Joe stared out over the churning waters where Rose had dove, willing her to pop back up like a cork. Dawn stood next to him, cursing her map under her breath. Apparently, she couldn’t locate Rose, which wasn’t doing much for the group tension.

  A sudden flash lit up the horizon, forcing Joe to shield his eyes. Beside him, Dawn spun away, and her fiery hair whipped across his face. It smelled like cherries.

  Smiling, Joe rubbed his cheek.

  Dawn gathered her hair into a messy bun and gave him a quick, apologetic smile. It vanished the second they both turned back to the water.

  Hovering just above the waves was something impossible—a door made of pure light, its edges shimmering and crackling. Joe squinted, half-wanting to look away. Then a shadow moved inside it, stepping closer.

  The figure emerged, landing with a splash.

  “Rose!” Dawn clamped onto Joe’s arm and jumped, dragging him half a step forward.

  Rose blinked against the sunlight, her damp hair clinging to her face. A strong breeze tousled her locks as recognition lit up her expression, and she broke into a wide grin. Behind her, the glowing portal snapped shut with a sharp crack, leaving behind only the faint tang of ozone.

  Forgetting she was still clutching him like a life preserver, Dawn rushed forward, yanking Joe along before letting him go to throw a towel around Rose. Joe stumbled but managed to stay upright as TJ barrelled over, arms wide, followed by Brian and Nick. The group collapsed into a spontaneous hug pile.

  “All right, all right, give her some space!” Dawn waved everyone back like an annoyed mom herding kids.

  Once the crew untangled themselves, Rose dried off and pulled on her gear.

  TJ wasted no time diving in with questions. “So…a portal in the middle of the lagoon?” He crossed his arms, looking both impressed and suspicious.

  Rose frowned, wringing water from her hair. “I guess you could call it that. The glint in the water was a loot box that served as a metal plug. When I removed the box, a sinkhole opened up, and I got sucked in. I thought I was about to drown when a notification popped up asking if I wanted to activate a light portal credit. It drained my mana, but, well…” She gestured at herself. “Better than dying.”

  “Smart call.” Brian nodded.

  “Yeah, being flushed down a lagoon sinkhole isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” TJ muttered, sounding like he knew this from experience.

  Joe opened his mouth to speak, but a notification blinked into his vision, grabbing his attention.

  [Memo from Ascender #145 of the Bruiser Battalion: Accept Yes/No?]

  Joe chose Yes, and the message appeared in their alliance chat:

  [Bruiser Battalion Update: Fighting Crab Titan. Difficulty high. No casualties yet. HP pool massive. Poison resistance confirmed. Bubble attacks adapting to targets. Quad skates providing mobility on volcanic rock terrain.]

  Joe couldn’t stop scrolling through the stats for the Crab Titan. Massive HP pool. Poison resistance. Damage-resistant shell. It was the kind of boss fight that gave gamers nightmares. He snorted. “Okay, so Crabzilla’s got cheat codes. Awesome.”

  Lucky shivered, his fur puffing up like a spooked cat. “It’s worse than you think. At that level, even its shell has passive damage resistance. Bruiser Battalion’s speed is the only thing keeping them alive, but with those bubble attacks adapting…” He trailed off, his black eyes narrowing. “They won’t stay out of reach for long.”

  Joe glanced back at the alliance chat update. “Bubble attacks adapting to targets is a serious issue for them.”

  It all felt like Bubble Bobble: Kaiju Edition

  “They’re doomed,” Lucky muttered.

  “Unless…” Joe tapped his chin.

  “Unless what?” TJ cut in.

  “Unless we get creative. Let’s start with Rose’s stash from the lagoon.” Joe finished, while Lucky’s nose twitched.

  Rose stepped forward, holding out the slimy red bamboo. “Here, Brian. Do your thing.”

  Brian took the algae with an almost reverent expression. “Time to find out what secrets you’re hiding.” His alchemy tools appeared in a smooth motion, and he activated his Identify Alchemy skill. A faint glow surrounded the bamboo, and Brian’s eyes widened. “Oh, this is good. Really good.”

  Joe tilted his head. “How good?”

  Brian grinned. “Mana drain properties. Potent as hell.”

  Seagulls swooped in like feathery missiles, their eyes fixed on the algae. Rose yelped, shielding her head as one dove uncomfortably close.

  Nick stepped in, activating his ranger skill to corral the birds. His hands glowed faintly as he muttered commands, and the flock reluctantly hovered at a safe distance. “I’ve got them under control for now…”

  Rose scowled, brushing feathers from her shoulder. “Can’t use Water Shield. Low mana.”

  Brian smirked. “Take a pellet. Strong taste, but it’ll top you up.”

  She popped one, grimacing as she swallowed. “Tastes like socks soaked in soap.”

  Joe ducked another low-flying gull and grumbled. “Seriously, what is it with these birds?”

  Brian’s grin widened. “They’re drawn to the algae. Must smell like a feast.”

  Dawn flicked fire between her fingers. “If one more of these flying rats comes near me, I’m flambéing them.”

  TJ unsheathed his machete, which gleamed as he laughed. “Or I could slice and dice. BK here—best machete in the tower. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every monster, accept no substitutes.”

  Dawn laughed. “That’s the spirit. Everyone has a special spark inside them. The secret is using that spark to destroy your enemies!”

  Joe held up his hands. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s not murder the seagulls just yet. We could weaponize them.”

  Nick blinked. “How?”

  Joe turned to him. “How far can you control them, and how much mana does it cost?”

  Nick rubbed his chin, his gaze following the gulls. “Range is decent, but the longer I hold them, the more it drains me. Why?”

  “Perfect.” Joe’s grin turned downright mischievous.

  TJ’s brow furrowed. “Wait… Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?” He broke into a toothy smile. “You want to feed them the algae so they can—what? Bomb Crabzilla? That’s epic.”

  Brian shook his head. “It’s not going to work. It’d take too long for them to digest the algae and, uh, process it. If we want to take down the crab, it needs to eat the algae.”

  “Sure.” Dawn pulled out her map. “But how long’s that gonna take us? We’re here”—she tapped the beach—“and Craggy Bottom is way over there. If we don’t move fast, the Bruiser Battalion will be crab chow before we even show up.”

  Nick nodded, his expression grim. “She’s right. They’re holding their own, but for how much longer?”

  Joe ran a hand through his hair, his brain spinning. Time. It was always the problem. No matter the plan, there was never enough of it, yet their very lives depended on it. But there was always a workaround. He glanced at Rose, a light bulb going off. “Kind of like how you used that FTL hack to avoid drowning in the sinkhole.”

  Rose blinked at him. “What’re you getting at?”

  Joe’s grin was back. “You’ve got those petals Lucky asked you to store, right?”

  Rose’s eyes narrowed, but the corners of her mouth twitched. “Yeah… why?”

  Joe turned to the others, his grin now full of confidence. “I know how we can save time.”

  ***

  The moment the first gull squawked overhead, Joe winced. It wasn’t the ear-piercing cry that got to him—it was the way they all chimed in after, their shrill voices echoing like a broken record.

  “Mine! Mine! Mine!”

  Joe grimaced as another gull dove low, its claws grasping at air as Nick’s glowing mana tether yanked it back into formation. “Seriously, did these things watch too much Finding Nemo or what?”

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  Nick, sweat beading on his brow, barely managed a tired chuckle. “I don’t know what that is but it’s like trying to control a mob of overgrown toddlers with wings. They’ve got the attention span of a gnat.”

  “Hey, you’re doing great, ranger.” Rose sidestepped as one particularly loud gull swooped a little too close.

  “Mine!” another gull shrieked, snapping at Rose. Nick’s tether glowed brighter, jerking it away just in time.

  Rose glared at the offending bird, clutching the algae tighter. “They’re relentless! I must reek of algae and feel like I’m walking around with a flashing ‘Free Buffet’ sign.”

  Dawn, running ahead, snorted. “If they start unionizing, I’m voting to roast the lot of them.”

  Joe smirked. “Noted. But unless you want Crabzilla picking its teeth with our bones, let’s not turn the air force into dinner yet.”

  Ahead, the volcanic rock terrain of Craggy Bottom came into view, the faint shimmer of the battle dome highlighted the hazy heat. Inside, the Bruiser Battalion was a blur of motion, their quad skates effortlessly gliding as they weaved around the massive crab titan. One of the crab’s glowing bubbles popped near a fighter, releasing a sticky green mist that clung to her like glue. Another skater yanked her free as soon as the crab lunged, its massive claw missing her by inches.

  “Mine! Mine!” The gulls shrieked again, breaking his focus. Nick’s face was a mask of concentration, the mana tethers glowing brighter as he strained to keep the flock in line.

  Joe clapped Nick on the shoulder, grinning. “You’re doing great. Keep them from eating each other—or us—and we’ll call it a win.”

  Nick exhaled, pulling the formation tighter as the gulls swarmed. “These things are costing me more mana than I’d like.”

  “Mine!” one gull screeched, its wings flapping as it dove toward Brian.

  Brian sidestepped, shaking his head. “We’d better hope this mix works, or we’ll be relying on bird poop as Plan A.”

  Joe gestured toward the dome, five fighters, all female, moving in perfect unison like a roller derby team from hell. KT led the charge, her spiked gloves crackling as she deflected a massive claw swipe from the crab titan.

  Inside the dome, one of the battalion members, a muscular kobold woman with a battle axe, underestimated the range of a red bubble. It exploded on contact, launching her backward into a jagged rock. The impact was brutal, but before Joe could even gasp, a slender elf with flowing silver hair was by her side. Her glowing hands cast a healing spell that revived the kobold and yanked her out of the crab’s reach.

  “Bubble attacks confirmed.” Brian’s brows furrowed. “Red is explosive. What do you think purple does?”

  As if on cue, a purple bubble burst near KT, unleashing a sticky mist that clung to her skates. She gritted her teeth, using brute strength to break free before the crab’s claw came crashing down.

  “Sticky traps.” Brian grimaced.

  Joe’s stomach tightened as he turned to Nick. “Can the gulls get through the barrier?”

  Nick wiped sweat from his brow, his grip on the seagulls’ formation visibly strained. “They should. If not… well, we’ll know soon enough.”

  “Poppy?” Joe called out, hoping for guidance from their system avatar. Nothing. No response. What was she doing?

  Joe glanced skyward, watching as the first gull reached the barrier. It hesitated for a moment before diving through with a squawk of triumph. Joe let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. “Okay, they’re in. Let’s hope this works.”

  Inside the dome, the gulls dove toward Crabzilla. Some pecked at its barnacle-covered shell, a few getting their heads hilariously stuck as their wings flapped in frantic fits. Nick grunted, his hands twitching as he worked to maintain control.

  “These birds are insane,” Nick said through gritted teeth.

  “You’re doing great.” Joe clapped him on the shoulder. “Just a few need to land the payload.”

  Several gulls broke formation, diving onto the crab’s back and releasing their payloads—a disgusting, violet-hued rain, courtesy of the metabolized algae and blue petals. The mix splattered across Crabzilla’s carapace, and while it didn’t seem to notice at first, the results were swift. Its massive claws slowed, and the bubbles stopped.

  “It’s working!” Joe grinned. “The mana drain is kicking in!”

  But the celebration was short-lived. Deprived of its mana, Crabzilla went full agro, switching to pure physical attacks. It slammed its claws into the ground, sending shockwaves through the volcanic terrain.

  KT barked orders, rallying her team to keep moving, but the crab’s sheer ferocity was taking its toll. One battalion member, a dwarf with a crossbow, was struck by a claw and didn’t get back up. Her body dissolved into a rainbow haze.

  Joe’s stomach tightened. “She’s gone…no respawn.” The weight of the tower’s respawn glitch settled over him.

  He shook himself and pulled up the alliance chat.

  Joe: KT, send a runner to us. We’ve got something that can help.

  A moment later, a changeling with spiked shoulder pads, skated outside the barrier. Brian handed her a fist-sized chunk of treated algae. She raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.

  “That’s it?” she asked, her voice heavy with doubt. She pocketed the algae and stared through the dome, waiting for her runner to retrieve the item from the inventory.

  Brian smirked, winking. “Just wait.”

  As the runner returned to her team, the algae expanded, swelling to the size of a bowling ball thanks to Brian’s alchemical miracle grow. The battalion moved in unison, baiting Crabzilla into opening its massive mouth. The dwarf hurled the algae with perfect accuracy, and it disappeared down the crab’s gullet.

  The effects were immediate.

  Crabzilla froze, its massive frame trembling as its remaining energy drained away.

  KT shouted, and the battalion launched their final assault. Glaives flashed, chains cracked, and dual axes tore into the now-vulnerable shell. Each strike was precise, their teamwork a masterclass in coordinated combat.

  A system notification flashed in Joe’s vision:

  [Titan Defeated! Victory Awarded to Bruiser Battalion.]

  The dome shimmered before vanishing, signaling the battle’s end. Joe let out a sigh of relief, but movement on the far side of the battlefield caught his eye. Andras, the emo elf bard, was skulking away, his green hoodie blending into the shadows. Joe’s Quick Wit registered Otto trailing after him, but Johnny the ratfolk was nowhere to be seen.

  A nudge from Dawn broke his focus. “Hey. Chat’s lighting up.”

  Joe glanced at the alliance notifications, his chest tightening when he saw Gaia’s name. He hesitated, his gaze hovering over the message icon. Did she find Luna?

  ***

  Sweat stung Joe's eyes as he jogged to the bunks to meet Ryan. He stopped short, eyes widening as he saw Ryan handing a bottle to a gray-haired kobold. The corrupted green scales had transformed his arm, reshaping it into a muscular, but grotesque frame.

  Gaia paced beside them, twisting a bracelet around her wrist. "I told you, there's no time for resting. If you want to stay alive, you need to level up, stat. I don't want to have to go back down there to save your ass again."

  The kobold’s head slowly tilted up, revealing a familiar glint in her eyes.

  "Luna," her name escaped Joe’s breath and she glanced toward him.

  The kobold’s lips twitched into a faint, wry smile. "Joe." Her voice was hoarse, like she’d gargled glass. “It’s been… a rough day.”

  Joe rushed over, breathless. "What happened? … why are you—" he paused, studying her, "so much older?"

  Luna winced, gripping her stomach like something unseen was twisting her insides. “Got stuck in respawn hell cycle…couldn’t drag myself out.” Her voice cracked as she looked down. “Guess nineteen respawns can do a lot of damage to a kobold like me.”

  Gaia’s head snapped up. “Her QRL is too low. She couldn’t climb back up.” Her words came sharp and fast, like a knife thrown across the room. “She’s lucky I even found her.”

  Ryan sighed, his good hand rubbing Luna’s back. "Gaia's right, you need to level up. We can always give you some of our years to boost your ascender rank, but life expectancy is untouchable. We can’t have you getting any older." He paused, frowning at his arm. "And I need to level up myself, now that…this is my new normal."

  Joe exchanged a quick look with Dawn. She leaned closer, voice low. “Something’s off. Gaia’s…tense.”

  Gaia’s sharp ears caught Dawn’s words. She stormed over, eyes flashing. "I can hear you, even when you whisper." She tilted Joe’s chin up with a finger, like he was a wayward child. "Trust is what keeps you alive in here. Lose it, and you’ll find out how difficult the climb to the top really is."

  She turned, pointing at Luna. "If you know what’s good for you…Level up. Now."

  Across the bunk room, screens flickered to life.. Joe nudged Dawn’s side. "Look—those two. The dwarf and kobold from the orange zone earlier." He squinted. "They went into the lagoon…never came back up. I was too focused on Rose, though."

  The grainy feed showed the pair thrashing in a purple haze, their faces twisted in agony. The haze seemed to leech their vitality with every respawn, each of them reappearing older, their hair streaked with gray and their faces drawn and hollowed.

  "My health… it’s draining," one of them cried, collapsing only to respawn a few paces back, visibly aged.

  "Each time they come back, they’re aging faster," Dawn murmured, her voice horrified.

  Brian shook his head. "We barely made it out of there."

  Joe watched the screen in disbelief. "That dwarf…QRL 19. Just like the Lich warned—anyone below QRL 20’s a goner." He glanced at the others. "The more they respawn, the worse it gets."

  The feed cut to the Time Hacker, his clown-masked face and long torso filling the screen. "The Lich is toying with you all," he drawled, his voice eerily calm. "I can show you what’s happening, but I can’t teleport people out. Mana levels on floor three are too high."

  Across the room, a murmur of anger and fear spread. "He’s just standing there watching them die," someone muttered.

  Another added bitterly, "He says he can’t do anything… but he could end their suffering if he wanted."

  "No," Dawn countered, her gaze fixed on the screen. "He’s letting us see the truth about the Lich."

  Joe nodded. "Horrible as it is, he’s giving us the chance to save ourselves."

  Gaia leaned against the bunks, her expression harsh. "See? I wasn’t lying." She gestured at the screen, where she was shown rushing between dying ascenders, lifting their heads moments before they vanished into rainbow haze. "Luna was only recognizable by that stupid braid she insists on wearing." She smirked, a glimmer of relief in her otherwise grim expression.

  The recording showed Gaia’s mana bracelet flaring to life as she supported Luna, practically dragging her through the exit. Other ascenders clawed at her feet, some begging, others simply staring in despair. "I can only save one at a time," she said in the recording, turning away as hollows closed in.

  A raspy voice echoed as the Lich appeared on the screen, taking back control of the situation. "I warned you all…this is the process. Do what you need to reach the top, or fall like the rest."

  Someone yelled at him, fury flashing in their eyes. "You want us to die here, don’t you? I bet it’s safer outside this cursed tower than in it."

  The Lich’s laugh echoed. "Power doesn’t come free. If you want the glory, you'd better be ready to pay the price. My tower is the only option left for you lost souls to even have a chance to grasp at immortality."

  A few ascenders clawed the wall, their fingers coating in red drew lines of blood across their faces, mimicking the Time Hacker’s clown mask.

  "You’re with him, huh?" Andras sneered. "You’re either a player or a pawn here. Choose wisely."

  Dawn spun to face the dark elf at the edge of the room. "Why are you here, slumming it with us in the orange zone? Couldn’t keep your faction alive, or are you picking out more ‘meat’ for the climb?"

  Joe clenched his fists. His knives were useless against screens and smug undead bastards like the Lich, but the urge to hurl one at the wall burned anyway. "We’re done letting you pick on the hopeless."

  Around them, more ascenders smeared their faces, donning the clown mask in solidarity with the Time Hacker. Joe’s gaze swept over them as he spoke, his voice steady. "You may think you’re king of this tower, but take out its queen, and all your pawns will fall, one by one."