Tower of Infinity

Chapter 2 — The First Floor

The moment Kael stepped through the enormous doorway, the world behind him disappeared.

There was no stone chamber.

No staircase.

No entrance.

Only an endless landscape beneath a strange blue sky.

Kael stood completely still.

Wind swept across the vast plains, carrying the scent of grass and something else.

Something metallic.

Something burning.

He looked behind him.

Nothing.

The doorway had vanished.

"Of course."

Kael sighed.

"Why would there be an easy way back?"

He turned toward the landscape.

Mountains floated several kilometers away, suspended in the sky as if gravity had forgotten about them.

Waterfalls poured from their edges and disappeared into the clouds below.

Huge stone structures floated among them.

Some looked like castles.

Others looked like temples.

One appeared to be an enormous statue of a warrior holding a sword toward the heavens.

Kael couldn't take his eyes away.

"This place..."

His system appeared.

---

[TOWER OF INFINITY]

Current Floor: 1

Floor Type: Verdant Realm

Recommended Level: 5

Primary Objective: Reach the Ascension Gate

Secondary Objectives: Unknown

Estimated Survival Rate: 12.4%

---

Kael blinked.

"Survival rate?"

He stared at the number.

"That's supposed to make me feel better?"

The window disappeared.

Kael looked down at his sword.

The Infinity Edge was still black, with a thin blue glow running along its blade.

He checked his status.

---

[STATUS]

Name: Kael Ardyn

Level: 4

Class: None

Strength: 11

Agility: 13

Vitality: 10

Intelligence: 12

Mana: 7

Luck: ???

Skills:

- Infinity Sense

Weapon: Infinity Edge

---

Kael frowned.

His stats had increased significantly.

But there was something strange.

His class was still listed as None.

"Every adventurer gets a class."

Warriors.

Mages.

Archers.

Assassins.

Summoners.

Even ordinary villagers could sometimes awaken basic classes.

But Kael had never received one.

He had always assumed it was because he lacked talent.

Now, however, he wasn't so sure.

He looked at the Infinity Edge.

"Maybe you're the reason."

The sword gave no response.

Kael continued walking.

---

The Forest of the First Floor

The plains eventually became a forest.

The trees were enormous.

Their trunks were wider than houses, and their leaves glowed faintly blue.

Strange insects flew between the branches.

Kael activated Infinity Sense.

His vision changed.

Thin lines of energy appeared throughout the forest.

Some were bright.

Others were almost invisible.

Kael immediately stopped.

"Trap."

A thin red line crossed the path ahead.

He crouched.

Using the tip of his sword, he touched the ground.

Click.

A hidden mechanism activated.

A spear shot from a nearby tree.

WHOOSH!

It passed directly over his head.

Kael stared at it.

"Okay."

He slowly stood.

"Infinity Sense might actually be useful."

He continued forward.

This time, he watched every step.

The deeper he went, the stranger the forest became.

He saw plants that moved when he passed.

Flowers with eyes.

Trees covered in glowing symbols.

A small stream flowing upward.

Then he heard something.

A voice.

"Help..."

Kael stopped.

He looked around.

"Hello?"

Silence.

Then again.

"Please..."

The voice came from behind a tree.

Kael approached cautiously.

A young girl was sitting against the trunk.

She looked about seventeen.

She wore a white cloak covered in dirt and scratches.

Her silver hair fell across her face.

One hand was pressed against her side.

Blood stained her clothing.

Kael immediately reached for his sword.

"Are you human?"

The girl looked up.

Her eyes were golden.

"Yes."

Kael relaxed slightly.

"Are you injured?"

"Yes."

"Are you alone?"

The girl hesitated.

"Now."

That answer bothered him.

Kael activated Infinity Sense.

The girl's body glowed.

Her energy was strange.

Not like a normal human.

There was an enormous amount of magical power hidden inside her.

Kael's eyes widened.

"You're not an ordinary adventurer."

The girl's expression changed.

"And you're not an ordinary newcomer."

Kael froze.

"What?"

She looked at his sword.

Her eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?"

"The Tower gave it to me."

The girl's face became pale.

"That is impossible."

"Why?"

She stared at the Infinity Edge.

"Because that sword disappeared a thousand years ago."

Kael looked down.

"What?"

Before she could explain—

ROOOOAAARRR!

The forest shook.

Birds exploded from the trees.

The girl immediately stood.

Her injury seemed forgotten.

"Run."

Kael tightened his grip.

"What is it?"

The ground trembled.

Something enormous was approaching.

Trees snapped.

Branches crashed down.

Then a creature emerged from the forest.

It was at least five meters tall.

Its body resembled a giant bear covered in stone armor.

Two enormous horns curved from its skull.

A glowing rune burned on its chest.

Kael's system appeared.

---

[BOSS DETECTED]

Stonehorn Guardian

Level: 12

Rank: Elite

Strength: Extremely High

Defense: Extremely High

Weakness: Unknown

Warning: Recommended party size — 5

---

Kael stared at the screen.

"Five?"

He looked at the girl.

She looked at him.

"Can you fight?"

She nodded.

"Can you?"

Kael looked at the monster.

"No."

The girl raised an eyebrow.

"But you're holding the Infinity Edge."

"That doesn't mean I know how to use it."

The monster roared.

The ground cracked.

Kael sighed.

"Fine."

He raised his sword.

"Let's improvise."

---

The Stonehorn Guardian charged.

BOOM!

Its first step created a crater.

Kael jumped aside.

The monster's fist slammed into the ground.

CRACK!

Stone exploded everywhere.

Kael rolled across the grass.

"That thing hits way too hard!"

The girl raised her hand.

Golden magic appeared around her fingers.

"Move!"

Kael jumped.

A beam of golden energy shot past him.

BOOOOM!

It struck the monster's shoulder.

The Stonehorn Guardian stumbled.

Kael stared.

"Nice."

The girl looked at him.

"Stop talking and attack!"

"Right!"

Kael rushed forward.

Infinity Sense activated.

The monster's body became transparent.

Kael could see streams of energy flowing through it.

Then—

a small glowing point appeared beneath its left shoulder.

Weakness detected.

Kael smiled.

"There!"

He jumped.

The monster swung its arm.

Kael twisted in midair.

The fist passed inches from his face.

He brought the Infinity Edge down.

SLASH!

The sword struck the glowing point.

The Stonehorn Guardian screamed.

A massive c***k appeared across its armor.

Kael landed.

The monster staggered.

The girl stared at the wound.

"You found its core."

Kael looked at the sword.

"I didn't even know I could do that."

The monster became furious.

Its runes turned red.

The girl shouted.

"Get away!"

Kael looked up.

The monster raised both arms.

A massive wave of energy gathered around it.

Kael's system flashed.

---

[WARNING]

[High-level skill detected.]

[Probability of survival: 8%]

---

"Eight percent?!"

Kael ran.

The Stonehorn Guardian slammed both fists into the ground.

BOOOOOOM!

A shockwave tore through the forest.

Trees were ripped from the ground.

Kael was thrown through the air.

He struck a tree.

Pain exploded through his back.

He fell to the ground.

His vision blurred.

"Kael!"

The girl's voice.

He tried to stand.

His legs refused.

The monster approached.

Step.

Step.

Step.

Kael looked at the Infinity Edge.

His hand trembled.

"I can't..."

The sword began glowing.

A message appeared.

---

[Hidden Ability Detected.]

[Infinity Edge has recognized a compatible combat pattern.]

[Skill available.]

Infinity Break

Description: Concentrates the user's energy into a single attack capable of bypassing defensive barriers.

Warning: Current host compatibility is insufficient.

Potential backlash: Severe.

---

Kael laughed weakly.

"Of course."

He struggled to stand.

"Everything useful wants to kill me."

The monster raised its fist.

The girl screamed.

"Kael!"

He tightened his grip.

"I've survived worse."

He remembered his sister.

Her smile.

Her voice.

The promise he had made before leaving home.

I'll come back.

Kael raised the Infinity Edge.

"Infinity Break!"

The sword exploded with blue light.

For a moment, the entire forest became silent.

Then Kael disappeared.

The monster's fist came down.

BOOM!

The ground shattered.

The girl covered her face.

Dust filled the forest.

Silence.

Then—

a blue line appeared across the Stonehorn Guardian's chest.

The monster stopped.

Its eyes widened.

Crack.

Crack.

CRAAAAACK!

Its stone armor shattered.

The creature collapsed.

THUD!

Kael landed several meters away.

He dropped to one knee.

Blood ran from his nose.

His entire right arm was numb.

But he was alive.

The system appeared.

---

[Elite Monster defeated.]

[Stonehorn Guardian defeated.]

[Massive experience acquired.]

[Level increased.]

[Level 4 → Level 8]

[Skill proficiency increased.]

[Infinity Sense → Level 2]

[Infinity Break → Level 1]

[Hidden achievement unlocked.]

FIRST GUARDIAN SLAYER

Reward: Unknown

---

Kael stared at the messages.

"Level eight..."

He fell backward.

"That hurt."

The silver-haired girl walked toward him.

She looked at the defeated guardian.

Then at Kael.

Then at the sword.

Her expression became serious.

"Who are you?"

Kael looked at her.

"Kael."

"No."

She shook her head.

"I mean..."

She stepped closer.

"Who are you really?"

Kael frowned.

"I'm just an adventurer."

She stared at him for several seconds.

Then she whispered:

"Nobody holding that sword is just an adventurer."

Kael didn't know what to say.

The girl finally extended her hand.

"My name is Lyra."

Kael looked at her hand.

"You're a princess, aren't you?"

Lyra froze.

"How did you know?"

"Your clothes."

Kael pointed at the emblem on her cloak.

"I've seen that crest before."

Lyra slowly lowered her hand.

"You know the Kingdom of Asteria?"

"Everyone does."

Her expression darkened.

"Asteria doesn't exist anymore."

Kael stared at her.

"What?"

Lyra looked toward the distant mountains.

"The Tower took it."

The wind stopped.

Kael felt a chill.

"What does that mean?"

Lyra looked at him.

"My kingdom entered the Tower twelve years ago."

She clenched her fist.

"Everyone who entered disappeared."

Kael's expression changed.

"Then how are you here?"

"I wasn't supposed to be."

She looked at the Infinity Edge.

"I was born inside the Tower."

Kael stared at her.

"What?"

Lyra's eyes became distant.

"The Tower isn't just a dungeon."

She whispered:

"It's a world."

---

Suddenly, Kael's system appeared again.

But this time, the message was different.

The letters were red.

---

[SPECIAL EVENT DETECTED.]

[Two compatible entities have encountered each other.]

[Hidden quest activated.]

THE LOST PRINCESS

Objective: Escort Lyra to the Ascension Gate.

Reward: Unknown.

Failure: Unknown.

---

Kael looked at Lyra.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Lyra raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"My system just gave me a quest."

"To do what?"

Kael sighed.

"Escort you."

Lyra smiled.

"Then I suppose you're stuck with me."

Kael looked toward the distant horizon.

Somewhere beyond the forest was the Ascension Gate.

But between them and that gate were countless monsters, ancient ruins, and mysteries.

He slowly stood.

"Fine."

He adjusted his grip on the Infinity Edge.

"Let's climb."

Far above them, on a floor that no human had reached for centuries, a massive eye opened.

A voice echoed through the darkness.

"The Infinity Edge has awakened."

Another voice answered.

"And the princess has found him."

Silence followed.

Then the first voice laughed.

"Begin the hunt."