Ray turned his head to right. Just as the warning from Mystic Knowledge—no, his new spell, Presence of the Primordial—had stated, Kredevel was walking over. It was strange that he could finally take the time to properly observe the alien.

Kredevel was just as tall and gangly as he had appeared in the caves, but he was a lot more… pretty, was the only to describe him. Ray could see him posing on the cover of Vogue with ease. If the editors didn’t mind faces that were a little too thin, a complexion that was paler than milk, and hair that looked like strands of lapis lazuli.

Or the horns. No way could one forget the curving, crystalline growths around his head, and every other important joint.

It was the robes that really caught Ray’s attention. They were somewhat reminiscent of the kinds martial artists preferred, but sort of shiny, like they were metallic. Or perhaps silken. They were also a glossy, royal purple. Ray had to wonder if it was Kredevel’s favourite colour, considering that was the same shade of his horns and his eyes to boot.

“Thank you,” Kredevel said, as he approached. He was a lot calmer now. Ray idly wondered where the dead dog was, but it was probably too personal to ask. “I admit I was surprised that you kept your end of the bargain.”

“Do you have that poor of an opinion of people like me?” Ray asked.

“Hmm, do you mean people like you human beings, or people as in new Denizens?”

“The latter.” Ray blinked. “Unless you’re going to tell me you’ve met humans before.”

“I have not. You’re my first. For both cases, actually. New human, and new Denizen.”

The way he talked, it sounded like meeting a new human wasn’t as novel an experience as Ray would have thought. Which meant that even if Kredevel hadn’t met other human beings before, he knew of others who had. Considering that this was supposed to be the first time that humanity had been inducted into the System, that should have been impossible.

But if that was true, then it brought up a whole new level of complication Ray wasn’t certain he wanted to bash his head against just then.

“I sense I’ve given away something rather vital,” Kredevel said.

Ray shook his head. “I hope you don’t regret it. Cause you’ve got your end of the deal to keep, right?”

“True enough. You wanted information, yes? Ask away.”

Ray smiled. “Great—”

“Though, I will warn you that I cannot answer every single question you pose to me. I have a job to do, and if anything you ask jeopardises that, then I’m afraid I will decline answering.”

Ray’s smile dipped but didn’t fade fully. “What if I ask you what this job of yours is?” He grew more serious. “You’re not at all the only one of your kind here. What exactly are you doing here? What do you want from this place? From us?”

Kredevel breathed in deep. “Many questions at once. I am not surprised. But listen closely, as I answer. We are the Sylvans. Our civilization originates on a different world, but through the Omniversal System, we have gained the power and ability to spread far across the universe.”

“And if you can do it, I’m going to guess there are other civilizations out there that can do the same.”

“Correct. The Sylvans are the not the only race you will meet, should you be able to progress higher up the Omniversal System and its Towers.”

“What are these Towers? Why did the System suddenly decide that Earth was a good place to set them up? Why now?”

“Many factors are taken into considerations, but once a civilization reaches the peak of its… ascendancy as we will call it, the Omniversal System decides to integrate that civilization into the rest of the fabric that drives all other sentient civilizations.”

“Ascendancy? Do you mean like, in terms of evolution? Or is it something else?”

“Biological evolution is one factor, yes. And other factors, including accurate predictions of how much longer your civilization will last at its current state, how far you have advanced socially, technologically, and various other metrics.”

“Huh.”

Ray wouldn’t have minded taking some time to wrap his head around all that. The System had definitely not been forthcoming about itself during his time in that white room. Back then, he had been the sole focus.

But now wasn’t the time to get lost in the weeds of the System’s lore.

“Alright,” Ray said. “But what’s your—and the rest of the Sylvans’—role in this? Why did you pick Earth of all places? Why you and not some other civilization? And what in the world do you and the System gain by doing all this.”

“The crux of all this is quite simple.” Kredevel held out a hand. “Mana.”

There was the tiniest flicker on the Sylvan’s palm before silver and purple energy started coalescing on top of each other. Soon enough, a strange amethyst growth was forming about an inch over Kredevel’s hand. Ray stared at it. He was about to ask what was the point of whatever Kredevel was doing—other than showing him weird shit with Mana—but he froze.

The Sylvan’s ability finished. A miniature replica of Kredevel was now walking on his palm, a one-to-one copy that was perfect down the last strand of hair.

“Mana,” Kredevel said with the air of someone who was dispensing the wisdom of the ages, “is the reason why we are here. The construction of a Tower means the generation of Mana within the Tower, and we are here to harvest that Mana. It drives our civilization, our way of life. Calling it a valuable commodity would be a severe understatement.”

Ray could understand that. Humanity went to such great lengths to secure sources of electricity. If Mana worked the same way for Kredevel’s civilization, then no wonder they were here. “So let me get this straight. You’re allowed to come into these Towers to harvest Mana in return for doing a certain task for the Tower, right? At least, that’s what I assume is going on.”

“Your assumption is correct. In exchange for cultivating the Mana and any other resources we deem fit, the Tower makes us oversee its operation, the main function of which is to provide adequate challenges and guidance to new Denizens.”

Somehow, he had a feeling the challenge part was of greater importance to Kredevel and his faction than any sort of guidance. Considering the Sylvan wasn’t even allowed to talk to him, strictly speaking. “Challenge and guidance, is it?”

Kredevel caught his scepticism. The purple in his eyes flickered a little. “Unfortunately, you are correct again. The challenge is of more import.”

“So… could you tell me what this challenge is?”

“You will find out soon. You should receive a new Objective soon. It will have all the details you need.”

“Yes, but it won’t tell me how to meet that Objective. Don’t suppose you can give me any hints or anything of the sort…”

Kredevel looked mightily uncomfortable. Ray felt a little bad at putting him through some sort of mental tug of war, but this information could be vital.

“You mentioned the Handler earlier,” Ray said. “Is that the guy you work for?”

Slowly, Kredevel nodded. “He will be the one assigning you your challenges on this Floor, yes.”

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“So there’s a different challenge per Floor, each given by a different person.”

“Each Floor has its own Floor Lord, yes.”

“And they’re all related to your Faction?”

“They are all appointed by the Tower Lord, who is a Sylvan like myself.”

Interesting. Very interesting, if Ray was being honest. “A Handler that allows his charge to run into a cave and get murdered by a bunch of monsters…”

Kredevel’s face twisted. Ray wondered if he was right in assuming that the Sylvan held a bit of resentment towards his superior for allowing his beloved pet to come to harm. It was probably mixed in with a strong dose of guilt too. But maybe, that was overridden because of this Handler’s policies.

After all, Kredevel being barred from interacting with new Denizens was what had prevented him from entering the Marauder’s caves initially.

“He does not expect most new Denizens to survive the challenge,” Kredevel eventually said. “It is… difficult.”

He still wouldn’t say what the challenge would be, which was a bit annoying, but Ray wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“But not impossible,” Ray said. “In fact, you know the way to win it, don’t you?”

With jerky motions, Kredevel twisted his hand so that his palm was facing up. A light shimmer later, what looked like a collar materialized on it. A familiar looking colour.

Ray blinked. “Is that from…?”

“This is Brick Licker’s.” His face twisted with brief grief. “Was. You might find a better use for it, now that its original owner has passed away.”

Ray accepted the leather band with a leash at one end. There was a small cinch where he could open the collar to put it back on.

He was also starting to get an idea of what the challenge was going to involve.

“Thanks,” Ray said. He smiled, trying to project some confidence. “I’ll make sure to put it to good use.”

Kredevel nodded. “I have no doubt that you will.”

“Is he that much of a big shot?” Ray asked. Kredevel stiffened as he realized Ray was asking about the Handler. “You seem… well, no offence, but you seem way too wary of him.”

Another riot of emotions twisted across Kredevel’s face. Were all Sylvans as expressive as he was, wearing their hearts on their sleeves and letting the whole world witness their genuine emotions? It felt too vulnerable to Ray.

Look at him. He was on the verge of manipulating Kredevel. Plucking the strings of the emotions the Sylvan displayed to get the information he wanted. It felt wrong.

Someone less morally lax could easily have started twisting the direction of Kredevel’s thoughts. Ray didn’t want to take advantage of his somewhat-ally.

“I have a goal here,” Kredevel said. “And achieving that is not easy.”

“What is your goal?”

“To reach the top of the Towers.”

Ray laughed. “Dude, same.”

“Why do you laugh?”

“Because I was thinking how different you Sylvans are from us humans. But hey, look at that, we both want the same thing in the end.”

Kredevel stared at him. “Don’t all Denizens want to reach the peak of the Towers? You were granted this information in your tutorial, yes?”

“Right, right. But it’s not just the goal. It’s everything about the goal, you see. Look at it this way. You want to reach the top of this Tower the same as I do. And to do that, you’re willing to slog through your own set of challenges, just like me. Sure it’s not the same kind of Objectives I’m probably going to get, but it’s effort nevertheless, right?”

Kredevel took a moment to consider, before he eventually cracked the first smile Ray had seen from him. “I suppose you make a valid argument.”

“Look, I don’t know who your Handler is or what exactly he’s capable of, but hear me out, okay? This isn’t advice, because you look like someone who already knows his shit. Just take this as a friendly reminder. You’re a good guy. From everything I’ve seen so far, your superior sounds like a nasty piece of work. You deserve better. So, if you can, go get it.”

“How could you possibly know that I’m good?”

Ray recalled how Kredevel had cried for his Brick Licker. He smiled, trying to keep the sadness from it. “Someone who loves their pet dog that much can’t be that bad.”

After a bit of hesitation, Kredevel nodded solemnly.

“I should be going,” the Sylvan said. “I will need to report all that has occurred here. Although, I don’t think I ever got your name.”

“Really? I thought I told you already. But anyway, the name’s Ray.” He smiled. “Hope you won’t report to your superiors about me.”

“Nothing I can say will do you any harm, Ray. May you be graced by the Tower’s benevolence.”

Ray tried to think if there was anything further he could ask, things that Kredevel wouldn’t be barred from telling him. Actually, there was a ton Ray could just sit there and learn about. Unfortunately, he had a feeling Kredevel didn’t have the time. “You make it sound like the Tower is alive.”

Kredevel smiled again. One last time. “Perhaps it is. Perhaps it isn’t. Do you believe the System is alive, per se?”

Without waiting for an answer, Kredevel was already walking off. Ray waved at his back. He smiled. It was almost like he had made a friend.

Friends… For all the while he had been in that cave system, he hadn’t once stopped to consider how everyone else might be doing. Mrs. Myers, the recruiter at Golden Windows. The weed-loving college student in the studio opposite his own. Andy from the local Pick ‘n Save. What about his old mom way out in the boonies near Sheboygan?

Were they even alive in this place? He hoped so. So long as their tutorials hadn’t been anything even close to his.

Ray couldn’t tell where everyone else might have been sent to. Their own tutorials, most likely, but where exactly would those be physically? The Tower of Forging had taken over Wisconsin and its surrounding locales, but this looked like anything but his lake-ridden, heavily-forested state. It was impossible to tell if the Marauder’s Caves was in Milwaukee or not.

He realized he was starting to get hungry and a little tired as well. The effects of the Mana fruit he had found was starting to disappear. He would need some more fuel to go on, eventually.

Resolving to find out more, Ray headed out.

He took a single step forward when the new set of objectives appeared.

[Floor I]

Welcome, New Denizen, to the First Floor of the Tower of Forging. Here, you can hone your strength and stake a true claim upon your place in the Tower. Please review your Objectives and proceed as you see fit.

Calculating objectives based on [Path of Lifeblood Chaos] and [Tower Conqueror]…

Objective 1: As mandated by the Floor Lord, bring one Brighthorn alive to the Floor Lord [0/1]

Objective 2: Defeat a Duskshell [0/1]

Objective 3: Defeat 5 Windbanes [0/5]

Objective 4: Defeat 4 Irebolts [0/10]

Objective 5: Clear three dungeons [0/3]

Hidden Objective 1: Find a Tower Node [0/1]

Personal Objective 1: Meet new Denizens [0/10]

Personal Objective 2: Secure 5 Mana Fruit [0/5]

New Denizen, go forth and continue your conquest of the Tower of Forging!

Ray looked over his Objectives with a critical eye. None of them felt like unrealistic targets.

Food? Yes, please. Finding other people? He would have attempted to do that anyway, if it didn’t take him too far out of the way. Reaching the Floor Lord to deposit the doggo he was supposed to capture? Sure, why not. Though, speaking of which, his initial assumptions had been correct. No wonder Kredevel had left him with the collar.

He had to catch one of those crazy monster-hounds. Something told him they weren’t going to be good boys.

Ray wondered what those other monsters were going to be like. The Windbanes, the Duskshells, and the Irebolts. Clearly, if he was going to have to defeat them, then they wouldn’t be friendly? Right?

With his new Objectives securely placed in the back of his mind, Ray got going. The Marauder’s Caves was set on the side of a mountain, craggy and grey and towering into the hazy sky so that its peak was lost to cloudy whiteness. More mountains ranged on either side of it, forming the wall of the Tower of Forging.

Ray got the sense that the mountain range ringed the entire floor. He had to wonder if that would be the case higher up as well. Well, he was going to find out eventually.

As he descended into the valley, the earth turned softer. It didn’t change its ugly colour though.

Nor did the “trees” look any better close up. They still reminded him of giant hair follicles, just frayed and torn like they had been gnawed on by some creature. He would have blamed the dogs, but they weren’t big enough to reach that high up the trees.

Well, he hoped they weren’t.

Ray had been continuing to use Lifeblood Sense over and over as he headed out. If anything came close enough, he would sense it. Although, the valley was mostly open enough to let him see pretty far, until the haze grew too thick. Farther than his spell’s range, that was for sure.

Eventually, after walking for what felt like half an hour, the first little spot of interest appeared up ahead. A Mana fruit.

Strangely, it was on one of those trees. The sinuous, black growths spiralling out of the ground to tower about twenty feet over the top of Ray’s head. If the Mana fruits actually grew on these trees, why was this one the only tree that had any? What had happened to the rest?

Ray was forcefully reminded of Kredevel’s words.

Harvest.

Of course. It would make sense of the other Sylvan’s had simply taken the fruits from the other trees. Had they missed this one, then, or had it grown after they had already scoured this area? Ray had no clues to tell. The ground was soft, but it didn’t look trampled.

The trees did exhibit signs of tampering, though, with their cracked bark and broken branches.

As he got closer to the tree with the fruit, he realized it was a little different. It—

A wet, screechy howl ripped through the area. At the same time, a pulse of Lifeblood Sense detected something was approaching.

[Warning!]

Presence of the Primordial has nullified the Intimidating effects of Wild Howl [Tier 2].

Ray turned, froze in surprise, then grinned. He gripped the collar he had been gifted tight. Excellent, his chance had appeared.

The Brighthorn was rushing straight for him.