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Chapter 3: Gladiolus standing tall

  The system's affirmation left an aftertaste as jarring as my first sip of a sugar-free drink—unexpected and yuck. Unfortunately for me, I'd have no choice but to get used to my mana draining from then on.

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  ………

  Yep… it’s been—

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  It’s bee—

  [Integrating system to the OWNER’S caliber]

  “For fuck’s sake…” I murmured dejectedly, arms sprawled out as I slumped on the cold floor, back pressed against the bed frame. If only this thing—whatever it was—would stop screeching in my brain, maybe I’d be able to assess my situation.

  Where was I? Don’t know.

  What is this place? Don’t know.

  Who is this mouse lady? Her name is Estoc, and anything more… nope.

  Couldn’t she tell me the answer? Don’t know.

  Why am I here? “Tch…” No idea.

  Why is my brain a potato?

  …..I suppose I know where I stand.

  Wait—why’d the voice in my head stop?

  [Action Completed]

  [OWNER can Access ‘MASTER CONTROL’]

  “Master Control… activate?” As if to spite my newfound apathy, I tasted that same artificial diet tang on my tongue. For the second time that day, I saw it—magic.

  Something akin to a widescreen plasma monitor materialized right in front of me.

  “Ohh.”

  I wasn’t sure whether to be surprised or disappointed. It looked exactly like my Arch Linux PC running the KDE Plasma display manager. Why do I even remember everything about my PC build? …Wait—

  I DON’T CARE. Ha ha ha—ha… sniff sniff. But the tightness in my chest told me otherwise

  On the homescreen there was no steam, firefox or my… stuff. There were five applications.: ‘tutorial’, ‘status’, ‘Inventory’, ‘crafting’, and ‘Tower Management’.

  How do I click the ‘status’?, do I just touch it, aah…dumbass.

  [STATUS MENU]

  Name: AngryPixie69

  Title: OWNER of the Tower

  Race: High Hyuman

  Age: 24

  Sex: Female

  Class: ???

  Level: 321

  HP: [1900/1900] (Unstable)

  FP: [43/1800] (Draining…)

  Stamina: [367/2490] (Fatigued)

  


      
  • Strength: 99/99


  •   
  • Dexterity: 40/99


  •   
  • Endurance: 50/99


  •   
  • Intelligence: 69/99


  •   
  • Wisdom: 33/99


  •   
  • Luck: 30/99


  •   


  


      
  • [Master Control] –(Newly Unlocked)


  •   
  • [???] – Locked


  •   
  • [???] – Locked


  •   


  


      
  • Mana Drain (Your mana is being siphoned at a constant rate.)


  •   
  • Mental Fatigue (Thinking feels like wading through mud.)


  •   
  • System Integration (In Progress) (Your existence is being rewritten to fit the Tower.)


  •   


  Heh makes sense, so damn…tired.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  "Shnfff… hhh… shnfff…" My breath hitched. My vision blurred. Then—black.

  …………………………………….

  THWAP!... The little girl fell onto the muddy ground. Her face tingled, the pain still coiling, yet to surface. She pressed a trembling hand against her cheek, feeling up the impact. The faint smell of the rain and blood filled her nostrils as the damp earth lay bound to her skin. She clenched her teeth to not cry, yet the attempt seemed to fail her. She felt ugly.

  "How many times must I tell you, whore? You are but a product—a product with potential, sure, but a product nonetheless. Yet you dare show mercy to a weakling?"

  “I’m sorr… I sincerely apologize to the pastor. This cadet has shown great disgrace, and this cadet shall address it. I’ll fix myself.” she said, spitting out whatever she could to get out of trouble.

  “You imbecile… Pweeh…” He spat in her face. “I trained a soldier, not a pussy.”

  The large man turned and left, his fists folded behind his back. He had given her one task—to reprimand. And she must. She had to prove herself, to become the best.

  No mercy. No fucking mercy. No fucking mercy. No fucking mercy. NO FUCKING MERCY—

  "No mercy—wait… The fuck?"

  I woke up confused, seemingly having lost grasp of the dream. Light seeped through the visor, making me cringe as my gaze adjusted to the work table ahead. Pushing aside the grand, chair-like apparatus, I took care not to let my armor scratch it. With arms crossed, the status screen flickered to life on its own—it seemed all I had to do was think about it.

  ‘Status’

  [STATUS MENU]

  Name: AngryPixie69

  Title: OWNER of the Tower

  Race: High Hyuman

  Age: 24

  Sex: Female

  Class: Not Fixed

  Level: 321/594

  HP: [1900/1900] (Peak Condition)

  FP: [1778/1800] (Near Full)

  Stamina: [2490/2490] (Maxed out)

  


      
  • Strength: 99/99


  •   
  • Dexterity: 40/99


  •   
  • Endurance: 50/99


  •   
  • Intelligence: 69/99


  •   
  • Wisdom: 33/99


  •   
  • Luck: 30/99


  •   


  


      
  • [Master Control] — (Newly Unlocked)


  •   
  • [Noblesse] – Locked (Conditions not met)


  •   
  • [Berserkir] – Locked (Conditions not met)


  •   


  I was in good condition—I could feel it. It was that fleeting sensation one would experience after months of training, just for a few minutes before the bell rings.

  I could go right now.

  Could I stay like this as long as my FP and Stamina were full?

  Fuckin’ badass.

  It was fuckin’ badass. I’d just realized—I could fight again. I quickly inspected the room. Spacious enough. If I didn’t at least throw a one-two, I might just explode.

  I rolled my shoulder, my feet shoulder width apart. My left foot slid forward, barely grazing the ground. My fists hovered just below my cheekbones, elbows tucked in tight.

  One-two.

  My face twisted into the ugliest grin—good thing it was hidden beneath the helmet. My fist cut through the air, precise and eloquent.Jab—Cross

  Jab—Cross—Hook

  Jab—Cross—Slip—Counter Cross—Uppercut

  Repeat. Repeat. Again…

  Instinctively, I tried to catch my breath, yet it was unnecessary. When I checked my status, I still had 2,448 stamina left, and it was refilling in real time.With this much power, I could have been the world champion—hell, I could’ve even competed in the men’s division.

  Ever since I got here, I had been in distress. Wasn’t even sure if I had a self anymore.But… oddly enough, I felt satisfied.

  Let’s check out the ‘Tutorial’. Hmm?

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