The train ride was eventful for Ark as he saw the ruined Earth through the spectacles of a moving train. Most people deigned not to look at the corpses that were scattered on the ground. The shops which were once vibrant and filled with color were no more and the city square looked like a scene from a horror movie. This was the reality of the barren Earth. The train tracks passed through fields that had lost the yellow entirely and now were withered husks on a winter morning.

A chilly air swept across the train and the people shivered involuntarily. Once, the train reached the Third Scenario, perhaps they would be safe. This was a hope, every person had and yet no one dared voice it. What would happen if they spoke out and the entire trip was jinxed? Some of the people were still cowering as they heard the imaginary sounds of approaching monsters. This was a natural reaction. This was the fate of the ordinary…

Ark leaned back as he thought about things to come. In his past life, the third scenario had been like heaven to him. He had only been in the standard area, the Tower recommended, and had got his combat cards. This time was going to be different though. Sending Ark back in time was not a voluntary decision made by him alone.

The entire group of Gods had sat down and talked about things that could have happened if things were done differently. Ark remembered the time they were sitting around a campfire. That memory flashed before his very eyes…

“It is still not decided who will go back but…there is one thing that they need to do” The young Odin had told them

“And What would that be?” Hercules, the hero of Greece asked

It was not Odin who replied though. He was someone far older…If others had lived inside the Tower for centuries then he had lived there for over a millennium. It was said that he had started living there soon after the Tower Master had made the Tower

Ra, the Egyptian God of the sun was the one to answer, “The First two scenario is managed by the Jackals. Whoever goes back shan’t have to worry about them. What they have to do is get the card fragment of a forgotten author”

The other Gods who were around the glowing ember seemed confused. They had never heard of anything like that before. They had been in the Tower for a very long time. The Gods were also a group who knew about most of the Cards inside the Tower. How come, they had never heard of that one before

“The Fragment of the Forgotten Author is Ancient, much older than you are…To the best of my knowledge….” Ra stared at something far away. Odin the all-seeing eye continued

“I don’t see the Fragment in the present nor in the Future. It is certain, the Fragment is in the Third Scenario.”

“It is essential for us to get that…why?” Jupiter asked cautiously

“It contains an ancient power of course!” Merlin said in a humorous tone. It was difficult to be happy when death loomed over your shoulders but Merlin lightened the mood immediately

“Indeed! The Fragment contains power…more the power more is the Danger” Ra warned the group

“I wonder who would be guarding the Fragment?”

“Someone that shouldn’t be in the Third scenario perhaps?” Odin asked

“Odin, that’s absurd, Anomalies don’t appear in the scenarios” Hephaestus scoffed

“Even so…the possibility is there and when there is a possibility, the Tower always manages to find a story…” Ra warned ominously

Ark was jerked back away from his memory when he felt a dimensional shift. It was a very small change, something that couldn’t be felt if you were not in perfect control of your body. It seemed that the train had finally entered the Tower itself. Ark knew where they were headed and he felt a hint of trepidation creep

This was the first time that he would have to follow a plan. He would have to do something that he had been asked to do. No matter what he had to find the hidden fragment within thirty days. This was essential for his plans and yet Ark did not know where to even start from. Ark sighed as he sat straight up. He would take the complications as they came.

The train gave a jerk which managed to wake everyone who had been sleeping blissfully. Slowly, the train started to slow down. From the windows, Ark could see a train station in the middle of the woods. It was a sight to see a modern train station in a medieval setting. The train station was not crowded with people and yet there were enough people present that it couldn’t be called empty either.

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Each person was minding their own business but they looked up when they saw the train bringing back people. The train stopped and the people started to get off one by one. Even the Jerk of the train or the dimensional shift had not been able to wake Adam. He was sleeping as he snored softly. A thin line of drool was starting to come out of his mouth. Ark nudged Adam and finally, he woke up

“We are here?” Adam asked in a confused manner

“We are here” Ark replied in the affirmative. This was when a notification greeted both of them

[Your Rewards have been deposited]

[Claim them at the Merchant Shop!]

[The Tower welcomes you back!]

Ark knew where the Merchant shop was. It was close by but first they needed to get off the train. Ark felt a hint of nostalgia as he exited the train. Ark had finally made it to the third scenario.

It was a tropical place under a blazing sun. Surprisingly when they landed, all Ark could see was a harbor and port. The depictions of the train windows were probably an illusion. The people were grouped together and Adam immediately went over there.

The familiar sounds of the harbor could be heard from everywhere, creaking ropes, slapping waves, heavy barrels rolling across cobblestones mingled with voices shouting and cursing in a language filled with unheard language. If someone decided to hear their language, they would not think of it as a familiar English language, The language was the same, and yet it was unfamiliar.

The aroma of unfamiliar spices and tropical fruits mixed with the side smells of fish, tar, and canvas. Beyond all that, the place was an explosion of color. Everywhere, they could see buildings were painted in shades of green, blue, and purple-pink.

They were not thrown any glances as the people continued to kove. It was like the people were outsiders. Nobody saw them and nobody acknowledged them. As they continued to move inwards, they saw buildings with shades of color ranging from bright red-orange to vibrant yellows.

Every building sported baskets and clay urns of colorful flowers. Some of them were draped in leafy flowering vines too. The people on the streets too were the same. A flock of children ran past them dressed in feathered hats and capes squealing in delight. The whole city seemed to be bustling, sweating, laughing, swearing, and singing and Ark was a part of all of that

[Welcome to the Third Scenario]

[The Tower Welcomes you]

[Find yourself at home and a guide will come soon]

The Tower recommended that Ark find lodgings but how were they supposed to do it? It seemed Adam too had no idea. Ark decided to be the savior and led them to one of the street vendors selling some kind of exotic fruit

He hollered at the man who was wearing a vest, and swearing at a bunch of children

“Brother! Where can we get lodgings?”

“That depends Brother! How much are you buying?” And that was how the trade worked here. You gave the people something they wanted and they led you to places

Ark contemplated for a few seconds. The exotic fruits the man was selling were called Buyatil. It was a sweet and spicy fruit that was tropical to this exact region. Ark wanted information but he loved the fruits too.

“All of them Brother!” And Ark was left with 30 Buyatil and the people of the group had lodgings to stay in. The Lodgings Ark had found out, was a two-storied tavern that had single bedrooms on the second floor and a bar on the first.

The cost of lodgings was surprisingly cheap coming up at only 10 coins per person. But that was to be expected considering the falling structure. A guide would come to them soon enough and they would be able to stay at a nicer place.

It was just for the time being that Ark got them lodgings. Honestly, Ark could have just led them to the Tavern himself but he wanted to buy the fruits. He also wanted the people to know what to expect from this place.

Ark dragged Adam outside the Tavern and decided to take him to the Merchant Shop. It was close by and Adam could probably find something that would suit him

“Where are we going?” Adam asked Ark and Ark had replied in kind. He was beyond excited to get his sword. This along with spicy foods was something he would sacrifice anything for.

And finally, both of them managed to find the Merchant shop. It was not that tough. The Shop was the largest out of all of them. It was also the most well-maintained. Every shop which had an interior had a magical property. The fatigue from walking under the hot sun quickly faded away as they entered the shop.

The Shop was like that of a typical pawn shop. This had significant importance as the Merchant Guild sold everything, starting from swords, and shields to assassination information. You just needed to have enough coin and credibility.

Adam decided to browse their collection and Ark asked for his sword straight up. One of the many reasons Ark had wanted the Blade of Northern Wind was this. It could be used as a walking air conditioner in this amount of heat.

The Clerk who was eyeing them suspiciously had immediately straightened when Ark had asked for his sword. A reward from the administrator was a significant thing and it must have massively increased Ark’s credibility. Gaining some information from them would be far easier in the future.

The clerk handed Ark the Sword in a jealous manner and Adam came over to inspect the Sword too. It was enveloped in a protective sheath in such a way that the blade could not be seen. Ark opened up the sheath to find exactly what he was looking for.

The Sword, even as a failed Replica was a piece of art. It had various runes inscribed on it which glowed brightly for a few seconds. Ark was sure that the sword had an item description. He called it up and became surprised when he saw its capabilities.

This was indeed a good sword. Just then, a notification came up

[The guide has reached his location]

[Please be there within twenty minutes]

Adam and Ark both rushed out