"I see…" Hearing that it would be several years before the next big outbreak, the Commandant’s worry was eased slightly, but many more questions popped up, ones I had answers to.
"Think of it this way, Commandant: the first section of the tower consists of 6 floors, and that took almost nine years to complete. But there were plenty of circumstances revolving around that long clear time."
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"The players were dumped in a strange place and forced to adapt, but now that they have, I assume that they will be able to clear the second peak in far less time."
"And how many floors do you believe there to be to reach the second peak?" Pulling up a chair and sitting on the opposite side of the bed Piniki was on, the Commandant inquired further.
Most of what I was saying he already knew, having spent a few hours speaking with the players who stayed back to help fight the NightWalkers.
But this was new information that he wasn’t aware of, partially because I didn’t give it to the government and partially because none of the players who had left the tower had stepped foot past the first peak.
"If it follows the leveling system that the players are using, then it should be 11 floors. The third peak will house 21 floors, and it will continue to increase the higher you go."
"Providing they are able to clear the challenges and grow stronger, I don’t see it taking longer than seven years, but it could also take less time."
"With this tower, more than 10,000 people needed to cross over the first peak, and I have no idea what the requirement is for the second, but a safe estimate would be between 5 and 9,000."
"Then again, this is all conjecture; I could be wrong; crazier things have happened." Shuffling slightly so that I could get comfortable, I glanced over at Piniki, who seemed to want to say something but chose not to.
"There is something I want to know…who was that Man, the masked one who easily handled the monster and appeared seemingly out of nowhere? On the video feed, we heard everyone shout the name Xipher, but this is the first time I have heard about it."
"Gasp," Hearing the name that she feared from the bottom of her heart, Piniki inhaled a gasp and began shaking in fright, drawing the Commandant’s attention. When his eyes drifted back toward me, he noticed that I was wearing a deadly serious expression.
’I expected this…but how the hell do I explain my ego to someone who does not know the Origin Timeline? I can’t exactly say hes a notorious villain known for genocides and mass destruction because technically none of that has transpired here.’
"He’s both no one and the most important person on this planet. Immense strength, hyper-intelligent, cunning, twisted, and sadistic. He treats human lives like toys and does what he wants when he feels like it."
"Xipher is completely uncontrollable and practically unkillable, just like Draven; given the choice, I would rather fight that cult leader than the madman with a flair for dramatics."
"At least with Draven, you get what you see; in the case of Xipher, one minute, he will seem like a friendly guy who doesn’t lie and is willing to share information with you, then the next, you are watching your body fly away from your eyes because he decapitated you on a whim."
"The worst part is, no one knows his origin, age, or true identity; nothing, he’s a complete enigma. In my research, I’ve come across stories that elude that he is far older than any living being should be, some dating back as far as the 8th century."
"A jester who will answer any question you have for a price and without falsehood, so long as you can bring him to the table for what he calls his Realm. Yet if you cross him, he will eradicate everything you know."
Rustle rustle
Throughout my description, I felt the blanket and sheets of the hospital bed shifting and noticed that Piniki had been gripping them tightly before snaking her hand into mine for comfort.
Had I been able to move my arms, I would have pulled away, but the bitch took advantage of that fact, leaving me in an awkward position.
"Have you fought him before?" Between how much information I had on Xipher and Piniki’s reaction, there was more than enough for the Commandant to paint a few pictures, but he still asked.
"Yes, most of the Evolvers have come across that psychopath more than once; if you were to name-drop him around the other squads, they would more than likely have a similar reaction to hers." My eyes darted to Piniki and back to the scrutinizing look of the Commandant.
"Yet you seem different; your body language and expressions are drastically contrasting from the Lieutenant’s."
"That’s because I don’t fear things I know can be killed. I’ve seen Xipher bloody and broken, and while he is as much of a cockroach as Draven, he is still mortal, and I will not say otherwise until the day I come across something truly immortal."
"What do you mean?"
"In my experience, there are many things that claim to be immortal, yet all I have found are beings that live extremely long lives. If something can be killed, how can it be truly immortal? The same thing goes for Xipher; while he may have lived through some difficult situations that would have killed anyone else, I have yet to see a single document or shred of evidence that proves he is immortal."
"Resilient, yes, long-lived, most likely, but immortal, not at all."
’Man, it’s weird talking about myself in the third person, and it’s a bit annoying to set up chess pieces that will actively work against me, but so long as I can instill a bit of caution in the Military and Government, I should be alright.’
"Either way, he is not someone we can afford to mess with right now, and although Marek and the others may have attacked him, his little response attacks were where that should end, considering they weren’t able to hurt him."
"Regardless, that’s enough about Xipher; tell me about the players."