Amy took a slow breath, closing her eyes for a brief moment. When she opened them again, the excitement was still there—but now it was carefully restrained.
"Rohit," she said calmly, "would you like to make an agreement with me?"
The sudden question caught everyone off guard.
Rohit blinked. "An… agreement?" He frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Amy straightened, her tone turning professional.
"I'll explain from the beginning," she said. "Your class—Gunslinger—is a newly manifested class within the Tower."
Everyone stiffened.
"It does not exist in the database of the Myriad of Techniques," Amy continued. "In other words, the Tower itself has acknowledged your class, but it has not yet been recorded or standardized."
"…That means," Tim said slowly, "it's completely new?"
Amy nodded. "Exactly."
Rohit swallowed. "And that has something to do with this agreement?"
"Yes," Amy replied without hesitation. "I want to supervise your growth and document the evolution of your class."
She met his eyes directly.
"In return for providing information about your skills, growth, and combat data, I will support you."
"Support how?" Raya asked sharply.
"Finances," Amy said. "Talent . Access to techniques, resources, and opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you."
Rohit's eyes widened. "That sounds too good to be true."
Amy's smile turned wry. "There is a reason."
She lifted one finger.
"To be honest—there are currently no techniques designed for the Gunslinger class."
Silence fell like a hammer.
"…What?" Divya whispered
.
Rohit felt his stomach sink. "So… I have a class with no techniques?"
"For now," Amy said gently. "That is the price of being first."
Any continued "but you can learn other techniques, because there is no class restriction for learning techniques"
Raya muttered to himself 'hear I thought only class techniques can be learned'
Arjun finally spoke, his voice filled with disbelief. "I thought a person could only have one talent."
Amy looked at him and smiled knowingly.
"That's a common misunderstanding," she said. "A person can possess multiple talents. Each talent can also be upgraded independently."
Arjun's eyes sharpened. "Then how do you acquire a new talent? Or upgrade one?"
"Acquiring a new talent is difficult," Amy admitted. "There are many methods, but the most common one is simple and cruel—extreme effort and repeated failure."
"And upgrading?" Arjun pressed.
"Repeated use," she answered. "Pushing a talent to its limits. Or…" she paused, "…by using rare treasures that resonate with that talent."
The group fell silent, the implications heavy.
Amy turned back to Rohit.
"So," she said softly, "do you want to walk a path no one has ever walked before—with support?"
Rohit clenched his fists.
For the first time since entering the Tower, he realized—
Being first was both a curse…
And an opportunity.
Rohit didn't answer immediately.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at Amy. "Why are you helping me?" he asked suspiciously. "You don't even know me."
Amy paused, then let out a small, honest laugh.
"I was wondering when you'd ask that," she said. "I'll be straightforward."
She met his gaze without dodging it.
"I'll be recording your growth and the evolution of your class. That information goes to my superior." Her lips curved slightly. "In return, I receive commission and recognition."
She spread her hands lightly. "Its a win–win situation for both of us."
Rohit fell silent, clearly conflicted.
Before he could respond, Arjun stepped forward.
"You should take this opportunity," Arjun said firmly. "Your class has no existing path. If you walk it alone, every step will be harder."
He placed a hand on Rohit's shoulder.
"With support, at least the road won't be completely dark."
Rohit exhaled slowly.
"…Alright," he said at last. "I agree."
Amy's eyes brightened, and she smiled.
"Good. Then before we sign the agreement," she said, "we need to meet the store's manager first."
She turned and began walking deeper into the tower, toward a path that faded into layers of floating platforms and light.
The group followed instinctively.
After a few steps, Amy suddenly stopped and turned back.
"I'm sorry," she said apologetically, "but only Rohit is allowed to meet the manager."
The others exchanged glances.
Arjun nodded first. "Go. We'll wait."
Raya smirked. "Don't let them sell you."
Rohit chuckled nervously. "I'll try."
Just as Amy was about to leave again, she paused and added casually, "Ah—one more thing."
She turned to the rest of them.
"Since this is your first visit, each of you is allowed to take one Tier 0 technique for free."
Everyone froze.
"…For free?" Tim said, stunned.
Amy nodded. "Each floating platform has a banner indicating which techniques are available there. Choose carefully."
She smiled warmly. "Good luck."
With that, she turned and walked deeper into the endless tower. Rohit gave the group a final nod and followed her.
As the two disappeared, the remaining group stood in silence.
Then Raya cracked his knuckles. "Alright. Free techniques. Let's not waste this."
Divya's eyes shone as she looked at the floating platforms. "So much knowledge… where do we even start?"
Arjun exhaled, scanning the endless space.
He said. "We browse together. And lets not rush."
The others nodded.
With anticipation and caution, the group stepped forward—ready to choose the first paths that would shape their future inside the Tower.
Rohit's pov
Rohit followed Amy in silence.
They moved far from the bustling outer halls, deeper into the tower, until the air itself began to feel heavy. The corridor narrowed, its walls etched with ancient patterns that seemed to shift when looked at directly.
At the far end stood an archway embedded into a solid wall.
Before it, two guards stood perfectly still.
They wore dark armor marked with the emblem of Myriad of Techniques on their chests. Their faces were hidden beneath helmets, but the pressure radiating from them was unmistakable. Rohit felt it press against his skin, his breathing turning slightly heavier without him realizing it.
"…They're strong," he muttered under his breath.
Amy stopped a few steps before the guards. Calmly, she reached into her sleeve and produced a small metallic token. The moment she held it up, it glowed faintly once—then went dark.
The guards didn't move, but the pressure eased slightly.
Amy turned to Rohit. "Wait here," she said quietly.
Rohit nodded, resisting the urge to ask questions.
As he waited, footsteps echoed from the opposite side of the corridor.
Another girl appeared—short black hair, sharp eyes, dressed in robes similar to Amy's but darker in color. Behind her walked a middle-aged man with salt-and-pepper hair and a calm, weathered expression. His posture was relaxed, but something about him felt… grounded. Dangerous in a quiet way.
The girl stopped before the guards and took out a token of her own.
It glowed.
She turned toward Amy, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"What are you doing here?" she asked warily.
Amy met her gaze, expression polite but guarded.
"That information isn't something I'm required to share."
The girl frowned. "This area isn't for routine matters."
"And this isn't routine," Amy replied evenly.
The air between them tightened, invisible sparks flying as they stared each other down.
Rohit shifted uncomfortably.
This is getting awkward…
Clearing his throat, he stepped forward slightly. "Uh—sorry to interrupt."
Both women looked at him.
The middle-aged man studied Rohit for a moment, then smiled faintly, breaking the tension.
His voice was calm, carrying a gentle authority. "What's your name, young man?"
"Rohit," he replied quickly. "Nice to meet you."
The man extended his hand. "Raja," he said. "I'm from Tamil Nadu."
Rohit shook his hand, surprised by the firm but warm grip.