Chapter 184 – Floor 19: Part 1

Mathew revelled in his time off.

It reminded him of when he first graduated from Harvard and went to a resort in Mexico with Emily. The details were incredibly blurry, as so much of his past before the Tower was, but he could recall being comfortable and pampered. They had spent weeks eating and sleeping, swimming in the ocean and going on excursions.

Now, Mathew slept in an oversized bed, showered in scalding hot water and ate until he was full to bursting on the best foods. It was paradise.

There was fallout from his actions against Ridley and Ryker White, but he was far removed from them.

The story of how he had fought his way through an army of people, bullets bouncing off his skin like some kind of superhuman had made its rounds, and no one was willing to confront him directly.

When the ‘police’ showed up to talk to him, Mathew had bound them tightly with ‘Earthbind’ after they started getting aggressive and had the Wyvern carry them out. His reputation grew to the point that many called him a ‘tyrant’ or ‘gangster’ and expected him to control the city now that he had eliminated their ruler.

Instead, his days of inaction led to confusion that only ended with Agatha White returning to Amalar. Ridley’s mother had been overseas shopping when word had reached her of her son and husband’s disappearance.

Rallying her guard with promises of wealth, she had marched on the hotel Mathew was staying in with the intent of having him arrested and executed. Instead, Mathew had used ‘Enlarge’ on the Wyvern and sent it to scatter her small army while he relaxed.

Things spiralled downwards for Agatha shortly after, and by the time Mathew walked into the Bartlett’s newly repaired home, Amalar had removed her from power, and a new provisional government was installed. Democracy had come to their land, and it was all thanks to Mathew, who didn’t care one whit about it.

They had even tried to honour him with a medal, but Mathew hadn’t shown up to the ceremony.

But all good things come to an end, and for Mathew, his ‘vacation’ was interrupted by a familiar notification.

‘Ding!’

Mathew was reclining in a chair, the radio was playing music, and he was nearly asleep when the noise rang out and his wristband vibrated.

Letting out a resigned sigh, Mathew raised his wrist to read the message.

Floor 18 – A Damsel in Distress (Complete)

Summary: Congratulations! You have successfully defended Lily Bartlett from the avaricious attentions of Ridley White.

Reward: 500,000 Aether.

Mathew smiled at the reward. He could finally buy decent equipment! 500,000 Aether wasn’t a lot, not when compared to his earnings from some of the other Floors, but he was rather desperate for Aether at the moment, and every bit helped.

Already imagining what he would spend it on, another notification soon replaced the existing message.

The god of Sanctuary Retort is pleased with your actions and has requested your services. You will transition to the next Floor in 5. 4. 3.

“Wait! What? At least give me some time to change!” Mathew said as the countdown reached zero. He looked down at the bathrobe and white slippers and wished he had kept some extra clothes in his inventory.

He was engulfed in light, and his body rose from the chair he was lying in. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

When the servants arrived later in the day to check to see if he needed anything, they found the room empty, but no one had seen Mathew leave. Everyone could only attribute the mystery to Mathew’s eccentricity.

But Lily would always make sure to add Mathew, the Champion who had saved her, to her prayers.

Page Break

Mathew appeared in a flash of light above the pavement of a street in the middle of nowhere. He hovered in the air for a moment before whatever power was keeping him buoyant failed, and he dropped like a stone.

Landing awkwardly on his slippered feet and favouring his good leg, Mathew looked around at where he had been deposited. It was nighttime, and electric streetlamps lighted the road at regular intervals. The street curved slightly as it pierced its way through a forest of leafy green trees.

Mathew was completely alone as he stood on the pavement in his slippers and bathrobe.

“Great. Couldn’t even give me time to put on underwear.” Mathew grumbled. He was about to pull up the ‘Shop’ and make some purchases when he was interrupted by an incoming message.

Floor 19 – A Devious Plot

Summary: The god of Sanctuary Retort has commanded you to investigate the matter of Liquescent Aether being processed and poisoned by Mischievous Depravity. Travel to the factory nearby, discover the truth and destroy all traces of its production.

Reward: Attribute increase: Body +1, Spirit +1

“Shit.” Mathew uttered as he read the summary. He wanted nothing to do with Mischievous Depravity or any of its plots. He had enough trouble with that god in the past, and any further encounters with it would cause nothing but problems.

Unfortunately, he didn’t have any choice. For some reason, Sanctuary Retort was using him to investigate the poisoned Aether vials. Mathew wasn’t sure what about him made that god think he was equipped to do this, but he’d just have to go along with it.

“First thing’s first.” Mathew said as he pulled up the ‘Shop.’ Thankfully, the items inside had been refreshed, and he could afford a few articles of clothing. He started with underwear, enchanted for increased durability, followed by blue jeans and a shirt that did the same.

He added a long, black jacket that was lasting, nearly indestructible and resistant to fire. After topping up on potions and buying a pair of sturdy, magical boots, Mathew was completely out of Aether to spend.

Returning to a state of destitution, he closed the ‘Shop,’ picked a direction, and started walking. A celestial spirit followed silently in his wake, flitting in and out of existence as it whispered.

“You Must Zatize Us”

Page Break

After more than an hour of walking down the road, seeing nothing but trees on all sides and the occasional streetlamp to light the night, Mathew arrived at a small town.

It was utterly deserted.

The houses and businesses all had boarded-up windows; their doors were closed, the painted exteriors faded and unmaintained, the lawns unkempt and overgrown. There were abandoned cars left on the street and in driveways, their tires flat and metal surfaces rusted.

The crunching sound of Mathew’s boots on the gravel that had accumulated over the pavement echoed throughout the silent and empty town. There was no one in sight, no signs indicating what had happened or even where this town was located.

“Not eery at all.” Mathew muttered as he looked around. The road ended with a line of concrete barriers and caution tape that had been overrun with weeds. After wandering around for a few minutes, he found a dirt road that led into the forest.

“Sanctuary Retort couldn’t have dropped me closer?” Mathew complained as he made his way down the path. It twisted and turned through the trees but was wide and flat enough that automobiles and trucks could have easily made it.

When the first hint of light appeared on the horizon, Mathew heard something approaching from the path behind him. Curious but cautious, he stepped back into the forest and observed. A large truck with crates stacked in the box drove slowly up the path, its headlights shining brightly.

The driver was a man wearing a mask, a simple black piece of cloth that covered the lower half of his face and attached by loops behind his ears. Mathew could hear the radio playing inside through the truck's open windows.

Mathew caught a good look at the crates in the back as it passed. They were made of wood, with ‘Fragile’ on the side and a large symbol he recognized.

Biohazard.

“Bingo.” Mathew whispered as the truck disappeared around the bend. He moved back onto the road and followed it as quickly as his bad leg would let him. He briefly considered using the Wyvern but dismissed the thought. He wasn’t sure what was ahead and didn’t want to risk being spotted above the trees.

The road widened, and Mathew saw a chain link fence; the gate on wheels was just beginning to close after the truck passed through. There were guards dressed in military uniforms and holding automatic rifles in their hands. Their faces were covered in masks as well, the same as the drivers.

The factory was a large, warehouse-like structure made of concrete and metal. There were multiple buildings ringing it, separated by well-maintained roads and green lawns. He could see people coming and going all around the factory, with more trucks and forklifts moving crates and equipment.

But a line of people waiting patiently under the watchful eyes of a few guards caught Mathew’s attention. Their heads were shaven, and they were dressed in white medical gowns. They were shackled to each other with iron bands around their ankles.

“Thralls.” Mathew said with disgust.