The Ascent Begins

The scent of charred wood and decaying flesh hangs heavily in the atmosphere of Madoc. The terrifying white dragon nearly obliterated this town. Tragic but not too unexpected.

At times, a dragon like this simply enjoys toying with humans. It has been several centuries since the last documented dragon assault, so it was about time they demonstrated their power to the world once more.

Creatures such as dragons that can transform into any form are extremely rare. Only seven are currently known to exist in the Tower, and of those, two have already surpassed one hundred thousand years of age. They are seen as calamities of nature; thus, when they strike, people don't blame them but instead succumb to despair.

Dragons, particularly the younger ones, have assaulted humans on numerous occasions, frequently targeting Tower climbers. They are responsible for most of the fatalities in certain examinations. Often, there will be no survivors, but the attacks usually focus on the Tower climbers alone. That dragon must've been so bored to leave over half of this town's inhabitants dead and most of the tower climbers.

The surviving Climbers now assembled in the central square, bloodied and shaken, their expressions reflecting shock and exhaustion. Some are even murmuring about the desire to return home.

Deron, the overseer of the exams, stood before them. His complexion was pale, and he was unearthly tall and thin, resembling a tree branch. His eyes were sunken, akin to those of a severely dehydrated individual, and has jet black eyes. Dark circles also lined his eyes, and he was nearly bald, with fingers that were slender and longer than those of most people.

"The sudden arrival of the White Dragon has resulted in changes to the exam," he started.

"The earlier attack will now act as tier two, so we will proceed to tier three." Whispers circulated among the crowd. The exams were intended to evaluate their skills and their bonds. They had prepared for it both mentally and physically. But this?

They have only completed one test, which was unique to each individual. Some found theirs challenging yet essential for their growth, serving to gauge their strength, while others deemed the test pointless and impractical. Many harbor doubts about the exams administered to them.

"Tier three has always been structured to assess your ability to collaborate as a team. Tier two would have allowed you to connect with another, but something unforeseen occurred, and you must adapt. The test will go on but with some adjustments." He took a moment to observe the expressions of the tower climbers. Some appeared anxious, while others looked resolute.

"You will assemble groups of four. So there will be twelve teams of four. The two remaining ascenders who will not be able to join a team will face elimination." The unspoken word 'killed' lingered ominously in the atmosphere.

A surge of anxious whispers rippled through the remaining climbers. They began to look around for partners. Some had already created two-manned teams but still needed to recruit more members.

It was a big problem, though, that they weren't able to bond with each other in the previous test because they were all busy trying to survive the onslaught. Most of the people who gathered here barely knew each other, making finding teammates challenging.

Riju, propped against a crumbling wall, felt his strength ebb away. She was distant, and he had only witnessed her hand move in a slicing gesture just as he experienced the agonizing pain that had nearly claimed his life. He hadn't fully realized it until this moment. His regenerative ability had saved him, but he remained deeply weakened. Every motion was a struggle. He pressed his fingers against his neck where he had been cut, and his hands shook. He knew it was a deep wound. One meant to kill him, and that's why he was astonished that he was still alive, but that might not last long. He had to focus. He was in urgent need of a team.

But is there anyone willing to take him in? Pale as a spectre, frail like a kitten. His throat still throbbed, and his voice was hoarse. The others around him likely regarded him merely as a liability. Is this how it ends for him? He thought to himself. It's not as though he had any motivation to continue living. Yet, upon reflection, he found himself feeling a newfound determination to survive. Given a second opportunity, he embraced it and felt a will to live, but after everything that happened, could he truly live in this world?

He was raised in a protective environment. Enveloped in the warmth of his parents. Shielded from the relentless sun by the large willow tree. Occasionally, he would play with the ducks in the pond while his mother watched him with a grin. He reminisced about those cherished memories when Deron spoke again.

"The town, as you can see, has endured great suffering. However, the testing grounds of Tier Two and Three are interconnected. We cannot forsake this town and establish a new one elsewhere. Thus, Tier Three will be modified as previously discussed. The impact of the white dragon is not only evident in this town but has also influenced the very essence of this test."

"The test is simple. Every team will be paired with a family and must complete the assigned task. Each of these families has experienced the trauma of this devastating attack, just like you. However, unlike all of you, these people lived ordinary lives. At least, some of them." Riju sensed something was amiss in his last remark. A feeling of dread came over him.

"For the next three days, you will follow any instructions given without question. After these three days, I will return, and we will reconvene in this exact location. Well then." Deron turned away, and with a sudden gush of wind, he vanished.

Dust swirled around, causing the other climbers to avert their gaze and cough. The flames had been extinguished, but the dust and smoke still lingered in the air.

"How are we supposed to locate the family we're assigned to? Does the test begin now?" Confusion was evident on the faces of the Climbers. But at that moment, a voice echoed in their minds. "You will know once you have formed a team." It was Deron's voice.

Riju, barely standing up, forced himself to stand straight. He looked over his surroundings. He needed to join a team, so he can't afford to look weak now. Most of them had already formed a team, so his choices were limited. On his left, there were two girls still in need of two more teammates, and on his right, a three-man team had already been formed—two men and a woman.

I would have a better chance of joining the two girls. They seemed timid and afraid, but my instincts told me otherwise. I can't explain it, but they're not exactly what they make themselves appear to be. So, he set his goal with the three people on his right.

He took a deep breath and walked towards them. My life may not mean that much to me now, but I still have to try to live. As respect for my deceased parents, I at least have to try.

When he got closer, he finally drew their attention. All three of them turned to look at him. One was a woman with exceptionally long hair that cascaded down to her knees. She had brown hair tied into a ponytail. She was quite beautiful, and her most striking feature was her red eyes. They complemented her facial structure and pale skin exceptionally well. The other two were men. One had hair that reminded him of a dragon. His eyes were also white, and he carried a sword on his back wrapped in white silk cloth. The man in the middle, on the other hand, had short black hair. He had bangs that obscured half of his eyes. His skin was tanned, and he appeared to be quite muscular. He didn't carry any weapons, so I assumed he must rely on sheer strength in battle. He was very tall, as well.

"Um..." Just as I was about to speak, a man unexpectedly bumped into me, causing me to fall to the ground. My body ached from the fall. I still felt weak from blood loss. I clenched my fist. The pain returned, not in the wound that had healed, but this ache that was afflicting my heart. I felt tears welling up. I took a deep breath. Don't give up, Riju. Think of your parents. What would they say? How would they feel if they saw you like this?

But... I just want to be with them... I shook my head, my eyes clouded with tears.

"Choose me. Choose me instead! I'm more valuable than that kid." I glanced up at the man upon hearing his voice. Ah, he's the one from the inn—the one who was speaking in a low voice behind me. His garments were soaked with blood, and his eyes were bulging. He doesn't appear to be thinking clearly. Honestly, most people here aren't.

"We have no idea what kind of tasks they might give us. The tests are typically random, did you know? They might ask us to rebuild their houses or search for a missing family! I have carpentry skills. I've worked in the past. My father was also a hunter, and he taught me many things. I can contribute more than a half-dead kid!" I hung my head. He's not wrong. The only significant ability I have is my quick healing, which I inherited from my father. He did teach me a bit of swordsmanship as well, but it was mostly just the basics.

"You do seem more capable, but we're not seeking a frightened companion."

"H-huh?" His face was pale, and his lips trembled. My heart raced when that woman looked at me. Her gaze was icy and piercing, yet I felt her presence was warm and inviting. Was it strange to feel that way?

"I think this kid is more useful than you. He doesn't panic like the rest of you foolish people. He also knows whom to avoid." She remarked while fixing her stare on the two girls who had been standing next to me a moment ago. I followed her gaze and noticed the two little girls teaming up with two other men. I sensed nothing wrong with their group, yet I couldn't shake off the weird feeling I had about them.

"H-how can that be? Can't you see how pale and small he is? He's going to faint any minute. He probably couldn't even lift a heavy object." He attempted to argue.

"Enough. Rion has already made a decision. You, out. Scaredy boy." The white-haired man made a shushing gesture at the innman and extended a hand toward me.

This might be the first moment I've felt a spark of joy in my heart since entering this world, or rather since the loss of my parents.

"Are you choosing me?" I asked, pointing at myself. He nodded in response.

"Look at the others left. There's a terrified man who ran off like a madman, leaving his friend to die under the rubble and four others huddled on the ground. Fear has overwhelmed them. They're beyond hope. Clearly, you stand out as better." Oh... I just noticed them. Some are on the floor, curled up and weeping.

"T-that's..." The person in front of me broke down in tears. So, that means the other individual in the inn has passed away. But had they formed a bond like the white-haired guy mentioned? They merely met at the start of the second tier, right?

"My name is Sije." The white-haired man introduced himself. "And that Ice Queen's name is Roan, and that Black emo's name is Zayan." I stared at the other two. Roan seemed irritated. "Stop referring to people like that, Sije. I'll kick you." Roan responded: Zayan did not seem to care and turned around. "You already kicked me earlier. Oh, by the way, you are?" Oh, I forgot to introduce myself.

"I'm sorry, and thank you. My name is Riju." Roan narrowed his eyes at me. It's as if she's measuring me. I was uneasy, but I let it go.

"What a strange greeting, Riju. You don't have to apologize or express gratitude. There's simply no one else."

I know. I thought to myself. That's why I expressed my apologies and gratitude. I doubt I can offer any more help than the others, yet they still chose me. I'm fortunate I won't meet my end here now.

I scanned the surroundings and noticed that most already formed teams. Even some who appeared to be in despair managed to find partners—though out of desperation. The fellow from the inn was now darting around, nearly shouting for someone to team up with him, but it didn't matter to anyone. At least not to those who had already formed teams.

"Congratulations, you are now a member of a team. Arrows that appear on the path will direct you to your designated family. Just follow the arrow to reach them." I blinked in surprise upon hearing a mechanical woman's voice inside my mind.

Could such a thing be real? I've never encountered it nor heard about it from my parents, which leaves me quite astonished. But where's the arrow?

As soon as I pondered this, I spotted a green arrow painted on the ground. There were several arrows, and they seemed to divert to different parts of the town.

"Let's move," Rion said, and we followed.