Chapter 61 – Floor 7: Part 1
The elevator doors closed and blocked Mathew’s view of the sixth floor. It might have been due to the months at sea, but the interior of the elevator seemed much more spacious than he remembered it being.
While he waited for the elevator to begin to carry him to his destination, Mathew opened up the ‘Judgement’ tab of his wristband and reviewed the comments from the gods on his performance. There was only a single entry.
The goddess of Serene Reconciliation is most pleased with your performance, attitude and the results of your endeavours.
“At least someone is pleased with me.” Mathew muttered, closing the screen. He thought about buying some items from the now available shop but decided to wait until reaching the next floor and reading the summary of what he would be facing.
Mathew began to grow impatient as the seconds stretched to minutes, and the Elevator still hadn’t started to move.
“Is this thing broken?” Mathew exclaimed when he heard a voice behind him.
“Hello, Mathew Larson.”
Spinning around at the sound of the familiar voice, he saw the young woman from the lobby. She had been the first person he had met upon entering the Tower of Avarice over a year ago. The receptionist wore the same outfit he remembered: a grey suit jacket and matching skirt.
She hadn’t changed a bit; even her hairstyle was exactly the same. Time worked differently in the Tower, Mathew recalled. Perhaps what had been a year for him had only been a few minutes for her?
“Hello again. What are you doing here?” Mathew asked. He doubted she had come all this way to simply say hello and wish him good luck. He had the impression that everything she did had a purpose.
“I’ve come to make a confession.” She replied. Mathew frowned at the response.
“Oh? Regarding what?” Mathew inquired with curiosity. It must be important if she was here.
“Regarding you and the path you are on. You see, the tests you participated in when you first entered were not our only assessment of you. The gods have been monitoring your progress, and I have been watching you as well.” The young woman admitted.
“I don’t understand. I know the gods have been monitoring me. There is an entire section of the wristband dedicated to their judgement.” Mathew stated in confusion.
“This goes beyond their judgement. Since you have left the first floor, your path has been set by your performance, by your temperament and the need of the gods for someone like you to accomplish tasks. But you are now at the point where you are a victim of your own success. It eventually happens to everyone who enters the Tower and survives. Your services are in demand by gods that may clash with your morality.” The young woman explained.
“You mean to say that they will start asking me to do things that I won’t agree with?” Mathew asked, and the young woman nodded.
“Morally or ethically. The gods have need of Champions…All of the gods. Not all of them are as amenable as the goddess of Serene Reconciliation.” The young woman clarified.
“The god of Unprovoked Murder.” Mathew replied, and the young woman shrugged at the answer.
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“You have hit the proverbial nail on the head, Mathew. The god of Unprovoked Murder has requested your services. They have requested you specifically, in fact.”
“And that’s why you’re here, to warn me?” Mathew inquired.
“I’m here to offer you a choice. From this point onward, you will choose your path forward through the Tower. It is a gift from the Tower of Avarice to its participants, one typically accessible at a higher floor when a participant crosses this threshold.” She stated.
“What does this gift cost?” Mathew asked. Nothing in the Tower of Avarice was free. He had learned that during his time here.
“Deviations from the path the gods have determined for you have consequences. Observe.” The young woman said. Coming to the front of the elevator and standing next to him, she placed her hand on the white wall next to the closed silver doors.
At her touch, buttons appeared. A ‘1’ and ‘2’ set in a silver panel like any other elevator Mathew had been in when he was still on Earth. Above them was a small screen with a summary of the options available to him.
Floor 7: Option 1 – End of Harmony.
The world of Elysium is a paradise, one that has not known war for millennia. Under the guidance of their king, its people are harmonious and happy. Peace reigns, but at a cost. They have lost their faith in the gods, and Aether is not as plentiful as it once was.
The people need a reason to renew their faith.
Objective: Travel to Elysium, murder their king and bring faith back to its people by fire and sword.
Patron Deity of Floor 7: The god of Unprovoked Murder
Rewards: Low.
Risk: Low
“What the hell?” Mathew exclaimed, reading the summary for his first option twice before comprehending it.
“You want me to go to a world and massacre the inhabitants all so that they will pray to the gods for me to stop? What kind of sick joke is that?” Mathew shouted, turning to look at the young woman.
“It is what’s required of you. As I said, sometimes the tasks of the gods will clash with your morality. There have been plenty of others inside the Tower who would leap at a chance for an easy Floor like this, with the promised rewards and patronage of a deity like that.” She explained, and Mathew shook his head in disgust.
“I won’t do it.” Mathew said, and she shrugged.
“Then you will have to take option ‘2.’” She replied, pointing at the screen. Mathew scanned the summary in the hope that it would be better than the first.
Floor 7: Option 2 – Invasion!
The world of Banath has been invaded by an Outer Deity, a being of pure malice and destruction that has ended all life on the planet. With it comes a horde of demons and fiends, creatures of horror and wrath that thrive on destruction.
The god of Righteous Subjugation has led a campaign to drive it out of the Demesne of the Tower gods.
Hundreds of millions of Champions have answered the call to fight, whether for justice or for the rewards, each with their own reason to fight.
Objective: Travel to Banath, cleanse the planet of all enemies and return it to the control of the Tower of Avarice.
Patron Deity of Floor 7: The god of Righteous Subjugation.
Rewards: High. Each defeated demon and fiend will secure you 100% of its Aether. The Tower Shop will be open at all times throughout the entirety of the floor. All restrictions regarding the purchase of Blessings have been lifted. All Disciplines offered on advancement will be one (1) level of rarity higher.
Risk: High.
Mathew stared at the screen.
“What is an ‘Outer Deity?’” Mathew asked.
“A god from outside the Tower of Avarice.” The young woman said, not offering any more information than that. Mathew looked at her expectantly, waiting for more information, but she didn’t say a word. He gave up after a minute. There were things about the Tower that she wouldn’t reveal to him.
“The other players that have entered option 2, did they have a similar choice as me?” Mathew asked.
“Yes, although not with the exact same circumstances. Most chose this option due to the high rewards, which is commensurate with the risk you will face on the floor.” She stated.
“So my choice is to murder innocents and throw away any sense of morality I have or throw myself into the meat grinder.” Mathew muttered.
“I can offer you one additional piece of information authorized by the goddess of Serene Reconciliation. Choosing Option 2 may help you in your future endeavours.” The young woman offered, and Mathew was silent for a moment.
“I choose Option 2.” Mathew said, pressing the small button with a ‘2’ on it. Once he was committed, he turned to speak to the young woman again, only to find that he was alone once more.