Once Upon A Time On Second Floor.

Lafa looked worried as she spoke to Rinrin.

"It's been a week, and he still hasn't returned."

It was afternoon and most of the adventurers were busy with their own jobs. Both Rinrin and Lafa were alone, having not much work to do, Lafa started to think about the new adventurer.

"Don't worry," Rinrin replied confidently.

"He promised me that he'll return no matter what. We just have to wait."

Lafa's concerns faded away after hearing Rinrin's words, but then she added,

"Most of the adventurers have already forgotten about him, though."

Lafa thought to herself, '... and soon, we will also,' but she didn't voice her thoughts. Rinrin, however, remained optimistic. "They'll remember him when he comes," she said with a reassuring smile.

Lafa was a rational person. For her, if Sally returned even against all odds, she will become happy. But, she is also prepared if he doesn't return. It was her job to keep a track on the adventurers. She can't be disheartened in the middle of the job if the adventurers she knew died. She can't help those who died, but she can get used to it and help those who are alive by doing her job. That was what she believed.

But, Rinrin was a little different. Even in the eyes of Lafa. She was optimistic, has great communicational skills, and moreover, she cares about every adventurer in the guild, which isn't an easy task. Lafa always wonders where her confidence and energy come from. She has been serving the guild for almost 4 years and still isn't used to death.

'Well, I just hope she'll get used to it eventually' – Lafa thought to herself, hoping that Rinrin wouldn't get sad as this much when she hears about another death.

"My, My, girls. What were you talking about?"

Wearing a blue apron this time, their Guild Master joined the conversation.

"Good afternoon Guild Master"

"Good afternoon Master James"

They both bowed and greeted James at the same time.

"Nothing serious. We were just talking about Sally. The one you rooted"

"Oh, that fella. What about it? Did he return?"

With a pleasing smile that Sally hasn't seen, the Guild Master of the Adventurer's Guild, James, started his talk with the two clerks.

"No, Master James. He still hasn't returned. But, why did you make him an adventurer? You know the rules. He has to pay 50 silvers on his own to prove he's worthy."

Lafa asked James. She couldn't understand why their rock-hearted Guild Master would give his own money, not only for the adventurer's card but also for all the equipment Sally has.

"He must've seen his talent. Right, Guild Master?" Rinrin commented at the sidelines.

"Why you say… huh" James looked at Rinrin and nodded lightly.

"Yes. My first impression of him was that he was weak when he slammed that front door. I thought that he must be soo weak that a single goblin can rape him"

"That's rude Lafa!!" Hearing Lafa, Rinrin rebuked her and soon, they both started to have a heated confrontation.

James sighed after the sight where his employees are having a serious debate over whether Sally would be losing his virginity or not by goblins.

"I just liked the kid. Every time I sent him to serve a customer, he leaves the kitchen with a cunning smile but gets nervous and shutters when talking to a stranger. I thought 'what if he becomes an adventurer?' And suddenly wanted to know what he can do" – James couldn't continue to listen to their talk when it shifted from goblins to other monsters.

"Waaaaaht?"

"Master James, what have you done? If you already know that he's weak, then why did you let him become an adventurer?"

Both Rinrin and Lafa were surprised after hearing what James said. They expected that their Guild Master must have seen some kind of hidden talent in Sally, and that's why he supported him. But not this!

"Relax girls. I'm not cold-hearted to send someone weak to death. Even if that kid is weak, there's something in him, didn't you guys hear him state about his dream?"

James asked both of them. But nothing flashed on their mind after thinking for a while. In the end, they gave up and asked for the answer.

"No wonder you're underestimating him"

"We're not."

"Yes. I believe in him."

"Well, he said he doesn't want to become 'just' an adventurer. What he wanted to become was a 'Legendary' adventurer right?"

"I remember him talking something like that, but isn't that just fantasy?"

"Yes. I even told him that I'll support him. That was his dream?"

They both had different opinions after hearing about his dream. Lafa thought that he was just spouting bullshit whereas, Rinrin decided to support him for whatever he wanted to become.

"In my years of experience, I have already met many kinds of people and once in a while, people like him with impossible dreams pops up out of nowhere. Many gave up, but for those who don't, there's only two fates waiting for them. One, they'll achieve their dream with their power. Second, they'll die trying. That kid seemed to belong to the latter group, but in his eyes, there's craziness. That craziness will keep him alive. That's for sure."

After hearing what their Guild Master had said, both of the clerks fell silent and retreated into their own worlds of contemplation.

'I thought he was stupid and weak, but perhaps he's just crazy and weak,' Lafa thought.

Rinrin, with her optimistic, decided to support Sally, no matter how crazy he becomes.

***

*Bbwaaaaaaaaaammn*

I yawned and sat up straight, still in the middle of the room. I noticed shiny chunks of iron lying around me, glistering in the light. Beside me, a giant golem that had been destroyed from head to middle, was sleeping.

I started to wonder about myself and what the hell was happening around me. After a while, reality hit me like a truck.

"Damm! Damm! Damm!! Did I pass out after fighting that golem? How much time has passed? Did I win?"

Holding my head and thinking about all the stuff, I realized something about the system, my skill, and lastly, my temporary power-up.

"There's no way I could sleep for a whole day, right?"

Discouraging thoughts started to fill my mind as I opened my -Status- window from the system.

---

[Status]

> Name: Sally Jake (17)

> Race: Human

> Rank: XXXXXX

> Class: N/A

-- Personal

> Health: 20/20

> Strength: 100,0001/10 (3 hours 25 minutes remaining)

> Intelligence: 15/15

> Mana: 10/10

> Agility: 5/5

---

"Shit! What a waste!"

I cursed myself as I stood up and searched for my brand-new sword. After another frustrating ten minutes, all I could find was its handle.

"Great. My incredible powers are wasted on an equally useless me."

I was so angry that I threw the handle without much thought. To my surprise, it flew with such force that it turned into dust after crashing into the wall. As I watched the debris settle, I couldn't decide which was more incredible: the fact that a simple throw could cause so much damage, or that even my 100,001 strength status couldn't scratch the walls. I quickly realized that neither thought was helpful in my current predicament.

"Fuck! Now I don't have a sword or time to waste."

I searched for any valuables on the floor, but found nothing other than the shiny iron pieces. Once again, I cursed myself and started to climb the stairs which were located behind the throne.

---

[!]

[You have entered the Second Floor of the Cursed Forgotten Tower!]

> You cannot leave the floor until you kill the Guardian.

> Stairs to the next floor will only appear when the Guardian dies.

[Guardian of the Second Floor – Cursed Undead Dragon, Basilisk]

> Level – 80 (Lower Dragon) (Undead) (Cursed)

> Health – 1000

> Strength – 50,000

> Defence – 30,000

-- Title: Guardian of the Second Floor.

> Gets control of the second floor. Can erase its presence completely on the second floor. Can devour all lights on the second floor.

-- Skills:

> Cursed: When someone sees the eyes of the Basilisk, they will be cursed by the effect that prevents them from moving.

> Undead: It cannot be damaged by using normal weapons. It can move, attack, and re-arrange any parts of its body and protect its heart.

> Summon: It can summon a spirit of Devil Dragon. When someone fears it, they will be cursed to dance like a fool.

-- History:

> Once a loyal mount of its Master and his team. Now, even after death, it was cursed by a God and become a guardian of the Cursed Forgotten Tower.

---

As I approach the ominous-looking door at the top of the stairs, the system notifies me of something. Reading through the information, a crazy smile spreads across my face.

"Before, I was too unprepared and inexperienced. But now, *hehehe* I can plan something beforehand and crush that undead dragon without losing myself."

I take a moment to plan out countermeasures for the dragon's skills and potential martial arts moves I can remember.

'Run like hell, don't let that devil dragon scare me, avoid eye contact, utilize my martial arts… I have to prepare for every possible scenario.'

Thinking like that, I took another minute and arrived at the conclusion to close my eyes and move like crazy.

With a deep breath, I push open the door and entered the second floor to challenge its guardian. However, the floor is entirely dark, with a threatening aura that makes it impossible for me to see anything. I realized that I can't do much in this dark room and decided to do something about it.

I closed my eyes and walked ten steps ahead, waiting for a moment before taking a basic martial arts pose. I brought my right hand to my chest level and punched the air with all my strength.

*Boom!*

I heard a crash sound but keep my eyes closed, knowing that with my super strength, I must have damaged something. After waiting for a while, I lightly open my eyes and see a small light in front of me. It's tiny, but it's starting to shine brightly. I closed my eyes once again and started stomping on the spot where the light is burning. I fear that even if it's an undead cursed dragon, it's still a dragon, and all dragons possess dragon breath.

I slowly opened my eyes, blinking to adjust to the darkness that engulfed the room. I let out a deep sigh of relief, "Thank god I stopped it from using dragon breath."

I assumed my martial arts pose once again and began to punch the air vigorously. However, with each punch, I felt like I was hitting nothing but thin air. Fear began to creep in as I worried that something might go wrong. I decided to move around the room, keeping my eyes shut, while continuing my punches and occasional kicks.

As I continued my battle with the air, I suddenly felt something under my foot, and I heard a system notification go off.

---

[!]

[Congratulations!]

[You have successfully killed the Second Floor Guardian - Cursed Undead Dragon, Basilisk]

"Whaaaaaaaaat?"