As Poppy faded from view, her voice echoed down the corridor, "This way, this way. Hurry, yes. See the sign now? Light it up." Joe narrowed his eyes, peering into the distance where a grand arch glowed, inviting them closer. The words MadOrbz Hall of Fame were barely visible, etched across it in an elegant script.
Crossing the threshold felt like stepping into another era. They were transported into what resembled an old museum, where the ceilings soared high and vaulted, bathed in soft, mystical lights that focused on displays lining the ancient walls. Each orb, exquisitely encased in glass, reminded him of the exhibition of priceless Fabergé eggs his granddad had once shown him.
Curious, Joe leaned in closer at the screens beside each display and tapped one. Instantly, information sprang to life on the screen.
"Wow this place looks fancy and very secure," TJ said, rapping his knuckles against the glass lightly.
"No, no. Look, don't touch," Poppy quickly said, her tone playful yet firm.
Joe's gaze wandered across the different sections designated for various tiers of orbs. The first section they approached showcased the enhanced MadOrbz. The detailed information displayed told them all they needed to know about these orbs.
As they moved on, they reached the section housing the prime MadOrbz. These orbs, although similar in appearance to the first, shimmered with more intensity, indicating a higher level in both variety and power.
At the heart of the hall lay the master MadOrbz. The screens explained that these orbs were legendary, known across the realms for their immense power with extraordinary potential. Each orb was uniquely tied to historical events or ascenders with advanced QRLs.
At the end of the hall, they found themselves at a setup Poppy cheerfully dubbed the “sushi bar for sorcerers.” A long conveyor belt looped around a large, ornately decorated counter where orbs slowly rotated on a belt. Each orb was close enough to examine in detail but remained inches out of physical reach.
Joe leaned closer to an orb that caught his eye. Inside it, a miniature galaxy whirled with vibrant, sparkling stars. With the speed of a FNAF jump scare, a figure popped up from behind the counter.
Startled, Brian jumped back with a booming yelp.
The figure, tall and ghostly, bathed in the glow of the MadOrbz, looked like some aristocrat from a bygone era. His skin was so pale it was nearly translucent.
The man, if that’s what he was, looked at them with a curious fascination. Joe couldn’t help but stare back. The man’s left eye swiveled in its socket glowing like a MadOrbz. Fixating on Joe, its cosmic patterns were almost hypnotic.
Shaking off the trance, Joe listened as the man spoke.
"Welcome, welcome, esteemed guests and curious souls. I am your host, Caspar Shard. Please, step right up to behold the wonders of the arcane, encapsulated within these luminous orbs. Each one a repository of enigmatic tales and mystical secrets, waiting for you to unlock. And who knows? Today, my dear Master Joe, you may be the fortunate soul to discover a hidden gem among these treasures." He gestured towards the orb that had caught Joe's attention.
Brian shifted with unease and whispered to Joe, "How does he know your name?"
Caspar, the friendly curator, straightened his blue velvet dickie bow with a grand wave of his hand and smiled at Brian. "Splendid question, Master Brian. As the Archivist linked to the Tower's system, I keep track of many visitors and their stories. Your names and past adventures are simply part of the records I maintain," he said with a cheerful tone.
Joe noticed a flicker of something deeper in Caspar's eyes—a brief glimpse of ancient knowledge that hinted there was much more to the curator than he let on.
Joe filed that thought away and turned his attention back to the powerful orb, now appearing silver as the conveyor belt moved it further away. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Caspar. Do we need to come here each time we want to know more about MadOrbz or to purchase them?"
The curator shook his head. "While you are welcome here anytime, you've unlocked access to a trade or trash window within your own system-linked user menu. This allows you to connect with me when you're in the common room under the rules of green, orange, and red access."
TJ puffed, relieved. "Glad to hear that. I'd rather spend my time with monsters and fighting in the Battlebox than shopping. Give me a list of everything in one place, let me select what I want, and move on."
That comment reminded Joe of a cool story he'd read, where the items needed to survive an apocalypse were available inside vending machines. "Wouldn't it be great if the common room had a vending machine with these orbs on display? With the push of a button, we could select what we wanted."
Brian's eyes lit up. "Yes, like some grand system vending machine, now that would be wonderful."
Caspar scoffed. “I take exception to being compared to a mere vending machine. I’ve got style, charm and personality…”
“True.” Joe grinned. “Personality goes a long way.”
The curator raised his chin. “Exactly and I take pride in my collection. Do you wish to purchase some now?”
Joe stepped forward, his eyes scanning the shelves filled with orbs. With his Rogue class, he was particularly interested in the Water affinity orbs, knowing the addition would complement the MadOrbz already within his decagon. His gaze stopped on a vibrant orb, its deep blue hues swirling like an ocean storm.
“Ah, I see you’ve found Poseidon’s Wrath.” Caspar’s voice carried a mix of admiration and regret. “It’s truly a magnificent orb, capable of summoning a tidal wave to sweep away your competition. However, this Enhanced MadOrbz will cost you more time currency than you currently possess.”
Frowning, Joe considered his other options. He knew he couldn’t afford to spend too much of his time right now, he needed to gain as much as he could if he ever hoped to leave the tower. He pointed to a pair of simpler, less vibrant orb on a lower shelf. “What about these two?”
Caspar’s eyes widened. “Excellent choices. Here we have the Aqua Shot, a Starter tier MadOrbz that deals +15 damage against fire-based orbs, with +10 damage against other affinities. And this one,” he said, gently lifting a smaller, less radiant orb, “is the Hydromancer. It allows for a moderate healing effect, perfect for sustaining your MadOrbz during prolonged battles.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Focusing on Aqua Shot, he confirmed Caspar’s description, identifying it as an attack MadOrbz dealing more damage to Fire affinity orbs. His gaze shifted to the Hydromancer. The orb was capable of healing half of another orb’s health points. Considering how useful the Aqua Shot could be in dealing damage, he could benefit from keeping it alive longer.
Joe nodded. “How much for these?”
“Five years for the Aqua Shot, but ten for Hydromancer.” Caspar let his hand follow the curve of the orb, allowing it to glint underneath the overhead lamp. “Standard tier are more costly, but will be affordable for you, Master Joe.”
Joe swallowed, reluctant to spend so much of his time currency, but knowing the usefulness of having a healer orb in his decagon gave him a sense of relief. “I’ll take these two.”
“Very wise.” Caspar grasped the second orb. “Remember, Master Joe, even the simplest of orbs can shift the battle in your favor. I’d be more than happy to continue our trades.”
“You don’t happen to have any notebooks, do you?” Joe recalled Poppy saying he could buy one in the common room, but this seemed to be the only place to purchase goods.
Caspar adjusted his bowtie. “I only have a catalog which automatically populates once you identify the MadOrbz.”
Sighing, Joe chewed the inside of his cheek. “And a pen? How much for them?”
“A pen? Not many request such items.” The curator glanced underneath the counter, retrieving a small catalog. “For you, Master Joe, I’d be happy to give you the last ascender cycle at no cost to you. My new catalog is not quite ready for distribution yet. The recent fluctuations in the ley lines were most distracting.”
“What happened?” Brian’s eyes shone with curiosity.
“Nothing of interest.” Caspar’s clipped tones immediately activated Joe’s bullshit detector. The curator continued with a dismissive wave of his hand. “There is little to no demand for catalogs, notebooks or pens, which makes issuing the latest MadOrbz catalog a low priority task for me.”
“Shame that,” Joe said. Thumbing through a hard copy of manuals always helped him find important information he’d otherwise miss in a digital version.
Grinning, Joe checked his inventory, there inside the decagon the two new orbs rested next to his other three Water affinity orbs. Glancing at his stats, he winced at his ascender number having dropped to 64. Patting his hoodie, he sighed, thankful the orange remained. His gaze shifted back to the curator to thank him and ask about the ascender cycle, but he’d already moved on to another ascender.
***
With new knowledge, it seemed time to return to the common room. Joe noticed TJ had a spring in his step, thanks to his new MadOrbz Groundbreaker he was eager to try out in the practice Battlebox sessions, accessible only in the common room. "Poppy, remind me what's available to us in the orange zone?"
"Two free Battlebox sessions for each floor."
"If we don't use them, do they roll over?" Joe twisted the cord on his hoodie.
"No-no, Joe."
"That's a pity because you never know when the rules might change," Brian said as they reentered the common room.
"Excuse me," a high-pitched voice called from behind.
Joe turned and stepped aside, surprised to see a ratfolk trying to pass by them. The ratfolk, unphased by Brian's height, looked up. "I overheard your conversation about the Battlebox, and I don’t know what you’re talking about. The rules are the rules; they won't change."
TJ narrowed his eyes. "I suppose you’re telling me that you trust every word the Lich Master says?"
"Why wouldn’t I?" The little ratfolk nodded.
"There’s a long list of reasons, but the best bit of advice I can give you is to trust no one."
The ratfolk took a quivering step back from TJ, his dark glossy eyes locked onto him as he slowly nodded. With a quick turn, he scampered across to the sleeping area and hopped into a bunk bed.
"Fool." TJ said, shaking his head. "Fodder for the tower, running away with its tail between its legs."
"Cut him some slack, he made it to the Orange Zone," Joe said. "It’s a tough climb to the top when you’re at the bottom."
"But that’s where he’ll go back to if he doesn’t listen to reason." TJ took a step forward, his tone stern. "I’ll go over there and get his head straight. He’ll thank me when he survives the first floor."
Brian raised his hand. "I’ll go and see if I can bring him around. You stay here and prepare for the Battlebox."
Joe knew that Brian’s approach was more diplomatic than TJ, even though TJ’s heart was in the right place. As eager as Joe wanted to enter the practice Battlebox, they took some time to rest in the bunks and eat, ensuring their mana and health points were at their max.
Joe checked his decagon, the anticipation overflowing with excitement. He now had two other orbs equipped to his collection and was eager to see how they worked. A notification blinked on the attributes tab of his display. His eyes widened and he quickly selected it, remembering he needed to assign his flex points.
He chewed on the hoodie string as he considered his options. It seemed that with his Rogue class, each QRL increase would give him points towards dexterity, intelligence, charisma, and a flex point. Scanning his stats, his strength was the lowest, followed by constitution. Sure, he could use more strength on the floor, but his attacks were better fit for range attack and if TJ stuck around, he’d be the tank. No, there’d be no telling what the jungle held if it’d eaten Lucky alive and had scavenging acidic beetles wandering the shadows. He dropped his two flex points into constitution, raising it to a total of five.
[Health Points gained 1% resistance.]
He bit down on the cord of his hoodie. One percent wasn’t much, but given his health was relatively low at Bronze Rank, it would be useful, even if he could use a respawn token. Examining his eternal honor, his hoodie’s cord dropped from his mouth.
[Tracker: Increases dexterity by 25% when Quick Wit is activated.]
Joe closed his mouth, happy he’d decided to hold off on adding any points to his dexterity. With each activation of his skill, he’d gain nearly three points to dexterity.
Brian tapped the table, signaling his return. “That one’s pretty set in his ways.”
“I mentioned it to Lucky.” Closing out of his stats display, Joe nodded. “I bet the ratfolk have an advantageous trait like Scavenger’s Luck. The low time currency they were given upon induction into their race needed to be supplemented.”
Thumbing towards the ratfolk, Brian glanced over his shoulder. “He’d said something like that. He located a valuable item he called a ‘time crystal’ to increase his ascender number, but he doubted he’d find another as valuable again.”
“I’d love to go over there and knock some sense into him.” TJ placed the last bite of food in his mouth. “It always frustrates me but we can’t help the ones that don’t want it.”
“I hope Lucky finds a hefty time crystal on the first floor so he can join us in the ranks. Definitely something we need to keep an eye out for too.” Joe chewed the rest of his dried seaweed snack and slid his chair away from the table, more than ready to increase his own time currency. “But for now, we have our own Battlebox to focus on.”
"Have fun." Poppy yipped like a pup.
"I intend to." Joe smiled.
Brian wiped the crumbs off TJ’s hoodie. "Honestly, TJ, you eat like a toddler on a sugar high."
TJ smirked, brushing off Brian’s attempt to look irritated. "Better than you, who eats like a goblin discovering a buffet for the first time."
Joe couldn't help but laugh as they left the common room, their banter a comforting distraction.
As they walked, Joe glanced at the titan-scaled walls rippling beside them and the web of pulsing veins overhead. The living architecture was a constant reminder of the titan waiting for them on the first floor.
But first, they had to boost their skills and time currency.
"Let’s move," Joe urged, heading straight for the entrance to the Battlebox simulation. "Time to make the Lich wish he’d formed a metal band instead of summoning us to this tower."