"So, basically, you're admitting you're useless?" Sarah's frustration was bubbling to the surface as she faced the unhelpful door.

  "My apologies, Master.

  "I was never privy to such information. Nor have I ever ventured beyond this room. I'm afraid I don't even know what lies beyond the corridor. I can only answer your last question." Solus perked up, eager to be of service.

  That was the most important question, after all. She couldn't have people coming to kill her based on rumors like "everyone who enters the tower dies." Sarah waited anxiously for the mortality rate.

  "It is whatever you deem it to be, Master," Solus said, smiling for the first time in their conversation.

  Of course. Being in charge meant setting the rules. That second jolt of lightning Solus had used on her was significantly more intense. If she specified a voltage, or perhaps a percentage, the "murder door" wouldn't necessarily kill anyone attempting the final challenge. But that didn't feel quite right since no one was supposed to enter that room in the first place.

  Frowning, Sarah remembered she still had souls to spend. Two of her own, and six from the Book of Souls – a stark reminder of her reckless stupidity.

  I don't even have any challenges set yet, so I shouldn't worry too much about Solus for now. She needed to spend these babies… Please let them not be babies.

  A tear rolled down her cheek as she accessed the tower's information and confirmed the changes to the ground floor.

  Status screens are a godsend.

  The master room rumbled and shook, the tower undergoing its alterations. It felt like a minor earthquake. Once the shaking subsided, Sarah moved on to the final feature.

  With fingers crossed, she confirmed the last option: a door. Anticipation filled her. She desperately hoped this would finally allow travel between floors. When the rumbling stopped, a new notification appeared.

  Congratulations! Tower of Death has leveled up: New features are available

  Tower of Death - 3

  - Since the passing of the last Master, a new one has taken their place. Over time the tower has regressed back to its original state, but is now slowly being rebuilt. Unlock new features by performing sacrifices and offering souls to the Tower of Death.

  Current floors: 2

  Souls: 6

  Features need to advance: 4

  Features available: 4

  - Entrance (1)

  - First Floor (2)

  - Immortal Receptionist (1)

  - Ground floor furnishings (2)

  Where's the exit!

  "Right! I'm going to find my way out. Don't wait up babe." Sarah's words were lost on the guardian. The only thing it wanted to know was whether or not she would return. "Yes. I'll be back soon. I'm just going to take a look to see how the tower has changed before having a quick look outside if possible. Don't worry."

  Leaving the gloomy-looking door behind, Sarah tapped the staff on the stone floor as she made her way down the corridor towards the fountain. The room that housed the Water of Sin had undergone an alteration and Sarah couldn't hide her delight. In the space where she had previously pried the magic crystal from the wall, was a new door.

  This should lead me down to the ground floor. There was no option for stairs so I'm hoping they're thrown in for free? Let's find out.

  With bated breath, Sarah pushed the door open, a silent prayer escaping her lips. Relief washed over her – her ordeal was almost over. She didn't hesitate, starting her descent down the stairwell. Each step was soundless, the soft leather of the Necromancer's Shoes muffling any impact. So comfy, she thought absently, then a flicker of confusion crossed her mind. Wait a minute... how am I already at the bottom?

  It felt like she'd taken barely any steps at all, yet she was already at the bottom, stood before another door. The strange compression of distance was just another quirk of the Tower of Death, though Sarah didn't know it yet. My fall lasted way longer than that, a prickle of unease tickling her senses. This must be the ground floor though, she realized.

  She pushed the door open, revealing a room both familiar and unsettlingly different. It mirrored the empty chambers above, yet it felt pristine, untouched by the decay that permeated the rest of the tower. The only occupants were the twin mana crystals, their black stone veined with that familiar, sickly green glow. They cast an eerie light, reinforcing the tower's monochromatic theme.

  Is the whole building going to be that color? Sarah wondered, a touch of irritation creeping in. And why are Necromancers so fond of green and black anyway? Black I can kind of understand, but green? Really?

  Pushing aside these trivial thoughts, Sarah crossed the room, her heart pounding with anticipation. Finally. Freedom was within reach. It had only been a little over two days since she'd been snatched from her familiar world, but the trials of the tower had stretched time into an agonizing eternity. Every second had been a struggle for survival, a test of her will. Now, the exit was just ahead. She could almost taste it.

  A single soul surrendered its essence, and Sarah’s nightmare yielded. Where solid stone had been, an exquisite door, rivaling even Solus’s craftsmanship, materialized. Joy surged through Sarah, and she instinctively embraced the tower, a silent “thank you” passing between them.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” she whispered, her fingers tracing the deep red wood and the gleaming golden knob. Across the door’s center, neon green words pulsed in a continuous cycle, revealing themselves before fading away: Tower of Death.

  “Tower of Death, huh?” Sarah muttered, a wry smile touching her lips. “Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be advertising that anytime soon.” She focused her will, and the words blinked out, remaining stubbornly absent. “That’s much better.”

  An inexplicable connection thrummed between Sarah and the tower. Was it the first floor? The newly formed entrance? She couldn’t pinpoint the source, but the feeling was undeniable, warm, and reassuring.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Her hands, still trembling slightly, reached for the golden knob. I’ll figure it out later. Right now, I've got a date with the fresh air. With a surge of anticipation, Sarah pushed the door open.

  The bustling street that greeted her was anything but the tranquil forest she’d expected. “What the hell?” she breathed, instinctively closing the door behind her and pressing her back against it. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she took in the chaotic scene.

  Wasn't she supposed to be in a forest?

  A creature that could only be described as an alligator in a finely tailored suit strolled past, its elongated mouth filled with rows of teeth that defied counting. It didn’t even glance at her.

  “Why is an alligator walking down the street like it’s a normal day?” Sarah whispered, her mind reeling. “And why are its clothes better than mine?”

  The other inhabitants of this strange new world, a menagerie of reptiles, canines, and even poultry mingling with humans, continued their daily routines, seemingly oblivious to Sarah and her newly appeared tower. A strange sense of detachment hung in the air, as if a thin veil separated her from the bustling life around her. Everyone gave her doorway a wide berth, however, as if it radiated an unseen warning.

  Can’t they see me? The thought echoed in Sarah’s mind. She suspected some kind of magical cloaking, a byproduct of the tower’s sudden appearance. It’s probably got dead bodies suspended on spikes or some evil-looking shit like that, she thought, a shiver running down her spine. The unsettling normalcy of the scene, combined with the palpable sense of being ignored, sent a wave of unease through her. This wasn’t the escape she’d envisioned.

  Turning around, Sarah found her expectations completely subverted. The ominously named Tower of Death looked more like the Cottage of Early Retirement.

  "What the fuck is that!" Forgetting her place in the crowded street, Sarah clapped a hand over her mouth, her other still clutching the staff she’d forgotten to leave in her room. Its sinister appearance alone was enough to brand her as something… Unpleasant. She glanced around nervously.

  It’s a good job no one can see me. I’m so stupid. Looking over her shoulder, she relaxed slightly. The people, and non-people, milling about seemed oblivious to the small, loud woman clutching what looked like the evilest piece of wood in existence.

  Whatever keeps them from seeing me probably keeps them from hearing my bullshit too. She looked back at the white-bricked cottage with its cheerful red roof and door. Ivy clung to trellises on the walls, giving it the air of a charming, if somewhat overgrown, home.

  Seriously? My tower can look like this, but Solus can’t morph into a ring? Was he lying to me? No, I don’t think he’d do that. Still, this illusion is definitely up there with the world’s strangest shit. Not that everything else I’ve seen so far isn’t also a contender for the top spot.

  Sarah glanced at the ground in front of her…tower. If I move away, will I still be able to see it? She didn’t move, but she could sense the connection, a faint tug between her and the magically disguised structure. With that knowledge, Sarah quickly re-entered the deceptively spacious building and went straight to her room.

  "Master? That was fast. Was it perhaps not what you were expecting?" Solus’s words made her pause.

  "What do you mean?" she asked, curious to see if he knew more than he was letting on, and if he knew where they were all along.

  "You've been gone less than five minutes, Master. Since you said that we were isolated somewhere in the forest, I assumed you would be gone for longer." The talking door added.

  I see. He’s just lonely as fuck and really missed me. I get that. Sarah placed a hand on Solus’s wood, unsure if the sentient object would appreciate the gesture, but deciding to risk it.

  "Well, you don't need to worry about me running off to go travelling. Turns out those maps are outdated. By, like, a millennia or two. Seriously," she chuckled.

  "I don't understand, Master? Are they closer than you expected?" Placing the staff next to her chair, she sat down and smiled.

  "Extremely. You could even say they're right on our doorstep." Solus’s expression shifted from puzzlement to shock as the door finally grasped her meaning.

  "Right outside?" Its voice was almost a whisper, barely recognizable.

  "Why do you sound so nervous? This was your plan. Convince people to take the test and get my blessing. Not that I've made any headway on that front yet, but don't you be backing out on me now."

  "I'm not, Master. I just did not realize we were so close to civilization. I was just… Surprised, and perhaps a little flustered, but it will not happen again."

  Since when do doors fluster? Not that it matters. I nearly soiled myself when I saw everyone outside, and on more than one occasion too. I still can't believe we're in the middle of a city. One that has honest-to-God animal people, no less. Seriously… Where the actual fuck have I found myself?

  Sarah stood and took half of the remaining preserved meat from the runed shelf. I need to learn how to read these runes at some point. Or see if I can just copy them? That might work. I could do with making a few more shelves. One just isn’t enough for all this food.

  She settled back into her comfortable chair, swinging her legs over the armrest. The fire’s heat warmed the room, and Sarah savored the flavorful meat as she basked in its glow.

  I really need to know what this meat is.

  Hiro Boar - An extinct species that once roamed the forest surrounding the Tower of Death. Known for its soft meat and unique taste.

  Congratulations! Identify has leveled up.

  "Huh. Guess thanking the universe finally paid off," Sarah muttered, a wry smile tugging at her lips. "Or maybe it was just (Identify) being a boss. I vaguely remember reading its description, but honestly, I'd forgotten I even had it. Definitely going to be using that more now, especially when I head back outside. God knows I need it."

  She glanced at her status screen, a flicker of frustration crossing her features. "I need to get stronger. I'm better than when I arrived, sure, but that's not exactly a high bar. And let's be real, most of that 'improvement' came from dying and racking up pity points with titles."

  Name: Sarah-Jane Kemp

  Unspent Points: 5

  Class: Necromancer - 2

  Title: What Death? (3)

  Class Skills:

  - Create Undead - 1

  - Eyes of Death - 1

  - Necrotic Body - 1

  - Necrotic Soul - 4

  - Form of the Necromancer - 2

  General Skills:

  - Identify - 2

  - Fear Resistance - 3

  - Lightning Resistance - 2

  - Pain Resistance - 3

  Unique Skills:

  - Universal Language

  - Immortality

  - Second Chance

  - Indomitable Will

  - Breathless

  Status:

  - Strength: 40

  - Vitality: 85

  - Dexterity: 32

  - Endurance: 40

  - Intelligence: 45

  - Wisdom: 65

  Health: 950/950

  Stamina: 500/500

  Mana: 750/750

  "This world is officially bonkers," she continued, shaking her head. "The crazy just keeps escalating. I need a way to get stronger that doesn't involve dying. These stat boosts from Titles are nice, but honestly, without them, I'd still be a wet noodle. A sobering thought, to say the least." She remembered the struggle to break through the top floor, the sheer agony of broken bones and torn flesh. "Skills are seriously OP. Maybe one day I'll be able to punch through walls like a superhero."

  "Master," Solus's voice broke through her reverie. "Now that we are surrounded by... Individuals, what is your plan?"

  "First," Sarah replied, a hint of dark humor in her tone, "I'm going to spend these soul points and pimp my tower. Then, I'll probably head out and either collect more or get myself killed for being the resident dark one."

  Solus gasped dramatically. "Master! You jest! Your demise is no laughing matter! Without you, I would be..."

  "You would be...?" Sarah prompted, genuinely curious.

  "Lonely," Solus admitted. "And an eternity of slumber is not my idea of a peaceful existence."

  Sarah smiled. "Don't worry, buddy. I'm not planning on dying anytime soon. And even if I do, I won't stay dead. This room is my respawn point, after all. Besides," she added, hefting her staff, the purple jewel glowing in the firelight, "this is my tower now. Gotta make it a proper home, especially since I don't exactly have other options."

  With a burst of laughter, Sarah spent her remaining soul points, purchasing every available upgrade. The tower shuddered and groaned as the changes began, a symphony of construction and magic echoing through the chamber.