Fantasy Realm – Infinite Worlds Adventure-Chapter 280: The Player Tower

As Alex walks away from his room, he soon spots a grand staircase splitting into two—one leading further up, the other spiraling down.

Seriously? No escalators? You expect players to climb up to floor 30 on foot? This is insane.

As Alex descends the stairs, It doesn’t take him long before he reaches the fourth floor.

"1337, this is the main Realm. There aren’t any players below level five here, right? So what’s the point of the lower floors? Don’t tell me they’re empty—that would be stupid," Alex wonders, staring curiously at 1337.

[Host has guessed correctly—these floors are not empty. The fourth floor is a training area with various rooms where players can hone their skills, practice combat, and simulate different scenarios based on their past experiences. Additionally, there are premium scenarios available for a fee, allowing players to experience situations beyond their personal history. Usage of these facilities is not free. The cost varies depending on the type of training and duration. However, a very basic training area is available at no charge, barely suitable to test new weapons or skills.]

Hmmm… interesting!

Alex decides to skip it for now—training is the last thing on his mind.

He smirks and glances at the floating wisp beside him. "Let me guess—there’s a ranking system too? Players get rewards for reaching certain milestones?"

[Of course not, Host. This isn’t a game or a fun contest.] novelbuddy.cσ๓

Meh. Boring.

With an exaggerated sigh, Alex continues downward, stepping onto the third floor.

The moment he arrives, his eyes widen at the sight before him. Vast landscapes stretch out in every direction—endless deserts, snowy plains, towering mountains, thick forests, rushing rivers… even a massive area completely submerged in water.

"What the hell is this?!" he blurts out. "Also, how does this even fit inside the tower?!"

[This floor is designed for environmental and survival training. Unlike the combat training areas above, this space allows players to experience various terrains and climates firsthand. It also lets them test how magic and abilities interact with different environments.]

Alex barely pauses before heading to the next set of stairs. The second floor is completely different.

Instead of open landscapes, he finds himself in a massive, well-structured floor. Small arenas are scattered throughout, but one structure dominates the space—a colossal colosseum, large enough to hold thousands of spectators.

"This… is a duel area, isn’t it?" Alex muses, eyeing the towering structure.

[Host is correct. Players may challenge each other here. Additionally, there are facilities that allow betting on matches. However, Host should note that a fee is required to watch, even the lower-ranked matches.]

Wow. The Realm really bleeds FC from players at every opportunity. A capitalist’s wet dream.

Then a thought strikes him.

Wait a second… duels?

Nobody in the Realm knows me yet. I could throw a few fights, bet big against himself, and then rake in a fortune with a well-timed comeback…

[Host should abandon these dishonest thoughts immediately. Match-fixing and intentional losses are strictly monitored by the Realm. Not a single player has successfully outmaneuvered the system. I strongly advise Host not to attempt anything foolish. The consequences are… unpleasant. As Host should recall from past experiences.]

Alex winces.

Yeah… I do remember that.

"Alright, alright, I get it. No betting for now." He sighs and quickly descends to the first floor—only to stop in confusion.

The floor isn’t the ground level. In fact, it's not even labeled as such. Instead, a massive sign overhead marks it as Floor 1, while the actual ground level is labeled Floor 0.

"Huh? This place is empty." He glances around the vast, open space. "What’s this floor supposed to be?"

[Host should note that this is the event floor. From time to time, various player-organized events are held here, including auctions, festivals, announcements, and social gatherings. These events are often backed by major guilds, who set the rules—including any entry fees. The Realm generally does not interfere with these activities. Inside the Player Tower, most matters are left in the hands of the players… within reason, of course.]

Alex frowns. "So… are there any base rules? Like no fighting and stuff?" He glances at his floating wisp companion, waiting for an answer.

[The rules from the Tutorial Realm all carry over. Attacking other players is strictly forbidden. This includes the use of any active skill. However, Host should be mindful—certain stats, such as a high CHA, can make even the most outrageous lie seem plausible. Most passive skills will also remain in effect.]

Well… that’s probably a good thing. Wouldn’t want to get jumped by some high-level psycho. But still… this could be a problem. Maybe I should steer clear of high-ranking players for now.

With that thought lingering in his mind, Alex finally descends to the ground floor.

The atmosphere shifts immediately. Unlike the upper floors, which felt eerily empty aside from the occasional lone player or small group, this place is packed with players. Alex spots easily hundreds of them, some busy, rushing through the hall, others relaxed just chatting with friends.

Alright, time to get serious. Don’t act like a noob.

Alex casually strolls through the sprawling ground floor, hands in his pockets, carefully observing the groups scattered around. Countless players are deep in conversation, some huddled in tight circles, others laughing loudly, completely at ease.

Without breaking his relaxed facade, Alex directs a thought to 1337.

1337, what exactly is this floor supposed to be?

[This is the Player Lounge. It provides basic food and refreshments, some of which are even free, allowing players to survive here indefinitely without expenses. More importantly, this is the Realm’s most popular social hub. Various rooms are available for discussions, and major guilds can own permanent buildings here—though, as Host might expect, acquiring one is not cheap.]

Huh. Makes sense.

Keeping his expression neutral, Alex continues through the lounge, making sure to appear as disinterested as possible. No sudden movements, no gawking, just a casual stroll—like he’s been here a hundred times before.

Despite his solid performance, he doesn’t even make it five minutes before getting approached.

Two girls step into his path, both smiling brightly, though one of them blushes as Alex stares back with a confident expression and looks towards the ground shily.

"Hello there, newbie! Welcome to the Main Realm!"

"Congratulations!"

They sound way too enthusiastic! Although one girl is kinda shy, which I like.

"..."

Anyway, 1337… I’ll actually accept your criticism this time. How did they spot me?

[Host displayed competent body language and did not appear suspicious at all. This system does not engage in speculation. However, if it did, it might assume that certain individuals make it their job to track every single player in the Realm—allowing them to immediately recognize any unfamiliar faces.]

Fantastic. So there are people with nothing better to do than memorize every single player? I never had a chance!

Keeping his expression neutral, Alex responds in a calm, measured tone, mimicking the confidence of someone far more experienced. "Thanks, I guess. Are you two information gatherers, or are you recruiting for your guild?"

The more talkative of the two grins. "Oh? A smart newbie! That’s right—we’re here on behalf of the mighty Seekers!"

Seekers? I just got back from my Harry Potter trip—what is this, a Quidditch team? What exactly are they ‘seeking’? Might as well have gone with something cooler, like Pathfinders. Whatever.

He keeps his thoughts to himself and offers a polite nod. "Sounds interesting. I'd love to learn more, but I need to find my comrades first. Maybe we can talk later?"

Speaking of which… where the hell are they?!

The girl doesn’t seem offended by his deflection. Instead, she cheerfully hands him a card. "Of course! Here, take this. It’s an invitation to our guild headquarters—well, at least the visitor lobby. I’m Lucia, by the way, and this shy one here is Merle."

Alex accepts the card and immediately notices the system recognizing it as an official item.

[Guild-Card: Seekers (Guest-invitation)]

World: Fantasy Realm

Quality: Unranked

Type: Guild-card

Note: Allows you to enter the Seekers guild headquarters and access the visitor lobby

"Thanks, Lucia. Merle. I’m Alex. I’ll make sure to visit once I’ve settled in." His tone remains polite, keeping the interaction friendly but non-committal.

The girls wave as they step away.

So they’re using cute girls for recruiting? What a cheap strategy. Fortunately, I’d never fall for something like that…

[Determining that Host would, in fact, be very susceptible to this strategy. However, Host has shown minor growth and successfully identified the painfully obvious recruitment tactic. This warrants slight praise from this system.]

Thanks!

As Alex heads toward the large exit, he finally spots Rishi and Tereza, obviously waiting for him.