CHAPTER 100: CH 100: FIRST STEP IN THE TOWER- PART 1

The system’s voice rang clearly in Fenrir’s mind as he walked through the dense mist that veiled the tower’s lower perimeter.

[System Notification: Warning – Due to entry into Tower Domain, synchronization of past and present records will now commence.]

Fenrir blinked at the message, brow furrowing.

"What does that even mean?"

The system did not elaborate. Since no immediate consequences seemed to be unfolding, he decided to ignore the warning.

After all, cryptic system messages weren’t new to him. If it became important, he figured the system would tell him again—louder, perhaps.

He focused on the translucent path the system projected in front of him.

The route curved gently through cracked stone roads and overgrown trails, leading him deeper into the tower’s first floor.

His destination was the first city within the tower: Beginner’s Paradise.

Despite the name, the place was not a gentle welcome to new explorers.

It had earned the title only because it was the first settlement anyone reached upon entering the tower—nothing more, nothing less.

The path to it was filled with monsters, traps, and mana storms. Anyone who reached the city was considered strong enough to deserve their place inside.

That was how it had always been.

Or so Fenrir had believed.

He paused for a moment as he brought up his system map.

Since the system had merged with the tower’s internal structure, the map had expanded, offering a much clearer and detailed overview of the floor’s layout.

A blinking marker pointed toward Beginner’s Paradise, but something else caught his eye—another city.

Hidden in the far corner of the map, almost faded out, was an unmarked zone that clearly had the structure and signature of a city.

"Huh. Was that always there?"

Fenrir murmured.

It wasn’t.

Still, he decided not to pursue it just yet.

First, he needed supplies, information, and a better idea of how much the tower had changed during his absence.

Beginner’s Paradise would be the place to start. Afterward, he would investigate the hidden city.

Tugging his hood tighter and adjusting the black mask over his lower face, Fenrir approached the towering walls of the city.

The gates were open, but his path was blocked by two uniformed guards. Both wore light armor with the insignia of a sword and scales on their chest plates.

"Stop right there. Entry permit and identification."

One of them said.

Fenrir tilted his head slightly.

"Since when do I need an ID to enter?"

The guards exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"Where’ve you been, living under a rock? Of course you need a permit. Everyone does."

The second guard sneered.

"New laws. The tower belongs to the Supreme now. No more chaos, no more wandering trash entering and exiting as they please.""

The first added smugly.

Fenrir crossed his arms.

"Last time I was here, there were no such rules."

The second guard narrowed his eyes.

"Then you clearly haven’t been here in a while. Things have changed. No ID, no entry."

Fenrir stared at them silently. His system didn’t report them as strong. Just ordinary guards, inflated with pride over new authority.

He considered turning around and finding another way in. But that would waste time.

He sighed.

"Alright. Guess I’ll do it the old way."

Before either of the guards could react, Fenrir’s hand moved in a blur.

A quick chop to the neck dropped the first, and a low kick swept the legs out from the second. He caught him mid-fall and slammed him gently into the wall, knocking him out cold without killing either of them.

He dusted his gloves off.

"Could’ve just let me pass."

Fenrir stepped over the unconscious bodies and entered through the gates.

That was when the alarm went off.

A sharp, piercing sound erupted from the gateposts, a red light flashing from crystals embedded into the stonework. Inside the city, bells began to ring.

[System Notification: Alert triggered. Security response en route.]

"Of course."

Fenrir muttered. He turned his attention inward, calling up the system map again. It showed multiple red dots converging on his location from different sections of the city.

The tower may have changed its exterior, but some things remained the same. Order always tried to replace chaos. And chaos always found its way back.

Fenrir sighed again, the sound muffled behind his mask.

______

Fenrir narrowed his eyes as the red dots on his system map moved closer. The sound of heavy boots echoed through the city’s outer streets, closing in fast.

The guards weren’t playing around. This wasn’t a warning—they were out to capture or kill him.

"Fine."

He muttered, drawing the sword he had forged just days ago. The polished black blade gleamed under the tower’s shifting light, humming softly with energy.

The first group of guards rounded the corner, three in total, each wearing the same emblem and regulation armor. They barely hesitated before launching themselves at him with practiced coordination.

The first came from the left with a short spear, aiming for Fenrir’s side.

Fenrir twisted his body and parried the thrust, knocking the weapon aside before stepping in and slamming his elbow into the guard’s chest. The man grunted and collapsed.

The second swung a two-handed axe. Fenrir ducked low, pivoted, and slashed upward in a smooth arc. Sparks flew as the blade collided with the metal of the axe, forcing the attacker back.

The third came from behind with a longsword.

Fenrir spun, blocking it at the last second, and countered with a swift kick to the man’s shin, dropping him to one knee. A strike to the back of the helmet finished the job.

Three down.

But more were coming. He could already hear their footsteps and shouting behind him. This wouldn’t end. The entire city’s guard was likely on high alert now.

"Tch. This is going to get real annoying if I keep going like this."

Fenrir clicked his tongue.

He glanced at the street ahead. Too open. Too exposed. Fighting head-on might be satisfying, but it wasn’t practical. There were too many.

He’d be stuck fending off wave after wave, draining his stamina and risking injury for no reason.

So instead, he shifted tactics.

Channeling his mana, he reached into one of his lesser-used skills

[Master of Earth.]

The moment the power surged through him, the ground beneath his feet responded.

A pulse of energy spread out from his location in a wide circle. Cracks spiderwebbed across the cobblestone street.

Then the earth erupted.

Large chunks of the street burst upward. The terrain warped as the ground beneath the incoming guards’ feet gave way. Some fell into the small craters. Others stumbled and rolled as balance betrayed them.

Using their moment of disorientation, Fenrir darted in and swept through them with practiced precision. He didn’t need to kill—just disable.

Quick strikes to their joints, pressure points, and armor gaps.

The first wave was down.

But the second wave was already approaching.

Fenrir turned to face them as the dust settled around him. His hood fluttered slightly from the wind, and though his mask hid his face, his eyes were gleaming with excitement.

"This is getting annoying."

He said aloud.

But the way his shoulders were loose, and his stance shifted ever so slightly forward—it was clear.

He was enjoying every second of it.