Forest of Valor

[Please take ten steps ahead to start the Beginner's Guide.]

The system voice distracted me from my shock. 

Honestly, the level of tomfoolery that had just happened to me was insane. I so very much wanted to curse right now, but had to hold back and focus on this tutorial otherwise it may get suspicious.

I took ten steps ahead and the tutorial began. 

The system gave me a brief overview of what Arcana Cards were. 

They were mystical cards that represented different aspects of power and destiny.

As per the system, they were divided into four categories: Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Legendary.

However, from the words of the lady who spoke a while ago, I could make out that there were definitely more categories than this. 

After the Arcana Cards, it told me about the most important thing in the world — Essence. 

Essence was the core of everything and was present in everyone to a varying degree. It was energy that could be channeled and amplified through Arcana Cards, artifacts, spells, and so on. 

A person could thus throw a fireball or a water bomb or even heal due to this Essence. 

Then, I was briefed about Relics, Runes, Arcana Shards, Upgrade Crystals, Artifacts, and a lot more things. 

Finally, the system came to the main topic, and said that there's quests on every floor and monsters too. 

There's floor bosses on all floors and every 25 floors would either have an Overlord Boss or a puzzle or some other difficult challenge altogether. 

The tutorial did not state how many floors there were.

If a floor is cleared, it would not have the main quest anymore. However, there would be many side, and hidden quests left to finish, so a Player should keep seeking things out. 

Fighting floor bosses on most floors was optional. Only the boss at every ten and twenty-five floors was mandatory for ascension to higher floors. However, one should always try to finish the boss.

Lastly, the number of floors cleared in this world's Tower were 37 and there was a list of top ten Players

 shown to me. 

Once all explanations were done, the system stated:

[Please unleash your card's power in slot #1 to continue.]

I was taught how to channel Essence into the card and use it. It was concentrated in your gut and to use it, one was supposed to make it flow out from the gut and channel it towards the glabella which contained the cards. 

I did just that. I felt tingly all over my body, but successfully managed to send the Essence into card slot #1 and activated Flame Poke. 

A small line of fire spewed out from thin air in front of me and got extinguished after flowing for a few meters. 

It was quite impressive to see. I was wielding magic and it felt pretty good. 

[Please unleash your card's power in slot #3 to continue.]

The system skipped slot #2, interesting. 

In slot #3 I had Quick Strike, and due to the glitch, I lost the defensive Shield Bubble card. 

I channeled the Essence to the card once again and my body swiftly moved five steps ahead and threw a front kick as it was activated. 

[Beginner's guide complete.]

[Teleporting player to the tutorial lobby…]

This wasn't the tutorial? 

The reality around me crumbled again and I found myself standing in a grand hall. It was similar to Floor 0. 

The lights dimmed and a screen, as big as a football field, appeared in front of me. 

I took out a black cloth mask from my pocket and wore it. I was briefed during the carriage ride that I would see a screen and was asked to wear it at that time. Hiding my identity was important, they said. 

[Welcome to the tutorial, Players.]

A deep voice came from the screen as a man in a fine tuxedo walked into view. His neck or face was not visible.

[Trials await those who wish to climb the Tower. This tutorial will be your first of the many you will be undergoing.]

I silently listened to what was being said. 

[The tutorial is not easy by any means. You may lose your life. If you do not possess any combat or logical abilities, there is still time to back away. Once into the trial, there is no guarantee of coming out unscathed.]

As the man said that, a blue screen prompt was projected in front of me. 

[Do you wish to exit? (Y/N)]

I chose no. I have arrived here, I must see it till the end. 

There was a slight anxiety of my bad luck flaring up and messing with the trial, but I had to man up and face it. Climbing the Tower was my destiny. 

[The tutorial trial spans over one week and consists of three sections: Combat, Logic, and Teamwork.]

[You will be informed when you achieve the minimum score required to either exit or continue for a higher score.]

[Greater scores yield greater rewards.]

[Note that you cannot exit mid-trial and remember—failure could result in death.]

[Proceed with caution.]

When he was done with the speech, the curtain of pixels scattered down and I found myself standing in a forest, under the canopy of tall trees. 

[Beginning the trial — Forest of Valor.]