Nathan stood rooted to the spot as a rumble shook the entire room. The sound seemed to flood the space, reverberating off the walls, and it took him a moment to realize it was coming from the creature in front of him. Is the sphinx purring?

Finally, the beast opened its mouth and began to speak. “How curious—a climber has managed to beat this dungeon when the tower opened merely a month ago.” The being's voice was melodious, just as captivating as its face.

The words piqued Nathan's interest—it wasn't the first time a being had alluded to knowing it was in the tower, but this time, he might actually get answers.

Stowing his spear, Nathan performed his best bow before answering, “Mighty sphinx, I have come to this position purely out of luck. Would you mind answering some of my questions? Your wisdom is far above mine.”

The sphinx laughed, the sound incredibly loud, shaking Nathan to his core. “You speak honeyed words, mortal. But I might just be persuaded to offer some knowledge yet. You see, now that you stand before me, I will present you with three riddles. Should you answer none of them, you will die here.” The sphinx licked her lips, reminding Nathan that he stood before a predator.

“For every riddle you answer however, you may ask for a reward, and those rewards will be generous indeed, for you have beaten the dungeon. It would be within the system's rules to ask for knowledge.” For a moment, the sphinx's eyes became unfocused, as if she were staring into space. Reading a status screen, Nathan realized.

The sphinx let out a snort before refocusing on Nathan. “Yes, one question shall be permitted. The rest of your rewards will be those granted by the dungeon, provided you can answer my riddles, of course.”

The sphinx fixed him with a playful stare, a self-satisfied smile grazing her lips.

Nathan took a moment to centre himself before bowing again. “You are truly magnanimous, great sphinx. It would be an honour to answer your riddles.”

The sphinx righted herself, her face growing serious as she rose to her full height. Her voice boomed, none of the previous playfulness in her tone. “Listen then, mortal, and listen well. Here is my first riddle:

'I don't have eyes, but once I did. Once I had thought, but now I'm white and empty. What am I?' “

The sphinx stared at him with far greater intensity than before, her body completely still as she waited for Nathan to answer. All of Earth's humanity has a great advantage when it comes to answering riddles and puzzles like these. I must have memorized hundreds of them from the internet and movies alone.

Nathan was fairly certain he knew the answer as soon as he heard the question. “You are a skull,” he said.

The sphinx finally blinked, her serious exterior giving way to playfulness again. “Very well, you will survive, mortal. Now ask for your first reward, for you have earned it.”

Nathan did not need to think long; there was one thing he needed right now that would still be useful for the rest of the tower. “I want the general Purge skill.”

The sphinx narrowed her eyes, her voice laced with interest as she answered. “How curious that you would know of a skill you have not encountered yet.”

Nathan did not react to the implied question, and a moment later, she extended her paw, a book lying on it. Nathan carefully took it from her, immediately inspecting it.

Skill Book: Purge

Use a variable amount of stamina to expel any poisons, curses, or hexes from your body. Overuse can cause exhaustion and death.

He quickly opened the first page, the book disintegrating as a ball of light flew out of it and smashed into his forehead. For a moment, Nathan experienced vertigo, but the feeling passed in a few seconds. He did not waste any time and immediately used his new skill.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Weakness overtook Nathan, and he fell to his knees, catching himself on his hands. He felt a searing sensation in his whole body as black sludge started to rise from his pores, particularly from his wounded arm. The sludge transformed into smoke that drifted to the top of the room, disappearing after a few seconds.

Nathan, meanwhile, was breathing heavily, still on all fours. Seconds later, his strength began to return, and he felt better than he had in a long time, any and all debilitating substances removed from him. Carefully, he staggered to his feet, finally removing the bandage around his wounded arm.

He looked back at the sphinx, relief filling him as she had an amused grin.

“I apologize, great sphinx, but my mortal body was afflicted by poison. Compared to you, I am weak, and it would not have been proper to die in your abode.”

The being took his explanation in stride. “Fear not, mortal, for I have dealt with your kind before. You burn bright like bonfires but are extinguished so easily by the weakest storm. I shall forgive you this transgression. Are you ready to hear my second riddle?”

Nathan nodded, not surprised when the sphinx once more became solemn.

“Rejoice, mortal, for you have the honour of hearing my second riddle:

'My life can be measured in hours; I only serve to be devoured. Slim, I am quick. Fat, I am slow. Wind is my foe. What am I?' “

Nathan grinned as he took in the words. Judging from the sphinx's previous words, I almost want to answer 'a mortal.' She must have chosen that riddle on purpose, I guess. I've heard that one before, though—lucky me.

Speaking with certainty, he answered, “You are a candle.”

The sphinx nodded her head, prompting Nathan to continue. “What would your second boon be, then?”

Once again, Nathan would choose something that he needed at the moment. “I ask for potions of healing, mighty sphinx.”

The beast extended her paw once more, three glass vials filled with glowing red liquid held in them.

Rare Consumable: Potion of Healing

A magic concoction brewed by an experienced alchemist. One of these potions will heal any wound, restoring both broken bones and lost limbs.

Casting a questioning look at the sphinx, the beast nodded. “Feel free to take one, mortal. As you said, it would not do for you to expire in my lair.”

Nathan did not have to be told twice. He gulped down one of the potions and let out a satisfied sigh as a calming energy spread through his whole body. He watched as his wounded arm regenerated in mere seconds, the countless aches and pains that had tortured him for days finally disappearing.

He felt truly reborn, his body as healthy as it had been when he first entered the tower. Power coursed through his veins, and he had to hold himself back from springing into action right away.

He nodded to the sphinx, his voice filled with gratitude. “I thank you dearly, sphinx, for allowing me to heal myself before leaving the dungeon.”

The sphinx waved away his gratitude. “It matters not, mortal. Time is fleeting for me, and you are interesting. I do not begrudge you your weakness, for this is the first conversation I have had in centuries. Now, get ready for the last of my riddles.”

Nathan nodded, regaining his composure.

“Hear my last riddle then, mortal:

'I can be measured but not seen. I can be counted but not touched. I am always ahead but never in sight. What am I?' “

By now, Nathan was fairly certain that the sphinx was letting him win. This last riddle's answer was literally something she had spoken about just moments ago.

“The answer is time,” he said.

The sphinx grinned and laid down again, all gravitas gone from her conduct. She lazily yawned before addressing him once more. “Congratulations, mortal, you have answered my third riddle. Ask for your last boon, then.”

Nathan already knew what he wanted to ask for, but he took a moment to carefully formulate the question. “Lastly, I ask for a boon of knowledge. Why do you know that you are in the tower when most beings seem oblivious to this fact?”

The sphinx gave him a mischievous smirk before answering. “My answer might well be the most valuable thing you will gain from this dungeon, mortal, for this knowledge cannot be learned by simply asking. But as it is a reward for beating the dungeon, the rules bind me less strictly.”

With that explanation out of the way, the sphinx began her tale. “The tower and the system are not natural; they were constructed a long time ago. While they are incredibly powerful, the energy they possess is limited.

Any being you meet in the tower comes from a world the tower once visited. Most of those now dwelling here have failed to beat its challenges in time, their minds enslaved as payment for their failure. But while dominating a million mortal minds is a simple task, beings of my nature are far harder to control. Make no mistake, should the tower decide to take my free will, it could do so, but it deems it too costly.

Still, I am bound by rules I cannot break, such as the one protecting this knowledge under normal circumstances. The more powerful a being is, however, the harder it is to control. So take this to heart, mortal: those that stand at the top are almost free to do as they want. They may stretch any truths you think apply to them, so long as they do not break what little restrictions still bind them.

They can make extremely powerful allies, but even more dangerous enemies, for they do not play the same game you do.

Now that you have your answer, be on your way, mortal.”

Nathan wanted to interject, to ask more questions about the nature of the tower, but in the next moment, he found himself out in the desert, the dungeon already behind him.

Congratulations, Nathan Andrews

You have beaten the Veiled Pyramid dungeon.