Chapter Thirty: Tyler

THIRTY

Tyler bit her lip to keep from groaning as she watched as the rest of the association finished off the undead. Her mist was dissipating slowly, much too slowly for how much effort she’d put into it.

“Almost thirty seconds. High mana density causing a prolonged effect?” Tyler muttered to herself as she watched them fight. Taoya was his normal destructive self as he raced through the dying, his fists flashing with machine-like precision as he broke apart the mana nodes.

They were grotesque but looked similar to something in the family journals. She struggled to recall who had made the notations, but in the aftermath of using her bloodline ability she couldn’t recall. She did remember what the entry had said.

“Faced a corrupted nature spirit that infected other mobs on the level. Infection presented as a wide tumor-like growth with dense mana signature. The growths are both a strength and vulnerability. If not targeted immediately the tumor will slowly drain to heal the injured mob. The healing is a slow transformation. Full transformation creates an upgraded mob. Defeated the nature spirit and saw the deaths of all infected mobs across the floor. Possible hive-mind, but not confirmed.”

Tyler didn’t like the hive-mind possibility, everything in the family annals said they were tough fights. Highly coordinated mobs were always a nightmare. And at this level? Before any of them had managed to start earning anything that could aid them in the fight? It had the hallmarks of a massacre.

“Focus on the now,” she reminded herself as she watched the credits roll in. It wasn’t all of the credits for a kill, but a portion of every one of them was still plenty for her. Having to pay Darren’s little association was frustrating, but they had saved her life. And the Pact was in play.

She looked over to where the independent was. The one who had decided to kite the entire horde rather than getting help. She admired the chops, but the thought process was dumb. It was too early in the climb to be that greedy. It was better to build up a base of support and skills that would support you all the way to the top.

At least that’s what all the family journals said and her family had produced nearly a dozen full climbers. True Tower Conquerors. The backlash she had taken for not following the family footsteps and instead entering the Unconquered Tower had been…severe.

Moira was there, slinging the man over her shoulder and into a fireman’s carry with a grunt. Whatever else was going on in this tower, the growth rates were exceptional. She had no doubt that her own physical growth was good and she had been stuck in the saferoom for hours.

She sighed as she straightened up and looked for her robes. She didn’t mind being in the suit, but there was a chill in the crypt level and after she used her power she was always cold. Cold and empty.

The warmth of filling herself with an infused potion made her veins fill like they were on fire. After so long of using the power it was reassuring. Feeling like a deflated balloon afterwards was just part of the journey.

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Muscles cramped and she froze, holding herself still has her legs trembled, her back locked tightly. She reminded herself to buy water and food as she waited out the cramps while watching the others.

They were good. Taoya and a few others were very good, but the lack of talent was obvious. There were a few more in the tower who would be on her level with talent and skill. It was just trying to find them and connect. She could spearhead that while she recovered from her skill use. It would be a day or two until she could use it again, even with the increased recovery time.