The next day, the soft whoosh of the automated doors parting signaled Zark'thul's approach into the Command Room. Elspeth was already standing within. At his arrival, her body pivoted towards him, the tails of her dark suit coat swaying with the subtle motion. Her green eyes brightened, glowing in the dim illumination of the overhead lights as she dipped her head in greeting.
Zark'thul barely suppressed a tired sigh as he approached her and the central console. When he was close enough to smell the lilac-scented air that always seemed to permeate her being, she nodded in acknowledgment.
"Good morning, sir," Elspeth greeted, her voice its usual, level tone.
Zark'thul only nodded in return, running a hand through his hair. Sleeping was still something he found unnecessary, but meditating to recoup his focus was good enough.
With his hand still brushing through the locks of his hair, he scrolled his gaze to the array of screens that now surrounded them both. The hub remained as clinically minimalist as when he'd first entered the Tower, with the only flash of vibrancy being the cascading runic screens and holograms on display. No matter the runes, they always held a faint blue sheen to them.
He sat down beside the console, typing away to open up various windows to explore. As before, the Tower's resources lay in the barest details.
Beside him, Elspeth's prim demeanor shifted as she adopted her usual formal stance: feet planted, hands behind her back, head angled slightly downward as her gaze swept across the screen in front of her. It was a stance that Zark'thul was certain no other creature could replicate, or find comfortable.
"Current floor layout suggests the next Directive will be of an exploration nature, sir," Elspeth pointed out.
"Hmm, so it would seem," Zark'thul replied. The display showed him an area littered with natural stone caverns, steep walls, and undulating peaks. Their mission—directly beneath the swirling map of the region—brought a grin to his face.
[Directive 1-3: Extract Siltstone Cores from the Gloomsink Hollows. Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆] Reward: 100 EXP, 10 Quintessence Shards, 6x Siltstone Core, 1-2 Basic Experience Core, 1 random common-quality gear, 3 random common-quality resources
Elspeth turned her attention back to him. "Judging from what I recall from my files, Gloomsink Hollows are chthonic landscapes inhabited by many subterranean creatures. To safely navigate those dark environs, you might find Agents with stealth capabilities more useful than front-line fighters."
Zark'thul cast a sideways glance at her as his fingers continued to tap against the console, delving into the Tower's inventory database. Despite his constant needling against her so-called leadership advice, she did often offer suggestions he would consider helpful—knowledge that gave him the edge that much sooner.
It was ironic, given how she kept persisting in the notion that he needed more leadership skills. Wouldn't that, therefore, make her the better leader?
As if sensing his inner musings, Elspeth swiveled her gaze to meet his. "Don't concern yourself too much with my prior feedback. My role is to be objective. Your Agents seem to appreciate your style."
His grin became slightly sheepish. "Hm. And is that supposed to assuage me?"
The corner of her lips twitched. "Possibly. Is it working?"
"We'll see."
"Not an answer, I'll remind you."
"No," Zark'thul said with a wider smile. "It's not." When her expression remained unamused, he added, "Well. Perhaps a little."
The pair fell into a brief silence, their attention divided between the shimmering displays before them. A touch on one of the floating displays brought up the small selection of the Agents he had in waiting.
"So," she pressed, her voice curious, "what might be your plan this time?"
Zark'thul's mind went to work.
Considering the next Directive's challenge, if it was anything like gathering those Aetherroots, then the emphasis was on the mission objective's extraction. Not a direct confrontation.
In contrast, stealth capabilities and general avoidance of hostile entities were of equal importance. And, while Elspeth had mentioned utilizing more stealth-oriented Agents, his intuition and current forces demanded a balanced approach between offense and defense.
He checked his available Quintessence Shard count.
> [Quintessence Shard (Common) x 200] Used to recruit more agents or promote current ones. Spend one hundred shards to recruit five random Agents from the Agent dossier list at their initial rarity (Common) using the Recruitment system. There is a five percent chance to acquire a Rare Agent.
"Is there any additional way of recruiting Agents besides using these Shards?" he asked.
Elspeth was quiet for a moment. Perhaps she was parsing and archiving information behind that fixed gaze? Who knew with a synthetic.
Finally, she spoke, "There are methods to acquire Agents that deviate from this baseline. Some involve completing hidden objectives on certain floors, which may afford you the opportunity to earn an Agent, perhaps of higher rarity, or one of more unique abilities."
Zark'thul clicked his tongue, dissatisfied by that answer. "Useful only once I'm able to consistently clear floors, is that so?"
She didn't respond.
"Very well," Zark'thul remarked, waving the matter away with a gesture of his hand as he stood up from the console. He was getting nowhere just sitting around.
"Shall we go recruit more Agents, then?" Elspeth asked.
"Precisely," he agreed. "Let's see what additional minions we can call to my side. These environments necessitate different abilities and focus."
----------------------------------------
The air in the Summoning Chamber shimmered as Zark'thul, clad in his formal attire, stalked along the tiles. His footfalls echoed softly against the cold, sterile surfaces that formed the walls and ceilings of the room. Ahead, Elspeth waited, her impeccable dark suit contrasting starkly against the monochromatic palette of the chamber.
He eventually stood at the center of the circular platform, the black surface of his AetherLink device absorbing the dim, shifting light that danced across the chamber's tiled walls. Around him, crystalline spheres nestled in alcoves began to pulse in response to his presence, their glows cycling from the placid azure hue to a more vibrant golden color.
Unlike before, his AetherLink displayed two options before him, labeled: REDLINEs Dossier and Goblinoids Dossier.
Goblinoids? That was new. Perhaps the Tower's offerings had expanded in the interim between his missions.
He tapped the Goblinoid option, which pulled up a brief history of the species:
> [Goblinoid] Goblinoids are a diverse and varied race of creatures inhabiting numerous realms and biomes within the multiverse, their forms as diverse as the realms that spawn them. The denizens of the Gloomsink Hollows consist of orcs, goblins, trolls, and the occasional ogre. These entities exhibit a tribal society and a culture founded on strength, cunning, and loyalty to their clans. They possess skills tailored towards survival and are adept at scavenging.
>
> [Special Trait] Acquire a random amount of loot at the end of a completed directive.
Zark'thul grinned.
A nice contrast to the REDLINEs. He would appreciate a range of different tactical styles.
He expended one hundred Quintessence Shards to summon from the Goblinoid pack.
[100 Quintessence Shards expended]
As the process finalized, the golden lights intensified and their spherical sources resonated in sync. Then, the spheres seemed to wink out of existence. From each alcove, radiant tendrils of light spiraled outward, entangling together above the summoning platform. There, the radiance coalesced, a small star-like point forming at its center.
The luminous filaments then unraveled themselves and dropped down, threads of light merging to take on distinct, humanoid shapes. Within moments, these illuminated forms solidified, coalescing into physical bodies that descended gracefully onto the summoning platform below.
The first of the summons landed with a muted thud, the light fading to reveal a wiry goblin, his green skin glistening with a faint sheen. His black hair stood on end, accentuated by the several studs that pierced his ears. The goblin's attire, a mix of hide and leather, bore a rough, somewhat unkempt appearance, and his chest piece seemed to be a haphazard construct of mismatched leather strips.
He regarded them with a grin that displayed his crooked, yellow teeth as he tugged on his one of his hoop earrings.
Zark'thul glanced down at his AetherLink, scanning through the goblin's stats.
> image [https://i.imgur.com/GoHTIJW.png]
>
> Name: Rakk
> Type: Goblin, Male
> Role: Berserker
> Rarity: ☆☆ (Common)
> Level: 1
> Health (HP): 150
> Attack (ATK): 35
> Defense (DEF): 20
> Magic Resistance (MRES): 10
> Speed (SPD): 20
> Critical Rate (CRIT): 8%
> Dodge Rate (DODGE): 5%
> Special Ability: Blood Frenzy (Increases ATK by 15 for 10 seconds after receiving at least 20 damage from a single attack)
> Gear: Oversized cleaver crafted from scrap metal and fitted with makeshift leather grips.
> Morale: 60%
A berserker. His first melee fighter of this type. Certainly better suited for more close and personal combat scenarios than One, in any case. If they fought together, perhaps it would result in interesting outcomes.
At least, Zark'thul had the feeling. Also, a two-star Common? Wonder why that is?
The next figure descended from the light—a goblin similar in build to the first, but her stance and demeanor conveyed a fierce, almost feral quality. Her dark hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, leaving her features unobstructed. A web of scars marked her deep green skin, which was cloaked in a set of form-fitting hides and leather.
Zark'thul's device revealed the same role and specialties as the previous summon.
> image [https://i.imgur.com/dfmN1wL.png]
>
> Name: Vraza
> Type: Goblin, Female
> Role: Berserker
> Rarity: ☆☆ (Common)
> Level: 1
> Health (HP): 150
> Attack (ATK): 35
> Defense (DEF): 20
> Magic Resistance (MRES): 10
> Speed (SPD): 20
> Critical Rate (CRIT): 8%
> Dodge Rate (DODGE): 5%
> Special Ability: Blood Frenzy (Increases ATK by 15 for 6 seconds after receiving at least 20 damage from a single attack)
> Gear: Oversized cleaver crafted from scrap metal and fitted with makeshift leather grips.
> Morale: 60%
Bonus Synergy: Rakk and Vraza can trigger a joint ability called Twin Devastation, where they coordinate a flurry of attacks on a single target (+20 ATK for 10 seconds, 60-second cooldown)
"Twins," Zark'thul muttered under his breath, though the word did not elicit a reaction from Elspeth.
Both goblins stepped to the side of the platform, giving space for the next summons to arrive.
The air grew heavy as the third figure emerged from the light. This time, it was an orc, his massive frame casting a long shadow across the platform. The orc wore nothing more than a loincloth and a few hide bands wrapped around his broad wrists and waist.
His ash-gray skin, scarred and leathery, was taut over his bulging muscles. His black mane flowed down to his broad shoulders.
The orc glanced at the two goblins, his frown deepening as he saw them exchange a smirk and a jab.
The AetherLink, still in Zark'thul's hands, beeped a notification.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
> image [https://i.imgur.com/Dqx1lrR.png]
>
> Name: Urgan
> Type: Orc, Male
> Role: Tank
> Rarity: ☆ (Common)
> Level: 1
> Health (HP): 200
> Attack (ATK): 25
> Defense (DEF): 30
> Magic Resistance (MRES): 20
> Speed (SPD): 15
> Critical Rate (CRIT): 5%
> Block Rate (BLOCK): 10%
> Special Ability: Iron Roar (Taunts one target in melee range, forces the target to focus on him for 30 seconds. Two-minute cooldown)
> Gear: A massive, reinforced iron shield (+10% Block Rate) and a spiked mace.
> Morale: 70%
Tank. His second frontline defender. And not like the smaller goblins, either. With an appreciative grunt, he eyed the orc. Useful, to be sure...
The fourth figure that emerged from the portal was another goblin. Yet, his demeanor was different. Instead of the ferocious aspect of his peers, this one had a wiry, nimble presence. He was leaner than the other two, wrapped in a hooded cloak of dusky colors that hid most of his figure. Upon his back rested a crossbow.
> image [https://i.imgur.com/FYm3pVR.png]
>
> Name: Skitters
> Type: Goblin, Male
> Role: Sniper
> Rarity: ☆ (Common)
> Level: 1
> Health (HP): 100
> Attack (ATK): 50
> Defense (DEF): 10
> Magic Resistance (MRES): 10
> Speed (SPD): 15
> Critical Rate (CRIT): 10%
> Dodge Rate (DODGE): 5%
> Special Ability: Camouflage (provides minor stealth for 30 seconds. Two-minute cooldown)
> Gear: Custom-made, ramshackle crossbow adorned with various trinkets and charms, and a quiver of bolts.
> Morale: 70%
Zark'thul's device confirmed his thoughts—sniper. Skilled with the weapon, at that. Maybe a stealth-based one...
The fifth and final figure descended, heralded by a spiraling shower of light.
Their features coalesced into that of an orc woman, her body adorned with ritual tattoos that seemed to shimmer with the residual energy of the summoning. Her eyes glowed with arcane light, and she moved with a confidence that set her apart from the others.
Her hide-clad form gave her an air of aggression that matched her commanding presence. Clutched between her hands was a wooden staff, its gnarled, knobby wood glimmering with a faint luminescence.
As Zark'thul glanced down at his device, his eyes widened.
> image [https://i.imgur.com/xFkFDKE.png]
>
> Name: Filu
> Type: Half-Orc, Female
> Role: Warrior-Mage
> Rarity: ☆☆☆ (Rare)
> Level: 1
> Health (HP): 162.5
> Attack (ATK): 25
> Magic (MAG): 25
> Defense (DEF): 18.75
> Magic Resistance (MRES): 18.75
> Speed (SPD): 19
> Critical Rate (CRIT): 7.5%
> Dodge Rate (DODGE): 6%
> Special Ability: Arcane Blast (magical ranged attack). Arcane Smash (augments her melee attacks with magic damage, +10 MAG for 10 seconds, 45-second cooldown); Elemental Ward (increases defense and magic resistance by 25 against one elemental type for one minute, two-minute cooldown)
> Gear: A staff crafted from darkwood, etched with runes, and a curved ritual dagger for close combat.
> Morale: 75%
A Rare-tier Agent!
Although Zark'thul felt no strong emotions regarding those Agents in particular, to have obtained a rare one so quickly was nothing short of a boon. Not only that, but now he had one with a Warrior-Mage role, as well. Someone who could fit either melee or ranged combat, depending on what was required in that situation.
A pleasant surprise, indeed...
All the Agents, their initial confusion melting away, turned to face their new employer and their strange surroundings. Rakk and Vraza gazed up at Zark'thul with predatory smiles.
Rakk tilted his head at him, gesturing. "Human? No..."
His grin revealed a row of jagged, yellow teeth. "Don't look edible. Smells good, though. Like blood. Earth. Violence."
"So," Vraza said with a roll of her shoulders, her eyes roving over Zark'thul's figure, "are you the one who brought us here?"
He allowed her assessment, his countenance as placid as ever. After a moment, he shifted his weight. "Indeed. You are under my employ."
Rakk elbowed his sibling. "Didn't answer me first part, tho, sis. Is he food or not?"
Vraza kicked him in the shin. "Idiot!"
He only chuckled at her rebuke.
Zark'thul ignored the small interaction and merely shrugged. "You can call me Zark'thul. This is my secretary, Elspeth."
Elspeth merely bowed her head once in acknowledgment.
The new recruits merely eyed her, wary.
Filu, the orc with the staff, seemed to gaze around the chamber with greater awareness than the other goblins. She lightly nudged the male orc beside her. He blinked before seeming to collect himself.
"Filu is pleased," the orc woman stated. She paused as if weighing the next words. "To be of service to... um..."
"Zark'thul," Zark'thul completed for her.
"Yes." She bowed her head. "Zark'thul."
One of the goblins—Skitters—remarked in a hissing whisper, "A human... Running us? Why not some superior force, like a mighty dragon? Or a warlord? Gha'ol, the Breaker of Mountains, even. The Inscrutable Visage? Not some... hairless, gangly ape."
It took him a moment to register the slurs. When he did, Zark'thul did not answer.
These weren't mindless drones, brainwashed and swept away by a decade of propaganda and total loyalty to one's betters. No, he would have to assert his will in other ways. These creatures needed discipline. Authority. Hierarchy.
The goblin called Rakk, having stepped back, leaned down to the ground. His hand ran along the platform's edge, as if he were searching for something.
Vraza beside him barked out a laugh. "What are you doing?"
He sneered at her. "Lookin' for loot, stupid," he retorted. He righted himself, dusting his knees. Then, he reached into his pouch, fumbling around to produce what looked like an old bone. Rakk gave it a kiss before tucking the object away and nodding at Zark'thul with that same toothy grin. "I'm Rakk."
In contrast, his twin raised herself to her full height—still short, mind you—and thrust her chest out, hand on the oversized cleaver at her side.
"Vraza," she said with an eager smile. "Twins, see? I'm the stronger one, though," she added. She took to elbowing her brother.
Rakk jostled back. "Am not!"
"Are too!"
"AM NOT!"
Skitters cut through their bickering. "Hoi! Cut it out," he hissed. The others stopped to look at him. Skitters turned to look up at Zark'thul's face. "Ignore the twins, Chief, please. They're idiots." The goblin pointed his thumb at himself. "Name's Skitters."
"Urgan," the male orc said, dipping his head. He raised a brow. "Was surprised to see so many greenskins 'n me."
Filu grunted in agreement. "For Filu, as well."
Zark'thul only shrugged. "Beings, races, types—all are beneath me. What matters is power. Which you all shall serve. I am the CEO of this Tower, and I expect success as you travel through my floors and complete your Directives. If you do, I will reward you accordingly."
Rakk and Vraza threw each other devious grins.
Without any warning, both goblins lunged toward him, their weapons poised to strike.
Zark'thul barely had time to react before Elspeth stepped in front of him, her motions almost a blur, leaving a faint trail of emerald sparks in her wake. Her arms lashed out, one hand grasping Rakk's wrist and halting his weapon's path a mere hairsbreadth away from her chest. Elspeth's other hand snapped forward, clamping down on Vraza's blade, stopping its edge with her grip.
Despite the force of the two berserkers' attack, Elspeth held firm, unfazed, her countenance remaining composed as if she were simply reading a book rather than contending with the twin's raw strength.
Vraza snarled, throwing her weight behind the blade—but to no avail.
"What...?" Rakk's mouth opened and closed dumbly before his eyes bulged wider and he tried to wrench his arm free.
Without batting an eye, Elspeth released her grip and brought her hands in front of the twins' faces. Before either goblin could react, she flicked their foreheads once with her index fingers.
The sudden burst of force sent them tumbling back. They crashed against the floor in a heap, their limbs tangled like a pair of scolded children.
Rakk groaned in pain, while Vraza issued a low hiss.
Elspeth brushed off her hands, then fixed her lapels and straightened her tie. Her gaze shifted to Zark'thul. "My apologies, sir. I sensed their killing intent and acted."
Zark'thul shook his head, glancing at the bruised twins. "Are Agents supposed to be able to attack me so easily?"
"Typically, their in-built restraints would not allow them to intentionally harm the CEO," Elspeth explained. "However, the constraints for certain Agent roles are slightly looser than others." She glared pointedly at the goblins. "Berserkers, for example. Due to their volatile tendencies, their ability to do harm to the CEO is... flexible. When emotions run high."
Zark'thul made a disapproving hum, reaching out to pat her shoulder. "Then good job for protecting me, I suppose."
She inclined her head, then took to fixing his ruffled collar and jacket with deft, swift movements. As soon as she was done, she retreated to her spot at his side.
"Nonetheless. You have to understand their minds," Elspeth continued, once again facing the goblins. "At the initial recruitment phase, these Agents might feel disoriented, afraid, or suspicious. A show of dominance and control can effectively bring them into line."
"Noted," Zark'thul remarked dryly, though he grinned down at the duo still sprawled out on the platform. "It would seem I don't even need to lift a finger."
Vraza grimaced and shoved her brother away. She raised herself on her hands and knees. Her chin lowered. "Vraza is sorry. Boss," she added.
Rakk slowly followed her. He fixed his gaze on Zark'thul.
"We's ungrateful assholes, sir," Rakk said. He rubbed the back of his neck, then presented his wrist. "I—We understand if you, uh, you wanna chop an arm off to teach us a lesson. Both of 'em, even. Twins must have twinned punishments, see? Wouldn't be fair otherwise." He met his sister's glare.
"No," Zark'thul cut in before that could spiral. The words just left his mouth. "There's no point in your retaliation. For now, Elspeth has quite elegantly put you in your place. Learn from that. I didn't expect discipline, but I don't want you wasting my resources either. Every action has a reaction. Follow that principle, and do not provoke me or my employees. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!" both of them chorused, righting themselves before giving him a sloppy salute. "We swear to follow your command! Loyally. Yes..."
As much as their 'agreement' grated on him, Zark'thul was nonetheless glad they knew how to communicate, at the very least. That was one less obstacle to worry about. Not that it could have been otherwise, given that the AetherLink had probably calibrated their languages as well... However, their feral minds seemed to lag in comparison to his REDLINEs Agents.
Regardless, he gestured at the nearby exit, leading them away from the summoning area.
"The facilities for our management and care are this way," he told them. "Elspeth, take them to the barracks." Without another word, Zark'thul swept from the room and away from his new Agents.
----------------------------------------
The next day, Zark'thul paced around the Nexus Room. Before him, Rakk, Vraza, Skitters, Filu, and Three stood with their gear. He peered down at the current roster on his AetherLink. These five in particular, as a squad, seemed ideal for completing Directive 1-1 without him having to run alongside.
He assigned Three as the leader of the squad, much to the disdain of the other recruits. She would have to convince them to behave properly, though he wasn't sure whether she was the right person to do that. Either way, she was the most experienced and the top performer against the Murk Beast.
[Leader assigned to Agent "Three"] Squad Bonus - Sniper's Marking Shot: Marks an enemy, causing all squad members to deal 10% additional damage to that target. Only one mark can be active at a time.
This boon was the perfect compliment to the goblins' attacks.
Unlike his previous outings, he formed this strictly to maximize slaying the Murk Beast as fast as possible. The two snipers had a role-counter advantage there. Vraza and Rakk's combined forces would dish out a lot of bursty damage while they engaged the target close-up. Meanwhile, Filu's versatility would allow her to cover gaps as necessary, so long as Three did her job right.
While a straightforward arrangement, it was one that did not benefit from his presence. All of these factors made this the perfect scenario to see if he could let his Agents solve these problems without his direct input every step of the way.
"Follow Three's direction," he told them, standing alongside the Nexus room portal. "I'll be monitoring your progress as you complete the task. Take her words as my own. Understood?"
Though the snarling from Vraza and Rakk made their displeasure evident, all of them assented with curt nods.
The look Three gave him communicated just how anxious this whole thing made her. Her voice was tentative when she asked, "And you'll step in if things get bad, right? Like, pull us out. You can do that, can't you?"
For a moment, Zark'thul merely raised a brow at her. This was the Agent who had remained calm and composed for all the previous missions he took her on. Suddenly she turned into a worried mess once he gave her this simple leadership position?
Was she unable to keep cool around the goblins? Around subordinates of her own?
Bizarre. Unfathomable. He would have to work on that in the future.
Elspeth merely interceded smoothly on his behalf. "Our CEO can recall your squad at any point," she explained to her. "You will be returned to the Nexus Room instantaneously should the need arise."
"Understood." Three blinked, collecting herself. "Ready to go."
Zark'thul still didn't like her anxious attitude. Perhaps there was something he could do. What would Elspeth have suggested in a situation like this...?
He snapped his fingers, realizing the solution.
He approached Three, placing a hand on her shoulder before whispering in her ear. "If your squad performs well, you may ask me for one reward of your choosing."
When she furrowed her brow at him, he could only add, "Anything within reason, of course."
An awkward smile appeared on her features. She stood a little straighter now. "Yes, sir. Right. Got it." Turning towards her squad members, she raised her voice and told them, "Alright, team. We've got a job to do. Come on, let's go."
Though they muttered between themselves in gruff, accented grunts and whispers, the rest of the squad nonetheless passed through the portal and onto the mission at hand.
Meanwhile, Elspeth spoke to Zark'thul with a discreet whisper. "I must ask, what will you offer her if she succeeds? Or are you hoping to merely motivate her with nothing to provide at the end?"
Zark'thul, ignoring that small taunt, headed to the Command Room with Elspeth following close behind him. There, he flicked at one of the rune screens before it shifted to display footage of the squad in real-time.
"I don't intend to mislead her," he eventually muttered in return to his secretary. "I'll go along with whatever she desires. What could a REDLINEs Agent truly want that could hinder me?"