When I felt the air shift around me I snapped my eyes open fully awake. It's the same dead-end corridor, or at least an identical one. No metal rod, so I guess sharpening the point didn't count as crafting. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out my phone, but the screen is black. So either it died while I slept, or something about the tower interferes with it. Damn, if I knew that I would have left it on the workbench, I don't want to risk breaking it. Well, no use worrying about something I can't do anything about. Replacing my phone with my pocket knife, I unfolded it and began calmly moving toward where I fell in my last foray into the tower. As I carefully put one foot in front of the other, making no sound at all. Memories of the time Dad took me into the mountains to practice walking quietly played in the back of my mind.

"Remember, always make sure the ball is firmly on the ground, then roll your weight toward your heel. Start slow speed will come with practice." While he was telling me the fundamentals of sneaking around the wild, he was gathering a small hill of pinecones and stacking them in the center of camp. "Now I want you to practice walking in a ring around camp. Keep your head up watching your surroundings, looking at your feet will only have you walking into a patch of thorns or a tree." After I nodded understanding he sat down cross-legged next to his pile of pinecones and shut his eyes. Every time I rustled a leaf or stepped on a twig, he would unerringly throw a cone at me, hitting me without ever opening his eyes. So cool was what I thought. Okay, no, I still think Dad is the coolest guy I know. Even when I heard a chime from Dad's phone I kept moving and when I snapped another twig, I stopped confused because I wasn't hit this time. Turning my head, I see a sad look I never saw before on his face, but he quikly hid it away when he noticed me watching. "Why did you stop practicing?"

"I broke a twig. You didn't throw the pinecone; I am waiting for you."

Dad chuckled he stood up and walked up to me squatting down to eye level. "You shouldn't be so obedient all the time."

This confused me, so I asked, "You want me to disobey you?"

"Well, no, that's not quite what I mean. Hmm, how do I put this? You need to become your own person, don't just do something because your Mom or I tell you too. Think for yourself first and foremost. — Ah, your only seven, so I suppose being obedient is a good thing, but let's put it another way. Being a follower is really uncool." Since Dad had his hands on both my shoulders looking me in the eyes, I saw a flash of something in his eyes once again. I didn't learn what it meant until the next day. "Alright lets begin again, but this time take your shoes off and try to see the ground through your feet." I nodded and took off my shoes and started again. Although I was moving slower now since I didn't want to hurt my feet, I found walking easier and I could lift my foot before snapping the twigs. Dad had already sat back down and shut his eyes. "Tell me when you get tired, don't push things too far." When I turned my head to look at him I rustled a leaf and before I could think to dodge a pinecone smacked into my face. I relaxed when I noticed a small smirk on Dad's face.

Our little game/practice session went on for another 45 minutes when Dad got a message, but this time he only looked irritated. With a sigh, he stood up "alright lets clean up the campsite. There is an emergency at work and I have to be there." I nodded, put my shoes back on and began tidying up the small clearing. Although our camping trip was cut a day short, we at least got to spend three days out this time before something came up. When we finished, you couldn't tell anyone camped there unless you were a fairly decent tracker. Everything was neatly organized into a big and small pack that could be easily carried down the mountain by the two of us. During our three-hour walk down the mountain to our cabin, Dad pointed out various plants and trees, explaining their uses and names while I continued my practice on walking. That memory brings a kind of mixed mood. While camping or hiking with Dad was my favorite pastime growing up, and as an adult. That was the day I figured out what kind of person Mom is.

A soft patter of feet in the tunnel ahead brought me back to the present. Whatever it is, it is beyond my visual range, so I slow my pace further as I creep closer to the sound. As I close in I make out the form of a single Molerat who is facing away gnawing on what looks like a leg of one of those centipede creatures. Hmm, since it is a mole, I am going to assume it got an excellent sense of smell. So once it notices, that's it. I must rush forward and strike hard and fast. Plan in mind, I continue my slow creep trying to get as close as possible. When I was about a car length behind the creature, I got my first whiff of the thing. It smells like rotted meat and vomit, or that's as close as I can get to understanding the stench. Stopping to examine the molerat again, I see it is sitting, legs splayed around the remains of a centipede carcass. standing this thing should be around four feet tall, its completely hairless and its skin is a sickly white except where covered in filth. flipping the blade in my right hand so the point is facing my left hand and the sharp side of the blade is facing away I close in about half way to the creature it stops chewing and raises its nose into the air the jerking its pink eyes my way letting off a squeal and bares its sharp teeth. Sprinting forward, I close the distance before it can stand properly, stabbing the knife forcefully into the side of its neck. Using my left hand I hold the top of its head, then quikly rip the knife forward tearing the throat open releasing a gush of blood across the dead carcass and the floor in a spray extending several feet. The red bar above its head turned gray almost instantly. The molerat died before its body hit the floor, collapsing into a heap, eyes already dull.

Looking around the ground nearby trying to ignore the smell, I don't see a club like the one used to break my face the last time I was in here. Maybe it's under the thing I moved my foot to turn the body of the molerat over but the instant I came into contact the molerats corpse sank into the floor leaving only a small piece of copper where it lay. The carcass of the centipede also sank, leaving the floor spotless. Conveniently, the smell vanished, absorbed by the tower at the same time. Well, not entirely. The smell is still on my left hand. Bending over, I pick up the small copper coin. It is the size of a typical penny the only difference is the smooth edges and the fact that it is blank on both sides. Hmm, so possibly not currency maybe for crafting then? Tucking it into my left pants pocket, I turn my attention back to the tunnel ahead. It is still the same tunnel heading into blackness.

Returning to my slow walk through the tunnel, it took what felt like an Earth hour before I found another molerat, this one pacing back and forth across the width of the tunnel like it is keeping watch. I thought about attempting to throw my knife at it, but Dad's words came back to me. 'Only a moron throws their only weapon when fighting.' I need an alternative plan. Hmm, it would seem the molerat, while having better eyesight than the normal one's back home, still don't have great eyesight. I need a distraction. The only tools available are my pocketknife, which I already decided not to throw. The only other thing I have is the 59 cents and a plug penny from my last fight. Well, that's a simple decision, I doubt my change from Earth is any use here, so I fish around till I find a penny. If I throw this, it should sufficiently distract the molerat therefore giving me a chance to close in. With that, I Can get an attack in before it can react to my presence.

Plan in hand, I calmly walk forward, still keeping my noise to a minimum. Some people think crouching down to make yourself seem smaller is a viable way to sneak, but when you're as large as me it is pointless. Especially in a corridor with no place to hide. Keeping your movements smooth is the best way to stay unnoticed, this goes for stalking prey in the woods too. When I am about twenty feet from the molerat, I stop and when it is at its furthest point away from me facing the opposite wall. I flick the penny over its head to clatter against the wall a couple feet further down the tunnel. The moment it jerks its head toward the sound, I dash forward, covering the distance in three strides. However, the moment my first step hit the floor, the molerat swung around in my direction, lifting its club over its head. Changing plans during my last step, I grab the center of the club before it can start its swing, ripping it from the creature's grasp. Dropping my pocket knife, I switch the club to my right hand and bring it down on the molerats head with my full body behind the swing. There was a meaty crack, and it slumped to the ground, a dent on the top of its head.

After I nudged the smelly thing, the floor absorbed it leaving behind another piece of copper. The club in my hand also stayed with me I don't know if they meant it as a drop or if it's because I am holding it. Well, im not putting it down to find out, I prefer the extra distance it gives over the pocketknife. Bending over I retrieved my knife fold it and tuck back into my rear right pocket. This place is strange I have been walking in a straight line for hours and I have felt no gradation in the floor. Am I perhaps underground or is there some strange magic in these towers. I can't disregard that possibility considering what I did to charge my phone or make the grinding wheel spin. Come to think of it, I haven't felt hungry, thirsty, or the need to take a piss once since arriving. Another point toward the coma theory for now, but we shall see a human body can survive three days without water, assuming they're not overexerting themselves.

Moving on I picked up the pace although I still use the same method for walking I always do when being silent I sped up the pace by a lot. This time arriving at another molerat, this one standing still, staring in my direction, eyes roving back and forth. It doesn't seem to know im here, it's just more vigilant than the previous two. I should use this one to test these red bars. Not even bothering to hide my presence, I calmly walk toward the sentry when I am within twenty feet, its ears twitch my way. Another difference from the Earth variety the long pointy ears. Other than the obvious difference of walking on two feet. The molerat raised its club and ran at me, screeching. Raising my own club, I swung it horizontally, aiming at the shoulder. This time I used half my strength when it hit the creature let out a pained squeak as it flung sideways flying seven feet to slam its body into the tunnel wall watching its red bar it dropped nearly 90%. So they're rather weak. The molerat began Squirming its way back to its feet, and continued toward me, oblivious to its dangling left arm. Stepping back, I watched as its health continued to fall slowly until it stopped at 1%. Although its health had fallen to that point it still moved the same as it did when it stood up near the wall no faster nor slower. stepping forward, I poke it in the stomach lightly, enough to take the last percent off and it fell down dead.

These guys are weak no wonder Martin laughed about my earlier death. Seems I shouldn't put my full effort into attack either, I should preserve my strength as much as possible I may have to fight mare at once, eventually. Walking to the wall where the molerat dropped his club, I bent over and picked it up, before returning to the corpse to nudge it. After I it's gone and I pick up my copper, I test the extra club by placing it on the ground and sure enough the tower takes it back as soon as it's out of my hand. Noted don't set down weapons, I didn't bring myself in the tower. A skittering from ahead brings my attention back to my surroundings. In time to see one of those centipedes walk into view, when it sees me it freezes. Examining the bronze colored bug doesn't get me a health bar. Maybe they're just meant as food for the inhabitants? When I don't make a move toward it, it scurries to the opposite side of the tunnel and passes by, disappearing back down the tunnel where I came from. I guess not everything in here is an enemy.

This time when I continue forward I start at a fast walk, gradually picking up speed. Five minutes later I see my next opponent casually swinging my club with a little more force than I used on the last one I drop it easily in one hit. Stopping only long enough to gather my copper, I ran on. I repeated this until I had gathered twenty of the blank coins. Soon though, I came to a stop as I could see a deadend ahead and a single molerat standing at the end. This one is about six inches taller and has a shield held in its left hand. Examining it, the only difference was it had a level 2 now. Looking around for another tunnel or perhaps a door, I don't see either. Did I miss a turn back there somewhere, or was there a hidden passage? Creepy unlike the others, this one looks like it is staring right at me, waiting for me to make a move.

Grabbing another penny, I throw it behind the molerat, but it continues to stare straight into my eyes. Taking more precaution than I have for the last dozen, I heft both my clubs and warily move forward. When I am within ten feet, it too raises its club and holds its shield up, ducking low and bracing itself behind the shield. The shield itself is crude it looks like two rotted boards nailed to a piece of plywood, but it almost covers the top half of the enemy. Raising my left club up to use as a guard, I step forward to and swung my right club down at half strength onto the shield to test it. My club bounced off, but I heard a load cracking from the plywood sheet. As soon as I felt the recoil I jumped back out of reach in time to avoid a low swing from the molerat who had reached around the side slightly below his shield. When it had extended itself to the limit I kicked out striking the club making the molerat recoil nearly losing balance. While it is still reeling, I swung down on the shield with full strength shattering it into splinters. With a rictus grin, I followed that with a left hand swing into the molerats face, shattering its jaw. I quickly finished it while it stumbled around. 'Never let your quarry suffer,' Dad always told me.

I should have tried to save the shield now that I stop to think about things. Tossing the club in my right hand away, I pick up the molerats banded wood club. There isn't much difference there is a two inch wide strip of thin iron with small round head nails holding it in place around the club. After nudging the body, a copper and a small wood ring remained in its place. Pocketing the copper, I took the small ring in hand. They made it of some ash gray colored wood, and there are triangles carved around the edge. Inside, they inscribed one word, endurance. I was getting ready to stick it on my finger when I heard Dad's voice, 'If you don't know what it is, don't stick it in your mouth.' Clasping it tightly in my hand I shove it into my pocket with the rest of the coppers. A grinding sound made me look to my right at the deadend a section is sliding down into the ground. Revealing a stairway leading up.

Stepping inside the stairwell, the first thing I notice is how steep the steps are and how low the ceiling. Annoyed I climb upwards slouched over slightly to not hit my head. Each step just a couple inches too high for comfort. From the bottom I counted fifty steps with each step rising a foot each. But the worst part was that every step was too narrow, with only the front half of my foot landing on the stairs. I suppose the builders didn't have inspectors or osha breathing down their necks. You would think they would have a regulation width, surely humans aren't the only race with feet longer than six inches. Looking around at the small square room at the top of the stairs, the first thing I notice is a small screen reminiscent of a retro tube tv embedded into the wall. On the opposite side is a wood door with 2nd floor written on it. Walking over to the tv its screen lights up at my approach. On it were the words Tower kiosk, then a list that went down past the bottom of the screen, but only the first was lit up in white. The rest are gray. The lit up Item had 1st floor written before it while the grayed out ones had 2nd floor and up.

Items available for purchase

1st floor - Bandages - prevent bleeding out and stops infection. - 20 copper a pack -