I Refused To Be Reincarnated

As he read the XP notifications, jubilant about the amount, a message box suddenly spawned in front of his eyes.

[Remaining time: Thirty-three hours.]

[Progress: 73/5]

[As more than two hours are left, the challenger may choose to exit the trial space and proceed with the ratings.]

[Yes/No]

'Should I leave now?' Adam thought reluctantly, growing addicted to the joy of violence and its rewards. Why bother with words when creatures yield so much experience? Why not stay and obliterate a few more villages?

His eyes sparkled as greed flooded his mind with dreams of gold and glistening jewels. Drool nearly leaked from his lips as he mumbled in his fantasy.

"Get me out!"

His veins throbbed on his forehead like slithering snakes as he shouted, scared by his own thoughts. Maybe these creatures weren't so bad, just different? He didn't know.

But what he knew was that he had already obtained more experience than he could have dreamed of. Continuing would only increase the risks of his soul ending up damaged, something he didn't want to go through again. Not to mention the uneasy feeling gnawing at his mind, like a swarm of bugs devouring his sanity.

Before he could ponder his decision more, and if those creatures deserved to die to fuel his xp bar, the mighty mountain gradually turned illusory until it disappeared. The familiar boundless white and empty room replaced it a few seconds later.

Soon, new messages appeared before him, rekindling his excitement and pushing away his moral considerations.

He clenched his trembling fists, his lips curled into an expectant smile, and his eyes darted to read the ethereal window. After all, the condition to pass the second trial was to beat five magical creatures, when he had beaten seventy-three, including the boss.

"I'm sure I'll get something insane! Don't let me down!"

His eager voice filled the white expanse, giving a trace of liveliness to the bleak tower.

[Challenger Adam completed the second trial.]

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[Reviewing the process and rating it.]

[Tier-one thunder wolf, seventy tier-one goblins and tier-two boss light guardian slain.]

"Umu! Tell me how amazing I am!"

[Rating:... ]

[Rating:... ]

[Rating:... ]

"Huh? Oh! Don't bug on me! What's my rating?!"

A few seconds passed by as his smile froze on his face. Sweat covered his dirtied face, mixing with the goblin-green blood before plopping to the ground. The soft noise boomed in his ears, deafening as he imagined the worst...

However, the text shifted the next second, causing his eyes to light up.

[Rating: SS]

"Did I break the rating scale? I thought I would get an A+!"

Little did he know that the tower's floors weren't meant to be challenged alone. That's why he got bonus XP for killing the light guardian alone. It was also the reason his performance proved difficult to evaluate.

Survival would be nearly impossible for a lone challenger when faced with seventy goblins as weak as they were individually.

But the most ridiculous and complicated thing he did was to beat the horrifying light guardian alone. A small yet balanced party of tier-one combatants covering different disciplines was typically required to kill it. It wasn't surprising, considering it was a tier-two magical creature with potent spells and an ethereal body.

[Achievement and title unlocked: Second Floor's Conqueror]

[Achievement and title unlocked: Eclipsing Radiance]

"Two more? I wonder what's their use..." He lingered for a second before adding.

"They look useless..."

Yet, he didn't notice that two more titles floated above his head.

Emblazoned upon the towering face of the mountain, in letters of resolute determination, lay the accolade: Second Floor's Conqueror. It stood as a mark of bravery and victory, declaring the triumph of the daring soul who dared to be the first one to challenge it.

Eclipsing Radiance shined like a beacon amidst the other titles. Its inscription, carved with celestial finesse, illuminated a triumphant scene: a lone figure standing tall amidst a shower of light spears against the fading glow of his vanquished foe.

Unaware of his high-profile looks, he kept waiting, his right foot tapping on the ground, for the message he wanted to read the most.

[Attributing tailored reward. Scanning the challenger. Boss defeated, rarity increased.]

"YES! Give me another epic item or better!"

[Granting...]

"..."His puffed chest and bloated heart deflated like balloons as the tower started to bug again. His brows furrowed in impatient frustration.

"Not again! Give me my reward!"

[Mythical rank material to the challenger: Manacore Heartgem for reaching the SS rank rating]

"WHAT? Screw you and your material! What do you want me to do with it?" Adam stumbled, falling on the ground, his face greener than the goblins' blood smearing it. If he was like Julius, a cultivator, he would be vomiting blood!

[Attributing additional reward for being the first to beat the second challenge.]

"I don't care! I'll never come again. You can't even compensate me properly for my hard work and the risk I take."

He turned, crossing his arms over his chest and puffing his cheeks like... a kid pouting.

[Granting the tier two epic weapon Ethereal Radiance.]

Yet, upon reading the cool name and the epic rank, he calmed a little.

"Humpf... That's the minimum I should receive."

[Items granted by the tower are soul-bound. They can't be stolen, traded or lost.]

[Do you want to proceed with the third floor's challenge?]

"No! Get me out, scrooge Tower!"

He roared, his thoughts swirling in a mad dance of anger and confusion. Why would he continue? Or was the tower crazy, believing anyone sane would start the next trial right after exiting the previous?

As he cursed the tower as usual, a bright light blinded him, forcing his eyes shut.

When he reopened them, he was back in the plaza, holding two items.

Noticing the smooth texture, he couldn't help but look at the Ethereal Radiance with a raised brow.

It appeared as a slender, elegant spear crafted from a shimmering, translucent material resembling polished crystal. Its shaft was infused with radiant energy, emitting a soft, pulsating glow that illuminated its surroundings with a gentle, ethereal light. At the tip of the spear, a crystalline blade extended gracefully, tapering to a sharp point that gleamed with a radiant intensity.

Intricate patterns of light danced across its surface in complex yet magnificent symbols.

He remained slack-jawed at the weapon's beautiful appearance as his steps took him to his apartment. Yet, he completely ignored the small gem grasped in his other hand.

On his way, he peered at the three gigantic screens hovering in the dark sky, noticing he was ranked first on all three of them. Well... he was alone, so how could he not be the first?

*****

Five minutes later, he sat on his bed, focusing on the spear to get its information.

Ethereal Radiance:

Rank: T2 Epic weapon

Description: Crafted from the essence of the Light Guardian, The Ethereal Radiance embodies the purest manifestations of celestial light. Its crystalline shaft, infused with the radiant energy of the guardian's essence, gleams with an ethereal brilliance that illuminates even the darkest realms.

Intricate patterns of celestial runes adorn its surface, symbolising the guardian's wisdom and guidance bestowed upon those deemed worthy.

Abilities:

Radiant Flare: Harnessing the boundless energy of light, the spear releases a brilliant burst of radiant energy upon impact. This burst engulfs the target in a dazzling blaze, inflicting significant immediate damage.

Light Ward: The wielder is surrounded by a shimmering aura of light, providing moderate protection against dark magic and evil entities.

Luminary Guidance: Infused with the wisdom of the Light Guardian, The Ethereal Radiance provides guidance and inspiration to its wielder in their endeavors.