Re-Awakening: Cannon Fodder With Strongest Talent Chapter 161: Tower, Status

Human: Ethan Brandon>

On their way to the tower, Ethan and his little dragon—which he had nad Rambo—had fought many powerful monsters that road the increasingly dangerous territory surrounding the legendary structure. The journey through hostile terrain had provided substantial advancent opportunities.

The Tier 7 through Tier 9 herbs had triggered dramatic improvents beyond his previous Low-Platinum capabilities. Each specin consud had pushed his attributes toward higher numbers while creating qualitative enhancents in his core magical systems.

His intelligence attribute had broken through into Mid-Platinum territory at 550 points, creating ntal processing capabilities that approached supernatural levels. Complex spellwork now activated through instinctive understanding, his mana regeneration, reserves had also improved.

Strength, agility, and vitality had all crossed the over the 500-point threshold. His enhanced constitution could now survive direct impacts that would level mountains while regenerative systems coupled his regeneration talent was scary.

Health and mana pools had expanded proportionally to 5,250 and 5,500 respectively.

His skill mastery had evolved through sustained high-level encounters with increasingly powerful opponents. Basic Footwork had reached 5% Apprentice level while Swordsmanship approached the Novice rank ceiling at 90% completion. Most importantly, Mana Control had achieved 2% Apprentice mastery, aning waste elimination and precision had improved immsensely.

Several specific monster encounters had provided evolutionary advancent opportunities that transcended simple attribute increases. Creatures whose talents aligned with his existing collection had offered enhancent through systematic devouring of their specialized capabilities.

A Platinum-rank Storm Hawk had provided Wind talent evolution from E to D- grade.

The creature’s mastery of air currents and pressure differentials had integrated with his existing knowledge to create enhanced environntal control.

Speed talent had evolved from E to D grade through consumption of a Lightning Serpent whose velocity was incredibly high.

Most importantly, Regeneration had jumped from F to D grade through encounter with a gold-rank Troll whose healing capabilities were simply insane. Ethan had thought that anyone in the sa rank would struggle to kill the troll without breaking its core.

"D grade Speed and Wind talents combined with D Regeneration," Ethan assessed as they approached the tower’s imdiate vicinity.

...

Arriving near the coordinates where the tower was ant to be, Ethan spotted a huge structure stretching impossibly high into the sky. The tower disappeared into cloud cover with no visible peak, its dark stone surface gleaming with runic inscriptions that seed to shift and flow like living text.

Ethan let out an exasperated breath before accelerating toward the destination with renewed urgency. The journey had taken longer than anticipated due to increasingly powerful creature encounters, but the sight of their goal eliminated concerns about lost ti.

As they approached the tower’s imdiate vicinity, Ethan realized the structure wasn’t standing in isolation. Hundreds of people moved around its base like ants surrounding a monuntal hive, their presence transforming what should have been a desolate testing ground into sothing resembling a bustling marketplace.

Rambo chirped with curiosity from his perch on Ethan’s shoulder, the Blood Dragon’s intelligence processing the unexpected social dynamics. This wasn’t the isolated trial location they had anticipated.

Surprisingly, the atmosphere appeared entirely peaceful. Warriors from different territories mingled without visible hostility while rchants hawked their wares from temporary stalls. The scene resembled a festival rather than a competitive gathering around legendary advancent opportunities.

"Interesting," Ethan murmured as he studied the crowd composition. "Cooperation rather than conflict. There must be external enforcent preventing violence."

Temporary structures dotted the landscape around the tower’s base—rchant stalls, equipnt vendors, and what appeared to be lodging facilities for extended stays. Soone had established comrcial infrastructure that suggested regular traffic rather than sporadic visits.

Walking through the organized chaos, Ethan attracted imdiate attention from nearby vendors who recognized the telltale signs of a wealthy custor. His equipnt, bearing, and the obviously powerful companion marked him as soone with resources worth pursuing.

"Young adventurer!" called out a heavyset rchant from behind a stall loaded with gleaming weapons and armor. "You’ve co to the legendary tower! Perfect timing—I have exactly what you need for the trials ahead!"

The man’s enthusiasm seed genuine despite obvious comrcial motivation. His stall contained equipnt that bore enhancent enchantnts suggesting high-tier craftsmanship, while pricing boards indicated substantial investnt requirents.

Ethan approached with casual interest, his enhanced perception analyzing both the rchandise and the rchant. Information gathering often requires appearing receptive to sales presentations.

"Impressive collection," he said conversationally, examining a sword that humd with contained magical energy. "These enhancent levels suggest access to master craftsn."

"Absolutely correct!" the rchant bead with professional pride. "Everything here is specifically designed for tower trials. Standard equipnt fails on these floors—only specialised gear survives the advanced challenges."

Rambo studied the weapons with obvious disdain, the Blood Dragon’s SSS-rank capabilities making most equipnt irrelevant for their partnership. But the creature remained silent while Ethan gathered intelligence through comrcial interaction.

"The tower trials require specialized preparation?" Ethan asked with carefully asured curiosity.

"Oh yes, absolutely essential," the rchant replied eagerly. "But first, let explain the most important rule—see that shimring barrier around the entire area?"

Ethan’s enhanced perception detected the subtle energy field that encompassed roughly a kiloter radius around the tower’s base. The magical frawork created a do of protection that explained the peaceful coexistence among potentially hostile factions.

"Safe zone," the rchant continued with obvious relief. "Complete prohibition on violence, theft, or hostile action. The tower itself enforces these restrictions—anyone who breaks the peace faces imdiate punishnt and permanent access denial."

"Convenient for those around the tower," Ethan observed while testing the weight of an enhanced dagger.

"Exactly! Creates stable trading environnt where adventurers can prepare properly without worrying about territorial conflicts or equipnt theft." The rchant gestured toward the bustling marketplace with proprietary satisfaction. "Been operating here for three years without a single violent incident."

Rambo’s head tilted with interest as magical enforcent explained the cooperative atmosphere. Even territorial Lords with historical conflicts could interact peacefully under such comprehensive protection.

"What about tower access requirents?" Ethan continued, maintaining his pose as potential custor.

"Platinum rank minimum," the rchant replied with professional authority. "The tower’s assessnt systems won’t even open the entrance for anyone below that threshold. Gold-rank warriors can stand right against the door—nothing happens."

"And current progression records?"

The rchant’s expression grew more animated as he entered his elent of specialized knowledge. "Now that’s the truly impressive part—the highest anyone has climbed is the twentieth floor, and those individuals are considered the strongest beings in the known world."

He leaned forward conspiratorially. "Lady Seraphina of the Northern Territories reached floor twenty last month. Her achievent sent shockwaves through every major power structure. Before that, Lord Magnus held the record at floor nineteen for two years straight."

"Only twenty floors out of the rumoured one hundred?" Ethan asked with carefully concealed interest.

"The difficulty scaling is exponential rather than linear," the rchant explained with obvious expertise. "Floor five eliminates most Platinum warriors. Floor ten challenges Peak-Platinum capabilities. Beyond that, only legendary individuals with perfect talent combinations and specialized equipnt survive."

He gestured toward his rchandise with renewed enthusiasm. "Which brings us back to proper preparation! These weapons incorporate materials from tower creatures—enhancent patterns specifically designed to overco the unique challenges each floor presents."

Rambo made a soft sound that might have been amusent. The Blood Dragon’s Peak-Platinum rank combined with SSS-grade talent suggested most tower challenges would prove educational rather than threatening.

"The creatures inside are that powerful?" Ethan prompted.

"Each floor spawns entities that are extrely powerful; they challenge whoever enters," the rchant said with genuine awe. "Whilst the tower is incredibly hard to progress in. It’s incredibly rewarding, clearing floors grants equipnt, skills, and even things like talent upgrades and much more! It’s the perfect advancent environnt if you survive the experience."

"Does anyone know the reawreds for the higher floors?"

The rchant’s eyes glead with vicarious excitent. "Floor twenty rewards supposedly include items that could push soone toward ranks beyond Diamond rank entirely."

"Beyond Diamond?" Ethan’s interest sharpened despite his casual deanour.

"Yes, beyond Diamond rank, but these are just rumours, Lady Serpahina had yet to confirm or deny." The rchant lowered his voice as if discussing forbidden knowledge.

The words of the rchant about the tower suggested advancent opportunities that transcended his current understanding of developnt.

This ant that Lady Serpahina and the others on the top floor were around the diamond rank. Which ant in front of them, he was still a young child. Only at the mid-platinum rank.

"Fascinating," Ethan said with genuine appreciation. "Your information has been quite valuable."

He selected several enhancent items that might prove useful despite his overwhelming personal capabilities—backup equipnt for unexpected situations, rather than primary dependence on external tools.

"Excellent choices!" the rchant bead as paynt changed hands. "May you find what you desire upon your ascent, young adventurer. The tower rewards courage, but demands respect."

As Ethan moved away from the comrcial area toward the tower’s actual entrance, Rambo chirped softly with what might have been anticipation. The Blood Dragon’s intelligence recognised the significance of what lay ahead—challenges designed to forge powerful individuals through controlled adversity.

"Twenty floors as the current record," Ethan murmured to his companion. "Let’s see if we can break these numbers."