Bob stepped out of the portal and onto the fourth floor of the Tower of Trials, expecting to see a room similar to the one he had just left. But instead, he found himself standing in the middle of a vast and open world. The sight that greeted him was breathtaking. Forests and mountains stretched as far as his eyes could see, with a river winding its way through the landscape. Bob then got the message from the system he had been waiting for due to the completion of another Trial.
*System Message*
*Congratulations on Completing the Third 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*
Name: Bob Level: 4 Class: N/A HP: 35 MP: 35 SP: 35 STR: 6 CON: 6 WIS: 6 INT: 6 DEX: 6 CHA: 6
Name: Snowball Level: 3 Class: Frost Hound Pup HP: 30 MP: 40 SP: 50 STR: 5 CON: 5 WIS: 5 INT: 5 DEX: 5 CHA: 5
He looked around in wonder, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. There were no walls or ceilings here, just endless land and an open sky above him. He could feel the fresh breeze on his face, and the warmth of the sun on his skin. It was like he had stepped out of one world and into another entirely. As he stood there, taking it all in, he heard the sound of footsteps.
As you approach the clearing in the forest, you hear a rustling sound coming from the shadows. Suddenly, a green skinned humanoid creature cartwheeled out into the open, dressed in a dapper suit and top hat. It landed with a flourish and tipped its hat, flashing Bob a wide grin as it introduced itself.
"Good day to you, Sir! I am Gentleman Gary, at your service. I may be a Goblin, but I assure you, I am a Goblin unlike any other. As you can see, I am a creature of sophistication and class. My manners are impeccable, my style is refined, and my wit is sharp."
Gentleman Gary bowed low, then straightened up to look Bob in the eye. "I understand that we have not yet had the pleasure of being acquainted, Sir. Might I inquire as to your name? I always like to know the names of the people I am addressing. It adds a touch of personalization, don't you think?"
Bob looks at Gentleman Gary in amazement, impressed by his acrobatic skills and refined appearance. He clears his throat before responding.
"Uh, hello there, Gentleman Gary. My name is Bob, and it's a pleasure to meet you too," Bob says, extending his hand in greeting.
As he shook Gentleman Gary's hand, Bob couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and wonder about this unusual goblin. He wondered what other surprising talents and characteristics he might possess, and looked forward to getting to learning more about this goblin.
The Goblin was about the size of a small child, with pointed ears and large, curious eyes. Its skin was a deep shade of green. Bob stood frozen in place, unsure of what to do. He had never seen anything like this before. He didn't know what a Goblin was or if they all were as sophisticated as this suited being in front of him. Bob hoped he would find out and learn more about these so-called Goblins.
"What is a Goblin?'
"What's a Goblin? That's kind of a rude question. That would be like me asking, What's a human?"
"I meant no offense, I've just never seen a Goblin. I don't know what they are supposed to be."
After having said that Bob was taken aback as Gary, the Gentleman Goblin, jumped up and slapped him right in the face. Gary then did a backflip away from Bob, turned back toward him, and stuck his tongue out. The goblin's behavior was shockingly rude as he flipped Bob off before laughing and running away into the forest. His actions were completely uncalled for and displayed a complete lack of respect for others. Bob was left feeling humiliated and offended by the goblin's disrespectful gesture.
It was clear that the goblin had no interest in engaging in any kind of civil interaction, preferring iad to indulge in his own selfish desires without regard for the feelings of others. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and should not be tolerated in any society. As the goblin disappeared into the dense forest, Bob couldn't help but feel a sense of anger and frustration. He had never encountered such a rude and disrespectful creature before.
Bob knew that he couldn't let the goblin's behavior go unchecked, and decided to follow him into the forest. As he made his way through the dense underbrush, Bob's determination grew stronger with each step. He was determined to confront the goblin and demand an apology for his rude behavior. But as he searched for the goblin, he began to realize just how vast gerous the forest really was. Bob's anger began to subside, replaced by a growing sense of apprehension. He realized that finding the goblin and getting an apology might not be as easy as he initially thought.
As Bob pressed on through the forest, he encountered all sorts of obstacles. The trees grew thicker, the underbrush more tangled, and the ground became increasingly uneven and rocky. Bob's frustration grew as he struggled to make progress, but he refused to give up. After hours of searching, he finally spotted the goblin's silhouette up ahead, standing on a rocky outcropping overlooking a steep ravine. Bob approached the goblin cautiously, trying not to startle him. When the goblin turned around and saw Bob, he scowled.
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"What do you want, with Gentleman Gary?"
"You're a rude little shit, and I want an apology."
Gentleman Gary laughed in his face before skipping up to him and kicking him straight in the shin. Bob grimaced in pain and grabbed the collar of Gary's dapper suit, lifting him into the air until they met eye-to-eye.
"Now you listen here. I've been plenty nice and polite with you, I even gave you a chance to apologize. But so help me if you strike me one more time, you will live to regret it!"
Gentleman Gary the asshole Goblin, balled up his tiny childlike fist and punched Bob right in the mouth. Bob, recoiling in pain, released his hold on Gary. Gary dropped and started to run away while Bob was slightly incapacitated. Asshole Gary's laughter could be heard getting quieter as Gary hastily made his escape. Bob was angry, and determined to hunt this little bastard down. He rubbed his shin one last time and then started running through the forest after Gary.
Bob was on a mission to teach the goblin Gary a lesson, as Gary had attacked him multiple times. Bob was seething with anger and disappointment as he chased Gary through the dense woods, his mind filled with thoughts of how so much rudeness could be packed into such a tiny being. With a fierce determination, Bob pursued Gary, who was attempting to flee through the trees. Though Gary was quick, Bob was driven by a sense of anger and refused to let him get away. He was determined to catch Gary and make him pay for his actions.
As Bob chased Gary, his veins pumped with adrenaline and his muscles burned with exertion. He could see the goblin ahead of him, he was closing in on his target with every passing moment, and he knew that soon he would have his chance to confront him. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Gary stumbled and fell, allowing Bob to catch up to him. Bob stood over him, panting heavily, his fists clenched in rage. He glared down at Gary, who cowered in fear, realizing the gravity of his actions.
Bob activated his [Slapstick] ability and the long blue stick materialized in his hands. He choked up on the stick and swung with all his might. The stick connected underneath Gary's chin, and Gary shot off into the sky like a rocket. Obviously accompanied by the skills customary phantom crowd cheering. This ability is really weird, but oh boy is it so much fun to use. With the Gary situation solved he started to head back to the clearing.
*Enemies Slapped! 4/100*
Unfortunately, Bob was hopelessly lost. One shouldn't run randomly in an unknown forest, even if one is chasing a Goblin jerk. Bob wondered aimlessly for a few minutes before he heard familiar barking and saw some bushes start to shake. Out popped Snowball with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Snowball stared at Bob with a piercing gaze, that Bob felt had an admonishing tone as if to say 'See what happens when you run away and leave me behind?' Bob bent down and scratched behind Snowball's ears, with a smile.
"I am sorry, Buddy. I got a little carried away."
Bob and Snowball set out to explore the vast forest that sprawled across the strange world on the 4th floor of the Tower. As they journeyed deeper into the forest, Bob marveled at the unusual trees, their branches adorned with glittering ice crystals. Snowball, ever the curious pup, bounded ahead, sniffing out new scents and chasing after rustling leaves. Bob followed close behind, his hand resting on Snowball's soft fur, as they ventured deeper into the forest's heart.
Despite the eerie silence that surrounded them, Bob and Snowball felt alive with excitement as they continued their exploration, eager to discover the secrets that lay hidden in this mystical world. As they walked deeper into the forest, the trees grew taller and denser, casting a dark shadow over the forest floor. The air grew colder, and Bob could feel a chill creeping up his spine. He pulled his coat tighter around him and shivered, but Snowball seemed unfazed. Snowball darted ahead, chasing after a fluttering butterfly that had caught his attention.
Bob followed Snowball deeper into the woods, feeling both exhilarated and apprehensive. He couldn't help but wonder what they might find in this mysterious place. Perhaps they would stumble upon an ancient ruin or uncover a hidden treasure trove. As they continued forward, Bob began to notice strange symbols etched into the trees and rocks around him. They looked like some sort of ancient language, but he couldn't decipher their meaning. Snowball seemed to take no notice of the strange markings and continued to frolic and play.
Suddenly, a rustling in the bushes caught Bob's attention. He tensed up, unsure of what to expect. Out of the bushes stepped a small, furry creature with large, round eyes. It looked like a cross between a rabbit and a raccoon, but with iridescent scales that shimmered in the dappled light. Bob watched in awe as the creature approached him fearlessly, sniffing at his feet. He cautiously reached out to pet it, and to his surprise, it nuzzled against his hand, purring contentedly.
As he stroked the creature, Bob felt a sense of peace and wonder wash over him. After a few more moments of petting the random woodland creature, Bob had to pull his hand away in pain. His fingertips had a light coating of ice on them. He started rubbing his hands together, and the creature grew bored and started to hop away. He realized that there was so much to discover in this mystical world, and he and Snowball were only just scratching the surface. He vowed to continue his exploration, no matter how treacherous or mysterious it might be.
Hey, Rolodex can you scan this strange creature, Please?
*Sure can, Bob-o. I mean I've been scanning all the creatures you encounter whether you ask me to or not. I'm a collector, What can I say? You might know that if you bothered to ACTUALLY read all your notifications. But what do I know, I'm just your friendly neighborhood Cursed Sentient Artifact.*
Bob didn't know how the Rolodex had done it, but he had an image of the Rolodex shrugging nonexistent shoulders in his head. Bob brought up the notifications and saw that he had a long list of creatures that had been scanned. It then showed him an option to bring up the number of creatures the Rolodex currently had in its catalog.
Summoners Rolodex Catalog: Entries: 16
Hey again, Rolodex. How am I at 16 entries? I should only be at like 7 max. Haven't we only encountered a couple of creatures that I didn't ask you to scan but you did anyway?
*Well, let me just show you. It would be a lot easier than listing them all.*
Acid Slime Diminutive Minotaur Squirrel Soldier Zombie Zombie Brute Zombie Sprinter Zombie Shrieker Bloat Zombie Zombie Feral Zombie Spitter Plague Zombie Zombie Brute Boss Bloat Zombie Boss Zombie Shrieker Boss Zombie Spitter Boss Hoarfrosticcoon
OK, that's a lot of zombies. I assume you scanned those while I was having a breakdown?
*Yes, I did. I figured you could use the extra summonable, and like I said I'm a collector through and through. I must have all the creatures! Anyway, you should probably get back to exploring!
So that adorable little creature is called a Hoarfrosticcoon? Weird name for something so freaking adorable. We'll have to see what it can do, but from its name, I can only imagine that it has some sort of ice ability or power. Onwards and Upwards!