Whoever desires to become a god, descend the Tower of Nightmares and adopt a unique craving!
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When Sonny opened his eyes, he found himself standing in an endless expanse of white.
Completely white.
Everywhere he looked, the color dominated the walls, the floor, the sky, if such things even existed here.
Was this space infinite? If so, where did it begin, and where did it end?
No, that couldn't be right. A place like this wouldn't represent "Infinity," especially not on a mere starter floor. Maybe something like that awaited at the bottom of the Tower, but Sonny couldn't say for sure.
After all, this was his first time stepping into the Tower.
"Wh… who's that guy? What's with his outfit?"
"Someone entered the Tower? At this hour?"
"Wait a second… I don't see a party with him. Did he come alone?"
Turning his head, Sonny noticed a dozen people staring at him in surprise.
He frowned.
Why are they looking at me like that?
Wait… someone mentioned my outfit. I don't think there's anything wrong with it.
Many people entered the Tower daily, but few ever drew this much attention.
So why was he any different?
There was a simple answer to it. It was common knowledge that Hunters entering the Tower at this time of day usually formed parties through the Guild Association beforehand.
The reason behind this was simple. It was particularly rare for a Hunter to challenge the Tower alone. First of all, what would happen if you found yourself trapped in a dangerous situation with no one around to help? And secondly, what if you sustained a fatal injury and there was no healer present to cast a healing spell?
Naturally, there were many benefits to challenging the Tower solo. However, the disadvantages of going solo even outshined them.
Which was why they were so surprised to see someone enter the Tower alone, without a squad or a party.
Sonny quickly caught on to their line of thinking, but there wasn't much he could do about it.
'Hmm. There are more people here than I expected.'
Looking around, he took in the vastness of the white room. It was shaped like a dome, spacious enough to accommodate thousands of people.
The place buzzed with activity. Some Hunters were sharpening their weapons with whetstones, others were stretching or doing warm-up exercises. A few rested in one corner, while some sat quietly with serious injuries like missing limbs, bloodied bandages, and all.
What stood out the most was the diversity. People from all over the world had gathered here. Sonny could easily identify Americans, Koreans, Japanese, and many others from different nationalities.
Not that it surprised him.
After all, the various Towers scattered across the globe were merely gateways, teleportation mechanisms that all funneled Hunters into one place: the main Tower.
For reasons still unknown, that Tower had chosen to appear in London.
Disregarding that truth, Sonny paid no attention to the glances the so-called Hunters were throwing his way.
'There's nothing interesting here.'
If any of them could hear his thoughts, they'd probably call him arrogant, but it was simply the painful truth.
Most of the people here were dropouts or more accurately, beginners who had barely survived the brutal lower Floors and managed to escape with their lives.
These were the ones who had given up on challenging the Tower, now waiting for the teleportation sequence in the safe zone to return them home.
Floors 1 through 10 were often called the "beginner floors" or the "tutorial." But unlike a video game, this tutorial was deadly and a person could easily lose their life if they weren't careful.
Many of the people in the white room had already braved the horrors of the Tower, only to return broken. They had lost companions and loved ones right before their eyes, and in the face of that trauma, they chose to retreat. Honestly, Sonny couldn't blame them; anyone would be exhausted after going through that.
The deeper one delved into the Tower, the harsher and more unforgiving it became.
Naturally, many chose to quit. And if he let himself dwell too much on their stories, it would only serve to distract him.
Looking at them, Sonny couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.
He wasn't sure what he had expected but at the very least, he didn't think the Hunters would be this fragile.
What was the point of transcending their human limits and stepping into a higher territory… if their resolve could be shaken by the loss of a few limbs?
'Wait... What the hell am I even thinking?'
Sonny blinked, momentarily taken aback by his own thoughts.
Certainly, he had no right to be thinking that way, especially when he was still just a mere Level 0.
...Well, he was somewhat a unique Level 0 Sleeper.
Remaining idle for a while, Sonny eventually snapped out of his reverie and decided to search for the pathway leading to the First Floor.
As he walked with a calm, graceful stride, he stopped paying attention to the lingering Hunters and instead struck up a quiet conversation with his AI assistant, Warp, using their mental link. After all, it would've been strange to pull out a smartphone inside the Tower.
But just as he was settling into the rhythm, Sonny came to a halt, drawn by a sudden commotion up ahead.
"Hey! We need one more person to complete our party!"
"We'll take anyone, regardless of rank. We just need a Supporter!"
"If you're interested, hurry! We're leaving in the next three minutes!"
The source of the noise was a group of four men, clearly prepared for a small expedition. At a glance, it was easy to tell they were fairly well-equipped.
Judging by their attire, armor, and overall presence, Sonny quickly identified their roles: one was a Magician, another wielded a Roman rifle, likely an Archer, and the third was clearly a Striker.
Then there was the man standing at the front.
He looked to be their leader; a striking figure with a powerful build. A large sword hung at his waist, hinting at his role. Based on his frame, he was likely a Vanguard, though he could easily pass for a Striker.
Sonny narrowed his eyes.
They're scouting for a Supporter? How strange.
As if on cue, Warp's voice echoed through their personal mental link:
[Master, what's a Supporter?]
'Ah, I thought you already knew.' Sonny replied mentally. 'Well, to put it simply, a Supporter is a Hunter whose role is to pick up dropped items and carry the group's supplies.'
[Eh? I don't get it. Can't they just carry their stuff themselves?]
Already expecting that kind of response from his AI assistant, Sonny sighed.
'It's not that simple. If carrying supplies were that easy, everyone would just do it. Sure, having a dimensional storage item would be ideal, but those things are insanely rare and even more ridiculously expensive. Most Hunters don't have that kind of money.'
He clicked his tongue and scratched his head before continuing.
'Besides, it'd be trouble for me if I bought one and someone higher-ranked got jealous and tried to take me down.'
Sonny shook his head and resumed his explanation.
'That's why the Supporter role exists. Groups aiming to reach the deeper floors naturally spend longer periods in the Tower. They need more supplies like water and food rations to sustain themselves. According to the articles I read online, though, Awakened can go without food or water for extended periods, but the limit depends on their level and individual traits.'
He shrugged.
'Anyway, Supporters are actually crucial for large parties who spend a lot of time grinding and farming experience deep within the Tower.'
[Hmm. I pretty much understand everything now. But something is odd. If they were looking for a supporter, why didn't they do so at the Association?]
'I was wondering the same.'
Sonny frowned.
Upon closer inspection, those particular Hunters were likely around Level 2, while the leader gave off the presence of a Level 3, judging by the weight of their spirit pressure alone.
But that raised a question, how was he able to gauge their level so precisely just by sensing it?
He didn't have a concrete answer. If he had to guess, it was probably instinctual, a byproduct of his unusually high spirit power.
Could this also be part of his so-called uniqueness?
The young Sleeper had no proof, but the thought lingered.
Returning to the matter at hand, the behavior of the group of men struck Sonny as particularly strange and even a bit suspicious. Just as Warp had pointed out, if they were seriously searching for a Supporter, they should've gone through the Guild Association.
Of course, there was always the possibility that their assigned Supporter had died, either by accident or during a bloody skirmish. But even then, the circumstances surrounding such a death would be questionable.
Typically, the responsibility of a Supporter's safety technically fell on themselves. Even so, most parties would make at least some effort to protect them. After all, bringing a Supporter down to the lower floors was already considered a dangerous gamble.
In truth, few Hunters ever chose to take on the role of a Supporter for deep dives. It was seen by many as a suicidal endeavor. But there would always be those desperate enough to accept the risk, chasing a slightly better paycheck than what they could get from daily work.
'Either way, it's none of my business.'
With his next move already decided, Sonny pulled up his hood to conceal his face and made his way toward the passage leading to the First Floor.
As Sonny stepped into the passage, the noise behind him gradually faded, replaced by a low hum that resonated through the narrow corridor. The white light of the waiting dome gave way to a shifting glow that lined the crystalline walls of the hallway. It felt almost like walking through the throat of some dormant beast.
The corridor reacted to his presence as he moved forward.
After a short while, the space widened, opening into a larger chamber that was vastly different from the pristine dome he'd just left behind.
This new area was rugged and raw. Jagged rocks jutted from the floor and ceiling, and the air held a stale, iron-like scent. The atmosphere was thick, pressing in on him like the weight of a storm cloud about to burst. If the white dome had been a sterile sanctuary, this place seemed to be a silent battlefield.
There was a rumble ahead. It sounded like footsteps.
Sonny paused, his senses sharpening like the edge of a blade. He leaned into the corner of a rock outcrop and narrowing his eyes.
Several figures emerged from the gloom up ahead. Another party, five in number, each carrying weapons that had clearly seen blood. Their armor was scorched and dented, with grim expressions etched on their faces.
They looked like survivors of a bloody slaughter.
"I told you that wasn't a normal spawn rate! The Fifteenth Floor's supposed to be manageable! What the hell happened back there?" snapped a young woman clad in a tattered crimson cloak that draped over her upper body and arms, flowing down her back. The edges of the cloak was burned or torn in wild, flame-like shapes that exposed patches of her tanned skin. Her hair, a light pink hue, was tied back with black hairpins, and her brown eyes burned with noticeable frustration.
Given the wooden staff she gripped tightly in one hand and her minimalist attire, she was clearly a magician. Surprisingly, she seemed to be around his age.
"Shut it," growled the tank, who was a towering man with a shield twice as broad as his body.
"Oh yeah? Tell that to poor James, who got torn apart thanks to your brilliant plan," she shot back mockingly as she threw a hand up in exaggerated sarcasm.
That definitely struck a nerve.
"You little brat—" the tank snarled and clenched his fists.
'Looks like a fight would be starting soon.'
Still hidden, Sonny watched the scene unfold and waited in anticipation. Unfortunately, the fight he desired to see did not emerge.