The family continued to rest or train their mastery skills until the loud voice of the tower’s AI sounded an announcement.

“New Floor Ranking. Group, Fracture, has reached second position."

Someone else had exited the portal, and it only took them two days to complete their first-floor trial. Lith and Anthropo quickly packed their bags with dried food rations and water skins. Everyone was already back in their clothes for the combat floors as they had planned to head out within the hour. They all met on the front lawn, each of them taking a bag from Lith and securing it to their waists.

“Everyone ready?” Fayde asked.

The family nodded, a determined look in their eyes. If they wanted to maintain their lead on the Floor Ranking, they would have to constantly climb the tower. They left the gate of their house for the portal just around the bend. The mob of people that remained outside even now had moved to surround the pavilion, making it impossible for them to see who had exited or what state they were in. Several of them were making noticeable commentary.

“Oh god.” One said.

“Those poor people.” Said another.

It left them wondering about the state of the people who had just left the tower’s combat floor, and they hurried over to the entrance. Around the gate opening to the pavilion was a mass of people. The gathering reminded them of when they exited the portal, but now they were the outside observers. They made their way through the crowd, some people moving out of their way while others had to be asked or forcibly pushed out of the way with their increased strength. Lith had explained to them what happened when he went for a walk earlier. As they made their way to the front, they could see several people laying on the ground, some of them were too still.

“Shit.” Lith said as he made his way to the front of their party and started moving through the group of people just standing around. “Healer coming through.”

They were just standing there with looks of shock and horror plastered to their faces. If they weren’t going to help, they needed to move out of his way. When he finally made it to the front of the crowd, he could see the five bodies laying on the ground. Two of them were in full plate armor, another wore leather armor with a quiver on their back and a bow lying to their side, and the last two wore the primarily cloth armor of mage classes. Of the five, the two mages were the closest to him.

He pushed out of the crowd and over to the two still moving people, mental energy already surging into his Mending Touch skill in his left hand. They had minor wounds but must have expended the majority of their energies taking out the boss of their combat floor. He put his palm to their chest one at a time as soon as the skill finished each infusion, releasing healing energy into them before moving on to the three unmoving bodies. It was right now he regretted only being able to use his healing skill with his left hand. As he approached the Archer, his stomach turned. The leather armor had been pierced straight through on each of his limbs with one of his legs and both arms ripped off and laying on a mock appropriation of how a person would lay, splayed out as if making a bloody snow angel. Several places on the body looked like they had begun to be eaten, including the skull, which was now leaking blood and brain. Lith forced himself to turn away. Not even his mending touch spell would help him bring that person back. It could mend a body, but it couldn’t restore a life that had already been extinguished.

Lith moved towards the warriors in heavy armor. One of them was a lost cause like the archer. They had puncture marks all over their body, and it looked like their head had been bitten off completely. Their armor and sword were covered in a gory mix of pale yellow and red. The second of the heavily armored warriors was weakly gurgling on their own blood. His eyes were wide in pain. His shield arm was laying off to the side of him, ripped off much like the archer’s body. A pool of blood was forming under him and Lith could see a golf ball sized puncture between his neck and shoulder. Sending energy flooding back into his Mending Touch skill, Lith rolled the man to his right side to help him breath as he coughed up more blood. After a moment of coughing fits, the man finally gasped properly for air. As the man coughed and gasped, Lith ran to his left arm where it laid several feet away from them. Rushing back, the held the severed arm in his right hand while positioning back from where it had been cut from. Placing his left hand around the wound where the limb would be reattached, Lith channeled more energy into his healing skill as he held the two ends of the severed wound together. He had to act quickly before too much life faded from the man’s severed arm. The man began yelling as bone, muscle, skin, and nerves were reconnected slowly as the skill took effect. He was still riding the high that Mending Touch provided as it flooded the body with endorphins, but having his limb forcefully rejoined must be an altogether new level of pain. Lith was surprised the man had the energy to yell with how much blood was on the ground, but after a moment the man went silent.

Something had changed in the skill as the man went unconscious. When Lith began the infusion, he could feel a draw on his mental energy as well as the man’s own physical energy aiding in the reattachment of the arm. There was also something more joining the two primary energies Lith was acquainted it. Something more like vital energy or life energy. He had felt a wisp of it draining from the man’s severed arm before trying to reattach it. But as the man’s yelling stopped, Lith felt the flow of vital energy from the man stop, and a pull on his own start. The pull on his body seemed to be coming from is very own blood. His body began to ache as he flooded the man’s limb with the skill’s energy and burned his own vitality to mend the arm back together. He could feel the bone coming back together, the strands of muscle stitching back together, the cells of the skin regrowing, and blood vessels connecting. By the time he finished mending the arm back together, Lith’s mental energy was completely tapped dry and his whole body ached like he had just given a blood transfusion. He felt like he had just finished fighting the Alabaster King again, mind and body slow and sore. Why was reconnecting the man’s arm different from stitching together other wounds? And what exactly was the source of that third energy?

Lith rolled the man onto his back and checked his breathing. It was shallow, and his mouth was covered in his own red blood, but the man was breathing. Lith reached his hand to the man’s neck and felt his pulse. It was slow and very weak, but the man had a pulse. Lith sat back relieved. He had saved the man from the brink of death. It had taken everything he had, but the man would live.

“Lith?” Asked Fayde as she joined him, kneeling down next to him. “Is he…?” She trailed off.

“He’s alive.” Lith said. “He’s just unconscious.”

“And the other two?” She asked, looking over to the mangled and headless bodies of the archer and other warrior.

“DOA. There was nothing I could do for them.” He said somberly.

He looked back to the two he healed earlier. One, the man leather armor, was sitting in a fetal position with the mage man kneeling next to him, his hand resting on his shoulder. Lith had a momentary thought of wasn’t that a mage woman a minute ago? Lith pushed it to the back of his mind as his heart sang with relief that three of the five people survived, although he still felt sick from the horrible state of the other two members of Fracture.

This was the second group to exit the portal, but the first group to have casualties. If it weren’t for his arrival and fast action, there would only be two survivors. It set the tone for the tower going forward. Surviving the tower would be a grueling experience. But wasn’t this the reality of their world now? People would die as they sought strength, power, and influence. Who knew how many more people would die before they faced some semblance of peace if that was even in the cards for them anymore.

Trevor, Enki, Matia, and Guidry were still standing in the crowd. They looked like they would be sick. Then Lith noticed Julius and Marcell make their way to the front. Julius immediately ran forward and checked on the man and woman. Marcell moved towards himself and Fayde.

“Lith, what happened?” Marcell asked.

“I don’t know.” Lith started explaining. “We rushed to get ready and by the time we got here the crowd had already formed. I healed the two Julius is talking to before checking on the rest. The archer and one of the warriors are dead. This one is alive but knocked out. Not sure when he will wake up.”

“What was the yelling about? What did you do to him?”

“I used one of my skills to reattach his arm. The pain is what caused him to yell.”

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Marcell nodded and looked over to the two dead bodies, a disgusted frown on his face which was starting to look a shade of green. Bas’set and a few other Allum were entering the portal area, which was something none of them had seen before. The Allum didn’t enter the portal pavilion.

“We’ll take the survivors to our compound and make sure they are taken care of. We have a few healers that should help him, and the others recover. Good job saving his life.” Marcell said as he offered a hand to help Lith stand. Lith took it gratefully.

“By the way, Marcell. This is my partner, Fayde.” Lith said, making a long overdue introduction. “Fayde, this is Marcell.”

“Nice to meet you Fayde.” Marcell said as he extended his hand for a shake.

“A pleasure to meet you as well Marcell.” Fayde said as she took his hand and shook it. “And thank you for looking after them.”

“Of course. They have suffered enough. We will see them back to health. Whether they want to try taking on the tower again will be up to them.”

Lith nodded somberly.

“We’ll come and check on them after we get back from the second floor.” Fayde said.

“You’re going now?” Marcell asked. “So soon after this situation?”

“Not much of a choice.” Lith said as he took out some dried meat to chew. His body was craving protein. “We can’t wait around. We either climb or we don’t. The only way through is up.”

“Trevor, Enki, Matia, Guidry, let’s go.” Fayde called her their family. They took a moment, weighing the decision of their mother and grandmother before leaving the group of people around the gate and headed towards the portal.

“Time to get back to it.” Lith said, shaking Marcell’s hand.

“I’ll be taking a group in shortly after we get these people sorted back at the compound.” Marcell said. “Take care of yourselves.”

“See you when you get back.” Lith said.

“Not If we make it back first.” Marcell answered with a smile as he motioned for several of his men over.

Lith and Fayde joined their children and grandchild at the portal before entering together. Back in the void between the floors they were greeted by a familiar parchment.

Welcome back to The Tower of Tumult

Last Floor Cleared: 1

Next Floor: 2

Destination:

…

The parchment stopped after writing the three dots and Noesis’ voice called in Fayde’s head.

“Hey, Guidry has a companion pact skill right?” they asked.

“Yes, why?” Fayde answered.

“Figured we’d take out two birds with one stone on this floor.” They answered before the writing on the parchment continued.

Destination:

Ruinous Research Lab

As the text completed, the void gave way to the scenery of the second combat floor. It was a half sunken city of an island, completely disconnected from any semblance of actual land mass. They were buffeted by hard rain as soon as they arrived. Dark clouds crackled with heat lighting, which occasionally struck one of several tall spikes that reached up into the skies. The ground beneath them vibrated slightly when the lightning hit. As they looked around, taking in the view of nature’s wrath, a quest card appeared before them.

Complete Research Project 5H3N-100N6:

0/1

“Well, I’ll be damned.” Lith started. “From fantasy survival to science fiction survival.”

“It does seem pretty advanced.” Fayde commented.

“So does this mean cultivation is based on magic or science?” Matia asked.

“Who’s to say magic isn’t just science we don’t understand yet.” Lith offered.

“Didn’t you just save a man’s life with magic?” Guidry asked.

“Yeah.” He responded.

“So, it’s magic. You didn’t need any advanced technology to heal him.” Guidry offered.

“True, but I have two magi-tech crossbows, and you have the Tech Forge skill. It’s clearly both, or maybe dependent on the class?” Enki countered.

“Hmm, maybe.” He nodded in agreement with his uncle.

“We should start looking around.” Fayde said as she looked at the city before them.

“Can we wait for the rain to end first?” Enki asked.

“Don’t think that’ll be happening anytime soon.” Trevor said as she pointed at one of the spikes that protruded from a distant building. “I think the base is using the storm to power itself.”

“So, it’ll automatically be destroyed if the storm ends right, by sinking into the sea?” Enki looked up curiously as lightning continuously struck the spikes that reached up into the sky. He let a moment pass as he took in the rusted buildings, the heavily weathered grounds, and the endless storm covered sky. “It’s not going to end, is it?

“Embrace the suck.” Lith said as he opened his arms wide to embrace the rain before they started to move into the city.

They had arrived at the edge of the floating island in what appeared to be a mud field, so it took them a few minutes to walk into the city proper from where they had appeared. Most of the buildings seemed to be residential houses with a few shops and restaurants dotted about the place, although all of them were ruined. It also didn’t take them long to find their first enemies. Crawling out from one of the storefronts came a crab as tall as them.

“Think refinement got rid of my seafood and shellfish allergies?” Fayde asked.

“I’m still low of mental energy for the next while, so let’s play it safe until I recuperate a bit more.” Lith answered.

Drawing their weapons, they engaged the crab, who was clacking its claws together. Its friends inside the building soon joined the fray. They were apparently using the buildings as their new watery homes. Lith, Trevor, and Enki had the hardest time with the crabs. While Enki’s motes of energy could easily hit the wide bodies of the crabs, as the thick chitinous shells proved to be more durable than the stone skin of the Alabaster Wolves. Lith, being low on mental energy, was unable to inflict any real damage to their shells as well. He could use Rake, but the expenditure could result in him not having enough energy in case someone got critically injured. His increased strength did allow him to physically contend with one crab at a time, although he had to remain aware of the pincers that could likely still sever his limbs as well as their sharp and pointy legs. Of the three, Trevor was faring better than her father and brother. She was able to keep the claws at bay with sword skills while slowly cooking the crabs alive with her fire skills. Being in a place surrounded by water did make the exertion less effective, but the key to a good crab boil was time.

Fayde, Matia, and Guidry, however, proved a more effective pairing with their new skills. Fayde’s ability to jump in and out of blood let her strike precisely at the joints of the crabs as the fight continued on. By the end of her sprees, the city was littered with perfectly broken down and boiled crabs by the hundreds. Matia and her summoned Golem proved the most resilient to the crab’s powerful claws. They both would tank the bashes and crushing grasp with their bodies of solid stone and toughened physiques before using their own strength and hammers to smash the crabs to pieces. Guidry proved the most effective in their current environment. Between his Electrokinesis and the storm raging above them, the crabs never stood a chance as their bodies were flooded by amps of electricity in staggering quantities. He fried one crab after another with terrifying efficiency.

Hours later, they had cleared out most of the city before arriving at the centermost building. They had taken a bit of time looking though old buildings they thought were offices but found nothing of use but crabs. The centermost building was also the tallest building in the entire city, three times larger than the tallest apartment-like complex, and topped with one of the lightning rods that were still protecting the city from the storm above. They had assumed that it was a governmental building and saved it for last.

“Any chance we can stop for a bite before we continue?” Fayde asked as she eyed one of the crab’s pincers with a ferocious hunger.

“Big piece like that?” Lith inquired. “I mean if you want bland and flavorless meat, we can ask Trev to hit it with her fire a for a bit. That should cook it well enough.”

Fayde looked hopefully at her daughter.

“Umm…” she said nervously and let out a sigh before willing her mental energy into her Pyrokinesis skill. The flames lapped the claw of a crab that Matia’s golem had recently smashed open. Water began to boil, and meat began to sizzle as it was cooked in her fire. Lith took the dagger out of the sheath on his side before cleanly separating the cooked claw from the rest of the crab. He swing his dagger in a downward arc, flicking the juices from his shamanic dagger and wiped it on his water soaked fur skirt. Lith grabbed the inside of the pincers in each hand before pushing them apart. A satisfying pop and crunch later, he had a beautiful piece of juicy crab meat ready for sampling. He tore a piece off for himself to sample first, of course. He wouldn’t allow his personal Goddess’s palette to be soured by foul tasting food. He could tell that the meat would be chewier if he were going by his pre-integration standards, but their increased strength apparently also translated to his jaw strength. The flavors were adequate for being boiled without seasoning. It was still juicy with distinct sweet seafood and umami notes, simple and eloquent. He would have preferred to use some other seasonings to add savory notes, but it was passable for their current circumstances.

“Here.” he said as he offered the torso sized chunk of crab to Fayde.

Fayde accepted the chunk of delicious meat before biting directly into it. She was in heaven. It had been years since she even dared to enjoy food they jokingly labeled as ‘death’. The sweet juices of the crab cascaded down her throat and chin as she tore into it as if she herself were a vicious animal. Tears began rolling down her cheeks.

“It’s so fucking good.” She spoke before digging into the meat again.

Lith smiled and chuckled as he watched Fayde thoroughly enjoy her meal. He put his hand out to Trevor for a low high five.

“Good job, kiddo.” He spoke.

“I’m glad she can enjoy seafood again.” Trevor said as she slapped Lith’s hand, completing their typical scheming ritual.

A moment later, however, Fayde was grabbing at her throat as she choked. Had the refinement not gotten rid of her anaphylactic reaction to shellfish?

“Fayde?” Lith said as he poured mental energy into Cleansing Balm. He held his partner close as he unleashed the skill into her. He had expected the effects to be near immediate, but she was still coughing, and her eyes were becoming bloodshot. Could his spell not treat anaphylaxis?

“Mom?!” Trevor shouted. Had they just accidentally killed their mother and partner?

Matia walked up to her mother and slapped her with an open hand in the abdomen. A chunk of crab meat flew out of Fayde’s mouth before Fayde drew in a breath of air.

“She was eating too fast.” Matia stated, as if she could tell the entire time.

The rest of the family let out a breath they had been holding while Fayde was choking. No more anaphylaxis.

‘Thank all the Gods.’ They collectively thought.