Resurgence: eternal evolution

System Notification:

Speed: 50

Strength: 50

Stamina: 50

HP: 200/200

MP: 50/50

Skill: ???

[customized training starting]

Keal could barely process the notification before his vision went completely dark. His body felt like it was burning, but everything went silent, and he collapsed to the ground.

[conquer the tower]

[penalty] :Death

Keal froze, his breath catching in his throat. "What? Conquer the tower? What the hell is going on?" He tried to process the words, but they made no sense. His mind raced, desperate for answers.

[transporting to first floor]

The first floor of the Tower loomed before Kael like a silent, ominous giant. Kael stood at the entrance, his heart pounding in his chest as he stared at the dark stone doorway that led into the unknown.

"This is it," Kael muttered under his breath, clenching his fists. "The first test. I can't fail."

His first real challenge, the first step toward proving himself. He was a weak hunter, but this was his chance to change that. He had nothing left to lose. His guild, Shadow Dusk, was made up of the weakest hunters in the city. The family needed him—he couldn't fail now.

As he entered the first floor, Kael's senses immediately heightened. The atmosphere felt heavy, thick with the stench of danger. The stone walls rose high on either side, and the floor beneath him was uneven, covered in jagged rocks and debris. The dim light coming from above cast eerie shadows, making the entire area feel suffocating.

Kael's footsteps echoed as he cautiously advanced, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. He hadn't fought much before—his skills were basic at best. He had spent most of his time watching others, learning from the sidelines. But now, it was his turn to take the stage.

Suddenly, the ground trembled beneath his feet. From the shadows, something stirred. Kael froze, his heart skipping a beat. The noise grew louder—scraping, shifting, like something was emerging from the ground itself.

"Stay calm," Kael whispered to himself, trying to steady his breath. "You've trained for this. Focus."

Out of the darkness, a massive, hulking creature lumbered toward him. Its body was a grotesque mix of sinew and muscle, its face twisted into a grotesque snarl. Its eyes glowed a deep crimson, and its fangs dripped with venom. A beast, at least three times Kael's size, towering above him with a growl that shook the air.

"A D-Class monster," Kael thought, his eyes widening in shock. "I wasn't expecting this on the first floor!"

The monster's claws scraped across the stone, making a screeching sound that sent chills down Kael's spine. Its massive arms were thick with muscle, and it clearly had no intention of letting Kael live to see another day. Kael's palms began to sweat. The weight of the moment hit him all at once—this wasn't a training session. This was life or death.

The creature roared and charged at Kael, its massive fists swinging with terrifying force.

"Move!" Kael screamed to himself as he dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the creature's first strike. The air where he had just been standing exploded with the impact, sending rocks and dust flying in all directions.

Kael rolled to his feet, his heart racing. He could feel the heat of the monster's breath on his neck. It was fast—far faster than he had anticipated.

The creature lunged again, claws bared.

"Think, think!" Kael shouted inwardly, his mind racing.

In that split second, his training kicked in. His sword flashed as he swung it in a wide arc, aiming for the monster's exposed flank. The blade met flesh with a sickening thud, cutting deep into the creature's side. The beast howled in pain, but it didn't falter. It only grew angrier.

Kael backed away, his breathing ragged. The first strike had done little more than annoy the monster. "I'm not strong enough," he realized with grim certainty. "I need to finish this quickly. If I don't, I'll die."

The creature lunged again, this time with more fury. Kael tried to dodge, but his foot caught on a rock, sending him tumbling backward. His sword flew from his hand, landing a few feet away. He scrambled to his feet, panic rising in his chest as the monster closed in.

"I can't let it end like this!" Kael thought desperately.

He reached out, grabbing a jagged piece of stone. The sharp edges cut into his palm, but he didn't care. With a roar, he hurled the stone at the creature's face, hoping to distract it long enough to retrieve his sword. The rock struck the monster's eye, causing it to stagger back in pain. It screeched in fury, clutching its face.

Kael seized the opportunity. He dove for his sword, gritting his teeth against the pain in his limbs. The creature wasn't finished, though. It recovered quickly, roaring again as it charged.

Kael's hands were shaking as he grabbed his sword, but he couldn't afford hesitation now. His body screamed in protest, but he forced himself to stand, his sword raised.

With a shout, he charged, meeting the beast head-on. The monster swung its claws at him, and Kael barely managed to block the strike with his sword, but the force knocked him back. He stumbled, but he quickly regained his footing, keeping his eyes locked on the creature's movements.

"I won't die here," Kael thought fiercely. "I can't. Not yet."

The monster lunged again, its claws coming down in a deadly arc. Kael parried the blow with all his strength, but the creature's sheer power sent him skidding across the ground. His vision blurred, and his limbs felt heavy. But he couldn't stop.

Summoning every last ounce of strength, Kael pushed himself to his feet one final time. He could feel the energy in his body fading, his muscles screaming in agony, but he refused to give up.

"For my family," Kael muttered, tightening his grip on the sword. "I have to do this."

In a burst of adrenaline, Kael dashed forward, using every ounce of his remaining strength. The monster, overconfident in its victory, swung its claws down, but Kael was faster. He dodged the attack with a swift roll to the side, then stabbed upward with all his might.

His sword plunged deep into the monster's chest, piercing through its heart. The creature let out a final, blood-curdling roar as it collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Kael staggered back, breathing heavily, his heart racing. He had done it. The first floor, the first fight. And he had won.

"I… I did it." Kael whispered to himself, his hands shaking as he wiped the blood from his face.

He fell to his knees, exhaustion flooding his body. His vision blurred as his sword slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground beside him. The battle had taken everything out of him—his body was battered, bruised, and bloodied, but he was alive.

In the silence that followed, Kael allowed himself a moment of relief. He had made it through his first fight.

[System Notification]:

Congratulations! You have successfully defeated a D-Class Monster.

Rewards:

Weapon Mastery:

Mana: +10

Stat Points: +50 (Choose how to distribute)

Item Obtained: Healing Potion (x1)

The notification flickered before him, and Kael stared in disbelief. It was real. This was not some dream or hallucination. He had leveled up.

"So this is what it feels like…" Kael murmured, his heart still racing. He looked down at his sword, the weapon that had almost been the end of him. But now, after the battle, it felt different. Lighter. Like an extension of his own arm.

He touched the hilt again, his fingers trembling. He had never felt so connected to the blade before. The realization hit him—he wasn't just getting stronger physically. His understanding of the weapon itself had deepened. It was like something had clicked within him during the battle, something he couldn't explain.

Kael took a deep breath, steadying himself. He still had a long way to go, but this was a start.

"Time to see how much stronger I've become."

Kael stared at the changes in his stats, his eyes widening as he took in the increases. His strength had jumped, but even more so, his Weapon Mastery had received a significant boost. He could feel it. He wasn't just the weak, inexperienced hunter he had been moments ago. He was stronger. More skilled. But this was only the beginning.

He had earned 50 Stat Points. Now, he had to decide how to distribute them. His thoughts raced as he considered his options. He could bolster his Strength and Endurance to become tougher, but his Agility and Dexterity were just as important if he wanted to become faster, more precise. After a moment of internal debate, Kael made his decision.

New Stats After Allocation:

Strength: 60

Agility: 60

Endurance: 60

Dexterity: 60

Mana: 60

weapon mastery.

The moment he confirmed his allocation, Kael felt a surge of power. It was subtle but unmistakable—his body felt lighter, more responsive, as though every muscle and joint had become more attuned to his movements. His thoughts were clearer, his senses sharper.

System Notification:

"Weapon Mastery Progression:

Weapon Mastery (Sword): Level 1 → Level 10

Skills Unlocked:

Basic Slash (Improved Damage and Speed)

Parry (Increased Efficiency in Blocking)

Combat Awareness (Improved Reaction Time in Close Combat)

Kael felt a rush of excitement as the system informed him of his progress. Weapon Mastery had unlocked a few new skills, and they immediately felt useful. Basic Slash made his strikes faster and stronger, Parry gave him the ability to block with more precision, and Combat Awareness improved his reaction time in combat.

"I'm really getting stronger." Kael couldn't help but smile to himself. It was a small victory, but it was a victory nonetheless.

System Notification:

"You have completed the First Floor. Proceed to the next floor."

Kael turned toward the shimmering door that had appeared at the far end of the arena. It was time to move on. He had earned his reward, and now he was ready to face whatever the Tower had in store for him next.

But as Kael stepped forward, his mind wandered back to his family. His mother, Yura, who worried so much about him. His sister, Ah-In, who always scolded him for being reckless. They didn't know where he was, what he was doing. But Kael had made up his mind. He would climb the Tower. Not just for himself, but for them. He would become strong enough to protect them, no matter the cost.

"This is just the beginning," Kael muttered under his breath. "For them. For me. I'll keep climbing."

The door opened, and Kael stepped into the unknown, his resolve stronger than ever. With each floor, with each fight, he would grow and adapt.