Tower of Avarice: A LitRPG story

The elevator hummed softly as it ascended; its bright overhead lights would occasionally flicker, and the floor would shake. The metallic walls reflected the shaken expressions of Greg, Rehn and Alivia, their breath still uneven from the chaos they had just left behind.

Mathew lay on the ground, motionless, his face pale and contorted in pain. Blood seeped from the bandages they had wrapped around him, staining the white cloth a deep crimson. The potions were working much slower than usual.

When Greg suggested he use some of his accumulated Aether to level up, Mathew had informed him that he couldn't. Since he had refused Mischievous Depravity's offer, he had been blocked from using Aether in that way.

Even channelling his mana in a similar fashion as the Word of Power 'Heal' and 'Mend' hadn't had any results. He could only wait for the wounds to close on their own, with a slight boost from the multitude of potions he had imbibed.

Greg ran his hand through his sweat-matted hair and exhaled sharply.

"That was way too close." His voice was tight as his usual confidence had been shaken.

"No kidding, one second later, and we wouldn't be standing here." Alivia muttered from where she was leaning against the wall. She wiped a smear of dirt from her cheek, and her hands trembled and shook.

Rehn crouched beside Mathew, pulling another bandage from her inventory and pressing it against his stomach.

"Stay with us, Mathew." She urged, her voice soft and filled with concern. Mathew let out a weak chuckle that was laced with pain.

"You don't need to worry. I've been through worse." He whispered raggedly.

Rehn forced a small smile but didn't respond. Instead, she pressed down harder on the wound, making Mathew wince. The elevator jerked slightly, and Greg tensed as they felt the elevator begin to slow down. Silence settled over the group, broken only by Mathew's uneven breathing.

When the elevator slowed down and the doors opened, paradise greeted them.

The island stretched like a jewel across the endless blue ocean, its shores touched by gently rolling waves. The sand was golden and soft as silk, curving around the coastline and shimmering in the afternoon sun. The smell of salt water drifted through the warm air, carried by a breeze that rustled towering palm trees.

Beyond the beach was a lush jungle filled with the chatter of tropical birds. Vines draped from trees with thick and waxy leaves. They could see a waterfall in the distance, cascading from a rocky cliff deep within the island's interior.

Stepping out of the elevator, with Greg dragging Mathew onto the beach, their enjoyment of the scenery was interrupted by a message of burning letters appearing above each of their silver wristbands.

Floor 70: ???

Objective: Unknown.

Reward: Unknown.

"Have you ever seen anything like this?" Greg asked as he looked up from the message to see if the others had received the same as him. Seeing their looks of confusion, he was about to speak further when he heard someone speak from behind them.

"You're here. Good, I've been tired of waiting."

A sudden pressure gripped their skulls, sharp and relentless. It was like a vice tightening around their minds. The world around them wavered, and the edges of their vision blurred as if reality itself were distorting. A low, insistent hum filled their ears.

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Greg staggered, and his breath hitched as a sharp, pulsing ache drilled behind his eyes. His knees nearly buckled as dizziness washed over him, and he found it difficult to keep his footing.

Alivia clenched her jaw, blinking her eyes rapidly against the haze that clouded her vision. It felt like something was pressing against the inside of her skull, crawling under her skin and forcing her body into a heightened state of alertness.

The Buzz was screaming at her to run away as quickly as she could.

Just when it became unbearable, it disappeared without a trace, and the group was free. Panting and off balance from the sudden assault, it took them a moment to find the source of the danger.

The middle-aged man stood with an effortless grace, his presence commanding, like the calm before a storm. The golden light of the sun seemed to cling to him, illuminating the sharp angles of his face. He had high cheekbones, a strong jawline and slightly upturned lips that hinted at an amused smile.

His skin, tanned and healthy, had a faint shimmer as if divine energy coursed just beneath the surface of his flesh. But it was his eyes that were most arresting, a striking blend of gold and silver that held the weight of power. They were unnaturally intense, as if he could see beyond what mortals could perceive.

He wore a long indigo tunic embroidered with silver constellations and golden symbols, with a cloak over his shoulders and a ceremonial stole around his neck.

The aura of power that hung around him retracted enough to stifle the Buzz, but none of them lowered their guard.

"Thal'Zir." Mathew whispered, his voice cutting off as a coughing fit overtook him. The demigod looked down at Mathew with surprise, shaking his head in response to his name.

"'The Enduring' indeed. It seems a fitting name for you. I didn't hold back in the slightest, but you survived. I'm not often impressed. It's no wonder my Mother intends for you to become her Apostle." Thal'Zir commented.

"I thank her for the offer, but I decline." Mathew responded after a moment.

"A pity." Thal'Zir stated, shrugging his shoulder nonchalantly as if he expected the response.

"How did you follow us!?" Greg shouted, moving to the side to block and protect Mathew from the Demigod. Thal'Zir exhaled a quiet laugh; his golden-silver eyes gleamed in amusement as he tilted his head slightly.

"Follow you? You misunderstand, mortal. I didn't follow you; I simply arrived where I was meant to be." The demigod responded.

"That's not an answer." Greg replied as he tightened his grip on his rifle.

Thal'Zir sighed, almost as if he were bored, and slowly stepped forward. His ornate cloak drifted behind him, billowing from an unseen force.

"I am the will of my Mother. Wherever her gaze falls, wherever her plans unfold, I am already present. I don't walk in your footsteps, mortal; you simply stumble into mind." He said, his tone condescending as if he were talking to a child.

Greg clenched his jaw in anger but didn't move.

"But don't worry, I'm not here to kill you." Thal'Zir smiled, as his eyes flicked to Mathew and back again.

"At least, not yet." Thal'Zir paused and once again looked at Mathew expectantly.

Mathew groaned and forced himself up onto one elbow, his breath ragged. Every movement sent fresh waves of pain through his body, but he pushed through it. His gaze flickered to Rehn, his expression strained by resolute.

"Rehn. Give him the Relic." Mathew rasped. Rehn's eyes widened in surprise as she responded.

"What? Are you insane?"

Mathew exhaled, and he looked at Thal'Zir, who was still staring at Mathew with expectation.

"We only took it to send the god of Terrestrial Impermanence a message from the Tower. We've accomplished that goal, so give it back to him." Mathew explained.

"And how do you know he won't kill us all once he gets it?" Rehn responded. She was unable to read anything from the Demigod; his thoughts were completely absent from her. It was as if he weren't standing in front of her at all.

Reluctantly, Rehn reached into her inventory space and felt her fingers brush up against the cold, smooth surface of the Relic. As soon as she touched it, a faint pulse of energy ran up her arm. With a small sigh, she pulled it free.

The relic gleamed in the bright light, and the air felt heavier around it. Looking at Mathew one last time, she stepped forward and extended the relic toward Thal'Zir.

A smile tugged at the Demigod's lips as he grasped the Sacred Object.

"Wise choice." He murmured as he looked at the relic in his hand.

"Perhaps my Mother is right about you, after all, Mathew Larson." The Demigod nodded, and with the relic safely in hand, he stepped away. Thal'Zir's form began to shimmer, and the air bent around him. His body quickly dissolved into motes of gold and silver light.

The light swirled and scattered, and the demigod was gone.

'Ding.'

The soft, metallic chime of the elevator echoed after Thal'Zir's departure, and the air felt calm. Alivia was the first to break the silence, her voice low and uncertain.

"What just happened?"

Greg, still vigilant, kept his eyes trained on the spot where the demigod had stood.

"I don't know. I can't believe he would just let us go after breaking into the Temple and stealing his mother's Relic." Greg muttered.

Mathew slowly sat up, wincing as his chest heaved with each laboured breath.

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." Mathew stated.