Thunk!
Hunter snapped awake, the familiar gnaw of longing now coupled with the burning need to grow stronger, faster. He was hunched over, drool pooling at the corner of his mouth. The Divine Order Scroll? Damn, had he dropped it?
His eyes darted around, landing on the precious parchment lying on the floor.
Relief washed over him as he reached for it, his mind reeling as words scrolled across his vision.
Tower: Welcome back.
“How long was I out?” Hunter grunted, wiping his mouth.
Tower: Only 0.006 Tradaka moments, two hours, so not that long.
Hunter's shoulders slumped with relief.
He grabbed the scroll, fueled by the urgency to get things done. Thanks to his sister's guidance, he now had a method to take charge of his tasks. It was a way to prioritize projects, to be more than just prepared.
Jo's brains-over-brawn approach inspired him.
Despite being surrounded by powerful edgelords, she remained unfazed. With a quiet confidence, she continued, inch by inch, reclaiming her freedom, unnoticed by those too blinded by their own arrogance to see what she was doing.
While he often ignored the advice of others, he knew better than to ignore his sister. Checking his inventory for useful items, he first noticed the looted lucky rabbit’s paw. However, its use within the tower required a living being, and he wasn't eager to test its luck stealing properties on the local mana-draining parasites, especially ones with foot fetishes.
Next to it, the Night Mare totem caught his eye—could he summon and tame it for luck? He doubted the beast would be happy with him if he tried.
Tower: What are you looking for?
Hunter scratched his jaw. “Just following through on something my sister said about checking my inventory for anything useful to bridge the gap while I physically grow stronger.”
Tower: You’ve read and absorbed the knowledge within your Divine Order Skills Scroll. You know what you’re capable of. You just need to put it into practice.
Hunter’s eyes brightened. “Hell yeah, I can't wait to master those." He rubbed his hands together, his mind already wandering to the one skill that thrilled him the most. "So when can I summon the darkling swarm?"
Tower: I think you need a list to prioritize tasks. I’ve mentioned this before. You cannot run before you learn to walk. You also need to go back to the beast tutorial. While the skill scroll provided all the knowledge you need for the beast tamer technique, it is an advanced skill. Plug the gaps in your knowledge the old-fashioned way—use the tutorials provided. Besides, have you tamed the Night Mare yet?
Hunter scowled.
Of course, he hadn’t, and Tower knew that. It was a subtle shift at times, where Tower seemed more human in its response. Still, at other times, the gap between them felt like a chasm.
Instead of firing back like he usually would, Hunter chewed on his cheek. "Yeah, I get ahead of myself sometimes." That admission forced him to swallow his pride. "Jo thinks the same way as you do, I hope one day you can meet her. She said I should use the Spartan method for organizing tasks."
Tower: The Spartan method. I am familiar. It involves a daily pledge to declare three priority tasks essential to your short-term success. Then dividing the day into four sprint quarters, each lasting approximately 90 minutes, assigning priority tasks to each quarter. In between, you have rest breaks to reflect and prepare for the next focused effort. And the end-of-day review to celebrate victories, analyze defeats, and plan for the next day’s battles.
Hunter nodded. “Jo swears it’s what makes Spartan’s formidable warriors.”
Tower: Your sister is wise, I am glad you are clever enough to listen to her. I too hope to meet her one day. I was going to share my method, but the Spartan sprints are not far off from Elemental Flow.
“Elemental Flow?” Hunter was eager to know more.
Tower: It involves prioritizing tasks by the four known elements. Those tasks marked as ‘Fire’ are urgent, for example. But right now, I think your sister’s method is a great place to start. Once that’s well established in your tower training regime, you can look at structuring your organization in a more complex manner.
Hunter could see the logic in that. Even in organization, running before learning to walk was a bad idea. No matter how eager he was to become an expert planner, it wouldn’t happen unless he learned the basics first.
Tower: Would you like to make a list where tasks are prioritized?
Hunter winced. “I’d rather slay all the Tower Monsters at once, than write a damn list.” Those words tumbled thoughtlessly from his mouth. He clamped it shut with a clack. Before he could take it back, words scrolled across his vision.
Tower: Sometimes your mind is an enigma to me. How is it more difficult to write a list than to fight all the Tower Monsters at once?
Hunter shrugged, a sheepish grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Sometimes I run my mouth off without thinking. It's not that it's more difficult, but in my head, the thought of prioritizing tasks seems overwhelming. So sometimes when that happens, I say things I don't really mean or I exaggerate. In reality, writing a list is easier than fighting monsters, but it just feels more daunting to me."
Tower: I see, thank you for clarifying. My creators were similar. The Architect had a flair for theatrics and liked to exaggerate how difficult things were while the Stonemason was as stubborn as they come. That reminds me of your growing list of Tower renovations. I can help you prioritize them in a list if that makes list-making less daunting?
Hunter agreed, then immediately regretted it. A long, detailed list of tower renovations appeared before his eyes.
* Lubricating moving parts of the forge. Basic Repair.
* Fix rickety wooden door hinge. Basic Repair.
* Removal of Ogre waste product. Moderate Repair.
* Reduce humidity in the Water Garden. Routine Repair.
* Replace metal grates for proper ventilation and security. Routine Repair.
* Seal cracks in interior walls. Moderate Repair.
* Replace the kitchen faucet. Basic Repair.
Hunter placed a hand over his heart, grimacing as the list continued to scroll by. "Holy Shit Styx..."
Tower: Are you all right, Hunter? You look a little pale.
"Just looking at that list gives me indigestion." Hunter grumbled, waving a dismissive hand. "I'm fine, just... surprised at the level of detail. That's one hell of a thorough list."
Tower: Why thank you! Such kind words.
Hunter offered a tight smile. "Don't mention it..."
Like ever!
"So it seems like if I want to put some order to this chaos, lists are the way to go." Rolling up his sleeves, he set to work on his own list, ordering his tasks by priority. With Tower's guidance, the task was completed in minutes rather than the hours he thought it would take.
The Tower reminded him all he needed to do was take the top three tasks.
“Before I start, can I summon the Night Mare inside the Refiner Gate?” Thoughts swirled in his mind about how useful that would be. Once tamed, the Night Mare could be a powerful ally. Of course, that was a very big if, given the temperament of the beast.
Tower: Given the unique time laws inside the Tower, I would say technically yes, you can summon the beast anywhere... in theory.
With that settled, Hunter set a schedule. Every four to six hours, he'd take a break to cultivate, eat, and drink. And what about toilet breaks?
“Hey Tower, where is the nearest toilet.”
Tower: There's a fully functioning toilet next to the bathing area. Look for the sign: 'If you sprinkle when you tinkle, be sweet and wipe the seat.' Remember, urine attracts monsters.
Hunter couldn't help but chuckle. "Noted. Thanks, Tower."
***
Hunter took a deep breath as he entered the tutorial room. Before he summoned the Night Mare, he needed help with beast tamer skills. Back on Death Island, the largest beast he tamed was a rat. While he was confident that the way to the Night Mare's heart was through its belly, he was aware of his limited supply of Golden Blush Apples and the looming deadline to complete the Refiner Gate.
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Tower: Entering tutorial mode. Please choose from one of the following:
- Cultivation
- Crafting
- Beast Taming
Hunter scrolled down and selected the Beast Tutorial Room. The room transformed with a holographic projection, displaying topics on beast behavior, habitat studies, and taming techniques. He chose the last one.
“Tower, before I summon the Night Mare, I should warn you she is even more stubborn than me and very temperamental.”
Tower: I am aware of her antics that landed you headfirst in the ocean, almost jeopardizing your chances of gaining entry to my hallowed halls the first time. But forewarned is forearmed. Would you like me to list steps to gain her trust quicker?
Hunter grinned. “That would be great, thanks, Tower. I have some knowledge of horses, and I know there’s a difference in behavioral traits between stallions and mares.”
Tower: You are right. Stallions tend to be more dominant and exhibit territorial behavior, and may be more aggressive around other males. They also tend to be more vocal and more focused on mating, especially during breeding season. Whereas mares often establish social hierarchies but are generally less aggressive than stallions.
Hunter raised an eyebrow at this. This wasn’t true of the Night Mare.
Tower: While they have a more steady temperament, mood swings can occur. They are fiercely protective of their foals. It is important to note that individual temperament plays a significant role, and training and handling also influence horse behavior.
“Do you have any information specific to the Night Mare?”
“The Night Mare is a winged horse that can be summoned at night. I am afraid I do not have any further information on her as she is a unique creature summoned using your imagination and the Jestmaster's Quill.”
Hunter rubbed his brow. It was as he feared. While some of the archived information would be useful, he wouldn't know for sure until he applied what he knew. If he didn’t get a kick in the head from her mighty hooves, he'd take that as a win.
“Okay, Tower, lay it on me. I need a list of steps that I can use to tame a wild mare who is capable of flying and is highly unpredictable.”
Tower: While I could give you a long, drawn-out beast-taming regime, I have taken the liberty of cutting it down to the bare essentials that you can get to grips with straightaway. However, results may vary depending on both your temperaments. That said, you’ve shown remarkable ease in taming small beasts, at least those not trying to kill you, so I’m quietly confident you'll bring her around…eventually. Patience is key.
Hunter pulled up the list titled:
"Tower's Essential Night Mare Taming Steps"
1. Observe Behavior: Study the Nightmare from a distance.
2. Appease: Offer Golden Blush Apples. Strategically use a limited supply for trust-building.
3. Gradual Approach: Slowly build trust, offering apples without invading space.
4. Introduce Commands: Gradually use Divine skills, rewarding positive responses.
5. Consistent Routine: Implement a structured training schedule with regular rewards.
6. Patience: Taming is gradual; be patient and regularly monitor progress.
Tower: You may have noticed beyond your affinity for Earth and Wind, your core is primed to resonate with aether cores. I believe that the delay in sealing your beast core when your affinity was awakened at the age of seven is the cause of this side effect, resulting in a corrupted cultivation medallion. What was a weakness is now a boon for you.
Hunter’s jaw dropped.
Could that explain why the rats in the alley came and formed a protective circle around him when he faced Vasillus’ henchmen? He remembered the strange awareness, like their core essence was merging with his.
“Are you saying I have some sort of affinity for aether?” He couldn’t believe he spoke those words aloud. Only beasts had an affinity for that energy type. It was as crazy as him claiming to have an affinity for Dark plasma, as if he were some mythical creature or had some demon bloodline ability, which would make him one of the shunned.
Tower: I am not saying anything of the sort. But it is an interesting thought for you to pursue as you progress further along the path of a beast tamer. Right now, your focus is on taming the Night mare you have 0.0045 Tradaka moments assigned to this task before you move on to Tower milestone renovation work and then finally put to practice your new skill, Dust Storm Whip, against a straw dummy in the training deck.
“Thanks for keeping me on track.” His eyes scanned the list of essential Night Mare taming steps. He checked his inventory and found the totem for the Night Mare.
“Okay, girl, easy does it. Step one: all I need to do is observe you from a distance.”
How hard could that be?
Damn hard!
No sooner had he summoned the Night Mare than she charged at him like a bull in a paddock he just invaded. Hunter threw himself sideways, barely missing her clomping hooves. Wind whipping at his back from her flapping wings.
Her eyes glowed red with rage as she spun back around, but she didn’t charge. She just stood there. Nostrils quivering, glowing molten, and smoking clouds of ash. Her hooves thundered in his ears as she scarred the earth beneath her, turning it black.
Rising slowly to his feet, he backed away, arms raised in surrender. “Easy, girl, I mean you no harm.”
The words barely escaped his lips when she charged again.
Tower: I think she does not like being called a girl. I suggest finding a name she prefers rather quickly, before she stomps you into dust.
“Got any suggestions?” Hunter held his ground, chi flooding his limbs, his muscles bunched and coiled like a spring ready to jump clear. She lowered her head like a battering ram, her majestic black mane billowing like a dark halo of destruction.
His destruction.
Hunter’s legs shook as he waited until the last second to jump clear. Rolling over and over, dizziness claimed him. He shook his head, eyes blinking to clear the stars in his vision.
Scrambling to his feet, he pulled a Golden Blush Apple from his inventory as he watched her complete her death charge and turn back to face him.
Her red, enraged eyes locked onto the apple in his hand, and a notification appeared.
[Item of appeasement: one Golden Blush Apple.]
Now that he had time, he decided to test the theory.
“Identify.”
Name: None allocated
Age: 12 Earth hours
Energy type: Mana
Bond type: Summoned. Unique
Relationship: Hostile
Specialization: Undetermined
Training Progress: Untrained [See sub-menu for further details.]
Hunter moved with slow, cautious steps, keeping the apple in view. The Night Mare didn’t move but allowed its gaze to follow him wherever he went in the tutorial room. The room felt smaller and more suffocating with every step he took.
Keeping the Night Mare’s attention when he read her stats proved useful. She didn’t have a name yet, which meant he would need to name her soon. Since she was a mythical creature born of his imagination it came as no surprise that her energy type was mana.
The bond type was a little vague, stating only ‘Summoned’ and ‘Unique.’ Hunter assumed that this was because she was not a naturally occuring creature, but one that had been summoned using his imagination and manifested with use of the Jestmaster’s Quill.
The training progress stats provided clear information on the areas he could work on, strengthening their relationship, reducing her fear level, which would also serve to lessen her aggression. And, an aspect of beast training he hadn’t thought about was her specialized skills.
But first, he needed to make sure she didn’t kill him.
“It seems like we’ve got off to a rocky start. I’d like to make amends by giving you this nice, juicy Golden Blush Apple. How does that sound?”
Raising her head up and down in a nodding gesture, the Night Mare took long, powerful strides towards him. He held the apple in the flat of his palm.
Up close, she towered over him.
Bowing her head, the whites of her teeth revealed as she peeled back her lips and delicately took up the apple before making it vanish inside her mouth.
Hunter froze with arm outstretched, afraid to move should she take it as an insult.
The whole time she chewed on the apple, she never broke her searing gaze. Hunter’s aura provided him with a small measure of protection. He couldn’t help thinking how ironic it would be if he met his end thanks to an unfortunate encounter with a creature born of his own mind.
When she was finished, she gave a haughty snort and turned away with a flick of her tail, whopping Hunter’s face.
She jaunted off to the far side of the tutorial room and began sniffing and examining the walls as she started to circle the confines of the space.
Staring at his empty palm, Hunter exhaled with a shaky breath before lowering his hand. Tension eased across his shoulders and back. “So much for observing her; I went straight to step two, appeasing her with a Golden Blush Apple. Am I taming her or is she taming me?”
Tower: She is certainly smarter than you seemed to expect. While it didn’t go exactly to plan, I think you did manage to observe her behavior and learn more than you realized. Identifying her was a good idea. Bravo!
Hunter rubbed the back of his neck, not sure the praise was deserved. “I suppose you’re right. I’ll be paying closer attention to her stats the next time I summon her. And I won’t make the mistake of calling her ‘girl’ again. I need to think of a good name for her. One she will like. Do you have any suggestions?
Tower: Bleak Beauty
“I’m not too sure she’ll appreciate being described as bleak. Beauty is nice, but I’ve a feeling she wants something more kick-ass.”
Tower: How about Alice? It means noble or exalted one, and it can be in honor of one of my creators.
“I like it and given its meaning I think it suits the Night Mare well. Let’s hope she likes it too. For now, I think we have had enough of each other’s company. Is there a way to unsummon her?”
Tower: Not until your relationship improves. If you wish to move on to your next task—Tower Renovation—I can place a temporary barrier up that will keep her on the far side of the tutorial room.
“Oh yes, please do that!”
Grinding of stone and wood echoed in the chamber as a partition slid into place, blocking the Night Mare from view.
Hunter called up the tutorial menu for Tower renovations. Keeping things simple, he kept to basic renovations.
- Lubricating moving parts of the forge.
Tower: Do you have any lubricant in your inventory?
Hunter checked.
“I have olive oil and fish oil. Are either of any use for what you have in mind?”
Tower: While olive oil is a popular lubricant for amorous adventures I am not sure it is powerful or long-lasting enough for the scale of work this task requires. Fortunately, there are slime monsters infesting the Architect's former water garden room, which has long been abandoned. It has mana seeping up through cracks in the foundation and the slime monsters thrive on it. If you harvest the afterbirth from the breeding females, that works a treat, but they have a tendency to eat the afterbirth while nursing their young, so you’ll have to be fast.
Hunter grimaced. “Where is the water garden room?”
Tower: Take a left outside the guild room and go about fifty paces till you find a door at the end with a warning sign. You are strong enough as a Second Star Refiner to take them on, even if they swarm. So ignore the danger sign and walk straight inside.