The Dreamer's POV

[2 months: 0 days: 0 minutes]

It was time. A notification invaded my mind, and with my mind's eye, I looked inward, and the message was revealed to me.

[System Notification]

<The Second Floor of the Tower Of Trials is now open. Would you like to begin immediately?>

[Details]

~ The Second Floor is a solo challenge and no companions are allowed.

~ Time within the Floor flows the same as on the Ground Floor.

~ Failure to complete within one month will result in automatic removal from the Floor.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

~ Acceptance will lead to immediate

transportation to the second Floor.

[Option: Accept / Refuse] Explore stories at empire

"Companions?"

'Does that include minions as well?' I thought, and then shook my head. I recalled the previous floor having the same room, but I was able to use my minions freely. By companions, it must mean participants. That made more sense.

'Yes', and as if aware of my mental intent, the system beamed with the accept icon, and I felt a slightly foreign light encapsulate me, and I was whooshed from the room I was in.

The wooden walls were gone, and I was in the middle of large wet trees. I jumped in a turn, to see what was behind me, and as expected, it was nothing but trees.

Moss grew on the trees, and other little plants, and above, especially about the branches were vines tied and interwoven about, like a web of a giant vine spider, if that was a thing.

'I am in some sort of thick jungle?'

Still at loss with my surroundings, my eyes gleamed with interest, this place was most fascinating, it was surreal, it made me realize even more that this place was in the realm of fantasy, where the laws of physics didn't apply, and where imagination is reality.

"It's majestic."

It took me a while to notice the muck that was getting to my shoes, the soil below was awfully soft, wet and black, and worst, it reeked of dead things. A compost of a soil.

I withdrew my foot immediately I noticed and began trodding in the messy tangled path before me.

[2 months: 0 days: 30 minutes]

I had taken about four steps when I noticed a message pop up in my mind, and just as I expected, it was the Floor details, I had been thinking that perhaps this floor wanted us to wing it.

[Trials details]

[Floor 2: Enomi Jungle]

<Scenario>

[You have been transported to a dense magical jungle, one which might ensnare you with its beauty and peculiarity if you get too close. The Enomi Jungle is filled with the most unique of plant life, many of which might seek to consume you. The paths are wobbly, the paths may not be at all, and perhaps you would have to forge your own path.]

<System Requirements to pass>

~Find the hidden city of Enomi

~Defeat Suphas

~Slot in the "key"

Quests associated with Floor

Monkey killer: The Enomi forest is notorious for its' hostile and agile monkeys. Should you dominate them in their turf, you would achieve this quest.

Solar flare: Find the sunburn artifact in the forest

Lord of Flies: Tame a giant gnat and subdue it, presiding over it as its lord.

[End Of Information]

"An interesting number of quests, and what about monkeys?" I knew not to underestimate the system, and I was certain of how accurate it tended to be, but I found it hard to take the threat of monkeys seriously, the monkey killer quest wasn't all that appeasing.

"Yeah, I'm not going to massacre a bunch of monkeys. No map to this place, aye?"

I opened <Shop>, and thought to check across it, if the Emoni jungle map was anywhere, then it certainly would be in there, and I was right, it was.

<Emoni jungle map>

<500 C>

"That's a lot, are you out to steal from us? Tch… this stuff should be free." I spoke, feigning annoyance as if there was anyone around to listen to my troubles.

I let out a sigh, dismissing the message and going on ahead with my journey.

I hit my fists together, feeling all hyped up, darting my black eyes back and forth hoping to get my first victim.

I activated <Immersion> and became one with my surroundings. I could feel the life energy overflowing in those trees, I could hear loud birds screeching and singing, I could hear pain of a prey at the claws of its predator, I could feel the large ants beneath me, in their orderly row and on with their tasks.

Though this place seemed inorderly, cluttered and crowded, it seemed pristine to me, like a place no humans should set foot in as we had the reputation of setting establishments whenever we went, and that meant the destruction of these beautiful things.

As I absently walked ahead, cutting the low vines, ducking and swatting blood-sucking insects, a strange conflicting thought got into my head.

I had just thought of this place as pristine and human as destroyers, and I realized that we participants, especially the most powerful of us, have caused some much destruction, and chaos that it was unprecedented in Mage'Earth.

'I may have helped in building the Lyma capital, but what of the others? They certainly haven't and they just like me kill to level up and progress in power. The system set him in this path. Yes, ever since the beginning, ever since the demons, Lisa and the others, it had been nothing but destruction in my path. This can't be all of it, can it? There's more to this than simply leveling up.'

And though this place was a lot more interesting compared to home Earth, it was chaotic and unstable, and a part of me craved the stability and simplicity back home, the clear and omnipresent rule and order.

I was a freelancer who was mostly bored with my job offers, that I seeked for more, and then never truly got it.

Here, I got more than I wanted, and I was conflicted, tired, and doubtful.

'What more is to come?' I would get that answer soon enough.

I thought of how broke I was, and though I had some many items to help me get around, to the point I would need nothing, I couldn't help but feel naked knowing that I carry a little dime. Not that I had to worry about anyone stealing from me, not that they would dare if they were any smart, but that having coins was a lot more useful than not having.

The chances were low but not dismissible, I could come to need something rather expensive, and it would greatly suck if I had no coins to spare for the item, especially in this tower, where things were very very unpredictable.

I opened my stat information, I needed to be certain of how much I held, save the number in my mind, and go on ahead, with the intention of accruing the much needed coins.

STATUS WINDOW]

- Name: Mikey Rael

- Race: Human

- Level: 65

- Life Force: 50/50 (+50), (+100)= 200

- Energy Level: 90/90 (+100), (+30), (+50)= 270

- Combat Ability: 50/50 (+200), (+60), (+30) (+60)= 400

- Stat Points: 1

- Currency: 10

- Role: <The Dreamer>

- Authority: <Dream/Nightmare>

- Titles: <Visionary>, <The One Who Saw The End>, <Chosen One>, <Survivor>, <Ranker>, <Prey>, <Spendthrift>, <Rock Master>, <Elementalist>, <Wyvern Slayer>, <Dragon Killer>

- Skills (Exclusive): <Dream>, <Nightmare>, <Visualize>

- Skills (Non-Exclusive): <Turbo>, <Immersion>, <Fallen Foe>, <Grand Teleportation>, <Haven>, <Absolute Appraisal>, <Full Resistance (High)>, <Elevate>, <Gravity Press>, <Carnage>, <Elemental Attribute (Basic)>, <Regeneration>, <Viscosity>, <Truthful Glare>,<Danger Sense>, <Grand Flight>, <Draconic Body>, <Dragon Cry>, <Dragon Eyes>, <Language Comprehension>, <Personal Space+ (Custom)>

- Items Equipped: <Advanced Grand Rock>, <Draconic Dagger>, <Grand Enchanted Speedo>, <Grand Energy Recovery Necklace>, <Concealment Cloak>, <Tower Pass (F1)>, <Grand Adventurer's Wear (Black)>, <Grand Enchanted Glove>, <Great Ring Of Life>, <Wyvern Blade>

- Alignment: Lawful Evil

[Additional Information]

You can see the future and past by living it. It is a coveted power worthy of desire, but a scary one to possess.

[End Of Information]

Seeing my stats and items made me feel even more confident.

"I can take on anything." I said and began moving. Yes I could do anything if I just set my mind to it.

The mucky soil below threatened to swallow my shoes multiple times, but I soon adapted to the sinking effect, making my feet lighter and quicker.

I paid the muck no mind until I felt a wetness above my ankle, I was certain that I had stepped quickly and lightly, no black soil should get to my leg, not even from splashing.

I turned to look and I saw the mud coiling around my leg in a pattern, like it had a mind, and I quickly withdrew my leg and sent rock right at it.

My Advanced Grand Rock burst it into tiny pieces and then retracted back to me.

I turned and I met it.

My face contorted to a frown of disgust. In front of me was a figure of me made out of the strange muck. It looked everything like me save for the composition.

'What's this sorcery?'

<Absolute Appraisal>

[Muck guardian minion]

…