The Resurrected Corpse
[Health Points: 80]
If your life runs out, you will die.
[Money Bag: 99]
[These are the gold coins you currently carry. They are the currency used in the Tower and can be used for trading, redemption, and forgetting.]
[Relic: Source Essence Circulator (Upgradeable)]
[Gain 5 Source Essence at the start of each battle]
[Source Essence Conversion: Consuming Source Essence can grant one of the following effects:]
1 point of Source Essence → Restores 10 points of Health Points.
1 point of Source Essence → Gain 3 temporary points of Power in this battle (increases damage).
1 point of Source Essence → Gain 3 temporary Agility points in this battle (increases block chance).
1 point of Source Essence → Gain 20 points of Block Value.
1 point of Source Essence → Restores 2 points of Energy (used to play cards).
2 points of Source Essence → Permanently increase maximum Health Points by 4 points.
2 points of Source Essence → Permanently increase Strength by 1 point.
2 points of Source Essence → Permanently increase Agility by 1 point.
2 points of Source Essence → Gain the passive ability 'Gain 3 points of Block at the start of each turn'.
10 points of Source Essence → Increase the maximum energy points to "4".]
[Additional Acquisition: Defeating enemies grants a small amount of Source Essence.]
[Reverse Conversion: You can actively consume Health Points, energy, etc., and convert them into Source Essence in a certain proportion]
[Description: One of the strengths of outsiders—[Scholars ]...]
[Outsiders... powerful forces... do not be arrogant or careless, for the Desolation Plague of the Tower will eventually devour everything...]
[Currently in effect: Desolation Plague]
[Blight Shield (Tier 1): All enemies have an additional 50% maximum Health Points.]
[Desolation Plague Spear (Tier 1): Deals an additional 100% damage to all enemies.]
"Desolation Plague..." Su Luo chewed on the word.
"A global rule that strengthens the enemy's negative attributes? Like difficulty-increasing affixes in games. 'Shield' increases health, 'Spear' increases damage... This puts a lot of pressure at the start."
"I've simplified and formalized my [Source Essence Circulation Technique] into a 'Relic'..."
Su Luo carefully examined the description of the [Source Essence Circulator] and gained a preliminary understanding of the rules of Dreamscape.
This is undoubtedly a "translation" of the Dreamscape's rules into his abilities, so that they can be incorporated into his own operating system.
Everything before my eyes felt like a game, a result of those strange Dreamscape rules, created by an unknown and tightly controlled force.
However, Su Luo felt that if she spent a few days, she should be able to break free from the constraints of the Dreamscape's rules and project some of her power over.
There isn't that much time.
"I choose the first option: [Gain a card]."
After a moment's thought, Su Luo made her choice: to test the waters in the initial stage.
The Giant Whale's six eyes flickered simultaneously, and it slowly spoke, "Really—"
The moment the whale opened its mouth, it seemed to freeze, and the four options in front of it vanished instantly.
Atop the Tower, amidst the thick clouds, a muffled thud suddenly resounded, as if something had fallen.
Immediately afterwards, a black dot rapidly enlarged, accompanied by a piercing Screech, and crashed onto the ground not far in front of Su Luo, creating an invisible shockwave.
It was the corpse of a humanoid creature...
He wore a strangely shaped, dark mask that was neither gold nor wood, revealing only his tightly pursed lips and sharply defined jawline.
His short, silvery-white hair was disheveled and stained with blood. He wore simple, antique-style armor that was damaged in many places, and he tightly gripped a huge blade that was almost as tall as him and had serrated edges.
The corpse retained a dense aura of darkness and a chilling, soul-devouring lingering flame, indicating that it possessed considerable power in life.
More importantly, Su Luo could clearly sense from it the "deeper" of the Dreamscape —the same but more chaotic aura emanating from the upper levels of the Tower.
"The higher up the tower lies the deeper layers of the Dreamscape... It seems that climbing this tower is the only way to fully explore it."
He approached the corpse, intending to examine it more closely, especially the mask and its body structure, hoping to glean some information about this Dream Civilization.
This corpse is very valuable. If Su Luo is not mistaken, this Dream World was created by a civilization that disappeared countless years ago, corresponding to the first Exploration Quest.
Just as Su Luo's fingers were about to touch the edge of the mask--
"Waaah--"
Beside him, the Six-Eyed Giant Whale let out a long, deep, and mournful cry.
Miracle happened.
The remaining darkness and flames on the corpse quickly peeled away and dissipated like the receding tide, merging into the surrounding environment.
The corpse itself seemed to have experienced a reversal of time; its wounds healed at a visible speed, its pale face flushed with a faint blush, and its cold body regained warmth.
Three seconds later.
Those tightly closed eyes suddenly snapped open behind the mask!
Although his eyes were hidden behind the mask, a sense of bewilderment and emptiness Diffusion from him.
He sat up stiffly, looked down at his hands, then touched the mask on his face and the serrated broadsword beside him, his movements slightly hesitant. Then, he turned to Su Luo, paused for two seconds, and spoke in a flat, monotonous tone:
"Hello. My memories... seem to be mostly lost. But I remember I had to climb this Corruption Tower. My name is 'Iron Guard.' What about you?"
"Scholar."
Su Luo spoke concisely, while carefully observing the "Iron Guard." Compared to the Giant Whale outside, the Iron Guard appeared more "empty," more like a puppet.
Without any further pleasantries or questions, the Iron Guard picked up the heavy blade with one hand, slung it over his shoulder, and turned to walk towards a dark door at the base of the Tower. After taking a couple of steps, he seemed to remember something and turned back to ask.
"Together?"
"Good."
Su Luo nodded and followed.
Having a local guide might help us understand the rules of this Dreamscape more quickly.
"Climbing the tower, dying, falling, Resurrection... climbing the tower again? A Cycle Dreamscape?"
Su Luo used to enjoy creating these Cycle Dreamscape, which didn't require much effort to maintain their logical operation.
"Where is this place?" Su Luo asked as she walked.
"The Tower." The Iron Guard didn't even turn his head.
"The origin of the Tower?"
"Have no idea."
"Then why climb the tower?"
The Iron Guard stopped in his tracks, and for the first time, Su Luo sensed emotion in this man.
Iron Guard paused for a moment, then regained his composure, no longer as cold as a corpse. "Because... all I remember is climbing the Tower, defeating..."
He paused for a moment, shook his head, and continued walking forward.
"I can't remember, but I want to climb the Tower. Everyone who comes here aims to climb the Tower."
During their conversation, the two had already entered the Tower.
The scene at the bottom of the tower was unexpected... simple and dilapidated.