I clenched my eyes shut. In my mind, I saw my mother’s face, the moment she left this world, the crushing weight of that moment pressing down on us, and my father’s cold, detached gaze… I felt them all together. Those fleeting emotions, as fast as a single breath, were as heavy as they were sharp and devastating. But I had to control this anger—for my mother. Everything had a time, a way, a pattern… and I would carve that path myself.
I took a deep breath, slowly. I needed to calm myself. I had to focus only on my mother. Her recovery, her health… That was what I needed to prioritize. So, I lifted my head and began walking toward the doctor.
"Doctor, make sure my mother receives the best care possible. Spare no expense in her treatment," I said, keeping my gaze steady.
I saw a flicker of uncertainty in the doctor’s eyes as he furrowed his brows slightly. “Alex, such treatment could be extremely expensive... Correcting mana flow requires special medicines and treatment methods, and these types of medicines… are often incredibly hard to find.”
I felt that angry, dark feeling inside me vanish for a moment. Slowly, I opened my bag and took out the money, placing it in front of the doctor. It was a total of 272 Tower Coins (equivalent to $9,520).
The doctor looked at the money, momentarily stunned, before carefully putting it away. He turned his eyes back to me. “This… is a substantial amount. But I must give you a realistic explanation,” he said, with a serious expression. “Mana deficiency is a very difficult illness to treat, and for that, we need a special medicine. This medicine comes from what we call the Life Tree’s Root, known for curing all ailments. However, saying this is much easier than finding it. So far, only two people have ever managed to obtain it.”
“Don’t worry,” I said, a determined smile appearing on my face. "I’ll bring that medicine. It’s only a matter of time. But until then, please take good care of my mother.”
The doctor nodded, seeming slightly more at ease. “Alright then. We’ll do our best.”
In that moment, I felt like everything was under my control. My anger toward my father had transformed into a tool on my journey to completely heal my mother. But this tool was now a weapon I wielded to save her. First, I would find that medicine, and then I would destroy the man who had reduced my mother to this state…
As I stepped out of the hospital, the sky was covered in a gray shroud. A faint breeze left a cold touch on my face. It felt unjust for the outside world to be so calm while my mother lay inside, confined to her bed. Storms raged within me, yet everyone around me continued with their routines as if nothing had changed. Sometimes, you realize how invisible your pain is to others.
I quickened my steps, trying not to stumble on the uneven cobblestones. My feet carried me toward the workshop automatically, but my mind was elsewhere. My father's face kept revolving in my thoughts. The times I admired him as a child… Then the pale, frail face of my mother lying in her bed. The wound in her heart. That symbol.
“Because of you…” I muttered to myself. My anger, like a fire growing within me, was consuming me. I was certain that all of this was connected to him somehow. Just thinking about the day I would exact my revenge deepened the darkness inside me. But for now, I had to set this anger aside. A greater task lay before me: saving my mother.
I could have called the guild leader, Kurt, and asked for his help, but that would only be a temporary solution. Neither Kurt nor anyone else could just give me enough money to cover the treatment. Seeking help from a healer could cost a significant portion of a guild’s income, and special potions were even more expensive. I had only one option: to enter the tower.
I needed to make an arrangement with someone to take care of my mother and cover her hospital expenses while I was gone, and that someone could only be Kurt. I called the guild and asked them to connect me to him.
Kurt picked up the phone and said, “I didn’t think you’d change your mind so quickly.”
“I’ll accept your offer, but I have one condition.”
“A condition?” he asked, curiosity in his voice.
“I’ll climb the tower, I’ll keep climbing, and I don’t want to be stopped in this. I can produce weapons for the guild while still climbing the tower, right?”
“Hmm, this doesn’t seem like a very profitable deal for me, and it looks like that’s not what you truly want,” Kurt said, his sharp instincts as a guild leader kicking in.
“Yes, I want my mother’s hospital expenses covered, and I want her to receive the best care while I’m in the tower.”
After a few seconds of silence, Kurt spoke again.
“Alright, I accept your offer, but I have some conditions of my own.”
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I swallowed hard, ready to accept anything for my mother.
“It will be hard to keep a hunter registered with our guild who climbs the tower hidden from the media and press. I have high hopes for the weapons you make, and I don’t want others to know about them. So, we’ll make a contract.”
“A contract?”
“Yes, instead of joining our guild, you’ll form a partnership with us. For the next three years, you’ll only produce weapons for our guild, and you won’t sell weapons in bulk to other guilds. You’ll get paid per weapon you make, and we’ll deduct that amount from your mother’s hospital expenses. In a way, you’ll be the one paying for her care. During this period, you can keep climbing the tower as you wish, but you’ll have to check in with me every 5 floors. I’ll be your only connection, and I’ll personally collect the weapons.”
As expected from Kurt, the moment he learned about my mother’s illness, he calculated everything and crafted a deal that seemed beneficial for both of us. Even though my profit seemed small, it was actually a highly advantageous deal for me. My identity would remain hidden, and my only connection would be Kurt. My anonymity would be protected, and my mother would receive the best care. There was no reason to refuse this offer.
“Alright, I accept.”
“Then it’s a deal. Don’t worry about the paperwork. You wouldn’t betray me anyway, right?”
I swallowed hard again. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t betray him. Leaving my mother’s health in Kurt’s hands also meant entrusting her life to him.
“Yes. See you soon,” I said, hanging up the phone.
As I opened the door to my workshop, I could feel the tension inside me. The soft creak of the wooden door reminded me of the weight on my shoulders. I stepped inside, greeted by the familiar scent of metal and coal. The tools hanging on the walls, the piles of materials on the shelves… This was my world. My sanctuary. But today, this place would be more than just a refuge—it would become a war preparation center.
Slowly, I pulled out a chair and sat down. Resting my hand on my forehead, I took a deep breath. A long and dangerous journey lay ahead of me. The Tower… that cursed place. No one knew exactly what went on inside, at least no one who could share their knowledge ever emerged. It was said that those who tried to leak information from the Tower were killed. It was as if the Tower enforced secrecy in exchange for its rewards. And those who defied this pact were sentenced to death.
But why?
The answer to that question didn’t change the task in front of me. The only thing I understood was that surviving in the Tower was next to impossible under normal circumstances. Becoming a hunter inside was akin to suicide. For someone like me to enter the Tower was an even worse prospect. I wasn’t physically strong, nor was I an experienced fighter. But… I trusted my intelligence. I trusted my hands and the things I created. And now, it was time to prove it.
I stood up and turned to the shelves. The materials I had purchased from Rick were still in my bag. I placed the bag on the table and began carefully unpacking its contents. The dark, smooth surface of Kara??ra?, the faintly shimmering texture of G?lgesim… They all gleamed before me. Placing my hands on the edge of the table, I took a deep breath and muttered to myself:
“If I’m going to survive the Tower, I need to do what I do best: create. I must use every skill, every tool I have, and craft the best weapons and equipment possible.”
I pulled out a parchment and picked up a pen. I began planning how to use the materials, which weapons and equipment I would create, and how I would prepare myself for what lay ahead.
Weapons and Equipment to Be Crafted
- Primary Weapons
- Luminous Blade
Materials: Glintsteel, Gloresium
Purpose: - A lightweight and fast melee weapon.
- The glowing surface of Glintsteel provides an advantage in dark areas.
- Gloresium makes the blade both durable and flexible for long-term use.
- Stealth Arrows and Bow
Materials: Blackharash, Silentvine
Purpose: - Designed for silently and effectively hunting enemies from a distance.
- Blackharash enhances the arrows’ lethality.
- Silentvine allows the bow to be used lightly and quickly.
- Secondary Weapons
- Poisoned Dagger
Materials: Venomtail, Blackharash, Silentvine
Purpose: - Designed for silent and lethal close-range attacks.
- Venomtail adds a paralyzing poison effect to the weapon.
- Silentvine ensures the dagger’s swift usability.
- Protective Gear
- Dual-Layered Armor
Materials: Gloresium, Blackharash
Purpose: - Provides high protection while maintaining mobility.
- Gloresium keeps the armor light, avoiding movement restrictions.
- Blackharash ensures resistance to physical impacts.
- Silence Boots
Materials: Gloresium, Silentvine
Purpose: - Allows silent movement.
- The flexible soles made of Gloresium enable quiet steps.
- Silentvine ensures the boots are lightweight and comfortable.
- Tactical Accessories
- Mana-Charged Amulet
Materials: Glintsteel, Silentvine
Purpose: - Regulates mana flow during combat, enabling abilities to last longer.
- Its lightweight nature allows for constant portability.
- Consumable Items
- Poisonous Flask Bomb
Materials: Venomtail, Blackharash Fragments.
Purpose: - Used to neutralize enemy groups.
- The poisonous mist creates both a lethal and deterring effect.
- Mana Potion Bottles
Materials: Silentvine, Gloresium
Purpose: - Portable solution for replenishing mana during battles.
- Lightweight design allows easy transport.
- Multi-Purpose Tools
- Multi-Functional Grapple (Rope and Hook System)
Materials: Blackharash, Gloresium
Purpose: - Ideal for overcoming obstacles, climbing heights, or creating escape routes within the Tower.
- Blackharash provides durability to the hook.
- Gloresium ensures the rope remains light and flexible.
As I wrote down each item, I visualized how I would use each material. I imagined these pieces coming together in my hands, transforming into deadly works of art. Each one would be a step, a chance at survival.
But the Tower… the dark secrets of that place… I needed more information. I couldn’t put my plan into action so simplistically. Every step had to be calculated with precision. There was no room for error. Yet, I knew one thing: I had to prepare first.
“I will survive this. I will heal my mother. And in the end… I will settle the score with my father.”
I placed the pen on the table and took another deep breath. It was time to get to work. I pulled down the necessary tools and materials from the shelves. Before lighting the fire and beginning my task, I paused for a moment beside the table. My workshop was my battlefield. And I was ready for this fight.