Again.
Clang.
Sweat rolled down the side of his face and dropped onto the stone. His arms trembled with exhaustion, yet he continued swinging.
Every slash came not from passion…
…but from desperation.
If I don't grow stronger, I die.
He tightened his grip and swung again. The sword slipped from his hand. It clattered to the floor.
He did not rest.
He did not breathe.
He simply picked up the sword again.
Clang.
Clang.
The metallic scent of blood flashed in his memory.
And Simon's terrified face.
Simon reaching out.
Then turning into particles of light.
Levi squeezed his eyes shut and let out a trembling breath.
"Never again," he murmured.
A voice interrupted him.
"Training since morning again?"
Levi turned.
Freya approached him with footsteps so soft they barely made a sound. Her snow-white hair fluttered lightly in the breeze. She wore training armor, leather guards strapped around her torso and gloves that protected her forearms.
A dagger hung at her thigh, and a bow rested across her back.
Compared to the first day, she looked… different. Less scared. More determined.
Two heroes stood on this island now.
But only one of them knew the truth.
Levi wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. "If we don't get stronger, we die."
Freya crossed her arms. "Ever since we cleared the first floor… all you've done is train."
Levi nodded. "Strength is worth. Weakness is death. If we are useless, that faceless Lord can sacrifice us. Or monsters will kill us on the next floors."
Freya lowered her gaze. Her shoulders trembled.
She looked up and forced a small smile. "You know a lot… you always act like you know more than the system itself."
Levi didn't answer.
He sheathed his sword and walked past her to the weapon racks.
Freya followed him. She rested her hand on her bow. "Since we're stuck here… teach me."
Levi blinked. "You are serious."
Freya nodded without hesitation. "I cannot sit and wait for death. I saw you fight yesterday. I saw how you were able to move even when everyone else froze. If I stay weak… I'll die."
Levi stared at her for a long moment.
She wasn't like the others. She wasn't panicking. She wasn't asking to go home.
She wanted to survive.
"Fine," Levi said. "Grab your bow. And a dagger."
Freya took her stance.
Levi pointed to her feet. "Your stance is wrong."
Freya frowned. "I have used a bow since childhood."
Levi stepped behind her, adjusting her posture, hands lightly guiding her shoulders.
"You shot targets. You hunted animals. That is different from killing things that can kill you back."
Freya shivered. She hadn't thought about it that way.
"Relax your shoulders," Levi murmured. "Do not force the shot. Breathe."
Freya inhaled, exhaled, then released.
Thwip.
The arrow barely hit the far edge of a wooden target.
Her face fell. "I used to be good at this…"
Levi walked past her, retrieving the arrow from the target.
"You're still good," he said. "But you've only practiced when there was no real consequence."
Freya swallowed. "…If I miss now, I die."
Levi handed the arrow back. "Exactly. Shoot again."
Her hands trembled.
Thwip.
Thwip.
Thwip.
Each arrow landed closer to the center.
Levi nodded. "Again."
Freya finally hit the center dead on.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
Levi didn't smile back.
He was already walking to the other side of the arena, tightening the sword strap on his wrist. Freya watched him for a moment, concern flickering in her eyes.
"Levi…" she whispered. "Why do you know so much? Why do you act like you've seen all this before?"
Levi froze.
Because I have.
He slowly turned to her. His voice was calm.
"I just know enough to survive."
Freya opened her mouth to speak—
Levi spoke first.
"Luna. Come out. I know you're listening."
Freya blinked. "Luna? Who are you ta—"
Ripple.
The air twisted — like reality itself was being pulled inwards.
Particles of blue light began to gather, forming a shape. Then a small girl materialized, floating just above the ground.
Short silver hair. Crystal blue eyes. Rabbit-like ears.
Emotionless.
Cold.
Luna.
Freya gasped and stumbled back. She could see Luna, but she could not hear anything.
She saw only silent mouths moving.
Luna crossed her arms. "You dare summon me like that? I could kill you."
Levi didn't even blink.
"You can only kill a hero in self defense. System restriction."
Luna twitched. "Tch. You are annoying."
Freya watched them from a distance — completely unaware of what was being said.
Levi stopped walking.
"Luna. Come out."
Light shimmered in the air, and Luna appeared, floating just above the ground. Freya noticed her from a distance but couldn't hear anything.
Luna crossed her arms, irritated.
"You dare order me?"
Levi didn't flinch.
"You react too fast when the system changes. Before anything happens, you respond. You don't wait for instructions."
"So?"
"Because you don't read system windows… you access the system itself."
Luna's eyes widened for a fraction of a second.
Levi took a slow step toward her.
"Heroes can't see anything. Lords can see the interface. But you? You bypass both."
Luna said nothing.
"You don't view… you execute. That's administrator access."
Silence.
The wind stopped.
Luna finally spoke, voice cold as steel.
"…Yes. I am an Administrator."
Levi pointed at his chest.
"Then explain this. Why can I see the system?"
Luna hesitated.
Her expression, for the first time since Levi met her, showed discomfort.
"You are not supposed to."
"Answer."
"You…" Luna whispered, "…are Half Lord. Half Hero."
Levi stiffened.
Half Lord… Half Hero.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"You have a Hero's soul. But you carry a Lord's Command Authority."
She looked at him with something like fear.
"You are not registered. The system cannot assign you a role. You should not exist."
Levi swallowed hard.
"Send me back to Earth."
Luna shook her head.
"I cannot. I never summoned you."
"You didn't summon me… then who did?"
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"…The presence you saw before blackout. That… thing forced your induction. Even I couldn't stop it."
Levi's blood ran cold.
"That level 9999 bastard."
Luna nodded silently.
"If you clear all 100 floors, you will gain Creation and Destruction Authority.
With both… you can warp dimensions. Open any portal. Return to Earth."
Levi's hands tightened until his knuckles turned white.
"I'll climb the tower."
His voice was steel.
"I'll clear every floor."
His eyes turned sharp.
"And I'll go home."
Suddenly…
A notification appeared in front of Levi.
[10x Daily Summon Available]
The island shook.
A vast magic circle appeared on the ground near the center. Light shot upward in pillars, forming silhouettes.
Freya stepped back in shock.
"What's happening?"
Levi didn't answer.
Luna teleported away from him and appeared near the summoning platform, speaking to the terrified newcomers.
"Welcome, new heroes. You have been chosen."
Ten confused people materialized.
A boy stuttered, "Wha… where are we…?"
A girl collapsed to her knees. "Send me home. Please."
Freya reluctantly walked over to them, her hands tightening around her bow. Luna pointed at her.
"You. Explain it to them."
Freya glanced back at Levi.
He didn't even look at her.
So Freya did as told.
She took a deep breath and addressed the group.
"This is the Tower. Each floor has monsters. If we climb, we grow stronger. If we don't… we die."
The newcomers trembled.
One boy clutched his shirt. "I cannot kill. I have never fought anyone."
Another girl cried, shaking. "I want to go home."
Levi finally stepped forward.
He walked slowly.
Expressionless.
Emotionless.
Dead inside.
"If you want to live," Levi said, voice cold as ice, "climb the tower."
The group stared at him like he was a monster.
"If you refuse, then stay here. You will be the next sacrifice."
A boy in the group snapped. "How can you say that? They are people!"
Levi locked eyes with him.
"I watched someone vanish in front of me because he was weak."
He didn't mention Simon's name.
He didn't have to.
"I don't care who lives. I don't care who dies. I have one goal."
He walked away from them, lifting his sword.
"To clear the tower."
His voice softened.
"To go home."
Freya stared at him, heart trembling.
Levi walked toward the edge of the training field.
In his mind echoed one vow.
I will not die.
I will clear all 100 floors.
And I will return to Earth.