Tower of Fate - Chapter 16: The Exterminator (Patreon)

*DING!* You have slain [Howler Squirrel (common)] Level 1 – Experience Points and Currency Acquired.

*DING!* You have slain [Howler Squirrel (common)] Level 1 – Experience Points and Currency Acquired.

*DING!* You have slain [Howler Squirrel (common)] Level 1 – Experience Points and Currency Acquired.

*DING!* You have slain [Howler Squirrel (common)] Level 1 – Experience Points and Currency Acquired.

As you can imagine, that went on for some time. With no way to disable it, the four of us hunkered down and waited for the System to finish tallying our kills. It was exciting at first, but sort of lost its luster after the fortieth time or so. I dunno. I lost count at that point. Anyway, after there was a moment of silence, I was about to check out my stats page when the messages started up again.

*DING!* Class: [Blood Reaver] has reached level 5 – Experience Acquired.

*DING!* Class: [Blood Reaver] has reached level 6 – Experience Acquired.

*DING!* Class: [Blood Reaver] has reached level 7 – Experience Acquired.

*DING!* Class: [Blood Reaver] has reached level 8 – Experience Acquired.

*DING!* Class: [Blood Reaver] has reached level 9 – Experience Acquired.

Jesus, I jumped five levels by killing that swarm.

My first impulse after leveling up was to immediately set out and find another swarm so that we can do that again. I’m sure that the experience gains would diminish the more we leveled up, but it still seemed like an excellent way to farm experience points.

*DING!* Achievement Unlocked [The Exterminator] – Wherever there’s a rodent to be found, you're there, ready to be their doom! You got this achievement for mass slaughtering a rare swarm of vermin. Congrats, now you can be the one to call when there’s a pest problem.

That’s right, the System did say the swarm had a rare classification to it, which means finding another might be harder than it looks. Although it’s hard to know what else we’re supposed to do on this floor since the System hadn’t said anything. My guess is that judging by the size of the floor, it’ll be a while longer before the golden elevator becomes unlocked. This System has a flair for drama and is going to want to have us soak up as much of that one year deadline as possible. We might not see the next floor for at least a few days. If that was the case, then I planned to take full advantage of this level.

I took a breath and then went to my stats page.

Stats

Name: Lucas Hudson

Race: Human (Class F)

Class: Blood Reaver Level 9

Currency: 203 coins

Strength: 10

Vitality: 10

Intelligence: 10

Constitution: 10

Dexterity: 19

Perception: 10

Willpower: 7

Free points remaining: 195

My eyes widened. Oh my god. This is amazing.

With dexterity being my main stat, I dumped sixty-five points into it. Then I put forty points into strength and then thirty points each into vitality, perception, and constitution. I still wasn’t entirely sure which defensive stat was more useful, but I figured greater overall health and increased toughness would both benefit me. Intelligence was linked to crafting and possibly magic, which I couldn’t see myself focusing on, so it seemed like an easy stat to overlook. The benefits of willpower still eluded me and I wasn’t ready to waste valuable points finding out, so that one stayed the same too. Past video game experience had taught me that you never want to spread yourself too thin while at the same time also not over relying on a single attribute.

The purpose behind the coins hadn’t revealed itself either. Considering how many the System gives, it seemed silly to think that they were just all for the payphone. There must be some way to exchange them that this place hasn’t explained yet.

I confirmed my upgrade stat choices and felt myself change. Suddenly, there was a rush of euphoria as the soreness in my muscles from fighting and running disappeared. The bite mark injury on my neck healed itself and I felt not just restored, but enhanced. I got to my feet fluidly and with more poise than ever before. The surrounding forest seemed different and more detailed. Everywhere I looked, things seemed to sharpen into greater focus. I stared at a fallen leaf and counted the veins on it. It was wonderful. There was suddenly so much more to this place that I never noticed before and, thanks to my enhanced perception, I can appreciate all of it.

I took a step forward and smiled. My whole body felt lighter and there was a spring in my step. It spoke of a deep desire to see just how fast I could move now, but for the moment, I resisted that urge. Even though every physical part of me had either gotten vastly easier or significantly improved and I desperately wanted to test all of it out, I held off. Because first I had to figure what to do about this party I’d reluctantly joined.

I heard the voices of Rebecca and Sebastian speaking quietly to one another and listened in. I didn’t even have to move. I just focused on them and my upgraded perception did the rest.

“I can’t believe I got twenty-five points for that swarm!” said an excited Sebastian.

Rebecca, who had contributed far more to killing the rodents, wisely decided not to say how many points she’d earned. Though, if I had to guess, it was probably similar to my own since the System rewarded me so generously for coming up with the plan that she then helped execute.

“Have you finished leveling your stats?” she asked him. “Because we have to look for the others right away. Who knows what kind of other creatures are in this god-forsaken forest?”

Makes sense. Still not sure why they’re whispering though.

“What about him?” asked Sebastian.

“It was his idea and his animal’s scouting that helped save us from the swarm. Plus, he saved you from the boar. Why isn’t that good enough for you?”

“I don’t trust him. He’s a higher level than us. What’s he gaining by helping us?”

Rebecca sighed. “If he’d wanted our points, then he could have easily killed us both when our group split up. The most likely answer is that he’s lonely, and that’s why he agreed to join the group.”

I mean, considering half of you ran at the first sign of trouble, Sebastian’s foolhardy attempt with the boar, and the fact that I had to direct the two of you to avoid getting eaten by the swarm, I have to say that my desire to stick with this group is waning. I think I’ll help these two reconnect with the rest of the group and then go off with Hugo to level some more. If I have to keep playing babysitter, then this party business is just going to be a hindrance.

“Look, I’m just saying that we barely know the guy,” said Sebastian. “At least when the rest of us grouped up, we talked first and introduced ourselves.”

Oh god, spare me the life story crap.

Luckily, I was saved by a lone howler squirrel in the trees above their heads. They had no idea it was there. As it jumped down, I took out my knife and threw it. The knife slammed into the creature’s skull and impaled it into the tree.

“You missed one,” I said gruffly while containing my excitement over my new knife throwing skill.

*DING!* You have slain [Howler Squirrel (common)] Level 1 – Experience Points and Currency Acquired.

*DING!* [Knife Work Skill] Increased to level 4

The kill only netted me one stat point, which I put into dexterity while retrieving my knife from a startled Sebastian, who edged away from me.

I shook my head. Yep, terrible situational awareness. But are they really going to die if I abandon them? I have to stop helping. They need to learn how to fight on their own. The tower has only given me a year, and who knows how big some of the other floors are? If I waste too much time holding their hands, then I might not be strong enough for the later floors.

“I’ve got things to do,” I said. “Let’s hurry up and find the rest of your friends before I leave.”

Rebecca shot Sebastian a dark look as if to say see what you’ve done.

Hugo flew down and landed on my shoulder.

“You finished leveling?” I asked him.

“Uh huh. The sun’s setting now too. Do you think I’ll get a chance to try out my twilight conjuring ability?”

Suddenly, a burst of yellow light shot into the sky in the distance.

Rebecca’s eyes widened as she pointed up. “That’s Hemi’s magic. Come on!” she yelled, before she and Sebastian dashed off towards it.

“Wait!” I called out, to no avail.

Other people can have the same type of magic, is what I was going to say before they blindly rushed into danger. Damn it. And here I was thinking that Rebecca was the smart one of the group.

I watched as another yellow light blast hit the sky, this time weaker than the one before it, and took off running after the others.