Chapter 12 The Rule of the Fallen City
Arjun could feel it.
His Predator Awareness skill pulsed faintly in the back of his mind like a quiet alarm. Every few seconds, another ripple appeared in his senses.
Not monsters.
Humans.
Watching.
Arjun walked beside Raghav while Kabir and Meera followed a step behind. None of them spoke for a while as they moved deeper into the ruined district.
The deeper they walked, the more signs of life appeared.
A broken shop window had been turned into a barricade.
A small fire burned inside the remains of an old restaurant.
Weapons made from monster bones leaned against cracked walls.
Players lived here.
Not comfortably.
But they survived.
Kabir leaned closer to Arjun and whispered,
“Okay… I officially don’t like this place.”
Arjun didn’t look at him.
“Why?”
Kabir gestured subtly toward the rooftops.
“Because everyone is staring at us like we’re walking wallets.”
Meera nodded slightly.
“They’re evaluating us.”
Raghav overheard them and chuckled.
“Of course they are.”
He turned around while walking backward.
“This is Floor Three.”
Kabir frowned.
“And?”
Raghav spread his arms toward the ruined city.
“This floor has one very simple rule.”
Kabir sighed.
“Let me guess.”
“Everything wants to kill us?”
Raghav smiled.
“No.”
He pointed toward the surrounding buildings.
“Here, players are the monsters.”
They turned another corner.
The street widened suddenly, opening into what used to be a market square. A large fire burned in the center, surrounded by several players sitting on broken furniture and stone blocks.
The moment Arjun’s group stepped into the square, the conversations stopped.
Every head turned.
Silence fell instantly.
Kabir muttered under his breath,
“…Yep.”
“Definitely monsters.”
One of the players slowly stood up.
He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a deep scar cutting across his left cheek. A curved blade hung loosely in his hand.
“Well,” the man said lazily, stretching his arms.
“Look what Raghav dragged in.”
Raghav raised a hand casually.
“Three newcomers.”
The scarred man’s eyes moved across the group.
First Kabir.
Then Meera.
Finally Arjun.
His gaze stayed there longer.
“Fresh ones,” he said with a slow grin.
Kabir folded his arms.
“…Why does everyone keep saying that like we’re food?”
Several players chuckled.
The scarred man stepped closer.
“Because sometimes you are.”
Meera stepped slightly in front of Arjun.
Her voice remained calm.
“What do you want?”
The man shrugged.
“Relax.”
“We’re just welcoming you.”
But Arjun noticed something.
Two players quietly moved behind them.
Another stood near the alley to their right.
Blocking exits.
Testing reactions.
Predator Awareness pulsed again.
Hostile intent.
Low level.
But increasing.
Raghav sighed.
“Easy, Vikram.”
The scarred man looked at him.
“Oh come on, Raghav.”
He pointed toward Arjun’s group.
“You know the rule.”
Kabir raised an eyebrow.
“…What rule?”
Raghav answered quietly.
“The rule of Floor Three.”
He looked at Arjun.
“The Fallen City belongs to the players.”
Kabir blinked.
“…Not the tower?”
“No.”
Raghav shook his head.
“The tower only provides the floor.”
He gestured toward the surrounding buildings.
“Players control everything else.”
Vikram grinned wider.
“And players make their own rules.”
Kabir sighed.
“Of course they do.”
Meera crossed her arms.
“What do you want from us?”
Vikram held up three fingers.
“Simple.”
“Three players.”
“Three payments.”
Kabir frowned.
“…Payments?”
Vikram nodded.
“Information tax.”
Kabir laughed loudly.
“You’re serious?”
“Very.”
Vikram pointed toward Arjun.
“You defeated the Whispering Forest Commander.”
The square fell silent again.
Kabir slowly turned toward Arjun.
“…Wait.”
“You told them that?”
Raghav shook his head.
“I didn’t.”
Meera frowned.
“Then how do they know?”
Vikram chuckled.
“The tower shares interesting news.”
Arjun felt a chill crawl down his spine.
So the tower really was spreading information about him.
Testing him.
Maybe even guiding enemies toward him.
Vikram continued.
“So here’s the deal.”
“You give us something valuable…”
“Or we take it.”
Kabir scratched his head.
“You mean like… weapons?”
Vikram shook his head slowly.
“Skills.”
Kabir blinked.
“…Skills?”
“Exactly.”
Several players around the fire stood up now.
Weapons ready.
The atmosphere shifted.
Meera lifted her rod slightly.
“That’s not happening.”
Vikram smiled.
“You’re outnumbered.”
Kabir cracked his knuckles.
“Yeah, but you’re stupid.”
The square froze.
Meera closed her eyes briefly.
“…Kabir.”
But Kabir only grinned wider.
“You want our abilities?”
He spread his arms.
“Come take them.”
The players moved instantly.
Three attackers rushed forward.
Kabir reacted first.
The moment the first man swung a blade, Kabir ducked and slammed his elbow into the attacker’s ribs.
The man collapsed with a painful grunt.
Kabir blinked.
“…Oh.”
“I like tower strength.”
Meera moved next.
Her rod struck another attacker’s wrist with precise force.
The weapon dropped.
She kicked the man backward into the fire pit.
Chaos erupted.
Arjun still hadn’t moved.
He simply watched.
Predator Awareness mapped every hostile movement.
Every strike.
Every intention.
Then he stepped forward.
One dodge.
One strike.
One precise kick.
Three players hit the ground within seconds.
The square fell silent again.
Even Vikram looked surprised.
Kabir wiped dust from his hands.
“…Okay.”
“That was easier than monsters.”
Meera glanced around carefully.
“More are coming.”
Arjun nodded.
Because he felt it too.
More players moving through nearby streets.
Drawn by the noise.
Vikram’s expression slowly changed.
The arrogant grin faded.
“You’re not normal beginners.”
Arjun stepped closer.
“No.”
His voice was calm.
“We’re not.”
Vikram tightened his grip on his blade.
Then he laughed.
“Good.”
His eyes darkened.
“Because normal beginners aren’t interesting.”
The surrounding players spread out slowly.
Forming a loose circle.
Kabir whispered,
“…So we’re doing this again?”
Meera raised her weapon.
“Looks like it.”
Arjun looked around the square.
This floor wasn’t about monsters.
It was about players.
And players were far more unpredictable.
Vikram pointed his blade forward.
“Welcome to the Fallen City.”
His smile returned.
“Let’s see how long you survive here.”
Arjun stepped forward calmly.
“We survived the tower.”
His eyes locked onto Vikram.
“I’m not worried about you.”
The battle for control of Floor Three had just begun.
If you're enjoying Karma Tower: The Player Who Returns After Death, keep climbing the tower with Arjun.
Because the next chapter will reveal the real power structure of the Fallen City—and the group that secretly controls the entire floor.
