Bosses. Hunt. Battles

I led the group of three to the fifth floor of the tower alone. Covering the cost for them put another dent in my finances, but I would be making it all up.

The time of the tower was strangely separate from the outside world. Despite being seen everywhere in the world all at once, the tower followed its own timezone. It was something that was hard to wrap one's mind around, but the existence of the tower itself was that too.

"Um, sir," the warrior called. "Is the fifth floor really alright?"

"You don't have much to worry about," I answered his question. Since they were being vigilant, they didn't seem to be the worst of the tower's worst. Pulling out a few of the items on me, I handed them back.

This was… a bribe. More of a way to assuage their concerns. Throwing money at problems seemed more like Ativan's style, and since I was Ativan now, I was going to do just that.

"This?"

"It'll help in the battle. I have enough for all of you and then more, you can keep it as well, or sell it away, I don't care."

"Haha, no. We'll return it."

I turned back.

All three of them held a smile on their face.

I guess they weren't as trash as I was hoping to pick up. Unfortunate.

"Suit yourself," I said and tossed the items over. The group of them took the stuff that greatly increased their charm stats.

This was still just the fifth floor. Knowledge of the tower was greatly lacking, as compared to the common sense that had been developed by the tenth and the fifteenth floor of the tower. Most of these people here lived like sheep, going to a new pasture and chewing it down until it ran out, never knowing that they could grow their own grass.

None of them knew that living in the tower and growing stronger could remove many illnesses and increase your life span. Just like they didn't know that many monsters were also greatly attracted by high charm stats.

Soon enough, we had crossed out of the city on the fifth floor of the tower and had entered the wilderness.

The layout not dissimilar to the floors below held many unconquered dungeons and areas that weren't explored. With the group of three in tow, I reached the mountains at the eastern ends of the floor.

The space furthest from the boss room at the west.

Standing atop the ridge of the mountains, hidden behind the growing stalactites of ochre, was the regressor staring down at me with horror in his eyes.

"The monster we're waiting for is here."

Leaving those words, I made a small cut on my palm and dripped my blood on the ground.

"W-wwhat…"

"Hey!"

The earth trembled.

A growl shaking the skies thundered through the mountains as the ground below cracked open, trembling immensely.

The boss of the fifth floor was here.

The place we stood at cracked open and the fangs of a snake came hurtling at us.

I ripped a magic scroll.

And sent a ball of flames straight into its mouth.

The battle that would settle my fate began. And I had zero plans of losing.