The thousands of archers and swordfighters defending these castle grounds are every bit as loud as a swarm of locusts and every bit as pleasant as a cloud of mosquitoes. They aren’t individually powerful— levels all in the mid-to-high 20’s. But they are numerous, and numbers make for a certain power that’s not so easily overcome.

Which is not to say that we aren’t making progress. Thanks to a hidden effect of [Cybernetic Body], I can swiftly alternate between the use of my [Mechanical Arm Cannon] and my new [Shining Sword] in the midst of battle. When using my blade, I’m able to further conserve [Ether] and deliver cleaving blows that deliver incredible damage. And I can quickly drop it in the dirt at my feet, switching to my gun mode to fire [Ether Bullet Barrages] with deadly precision toward the fighters trying to range us with arrows, throwing spears, and magic alike. The battle is quick, and my breath grows heavy, but the surge of adrenaline keeps me focused.

And Chloe… After expending the one [Fireball] her [Ruby-Studded Wand] has stored, she starts casting her own spells to supplement my damage output. Her [Piercing Beam], now upgraded and called [Scouring Light], tears through these creatures with ruthless efficiency.

I can sense her frustration, and even without our [Angelic Bond], I can see it in the way her eyes have narrowed and her teeth have gritted. Her anger isn’t directed at me, and not even at the System, but at these creatures who wear a human face and prey upon our humanity, but are anything but.

And these certainly aren’t. Each brief System notification shows them as an [Archer Construct] or similar, confirming that they are mere constructs. Constructs one and all, each puppeteered by the Tower as a trial for those of us brave or foolish enough to face the Gauntlet before us. But I do worry for Chloe, because they won’t always be inhuman beasts like those harpies or oozes or anything else. One day, probably soon, we’ll be fighting against humans again. And I need to get stronger, to make sure that when the time comes, she doesn’t have to lose that tenderness in her heart.

It feels like it goes on for hours. Bodies would be piling up all around us if they weren’t being disintegrated, either by the System as I slay them, or Chloe’s [Scouring Light] purging out the reality of their existence. My [Ether] reserves are running dangerously low by the time the torrent of enemy soldiers fade down to a trickle. More than that, though, I’m tired. We must’ve gone through thousands of them, all without relying on a single mass-destruction spell the way I had against the harpies.

Even a measly two levels, a few Skill ranks, and a couple of pieces of gear had been enough to turn this sort of attrition-based warfare from impossible to manageable. It’s a bit terrifying to think about, especially as Chloe and I continue to gain levels. I’ve talked a big game about wanting people to approach some ideal of everyone being equal, and wanting people to gain levels, offering my insights about Ethertech to that effect. But we need the power that this Tower offers to those who complete its challenges to protect people, and…

Just what will we be capable of by the time we’ve reached the top? And, as more people do so, what will society look like? Everything, from our laws and government, to our economics and psychology, down to the very nature of how people interact in social situations. It’s all going to have to change, in ways I can’t hope to fathom, and which likely won’t all be pleasant. Especially for those left behind. Like so many where I grew up. Like I would be, if not for the memories of my past life percolating forward, giving me insights on how I can fulfill my raison d’être.

For now, though, as the battle draws to a conclusion, it’s time to go over the gains, and then try to figure out where to go from here.

[Your party has slain 565 Archer Constructs (Levels ranging from 26 to 29). You have gained a boosted 23,515 Experience.]

[Your party has slain 808 Spearman Constructs (Levels ranging from 24 to 27). You have gained a boosted 18,405 Experience.]

[Your party has slain 128 Swordfighter Constructs (Levels ranging from 25 to 29). You have gained a boosted 6,450 Experience.]

[You have gained enough Experience to reach Level 39. [Strength] +1, [Speed] +1, [Vitality] +1, [Mind] +1. Please assign free stat points (Remaining: 4).]

I assign two points to [Strength] and two to [Speed]. Here in the Gauntlet, I need more of both to face the challenges ahead; I can’t rely on [Glyphcasting] alone. This is a marathon, and I need to treat it as such.

[Maximum [Health] increases by [Vitality] x 2 + Current Level + Rand[1,3] = 206]

[Maximum [Ether] increases by [Mind] + Current Level + Rand[0,2] = 162]

[Level: 39; Experience: 770,600; To Next: 41,055]

[Current Stats: [Health]: 1,849 / 4,881; [Ether]: 457 / 3,490]

[Current Stats: [Strength]: 77 (Base: 45); [Speed]: 77 (Base: 45); [Vitality]: 141 (Base: 82); [Mind]: 210 (Base: 122)]

[Your [Ether Bullet Barrage (Rank IX)] has upgraded to [Ether Bullet Barrage (Rank X)].]

[Your [Archangel’s Gaze (Rank VI)] has upgraded to [Archangel’s Gaze (Rank VII)].]

“Something’s on your mind, isn’t it?” Chloe asks just as I finish allocating my stat points.

“Yeah. Just, what is our role supposed to be in this new society? How are we supposed to fit within it?”

“Are you dissatisfied with this path?”

“Not at all. But… Chloe, have you not thought about how society is going to change in the coming months and years? By the time we clear this gauntlet, we’re going to have enough power to rule the entire city with an iron fist. Not that either of us are interested in that, of course.”

“But there will be others challenging other Gauntlets, and they might want this power to rule their own little fiefdom?”

Chloe takes my hand as the two of us wander through the now empty castle, looking for… whatever it is we’re trying to find. Treasure, maybe a few [Ether Canisters] lying around. Haven’t seen one of those in a while. I could definitely go for one right about now. Even [[Ether] Strain Immunity] only goes so far, and I’d like to be able to drop the Skill at some point for something a little more useful.

“Yeah. It’s something I was thinking about in the back of my mind as the battle was winding down. What will end up happening? Will those of us who reach level 64 or 96 or 128 rule as shadow kings and queens, exerting our influence on politicians? Or maybe we’ll form some sort of cooperative council to make sure no one gets any

ideas? But…”

“Then who keeps the Council in line?” Chloe finishes my thought.

“Yeah. It’s a lot to think about, and most of it isn’t pretty.”

We stumble upon a treasure chest containing one large [Ether Canister] and four regular ones. While we have ample food and water for a couple of days, that thing from the third floor will probably show up eventually. I’m confident against many things, the only thing I’m confident in should we face that creature is a quick and hopefully reasonably painless death. And so, after talking it over with Chloe, I decide to absorb the contents of two of the four regular canisters, leaving the large one back for when it’s most needed.

This also gives me an opportunity to practice with my [Ether Manipulation] some more, something that I have neglected over the past few days. As I open the canister, I tug on my [Ether] channels, something that causes me to temporarily groan in discomfort at how empty they are. But as the rush of [Ether] flows in, I feel power. Raw, crackling power flowing into me, tiny mists at first, before crescendoing into a fierce fog that I suck up and pull into my core.

[[Intermediate Ether Manipulation] increases the effectiveness of [Ether Canister]. 514 [Ether] restored.]

[[Intermediate Ether Manipulation] increases the effectiveness of [Ether Canister]. 492 [Ether] restored.]

[Your [Intermediate Ether Manipulation (Rank XIV) has upgraded to [Intermediate Ether Manipulation (Rank XV).]

Damn, looks like there are more than 15 ranks in the Skill. Most likely 20 or 25 in total. Ah well, at least it means there’s a lot more to learn, to be able to control my [Ether] to the extent that Madison was capable of.

“Feeling any better now?” Chloe asks, taking my hand..

“I’m doing as well as I can,” I say. “Not sure how comfortable either of us are going to feel as long as we’re still in the tower.”

“Actually, how long have we been here?” Chloe pulls her phone out. “It says 1:32, so a bit over five hours.”

“I wonder if we’ll be able to sleep at some point? Preferably without that… thing strolling over to casually murder us in our sleep.”

“I hope so. That, or a way to get out of here would be nice.”

“Yeah, I–” I pause as something shiny catches my eye. “Sorry, I just saw something I want to check out.”

Chloe raises her hands up, the sigils of her [Scouring Light] faintly visible around the palms of her hands. I walk toward the glint of golden light slowly, keeping my [Archangel’s Gaze] active, anticipating something to reach out and attack us while our guard is lowered. No, the only thing I can do is remain calm, careful, never yield an inch, lest the creatures lurking within this gauntlet take a mile and our lives.

I approach a treasure chest, though unlike the ones from before, this one glows and absolutely reeks of Ether. I’m expecting this to be a mimic for sure, but as I place my hand upon it, it doesn’t immediately try to swallow me whole. I’m not convinced yet, but as I rub my hand against the upper surface, something seems… off. There’s some sort of energy surrounding this chest, a type that others we’ve encountered to this point just don’t have.

And it resists my attempts to open it. Thankfully, I have the [Unlock] glyph at my beck and call. Though, surprisingly, the chest seems to resist that as well. It’s… I peer at the flow of Ether with my [Archangel’s Gaze]. And sure enough, there’s a [Lock] glyph powered by an absorption array, stubbornly keeping the contents of this box out of our grasp.

“Can you open it?” Chloe asks.

“Yeah, it should be possible. Just need to…”

I take my [Shining Sword] and, with no small amount of effort, manage to carve an extremely small gash in the nearly-microscopic sluice providing Ether to the [Lock] glyph. With the functionality ever so slightly damaged, I’m able to finally overpower the glyph and access the contents within.

It’s… a small scepter, maybe twenty-two inches long, with the biggest pearl I’ve ever seen affixed to its head. I know even without waiting for the System notification that it’s not a weapon I can use, and so I hand it over to Chloe before she asks.

She grips the scepter in her hand and channels a bit of her [Ether] into it. A soothing sensation seeps into me, suffusing my pores and flowing into my aching muscles and joints. Weariness leaves my body with each passing second as the scepter’s effect takes effect.

[You are affected by [Lesser Restoration]. Natural [Health] and [Ether] baseline regeneration increase by 50% for the next 20 minutes… Duration doubled to 40 minutes due to the effect of [Angelic Bond]. (Note: [Ether] regeneration from equipment is not affected by this condition. Other effects which modify baseline regeneration stack multiplicatively with [Lesser Restoration]. (Remaining: 00:39:59)]

“Wow,” I message. “That’s incredibly potent. And having another way to restore [Ether] is exactly what I need right about now.”

Chloe smiles. “And this [Rod of Restoration] also gives me a pretty substantial boost to my magical attack and defense stats.”

I give her a quick kiss. “I’ll be counting on you as we make our way further in.”

“As if you weren’t already.”

“I’ll be continuing to rely on you, Chloe.”

She pokes my shoulder. “Much better. Now, shall we?”