A UNIQUE QUEST.

*****************************

[DING...]

[CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE THE FIRST TO COMPLETE THE TUTORIAL WITH NIGHTMARE DIFFICULTY, FOR THE 1000th TIME...]

[YOU HAVE ACHIEVED SOMETHING PRACTICALLY IMPOSSIBLE. ADDITIONAL KARMA WILL BE PROVIDED.]

[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED 300,000 KARMA.]

[YOU HAVE ACQUIRED AN ADDITIONAL 300,000 KARMA FOR COMPLETING IT 1000 TIMES.]

[YOUR RANKING IN THE TUTORIAL HAS BEEN UPDATED.]

[DO YOU WISH TO REGISTER YOUR NAME ON THE RANKINGS LIST?]

[YES] / [NO]

*****************************

"Whoa, this surge of Karma feels like hitting the jackpot! Karma is the currency that governs this tower, used to buy skills, possessions, practically anything. Usually, people cap at 100,000 Karma before reaching Floor 10, but here I am, on Floor 1, flaunting an astounding 600,000 Karma. I'm basically the wealthiest person below Floor 10! Hahaha!" Ren laughed, enjoying his newfound riches that had elevated him from his earlier modest state.

"The past is the past, and as for the Ranking List? Nah, not interested. It's just asking for trouble," Ren muttered with resolve, selecting the "no" option.

*****************************

[REGISTRATION DENIED. YOUR RANK WILL BE SHOWN AS "UNKNOWN" IN THIS FLOOR RANKING. YOU CAN CHANGE THIS SETTING ANYTIME.]

[TUTORIAL FLOOR RANKING.]

1. UNKNOWN (600,000 K.P)

2. UNKNOWN (294,500 K.P)

3. UNKNOWN (293,056 K.P)

4. EMILY JOHNSON (57,111 K.P)

5. ADAM SMITH (55,983 K.P)

... ...

*****************************

"Of course, I'd grab the top spot, but why didn't the second and third-place owners register their names? Guess that's their decision," Ren muttered, poised to enter the portal. However, a fresh message appeared, bringing him to a sudden stop.

*****************************

[YOU HAVE UNLOCKED A UNIQUE QUEST, CRAFTED ONLY FOR YOU.]

[DO YOU WISH TO CONTINUE THIS QUEST?]

[YES] / [NO]

*****************************

"Oh, a quest just for me? No one even mentioned this. Well, if it's tailored to me, then why not take on the challenge? If there's a way to get stronger, count me in," Ren muttered, clicking "Yes." Instantly, another message appeared before him.

*****************************

[DING...]

[QUEST: KILL ALL THE LV:1 MONSTERS WITHOUT USING YOUR INNATE ABILITY.]

[THIS QUEST IS ONE-TIME ONLY. MONSTERS WILL NOT RESPAWN AFTER DEFEAT, AND YOUR INJURIES WILL BE HEALED UPON COMPLETION.]

[TOTAL MONSTERS SLAIN: 0 / 100]

*****************************

"What the... 100 monsters? And I can't use my innate ability? How's someone like me with zero combat skills supposed to complete this quest?" Ren exclaimed, his face a mix of disbelief and shock.

Abruptly, the surroundings transformed, the finish line, and portal vanishing, leaving Ren with no escape but to complete the quest. Then, a horde of monsters emerged—goblins, kobolds, and an array of creatures. Even though all these monsters are LV:1, facing a thousand of them without using his innate ability was an insurmountable challenge for a mere LV:1 climber like him.

"F*ck!"

(A/N: At this moment, he knew he f*cked up.)

______________

In the absolute darkness, Ren's heightened sixth sense tuned into the approaching horde of monsters. With each footstep, goblins sprang, skeletal undead rattled, and a cacophony of monstrous roars filled the air. The scent of fear was almost palpable, yet Ren's determination burned fiercer.

Having lost his arms earlier in the fight and now with one eye gone, Ren's spirit remained unbroken. His dagger clenched between his teeth, he lunged into the heart of the horde. The creatures surged, attacking unrelentingly, but Ren's instincts guided his every motion. Amidst the chaos, he flowed gracefully, dodging, rolling, and striking with precision.

In the midst of this chaos, Ren's voice cut through the darkness, a growl of resolve, "I won't yield!" His dagger moved seamlessly, each swing felling an opponent. The monsters' growls and screams fueled his determination, urging him to press on.

As the battle raged, Ren's movements became more fluid, his sixth sense a symphony of anticipation. With every strike, he embodied an unstoppable force, a whirlwind tearing through the horde. Defiance echoed in his cry, "I'll hold my ground!"

Despite his battered form and dimming vision, Ren persisted. The monsters were unrelenting, yet so was he. With each fallen foe, he drew strength from the memory of his lost limbs, his absent eye, and his unyielding will to survive.

Then, after what felt like an eternity, the tide began to shift. The monsters dwindled, and Ren's motions grew bolder. His dagger gleamed in the darkness, a beacon amidst despair. With a final surge, he pushed forward, his voice carrying a triumphant roar, "For each scar you've given me, I'll take a dozen from you!"

Finally, the horde was vanquished. Battle cries surrendered to an intense silence. Amidst the fallen, Ren stood bloodied but unbowed. Breathing heavily, his body aching, he emerged victorious. Weary but grinning, he spat out the dagger and whispered, "I told you... I'd win." With that, he collapsed onto the ground, consciousness slipping away.

As his eyes cracked open, a void of darkness greeted him. Suspended, he lacked control over his form or movement. Slowly, the surroundings fractured, darkness deepening until even the sensation of floating dissolved.

A fleeting thought brushed that he might've fallen amidst the monsters, yet instead of extinguishing him, it stoked an unyielding will to survive, fortifying his spirit. Unexpectedly, the formless body he inhabited reclaimed some control, prompting a fierce shout. "I won't vanish like this! Even if it means shattering myself, I'll claw my way out. My life is in my hands!"

In response, the encroaching darkness wavered, gradually unveiling his surroundings. Finally, he awoke in the tangible world, pulse racing and chest heaving.

"Phew! What was that? Where was I?" Ren panted, exhaustion lingering. Suddenly, another message appeared before him, originating from his system.

*****************************

[DING...]

[CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING THE UNIQUE QUEST: DEFEAT ALL THE MONSTERS WITHOUT USING YOUR INNATE ABILITY.]

[TOTAL MONSTERS KILLED: 100 / 100]

[REWARD: ONE THIRD OF THE LEGACY OF A DECEASED GOD, "SHADOW MONARCH."]

*****************************

"What in the world? Shadow monarch? I never came across that term during the awakening center's explanations about the tower. They had taught us about everything we needed to know before entering the tutorial floor, including information about the gods and demons overseeing the tower."

"And from all that information, I never heard a thing about a Shadow Monarch. Anyway, Gods and Demons are supposed to be immortal, so how did one of them die? Well, doesn't matter. It's likely that the legacy tried to swallow my consciousness. Whew, that was risky," Ren murmured, heaving a heavy sigh of exhaustion.

**********(TO BE CONTINUED)**********