Chapter 53
Ethan appeared in the heart of a bustling city.
Around him stretched a vibrant landscape—various races, shops, food stalls, guild recruiters. The air was thick with noise and excitement.
⸻
{You have stepped into the First Realm of the Tower: Solaris.}
{You are in the territory of the Kingdom of Balor.}
{You are currently in: Newbie City.}
{You may remain here as long as you like. To ascend to the 11th Floor, you must awaken your Class and clear the 10th Floor Trial.}
{To awaken your Class, simply will it.}
{The choice is yours, O Allholder.}
⸻
"Hey newbie, first time here? I've got the best guide to Solaris!"
"Join our guild—The MusclesMan! We'll take care of you!"
Voices shouted from every direction. The energy of the city was overwhelming.
Ethan's sudden arrival didn't go unnoticed. His appearance—divine, ethereal—was enough to turn heads instantly. Whispers followed him. People stared, some even drooled, struck dumb by his beauty.
But no one dared approach him.
His presence was simply too unapproachable. Too divine.
Ethan frowned. Attention was the last thing he needed.
Without a word, he turned and slipped into a shadowed alley, away from the crowd. Once alone, he pulled out a sleek artifact from his inventory—an SSS-grade appearance-altering tool.
A flash of light—and he changed.
His silver hair turned to raven black. His unnatural eyes shifted to a calm, verdant green. His features settled into a more human, unremarkable form.
He looked… normal again.
Pulling out his mana communicator, he dialed the one person he trusted most.
The line clicked instantly.
"Young Master Ethan?" Ellie's voice came through, eager and anxious—like she had been waiting for the call.
"Yes, my adorable maid, it's me. I finally made it to the 10th floor. Where are all of you right now?"
"We're in the capital city of the Kingdom of Castria—"
Ethan's heart skipped a beat.
"Wait. Wait, say that again. Which kingdom?"
"…The Kingdom of Castria. Do you… know them?"
"Who's their king?" Ethan asked sharply, tension surging through him.
"King Lucius. Also known as the King of Swords and a devout follower of the Church of the Giver. He's infamous for rejecting all other religions—his loyalty is only to the Giver Church. He has many enemies because of that."
Ethan went still.
They were really here.
On the 10th floor.
In his world.
His heart thudded with excitement.
"I'm in the Kingdom of Balor. How far is that from you?"
"What??" Ellie's voice spiked with alarm. "Master, the Kingdom of Balor is on the complete opposite end of the realm! The only known path is through the Forest of Death. No one's ever survived it. It's said to be the grave, the prison of some ancient being."
Ethan sighed heavily. Of course it wasn't going to be easy. That would've been too convenient.
He clicked his tongue. "Tower… you really don't know how to take it easy, do you?"
"There must be another way," he muttered.
Ellie's voice dropped in tone. "The royal family of Balor could help you. But… relations with Castria are cold. Rumors say war could break out at any moment."
"The King of Balor hesitates. He knows the power of the Sword King and his noble houses."
Ethan resisted the urge to curse. This was turning into a political nightmare.
And then—
⸻
{You have discovered the location of individuals you once saved during a Trial.}
{They are waiting for you.}
{You have received your 10th Floor Trial.}
{Trial: Traverse the Forest of Death. Survive. Reach the Kingdom of Castria.}
{Time Limit: None.}
{Rewards: Based on performance.}
⸻
Ethan's eye twitched.
"Now you're just trying to kill me, huh?"
He shook his head. This was getting ridiculous.
"Ellie… I don't know how long it'll take, but I will make it there. In the meantime, if you can contact King Lucius, do it. Once you do, I'll guide you from there."
"I have to move quickly. Say hi to Mei and Julie for me."
Tiint.
The call ended.
Ethan exhaled. "Alright… first step: gain points. Awaken a bloodline. Get a class. Then I'll face that damn forest."
He mapped it out mentally.
The fastest way to gain karmic points? Help those who truly needed it.
And so—
Ethan moved.
Over the next few days, he roamed through slums, hospitals, and prisons. Offering food. Healing wounds. Donating artifacts. Using his vast resources, skills, and Eyes of Judgment to help those deemed worthy.
He gave with no expectation of return. He simply helped.
⸻
Several days later…
Ethan sat alone in a rented inn room. Space-time barriers surrounded the area—layered, sealed, untraceable.
He had returned to his original form.
"System, how many points did I earn?"
[75 billion.]
"Only that much? After days of effort?" He clicked his tongue. "Tsk. Not worth it."
He leaned back, considering.
"I'll hold off on creating a bloodline for now. Instead… I'll create a new talent. One that will actually help me."
"Ready, System?"
[Yes, Host.]
He inhaled deeply.
This step mattered—it would shape the class he awakened.
He thought about his path. His nature.
He was balance.
He gave, and he took.
But he disliked combat. He preferred the shadows. Pulling strings.
He didn't want to stand at the front. He wanted to command from behind the curtain.
No one really knew him yet. Except for the Tower… and Skadi. But she was bound by oath. King Lucius too.
So why not create an identity?
A second face.
One that could act in secret. The true Giver and Taker. A name that wasn't Ethan Yagami.
And for that, he needed the right talent.
"My current talent lets me take what I need from hostiles. My system lets me give anything. My intent is about balance."
"So this next talent…"
He paused, eyes sharpening.
"…Concealment. Deep, absolute concealment."
"If I'm to move without the gods noticing… I need to be hidden even from them."
"System—create it."
"A talent in concealment strong enough to hide me from divine eyes."
[Understood, Host.]
—End of Chapter 53—