Milly sat on the steps of the plains entrance, watching a dozen people tearing up grass and fashioning make-shift cages from branches and vines. A cup of tea and a piece of leftover boar from last night’s supper rested on the ground in front of her, her lunch for the eighth day of the Contest. She took a sip of tea and frowned. It was cold. She placed her hand over the water and focused, her eyes glowing red as she channeled her fire. When she took her hand away, the tea was steaming again.

“Perfect,” she purred. “This whole magic thing is just wonderful.”

She had received only one other talent point during the first week of the contest, when she had reached level ten two days ago. She had selected earth magic, though she had precious little opportunity to use it yet. Which is why she was sitting on these steps, watching a few resolute people trying to build a garden in this new world.

Rain had discovered that the public servants from the lower floors were from the Ministry of Agriculture, a mix of policy analysts and field workers. Milly smiled, enthralled by their teamwork and their robust arguments about of proper soil conditions and sunlight levels. Many of the tower’s residents thought they were daft to build a garden when food was so plentiful from the nearby ocean and hunting grounds, but they kept going anyway. They were farmers back home, and farmers needed farms to feel normal again.

Milly thought it was clever, and it would help them survive in the months ahead when food around the tower grew scarcer. It was the first long-term plan she had observed. She wanted to help, but despite glances her way from the dedicated crew, none had approached her to talk. And she had yet to build up the courage to be the one to start that conversation. “It’s still just depressed Milly beneath the witch,” thought Milly.

As she took another sip of her tea, two men exited the prairie doors behind her and headed for the garden. They strode past without a glance in her direction, clutching clipboards and wearing dirty jackets and ties, as if formality brought authority. Milly recognized them from Acicentre, two men from the eleventh floor who had a reputation for micromanagement and an overinflated sense of entitlement. Milly sighed. She knew where this was about to head.

They strode up to the foreman, pointing aggressively at their clipboards and trying to shuffle the crew away from the garden and towards their assigned duties. The foreman’s face was starting to get red with anger, hands clenched into fists at his side.

Milly coughed on her tea and the middle managers turned at the unexpected sound.

They saw Milly, the Witch of the Castle of Glass, seated behind them, casually sipping tea and watching their interaction. Milly smiled and raised her cup in acknowledgement.

The men’s faces went white. They stammered something to the foreman that Milly could not hear, then quickly walked in the opposite direction, suddenly remembering other business that was far more critical than a couple misaligned farmers.

The foreman laughed as they retreated and Milly breathed a sigh of relief. She tried to look outwardly casual, but inside her heart was racing. Silently, she thanked Rain for helping her to build a reputation that served to help avoid such confrontations.

“It pays to have the Witch nearby,” said the foreman, smiling and tipping his hat to her. “I did not want to get into an argument with Jacob Stone’s goons. Ms. Cook sanctioned this. She even plans to help once her afternoon is clear.”

Ms. Cook was the most senior manager amongst the public servants. Their representative among the CEOs. If there was a kink in the CEOs' armor, it was her. Not because she was weak, but because she had different motivations than the others. According to Rain’s intel, she believed that the order the CEOs brought was critical to survival. She did not care about the power that came with the position, only the safety of her people. If that meant aligning with the CEOs, then she would hold her nose and do so.

She was the opposite of Mr. Stone, who was growing more controlling each day. He still saw Milly as a threat, though he had made no move against her since that first town hall. Her reputation was working to keep him at bay, but how long would it last?

“You look lost in thought,” came a melodic voice from behind her. Milly looked up and saw Calista staring down at her with a gentle smile. She had her long red hair tied up in a bun today, and her frilly blouse was barely holding together after a week of tears and heavy use. She had it tied across her chest like a bikini now, leaving her tanned arms and stomach exposed. Even in this place, in nothing but rags, she still managed to look stunning. Milly stopped looking up at her, her cheeks flushed.

“Just…just contemplating how much this place has changed in only a week,” Milly said, pointing at the garden. “Are you ready?”

Calista gave her a broad smile. “I’m always ready for you, Milly. I want to see how far we can push out today. The hunting crew is itching for me to find some new hunting grounds. They are getting tired of boar.”

Milly laughed, “It has only been a week, and we have elk and deer now, and mussels and crab from the beach. What more do they need?”

“Not all of us are used to subsisting on potatoes and peas, pretty lady,” Calista said, leaning down and rubbing Milly’s shoulders playfully. “This woman needs variety in her life. Especially when that life is in a death contest.”

Milly gave an awkward smile. She felt uncomfortable every time Calista complimented her. When Milly looked in the mirror at night, she still saw the fat, greasy girl pretending to belong.

“Come on,” Calista said chipperly, reaching down and hauling Milly into the air by her armpits. Milly gave a playful shriek, flailing her legs and nearly knocking over her teacup. Calista loved to take every opportunity to show off her strength. “Or do I need to carry you all the way there? I could do it you know.”

“As much fun as that sounds,” Milly chuckled, imagining herself riding atop Calista’s strong shoulders, “I guess I can walk. Where are we headed today?”

Calista pointed towards the mountains. “Up there. I woke up with a feeling today. That is where we need to be.”

“Then lead on Huntress,” Milly teased, and she followed Calista’s swaying hips as they headed north.

* * *

They walked quickly for two hours, avoiding the goblins when they could. “They are too easy now,” Calista whispered as they let another patrol group pass them by. “I don’t think they help us level up anymore. But their clubs still hurt. It is not worth the risk.”

Milly agreed. “Xavier said something similar last night while I was healing him.”

“And how is handsome but awkward lately?” Calista asked sarcastically, a touch of venom in her voice.

“Calista…” Milly started.

“I know Milly. That was my mean girl coming out. But I do not like how he uses you. He treats you like his personal nurse, not his friend.”

Milly did not really know how to answer her. “I…I don’t really know how he is doing. Last night I invited him to join us in our afternoon exploration,” Milly saw Calista’s frown, “He did not accept. He just said that ‘You two would only slow me down. I level up faster alone. Remember that, Witch of the Castle of Glass.’ He said that last part sarcastically.”

Milly sighed. “I think he is jealous that I have you and Rain. He is certainly stronger than we are individually, but he grows more distant each time I see him. As if each day claims a little more of the humanity within him and replaces it with an unfillable desire to be something more.”

Calista nodded. “You know, I kind of understand that.”

“Understand what?” Milly asked.

“Wanting to be something more. Wanting to push further, faster, and harder each day. I feel that way too. I’m just not willing to abandon everything else like Xavier has. The man is obsessive Milly. He was obsessive about working out and video games before the Contest, and the Contest made both those obsessions irrelevant. So now the Contest is his obsession. It is all he has left to live for.”

“Then what should I do?” Milly asked, concerned. She had never had a friend in trouble before. Like Xavier, before the contest she had focused only on herself. It was Rain and Calista who made her want to be something more. But Xavier had no one else. No one to help him.

“Do you need to do anything?” Calista asked. “After all, he might outlive all of us at the pace he is growing. But if you still want to help him, and, honestly, I’m not sure why you would, just keep an eye out for the right opportunity. I’m sure one will come up.”

“Thanks, Calista,” Milly said gratefully.

“You are welcome. Now, can we please change the topic? This conversation is too heavy for me. Oh my god, did you see what Judy Brass was wearing this morning? A pink suit with 80’s style shoulder pads and green pants. Either she finally ran out of clothes in her office, or she’s started taking fashion advice from the CEO of EnergyWave.”

Milly giggled, and they continued their trek. They were deep into the valley now, further than they had ever been. The river flowed rapidly beside them, flowing from the glaciers far into the mountains. It gave the area a coolness that was absent from the other terrains, and Milly saw Calista shivering in her bikini top. She opened her inventory, pulled out her hoodie, and handed it to Calista.

“Are you sure?” Calista asked, taking the hoodie in her arms, “I know how special it is to you.”

Milly nodded, and Calista put the hoodie on without hesitation. It fell to her naval, and Calista lifted the front and smelled. “Smells like Milly,” she said, smiling.

“You mean smells like sweat and grease,” Milly said, embarrassed.

“I don’t mean anything of the sort,” answered Calista. She spun around with an exaggerated flourish, as if she were wearing a prom dress. “How do I look?”

“Like the world’s most confused goth,” giggled Milly.

Calista slumped her shoulders, swishing her hair back dramatically and an deep frown on her face. “Life is pain,” she moaned, dragging out each word. Then she chuckled, breaking character. “It is really comfortable though. I can see why you like it.”

“It is, but I don’t wear it for comfort,” Milly said, unconsciously resting her hand on her stomach, conscious of the fat hidden behind her gown.

Calista saw the dark thought about to enter Milly’s mind. She grabbed Milly’s hand and looked into her fire-touched eyes. “Milly, you are a beautiful woman. Don’t you go thinking otherwise.”

“Thanks,” Milly murmured, then added, “You look really good in the hoodie.”

“Don’t I just?” Calista giggled, spinning again. But suddenly she stopped, facing into the dense forest ahead of them. “What’s that?”

There was a rough path diverging from the river, leading to a sheer cliff against the edge of the mountain, a large split in the rock that ran far up the side of the mountain, forming a deep cave beyond. It was well hidden in the trees, and if not for their playfulness they would have missed it entirely.

“Let’s check it out,” whispered Calista, spear and shield in hand a moment later. She ducked down and led the way through the trees.

Milly opened herself up to the power within her, feeling it cascade under her skin and settle itself just below the surface. It was easier now, almost instinctual, as her magic grew stronger with each additional attribute point. She felt the flames ready to release from her fingertips and could feel the solid earth beneath her feet ready to be molded.

Calista stayed low and led them to the edge of a small clearing filled with short grasses, moss, and assorted colorful flowers. Squirrels scattered on their approach, scurrying up the pines to angrily squeak at the intruders. At the end of the clearing, nestled against a sheer wall of stone that rose up twenty feet into the air, were twin statues standing outside the entrance to the deep cave, muscled men with spear and shield carved in white marble.

“We’ve never come across something like this before,” whispered Calista, her eyes beaming with a mix of excitement and anxiousness.

Milly nodded, “This could be important, Calista. We should get Rain and come back tomorrow.”

“Let’s see what it is first,” Calista said, and she crept forward into the clearing.

“Calista…” Milly implored, following her reluctantly.

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The moment Milly’s foot crossed the threshold, she knew they had made a mistake. The statues suddenly turned towards them, raised their spears and shields into the air, and crashed them together. The crash of spear and shield echoed across the clearing and deep into the cave.

There was a loud skittering noise from the depths of the cave. The sound of dozens of footfalls quickly growing closer.

“Umm…change of plans Milly. Let’s get out of here,” Calista shouted, grabbing Milly’s had and turning back towards the forest.

They crashed against the air as if they had run into a wall, knocked to the ground by the impact.

“Ow, fuck, that hurt,” Calista shouted. Milly instinctively put a hand on Calista’s forehead and gave her a short burst of healing. “Thanks Milly.”

Calista reached forward and her hand fell on solid air, as if it had turned to glass. “Milly, this isn’t good.” Calista rushed to her feet, pressing her hand against the transparent wall and running along the edge of the clearing. The barrier stretched the entire way around the clearing. They were trapped inside, unable to escape.

The skittering now sounded like an oncoming storm. Calista moved in front of Milly protectively. “Barrier,” she shouted, her shield expanding in front of them both. Milly positioned herself behind the shield, as they had done a dozen times before, and let the fire flow into her palms. The flames were stronger now that it had been that second day, and became easier to control each time she grew her magic.

“Milly, help us see what is coming,” Calista said, her jaw set, and eyes focused on the cave.

Milly released a short burst of fire from her palm, sending it into the cave and illuminating the darkness within.

The black segmented body was over twenty feet long and three feet wide, ending in a razor-sharp forked appendage. Its hundred yellow legs moved its body in a wave as it crawled along the side of the cave, dislodging stones that echoed in the cave’s depths as they fell. The segmented centipede body curved up into the air, forming a thick neck that swayed back and forth as it ran. Its crimson head ended in an elongated mouth filled with rows of sharp teeth, with two short pincers for dragging prey into its depths. Intelligent black eyes searched for the source of the fire. The eyes of a hunter, who had spotted its next prey.

Milly’s round glasses flashed, startling her, and a screen popped up above the creature.

Challenge Guardian: The Crushing Wave

Access to the challenge arena ‘Arena of Choice’ is restricted to those who defeat the challenge guardian.

Difficulty: Phase I Boss

“Milly, now is not the time to hold back!” Calista bellowed, bracing her shoulder against the shield as The Crushing Wave’s onslaught brought it off the walls of the cave and onto the ground, headed straight for them at blinding speeds.

Milly closed the screen, bringing forth her fire until it filled both her palms. Her hazel eyes filled with ember’s glow and she willed the flames to grow hotter. They shifted from deep red to bright orange, and moments later she stepped around the shield and hurled the flames forward at the creature’s charging form.

The flames struck the creature where its neck met the segmented legs, splashing across its body and leaving burns where it struck. The creature howled in rage and pain, but it continued hurtling forward without slowing.

“It’s not going to stop!” Milly warned, as the creature collided with the light shield.

Calista felt her arms grow numb from the impact. The light shield collapsed, and Milly and Calista were thrown backwards into the wall of air. The creature’s momentum halted, but the wooden shield Calista had once held now lay shattered on the ground at her feet.

“Damn you,” Calista swore, thrusting her spear up into one of the creature’s segments from where she lay. It pierced its flesh, but the creature did not flinch. It lowered in gruesome head down towards Calista, eyes filled with menace, as if taunting them.

“Calista!” Milly shouted in a panic. She grabbed Calista by the waist and pulling her out of the way just as the creature’s forked appendage swung around and stabbed the ground where Calista once lay. Milly jumped to her feet, hauling Calista up with her. “Run!”

They ran as fast as their enhanced speed would take them, covering the distance of the clearing in a matter of seconds, pausing when they reached the sheer wall of stone.

“We can’t panic, Milly,” said Calista, more to herself than to Milly. Calista pulled two more spears from her inventory, one in each hand. “New plan. Stay back and hit it from a distance.” They heard the rumble of the creature’s accelerating footsteps heading their direction, and Calista hurled the first spear as The Crushing Wave was halfway across the clearing. The spear stuck in its neck, piercing through one of its burns, but it continued forward unimpeded.

“Damn it,” Calista said frustrated, hurling the second spear as Milly let loose another blast of fire. Both struck home, and both failed to slow the creature’s movement.

“Move Calista,” Milly said, darting along the cliff towards the cave.

They were not fast enough. The creature swung its body out as they moved, using its momentum to carry forward the forked appendage and striking both women just as they would have reached safety. They were knocked back hard, flying and landing with a sickening thud in front of the statues outside the cave. Milly heard a snap and she struggled to breathe.

“Shit. Calista, I think I broke a rib,” Milly said breathlessly as she got to her feet.

Calista did not get up. Milly looked down at her and saw a deep slash across her stomach from one side to the other, the edges of the wound turning a sickly green.

“That…that’s not good,” Calista murmured, staring at the wound, her voice weak. Then her head fell back to the ground as her chest began to spasm, as the sickly green of the wound start to seep into her veins.

“No. No, no no,” muttered Milly, kneeling with hands filled of blue healing magic. But the moment she touched her, she knew immediately it would not work on the poison now moving through Calista’s body.

“No, please, god, no.” she pleaded, “Stay with me, Calista! I can’t lose you.” The last sentence came out as a pained whisper.

The Crushing Wave had turned towards them and started resuming its charge, pincers ready for its meal.

Milly made a quick decision. She stood, flailing her arms as she shuffled away from Calista’s spasming body. Fire roared in her hands, growing hotter and hotter until Milly could no longer stand the heat. She threw it at the centipede, striking it in its side. Three of its legs melted away, and the scream that echoed from the creature’s maw rattled off the mountaintops.

“Over here, fucker. Here! Here!” Milly challenged, readying herself for its charge. She prayed that it would take the bait, try draw it away from Calista.

It worked. The creature shifted its charge just as it was about to crush Calista, its legs narrowly missing her prone form as they stabbed into the ground.

Milly tried not to panic, holding her ground and looking for something, anything, to get them out of this situation.

The creature headed straight for her, its mass carving a path of destruction though the clearing.

And then Milly saw it, twenty feet above the clearing resting precariously on the mountain’s edge. A boulder the size of a car, held in place by a narrow lip of stone on a ledge above her.

Milly pushed off the ground hard, jumping sideways out of the creature’s charge, and leaping to the ground to dodge the swing of its forked tail. “Run, Milly. Don’t think about how close that was, just run!”

She let her instincts guide her, running straight for the steep cliff that rose above the clearing. The Crushing Wave turned and barreled forward towards her at full speed, maw open to snatch her as she ran.

“Please, let this work,” Milly whispered.

As she reached the wall of stone, Milly turned towards the creature and pressed her palms to the ground. She channeled as much fire as she could handle, and a flood of flames roared across the surface of the clearing, a foot tall and ten feet long and burning everything in its path. The creature struck the flames, unable to slow down, and it shrieked in pain as the tips of its feet burned one by one.

Milly had no time to celebrate. She looked up at the boulder high above but knew in an instant that her magic would not reach it. “I need to get closer,” she said, then had an idea.

Milly pressed her hands against the rock face. She closed her eyes and focused, quelling the fire within her and bringing forth her new earth magic. There had been precious little time to practice with it, but this needed to work. “It must work,” she whispered.

Her fingers sunk into the earth, knuckle deep, and she suppressed her cry of surprise. The earth felt cool against her fingers, firm yet malleable. These was a comfort to it that she had not expected, but she had not time to dwell. She started climbing, one hand over the other, sinking just enough into the stony wall to allow her and her elevated strength to lift her up. “Come on! I’m so close! Keep going!” Milly commanded herself.

The Crushing Wave broke through the flames and rose up to its full height, front legs flailing in the air, charred and smoking. It leaned its maw up skyward at the morsel scaling the wall, nearly within its grasp.

Milly pulled herself up once more, and could suddenly sense the ledge above through her fingers imbedded within the wall. She was within range.

As the creature’s fangs came within inches of her, Milly planted her feet against the stone and kicked hard, sailing backwards over the snapping maw of the creature. She reached out her arms, channeling earth through one and fire through the other, targeting the stone that held the boulder in place. “Please…please work,” she prayed.

The stone began to glow, faintly at first but brighter with each of Milly’s heartbeats. The rock began to bend, then flow, and the stone melted into glowing magma.

The creature shrieked in frustration as Milly sailed over it, but with burned feet it was unable to stop its momentum before it slammed into the wall of stone. The lava gave way, collapsing down the side of the wall and plummeting onto the creature’s head. For a moment it cried out in pain, but then the boulder dislodged from the mountainside, following the path the lava had carved. It ended the creature’s howls of pain and rage in an instant, crushing its body with a sickening snap.

Milly struck the ground hard on her back and felt more ribs crack inside. She gasped in pain, struggling to breathe as she lay on her back. She lifted her hand to her head, staring in alarm when she drew it back and saw it covered in blood. The ground rumbled as the boulder stuck the ground, then utter silence fell across the clearing.

She gave herself two painful breaths before she rolled to her side and pushed herself slowly to her feet, head fuzzy and struggling to stay conscious. The only movement from The Crushing Wave were the spasms of its scorched legs as death claimed it.

Milly spared it only a fleeting glance, hobbling over to Calista, her eyes wide open in fear as Calista’s chest spasmed uncontrollably. “Mil…ly…” was all Calista managed to say before the poison reached her limbs and spasming encompassed her whole body.

Milly channeled the last of her magic into trying to heal the wound, but it was no use against the poison flowing through Calista’s body.

“It…it doesn’t work on poisons, Calista. I don’t know what to do,” Milly was panicking now, desperately searching for any way to save her.

Calista used every ounce of energy she had left to point a spasming finger at the creature. “Ra…in.” she whispered, struggling to speak even the single word. Her breath started to become ragged, and her eyes rolled back in her head.

“Rain?” Milly asked, then suddenly it struck her, “Rain! I understand!”

Milly forced herself to her feet, limping over to the creature’s forked appendage. She opened her inventory and pulled out a rusted sword that had seen better days. She lifted the sword with what might she could muster and severed the tip. A second swing took a chunk of leg, and a third part of the creature’s body. She moved to its head and collected a pincer. She knelt and scooped a handful of teeth scattered across the ground that the boulder had dislodged. She stashed every body part in her inventory, hoping there was something Rain could use to brew a cure.

Then came a crushing realization. Even with these parts, Rain was over two hours away, the Tower out of sight in the dense pine forest. Her heart dropped, and she collapsed to the ground, hopeless and afraid.

The battle victory message flashed in her sight, and it opened unbidden.

Congratulations!

You have defeated The Crushing Wave

You have gained 12-hour access to The Arena of Choice

You have been awarded 800 experience points.

You have leveled up.

You have leveled up.

You have leveled up.

You have gained six attribute points and one talent point.

Item: Collar of the Victor

Item: Waypoint Crystal

Gold: 300

Was the AI Director feeling generous? The thought entered Milly’s head, and suddenly she had the smallest taste of hope.

Milly quickly allocated two points to toughness and four points to magic as she fumbled through her inventory, pulling out the collar and the crystal and laying them on the ground before her. The toughness dulled the pain slightly, and she felt her magic inside her refill a small amount as the increase took hold.

She focused on the items, and descriptions popped up.

Collar of the Victor

Nothing shackles a player like endless victory.

Benefit: +4 Strength, +4 Toughness

Warning: It looks gross. Do you really want to wear this?

The collar was in the shape of a centipede, round body stretching around her neck, with legs forming decorative lines above and below. The buckle was the fanged head, pincers locking it in place. Milly put on the collar without hesitation, feeling the increased toughness further dulling her pain.

“Now the second one,” Milly whispered, crossing her fingers. She read it and hope flared to life.

Waypoint Crystal

Single Use Item. Why walk when you can warp?

Benefit: Transports your party to a previously explored location

Designer Note: Hephaestus, the world is very large. Gods will grow bored with watching players walk everywhere. Added Waypoint Crystals to keep Contest flowing. – Oracle

The note was not part of the item’s description. It appeared through her Spectacles of Hidden Design, wavy words written below the standard description. Milly did not spare a moment to think about the implications. She grabbed the Waypoint Crystal, cradling its blue, diamond-shaped form in the palm of her hand like it was the most precious thing in that world, and staggered over to where Calista lay.

“Hang on, Calista. Please hang on,” she begged. She embraced Calista in the tightest hug she had ever given, then shattered the crystal between thumb and finger.

“Rain On My Parade,” she shouted.

And a moment later, Milly was pulled into a kaleidoscope tunnel, clutching Calista for dear life, and trying not to scream.

Mildred Persephone Brown

Player

Level: 15

Specialty: Survival

Strength: 16 (+4 from Wedding Ring of Phillip the Ogre, + 4 from Collar of the Victor)

Agility: 15 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars)

Toughness: 16 (+4 from Collar of the Victor)

Magic: 25 (+5 from Gown of Moon and Stars, +2 from Milly's First Witch's Hat)

Talents: Healer's Touch, Fire Magic (Beginner), Earth Magic (Beginner), Reanimate Rodent (Witch's Hat), unassigned talent

Rain Desjarlais

Player

Level: 8

Specialty: Brewing, Experimentation

Strength: 8

Agility: 8

Toughness: 15

Magic: 8

Talents: Nature's Bounty, Alchemy (Beginner), Dagger Specialist (Beginner)

Calista Gale

Player

Level: 12

Specialty: Hunting, Mean Girl

Strength: 12

Agility: 12

Toughness: 8

Magic: 8 (+4 from Huntress' Scrunchy)

6 unassigned attribute points

Talents: Protective Shield (beginner), Spear Specialist (beginner), Improved Perception* (from Huntress' Scrunchy), 1 unassigned talent

*Increases Calista's ability to locate hidden paths and locations