Tier 3+ - Accidental Champion - Chapter 91 - Never Ending (Patreon)

Xavier spoke with the Champions down in the tavern for a full hour before he headed back to the Staging Room. He wasn’t used to having so many people listening to his every word, but he pushed past any nerves he was feeling rather easily. Especially whenever he looked over at Dawkins. The man was no longer nursing his fist—his broken knuckles would have healed quick enough—but he was begrudgingly paying attention to all Xavier said.

When he returned to the Staging Room, he found the others were still practising with their new spells. Siobhan’s Divine Guardian was battering Howard’s shield, while Justin was jumping around, casting Air Strikes left and right.

Xavier was glad they’d thrown themselves into training, and he was starting to see how powerful his party could become in the future. Between them, they had several strong and versatile spells, and he was interested to see how well they could all work together.

But he was more eager to move forward.

The second he stepped into the Staging Room they all paused what they were doing and asked if he’d learnt anything from Sam. Xavier had told them everything the man had said—even the part about how he might not want to trust his party.

Howard nodded sagely. “It makes sense. All those here… they may have chosen to defend our world, but…” He frowned, his face turning serious. “Those who choose to protect, in my experience, are not always up to the job. Sometimes what they’re really looking for is authority. I dealt with my fair share of entitled cops. In this instance, perhaps some only chose to be Champions for power. For the opportunities it could bring. It’s not as though the System gazed into our hearts when we chose a moral faction.”

They had gone a little quiet after that.

Though they each appeared to be quite interested in the Sector Travel Key, they all agreed Xavier shouldn’t use it for some time.

Which didn’t bother Xavier at all. First, he couldn’t even use the key while in the tower. And second, he didn’t even know where to go yet. And, finally, he couldn’t afford to be away for an entire year. Besides, he doubted the tower would even allow for that.

After turning it around in his hand once more, he’d deposited the Sector Travel Key into his Storage Ring and put thoughts of visiting other worlds into the back of his mind.

One day, I’ll get that opportunity.

But right now, his mind was on the fate of Earth, and on what lay before them on the next tower floor.

He didn’t hesitate. After speaking to the others, he looked at his attributes, spells and skill information.

XAVIER COLLINS

Age: 20

Race: Human

Grade: F

Moral Faction: World Defender (Planet Earth)

Class: Soul Reaper (Epic)

Level 13

Strength: 205 (219)

Speed: 201 (211)

Toughness: 215 (245)

Intelligence: 266 (338)

Willpower: 231 (252)

Spirit: 365 (460)

Mastery Points until next level: 2,127,700/8,000,000

Available Spirit Energy: 47,000/47,000

Available Skill Points: 1

Free stat points remaining: 0

Titles:

Bloodied Hands, Born on a Battlefield, Settlement Defender, Quester, First Defender of Planet Earth, Survivor, All 100, First All 100, 1000 Stats, First to 1000 Stats, Greater Butcher, Fourth Floor Climber, Solo Tower Climber 4, 1st Fourth Floor Climber, Fourth Floor Ranked 1 – RECORD HOLDER (Completion Time – 4 sec)

Spells List:

Spiritual Trifecta – Rank 7

Heavy Telekinesis – Rank 6

Spirit Break (All) – Rank 3

Spirit Infusion – Rank 3

Soul Harvest – Rank 4

Soul Strike (Ranged) – Rank 10

Soul Block – Rank 1

Soul Harden – Rank 4

Skills List:

Physical Resistance – Rank 10

Magical Potency – Rank 14

Magical Resistance – Rank 5

Physical Damage – Rank 3

Assimilate Properties – Rank 1

Scythe-Staff Mastery – Rank 1

Meditation – Rank 10

Aura-Control – Rank 3

Lesser Spirit Coins: 64,065

Xavier examined his list. There were some skills, like Scythe-Staff Mastery and Assimilate Properties, that he looked forward to ranking up. Though he wasn’t sure how to rank up Assimilate Properties, and he’d never been good at gaining ranks in Staff Mastery.

I’ll figure it out.

He didn’t linger too long on his stats. They had changed drastically once more, but he knew that would keep happening for a good while, and it was no longer quite the shock to his system.

Though he had to admit, he was eager to see what might happen when he reached 500 points of Spirit. Would there be another threshold for him to pass?

Not wanting to dally, Xavier led his party to the door and entered the fifth floor of the Tower of Champions. He knew he still had a skill he could choose. Knew he still had Lesser Spirit Coins to spend. But he wasn’t sure what to spend that money on at this point, and he figured it might be better for him to know what this floor had in store before choosing his next skill.

He was happy with his current spells and skills, considering they’d let him clear the last floor in record time. And he didn’t want to regret choosing the wrong skill if he found that something important in the skills list would have helped him clear the floor faster.

Xavier was teleported straight into the Safe Zone of the fifth floor. When he materialised in the room—or maybe the room materialised around him—he found it to be made of solid grey stone. A moment later, the others appeared beside him.

He moved to place his hand on one of the walls. It was slightly rough to the touch and cold. The room had four chairs, all angled toward a fireplace. Flames danced in the hearth, logs crackling as they burned.

There were two doors on opposite sides of the Safe Zone.

“This reminds me of the cabin we appeared in on the first floor,” Justin said, pacing around, his boots tapping on the stone.

Howard shook his head. “That was more rustic. Made from stacked logs. This place is more like…”

“A room in a castle,” Xavier said excitedly. He stepped over to the door and felt a little giddy. Maybe too giddy. He’d spent the better part of his life imagining fantasy worlds—whether he was reading about them or writing about them—but he’d never actually been in a castle before.

It was something he’d always dreamed of.

The door leading out of the Safe Zone was made from solid oak with what might have been a brass handle. “Perhaps the three of you should remain here while I investigate. Whatever’s on the other side of that door could be dangerous.”

Xavier summoner Soultaker and held it in his left. He wasn’t at all worried about what might be on the other side being able to harm him, so he turned the handle, whipped the door open and stepped out into what looked to be a large courtyard.

No. This isn’t a courtyard, it’s a bailey.

Stepping out of the safe room was like turning mute off on the world. A horn was blaring somewhere far away, and there were men and women—soldiers in armour, with capes draped over their shoulders—gathering in the centre of the castle’s bailey.

For he had been right. The fifth floor of the Tower of Champions was in a castle. Or rather, just outside of one. Turning around he saw massive keeps rising toward the sky, flanking a large castle with sturdy, double doors up a short flight of stairs.

The Safe Room he’d stepped out of was out of a side door. He looked at the soldiers gathering, gripping his staff-scythe. It wouldn’t be the first time they’d worked with an army, and though he was wary, these soldiers might not actually be his enemy.

Though there was something strange about them, he noticed. For one, they weren’t all human. Some of them were, but there were several Denizens of different races. Elves, he’d seen before, their pointy ears, sharp features, and clear complexion familiar.

Others, he’d not seen before. They were all humanoid. But them were… less human than others.

Xavier’s eyes widened as he saw what looked like jackal-headed warriors that reminded him nothing more than of the Egyptian god of death, Anubis.

Then there were the lizard men, standing at the back of the line. Faces scaled, large tails idly swishing behind them.

I’ll have to get used to that.

There were a few races that didn’t look quite as strange. Unless you counted the small horns on their foreheads.

Xavier turned his attention away from the gathering soldiers and to his surroundings. The courtyard—or bailey—looked to be an inner ward, walled off, with a single portcullis leading to the outer bailey.

I wonder if this place has a moat. And a drawbridge.

A bell rang somewhere on the battlements. More soldiers ran out of what looked to be a barracks, heading for the front walls.

A notification popped in front of Xavier’s vision as he realised this castle was about to be under siege.

Welcome to the Fifth Floor of the Tower of Champions.

The Fifth Floor of the Tower of Champions is a test of how much you can endure.

Time is frozen on this floor. Outside of this instance, entering this floor will always take a single hour, whether a Champion leaves the floor within one minute or one year.

This castle will soon be under siege from both Denizens and beasts, experiencing increasing waves of difficulty. Unlike other floors, a record on this floor is not based on how quickly it can be cleared, but rather how many waves of enemies one survives.

Each wave has a floor boss, and once you have cleared the first five waves—a feat that takes no less than five hours—this floor will be considered cleared.

Know this: the castle will fall. You cannot protect it forever.

The waves are never ending.