"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into the abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."
— Friedrich Nietzsche
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After destroying the kingdom—Anton paying the price with his arm and left eye—Jude and his friends ascended to the Tower's second floor.
According to Anton, the kingdom had been the first floor's challenge.
One he'd failed to recognize in time.
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Jude became a shell of his former self. He threw everything into growing stronger, killing anyone and anything in his path without hesitation or mercy.
Never again. He would not allow what happened to happen again.
According to the books he'd read, sufficient strength would allow him to resurrect his brothers.
He just had to be strong enough.
With singular focus, he speed-ran floors two through twenty-nine.
Then his trait hit a wall. His attributes reached their cap—no amount of killing would push him further.
