As soon as they entered the Red Zone common room, Joe stretched his back and plopped Brian down into the booth next to Ryan, who was still sweating but regaining some color.

  Rose leaned in and gave Brian a big hug. "So glad to have you back, big guy."

  Brian glanced around the dimly lit room. "The Red Zone really is the dark side of a miner's crack. Where’s—?"

  Before he could finish, TJ bounded across the room, carrying a glass bottle. He slid into the booth beside Brian, squeezing him tight before leaning back and popping open the lid. "This is the best stuff they have here, trust me."

  Dawn set a tin of pellets in front of Brian. "These won't be enough. You’re going to have to level up your QRL, but these will buy you some time to get back out on the floor."

  "Here, this might be a bit better." Grizzle offered, passing him a small cylinder. "Infused with mana to fit your vape pen."

  Brian’s face lit up. "Oh, how I missed this... missed all of you." He fitted the cylinder into his vape pen and took a long inhale, his eyes brightening as if he’d found a cure for the worst hangover. He turned to TJ, wrapping an arm around him. "Ready to hack some monsters?"

  TJ smiled back. "More than ever, now that you’re back. You know how antsy I was getting waiting on you."

  Ryan coughed and tugged on the cloth around his wound, the scaly skin covering most of his hand. "We’re wasting time here. Andras’ factions have probably wiped out a few monsters nearby already."

  Joe pulled up the list of factions on his device. "More factions are showing as hostile, but… Bruiser Battalion is now friendly." He glanced over at Ryan. "I think we need to build more alliances where we can, then expose who Andras really is."

  A warmth rose in Joe's chest as the blue flame flickered within him. “And now we’re getting somewhere. You might be worth the effort after all, Joe.”

  We’re not dying in this tower, Hal.

  “Did I hear my name called?” The smug look on Andras’ face was the last thing Joe wanted to see.

  Joe's brows furrowed. “What are you doing here?”

  Andras picked up a packet of Eternity Sticks, peering inside. He shook it, then discarded it to the floor. “The rumors of the Time Hacker travel far and wide. He’s not all-powerful, or he’d have the jackpot of immortality to himself. Don’t you ever wonder why he’s here, bothering with us?”

  Dawn stepped forward, arms crossed. “He’s helping us, which is more than you’ve ever done to get more ascenders to follow you.” She kicked the empty packet toward Andras.

  Andras whistled, seeming amused by her gesture. “Mighty touchy today, aren’t we? I’ve done nothing underhanded to get so many factions to join my alliance. That Time Hacker should be looking to me for help since I’ve got the most influence in bringing factions together. You’re all a bunch of nobodies.”

  Dawn shook her head. “It’s quality over quantity.”

  Andras laughed, then turned his attention to Joe. “How about we have another battlebox challenge? Simply in the spirit of competition. I’d hate for you all to be stuck in the Red Zone when you were so close to the top ranks. Consider it a favor.”

  Joe gave a small nod. “I don’t see any favors coming from you, but I’ll never say no to a challenge.”

  “If only you were as trusting as Lucky.” Andras flicked his dark hair away from his eye, his gaze sweeping across each of them. “I’ll send favors to each of you.”

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  “What else did you do to him?” Joe’s heart raced. The last time he’d seen Lucky was on the drone camera of floor two.

  Andras glanced at Dawn. “If you stopped fighting against the tide, and joined our faction that was friendly with our alliance, you could talk to him anytime and make sure he’s okay. If only you cared so much about him.”

  Dawn glared back at Andras, fists clenched. “We need to be a part of an alliance associated with you like we need butt cancer.”

  At that moment, the oversized screen on the wall flickered to life. Joe nodded toward it. "Looks like Time Hacker couldn’t wait to send another message."

  The screen showed the clown-faced Time Hacker, cackling. “If you’re targeting each other, then the lich wins.”

  Andras grinned. “Hmm, maybe he’s brighter than I thought. He seems to agree that you all should appreciate my favors rather than focus on alliances. Maybe then you’d have fewer hostile factions hunting you down.”

  The Time Hacker’s masked face leaned closer, filling the screen from edge to edge. “Favors from Andras are like poison wrapped in pretty paper. Keep accepting them, and you’ll soon find yourselves in the belly of the beast.”

  The screen cut to black, replaced by the looming figure of the Lich. “You’ve been reading too many bedtime stories. I’ll take care of this so-called Time Hacker feeding you lies. But for once, the rumors about my phylactery are just that—rumors. Anyone who tries to oppose me or search for the phylactery will automatically become GORED.”

  Andras tapped his foot, impatience edging at his temples. “I wouldn’t wish that fate on any ascender.” His gaze shifted toward Brian. “Only those who deserve such a fate must have earned their ejection—a second life not worth living.”

  TJ slammed his fist down, making the table tremble. “You’ve got no room to talk, elf.”

  The Lich raised his bony hands in a gesture of mock innocence. “What do you think, Poppy? Is it time for an update to motivate the ascenders to continue their climb?”

  “Yip-yip. Numbers all calculated.” Poppy's voice came cheerful as ever.

  The Lich nodded, pulling up a handheld device. The screen flickered again, and Poppy’s avatar bounced off the screen, reappearing in front of Joe, dressed in a fedora and sunglasses. “Lich Master not want me to say, but you huge help. True friend.”

  Joe gave a weak smile. “Not a friend, but Ohana. So, what’s the deal with the phylactery now? Safer, I hope?”

  “Yip-yip. It’s safe.” Poppy tipped her hat. “Time for me to go back before Lich Master notices I’m gone.”

  As Joe nodded, Poppy reappeared at the Lich’s side just as he continued, “Each and every one of you is one step closer to the crystalline jackpot of immortality. Defiance like the Time Hacker’s will not be tolerated. He and those who listen to him will be punished.”

  TJ groaned. “That’s not fair, punishing someone who’s just trying to help.”

  Grizzle nodded in agreement. “Nothing’s fair in this tower.”

  The Lich continued, his voice dripping with a mix of authority and disdain. “Only one week into this tower, and much promise has been observed from several rising ascenders.” He skimmed a finger across the screen before tapping the glass. “As of now, 324 ascenders have gone, and the jackpot has risen to 1,479 crystals.”

  “Whoa, we only get about 20 crystals per titan kill.” Luna glanced away from the screen.

  The Lich crossed his arms. “Unfortunately, the bad news. One hundred and nine ascenders are still below QRL 20. If these Bronze Ranked Ascenders do not raise their levels before the tide of mana particles rises, they’ll automatically be GORED.”

  “Was this in the fine print?” TJ leaned forward, skeptical. “I’m sure that’d be nearly everyone in the Red Zone.”

  Andras scoffed. “Yeah, he said it’d be unfortunate, but he’s just keeping the best for the jackpot. If you’re not with me, then you’re against my alliances.”

  The Lich clapped his skeletal hands. “One faction stands out among the rest. I have high, high hopes for the Andras Alliance.”

  A smirk spread across Andras’s face. “You can’t ignore me anymore, not with the attention of Lord Lich.”

  Joe twisted the cord on his hoodie and quickly pulled up his alliance chat.

  Joe: How are you going to come back from this?

  POKE_Master: Remember you owe me a favor if there’s ever a physical threat to the central nervous system of this tower. I’ll need a direct bypass with the quantum threads.

  Joe: As long as you keep Andras and the Lich busy, I’m taking whoever sides with me to the top of this tower.

  Glancing back at the booth, everyone’s eyes were fixed on Andras who’d turned to retreat to the zone inter-exchange.

  Taking a step toward him, Joe yelled. “Check your notifications, Andras. You’ll see your challenge has been met.”