The morning of Nathan's first official Tower climb arrived cold with a Grey sky.
He stood before the mirror in the apartment's tiny bathroom, adjusting the straps of his combat suit. The black spandex-like material had been reinforced since the Tutorial Realm, minor upgrades paid for with the stipend every new Climber received upon registration. Nothing fancy. Just enough to turn a fatal blow into a survivable one.
The Leyline Ring hummed quietly on his finger. Even after two days, he still wasn't used to the sensation. That constant, gentle current of mana trickling into his reserves like water finding its own level.
'Master.'
Mirko's voice echoed through their mental link. She was in bunny form, perched on the bathroom counter, watching him with those pink eyes that missed nothing.
'You're staring at yourself. Is this a human ritual before battle?'
"Something like that." Nathan adjusted his collar one final time. "Making sure everything's in place."
'Your collar is crooked.'
Nathan glanced down. It wasn't. "You're a terrible liar."
'I am an excellent liar. You are simply too perceptive, Master!' She hopped off the counter and landed silently on the floor. 'Also, you are stalling.'
Nathan exhaled. She wasn't wrong.
The Tower of Beginnings wasn't the Tutorial Realm. There were no safety nets, no automatic extractions if things went wrong. There were only the extraction crystals... small, palm-sized stones issued to every Climber at registration... and the cold reality that if you didn't crush one in time, the Tower would keep your body and your mana and add them to its own.
"The sword came yesterday..." he said, changing the subject.
He walked to the main room and lifted a cloth-wrapped bundle from the table. Inside was a simple steel longsword... nothing magical, nothing ranked. Just solid craftsmanship from a mid-tier smith.
'You bought me a sword.' Mirko's mental voice had gone strangely quiet.
"You're a Knight. Knights need swords."
'Master.' She paused. 'That is sooo thoughtful.'
"I have my moments." He set the sword down and began wrapping it in a travel sling. "You won't use it immediately. Not unless something goes very wrong. But when the time comes, I want you properly armed."
'When the time comes...' Mirko repeated. 'Not if.'
Nathan smiled faintly. "Not if."
---
The Tower Climbing Association's teleportation hub occupied the eastern wing of the main headquarters. Nathan had been here once before but the hub felt different from the rest of the building. Quieter. More serious.
No guild recruiters prowled these halls. No spectators lined the walls. Just Climbers, their summons, and the quiet, professional grey atmosphere of people preparing to risk their lives.
Nathan approached the registration desk, where a young woman with tired eyes and a D-Rank Owl summon perched on her shoulder processed his credentials.
"Nathan Cross. First official climb. Tower of Beginnings." She glanced up at him, then back at her screen. "You're registered as a solo Climber. Confirm?"
"Confirmed."
"Extraction crystal?"
Nathan held up the small grey stone he had been issued. It was cool to the touch, and a faint pulsing light at its center marked it as active.
"Crush it if you need emergency extraction. It'll pull you out regardless of floor or status. One-time use, non-refundable, don't lose it." She handed him a small pouch. "Your starter kit. Five minor healing potions, three mana vials, one ration pack. Standard issue for first-time Climbers."
Nathan accepted the pouch and secured it to his belt.
"Teleportation gate is through those doors. You'll be assigned a random entry point on Floor 1. Clear conditions vary by floor... check your system notifications for specifics." The receptionist paused, then added in a slightly less mechanical tone: "Good luck, Climber Cross."
Nathan nodded and walked toward the doors.
---
The teleportation chamber was circular and high-ceilinged, with runic arrays carved into every surface. Other Climbers stood at intervals around the room... some first-timers like himself, others veterans returning for another run. Nathan spotted a few familiar faces from the graduation ceremony, though none of them met his eyes.
At the far end of the chamber, a weathered man in TCA robes stood beside the main teleportation array. His voice rang across the room with a natural authority.
"Listen up! See how the array blends into the walls? That's because HQ was built around the Tower, not the other way around. We're already inside its outer shell."
"The Tower of Beginnings is the foundation of every Climber's career. Ten floors, escalating difficulty, randomized monster spawns based on party composition. You clear all ten, you prove you've got what it takes to climb higher. You don't..." He shrugged. "...you try again. Or you don't. The Tower doesn't care either way."
A few nervous laughs rippled through the room.
"Extraction crystals are your lifeline. Crush one, and you're out instantly... injured, exhausted, or just plain scared. No shame in using them. The Tower's been here for two hundred years. It'll be here tomorrow. You won't, if you're stupid."
He gestured toward the array.
"Step through when you're ready. The Tower will handle the rest."
Nathan took a breath.
'Master.' Mirko's voice was steady. 'I am ready.'
'I know.'
He stepped into the array and the world dissolved into light.
Floor 1: The Entry Trial