Tower of Avarice: A LitRPG story

Chapter 116 – Floor 10: Part 3

“No, Mr. Larson. You may not spin again. Furthermore, you will not be offered any other Disciplines until you reach the 20th Floor, so you should become more familiar with the abilities and Blessings available to you. I remind you that the shop is now open and you may purchase additional Blessings.” The young woman stated, walking forward and tapping his silver wristband with her finger.

The image projected showed the shop, with the offerings refreshing immediately. Most of the items and equipment were things Mathew had never seen before, and, from his brief review, they were tied to his new Discipline.

Robes and staffs that would enhance his Blessings, clothing that offered protection while molding to his body while he transformed. The variety was impressive but locked to his Discipline. The young woman didn’t pause to allow Mathew much time to browse. Instead, she swiped her hand through the projection and drew his attention to a new list.

Blessings. There were dozens, all arranged by price in Aether with brief, one-sentence descriptions of what they did below them. The cheapest were hundreds of thousands of Aether, while some of the most powerful cost in the billions.

“I will give you a final piece of advice before you depart for the 11th Floor, Mr. Larson. Your survival will depend on your selection of Blessings from the shop and your competence in their use. You have lived through Floors that have killed many of your peers, but what comes next is nothing compared to what you have experienced.

“You will be challenged mentally, physically and even spiritually. To overcome the challenges that lie before you, the Tower may provide you with the tools necessary to succeed, but ultimately you determine your fate.” The young woman said.

Mathew nodded in understanding.

“Very well, good luck.” She finished. With a wave of her hand, a pillar of light emerged from the concrete floor. It split in half to reveal the interior of the now-familiar elevator.

“Thank you.” Mathew said before entering the white interior of the lift.

The doors closed, leaving him alone once more. Unlike several of the other floors, there was no option for a Floor selection this time, and Mathew crossed his arms and leaned against the wall as he waited for the elevator to arrive at his destination.

He didn’t need to wait long.

The lights began to flicker, and the elevator bounced up and down as if the entire structure was caught in an earthquake. Mathew tried to steady himself against the shaking by pressing harder against the wall and firming his stance, but each time it shook, his feet would leave the floor.

“What in the hell is going on!?” Mathew shouted. The lights completely dimmed, leaving Mathew in the dark. The shaking began to slow, and with a final lurch, Mathew tumbled onto the floor of the elevator before it ceased.

Alone in the darkness, Mathew slowly picked himself up just as a loud ‘Ding!’ rang out to signify that he had arrived at his destination. The lights brightened just as the doors opened. Dusting himself off, Mathew exited the malfunctioning elevator to the 11th Floor.

The sight of it was stunning.

He was standing on a metal deck in front of a large, curved window. Outside, a sea of blackness stretched out into infinity. Specks of light broke up the darkness. Stars. There was an entire panorama of stars in front of him.

Breaking up the flecks of light were colourful gas clouds and swirling circular objects that Mathew guessed were other galaxies. In a trance at the beautiful sight, he got closer to the window and placed his hand on the glass.

Rather than feeling cold like a car window, it felt similar to steel. Smooth and extremely dense for something so thin, Mathew ran his hand across it in wonderment.

“Where am I?” Mathew whispered as he craned his neck to take in the vista. Finally, having his fill of the beautiful universe in front of him, he turned to take in his surroundings.

The area he was in was wrapped in transparent glass, like a sphere, with a metal floor that curved gracefully. Elegant and futuristic lighting glowed along the pathway that led around the deck, and Mathew speculated where he was.

“I’m on a spaceship.” Mathew said with awe. He was in space! A lawyer from New York, he never dreamed he would be in space!

Confusingly, there was gravity here, and Mathew tentatively took a step forward. It felt exactly like walking on Earth, and, for a moment, he thought that perhaps he was mistaken. But when he crossed the floor to the other side, he saw that space continued all around him. There was no land in sight.

“I knew it was you, Mathew! It is wonderful to see you again.” A woman spoke, and Mathew turned away from the window to see who it was and how she knew his name.

The woman was around his age, but that could mean anything in the Tower of Avarice, where enhancing the body attribute could de-age even the oldest Player back to their prime.

She was pretty, with long, blond hair that was tied up into an intricate bun. She wore a white shirt, black jacket, and pants that had a shimmer of mana on them.

Staring at her for a long moment, Mathew had no idea who she was or how she knew him.

“You don’t remember me.” She stated with a small frown. Before Mathew could respond, she introduced herself.

“Rehn, of Ama.” She explained, and Mathew’s eyes opened wide in shock.

“The Psion.” He uttered, recognizing her now that he knew her name. It had been years since he had been on the 6th Floor. Mathew had been responsible for forging peace between the two continents, with Rehn’s marriage as a stipulation for the required peace.

She had entered the Tower immediately afterwards, the marriage vows being the only thing needed to seal the peace treaty. Free, Rehn left her husband and world behind to travel through the Tower of Avarice.

He never thought he would see her again, especially not on the 11th Floor. How had she caught up to him so quickly?

“Time works differently in the Tower, Mathew.” Rehn stated, and Mathew nodded.

“I see that whatever power prevented you from reading my thoughts isn’t stopping you anymore.” Mathew said.

“It’s still there. All the Players I encounter have it, not just you. As I travelled the Floors, my abilities improved. Still, I can only read surface thoughts, things that you likely would have spoken anyway. Don’t worry; all your secrets are still safe.” Rehn said with a smile.

“Good.” Mathew muttered, not returning her grin. That took Rehn off guard.

Mathew seemed different. Older and much more grim than she recalled him being. It had only been four Floors, a matter of a few years for him. How had he changed so much in such a short amount of time?

“How have you been?” Rehn asked tentatively. She had learned a lot about body posture and reading emotions from Players during her years in the Tower, and even if she hadn’t, the changes in Mathew were profound enough to be easily visible.

“Fine.” Mathew said simply, and when Rehn seemed unconvinced, he let out a tired sigh and ran his fingers through his hair.

“The past Floors have been difficult. It’s been a while since I saw you last. A decade…maybe more. The time tends to muddle together, and I lose track of it.” Mathew admitted. Before he would let Rehn speak, likely to comfort him, he pushed on to the matter at hand.

“Where are we? I usually receive a notice as soon as I arrive on the Floor, but I haven’t gotten anything yet.” Mathew asked, and Rehn blinked in surprise at the sudden shift of topics.

‘If he doesn’t want to talk about it right now, that’s fine. Just be there for him, and he’ll open up when he’s ready.’ Rehn thought.

“It’s not just you; all of us are in the dark here. Welcome aboard the ‘Stalwart Wayfarer.’” Rehn gestured at their surroundings.

“So we are in space?” Mathew asked, and Rehn nodded.

“Journeying amongst the stars on a ship with a secret destination. None of the Players have received the notice yet, although a ‘Seer’ amongst our number has divined that the gods will tell us soon. Possibly when all of our group arrives.” Rehn paused.

“It’s good to have you here, Mathew. It’s reassuring to have a familiar face. I have a feeling this Floor will not be easy, and a close companion to watch my back is desirable.” Rehn admitted.

“It’s good to see you too. And you’re right; I doubt we were brought onto this Floor to sightsee the galaxy.” Mathew muttered, taking a last look out the window before following Rehn to where the others were gathered.