Poppy stared at Joe, her wide eyes like saucers.

  “Are you okay? Can you do me this favor?” Joe asked, hating to put her in such a tight spot, straining her loyalties.

  “Poppy... not sure. Not supposed to talk to Time Hacker.” She wrung her little paws together, clearly conflicted.

  “You can just enter it in the alliance chat. The Lich won’t know. For some reason, it has to be you to enter those words.”

  Poppy hesitated, but after a moment, she gave Joe a small nod. “For you, Joe... Poppy be brave.”

  “You’re already the bravest kaiju I know.” Joe gave her a reassuring smile.

  With a nervous gulp, Poppy entered the message: The blood of the Titan remembers. What was once your salvation will now be your reckoning.

  Almost instantly, the screen flickered to life. Joe half-expected the Time Hacker’s creepy clown mask to appear, but instead, a bright white symbol started forming in the center of the screen. As it grew larger, he recognized the shape.

  “It looks like an eight lying on its side.”

  “That’s the symbol for infinity in my world,” Rose said, tracing the symbol with her finger as an eerie tune played, accompanied by the words: Time is on my side.

  Joe frowned. Was this universal? Or was the Time Hacker someone like the Lich, with knowledge beyond this tower? Someone not exactly... mortal?

  The infinity symbol vanished, replaced by the words: Meet me where time runs infinite.

  Then it was gone, but the weird music kept looping.

  TJ groaned. “Enough with this song! My ears are going to bleed if I have to hear it one more time!”

  Dawn chuckled. “Looks like we found your kryptonite, TJ.”

  “My krypto-what?” TJ blinked, scanning the room for hidden speakers like he was about to tear them apart.

  Joe was about to explain, but TJ’s eyes widened as he pointed toward the door. An infinity symbol faintly shimmered on the scales framing the entrance.

  “Looks like the Time Hacker left us a trail.” Rose moved closer to inspect it. “Do we follow?”

  “Time might be on his side, but it’s definitely not on ours.” Joe bolted for the door as the symbol faded. “We need to find the next one before it disappears.”

  TJ rushed ahead, eyes darting left and right, scanning for the next symbol. Joe activated Quick Wit, his senses sharpening as he caught the faint flicker of an infinity symbol down the winding corridor. With a quick glance to the others, he sprinted forward, boots hitting the slick surface as the ground lit up under his soles with each step.

  Electrical sparks danced between dendritic synapses along the ceiling, lighting the way. The symbols appeared, one after another, like beacons—each flickering briefly before fading, as if challenging them to keep up. The team moved through twisting hallways while the air crackled with a charge that made Joe’s skin tingle.

  “Feels like we’re being led by the balls on a kobold’s fool’s run.” TJ grumbled, not slowing down as he took the next bend. “Hope this hacker’s worth the chase, or I’ll be the one sending him into infinity.”

  Joe grinned at TJ giving voice to his own fears that they were being led on something as futile as an endless fetch quest. He exhaled in relief as the Battlebox Simulation Hub came into view. A flood of memories hit him from their first training session. A silver infinity symbol glowed on the console. Joe didn’t think twice—he slapped his hand against it.

  The symbol faded.

  And...nothing.

  “What now?” Dawn crossed her arms.

  TJ huffed. “Looks like we chased magical graffiti and now…sweet fuck-all!”

  Rose examined the console. “Give it a minute. There must be something we’re missing.”

  Joe had been sure the door would open. Did he mess up, press the symbol too late? His chest tightened as the silence dragged on.

  “We’re here,” Joe muttered. “What more do you want from us? ‘Meet me where time runs infinite’... in the Battlebox, anything’s possible.”

  The blue flame in his chest flickered. “Silly mortal, you’re thinking too literally.”

  Joe closed his eyes, trying to focus. He slowed his breathing, seeking a deeper connection with the flame. Then teach me the true nature of infinity.

  “You already know. Be like water, my friend.”

  Joe’s mind flashed to rivers, oceans, and the endless cycle of water. Energy transforming but never destroyed. Time—endless to mortals—was a mere blip to those beyond it, like the flame.

  “Nothing is truly infinite.” Joe opened his eyes. His hand still pressed against the console, it began to warm. The infinity symbol returned, glowing bright silver, casting a metallic sheen over his palm.

  With a soft whoosh, the door slid open.

  “Now you are deemed worthy of understanding,” the blue flame whispered before retreating to the core of Joe’s chest, leaving behind a sense of satisfaction and achievement.

  “Looks like you had a Zen moment there,” Dawn said, her tone light but impressed.

  TJ rubbed his hands together, excitement plain on his face. “Alright, let’s go meet this Time Hacker and see what the fuss is about.”

  Joe took the lead, hope swelling in his chest. They were one step closer to getting Brian the help he desperately needed, before time ran out.

  Stepping inside the Battlebox, Joe blinked, his eyes adjusting to the neon-lit, grid-lined landscape that stretched out before him. It looked nothing like the last time he’d been here. It felt like something out of Tron meets Lawnmower Man with a sprinkle of Star Trek holodeck magic.

  Neon grids flickered underfoot, pulsing with light, while pixelated walls shifted in and out of focus as if they couldn't decide whether to be solid or virtual. Joe could feel something tugging at the back of his mind, like an invisible hand sifting through his memories, projecting them onto the strange digital canvas around him.

  A thin, metallic voice greeted them, dripping with the kind of charm a rusted blade might have. “Aren’t you full of surprises. Not as dumb as you look.”

  Joe’s heart raced as a wave of heat pulsed through him—the blue flame burning hotter in his chest. "Do not tell him about me, understand?" The flame’s voice was sharp, insistent.

  Joe slowly exhaled, glancing at Poppy’s avatar flickering across his vision. He took strength from her little pixelated smile.

  “You thought this would be a pushover?” Joe raised both arms, his voice louder than he intended. “There are no strings attached—I’m not your puppet.”

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  A slow clap echoed, hollow and eerie, like a ghostly applause. “Yes, a wooden puppet you are not. You’re a real boy. Congratulations on your enlightenment,” the voice mocked. “I jest... But what a marvel that you didn’t flounder on the nature of infinity. I was expecting failure, but I’m not disappointed. You see what the great unwashed masses cannot. That makes you a rather useful champion to my cause.”

  TJ sniffed his armpits with exaggerated flair. “Speak for yourself, pissflaps. I smell fucking divine.”

  Dawn shot him a sharp look, her voice clipped. “He doesn’t mean literally, genius.”

  “Oh.” TJ shrugged, while Rose barely contained a grin.

  The voice returned, smooth and amused, but this time with a thirst to know more. “I’m curious—how the hell did you become so enlightened?”

  The blue flame flared in response, almost as if it were laughing. Joe did his best to remain composed.

  The question hung in the air as the coarse voice remained hidden, obscured by the constantly shifting digital landscape of the Battlebox. The walls and floor flickered, casting strange, jagged shadows that danced in time with the pulsing lights.

  "Lucky guess." Joe cleared his throat as he took a step toward the voice. "Afraid to come out from the shadows?"

  A low chuckle echoed back. "I'm only a shadow of my former self, but if you really want to meet face-to-face..."

  A long, slender leg stretched around the corner, followed by a figure in dingy gray suit pants and a hooded sweatshirt.

  Dawn's hands began to glow with a pulsing light. "Don’t come any closer.”

  Joe's eyes narrowed on the figure's frail, sunken face. "No mask to hide behind?"

  The Time Hacker’s withered face wrinkled into a crooked smile. "Afraid of the Touch of Madness, are we?"

  “You’re a hollow, aren’t you?” Rose challenged, gripping her staff tightly across her chest.

  Joe shook his head at Dawn, signaling her to stand down. She crossed her arms, though her eyes continued to blaze.

  "Not in the least." The Time Hacker sneered as he approached the table. His bony hand, with skin stretched tight like old parchment, grabbed a chair and pulled it backward to sit. "You have my attention."

  "You still have your soul." Joe tapped his chest, feeling a surge of heat from the blue flame that danced at his fingertips. "We’re here for one thing. You’ve hacked the system, but we’ve done just as much. Time is the one thing we haven’t hacked…for our friend."

  The Time Hacker leaned his arms over the back of the chair, smirking. "I know what the hollows have done to your friend. But there are things you still don’t understand."

  TJ slammed his fist into his palm, his face flushed with frustration. "Do you want me to beat it out of you? Brian’s fading with every second!"

  The Time Hacker leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. "You get reborn, you take shit. You climb the tower, you take more shit. Climb a little higher, maybe you take less. Until one day, you’re at the glorious jackpot, and you’ve forgotten what shit even looks like. Welcome to the Tower of Immortality, Titan Slayer."

  Joe scratched his jaw. "You’re not telling us anything we don’t already know."

  The Time Hacker gestured toward the table, scattered with leaflets and empty packets. "See that pack of Eternity Sticks on the edge of the table? Everything you need to know about this tower is contained in those thinly veiled promises. You’re drawn to the illusion—the crystal box with its gleaming insignia, hinting at untold power and endless life. It’s tempting, isn’t it? The idea that these sticks, this climb, are your companions on the way to something greater. But that, Joe, is a lie."

  Joe swallowed hard, his thoughts racing.

  The Time Hacker continued, his tone growing sharper. "Your other self, the one that’s not so easily fooled, is trying to get your attention. It's looking at the flip side—the harsh truth written in blunt, black letters. Those neat little fantasies? They’re just death wrapped in glitter. They’re not your friends, Joe; they’re the executioner’s blade dressed up as a savior. And that, Joe, is the truth."

  “Wow, thanks for the lecture.” TJ leaned against a neon pillar, arms crossed. “But we’re not the ones who can’t see the woods for the trees.”

  “That’s exactly why you’re here,” the Time Hacker said, voice dripping with condescension. “We’re approaching a nexus, a turning point in this so-called competition. Those magpies, so taken with the crystal jackpot of immortality, need a wake-up call.”

  Joe crossed his arms, eyeing the holographic surroundings with suspicion. “Why don’t you just hijack the screens and directly talk to everyone?”

  “Oh, that’s part of the plan,” the Time Hacker said. “But I can’t compete with certain influences in the tower, swaying people against my cause. My reach is limited. And as you might guess, I’m not exactly free to do a meet-and-greet.”

  “You’re talking about Andras, aren’t you?” Joe asked, though he already knew the answer.

  “Yes. He’s been a busy little bee, smiling while twisting the knife. It’s a waste of time to call him out. Actions speak louder than words.”

  “And you need us to take action?” Dawn asked, eyebrow raised. “As far as he’s concerned, you don’t even have to ask twice.”

  “We’ve got more important things to deal with right now,” Joe said. “Our friend—Brian.”

  The Time Hacker waved a hand, dismissive. “Yes, yes, your alchemist friend. Move on, there are plenty more alchemists in the tower.”

  “Ohana!” Poppy chirped, appearing in Joe’s vision with a determined little squeak.

  For a split second, the Time Hacker’s gaunt face softened, as if the word had struck a chord. “Everything is stolen by time, including innocence,” he said, his hollow eyes locking onto Joe. The weight of his stare left a void, like he was sucking the hope right out of the room.

  Joe’s jaw tightened. Screw your jaded misery. Hope was worth fighting for, and he’d fight to the bitter end.

  “You want our help? We need Brian back on our team before it’s too late. He turns hollow—no deal.” Joe held his voice firm, he wasn’t about to let this guy drag him down into his pit of nihilism.

  “You assume I can restore him,” the Time Hacker said, sounding bored.

  “No assumptions,” Joe shot back. “Unless you’re weaker than you let on, Time Hacker.”

  “You wind affinity? ‘cause you’re full of it” TJ added with a snort, arms still crossed, his eyes locked on the Time Hacker.

  The Time Hacker drifted back a step, his tone measured. “I can do it as easily as I could also force you to help me.”

  “Go ahead.” TJ growled, stepping forward. “First chance I get, I’ll end you.”

  “No need for hostility,” the Time Hacker said, palms up. “I’m no self-serving scum like the Lich turned out to be. I can help your friend, but are you prepared to pay the price?”

  “Yes!” TJ practically jumped down his throat.

  The Time Hacker raised a hand. “Don’t be so eager. I see into your soul banks. None of you have enough time currency to bring him back from time bankruptcy. Even if you all pooled together, it wouldn’t be enough. You’d all end up GORED if you tried.”

  “Soul bank? What the hell’s a soul bank?” Dawn asked, looking like she was mentally patting herself down in search of it.

  The Time Hacker sighed, as if explaining basic math to a child. “Your soul bank is where your time currency resides. You can’t see or feel it at your low QRL level. Meditation might help you visualize it, but thanks to the system, you can access it through a trade window. Like back on Earth, you don’t need to understand banking to open an account. Although,” he added with a glance at Joe, “your AI friend certainly knew its way in and out of your online accounts.”

  Joe flushed at the mention of Butler. The others gave him questioning looks, but he waved them off.

  “Okay, so we’ve got soul banks,” Joe said, “but GORED ascenders can’t access theirs, right?”

  “Exactly. But I have a program that can bridge that gap. It’s called the Eternal Credit Handler for Overdrawn Souls—ECHOs, for short. The catch? It only works if other ascenders are willing to donate their time currency to the ejected climber. The system won’t allow a bankrupt climber back without penalties being paid.”

  “And if we do that?” Dawn asked, her tone making it clear she was more than ready to make it happen.

  “I’ll deploy ECHOs, but it needs enough funding before the system will restore soul bank access to your friend. A trade window will open when they give the command.”

  “Sounds like a lot of hoops, but we can pull it off,” Joe said. “How do we access ECHOs?”

  “It’s already available through your alliance chat. Download it and it’ll tell you how much time currency is needed. Your challenge is finding ascenders willing to drop down in the ranks.”

  Joe grinned, feeling a spark of hope. “Thanks, but I know exactly who to ask.”

  He turned to his friends. “Time to pay a visit to the Blanche Brigade on the third floor.”

  They took off running, feet pounding the ground as they sprinted toward the elevators. The urgency of Brian’s situation pressed on Joe’s mind, but the blue flame stirred inside him, rising up with that familiar heat. Joe braced himself, fully expecting some snark to follow.

  “Well done," the flame said, its voice smooth with satisfaction. "You’ve impressed me with how you negotiated with the Time Hacker.”

  Eh, thanks… I guess. Joe tried to keep his focus, the last thing he needed was a cryptic conversation with his mysterious, fiery companion. But the flame wasn’t exactly easy to ignore, so Joe decided against snapping at it for the distraction.

  “I think it’s time I tell you my name, don’t you?”

  Joe’s step faltered for half a second, but he quickly recovered, trying to play it cool. “You… have a name?” He grinned, forcing casualness into his voice. “Sure, let’s hear it. Took you long enough.”

  Inside, his mind raced. All this time, he’d been convinced the blue flame had forgotten who it was. Now, maybe, just maybe, he’d have information on his soul-hitchhiking companion that would finally give Joe the upper hand.