NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9: The First Floor
The moment they stepped toward the entrance of the Tower of Yxthar, Adam's thoughts churned.
'Finally… we're entering.'
His gaze flickered to the massive structure before them.
Unlike what most would expect, there was no grand door, no towering gate.
Instead, at the base of the colossal tower, a massive symbol was etched into the obsidian-like surface.
The pattern was intricate, pieced together like a puzzle of interlocking lines and unknown script.
The entrance itself was nothing more than an abstract design, yet Adam knew better.
'Since it's still the year 2010, that means we should still be within the tenth floor…'
That was crucial.
The first ten floors were nothing more than an introduction... a tutorial for Earth.
It was still challenging, but they were structured and predictable.
But the moment they stepped onto the eleventh floor...
Everything would change.
It was at that point that their Tower of Yxthar would begin linking with other universes.
Other challengers... and other civilizations.
And as time passed, the higher they climbed, the more Towers would be drawn into the same network.
That was the true danger of the Tower of Yxthar.
And that was also why Adam believed it was a good thing that humanity had started promoting cooperation over solo play while it was still early.
Elara exhaled beside him, staring at the symbol.
"So, we just… walk in?"
Nathaniel hesitated.
"There's no door."
Before anyone could respond, the air shifted.
The symbol beneath their feet lit up.
Golden light bled through the intricate carvings, forming a unique sequence of patterns that spread outward in waves.
The light shone beneath their boots as though it was ancient and alive.
Then, the world started twisting around them!
In the blink of an eye, the ground beneath them disappeared.
A weightless sensation gripped Adam's body before reality snapped back into place.
They were no longer at the Tower's entrance.
Instead, they stood in an entirely different world.
[Welcome to the Tower of Yxthar!]
[Welcome to the first floor!]
The system notifications continued to pop in.
[1st Floor] – [The Settled Lands]
Description :
[Once a dangerous frontier, Floor 1 has been completely tamed by Stream Hunters. Now resembling a medieval kingdom, it is home to bustling cities, fortified villages, and training academies. Newcomers start here, learning the basics of combat, trade, and survival in the Tower. Despite its safety, remnants of the past still lurk in the wilds.]
Common Monsters : [Goblins, Slimes, Wild Boars, Lesser Orcs]
Boss Monster : [Hobgoblin Chieftain, Kravash the Club-Breaker] – [A towering goblin overlord residing in the Ruined Goblin Fortress, a stronghold now turned into a raid dungeon.]
Story – [The Fall of the Goblin Lords]
[Long before humanity arrived, goblins ruled this floor, thriving in warbands that waged endless skirmishes. However, with the arrival of Stream Hunters, their dominion crumbled. The surviving goblins fled underground, leaving only a handful of warlords in the wilds. Kravash, the last true Goblin Lord, still lingers in his ruined fortress, awaiting a worthy challenger to reclaim his lost kingdom.]
Wide stone streets stretched out before them, lined with medieval-style buildings bustling with life.
People moved through the roads, some dressed in armor, others in robes.
Merchants called out from wooden stalls, advertising potions, weapons, and supplies.
In the distance, fortified walls enclosed the city, standing tall as a reminder of the dangers beyond.
This was Floor 1 of the Tower of Yxthar.
Once a lawless frontier, now completely tamed by Stream Hunters.
It resembled a medieval kingdom, its streets alive with a mix of adventurers, scholars, and traders.
Fortified villages dotted the surrounding landscape, training academies stood tall, and everywhere he looked, there were people loitering around.
Elara let out a low whistle as she took in the surroundings.
"Didn't expect it to look… like this."
The group stood at the distance of a bustling medieval-style city, the stone streets lively with merchants, armored guards, and fresh-faced newcomers just like them.
Towering stone walls surrounded the settlement, watchtowers standing tall at each corner.
A large central plaza stretched before them, where a statue of an unknown warrior loomed over the crowd.
It was a strange sight... so ordinary yet completely detached from Earth's modern world.
Nathaniel adjusted his gloves, his gaze sweeping over the people moving about.
"Feels too normal..."
He muttered.
Rei stretched, rolling his shoulders before looking around with an amused grin.
"Well, it should be normal. The government did say the first floor is meant to be a home for beginners."
He continued, gesturing at the city.
"I also heard it's designed to be secure so that one day, people who awaken but don't want to climb the Tower can just settle here, living like normal citizens."
Elara raised a brow.
"So we're basically colonizing the first floor?"
Rei shrugged.
"I mean, it's not like the place was empty before we got here. There were people already living here before humanity arrived... NPCs, so to speak."
Adam remained silent, his gaze trailing along the distant roads that stretched beyond the city.
He vaguely remembered why this place had never advanced into the modern era.
Resources like crude oil simply didn't exist here.
Magic and innate abilities took the place of technology, ensuring that no matter how many humans settled here, the first floor would always remain locked in its medieval state.
'Of course if someone awakened an ability that could produce crude oil… they'd basically rule the first floor.'
Adam mused.
For now, though, it remained a world of swords, magic, and simple survival.
Just then a translucent system prompt appeared before his eyes.
[Streaming is now available.]
[Would you like to turn on your stream?]
"Aha! We can stream now?!"
Elara's eyes lit up with excitement as she quickly navigated the system menu.
This was it!
This was the real reason she had been so eager to enter the Tower of Yxthar!
She had always dreamed of being famous, of standing in the spotlight, of having people cheer her name!
But back on Earth, she never got the chance....
Here, however, things were different!
She wasted no time activating her stream, a confident smirk on her lips as she imagined the flood of viewers.
Except… nothing happened.
Her excitement flickered, then died completely when she saw the empty viewer count.
"…Huh?"
She muttered, refreshing the screen.
Still nothing...
She had at least expected for some viewers to have been waiting for newcomers...
Adam wasn't surprised.
He had expected this.
Viewership in the lower floors was always low unless you already had a reputation.
There weren't many people willing to waste time watching an unknown beginner...
Especially one who had yet to prove their worth.
In the lower floors, there were typically two types of viewers.
The first were those hoping to attach themselves to a rising Stream Hunter, taking advantage of the Stream Hunter's attached feelings so that they could offer to be the stream hunter's Main Sponsor.
However, those kinds of viewers were usually weak, hence they tended to take advantage of a new Stream Hunter's feelings hoping to ride along on their strength...
The second type?
They weren't here to find talent...
They were here for entertainment.
The worst kind.
These were the ones who enjoyed watching new challengers struggle, fail, and, if things went poorly enough, die.
Adam didn't bother activating his stream.
It was better to activate it during a fight...
Just as he was thinking this, the clinking of metal armor caught his attention.
A man approached, dressed in well-worn chainmail layered beneath a padded gambeson.
A simple iron sword rested in a sheath at his hip, and a wooden badge with the Tower's emblem was pinned to his chest.
It was a sign that he was an official guide for newcomers.
"Hey! You guys Team FG-42?"
He called out, his voice gruff but not unkind.
Elara sighed, closing her interface with a flick of her hand.
"Yeah, that's us."
The man gave them a once-over before nodding.
"Good. Follow me. I'll explain how things work around here."