ALL NOVEL Chapter 12: Codex
It turns out that the cult's base was in a closed and secluded place, far from any town. When they first came out of the cave tunnel, Jael had first looked up into the blue sky even though he expected it.
The Dungeon Tower's floors are like that. Each is the size of a continent, and some are even the size of an entire planet. It doesn't feel like being in a Dungeon at all.
They walked away as fast as they could from the area, passed the small forest that surrounded it until they saw a well-passed road, and started to walk away. They saw none of the ritualist cult or any GUV or Tower Guard and that put Litha in a good mood.
She explained some things about geography as they walked. On almost every floor there's always a town where Climbers are concentrated, almost like a capital, and then other smaller towns spread around, mostly close to Zones.
Jael listened because it was only him that was lacking in informations like this. Everyone passed through floor 103 where lessons like this are given.
The center town for floor 102 is called the Novice Town and it was where they had been when they got kidnapped. Litha told Jael how they got kidnapped after glaring at Temur. "He wanted to help a little girl, one of the rich folks who are here on the beginner's floor as a tourist. We followed her to a house she pointed us to and that is the last thing we remembered."
Temur grumbled to himself and quickly pointed at Mopi. "What about you? How do you get kidnapped?"
"Me? Well... hahaha...I hum...I was just walking in the registration area after getting registered. Yes! And then I was suddenly hit from behind." Mopi smiled.
Litha looked at him expressionless. "They must be getting bold or desperate to do that."
"Look! It's a cab." Temur pointed out.
A cab indeed, a carriage pulled by three scaly houses, but with Litha's quick negotiations, it agreed to carry them to Novice town, which was a two-hour journey.
It was a silent one as everyone kept to themselves. To Jael, holding his monster cupped in his left hand, all he could think about was how fast life can change. Either in a good or bad way. He didn't believe he could ever gain a Codex; it's one of those kinds of dreams you have just to keep to yourself, something to think about when about to sleep. To keep busy.
But now? Now Jael has tasted power, and he very much likes the taste of it.
°•●●•°
Jael was sitting in a hotel sitting room. He wore new clothes and was well-fed. Things moved fast immediately they got to Novice Town, Litha had sent Temur and Jael away to the hotel they rented previously with the promise of meeting with them later.
Then she went to make an anonymous tip to GUV and Tower Guards. After that, she went to change some of Jael's monster cores to coins so he could pay for his rent and new clothes.
"What did you do with Mopi?" Jael put Hermit on the table, trying to feed it with a piece of pizza but the small monster wasn't interested.
Litha had changed too; she wore an oversized shirt and bumper, and she had just started eating her food. "I sent him home, wherever it was, after he promised to keep his mouth shut."
Temur snorted from his place; he was lying atop a big chair that seemed to be made for only him. "Or after you scared him not to talk?"
She shrugged. "Is there a difference? We saved his life. We should be the ones getting things from him. I'm only responsible for Jael. For now.
"And that reminds me. Let's tell you the basics that were also told to us on the previous floor.
"To start with, the Codex, it means different things to different people. To me, it is a guide where I learn how to manipulate mana. To Temur, it's a master that teaches him the act of fighting with aura, and to you? A spellbook. Ultimately, it is a thing to learn from and every Codex is personal to that particular person.
"Codex is tied to our souls, hence, our ranks. When we advance up the rank, then so does our Codex, and we'll have new skills upgraded for us. As you know, every Codex is ranked– common, uncommon, rare, epic, mythic, and legendary. The rank of your Codex will affect your power with other Awakened within the same power rank. Well? Tell me about the power ranks."
Jael knew this one. "It starts from bronze, Iron, silver, gold, platinum, master and Grandmaster."
Temur grunted. "There's a rumor that there's even hidden higher rankings but that's the highest we know."
Litha rolled her eyes. "That's just a rumor. As I was saying, for example the rank of the Codex will affect how much power two Iron ranks will have. A common Codex Iron rank will be weaker than an uncommon one. Generally. But the way you use your said skills also matters."
"So what's the rank of your Codex?" Jael asked her.
She hesitated but Litha had promised to exchange information. "Mythic." She admitted.
Jael stared. And stared. Mythic? Wow, no wonder she's so powerful; he'd heard only a very few Awakeners have the Epic Codex. "I'm jealous. Mythic."
Litha looked at him in confusion. "Why? Your own Codex is also far above the realm of common. Maybe even Mythic or like Temur, Epic Codex."
Jael laughed. "Well, maybe rare but I'm sure...."
Litha raised her hand and pointed at Hermit on the table. "You gave this life. Though it's still undead in some kind of way. That's not something a weak Codex can do. You are in the Tower now; you have to know your power so you can use its maximum value. No humbling shit.
Got that?"
They stared at each other across the table. Jael nodded, once. "Tell me everything you know."
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