Unconquered Tower

FORTY-SIX

The six weapons that Roan had auctioned off had netted him 48,932 credits before Jerry’s cut had come out. He’d been forced to buy the map maker skill rather than the manual because of the press of time which had gutted most of his account. The fighting in the caves had seen him kill twenty-four goblins, two ogres, and the general for another 2,140 credits. Roan was irritated that he hadn’t been able to sell their talismans for the quest, but all the villages had been destroyed.

“This floor sucked, but it was profitable. In only three days I’ve tempered twice, gained multiple levels of proficiency to my skills, and gotten a few new ones as well. Managed to build the Support Guild, though admittedly Darren managed to insert himself in that. My equipment is vastly superior and bits of my memory are coming back. Memory that I didn’t even realize that I was missing. And the Passenger. Figured out he is in here too. Oh, also managed to somehow gain the perfect bloodline.”

Roan had a lot of time to think as he climbed the stairs to the next level. Once more time and space were compressing around him as he traveled, leaving him alone with his own thoughts. Bored he looked over the alerts he’d received when he’d entered the stairwell.

SHERIFF BONUS: 5,000 CREDITS

FLOOR ONE LEVEL TWO CLEARANCE RATE: 100%

FINAL EARNINGS ON LEVEL TWO: 187,990

BONUS: 187,990

CURRENT BALANCE: 226,062 CREDITS

“It’s frankly a disgusting amount of money. Lots of it from enchanting, but those first few nights and the officer talismans really added up. And Lester. I could easily buy the translate skill, but it’s better to have a nice bank account for now. I spent quite a bit and armor and weapons aren’t cheap. Food too, now.” His stomach had been constantly grumbling at him for more of the mana dense steaks.

Unfortunately when climbing a space time staircase, you couldn't access your spatial storage. Roan was forced to keep climbing as his stomach protested. Left with only himself to deal with, he was forced to deal with the problems he’d been either completely ignoring or dismissing.

“This Passenger. He’s affecting how I think and act. This greed, the desire to hoard, that’s not me. Well…not to that degree. He’s sleeping now and I have some peace and quiet, but he’s going to wake up eventually. And my mind is my own.” Roan made the decision that his Passenger was going to be ejected one way or another. How he could plan that while he had the creature living in his mind, he didn’t know, but while it was dormant Roan could plan.

“The blank memories as well. Something erased them or did something to them. I know who Old Bao is, I know we trained rigorously. He obviously knew about the Passenger, if not directly ensured I’d have it. But why? How am I being played? And did I agree to it before my memories were altered?”

Roan let his thoughts slow down. A bloom of anger was starting to build in his chest at the thought of someone manipulating him like that. He knew everyone manipulated people, most of the time it was simple things that had little impact on a person’s life. But someone or something had tampered with his mind, his memories, his very self.

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

And he couldn’t stop that cold burning fire that raged through his blood at that thought.

“Focus. Hana gave us clues. I think some of the family is alive. Gabby and Preston at least. They were the last ones to enter the tower. But could mom or dad still be alive? How many generations of my family are trapped in here?” Roan killed the hope that was blooming. He locked away the emotion in the back of his mind and strangled it until there was nothing left but the anger and cold practical logic that had driven him so far.

“I’m rapidly approaching the apex of my iteration. Taoya can fight me physically and Tyler can probably ruin my day with her bloodline. I’m certain I can handle Moira or Darren, that leaves Grace as the last confirmed heavy hitter. Even if Nash is her brother, he didn’t register as a threat like she did. They’re going to keep getting stronger though, I can’t slow down. We need to prioritize skills and how to push forward for the maximum growth.” Focusing on the future helped calm him further.

“Skill growth should be the focus IF possible on the next level. Mental resistance and passive recovery are both tier 3 of 5 currently. And there’s that synergy alert with passive recovery.” The stairs had changed from rough hewn natural stone to something softer. It was like he was climbing up a hard packed dirt hill now.

“Need the mana core for all of this. That has to be the goal. Two more pieces until I can trade them in for the highest graded core.” Roan flinched as bright light seared his eyes. Hot wind whipped at his face and pressed against his chest, attempting to smother him.

The stairs leveled off and he was left blinking his eyes. Unlike the last two times he’d started a level, he was surrounded by people. Dozens of faces peered back and forth, all of them walking out of stairs that disappeared the moment someone cleared them.

“Roan!” Taoya’s familiar voice boomed out, the only warning Roan had before a massive hand clapped him on the shoulder.

“Hundred percent! It was a good call to push. Very profitable!” Taoya was loud enough that people looked at them. They all had the same look to their eyes. Cowed, meek, broken.

“These aren’t are people, are they?” Roan muttered. He was looking through faces and relying on learn to categorize them. They were climbers, their ragged gear testified to that. But most of them were strangers to him.

LEVEL QUEST GENERATED

PROTECT THE CARAVANS THROUGH THE DEADLANDS

0/5 PASSED HAVE ARRIVED SAFELY

REWARD: PASSAGE TO LEVEL FOUR

“Taoya, is that you?” a man’s musical voice rolled up to them. Roan turned to see a man of medium height and build walking toward them. The crowds broke away from him quickly, giving him plenty of space. Taoya looked toward the man and Roan saw the hidden wince.

“Amir, it is good to see you are alive,” Taoya said. Then he bowed at the waist. Roan blinked, trying to understand what he was seeing. Taoya was the most powerful climber of their instance and he was showing deference to this random.

“And who is your friend?” Amir asked. Roan felt his mouth opening, words forming to speak before he could think. Then his mouth clicked shut and a migraine exploded through his skull. Amir turned his head slightly and his eyes crinkled as he smiled.

“A mental resistance skill, I see. Sorry about that, since I have my mana core it has been a struggle to keep my suggestions contained.” Amir shrugged as if he hadn’t just tried to use compulsion on Roan.

“He’s not leaving these deadlands.” Roan made the decision in a single heartbeat. Even as Amir walked to them and clapped Taoya on the shoulder and began to regale them to a boisterous tale of his escapades, Roan was planning on how to bury the man. He’d had enough of people fucking with his mind.