Ascension: Shackles of Eternity

The glowing orb flickered in Jin-Seok's hand, its surface radiating an otherworldly warmth. As he examined it, a faint hum resonated in his ears, as if the orb itself was whispering secrets only it could understand.

His surroundings were quiet, almost eerily so. The transition from the chaos of the jungle to this serene chamber felt unsettling. He half expected another predator to leap from the shadows, but there was nothing. Just silence.

[System Notification: Knowledge Fragment Discovered.]

Description: Contains insight into the Tower's origins. Would you like to access it?

[Yes] / [No]

Jin-Seok hesitated, his thumb hovering over the glowing option. Something about the wording made him uneasy. The "insight" the fragment promised could be invaluable, but he couldn't shake the feeling that every piece of information came at a cost in this place.

"Well, it's not like I can afford to stay in the dark forever," he muttered, selecting [Yes].

The room dimmed as the orb's light intensified, enveloping him in a blinding glow. His vision blurred, and suddenly, he was no longer in the chamber.

The scene before him was ancient and chaotic. The Tower loomed in the background, its spire piercing the heavens. Around it, countless beings—both human and otherworldly—battled ferociously. Swords clashed, spells illuminated the sky, and the ground trembled under the weight of their fury.

At the center of it all stood a figure cloaked in golden light. His presence was overwhelming, his mere existence radiating authority. Jin-Seok felt an inexplicable connection to this figure, though he couldn't explain why.

"The Tower must remain," the figure's voice boomed, echoing through the battlefield. "Its destruction will unchain chaos itself."

"But at what cost?" a defiant voice countered. Jin-Seok turned to see another figure, shrouded in darkness yet equally commanding. "How many more will suffer for your balance?"

The golden figure's response was lost in the cacophony as the vision blurred, fragments of the scene flashing before Jin-Seok's eyes. The creation of the Tower, the wars fought over it, and the countless lives it consumed—all played out like a fragmented story, impossible to piece together fully.

And then, the vision ended.

Jin-Seok stumbled back, gasping for air as the orb's light faded. The chamber returned to its previous stillness, but his mind raced with questions.

"What was that?" he whispered, his hands trembling.

[System Notification: Knowledge Fragment Processed.]

Insight Gained: The Tower was built to maintain balance, but its existence demands great sacrifice.

Warning: Further fragments may challenge your perception of reality.

Jin-Seok let out a bitter laugh. "Challenge my perception of reality? That's putting it lightly."

He pocketed the orb, unsure if it would have any further use, and turned his attention to the room's only exit—a massive stone door engraved with intricate runes.

[System Notification: Door Unlocked. Proceed to Floor 3.]

The door creaked open, revealing a spiraling staircase that disappeared into darkness. Jin-Seok sighed, gripping his sword tightly as he stepped forward.

The ascent was long and grueling, the air growing colder with each step. By the time Jin-Seok reached the top, his legs burned, and his breath came in short gasps.

The next floor was unlike anything he had encountered so far. Instead of a hostile environment or a trial to overcome, he found himself standing in a vast library. Rows upon rows of ancient books lined the towering shelves, their spines covered in dust and cobwebs.

In the center of the room stood a figure—a tall, slender man with piercing gray eyes and an aura of quiet authority. He wore simple robes, but there was an undeniable air of power about him.

"Welcome, challenger," the man said, his voice calm and measured. "I am the Keeper of Knowledge."

Jin-Seok tightened his grip on his sword, his body tensing. "Who are you, and what is this place?"

The Keeper raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. "This is the Archive, a repository of all that the Tower holds dear. And as for me…" He gestured to the shelves around him. "I am but a humble servant, tasked with guarding its secrets."

"Secrets, huh?" Jin-Seok glanced at the books. "What kind of secrets are we talking about?"

The Keeper's smile widened. "The kind that can destroy you, if you're not careful."

[System Notification: Floor 3 - Trial of the Mind.]

Objective: Solve the Keeper's riddles to gain access to forbidden knowledge.

Failure will result in expulsion from the Tower.

"Riddles?" Jin-Seok frowned. "You're kidding, right?"

The Keeper chuckled. "I assure you, I am not." He gestured toward a nearby table, where three scrolls lay unfurled. "Choose one, and we shall begin."

Jin-Seok approached the table cautiously, his eyes scanning the scrolls. Each was marked with a symbol—a flame, a key, and an eye.

"What's the catch?" he asked, glancing at the Keeper.

"The catch," the Keeper replied, "is that only one scroll holds the truth. The others… will lead to your undoing."

Jin-Seok stared at the symbols, his mind racing. The System hadn't offered any hints this time, leaving him to rely on his instincts.

"Fine," he muttered, reaching for the scroll marked with the key. "Let's see what you've got."

Jin-Seok unrolled the scroll marked with the key, his fingers trembling slightly. The parchment was old and weathered, its surface covered in elegant script that shimmered faintly in the dim light. The riddle written upon it read:

I am not alive, but I grow.

I do not have lungs, but I need air.

I do not have a mouth, but I drown when fed with water.

What am I?

Jin-Seok frowned, reading the riddle over several times. It wasn't overly complex, but his mind was still reeling from the visions and the trials before. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to focus.

"Not alive but grows… needs air… drowns in water…" he muttered under his breath.

He glanced up at the Keeper, who watched him silently, his expression unreadable. There was no hint of impatience, only a quiet confidence that Jin-Seok found unnerving.

"Fire," Jin-Seok said finally, his voice steady. "The answer is fire."

The Keeper's lips curved into a faint smile. "Well done, challenger. But we are just getting started."

[System Notification: First Riddle Solved.

Reward: +1 Intelligence.**

The scroll vanished in a flash of light, and the Keeper gestured toward the remaining two. "Choose again."

Jin-Seok hesitated, his gaze flickering between the scrolls marked with the flame and the eye. The first riddle had been manageable, but he had no illusions that the rest would be as straightforward.

"This one," he said, picking the scroll marked with the eye.

As he unrolled it, the elegant script formed into a new riddle:

I speak without a mouth and hear without ears.

I have no body, but I come alive with wind.

What am I?

Jin-Seok's brow furrowed. This one was trickier. He thought back to his training as a child, the lessons he'd barely paid attention to, and the old proverbs his grandfather used to share.

"Speaks without a mouth…" He muttered, tapping the hilt of his sword. "Alive with wind…"

The answer clicked suddenly, and he straightened. "An echo," he said confidently.

The Keeper gave a small nod. "Impressive. Few challengers solve two in a row."

[System Notification: Second Riddle Solved.

Reward: +2 Intelligence, +1 Wisdom.**

The scroll vanished like the first, leaving only the one marked with the flame. Jin-Seok reached for it without hesitation, determined to finish the trial. The final riddle unfolded before him:

I can be cracked, made, told, and played.

What am I?

This one was almost laughably simple. "A joke," Jin-Seok said immediately.

The Keeper raised an eyebrow, his expression briefly betraying surprise. "Correct."

[System Notification: Final Riddle Solved.

Trial of the Mind Complete.

Rewards: Knowledge Fragment, +1 Intelligence, +3 Skill Points.**

A low hum filled the room as the remaining scroll vanished, and the Keeper stepped aside. Behind him, a hidden passage revealed itself, lined with glowing blue light.

"You've done well," the Keeper said, his tone approving. "Few pass the Trial of the Mind on their first attempt. You've earned the right to continue."

Jin-Seok glanced toward the passage, his pulse quickening. "What's down there?"

"Knowledge," the Keeper replied simply. "And power, if you can handle it."

Without another word, Jin-Seok stepped into the passage, his footsteps echoing softly. The blue light pulsed rhythmically, leading him deeper into the unknown.

At the end of the passage, he found another chamber, smaller than the library but no less impressive. In the center stood a pedestal, and atop it rested a glowing crystal sphere.

Jin-Seok approached cautiously, his instincts screaming that this was no ordinary object.

[System Notification: Knowledge Fragment Acquired.]

Would you like to access it?

[Yes] / [No]

This time, Jin-Seok hesitated longer than before. The last fragment had shown him something unsettling, something he couldn't fully understand. But he couldn't afford to remain ignorant.

He selected [Yes], and the world around him shifted once more.

The vision that followed was clearer than the first. He saw the Tower's creation in vivid detail—an act not of mercy, but of desperation. The golden figure from before, the Celestial God of Order, was the one who forged it.

But he wasn't alone.

A council of otherworldly beings surrounded him, their faces obscured but their voices clear. They argued fiercely, their words filled with anger and fear.

"The balance is failing," one of them said. "If we do nothing, the realms will collapse."

"The Tower will hold it together," the golden figure replied. "But it will require sacrifice."

"What sacrifice?" another demanded.

The answer sent a chill down Jin-Seok's spine.

"Us."

The vision ended abruptly, leaving Jin-Seok gasping for air. His knees buckled, and he gripped the pedestal for support.

"What… What does this mean?" he whispered.

[System Notification: Insight Updated.]

The Tower's creation required the imprisonment of its creators. The cost of its destruction is unknown.

Jin-Seok clenched his fists, his mind racing. The more he learned, the less he understood. But one thing was becoming clear: the Tower was more than a trial—it was a prison, and he was entangled in its secrets.

As the passageway shifted to reveal the staircase leading to the next floor, Jin-Seok stood tall, his resolve hardening.

"Whatever this is… I'll see it through."

With that, he ascended, the mysteries of the Tower driving him forward.