Episode 2: Open the Doors of the Tower of Dreams That Suddenly Rises (2)

3

"Son of the devil..."

"Die, you don't belong in this world."

The crystal lamp shattered. The fluids that spread ignited the straw. The fire advanced rapidly, dense black smoke rising like a curtain.

Most of those who died in a fire did so by suffocating on the smoke. Execution by burning at the stake was usually the same.

It wouldn't be a spectacle enjoyed by everyone if they had to watch someone's flesh separating from the bones.

However, things were different here.

They weren't dealing with a person but with a demon, after all. Naturally, that changed everything. They had carefully arranged things so that the smoke wouldn't suffocate him before the flames reached him.

Since he wasn't really human, they probably didn't need to make those preparations in the first place.

It would probably take a long time for him to die even if he ran out of oxygen.

But it didn't matter. They either hadn't thought of that or didn't want to take the risk. They couldn't see him as another living being worthy of respect, but they had enough intelligence and malice to ensure he burned.

Incredible, he thought.

Maybe I am the son of the devil, he thought.

Because right now, all I wish is for them all to burn.

4

Caim opened his eyes abruptly.

With his heart pounding and cold sweat running down his face.

But he was okay.

For now, at least, he was okay, safe. Surrounded by his companions. Yes. Yonah and Victoria were alive; they had defeated that enormous spider, and then...

Something strange had happened.

Dark tentacles had pierced him, but not to kill him. No.

Something strange had happened.

(son of the demon)

"For a moment, I thought you wouldn't wake up," Yonah said quietly.

"We just started, and you scared us to death twice."

"Sorry."

He half-rose, transitioning from lying down to sitting. He grimaced. Okay, he was fine, but not perfectly.

"It's gone."

The corpse of the giant spider, the Abyssal Broodmother, as that thing had called it, had disappeared without a trace.

"Yes. After... whatever happened to you," Yonah said.

"Any idea?" Victoria asked.

Caim stood on shaky legs. His head was spinning, and despite his efforts, he lost balance. Yonah lunged to catch him without a second thought, but it wasn't necessary. Caim avoided falling by placing a hand on the wall.

"It seems I've leveled up. And I have a new ability." He got to the point.

"What kind of ability?"

"Well, I don't really know. I only saw the name. Human Spider. I don't know what that means."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"I don't want to know what that means," Victoria said firmly.

"I like it as much as you do, but I have to know. I'm not just going crazy. This has to be important to conquer this Tower. Because I have these horns, because I'm a son of the demon, maybe I'm the only person who can do it."

Yonah smiled.

"Not without help."

"No, of course not."

"I mean, we'll always support you. Don't forget that."

Caim nodded.

"Well, let's test this Human Spider thing. If I start transforming, though, I'll close my eyes. Sorry, but I don't want to see that."

Caim laughed, though not wholeheartedly.

"If I start transforming, I'll let you know. Relax."

Just a while ago, you were teasing Yonah about her fear of spiders.

Victoria blushed.

"Regular spiders are normal. Giant spiders, maybe they ate a bit too much or something. Human spiders? That's a different story."

"Whatever you say," Yonah said, elbowing him in the side with a little smile.

"Okay, you win for now."

It said a lot about them that they were the kind of adventurers who could joke like this even on the first floor of the famous Tower.

It was nice and funny, but there would be time for that later. How could he put into practice the ability he supposedly unlocked?

That box had disappeared when he said to hide, so whatever was observing him could respond to his voice. Which was unsettling, but at least it didn't respond to his thoughts; that would be too much.

Caim cleared his throat.

"Human Spider."

Immediately, he knew it had worked. It felt like a dagger had been thrust into his throat, and he unconsciously opened his mouth.

Good thing he had moved away from his companions just in case, as he then spat a piece of spider silk onto the floor.

"Damn, that's gross," all three said almost simultaneously.

In some things, they agreed without any problems.

So, was it that simple?

Well, it wasn't convenient if he really had to say the ability's name every time he had to use it, but it was just two words. It wasn't a big deal. It's not like he had to recite a long spell, making it more likely that he would be killed before finishing it.

"I don't know how useful that can be, but at least we know it's there," Yonah said. "Do you feel strange?"

"I feel like vomiting, but that's not strange."

He knew what she really meant, of course; he wasn't that stupid. But it wasn't a conversation he wanted to have right now. Given the present circumstances, postponing a conversation or anything was dangerous. It could always be the last time. Death was around every corner, but he really didn't want to talk about it. Not now.

Another step forward, but that wasn't the only thing he should check. He had been informed that he had leveled up. What did that imply?

"Shall we move on?" Yonah continued.

"One moment. Appear."

The blue box, filled with numbers, appeared again. Did whatever respond to his orders respond to specific words or was it more a matter of intention? In any case, there it was.

HP: 230/250

Apparently, the brief rest had healed him a bit. It hadn't brought him back to one hundred percent, but for now, it was enough. If the giant spider had been a special enemy, he didn't think they would encounter another one soon.

His strength, agility, and resistance.

All remained the same.

Why?

Then what did leveling up mean? Something didn't add up, damn it. He crossed his arms, thoughtful. Oh. Something had changed after all.

XP: 2

That's what was written at the top right. Was he supposed to know what it meant? It was frustrating. Caim reached out his hand to those letters, not really expecting anything to happen, but he did it.

Another box appeared as soon as his fingers touched those letters. He jumped.

Do you want to spend your experience points?

Was that what it meant? XP, experience points. Why not say that from the beginning? What an obtuse system, did it think he was a mind reader?

How should he spend them?

That should also be easy to answer, but what was the difference between constitution and resistance exactly?

Didn't they mean the same thing, more or less?

In the end, he decided to play it safe and invest the experience points in Strength.

"What disadvantage could there be in becoming stronger? Strength: 1 → 3 He waited for something to happen, but he didn't really feel any different. He guessed he could only confirm it when facing the next enemy, whoever or whatever it was. That was the most likely scenario here.

"Sorry for the delay. Come on, let's go."

They continued to advance through the seemingly endless corridor. There had to be something more to the Tower, a hidden secret, something that could... that was what he thought, and he always got stuck there.

The formless desire burned in his chest; agony was what pushed him forward. Yet, he was still unable to give it shape by expressing it in words.

If he had to summarize it in a single word that didn't really say anything, that word would be salvation. He sought salvation in this macabre Tower, which he didn't even know if it was truly a tower or what, as no one who had crossed the door had returned, and that was all he saw—the door floating among the field of roses, even to his eyes.

The eyes of a son of the demon.

His path was interrupted shortly afterward, not seeing anything other than the same corridor as always.

Skeleton warriors emerged to meet them. Each one wielded a sword and a small wooden shield. Surprisingly ordinary, enemies like those in a dungeon that you could find anywhere in the world. They probably had hidden surprises, and anyway, it was better not to let their guard down.

Well, it was the perfect opportunity.

"Victoria, Yonah, step back, please."

"What's happening?"

"Supposedly, I've increased my Strength, and I want to test it."

They obeyed.

Him alone against a dozen skeleton soldiers.

Even before acquiring this strange power, it should be relatively simple, though not completely effortless. As long as, of course, nothing changed.

Caim took a step forward, raising his sword.

The horde of the dead, in complete silence, continued to advance towards him.

Open the Doors of the Tower of Dreams That Suddenly Rises (2): FIN