07:01:39:54
07:01:39:53
07:01:39:52
...
I stared at the timer whilst it slowly ticked down. I was excited and yet scared for what could happen once the timer reaches zero. So, I decided to prepare as much as I can. I didn't know what I would be preparing for though.
I first went back to the 1st Floor and messed with the two gates. The wooden gate, which almost seemed like it was going to fall apart, was as sturdy as a mountain. The planks were immovable. I used [Firebolt] but it seemed to do nothing. After that I used [Earth Shot] but the planks stayed strong. Instead, the balls of earth ricocheted around the room and hit me on my shin.
Ouch. That really did hurt.
I ignored the wooden gate and moved on to the steel gate. Surprise surprise, I couldn't break a single bit. I couldn't find any switch or anything. Just... a gate.
Feeling once again discouraged, I went back to the library to do what I do best. Read! I tried to read the "Beginner Water Magic Theory" again and finally found the 1% and comprehended it.
[New Skill Obtained! Beginner Water Magic.]
[Due to having the skill "Beginner Water Magic" you learn the skill "Water Blast"!]
[Water Blast Lvl. 1]
I was feeling a bit skeptical about the usefulness of this skill, but when I shot it at the dummy all my worries were casted away. The water I shot out of my palm was high-pressure water which could slice through bones! Or at least I assumed so. The dummy was sliced in half by a force even stronger than the strikes of my wooden sword. That has to at least mean something, right?
The last elemental magic of the basic four was wind. I found the "Beginner Wind Magic Theory" and read it completely to 100% without having to read another book.
[New Skill Obtained! Beginner Wind Magic.]
[Due to having the skill "Beginner Wind Magic" you learn the skill "Wind Blade"!]
[Wind Blade Lvl. 1]
I casted [Wind Blade] onto a dummy and an almost invisible force lopped off the dummies head. If I was being honest, it was cleaner than [Water Blast] and was like a sneak attack on the enemy. However, it was slower and seemed to do less damage than [Water Blast]. [Water Blast] cut into the enemy and shredded them into pieces. It left quite a mess on the dummies.
As I was contemplating each use of my skills, I heard an alarm ring out in my head. It only rang out for a few seconds before stopping completely. What was that? Where did the alarm come from?
The only idea I could muster was maybe the timer. I had no idea how much time has passed since I checked the timer from last time. I quickly climbed up the stairs to Floor 3 to see the timer.
0:0:0:2
0:0:0:1
0:0:0:0
Soon the whole building shook. Dust that was hiding from the walls all came out at once. The floor seemed to vomit and the air itself looked like rainbows. I stumbled down to the ground and shut my eyes tightly. After a few seconds, I felt the rumbling stop.
Once I opened my eyes, I was met with another message.
[Floor 3 has been unlocked! Please pick the station for Floor 3.]
Options:
- Forest
- Research Lab
- Village
- 2nd Training Room
- Desert
- Enchanting Room
- Administration Room (NOT RECOMENDED)
I tried to process the information I had just received. What did it mean by "station", like what the floor was going to be? Well, looking at these options the [Research Lab], [Enchanting Room], and I guess also the [2nd Training Room] look the best. As for the [Administration Room], it said not recommended so I guess I won't pick it. I mean, this system thing has a reason for that, right?
I already had a training room and I didn't know what the [Enchanting Room] did. I assumed that the [Research Lab] would research things. I was mostly leaning on the [Research Lab]. Not for any particular reason. Maybe the [Enchanting Room] could enchant my skills. However, I didn't see a need to get stronger.
[The Research Lab has been selected.]
After that message popped up, the entire room started changing before me. Big tubes and small flasks were placed neatly on a grey table. Strange machines and beakers filled with unknown liquid started to populate the room.
[Transformation is complete.]
I felt a strange sense of satisfaction. This tower-building schtick was way cooler than I thought. I wondered what I could do in the [Research Lab].
[You can research things to help improve your tower. Such as better equipment, and advanced magic theories.]
That sounded super cool!
[Now that you are a recognized "Tower Owner" you need Tower Energy to maintain your ownership. Please convert your skills into Tower Energy.]
Tower Energy? What was it talking about? And I'm now an owner of this tower? I mean, that doesn't sound so bad. Alright! I'll convert some of my skills. For now, I'll convert [Earth Shot],
[ERROR! Emergency Protocol Activated! Not enough energy to maintain the tower! Converting all skills into Tower Energy!]
WAAAIT! NO! My precious skills! Was [Earth Shot] not enough!?
[Earth Shot has been converted.]
[Water Blast has been converted.]
[Wind Blade has been converted.]
[Firebolt has been converted.]
[Beginner Fire Magic Theory has been converted.]
...
After an agonizing minute of seeing my skills vanish before my eyes, the torture had finally stopped. It had converted all my hard-earned skills into "Tower Energy" or whatnot.
[Tower Energy Points: 121]
W-What could I even use Tower Energy for?
[Ding! Tower Energy can be used to upgrade various features of your tower of which rooms such as the Research Lab or Enchanting Room cannot upgrade. It can also be used to purchase NPC's for a variety of purposes.]
Huh, it actually answered my question. Okay, so, what can I upgrade with my points I have now?
[Ding! Nothing.]
Stupid piece of-
[Starting the countdown for "Tower Hunt".]
Huh!? What did that mean?
I got my answer just a few seconds later. The timer appeared again. This time, however, it was an ominous blood red. And there was only 10 minutes.
10:00
9:59
9:58
...
What was a Tower Hunt? Help! This timer is freaking me out!
[Ding! A Tower Hunt is when unknown beings raid your tower. Unlike climbers, these beings do not climb for there desires, they hunt. They will hunt down the master of the tower, (you), and steal all of their Tower Energy.]
Seriously!? Why is this happening to me now? Hold on, how do they steal Tower Energy?
[They'll kill you.]
Ah! Wait wait! How will I defend myself! Dammit! I just converted all my skills into Tower Energy! I can't even use anything with it!
[Ding! Correction, you can't upgrade anything with it, but you can purchase NPC's.]
Oh. Why didn't you tell me that sooner.
Feeling exasperated, I sat down against the wall of my [Research Lab], I might really die. My entire life, just wasted. Err, how long have I been alive? I doubt it's been 2 months. Ah, I guess I really haven't lived for that long...
I'm too young to die! I'm only 2 months old!
After going through that scary but brief existential crisis, I calmed myself and opened up this "purchasing menu" where I could supposedly buy NPC's.
Defending (TE =Tower Energy)
- Stone Golem (150 TE)
- Clay Warrior (100 TE)
- Rock Swordsmen (75 TE)
- Adult Goblin (60 TE)
- Lesser Skeleton (50 TE)
This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
- Slime (25 TE)
--------------------------------------
ALERT! Tower Energy cannot go below 5!
I saw the nice array of choices laid out for me. This made me a little less scared for what was going to happen. I needed to pick a defender so which one would be the perfect one for this situation. However, the little message below seems to indicate that the required amount for me to live is 5 and up. So why did it convert all skills then!? Ugh, nevermind.
I could bet all my TE onto a Clay Warrior. However, what if there is like a hundred Tower Hunters and some of them pass by my Clay Warrior and kill me. Yikes.
If I were to buy Rock Swordsmen it would've been almost useless. I could buy 1 Rock Swordsmen and 1 slime and that's pretty much it.
I could buy 2 Adult Goblins, but then my Tower Energy would go below 5 and that sounds bad. I'm not willing to risk it.
I could buy 2 Lesser Skeletons instead.
Or I could spam Slimes. That doesn't sound too bad. About 4 Slimes fighting off enemies. However, slimes must be incredibly weak, right? 4 slimes only equate to 2 Lesser Skeletons.
After debating a bit in my mind, I finally came up with my decision. However, if I was being honest, I kind of rushed a bit.
6:23
6:22
6:21
I was wasting too much time. I quickly bought 1 Adult Goblin and 1 Lesser Skeleton. It was like having 2 Slimes and a slightly better Lesser Skeleton on my side.
I was also very close to picking the Clay Warrior, but I was worried about the number of enemies and how strong they were. Oh and, how strong is the Clay Warrior anyways?
I dropped the rest of my ideas the moment I saw two flashes of light appear before me,
An adult goblin, which was about half the height of me, climbed out of the 1st light. It was carrying a dagger in it's right hand and for some reason a piece of rope in it's left hand.
I also noticed a second and third dagger in the back of it's body which was tucked nicely into it's belt.
The second light a normal sized skeleton emerged. It was carrying a steel sword in one hand and a small wooden shield in the other. That was it. Well, it wasn't wearing any clothes since it was just a skeleton.
"H-hallo!"
What. Is that what my voice sounds like!? I should've talked to myself more often!
"Kekeke... Are human master?"
"CHGHGHGHGHGHG."
The goblin was at least capable of human speech. The skeleton on the other hand, it just moved its jaw up and down, and what emerged was an annoying sound of bone hitting bone.
"Yes. I am mastor. I mean master."
"We... serve well. Please name given."
'You want name me? I mean me name you?"
"Kekekeke, yes, master."
Occasionally the goblins throat would crack and it would tried to clear it out for an uncomfortable amount of time. Also, my speech was extremely messed up. At least talking with these monsters should help restore it. As for the name, I didn't really think of a name. I mean, even though the system called them NPC's, they seemed like real people.
[Ding! You can transform from NPC's to real people! You may or may not have been an NPC in the beginning. If you want, you can remove emotions from your guards.]
Huh!? Wait, you can't gloss over that last part! Was I an NPC before?
[...]
Hey!
"M-master?"
"Hm? Oh righteousness! A name!" Did I really just say righteousness? I'm losing touch.
I finally replied to the goblin. "You will be Emerald, and the skeleton will be Scythe." If I'm being honest, little to no effort was put into these names. I just said Emerald because the goblin was green. I said Scythe because the Grim Reaper was a skeleton and the Grim Reaper wielded a scythe for a weapon.
"KEKEKE! Thank you master!" The goblin bellowed out in joy.
"CHGHGHGHGHGHGHG! CHGHG, CHGHG. CHG CH CHGHGH." The skeleton also exclaimed... Err, moved it's jaw up and down in happiness.
Now that I've got that done, I peered over to the timer once again.
4:57
4:56
Ah, I really don't have much time.
I explained the situation to Emerald and Scythe. Beasts are going to raid this tower and attempt to kill me. I needed them to help protect and kill these creatures.
"CHGHGHGHGHGHG."
"Master... Scythe requests... where evil thing come from?"
I blanked out for a second. Indeed, where does the creatures come from?
[Ding! If you would head to the 1st Floor, you will see. Before you ask anymore questions, I will say that you only need to survive 10 minutes before the Tower Hunt is over. Either that, or you kill all of the monsters.]
Ooh, how helpful of you system. I thought we had to kill them all, but as long as I can hide for 10 minutes, they'll be gone. Only problem is... this place isn't THAT big. The 2nd floor is probably the biggest, but it just consists of a training pit filled with dummies, and a library with a few shelves.
I just sighed and walked down to the 1st Floor. I then saw something horrifying! The wooden gate kept shaking, and every now and then, a plank would fall off. I even caught a glimpse of an eye behind the gate.
"Scythe, Emerald, follow me. We're going to camp out in the 2nd Floor."
After we reached there, I sat beside a shelf in the corner. It just so happened to have the "Beginner Water Magic Theory" book. I only had about a minute left before the monsters broke in. Why not attempt to read this book?
[+1% Comprehension]
[+1% Comprehension]
[+1% Comprehension]
...
I was surprised at my reading speed, I had already reached the 20th page in just one minute. Not only that, but my comprehension percentage was at 7%!
However, I didn't have the chance to continue reading as the whole tower once again. This time, more violently. Then, some sort of primal roar of death emerged from the 1st Floor. I heard the sound of something breaking. I felt my heart tighten and palpitate in anticipation. Wait, what? Why?
Terrifying creatures would come and chase me down and kill me. Why do I feel... like this? Excitement? From what? People challenging my tower?
I tried to shake off the feeling, but I couldn't help but grin a little.
These monsters, creatures, no, CHALLENGERS! Do they even qualify to climb this tower yet? We'll see.
"Master, I.. something approaching.. faster..."
The cries of Emerald knocked me out of my short stupor. I peered over the corner, and finally saw the beings that challenge me to a fight to the death. It was some sort of 4-legged creature like a dog, but bones were coming out of it's body. It looked like a hellhound, but it's like it's rib cage was ripped open and organs and guts were spilling out of it's stomach. I meant that last part literally. Everywhere it went the monster let blood and guts fall out, emptying the contents of it's stomach. I sort of waddled behind the bookshelf in fear. However, I was really excited at the same time. What was this?
"Emerald, Scythe... Kill."
I ordered the flesh and bones duo to go and attack the hellhound creature. Emerald was sneaky and ran around the bookshelf to do a pincher attack and cover the back. Scythe was loud and if it had tried to sneak around to the back the creature would've figured out instantly, that's why it just went for a frontal charge and simply tried stabbing the beast in it's snout. The creature retaliated and after receiving a small cut on it's nose went for a bite on Scythe's arm. I could see cracks emerging on his bones. Then the dog whipped it's head to the left and ripped off Scythe's arm.
Then it felt a sharp piercing pain from it's back. Emerald repeatedly stabbed his dagger into the creature over and over again. The dog quickly tried to turn around but Emerald had latched onto it's back. Scythe went to retrieve his sword which was still attached to his arm which was flung faraway.
I felt kind of useless, not being able to do anything. What was the point of all this? Why am I going through all this? But my thoughts soon vanished when I heard the dog yelp loudly and I saw that it had a dagger sticking into it's left eye and Emerald trying to slice it's throat open while he was on top of it. The dog was too busy trying to get Emerald of it's back that it didn't notice that Scythe was running towards it with his sword.
In the next moment Scythe thrusted his sword straight into the dog's ear and it came out the other ear. Blood spilled out everywhere and even out of it's eyes. However, the dog was still moving. It tried one last ditch attempt to bite at Scythe but Emerald finally ripped open it's throat and finally it fell. The beast was slain!
"Emerald and Scythe! I'm so proud of you!"
"CHKHKHKHKK, CHGHGHGHGHG!"
"Kekekeke... Master we won."
Emerald lived only with a few scratches while Scythe was missing a whole arm. However, the next moment completely changed my view on him. He walked over to his lost arm, and simply reattached it, just like that. Right before I was going to ask how Scythe did that, three shadowy figures with lava coming out of there pores suddenly attacked Scythe.
They were about the same height as me and there shape looked like a normal human. However, they had yellow eyes and were completely dark and weird liquid was coming out of there bodies. And I don't mean it any other way. I'm saying that it looked like molten lava. Only one of them had hair. The one in the middle had a red... mohawk?
Yeah, he had a red mohawk.
Err... Nevermind, let's move on. The only good thing is that these monsters could only use their fits. They didn't even have mouths to bite them with. Emerald stabbed his dagger straight into one of there heads. But the mohawk one punched Emerald right in the nose. Poor Scythe was having the pummeling of his life. However, these three men could only use their fists and it was like a street fight. I was sure that even I could fight them. Yet, I felt like I couldn't. No, I knew I couldn't. Why?
Because a giant 8-legged spider was right above me.
RUN FOR IT! As soon as I spotted it, the spider spotted me too and I saw it jump from the roof and I knew I had to start skedaddling. I ran to the corner of the library but I heard the skittling from that giant spider. Then, it started to climb on top of the bookshelves! It jumped at me again and I saw a bunch of moving teeth right where the spiders belly should've been. I dodged to the right and continued running. If I tried to run in a straight line, it would've definitely caught up to me and I would be a goner!
I kept trying to turn at corners attempting to get the spider off my back, I could feel my stomach churning and my feet felt like rubber. I swear I felt blood in my lips. I looped around and saw that Emerald and Scythe were killing the mohawk man and with the other two shadowy creatures dead on the ground. I was shocked to see Emerald completely bruised up, and Scythe had a bunch of cracks in his skull. Poor Scythe, they aimed for his pretty face.
However, I couldn't look at them for long. I felt an intense tugging on my foot and I tripped. I looked down at my foot only to notice a white sticky substance. Not what you think of course, unless you were thinking of spider webbing, then it is exactly what you think. The spider had somehow shot a blob of sticky webbing in front of me and my foot got stuck on it. I'm stupid! How did I not even notice!?
Emerald and Scythe immediately saw the scene and tried running towards me. The spider, however, was not going to wait for anyone else before he starts chowing down on his meal. The spider jumped and I saw a bunch of rotating teeth and it was going to land on me! Or that's what I thought.
[Tower Hunt is over.]
That message made me heave a sigh of relief. I looked up to see that the spider had frozen mid-air and slowly disintegrated. The thick webbing around my leg promptly decided to disintegrate after seeing everyone else disintegrate. The web sure knows how to read the room. I got up to see the condition of Emerald and Scythe.
[Results of Tower Hunt: 1 Dark Prowler (DRL3S0A1), 3 Redows (RL1S0A3),]
[Calculating reward... 150 Tower Energy, Spider Pheromones (RARE)]
Shut up about Tower Energy! Though, I do like Tower Energy... Ah! My babies!
Emerald and Scythe was completely bruised up and I felt bad since they had to fight so hard for me. I promised that I would make these guys stronger so they can suffer for me while not getting bruised up! Yup! Good idea!
[NPC: Emerald and NPC: Scythe have both realized their first blood. Leveling System has now been applied to them.]
[Emerald: Level 2
Skills: Strong Stab
Everything Else: Irrelevant]
[Scythe: Level 2
Skills: Bone Attachment, Strong Slash
Everything Else: Irrelevant]
----------------------------------------
Yes! Scythe and Emerald can level up now! If they keep leveling up then they can do more work for me. If I get even more minions and level them up the extreme I'll become almighty! My army and me will destroy every being which dares confront us and challenge this tower. This system is such a genius, system, have I ever told you how much I love?
[Deducting 50 Tower Energy for repairing damages done to tower...Repairs complete!]
Ah... NO! My energy! Why! Why must you do this to me! I literally just complimented you just a while ago. System how-
Wait, what is this thing I got from the Tower Hunt rewards? Spider Pheromones? Is it like a skill? An Item? Let me see if it pops up in that window.
[Spider Pheromones Lvl. 1]
As soon as it popped up I knew it had to be a skill. I immediately tried using the skill just to see what would happen. I assumed it had something to do with the giant spider I was running away from, however, I didn't even kill the spider. I didn't even hurt it in any way possible? How could I have obtained this skill?
I pushed my useless thoughts to the side and executed my skill.
At first, I thought nothing happened, but a small egg sack popped out of my fingertips and fell into the ground. It broke open within seconds and three small spiders came out.
It was in this moment that the [Spider Sovereign] was born.