As Bob was playfully enjoying his reunion with Snowball, time froze around him. Everything except for Bob was as still as a statue. Bob then got a system message.
*System Message*
*Congratulations on Completing the Second Floor of the Tower of Trials. Here have a well-earned level up.*
*HP, MP, and SP increased by 5. All stats +1*
*Bound Companion HP, MP, and SP increased by 10. All stats +2*
Before Bob could even think about how excellent another level-up was, he got interrupted by the Rolodex.
*Oh, Howdy Bob-o. By the way, I was just popping in to let you know that I enjoyed A LOT of monster essence on that last floor. Anyway, make sure to check your status page to check it out. Also, I'm sorry that you had a mental health issue on that last floor. I hope you are feeling better now, you had me quite concerned!*
Thanks for the heads-up, Rolodex. Also thanks for asking about my mental state. I am feeling quite a bit better, I learned a lot while I was recovering. Alright, time to check my status and then see what this third floor is all about.
Monster Essence consumed. Symbiote Status: Active. Rolodex Upgrade Status: 40% HP/MP/SP +5 Base Stats +1 Enjoy!
Name: Bob Level: 3 Class: N/A HP: 30 MP: 30 SP: 30 STR: 5 CON: 5 WIS: 5 INT: 5 DEX: 5 CHA: 5
Name: Snowball Level: 2 Class: Frost Hound Pup HP: 20 MP: 30 SP: 40 STR: 3 CON: 3 WIS: 3 INT: 3 DEX: 3 CHA: 3
Alright, I'm level 3 now. My stats have increased, awesome, being that weak stat-wise wasn't very fun. Maybe one day I'll be some powerhouse who can accomplish legendary feats. Yeah, right! Bob chuckled to himself as time started to flow again. Bob loved on Snowball for a little while longer, before setting him gently on the ground. He walked forward to discover what this floor's trial would be, Snowball at his heels.
The room was dimly lit, with torches flickering on the walls. Man, this Tower sure does have a hardon for dimly lit rooms with flickering torches. If it goes on any longer, one might have to start wondering if the Tower has a fetish.
In the center of the room stood a pedestal, made of a dark stone that seemed to absorb the light. Bob approached it cautiously, wondering what lay upon it. As he drew nearer, he saw that there was a puzzle of some sort resting on the pedestal.
The puzzle was unlike any he had ever seen. It was a jumble of strange symbols and shapes, arranged in a seemingly random pattern. Bob's eyes traced the lines of the puzzle, trying to make sense of it. He furrowed his brow in concentration, his mind racing as he searched for a solution.
Suddenly, he heard a soft rumbling sound. He looked up to see sand pouring down from the ceiling. It fell in a slow, steady stream, piling up on the floor around him. Bob's heart sank as he realized what was happening.
This was a test of his wits and his nerve. He had to solve the puzzle before the sand filled the room and suffocated him. With a sense of growing urgency, Bob set to work on the puzzle. He began to move the symbols around, trying different combinations and patterns.
The sand was already up to his ankles, and he could feel it tugging at his legs. He worked faster, his fingers moving with a desperate speed. He felt the sweat on his brow, and his heart pounding in his chest.
The sand was now up to his knees, and he could feel it pulling at his legs even harder. He gritted his teeth and focused on the puzzle, determined to solve it before it was too late. He tried one last combination, moving the symbols into a pattern that seemed to make sense.
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And then, with a sudden click, the puzzle fell into place. There was a loud grinding sound, and the pedestal began to sink into the floor. As it disappeared, a door opened in the wall behind it, revealing a staircase leading upwards.
Bob wasted no time, scrambling up the stairs as the sand continued to pour into the room below. But he was not fast enough. The sand was now up to his chest, and his arms were barely free enough to hold the puzzle.
He struggled to keep his head above the sand, gasping for air as he climbed the stairs. He could feel the weight of the sand bearing down on him, and his muscles burned with the effort of moving through it.
As he emerged onto the next level, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath and covered in sand. He lay there for a moment, his chest heaving, as he regained his strength. He knew that he had come perilously close to failing the trial.
But he had succeeded, and that was all that mattered. That was Bob's first thought, but quickly he started looking at his surroundings and saw another pedestal in the center of this dimly lit, torch-filled room.
"Oh Hell, another Trial? Come on, Man!" Bob audibly groaned.
He approached it warily, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of danger. But nothing seemed out of place. The pedestal was similar to the first one, made of smooth black stone with strange symbols etched into its surface.
Bob had a feeling that this was the next trial, but he had no idea what to expect. As he approached the pedestal, he felt a sudden wave of heat wash over him. It was like standing too close to a roaring fire, and he could feel sweat starting to bead on his forehead.
But he didn't step back. He was determined to see this trial through to the end. Suddenly, the symbols on the pedestal began to glow, casting an eerie blue light over the room. Bob stepped back instinctively, unsure of what was about to happen. But then he heard a voice, a soft whisper that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Welcome, Challenger," the voice said. "You have proven yourself worthy of this trial, but the path ahead will not be easy. Are you prepared to face it?"
Bob nodded, even though he knew the voice couldn't see him. "I'm ready," he said.
"Good," the voice replied. "Then let us begin."
Without warning, the ground beneath Bob's feet began to shake. He stumbled, nearly falling, but managed to regain his balance just in time. The shaking intensified, and he could hear the sound of stone grinding against stone.
Then, with a deafening roar, the floor split open. Bob barely had time to jump to one side before he plummeted down into a dark, cavernous pit. He could hear the sound of rushing water far below him, and for a moment, he thought he was going to die.
But then he remembered why he was here. He remembered the pedestal and the trial. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and focused. He could feel the power of the pedestal coursing through him, filling him with strength and determination. He could see the symbols glowing in his mind's eye, and he knew what he had to do. He opened his eyes and leaped into the darkness.
For what felt like hours, Bob fell through the blackness. He could feel the wind rushing past him, and he could hear the sound of the water getting closer and closer. But he didn't panic. He knew that the pedestal would guide him, that it would show him the way. And then, suddenly, he felt solid ground beneath his feet. He looked around, and he could see that he was standing on a narrow ledge, surrounded by rushing water on all sides. But he didn't falter.
He stepped forward, his eyes locked on the path ahead. For the next several hours, Bob fought his way through the caverns, leaping across treacherous gaps and dodging deadly traps. He could feel the energy surrounding him become stronger the further he went, he knew he had to be getting closer to the exit.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he emerged from the darkness into a bright, sunlit chamber. He shielded his eyes, blinking against the sudden glare, and he could see the pedestal waiting for him at the center of the room.
He approached it slowly, his heart still pounding in his chest, and he could hear the voice whispering in his ear.
"Congratulations, Challenger," the voice said. "You have passed the second trial. You are one step closer to completing the Third Floor trials."
He touched the pedestal and a door opened up that led to another room with yet another pedestal. Bob walked toward the pedestal filled with confidence. Bob stood in front of the third pedestal, his heart racing with anticipation. He had come so far in the dungeon, and he was determined to see it through to the end. This was the final trial of the floor, and he knew that it would be the toughest one yet.
He took a deep breath and approached the pedestal. It was made of black stone and etched with strange symbols that he couldn't decipher. He ran his hand over the smooth surface, feeling a faint warmth emanating from the stone. He knew that this was the key to unlocking the final trial, but he had no idea what awaited him. With a deep breath, he activated the pedestal, and the floor beneath him began to shake.
The walls of the dungeon rumbled, and he could hear the distant sound of stone grinding against stone. Suddenly, the ground opened up beneath him, and he fell into a dark pit. As he fell, Bob saw that he was surrounded by thousands of glowing orbs. They floated around him, pulsing with otherworldly energy. He realized that he needed to collect them all to complete the trial.
Conveniently, a bow and arrows were sitting right in front of him. Bob picked the bow up and began firing arrows at the orbs, trying to collect as many as he could. But the orbs were fast and elusive, darting out of the way of his arrows. He quickly realized that he needed to be more strategic.
He began to move around the pit, using his bow to guide the orbs toward him. He would fire an arrow to make an orb change direction, then quickly move to intercept it. It was a delicate dance, and Bob had to be careful not to let any orbs slip past him. As he collected more orbs, the pit began to fill with water.
The orbs grew brighter and more intense, and he knew that he was getting closer to the end of the trial. He redoubled his efforts, using all of his skill and focus to collect the remaining orbs. Finally, the last orb floated towards him, and he snatched it out of the air. The pit drained away, and he found himself back on solid ground. He looked up to see the door to the next floor slowly swinging open.
Bob let out a whoop of triumph and walked through the door. He had passed the final trial, and he was one step closer to the treasure at the top of the Tower. He knew that the challenges ahead would only get harder, but he was ready to tackle whatever lay ahead.
Bob had been on the third floor of the tower for what felt like an eternity navigating through trials that tested his courage, wit, and strength. After successfully completing all three challenges, he was exhausted but determined to continue his quest. As he looked around, he noticed a faint shimmering light coming from the corner of the room.
Curiosity piqued, he approached it and discovered a hidden portal. Without hesitation, he stepped through the portal and was immediately transported to the fourth floor of the tower. The sights before him were awe-inspiring, and he knew that he was one step closer to his ultimate goal.