“I’m going to rule this piece of dirt one day,” Arnold Jacques said to himself. “And I’ve got a secret weapon.”

That weapon laid in his very dreams:

The Tower of Somnus, an online massively multiplayer video game set up by some aliens or something like that (he didn’t really care to pay much attention to the politics side of it) to provide a space for the human race to grow into a galactic leadership role (probably). He’d gotten the game in an absolute steal just a few days ago, and everything changed...

He remembered the broker handing it to him.

Then he handing her two hundred thousand credits.

There he was, standing in some dingy shop in the eighth level of the arcology. On the other side of the wall he heard two people having a go at it with loud wails that sounded more in pain than in love. And in the broker’s face he saw only the ashen, cracked visage of a woman whose life had been wasted away on the black market.

Arnold hated being in such squalor, such filth. If he never had to set foot in these parts of the arcology ever again, he would be better off for it. But it was a necessary cost to obtain one of the world’s greatest tools for experience and power.

Right here in his hands... two subscriptions.

...

...

A dark classroom. And then there was light.

Because Arnold flipped the switch when he walked in.

First one in, here to scope out the lecture hall and find the best seat possible. Today was the day that Arnold Jacques would ace his aptitude test and finally take his ultimate position:

Arnold would become the valedictorian for sure.

And he would be welcomed into the Ike Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of GroCorp, system just like his father. Finally, worth something beyond just his dashing good looks.

The reason he came to the classroom so early was not to study, not to make some big effort at being the best--no, his family connections were enough to ensure that already--but because he was just so excited. Just a few more hours, and he’d finally be out of this school system, out of the coddled world he’d endured for his whole life up until now.

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With the power gained from The Tower of Somnus, Arnold would be able to conquer this place and make it just a little more bearable, perhaps. He simply couldn’t wait to be an executive.

He’d been playing the game for a few days now, and it was wonderful. A gigantic, sprawling fantasy world he could visit every single night, where he could continue his path to power even while his mind rested up.

Only problem was... He wasn’t good at video games, and definitely not good at fighting. Hence the second subscription.

He needed a friend, a partner, someone to guide him through the game until he gained the abilities needed to go on his own. It was an investment with massive, risk, but also an absolute guarantee of success, because never in Arnold’s life had he never gotten his way. He simply tried to hard for that.

After all, Arnold already had someone in mind.

More students began to pour into the lecture hall and filled up the empty desks, but the person of Arnold’s interest didn’t show up, not as far as he looked.

Where was she?

Finally decided to skip town, maybe? Or a run went bad? Arnold knew she was in a bit of a dangerous line of work, so... This would be very, very bad if she didn’t show up soon.

Arnold began to sweat. Began to panic in many different ways. What if she died? What if his plan was just about to go into the gutter all in an instant? What if she just said no anyway? He realized he was already a hundred thousand extra credits out, and there was no way he was crawling back to that broker begging for a refund. He’d rather jump off the arcology than do anything like that.

The proctor began handing out papers. The aptitude test was beginning--

And, right on time--

There she was.

A rushed, sweaty, panting girl with the eyes of a beautiful, hunting tigress.

Kat Debs had entered the classroom, carrying with her the poise of a Greek statue and all the buxom of a classic Hollywood star, her precious torso bouncing around with every step. And for her size up front, she was still a remarkably slender woman, that perfect combination of robustness and daintiness. Even while sweat pooled at her armpits, even with her hair up in the most precarious of buns, her whole being just radiated competence.

What Arnold wouldn’t do to have a girl like that...

And, soon, that might just transpire... Because Arnold always got what he wanted, and what he wanted was her.

He knew she couldn’t refuse a Tower of Somnus subscription. Nobody could, especially not someone as combat-prone as Kat. And if the game meant anything for Arnold’s future revenue, it surely meant something for him and her.

He stared as she sat down at an empty desk across the lecture hall and took a cursory glance around. Her eyes did not meet his, but he still did not look away.

All he could think was that he was about to obliterate this aptitude test.... And he was about to win the woman of his dreams. This was about to be the greatest day of his life.

They might be playing Tower of Somnus now, but they might as well start calling it the Tower of Arnold.