~???th Floor Staircase~

As I journey along the seemingly endless staircase, I reminisce upon all those who I have befriended and subsequently lost upon this long journey to the top of this hellish tower. Lost in thought, a doorway of red light is soon revealed to me, and I step through it whispering to myself the wishes that my fallen comrades entrusted to me.

After a flash of light, a coliseum is revealed before me with dark shadows filling the stands, the only audience who will witness my duel with the incarnation of evil and hatred that stands before me.

“Puny creature you dare stand before me, get on your knees if you do not wish to suffer pain worse than you could ever imagine”, it bellows at me. As I stare back at the being I mutter, “That is unlikely.” Soon veins start protruding on it’s forehead and it’s face turns grave as it says, “Prepare”, before lunging at me with outstretched arms.

***

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I look around at the surrounding area, a stone ground covered in cracks with chunks of rock scattered about, showing the intensity of the battle that had just taken place. As I look forward once again I see the remaining half of the body of the demon who had just fought me still struggling in agony with it’s one remaining arm through my chest.

I let out a chuckle as I sputter out, “That barely tickles.” My eyes start to close and my consciousness starts to fade, and I think to myself, here we go again.

***

Groggily opening my eyes once again, I hear the voice of the self proclaimed “God”, Claude Sinclair, welcoming us criminals to The Tower of Opportunity, as I have heard dozens of times before. While disinterestedly listening to his speech I let out a chuckle at the insinuation of his that being brought to this tower is a great stroke of fortune, and then continue on looking for the faces of those who died on my journey previously. After he finished his speech he waved his hand and disappeared, to which I have always wondered where he goes.

***

In a white empty space a man is sitting on a chair staring into the void that he calls home, suddenly looks in a certain direction and says, “What are you doing here dear observer, you aren’t supposed to be here yet.” He smirks and continues speaking, “Well, let me take you back to the beginning of this story”, following which he snaps and the scenery fades to black.