Chapter 40
The only way to travel on the first floor was to hire a transport guild or personally travel to the location, either by foot or by horse-drawn carriage. Bandits from different races are eager to hijack and steal from unsuspecting travelers. It is essential to be vigilant and prepared for any potential threats while traveling through these dangerous territories. Additionally, forming alliances with other travelers or hiring additional security may provide added protection against bandit attacks.
There are so many things to consider; the path toward each city or location is hard because most cities or kingdoms hardly take measures to develop a much safer road and infrastructure. Travelers must also be cautious of not only bandits but also the condition of the roads and potential obstacles and monster attacks that may arise during their journey.
Taking necessary precautions and planning ahead can help ensure a safer and more successful travel. This is where hired mercenary guilds and players come into play. My guilds do offer protection and guidance to travelers, helping them navigate through dangerous areas and avoid potential threats. Additionally, joining a guild can provide access to valuable resources and information that can enhance one's experience and increase their chances of reaching their target destination safely. Guilds often have established relationships with local authorities and other travelers, making them a valuable asset for anyone embarking on a journey through risky territories.
The High Strategy guild that is owned and managed by Mary Kaye Lazarus renders various services, including trade, logistics, and information. Most members are scholars and low-tier mages with different and various skills. Mary Kaye might be young, but she was keen on researching the tower world and exploring it beyond the seventh floor, unlike before, when playing a game was just to entertain oneself, but with the tower becoming a reality, everything in the world changed; certain discoveries were essential to humanity's advancement, especially in the medical field.
Mary Kaye was an archaeologist by heart; she loved exploring ancient ruins and uncovering lost civilizations. Her passion for history and adventure drove her to push the boundaries of knowledge within the tower world; she wanted to lead the groundbreaking discoveries that would shape the future of humanity.
As she delved deeper into the tower's mysteries, she now understands that knowledge is malleable and can reshape one's dream into another. She understands that this time everything she touches and feels is real, not just a mental stimulant that could be easily dismissed. Mary Kaye's journey within the tower had transformed her perception of reality, blurring the lines between what was once considered intangible and now tangible. The discoveries she made not only challenged her intellect but also her very sense of self, leading her to question the nature of existence itself.
Deep down in her gut, when the gods came out to fully manifest their overwhelming power, the fact that everything inside the tower was now living and breathing individuals was no longer just a figment of her imagination that was once just a virtual game that humans played to entertain and earn money for themselves.
The weight of responsibility and the consequences of the old gods actions weighed heavily on everybody on earth and inside the tower as everybody navigated this new reality.
Many non-playable characters can now get pregnant and give birth to life; their personality might have been programmed in the past, and now they have the freedom to expand their emotions and experiences. This new development brought a sense of unpredictability and complexity to the once-controlled virtual world, blurring the lines between reality and simulation even further. The players now had to consider the impact of their actions not only on themselves but also on the entire ecosystem of characters within the game.
Members of the High Strategy guild were all keen on truly learning from them. Some players were even able to find love and a sense of belonging on the first floor; this act was considered illegal as the gatekeepers were tasked with monitoring and forbidding players from permanently living inside. But since the nobilities of the numerous influential empires agreed to open their doors to temporary immigration, many players were able to experience a sense of community and connection that they had never felt before.
This decision also led to an increase in alliances and collaborations between different factions within the tower, ultimately changing the dynamics of the tower's social structure and power dynamics. The players that saw this announcement were delighted as they could now gain permanent citizenship in the kingdom they wished to live in.
As for those who were hiding their cordial relationship, they can now freely acknowledge and openly support each other without fear of repercussions. As the lord and noble open a path, with this new policy certain individuals can somehow also exploit this.
The guilds were all managed and run by players; they could now hire tower residents and exploit them as they saw fit. The gatekeepers are bound to their task, and that is to limit or forbid the exit and entrance to the tower based on the laws they are sworn to uphold. However, with the new policy allowing tower residents to hire non-players outside the tower and vice versa , there is a potential for abuse of power and exploitation within the guilds and with power. This could lead to conflicts and challenges for the gatekeepers in maintaining order and enforcing the laws of the tower.
Sebastian Lazarus, leader of the Northern Lazarus Guild, received such a change and became worried with the implication of these. Hiring non-ability users of normal people will drive many to flock toward the tower like moths to a flame, seeking power and wealth. The players exclusivity in hunting and exploiting resources within the tower could create tension and competition among guilds, potentially leading to internal strife and external threats from rival factions. The delicate balance of power within the tower may be disrupted, causing chaos and endangering the safety of all who reside within its walls.
As players have to get evaluated by the association to confirm their ability and level, what the nobles did was open the tower to further chaos. The nobles' decision to open the tower to more participants could result in an influx of unqualified individuals, potentially destabilizing the hierarchy and creating even more chaos. This could ultimately lead to a breakdown in order and a heightened risk of danger for all involved.
Sebastian Lazarus serves as a hired knight by one of the lords of the North, who serve the Holy Empire of Álfheim, where all the cathedral magic priests came to serve the holy vicar of God light Aether.
Maiden Álfheim was known to be the God of Light, Aether, the mortal daughter that was born to heal the land when the Netherborn army ravaged the land thousands of years ago. The war with the Netherborn and the dragon race nearly wiped out all life in the north, even changing the landmass and changing the climate and weather.
Many lives were lost in the two ancient beings battle; collateral damage was so massive, survivors of the war were left to rebuild their shattered world. The arrival of Álfheim brought hope and healing to the devastated land, as she used her powers to restore balance and peace and hold the battle within just the North as she feared. If this war spreads, more lives will be lost. The cathedral magic priests dedicated themselves to serving her, believing that through her guidance, they could prevent such destruction from ever happening again.
After the great Nether War, the Holy Maiden Álfheim was able to establish four more domains as she placed four of her guardians to rule over them. These were the kingdom of
City of Arockar: 200 thousand population with four small commercial towns under its domain.
City of Glavir, 100 thousand population with two small towns I garrison under its domain.
City of Ellanid: 170 thousand population with four mining villages under its domain.
City of Sardin: 90 thousand population with 2 small farming towns.
While the central and main empire was named Álfheim with a 10 million population, after her so-called ascension to the god realm , Álfheim's mortal offspring became the ruler of the holy empire.
Sebastian Lazarus was connected to the current lord of the City of Arockar.
Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria was a half-elven descendant of the first lord who named the city of Arockar after his own family name. Lady Riad-dûm was known for her fair and just rule, and she was highly respected by the people of the city. Rumors were surrounding her secret relationship with Sebastian Lazarus, but it hasn't been confirmed .
Many retainers and advisors were outraged by the announcement and agreement of the current Holy Vicar Feldreldre , Álfheim's great-great-grandnephew, toward opening their doors to the idea of a mutual services agreement and temporary citizenship under the sign and agreed service contract to those living outside their domain, including beyond the tower gate.
Many guilds resided in Álfheim and in the four cities, and they had mixed reactions. Some openly accepted it , but others hated the idea, as it was an open invitation to those who were non-players to obtain resources that were meant only for them to monopolize.
Many organizations will surely use this to establish their own presence within the tower territories, potentially disrupting the established order and causing tension among residents. But Sebastian was delighted as he could expand his influence even further as he knows a lot of normal but high-skilled people outside that badly need work.
The first floor alone was so vast there were only 13 documented locations with ruling clans managing these territories; seven of these were mutual allies and agreed to share resources and information, creating a sense of stability within the tower. But beyond the vast waters, more unchartered territories awaited, ripe for the taking by those with the ambition and resources to do so. Sebastian saw this as an opportunity to not only increase his own power but also to provide opportunities for those in need of employment outside of the established clans and the tower itself.
He knew too well that whatever prompted this announcement had already opened the doors to gaining power to own authority inside the floor. Mary Kaye was updating Seastian on the current situation on their travel toward Lúthien; communication by artifact is hard and requires a lot of mana, so most players used this very expensive and limited resource sparingly. Sebastian listened intently, knowing that the information Mary Kaye was providing could be crucial to their success in navigating the dangerous territory ahead. He made a mental note to strategize and plan accordingly based on the details she shared.
Unlike Charlotte, who was very territorial , Mary Kaye and Sebastian were more collaborative and focused on working together to achieve their common goal. They understood the importance of teamwork and communication in order to overcome the challenges they faced on their journey to Lúthien. Sebastian respected Charlotte's wish to personally oversee the Evolve Drake quest.
Mary Kaye, or MK for short, wanted to make sure Sebastian could help them when the quest turned sideways just to cover all possible angles. They were attacked by another group even before they delivered the long titanium spear inside the tower.
As the kingdom of Tyriarn Isssëa was situated a few hundred miles just below the City of Sardin, the elven lord of Tyriarn Isssëa served the divine tree that came even before the so-called maiden deity Álfheim set foot in the north, healing the desolated land.
but the lord of Tyriarn, Isssëa, is Naeron Varynn, who actually encountered the so-called goddess, resented, and refused to bow down to a mortal being, who many considered a mortal goddess related to the god of light, Aether, but the four hundred thousand elven inhabitants under
The divine tree that they worship is believed to be an essence of the god Rillifane. These beliefs made the two empires engage in a centuries-long conflict, each claiming divine favor and superiority over the other. Despite the tension, the elves of Tyriarn remain steadfast in their devotion to Isssëa and the ancient tree that sustains their land.
But the Elven lord Naeron Varynn and Holy Vicar Arnis Feldreldre were civilized enough not to let their differences escalate into all-out war. Instead, they engaged in diplomatic negotiations and trade agreements to maintain a fragile peace between their empires and not infringe on their own respected territories.
But the sudden appearance of the tower gate made everything more complicated, as it posed a threat to every living being in their realm in an instant that just woke up knowing what the tower represented and understood its significance.
Just like that, nearly a multitude of sentient life forms just openly accepted this fact as is and never questioned its sudden appearance. MK documents that the first-floor resident has about ten gods in their history.
And few were forgotten, but the most feared god was the primordial god of chaos, named only as Entropy. MK was so fascinated with the story, especially now that there are actual archaeological remains connected to these gods. And one of her older cousins was riding the small stream related to this lore. As many knew that Lady Riad-dûm Laenaria was born from the land of Karion , she might know the hidden history of why the Empire of Graves in the far west across the vast wetland truly came to be.
As MK connected all the disarrayed historical facts, the event that happened when the Empire of Graves came to be was after the death and establishment of the holy empire of Álfheim.
The playing field related to the scenario was thought to be in shambles; many could not see the random small interconnected plots were unraveling, and nothing was now sure. Many players could not keep up with the random twists and turns in the storyline, causing confusion and frustration among the community. The once cohesive narrative now seemed fragmented and chaotic, leaving players unsure of what to expect next.
But MK was able to connect a scenario that has a high probability rate in relation to the main storyline, but it's too early to say, as she was also riding on pieces of information that may or may not be accurate. As the pieces started to come together, some players began to see a glimmer of hope in understanding the bigger picture, while others remained skeptical of where the story was headed.
As MK ended her report , Sebastian prepared to respond to his cousin with a mixture of excitement and caution. He knew that any action taken at this point could have far-reaching consequences, and he needed to tread carefully in order to protect both himself and his family.
Meanwhile, Dane, who in the past created this story, was enjoying the fact he was able to live in the world he had created, watching as the characters he had brought to life navigated through their challenges. Dane felt a sense of pride in his creation, but also a twinge of uncertainty about where the story would ultimately lead. This was intended to be .
The storyline was simple; it was about Chaos and Order, but giving his teammate the ability to create multitudes of scenarios was actually his plan, allowing for endless possibilities and unexpected twists that would keep anybody at the edge of their seats. As the characters continued to evolve and face new obstacles, Dane eagerly anticipated how their choices would shape the outcome of his intricate narrative.
The grumbling of his stomach was quite new to him; he remembered that this was real and no longer a virtual game. Eating energy bars was a bit boring considering he could smell dishes being cooked on food stalls. They all line up along the street. As numerous stores near the makeshift town outside the gate exit.
Navigating this town was new to him because this was not part of the original landscape. The place should be vacant and have no visible structures, but seeing the place, he understood the choice these people made , as residents and non-tower residents established this small town for personal reasons. Identifying the people inside was now a bit harder; there are no identifying markers or signs to distinguish who belongs to the tower and who does not. The mingling of residents and non-residents created a sense of community that was both intriguing and unfamiliar to him.
So many will just assume one's profession based on their clothing and equipment, but Dane was wearing tactical military clothes , unlike the rest who were wearing classic medieval attire. Despite the lack of clear distinctions, Dane found himself drawn to the diverse group of individuals who called this small town home.
Standing in front of a food stall , Dane could smell the aroma of the food being cooked right in front of him; he was eager to try the local cuisine, but he was once again faced with an issue. He doesn't have money to purchase anything. He decided to strike up a conversation with the vendor, hoping to learn more about the town and maybe even find a way to earn some money while he was there.
The young woman with her grandmother told him that a dwarf was looking for hired help to hunt down a salamander in exchange for 50 silver coins. But no players have answered his request, as salamanders are annoying to hunt, as these creatures have the ability to blend with their surroundings, and the payment was too low, as the prey was as big as an adult elephant and has rock-like skin and, worst of all, spits corrosive saliva.
Killing one was easy for a mid-level player with a party of three, but the risk of encountering a group of salamanders was too high for most players to consider. The difficulty level and potential danger involved in hunting these creatures deterred many from accepting the job.
The elder woman pointed out where the dwarf was located and told him a few details about him; the young woman gave Dane a meat skewer as a token of friendship and told Dane, You look hungry." Dane insisted he would pay them back for the kind gesture. As Dane thanked them and headed off to find the dwarf, he took a bite of the food and was amazed it was actually delicious.
Many mid-rank players passed him by, as he looked annoyed and frustrated. It seems these players came from where the dwarf was located. Based on the information the elderly woman gave him, the dwarf was named Siglorr Bouldergrove, a very arrogant and short-tempered forger.
Dane recalled that when his team was developing the Dwarven race , Shawn Booth was the only person that wanted to add the face tension among each character they would make. The Elven and Dwarven races were relatively similar but with different mindsets and abilities.
The dwarven race was all known for their skill in forging and creating weapons and artifacts. They are rough, arrogant individuals who take great pride in their craftsmanship. They are direct and frank to the point that they sound too harsh and overbearing at times, and this race hardly trusts other beings as they believe in self-reliance and independence above all else.
They are very strong; each hammer they use to forge weapons weighs several pounds and can easily crush a skull with a single blow. Their craftsmanship is unmatched, but their personalities can be off-putting to those not accustomed to their blunt nature.
While the elven race is somewhat similar, they too are arrogant and see themselves as elegant and good-looking, often looking down on other races as inferior. They like the Dwarven; they both have long lifespans. Elves are known to be great bow users and masters of elixirs to cure poisons and other ailments. Elves are also known for their deep connection to nature. Elves are also known for their intricate craftsmanship and beautiful architecture, often living in elegant treehouses or hidden forest cities.
And elven raves pride themselves on being noble beings and thus need to act in a manner befitting nobility, unlike the Dwarven, who are drudges as they always love working hard and getting their hands dirty. Elves are also known for their intricate craftsmanship and beautiful architecture, often living in elegant treehouses or hidden forest cities.
Siglorr Bouldergrove was seated on a tree stump. As the wind blows around him, carrying dust coming from an open dry field, the town near the gate was all makeshift; so many structures were made of simple materials like wood and stone, and supposedly the land was barren and an open, wide, flat land with a rough terrain, a few grasses, and a variation of weed plants spread evenly on the place. Facing the east was the path going to the cursed forest , and a few miles going northwest was the empire of Solnara Cererindur , and near that same location was the kingdom of Tyriarn Isssëa, and further west was the dreaded land of Karios.
As though gazing at a photograph, Dane inhaled deeply and absorbed the entire image. He simply cannot imagine experiencing it once more; he was distracted by other things when he traveled toward the cursed forest, but after completing his task, he now tried to witness his team's greatest accomplishment: mapping out and creating just the first of the two regions on the first floor alone. This took three months and thousands of hours of pre-production (planning, concept development), production (development and asset creation), testing (quality assurance), pre-launch (final preparations), launch (release), and post-production (maintenance and updates) until it was almost flawless.
Siglorr Bouldergrove was seen. Talking to himself as nobody has agreed to accept his quest , he is now thinking if the reward was too low. 100 silver coins are equivalent to 1 gold coin. He kept talking while Dane was listening to grievances a few feet behind him. Dwarves were great forgers but lacked instinct in the field of warfare. He was unaware that Dane was standing behind him, but Siglorr Bouldergrove was not just a skilled blacksmith; he was also a known Dwarven warrior with a rank of captain in his younger years.
At the age of three hundred sixty years old, he was still sharp as ever , but Dane was just better than him when it came to getting close to his prey. Siglorr Bouldergrove stood up as he waited that long for a player to accept his quest, but all of them rejected the reward payment, saying it was too low, as he was about to turn around. Dane greeted him; this act startled him as he fell backward and landed on the ground with a loud thud. Dane chuckled, offering a hand to help Siglorr up, and said,
"Looks like you could use some help after Sir."
Siglorr begrudgingly accepted the help, grateful for Dane's quick reflexes; despite his advancing age, he could not harshly talk to a person who was able to approach him without being noticed. Siglorr Bouldergrove extended his hand and grabbed hold of Dane's right hand. As he held Dane's hands, he noticed a serpent made of burning amber and solid smoke peeking at the opening of his jacket..
The mask he was wearing suddenly vanished and exposed his appearance as Dane smiled at Siglorr Bouldergrove, and as soon as he was already standing, Dane asked him a question.
"Master Siglorr Bouldergrove, the elderly woman at the food stall , told me about your humble request. Would you allow me to accept your task to hunt salamanders?"
"Ah, you mean the elderly woman that sells meat skewers?"
"Yes, sir."
"Sir... You are funny."
Siglorr Bouldergrove's short temperament was replaced with a look of surprise and delight; he saw a portion of this person's ability, as most Dwarven could see mana unlike normal people, including mid-level players.
"You are a peculiar young man; your appearance doesn't match your look."
"Ah, you mean my clothing? I prefer wearing comfortable clothing rather than those heavy gears."
"If you are inquiring about the salamander hunt , I will pay 50 silver coins per tail ."
"No problem."
"I would love to study you two companions, but we hardly know each other yet. I sadly need to test your skills first. Can you dispose of the tree stump as proof of your ability? As you can see, it's rather wide, and its roots are deeply embedded in the ground. Then after, we can discuss further tasks."
"Do this; you have my attention."
"Good luck, young man."
Siglorr Bouldergrove casually walked toward the food stall as he was a bit hungry, but this was just a way for him to test the player's ability. The remaining tree stump was about a foot tall but had a diameter of five feet and was actually petrified wood. The only way to remove it was with a middle-tier spell or with raw strength of a level 40 status.
Siglorr Bouldergrove saw Dane has mana, but his level was basically zero; but he still had to proceed with the test, He was about ten feet away from the tree stump; he now wondered if the young man had decided to pick up the war axe he left. As he was nearing the last temporary settlement house connected with the small town that was about twenty feet away , he heard nothing, so he assumed the young man didn't accept the challenge. and just move on.
"At last he was like those other players; what a waste. He was rather peculiar and unpredictable," which made Siglorr curious about his potential. Despite his initial disappointment, Siglorr couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement at the thought of a new recruit with untapped abilities joining the hunt,
"I really think now, it's the reward payment, but that's the only money left."
"After the fall of my clan , I need to be careful with my resources."
Suddenly, Siglorr Bouldergrove heard sound as it rapidly increased, as continuous blasts; it was so fast and now deafening that he knew something was wrong. He quickly turned around and saw the young man was casting fire bullets nonstop. Dane knew it was a low-tier attack spell with a damage deal of just one point per cast,
but he decided to just use the same principles of having a Gatling gun firing nonstop at a fixed and focus at a single point, the manner of casting the magic spell he was doing , has never been seen before.
He fired a volley of flames at the tree stump, causing the damage to be increased to a thousand every hit, even though it was only a low fire bullet, he fired consecutively with both hands. His attack was not slowing down, and soon the ground itself began to quiver. The onslaught was so swift that 5,000 fire bullet burst rounds every minute, causing another wave of flames to burst as soon as the bullet struck the tree stump.
Siglorr Bouldergrove is left in amazement at Dane's might as the earth trembles as he fires fire bullets at that stomp for five minutes straight, leaving nothing but ashes in its wake.
From a distance, many players could see the smoke from his bombardment at the gate's stairway. They even pondered what would have caused the flashing bursts of flickering light. Some believed it to be a confusing flash spell, but Siglorr Bouldergrove recognized it for what it was: an unmatched exhibition of terrible magic that only he witnessed, leaving him speechless.
He gazed in wonder, thinking, "It was like a dragon's breath, but more concentrated and intense." He realized they were seeing a true genius at action and was rendered breathless by the utter precision and strength of Dane magic.
"Those fire bullets are just low level; each strike was just 1 point of damage, but even an entire Troll horde would be decimated with this kind of attack."
" amazing!"
The talent and control needed to cast such a magic astounded him. He was both fascinated and frightened by the power of the enchantment, knowing that he was seeing something genuinely remarkable.