Aleron and his group stood before the entrance to the Sky Tower. Unlike an ordinary door, this one resembled the surface of a flowing waterfall. The clear water emitted a faint glow, like fragments of light, giving the impression that the tower was breathing and alive.
Aleron gazed at the status panel floating before him. His blue eyes scanned every line of information displayed.
[Sky Tower] The Guardian's Blessing of Nature grants fortune to the brave and strong. Conquer the tower and become a hero.
- Entry: [Team], [Solo]
"Miss Ike, can we enter?" Aleron asked calmly, his gaze still fixed on the waterfall-like door.
"Of course, Sir. I can join your team to guide you," Ike replied politely, her soft smile unwavering.
"Good. Then, please proceed, Miss Ike," Aleron said, glancing briefly at her.
"Understood, Sir," Ike responded before touching the status panel in front of the tower. Her slender fingers moved deftly, selecting the [Team] option on the panel.
As Ike chose the TEAM option, an invisible wave emanated from the tower. It felt like an energy ripple that vibrated the air around them. Aleron's group felt a subtle sensation on their skin, as if touched by a gentle breeze. A new panel appeared, displaying a list of names.
"What is this?" Ike thought, holding her breath. Her eyes widened as she read the list. Numbers 5 through 11 were filled with unfamiliar and peculiar names. A sense of wonder rose in her chest. She stole a glance at Aleron and his group.
Above Aleron's head, glowing blue text displayed #USER1. The same could be seen above the heads of his companions.
Suppressing her confusion, Ike maintained a calm expression before nodding slightly. She refocused on the panel in front of her, selecting the six members of Aleron's group as part of the team.
"It's been a long time since I last entered this tower," Aleron murmured. His voice was flat, but there was a hint of nostalgia in it.
As a cultivator who had reached the pinnacle of strength, Aleron knew he could clear up to the 100th floor effortlessly. Yet this time, he entered the tower with a different sense of curiosity—this tower was in the Lein realm, and he wanted to see if it differed significantly from other towers he had entered.
"Do you feel it?" Aleron asked, turning to the elders standing behind him.
One of them, a man with long silver hair, nodded slowly. "Yes, Sir. I feel as though something binds the seven of us," he replied in an awe-filled tone.
Aleron raised his gaze, squinting slightly as if trying to comprehend something invisible. "Yes," he murmured lightly, "this makes me even more curious about how the Players gain their power."
As a cultivator, he understood that their strength came from natural energy refined through specific techniques to enhance abilities. However, the concept of the Players' power remained a mystery to him.
His thoughts wandered to the beings with Bloodlines. These entities possessed innate power flowing through their veins, passed down from generation to generation. Similarly, Faithwardens derived their strength from the faith and prayers of their followers. Yet to this day, Aleron still couldn't fully grasp the origin of the Players' power, often referred to as the "system."
In his memory, Players had something called an interface in front of them. This interface allowed them to see their status, abilities, and guides directly provided by the system. It seemed absurd, but that was the reality faced by the Divine Sky realm.
"Ready?" Ike's sudden question broke Aleron's train of thought.
Aleron shifted his gaze to Ike, who had finished forming the team. He nodded slightly, looking back at the shimmering tower door before taking a deep breath.
Ike selected the option to enter the tower through the panel.
[(Your Team) successfully entered Sky Tower Floor 1]
[Death within the tower is not real]
As they entered, the scenery around them changed drastically. They now stood in the middle of a vast desert stretching as far as the eye could see. Dry winds blew, carrying grains of sand that stung the skin, creating a golden haze fading into the horizon. Aleron could feel the scent of dust and heat lingering in the air.
In the distance, several figures began to appear. The unique mechanics of the Sky Tower meant that each floor formed a new realm and often allowed players to encounter other teams. Initially, such encounters were rare. However, since the Sky Tower had spread across the Divine Sky realm, people from all alliances attempted to enter the tower. Now, seeing others on the first floor was commonplace.
Ike observed their surroundings. There were dozens of teams preparing themselves, with hundreds of novice Players appearing nervous. Most of them were entering the Sky Tower for the first time, and doubt was evident on their faces.
Meanwhile, Aleron and the elders beside him began surveying the first-floor area using divine awareness. In an instant, their perception expanded hundreds of kilometers, encompassing the seemingly endless desert.
"This is immense," Aleron murmured, almost as if speaking to himself. In his awareness, he saw that the desert spanned more than 200,000 square kilometers. Ten distinct locations emitted unique auras, each resembling glowing portals standing out amidst the expanse of sand. He suspected these were the paths to the next floor. Memories of the Sky Towers he had once entered resurfaced in his mind.
"What do you think?" he asked, turning to the elders standing behind him.
"This realm is very similar to a trial realm, Sir," one of the elders replied with a tone of awe, though there was a slight hint of envy on his face. Trial realms were renowned for their difficulty, but unlike the Sky Tower, death in a trial realm was real.
Aleron nodded, agreeing with the observation. Though he appeared calm outwardly, a heavy feeling lingered in his heart. "You're right," he finally said. "Alright, are we ready?"