Chapter 145: First Floor (1/2)

In the middle of the wide ring stood a single door. Above it floated the number 1, indicating the level Arthur had reached. Of course, the first floor is where he would start. The tower can only be challenged individually at the beginning. After the first twenty floors, parties can be formed.

This was to ensure that even healers and other non-combat professions possess a certain strength to advance. Those with abilities unrelated to fighting would need to fend for themselves at one point, so it wasn't odd to see a healer that trained in a strengthening art.

Arthur walked toward the door and touched it, asking to be transported to the first floor. If he can clear more floors, he could choose whatever floor he had been to. That was because there were giant floors that were shared among all the participants.

His view changed and he found himself in a giant coliseum. There were metal gates in every direction that had a faint presence behind them. Arthur looked at them with a stoic expression, knowing what was about to come.

”Welcome to the first floor, Challenger.” A voice talked to him from the tower. ”There are ten monsters on the first floor. Each hour, a monster is released. If you defeat five, you can advance to the next floor.”

”What if I defeat all of them?” Arthur asked the tower. After a short pause came an answer.

”Your name will be recorded in the ranking for the first floor.”

Arthur had seen the giant slab on the tower's outer walls. It recorded every floor and the people who best cleared it. Regarding the criteria and the ranking, the tower was responsible for it. It was called the list of glory.

Getting ranked on the list was a testimony of your skill and strength. Even if your ranking was low, it would still be an honor to be listed on the first few floors. The tower also determines things other than strength.

For example, if you were an Astra-rank who challenged the first floor, it would be very unlikely to get on the ranking. After all, the first-floor ranking only lists neo-rankers and below. You can't expect to be recognized by beating low-leveled monsters.

”What determines my ranking once I defeat them all?” Arthur asked just to confirm.

”Time, skill, and strength.”

Arthur nodded at those words. If the limit was to be neo-rank and below, strength was a good way to determine the outstanding ones in a given rank. After all, two neo-rankers with the same mana and stats doesn't mean both of them can wield the same amount of strength.

”Can I use any artifacts?”

”No, all artifacts will be confiscated until you leave the floor. Only artifacts obtained from the tower can be used.”

”Okay, can we begin with the first monster?”

”Very well, may the odds be in your favor.” The tower's voice then vanished as one of the gates rumbled.

Looking beyond the opening gate, Arthur saw two red eyes glaring at him. The light seeped to reveal the monster that was holding a giant club in his hand. It was a grey-skin ogre with dreadlocked hair. It started walking toward the coliseum where Arthur started stretching his body.

”Not being able to use any weapons is a pain, but it guarantees fairness,” Arthur muttered as he studied the monster in front of him. It was taller than Arthur by a wide margin, almost being 2.2 meters tall. However, despite the hideous face and glare, Arthur wasn't intimidated.

”I'm sorry, but you either submit to me or die for my growth.” Arthur's eyes were cold as his mana began to coarse in his body. ”Your fortune dictated the latter.”

As if understanding Arthur's words, the ogre roared and rushed forward. Its muscled body was in front of Arthur in an instant as it swung its club. With a flick of his hand, Arthur used his protection rune deflecting the blow. With another flick, Weaken rune found its target as the ogre's movement slowed.

Arthur didn't think he would need to use his legacy rune against this monster. If this was a monster that neo-rankers would have no difficulty facing, then he had no reasons to worry.

As he expected, the ogre was slow and brute to catch up to Arthur. Without wasting any time, Arthur jumped after dodging the first swing and struck the monster in the side of its head.