Tower of Avarice: A LitRPG story

Chapter 127 – Floor 11: Part 11

The appearance of the Wyvern sent the Players into a panic. The top of the wall was currently a battlefield, with Players fighting off waves of Anti-Life that were crawling up its surface in an attempt to reach them. Arrows flew everywhere, spears stabbed forward, and magics were unleashed.

Into this chaotic mess, the Wyvern crashed down from the sky. Its large body slammed into the stone of the wall, sending a shockwave across its surface and releasing a blast of wind that pushed the Players back. Many thought it was a new form of Anti-Life sent to attack them, but when they felt the mana within, they knew it was a summon from a Player.

The Wyvern lashed out with its wings and clawed back legs for nearly ten minutes. Whenever Anti-Life surrounded it, it would take to the skies and unleash its acid breath that melted the Anti-Life and left the top of the wall pitted and marked.

When its mana finally ran out, it returned to Mathew, who was still sitting at the base of the wall, recovering his mana. The Wyvern size was reduced to normal, barely bigger than Mathew himself, and he had it revert to its statue form and replaced it back in his inventory while he assessed his gains.

The Wyvern had made significant rewards, nearly earning Mathew back the cost of the Statue. Overall, he was pleased with the results and planned to use it more in the future. But for now, his recovery time was over, and it was his turn to join the others on the wall.

Wearily climbing back to his feet, Mathew made the short trek to the ladder, where he was soon face to face with the Anti-Life once again.

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Mathew leaned over the edge of the chasm and looked into the depth of the Anti-Life ‘Nest.’ The ominous red glow that had been ever-present for the last few weeks had faded significantly, even occasionally flickering as if it would disappear.

But it would always return, stubbornly maintaining the ‘Nest’, and the Anti-Life creatures within would continue to spawn.

It had been two weeks since the town had been constructed and four weeks since the first reinforcements had arrived. In that small amount of time, there were now millions of Players on the planet, fighting and dying as they drove the Anti-Life back.

During the fighting, Mathew gained more levels and reached Level 45. With his gains came more power and an increased connection to the ephemeral gods. The Shop had expanded, although he had yet to purchase any more items or Blessings.

As the World Tree grew, it began to feed on the Anti-Life Nests, reducing their ability to create new creatures. But something was wrong. Initially, Rehn had said that the World Tree could close the rents in the ground and ensure that their base would be protected from the Nests.

But this morning, she had come to Mathew with a message from the World Tree.

“So, we’re going to need to go down there and snatch the heart of the Nest?” Mathew asked, looking away from the chasm and back at Rehn.

“Indeed. The roots can’t penetrate whatever barrier is protecting the heart. We’re not the only ones going; each of the Nests are going to need groups to enter them and take the Aether Crystal that the Anti-Life are using to power their nests.” Rehn explained.

“At least we’ll be getting something out of this.” Mathew muttered, turning back to stare into the nest.

Mathew estimated it to be hundreds of feet deep, with the glowing light revealing twists and turns during the descent. He could faintly make out a path carved by the passage of tens of thousands of Anti-Life as they climbed out over the past weeks.

It would be difficult to descend and even worse to return, especially if things went sideways and the Players had to retreat in a hurry. Anyone who entered the Nest would have to resign themselves to pushing forward toward the heart regardless of what they faced unless one of the Players had a means of escape that could overcome the depth.

Mathew let out a sigh as he stood and looked away from the Nest.

“When do we go?” Mathew asked as Rehn led the way back to the settlement. There was a small gate in the wall, well defended and blocked by a portcullis enchanted by magic that one of the Player Forgers had designed, as well as multiple murder holes that dotted the length of the tunnel within.

“Tomorrow morning. I want you with the advance team of veterans to secure our entry point while I’ll lead the newcomers. We’ll establish a camp at the base of the chasm and work our way to the heart. The World Tree explained that there are dozens of miles of tunnels down there, but it couldn’t tell where the heart was located. We may be down there for a while.” Rehn explained.

“I wouldn’t expect anything less. It wouldn’t be a Floor of the Tower if it were easy. Descend into a Nest, surrounded on all sides by enemies and stumble blindly into the gods only know what, in search of the Heart. I’m just surprised the gods haven’t thrown us another curveball.” At the statement, Rehn started, and her foot stumbled for a moment.

“Funny that you mentioned that. There is something else. I wanted to wait until we were back in town, out of earshot of the others, but this would be fine as well. The Nest contains some form of corrupted mana.” Rehn clarified quietly, her eyes darting around them to make sure no one was close enough to overhear.

“Meaning?” Mathew asked, not liking the sound of it.

“We won’t be able to recover our mana once we’re inside, at least not by using the ambient mana. Even our potions will be less effective; the corruption invades everything, including our inventories. You’ll need to carry anything you want to use on your body and don’t expect to be able to restore your mana quickly.” Rehn described.

“Great. Wonderful.” Mathew replied, running his hand through his hair in exasperation as the pair passed under the wall and into the tunnel. Mathew could feel the eyes of the other Players on him as they walked, carefully assessing them for threats.

“We’ll have supplies at the base camp, but you need to be prepared.” Rehn finished, and Mathew nodded at the warning.

“A lot of people are going to die.” Mathew whispered, careful not to let his words carry to the Players watching them.

“They always do.”

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The rising sun found Mathew back at the edge of the Chasm, looking down at the Nest warily as over a hundred and fifty veteran Players lined the rim. Rehn had gathered the town's most powerful and skilled people the night before and explained what would be expected of them.

Each had a pack carrying their necessary supplies, with bandoliers of potions, spell components and weapons ready. The veterans were legendary figures to the thousands of newer reinforcements that had joined them, watching from a short distance away for their turn to descend.

They had survived the worst the Anti-Life had thrown against them and survived. Better yet, they had taken Aether from their fallen foes and enhanced their abilities, gaining levels and new Blessings. Even though the veterans had only been here a few weeks longer than the newcomers, those extra days made an almost insurmountable difference for the reinforcements.

Mathew adjusted the knife at his belt, then ensured that the hatchet he had purchased from the shop was strapped to his pack.

The magical hatchet had been pretty cheap, another find in the Shop that had come from a fallen Player. Enchanted with fire runes, the hatchet would glow bright orange when he held it in his hand as if it were fresh from the fires of a forge.

Mathew didn’t normally use a weapon, but with the restrictions on his mana that Rehn warned him of, he wanted to be as thrifty as possible when he descended into the Nest.

“Everyone ready?” Someone called out, and Mathew recognized the young man who would be leading one of the teams. Wearing thick, black robes with a hood, the young man had a long, wooden staff topped by a strange, twisted rune made of obsidian.

Seeing the quick nods or indifference of the group, the young man gathered his mana into a spell.

“Mass Drifting Descent – As Light as a Feather!” The young man chanted the words to his Blessing, and a faint, glowing light gathered around each of the gathered veterans. Not hesitating for a moment, the young man leapt over the rim of the chasm, letting the wind whip around his robe as he drifted slowly downwards toward the pulsating, glowing light of the Nest.

Mathew took a last look at Rehn, who was standing amongst the reinforcements. She looked radiant and commanding in the glow of the morning sun, only slightly visible through the gaps in the World Tree’s canopy.

Giving her an encouraging nod, Mathew jumped into the chasm.

The magic of the young man’s Blessing buoyed him, making his descent feel like he was sinking into the ocean. The darkness of the chasm alternated with the pulsations of the Nest’s Heart, and the spicy scent of Aether wafted up from the depths below him.