“What… where are we?” Fowl asked. “What happened to the food?” With his hand, Chromie motioned to the five gold chairs placed before his big one. They were back in the gold room, and everything was almost a mockery of what they considered valuable in their world. “Seriously?” Cordellia asked. “He’s right, why are we here?” “The time that is permitted for that world was over. Your journey there was done. Any aches, ailments, pains, or scars are gone. Go ahead, check and see.” Max heard Fowl mutter, and his boots were gone, his hairy feet present for all to see. “Hey! My toenail is back!” “And that’s a blessing?” Cordellia asked. Their warrior responded by lifting a foot and wiggling his toes at her. “Stop that behavior!” Chromie’s voice carried a force they hadn’t felt in a while and Max even felt it almost push against his mental strength. Fowl and Cordellia went quiet, and all five sat down and moved to their seats. “Now then, listen. You have just three more floors to go. You–” Their archer covered her mouth as Chromie pointed a metallic finger at her. “Do not interrupt. We are now on the 97th floor. The 96th is gone. You five have been made whole. Even now, if you try, you should notice that not only physical injuries have been healed, but the scars which you carried mentally and emotionally have been lessened.” Max felt his head move back and frowned, trying to think about all the bad things he had experienced. At the fringes of his memories were the moments he had been betrayed. He could remember the moment he had almost been taken away on the day of his skill selection. Everything that used to anger him was almost stripped away. “Why would you do this? Why take this from us?!” Max demanded. “Because it is necessary for what comes next.” “Necessary?! To strip us of what makes us who we are? To cause us to forget what pain made us who we are? What happened to all the testing of those early tower floors in the sixties? Those were done to see how our actions might have consequences. And now all that is gone!” Anger grew inside Max, and he felt a rage building up as he stood, pointing a finger at their host. “Do not take away what isn’t yours to take. I want to complete the tower because I came here for the right reasons, not something you or the system did to change us.” Chromie stood there, still having not sat down, his metallic face reflecting Max's rage. “Do you all feel this way?” “I do,” Tanila said, rising to her feet. “As do I,” Cordellia stated. “And me,” Batrire said. Chromie nodded once, and his fingers snapped, the sound seeming to shatter whatever walls had held back their memories and emotions. For a moment, Max felt his head hurt and his chest tighten, the sensation of all that pain and suffering returning, but with it also came joy and happiness. “Congratulations. You five have passed.” “Passed?” Batrire gasped. “Passed what?” “The test. When offered to forget who you were and bear no pain, they will fail what comes next if one accepts it. Do not ask what that would be, as you will face something else. Just know you are now granted the chance to continue the climb. Three floors remain, and we must discuss what is coming.” Chromie sat down, and everyone retook their seats after a few seconds. “You will be sent to the 98th floor. There you will be able to trade in the items you acquired. Each of you can only get one of each item offered. Each one is bound to you. You cannot give it to another. That is where the real rewards are. Perhaps you gain just one greater thing or five lesser ones. The choice is yours. “You can even stay there for as long as you wish. Rooms and food are available at minimal cost using your world's currency. Just know from that floor on, there will be no more treasure. No more items. Nothing else within the tower item-wise that can help you with the last floor shall be granted to you. Do you understand?” “So… it’s like the bazaar and yet different?” Fowl asked. “And what about the 99th floor?” Max asked. Metallic fingers drummed against the arm of the golden chair Chromie sat in. “When you leave the 98th floor, you will be sent back to your world. Return to the tower, and you may enter the 99th. Only once can you enter this floor. Those gems you have to escape the tower will no longer work. You will be given one last chance to choose a different life. On the second-to-last floor, you can talk with any god who wishes you to be the start of their bloodline on a new world.” “Any god?” Tanila asked slowly. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. “You will find out when you arrive there how many gods have been intrigued or inspired by your actions. Each of you has been watched. Prepare yourselves for what comes. Just know that once you turn down a god, they cannot be spoken to again. “They will only speak of what they can offer you. None will speak of what comes on the last floor. If you choose to accept their offer, you will be taken away. The system may modify some of your abilities, or it may not. Much depends upon what the god who woos you is willing to spend to allow you to keep what you have earned.” Fowl started to open his mouth and Chromie lifted his hand. “No questions. Let me finish. “If you choose to continue the climb, you will once more be returned to your world. Anyone you love or wish to speak with, do it before entering the tower for the final time. No matter the outcome, you will not be able to return to this world.” Their host sat silent for a second, and then his head leaned forward, focused on Max. “If you complete the tower and are allowed to keep your skill, be careful traveling to worlds that are not yours. Some gods will take that as an attack. They would be within their rights to then engage you in combat. Know that you are weak compared to the gods of the worlds you come from. Do not risk it.” Max glanced at the others who were all looking at him and gave a sheepish grin. “This is the last time we will speak .” Chromie stood and gave a slight bow. “Tower climbers, I wish you success regardless of whatever decision you make in the coming time.” Before they could say a word, he snapped his fingers and the world shifted again. “Mother of all ogre nuts,” Batrire cursed. “Look at this place!” They all turned around, standing on a raised platform in the middle of a town. Everywhere were buildings, and beings of all kinds were walking, calling out, and waving at them. “What… this place… it looks like Peltagow,” Max stated. “Why are all the buildings ?” “Welcome, adventurers!” Everyone turned to see a tree moving toward them. Two eyes and a large mouth present on its upper trunk. “What the–” Fowl muttered, his hand flexing over and over but nothing happened. “My weapon?! Where’s my weapon?!” The tree stopped moving, the roots no longer scurrying along the grass near them. Its limbs were waving with big leafy bunches where hands would be. “I mean you no harm and no harm can be done here! You are safe and I am the one who welcomes you. I am Helk!” “Helk?” Max repeated. Neither said a word, and Max chuckled. “Sorry, I was making sure I said it right. Uh… forgive us it's a bit strange just appearing here and then a… tree–” “Treant,” Helk stated. “A treant welcoming us.” “Fear not, you are not the first to react as such, and I have had many creatures attempt to bite, claw, climb, or even defecate on me. Thankfully, none of that is allowed.” “So… uh… this place. We’re supposed to trade and find items here?” Fowl asked. “Exactly! This is a shopping opportunity like no other for those who have fought their way through the tower! Here you can trade many things for items that might assist you on the coming floors. I expect that each of you has the crystals from the previous bosses?” Max held out a hand, and soon all five were in it. “Excellent! Those and other items you acquired in the tower can be traded. Just know that while you might not be told what someone is looking for, you can always ask if they want something specific.” “Can you be more specific?” Tanila asked. The treant began to shake, leaves falling to the ground as it smiled. “A great question! I would love to sample some sap from trees on tower floors. If you have any on you, I could trade some of my sap, which is very useful for making healing potions stronger than any on your world.” Helk's body swayed forward and backward. “Yes! You might not be aware of this, but each sap is unique. I can… Forgive me, I could talk about sap for days, yet you are not here to discuss the fantastic qualities of sap. Not many would want to spend hours discussing how sap can be used for drinks or food, healing potions or–” The treant clamped its mouth shut and grunted. “I did it again. Forgive me. Now then you are welcome to peruse any area of town. There is a wall that blocks all from entering or leaving via approved means. In a day a portal will appear that only your party can see. It will return you to your world when you take it. Scattered throughout the town is a variety of places to stop and rest. Food and drinks can be found there. “The city is broken down into four simple quadrants, but know that there are hundreds of stores in each area. The northeast one deals with armor and clothing. The southeast one deals with weapons, shields and anything one might use for offensive purposes. To the southwest, one will find all sorts of jewelry and other trinkets which might aid you in the coming floors. Lastly, to the northwest are the reagents are traded. There you will find various things you never knew existed but wish you had. Those who love to craft often lose themselves for weeks in that section. You will also find powerful potions and elixirs there. Any questions?” “Would sap be located there?” Max asked, grinning. “Ahh a wise one,” Helk replied. “Yes! You could do well trading for it, bringing me the sap, and possibly finding someone willing to create a potion for you.” “Uh, what about ale? Do you have ale here?” Pointing a leafy appendage at Fowl, the tree chuckled. “That we do, my dwarven friend. Ale from hundreds of worlds, all crafted differently and yet each one deemed the best of that world!” “Dear Ockrim, you do love me!” their warrior proclaimed. “I say we hit one of those places before we get out and try trading for things. One does better on a full stomach and with a few barrels of ale in them!” Batrire groaned and shook her head. “He’ll never leave this place,” she muttered. Max gave a small bow and let out a sigh. “I can’t believe I’m saying this but we’ll do what Fowl asked first. If we don’t, he’ll whine until we give in. At least afterwards we can get a few moments of peace while we try to find out what’s out here.” Everyone nodded, especially their dwarven warrior. “I knew I picked a good brother,” Fowl proclaimed, slapping Max’s back. “Now then, my good tree, where should I go for the best ale in the city?” Their warrior's head snapped back like he had been kicked there. “Oh yes! There is a fine place to the northwest that has a few ales with different flavors of bugs! An experience one will never forget!” Max couldn’t help but laugh as his dwarven brother’s face turned green momentarily. “Oh gods, Ockrim… what kind of love is this?”