I moved closer, my eyes fixated on the gems suspended above the table. Calexa glided toward me gracefully and spoke, her voice filled with a hint of excitement.
"Everything within this tower revolves around the Gems—your powers, your class, your abilities... even myself!"
Her faceted egg-shaped form floated around the three gems on the table, a playful aura emanating from her.
"The first step is to choose a base class. At this stage, the class itself isn't too important, but it will determine the available upgrades later on. So consider your decision. Use FOCUS!"
Intrigued, I approached the table and used FOCUS towards the red gem. A description promptly appeared before me :
"RED GEM of the Warrior Class. This class specializes in combat and strength."
Base Stats :
Warrior BASE Strength 30 Vitality 100+30 Intelligence 5 Engineering 5 Dexterity 15 Charisma 10 Luck 5 Chaos 0
Starting Abilities :
Thick Skin: Allows you to block every physical attack for a duration equal to your strength in seconds. Cooldown: 12 hours.
Look At Me: Aggro all NPCs towards you within a 1-meter radius per charisma point. Works on bosses if you have a higher charisma than them. Cooldown: 12 hours.
Inventory :
Iron Sword (Generic)
Empty Shotgun (Generic)
Six Health Patch (Heals for 25)
Armored Suit (Generic)
Rechargeable Shield 50 Health (Generic)
One Random Red Gem - Category I (Cannot be chosen)
Category I Gem Armband (4 slots) "
"Wow!" I exclaimed in awe, absorbing the information. Turning to Calexa, I asked :
"I'm starting to grasp it, but there's still much to understand. What does the Chaos stat represent? And what about Engineering? Do I need mana to use abilities?"
Calexa responded with a gentle shake, her luminous figure floating closer to me.
"Alright, let's take it one step at a time. Allow me to simplify it for you."
As she spoke, a floating window materialized beside her, resembling a blackboard in a classroom.
"Stats can be intricate, and while they hold significance, you should obsess over them at this stage," she began.
She paused for a second then continued :
"Strength represents your physical force—how strong you are, your ability to lift, and your physical damage output, among other things."
As she explained, the floating window diligently transcribed her words, presenting the key points for me to absorb.
"Vitality indicates your health. Everyone starts at 100, with additional points based on their class bonus. If your vitality reaches zero, well, it's the end."
She mimicked being hanged, and two X appears as eyes. She laughed as they faded away.
"Intelligence is a complex attribute. Consider it as something that affects spells, familiars, and invocations. It determines your mana pool, the cooldown duration for magical effects, and can even impact your comprehension of the world around you. Think of it as the power of your brain."
Calexa playfully bumped my forehead, emphasizing her point.
"Engineering relates to technology, mechanics, robotics, and crafting. It encompasses your proficiency in those areas." she explained before I interrupted, slightly confused.
"Technology and robots? I thought this was more of a dungeon setting, like D&D, with magic and sorcery. You know?"
Calexa shook gently and replied :
"It's not a dungeon, but a tower—a grand one, at that. I am not familiar with your 'Dee Anne Dee' reference, but technology plays a crucial role within the Tower."
Perplexed by this deviation from my familiar fantasy RPG norms, I struggled to comprehend the complexities of the stats.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
Calexa continued, undeterred by my confusion :
"Dexterity signifies your speed, agility and precision with ranged weapon, how swiftly you can sprint, move, and react."
I nodded, relieved to find a concept that seemed more straightforward.
"Charisma determines your ability to influence NPCs, non-playable characters who exist solely within the Tower, separate from Revivals like yourself."
"Revival?" I asked, my confusion deepening.
"Revival refers to individuals within the Tower like you. People who are granted a second chance for the entertainment of the Dominants.", Calexa clarified.
"The Dominants?" I exclaimed, unable to contain my curiosity, "What on earth is a Dominant?"
"We'll delve into that later. It's a complex matter, and time is of the essence, given that you are one of the last Revivals."
"Hold on a second. There are more people - more Revivals - aside from Cleo and me?"
"Of course, you were part of the last batch. However, numerous other Revivals reside within the Tower. Batches arrive every 11 Earth days for a period of 110 days, and you are the final one."
Stunned by this revelation, I realized that this world deviated significantly from my expectations. It appeared to resemble some form of MMORPG but not completely. I gestured toward the blackboard, signaling Calexa to continue her explanation.
She nodded and proceeded:
"Luck and Chaos are intertwined, working together and against each other. Their precise mechanics are unknown to me, and I'm uncertain if even the Dominants possess a complete understanding. In general terms, Luck governs fortune, while Chaos represents unexpected outcomes—both positive and negative. It's akin to adding a dash of salt and pepper."
I found myself struggling to grasp the concept fully, but I accepted that time will tell how it works.
"Okay," I said, attempting to consolidate the information, "I suppose I'll discover their significance as we progress. What about Abilities? Are they like spells?"
Calexa shook from left to right gently.
"No, there are three types of 'Actions'. First, Abilities are granted to you by your class and special gear, and they don't require mana to activate. Spells, on the other hand, are acquired through knowledge stones, provided your intelligence meets the requirement, and they require mana to cast. Lastly, we have Powers. They are the most remarkable and rare abilities, solely granted through Gems. Powers also do not require mana but are linked to a specific Gem. Once activated, the Gem turns to charcoal until they are ready to be used again. To use Gems, they must be placed within a specialized armband. The rarity of the armband determines the number of slots available for Gems. Except for familiars like myself, the white gems, which are stored within your third eye."
"Intriguing," I mused. "Weird, but intriguing."
"Alright!" I finally said, pondering the information for a moment. "I think I understand—at least to some extent. So, which class should I choose?"
Calexa laughed, her melodious voice filling the air.
"Choose the class that resonates with you the most."
A confident smile stretched across my face.
"This is akin to a game, and I excel at games. I've got this!" I proclaimed with self-assurance. "I'll be out of here in no time."
Calexa responded, devoid of amusement :
"So, you believe you'll ascend the 111 floors of the Tower of Gem in no time, huh?"
I was shocked.
"111! That's insane!"
"Indeed!" she replied.
Floating closer to me, she spoke gently :
"Well then, you better get moving, don't you think?"
I grumbled.
"Alright, let me FOCUS on the two other gems."
Upon focusing on the green gem, its description appeared:
"GREEN GEM of the Magus Class, specializing in magical attacks, healing, and intelligence.
Base Stats:
Magus BASE Strength 10 Vitality 100+10 Intelligence 35 Engineering 10 Dexterity 5 Charisma 15 Luck 10 Chaos 5
Starting Abilities :
All For One : Redirect any damage received by the target to their party members for 1 second per point of Intelligence. Cooldown: 12 hours.
Obsidian Sphere : Create a sphere with a radius determined by your Luck, which blocks magical attacks for 1 second per point of Intelligence. Cooldown: 12 hours.
Inventory :
Oak Staff of Fireball (Fire Element)
Empty Pistol (Generic)
One Knowledge Stone Category I: Heal Basic
2 Mana Potions (Restore 25 mana each)
Light Protective Robe (Generic)
One Random Violet Gem - Category I (Cannot be chosen)
Category I Gem Armband (4 slots)"
"This is the magician/healer class.", I remarked, "It has some impressive abilities, and it even comes with a spell."
Turning my attention to the Blue Gem, I used FOCUS once again, revealing its description:
"BLUE GEM of the Rider Class, specializing in speed, mechanics, and long-range combat.
Base Stats :
Rider BASE Strength 15 Vitality 100+20 Intelligence 10 Engineering 20 Dexterity 20 Charisma 5 Luck 5 Chaos 5
Starting Abilities :
Hide and Seek : Transform into a smoke ghost for a duration of 1 second per point of Dexterity. While in smoke ghost form, you are invisible while stationary, but thin black smoke emanates from your body while moving. Cooldown: 12 hours.
Flash : Set a teleportation point in space that allows instant return when activated. The distance between the point and your location cannot exceed your Dexterity in meters. Cooldown: 12 hours.
Inventory :
Rusted Knife (Generic)
Old Wood Crossbow (Generic)
One Health Patches (heal for 25 each)
Light Adventurer Suit (Generic)
One Random Orange Gem - Category I (Cannot be chosen)
Category I Gem Armband (4 slots)"
I gazed at Calexa, ready to make my decision.
"So, I have to choose now, and I won't be able to change later, correct?"
"Yes and no," she replied, "Base classes are primarily meant to get you started. While they do influence your base stats, your gear and progression will ultimately determine your real stats. Additionally, your chosen class will affect the available upgraded classes offered every 11 floors."
"What happens every 11 floors?" I inquired, curiosity piqued.
"You get to upgrade!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"So, the class I choose here determines specific upgrade paths?" I sought clarification.
"Yes and no," she chuckled. "Some upgraded classes are shared between base classes. My advice would be to choose the one that feels most suitable for you now, without worrying excessively."
"Not the most helpful answer," I grumbled.
I stood there, torn between the three options. Each class offered its unique strengths and abilities. After a moment of contemplation, I made my decision.
"I choose..."