Kelford sat in his room staring at the dark ceiling. The ceiling of his apartment had been a plain. Even for the years he had spent in that apartment it was difficult to want to go back. In a way that place had been almost forgettable. Just a stopping point to keep his stuff in, a void to forget just how much he’d left behind. The ceiling there had been forgettable because in part he had felt forgettable. The thought brought a frown to Kelford’s face. Being out of there had been a breath of fresh air that he hadn’t known he needed. Now, if he closed his eyes he could see the ceiling here clearly. The crack in the right corner, the small runes dancing across the outer edges. The dark stone above him made the room feel comfortable and compact. He wasn’t exactly sure how long he had been in here, but this place was feeling more like home then the place he stayed in ever was.
“ And the time will come when I won’t see it again.”
The idea was both thrilling and saddening. He’d died so many times and collapsing in this room after a climb had become a routine that he’d grown familiar with. He’d miss this place, in a way he hadn’t missed a home in quite awhile. He pushed himself off the covers, finally preparing for what was to come next.
He could feel the notifications that were almost begging to be read. A slight pressure in his head that he somehow knew was due to his interface. After returning he’d spent his entire time just relaxing. Splurging on some extra ingredients from the Shop , he and T.U.I had stayed up late talking as he made himself a soup from some of the ram meat. It had been a good time and he’d fallen asleep after enjoying the shower. The feeling of melancholy had only started when he realized that he was free to pursue the 5th floor again. If the power jump from completing the quest would be half as significant as T.U.I had said it would be, Kelford couldn’t imagine a scenario where he didn’t pass the 5th floor. It was a bit arrogant but after running the 1st through 4th floors so much he felt that he’d get at least to the next safe floor if he really pushed himself. According to T.U.I if his confidence wasn’t misplaced he would never see this room again.
“ Once you reach the halfway point,” T.U.I had said, “ The Tower will prevent you from going back to the previous section you completed. This way your previous progress will determine your future progress. If you’re not careful, the relics and classes you choose on your run will prevent you from climbing higher.”
That had only compounded his need to finish Jack of All Trades , any quest he didn’t finish in this section wouldn’t be available in the next.
Kelford emptied his Inventory of all the non-essentials. Books, spare clothing , gear, into one of the storage chests he had purchased from the Shop. Then he cleaned out his bedroom. Pillows, blankets, soaps and towels. All went into his storage units leaving the room bare. He pulled on the sturdy clothing that was left, a thick combination of dark clothing he’d gotten used to. After tying the boots he stood and turned back to survey what had been his home for the past weeks. Bare stone and mattress were all that was left. He sighed before exiting. There was always the chance he was thinking to highly of himself but it did feel like he was saying goodbye.
Outside T.U.I materialized ,her bright happy voice now tinged with worry. “ It is tough to move up the Tower, especially with what you may leave behind.”
Kelford could only nod, “ Are you feeling better? I know you said you were fine but you went awol on the last run for awhile.”
“ Yes, not knowing is..” T.U.I paused for a few moments , “ Disconcerting. Fortunately I was able to delve into the vaults you unlocked looking for information and I believe I have found a potential reason for the gnoblars strange actions!”
“ This..Black Sun?” Kelford said he'd been slowly combing through the books he’d purchased from the shop with nothing about this Black Sun even being mentioned. Dialects of multiple creatures and potential cultural touchstones about gnoblars, ogres, and even giants. Nothing about this cursed object the gnoblars had been so worried about.
“ I believe this has something to do with the World Vaults Secret”
“ That’s…important right?” Kelford’s cheeks burned as he racked his brain for what T.U.I was talking about. “ It’s like something important to do with the history of this place…”
“ Yes, the world Secret is an important part of climbing the Tower! Each world has a secret, an important mystery that either brought it to the Myriad Indexes attention or is actively a reason why the civilization collapsed. In either case anything to do with the world Secret can have drastic consequences for your climb and possibly your world. In either case discovering the Secret could possibly lead to fantastic rewards. Nothing less than a Legendary ranked skill or relic!”
T.U.I floated up to Kelford flaring to a blinding radiance , “ So yes it’s important!”
“ Okay Okay turn it down just a bit!” Kelford protested as he held his hands up against the blinding light.
Moments later the radiance dimmed and Kelford was able to blink the dots out of his vision. He smiled at the antics of his companion even as he apologized for not listening closer to the multiple explanations.
“ I’ll see what I can find while I’m climbing, though right now I’m more concerned about completing my quest and getting to the next safe floor.”
A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
“ That’s fine, “ T.U.I said , “ There should be more hints and opportunities on the higher floors. Perhaps more books and anecdotes will help us learn about this mystery. I really want to know!” T.U.I’s light took on a tinge of red and pinks before settling back to her natural white. Kelford decided not to comment on her obsession and instead pulled up the notifications that had been building over hours.
Congratulations You Have Completed A Quest!
Jack of All Trades
Description:
Reach to At Least the 5th Floor With Every Class
Reward:
1 Class Slot
Congratulations You Have Discovered A Quest!
Master of One
Description:
Fuse Two Classes
Reward:
Free Rare SubVault Unlocked
Kelford nodded dismissing the quest. It seemed even the Tower agreed that the tutorial floors held nothing for me anymore.
“Getting a rare relic to start is definitely going to put you ahead of the curve,” T.U.I said, “ With the power a combined class will give you on top of it your chances of passing the 5th floor have skyrocketed.”
He could only agree, with another relic at the start his combat prowess would exponentially increase. Every relic had the possibility of building upon the last. This had led me to consider having a “build” In mind once he got to this moment. It was an idea common in the games Kelford had played before being trapped in the Tower. Tailor my selections to a few items, skills, and classes to maximize a playstyle. Considering some of the relic descriptions that he had seen on numerous climbs there were definitely synergies that could be found between relics and skills. Kelford was reminded of the Flame Enchanted Flamberge when he had first found a relic orb. It had the ability to slightly empower fire spells which would have been useful for the Apprentice class. With even a slight empowerment of spells having a cascading effect on the class's usefulness. Add on some other relics and Kelford could turn even a Fire Bolt into a devastating attack with half the essence usage. If he had the power of the Warrior class to shore up the weaknesses of the Apprentice… he could see the stacking benefits. This decision now could increase his prowess even more than another relic! This was just on the beginning floor . What about the floors after the 10th? What options will open up then? The power he could potentially wield… the power other climbers could wield. It was awe inspiring.
“Can the world even handle a climber who reaches the 100th floor?” At Kelford’s muttered words T.U.I flared slightly.
“ What was that Kelford?”
“ Nothing, just wondering how to fuse classes.” Kelford said. Tucking his worries deep into his mind. “ Do I just pick two weapons and then..” he waved his hands, “ It just works?”
T.U.I glowed a warm yellow, “ Well now that you have completed the quest I have the required permissions to explain class fusions and other important functions.”
Kelford rolled his eyes and chuckled, time for another info dump.
“ Class’s are a vehicle created by the Myriad Index to grant skills to the climbers of the Tower. Each class however must take up a class slot. This is everything that has been explained so far but to earn the truly special classes many parameters must be met.” T.U.I’s voice grew more excited as she explained. “ The class system is built off of the combination of different classes . Usually every 10th floor you will be awarded a class slot which you can fill with a new class. Then you will be given an option to fuse the classes together at the expense of a class slot. Fusion can only occur on a safe floor and once it is made you can no longer regain that class slot.When doing so you will be given three options influenced by your current skills, relics, and classes you wish to fuse. More powerful classes require higher prerequisites. So only by constantly gaining class slots and fusing new classes while gaining higher rarity relics will you be able to create the most powerful classes. A magnificent work by the index if I do say so myself.”
“ So what you’re telling me, “ Kelford said, “ Is that the rarer my relics,skills, and class the more powerful the potential fusions?”
T.U.I bobbed , “ Yes indeed Kelford”
Kelford was lost in thought for a moment. There were alot of implications with this reveal.
“T.U.I am I able to hold off on fusing my classes until the next floor or even sacrificing two slots at once to fuse three classes?”
“ Unfortunately I can not grant any more hints aside from what has been provided until you purchase Essence Foundations and Class Guide Volume 2”
Kelford cursed under his breath but shrugged it off. The Myriad Index was stingy with its information but he was understanding why. T.U.I’s help and explanations had been the key to getting him this far. Releasing more of the restrictions would only serve to help him in ways he couldn’t foresee. Especially with how helpful just the hints are.
Did he fuse his classes now or did he wait? T.U.I’s explanation had made it clear that the more powerful the class Kelford created now would create a cascading effect through other potential fusions. This would make getting relics and karma easier which would influence the classes he could receive. That didn’t matter if he couldn’t get past the 5th floor though so it was a gamble. Fuse his potential classes now to guarantee he was going to pass the 5th floor now or wait to gain powerful relics and skills to get a stronger class later. Maybe later in the Tower it would be a dilemma but right now Kelford knew what he was going to choose. The reward was worth the risk.
“Thanks T.U.I” Kelford said as he walked towards the altars.
They gleamed in the light as always, gilded edges holding the weapons that represented the classes already lying on them. A sword with an extended hilt for the Heavy Warrior , twin blades for the Light Warrior , A crossbow for the Ranged Warrior , a staff for the Apprentice, and a strange pendant with a clear crystal for the Acolyte. The five classes before me represented Kelfords potential future. With a jolt he realized what the purpose of the previous quest was. He had tested every single class, finding his preferred ways of succeeding with them. It was to prepare him for this moment. The pressure seemed to redouble as Kelford felt suffocated. It all came to a head, the feeling of the game-like atmosphere he was in.
The relics, the interface, the magic. Monsters getting slowly stronger every floor, a quest to save his world. A thousand details that pushed the truth into his face but he’d been too scared to consider.
T.U.I had said the Myriad Index had done all of this to help Kelford’s species survive. If that was the case… why help them this way? Why tailor everything like a game?
“A human game…that not everyone would understand or enjoy”
The tutorial led him by the nose, rewarding him with novel differences and changes. This wasn’t just tailored with gamelike features… this was a game. A game where his entire planet was on the line. It was a long shot but there was more to this place. Yet, the only way was to move forward in the only way he knew how. Kelford gritted his teeth. There would be time to consider this later , when he could meet other climbers… other people. Following the tutorial would properly prepare him and completing the quests as soon as possible was going to lead to more rewards. Completing all the quests was no longer a luxury but a necessity. Kelford pushed his racing thoughts aside as he considered his choices.
Then he reached forward and chose.