Chapter 10 The crossroads

Seo Jun-Ho led his group up the wide stone stairway that emerged after defeating the Minotaur Guardian. The stairs spiraled upward inside the tower for what felt like a long time before they reached a new level. The air grew heavier and the glowing crystals in the walls shone brighter as they ascended. When they stepped onto the new floor, a system message appeared before everyone.

[You have reached the Midpoint of Floor 1.] 

[Tutorial Phase ending. True challenges begin.] 

[Choose your path at the Crossroads Chamber ahead.]

The corridor opened into a massive circular chamber with three large gateways. Each gateway had different symbols carved above it. The left one showed a sword and shield, the middle showed a wolf and chains, and the right one showed a flame and knife. As they entered the chamber, the system presented the choices clearly.

[Path of the Warrior – Combat focused trials with high essence rewards.] 

[Path of the Tamer – Beast challenges and taming opportunities.] 

[Path of the Sovereign – Mixed trials with crafting and leadership elements.]

Jun-Ho studied the options carefully. His Beast Sovereign class and Primordial Palate made the decision important. He turned to his group. “We take the Path of the Sovereign. It matches our strengths best.”

They stepped through the right gateway together. The moment they passed through, the entrance sealed behind them and the environment changed. The corridors became wider with large open halls and several side rooms. The monsters here were noticeably stronger than those on the earlier sections.

They had walked only a short distance when the first major encounter began. A group of twelve heavily armored Hobgoblin Elites emerged from the walls, accompanied by two massive Armored Lizards. These creatures moved with purpose and coordinated their attacks far better than anything they had faced before.

Jun-Ho raised his pipe and charged without hesitation. “Kage, take the right flank. Everyone else stay behind me and support!”

The lead Hobgoblin Elite swung a heavy sword at him. Jun-Ho blocked the strike and felt the force travel through his arms. These enemies were much stronger. He countered with a powerful overhead strike that dented the goblin’s helmet and staggered it. Kage leaped onto one of the Armored Lizards and tore into its neck, using his size and strength to great effect.

The battle quickly turned fierce. Two Hobgoblins attacked Jun-Ho at the same time. He dodged one slash and took a shallow cut on his side from the second. The pain only sharpened his focus. He grabbed one goblin by the arm, swung it into the other, then crushed both with rapid strikes. Blood sprayed across the stone floor as he moved through them.

One of the Armored Lizards broke past Kage and charged the survivors. Jun-Ho sprinted across the chamber and tackled the creature before it could reach them. He wrestled it to the ground and drove his pipe through its eye repeatedly until it stopped moving. Kage finished the second lizard while the survivors fought bravely against the remaining Hobgoblins.

The fight was harder and longer than previous battles inside the tower. Jun-Ho sustained several cuts and bruises, but his high vitality and regeneration kept him in the fight. When the last Hobgoblin Elite fell, the group stood breathing heavily among the corpses.

[You have cleared a Sovereign Path Trial.] 

[Essence +980 for Jun-Ho] 

[Essence +420 for each party member]

Jun-Ho quickly harvested the best parts from the lizards and Hobgoblins. The meat looked richer and carried more energy than before. They continued forward and soon reached another large hall. This time a single powerful creature waited for them — a Tower Orc Commander standing over two and a half meters tall with thick plate armor, a massive war hammer, and several elite orc guards.

The Orc Commander roared and slammed its hammer into the ground, sending a shockwave that forced everyone to brace themselves. Jun-Ho moved forward alone to draw its attention while Kage and the group handled the guards.

The commander swung its war hammer in wide, crushing arcs. Jun-Ho used his agility to stay just outside the range of the heavy weapon. Each time the hammer missed, he struck at the orc’s arms and legs, slowly wearing down its defenses. The orc was incredibly tough. One solid hit from the hammer grazed Jun-Ho’s shoulder and nearly dislocated it again. He rolled with the impact and came back fighting harder.

Kage had grown strong enough to take on the elite guards with support from the survivors. The wolf moved with speed and power, tearing through armor and creating openings. Jun-Ho found a pattern in the commander’s attacks. When the orc raised the hammer for a heavy overhead strike, he charged in close and attacked the exposed side repeatedly. His pipe finally broke through the armor after many strikes.

The commander grew furious and entered a rage state, swinging faster and with less control. Jun-Ho stayed calm and exploited the reckless attacks. He dodged a wide swing, slid between the orc’s legs, and struck the back of its knee with everything he had. The joint buckled. As the commander dropped to one knee, Jun-Ho jumped onto its back and wrapped his arm around its thick neck while stabbing repeatedly into the gap at the base of the skull.

The fight ended after several tense minutes. The Orc Commander collapsed heavily onto the stone floor. Jun-Ho stood over the body, covered in sweat and blood, breathing hard but victorious.

[You have defeated the Sovereign Path Guardian – Tower Orc Commander.] 

[Essence +1850] 

[You have received a Rare Class Compatibility Crystal.]

[Path Choice Confirmed. Additional rewards unlocked at Floor 1 completion.]

The group gathered around the fallen orc. Jun-Ho cut out the heart and prime meat sections immediately. The meat gave off a strong energy that made his Primordial Palate react strongly. This would make an excellent meal once they found a safe room.

They continued through the final section of the floor. After two more smaller battles, they reached a large glowing doorway that led to the stairway to the second floor. Before they could proceed, a final system message appeared.

[Floor 1 Completion Available.] 

[You may exit to the outside world and return later, or continue directly to Floor 2.] 

[Warning: Once you leave, the tower will reset some sections for your party.]

Jun-Ho looked at his group. They had grown stronger together and survived serious challenges. Kage stood tall and proud beside him, now a true battlefield companion. The survivors waited for his decision with clear trust.

He thought about their secured market camp outside and the need to properly cook the new high-quality ingredients. Rushing forward without preparation could be dangerous on the second floor.

“We will return to base, rest, cook, and prepare properly,” Jun-Ho announced. “Then we come back stronger for Floor 2.”

The group nodded in agreement. They used the exit portal and returned to the outside world near the tower entrance. The red sky of Seoul greeted them once more. Their market camp still stood secure in the distance.

As they walked back, Jun-Ho felt satisfied with their progress. They had completed the first floor of the tower, gained significant power, and established a clear direction. The real climb waited above, but they now had the foundation needed to face it.

He looked up at the towering black spire one last time before focusing on the path back to camp. The true journey had only just started.