Daemon felt a bit stressed after witnessing that propaganda show. The underlying message was simple: the clans and guilds had become so desperate for fresh blood that they were shamelessly lying to the people about the strength of Ascendes.
That meant the status gap between Ascenders and normal people would grow even more, and that thought terrified Daemon. It was already wide enough that, in some cases, Ascenders could even get away with murder.
The realization made him even more certain about entering the Tower. To Daemon, the bridge had been burned at that very moment. Those Clans and Guilds had started to look exactly like the old governments he had read about in history books.
"Where was 'The Avenger' when you needed him most?" Daemon thought bitterly. If The Avenger had been present, those people would never have had the courage to pull that kind of stunt.
Daemon stood across from the police station, still cradling the cup of coffee in his hand. Giving the drink one more intense look, he sighed to himself and started drinking it.
He wasn't a fan of the bitter taste, but it was special to him; he didn't know if he would ever have the chance to drink it again. After all, his life could very well come to an end inside the Tower. Shaking his head and cursing his luck, Daemon finished the coffee and stood up.
"This shitty life be damned, I will change it no matter what happens," he muttered. He stared into the distance and then slapped himself hard in the face to gain some courage. Then, with a stupid, slight grin on his face, he crossed the street and entered the police station.
Inside, an officer gave him a quick glance and frowned. "Have you awakened?" the officer asked. Daemon looked at the officer with curiosity. "Uh, yes. How did you know?"
The officer's expression changed instantly. He looked at the young man one more time. "Are you sure? I don't want to waste my break."
Daemon shrugged his shoulders. "Yes, I awakened last night. But how did you know?"
"For someone like you from the outskirts, who usually avoids the police like the plague, coming here on your own accord could only mean you had awakened. Do you have any proper documentation with you?"
"Not really," Daemon admitted, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.
"I see. I don't know why I even bother to ask. Come with me, we need to complete some forms first."
They entered a small office, and the officer began the intake process.
"Name?"
"Daemon."
"Surname?"
"I don't remember having one."
"Age?"
"More or less 17."
The old policeman raised an eyebrow with a sarcastic look. "Born in the Year of the Tower? Aren't you a blessing."
Daemon's mouth twitched. "I hadn't taken you for a jokester."
"Why not?" asked the officer with a grin on his face.
"Because you looked both mean and scruffy."
"I don't just look it, I am," the officer replied matter-of-factly.
"Family to contact?"
"There's none that I'm aware of."
"Life must have been tough, being all alone."
For a second, the look on Daemon's face changed, but he got his emotions under control even faster.
"Alright, Daemon. When do you want to enter the Tower?"
"Uh... the faster the better."
The officer sighed. "I guess that's what youth does to you. So, how much do you actually know about the Tower?"
Daemon gave him a questioning look. "As much as anyone, I guess? Who doesn't know about the Tower?" The old policeman shook his head. "I don't mean the fancy stuff you see on TV. I mean how much do you really know?"
"I know the things I learned in the mandatory classes back in school. I go into the Tower, kill a few monsters, level up, and complete the First Floor trial. Then I receive magic powers and become an Ascender, right?"
The old policeman waited for a second, then nodded and continued. "Listen carefully. Once you get into the Tower, you will be transported inside what us Ascenders call the 'Basement' of the Tower."
"Once you are inside, you will meet monsters, sure, but you will also meet people. Remember, sometimes humans are far more dangerous than the monsters. You might have to kill them."
"Ah, aren't you a policeman? Shouldn't you be advising me to run?" Daemon asked.
The policeman sighed, and a dark look crossed his face. Then his expression turned completely serious. "Close the door. Now listen to me very carefully, okay? Sometimes running is not a solution."
Not waiting for a response, the officer added: "A lot of things about the First Trial depend on luck. Generally, it shouldn't be overwhelmingly hard. The situation you're in, the weapons you have at your disposal, and the creatures you have to defeat are usually within the range of any human's abilities. After all, the Tower is technically here to help us, not to send us to our executions."
"It shouldn't be overwhelmingly hard... are you kidding me?" Daemon replied with a look that clearly asked if the man took him for an idiot. "800 million people died seventeen years ago during the first trial."
"Calm yourself, Daemon. As bad as it may sound, those 800 million people died because they had no idea what they were entering. They were arrogant, and they were most definitely delusional. You just need to be careful and also not overthink things too much. The first trial is definitely passable; I passed it myself, and I am only an F-grade talent—granted, a combat-oriented one—but still, it should show you that it is not impossible."
The officer leaned forward slightly. "Now, about those 'magic powers' you mentioned... you will indeed receive them if you survive until you level up and earn yourself the right to have a class. For the first time, the Tower will show you the classes that are most appropriate for you. When that moment arrives to choose a class, try choosing one of the recommended ones."
"Why?" Daemon asked. "I have never learned about this before."
"Because it is nothing more than an unverified theory between Ascenders at the moment," the officer explained.
"An unverified theory?"
"Yes. Have you heard about the Ascenders who have leveled up above their rank?"
"Wasn't it just a myth?" Daemon asked, his curiosity piqued.
"No, it has never been just a myth. It is very rare, but it has happened enough that there have been some correlations found between the factors that allowed those Ascenders to level beyond their talent rank. One constant has always been there: they chose the specific class the Tower recommended to them at the beginning."
"I see. Thank you." Daemon was actually very grateful for the information, despite the gratitude not showing on his deadpan face.
"What those powers will be exactly depends on your talent, your classes, and your natural affinity, as well as what you do during the trial," the policeman continued. "Titles, Achievements, and Blessings matter just as much and could change you from a mediocre person into a genius."
The voice of the policeman sounded again: "Remember, the first thing you must do once you are inside the Tower is to check your Talent and try to gain your first level. If you get a combat-oriented Talent, things will be easier for you. If it has an innate ability, then that's even better."
"If you're unlucky and your Talent has nothing to do with combat, do not despair; the trial will still be passable. Those Talents are useful in their own ways; you'll just have to be smart about it and find a party to carry you through."
"I understand," Daemon said.
"Good, then let's go and give you your basic equipment."
Finally, the moment had arrived for the thing that he had actually come there for. Daemon did not particularly care about informing the police; the only reason he had come to inform them was to gain the basic equipment that every Awakened who was going to challenge the Tower was entitled to.
They left for what seemed to be the basement of the police station; there, a heavy vault door was standing. After opening it, the room revealed rows of one-handed swords, two-handed swords, maces, spears, one-handed axes, two-handed axes, large hammers, bows, crossbows, and more.
"Is there a limit to the weapons one can choose?" Daemon asked.
"No, but I advise you against getting too many, as carrying too much weight could be detrimental in cases of emergency."
"I don't see any equipment for mages."
"Even if you have a talent for magic, it will be very hard to perform magic at first; plus, the equipment for mages is very expensive, so it is not being offered here."
"Then what happens to those who awaken a talent for magic but aren't physically gifted?" "Firearms are offered to them instead."
"Really? Can I get one as well?"
"Yes, I will give it to you along with your clothes and the backpack filled with provisions."
Carefully examining each weapon, Daemon knew he needed to take the most basic and intuitive weapon, and also one that offered some protection. He decided on a one-handed sword paired with a shield and, on a whim, he also took a one-handed axe.
"The one-handed sword and shield combination, the most common choice and the least likely to go wrong. But the one-handed axe... I didn't think you had it in you, brat. You might be a beast after all," the officer laughed.
As Daemon finished choosing his weapons, another officer came in with the rest of the equipment: a backpack containing provisions for an entire week, specialized survival clothes, and a holder with a gun and two spare magazines.
"Go and change."
As Daemon changed into the clothes he was a bit overwhelmed, they were the best clothes he had ever put on him, and the boots, man they were amazing.
"Stop gawking, you give me second hand embarrassment." the officer said, though he didn't actually seem to mind the Daemon's reaction.
"Sorry about that."
"Don't be sorry. If you survive, you will be able to buy as many as you want; they are only some softshell impermeable clothes with defenses of a mail armour. Now that everything is prepared, before you leave, do you want to do anything else?"
"Not really."
"Good, do you know the way to enter The Tower?"
"I do." replied Daemon.
"Good, Do it when you are mentally prepared."
Daemon took a deep breath and then he started the ritual chant. "I, Daemon, child of Humanity, wish to enter the Tower and start my path of Ascension."
Just as the last word had left Daemon's mouth, a portal had already started taking shape. Daemon took one last look at the officer, saluted him, and walked toward the swirling portal.
Already half-in the portal, Daemon heard the officer mumble, "Don't die, kid." Daemon smiled and fully entered the portal.
As he entered, everything was plunged into darkness, and he heard a voice ring out:
[Welcome to the Ascension Tower, Child of Humanity, may it witness and record your path of ascension. Prepare yourself for your First Trial...]