“I’m sorry, what?” Max asked. “I got a skill when you killed it,” Sog replied. “Cursed Benediction.” Bob started to laugh, and Max shook his head, still confused. “Has that ever happened before? I mean, getting a skill?” “Only once, and that was back on that world you left me. I wasn’t sure at first but as I learned more about you, I believe it has something to do with your skill and our connection. I was a bit surprised that I got this. Usually, you take any souls and then I have to claim them but for some reason, this came straight to me.” It is because it wasn’t a creature we could harvest, but I’m assuming he can. Hearing he can do so is a bit concerning. Our relationship seems to impact all of those you are bound with. Rakonath and Sog are the only two. Bob’s words caused him to freeze. Shaking his head, he saw Sog frowning, recognizing how his friend’s face looked when making that expression. “Yes and no but not because you acquired it. It has more to do with how it affects others.” “What affects others?” Fowl asked as the rest of his party arrived. “Sog growing stronger. He apparently gets some perks from my skill that I didn’t know until now.” Everyone glanced at the demon who stood there, chest puffed out, now grinning. “What just happened?” Cordellia asked. “I got a skill,” Sog replied. “WHAT?!” their warrior exclaimed. “Did you get one?” Shaking his head, Max motioned to his demonic friend. “No. I can’t from these types but apparently, he can.” He tried not to look at Tanila but could read her facial expressions as she bit her lip. That is your decision. Just know that no one will be able to tell the far-reaching effects of all this right now. Only after your child is born will we be able to determine how or if I influenced them. “Well I’m just glad this fight is over,” Batrire stated. “I was concerned we’d never kill this thing. My heart almost came out of my chest after you almost died when I healed you.” “Yeah,” Fowl added. “I was scared I’d be left with these three women with no one to talk to about man stuff.” “Man stuff,” Cordellia grunted. “You wouldn’t know man stuff if someone hit you in the face with it.” As their warrior and ranger started to get into a war of jabs, Max moved to where Sog was and held out a hand. “Thank you again for coming.” Laughing, the demon grasped it and smiled. “No, thank you once more for summoning me. I look forward to the next time.” Bowing, the demon snapped his fingers, and the black doors appeared behind him, swinging open. All three of the minions that had been kneeling on the ground were still there, having not moved at all from where he had left them. “Be safe Max. Until next time!” When the doors shut, Tanila came close and squeezed his arm. “You’re going to tell me what's on your mind. I can read it all across your face,” she whispered. Nodding, Max pointed at the chest on the tower floor. “I was planning on it. Let’s loot and see if we can get home without those two teasing each other the entire way home.” The blue ghostly chest held only another tear-shaped crystal object for each of them and three black crystals for the Faction. “I’m hoping these are for something nice,” Fowl muttered. “After this last fight, I could use something better against a creature like that.” Tanila hadn’t said a word since he told her what he and Bob had quickly discussed. He wanted to say more or to ask her how she felt, but he knew she needed time to process it all. Her hand hadn’t stopped moving for more than a second as she rubbed her stomach, their child kicking every so often. “What does he think could happen to our child?” “Bob’s not sure. He can’t figure out what might happen to them from us being in the tower for so long. Both gods commented on that, and it confirms what he was thinking. Everything I can tell from my sonar ability is that our child is healthy and doing well. They seem like any other unborn child I’ve used my skill on.” “And how many other pregnant women have you inspected?” Seeing her eyes narrow and lips tighten, Max held up his hands. “Only from a distance. I just wanted to compare. Trust me, I only have eyes for you.” She sighed and then took his outstretched hand. “I know. I just like to give you a hard time.” Pulling her close, Max wrapped his arms around her and stood there, letting his skill show him just how healthy their child appeared to be. All he could do was smile as its heart beat steadily. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. Cordellia shouted as she let loose a volley of arrows, each of them the boss ones she had been storing for a while. Death rained down upon the illusions, destroying all but the original one. “FINISH IT!” Max shouted at Tanila. She let loose her largest ice spear yet as his ice storm descended. The boss screamed, her voice a pained cry as she cast another spell. “TAUNTING!!” Fowl shouted, hiding behind his shield as another Fire Nova washed over him. Max didn’t need Bob’s reminder. They had fought the pair of fire bosses twice now. Killing one and not the other caused whichever one was alive to go berserk and, after ten seconds, bring the dead one back to life. This one was much easier, smaller, and less armored than the molten armor and weapons mountain. Unable to dodge or create more illusions of herself, the flaming elemental woman couldn’t dance away to safety. He matched Tanila’s spell, sending an ice spear at the boss’s head. Two pieces of ice, the size of a large horse, impaled the boss. One was in the chest, the other through its head. Slowly, the flames began to die out and the entire tower floor went silent. No longer did the large vents spew out fire and stone. The lava pools grew still and the heat that radiated off the floors vanished. Once again… no abilities. The tower learns. It is trying to cull us or keep us weak. Max grunted and waited for the others to gather closer. Both corpses turned to stone and then shattered, returning to dust as the three and four-story-tall pair vanished. “Whoever those belongs to needs a kick in the arse,” Fowl muttered. “What is with all these undying or respawning bosses?!” Max shrugged and patted his friend on the shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. We just beat the 95th tower floor. You, my friend, are the reason why.” Blowing a raspberry, Fowl waved off that comment. “Please, we know you and the others did all the work. I just stood there and got my body beat on.” “But none of us can take it like you do.” “Oh, he can take it,” Batrire said as she arrived. “All I care about is whether his beard got singed. I spent good money on that beard oil, and I’m tired of how short it's gotten.” Fowl pulled out his beard and let her inspect it, giving him an approving nod. “Glad to see it actually worked.” “Who would believe there’s such a thing as fire and acid-proof beard oil?” Cordellia asked. “We’ve got a bald epidemic back home, and these two are worried about keeping hair on their faces.” Both Dwarves ignored their archer as Max felt pressure leaving his body. We did it… 95 floors. Yes. Only five more to go. What lies beyond is the real question. “There’s the chest,” Tanila said as she came near them, holding her growing stomach with one hand. “You going to make it?” Batrire asked. “I mean, I know how to help a woman give birth, but I’m not sure I want to do it mid-battle.” “I’m fine. It’s just that this child starts kicking like crazy anytime a boss is defeated. Part of me wonders if Max somehow got a ball in there while I was asleep and gave it to them.” Everyone chuckled, but Max knew what she was implying. She told him about what she had kept secret. Unlike Fowl, she didn’t have to check the experience to see if the boss was dead. Their child would tell her by how it reacted. “Anyone wanna bet it's a crystal like all the rest?” Cordellia asked. “No, that’s like easy money,” Fowl replied as the pair moved to check out the loot. “You sure you’re okay?” Batrire asked, coming up beside Tanila. “I can see it written all over your face. This one was pretty painful.” “It was,” their mage admitted. “Still, I’m fine. Even now they’ve settled down. So let’s go see what we got and then return to the faction house. I for one need a bath.” “Make that two,” their healer replied, holding onto Tanila’s arm and walking with her to where the chest was. You’re here. If something happens, I know that she will be alright. Your team won’t let anything happen to her. Max grunted to himself and moved to join the rest. I know. You know what worries me the most. Bob didn’t reply as they were both anxious about what lay on the 100th floor. “Holy elf tits,” Fowl muttered. “Where–” “Please refrain from such language.” Max and the others turned around, finding themselves in a forest. A familiar voice came from behind them. Chromie was tending a tree, his large metallic fingers adjusting limbs. Each time he touched a limb, it grew and moved in the direction his finger pushed it. “Where are we?” Cordellia asked, mimicking their warrior. “The 96th floor. A special place and one you need to spend some time on. Come, follow me. Let the air and the world rejuvenate you.” Max took a deep breath and felt his fatigue and frustration gradually fade. “Does… does anyone else feel… like every breath is better than the one before?” Batrire asked. Murmurs and head bobs came from the rest as they stood there, taking deep breaths repeatedly. “Come, we need to walk. Fear not, there is no fighting, and where we are is a garden. Tended by those like me and made to be a place of healing. Had any of you lost a limb, here it would be regrown. Or perhaps an eye was lost, it too would be replaced.” “So… this is like a floor to prepare for what’s coming?” Tanila asked. “In some ways, yes, and in other ways no,” Chromie replied. “For now, simply walk with me. If possible, do not talk. Just witness what is here and allow yourselves a moment of peace.” Grunts came, and before Fowl could say something, Max motioned to Tanila to take his hand and started walking down the path he pointed at. All around them, myriad creatures played and raced along the ground. Animals that looked like squirrels vanished and reappeared, their purple fur disappearing as they climbed trees. Birds above them sang in a song that somehow made a single melody, lulling their mind to relax and not be anxious. Bob said nothing momentarily as Max continued walking next to Tanila. I do not think so. I cannot sense anything evil or… wrong. It would appear that your host and the tower have brought you somewhere where combat may not occur. I’m not certain what kind of world this would be, but none of the creatures seem to care about the other. If anything, they play with them like friends. Minutes turned into hours, and soon, the party felt a cool breeze on their faces. The woods began to part, and a large body of water appeared through the clearing. In the shade, a single chair was set next to a table with hundreds of fruits and vegetables. Animals littered the area, some appearing to have liberated some of the food set aside for them, eating and chittering as they did. This place… somewhere in my memories, I can sense… something familiar. Before he could ask a question, Max heard Chromie's fingers snapping, and the world faded away.