The Reincarnation of the Death Star

Talent awakening

[Quest: Eliminate 50 Goblins to Advance to the Next Floor]

Screams echoed around him. Some people collapsed in fear. Others desperately called for family members that weren't there. A few tried to touch or break the screens. Futile.

Alex, however, simply smiled.

So it really worked... I've returned.

The Tower hadn't changed. Same brutal structure, same ruthless rules. But this time, Alex had something he never had before—foreknowledge. And this time, no one would betray him. No one would steal what was his.

He opened his status window with a thought.

[Level: 0]

[Strength: 11]

[Agility: 10]

[Stamina: 12]

[Mana: 0]

"Not bad," he muttered, brushing a strand of black hair from his face. "Better than most."

Back in his first life, he had started like everyone else—average stats, blind optimism, and a desperate hope to survive. That had changed floor by floor, betrayal by betrayal. Now, he wasn't here to survive. He was here to conquer.

A flick of his hand brought up his inventory, a feature every Tower climber had. He didn't expect much—but the moment he saw what lay inside, his eyes narrowed.

A scythe. Long. Black. Eerily familiar.

He summoned it, and as the weapon materialized in his hand, a chill ran down his spine.

No way... This is the same one. The Scythe of the End.

He gripped the handle tightly. This was the weapon he earned after clearing the 100th floor—a reward snatched from his grasp when his allies drove a blade through his heart. They hadn't just betrayed him—they'd killed him to claim this very scythe.

Apparently, the Tower had a sense of irony, Alex then brought up the item description.

[Scythe of the End]

Indestructible

Personal Trait: Shadow Energy – All skills gain enhanced destructive power when using shadow energy.

Skills: All skills converted into 'Talents'; usable only when wielding this scythe.

"No bonus stats. No flashy numbers. Just... potential," he muttered.

Most would call it weak. A glorified stick with flair. But Alex knew better. This weapon wasn't meant for beginners—it was meant for those who could master destruction itself.

Still, something puzzled him.

Talents? That hadn't been part of his original system.

Then it hit him—the Talent Awakening.

Every climber had to awaken their latent power on the first floor. He had done it before. He knew what to expect. But now, with the scythe and its unique bond to his soul, things might be different.

He made his way through the crowded cityscape toward the center of Floor One, where the Talent Awakening Fountainstood—tall, ancient, and glowing with blue energy. People gathered around it, some too scared to approach.

A guard blocked his path, eyes scanning him lazily.

"Five gold tolls." Alex resisted the urge to scoff. Still extorting rookies, huh?

He briefly considered knocking the guard out—but at level 0, he wouldn't stand a chance. The guards here were level 20 and above, designed to crush troublemakers instantly. He handed over the coins. Half of his starter funds were gone in an instant.

He approached the fountain. This was it—the moment every climber faced. The Tower's way of categorizing their souls and turning potential into power. He knelt and placed his hands into the glowing waters.

A surge of energy slammed into his chest. His vision blurred. Then came the chime:

[Ding!]

[Your latent power has been awakened.]

[Talents Unlocked: Space, Copy, Scythe]

Alex froze.

"Scythe…" he whispered. "That wasn't there before."

In his past life, he'd only awakened Space—a rare mobility-based talent—and Copy, a power that let him duplicate others' skills with limitations. Both had carried him to the very last floor.

But now… the Scythe Talent had emerged. It pulsed in his mind, tied directly to the weapon in his grip. AS he raised the scythe. It no longer felt foreign. It felt like an extension of his very being.

He accessed the Scythe Talent Tree.

Three skills—each grayed out, locked.

"Figures," he muttered. "What's the catch?"

The Tower didn't make him wait.

[Upon reaching Level 10, you will gain the class: Shadow Reaper due to your talent scythe.]

[This class allows usage of the Scythe Talent.]

[You will unlock one Scythe Skill at level 10 and the second one at level 100.]

[Note: The final skill can only be unlocked at Level 200.]

[Warning: No other class skills will be granted beyond these three.]

Alex stared at the message, then laughed softly.

"Three skills only... But if they're anything like what I remember—"

He closed his eyes. He remembered the final fight. The last time he used this scythe. Cities fell. The skies split open.

They feared me for a reason.

He looked up toward the horizon, where smoke curled above the Goblin Village, the first trial of the Tower.

No longer a victim. No longer a pawn.

He gripped the scythe tighter.

"This time... I'm not just climbing the Tower."

"I'm claiming it."