With a tired sigh, Alex reached out and twisted the knob, setting the shower head to life. The cold water sputtered out initially, but soon, a comforting, warm mist began to fill the air. He stood there, patiently waiting for the water to reach an ideal temperature, his weary eyes barely open. He reluctantly forced his gaze onto his reflection in the mirror. The sight that greeted him was far from appealing.

His once proud armor, now a shadow of its former glory, was marred with deep gashes and punctures, twisted metal hanging precariously from his frame. The undershirt he wore beneath his armor was in no better condition, bearing its scars of war, a testament to the ordeals he had been through. Strands of his hair, once neat and orderly, were now matted down and smeared with layers of dirt and grime.

Gruesome traces of dried blood painted a morbid picture on his clothes, creating dark patches that had melded with the muck. He let the water cascade over his hands and arms, diligently washing away layers of dirt and dried blood. The once-clear water quickly turned murky as it swirled down the drain.

As the waiting moments stretched out, Alex redirected his attention toward more engaging matters. He summoned up his current system status, a virtual interface that hung in the air before his eyes.

<<<>>>

Name: Alex

Path: Magic (Sub-Path: Lightning)

Rating: G

Level: 15 (32%)

Abilities (1/1):

Manipulate Electricity [F]

Tower Points: 2184

<<<>>>

Upon examining his status, Alex found himself taken aback. The numbers and stats displayed there were almost unrecognizable. It was a considerable shift, albeit not entirely surprising, given the chain of events since he had left Rich’s party. The entirety of the points he had accumulated from his battles - the scores of rats, blobs of slimes, an array of automatons, and the formidable boss - were now attributed solely to him, a stark contrast to when they were Rich’s to hold onto and ultimately hoard. This impressive stockpile of points provided him with a sense of security, a cushion for purchasing essential supplies and gear, even if he couldn't predict the fluctuating prices on the next floor. He would be able to replace his current armor with a similar set of armor.

His character level had undergone a significant transformation too. Alex hypothesized that this escalation was primarily due to his fierce combat with the formidable boss creature, a level 20 monstrosity that far exceeded the supposed level cap of the first floor. This unexpected advancement in his level, coupled with the trials and tribulations of the past few days, imparted to him a newfound confidence.

Finally, his singular ability had changed. An ability he was more proud of now than when he had first entered the mines. His constant use of his abilities, their new uses, and his testing during the fights had paid off. The tier of power had increased from G to F. Seeing it made him eager to be able to test its full strength once he had a battery to work with and was in the Tower.

“While things had been difficult as of late I am done with those caves and with Rich and Eric. I’ve got a new path I can take and my magic to explore and understand more fully. I have the chance to strike out on my own for a while. No longer tied down to anyone else and have to deal with their expenses or expectations. I’m now level 15. I’ve taken down a level 20 creature then I should be able to kill anything else the first floor throws at me. That is a monster at least. I know now how dangerous humans can be and I won’t make that mistake again.”

Alex turned toward the shower now ready to step in. With a thought, his dirty clothes were sent to his inventory leaving him naked. His Earth clothes waited in stasis in his inventory. The only clean clothes he had. Alex opened the shower door and stepped in. While he showered Alex went through his current goals and plans for his next entry into the Tower. Some of his goals were unrealistic hopes for the immediate future while others were quickly accomplished once he hit a city or village. He needed new armor, a path to the second floor, and ways to amass more Tower Points. He also needed to search for a crafter that could build a battery he could use in battle. The battery was key and was something he needed if he wanted to go further. Facing the clockwork, the boss had shown him how much his body had physically plateaued. Until he got to an even higher-level Alex would be of the same physical fitness. That meant the true fighters and rogues in the fighter and ranged paths would further and further overpower him in strength and speed. The monsters would have the same things happening to them. If he wanted to continue to take them down like he had with the first floor then he would need to rely on his magic completely.

A few minutes later Alex stepped out of the bathroom now clean and dry. He wore a simple T-shirt and pants and his tennis shoes. He traced the lines along his arms that marked the healing stitches. With time they would heal completely but for now, they would mark him as an adventurer.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Angela was reclining on the plush couch in her cozy living room, her eyes half-focused on the television screen as it played a sci-fi show featuring intergalactic battles and futuristic technology. The soft, ambient lighting illuminated the room, casting a warm glow on the tasteful décor and comfortable furniture.

"Thanks for letting me use your shower," Alex said, emerging from the bathroom with damp hair and an air of gratitude. He looked refreshed. The hot water further washed away the weariness of his recent tribulations.

"Of course," Angela replied, her eyes finally leaving the TV screen to meet Alex's. "You clean up well. It's good to see you looking better than when you were all ragged yesterday."

Alex chuckled, recalling the disheveled state he had been in just a day earlier. "Yeah, it wasn't my best of days. But I've learned some things, thanks to you and others in the Tower. I'll try and be more careful in the future. Hopefully, no more homeless adventures will come to your door."

"You better not come back like that or with anyone else," Angela warned. "Helping you was a one-time thing."

"I was thinking that I would ride solo for a while and work on my magic," Alex mused, seemingly deep in thought. "That is unless you want to join me. You said to yourself that I need to find a crafter that can build a battery for me. I want you to be that crafter.”

Angela shook her head vehemently, her eyes widening in surprise. "Me? In the tower? No way. I already told you I'm not interested in fighting and guild politics. And besides, I thought you said you had a team and teammates.”

Alex sighed, his expression clouding over as he recalled his former comrades. "How do you think I ran into monsters too strong for me? They were my teammates some time ago, but they made their stance clear on where I was on the team and who I was as a person," he said bitterly.

"Sorry," Angela murmured, her face softening with sympathy. "I didn't want to bring up anything uncomfortable."

"It's fine," Alex reassured her, attempting a smile. "The Tower is all about second chances. I'm just getting my second chance and a new start now. My former teammates are something I will deal with in the future. I've got some current goals to work toward in the meantime."

The conversation lulled for a moment as Alex stared into the distance, lost in thought. He contemplated the lessons he had learned since arriving at the Tower, the friends he had made, and the challenges he had faced. It was a journey of self-discovery, a path toward growth and self-improvement.

Angela, sensing his introspection, remained silent, giving him the space to process his thoughts. She understood the complexities of navigating the Tower's inner workings and the importance of maintaining a strong sense of self in the face of adversity.

As the sci-fi show continued to play in the background, Angela contemplated her journey. She had chosen a different path, one made simpler. Away from the chaos of the Tower. She was content with her decision but couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about the life she might have led had she chosen differently.

Alex's voice broke through her reverie. "You know, maybe one day I can repay you for all the kindness you've shown me," he said, his tone sincere.

Angela smiled, her eyes meeting his once more. "Just make the most of your second chance," she replied, her voice filled with warmth. "That's all the repayment I need."

Alex went to the coffee table picking up the notepad on it. “Here is my number,” he said scribbling some numbers down. “In case you need anything. If I happen to be on Earth. Though I will likely be around the city of Gavros. If you ever end up in the Tower.”

“I will hold on to it,” said Angela with a smile. “Good luck on your adventures and whatever else you do. I also went ahead and made a quick map of the city considering you don’t know your way around. I marked where I live and where you are now as well as the Tower Beacon. I thought you would be heading there next.”

“You are right. As you may have noticed my armor was thoroughly thrashed so it will need replacing before I go out hunting or most anything else.” Alex picked up the makeshift map by the door and proceeded to put on his shoes. “Thanks for everything.”

“Of course. Goodbye, Alex.”

Alex walked down the streets occasionally checking the map clutched in his hands. There wasn’t much activity on the streets. A few cars went by as he traveled. It was almost noon, but he wasn’t very hungry. Alex just wanted to get into the Tower and get back to work.

Eventually found himself on familiar streets and saw the office building. A few people moved in and out of the building in various sets of climber gear. Alex summoned his cloak, his only clean and working piece of equipment, and joined up in the line. The cloak itself was simple and didn’t stand out among the other climbers, but the act itself of bringing it out showed that he was there to enter the Tower and high enough level to be left alone.

Navigating through the process of entering the Tower was as streamlined as ever. The next decision to make was his teleportation destination. As he scrolled through his list of locations, Alex found himself startled by an unexpected addition. A new, fifth location had been appended to his list, one that bore a name that had sent ripples across the climber forums once its coordinates had been deciphered: Thornhold, a city that only those who had ascended to the second floor had ever reached.

A cascade of questions came over him. “Is this because I defeated the clockwork’s boss? Was going through that hidden area my trial for the second floor?” Alex asked himself.

His mind hovered over the option, but he did not choose it. Alex knew that he was not ready for the challenge of the second floor. He needed to gather resources and prepare. Alex also hesitated because of his former teammates.

A voice rumbled from behind him, shattering his train of thought. "Get a move on," a man grumbled. Startled, Alex mumbled a quick apology before his mind drifted back to his former teammates.

“They are probably already on the second floor,” thought Alex. “I don’t know where they ended up but for now I need to avoid the second floor entirely as well as Gavros for that matter. I don’t want to run into the Golden Doves or Seekers. They assume I am dead right now and I need them to keep thinking that for a bit longer. Rich will face my lightning eventually but today won’t be that day.”

With that Alex chose Elize, the small village a three-day journey from Gavros, as his teleportation location.