A Change in the Tower

Akiol exhaled, he felt tired. Whilst he had no actual fatigue, he had been constantly using complex techniques for the past hour. His mental fatigue felt high.

Akiol frowned, if the game used the soul instead of the brain. . . how did he feel mental fatigue? Was it merely an illusion?

He decided to save the question for later, he still had much to figure out. Perhaps this question would be answered in the future.

He had completed one hundred floors, he was currently waiting for his reward.

"One hundredth floor cleared. Distributing onetime random reward."

A sparkling green gem fell. Akiol caught it and examined it. Inside of it a set of, and could probably be only described as, red veins. These spiraled across the gem, some occasionally ending with no aim in particular.

'Oh hey! Didn't think I'd see one of these.'

Akiol asked, "You know what it is?"

'How do I put this. . . I think it's called an Enhancement Gem. Similar to those crystals you use to strengthen yourself.'

"How does one use it?"

'It's not meant to be used per se, more like equipped. Certain weapons and armor will have a slot meant for these. For example that clock of yours has its own.'

Akiol lifted the clock with his other hand and inspected it. The red gem was solid, unlike the one he had currently.

"Should I switch them?"

'Only if you know what the gem does. You might accidentally damage the item with an incompatible gem.'

"You can do that?"

'Say a gem was meant to enhance defense, if you equipped it to a weapon the 'intent' of the gem and weapon would clash. Eventually damaging or even destroying them.'

"How often do you come by one?"

'Honestly that's the third I have ever seen. I wouldn't say that they are rare, just rarely seen.'

"That makes little sense."

'They aren't hard to find, just most of the time they are equipped to something. So seeing one still available is quite a rare sight.'

"I see. . . so I should get it appraised?"

'Your basic appraisal place won't be able to tell you much. We will have to find a gem appraiser. They usually can only be found in Kingdoms, even then a majority of them work under royalty.'

Akiol remembered, it was around the time for the party to go to their Kingdom. However he was concerned about the house.

'Hey, focus! The next round is starting.'

Akiol's vision turned white and soon faded. When he found himself on the next floor the voice began to speak, "One hundred floors cleared. Now beginning next difficulty stage. Defeat one Tower Lord."

A heavily armored knight appeared in front. A claymore was stabbed into the ground in front of them. Their hands rested on its hilt.

The size of the lord made the claymore seem like a ordinary sword. Perhaps it was, to the Lord of course.

Akiol charged forward, the Lord responded to his aggression by grabbing the claymore and swinging it towards Akiol.

Akiol moved to the side and dodged the strike. He then rapidly struck the Lord with his sword. Quickly dispatching it.

Akiol was slightly confused, the increase in difficulty wasn't that much. The difference was that the Lord had actually attacked first. Compared to the others, who only reacted.

He wondered aloud, "Is it going to test my survivability now?"

~ ~ ~

"Ugh, can we check now? This is so boring.", Ocava complained.

Opportunity tossed down a few cards, "Flush."

Otion and Oranjay groaned, they had just lost a significant bet. Opportunity looked up, "You're the one who didn't want to join us."

"You know how I feel about luck based games."

"This is more than just luck, successfully bluffing your opponent is also part of the game. Besides, isn't this luck based as well?", Opportunity gestured around here referring to A World's Legacy.

"You know what I mean! And you still didn't answer, can I check now?"

Opportunity waved her away, "Go then, it has been an hour. He should have at least reached floor fifty by now."

Ocava happily moved over to the tower. Upon touching the door she paused, "Uhh. . . you guys might want to see this."

Otion stood up, "Is he worse than we thought?"

Opportunity followed, "Surely not."

Oranjay didn't follow, for it didn't interest him much.

The other two walked over and touched the door. Otion immediately exclaimed, "Floor one-hundred-two!"

Ocava looked at Opportunity, "What was your score when you first entered this place?"

"One-hundred-eighteen."

Otion laughed embarrassedly, "I look like a fool! What is with this family?! A bunch of talented monsters, that's what!"

Opportunity frowned, "Is it a skill he owns? His entire being radiated amateur."

Oranjay caught wind of this conversation, "If he makes it to floor one-fifty it won't matter right? At that point we could truly see."

Now, why had they vastly underestimated Akiol? It was because he specifically radiated the feel of an amateur! Why?

It was because in his past life he needed to blend in with a crowd several times. If every movement he made made him look like an expert. Then to those with sharp eyes, he was glowing brightly!

He had kept practicing this, until it became ingrained in his movements. As for the killing intent Ocava directed, it was so little Akiol didn't pay attention to it.

Yet even still, this amateurish state would slip. Especially when Akiol was more focused on his survival or fighting someone.

This is why he acted so casually, and why his opponents didn't think much of him! He wasn't trying to make people underestimate him so he could prove them wrong. He was simply blending in.

Opportunity's mind wandered. She asked then asked to herself, "What happened to you James?"

~ ~ ~

Akiol cut down another foe. The 150th floor had finally been cleared. He couldn't help but praise the place, he had completed only half the floors yet it was beginning to become challenging.

If it wasn't for the Aura, he doubted he could have made it this far this fast. He probably would only be on the hundredth floor by now without it.

"One-hundred-fiftieth floor cleared. Distributing onetime random reward."

A beautiful flower floated down. Akiol gently grabbed it and examined it. The flower had a lot of petals. Akiol quickly estimated more than a hundred. Having no idea what it was he asked Stars, "Got a clue on what this is?"

'No, it isn't something I have ever seen before.'

"A shame."

Akiol absorbed the flower, perhaps he would find out what it was later.

After a bit of time he was transferred to the next floor. This time the voice added more to the occasional objective.

"One-hundred-fifty floors cleared. All owned skills will now be temporarily disabled. New Objective: Reduce Tower Chosen's health by ten percent. Time limit: Five minutes."

Akiol had an idea what the next segment was about, it was to test a player's ability to fight without any in-game skills. Akiol chuckled at this, "Jokes on you, I hardly ever use skills!"

"Request accepted, Objective changed: Kill one Tower Chosen."

Akiol froze, "Wait wait wait, I didn't mean it like that. Can we go back?"

"Request denied, time remaining: four minutes, forty-two seconds. . ."

Akiol now regretted saying those words, how would the floors progress now?

Akiol dashed forward, several afterimages followed behind him.

{Expeditious Steps}!

{Origami Style: Sixteen Folds}!

Sixteen deep cuts appeared, making the Tower Chosen vanish in a puff of smoke.

The next floor came along quickly, "Objective: Defeat three Tower Chosen."

Akiol made a face, "Isn't it supposed to be two?! Why are you doing this?"

"Challenger's request."

"I never requested this!"

Akiol clicked his tongue, so be it.

He dashed forward with {Expeditious Steps}. The three Tower Chosen held up weapons in defense. It seemed like they learned from the previous one.

Yet at the same time they all vanished into a puff of smoke. Regardless of their defensive maneuvers.

Akiol was quickly teleported onto the next floor. He frowned, "It isn't normally this fast?"

The voice spoke, "Objective: Kill twelve Tower Chosen."

"This is far too large of an increase!"

"Request accepted. New Objective: Kill thirty Tower Chosen."

Akiol sighed, "Fine, we will play it your way."

Akiol positioned himself in a strange stance. Like a runner ready to sprint forward, but he held Stars with two hands. The blade pointed backwards on his left side.

The thirty Tower Chosen appeared and charged towards Akiol. Yet he remained still. The Tower Chosen reached a certain distance and Akiol vanished.

Akiol reappeared behind the group, every single one disappeared into a puff of smoke.

Akiol winced, he hadn't executed the technique flawlessly. However it was enough for the floor.

Stars began to shout excitedly, 'What was that?! That was so cool! I was a part of this and I have no idea what you just did! Do it again!'

Akiol chuckled, "Probably not, I would rather not fail. That technique is a little too much for me to use right now."

'Awww.'

The voice began to shout, "Why?! Can't you take a break?! Do you plan to clear all three hundred floors in one go?!"

Akiol was shocked, the voice had far more emotion than before!

The voice continued to rant, "I only have so much energy you know! I can't consistently run all three hundred floors without a break! I need to recharge!"

Akiol felt a little embarrassed, "Sorry, I didn't know. . ."

"Ahh! I can't just send you off either! Why don't you leave?"

"I kinda need to prove something."

"Prove what?!"

"That I am skilled enough to assist."

"Skilled enough?! Skilled enough?!?! You are the only one who made it this far in a single attempt! Anyone who says you are not skilled enough can eat their shoes!"

"Ah well. . ."

The voice sighed, "So can you go please?"

Akiol was about to accept, but an idea sparked, "How about this? Send me to the three hundredth floor. If I pass give me the rewards for all the other floors. If I fail then I shall fulfill one condition of yours."

"My only condition is that you never return."

"So we have a deal?"

". . . Fine. You aren't going to pass anyway."

Akiol's vision turned white. Soon his vision cleared and he noticed his opponent.

"I suddenly am regretting this choice."