Chapter 10 Preview - How I Became The World's Strongest Warrior Book 2!

I stepped through the archway onto the second floor, and immediately a cockatrice rushed at me. 

The thing was about the size of a large turkey with scaly reptilian features, a serpent's tail, and a crest of feathers that puffed up aggressively. Its beady eyes glowed with an unnatural petrifying magic that I'd read about in the guild notes.

"Rude," I muttered, sidestepping its initial charge.

The cockatrice spun around, letting out a sound somewhere between a rooster's crow and a snake's hiss. I maintained eye contact with its chest, careful to avoid looking directly at those glowing eyes.

[Cockatrice]
[Level 5]
[Health: 150/150]
[Special Ability: Petrifying Gaze]

I drew both the Vampiric Blade and the Mana Infused Short Sword, settling into my new dual-wielding stance. The weapons felt balanced in my hands, though nothing compared to the familiar weight of my evolved sword.

"Let's try this," I said to no one in particular, and lunged forward.

The Vampiric Blade struck first, slicing through the cockatrice's left wing. The creature shrieked but couldn't dodge my follow-up strike with the Mana Infused Short Sword.

[Vampiric Blade Strike]
[Base Damage: 19.7]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,395 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 5)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +339.5]
[Dual Wielding Penalty: -25% damage]
[Total Base + Proficiency: 269.4]
[Perfect Strike Multiplier: x9]
[Total Damage: 2,424.6]
[Cockatrice Health: 0/150]
[Items Obtained: Cockatrice Feather (2), Petrifying Gland (1)]

"Huh." I looked down at the dead cockatrice, a bit disappointed. "That was... anticlimactic."

I'd killed it in one hit despite the dual-wielding penalties. Which meant this floor was going to be way too easy. But I couldn't skip it since I needed to work through all the floors systematically to reach the higher levels.

I continued through the second floor, which had a forest-like environment with strange glowing moss providing illumination. More cockatrices appeared, along with the occasional basilisk, a slightly bigger reptilian creature with similar petrifying abilities but tougher scales.

[Basilisk]
[Level 8]
[Health: 300/300]
[Special Ability: Petrifying Breath]

These still posed no real challenge. After about an hour of methodical hunting, I'd cleared most of the floor and accumulated a decent pile of materials.

[Status Update]
[Level 20]
[Experience: 580.5/230,400 (0.25% to Level 21)]
[Dual Wielding Proficiency: 29.3]

[Accumulated Resources]
[Cockatrice Feathers: 83]
[Petrifying Glands: 41]
[Basilisk Scales: 29]
[Basilisk Tongue: 14]
[Shards of Return: 3]

I touched the communication crystal Peter had given me. "Witch, you there?"

A moment of static, then her voice came through, slightly distorted but understandable. "Chuck? You're in the Tower already? I thought you'd wait for your sword!"

"Change of plans," I replied, continuing to move cautiously through the terrain. "Sword wasn't ready."

"What?" Her voice rose in pitch. "And you went anyway? Are you insane?"

"Probably," I admitted, stabbing a lunging cockatrice without breaking stride. "Quick question: what materials from the Tower would be useful for you? Not sure what to keep."

There was a pause, then Witch's voice returned, somehow conveying an eye-roll through audio only. "Just keep everything, you idiot. Tower materials are incredibly rare on the outside. The petrifying glands alone are worth a fortune for certain transmutation processes."

"Got it," I said, adding another dead basilisk to my kill count. "I'll collect everything."

"Which floor are you on?" she asked.

"Two. Heading for three soon."

"Two? Still? How long have you been in there?"

I checked the time. "About an hour."

"An hour?" She sounded genuinely shocked. "Most parties spend several hours on floor two!"

"It's easier than expected," I said, shrugging even though she couldn't see me. "Monsters are low level."

"Chuck, be careful," her voice had that serious tone I rarely heard from her. "The Tower isn't just about monster levels. It... adapts. It gets harder in ways you don't expect."

"I'll be fine," I assured her, approaching what appeared to be the staircase to the third floor. "I'll check in when I reach the safe zone on floor six."

"You'd better," she threatened. "Or I'll find a way to bring you back just to kill you myself."

I smiled slightly as the connection faded. I was getting used to Witch's particular brand of concern disguised as threats.

The third floor was structured like a massive aviary, with open spaces and floating platforms connected by narrow bridges. Flying creatures dominated here, harpies, minor griffons, and the occasional chimera swooping between perches.

[Harpy]
[Level 9]
[Health: 250/250]
[Special Ability: Sonic Screech]

The flying enemies presented a slightly different challenge, but nothing unmanageable. I had to time my attacks more carefully, waiting for them to swoop within range or using the environment to force them into predictable patterns.

The Mana Infused Short Sword proved particularly useful here, occasionally triggering its Minor Arcane Bolt ability to hit enemies at a distance.

[Mana Infused Short Sword Strike]
[Minor Arcane Bolt Triggered]
[Damage: 3.5]
[Harpy Health: 226.5/250]

Still, it was slower than direct combat. I spent about two hours clearing the third floor, gradually adapting to the aerial fighting style required.

[Status Update]
[Level 20]
[Experience: 1,830.5/230,400 (0.79% to Level 21)]
[Dual Wielding Proficiency: 37.6]

[Accumulated Resources]
[Harpy Feathers: 67]
[Harpy Talons: 45]
[Griffon Claws: 12]
[Chimera Horn Fragment: 3]
[Shards of Return: 5]

The fourth floor was where things started getting more interesting. The environment shifted to a massive underground cavern system with pools of glowing liquid and crystalline formations jutting from the walls and ceiling. Here, I encountered my first genuinely challenging enemies.

[Cave Troll]
[Level 12]
[Health: 850/850]
[Special Ability: Regeneration]

The trolls were tough, regenerating health at an alarming rate unless I applied fire damage. Unfortunately, neither of my current weapons had fire affinity. I had to rely on fire bombs I'd purchased from the outpost vendors, throwing them immediately after dealing significant damage to prevent regeneration.

[Vampiric Blade Strike]
[Total Damage: 398.75]
[Cave Troll Health: 451.25/850]

[Fire Bomb Applied]
[Regeneration Prevented for 10 seconds]
[Damage Over Time: 5 per second]

[Mana Infused Short Sword Strike]
[Total Damage: 156.3]
[Cave Troll Health: 294.95/850]

[Vampiric Blade Strike]
[Base Damage: 19.7]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,388 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 12)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +338.8]
[Dual Wielding Penalty: -25% damage]
[Total Base + Proficiency: 268.9]
[Perfect Strike Multiplier: x9]
[Total Damage: 2,420.1]
[Cave Troll Health: 0/850]
[Items Obtained: Troll Hide (2), Regenerative Tissue (1), Cave Crystal (3)]

There were also crystal spiders, which shot paralyzing webs, and cave lurkers, strange shadow-like entities that could phase through solid rock to attack from unexpected angles.

By the time I reached the fifth floor, I was actually getting a good workout. My dual wielding proficiency was improving steadily, and I'd developed a rhythm for switching between weapons depending on the enemy type.

The fifth floor resembled an ancient temple complex, with crumbling columns, broken statues, and various traps scattered throughout. Here, I faced gorgons, serpent-haired humanoids whose gaze could petrify even more effectively than the cockatrices, and animated statues that were slow but hit like trucks.

[Gorgon]
[Level 15]
[Health: 1,200/1,200]
[Special Ability: Petrifying Gaze, Venom Strike]

Fighting the gorgons required careful positioning and timing. I had to approach from behind or while they were distracted, avoiding direct eye contact at all costs. The anti-petrification salve I'd purchased came in handy when a partial petrification effect caught my left arm.

[Status Effect: Partial Petrification (Left Arm)]
[Duration: 30 seconds]
[Effect: -50% effectiveness]

[Anti-Petrification Salve Applied]
[Status Effect Removed]

The animated statues were simpler but more durable. Their stone bodies resisted cutting damage, making my blades less effective. I had to target joints and weak points, requiring more precision than raw power.

[Animated Guardian]
[Level 14]
[Health: 1,500/1,500]
[Special Ability: Stone Body (50% reduction to cutting damage)]

Throughout this floor, I maintained regular communication with Witch, updating her on my progress and the materials I was collecting. She seemed increasingly surprised at my pace but offered useful tactical advice about the enemies I was facing.

"Gorgons hate loud noises," she told me through the crystal. "If you have any sonic bombs or even just something that makes a loud bang, it'll disorient them long enough to get in close."

"Thanks," I replied, immediately putting this information to use by throwing a small explosive near a gorgon, disorienting it long enough to strike from behind.

After about four hours in the Tower, I'd reached the staircase to the sixth floor. According to the information I'd gathered, this should be the first safe zone, a respite before the more challenging upper floors.

"Approaching floor six," I informed Witch through the crystal.

"Already?" Her voice was incredulous. "Chuck, that's... that's not normal. Most parties take at least a full day to reach floor six, if they make it at all."

I shrugged, even though she couldn't see me. "The monsters weren't that difficult."

"It's not about difficulty," she insisted. "The Tower tests adventurers in different ways. If it's letting you progress this quickly, it's probably setting you up for something."

"Or my stats are just better than average," I countered.

She made a frustrated sound. "Just... be careful. The real Tower experience starts after the safe zone."

I climbed the staircase, which spiraled upward through a shaft of smooth black stone. Unlike the previous transitions, this one felt longer, more deliberate, as if the Tower was giving me time to prepare for whatever came next.

Finally, I emerged onto the sixth floor and was greeted by a sight entirely different from the previous levels. Instead of monster-infested terrain, this floor was a massive circular plaza with a domed ceiling that somehow conveyed the impression of a night sky, complete with stars and a pale moon.

The plaza was divided into sections, each serving a different purpose. There were resting areas with comfortable-looking beds and cushions, inviting bathing pools, food vendors offering various refreshments, and equipment repair stations where adventurers could maintain their gear.

Most surprising was the number of people present. Unlike the first floor, which had been filled with fresh-faced beginners, the adventurers here had a hardened look about them. Veterans of the Tower, taking a well-earned rest before tackling the next section.

I approached what appeared to be the main administrative area, where a tall figure in robes stood behind a counter, recording information in a massive ledger.

"New arrival," the figure noted without looking up. The voice was neither male nor female, but somehow both and neither at once. "Level 20, solo. Reached floor six in... four hours and seventeen minutes." Now, they did look up, revealing a face that shifted subtly between different features, never settling on a single appearance. "Interesting."

"Is that unusual?" I asked, though I already knew the answer from Witch's reaction.

"The average party of four takes twenty-six hours and forty-three minutes to reach this floor," the figure replied. "The previous solo record was eleven hours and twelve minutes, set by Aerilius the Undying twenty-three years ago."

I nodded, mentally noting that I'd broken a long-standing record without particularly trying. "What can I do here?"

The figure gestured around the plaza. "Rest. Recuperate. Prepare. The next section is significantly more challenging. Floors seven through ten feature entities that exploit weaknesses, both physical and mental."

"And the boss on floor ten? The Oculus of Madness?"

"Ah." The figure's shifting features formed what might have been a smile. "Seeking the Charm of Ascension, are we? The Oculus has not been defeated solo in seven years, three months, and sixteen days."

"Then it’s as good a time as any for it to happen again," I replied.

The figure laughed. "Indeed. But know this: the Oculus sees more than your physical form. It sees your fears, your doubts, your innermost vulnerabilities. Prepare accordingly."

With that cryptic warning, the figure returned to their ledger, clearly considering our conversation concluded.

I took the opportunity to explore the safe zone more thoroughly. The first order of business was inventory management. I'd collected an impressive array of materials from the first five floors.

[Total Accumulated Resources]
[Cockatrice Feathers: 83]
[Petrifying Glands: 41]
[Basilisk Scales: 29]
[Basilisk Tongue: 14]
[Harpy Feathers: 67]
[Harpy Talons: 45]
[Griffon Claws: 12]
[Chimera Horn Fragment: 3]
[Troll Hide: 27]
[Regenerative Tissue: 14]
[Cave Crystal: 38]
[Gorgon Scales: 19]
[Gorgon Hair: 31]
[Stone Fragment (Animated): 46]
[Ancient Temple Relic: 5]
[Shards of Return: 9]

I needed just one more Shard of Return to craft an additional Orb, which would give me more emergency exits if needed. I approached a crafting station where a dwarf with an impressively elaborate beard was working on some kind of mechanical device.

"Need something, youngster?" he asked without looking up from his work.

"Can you craft an Orb of Return?" I showed him my nine shards.

He glanced at them, then at me. "One short. Come back when you've got ten."

"I'll find one on the next floor," I said confidently.

The dwarf chuckled. "If you survive, maybe." He finally looked up, examining me more carefully. "Solo climber, eh? Don't see many of those anymore, not after what happened to Aerilius."

"What exactly happened to him?" I asked, realizing this was a good opportunity to gather information.

The dwarf's expression darkened. "He reached floor sixteen. Saw something there that... changed him. Came back missing an eye and an arm, but that wasn't the worst of it. The worst was the fear. Never seen a braver man reduced to such terror." He shook his head. "He never spoke about what he saw. Just said, 'The Tower knows.'"

"Knows what?" I pressed.

"Everything, I reckon." The dwarf returned to his work. "Your weaknesses, your fears, your breaking point. The higher you climb, the more it knows about you, and the more it uses against you."

This aligned with what I'd heard from others, including the shifting figure at the administration desk. The Tower apparently had some form of intelligence or awareness, adapting its challenges to each climber.

I moved on, checking out the food vendors next. One booth in particular caught my attention, selling what appeared to be glowing blue fruit.

"Moonberries," the vendor, an elderly woman with silvery eyes, explained when she caught me looking. "Grown only within the Tower. Restore health and stamina, even under the Tower's healing reduction effect."

"How much?" I asked.

"Fifty copper each, or I'll trade for Tower materials. Particularly interested in those petrifying glands you've got there."

I ended up buying a pouch of moonberries for 500 copper, which seemed like a fair exchange given their unique properties. I also purchased a hot meal from another vendor, the food providing substantial stat buffs that would last for several hours.

[Hearty Tower Stew]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Effects:]
• Strength +15% (3 hours)
• Stamina Regeneration +20% (4 hours)
• Tower Resistance: Healing reduction effect decreased by 25% (5 hours)
• Well-Fed: Immune to hunger penalties (8 hours)

After eating, I found a quiet corner of the rest area and touched my communication crystal again.

“Witch, I'm at the safe zone on floor six,” I said.

Her response was immediate. "Already? It's only been… what, four hours since you entered?"

"Four hours, seventeen minutes," I confirmed. “Apparently, I broke some record set by Aerilius."

"Chuck, he was Level 40 when he set that record!"

"Well, now I'm the record holder," I replied simply. "How are things with the Pattern Fragments?"

She allowed the subject change, though I could practically feel her concern through the crystal. "I've made some progress. The fragments definitely contain portions of Dartanion's data structure. I think with the Essence of Passage, we might actually have a chance of restoration."

"Good," I said. "I'll keep going tomorrow. Floors seven through ten, then the boss."

"The Oculus of Madness," Witch said, her voice dropping. "Chuck, that thing is no joke. It doesn't just attack physically. It gets in your head, finds your worst fears, and uses them against you."

"I don't have fears," I replied automatically.

There was a pause, then Witch laughed, though it sounded strained. "Everyone has fears, Chuck. Even you. Especially you. You just might not recognize them yet."

I didn't have a good response to that, so I changed the subject again. "I'm collecting materials for you. Lots of useful components from the first five floors."

"Keep them safe," she advised. "And Chuck? Be careful on the next floors. The real Tower experience starts now."

"I will," I promised. "Talk to you tomorrow."

As I settled into one of the resting areas, I reflected on my progress so far. The first five floors had been challenging in places, but nothing I couldn't handle even without my evolved sword. The dual wielding proficiency was coming along nicely, already at 37.6 and still climbing.

But something about everyone's warnings about the upper floors gave me pause. The Tower "knowing" me, testing me in ways beyond simple combat... that was an unknown variable I couldn't easily calculate.

For the first time since entering the Tower, I felt a slight twinge of uncertainty. Not fear, I didn't do fear, but a recognition that I might be facing challenges that couldn't be overcome through simple damage calculations and optimized attack patterns.

As I closed my eyes to rest, the shifting figure's words echoed in my mind: "The Oculus sees more than your physical form. It sees your fears, your doubts, your innermost vulnerabilities."

What would it see when it looked at me?

I guess I'd find out tomorrow.