Tower of Avarice: A LitRPG story

Chapter 69 – Floor 7: Part 9

“You’re sure it was him?” Mathew asked, looking at the group standing in front of him.

They were in the Council building of ‘Ruin,’ the city Mathew and millions of others had occupied and used as their base for the past two years. The war with the Fiends raged violently, with casualties on both sides in the tens of millions.

The lines of battle twisted and turned sometimes the Players would push back the Fiends for hundreds of miles and close every Portal along the way. Other times, a new group would emerge and decimate the humans, forcing them to adjust their plans.

‘Ruin’ would occasionally be at the forefront of these battles, depending on the proximity of the portals. Other times, they would be far removed, with Mathew and many other players heading out for months on a campaign to assist another group against the Fiends.

But Mathew would always return, and every time he did so, the city would be filled with new faces and new meat for the grinder.

The Council had met at first light. A messenger had come from another city across the ‘Barren Sea’ to their east, where a great ocean had once been before this world succumbed to the destruction of the Outer Deity. Mathew had spent a month crossing it in the past, linking up with another large group of players on the other side.

This courier from across the ‘Sea’ had brought a surprising message for the Council. Along with two dozen others, they had only arrived moments ago. Their group was bloodied and exhausted; the trek had been merciless, and Mathew understood what they had gone through. Travelling such a distance on the Seventh Floor was no easy task.

“We’re positive. Hundreds have recognized him from the previous floors, even if the Outer Deity’s manipulations have altered him.” The messenger said, an older man wearing heavy metal armour that had a shimmer of mana around it. He had a sword belted at his waist and a large shield strapped to his back.

“They chanted his name and title for everyone to hear.” Another added, this time a young woman wearing a black robe and holding a staff topped by a large ruby. Magical items were becoming more commonplace amongst the players, at least in those who survived on the Seventh Floor.

Or if a player was lucky enough to scavenge such an item from amongst the dead.

“He’s become one of the Apostles of the Outer Deity. I saw what happened to a group that fell into his hands. They sacrificed them for Aether and left a trail of heads for us to follow to find their bodies.” The older messenger added, shaking his head in disgust.

An Apostle, the Chosen representative of a god. Mathew didn’t know much about them. To his knowledge, Samuel would be the only one aside from the god of Games who had appeared on Earth on a television screen that Mathew had ever heard of.

He knew they symbolized their god's ideals, their physical manifestation in the Tower or the world. Imbued by power directly sourced from their patron Deity, they were the only ones who could directly influence events on their worldly plane.

In return for more power, a person would give up most of their freedom, desires, and intentions for the future. Mathew doubted he would ever choose to willingly enter into the service of a single god, no matter how much their ideals matched his own.

“Samuel must be stopped; every day he lives, the momentum shifts against us.” Eloise replied, looking at her fellow council members. She had been elderly and sick when she had entered the Tower, but anyone observing her would think she was in her early twenties, at the prime of her life.

“There is more to it than that. An Apostle is a direct link to their god. Their loss would be devastating to their patron. Righteous Subjugation would gain an insurmountable advantage on this floor with Samuel’s death.” An Oracle explained, his white robes bore the symbol of the council on the front.

Baxter scoffed at the comment. The large man was barechested, his muscles on display for everyone to see. After arriving on this floor, he had exclusive upgraded his ‘Body’ stat until he had been forced to take the' Champion' Discipline.

Mathew had seen him punch through a Fiend with his closed fist while using another as a club. Baxter deserved the fearsome reputation he had earned amongst the players.

“Samuel was unstoppable even before joining the Outer Deity. With the stat boost from ‘Adherent,’ I can’t imagine what kind of monster he has become.” Baxter clarified, his words casting a pall on the gathered crowd.

“Then we will fight him together, with an army at our backs.” Another Council member stated. Although he hadn’t received a ‘Title’ like some of the others, he had earned his place on the Council with them through months of fighting.

“Useless. An army will only provide him fodder to advance his levels even more.” Baxter replied, shaking his head at the notion.

“Then we will face him with a small group. Only the best amongst us, only the strongest.” Mathew stated, his voice cutting through the chatter. He wasn’t the strongest here or at the highest level, but his reputation made them listen.

Mathew had survived where others had not, often unscathed or only mildly wounded. Even Mathew wasn't entirely sure whether it was luck or skill, but it made others take notice and heed what he said.

“You will lead?” Baxter asked, surprised that Mathew would offer to join the fighting. The young man was a survivor, and even though he completed any task given to him, he was cautious. Confronting an Apostle like Samuel was no easy feat.

Even outnumbered, the Apostle likely would be on even footing with dozens of their best.

Mathew shook his head at the question. He was one of the longest-serving council members, so it was natural for Baxter to assume the role of leader would be Mathews.

“Eloise will lead. I will be her second.” Mathew responded. He wasn’t the best at tactics, especially with such a disparate group as theirs. Better that Eloise commanded them. She was a natural leader and had experience leading high-level parties against the Fiends in the past.

“You will need more than a few dozen people, no matter how skilled or high level. Samuel had an army with him when he attacked us.” The messenger stated, causing the Council to frown.

“Where is he?” Baxter asked the Oracle, who closed his eyes for a moment as he communed with the god of Righteous Subjugation. The answer would be vague at best. The god was limited in how much information it could provide, especially when it came to an Apostle of the Outer Deity.

“Somewhere north of the Barren Sea. A fortress made of black rock. I could see nothing more.” The Oracle responded.

“Then we take an army of our own. They will distract the Fiends while we face Samuel.” Baxter replied, and Eloise nodded at the words.

“Very well. This could mean the end of the stalemate, a decisive blow against the Outer Deity. The Council will eliminate Samuel, but who will lead the army north?” Eloise asked, looking at her fellow council members for suggestions. The council would be busy preparing to fight Samuel, so they could not be responsible for the army.

“Greg will do it.” Mathew replied immediately, the answer obvious. His friend was trustworthy and wouldn’t break under pressure. More importantly, he wasn’t one to seek glory. Greg would follow orders and only engage the Fiends enough to isolate Samuel, drawing out his forces.

“Good. Then it’s settled. Will you be joining us?” Eloise asked the group of messengers that had crossed the Barren Sea. They were high levelled players and would be a welcome addition to their numbers. The older man didn’t even hesitate.

“You lead, we will follow.”

Page Break

The army kicked up a cloud of dust as they left the city. A long trail of men and women trekked through a trail between the rocks that sloped to the Sea bed. Mathew had been here before, making it all the way to the other side when he was a scout several years before.

No matter how far they marched, there wouldn’t be a single sign of water. The Seventh Floor was dead, and even Mathew had no idea why they were fighting to protect it.

“He’s going to know we’re coming. There’s no way to hide that.” Greg said, gesturing to the army in front of them. They were standing on a rocky outcrop that overlooked the city and the leaving army. With millions of people, it would take hours before they had all left ‘Ruin,’ giving Mathew time to simply observe them.

“I know. He wants us to come north.” Mathew admitted.

“Then we’re walking into a trap.” Greg responded, and Mathew merely shrugged at the answer. He was exhausted, a weariness that was beyond physical or mental. It was in his soul, his spirit. Mathew wanted to be off of this floor. He needed to be off of this floor.

He still searched the faces of the living and the dead for Emily. But his nightmares had shifted to finding her amongst his enemies, having sold her soul to the Outer Deity in return for her wish. Mathew shuddered at the thought and drew his jacket tighter around him.

“Let’s go.”

Mathew had spent years on the Seventh Floor, and finally, the end was in sight.