Tower of Heaven

'Dear Mom and Dad,

By the time you're reading this, I'll have already left. But fret not, I'm in no danger. In fact, I might be in the best shape I've been all my life.

I finally became a cultivator, my body is working properly, and best of all, my vision has returned.

That's right! When I woke up today, I was actually able to open my eyes!

But I know that's not the point. Ever since I was a young child suffering on the streets, I've dreamt about the tower. And that was back when I didn't even know what it was.

I dreamed about Godhood and adventure. It was my second biggest dream in life.

As for the first, you have already provided it for me. This family that I've been able to be a part of for the past 6 years was the biggest gift anyone could ever give me, and for that, I'm thankful.

I'm thankful for your love and support, and for all the effort you put into raising me and healing me into a functioning human. If it wasn't for you two, I don't know where I'd be right now.

As of now, I've left to enter the tower. Not only for the adventure I've always craved, but to find out the truth about a few questions that have always plagued me.

I'm sorry I didn't come visit you before I left, but I couldn't bear to see your faces. I know that if I did, my will to leave would have crumbled.

I wish you two to have the happiest and most fortune-filled life the heavens could ever provide someone. I hope you two have a beautiful child that you can truly call your own, unlike me.

And I promise you that one day, I'll come back to visit you. I don't know how long it will take, but I swear I'll come back.

I love you.

Your son,

Atlas Vaun'

The room was empty except for the single note that the couple was reading. They sat on the bed that smelled like him, saw the clothes that reminded them of him, but none of it mattered.

He wasn't here anymore.

They were happy he woke up. They were happy he was pursuing his dreams. But it didn't stop the pain and loss that encroached upon their hearts.

They hugged each other tightly and cried. Even Daniel cried this time, knowing that the time until he next sees his son is unknown.

"Damn brat!" he yelled through gritted teeth.

"You always were and always will be our true son!"

He yelled it as loud as he could, hoping that somewhere in the world, his son would hear him.

"I knew he wanted to go to the tower, but why did it have to be so soon?!" Melody wailed. They had only had him for 6 short years. They didn't have nearly enough time together.

A melancholy atmosphere surrounded the Vaun Estate as, under the cold moonlight, the wails of the couple persisted.

***

Meanwhile, a young man with silky white hair that didn't flow past his neck was standing silently in the city.

His height was on the shorter side due to his stunted growth, around 1.75 meters tall, and his body was lean as if he had never once trained it. However, it wasn't as skinny as it used to be. He was being pushed and shoved by people trying to get around him, but he didn't budge from his spot.

Currently, Atlas was doing everything he possibly could to stop himself from returning home.

'I have too much to do within the tower. I need to start as soon as possible.'

It was just an excuse though. While he was aware he definitely had things to do in the tower, even he didn't know the true extent of what they were.

'Not to mention, there's no way this damn treasure only gave me back my eyesight. I have to figure out what these eyes of mine do.'

He didn't understand why he was being so careless. He should've known to make ample preparations before setting out on a serious excursion such as this one, but he rushed into the decision like some untrained child.

'Well, I actually am an untrained child so…'

Even with the memories and experiences of the Heavenly Emperor, it didn't change the fact that he hadn't experienced many things himself.

He was like a naive sheep entering a wolf's den at the moment, but it didn't stop him. There was still that side of him that believed he had enough experience to charge forward.

'Well, no matter. I've already come this far, so I won't turn back now.'

Tilting his head, he looked up at the massive structure in front of him. The crowd around him moved without pause to enter it, but he took a moment to admire it from up close.

Unlike his original thoughts, the tower had a physical gate that opened to allow entry. The gate itself looked to be made for giants, being almost a full kilometer in height. Yet the way it opened with ease didn't reflect its weight at all.

'What do I even need first?' He thought.

What preparations could be possibly made before entering such an unknown place as the tower?

His first thought was that he needed a weapon, but he had no money to buy one. Next, he figured he needed food, but he ran into the same problem as before.

'I'm starting to think it would have been a better idea to ask Mom and Dad before I made any big moves like this.'

But even while thinking such thoughts, his feet began moving in the direction of the tower.

'A mask would be nice.'

He didn't know how long it'd been since he died, but he didn't want to take any chances. Reincarnation was something he knew nothing about and was nothing more than a rumor in his previous world.

If people he once knew or people who remembered his legend were to see his face, what would happen? He had no urge to find out.

The reason he was able to survive for hundreds of years in the cruelty of war was both due to his strength and cautiousness. Even if he was more prone to making rash decisions in this life, he wouldn't let it get him killed.

'There should be some way to get a mask within the tower, so I'm fine. They'll probably be better than anything I can get out here anyway.'

Shaking off his thoughts, he realized that he had already arrived in front of the massive gate that signified the entrance to the tower.

Taking a deep breath, he took one last look at the city that had been his home for the past 18 years.

'Mom, Dad, wish me luck.'

Without further ado, he stepped into the tower. His body slowly got covered by a bright light and he ended up closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he was inside complete darkness.

Suddenly, a small blue box filled with letters began to coalesce in front of his eyes.

[Welcome, new Ascender. Please enter your name.]