Return Of The Strongest Player

[New Message]

[Sender: Tower Administration]

[We humbly welcome you to the tower, or Heaven's Spire. Translation devices have been installed into your souls, so our future players will be able to understand texts and voices. The first tutorial will begin shortly, so players can rest in the waiting room until further notice. Here's a tip from one of our executives. Mingle, and make allies.]

[Receiver: Arthur Solace (Newbie)]

As the crimson-eyed man's eyes fluttered open, the translucent, blue screen manifested before his eyes. Arthur let out a sigh before breathing the same, old air that originated from the tutorial world.

The tutorial world, a world constructed by the Tower Administration to test newbies, and determine whether they are 'player material' or not. The selection was tough to pass, and those who survived through the tutorial automatically became players, and were transported to the Outer District, a floor below the first floor.

The screen in front of Arthur's eyes dissolved after a few seconds, and the crimson-eyed man was then shown the entirety of the world. He sat on a black, cushioned bench set up against the back wall. A few meters away, a glass wall covered an area of about a few hundred meters or so. 

The bench was located on the side of a hallway. However, a hundred meter section of the hallway was isolated, and barriers created using mana separated the section from other parts of the area. There were several benches lined up against the same wall, and a few other people sat atop them.

Each second, a bright light would flash, and another newbie would manifest.

'There are… around 30 of us,' thought Arthur. However, at that moment, another newbie spawned, increasing the count to 31. It was a small number, considering there were supposed to be over ten thousand newbies in one tutorial session. However, only a hundred would appear in this specific hallway.

The others would be teleported to a different hallway. The tutorial world was massive, so millions of people competed in the tutorial every single day, and most of them perished during it. It was pitiful.

However, as they say…

At one point, death is not a tragedy, but a statistic.

Tutorials usually lasted between a week and a month, which provided Arthur enough time to hone his skills before arriving at the Outer District. It was a short time to make much progress, but the mana density in the tutorial world–which far surpassed his planet–would definitely assist in his growth.

Since that was the case, he wished to harvest as much as possible.

Assuming a meditative position atop the bench he currently sat on, he began absorbing mana from his surroundings. However, before he entered a state where he couldn't be disturbed, he wished to check his status window.

[Name: Arthur Solace]

[Title: Destroyer Of Schools]

[Physical Age: 19]

[Skills: Judgment Regeneration, Mana Step, Heavenly Sin Manipulation]

'What the fuck is that title?' Arthur thought, scrunching his eyebrows before forming an expression that accurately displayed his sheer bewilderment. He destroyed a school–sure–but it was only once.

Why was he suddenly labeled 'Destroyer Of Schools'?

'I don't care,' thought Arthur, letting out a sigh. It couldn't be changed–at least, not yet.

The crimson-eyed man closed his eyes, allowing the surrounding energy to flop towards his body. He relaxed his body, feeling the touch of the world at his fingertips. It tickled his skin, an unknown sensation rushing across his body.

Suddenly, as Arthur was about to enter a state in which mana absorption would be most efficient, a banging noise caught his attention. He slowly opened his eyes, only to witness a muscular man flinging a lanky man across the hallway.

'Every batch has a few of these,' thought Arthur, letting out a sigh. He was referring to both the bullies and the victims. This was by no means an apocalyptic situation. Each newbie was aware of their situation.

Some were forced into entering the tower, but that did not mean they weren't aware of the situation they were going to be in. Most were prepared before entering the tower, and those who weren't quickly learnt.

Watching the muscular man bully a lanky man, some attempted to stop him, preaching morals.

"Stop that! You realize he's hurting, right?"

"You can't just bully people!"

'They're probably from Earth,' thought Arthur, cracking a smile. He calmly assessed the situation, but had no plans on intervening. This was a battle he did not plan on interfering, solely because of two reasons.

Firstly, he didn't care.

Secondly, he couldn't care less.

"What the fuck are you lot going to do about it?" The muscular man growled. He had black hair, brown eyes, and a peculiar set of ears that protruded a bit more than usual. He seemed to either be on a massive amount of steroids, or a natural mass monster.

He wore a thin, black T-shirt–unlike the others–simply to display his confidence. A single thrust of a sword could end his life, yet he didn't care.

'He's either too strong or too stupid,' thought Arthur. However, the crimson-eyed man wasn't wearing any armor, either. However, he hid the lack of gear by wearing loose robes, turning it into a guessing game.

The tower was about mind games.

The people he'd spoken to shrunk at his words, uncertain of what to say next. Although they had challenged the muscular man, they hadn't expected retaliation. They believed their words would prevent the man from taking action.

But they were mistaken. Reputation mattered, but the muscular man was unknown. Verbally abusing him would do nothing but anger him.

'And here I thought I was under-prepared.'

Suddenly, the muscular man unsheathed a sword from his massive scabbard. He swung it to intimidate those who tried to stop him before aiming it towards the lanky man's throat. 

"When will you pay me back?"

"Tomorrow–"

Stab!

Before the lanky man could reply, the muscular man's blade pierced his eye. The latter withdrew the sword before stabbing the lanky man in several other places… some that weren't worth describing.

After a few seconds, the lanky man was nothing but a pile of disorganized blood and flesh.

This was Heaven's Spire.