I Became The Tower Master-Chapter 17 - : Adept

The Eclipse Guild stood at the entrance to the tower, their expressions a mix of determination and anticipation. Alden had brought as many members of the guild as he could, leaving just enough people behind to keep the guild functioning. Hiroshi, Kenji, and a formidable group of climbers were ready to face whatever challenges awaited them.

As they stepped into the tower, the familiar sensation of being pulled through a vortex enveloped them. When the sensation subsided, they found themselves in the safe zone, a serene space bathed in soft golden light. But they weren't alone.

Climbers from the other five guilds Titan Vanguard, Dragon's Ascent, Ironclad Order, Phoenix Rising, and Frostborne Legion were already there, their leaders exchanging tense glances. The atmosphere was thick with rivalry and unspoken tension.

The panda admin appeared, his usual grin plastered across his face. "Welcome back, climbers! I've missed you all so much. I thought you'd abandoned me for another tower!"

Alden rolled his eyes. This guy never changes.

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The panda continued, his tone playful. "But now that you're here, I have a surprise for you. Over the past six months, you've been farming XP by clearing monsters in your world. And now, it's time to collect your rewards!"

A notification appeared before each climber:

[Congratulations! You have received your accumulated XP from your world monster clearing.]

The climbers' levels began to skyrocket. Hiroshi jumped from Level 10 to Level 14, his feathers glowing with newfound power. Kenji went from Level 7 to Level 11, his smirk widening as he felt the surge of energy.

But Alden's jump was the most dramatic. His level shot up from 10 to 19, the sheer amount of XP he had accumulated from his authority.

[Congratulations! Your Level Up Feedback skill in Anchor Worlds Authority (Lvl 1) has granted you 10% of the accumulated XP from Earth Climbers.]

[Condition Met: Clearing all accumulated XP. Level 20 Unlocked.]

Alden's level increased once more, reaching Level 20. He felt a surge of power unlike anything he had experienced before. His control over Impact Vault and Space Manipulation was now leagues ahead, and he could sense the difference in his abilities. The only one that noticed was the panda.

The panda admin's eyes widened comically as he thought, Well, well, well. Looks like we have a VIP in the house! I should roll out the red carpet or something.

The panda admin then addressed the other climbers, his tone brisk. "Alright, you guys know the drill by now. Go clear your quests, come back to get your accumulated XP in the safe zone. No stupid questions allowed. Bye!"

The panda clapped his hands, and the other climbers were teleported to their respective quest floors, leaving Alden alone in the safe zone.

"You're the first to break the 'mortal' limit," the panda said, his tone unusually serious. "Let me explain."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Levels in the tower are divided into tiers," the panda explained, pacing back and forth dramatically. "You see, each tier represents a significant leap in power and ability. Let's break it down, shall we?

"First, we have the Mortal tier, from Level 0 to 19. At this stage, you're still bound by the limitations of your human body, but your skills are growing. You're learning, you're adapting, but you're still, well, mortal.

"Next up is the Adept tier, from Level 20 to 39. You've transcended those pesky mortal limits. Your control over your abilities is refined, and you can take on multiple lower-level climbers with ease. That's where you are now."

The panda paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I'll let you discover the rest on your own. Where's the fun if I reveal all the secrets now?"

Alden absorbed the information, his mind racing. So, I've just entered the Adept tier. That explains the surge in power.

The panda continued, his tone playful again. "But here's the catch—each leap requires you to meet a specific condition. I can't tell you what those conditions are, though. You'll have to figure them out for yourself."

Alden raised an eyebrow. "So what's the condition for the first rank?"

The panda grinned. "You need to reach mastery in control."

Alden thought for a moment. That explains it.

The panda clapped his hands together. "It means you need to have an absolute command over your abilities. Not just using them, but understanding them at a fundamental level. It's about finesse, precision, and perfect execution. Think of it as becoming one with your powers."

The panda's grin widened, but then his expression shifted. He glanced upward, as if sensing something. A notification appeared before the panda.

[Astron, the God of Space and Dimensions, is Gazing Upon You.]

Alden noticed the panda's eyes narrow in fear. Looks like I used my Avatar gaze, Alden thought. Shit, Force of habit.

The panda, visibly shaken, stammered, "Alright, that's enough talking. Goodbye!" He clapped his hands, sending Alden to his trial.

Did I reveal too much? the panda thought, his mind racing with concern. He then realized he had forgotten to mention something important. The panda stammered, "Oh wait, Alden can skip to the 10th floor trial since the earlier ones wouldn't pose a challenge for him. Ugh, whatever," he sighed. "I just want to start my etiquette classes to become the most gentlemanly panda in the universe."

Alden appeared in the fifth floor trial and commented, "Ah, I miss this floor. Brings back good memories." He then used his Avatar Gaze and watched the whole floor, only to see Hiroshi fighting the guardians. This amused him. "Did he get a flashback of Eva or what?"

Alden then checked his status window.