The Tower's second floor greeted us with a stench so foul it made my eyes water. The corridor was narrow, the walls slick with something greenish-black. Tomas took point, shield up, his steps confident.
"Smells like home," he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Jin wrinkled his nose. "If your home smells like this, remind me never to visit."
Rhea, always the joker, fanned the air with her hand, sparks of wind magic swirling. "Maybe the rats are gourmet. Anyone want rat stew?"
Maya, ever practical, ignored the banter and focused on the ground. Her vine bracelet glowed as she sent tiny roots ahead, probing for traps. "Let's stay sharp. I see at least three pressure plates up there."
Jin grinned, twirling his daggers. "I'll handle the traps. Abel, can you float me a pebble? I want to test something."
I flicked my wrist, sending a small stone hovering toward him. Jin caught it with a wink. "Nice. Telekinesis is getting smoother, huh?"
I nodded, feeling the power respond more easily with each use. "Yeah. I think I leveled it up again."
He grinned. "Show-off."
We advanced into the den, the squeaks and scurrying growing louder. The first giant rat lunged from the shadows, its eyes red and hungry. Tomas met it with his shield, the impact echoing through the hall.
"Left!" Maya called, sending a vine to trip another rat as it tried to flank us.
Rhea's wind magic blasted a cluster of rats into the wall. "That's three down. Who's counting?"
"Me!" Jin called, already darting forward. His blades flashed, and two more rats fell.
I focused on a rat trying to sneak up on Maya, yanking it backward with a flick of my mind. It slammed into the wall, dazed. I finished it with a quick stab.
Telekinesis: Lv. 4 → Lv. 5
The fight was over in minutes. We stood among the twitching bodies, breathing hard but grinning.
Tomas wiped his shield. "That was almost too easy."
Jin sheathed his daggers. "I barely broke a sweat."
Maya checked everyone for bites, her healing magic glowing softly. "No poison, just scratches. We're getting better."
Rhea stretched, wind swirling around her. "I think we're actually starting to look like a team."
We left the den laughing, confidence building with every step.
Floor 3: The Spider's Web
The next floor was darker, the air thick with the smell of old silk and decay. Webs hung from the ceiling like ghostly curtains. Rhea shuddered. "I hate spiders."
Tomas grinned. "They're just big bugs. Squash 'em."
Jin crept ahead, eyes sharp. "Watch for cocoons. They like to drop from above."
Maya's vines probed the ground, searching for hidden webs. "There's movement up ahead. Big one."
A spider the size of a dog dropped from the ceiling, fangs bared. Rhea zapped it with a bolt of lightning, the smell of burnt chitin filling the air.
"Nice shot," I said, slicing through a web with my sword.
"Thanks. Try not to get stuck," she replied, smirking.
Jin darted forward, slicing open a cocoon. "Abel, right!"
I spun, catching a spider mid-leap with telekinesis. I slammed it into the wall, then finished it off. The Broodmother dropped from above, massive and armored, her eyes gleaming with malice.
Tomas took the hit, shield up. "I got her! Abel, distract!"
I hurled a rock at her face, then ducked as Maya's vines yanked me out of the way of a web. Jin and Rhea worked together, slicing and shocking the smaller spiders.
The Broodmother reared, fangs dripping venom. I focused, wrenching her leg just enough for Tomas to land a crushing blow.
New Skill Acquired: Quick Thinking (Lv. 1)
With a shriek, the Broodmothercollapsed. We stood over her, breathless but unharmed.
Rhea wiped sweat from her brow. "Wind Magic's at four. I'm on fire."
Tomas flexed. "Level four for me, too. Shield Mastery's getting ridiculous."
Jin smirked, wiping spider guts from his blade. "We're unstoppable."
Maya smiled, her healing magic glowing. "No one even got bitten. We're actually good at this."
I checked my own progress, feeling the power in my mind and muscles. "Telekinesis is up again. And I think I just learned how to think faster in a fight."
We left the web behind, spirits high.
Floor 4: Goblin Chieftain's Hold
The fourth floor was different. The air was thick with smoke and chanting, the walls lined with crude goblin banners. The goblin camp was fortified, barricades and traps everywhere.
Tomas grinned, confidence radiating. "Let's end this fast!"
Jin darted ahead. "I'll take the archers. Watch me work."
Rhea summoned a storm, her magic crackling. "I'll scatter the front line. Abel, you handle the shaman."
I nodded, heart pounding. I could feel the Mind Tyrant's mark burning on my arm, the vines on my back tingling with anticipation.
We charged in, Tomas leading. The goblins shrieked, arrows flying. Tomas blocked the first volley, but a spear slipped through, grazing his side.
"Minor hit!" he called, barely slowing down.
Jin was a blur, weaving through the chaos. He reached the archers, blades flashing. "Too slow, little guys!"
Rhea's storm scattered the goblins, lightning arcing between them. Maya stayed close to Tomas, her vines healing his wounds as fast as they appeared.
I focused on the shaman, yanking his staff away with telekinesis.
Telekinesis: Lv. 5 → Lv. 6
The Chieftain roared, swinging a massive axe. Tomas blocked the first blow but staggered back, armor dented. Maya's vines wrapped his waist, healing as fast as she could.
"Careful!" Maya shouted. "He's stronger than he looks!"
Jin was already taunting the elites, but one caught him with a lucky swing—blood sprayed, and Jin crumpled, clutching his side.
"Jin!" Rhea screamed, panic in her voice.
I dove for him, sword flashing. The Chieftain barreled toward us, and I barely managed to shove Jin aside with a burst of telekinesis. The effort sent pain lancing through my skull.
Pain Tolerance: Lv. 1 → Lv. 2
Tomas roared, slamming the Chieftain back. Maya dropped beside Jin, hands glowing. "Hold on!"
Rhea and I covered her, fending off goblins. I felt a surge of panic—Jin was pale, his breath shallow. The shaman tried to curse us, but I yanked a shield up just in time, deflecting the spell.
The fight dragged on—longer and bloodier than any before. We finally brought down the Chieftain, but not before Jin's wound soaked his shirt red.
The sigil flashed:
Objective complete. Bonus failed: Party member incapacitated.
Abel: Level Up! (Level 2 → 3)
Skill: Telekinesis (Lv. 6)
Skill: Pain Tolerance (Lv. 2)
Skill: Quick Thinking (Lv. 1)
Aftermath
We limped back to the safe room, Jin pale but breathing, Maya's hands stained with blood and healing magic. The mood was shattered.
Rhea's voice was shaky. "That was too close."
Tomas sat hard, sweat streaking his face. "We got cocky. That almost cost us."
Jin tried to grin, but his voice was weak. "Guess I'll have a scar to show off now."
I sat beside him, guilt twisting in my gut. "We'll be more careful. Next time, we stick to the plan."
Maya wiped her brow, her hands trembling. "I almost lost him. I—I need to get better."
Tomas put a hand on her shoulder. "You did great. We all did. But we need to remember—we're not invincible."
Rhea nodded, her usual humor gone. "We got lucky. Next time, we might not."
Ms. Calder watched us quietly, her expression unreadable. Finally, she spoke. "This is the Tower. It punishes arrogance. You survived because you worked together, but you almost lost a teammate. Remember this feeling. Let it make you sharper, not scared."
We sat in silence, the weight of her words settling over us. For the first time, the Tower felt less like a game and more like what it truly was—a test of survival.
Abel's Status
Status: Abel
• Race: Human
• Level: 3
• Class: None
• Skills:
• Telekinesis (Lv. 6)
• Swordsmanship (Lv. 2)
• Pain Tolerance (Lv. 2)
• Quick Thinking (Lv. 1)
• Titles: None
• Sponsor: The Mind Tyrant
That night, as we rested, the laughter was gone. We checked our wounds, bandaged our pride, and promised ourselves we'd never let arrogance blind us again.
The Tower was only beginning to show its teeth.