Climbing the Ranks - Chapter 2 preview (Patreon)

*Note this is an unedited version please excuse any spelling and grammatical errors.

Climbing the Ranks - A Tower Climber Cultivation LitRPG
Chapter 2

There was no rushing or pushing to enter the dungeon main entrance. The Tower was no longer a mystery, and everyone understood that they would be tested the moment they entered. The testing stage was entirely solo, before you were allowed into the Tower proper. Of course, when the first Tower arrived, this testing stage had taken a large number of lives since no one had expected to be thrown into a life and death fight immediately.

Nowadays, it was well known. A simple, blue or white room, sometimes brown, depending on the Tower. Empty, with no obstacles or other environmental factors to aid or hinder the testee. Everyone faced the same monster, the only variation being the type, dependent upon the Tower itself. Arthur knew that in some places, they faced goblins, or red caps or kobolds. However, for those that chose to enter via the Malaysian Tower, they got to fight the babi ngepet; as if the tower had decide to offer a nod to local legends.

Standing in the plain white room, its temperature a chill twenty degree Celsius or so – way too cold for even an air-conditioned shopping mall –Arthur could not help but be impatient. This test was the first of many, but without passing it, he could not move on.

A chime, sounding much like a cellphone alert, roused Arthur’s attention and made him focus. Somehow, while he was thinking, the ground ahead had given rise to a bank of mist, that now wrapped itself around a slow forming figure.

Arthur waited, knowing it was useless to try to attack the mist until it had finished forming. More so, you often heard of stories where people received lower marks because they had tried to cheese their way through the test. Sungai bodoh, nak buat itu.

Better to wait, then launch an attack and score lower.

When the mist finally parted, it brought with it the right of the demon pig he would have to face. The Babi negpit was a demon boar, weighing an easy three hundred pounds with overly large tusks and a evil look in its red, glowing eyes. Like all boars everywhere, it also had terrible temperament, and upon sighting Arthur, began its charge.

That was the thing they didn’t tell you while living in a city, when you supped on the siew yuk of their domesticated cousins. Boars were nasty.

Most wild animals, even the harimau, the king of the jungle, would avoid humans. They had no reason to hunt them, and so never attacked. But the Babi? They’d attack just because they could. And this was a demonic version.

The loud squeals, compounding off hooves charging forwards rose up around the room, feeling Arthur’s world. He found his heart beating faster, his hands growing sweaty as adrenaline coursed through him. No matter how manage training jihad, no matter how real they had tried to make it, they could not duplicate the reality of facing something that truly wanted you did. Legs left, artist and still, staff held in both hands before him. Even as the ball closed in, with each harsh breath.

At the last moment, a little too late, Arthur jumped aside. He swung his staff at the same time, hoping to strike and send the monster away from him. His timing was off, just a little, enough for it to pair at a trailing foot, test leaving his ankle bloodied. He stumbled a little, as he landed, the monster staggering aside and turning in a wide circle as it shook its dazed head.

Arthur had landed the hit, but it wasn’t enough. Once more, the Babi Ngepet shook his head, and charged. This time there was less space between them, less time to grain momentum. Rather than jump, Arthur swung his staff as he stepped to the side, blow crashing into a front leg and sending the ball of course. A part of the regretted not having a spare, the weapon perfect for dealing with the tough hide, monstrous muscles of this creature. Then he dismissed the thought, the focus.

Three more times, the bottom charged him. Three more times, Arthur struck first, making food use of his additional range. His confidence grew with each attack, even as he felt his sneaker grow ever more bloodied and his leg radiate pain.

He could do this, he was certain. Until the babi ngepet changed the rules again. It shook itself and rather than approaching him, it began to transform. Black smoke swirled up around its body, and added new he was seeing the second stage of the test. He took a couple of quick steps forward, knowing that he was allowed to strike now. This was a time to finish it. Everyone knew that.

Except, on his second step as he closed in, his injured ankle gave way. The shock trouble of pain shot up the ankle as it came down, forcing the collapse to the ground. He only managed to stop his knees from slamming fully into the unforgiving floor buys propping himself on his staff. Maritime Arthur got over the flash of pain, the Babi net bets transformation is complete.

Standing in front of Arthur, was a short, 5 foot four man clad in dark robes. He wielded a pair of knives, in either hand, one of it chipped and bloodied just like tusk of the boar. The man threw himself forward, blades weaving before him, and still on his knees, Arthur weaved his own defense with his staff.

The furious battle between the pair, sent the clack of staff meeting blade ringing through the room. Arthur’s greater range with his staff was impacted by his lack of mobility, while his opponents, second blade, constantly threatened to cut his arm. Eventually, the man fell back, cradling her injured elbow, while at the history the dripping blood from his lead right down wearer blade had scolded.

Taking the brief moment of relaxation, Arthur pushed himself to his feet, glaring at his opponent. Now, standing, yet the advantage. He limped forward slowly, even as his opponent attempted to.in close to pick up his discarded dagger. A jab with the staff caught the man on his collar, sending him staggering back. Another spinning attack, was blocked by the remaining dagger. Arthur shifted his grip, swinging his staff upwards, as he pulled the other edge back, sliding the staff in between the man’s legs. Only a quick motion by his opponent, allowed his crown jewels to stay uncharted. But a blow to the inner tire was scribbling in of itself.

Slow, careful steps. Carefully place blows, and the occasional faint, drove his opponent back, back, back. Under glass, the man had nowhere to go, and the crushed his skull.

Only then, through the haze of pain and concentration, did he note his actions, the unseeing eyes looking back at him. The Malaysian tower was considered one of the most difficult to pass, due to its unusual, nonhuman start, the second form and of course, the fact that one had to kill a human at the end. Or at least, something that looked human. Too many people, coming into the tower, realized that he ended they could not do it. The act of killing another human was Anna, so many.

Arthur, still bleeding, wondered what it meant about him, that he felt very little beyond relief. No regret, no pain or sorrow.

No joy. Not yet.

Initial tower test completed.

Results are being graded.

Please wait…

Tests have been graded.

Teleportation commencing.

…

Please wait.

Now the joy came along with the shifting of his senses.