Summary
- The Tower of God is divided into Inner, Outer, and Middle areas, each serving different classes and functions.
- The Inner Tower is a challenging environment with shinsu tests and strategy, while the Outer Tower is residential yet harsh.
- The 43rd Floor stands out as an exception where Enryu killed the Guardian, and the top 135th Floor remains unconquered.
Tower of God introduces readers to a mysterious and colossal structure known as the Tower, a place filled with challenges, politics, and otherworldly creatures. The Tower itself is an integral character in the story, spanning at least 135 confirmed floors, each the size of a continent.
While the history and hierarchy of this world are deep and complex, the structure of the Tower is crucial to understanding the dynamics of the story.
Tower of God: 5 Things Only Manhwa Readers Know
As with most anime adaptations, some moments are left out from their source materials, and here are such moments in Tower of God manhwa.
The Three Core Sections of the Tower
The Tower is divided into three main areas, each serving different purposes and catering to distinct classes of people. A short run-down of the structure would be:
- Inner Tower The Inner Tower is where the action happens. It is a vertical, test-driven environment controlled with shinsu, where Regulars attempt to ascend floors, each one governed by its own set of tests and challenges.
- Outer Tower This section is home to the general population. Unlike the Inner Tower, the Outer Tower serves as a massive residential area, with each floor being the size of the Americas.
- Middle Area The Middle Area serves as a bridge between the Inner and Outer Towers. It’s a space that facilitates interaction between Regulars, Rankers, and inhabitants of both parts of the Tower. This area is important for travel between floors and serves as a hub of commerce and living spaces for Rankers who have earned the right to reside there.
Inner Tower: A Test of Power and Strategy
The Inner Tower is where Regulars—individuals chosen by Headon, the Tower’s mysterious first-floor Guardian—undertake a series of trials.
Each floor is ruled by a High Ranker under the permission of the Guardian of that floor, and success in these trials allows Regulars to ascend higher. A crucial aspect of the Inner Tower is the manipulation of shinsu, a powerful energy source that influences life within the Tower. Without a contract with a Guardian, even the strongest Regulars are limited in their ability to control this mysterious force.
Every test in the Inner Tower is designed to challenge not only a Regular's physical strength but also their wit, teamwork, and strategy. In this regard, the Tower is not just a vertical battleground but also a political and mental puzzle, where Regulars must navigate alliances, betrayals, and the complex social hierarchy that defines Tower society.
The Unique Case of the 43rd Floor
One notable exception within the Inner Tower is the 43rd Floor. Here, Enryu killed the Guardian, leaving the floor without its usual ruler and forcing climbers to traverse the dangerous Middle Area to bypass it. This floor is an anomaly in the otherwise tightly controlled system of the Tower and represents the volatility lurking within its seemingly rigid structure.
Tower of God: Who is Enryu and What Led to His Legendary Status?
Enryu's legendary status is defined by his unmatched power, mysterious origins, and his unprecedented act of killing an Administrator.
Outer Tower: A World of its Own
In contrast to the harsh trials of the Inner Tower, the Outer Tower is where most of the Tower’s population resides. It is a sprawling residential area that varies wildly in terms of culture, climate, and environment across its countless floors. Each floor operates almost like a self-contained world, with its own unique societies, traditions, and sometimes even governments. Despite Zahard’s conquest of the Tower, many inhabitants are unaware of his reign, existing in secluded kingdoms far removed from the politics of the Tower’s upper floors.
The lifespan of Outer Tower residents differs depending on their status, with normal inhabitants living around 200 years, while failed Regulars who attempted the climb can live up to 500-600 years. The environment here may seem less perilous, but the Outer Tower is just as harsh as the inner sections, with its own set of rules and societal structures.
Middle Area: The Heart of Commerce and Interaction
The Middle Area serves as the Tower’s central hub, a place where both Regulars and Rankers converge. It is smaller than the Outer Tower and is primarily used for travel between the Inner and Outer sections. The standard of living here is higher than in most of the Outer Tower, and it operates as a bustling center of trade and politics. The Middle Area is where many Regulars who have given up on climbing the Tower settle, enjoying a better status than those in the Outer Tower, though still far below the Rankers.
This area is also crucial for businesses and commerce, and it serves as a meeting point for Regulars and Rankers alike. However, even here, the influence of the Guardians and Rulers can be felt, and the Middle Area’s labyrinthine layout means only those with specialized knowledge, like the Guides, can navigate it effectively.
Tower of God: The Zahard Empire, Explained
Understanding the Zahard Empire is the first step to understanding Tower of God. Who are the people behind it, and are they above the law?
The Guardians and Rulers: Commanders of the Floors
Each floor in the Tower is overseen by two powerful forces: the Guardian and the Ruler. The Guardian is a mysterious being who controls the flow of shinsu on their floor. They are essential to the Tower’s functioning, as even the Rulers must follow their wishes. Without a Guardian, a floor cannot be ruled, and shinsu cannot be properly manipulated.
Rulers, on the other hand, are High Rankers appointed to manage the tests and administration of each floor. They work closely with the Guardians and are responsible for ensuring that the challenges faced by Regulars are fair (in the Tower’s own ruthless way) and follow the established guidelines.
Shinsu: The Lifeblood of the Tower
Shinsu plays a critical role in the Tower, replacing oxygen and water as essential life-sustaining elements. It is a versatile energy that can be controlled and manipulated by individuals who form contracts with the Guardians. The ability to use shinsu increases the lifespan of Tower residents and grants them incredible powers. However, over-reliance on shinsu can also lead to complications, including diseases that resemble cancer in the real world.
Tower of God: The Ten Great Families, Explained
It's not blood that makes a family. The Ten Great Families from Tower of God are some of the most ruthless and diverse seen in Shonen history.
The Elusive Top: 134 Floors and Counting
Despite the sheer size of the Tower, no one has yet conquered it in its entirety. Zahard’s empire controls up to the 134th floor, but the 135th floor remains a mystery, with its Guardian said to be particularly hostile. The Tower’s lore suggests that whoever reaches the top will finally glimpse the stars—an exciting concept given that all the Tower’s skies are artificial, created using shinsu. However, with Zahard’s reign and the complex politics of the Tower, reaching the top remains an elusive dream.
Tower of God
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- 2020 - 2024-00-00
Tower of God is an anime series based on the South Korean webtoon by SIU. It follows a young boy named Bam who embarks on a perilous journey to ascend a mysterious tower, where each floor presents unique challenges and tests. The tower promises to grant the deepest desires of those who reach its top. Along the way, Bam forms alliances and confronts adversaries while uncovering hidden truths about himself and the tower.
