Chapter 4 - Tower of God

Opening his eyes slowly, Uriel found himself in a completely white corridor. He looked at his surroundings and evaluated them internally. He remembered that Baam in the Tower Of God was not in a white corridor when he opened the door to the Tower.

'Maybe the Tower of Wishes is not Tower of God? Actually, that's not something strange, it would be strange if it really was Tower of God. How did something that really happened in another Universe become a story in my world?'

Uriel was not too disappointed. Even though he had a small wish that Tower of Wishes was Tower of God, his expectations about it were not that high.

He began to walk slowly forward down the white corridor. When suddenly his steps slowly stopped and, his gaze settled on the shadow in front of him. He saw the shadow of a man, slowly approaching from his direction.

'Who?'

His gaze showed caution.

The man continued to approach, as his face became visible to Uriel. platinum hair, golden eyes, a very handsome face, and confident, proud temperament.

Uriel's pupils narrowed to the fineness of a needle. This was the person he least wanted to meet, although he had already predicted that he might find him here. He clenched his fists tightly, his expression cold.

"Father."

His voice was cold as ice and carried a small hidden hatred.

The man stopped his steps and looked at his face. His gaze carried complicated emotions and a strange smile appeared on his lips.

"It's been a long time, little Uriel."

A frown formed on Uriel's face; in the Abyss he learned a little to hide his emotions, but in front of this person - someone he hates so much - no matter how much he learned to hide his emotions, hatred will unconsciously appear on his face. His clenched hands trembled slightly and, trying to hold back from attacking the man in front of him, words spilled from his throat, "How long has it been? Is that all you have to say to me? After abandoning me for 8...no, for 18 years, you dare to greet me again?"

The man bowed his head with a complex face. He raised his head again and looked intently at Uriel, and sighed.

"My son, you must have many questions to ask me at this time. For example, why did I abandon you? And what is this place."

Before Uriel could speak again, the man continued.

"If you were able to arrive at this place, it means that you must be very eager to meet me again. But, I am sorry to disappoint you again, this one you are seeing is only a recording, my real self is not here at this time."

The moment he said this, Uriel was stunned. A recording? That was not something he expected, however, it should not be impossible.

'But, desire to meet you again? Humph...' Uriel huffed in his heart. The last thing he wanted at this moment, was to meet this hateful father.

'He must think very highly of himself, to think that I would open the door for such a pathetic wish.'

As Uriel scoffed internally, the man turned his back on him, and, raising his head, a majestic atmosphere radiated from him. His voice was full of emotion.

"However! There is a way for you to find me again, at the end of this corridor is the entrance to the Tower of Wishes I was telling you about. Just as I told you in the stories, if you reach the top, you will get what you desire."

He took a deep breath.

"However... Your journey to the top will be fraught with danger and risk, you may even end up losing your life. If you truly wish with all your heart to meet me again, then follow this corridor and enter the Tower. But if you don't wish to risk your life, turn back and you will return to your normal life. That is your choice, what will you choose little Uriel?"

He continued on his back emitting a mysterious and majestic aura as if he were an immortal waiting for an important decision from his disciple. But...

"Stupid old man, does he think I will waste my time listening to his recording?"

Uriel smiled coldly, moving forward with wide, quick steps toward the end of the white corridor.

Since he found out that the man in the back was only a recording, Uriel ignored everything he said and continued his way forward. He never wished to meet his father again, and even if he did, he would feel nothing but hatred and the will to kill.

His running speed was amazing. Even though when he had returned from the Abyss, his physical body was very weak in his opinion, it was still above average among those of his age.

A while later, Uriel's eyes sparkled when he saw a door before him. A door with an image of a gigantic tower, with the sun shining radiantly across the sky. He looked like an insect near the door.

"And to think it really was Tower of God!"

He cannot help but feel excited and hasten his steps. Getting closer and closer to the door, it opened and only deep darkness appeared in Uriel's sight.

His whole body was slowly engulfed by the darkness The door closed and, he disappeared from the white corridor, leaving the recording talking to itself.

***

In a place resembling an underground cave, a humanoid creature slowly opened its eyes. The place was lit by several candles and several pictures were drawn on murals on the walls.

The humanoid creature looked like a rabbit, with white fur and two ears on top of its head. He had a huge black slit that connected his eyes and mouth. He was sitting cross-legged and holding a strange stick in his hand.

After opening his eyes, he looked forward with his eyes shining with a strong interest.

"The door is opening again. I wonder what kind of Irregular is entering now."

The black slit in his face moved and, a big smile appeared on his face, revealing two rows of sharp white teeth. Just as he was about to stand up, a slightly shocked look appeared on his face.

'Two, and this time they're not from the same place.'

Interesting!

He smiled even more broadly. This was not a common thing to happen, this completely piqued his interest.

He got up from the ground, and a large door opened in front of him. From the large door, two silhouettes slowly emerged from it.

The person in front was a very calm young man, and his gaze was cold and sharp as a razor. He had black hair that fell over his shoulders, vibrant black eyes, and snow-white skin. His face was somewhat feminine and very handsome. He was dressed in long black robes with some red notches and walked barefoot on the ground.

And walking a few meters behind him was another young man. This time showing a proud and unbridled temperament. He had silver-blond hair, piercing red eyes, and milky white skin. On his head was a cap turned back and black earrings were in his ear. He was wearing a black short-sleeved shirt, white shorts, and a black sneaker with some blue notches.

The two young men appeared to be between 14 and 15 years old, and each exhibited a very confident attitude with every step they took.

Headon assessed them carefully. He realized - the two were terrible monsters!

'Keh Keh...' Two new Irregulars entering the Tower at the same time! And each one came from different places. What changes will they cause in the Tower? Headon found this interesting.

Headon approached silently towards the young men. The two young men noticed his presence as well.

'He is... Headon, the Keeper of the 1st Floor of the Tower, so I am really in Tower Of God!'

Uriel assessed while trying to control his facial expression and not let a big smile escape. He was excited! This was Tower of God! His favorite webtoon. Even after he went to the Abyss, he always remembered this wonderful story! And to think that one day he would come to this place, he would be lying if he said he never looked forward to it.

Step! Step!

At that moment, sounds of footsteps sounded behind him, and a voice came up.

"Such a strange rabbit? Hehe, how interesting."

Uriel turned his head back and couldn't help but be surprised. His irises narrowed and a name naturally popped into his head looking at the young man behind him. 'Urek Mazino?!'

When he recognized the young man, Headon stepped forward.

"Please don't compare me to a creature like that."

He opened his cyan blue eyes wide and, staring in the direction of Urek and Uriel. He spun his staff in his hand and smiled revealing his rows of teeth.

"I welcome you to the Tower, children. My name is Headon, the Guardian of the Lower Floor of the Tower."

He looked at Urek and Uriel out of the corner of his eyes.

"What are your names, children?"

Uriel was silent and turned to Urek. He didn't want to be the first to reveal his name, what if this place wasn't the same Tower of God he saw? Or maybe, what if Headon didn't have the same attitude he had toward Baam, toward him? That was something to take into account.

Urek felt Uriel's gaze, but he didn't care. He put a big smile on his face and puffed out his chest with pride.

"I am Urek Mazino, the defender of defenseless maidens and the strongest man!"

"Urek Mazino..." Headon scratched his chin silently. "A good name, and you, child?"

Headon turned to Uriel expecting his answer.

Uriel, seeing that nothing happened when Urek revealed his name, just replied in a calm voice, "My name is Uriel Ilya."

"Oh? A very unique name."

Urek raised one of his eyebrows. His gaze in Uriel's direction was full of apparent interest. Not that he kept the faces of the people he encountered, but he was sure he had never met this person before.

"So, Urek and Uriel."

Headon stepped forward again and, looking intently at each of them, he asked, "May I ask you why you entered the Tower?"

"Ah! That's right! I almost forgot! I came to this place following Phantaminum, didn't he pass by here too?"

Urek's eyes sparkled encouragingly.

Uriel frowned internally.

'Phantaminum? So Urek Mazino really did enter the Tower following him. Currently, he must be heading towards Zahard's Palace or has already arrived there.'

"Phantaminum, huh..." Headon put his hand on his chin again and a light shone in his eyes. Just then, he turned to Uriel.

"What about you?"

"I wish to become stronger, to be more precise..."

As Uriel spoke, a memory of something his master told him flashed through his mind.

- If you wish to become someone equivalent to Heaven, you must have absolute power! A being equivalent to Heaven must have enough power to suppress the entire universe by himself! You must be on top of everything!

Uriel's gaze became serious as he looked at Headon.

"I desire absolute power, something that can put me on top of everything."

Headon's eyes sparkled.

'What a great ambition!'

Although this is not an unusual wish, this boy in front of him declared as if he were able of fulfilling this wish. Such confidence! This further increased Headon's interest in him.

But at this moment, Urek's slightly irritated voice sounded again.

"Hey, rabbit. You didn't answer my question, did Phantaminum come through here or not?"

Headon stared at Urek and an amused expression appeared on his face.

"Keh Keh, if you wish to find Phantaminum, the only thing I can tell you is..."

He pointed his staff upward and declared.

"The answer is at the top of the Tower! If you wish to know its answer if you wish to find it, follow it to the top!"

"Money - Glory - Absolute Power, if you seek these abilities and answers that are like magic, climb to the top!"

"All the Wisdom, Glory, and Happiness of the Universe, have been placed at the top of this Tower! This Tower... is such a place!"