-----
"The Calamity of this Floor has been here since we have had mory," Ferleen said, sharing drinks with Maria as his party and hers celebrated alongside the Zodiacrons. "It was never truly defeated, and it was always said the machine people of this floor were in a constant war against it."
"We... just took it for granted and never really considered what was actually happening..." lianna said. "Well! Why would we, anyway? This isn’t our world in the end. I just don’t understand why you would invest so much ti and effort into helping these people."
"Well, I had the power, so I used it," Maria said, shrugging. "I understand that those without power might not act, and I wouldn’t have if I didn’t have the strength."
"A-Are you calling us weaklings?!" lianna roared, baring her sharp teeth at Maria.
"As one of our Ancient Heroes once said, you must be strong to be kind," Vyperion comnted from the side.
"I agree. It fits them perfectly," Quick Hare nodded.
"I wasn’t calling any of you weaklings," Maria said with a sigh. "I could have simply ignored your question, but the power I possess is mine, and I know best how to use it. Why do you criticize my actions as if my strength belonged to you, young fox?"
"I-I..." lianna fell silent.
"I’m sorry for her. Please forgive her..." Ferleen apologized, gently forcing his sister to lower her head. "She grew up a bit spoiled, so she often acts this way. It’s been challenging to curb that behavior."
"It’s alright. I have a soft spot for children," Maria said, smiling.
"I’m not a kid, though!" lianna protested, pushing her brother’s hand away. "Ugh... whatever... I just hope there are still so quests we can take here or sothing. The System Point rewards and the tals and ores we can gather here are always useful, especially the Diamonium."
"Don’t worry. Your tasks and quests will continue. There’s much to do now," Quick Hare said, smiling. "Hive Insectoids still roam the planet in scattered groups. They aren’t completely extinct, so we must reduce their numbers as much as possible and locate any hidden colonies they might have built elsewhere."
"With the largest colonies and the Hive Queen gone, we may also see the return of Steel Beasts from the Northern Deserts," Gallotron explained. "It is said that before the Hive, beasts similar to us, but wilder and less intelligent, road the land and served as food and materials. The Hive pushed them out."
"Well, there you go," Maria said. "You’ll find more creatures to hunt if that’s what you wanted... though, the rules of the Tower and how everything functions may not last forever. You shouldn’t rely too heavily on them. If anything, return to your worlds and build a good life there."
"What?" Ferleen asked. "What do you an, Maria? What... What’s going to happen to the Tower?"
"Let ask you sothing first," Maria said. "Why do you seek to climb the Tower? What motivates you to leave your own world?"
"The wish, of course," lianna said. "Everyone knows that at the top of the Tower, the Heavenly King grants any wish you desire!"
"How do you even know that’s real?" Maria asked, raising an eyebrow.
"The System itself said so," Ferleen replied. "Did your world never receive the ssage?"
"I suppose it didn’t... or it did long ago, and that knowledge was lost," Maria said with a sigh. "Anyway, is it just about the wish?"
"We want to beco stronger to face any challenges," Ferleen said.
"I also want to protect my world when we return... and bring wealth," lianna added.
"I share both of their dreams."
"I have an adventurous spirit, so I simply wanted to explore the Tower."
"There are gates everywhere in my world. Most people fled from them."
"Other Tower floors are invading my world, so it’s hopeless... But I wanted to climb the Tower to grow strong enough to help my people."
The Players offered varied answers. So were as simple as seeking adventure, while others pursued strength to aid their worlds, wealth to support their hos, or the wish at the top of the Tower, hoping to achieve sothing impossible, like reviving soone long dead, ruling their world, or even all worlds in the Tower.
"But if it were so easy to claim that wish, don’t you think the inhabitants of the floors closest to the top would have already taken it?" Eraldine asked suddenly. "Whatever challenge you must overco at the top to earn the wish must be formidable, and perhaps... everyone who has tried reaching it has died."
"What’s... at the top, anyway?" Ferleen wondered. "I don’t even know, but we know the wish is there."
"I do know," Maria said, surprising many of the Players. "I have an inhabitant of the top with right now."
"You an... an administrator?!"
"It’s rumored they live at the top..."
"How?"
"What?"
"The top isn’t what you think it is. It’s not so wish-granting fountain where you make a wish and leave," Maria said with a sigh. "It’s where the ruler of the Tower and his creations reside, all imnsely powerful beings that no one, no matter their level, could easily challenge. You would need to evolve into sothing as extraordinary as to even attempt it."
The Players exchanged glances, so in disbelief, others feeling as though their journey’s purpose had been rendered aningless.
"However, I can’t say your hope for a wish is pointless or aningless," Maria continued. "Your life is yours to shape as you choose, and ultimately, I don’t know for certain if there’s a wish-granting entity up there. It seems highly unlikely to , though. It’s your choice whether to believe ."
"I choose to believe there’s sothing up there. It’s what drives us, after all," Ferleen said with a smile.
"We want a wish too!" lianna declared.
"What do you want to wish for, anyway?" Partner asked.
"We want to recover our world from the invaders," Ferleen said. "That would be our wish."
"Invaders?" Maria asked. "Like those from this world?"
"No..." Ferleen said. "They’re not just giant bugs led by a queen... They’re from the upper floors."
"...Who?" Maria asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The Crimson Order... Vampires from Floor 60."
-----
User Comments
0 comments from readers