Joe leaned back, trying to get comfortable. Sitting in a booth crafted from bone and prickly kaiju hide made that all but impossible. It was like hugging a cactus. The thing had more sharp edges than that sneaky dark elf, Andras, who stood near the exit with his entourage of starry-eyed ascenders staring at him like he was a pop star pin-up. For now, he was busy reading the battlebox challenge notification Joe had sent him.

  TJ growled as he slung an arm over Brian, who didn’t seem to notice. “This red zone’s a joke. Here’s a booth—it’s alive, made of monster parts, and uncomfortable as hell. Couldn’t they at least use squishy parts for seats?”

  He gestured to the living walls pulsing with energy, twitching like the veins of some giant beast. The ground rippled, only a little, like it was reminding everyone, ‘I’m still in charge.’ For all Joe knew, the Lich could be eavesdropping—unless he was still busy making sure his phylactery was safely tucked away.

  “Stop being such a child, Ryan, and take the damn potion.” Gaia looked like she was about five seconds away from shoving the potion down Ryan’s throat herself. Being an ex-goddess didn’t leave a lot of room for patience, but spending time with Ryan had softened her a little—around the edges, at least. Right now, though? She looked like a disappointed mom. And Joe was pretty sure she’d strangle him if he ever said that out loud.

  Ryan, leader of the Blanche Brigade, wasn’t in his usual understanding mood. Joe didn’t blame him. The guy looked half-dead, his arm a mess of bandages and something green and nasty oozing out. Ryan held the potion at arm's length like it was radioactive sludge. “I’d rather die all over again than drink more of this. It smells awful and tastes worse.”

  Grizzle leaned in with a smile of encouragement. “Ah come on you can do much better, you barely took a sip. It’s the sinolate grass—makes it bitter. Try holding your nose when you swallow.”

  Luna nodded. “Yeah, that’s what I do.”

  “If it makes you better, it doesn’t matter if it tastes as horrific as Jupiter’s cock.” Gaia pushed Ryan’s hand closer to his lips. The horrified look on Ryan’s face said it all—he knew she was trying to help, but that comparison was a bit much.

  Joe bit back a laugh, while Rose didn’t even try. “Ooo! Hello, salty goodness!”

  Gaia shot her a glare. “What the hell are you on? Magic goombas? It doesn’t taste salty—I would know.”

  TJ’s thick eyebrows shot up. “Wow! When I think of how kobolds do it, it’s really quite violent—and not a lot of fun, judging by what you guys are doing.”

  That cracked everyone up. Even when the situation was going south, TJ always managed to find humor. Joe could respect that. After all, they were sitting in the belly of a tower made from reanimated kaiju parts, where every step could be their last. A little humor went a long way.

  Ryan winced, clutching his ribs, like the laughter had hurt.

  Dawn waved her hand, leaning back like she’d had enough. “Okay, okay, everyone calm down before this turns into an orgy.”

  Joe snorted, trying to keep a straight face. Harem novels popped into his head. Some of them weren’t half bad.

  Rose tucked a strand of raven hair behind her ear, her eyes glossing over as she smiled. “Love can bloom in the strangest places, you know… Sometimes, it’s like a flower growing through a crack in the pavement.”

  Joe caught the quick, silent exchange between TJ and Dawn. Rose, you’re sweet, but we’re in a tower designed to chew you up and spit you out. He couldn’t blame them for being cynical. The tower wasn’t exactly a place where happy endings were in the cards.

  And then, of course, Andras strolled over.

  Joe didn’t need to look up to know it was him. The guy always showed up like the star of the show, even when no one had asked for an encore. His floppy fringe fell across his eye as he flashed a thin-lipped smile, casually leaning against the table, like they were all old friends hanging out for drinks.

  “And what’s this I overheard about love and romance? Is this the part where I, the bard, serenade you with tales of dragons and heartbreak?” Andras’s voice dripped with sarcasm, like he was too cool for all of them.

  Dawn didn’t miss a beat. “Save it for your memoir, Fucking and Punching Dragons.”

  Andras chuckled. “Charming as ever, Dawn.”

  Across the booth, Brian—who had been quiet through most of this—slid a tin of pellets over to Ryan. “Chase it with this.” He barely lifted his head to glance at him.

  Joe’s grin faded a little as he looked at Brian. The guy used to be a dwarf, back before the Lich dragged them into new bodies and imprisoned them in this nightmare of a tower. Ever since Joe had met him, Brian had been full of life and jokes. But after the tower had almost hollowed him out—literally—it was like something in him had just…disappeared.

  The tower didn’t just try to kill you. It tried to strip you down, piece by piece, until there was nothing left.

  Grizzle hopped onto a stool and patted Brian’s back. “Let’s get you leveled up at the alchemy station.” He didn’t say the rest, but everyone knew what he meant. They couldn’t forget the Lich’s warning—109 ascenders were still below QRL 20. If they didn’t raise their levels soon, they’d be GORED, no questions asked.

  Brian stood, slower than Joe would’ve liked. It wasn’t only exhaustion. There was a heaviness to him, like he was carrying more than his physical injuries. Joe watched him go, feeling that familiar knot of worry twist tighter in his gut. None of them were really ready for the next floor, but the tower wasn’t about to wait.

  Andras, still leaning against the table, grinned like he had all the time in the world. “So, Joe, why not take the battlebox challenge now? You’ve got your team. Do it on your terms.”

  Joe leaned back, drumming his fingers on the table. “Yeah, I’ll take it—when I’m good and ready.” He shot Andras a grin. “Trust me, I’ll be ready when it counts.”

  TJ’s eyes went wide as Gaia fussed with Ryan’s bandages, revealing scales spreading up his arm. He decided now was the perfect time to toss a grenade into the conversation. “So, is Ryan turning into a monster or what?”

  Kaiju No. 8 or District 9? Joe wondered, neither good options.

  Ryan groaned, but Joe saw how Brian had flinched at the word monster.

  It wasn’t hard to understand why. The tower didn’t only throw monsters at them—it tried to make monsters out of them. Brian had nearly become one, and even the mention of it was enough to make him recoil.

  “Thanks, Dr. TJ.” Dawn punched him in the arm. “You’ve got the bedside manner of a brick.”

  TJ shrugged.

  Joe couldn’t help but smile, watching the crew around him. The walls pulsed, like they were listening, but as long as they could keep joking, they weren’t losing. Not yet.

  Dawn’s eyes flicked to her user interface map, invisible to the rest of them except Nick. She traced her fingers through the air. “We need to eat, drink, and regen before we hit floor four. No one’s going up unprepared.”

  Nick glanced up from his seat in the booth, giving Dawn a small nod. “No doubt about it, this floor’s going to be a challenge.”

  TJ’s eyes lit up with excitement, a grin already forming on his face. “What’s it called? Tell me everything. Even if it’s nightmare fuel—I need to know.”

  Nick raised an eyebrow, his face scrunching up like he wasn’t sure if TJ was serious or in need of therapy. After a brief pause, he turned to Dawn. “Guess you’re seeing what I’m seeing. Crustacean Cove is the name of the floor, but there are multiple spots on the map flagged for items or monster activity. That’s what I’ve been going over.”

  “I see it too.” Dawn’s expression tightened with focus, eyebrows drawing down in concern. “But I haven’t dug into all the details yet. What are we up against?”

  “Red Bamboo Lagoon and Craggy Bottom seem to be the hotspots. Lots of monster activity showing up there. The path to Craggy Bottom is straightforward, but the way to Red Bamboo Lagoon? Underwater.”

  Joe scratched his jaw, trying to picture it. “Underwater, huh? Just what we needed. What kind of monsters are lurking down there?”

  Nick looked eager to dive back into the map details. The guy had a way with monsters and animals, no surprise he’d chosen the ranger class. He was the map holder for the Blanche Brigade, and as far as Joe was concerned, the king of cool ever since he wrangled velociraptors to help rescue Brian. That’s when you knew Nick was solid—calm, not big on words, but worth listening to whenever he spoke.

  Nick opened his mouth to explain the monsters that haunted the areas they’d be heading to, but before he could get the words out, the red zone’s heavy doors slid open with a whoosh. An ascender barreled through, wide-eyed and soaked with sweat. The guy didn’t even glance at Joe’s group, making a beeline for his own team.

  The ratfolk huddled in a nearby booth next to a burly kobold who was all fangs and attitude. As soon as the ascender reached them, he started whispering.

  One of the ratfolk—a small, jittery-looking guy with twitchy whiskers—let out a squeaky yelp before leaping from his seat.

  “A lobster! A giant lobster!” The guy’s voice cracked with panic. Sweat flew as he waved his arms around like he was trying to swat away invisible bugs. “It’s gonna pinch us all to death!”

  Joe blinked, glancing over at Dawn, who raised an eyebrow. The poor ratfolk looked like he’d just come face to face with a kaiju version of a seafood platter and had a full-blown anime panic attack.

  “We can handle a lobster.” The kobold huffed, arms crossed. “Stick with me and we’ll flame the crusty creep.”

  That did nothing to ease the panic of the littlest ratfolk. “We’re doomed! I bet it’s got claws the size of a—” He paused, frowning as if trying to remember what came next. “Something really, really big!” He clutched his head, fur shaking as he ran around in tight circles. “DOOMED!”

  The kobold finally lost his patience and grabbed the little guy by the shoulders. “The size of a bus?”

  The ratfolk blinked, confusion replacing his panic for a second. “Yeah… a bus…” His whiskers twitched again, and he looked like he was about to start another freakout.

  The kobold wasn’t having it. “Pull yourself together, Squick! We’ve survived worse!”

  Squick slowly nodded, looking half convinced. “I just...I think I have a seafood allergy…”

  Gaia snorted, crossing her arms as she watched the scene unfold. “He’s worse than Ryan was when I tried to make him take that potion.”

  Ryan, who had been sitting off to the side, staring at the floor, blinked and absentmindedly nodded. Joe caught sight of the bandage wrapped around his arm. The clean gauze was already darkening with fresh ooze, the scaly patches creeping further up his skin. It wasn’t looking good.

  “Hey, Father Daydream.” Gaia waved a hand in Ryan’s face, snapping him out of his trance. “You still with us?”

  Ryan rapidly blinked, his eyes struggling to focus. “Huh? Sorry, what did you say?”

  Gaia’s sharp features softened for a second, guilt crossing her face. “What’s more important than hanging on my every word, huh? Priests are supposed to listen when a goddess speaks directly to them.” She laughed at her own joke, but no one else did. Joe forced out a chuckle, but it sounded fake even to him. He felt bad for Gaia—her attempt at being more human was falling flat.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Ryan gave a weak smile. “I don’t think the healing potion’s working this time.” He raised his bandaged arm. “Checked my status earlier. Looks like there’s a corruption detected.”

  TJ scowled. “What the hell’s that mean?”

  Ryan shrugged. “No idea. There’s no further info on it.”

  Brian, who had just re-entered the room, clearly caught the last part of the conversation. “Corruption means it’s something not recognized by the system. Unlike a curse or debuff, which the tower’s aware of and generates.”

  Joe scratched his chin, frowning. “So, corruption’s like a hack? Something the system can’t deal with?”

  Rose, her eyes wide, leaned forward. “You think the Time Hacker did this?”

  Brian stroked his goatee. “We don’t know that yet.” He sighed, shoulders sagging as he slumped into his seat.

  Joe realized Grizzle wasn’t with him. “You’re back quicker than I expected.” Joe rested an arm on the table.

  “That’s because, as a red zoner, I was denied access to the alchemy room.” Brian winced as if the words themselves stung.

  “Oh, Brian.” Dawn placed a hand on his shoulder. Everyone knew how much Brian loved working in that space. Being locked out was a blow, especially with his plan to raise his QRL before time ran out.

  Brian pressed his lips together. “Don’t worry about it. We need to focus on helping Ryan before his corruption spreads.”

  “We can do both.” Nick tapped his temple and glanced between the two groups. “We’ve got the brains and resources together to help both Brian and Ryan.”

  TJ cracked his knuckles. “What do you need, big guy? He looked ready to tear the tower apart.

  Brian sighed, his usual lively spirit dimmed. “I need to level up my QRL the old-fashioned way—by killing monsters. But if I go alone…”

  “You won’t be alone,” TJ interrupted, slamming a fist onto the table. “I’m with you.”

  Dawn frowned, eyes flicking toward where Andras had been lounging earlier. “We still have the battlebox challenge to deal with, TJ. Let’s not forget.”

  Nick shook his head. “Brian doesn’t have time.”

  “And neither does Ryan,” Gaia cut in, making it clear her priority was with the priest, not Brian.

  Joe clapped his hands together, a grin spreading across his face. “Alright, we divide and conquer—sort of. Nick, Luna, think you can find a good spot for Brian to level up?”

  Nick frowned, looking grim. “In theory, yeah, but the level gap is huge. If he fights alone, he’ll die every time unless we help.”

  Gaia scoffed, arms crossed. “I’m not spoon-feeding him monsters like a toddler. I told you before—I’m nobody’s mother.”

  Joe stifled a laugh. The irony wasn’t lost on him—Gaia was, according to Earth myths, the Mother and wife of Uranus. She’d always denied the legends, calling them lies, but Joe couldn’t help wondering if her memory was slipping like Halcyon had warned. Now wasn’t the time to ask, though.

  Brian didn’t seem offended by Gaia’s comment. In fact, he didn’t seem to register it at all. His usual liveliness was gone, replaced with a quiet detachment. “You should take care of Ryan,” he said, his voice low. “I left some notes in the party chat about the tower’s self-defense systems. If we trigger them, the tower will release guardians. I was interested in their weapons, so I asked Poppy to dig up what she could.”

  TJ frowned. “And what’s that got to do with fixing Ryan’s corruption?”

  Brian shook his head. “Nothing directly. But if his corruption gets worse, the tower might treat him like an infection. We need to learn everything about the tower’s defenses so we can counter them and keep Ryan safe.”

  Gaia blinked in surprise, then nodded. “That’s… actually pretty smart. Thanks.”

  Dawn snickered. “Look who’s eating humble pie.”

  Brian exhaled, his eyes tired. “Grizzle’s still looking for a solution in the alchemy room. He’s got a few ideas, but you should update him on Ryan’s system status. See if he can come up with something to slow the corruption.”

  Brian turned to Nick and Luna, his shoulders sagging. “If you’re willing to soften up a few big bad monsters for me to kill, I’d be in your debt—and really grateful.”

  “Nonsense! We look out for each other.” Luna’s cheerful presence was a stark contrast as she waved off his concern like it was nothing. “Of course we’ll do it, won’t we, Nick?”

  She didn’t even glance at Nick, confident in his agreement. He nodded without hesitation. “Absolutely.”

  Brian took a long drag on his vape of clarity, but his eyes were distant, somewhere far away. “Each floor levels up the monster game, and I’m so far behind at QRL 6.”

  “Gotta keep an eye out for hollows...” said an ascender from the booth nearby. He stood, his face drawn with the kind of weariness that only the tower could carve into someone. “Poor Davis...what a horrible way to go.”

  The room fell silent, a heavy stillness settling over everyone as they bowed their heads in quiet respect.

  Joe’s gaze shifted to Brian, who seemed even paler than before. His hand hovered over his vape pen for a moment before he tucked it away, almost like it had become something tainted. Joe couldn’t blame the guy—if anyone deserved a little PTSD after all this, it was Brian. Joe had been so focused on getting him out of that mess, he hadn’t stopped to think about what Brian would actually remember once he was back.

  Halcyon’s voice cut through the silence, the flicker of his presence heating Joe’s chest. “He remembers it all. Every single thing.”

  Joe swallowed hard. He didn’t have a snappy comeback for that one. For once, Halcyon’s usual biting tone had been replaced by something softer. Concern? Sympathy? That wasn’t Halcyon’s usual playbook. Something had changed between them ever since Halcyon finally revealed his name.

  “Life is difficult, chump.”

  Joe’s jaw clenched. “You think I don’t know that, HAL?” He mentally spat the unapproved nickname out, knowing he sounded a little childish, but seriously—he thought they’d moved past the whole “chump” thing by now.

  “You know it, but you don’t accept it.” Halcyon ignored his name jab like Joe couldn’t be bothered with the effort of mockery. “It’s one of the universal truths all mortals face, no matter what planet they’re born on.”

  Joe abruptly stood, forcing a tight smile. “I’ll go grab some drinks and snacks. Be right back.” Dawn shot him a curious look, but the others simply nodded, too deep in their own heads to question him.

  As he walked away, he felt the urge to scream at Halcyon to shut up. To just…stop. There was a part of him that wanted to run. Simply bolt and escape to a place where Halcyon’s voice couldn’t follow him.

  “You have no idea the kind of shit that’s happened in my life.” The words tumbled out, anger sharpening his voice as he stalked towards the food and drinks area. “I lost...everything I cared about most before I died. You talk about acceptance, but you don’t get it. You don’t get me. How could you? So don’t preach to me like you’re some wise sage and I’m your clueless student. If you were so smart, you wouldn’t have been fooled by one of my kind.”

  A long silence followed, amplifying the slithering unease coiling in his gut. He knew what it was—regret. And shame.

  “Listen, Halcyon, I—"

  “Never feel ashamed for speaking the truth. I don’t.” Halcyon’s tone was back to its usual grandiosity. “Never doubt my magnificence, but it’s true… when I was young, I was dumb and full of—”

  “Yeah, I don’t need the picture,” Joe interrupted, shaking his head with a smirk. Somehow, Halcyon’s words made him feel a little better.

  Halcyon pressed on, his voice calmer. “You know, acceptance doesn’t mean giving up. It doesn’t mean letting bad things happen or skipping the grieving process when your loved ones die. You can’t control everything and life’s challenges force you to grow.”

  Joe sighed, his hands loosening at his sides. “So what you’re saying is, once I understand and accept that life’s a mess, it’ll stop being so difficult?”

  “Yes.”

  Joe blinked as the blue flame of Halcyon’s presence flickered once, then slowly faded into nothing.

  Joe stared at the messy food and drink station, shaking his head. It looked like a hurricane had blown through, leaving packets and cups strewn everywhere. He picked up one of the packets with a red label. "Noodles with Meat Substitute, Beef Flavor." Yeah, because that’s always a good sign.

  He shrugged, grabbed a few packets along with a flask of water, and threw in several cups for good measure. The machine next to it looked like it was supposed to make tea or coffee, but it was so caked in grime that Joe doubted it had made anything but bacteria for months. He decided not to push his luck.

  Shaking his head, he returned to the table and plopped down beside Dawn. “Breakfast is served, folks.” He casually tossed the mystery packets to the group like they were winning prizes. For good measure, he offered it with some of his dried seaweed—because if anyone could make this fake meat paste a little more tolerable, it was him. “This should make it taste… less like cardboard.” He wasn’t hopeful, though.

  Rose poured water into cups for everyone and took a cautious sip, her nose wrinkling.

  TJ slurped the noodles and swallowed the meat clumps whole, giving a satisfied nod. "This ain't half bad," he said, proving once again that TJ had the taste buds of a trash compactor.

  Dawn rolled her eyes and passed out her own rations from the green zone, far more edible, which everyone accepted with relief.

  Brian, who had been off in his own world, suddenly blinked in realization. "Oh, right." He dug into his inventory. "I still have potions. Here." He handed them around, boosting everyone’s mana and health like it was no big deal.

  Dawn finished her water and set the cup down with a firm clink. “I think it’s high time you head out to Crustacean Cove, Nick.” She glanced at him, then locked her gaze on Joe. “Look after him while we go hand Andras his ass on a platter.”

  Nick smirked, a little too confident for someone about to dive into a kaiju-infested deathtrap. "Wish I could see that," he said with a wistful sigh, but Luna cut in, eyes bright.

  “We’ll all look out for each other, won’t we?” she chirped, throwing a friendly arm over Nick’s shoulder. She tried to reach up and around Brian too, but it was like trying to hug a boulder. Brian barely noticed, still sipping his potion with the casual indifference of a guy who's seen too much to care about social cues.

  Without a word, Brian stood up, not bothering to wish them luck or even glance back as he trudged toward the entrance to floor four. The door whooshed open, a salty breeze carrying a hint of ocean air, and Joe swore he heard gulls screeching in the distance.

  Luna gave them a cheery wave, bouncing on her toes like this was another day at the beach. “Good luck in the battlebox! Win lots of time, okay?”

  Brian slow-jogged to catch up with Luna, who was already bouncing along ahead of him like a hyperactive puppy.

  As soon as they were out of sight, TJ let his grin slip. "Brian’s not okay. We should do something, you know? He can have the time I win when I kick Andras’ balls up his hoohah!”

  Dawn shook her head, her voice low. “I don’t think there’s enough time in the world to fix what happened to him.” She looked at TJ. “And if you want to kick Andras anywhere, we’ve got to plan. It’s five against one, remember?”

  Gaia raised an eyebrow. “Why not defer the battle? If you can keep me waiting after I challenged you, then you can certainly do the same to that bard who’s not fit to lick my boots.” She pushed her full cup of water aside like it offended her, then pulled out a small vial and knocked it back with one swift gulp. The curious glances from the group didn’t go unnoticed. "Morning Dew. It’s a thirst quencher." She shrugged. Her bracelet glowed, and Joe got the sense it wasn’t simply a drink but something tied to her mana senses.

  From the nearby booth, Andras snorted, clearly eavesdropping. Joe wished he’d just leave, but no—he lingered like a bad smell, flashing his vicious grin at Gaia.

  Dawn, though, wasn’t about to let it slide. She stood, eyes locked on Andras, and stalked toward him with a dangerous edge in her step. She leaned on the table, hands firmly planted as she got in his face. “You got entertainment where you come from?”

  Andras blinked, thrown off by her sudden boldness. “You wouldn’t understand the magnificence of my world. Magic and elegance beyond anything you could comprehend. Every elf’s voice could weave spells in the air.”

  Dawn raised a brow. “Magic, huh? Yeah, I was never into that fantasy crap. Give me gritty crime dramas and psychological horror any day. And, oh yeah, the original Tom & Jerry cartoons—those Fred Quimby ones? Classic. The violence was fantastic. Not soft like you." She leaned closer, practically baring her teeth. "You know what they say? A laugh is just a civilized snarl. Ever seen a dog or a cat when they want something to back off? They don’t grin like idiots. They ‘RRRAAAWWWRRR!’”

  Dawn actually snarled at him, and everyone at the table, even Andras, flinched like she’d lost her mind.

  “And they definitely don’t have a corn-fed, shit-eating grin like yours, Andras. As fake as the promises you feed your followers. You’re about as welcome here as a goblin in a porcelain shop, so why don’t you make like a tree and leave?”

  Rose flashed a mock smile. “Yeah, don’t call us, we’ll call you.”

  Andras flicked his hair back, clearly unimpressed, though his face twitched at Dawn’s words. “You’re not right in the head, you know that, Dawn? I’ve tried to help you, but you surround yourself with fools.” He reached out, offering his hand. "My offer still stands. You could join us."

  Joe tensed, knowing it took everything in Dawn not to slap his hand away. Instead, she growled low, and Andras took the hint, backing off.

  "Defer the battle if you want, it won’t bother me," he called over his shoulder. "But remember, you only have four against my faction of five. Numbers matter in the battlebox.” He turned to leave, pipes in hand, playing a tune that somehow made his followers fall in line behind him, like the Pied Piper leading rats. “For the record, I’m leaving because slumming it in the red zone is beneath me."

  Joe watched them go, biting back a string of curses as Dawn and TJ muttered their own under their breath.

  Gaia crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. "He’s right about one thing. Red zone battleboxes limit what we can do. If you want a high-stakes challenge, you need enough time to compete in the orange zone."

  Joe checked their statuses—each Titan Slayer listed as an Ascender 10 as the Lich would identify them. After donating time to Brian, they were short by at least thirty years—nowhere near enough to raise the stakes. Andras had played them again, and Joe felt that familiar twist of frustration. He’d accepted the challenge without considering the limitations of the red zone, and now they were stuck.

  Meanwhile, Andras lounged comfortably in the green zone, with plenty of followers across multiple factions, all thanks to his charisma and empty promises. It amazed Joe how eager ascenders were to believe in him. But then again, desperate times made people desperate—desperate enough to believe one cocky elf could solve all their problems.

  Joe shook his head, trying to shake off the frustration. "Alright, so we don’t have enough time, and we’re definitely not about to win any faction popularity contests. Anyone got any bright ideas?"

  Gaia shrugged, her tone casual. “Do what I did—get some sponsorship.”

  TJ snorted. “We’re not exactly popular, Gaia.”

  "You only need one faction to think you're worth it." She flicked her gaze at Dawn.

  Suddenly, Dawn’s face lit up, an idea clearly striking her. “I know who…”

  Joe’s grin spread, catching on to what she was thinking. “The Bruiser Battalion.”