***Author's Note***

I'm currently at my parent's house for the holidays, will be for two days, so I'm doing all of my typing directly onto here, rather than transferring, which would be a hassle. Additionally, this means no blue boxes.

Until I go back through and change it when I am back on my desktop, Day 34 and 35 will have system notifications that are Bold Underlined. Just so you guys can tell. Additionally, due to this method, chapter lengths may vary.

As a change of pace, BE EXTREMELY SAD AS YOU READ.

^.^~

***Post Writing Thoughts***

You spoiled pieces of shit. Enjoy this monstrosity of a chapter. Also, I noticed the error with the Implaccable Will part, but too lazy to fix it.

Day 34

***POV Change***

When the Deeds arrived on the ground, Predator had been nowhere to be seen; Whipman and the rest nervously regarded the blue portal, then walked through, unsure of what else they could do. Toddie led the way, her head bobbing.

They arrived in a wide paved square. It was close to dawn, but even in the twilight many people with powerful auras walked forward with determination, going to many of the buildings. A guard on duty waved them over and told them about a free in for the freshly arrived, and they all went over in a group, exhausted from the strain of staying up these past two nights, believing in their hearts that they would die.

The next morning, Whipman asked around, but discovered that no one had seen Predator. The guard that had been there when they arrived was at the end of his shift; he had been there all night. Predator had not appeared. More surprising was that this was the 5th floor. Whipman felt a small amount of joy in his heart. If his master could see him, about to be on the floors that are broadcast, even if just on the lower channels....

Then Whipman shook his head. His master had ascended past the 50th floor. This small bit meant nothing. He wondered if his parents were still bickering in the family house, complaining about what a failure he was for his inability to get into one of the schools associated with the four cardinal styles.

Well, they at least would be impressed with the fact that he would be broadcast.

He hoped.

So after gathering a bit of food and bidding the rest of the group goodbye, Whipman went back to the portal to wait for Predator. He wasn't sure, but he suspected that Predator had found a way to the 4th floor. So now he just had to wait for him. In the meantime, Whipman moved through the 4 cardinal styles, his spear tracing deadly lines through the air.

"Your stance is good." The voice made Whipman jump. He turned to find Ashni regarding him critically as he moved through Water Stance.

"T-Thank yo-"

"But you are wide open to attacks from the left! Here, water stance should look like this." Ashni immediately settled into a fighting stance and performed a surprisingly solid Sudden Eddy, the move that Whipman was practicing.

His jaw dropped. "You can use Water Stance."

Ashni snorted. "Of course. Only by thinking like a dripper thinks can I crush them. Now, ready yourself. Let's spar until you get the move right."

"Uh," Whipman hesitated. "I'm actually waiting for Predator, so-"

"Then you have plenty of time. Let's begin."

As Ashni attacked and Whipman frantically tried to defend, he noticed that the human girl who was following Predator in his assault on the Northeast Deed had followed Ashni, and sat with her arms around her legs and watched them with appraising eyes.

But a spear butt to the face quickly brought this attention back. "What are you looking at?!? Do you want to die?"

His mouth settling into a grim line, Whipman moved to meet Ashni's assault.

***POV Change***

I looked around. I was standing on a road, one very similar to the 1st floor path that I took over. It was a simple dirt road surrounded by low hills and scrub land as far as I could see.

-How nostalgic.

Seeing nothing else to do, I walked down the road. After about a half hour of walking, I came upon the smoking wreckage of a carriage.  A posh, portly looking man was staggering out of it, blood soaking his shoulder.

"Sir! Sir please! A little assistance! Just help me salvage my wares, and when we reach the next town, you will be handsomely rewarded."

-He looks...

-Yes, I agree.

"Rewarded with what," I inquired.

He blinked at me. "Money of course. What else is important in this world but gold?"

I killed him and ate him, licking my fingers.

-You were right other me, he was very tasty.

-I know good food when I see it.

I continued walking. As I yawned and scratched my back, the road stretched endlessly ahead of me, winding around hills. Eventually I rounded a bend and came upon a hooded figure, crouching next to a stubby looking dead tree.

"Food..." The figure whispered, her voice coming out as beautiful and pure as sunshine on glittering seashells. "Do you have anything to eat? Please, I'll do anything."

I sniffed the air, testing her scent, the wrinkled my nose. Walking past her, I said. "Nope."

She reached out and grabbed my arm. Her fingers were hot, incredibly so. Burning my skin, a warm flush creeping from her flesh to mine.

"Please," She said, her voice becoming throaty and low. "I'll do anything. I just need a little bit of food."

Shaking off her touch, I continued on with my walk down the road. Grumbling, the woman settled back into a crouch. When I was about 50 m away, the woman screamed. I turned and saw another cloaked figure, rushing at her with daggers. She waved her arms frantically at me, yelling for help.

The dagger user slashed at her, drawing a long line of blood across her chest, falling away to reveal large and rapidly heaving breasts. Somehow her hood was knocked off too, and her long golden waterfall of hair caught the light. He blue-as-a-tranquil-pond eyes looked at me beseechingly.

I yawned.

The dagger wielder slashed again, and realizing I wasn't buying it, the woman transformed into a horrible banshee and gobbled whoever the dagger wielder was up in a single bite. She burped, then crouched back down. Her cloak knitted back together, as if by magic.

I turned away and walked down the road. Before long, a knight in golden arm rode towards me, reigning in his horse as I approached.

"Traveler! You must be wary. A demon in the guise of a woman haunts these parts. She is a foul creature who has committed great evils. My life's work is eradicating her, in the name of justice. She had murdered hundreds..."

Sighing, I walked past.

This didn't dissuade the knight in the least, and he followed after, his horse cantering to keep pace with me. "You see, my brother was the first to be taken in by her wiles, seduced by her innocent eyes... He was never heard from again. Full of rage, my father...

"...unfortunately he too fell pray to her charms..."

"...incensed, my grandfather..."

"But in the end, the curve of her hip was too mighty, and we was vanquished..."

"My wife made me swear then that I wouldn't pursue it further, so I settled down with her, teaching the fresh recruits at the nearby castle a bit about the sword..."

"We had a son..."

"...he turned 18, and by chance found out about his uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather..."

"...but he was too young and hotheaded, falling prey to her...."

Eventually, when he started talking about his gardener, I killed the knight and his horse and ate them both.

Seemingly without end, the road curved around another hill, and I followed it.

This time, I found a man laying in the middle of the road, bleeding slowly out. He held a hatchet in each hand and was breathing heavily.

Stepping smartly around him, I planned on continuing down the road, but his words stopped me dead. "Yea, that's fucking right. Run away or I'll make today your last."

I turned back to the guy. "Just die and get it over with."

"Fuck that." The man struggled into a sitting position, causing a fresh wave of blood to spurt out of the gaping wound in his abdomen. "I've still got enough spunk in me to sire sons more fearsome then you, you piece of shit-"

I drew my short sword and stalked closer to him. His eyes glittered as he raised his hatchets.

As if an unspoken cue set us off, the man threw his left hatchet at the same moment I leapt towards him. The hatchet struck a glancing blow against my side. I crossed the distance in a second and drove my blade into his heart. His right hatchet slammed into my side, and he produced a dagger from somewhere and stabbed towards my throat.

His eyes were glazed and his grin was wild. "I'll take you with me.... fuck.....er......"

It was by the dimming of his eyes and the slowing of his breathing that I knew he had died. I stepped away, his worn blades unable to even scratch my skin. I looked at the dead bag of flesh in front of  me, wondering why he wasn't able to become strong enough to survive.

I turned away, deciding not to eat his body; I wasn't in the mood. But when I turned, I found the 11 eyed creature waiting for me.

"Unorthodox... but I think that could be considered a pass of the first stage. Let's move onto the next."

***POV Change***

Kettle disassembled her watch, polished all of the gears, and then reassembled it. This is what she always did when she was frustrated.

A strange bought of paranoia had got her thinking about how Gillette could force her to obey her note, or follow his directive should she be unable to stop Jen from being Predator's administrator. It wasn't likely, but Kettle wasn't the type to let any eventuality be forgotten. 

She checked her mother and sister, and sure enough, over both of their hearts were kill spells. The kind that could be activated remotely. 

Kettle examined the completed watch, and after a moment, began to disassemble it again. 

The easy solution was gain a friend, but Kettle was in a bad place for that; her recent, extreme success at betting had earned her more envy than admiration.

Even for Predator... She couldn't jeopardize her chances of climbing this tower. Even for him...

Adjusting her glasses, Kettle stood without finishing the watch and went to the windows. 

"But, Gillette." Kettle whispered. "I don't forget threats. Especially against my family."

***POV Change***

I was now in a forest. A group of bandits ambushed me. I killed them all, eating their bodies. Summoning a few dozen Corpse Hunters, I prepared to roam the forest, but a whistle made me scan the surrounding area.

My eyes narrowed; we were surrounded.

Arrows fell like rain. Most of the Corpse Hunters fell immediately, but a few followed me as I sprinted deeper into the forest. We ran into 100 armed men, their mouths in grim lines. All of the Corpse Hunters died in the confrontation, but I was able to emerge, bloody and staggering. My back was hit with so many arrows that I must look like a porcupine.

I emerged from the forest to a road. To the right was a bridge across a river, to the left the road led deeper into the forest. I could hear the clomp of hooves from the forest, so I went to the bridge.

Somehow, as I was midway across the bridge, picking arrows out of my back, a company of heavy spear men appeared, blocking the other side of the bridge. The cavalry charged out of the forest road, aiming to smash me to pieces.

Growling. I turned to face the cavalry. They were just horse and human, so I smashed the first one into bloody gore. But more and more circled, stabbing me with their weapons.

I dived and dodged as best I could, breaking the legs of the horses and throwing their large bodies to disrupt the formation, but there were too many. The spear men began to circle as well, and I tackled two, diving off the bridge. While they spluttered in the water, I broke their necks and then swam silently away.

When I emerged from the water, a tingling warned me of the danger and I leapt to the side. An eagle smashed into the spot I just was. I looked up, and hundreds more circled above, shrieking. I fled across the plains, killing any eagle who approached.

Much to my annoyance, the shrieking was apparently a signal, and soon 1000s of soldiers covered the plains. I killed more men than I had met in my life that day, everything fading but the will to continue and survive. I broke through every blockade, my body slowly being ripped to pieces, my blood mixing with the blood of my enemies, until even my vision was dyed red.

So I continued, making it to a canyon area. That's when they began throwing nets and chains.

My left arm bound, I lashed out with my right, ripping their bodies to pieces. But they swarmed me.

Wind Blades exploded outward, cutting them to mincemeat. But their spirit did not break, they continued forward. 

Then, once I was encumbered, the mages arrive. Their spells weakened me, sapping my strength. Before long, I was captured. My struggles grew feeble, but they kept me alive. My eyes burned, but I remained still, bidding my time.

I did not know why they preserved me, but I would make them regret it. They bound my hands with magically enhanced chains above me, slowly sapping my strength. By feet were connected by a short chain. I hung on the wall of their dungeon.

My days took on a pattern. Wake up, be tortured, asked if I would like to die yet, and when I was silent, they would torture me more. Every 3 days I was given a crust of bread, but no food other than that.

Even my idiot captors soon realized that typical methods of torture wouldn't even phase me with my high pain tolerance. So they pushed the envelop, soon using more and more creative means. Electricity. Ice. Fire. Removing body parts and watching fascinated as my abused body slowly grew them back.

About a year after my capture, I slumped, my eyes half closed as my torturer arrived for the day's first session. The previous day they had flayed all the skin from my back, until they could seen my heart and lungs past my spine. Then they had prodded them with hot irons. The floor was slick with blood.

The torturer slipped. My eyes snapped open. My feet shot forward, the foot chain wrapping around his neck in an instant. I squeezed, snapping his neck. As quietly as I could, I dragged his body towards me and reanimated him. With the pittance of mana these chains allowed me. Then I ordered my new minion to free me.

Rubbing my wrists. I sat to bide my time, regaining mana. I had waited far, far too long for this not to pay them back for the agony they had made me feel.

The first part went well, but when the afternoon torturers arrived, they were accompanied by a dozen black armored guards. The alarm was immediately sounded, and the corridor was soon flooded.

Gritting my teeth, I relied on my tough body to withstand blows from their maces and used my claws to tear a hole for my escape.

Much to my chagrin, I opened a door and burst out into the Great Hall of the castle, which was filled to the brim with guards. The king, a middle aged man with greying hair and a body like a bear on steroids, stood and roared, drawing his war axe.

Grinding my teeth, I leapt forward, my vision fading to nothing but this man who had caused me so much misery. And for what?

We battled to a standstill, our blows equally as powerful.

No, in fact our blows SHOULD have been about the same power, but my body was abused and given nothing but a crust of bread for a year. The king was healthy and hale, and his blows sent me staggering. But there was a difference between us. I knew that I couldn't afford to lose, but the king knew he could and should rely on guards. That was the mistake he made, and his mental weakness would be the end of him.

I struck a terrible blow to the king's thigh and he stumbled backwards. Guards surged forward to cover for him, but they were too late. I used Lunar Affinity and smashed them to the side, my hand blurring as I used Clear Sky, Sudden Bolt.

The king's axe swung down, severing my left arm. I ripped out his heart.

Unfortunately, the men weren't phased at all, and continued to attack, swiftly beating me as I was without my arm. Staring at the king's bloody heart on the ground, my only regret was that I didn't have the chance to eat it.

This time, they didn't torture me. They bound me and left me in a pit. They no longer fed me. Fresh air rarely came, and light was nonexistent. Time slowly passed. I tried digging, breaking my bonds, dislocating my shoulders, ripping off offended body parts, but the way I was bound prevented it all.

First a year, then 20, then 100.

My eyes glittered in the darkness.

In the end, I felt my body weakening, and as if on cue, a skeleton appeared before me with beautiful white feathered wings. It gestured downward, to a hole at its feet, then grabbed my bonds and began dragging me. I struggled; If this was death, I wanted no part of it. But it was stronger, and free, and it tossed me into the hole.

I fell, landing onto a battlefield of the enternal damned. They fought, killed, and devoured, growing stronger on each other's unholy flesh. My hesitation was nonexistent. I immediately joined in.

Within 500 years, I stood before the Skeleton King, grand lord of hell, the champion. None could face me.

A Cheshire smile twisted my mouth and I drew my weapon.

The Skeleton King frowned. "You are dead, and I am death. You cannot harm me. Why struggle?"

I attacked.

***POV Change***

Jen trembled, but settled her brown hat on her head. She hefted her two suitcases.

'This is for the best,' She told herself. 'Predator will be better off without me.'

The trembling got worse. So much so that she was forced to harden her body to stop it.

Using her tentacles, Jen gathered her other 40 suitcases and carried them out of her small apartment.

'I wonder if I can get my old job back...' She wondered miserably. Then she daydreamed about her early interactions with Predator as she walked towards the portal area.

***POV Change***

I coughed up blood, laughing madly. My bones shattered, I struggled to my feet. I couldn't remember how long we had been fighting, how many times his bone sword had crushed me, scattered my mana, strength, and gambits. But never my will.

"You are dead." The Skeleton King intoned, seemingly annoyed. "Just accept-"

"NO! I fight! I struggle! I survive!" I growled, raising a broken rock. All of my weapons had broken long ago. "I reject anything else."

With a heavy sigh, the Skeleton King slashed, beheading me. My vision went dark.

*****

When I woke, all I could see were notifications.

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 2".

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 3".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 4".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 5".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 6".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 7".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 8".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into "Implacable Will Lvl 9".

Congratulations! Due to your actions, your skill has evolved into the title "One Who Denies his Own Mortality": Whether it it lunacy or arrogance, there are always those who deny they are mortal. You are one such person. Although it remains to be seen whether this belief is justified, it cannot be denied that you struggle long past the point that others would surrender, and that perseverance sets you apart. Resistance to outside influences increased by 99%. All stats +15.

I turned to find the 11 eyed creatured standing with...

I narrowed my eyes. A pair of eyes narrowed in response. It was standing with me.

"Hello, Other Me." The other me spoke.

-Well, there are 4 of us then.

Apparently Other other me realized that at the same time, and a round of introductions proceeded.

"How do you do."

"How do you do."

"How do you do."

"How do you do."

The creature coughed lightly, then said. "The 3rd and final test is to face yourself. It's a simple duel, no special rules. You will maintain your current state. Begin whenever you want."

Other me frowned. "The Third test? But I haven't-"

"But I have," I interrupted, my vision slowly fading to a dull red. I walked forward towards myself, grinning. His mouth twisted in response.

***POV Change***

"Kat, we really didn't need to take those extra challenges. I think we could have beaten the minotaur at full strength." Diver argued, obviously annoyed that they had wasted so many days on the 6th floor. Kent just continued polishing his weapons.

He had just cleaned them of the minotaur's blood.

Ketlia just shook her head. "Perhaps, but later, we will get in trouble if we underestimate the tower. Besides, the experience we received from the four challenges was enough for 2 levels each, every time. That's 8 levels in a handful of days. It make take a while, but this area of the tower was designed to be easy experience."

Turning to Gillette, who was staring out the window absentmindedly, Ketlia asked. "What about the 7th floor?"

Gillette made a dismissive gestured. "A simple 1 on 1 duel, to make sure no one is being carried upwards. 8 is dungeon diving, and based on the schedule, we came at a good time. The 9th floor is another boss fight, this one to determine how well you adapt to a storyline not chosen by your administrator. Honestly...

Gillette turned to the group. "If you push, You can probably make it to the 10th Floor in 3 days."

Diver nodded decisively. Ketlia shook her head helplessly, but didn't try and argue against it. They needed strength-

'No,' She shook her head. 'I need strength. I need to be able to crush them all.'

***POV Change***

The fighting in our current states was annoying, because my mana was almost completely depleted. 

Past me summoned a dozen wind blades and threw them directly at me.

I just snorted, using all of my mana to summon a wall of ice. The wind blades ripped through it, but sprayed the shaved ice everywhere, clouding the the air with snow. Past me glanced around, then abruptly made the decision to brute force it, blasting forward with Air Affinity to clear the air.

Of course, by that point my huge jump had reached its apex, and I fell down right above him, slashing with my nails. Although my Endurance was high, it wasn't enough to resist these nails, and my head fell to the ground.

Killing myself was surprisingly simple, and I felt no pity for myself. He would learn soon enough.

The 11 eyed creature gestured, and the body disappeared. "I will wipe your memory and set you to your first two trials then. Congratulations! You have passed the 4th floor. Do you have any questions for me before I send you up?"

I just blinked. "What? That's it? That was... surprisingly simple. I thought no one had passed in 10,000 years."

The Ilium chuckled. "Simple? Well... part of your strength is that you consider such things simple. Isn't your resolve to deny death weakened by the fact you just killed yourself?"

Shrugging, I said. "That's overthinking it. I am stronger now, after following that path. That strength is proof my path is the right one. Why would I doubt it now?"

With a laugh, the Ilium spoke again, changing subjects. "As to no one passing it... that's true. But also no one has come here in 10,00 years. After we enshrined our new god in the Upper Tower, some... changes were made. You are the first who possesses the qualifications to come here."

"Those are?"

"Strength enough to receive the approval of the three inner branches of the Tower: The Administrators, the Solicitors... and the Arbiters."

I scratched my head. "I received their approval?"

"I interpreted your friend's actions as approval when he opened the portal," The Ilium said casually "Although he would be very surprised to find you had made it here. He meant it as a joke. Another individual, Kettle, submitted his approval for you to come here through the proper channels a week ago. As for the Arbiters...

"I technically am an Arbiter, and I needed you to come here, the only floor where I can act freely."

"...Because of me reaching level 20?" I asked?

All 11 of the Ilium's eyes focused on me. "Indeed. But let's save that for last. Do you have any other questions for me?"

I hesitated as I thought.

-Tim...?

Other me and myself mulled it over.

-Probably not. Tim is like the boogy man. The more you talk about him, the stronger he gets. Besides, went ahead of us to the 3rd floor, right? He must be dead. Let's just forget about him.

"You..." I said, not really sure if this was something I was able to ask. "I sacrificed something to you, in exchange for power, correct? What did I sacrifice?"

The Ilium smiled. "An interesting question."

***POV Change***

The shadow cleared his throat. "I have the report here, and... ah...."

"Just read it." Oct's voice was still frosty.

Nodding, the shadow began to read. Basic information, regarding the average human, the methods, the sample size....

Oct waved his hand. "Just the results, please."

Extremely miserable, the shadow nodded again. "Human stat growth rates.... unranked on all fronts. Human special statistics.... also unranked, nothing unusual to speak of. Human racial skills..."

The shadow hesitated before speaking. "...Unranked, there is only one they learn from leveling. But its a bit unique...its simply "Skill Creation" an invisible passive skill, that allows them to-"

"We can guess what it does. Continue." The room shuddered as Oct spoke.

"Finally...." The shadow was positively squirming now. "As to Skill Proficiency potential.... humans are... undefined."

"Oh?" Sven said casually. "What does that mean?"

"...it means we have never seen any race display such an incredible aptitude for learning almost ANY skill." The shadow whispered. "In the next census... humanity shall be ranked 1st in the Skill Proficiency potential category."

The room was dead silent.

***POV Change***

"You sold your name, your memory, and then your race, humanity. The first two weren't much in the grand scheme of things, earning you the Air Affinity skill and quite a bit of luck, but the last... that was a big one. It earned you your racelessness, and the system that governs it. It also gave you the Skill proficiency potential of the Void Messiah, which is the highest known potential, other than human's. But the fact that you lost humanity's racial skill... that earned you quite a bit of positive karma, which still isn't spent. But we will get to that later. Next question."

I pondered, then asked. "How do I get stronger?"

"Follow your path, climb the tower." The Ilium shrugged. "What else is there?"

-I suppose that was a stupid question.

-Then you should have stopped me from asking...

-I'm not your mother, I'm you.

"What is the Tower, anyway? What's ascension? And what are you?"

The Ilium was chuckling now. "So many questions at once. The Tower is basically just a tower, a series of tests divided into floors, finding who amongst the universe is worthy of fulfilling an age old bargain. Ascension occurs when you pass the 50th floor, and signifies that you have been considered worthy to compete on the holy battlefield, and perhaps obtain the mantle of God. In practice, "Ascending" let's you climb floors 51-100. 

"I, of course, am Ilium. I am... a broker, of sorts. I buy and sell all things. It was I who facilitated the first deal that founded the tower."

"Who is the strongest person in the tower?" I asked wonderingly.

"The Two Gods, of course. But you are far from their level, child."

"Why was the Great Tower founded? I thought it was some sort of entertainment program...?"

Now the Ilium laughed heartily. "So it has become in recent millennia. But it was not originally so. That just became another aspect of ascending the tower. You must be strong AND popular. I believe it was done to recast this place into something less... vital and central to this multiverse. The Tower, as you have seen, was originally a mine. It was founded because two great multiverses were about to war over what was found at the bottom."

"... what as found?"

"Genesis, Nith, and Ilium." The Ilium said with a smile.

I paused.

-It was found there...?

"You were down there?"

The Ilium just smiled.

I tried several variations, but the Ilium would answer nothing in regards to those 3 strange terms.

"Why did I receive a warning when I became my most recent growth rate?"

The Ilium grinned. "Ah. The Solicitors keep a close eye on certain powerful individuals within the tower. When you received that race, it essential copied some of the strength of what should have been a completely unique being. The solicitors have enough access to detect that, and the emerges of another foe of a sort they fear doesn't please them."

"Is there any way to... circumvent things like those belts that restricted my strength on the 3rd floor?"

Shaking its head, the Ilium said, "Not without earning yourself another warning each time. And they will come for you after 3. When you climb the tower, you submit to its rules."

Sighing, I sat down. "Alright, this is all pointless anyway. I don't care. I'll kill whatever tries to stop me from rising here anyway. I just want to fight strong opponents. Tell me how to reach level 20."

Nodding solemnly, the Ilium gestured and three screens appeared in front of me. "The problem is that all races are associated with certain titles that they gain as a member of that race. The titles entire their main stage at lvl 20, after an individual has started on their path. You, being raceless, don't have any 2nd tier titles to choose from, so I had to... experiment a bit to figure out what would work. Because of the positive karma you gained by losing your racial skill of humanity, I'll let you select one of the possibilities to be your 2nd tier title."

Changeling: You will be able to spend mana to assume the form of any Race whose Racial Growth Rate you have received. Transformations of previously held growth rates will remain usable. Insufficient mana will result in an inability to completely assume the race's strengths. Total amount of stats will remain unchanged, but stats will be redistributed based on the race. +1000 Mana for choosing this Title.

Devourer: Creatures you eat for Biomass may occasionally grant you additional stats or skills based upon their strengths. This effect is increasingly likely as the devoured creatures level increases. Devoured creatures growth rates will be retained, and can be selected as future growth rates. +5 Vit, End, and Str for choosing this Title.

Gene Splicer: After obtaining a growth rate but before stat growths are applied, you may splice that race with another, combining them and forming a variant race. Results may vary. Skills received may vary. You may splice from a list of 4 unspliced races that you have retained from previously held growth rates. You can only splice two unspliced races together.  +2.5 Health Regen for choosing this Title.

-Hum.

I looked at the choices for a long time. Then I said. "I choose-"

***POV Change***

Whipman looked up, stupefied by what he saw. A huge mass of tentacles carrying luggage was oozing down the street, attracting stares. Just how many tentacles could a slime produce...?

"Whipman?!?!"

Abruptly, all the luggage was dropped, and a small green body flew towards him, slamming into him and knocking him over. "Whipman is that you?"

"...Jen?" 

"Oh Whipman its horrible! I'm a worthless Adminstrator, and I just wanted to help Predator and have him rely on me and be his Administrator, and-" Jen's sobbing tirade was abruptly cut off by another voice.

"Be my Administrator? Sure, that's fine. But first, I'm sleepy. Are there bed's here?" Suddenly, Predator was there, covered in blood and stepping out of a portal.

Just shrunk into a puddle, her hat floating sideways on it. "Y-your... going to be mine...?"

Then she popped up into a human looking body made of slime. She apparently had been practicing, because she now had all the limbs, and in the right proportion. Although it was slightly awkward to Whipman that Jen was completely naked, aside from her ludicrous hat. She looked like a seedy business man. "Oh, yes, mmmm you can.... use my... bed... Mmm... but it might be a bit small for you... you seem so...big... these days... its...nice....."

Jen was practically drooling now, but Predator just nodded, yawning. "Sure, lead the way."

"Wait." Jana stepped forward "I want to join you-"

"In the bed?!?!" Jen gasped.

"-On a team for climbing the tower."

"Us as well." Ashni grabbed Whipman by his shirt and stepped forward.

'Shouldn't that be my line?!?!' He thought to himself.

Predator just waved his hand. "Fine, fine. Make it so. Just take me to bed."

"We can't all fit." Jen muttered to herself. "But no matter how big Predator is.... I'll......find a way..."

Giggling, Jen led the group. Everyone else remained silent, preoccupied with their own thoughts.

Predator yawned again.