[02:17:36]
The luminous red numbers drifting above the great Origin City were as conspicuous as ever, the flash of the seconds ticking down hard to miss for anyone who didn't frequent the Origin Floor. It had been almost fifty years since I'd witnessed the abnormality. Every time my gaze crossed over it, my stomach would churn, though I wasn't sure why.
People stepped out of the way while I ambled down the street, my cane tapping lightly against the cobblestone as I observed my surroundings. The Trade Center was bursting with life as more and more people flocked to the streets, a mix of fear and excitement evident on their faces. Music was playing, and decorations were strung about the antique streetlights. The raucous laughter of drunken men and playing children filled the air.
It was the Tower's anniversary, and not just any anniversary. The clock was about to strike zero. Every year, a festival would be held, but I hadn't seen one this unruly since last century. I grimaced, clutching my cane tightly as I recalled those days.
I was healthy then... before I'd taken the first step and cleared the First Floor. Before I realized what I was doing, I'd pulled out my Origin Card from my chest pocket. As always, it was blank aside from the string of numbers that ran across it, constantly ticking upward. The blank face was lined with grey trim, and the back was black, with an ornate, silver 'O' imprinted in the center.
With a long sigh, I tucked the unusual Card back into my jacket pocket, made my way from the busy street down an alley, and walked toward a nearby pub. I wasn't one for drinking. With my health, it would probably mean the death of me. Still, after spending fifty years on the Tenth Floor, I wanted to see a familiar face.
My joints were killing me by the time I traveled up the alley and opened the pub door. As I walked in, I tried to straighten myself and look a bit less frail. There were a few glances, but for the most part, no one would bother with an old man like me.
With a few short strides, I reached the bar and found a seat at the far end. A young woman I didn't recognize walked up to me with a radiant smile. She was lovely, and I felt a sense of familiarity.
"What can I do for you today, Sir? Whiskey? You look like a whiskey man," she smiled brighter and leaned her elbows on the counter while she spoke.
"Little Lyla?" I chuckled, and the young woman gasped in recognition.
"Uncle Rowan? Is that you?" Lyla's smile grew, and she reached for my free hand. "It's been ages! You must be here to see Papa. I'll go fetch him!"
She jogged off toward the back, much to the annoyance of the other patrons who still hadn't ordered a drink. A few cast annoyed glances toward me but held their tongues. Unfortunately, there were two young men who didn't share that same respect for their elders. The other patrons watched but didn't try to block their approach.
"Oi! Pops!" One of the men called out as they walked toward me. "What'd you say to the young lass to run her off like that? Do you need someone to put you in your place?"
I inspected the young man. The boy was lean, clean-shaven, and didn't have a single scar marring his skin. What a joke.
"Did you hear me, old man?" He reached out to push me but suddenly found himself unable to move. A thin, steel blade was pressed against his throat. If he had taken another step forward, he would have been impaled.
"Normally, I'd charge for this kind of lecture, but I'm feeling generous today," I said tiredly, scratching my chin with my free hand. "Strapping lads such as yourselves could become powerful Climbers. It would be a shame for your lives to end before they begin."
The young man gulped, "I- I'm sorry, S-Sir. It won't happen again. I swear."
"Good, good," I pulled my blade back and sheathed it. Once again, the object in my hand looked like nothing but a fancy cane. "No hard feelings, gentleman. If you fellows make it up to the Tenth Floor, I'll be happy to give you another lesson."
The young men nodded and walked back to their seats, no longer interested in impressing their lady friends. A chuckle sounded from behind the bar, and I turned my head to see my friend Crole shaking his head. Lyla was standing beside him with an amused smile on her lips.
"Rowan! My friend!" Crole walked around the counter and clasped my shoulders. "It's been a long time. How's life on the Tenth Floor treating you?"
"I'm doing well, old chap," I smiled. "I keep getting older, and these youngsters I look out for keep improving. The last party that made it to the Tenth Floor managed to take out the Fiend with very little guidance."
"Oh? I suppose the Network is doing its job then?" Crole asked.
"Unfortunately," I nodded. "Anyway, I just wanted to catch up a bit before these old bones gave out on me. If I can help it, I'd like to make my way home before the real festivities begin."
Crole frowned, "You're not worried?"
I glanced around the bar. A few of the younger folks were celebrating, getting drinks to go, and heading out to the streets. The rest of the patrons looked nervous or fearful.
"Whatever happens, happens, Crole. My gut says that we should be wary," I spoke quietly. "I've kept my ear to the ground, and none of the Officials seem to be worried..."
"Eh, those pompous asshats wouldn't know anything," Crole scowled.
I laughed. It was true that the outer branches of the Government didn't know much, but my channels went a bit deeper. Through the years, I'd helped many men and women with their first Boss and gained some connections. My condition may have left me weak, but I wasn't worthless.
For some time, the two of us chatted while watching the comings and goings of the crowd. As time passed, the bar slowly emptied out, and we said our goodbyes for the night. The alley was almost deserted, and rather than going home, I decided to make my way to the Trading Center.
Fireworks crackled loudly, coloring the sky red and lighting the faces of all those present. Women and men smiled and danced in the street while the children ran and played around them. As for me, I just leaned on the edge of the alley, watching the festivities and catching my breath.
My health had rapidly declined since I'd finished the First Floor. One of my old mentors from my days in the Academy could link it to my Origin Card, but no one had a way to stop it. I managed to climb to the Tenth Floor and kill the Boss before my health took a turn for the worse. It was like the Achievement had accelerated my body's deterioration.
I knew my body wouldn't be able to take much more, so I stayed on that Floor and helped others as they came along. It was easy coin, and I became a core member of the Tower Network, sending information about the Boss' patterns and other Achievements on the Tenth Floor. In return, I had full access to the Network's database and spent my days studying the higher floors, looking for patterns to report. It wasn't like I had anything better to do.
''Thirty seconds left!''
Someone nearby yelled, pulling me from my reverie. The crowd cheered and started chanting as the clock ticked down. My gut twisted, a feeling that usually came just before something terrible happened. The last time, the Tenth Floor Boss had changed its patterns, and a group of young men and women were slaughtered.
"Twenty-five... twenty... fifteen... ten..."
The crowd continued to count down, oblivious to my labored breaths and drumming heartbeats. I clutched my stomach and forced myself to breathe deeply while keeping my eyes open. Something was coming.
The clock hit zero, and thousands of fireworks exploded above Origin City. For ten thousand years, that clock had counted down. No one knew what it was for, but there was speculation.
Some of the older folk in the crowd began to tear up, staring at the now-empty sky. When they were children, the clock still had several hundred years to go, and they were taught from a young age that the Tower would open to the world when it struck zero. Many shared this sentiment, and churches that were thousands of years old continued to preach of the paradise that awaited them.
There were some folks, like Crole, who didn't believe this rubbish. Still, the Churches were just as influential as the Government, and bad things happened to people who spoke ill of their beliefs. So it was common to meet in back rooms late at night to discuss the goings on of the Tower. But, even so, these people refused to join the other Church that preached about the clock being a sign of end times.
"Cheers!" A burly man with a greatsword on his back rolled a large keg into the center of the street and popped the barrel, filling his cup. "Free drinks for all my fellow Climbers! May the Great Liberator bless you!"
I rolled my eyes at the scene and continued watching the children run about, keeping my eyes peeled for the danger that my heart felt. Then, something told me to look up. Where the clock had vanished, something was changing in the air. A soft ripple marked the sky but was gone so swiftly that I felt I'd imagined it.
What was that..?
It was hard to hear over the festivities, but I could swear that I heard a heavy thump, like someone striking a tree. Nearby, another seemed to have heard it as well. She was a young-looking woman with long, red hair and a large belly, probably already eight months along. I could tell she was a powerful Climber, probably older than myself, and was likely only down here to wait out her pregnancy.
"Did you hear that?" She asked, trying to get the attention of the drunkard who'd rolled out the booze. The man, who I assumed to be related to her somehow, turned to her with a drunken frown.
"Hear what?" He asked, chugging down another pint of the red liquid.
She shook her head and looked around, "Maybe it was nothing."
The woman caught my stare and met my eyes with a solemn gaze. I may not have been a powerful Climber, but I'd lived a long life, and the woman seemed to be able to tell that I'd heard the noise too. She started to walk toward me but was interrupted by an ear-splitting sound echoing throughout Origin City.
I could feel the ground shaking under my boots, and the sky began to shatter like broken glass. The children were the first to notice, and after a moment, their drunken parents looked to the heavens as well. Then, instead of heading toward me, the pregnant woman started yelling for everyone to get in the buildings. Her powerful voice echoed through the street.
I stayed out of the way while I examined the walls that had protected the Origin Floor all these years. The ceiling continued to shatter, and in the distance, I could see the outer walls begin to crumble. The Tower was collapsing.
Panic spread as others took notice of this phenomenon, but thanks to the woman's shout, there was some semblance of order. Climbers wielded power and authority, and the people felt safe knowing they were in the vicinity. That was... until the howls began.
A single, vicious howl echoed throughout the Floor, followed by another, and then another. The once orderly evacuation turned to chaos as women and children began to scream, and men tried to pull their loved ones to the center of town. The mighty walls of the Tower crumbled even further, and distorted faces could be seen through the gaps.
"Wh-What is that?!" A woman screamed, scrambling back as she stared at the wall in the distance. For the first time in ten thousand years, the citizens of the Tower discovered what awaited them on the outside.
Death.
I witnessed hundreds, maybe thousands of giant creatures tear at the wall, roaring and screaming as they tried to break through. All manner of monsters... beasts, humanoids, and other creatures the likes of which I'd never seen.
The humanoid giants stood at the front. Rotting flesh fell from their bodies as they ran, and their smiles reached their ears when they stepped through the openings. Their footsteps caused the ground to shake, and their cries burst the eardrums of every Dweller on the Origin Floor. Even some of the weaker Climbers clutched at their heads.
These humanoid giants traversed the land in record time, leaving little time for reinforcements to arrive. Screams of women filled the air as they grabbed their children and ran further into the city. Chunks of stone and other debris fell from the shattering sky, only adding to the chaos as one person after another was crushed by their weight.
The giants swiftly reached the unprotected city, swinging massive clubs toward the buildings blocking their path. The structures couldn't withstand more than a few swings.
I studied the giants. From this distance, I could see that their decaying skin had grown around these weapons as if they were part of the monsters. The blood that fell from their rotting skin tore through the pavement like acid.
A sea of people ran past my small alley, pushing and shoving others back to get further ahead. I watched on sadly, holding my chest. The feeling in my gut was gone, and my heart was thumping so hard that I could feel it in my bones.
All the while, the giants closed the distance. The people in the back were already being torn apart and eaten alive. Blood splattered across the sides of buildings and showered the crowd below.
"Mama! Mama!"
A voice caught my attention, and I turned to the crowd. A young girl had stumbled and was seconds away from being crushed by the stampede of screaming citizens.
Without thinking, I used my Dash Card, barreling through the crowd and standing over the young girl. I grimaced and almost collapsed, the Origin Card in my pocket pulling harder at my life force for pushing myself. Then, even knowing the consequences, I used a low-level Barrier Card, forcing the crowd to run around us.
"Are you alright, little one?" Her leg was bleeding, and it looked like it had been broken by the number of people running by. I reached out to the girl, casting a weak Heal when she accepted my hand. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees beside her.
Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at me, and I almost laughed at the sight. This child held pity for an old man like me. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I struggled to stand, leaning on my cane for support while looking for the girl's family.
"Melinda!" A young woman pushed her way back through the crowd, and the girl in my arms turned her head. I shuffled toward the call, struggling with the weight of us both.
"Thank you! Thank you!" The woman cried as she took the child from me. Around us, the screaming grew louder, and the steps of the giants grew closer. The young girl held onto my hand as her mother tried to leave.
Tears streamed down her cheeks as I released her hand, and the mother took off into the crowd. Her eyes never left mine until they disappeared into the distance. I stared after them for some time before turning to face the incoming threat.
A giant with vast jaws ran up the main street, snatching one person after another and throwing them into its open maw. It stopped and looked down the narrow road upon which I was, blocking the citizens making a break for the government building. A slight sense of relief washed over me that the mother and child had run toward the back streets with another group.
The frontrunners fell into this giant's waiting maw, while those lucky enough ran between its legs or turned tail and fled. It was useless. The creature saw them running and forced its way into the street, crashing through the surrounding buildings like they were clay.
Though it was hindered slightly by the buildings, the giant grinned maliciously. Blood stained its rotting teeth, and the smell of death filled the air with its every breath. Waves of putrid stench filled the street, causing many with weaker stomachs to collapse, heaving on the gravel.
I stood still, staring at the creature. There was no sense in running. In my current state, I'd be lucky if I made it back to the alley. Healing that girl had taken a toll on me.
The giant raised one blood-stained claw, looking for its next victim. I watched calmly, feeling my blood rush throughout my body as my heartbeat quickened. A man to my left fell to his knees, begging for forgiveness and pleading for his life.
I glanced at the man and scowled.
Weak.
"Everyone, get back!" A booming voice echoed in the area as a shadow passed overhead. A massive, green eagle flew by, clawing at the monster as a man landed heroically in the street. Colors flashed as the man prepared numerous Spell Cards.
"That's Galen! Leader of the Argonauts Guild!" The man beside me cried through the snot and tears covering his face. "We're saved!"
"Be wiped from this plane!" Galen shouted, releasing the built-up magic of his most potent Cards. A torrent of flames filled the street, encasing the beast in a wall of deadly fire. Cries of agony could be heard as the monster thrashed back and forth.
I glanced at the young-looking man. I'd gone to school with him a century ago and heard that he'd managed to climb to the Thirtieth Floor. His Cards were a bit weak for such an accomplishment, but I knew from the Tower Network that he had some powerful Guildmates.
Many citizens cheered, and Galen smiled brightly, "Fear not! The Climbers from the Fifty-Second Floor are on th-"
He never had the chance to finish. A large, bone mace slammed down on him. His body burst into blood and bits of flesh from the impact.
I turned back to the still-smoldering giant. It was heavily damaged, but it was far from dead. The creature breathed in heavily and released a defiant roar.
Screams could be heard around the city, telling us that it wouldn't be safe no matter where we ran. A young couple was sobbing next to me, and the man who'd begged for mercy was scrambling backward. I looked around, eying the many children among the terrified faces. Not caring for our suffering, the giant once again lumbered toward us. Then, I made a decision.
"Run, lads! Get these youngsters to the alleys!" I said as loudly as I could. My Strength Card wasn't at a high enough level to empower my voice, but it was loud enough for those around me to hear. Many looked at me in surprise, but no one stopped to argue.
It wouldn't be long, but I could buy them some time. Satisfied that the men were guiding the children away, I activated my most powerful Card. Green light streamed from my body, and a small orb appeared behind me. A tiny, winged, humanoid creature materialized, looking at me sadly.
I could feel another Card burning in my chest pocket as more and more life energy was pulled away. My hands began to shake, and I struggled to stand. The petite pixie flew to my shoulder and kissed my cheek, and I could feel its healing magic coursing through my veins.
"Thank you, old friend," I smiled and pulled my Cards from a pouch on my belt. It was a weak Deck, but it was all that I could offer. I cast the barrier again, just in time to intercept the giant's mace. The pixie's magic continued to empower me, but it wasn't enough to offset the life that I was losing.
The barrier shattered, and the giant pulled back its mace for another swing. I unleashed everything I had. Every Card in my Deck shined brightly as Spells and Abilities I'd rarely used flowed out of me. My skin tightened, and I could feel my bones collapsing inside of me.
I looked behind me, smiling. The people had heeded my advice. They all managed to escape.
The monster swung down with a shrill cry, angry that its prey had escaped. I watched the weapon as it drew near, closing my eyes as I welcomed death... but the expected blow never came.
I opened my eyes, surprised. Then, looking up, I found that the weapon had stopped inches from my head. The giant wasn't moving, and the screams around me had stopped. In fact, I couldn't hear anything anywhere.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" The pain that I'd experienced for many decades was gone. I couldn't hear my heartbeat or even feel it thumping in my chest.
A harsh, burning sensation pulled me from my thoughts. My Origin Card. I reached into my pocket quickly, pulling out the useless piece of metal that had accompanied me throughout my life. Only, this time, it wasn't blank.
The grey around the border had been replaced by beautiful, golden trim. An hourglass was etched into the background, and glowing text now surrounded the numbers that had been ticking up for the last century.
[Card Name: Origin]
[Level: X]
[Life Energy Gathered: 3,154,107,372]
[Effect: Steals life energy from the Wielder. Points are given based on the life energy provided, and more points are rewarded for deeds that count toward the advancement of humanity. For every point of energy gathered, Wielder will be awarded that many seconds upon death]
Once I finished reading, the Card in my hand vanished. My body rose into the air, and I could see the destruction and mayhem across the land. The sky had utterly shattered, and many pieces of the Floor above had crashed into the Origin City. Flames and smoke rose from the buildings, and even larger creatures poured in through the openings in the Tower walls.
Just as I reached the ceiling of the Origin Floor, something started to change. The fire and smoke dwindled, and the chunks of stone rose into the sky, reconnecting with the Tower. I watched the giants walk backward through the wall as it was repaired, and fireworks once again lit up the night sky.
My gaze turned to the sky, and I was surprised to find that the clock had re-appeared. Not only that, the numbers started moving. Finally, the fireworks were pulled to the ground, and the clock began ticking upward.
One second...
One minute...
One hour...
Faster and faster the numbers climbed as days and nights flashed before my eyes. I saw the city shrinking and buildings that had been erected decades ago return to construction material and then to dust. This phenomenon kept on, and when it finally stopped...
[100:10:13:33:06]
I gasped, but before I had time to think, my body was yanked through the unseen stone that separated the Origin Floor from the First. My body moved on its own until it was high above an ornate building. Spires and parapets surrounded the place like some medieval castle.
The Academy.
Once again, my body was flung forward. Faster and faster until it passed through the stone walls and into a large room. Forty or so young men and women were sitting at their desks, listening to the woman standing at the front of the class. I continued flying forward until I slammed into a particular student who had his head down on his desk. One that I recognized.
''Urgh...'' I groaned slightly, my head pounding. Disorganized thoughts filled my mind, and my vision swam. I thought I heard someone calling me, but I couldn't quite make it out. The puzzled mess in my mind began piecing itself together, and just as suddenly as the confusion had come, it was gone. My mind was clear again.
''Mister Wilder, am I boring you?''
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