Chapter 466: War (1/2)
“He made it to the 72nd floor after all!” Balios said to his uncle. “He might even make it the whole way.”
“He’s almost out of time. There was less than a day remaining when he finally managed to pass the 71st level. Even if he defeats the guardian now he will be exhausted and most likely wounded,” Ubrok answered, but there were clear signs of hesitation on his face.
“Still,” Balios whispered. “Perhaps we should stay out of this? Even lord Beradan only made it to the 65th floor. No matter if he passes or not he’s still someone we shouldn’t get involved with. We're just sticking our necks out while the real lords will reap the eventual rewards. The promised payment for assistance is not worth our lives.”
“You are right. Let’s back away,” Ubrok finally relented. “We cannot get involved with the second coming of the Eveningtide Asura, our force will not be able to withstand the fallout no matter which side stands victorious. Let’s back away and enjoy the apparition in peace. I might even be able to improve my Dao Seed after all these years.”
Balios hurriedly nodded in agreement and their group of 8 started making their way back across the square. They weren’t alone in choosing retreat over the quest reward and the private bounties provided by a few scions. The heated competition for the front-row seats of the square had quickly died down as Zac Piker had knocked down one level after another, eclipsing all the sector's geniuses for the past hundreds of thousands of years.
Things had calmed down as Mr. Piker, or rather Lord Piker, found himself stuck on the 71st level for almost a week, but the moment he’d reached the final level of the 8th floor people started to worry. Some had already backed away, and there were not many willing to take the place of the deserters.
A million years had passed, but the lessons that the Eveningtide Asura had engraved into the souls of the people of the Zecia Sector were still vividly remembered. Opening yourself and your family up to that level of vengeance was not worth the potential prize or remuneration. However, the group only managed to retreat a hundred meters before a commotion broke out across the square.
“73!” a cultivator screamed with shock, immediately causing some panic to finally appear even in the eyes of the staunchest of warriors.
A few still remained, clearly intent on betting it all, but most people started running for their lives. However, the fleeing cultivators stopped just a few seconds later because the tower started releasing an immense pressure as waves of power radiated across the whole town, far beyond what anyone had ever seen before.
Greed fought with fear, but the allure was too great. Witnessing a 9th-floor apparition from a front-row seat was too enticing to give up, and the whole square sat down on the ground as if they were of one mind. Balios froze in hesitation, unsure whether he should flee further or join the others. The hesitation only lasted for a fraction of a second as he hurriedly took out his prepared mat as he gazed up at the sky.
The pressure emitted from the tower kept accumulating, and fewer and fewer managed to hold their backs straight. A few even started bleeding from their ears from the immense aura of the Tower of Eternity. It was as though the Heavens themselves had descended upon the Base Town, standing in judgment.
But the pressure was suddenly gone, and Balios's eyes widened in shock as the tower flickered before it suddenly disappeared as well. Taking its place was a stone plaque whose size was a match to the Tower of Eternity. Balios’s eyes were drawn toward the mysterious scars covering its surface, and his mind turned blank the next moment.
It was only sometime later he woke up from his trance, but he was shocked to realize he couldn't remember a thing, not even how much time had passed. But something had changed inside his body, and it felt like his blood had been replaced by fire. The drums of war echoed in his mind and his arms bulged as he subconsciously dragged out [Skylark], his azure blue Azrathir Spirit Tool.
The sword hummed in response, seemingly influenced by the odd state of its master.
The teleportation array lit up, and the whole square collectively held their breath as the man they had been waiting for the past day reappeared. However, this was not a hero’s exit, but rather that of a beggar. The man’s aura seemed strong and stable, but he was completely covered in still-wet blood. He was also decked out in odd jewelry that made him look like a robber who had absconded with a maiden's jewelry box.
His rough state wasn’t surprising, as he had passed to the 73rd floor at the last possible moment. He was probably putting up a brave front, and he quickly sat down and closed his eyes, enjoying the protection of the array. Zac Piker had overtaxed himself, forgetting that there was another trial waiting for him outside.
Balios's eyes were slowly turning bloodshot, and a wordless agreement passed between him and his uncle. The group no longer had any interest in retreating, but instead slowly made their way back toward their position.
“The quest! It changed!” another man suddenly shouted.
The flames of war were already drowning out most of Balios's thoughts, but curiosity overcame bloodthirst and he slowly looked away from the blood-drenched man to instead check out the changes of the quest.
Fatebreaker (Unique, Limited): Kill Zac Piker within the time limit. Reward: Ten free levels in the Tower of Eternity. [00:01:00]
Balios’s eyes threatened to pop out of their sockets as he read the reward. What was going on? If the previous reward had been unprecedented, then the current one was beyond comprehension. Had Lord Piker spent his whole climb cursing the Heavens, and this was his retribution?
The whole square was like a kettle that threatened to boil over at any second, and Balios's eyes were locked at the humanoid treasure trove. A few minutes passed and Balios almost lashed out at his neighbors in a bloodthirsty rage, his muscles shuddering as he tried to keep his impulses in check.
But finally, the man stood up and turned toward the square.
“I-“ Lord Piker said, but he stopped when the protective array suddenly winked out like it just ran out of power.
Everyone gaped in incomprehension for a second, but chaos took hold of the square the next moment.
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Zac appeared on the teleportation array, and he relaxed when he saw that the defensive array was still up and running. He needed to quickly consolidate his gains, so he sat down on the ground after nodding at Ogras and Galau who were mutely staring at him with eyes as wide as saucers.