Free Web NovelChapter 20: Seven Abyssal Hell Tower
The next instant, Dan Moriarty opened his eyes inside his room as the familiar surroundings of the real world replaced the mine.
His room was exactly as he had left it, with the faint afternoon sunlight filtering through the window, making it almost feel unreal after spending so much time inside Resenia.
Letting out a slow breath, Dan murmured, "I’m back."
He lowered his gaze toward the GSA card resting in his pocket, a small smile appearing on his face as he noted, "This was... quite a profitable trip."
Not only had he reached Level 15, but he had also obtained an Epic Skill Core, a Rare crafting core, one million Spirit Wine Jars, ten million Copper Coins, and countless other resources.
His foundation as a Streamer had grown tremendously stronger, and somehow, he had the distinct feeling that this was only the beginning. freёwebnoѵel.com
Although his strength, wealth, and experience had each increased tremendously, he knew better than to let success cloud his judgment.
A single stream, no matter how spectacular, did not make one invincible; many brilliant stars had risen only to disappear just as quickly, and power that could not continue growing would eventually be overtaken.
"Panel," he said, as the familiar translucent interface appeared before him.
[Channel Information]
[Channel Name]: Dan Moriarty
[Current Followers]: 42
[Current Popularity]: Iron II
[Current Gift Value]: C15,005,001
His eyes paused on the follower count as a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips; his very first stream had earned him only eight followers, but now, after only his second broadcast, that number had increased more than fivefold.
Marveling at the astonishing growth, he murmured, "And it’s only the beginning."
Followers represented far more than mere popularity; they were influence, potential investors, and future supporters.
More importantly, the greater his audience became, the higher the chance that powerful beings from higher realms would stumble upon his channel, as one generous viewer could completely alter the trajectory of a Streamer’s life—a fact @DrunkenSwordImmortal had already proven exactly.
Dan closed the panel as his expression gradually became thoughtful, pondering, "So... what comes next?"
Joining a guild was the obvious answer, since nearly every successful Streamer eventually affiliated themselves with one to gain access to exclusive dungeons, professional support teams, information networks, equipment, training, and protection.
By every conceivable measure, joining a powerful guild was undoubtedly the safest path, offering countless advantages.
Yet, Dan slowly shook his head and calmly declared, "No. But why... should I walk beneath another’s banner... when I can raise my own?"
His eyes gradually sharpened as old sayings came to mind: a soaring eagle does not nest beneath another bird’s wings, and when the flood dragon enters the sea, it does not ask the fish for permission to swim.
If his ambition ended with becoming merely another talented member of someone else’s guild, then he had already limited his own future, and he had no intention of spending years contributing to another person’s empire.
If he was destined to climb, he would build the mountain himself; the thought settled naturally within his heart that he would establish his own guild, not someday, but as soon as possible.
Of course, such an ambitious goal was easier spoken than accomplished, as guilds were not created with empty words; they required territory, resources, influence, and above all, a dungeon.
A guild without its own dungeon was little more than a gathering of people, for only by owning one could a guild continuously generate income, produce equipment, cultivate members, and establish itself firmly within the Streaming Association.
Walking toward the window, Dan’s gaze overlooked the distant skyline of Metro City, where buildings stretched endlessly toward the horizon and countless dungeon rifts—some public, some privately owned, and some controlled by the great guilds—lay hidden among the sprawling metropolis.
Quietly opening the Marketplace, countless listings for weapons, bloodlines, skills, and artifacts flooded before his eyes until he filtered the results down to [Dungeons For Sale].
The list immediately became much shorter, populated mostly by ordinary beginner dungeons like low-level monster nests, small caves, and ruins with little strategic value that served as cheap, accessible, and safe investments.
Dan scrolled past every single one of them with a resolute No, knowing that if he intended to establish a guild, accepting mediocrity would only produce a mediocre future, just as a seed planted in barren soil could never become a towering tree.
Since he had already decided to build his own foundation, he was determined that it would be the very best available.
As his fingers continued scrolling, he suddenly stopped when one listing immediately drew his attention: a gigantic black tower piercing the heavens, its image alone radiating overwhelming pressure.
Seven enormous floors spiraled upward through crimson clouds, each level resembling its own separate world, while ancient crimson characters floated endlessly in the air above the entrance, reading: Seven Abyssal Hell Tower.
Dan’s pupils narrowed as he breathed, "So... it’s actually for sale."
Among Streamers throughout Metro City, there was hardly anyone who hadn’t heard its name, as the Seven Abyssal Hell Tower was recognized as one of the city’s greatest treasures.
Each of its seven floors contained entirely different environments, monsters, hidden trials, and bosses, where the deeper one climbed, the greater the rewards; legend had it that no Streamer had ever reached the seventh floor, and even the sixth remained totally unconquered.
It wasn’t merely a dungeon, but an icon and a true symbol of prestige, meaning any guild fortunate enough to possess it would immediately become one of the city’s dominant powers.
Dan quietly read the asking price and his eyebrows rose ever so slightly at the staggering figure; it was so incredibly expensive that even after receiving ten million Copper Coins, he was still far from being able to purchase it outright.
Yet strangely, he wasn’t discouraged at all; instead, a smile slowly appeared across his face as his eyes remained fixed upon the towering black structure displayed on the screen.
"Go big... or go home," he mused, before realizing that wasn’t quite right since he was already home.
That meant there was truly only one option left: go big, or never rise at all.
