"So… I'm considered part of the Tower's first generation?"
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Deeper in the forest, after lighting a modest campfire to get through the night, the three soldiers finished setting up their makeshift camp. Once everything was ready, they turned their full attention to me.
My interrogation was about to begin.
I was tied at both wrists and ankles — nothing too restrictive, but enough to play the part.
Of course, I could've broken free at any moment. These ropes were child's play. But that wasn't my mission here.
I needed to observe. To listen. To understand the players — how they think, how they interact, how they grow. The stronger the players become, the stronger the Tower grows... and with it, so do I.
To craft a more powerful system, I need more than just raw power. I need insight. Innovation. And the best way to find that? Through people.
"Judging by your appearance," Zaine finally spoke, squinting at me through the flickering firelight, "you look like one of the first-generation players."
"First generation?" I asked, feigning ignorance.
They all looked at me with surprise — even suspicion.
Apparently, that term was common knowledge around here. Not recognizing it had already put me on shaky ground.
"First-generation players are the ones who were brought here from the old world," Zaine explained slowly. "They're the original batch — the ones who first awakened to energy."
"The second generation," one of the others added, "are those born in this world. They've never known Earth."
"Ah... I see," I nodded, keeping my tone calm. "Well, since our arrival, my group and I chose to remain isolated. We stayed away from cities and settlements, barely met anyone. So I'm not exactly up to date on your slang or current systems."
One of the soldiers smirked and gave me a condescending look.
"So you're just a caveman then — surviving on raw meat and rainwater."
"Caveman?" I echoed, genuinely unfamiliar with the term in this context.
"It's what we call people like you," he sneered. "Hermits who avoid civilization and just live off the land. No teamwork. No strategy. Just instinct and survival."
Without warning, Zaine stepped forward and leveled his sword at my mouth.
"Tell me, Arthur… what does human flesh taste like?"
Human flesh?
Where the hell did that come from?
Before I could react, the third soldier leaned in and whispered something in Zaine's ear. Zaine hesitated for a moment, then slowly lowered his blade.
"You're not a cannibal," he muttered. "And you don't seem to belong to any known faction…"
He stepped back, visibly unsure.
"Normally, I'd leave someone like you to rot. I'm just a novice — it's not my place to make decisions. So… give me one good reason to spare you. Why should I take you back to camp?"
I needed to prove my worth. People don't help strangers out of kindness anymore — not in a world like this.
"I have something you'll definitely be interested in," I said calmly.
Zaine's gaze sharpened.
"My group died because we triggered a hidden quest deeper in the forest. I don't know exactly what the reward is… but I promise it wasn't ordinary."
The third soldier gave me a strange look. Hidden quests were rare — even elite players would jump at the chance to discover one. They often held incredible rewards: legendary items, rare skills, even evolution paths.
"You'd better not be bluffing," Zaine said, his tone hardening. "If you're lying, no one will save you. Not even your so-called caveman instincts."
"I'm not lying," I said quickly. "I wouldn't risk it."
In truth, I had designed that hidden quest myself. The only uncertainty was whether or not someone had already discovered it.
Zaine turned toward his team.
"When the sun rises, we head back to camp. The leader needs to hear this immediately."
He wasn't about to let a potential breakthrough slip through his fingers. If the story checked out, it would be his golden ticket to recognition and promotion.
But if it didn't… I'd be the first to die.
He had no idea who I really was.
"So… who's your leader?" I asked.
Zaine ignored me, lost in his own ambition.
One of the others turned with a smug grin.
"Our leader is Alfred — also known as the Dark Bear. He was the first to clear the Tower's first floor. The strongest player alive."
I paused, surprised.
The first to clear the first floor…
I had been hoping to meet him eventually, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Now I was genuinely intrigued.
"So what faction do you belong to?" I asked.
"Unlike you cavemen, we chose progress," the soldier said proudly. "We train. We fight. We evolve. Our guild is called the Arm Hearts. We're ranked number one."
"There's also the Howling Rats, and a few minor gangs here and there," the third added. "But none of them can match us."
So that's how things were shaping up — guilds, rival factions, groups forming across the Tower.
The world was growing. The story was expanding.
And I was right in the middle of it.
It felt like watching my own creation come alive, piece by piece.
"Don't drift off in thought, caveman," Zaine said, rising to his feet. "Time to go home."