[Participation in the "Immortality is a Myth" Community Magazine Contest.]

Every entity, each echo, everywhere, ends.

In a realm where time is traded as currency and even the elixir of life has an expiration date, the Tower looms—a colossal, living structure throbbing with Kaiju energy. Joe, a hacker thrust into this isekai prison, battles not just for survival on each floor but to ascend amidst mind-controlled Kaiju Guardians and a Lich-Master following their every move. Respawn comes at the cost of aging a year, a ticking ascender number tethering his life. Factions clash as everyone surges for tower dominance—the prize: immortality.