Adam groaned as sunlight hit his face...

It was not natural sunlight, but the harsh, artificial glow of a thousand buzzing street signs.

He sat up, his hands pressing against cold metal ground.

The world around him was a nightmare of gears and steel.

An endless mechanical city stretched in every direction.

Towering skyscrapers made of brass and chrome pierced the sky, their surfaces covered in glowing runes.

Bridges of spinning cogs connected buildings, while below, the streets were filled with movement...

Automatons marching in perfect sync, mechanical beasts prowling the alleys, and drones zipping through the air like metallic insects.

In the distance, factories that should have been dead for centuries still churned out new machines, their assembly lines never stopping.

[Welcome to the sixth floor]

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[6th Floor – The Clockwork Dominion]

[Description]

An endless mechanical city where automatons roam and long-forgotten factories still produce constructs. A remnant of an advanced civilization, it is filled with deadly machinery and malfunctioning war machines.

[Story – The Machines That Never Stopped]

The Clockwork Dominion was once a thriving metropolis built by an ancient race. However, they vanished without a trace, leaving their creations to wander endlessly, fulfilling unknown commands. Hunters who delve too deep often disappear, becoming part of the city's never-ending cycle.

[Common Monsters] :

Clockwork Golems, Mechanical Animals, Rogue Drones, Insect Bots, Artificial Humans

[Boss Monster]

Archon-001, The Last Overseer – The final firewall before accessing the next floor. Archon-001 is not a warrior, but a judge. Its purpose is to test intruders and decide if they are worthy to pass.

[Objective]

Conduct your test with Archon-001 as the witness. To proceed, you must score at least a C-grade in intelligence and knowledge—proving you understand the old civilization's technology."

Adam stood still, his gaze wandering, yet his thoughts were locked inward.

'I see… so that's why I reacted like that. Crying over a teammate's death… that's not like me. I'm not someone who gets attached so quickly.'

He took a quiet breath, almost as if trying to slow the pace of his own mind.

[6th] Knight of Rose – (1%)

The name floated in his vision as Adam's expression grew serious.

The Knight of Rose's sponsorship was still there...

One percent.

It sounded insignificant, but even a single percent of someone's existence could affect a lot of thigns.

That one percent could be the times you laughed without realizing it.

The moments you lent a hand without asking for anything back.

The times you caught yourself caring for someone more than you intended.

It could be as small as the way you shielded a friend in battle, or as deep as the way you felt an emptiness when they were gone.

One percent... enough to change countless decisions and things that could happen in your existence.

'But how?'

Adam's brows knit slightly.

'Didn't I go back in time? Everything should've reset… so why is this still here?'

The thought wrapped around his mind like a stubborn chain.

The more he tried to pull it apart, the tighter it wound.

Just then, a metallic sound could be faintly heard in the distance, snapping his attention away from his thoughts.

The sound was steady, mechanical… almost like gears turning in rhythm.

He turned toward the noise, and in the haze ahead, faint lights began to flicker.

"Hm? Ah? He's over here!"

A cheerful voice rang out.

Miya waved from the driver's seat of the strange machine, her black hair tied back and a bright smile on her face.

She brought the vehicle to a silent stop beside him.

Seeing Adam's quiet expression, Miya assumed he was confused and wanted an explanation about what she was riding.

"This is a transportation bot."

She explained proudly.

"You can find them all over this floor. Just channel a little mana into the console, and it'll take you anywhere. Really useful for getting around without attracting too much attention."

Adam didn't react.

His expression remained cold, detached.

He'd ridden these things before... in his past life.

Miya's smile twitched seeing him not react or even feign interest.

...Damn poker face.

Before she could say more, Raiden stepped out from behind the transport bot, his presence as imposing as ever.

"Enough touring."

He said sternly. The most update n0vels are published on NovᴇlFɪre.ɴet

"We need to prepare. Gather every book and resource on the old technology you can find. Adam needs to pass the trial quickly. Krev Malgor has arrived on the 10th floor. We have to get there before the operation against Celestia starts."

Miya's smile faltered.

Her brows knit together as she glanced back at him.

"Brother, don't be rude. Adam just lost a teammate. At least let him rest for a day."

Raiden faintly glanced at her before looking back towards Adam.

"Everyone loses teammates in the tower. The dread and the pain will pass. But wasted time? That never comes back. Every second we spend grieving is another second our enemies use to get ahead."

Miya's hands tightened on the wheel of the machine.

"Is that really all you see? Numbers, progress, speed?"

Her voice shook, but it wasn't weakness, it was anger.

"Do you even realize what it means to lose someone you fought beside? Someone who trusted you?"

Raiden's jaw tightened. His reply came cold, firm.

"I realize. More than you think. That's exactly why I don't waste time mourning them. If you truly respected the dead, you'd keep moving forward instead of stalling for comfort."

Her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Then maybe you've already forgotten what it means to be human."

The words lingered like frost in the air.

Raiden's gaze hardened, but he said nothing more.

Miya pulled the lever of the bot sharply, the machine hissing and clicking as it turned.

She muttered under her breath, but loud enough for Adam to catch.

"I don't want to start another argument with you."

The transportation bot hissed again before slowly rolling away, her back straight and rigid with frustration.

Adam watched quietly, his face still calm. But in his mind, her words replayed.

Forgotten what it means to be human…