As the skeleton guard collapsed into a heap of bones, the air around me hummed with the echo of an unseen chime—a system notification materializing itself :
You have defeated 'Skeleton Guard'! You have gained 1P (point).
This brief message, floating before my eyes, It confirmed my victory and introduced me to the point system allocation, an essential currency of progress here.
Underscoring the importance of every encounter within these walls, where victories translated into the currency of advancement.
With the notification fading away, I found myself alone once more, the weight of the silence around me only punctuated by my own breathing.
This first victory lent me a quiet confidence—a sense that, perhaps, my current strength was enough to progress through the floor.
Standing over the defeated skeleton guard, I caught sight of the silver helmet and the rusty sword by its side. The sword, appealing in its own right, didn't seem practical for my needs. My skills required no such weaponry, so I left it there.
The helmet, however, drew my attention. Despite the cramped space in my inventory, I felt compelled to pick it up. The decision wasn't about carrying it away—it was about putting it to immediate use.
https://i.imgur.com/ditxJC4.png [https://i.imgur.com/ditxJC4.png]
[Conical Helmet]
[Enchanted: No]
[Stats: Defense + 5 ]
It struck me that even though activating my Self-Immolation skill could eventually destroy the helmet since it wasn't an enchanted item, it could offer some temporary defense. It might last a bit before succumbing to the intense heat of my ability. Defense is defense, I reasoned, even if it's only for a short duration.
This moment of contemplation shed light on something I hadn't fully considered before: the Tower wasn't just an endless series of challenges; it was also ripe with resources, with potential tools and items discarded by those who came before.
The practicality of utilizing such finds was clear, but I also recognized the need for a more efficient way to manage them. A larger bag might solve the storage issue, yet navigating the Tower's unpredictable dangers with a bulky load could prove cumbersome.
For the moment, I had to prioritize. Dealing with the Tower's immediate challenges was paramount, and making do with what I had was part of that. Opting to wear the helmet but leave the sword was a decision influenced by this new approach to survive here.
As I placed the helmet on my head, adjusting it for a snug fit, another consideration briefly crossed my mind—the bones of the skeleton guard.
Could they be useful for crafting something down the line? Yet, with my bag already stretched for space and the unknown treasures this floor might hold, I decided against collecting them.
There would be time later to consider such options, once I had a clearer understanding of the Tower's offerings and perhaps more room to carry potential loot.
With these decisions made, my focus returned to the path ahead.
The hallway stretched out before me, doors lining both sides. Deciding that exploration was key to processed towards the next floor, I resolved to investigate each room. Starting with the first door on the right, I cautiously pushed it open and found another set of stairs descending into darkness, mirroring the entrance to my initial holding cell.
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As I descended, the eerie silence of the stairwell gave way to the soft clinks and clatters of movement below. This room, unlike the one I had woken up in, was alive with activity.
Skeletal figures paced within their cells, their bony fingers grasping at the air, a macabre mimicry of life. The only one roaming free was another skeleton guard, keys jangling from its waist as it patrolled the hallway between the cells.
Seeing the guard, I could probably handle this skeleton without resorting to my Self-Immolation skill, conserving my health for potential danger.
Yet, I chose to ignite the flames once more, for a couple of critical reasons.
Firstly, each use of my ability was a chance to refine it, to push the proficiency of both Self-Immolation and Enduring Vitality ever higher, eventually increasing it's level.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, was the opportunity to test my limits, to endure the self-inflicted harm in hopes of increasing my vitality attribute. The pain was a small price to pay for the potential gains.
Activating my Self-Immolation, flames enveloped me. The heat was intense as usual, but the helmet I'd donned earlier remained surprisingly resistant. It was a small victory, the durability of whatever metal it was forged from held on quite well.
The skeleton guard turned, its empty sockets seeming to fixate on the blazing figure before it. But this battle was over before it truly began. With a few swift movements, I closed the distance between us. The guard, predictable in its offense, swung its sword in a wide arc, a move I easily sidestepped.
My counter was immediate—a barrage of punches, each enveloped in flames, connecting with the brittle bones of the skeleton.
In the periphery of my vision, the other skeletons within their cells became more animated, as if spurred by my visit. They hammered against the cold, unyielding steel of their cages with bony hands, a futile yet frenzied attempt to break free. The sound of bone striking metal rang out,
These skeletal prisoners actions, though desperate, were in vain. The bars held firm, unyielding to their lacking skeletal strength. It was a strange sight, witnessing these remnants of the past so vigorously trying to partake in the present's conflict.
The guard stood no chance, quickly becoming another pile of bones on the dungeon floor. Victory was swift, the guard's defeat barely a challenge. But it wasn't the end; it was an opportunity.
You have defeated 'Skeleton Guard'! You have gained 1P (point)
The keys it had carried clinked against the stone as I picked them up, weighing them in my hand. Each skeleton prisoner represented a potential gain—points that could aid in my journey through the Tower.
I approached the first cell. Unlocking it, I prepared to face the skeleton inside. One by one, I opened each cage, engaging the inhabitants in combat. Despite their eagerness to attack, they were no match for me. My flames made quick work of them, each victory adding to my growing tally of points.
The process was methodical. As I moved from cell to cell, each defeated skeleton, each unlocked cage, provided additional points.
You have defeated 'Skeleton Prisoner'! You have gained 1P (point)
You have defeated 'Skeleton Prisoner'! You have gained 1P (point)
You have defeated 'Skeleton Prisoner'! You have gained 1P (point)
You have defeated 'Skeleton Prisoner'! You have gained 1P (point)
With the last skeleton prisoner dispatched, the room fell silent once more.
Holding onto the keys after the final skeleton fell felt like a strategic move. These keys, though they seemed momentarily redundant, carried potential value beyond this room.
If other sections of this floor were structured similarly, with skeleton guards patrolling and prisoners locked away, then these keys could prove essential.
The thought that they might not be unique to just this room lingered in my mind. Perhaps they were a universal tool within this part of the Tower, capable of unlocking other doors.
The prospect was too significant to ignore. I pocketed the keys inside of my bag, a constant reminder to utilize every resource and to consider every possible angle.
Reaching the top of the stairs, I paused at the hallway, considering my next move.
I took a deep breath and walked towards the next door on the right. I reached out and pushed it open, ready for whatever was going to come at me next.
This wasn't just about one door; it was about all of them. I was going to open every door, face every enemy inside, one by one. This was my plan, to keep going, door by door, until I had checked them all.
No backing down, no skipping any challenges. Every door in this hallway was going to be opened by me, and I was going to deal with whatever I found behind them.