Absolute Cheater

[Floor 1 Cleared!]

[Reward: 10 Tower Coins]

A screen appeared before him, detailing his rewards. A pouch of shining silver coins materialized in the air. Asher grabbed the pouch, inspecting the contents as another notification flashed before him.

[Tower coins can be used to access the Tower Shop.]

[The Tower Shop becomes available after clearing Level 10.]

"This is just the first floor, Nine more to go" he said, nodding thoughtfully. "Hmm, so this is the reward."

He already knew that the tower didn't directly provide resources as rewards. Instead, it awarded coins that allowed challengers to choose their own items from the shop—a system designed for flexibility and strategic planning. However, access to the shop was locked until after clearing the tenth floor.

As if responding to his thoughts, a new door materialized at the other end of the chamber. It was adorned with intricate carvings and radiated an aura of foreboding, as if daring him to proceed.

Asher smirked, his ruby eyes gleaming with determination. "Bring it on."

Without hesitation, he stepped through the door, ready to face the next challenge.

The moment Asher crossed the threshold, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The new chamber was darker, its walls covered in faintly glowing runes that pulsed rhythmically, as if alive. A sense of unease hung in the air, and the sound of distant growls echoed through the vast space.

[Floor 2: Challenge Initiated!]

Objective: Defeat all enemies.

Reward: 20 Tower Coins.

From the shadows emerged a pack of creatures—beast-like entities with sharp claws and glowing yellow eyes. Their snarls reverberated in the chamber, their hunger evident as they fixated on Asher.

"Beast-type enemies, huh?" Asher muttered, cracking his neck. "This should be fun."

The first creature lunged at him, its claws aimed for his throat. Asher sidestepped with ease, his reflexes honed from countless battles. His crimson eyes tracked the creature's every move as he summoned a blade of arcane energy into his hand.

With a swift motion, he slashed downward, the energy blade cutting cleanly through the beast. It dissolved into shimmering particles, leaving behind a faint glow that faded into the air.

The remaining beasts hesitated, their snarls turning into wary growls. But Asher didn't give them time to regroup.

With a burst of speed, he dashed forward, slicing through one beast after another. His movements were precise and fluid, each strike eliminating an enemy in a single blow. Despite their numbers, the beasts stood no chance against him.

As the last creature fell, the room grew still once more.

[Floor 2 Cleared!]

[Reward: 20 Tower Coins.]

Asher exhaled sharply, a smirk forming on his lips. "Still too easy."

Another door appeared, larger and more ornate than the last. The runes on its surface glowed a brilliant gold, and an inscription shimmered into view:

Face the trials, ascend to the pinnacle.

Without hesitation, Asher approached the door. His anticipation grew with each step. The Infinity Tower's challenges were only beginning, and he was determined to conquer every one of them.

"Let's see what you've got next." He pushed the door open and stepped through, vanishing into the light beyond.

The next chamber was vast, its walls stretching endlessly into a shadowy void. Dim blue flames hovered in the air, casting an eerie glow over the scene. This floor felt different—heavier, more foreboding. The silence was deafening until a thunderous roar shattered it.

[Floor 3: Challenge Initiated!]

Objective: Defeat the Guardian.]

Reward: 50 Tower Coins.

Emerging from the darkness was a hulking figure, a four-armed stone golem with glowing runes etched into its body. It carried two massive blades in its upper hands while the lower ones clenched spiked shields. The ground trembled as it stepped forward, its glowing eyes fixed on Asher.

Asher smirked, his hand gripping the hilt of his longsword. "A proper opponent at last," he muttered. "Let's see how good you are."

The golem charged without hesitation, swinging one of its massive swords. Asher sidestepped, the blade crashing into the ground with enough force to leave a crater. Without missing a beat, the golem followed with a thrust from its second blade.

Asher deflected the attack with a calculated parry, his own blade ringing sharply against the massive weapon. The impact sent vibrations up his arm, but his stance didn't waver. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

"Slow," he said, darting to the side and slashing at the golem's exposed arm. Sparks flew as his blade grazed the stone, leaving a shallow cut.

The golem roared in response, swinging both blades in a horizontal arc. Asher ducked low, feeling the wind from the attack rush over him. Rising swiftly, he stepped into the golem's guard and delivered a precise upward slash.

The strike severed part of the golem's right shoulder. Cracks spread across its stone surface, glowing with a fiery red light.

"Not bad," Asher remarked, taking a step back. He adjusted his grip on his sword, his stance loose but ready.

The golem bellowed, raising its shields and slamming them into the ground. A shockwave rippled outward, forcing Asher to leap into the air to avoid it. As he descended, the golem thrust its sword upward, aiming to skewer him midair.

Asher twisted, narrowly avoiding the blade, and landed behind the golem. With a swift strike, he drove his sword into the back of its knee. The golem stumbled, one leg buckling under its weight.

Seizing the opportunity, Asher launched into a flurry of precise strikes, targeting the golem's weakened joints. Each hit chipped away at its stone body until one of its legs shattered entirely.

The golem collapsed onto one knee, roaring in frustration as it swung wildly with its remaining sword. Asher dodged each strike with practiced ease, his movements fluid and controlled.

"This is the end," he said, dashing forward. He leaped onto the golem's chest, using its own shield as a platform, and drove his sword into the glowing core at the center of its chest.

The runes on the golem's body flickered and dimmed as it let out a final roar before crumbling into rubble.

[Floor 3 Cleared!]

[Reward: 30 Tower Coins.]

Asher stood amidst the debris, his sword resting on his shoulder. He exhaled, wiping a bead of sweat from his brow. "Finally, a fight worth getting a small feel of the Aura," he said, glancing at the newly appeared door.

He then looked at his sword, focusing intently. "Fighting with just a sword is quite difficult," he mumbled. Concentrating, he willed his energy into the blade. For a fleeting moment, the sword shone faintly, but the light vanished almost as quickly as it appeared.

"I guess I have to work harder if I want to learn Sword Aura," he muttered to himself as he sheathed his blade and prepared to move on.

Normally, people would cultivate either mana or Aura, but thanks to his Cheat Energy Veins, Asher had the unique ability to cultivate multiple types of energy simultaneously. Even so, it was clear he didn't have as much talent for Aura as he did for magic. He had already mastered numerous high-tier spells, yet he was struggling to even grasp the basics of Aura.

"Hope this tower will help me with that," Asher said, his voice laced with determination. It was his true reason for entering the tower—to hone his swordsmanship and unlock the power of Aura.

He had tried the traditional methods to learn Aura and failed. Now, he was gambling on an alternative approach. Many warriors had awakened Sword Aura in the heat of battle, even without prior training. Although such awakenings were typically temporary, Asher planned to use his Absolute Appraisal skill to analyze the Aura's exact composition. With that information, he could use his Primordial Creation ability to recreate it.

While Asher had attempted to replicate the Aura of others after appraising them, the process was far too mana-intensive. His goal was to create a version of Aura that was uniquely his—efficient and perfectly compatible with his abilities.

Magic might be powerful and destructive, but Aura excelled in precision and speed. Each had its own advantages and disadvantages, and Asher wanted to master both. That was why he had resolved to climb the tower relying solely on his swordsmanship, using none of his magical abilities.

Without hesitation, he stepped through the door, his resolve unwavering, ready for whatever the tower had in store next.

Asher exited the third floor with ease, his sword sheathed as he moved through the glowing door into the next chamber. The environment shifted dramatically. The walls turned into reflective crystalline surfaces, refracting light that danced around the room.

[Floor 4: Crystal Guardians]

[Objective: Defeat all enemies]

Five crystalline constructs emerged from the ground, their forms shimmering as though carved from glass. Each wielded weapons forged from the same material, ranging from swords to spears.

Asher smirked. "More numbers, but the same rules," he muttered.

The constructs charged simultaneously, their movements synchronized as though controlled by a single mind. Asher dashed forward, his sword clashing against the first guardian's crystalline blade. The clash sent shards scattering, but the guardian remained unbroken.