Standing before the towering and imposing "Muten Tower", Krillin craned his neck to look up at the structure that soared up to fifty floors high. It was ancient, majestic, and seemed to pierce the moonlit sky above. The spire at its peak glowed with a dreamy radiance under the moonlight, leaving Krillin awestruck—so much so that he nearly forgot none of this was real.
Outside the Muten Tower, a constant flow of people bustled in and out. The plaza before the tower's first floor was filled with martial artists in various uniforms, either sitting in meditation or performing techniques in place, immersed in their own worlds.
The air was filled with murmured conversations—soft exchanges about martial arts, martial cultivation, martial associations, and sects. Krillin didn't understand much of it, but the intensity of the martial atmosphere was undeniable.
He had felt this aura while wandering other parts of the Muten Main City, but nothing compared to the energy here.
It was as if… this place was a sacred ground to them.
Everyone spoke in hushed tones—no one shouted or made a scene. Even someone like Krillin, who hadn't even properly stepped onto the martial path, felt his blood stir with excitement. His heart was aflame with the desire to make a name for himself in the world of martial arts.
"Jarvis, what exactly is this 'Muten Tower'? Why does everyone seem so... drawn to it? What are those people going in there to do?" Krillin asked cautiously, addressing the glowing orb beside him. At first, he'd been concerned it would attract too much attention, but after seeing all kinds of virtual assistants flying beside, above, or sitting on others' shoulders, he no longer thought it strange.
The light orb responded, "Within the Muten Tower lie the ultimate techniques passed down by the Muten Roshi himself. Anyone who enters can observe and study them. How much one gains depends entirely on talent and fortune."
"Huh? The Muten Roshi ultimate techniques? Isn't the Muten Roshi the founder of the Muten School? His techniques?" Krillin was stunned. He looked around at the sea of martial artists on the plaza—were they all here for the Muten Roshi secrets? No wonder… No wonder they revered this tower so much!
"Someone like Mr. Taro wouldn't let his vision be limited to a mere sect," Jarvis replied with his usual calm tone. Krillin nodded vigorously, not fully understanding, but trusting that if the Muten had done this, there must be a reason.
"So that means I can go in and study too?!" he asked, excitement bubbling. But before Jarvis could respond, his expression fell—he remembered what Jarvis had said earlier: the Muten Tower cost points to enter. "But I don't have any points! You said I'm at zero, right?"
"First-time members of the Martial Association entering Muten Main City are granted one free entry to the Muten Tower."
Jarvis's answer filled Krillin with joy. What a pleasant surprise! "What about after that? How many points does it cost to go in again?" he asked, trying to plan ahead.
"Regardless of floor or time spent inside, each entry costs 10 points."
10 points… didn't sound like much!
Krillin hesitated for a moment, then finally made up his mind—he had to see it for himself! Straightening his back, he tightened the white belt around his waist—the same style as Goku's—and walked with determination to the entrance of the first floor.
"Muten Tower, First Floor. Entry requires 10 points (waived for this visit). Confirm entry?" Jarvis's neutral voice echoed. Krillin blinked, then nodded enthusiastically. Of course he confirmed!
His small figure vanished from the plaza. A few people turned to look where he disappeared.
"Never seen that guy before. New to the Association?"
---
Muten Tower, First Floor
Though called the first floor, this was actually an independent space. There was no visible ceiling above, only a chaotic void of swirling green data streams. At the center of the space stood a massive, square stone stele. Around it, just like the outer plaza, were many martial artists—some meditating, others lost in thought or gesturing with their hands as if contemplating techniques.
Krillin's form suddenly materialized. A few people glanced at him, then returned to their own practice.
Jarvis had already briefed him on the basic structure and rules of the Muten Tower. Krillin took a deep breath and looked toward the massive stele in the center—The Muten Stele.
On the stele were etched strange, abstract lines—constantly shifting and flowing, yet with no discernible pattern, as though they followed an unknown logic. The sight was mesmerizing.
Krillin was instantly entranced. He murmured to himself, "Muken…"
From Jarvis's introduction, he now understood what the lines on the stele represented—they were the essence of the highest technique passed down by the Muten Roshi, or rather, the original core of the Muten School: Muken! The tower had fifty floors, and each floor held one of these steles.
One floor, one stele.
Fifty floors, fifty levels of the Muken.
Suddenly, a disturbance rippled through the space. A man in a black martial arts uniform came flying out as if someone had kicked him out of the void. He tumbled across the floor, then quickly stood up. The others seemed to recognize him and burst into laughter.
"Kicked out again? Haha!"
"Still stuck on the ninth stage? Tch, so close to reaching the second floor. What a shame!"
The man scowled, glaring at them. "You think you're better than me? At least I made it to the ninth stage! I'm this close to mastering the full potential of my strength—just this close to being able to unleash it one hundred percent!"
He gritted his teeth and pounded his chest in frustration. "Ugh! So aggravating!"
Krillin watched in silence, amazed. Jarvis's voice came again, explaining, "Originally, each floor of the Muten Tower had no subdivisions. But for most, a single floor was too difficult. There was no way to measure progress. Years ago, many suggested a tiered system—hence the 'layer and stage' divisions."
"Hey, new guy?" The man in black noticed Krillin staring and called out in surprise. He was a regular here—famous for his knowledge and constant training. Especially on the first floor, there was no one he didn't recognize. Seeing Krillin's unfamiliar face, he asked.
Krillin stammered a few sounds but didn't know how to reply. Instead, he approached the stele bearing the First Layer Muken, staring at it in a daze.
The man didn't mind—Krillin looked young, after all. He chuckled. "First time in the Tower? Haha, then you're in for it. Most people don't realize until they get in here…"
He sighed. "We martial artists always think we've mastered our techniques. But in truth, we don't even know how to fully unleash our own power. It's really…"
Before he could finish, Krillin vanished before the stele.
"He… he's already entered the first stage of the first layer trial?!" the man gaped. That fast?! He just got here! Jumping straight into the trial without even studying the stele for a few hours—reckless!
The others had similar thoughts. A complete novice, rushing into the trial without proper understanding… Well, most people can clear the first six stages. He'd probably get kicked out at the seventh.