The Flux Within

Eren awoke to the gentle hum of the Phantom Gate. The air was cooler than he remembered, a faint metallic tang lingering. Stretching out from the makeshift cot he'd fashioned, he rubbed the stiffness from his shoulders. Today was a big day—he had to prepare for whatever the next floor threw at him.

He headed to his workbench, a cluttered space brimming with half-built devices, salvaged components, and vials of swirling mana extracted from shattered crystals. His token supply jingled lightly in a small pouch strapped to his belt—earned from clearing the last floor.

"Alright, Eren. Let's see what we can make," he muttered to himself, reaching for a half-finished contraption.

The Phantom Gate's menu flickered into view, offering an inventory of tools, materials, and blueprints available for purchase. Tokens were the gate's universal currency, and Eren had earned just enough to splurge on something useful.

After some deliberation, he purchased a schematic for a reinforced grappling hook and some lightweight alloy sheets. The grappling hook wasn't flashy, but it could be a lifesaver. With his remaining tokens, he picked up basic supplies: dried rations, a water purifier attachment for his canteen, and some fresh ammunition for his modified pistol.

Hours later, Eren stood before a sleek, newly crafted weapon. It was a crossbow-like device, modified to launch small, mana-infused bolts. The bolts themselves were rudimentary—crystals embedded in hollowed steel tips, designed to shatter on impact. It wasn't perfect, but it was an improvement over his earlier setups.

Satisfied with his preparations, Eren stepped toward the shimmering portal leading to the next floor. The Tower's voice rang out, cool and mechanical as ever:

"Floor 6 Initiated. Mission Objective: Reconnaissance. Objective Details: Scout the designated area. Combat discouraged but permitted if necessary. Report findings through the assigned interface. Reward based on thoroughness of report."

He paused, absorbing the information. "Reconnaissance? That's…new," he muttered, stepping through the gate.

The world beyond the portal was eerily quiet. A dense jungle stretched in all directions, illuminated by the bioluminescent glow of unfamiliar flora. The air was thick with moisture, and faint animalistic cries echoed in the distance.

Eren crouched low, scanning his surroundings. He pulled out a small drone he'd built—a simple device with a limited range but equipped with a camera and basic mana sensors. Activating it, the drone buzzed softly, ascending into the air.

Navigating through the dense underbrush, Eren meticulously documented every unusual plant, structure, and creature he encountered. A massive, moss-covered obelisk caught his attention—etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly.

The obelisk emitted faint waves of mana, resonating with the crystals Eren carried. Curious, he extended a modified scanner toward it. A sudden pulse of energy surged through the device, frying its circuits.

"Damn it!" he hissed, pocketing the ruined scanner.

Still, he jotted down notes, sketching the obelisk's details and marking its location on his makeshift map.

Back in the Phantom Gate, Eren submitted his report. The Tower's voice acknowledged it:

"Reconnaissance Report Received. Processing… Reward Allocation Complete."

A soft chime followed, and Eren's token supply increased by fifty. Another screen appeared, flashing a cryptic message:

"Anomaly Detected. Title Assigned: Craftsman of the Flux."

Eren's brow furrowed. "Flux? What does that mean?"

Before he could ponder further, another message flickered briefly:

"Skill System: Unavailable. Stat System: Unavailable. Anomaly in Climber Profile."

The text disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

Eren stared at the screen, unease creeping in. Whatever the Tower was, it clearly wasn't functioning the way it should.

End of Chapter 6