The moment had arrived, and Hunter could barely contain his excitement. The Refiner Gate loomed before him. A colossal structure twice his height and width, a mesmerizing dance of wrought iron and gold. In its heart was a massive crest, and as he drew nearer, two icons carved in relief caught his attention: a golden horse and a coal-black holly leaf with berries.
A new notification appeared in his scroll from the tower.
Tower: Welcome to the Refiner Gate first initiate on the chi cultivation path of Holly and Horse.
The horse icon shimmered in gold as the word 'horse' etched itself onto his scroll. Hunter gestured towards it. "Hey, Tower, what's the story with the golden horse and the black holly?"
Tower: The story of their mythological origins is available in the library archives back in the guild room. I recommend reading it in your spare time…
Hunter cut the Tower off with a sharp wave of his hand.
"Sorry, tower, I wasn't clear. This is the Refiner Gate for Holly and Horse. So why is the horse golden and the holly black?"
Tower: Thank you for your further clarification. Each cultivator on one of the new thirteen paths embodies one dominant trait. You, Hunter Filo, first initiate on the path of Holly and Horse, are horse-dominant. Hence, the gate's icon shines in gold. Quite the artistic touch, don't you think?
Hunter nodded. "Yes, it certainly caught my eye."
Rubbing his hands together, he pressed for more information. "So, what else do I need to know before I can enter the gate?"
Tower: This is just a brief introduction. More details reside within the library. As a fledgling in your cultivation journey, you stand at the threshold of the First Star Refiner stage. There are certain expectations for an initiate at this level, expectations crucial for your leap to the next stage.
"Expectations, huh?" Hunter shrugged, a tinge of school déjà vu creeping in. He waited for the tower to divulge more.
Tower: Our overall expectation for you is that you will develop basic chi control and cultivate strength and agility. As a First Star Refiner, you've begun refining and manipulating your body's energies, mainly chi.
Hunter scratched his head, as more words scrolled across his vision. They were grayed-out which made Hunter even more curious.
"Why can't I access information about the next steps in this stage? What about the expectations for Second, Third, and Peak Star Refiners?"
Tower: I made a judgment call, considering your fleeting attention span. Focusing on the First Star Refiner stage seemed prudent. Do you wish to access the remaining information?
Hunter cocked his head. The tower had the audacity to call him out for a short attention span? He pushed the annoyance aside, curiosity triumphing.
"Yes, Tower, I want to read the rest." He intended a quick scan, just to quench his curiosity.
The scroll darkened, revealing a simple explanation for each of the remaining levels in the Refiner Stage.
Second Star Refiner: Cultivators who have mastered unique ways to store and control their energy. Example: Energy Whisperer.
Third Star Refiner: Cultivators who use their energy to enhance physical abilities and perform minor feats. Examples: Chi Infusers.
Hunter narrowed his eyes, his focus intensifying on the final step of the Refiner stage, eager to drink in every detail.
Peak Star Refiner: Cultivators who have wholly refined their bodies, laying the foundation for advanced cultivation. Example: Chi Pinnacle
Hunter straightened, tapping his fingers against his chin as he wondered what those examples meant. This was far clearer than the Sun Emperor's scroll, a wall of monotonous text.
"Thanks, Tower." Hunter’s grin widened at his ability to prompt Tower to respond in a favorable manner. "That was concise and to the point."
Tower: You are most welcome. What are your thoughts or concerns? I am here to listen and guide.
Concerns?
Hunter skimmed the cultivation levels again, weighing his doubts. He raised an eyebrow. "There’s high expectations to reach Peak Star Refiner, but I can handle it. Cultivating strength and agility? That suits me. I've endured strength conditioning on Death Island and been fast on my feet." Satisfaction flickered in his eyes. "I've taken down alley goons so I'm feeling pretty damn confident."
Tower: I'm glad to hear that. You'll need that energy for your first encounter with our Tower Defender. Depending on that outcome, you may face a Tower Monster.
"Okay, so you mentioned defenders and monsters before. Why don't I get to choose which type?"
Tower: As a First Star Refiner yet to earn a challenge reward, choice is a privilege, not a right.
Hunter crossed his arms, determination etching his features. "Okay, Tower, I damn well plan to earn that privilege. Show me the difference between a defender and monster."
rankings of defenders and monsters [https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64792192cebc5b13fea7f600/1de9c324-9a8e-457c-b26b-44e9d55c205b/Scroll+back+defender+monster+ranks.png?format=1000w]
After scanning the contents, Hunter narrowed his eyes at the information that Tower blocked from his view. "Let me make sure I've got this right. Inside the Refiner Gate I’ll fight the most basic level Tower Defenders and Monsters. But I will need to defeat them to loot their cores?"
Tower: That is correct. Each defender and monster are tower simulations summoned by me. Tower Defenders and Monsters require a certain amount of damage before their core or any additional loot will be available. Chi particles stored within their cores contain the raw chi that you will need to refine with your new cultivation techniques consistent with the Holly and Horse path.
Hunter instinctively gripped his knife and spun it into a forward strike position. "I need to strike it ten times to kill a Refiner stage defender and twenty-five times for a monster at the same stage?"
Tower: That is quite the observation. When their health bar reaches zero, they will disappear, unlike real warriors and beasts you encounter outside of my walls. You are a good learner. Well done! Do you need more words of encouragement? Yes/no?
Hunter chuckled. "No, I'm good, thanks, Tower." It all felt strangely like being back in school with Mistress Arista. He hoped it would all fall into place once he got his hands on those defenders and took them down. He was itching to get started.
Tower: Are you ready to proceed? Yes/no?
Hunter nodded, but nothing happened.
The tower's prompt hung in the air.
He sighed, realizing he needed to give a verbal command. "Yes, ready when you are, Tower. Let's dance."
A notification blinked in his vision:
[Time to complete the Refiner Gate: 0.456 Tradaka Moments.]
He ignored the number nonsense, eager to enter without engaging Tower in another lengthy conversation.
The edges of the Refiner Gate brightened with a golden glow. A thin strip of light ran down the center between the Holly and Horse, splitting the shield in two, and the gate swung open wide. The radiance was almost blinding, and Hunter shielded his eyes with his free hand as he stepped through, ready to discover what lay on the other side.
As the blinding light faded, Hunter found himself in what appeared to be a desert, with bales of hay forming a circle around him. He half expected another straw dummy to appear.
The area resembled a makeshift arena, similar to those found in illegal betting dens. But this was no den; above him stretched a carpet of blue sky, with a strange ghostly shimmer of silver ripples. The illusion was convincing. It carried the dry and smoky scent of fire cacti.
Hunter looked down at his bare toes, sinking into the sand. He really needed boots, hoping there were no sand eels in this simulation. His to-do list was growing longer. Beside him, a white flag fluttered at knee height.
Words floated above it, offering a cryptic explanation:
Respawn flag: Refiner Gate entry location.
No further information was provided.
"Tower, what's the respawn flag?"
Tower: As this is a simulation, you will feel the pain of death but cannot die, except in certain circumstances not relevant for your current challenge. When you die in a simulated fight or quest, you will either respawn at the nearest respawn flag location or your chosen default respawn location, if available.
Hunter raised an eyebrow. "When I die? That's quite a bold assumption."
As if on cue, a hazy, shadowy figure emerged from thin air, about ten paces away from Hunter. Clanging toward him, the first Tower Defender appeared wearing an almost complete set of armor. Hunter focused on the words hovering above its head.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
Straw Man Hoplite: Refiner stage. Beware, this Tower Defender’s spear thrusting skills are hard and quick, nailing you on the first date.
Hunter laughed, dismissing the taunts. It wouldn't be the first time he'd faced off against straw dummies; the tutorial room had seen to that. Armed with his less-than-impressive knife, he still felt confident. How much damage could a walking tin can stuffed with straw really do?
The hoplite moved and its brass armor clanged like a cowbell.
Seriously? Well, okay then.
This was going to be a piece of cake. He bounced on his feet, rolling his shoulders and jabbing his knife out in anticipation.
But as it advanced with each clanking step, Hunter’s confidence waned. The armor encased most of the straw man's body, except for its thighs and arms, which seriously slowed it down. It maneuvered its spear into a striking position, and the blade emitted an ominous glow.
"Identify." He cursed himself for not checking earlier.
Spear. Uncommon Tier Weapon.
Its steady steps increased in pace as it closed the distance between them. Hunter, gobsmacked by the spear's threat, was slow to react. The blade thrust toward his throat, but he dodged to the right and spun around the massive straw figure.
Sneaky bastard was faster than he looked, and that weapon promised destruction as it grazed his shoulder.
Damage Taken.
Rounding behind the hoplite's back, Hunter slashed at the exposed area beneath its armor.
Above the hoplite's head, a health bar appeared.
[Defender Health: 90/100]
But Hunter had no chance to check his own health as the hoplite spun with surprising speed. He ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the spear's deadly arc. If he didn’t keep moving the hoplite would split him in two from head to toe.
Quickly back on his feet, the blade came toward Hunter, slicing his tunic. He pulled back to recover and then darted around to deliver a low blow to the straw brute's exposed thigh. He slashed out, but the strike did ten damage.
The hoplite spun for a counterattack. With its spear whistling toward Hunter, he leaned away, narrowly avoiding it and checking his own health bar. The glancing strike had left him with visible gray marks on his skin.
His vision flashed red with a warning notification.
Damage Taken.
His jaw dropped when he saw his health was already at 70/100. How the hell had he dropped so low from a glancing blow? The spear was a much bigger threat than he'd realized.
Circling to the right, he tried to evade the hoplite's charge, the defender’s health bar taunting him at 80/100.
Channeling chi into his limbs, he focused on speed, darting in and out like a hornet attacking an elephant. His strikes were precise, slashing at the hoplite's exposed forearm. Thank the gods it didn't have a shield. Otherwise, he'd be stuck aiming for its sackcloth-covered face.
The hoplite's dangerous maneuvers continued.
As Hunter’s energy levels waned, it became harder to escape the spear's reach, which seemed to increase in speed with every strike it took. He had to take more risks, aiming for the vulnerable straw arms and calves left exposed.
Despite landing more than ten blows, the straw man refused to crumble. Its superior armor provided an insurmountable advantage. Hunter was out of luck; the only protection he had was his leather kilt.
Another challenge he faced when fighting the strawman was its lack of tells. Its sack-cloth face was blank and expressionless.
The defender powered its spear thrusts with its second hand, leaving Hunter with no room for error. Gambling on a feigned dodge right, he changed direction and thrust his knife forward, aiming for the kill shot through the eye.
He struck true, but the damn knife wedged tight.
The hoplite grabbed him, flinging him to the ground. Agonizing pain sliced through him as the spear's blade sank into his chest, right into his heart. His entire body burned, his chest spasmed, and in the corner of his vision, his health bar spiraled down to zero like a doomsday clock.
Bastard one-shotted me.
Everything darkened without another thought.
***
Hunter's consciousness slammed back into him, the scorching sand beneath his knees a harsh reminder of his failure. He scrambled to his feet, shaking off the dizziness as his vision cleared.
Tower: You died. How did it feel?
Hunter didn't respond right away. He was perplexed by the tower's peculiar inquiry about his experience of dying. It wasn't easy to put the sensation into words.
"Like my soul was poisoned, then ripped from my body and thrown into a boiling tar pit." Hunter’s words, heavy with the burning shame of defeat, tasted bitter as he frowned.
The tower took a moment before responding.
Tower: Thank you for your input. Here's my helpful hint of the day—Not strong enough? Move faster!
Hunter's frown deepened. "It's not that simple, Tower. Better armor and a shield would help too."
Tower: An excellent observation! Something to keep in mind during your crafting tutorials. Perhaps you should return to the training deck until you are properly equipped?
Hunter chewed his cheek, feeling tested by the tower's cryptic words. If only it had a physical presence, some way to convey more than just words. Hunter had learned over the years that body language and tone of voice carried vital information. He wondered if upgrading the tower could grant it some kind of avatar. It was a thought to explore when he had the time. For now, he refused to give up after his first defeat.
"Appreciate your concern, Tower, but I want to try again." Hunter’s gaze dropped to the respawn flag billowing nearby.
It was then that he noticed the hoplite, restored to full health, standing as before. “Status.”
[Health: 100
Stamina: 2.0/2.5
Physical: 8
Mental: 6
Weapons Mastery: 4
Armor Mastery: 1]
He’d expected to only see his weapons and armor mastery, but several other new stats populated. Other than knowing what his mastery base stats were, it wasn’t clear what had changed for his physical and mental stats since fighting the hoplite. He shrugged, continuing to scan his new stats.
“Is my stamina really that low? I’m not feeling very fatigued.”
Tower: Your stamina is capped at your chi level of 2.5 for the First Star Refiner stage. It cannot improve until you reach the next level.
“What were my base stats for…” Hunter started to ask another question, but eagerness to advance to the next level of the Refiner stage overruled his curiosity. “Disregard that Tower. Close status, and let’s resume.”
The stats disappeared from his vision scroll.
Tower: Do you wish to try fighting the Tower Defender again, or would you prefer to face a Tower Monster?
Hunter crossed his arms, understanding the unspoken challenge. "Oh, I have a choice now?"
Tower: It all depends on your past performance. You died on your first try, so now we take a different approach.
Hunter sensed the tower was sugarcoating the truth. It was giving him more options because he'd failed the first time. Still, the prospect was appealing. "Yeah, I have plenty of experience with beasts. I did well with that Molossus Demon in the Trial of Worth. Let's give a Tower Monster a try."
Hunter blinked, and the hoplite vanished.
Grass sprouted through the sand, and the straw bales were replaced by towering trees. In the center of this transformed arena sat a bunny rabbit, its back turned to him, displaying only its white cottontail and the silky black fur of its haunched back and hind legs.
Hunter approached with caution, stepping within a few paces of the tiny creature. The monster bunny spun around, and he jumped back in surprise. Glowing red eyes stared back at him underneath a crown of thorns.
He quickly read the title bar that appeared above its head.
Boomerang Bunny. Rubble-ranked Tower Monster. The hare with an edge, this bunny has a twisted sense of fashion.
"What's a boomerang?" Hunter barely had time to spit out his question when the bunny growled and thumped its hind foot. The ground shook, and Hunter cursed at the imminent threat.
Why did it have to be a bunny?
The monster leapt, and Hunter sidestepped, expecting it to lunge with extended claws or gnashing teeth. He gripped the hilt of his knife, preparing to strike as the bunny landed against the grassy arena with a thud.
"Sorry, Boomerang." He lunged forward, aiming for its throat.
Dodging his attack, the monster bunny hopped backward. Its thorned crown spun off of its head with increasing speed toward Hunter. It plunged into his forearm, leaving inch-long thorns stuck in his skin. The burning sensation at the point of entry encircled his arm, spreading with quick succession to his chest.
He reached for the crown, but the headpiece jerked away, ripping the thorns with it and landed back on the monster bunny's head.
He shook his arm, trying to rid himself of the searing pain spreading throughout his body. He blinked away blurring vision as he glanced at his arm where blood trickled down onto the knife. Hunter’s pulse pounded in his ears.
A notification appeared.
You’ve been struck by a poisonous boomerang thorn.
His vision flashed red with a warning notification.
Damage Taken. [Health: 81/100]
"Damn, should have identified that crown." He winced as the intense burning sensation flooded deep into his core. Even the slightest movement resulted in intense agony. He pulled up his health stats.
[Health: 39/100]
“Shit Styx! I wish I had a healing elixir.” Hunter gripped his knife, but it was already too late. The world around him darkened like a sudden onset of twilight.
You have died.
[Health: 0/100]
The world went black.
Tower: Was that death any more pleasant?
Hunter rolled his eyes as his senses returned, staring at the closed Refiner Gate. "No, Tower. It wasn't. I want to go to the next respawn flag."
Tower: You cannot advance to a respawn location if you have not explored that area.
He took a step, lifting his arm to examine the thorned crown's impact. "Ugh." Hunter groaned. There were no visible marks, but the heaviness in his limbs was notable. "Status."
[Health: 100
Stamina: 1.0/2.5
Physical: 8
Mental: 6
Weapons Mastery: 4
Armor Mastery: 1]
"No change in stats after fighting that Tower Monster?" He rubbed his jaw, focusing on his mental stat. "That's fair enough. My strategies may not have been the best, but given my limited equipment and knowledge, I'd say those monsters and defenders will be dead next round now that I know what I’m up against."
Tower: Well, I don't have to tell you to keep up your confidence, First Initiate.
"Armor would be beneficial.”
Tower: Don't forget about the crafting tutorial and workshop.
"Yeah, I'll make that a higher priority." Hunter folded his arms, fatigue setting in further. "I was mistaken to think that fighting them was no more challenging than digging graves. Why did the poison alone drop my stamina by a whole point?"
Tower: Stamina levels are at forty percent. You are not immune to the toxins contained within the Boomerang Bunny’s thorned crown.
"Eh, my stamina isn't too low.” Hunter leapt, testing his agility. His speed wasn’t as quick or powerful, but he was still moving. “I think I could go another round. Open up the gate.”
Tower: The gate has been temporarily closed. I cannot risk your stamina decreasing any further without proper training. Here are your current results.
A new box appeared in Hunter’s vision.
# of killed defenders/monsters [https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64792192cebc5b13fea7f600/bac1afea-0274-4462-81d9-26f57100e5cb/Scroll+back+tower+killed+defeated.png?format=2500w]
"That looks very promising, Tower." He sighed, knowing the tower wouldn’t pick up on his hint of sarcasm. Disappointment set in at the fact that he had to wait for his stamina to increase.
He still wanted to spend every moment improving. Better weapons and armor would be beneficial, but he'd have to stick with what he owned.
Until he became stronger, he'd need to be faster and more accurate to deal more damage with each strike. Identifying all items sooner would also be necessary.
"Tower, I would like to return to the weapons training deck."