The greatest lies are the ones we tell to ourselves.

Herbert Meadows - Father

My great surprise, I was still alive when I woke up. Not that I would wake up if I was dead.

I was in… a dungeon? Did they seriously throw me into a dungeon? I had read many stories where people were thrown into dungeons, just not quite this kind of dungeon.

Looking around I found a familiar stone table and next to it was a metal gate blocking the exit. Pulling up my map I could see that I was still in the sect compound. Even more concerning was the fact that there was a marker for the floor exit portal marked near the entrance to the sect. Someone must have picked up the message and that counted as completing the floor. The icon for the hidden item was located near me, over where the stone table was. I had little desire to complete another dungeon. Unfortunately there was a metal gate barring me from leaving the dungeon.

What sort of gate could hold me in the dungeon? Either the people who had put me here underestimated my strength or the gate was made of something stronger than normal metal. Kicking at the bars only managed to hurt my foot. I tried pulling the bars apart but they didn’t budge.

My bag storage bag was still with me and I didn't look like there's any traps in the immediate area. If I didn’t know better I would assume that they threw in here just to get me out of the way.

I looked over and used my scan ability on the stone table.

Earth Dungeon: Ice Hammer Sect Training Dungeon

Difficulty: ★★★

Goal: Dependent on floor cleared.

Dungeon Record: Floor 50 (complete)

Current Location: Floor 1

Since it was only a three-star dungeon they weren't trying to kill me. If the way back was blocked I guess I could take some time to sit and cultivate. There was a temptation to go fight in the dungeon to relieve my frustration in being locked in here. Nothing blew off steam better than destroying some monsters.

I pulled out Gregor's sword and looked at it. The sinking sensation returned to my gut and I put the sword back in my bag.

Maybe it was better to just sit and cultivate. I found a comfortable position and tried to clear my mind. Unfortunately the silence of the dungeon and the attempt to calm my thoughts only allowed me to reflect on the last floor.

I didn't want to face the truth I knew since I arrived on this floor. The head demon I had faced was carrying Gregor's sword. I decapitated that demon only to find the sword next to Gregor's headless corpse.

The truth was right there screaming at me. I knew there had been a demon on that island.

Galactic Standard. There's only one way I could have learned it. I wanted to ignore my skill description.

Skill: Let Your Sword Do the Translating

After killing 100 enemies who speak the same language you are able to speak and read the language like a native.

One hundred. No, it wasn't just 100. It was at least 100.

Something in me tightened. My hands started shaking as a feeling of suffocation came over me. Tight ragged breaths came out of me. They sounded more like sobs. They were sobs. Dear goddess, I was crying. I had to do something, anything. I pushed myself to my feet.

No. Not now. Not yet. I just had to push through. I just had to fight.

But wasn't fighting what got me here in the first place?

That didn't matter. The fight, the battle. I just needed a battle. Just another obstacle to overcome. I wanted to fight. I needed to fight. This time there would be no blade in my hand. I don't want to see any blade.

The shaking was worse now. Thoughts were coming up. Visions of people. People crying, people begging. An old man kneeling before me, fear in his eyes.

No. I just need a distraction. Just need to think of the good things in life. But what is good in life?

I turned looking for a way to escape but the only way out was barred. I fled into the dungeon.

I ran and I ran. I could feel it. It was chasing me. It was great and massive and dense. It threatened to consume me if I slowed or I turned to confront it.

I ran faster and faster.

A large bear rushed at me as I turned the corner. But it wasn't the real monster here. I dash passed it but it turned and gave chase.

It was fast. In fact it was faster than me. As I ran I dodged and jumped. I used every trick I could think of to evade it but it was always right there.

Level 130 Cave Bear

Holy crap, what was a monster like being in a three-star dungeon. It was twice my level, there's no way I was going to beat it.

I turned around another corner and saw stairs leading downward. I dash for the staircase and the bear stopped.

Floor 1 complete.

Now what?

Surprisingly my heart felt steady and my mind felt clear. Running for my life distracted me from…from…now it's not the time to think about that.

I couldn't sit here. I couldn't wait and be left with my thoughts. If the way back was death, then the only way was forward. I ran down the steps. To the second floor.

The passageway on the second floor was wider than the first and I was able to spot the bear this time after walking for a while. Since I wasn’t running I was able to stop and plan how to get around it. Just as I was about to move forward, a second bear turned the corner. A quick scan showed me that both bears were level 130.

I wanted a distraction but playing tag with two bears was not it. I turned around and started running back to the staircase leading to the first floor. Luckily the bears did not see me or give chase.

Sitting in the stairway I knew I had three choices. I could continue forward to the second floor and try to dodge around the pair of bears and likely get eaten. I could return to the first floor and fight the bear there even though I would have to use a sword. Or I could sit and confront my past and personal demons.

I went back to the first floor.

I didn't want to use Gregor's sword or the sword I carried on the last floor, and instead pulled out a trusty sword-ax. Surprisingly the bear was not waiting for me as I stepped on to the first floor. It looked like it had returned to the area where it first met me, so I cautiously made my way down the passage.

It had its back to me when I found it. I wasted no time and threw the sword-ax at its back side. My aim and form were perfect, but instead of sinking into the bear, it bounced harmlessly off of its flesh. Turning with a roar, the bear charged me. If the sword-ax wasn’t strong enough to break its skin, I would have to use either my sword or Gregor's.

Ignoring the nausea, I pulled my sword for my bag and thrusted it at the charging cave bear. I missed its neck but manded to hit it squarely in the shoulder. And my blade shattered.

Then the bear ran me over as its claws tore into my side, opening my armor and flesh. Luckily it couldn't slow its mass down quickly as it finished running over me and I was able to pull myself back up before it turned around. Since I had no other choice, I pulled Gregor's sword for my bag.

I wish I could say that the sword felt wrong in my hands or that I felt unworthy to wield it. Neither was true. It was as if the sword had been made for me instead of him. The grip perfectly matched my hand and the balance was slightly to the tip, just how I preferred.

I didn’t have any time to get comfortable with the weapon as the bear was already upon me. Diving to the side I managed to finally damage the bear as the sword opened a gash on one of its legs. Once cut the leg gave way and the bear fell to its side rolling with its momentum. I dashed forward and plunged the sword into the bear's heart. Despite the lethal blow it still managed to swipe at me one more time, tearing a chunk from my left arm.

Enemy defeated. 5,000 exp awarded.

I held pressure over my wound until my natural regeneration healed it. Luckily the wound did not seem to be counted as great enough to get a recovery penalty like my prior broken bones.

I cut into the bear and pulled out its mana gem.

I looked at the mana gem and reviewed my experience notification. All of this had to be training for something. But that did matter anymore. I just had to get out of the Tower. I now knew I had only spent a month on the last floor. The Klawn Aerd did give me one useful piece of knowledge: I couldn't wait around. If I continue to drag my feet while climbing the Tower, I would miss too much of my family and friends’ lives by the time I managed to defeat all hundred floors.

And in order to climb the Tower faster I needed levels. What better place is there to earn experience than a dungeon? I turned and moved on to the second floor.

It was 5 days later before I came across something that surprised me on the 35th floor.

Name: Mark Briben

Level 200 Cultivator

Sect: Ice Hammer

Disposition: Confused

“Young one, what are you doing here?” the old man asked.

“This one was tossed into this dungeon after a disagreement with a sect member,” I said, deciding to be truthful.

At level 200, there was nothing that I could do to defeat this cultivator. The cave bears were on the very edge of my ability to defeat and if they had the intellect of a human I would be completely outmatched. All of the training from the butler came rushing back to my mind. It was better to be honest and respectful than to offend him.

“A disagreement? Are you saying you are not a member of my Ice Hammer Sect?”

I quickly gave a summary of my role in delivering a message and the interaction with the cultivator. As I talked, I could see disappointment and anger in the older cultivator's eyes.

“To think that my Ice Hammer Sect would fall so low as to attack a messenger and then imprison him in our dungeon. I will make sure that the ones who were responsible understand the shame they have brought upon me and this sect.”

“Would the great master be so kind as to let this one out of the dungeon?” I asked.

“It is the least I could do for this dishonor. If my sect had not disrespected you so greatly and sewed the seeds of animosity, I would invite you to join us. Be that as it may, I cannot create discord and must instead offer this small token in way of an apology.”

With that he pulled a ring from his little finger. He pressed his thumb against the small jewel before grasping my hand to put it on my finger.

Item: Storage Ring.

While not stylish, this ring holds great value, depending on what is stored within, Items can be summoned directly into your hand. To bind to you, place a drop of blood on the jewel.

Storage space: 10,000 cubic feet

Well it had a greater capacity than my storage back. Additionally I did not need to carry the bag into battle.

Before I could say anything else the master picked me up as if I was a small child and dashed through the dungeon. Most of my time spent descending the dungeon was moving through the long winding passages and not fighting the ever-increasing amount of cave bears. Yet, that distance didn't seem to matter to the master as we practically flew through the dungeon and we soon arrived at the entrance. He set me down as he reached forward to open the gate. I moved over to the stone table and tried to discreetly reach for the items that appeared. It was even more potions and mana gems.

Items absorbed. [??]% complete to unlock skill [??????]

Once more a dungeon’s rewards were taken from me. I turned and followed after the older cultivator.

Luckily the cultivator did not pick me up again as we exited the dungeon. He motioned for me to follow as he briskly walked to the entrance to the sect. Half an hour later we crossed through the courtyard where I'd fought the young man. The exit portal stood close to where I had been knocked unconscious. I barely had to veer off the path to step into the portal.

Floor 9 complete!

Rewards: — Items absorbed. 100% complete. Skill unlocked: Divine Battle Chant.