It wasn’t long before sunrise come. A black-haired man sitting on his bed with crossed legs opened his eyes. His hands were placed relaxedly on his knees as he breathed deeply. Bit by bit, the sunlight shone through his window and gente warm caressed his skin.

His long and unkempt hair covered half of his face, blocking anyone who tried to take a peek on his expression… not that there’s anyone but him in that room.

The deep black eyes through the gap of his bangs lighten up, filled with expectation and uncertainty. Drowned in his own thoughts, he pondered.

‘How long has I waited for this moment?’

He closed his eyes for a moment before picking up his belongings; leather holster, a satchel, and a short sword made of steel.

He readied his heart and exhaled. Blood pumped from his chest and spread across his body. As the event drawing near, he could felt the doubt and nervousness grew in his heart.

‘The Tower of Nerio, tomorrow will be it.’

He clenched a necklace on his neck, a red crystal tied crudely with a string.

…

He prepared many things. Spare short swords and daggers, herbs of many origins and various effects, it was all stored inside his inventory space. However, not a single one of them contains healing attribute. It was all purely for offense.

Right before the ‘day’, he wanted to take a breather to calm his heart. Everything that he has done, every single action and decision he made, it was all for the sake of tomorrow. The heavy burden that he carried on his back became the very fuel for his motivation, but at the same time he knew that it could also haunt him. The stress and frustration he endured all these years became a double-edged blade, it could either hurt him or hurt his enemies depending on himself.

As he pondered and wandering around without aim on the street, he saw a girl and a bunch of children playing on a park. The girl was slightly older than the other children which made her somewhat more conspicuous than others. The girl was scolding one the children, and the others were laughing.

An ordinary scene. Nothing strange about it. A daily life of ordinary folks in a big city. Everyone would not spare a glance, no reason to do it.

If that was the case, then why can’t he avert his eyes from them? Even as he walked way past them, his eyes wouldn’t listen to him. His heart shook. He understood why.

Nostalgia and sentiments.

A scene that he almost forgot. A livelihood without bloodshed and violence. Innocence of the children who could not tell what is good or bad, only to live in the moment and enjoy the present. A mindset that he envied long time ago and still going until now.

He walked still with his head glancing to the back and accidentally bumped into someone. He fell down on his bottom and panicked. He lifted his head and saw the person he bumped into.

A girl carrying dozens of scrolls inside her backpack. He could tell she was young because he peeked through her bamboo hat from the ground.

The girl didn’t move and stared down at the man before her. Yellow eyes with a slitted pupil glared right into his eyes. She didn’t budge and slowly opened her mouth.

“Eyes on the road will ya.”

It was more of an order instead of a question.

The man who fell on his but let out an awkward smile and apologized.

“I’m sorry, I will be more careful next time.”

Just as the girl about to leave, she noticed something on the floor. An item that fell from the man’s pocket. A copper emblem engraved with a seal.

“That…”

“Ah.”

The man hurriedly picked the copper emblem and put it inside his pocket. The girl with an incredulous expression couldn’t help but to ask the man.

“You are also a participant?”

“T-that’s correct.”

“Why didn’t you put it inside your inventory? Such an important item…”

“My inventory is full.”

The girl lifted one of her eyebrow.

‘How can it be full? Are you carrying a mountain inside your inventory?’

“Even if that’s the case, that emblem is not something that you should carry outside of your inventory. What if it got stolen?”

“Hahaha, who would steal a copper emblem?”

What he said has some truth in it. A copper emblem is the ‘entrance ticket’ for people to participate inside the Tower of Nerio. It is however, the lowest tier of all. Gold, silver, copper, this man is on the weakest side.

To obtain a copper emblem, a test would be carried out by the Sage of Bitia herself. The gold, silver and copper emblems would be created and handled to the people who passed the tests. People who completed the tests will receive the emblem together with a reward according to their tier.

However, the word ‘test’ is merely formality. The truth is anyone can obtain the emblem directly by buying them. The ‘test’ they are facing is nothing more than aptitude test on their attribute. People who are ‘average’, ‘above average’, or ‘strong’, they can obtain them after their aptitude has been recorded. In a way, selling your own information for the emblem.

In fact, obtaining them isn’t that hard at all. The emblem that has been given will not be returned, thus decreasing their scarcity… for every 100 years. The event has been held numerous times, even searching for people who possess a golden emblem wouldn’t be that hard if one put efforts into it.

‘But this man… he said something peculiar… hmm…’

The man told her that his inventory is ‘full’ and ‘nobody would steal a copper emblem’. She felt something sprouted within her. Doubt.

“Not even a child would put such thing outside the inventory space.”

“As I said, it’s full.”

“How can it be full?”

“What do you want me to say?”

The man in front of her became annoyed. The girl felt even more curious. What could an ordinary person with a copper emblem fill his inventory with? And how can he filled his inventory to maximum capacity?

The man stared back at her eyes directly and she could feel something unusual of him.

‘What is it? I’m not scared, but… what is this?’

The man felt stranger by the second. Her sense of curiosity was tingling.

“Hey, who are you really?”

“A man who was born far from here. What’s that behind you? Why are you carrying that many scrolls outside your inventory space, huh?”

“They are not any ordinary scrolls idiot.”

“...You… what?”

The girl didn’t respond and left the place silently.

“...weird kid.”

The man tapped the dust out of his clothes and continued wandering around the area. He walked through many markets and other parks. Silently looking around the place, confirming that he prepared every single item that he needed.

He returned to his room in a small hotel double checked his inventory and nodded to himself.

Through the window, he can see the Tower of Nerio protruding mightily, piercing the night sky. Surrounding it were halo rings made of complex rune, protecting it from intruders, demons, and monsters.

“...”

The end is near, or so he thought. In a few more hours, the sun will rise once more, marking the beginning of the new ‘protagonist’, and a new faction will soon rise no matter who got chosen.

‘I won’t let it happen.’

The night sky somehow looked especially stunning for him. Many stars in many colors twinkled, it reminded him of a distant memory.

‘The bridge between realms, a pillar of light surrounded by many particle of lights seeking salvation…’

An image forever burned inside him.

Many years has passed, he learned a lot of things and experienced what others could not. It made him unique, but he knew better than anyone that he is not special. Everyone that breathes will one day, stops.

But there is something that he must do. After everything that has happened, this time, he wanted to do something properly. An end that he desired, even if the odds are unlikely.

No, unlikely is a severe understatement. It is basically beyond impossible, perhaps even for the sage.

But he will do it.

‘But I will do it.’

Despite the odds are against him, he will fight.

“...”

And so, the sun has risen. The hue of the sky changed, and along with it was people’s heart and mind. Those who prepared themselves for years might felt doubt and fear, and those who just suddenly decided to enter might be more calmer than others.

Resting his necklace on his chest, he felt his heart beating.

‘Why am I so calm and relaxed?’

It is simple.

‘For I am the fateless one. Odds and probability are meaningless before me.’

The time has come to fill his promise.