The Tower is the world and setting of Tower of God. There are currently 135 confirmed Floors, though the Zahard Empire has only expanded up to the 134th Floor, as Zahard has yet to conquer the 135th Floor. The Outer Tower of each Floor is the size of the Americas,[1] making the Tower at least 11 times the size of Earth. The Tower is divided into three parts: the Inner Tower, the Outer Tower, and the Middle Area. Of the world outside the Tower, next to nothing is known.
Main Information[]
Rules for the overall structure of the Tower
- There are Guardians for each Floor (except the 43rd Floor) and they have control over the shinsu on their Floor.[1] Note: everyone in the Tower requires shinsu to breathe (including all Irregulars) as shinsu replaces oxygen and water (substances which constitute the atmosphere outside the Tower).
- Without a Guardian, a Ruler can't rule.
- There are Rulers for each Floor (excluding the First Floor and the 43rd Floor) and they rule over their Floors under the permission of the Guardians. The Rulers are all High Rankers.[1]
- Other than the Ruler, it is likely the rest of the Staff (Test Directors, instructors, etc.) are found in the Inner Tower as they have to carry out or watch over the tests or perform other tasks on the Floor.
- In the Tower, you need a contract with the Guardian to manipulate a certain amount of shinsu without a special item.[2][3]
- The Tower is populated by creatures known as Shinheuh.
Effects of manipulating shinsu and possible clauses of Zahard's contract regarding Rankers; how individuals are judged by others and society in the Tower and terms of honorifics in the Tower
- Residents of Tower have a large lifespan. In addition to that, if they learn how to manipulate shinsu their lifespan will immediately increase to the point it looks like their aging process has frozen.
- Sometimes when people start to handle shinsu their growth stops before they become adults, then it's standard to treat them like kids regardless of age. The general theory in the Tower is that the growth of the body is proportional to the growth of mind. There are exceptions by the region of origin or families.[4]
- However, there are also cases like a person contracting diseases or develops an allergic reaction to shinsu as they get older, and the cells start to function improperly due to it, which is quite similar to cancer. If someone dies of old age in the Tower, this is usually the case.
- There are confirmed cases of Rankers obtaining immortality. For example Zahard and the 10 Great Family Heads were rewarded with immortality by the Guardian of 100th Floor for passing its test.
- Age is only a number in the Tower so it isn't worth thinking about. People consider body age or species characteristics age something not important. And the superior-subordinate relationship according to age does not exist, as rank or status are considered over age.[4] For example Yuri, Khun and Androssi do not use honorifics for almost everyone because they are from the 10 Families, however Anak does use honorifics.
Inner Tower[]
Inner Tower (내탑, Naetab; Short form of 내부에탑, Naebuetab) is where the selected Regulars climb the Tower. The Ruler of each Floor decides on a series of tests, the specifics of which are decided by the Test Director and then held by Test Admins and other staff.
Regulars must pass all of the tests on a Floor and then they go up to the next Floor. The only exception is the 43rd Floor where there is no Guardian because Enryu killed it. So, everyone has to take the road in the Middle Area to reach the next Floor.[1]
Regulars must take the exams to reach the next Floor until the 20th Floor and they can go in and out of the Middle Area after the 20th Floor.[1] If they wish to, they can settle in the Middle Area.
As a Regular, they are entitled to certain rights. Regulars, who fail on the 2nd Floor or give up climbing the Tower before they've reached the 20th Floor, are stripped of their rights and are sent to the Middle Area. This is likely so they can return home as it can be used to travel between the Inner and Outer Tower. However, if they give up climbing the Tower after the 20th Floor, they will have a better status than normal residents in the Middle and Outer Tower. By reaching the 134th Floor a Regular becomes a Ranker.
Note: The Ruler has the right to decide the test(s) of their Floor. But if the Guardian raises objections, they must follow the Guardian's wish.[1]
Outer Tower[]
The Outer Tower (외탑, Oetab) is the residential district of the Tower inhabitants and each Floor of the Outer Tower is as large as the Americas[1] on Earth; Lero-Ro apparently called it the Residential Tower.[5] The cultures of each Floor are all different and the environments, ecosystems and climates all vary.[6] These conditions have been decided by the tendencies of the Guardians and the Rulers of each Floor.[1] Apparently, most people are born in the Outer Tower and live on the same Floor for their entire lives.
Despite Zahard conquering most of the known Floors of the Tower, there exist cultures on many Floors of the Outer Tower unaware of the existence of the Inner Tower, or even Zahard and his empire. As such, these cultures have subsequently formed their own nations with monarchs.[6]
On the Floors conquered by Zahard, residential cards are issued to its dwellers.[7] Once a person shows the potential of climbing the Tower, they are chosen by Headon to become a Regular, earning the right of climbing the Inner Tower.
The lifespan of the inhabitants of the Outer Tower varies:
- Normal residents: ~200 years.
- Failed Regulars: ~500-600 years.
- Living at the current top Floor: ~1000 years.
However, all of them shall die eventually.[8][9]
Middle Area[]
The Middle Area (중간지역, Jung-ganjiyeog) is an area between the Inner and Outer sections. It can be used to travel between the Inner and Outer Tower. It is smaller than the Outer Tower and varies by the Floor.[1] There is some interchange with the Outer Tower, although the standard of living is much better.[1] The culture of the Middle Area of each Floor are all similar because the Rankers and the Regulars come and go a lot.[1] However, there are noticeable characteristics in each one.
Both Regulars and Rankers can live in the Middle Area, however, Regulars only earn the right of living there by themselves or with their family members once they reach 20th Floor.[1] Those who have permission to operate businesses in the Middle Area are also allowed to stay in or enter the Middle Area. Sometimes, there are thieves who target the businesses and Serena Rinnen previously belonged to a group of thieves who targeted merchants transporting goods from the Outer Tower.[10] Childbirth, in general, is forbidden within the Middle Area, so many illegitimate children are born and abandoned there; some Rankers affiliated with Special Families are given permission.[11]
The stairways in the Middle Area are used by Rankers to skip Floors of the Inner Tower as it's very likely only Guardians can teleport others. This is evident from the fact Evan Edrok, a Guide, accompanied Yuri Zahard to assist her in navigating the maze-like paths of the Middle Area. Yet if he could teleport, both of them would've simply appeared on the First Floor, during Chapter 1, instead of climbing down the stairs. It's also likely one can only navigate the stairways of the Middle Area with the assistance of a Guide as there are likely dead ends and parts of the Tower are very dark.
The Workshop can be found in the Middle Area of each Floor (2nd Floor onwards).
The Top[]
The current accessible top of the Tower is the 134th Floor.[1]
There is at least one more confirmed Floor above that - 135th Floor. The Guardian of the 135th Floor is said to be extremely hostile and nobody has been able to defeat it or pass its test yet, which is why the current "top" of the Tower is the 134th Floor.
It is rumoured that when the current Lord of the Tower will go to sleep and next one will start ruling, then the next Floor will finally be conquered. It's because Molic One P. GR is a conservative ruler and it's not his priority to conquer another Floor. It is strongly believed that the day Zahard is on the move again, is when the Zahard Empire will expand by another Floor.
It is said that the one who reaches the top will be able to see the stars, due to the fact that all of the skies in the Tower are artificial constructs made of shinsu.
Ancient History[]
As stated by Khun Aguero Agnis, prior to the arrival of the Great Family Heads and their climb up the Tower, the Tower was once inhabited by many different beings and cultures completely separate from the Tower’s current society. Some of these being the Legendary Machine Civilization, Towns of Ancient People who worshipped flowers and plants and the tribe of Ancients who made Nests in the Floors of the Tower. [12]
Outside of The Tower[]
- Main article: Outside
Little is known of the world outside the Tower; to most inhabitants of the Tower, it is known only dimly, as the place from which Irregulars originate. According to Irregulars interviewed by Ashul Edwaru, shinsu doesn't exist there and instead, people breath through air (oxygen, water, and other substances). It's unknown how Tower outsiders develop Shinsu Resistance when there is supposedly no shinsu for them to resist.
According to Of the Tower's Weapons, all the weapons used in the Tower are modelled after weapons from outside the Tower. These weapons were brought by Zahard and the Great Warriors when they entered the Tower. Since Zahard and the Great Warriors brought in some weapons modified for use in vacuum. Though Zahard and the Great Warriors may not have used these weapons, this may be possible: there are battles fought in such places.
According to Macseth, Gong Bang also exists outside of the Tower.
Rachel has read about The Tower in a book and called Headon a "fae" who helped "the children wishing to ascend the Tower".[13] And she has told Baam stories while he was outside the Tower about "the world of light, filled with joy", "the fruits borne by the tree given by God", "the yearly festivals", "a place where the chosen children play" and supposedly, the "world" above the cave is a place "where only those who have been chosen can play".[14]
Disease[]
Vol.2 Ch.299: ??F - Hell Train: Tomorrow (2)
Notes[]
- Rankers can go to the Outer and Inner Towers as they wish.[1]
- The relationship between the Regulars and the non-Regulars is similar to that of the ruling class and the subjected class. Rankers are guaranteed premium treatment in their lives. Regulars can get premium treatment according to the Floor they reached.[1]
- The method of exiting the Tower is unknown, even to Irregulars. However, there are rumours Gustang knows a way out. Arlene Grace managed to leave the tower, taking her deceased child's body with her; however, it may be that the "god" outside that she offered her child to played a part in getting her outside of the tower rather than there being a proper exit.
References[]
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 SIU's blog (Translation)
- ↑ Ch.29: 2F - Position Test (2)
- ↑ Positions and Shinsu contracts.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ch.32: 2F - Zahard's Princess (2)
- ↑ Ch.10: 2F - Lero-Ro's Test (2)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Vol.2 Ch.189: 38F - Hell Train: The Dallar Show (18)
- ↑ Baek Ryun's profile
- ↑ 6th anniversary Q&A
- ↑ Translation by Lafa on vatoto.com
- ↑ Ch.43: 2F - Hide and Seek (9)
- ↑ Vol.2 Ch.42: 28F – Devil of the Right Arm (1)
- ↑ Vol.3 Ch.180: Heading for the Arena 4
- ↑ Ch.76: 2F - Epilogue - Rachel (2)
- ↑ Ch.73: 2F - Last Examination (17)