Chương 2: The Ruined Tower
It was a normal day like any other. The chirping birds, usually busy streets, the regular loud vehicles, the annoying noise of people moving all around, doing what needed to be done. Nothing seemed particularly remarkable.
That was until a certain message greeted humanity.
<You have been given a chance to climb the "Ruined Tower">
<Will you accept the test that the "Ruined Tower" has offered to you?>
<Y/N>
It was quite a bizarre message, and yet it caused everyone to start panicking. I mean, who wouldn't be shaken if suddenly a blue panel appears before you and asks about some random "Ruined Tower" business?
Of course, there were people like you and me (literally us, the lovers and degenerates of stories who favor fiction over reality and think they were born in the wrong world). Anyway, they accepted the invitation enthusiastically, hoping that their desires and dreams of a fantasy world would come true.
But not everyone had the same thought. Most of humanity chose to play it safe and refused the invitation.
And that's when the unknown host showed its true colors.
<You have rejected the offer that the "Ruined Tower" offered you>
<…>
<Foolish!>
<Earth will be integrated with the tutorial grounds of "Ruined Tower" in one day. If you decline the Tower's offer, you will no longer be able to gain any power in the Tower. Would you still choose to reject the Tower's offer?>
<Y/N>
<CAUTION: The tower is NOT responsible for the deaths of anyone who has chosen not to accept the invitation>
Around the world, a single thought was shared, "F**k!"
The unknown host was threatening them now. It's like telling them, "You don't want to accept my invitation? No problem. Just don't blame me when you die."
Of course, even then, most people didn't accept the offer. Skepticism runs deep in humanity. Seeing is believing, and most people won't respond until it becomes reality.
But even then, the majority of people just accepted it, going with the flow. The type to go bankrupt, turn to their friend and say, "It is what it is," while going about their day.
Then came another message, as if to give the proof people needed.
<The tutorial will start in one day>
<Anyone who satisfied the conditions can take on the "Ruined Tower's Trial" to climb after the tutorial>
<Time before the start of the tutorial - 23:59:59 's>
<Good luck Humans!>
<23:59:58>
And that was when the chaos started.
***
The Ruined Tower.
No one knows what it was or where it originated from, but one day, it suddenly appeared on Earth, connecting the Earth with the multiverse.
The Tower provided an opportunity for the inhabitants of Earth to climb it, promising attractive rewards and the possibility to get stronger. It was enough for the humans who always pursued immortality to start climbing the tower.
As one climbed through the tower, they got stronger and stronger, but there was a clear limit to the number of people who could get to the higher tower, as the difficulty multiplied every floor.
In such a situation emerged a variable that no one in the tower had expected. A young man from a remote place on Earth!
He entered the tower and climbed through the floors like it was nothing, defeating the rankers, crushing the powerful beings who ruled over the tower for centuries, and raising an army of his own.
Not long after, he had already become the strongest being in the tower, being the only one to step foot on the 99th floor. Right when everyone thought that he would clear the 100th floor, a disaster struck the tower.
'THEY' invaded!!
No one knew the reason for the invasion nor any information about 'their' origin, but one thing was clear. 'They were strong'—strong enough that the rankers of the Tower were massacred by them, and the high-rankers collapsed under their might!
The only being who could put up a fight against them was him, the Demonic Emperor.
He tried his best and killed innumerable beings from the outer Tower, but it wasn't enough! A single shield couldn't protect the whole Tower, and at last, he too fell. But right before his defeat, the Demonic Emperor activated a forbidden spell that should never have been cast.
And as a result, now he sat on a wet bench smiling crazily at the screen in front of him.
"It's a success!"
Shiva, the former—or rather, the future—Demonic Emperor exclaimed. He touched his body all around, checking if it was a dream or he is back in reality!
"To think I was able to return back, hahahaha! I truly am a genius!"
A spell that could turn back time! It was research that took him more than 100 years to complete, but finally, he succeeded!
Although he didn't know what would be the consequences of altering the cycle of time and space, he didn't seem very concerned about it now.
"First, I need to think about this."
Turning towards the blue window in front of him, Shiva grinned.
<You have been chosen to partake in the "Ruined Tower's" tests. Will you accept the test of "Ruined Tower"?>
<Y/N>
Without having a second thought, he accepted the offer.
<You have chosen to willingly take the test to climb the "Ruined Tower">
<In one day, Earth will begin to merge with the Tower and the tutorial for the challengers will start>
<Anyone who satisfied the conditions will be allowed onto the next stage in climbing the Tower>
<Time before the start of the tutorial- 23:59:59 's>
<Good luck, Humans!>
With a wish from the system, a large blue projection appeared in the sky.
<23:59:58>
<23:59:57>
"It is the same as then."
Shiva thought as he calmly walked out of the park and towards his house.
On the way, he could see people, some panicking, some moving their hands in empty air frantically, it was a complete shit show!
Nevertheless, he went on his way.
Centuries have passed after he left Earth and his memories of Earth were very faint. However, he somehow managed to arrive at his house.
He leisurely went inside, opened the refrigerator and took out a beer can.
Pulling back the chair in the hall, he sat while gazing out of his window, chugging down the beer can in a single gulp.
"Shall we start again?"
Shiva smiled, gazing at the massive projection of the timer hovering above in the sky while savoring the beer.
***
Humanity was not as easy going as Shiva when it came to the matter of magic Towers, instead the whole world fell into chaos. Various media outlets were showing the huge number on the sky in broadcasts, each debating with different interpretations of what the countdown could mean.
{Is this the end of humanity?}
{What's this "Tower" that the blue window mentioned?}
{Is this how the dinosaurs went extinct?}
{Various people are saying this is the work of aliens, we'll be back with this story at 11.}
{The President of the US says in a press conference "We are not so… uh… weak to be trifled by some… a… you know, the thing…yeah anyways if worse comes to worst we'll launch a nuke at it.]
{A shocking declaration by Hindus "It's the end of kali yuga, Lord Vishnu will be descending on earth as Kalki"}
{The president of Russia....}
{The King of England....}
The response to the incident was serious. Everyone realized that whatever was coming for them was not something they could deal with. Of course, some fools who thought of themselves as invincible or some random bullshit didn't believe the news or any of the warnings and stubbornly decided to remain ignorant of the situation.
Anyway, that day was probably the busiest day on earth as no one slept that day. Rather than to say no one wanted to sleep, it was more that they couldn't sleep as the timer was nearing, and their nerves were stretched thin.
As such, the day passed in the blink of an eye.
Nothing was said or done by the unknown host in the dark after the initial messages. Only 1 minute was left till the timer reached zero and the world collectively held its breath as the numbers slowly counted down.
<00:00:59>
Some people fainted from either the anticipation or the panic of what was sure to be the indicator of a changing Era.
<00:00:30>
They were at their wit's end. A thin sheet of sweat coated their foreheads.
<00:00:03>
<00:00:02>
<00:00:01>
<00:00:00>
<Time's Up!>
---***---
New Novel Alert
Forsaken by the Gods, I made a contract with the Demon King
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