The first pages of the catalog showed introductory rules to the Battlebox. The tutorial seemed to cover the basics, so Joe skipped ahead to scan the orbs and make every second count.
Thumbing the pages, he spotted his orbs organized by their tier and affinity—starter and water. Their stats matched the information he’d already identified during the tutorial Battlebox. There, he couldn’t identify others’ orbs, besides noticing that each one glowed with a tinge of color.
Clicking the end of his pen, he jotted down the four colors—red for Dawn’s fire orbs, orange for TJ’s earth orbs, and white for Andras’ wind orbs, leaving blue for his own Water affinity orbs.
Stowing the catalog away, Joe took a deep breath, preparing for what was to come.
The first to step into the sterile simulation room, Joe’s skin prickled with the cold, clinical air. The glass and white stone surfaces gleamed, reflecting the determined faces of TJ and Brian as they joined him.
A screen embedded in the wall flickered to life, and a blast of heavy metal music erupted from the speakers, setting an adrenaline-charged mood. A hyper-enthusiastic voice, dripping with the kind of energy that could outshine a social media influencer, boomed out to greet them, matching the words on the screen:
Battle Box Simulator: How many participants?
"Three," Joe's voice echoed in the pristine space.
Participants within the same QRL range can challenge each other or go up against the Host. That’s me!
"I’m at QRL 3," Brian said, cracking his knuckles.
“Me too. Hope you guys can keep up with me. I’m fast and furious." TJ adjusted his stance like a boxer ready for a match.
Joe raised his hand. “Looks like we’re all QRL 3, but I think we should each face off against the Host to test what the AI in the simulation is capable of. We have two sessions available; the second one can be melee against each other.”
TJ crossed his arms. “Listen, if we fight each other for both sessions, we’ll learn each other’s weaknesses and improve faster before we face off against the other ascenders.”
“You both have fair points,” Brian said, tapping a finger against his chin. “But I’m inclined to agree with Joe. Let’s see what this Host throws at us first. Besides, I could write a thesis on your strengths and weaknesses, TJ. I’m like a hawk on steroids.”
“Oh yeah?” TJ eyed him without hesitation. “If I started listing all your faults, we'd be here until the death of the universe and—”
“And we’d all die of boredom,” Brian cut in.
“Stop bickering, you two.” Joe stepped forward, raising his hands. “I’m calling it. I’ll face the Host in the first challenge. If you want to work off your frustrations on each other, be my guest.”
TJ huffed, and Brian fell silent, looking like scorned children. They all selected the Host as their opponent.
Terrain? Start with the default sterile environment?
"Sterile's fine." Joe rolled his shoulders to loosen up. He could feel the tension in his muscles grow with each passing second.
The room transformed in a series of mechanical clicks and whirrs. Sections of the floor and walls shifted, revealing hidden compartments. Three auto-MadOrbz launchers emerged, each resembling an oversized, high-tech tennis ball machine. These weren't ordinary machines, though. They were sleek, almost alien in design, with glowing circuits and smooth, rotating surfaces that seemed to hum with latent energy.
The sections looked like magic squash courts, each one bordered by transparent, shimmering force fields that buzzed with static electricity. The floors were polished to a mirror finish, reflecting the neon lights embedded in the walls. Each section had a distinct ambiance:
Section One was a harsh, white environment, the force fields casting a cold, sterile light that made everything seem sharper and more intense. The launcher was mounted on a sleek, robotic arm, which twisted and turned with mechanical precision.
Section Two had a more earthy feel. The floor looked like polished stone, with faint cracks running through it, as if it were ancient and battle-worn. The force fields glowed with a soft, amber hue, giving the section a warm, almost organic ambiance. The launcher in this section resembled a rugged, industrial machine, with reinforced plating and a brutish, no-nonsense design.
Section Three was a stark contrast to the first two, with a deep, blue glow emanating from the force fields. The floor appeared to be made of a smooth, reflective material, like dark glass, giving the illusion of depth. The launcher in this training section was the most advanced-looking, with sleek, aerodynamic lines and a multitude of sensors and targeting arrays.
The Host’s voice assigned them to their sections with an amused tone.
Ascender 64 to Section One, Ascender 69 to Section Two, Ascender 59 to Section Three.
"Perfect." TJ grinned. "I always knew you belonged in a sterile lab, Joe."
"At least I'm not stuck in the Stone Age, TJ." Joe glanced back, smirking. “Though with your ascender number, I bet you can really heat it up.”
Brian chuckled, stepping into the blue-lit section. "Hey, don't get too comfy in the cave, TJ. You might miss the future happening over here."
Before TJ could open his mouth to protest a party horn blared followed by another enthusiastic announcement made by the Host.
Battlebox Simulation initiated. 5/5 Spots available. Select your MadOrbz.
Without hesitation, Joe equipped his five water affinity orbs. Drooler appeared first, followed by Slimer, Frostbite Chill, Aqua Shot, and last but not least Hydromancer, each one bobbing into place, encircling him at shoulder height. They all wore animated expressions that looked so silly they made Joe want to laugh.
Focus.
Joe moved to Section One. "Hey Host, do my teammates and opponents see the same thing I do when I look at my MadOrbz?" Joe asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Ah, the age-old question! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my friend. You see these orbs the way you choose to see them, but to others, they might look like a bad day at a paintball match.
Joe glanced at Brian’s sleek metallic orbs floating around his towering form, then back at his own Slimer Orb, its snot-covered cartoon face making him grimace. "Beauty’s in the eye of the beholder, huh? I think the universe has a strange sense of humor.”
Or maybe it’s just you.
Joe couldn’t help but snort at the Host’s remark. "Alright, let’s do this. After the last Battlebox shenanigans, we need all the practice we can get to better control our orbs."
TJ and Brian gave a sharp nod, their grins spurring Joe’s determination to do better this time.
Chosen objective: Starting target practice. Learn to better control your orbs at QRL 3. Yes/No?
“Yes!” Joe gave a swift thumbs up and faced the launcher.
[MadOrbz are set.]
[One Battlebox simulation round remains for this floor. No bets required, thus there is no prize pool. Time Remaining: 3’ Begin!]
Joe stood ready in Section One, the sterile environment now a familiar battlefield. His orbs floated around him, each one humming with energy and anticipation. The Host’s voice, dripping with sarcasm and enthusiasm, echoed through the chamber.
Prepare yourself, Ascender 64. First up: Terra the Terrible! He’s here to rock your world!
The launcher whirred to life, firing Terra the Terrible, it rumbled through the air with a menacing growl. The orb glowed with a deep, earthy hue, crackling with latent power.
Joe acted swiftly, summoning Aqua Shot.
The blue orb’s squishy form and googly eyes belying its destructive potential. “H2-Whoa…bet they’d wish they brought a towel!”
Since he couldn’t control his orbs mid-flight with mana, he knew he’d have to be very ‘hands on’ with them.
Joe lunged forward, grabbing Aqua Shot with both hands. He flung it at Terra the Terrible. Aqua Shot flew through the air, its high-pressure jet stream of water slicing through Terra the Terrible’s defensive aura. The Earth orb shuddered, its power dampened by the relentless water assault.
Terra the Terrible’s aura shifted from orange to white, sending a shockwave through the air towards Aqua Shot. The shockwave hit Aqua Shot, causing it to wobble mid-flight.
[Aqua Shot +15 Damage]
Dirt and debris sprayed from Terra the Terrible, trying to smother Aqua Shot’s watery form. Aqua Shot googly eyes swam in their sockets but quickly recovered, its water jets washing away the dirt and debris.
“Is that all you got, Terra?” Joe smirked. “You’re nothing but mud when it rains!”
Joe cringed at his corny insult, wishing Kyle were here to throw his own. He rocked back on his heels when another shockwave burst from Terra and hit Aqua Shot full force.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
[Aqua Shot +15 Damage]
He dove forward and caught Aqua Shot before it hit the barrier. Cursing, Joe realized he was wrong to assume Terra was an Earth affinity orb. Given the power of the shockwave attack it had to have Wind affinity too. That meant it held an elemental advantage over all his Water affinity orbs.
Two’s company, three’s a crowd: Inferno the Infernal! He’s hot stuff and ready to burn!
The Host’s launcher fired Inferno the Infernal, a Fire affinity orb that blazed through the air with intense heat. The fiery orb’s core cast a harsh glow on the white stone walls, leaving a trail of embers in its wake.
First things first, heal Aqua Shot.
Joe summoned Hydromancer next. The translucent, fish-like orb had bubbles floating around it. “A splash of water never felt so good,” Hydromancer gushed in a cheerful tone, as if it was on the verge of breaking into a song and dance routine.
He grabbed Hydromancer and launched it toward Aqua Shot.
The Fire orb slammed into Hydromancer, dropping its HP by 10. Aqua Shot plunged into Inferno, but not before it burnt 10 more HP off of Hydromancer.
He’d planned to use Frostbite Chill, but then his Hydromancer kept taking damage, dropping its ability to heal.
“Shit, if I can't get my Hydromancer to my damaged orb in time, it's vulnerable to attacks and could be useless.” He really needed to find a way to activate his Defense or Disrupt orb at the same time, but how?
He scanned his inventory to see if anything would be useful, like Andras, the dark elf's mini-flute. His paracord could be wrapped around an orb so he could yank it back closer, at least until he learned to gain control of his orbs. His breath caught in his throat as he pulled an item from his inventory.
“This should do it.”
He gripped a couple of smoke pellets and launched them into Inferno.
Poof!
Dark gray smoke surrounded the fire orb, spreading into every nook and cranny of the simulation room.
TJ yelled and Brian groaned. “I couldn’t see a rat’s ass if it were in front of my face over here.”
“Sorry!” Joe called through the haze. His nose stung as he inhaled the smoky air. A valuable lesson learnt, when it came to smoke pellets, less is more.
Joe crouched low, avoiding the smoky overhang and activated Quick Wit. He released a loud whistle, scanning the area he spotted his Aqua Shot and Hydromancer bobbing in and out of the cloud of smoke.
Sprinting toward the orbs, his Tracker enhanced dexterity assisted his grasp on Hydromancer before it could disappear again into the smoke. He twisted around connecting it to Aqua Shot, hoping he’d have enough time before it returned to his decagon. With heavy breaths, he stared up at the Hydromancer’s five second timer as it ticked by ever so slowly.
It hovered beside the damaged orb, restoring Aqua Shot’s health points by fifty percent. Aqua Shot glowed brighter, its form regaining its strength and vigor.
[Aqua Shot HP: 75/100]
[Hydromancer MadOrbz no longer summonable for the BattleBox Simulation.]
[Activate a MadOrbz on deck.]
He mentally thought ‘time,’ the information responding with little effort.
[Time Remaining: 2’35”, MP: 97]
Joe winced while checking the summoning time left on Aqua Shot. Eight seconds remained before his orb would be sent back to the decagon.
Make every second count!
With only eight seconds remaining for his orb, Joe knew he had to act fast. He grabbed Aqua Shot again and flung it towards Inferno the Infernal. The water orb’s jet stream splashed Inferno in a spectacular burst of steam, the hiss filling the chamber. The intense pressure of the jet stream overwhelmed Inferno, causing it to waver and lose its fiery edge.
Little red horns erupted atop Inferno the Infernal’s fiery dome. It spewed a barrage of flames towards Aqua Shot. Aqua Shot retaliated with another jet stream, the water and fire colliding to create clouds of steam. Aqua Shot’s relentless jets forced the red orb back.
Then something strange happened. The little horns grew bigger, curling around and growing darker like obsidian. The flames turned black and began to overpower Aqua Shot’s jet stream. As soon as Inferno’s scorching black tongue licked the blue surface of Aqua Shot a trident icon appeared.
[Aqua Shot has been touched by an Infernal Curse: Burning Shame]
Aqua Shot’s cheeks glowed red as a shame icon appeared. Its expression turned grim right before it disappeared from Joe’s view. Clunking against the inside of his decagon signaled its return.
[Burning with shame and regret over its poor performance, Aqua Shot is filled with self loathing and no longer summonable for this training simulation.]
Tapping the window of the decagon, Joe tried to get the cursed orb’s attention. Keeping its face turned away from the tiny window Aqua Shot refused to budge as if to say, “Don’t look at me.”
Shaking his head, Joe looked at Slimer. The green, gooey orb bobbed up and down, circling him with a mischievous grin.
Joe grabbed the orb and flung it at Inferno. Slimer shot forward, flinging sticky, gooey slime onto the fire orb. Inferno the Infernal was engulfed in the goo, its black flames sputtering as the slime coated it from head to toe. The orb struggled, its movements slowed to a crawl.
[Slimer Disrupts Inferno with 5” time debuff.]
Woohoo!
The air crackled, raising goosebumps on Joe's skin. It felt like a storm brewing. Coming out of hiding, Terra spun into view with a whirlwind of energy.
Joe’s heart lurched as it unleashed a shockwave, sending Slimer flying. The blast smashed into Joe's orb, knocking it out of play. Slimer hit the boundary line, its big eyes rolling like ping pong balls before it vanished in a blue haze.
Weather forecast: It’s a washout!
[Slimer is no longer summonable for this training simulation.]
“Damn it. I need an attack orb to deal with Terra.”
“Eat dirt, you shiny turd.” TJ’s Groundbreaker orb smashed into his opponent’s orb’s translucent form. Glancing Joe’s way, he pointed at his decagon and yelled. “Hey, Joe! Use that frosty fucker to attack! He looks like he’s itching to freeze that flying pile of shit solid!”
“Oh I will.” Joe seized the final moments of Slimer’s disrupt debuff. He summoned Frostbite Chill and flung the orb with all his strength at Inferno, the fiery orb’s dazed look fading.
“Let’s break the ice…with your face!” Frostbite Chill’s frozen spikes spun through the air with a spectacular collision of shattered icicles, piercing through the fire orb’s weakened defenses.
Inferno the Infernal shuddered, its core flickering before finally extinguishing.
Finally!
Joe exhaled, a victorious grin spreading across his face. He turned his attention back to Terra the Terrible, ready to finish the battle.
Not bad, not bad. Let’s see if you can keep up the pace. Terra’s more than ready to knock your socks off.
The launcher fired Terra the Terrible once more.
Activating Quick Wit, Joe leapt, his enhanced Tracker dexterity making his grasp on Frostbite Chill effortless. He pivoted in mid-air, spotting Terra barreling towards him. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed Frostbite Chill, hitting Terra square-on. The orb’s frosty aura dampened Terra’s glow, slowing its advance.
Terra retaliated with a shockwave attack, wind affinity energy crackling through the air. Frostbite Chill’s icy form braced against the gust.
[Frostbite Chill +10 Damage]
Joe smiled. Unlike Slimer, Frostbite’s ice composition made it more resistant to the attack, holding its ground against the wind affinity attack with greater ease.
With impressive agility, Frostbite Chill zipped through the air gaining on Terra despite its clever evasive maneuvers. Closing in, Frostbite opened its jagged little mouth wide.
Joe’s brows rose as his orb bit a chunk out of Terra and spat it back at the orb, the expelled piece instantly frosting over, further weakening Terra’s sturdy earth defenses.
Looks like Ascender 64's orb needs a muzzle. Can't keep that thing under control, can you?
Joe couldn’t help but smirk. “Ah, bite me!” As far as he could tell, his orb hadn’t broken any rules.
“That went as well as I expected. How about you two?” Brian dusted his hands together in a finishing motion. He looked really pleased with himself as he eyed Joe and TJ.
“It ain’t over yet for me.” Joe’s eyes narrowed on Frostbite as it took damage from a more powerful shockwave attack. The blast rocked Joe back on his heels and tossed his hair.
[Frostbite Chill +10 Damage]
Taking advantage of the distraction, Terra followed up with a spinning smash forcing Frostbite towards the boundary line.
[Frostbite Chill: 5” Remaining.]
With seconds left on his orb’s timer, Joe dashed after Frostbite and with Quick Wit active he grabbed it before it hit the boundary. Gasping for air, he flung his orb to the right of Terra.
TJ growled. “That’s going wide!”
“Not for long.” A smoke pellet appeared in Joe’s hand and he hurled it at the ground underneath Terra forcing it to flee. It flew straight into Frostbite’s chilly flight path and froze.
“Now that’s learning through action.” Brian clapped Joe on the back.
Joe pumped his fist as Terra hit the boundary line and disappeared. “Have to think on my feet. I used to do that back home playing games. Skipped right past long-winded narrations when I was short on time so I could get straight to the game play.”
TJ nodded. “I don’t have the patience for a long list of rules. I’ll leave that to you two.”
[Training session over. You have one session remaining, would you like to continue. Yes/No?]
Scratching his jaw Brian looked at the orb launchers. “I feel like reading the rules will only get us so far. Did any of you notice the Host’s orbs stayed in play much longer than ours?”
A creeping chill made Joe shudder. “Now that you mention it…and don’t let those titles fool you into believing your opponent orb is a one trick pony.”
TJ’s brows snapped together. “Whatcha mean?”
“I assumed Terra was Earth affinity as its name and earlier moves suggested. Then it blindsided my first orb with a wind-based attack. It was a dual affinity orb and Inferno had a curse attack up its sleeve.”
Brian grinned. “Great. You won’t be so easily fooled next time.”
“I’m itching to go again.” TJ bounced on the balls of his feet. “My berserker attacks need more work.”
Joe glanced at the pending notification, then back at the team. “Might as well, we can spare three more minutes. Let’s work on coordinating our hits and understanding our MadOrbz elemental affinities and capabilities better.”
“Hey Host,” Joe said. “Yes. We’re ready to continue.”
Wise decision. It’s use it or lose it since unused Battlebox training sessions won't carry over to the next floor. Wouldn’t want all that hard-earned knowledge to go to waste.
Joe took a deep breath, his mind racing with new tactics he wanted to try out. With his orb’s healing ability, he was curious if Hydromancer would be as quick at restoring HP if it were lower than twenty or if it cost more time to restore when there was greater damage. He also wanted to try out quick exchanges between Drooler’s defense and Slimer’s disrupt abilities.
Going player versus player during the second session helped Joe catch some of the weaknesses in his pals’ techniques. Brian and TJ picked up on many more. When it came to instruction Brian proved himself to be a great teacher. His ability to break down and put into words exactly how they could improve their throwing and MadOrbz interception techniques made it a very effective training session.
Joe's Quick Wit could be used to compensate where TJ had power but lacked control, and Brian had control but lacked power. Since both TJ and Brian had Earth affinity orbs, it was decided that Brian would focus on defense and TJ on attack, while Joe provided them with healing and cover.
Joe’s strategy involved using his Slimer orb to slow down enemies and protect Brian, while Drooler and Frostbite Chill would be used to assist TJ in breaking through defenses. Aqua Shot would serve as a barrier, giving them critical moments to regroup or push forward.
Another thirty point drop in MP summoning his MadOrbz, but at the end of the three minute training session Joe was confident they’d used the time well to improve their chances of success. The next time they entered a Battlebox the stakes would be real and time currency would be up for grabs.
They made their way back to the common room. It was nearly empty.
“No prize for guessing, we’re gonna be one of the last to enter the first floor of the tower.”
Brian shrugged. “We spent our time wisely. We’ll earn it back.”
“Gotta spend time to make time.” Joe grinned despite himself, determined eyes locked on the entrance to the first floor.
One floor at a time, one hit at a time.
The blue flame flickered in his mind making clear its intention. “This isn’t merely about surviving the tower. It is about mastering it.”