The following morning, a faint glow of the sun crept through the gaps in the shed's wooden walls, beaming on Fugo's face.
It woke him up.
Once he sat up, he first noticed the empty space beside him. His wife Lina was already gone.
It had become routine for her to leave early, long before the estate was even stirred to life. The next thing he noticed was a delicious smell, causing his stomach to growl. On the small wooden table near the door was a steaming bowl of soup waiting to be eaten.
Under the bowl was a simple note written by Lina.
"Good luck today, Fugo. You've got this."
Fugo's heart swelled, both from the encouragement and the bittersweetness of her support. He picked up the bowl, savoring each sip. It wasn't much—just a simple vegetable soup—but it was enough to remind him of why he needed to succeed.
"Today's the day," he muttered, setting the empty bowl aside. The shed was quiet except for the faint chirping of birds outside.
He stood, brushing off his clothes, and glanced at the dagger sheathed at his waist—the same one Ericka Hersches had given him so many years ago.
As he tied his boots and adjusted his gear, a deep breath steadied his resolve.
"Time to prove them all wrong."
The path to the tower's entrance was quiet in the early hours, the streets of Loria still waking. Vendors were setting up stalls, their cheerful banter filling the air. Fugo spotted Renjiro first, leaning casually against a lamp post near the massive archway that led to the Emberstone Keep Gate.
"About time!" Renjiro called out.
"Thought you chickened out on me."
Fugo shook his head, "Not a chance. Where's Kael and Irene?"
Renjiro pointed ahead, where Kael was pacing just outside the entrance gate, his bow slung over his shoulder. Irene was standing next to him, zipping up her backpack.
"They've been here for a bit," Renjiro said as they walked over.
The entrance itself was a massive gate, etched with glowing runes that pulsed faintly. The closer they got, the more Fugo felt the weight of the tower's presence—it was almost as if it were alive, watching them.
Kael glanced at the group, "Everyone ready? We've got two floors to tackle, and I'd rather not see anyone get hurt on the first day."
"Don't worry, with Fugo here, we'll be fine." Irene boasted with confidence.
"Hear that Fugo? You're the team's secret weapon now." Renjiro teased.
Fugo smiled nervously, gripping the hilt of his dagger.
"I'll do my best."
The four stepped into the Spiral Tower, their footsteps echoing faintly in the vast, crystalline expanse. The walls pulsed with a faint blue glow, casting shifting patterns of light that made the space feel both otherworldly and alive.
They made their best efforts to move quietly but every sound—boots scraping, the faint jingle of gear—seemed to amplify in the eerie stillness.
Fugo was already sweating, his heartbeat racing with the anticipation of unseen threats.
"Stay in formation," Renjiro commanded.
He led at the front beside Fugo, Irene walking securely in the middle, and Kael guarding the rear.
They advanced cautiously, the oppressive silence only deepening their focus.
Just as a sense of confidence began to settle over the group, Renjiro abruptly raised his hand.
"Finally!" he sighed.
Everyone froze.
A droplet of water fell from the ceiling, splashing onto the ground just ahead. Renjiro's gaze shot upward, followed by Kael's. Their expressions hardened as they spotted the source --- a massive spider, nearly six feet tall.
"Gross," Kael sighed.
The spider clung to the ceiling with crimson eyes sparkling, as if it was rapidly blinking its eyes. Drool hung in thick strands from its grotesque mouth and fell on the ground.
"What now?" Fugo asked the others.
Irene stepped forward, "You're going to work of course."
"I've got something for you."
She closed her eyes, extending her hand as mana began to swirl around her fingertips.
"Craftsman Summoning," she murmured. A low hum resonated in the air, growing in intensity before a flash of light erupted. A sword materialized before them, embedding itself into the ground.
CLANG!
Irene's gaze shifted to Fugo again. "Use it."
Fugo hesitated, swallowing hard before reaching for the weapon.
"It was pretty heavy the last time."
"This one's lighter, trust me," Irene reassured him.
The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, a strange sensation washed over him, like the sword was alive, its energy syncing with his own.
Renjiro stepped aside with a smirk. "You're up, Fugo. Show us what you can do."
The spider scuttled along the ceiling with alarming speed before spewing a thick mass of webbing that splattered across the path ahead, forming a blockade.
Kael ran and touched the barricade, examining the thickness of the webs.
"Dense, but manageable. I've seen worse."
Fugo nodded, his grip tightening around the blade.
He took a swing, then another, feeling the weapon guide his movements. With each motion, the connection deepened, the sword's energy surging through him. He steadied his breathing, blocking out the fear that clawed at his mind.
"Just one good swing," he whispered to himself.
Drawing on every ounce of strength and focus, Fugo slashed upward in a single, decisive motion.
A brilliant arc of light burst from the blade, cutting through the dense webbing and striking the spider with precision.
The creature's head separated cleanly from its body, falling to the ground with a sickening thud.
The group stared in stunned silence for a moment before Irene broke into a grin.
She clapped her hands with her eyes gleaming with pride.
"I knew it! You felt it, didn't you!?" Irene congratulated.
She jumped on Fugo's back, hugging him tightly from behind in pure joy. The day came at last. Someone, a living person, was capable of using Irene's magic sword.
It was only a small thing, and Irene felt like it was the best moment of her life.
Fugo was unable to break free from her grip, so he let her stay in comfort for a bit longer.
"You're a heaven-sent." Irene smiled.
"The way you handled that without me even explaining what it does proves it. They belong to you, Fugo, you and I are destined for one another."
Fugo scratched the back of his neck, his cheeks flushing faintly.
"It's just the sword."
Irene laughed, shaking her head. "No, it is you. But the sword does not hurt."
While the others were distracted, Kael took the liberty of collecting the shard that came from the spider's body, vanishing into smoke. It was a common occurrence in the Tower, where monsters die and leave valuable items in their stead.
Renjiro clapped Fugo on the shoulder. "First kill in the Spiral Tower. You're off to a good start."
Not long after, a horde of boars charged through the remnants of the webbing, their tusks as long as adult arms.
At the same time, Kael spotted two more spiders advancing from the shadows, one on the wall to their left while the other was on the ceiling.
"Two more spiders."
Kael drew his bow and shot a few arrows at the spider on the wall, resulting in a headshot. The second spider managed to fire a sticky web while Kael focused on the other, snagging his boot.
"Really?", Kael shot the spider on the ceiling directly in its head, causing it to fall down as a fresh corpse.
Meanwhile, Renjiro and Fugo faced the charging boars. Renjiro moved with precision, his sword slicing through their ranks. Fugo, though less experienced, adapted quickly, dodging their initial rushes and striking with well-timed swings. He refrained from using the sword's mana-consuming ability, conserving his limited reserves for emergencies.
"Not bad," Renjiro remarked, cutting down another boar. Fugo managed to dispatch two on his own, his confidence steadily growing.
Further down the path, the party came across a trembling rabbit, its fur pristine white and its small body drenched in sweat. The creature darted frantically, chased by a pack of snarling, grey-furred wolves. Its wide, glossy eyes radiated innocence, giving off no trace of malice.
Irene's expression softened, her lips curving into a rare smile. "Aww, look at it! Go save the poor thing, Fugo."
Fugo stepped forward instinctively, his grip tightening on his sword, but before he could move, Kael grabbed his wrist firmly.
"Like hell you are," Kael said bluntly, his sharp eyes fixed on the rabbit.
"Don't let its looks fool you. That thing lives in the Tower, and if it's here, it's dangerous. Anything in this place should be killed on sight."
Irene puffed out her cheeks in frustration, crossing her arms. "Hmph! He's got a point... I guess," she muttered, though her reluctance was clear.
Renjiro didn't wait for a debate. With a quick burst of movement, he charged ahead, his sword glinting under the Tower's eerie blue light.
He tore through the pack of wolves with precision, each strike efficient and clean.
As the final wolf fell, Renjiro let out a breath, resting his blade on his shoulder.
The brief reprieve was shattered by a sharp screech behind him. He spun around, just in time to see Fugo drive his sword into the rabbit's skull. The creature let out a piercing cry before collapsing, its body dissolving into shimmering dust.
"Huh? What are you doing?" Renjiro asked, blinking in surprise.
Fugo pulled his sword free, his expression calm but focused.
"Sorry. It looked like it was going to lunge at your leg. Its malice was hidden, but it was there."
Renjiro stared at Fugo for a moment before breaking into a grin. He clapped a hand on Fugo's shoulder.
"Good call. You're shaping up to be a reliable frontliner."
"Thanks," Fugo said, his face slightly red.
Renjiro laughed. "Honestly, for someone who came off as nervous and inexperienced, you're a natural with that sword."
Fugo rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "It's not me, really... the sword's just really strong."
"Nah," Renjiro said with a smirk. "I've seen enough swordsmen to know when someone's got talent."
Kael, who had been silently observing, spoke up. "That dagger on your waist—do you consider that your main weapon? Or are you planning to stick with the sword?"
Fugo glanced at the dagger, then back at the sword in his hand. "For now, the sword's fine. If I need to switch later, I'll figure it out."
Kael nodded, "Fair enough. Just make sure you're ready for anything."
By the end of the day, the party explored both the first and second floors of the Spiral Tower.