"Damn, the size of that thing!" Joe muttered, watching as Rose’s attack slid off the spore like water off a duck’s back. He was grateful they weren’t directly in its path. But that poor ratfolk…
He looks old. How many respawns has the poor guy gone through?
Brian shifted uneasily. “It’s bigger than the ones we faced before.”
“Look!” TJ elbowed him. “That spore fucker’s leg’s about to set off a snare trap the others missed. That should slow it down, then we can leap out and finish it before more ascenders and spores arrive.”
“There’s no time for that. They’re almost here,” Dawn said. “No idea why they aren’t moving as fast as they should be, given they’re being chased by huge-ass spores, but they’re still coming this way.”
Brian froze.
Joe followed his gaze, watching the ratfolk and kobold move ahead, neither triggering the snare traps. He turned back to the spore, its movements similar to a black widow spider.
“The spore isn’t heavy enough to activate the snares. And something’s off with those two.” Brian pointed to the ratfolk and kobold, who seemed to grow more feeble with each step.
Joe agreed with Brian’s assessment, the spore moved like it had some ‘xianxia land’ light step ability.
“We should help them. They look ill,” Rose said, readying another attack. “I’ll hit the spore harder…at least slow it down.”
“No, it’s too close for ranged attacks.” Joe tugged the cords on his hoodie to prepare for his next move. “You’ll give away our position. With more spores on the way, we’ll be swarmed.”
The spore raised one needle-sharp leg and, with surgical precision, skewered the ratfolk through the torso, pinning him to the ground. Writhing in pain, his little legs went limp, glossy black eyes wide with fear as the kobold stopped beside him.
The ratfolk raised his paws. “No, please, I’ve little time left. If you take it…”
The kobold dodged the spore leg as it withdrew from the ratfolk’s chest. There were precious seconds before the spore attacked again—just enough time for him to put the poor guy out of his misery and let him respawn back in the Red Zone.
The kobold flashed a wicked grin. “I’ll make better use of your time than you ever did, ya red zoner.”
Joe recoiled as the kobold grasped hands with the fallen ascender.
A countdown notification appeared above the ratfolk, sweat forming on his brow as he quivered:
[05, 04, 03, 02, 01…]
[Ascender 05 has been GORED.]
“He stole his time,” Joe whispered.
No one spoke. Joe watched in horror as the little guy’s form turned completely gray and faded away.
The thieving kobald bastard didn’t care, he turned tail and ran. In his eagerness to put distance between himself and the spore, the kobold made a fatal mistake. He tripped, activating a viny snare trap. His form glowed as he used fire magic to burn through the thick vine wrapped around him, but his labored breaths and stumbling cost him more than the time he’d stolen. Using its blade-sharp leg, the spore speared him through the head, and his body thudded onto the ground.
Dead.
Joe had little time to process what he’d witnessed as more ascenders burst through the vegetation, crashing onto the path. Some greens, grouped together, were the fastest, while those in orange and red straggled behind.
“Those reds look like they’re drunk,” Brian said.
“Or poisoned. Could it be traps? Or the effect of being too close to the Greensnare?” Joe wondered aloud.
Dawn shook her head. “No, this is different.”
“I believe it’s mana poisoning. In my old life I came across bodies of loot seeking adventurers not accustomed to the mana levels deep underground the [name mountain].” Brian glanced at TJ who clutched his side. “TJ is starting to feel the effects—it starts with feeling sick, shakes not long after, and profuse sweating. TJ has less MP than the rest of us but a larger HP.”
Wiping his sweat drenched brow, TJ straightened and gave Brian a flat look. “Hey, I’m not like those weak-assed fools from your world, I can handle it. With my HP it’ll take more than a little mana poisoning to take me down.”
“So he’s more mana sensitive than those of us with larger mana pools?” Dawn asked.
Brian nodded.
Like a canary in the coal mine, Joe thought.
"Can’t you feel the rising mana levels?” The blue flame released a deep chuckle, vibrating Joe’s chest.
Joe swallowed hard as his chest burned, reminding him the blue flame was ever present.
Stop taunting me and just say it. Brian’s right, the sickness is related to mana poisoning, isn’t it.
“Yes. However, your mana sense at QRL level 5 is too weak to notice subtle shifts in your environment. If you don’t improve, you’re in for a nasty surprise when you try to enter the next floor.” Joe could have sworn the blue flame smiled in that moment.
Its presence faded and Joe shook his head, knocking away any false sense of dizziness he’d considered the flame wanted him to experience. He turned his attention back to the ascenders heading towards them.
Separating from the orange and reds, the group of green ascenders skirted a trap and pointed to a more dense and viny area of the jungle not far from them.
Gripping a wooden staff, Rose leapt from the wall. “If they're running away from the titan boss, then we can engage in battle with the Greensnare.”
Dawn planted a hand on her shoulder, pulling her back as the group of green ascenders spotted her movement.
Andras’ dark eyes and arrogant sneer were all too familiar, as he led the group toward them with a laugh. “You think you can manage to kill a level 95 Titan as threatening as the Greensnare with Orange Zoners?”
A rat’s tail swished around and raised his paw with an enthusiastic wave. “Hey guys!”
Joe’s brows furrowed. “Lucky?”
“Yeah!” He tugged the bottom of his hoodie, a huge grin spread across his face. “I’m a Greenie now.”
How the hell did that happen so fast?
“And a good one at that.” With a quick thud, Andras' hand clamped onto Lucky’s shoulder. “You dodged that Greensnare’s attack like you were born for this.” The dark elf’s patronizing tone made Joe’s skin crawl.
Oblivious, Lucky's expression softened. “So grateful our respawn tokens are in safe keeping. If it weren't for you, I don't know where I’d be.”
Joe had so many questions for his ratfolk friend but he wasn’t about to ask them in front of that damn asshole elf. Given a floor as vast as this, he had to wonder how out of all the ascenders there were inside the tower, that they’d bumped into Andras again so soon.
Andras chuckled. “There, there, no reason to spread concern.” His gaze shifted over his shoulder as a couple of red shirt ascenders collapsed onto the jungle floor. “Poor saps should have joined our faction.”
Gasping, while their eyes rolled white, they looked like they were drunk and suffering from heat exhaustion. Prime targets for the spores, it wasn’t long before they were ruthlessly killed by them.
A Star Trek red shirts meme popped into Joe’s mind, but it wasn’t so funny when it was happening in real life. The poor red shirts mangled remains faded in a rainbow haze as their respawn tokens activated, sending them back to the Red Zone, falling further down the ranks while the little time they had ticked away.
Dawn wasn’t feeling quite as sentimental at their demise. Her furious gaze blazed a hole through Andras.
“I don’t blame them.” The glint of Dawn’s blade made Andras step back. She sliced through the vines on the wall, its pulsating baubles only added to the tense atmosphere. “Seems they chose death over joining you, ya filthy slimeball.”
Loud cracks shifted everyone’s gaze to the jungle. The foliage in the distance folded under immense pressure.
Andras narrowed his eyes. “They died a dog’s death, as shall you, if you continue to surround yourself with Orange Zoners.”
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Emerging from the wall, a screen flickered to life. The bone-faced lich scowled as he set down a remote. With a clink of his bony handclap, he smiled. “Announcement time!”
Joe glanced back toward the foliage, it continued to buckle under an unseen weight, but the titan was approaching. “We don’t have time for an announcement.”
“You dare complain to me, your savior? Consider yourself fortunate that all this death, drama and despair is entertaining enough to put me in such a good mood.” The lich chuckled.
Joe gripped his butterfly knives. “If you’re so much into the entertainment value, you should join us in the action.”
“Or are you too scared?” TJ raised his machete, stepping closer to the screen. “I know how to make lich’s bleed.”
“Don’t dare threaten me, Ascender 69! I gave you a second chance at life, and I can take it away in an instant.”
The wall surrounding the screen pulsed and oozed a dark red. Sweat broke across TJ’s brow, and he wiped it away with a shaky hand. “Feels like I’m being squeezed between sweaty thighs, but it’s not sexy time.”
Dawn, leaning casually against a tree, snorted. “Please. Sex is like standing in line for an over-hyped movie premiere. Just a lot of pushing and shoving, and you come out disappointed in the end.”
Feeling an intense pressure, Joe’s stomach weakened as he pulled TJ back away from the screen.
Joe’s chest flared with heat as though the blue flame could feel the sensation too. You alright?
“If I wasn’t stuck in your wimpy little body, I’d hit him so hard his ancestors would feel it.” The blue flame’s heat faded, almost like he was sulking.
“Also you’re absolutely wrong, Ascender 64.” The lich’s bony finger pointed at Joe. “There’s always time for an announcement if I am the one making it. In fact, everyone of you should know that because of the Titan Slayers, the jackpot of immortality will grow faster.” He turned his dark eyes toward TJ. “Thanks to Ascender 69’s threatening behavior towards me, and as per the rules—if any of you bothered to read them—everyone must suffer the cost of his transgression. Poppy! Release the ejected hollows.”
“Yip-yip!” came the cheerful yell from off-screen.
Joe shook his head.
Despite Poppy’s enthusiasm, ‘ejected hollows’ did not sound like good news. By the grim look on Andras’ face he felt the same way as Joe.
Joe glanced back at the jungle, gripping his butterfly knives in hand and activated Quick Wit. He scanned the area, nothing had changed other than the thunderous approach of the Greensnare growing louder. His heart raced as he noticed the concerned expressions of Brian, TJ and Dawn. “There’s no change, Dawn can you see anything on your map marked as ejected hollow?”
A clatter of teeth from the lich’s laugh answered Joe’s question before Dawn could. “Consider the hollows a favor for those who survive long enough for the jackpot.”
The screens blackened, fading back into the wall.
“Anyone know what’s up with those GORED notifications and ejected hollows?” Dawn shook her head. “Scumbag’s as vague as he’s ugly.”
TJ’s lip curled. “Yeah! Can't trust that Lich Master for nothing.”
“Poppy did tell us the red zoners risked being ejected during the Lich’s last announcement,” Joe said.
Brian nodded. “Yes, right before we entered the battlebox in the tutorial. My guess is GORE stands for rankings Green, Orange, Red and Ejected. As for the hollows…” He lowered his voice. “I am sure we’ll soon find out.”
Feeding off the rising tension, Lucky turned to Andras. His black glossy eyes brimmed with fear. “Sir, what do we do now?”
Andras placed his finger to his lip.
“Not so cocky now Andras, are you?” Dawn kept her voice low but her eyes were menacing. “Bet the Greensnare put some manners on you. Being surrounded by a bunch of time rich green zoners means nothing if their skills aren’t worth shit.”
Joe knew Dawn was shooting her mouth off making wild guesses to annoy Andras. Even if he could identify Andras and his crew, he wouldn’t know their elemental affinities or class unless they told him or he guessed by the weapons or skills they used. Unlike the games he used to play with Tao and Kyle, in the lich’s tower, their identities were downplayed by the fact they were all dressed the same and addressed by the system as a number.
Great way to institutionalize us and make us play the game. He wants us to be detached from ascenders outside our faction so we won’t think twice about stealing each other’s time.
The crashing of fallen trees chased those thoughts from Joe’s mind. His gaze snapped to the source of the sound. TJ tensed beside him as the ground trembled.
In a green blur, something erupted near Andras feet. Lucky grabbed onto him as the nimble elf leapt out of the way.
The other green ascenders were too slow. One fell to the ground but avoided injury due to some type of shield. He yelled, “It’s the Greensnare’s Life Sap attack at the same time the other green ascender had his feet swept from under him. His head cracked against the stoney ground, blood pooling from the unseen wound.
Lucky made a move to aid his injured companion.
“Leave him be, it’s too dangerous for the likes of you.” Andras took a firm hold of Lucky by the scruff of his neck, his perfect, milk white teeth bared. “He’ll respawn in the Green Zone, he’s a time rich changeling not a ratfolk like you, a year will barely age him.”
More roots erupted from beneath the downed ascender, and the Greensnare’s underground system snaked out alongside the spores the titan had shed. Rushing to the rescue without a plan was a bad idea. As much as Joe hated to admit it, for now, Andras was right.
The roots glowed as the Greensnare’s Life Sap activated. Poor Lucky watched with a conflicted grimace and turned away as the ascender had the life drained from him.
A notification appeared above the green ascender as he died.
[Ascender 142 has been GORED.]
The green hoodie, combats and boots on his still form faded to gray before his body flickered out of existence—no rainbow haze. The root tip swayed as if searching out its next victim.
Joe took a trembling step back, his heart hammering in his chest. They were dealing with a titan that could kill them from a distance using its vast network of roots. Roots that could not only sap the life from those it came into contact with but it could steal ALL their time too.
Was being GORED a permanent death sentence?
Joe would have to find out the answer. More ascenders flooded the area, desperate to escape the spores. For now Joe and his team were stuck where they were; it would be beyond reckless to jump into the deadly melee.
“Hey Andras, quick question for you. If you’re such a great leader why don’t you go rescue your other teammate before he dies?” Dawn asked, her expression darkening. “As for you, Lucky, stop acting like a fool. Andras is using his bard charisma to influence you to follow him.”
Lucky’s whiskers quivered.
TJ scowled. “He’s still an elf, no amount of charisma will make him a fucking delight to be around.”
Andras waved him off. “I’ll have you know not all elves are charmless. And to answer your question Dawn. I am waiting for the right moment.” He pulled out a potion that immediately grabbed Brian’s interest.
A yelp caught Joe’s attention. They’d been seen.
Crawling towards them on all fours like a dog about to be put down was a hybrid ratfolk kobold ascender clad in red. Blood poured from a wound in his chest.
He locked eyes with Joe and mouthed the words “Help! Can’t respawn..only got one year left.”
Joe shifted onto the balls of his feet, with Quick Wit active he assessed the risk of using Shadow Step to increase his speed and stealth and rescue him without drawing the attention of the Greensnare’s spores or deadly roots.
If he did nothing this time, the red ascender would suffer the same fate as the aging ratfolk, Rawlings. He’d be GORED.
He turned to Rose and gestured to Dawn and Brian to come closer. “I need you to cover me with your ranged attacks. I’m not sure about the spores but the roots are likely to be vulnerable to fire.”
“I’ll go.” TJ raised his machete. “I’ve more HP than you, just let those root fuckers try to drain me dry.”
Joe shook his head. “No, I—”
Activating the same wind affinity movement that saw him evade the surprise attack from the roots earlier, Andras leapt past them towards the dying ascender. A glint of something shiny in the elf’s hand caught Joe’s eye as he hunkered down beside the dying man. It looked like some sort of crystal.
The ground quaked and dust and debris flew up blocking Joe’s view. Another root had erupted forcing them back several steps. Heavy footfalls of ascenders fleeing matched the pounding rhythm of Joe’s heart.
Shifting position he searched for any sign of what that sneaky elf was up to. In a blur, Andras came charging towards them through the dust. As it cleared Joe saw the red ascender’s form fade to gray.
Clear of the debris, Andras slowed to a jog, coming to a rest beside Lucky. The blood drained from Joe’s face causing him to feel faint. “He only had one year, and you took the last of it.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. I tried to help him but alas I was too late.” There was no hint of remorse in his tone as he gestured to the root.
“You used something on him to steal his time, I saw it.” Joe searched for the crystal, but there was no sign of it.
A look of injury washed over Andras. “I’ve been called many things in my life but I’m no thief. If you didn’t stand around bickering you could have saved that pathetic red zoner yourself. Don’t pass your guilt onto me. A year is pocket change BUT if I’d stolen his time it would be registered by the system. Ask Poppy and you’ll see my Ascender number hasn’t changed since I purchased a 20 credit MadOrbz in the Green Zone.”
Every fiber of Joe’s being told him Andras was lying. “Poppy, has Andras Lyranth ascender number changed in the last five minutes?”
Poppy’s voice rang clear. “Andras Lyranth is Ascender 245, no change in rank. No extra time gained.”
“Believe me now? The Greensnare root system is the time stealing culprit not me.” Andras crossed his arms, his tone confident and compelling. Lucky looked at Andras with sickening adoration, but it was the slow nods of agreement from his group that took Joe by surprise.
“He’s lying. That crystal, where did you—”
His Quick Wit alerted him, cutting his sentence short.
Adrenaline spiked as he searched their surroundings. It was like a war zone. Any ascenders that were fast enough to escape the spores were soon snared by the Greensnare’s root system stealth attacks.
They wouldn’t remain hidden from the titan much longer. Andras shot him a dark glare as his pale hands rested on Lucky’s shoulders. The quivering ratfolk calmed. Joe wanted to know why someone like Andras was so protective of Lucky. He’d need to find a way to talk to the ratfolk on his own.
First they needed to kill the Greensnare.
It was then that Joe realized what his Quick Wit was warning him about. Something he hadn’t noticed in the chaos. The thunderous booms of the Greensnare had ceased.
The deathly silence fell as the last ascender that’d been caught by the root snare faded away.
Joe beckoned and his group drew in closer. They looked to him as if he’d know what to do. Fear tightened his chest. This wasn’t a game; the stakes were real. There were so many uncertainties that he didn’t know what to say.
A reassuring smile formed on Dawn’s lips. Her belief in him spurred Joe on to take the lead. He didn’t have to have all the answers. One thing was for sure—if they wanted to get close enough to the titan to kill it without being GORED, brute force wouldn’t be enough.
His eyes circled the group as he considered each of their strengths. Before they could reach the titan they had to deal with the spores and its root system first. He inhaled a steady breath. His faction could do more than survive. Together they could outsmart the titan.
“We’re facing multiple threats before we reach the titan.” He cast a sideways glance to Andras who stood apart from them out of earshot. Turning his attention back to the group Joe grinned. “Let me know what you think of this plan.”