"Why did I agree to this?" I asked the girl currently grinning like a maniac while riding her Grizzbolt.
"Oh, come on! It's just a simple walk. In and out—a five-minute adventure!" Zoe chirped.
"I'll show you my home. You'll love it."
I hoped I wouldn't have to massacre any more "infants" (Syndicate thugs) just to get inside. I asked her if she thought they had already replaced her as Boss.
"Doubt it," she said. "They weren't exactly 'friends' with me. Besides, taking control of a Tower isn't that easy; you have to beat the current owner."
"So... the Tower belongs to me now?" I asked.
"Nope! You didn't challenge me to a duel for the Tower, so I'm still the owner," Zoe smirked. "In fact, you didn't challenge me to a duel at all."
"Exactly! Maybe I didn't come to fight, but you..."
"Sorry. Habit," she giggled. "Why did you come, then?"
"Curiosity. I wanted to see what was in a Tower guarded by a small army. Plus, revenge for the raids on my base."
The Syndicate Welcome Party
We reached the camp. The Syndicate was not happy to see us.
"Boss... I mean, Loser! You aren't welcome here!" a thug with an assault rifle shouted. "Now that your Grizzbolt isn't invincible, we—"
I didn't let him finish. I threw a sphere. Blazamut hit the ground.
"Blazamut... Grizzbolt... Fry them!" we commanded simultaneously.
An inferno of fire and electricity consumed the gates. Grenades went off. Thugs were sent flying. Grizzbolt acted as the tank while I used Flicker Steps to circle the camp and drop another firestorm in their center.
When the smoke cleared, the survivors threw down their weapons. "We surrender, Boss."
"Mercy?" Zoe smirked. "Fine. He'll punish you instead! Michael, be a pal and break a few bones for everyone."
[ Quest: Bonebreaker ]
[ Objective: Punish the Syndicate thugs as requested by Zoe. ]
[ Reward: 25 XP, +10 Zoe Relationship, "Bonebreaker" Title. ]
God damn it, System. Really?
I hit the Talisman. I blurred through the crowd like Quicksilver in Days of Future Past. I landed "light" hits on ribs, arms, and legs.
By the time I stood back next to Grizzbolt, the air was filled with the sounds of screaming and snapping bone.
[ Skill: Black Leg Style & Chinese Martial Arts increased. ]
[ Quest Completed: Bonebreaker. ]
"If you ever ask me for something like that again, Zoe, I'm breaking your finger," I warned. She just blinked.
The Tower: Not Just a Fortress
We entered the Tower. I expected a dungeon. I got a penthouse.
A massive living room with panoramic windows. A professional kitchen. A banquet hall. A goddamn Water Park with a gym and a sauna.
"How do you have all this?" I asked, green with envy.
"The previous owner 'tried hard.' I just tweaked the design," Zoe replied from her beanbag.
I spent the last two days of my ticket here, just relaxing. I checked the Tower console and realized I stood zero chance against the "Legendary" Pals like Jetragon or Frostallion. They were Level 50+ behemoths. I was just a Level 23 tourist.
The "Frankenstein" Experiment
Before leaving, I conducted one final, high-stakes experiment.
I piled up my gear: the dented Mark 2 armor, the Predator (Yautja) weapons and cloak, the Mass Effect Terminus armor, the Shadow Orb, and a bunch of Giga-shields.
I threw a Tera-Sphere in the middle and used a Fusion Card.
Zzzzt-BOOM.
In front of me stood a nightmare: A suit resembling War Machine, but in N7 colors, with a Terminus helmet, Predator shoulder cannons, and an orange Pal-Sphere core in the chest.
"I'm a literal Dr. Frankenstein," I whispered, storing the monstrosity in my inventory.
Final World Rewards
[ Quest: Survive the Apocalypse Completed. 500 XP. ]
[ Quest: Pal Master Completed. 3,090 XP. ]
[ Quest: Pack Leader Completed. 3,050 XP. ]
[ Quest: Towers to the Heavens Completed. 1,000 XP. ]
[ Level Up! x3 ]
I didn't finish "Gotta Catch 'Em All" or "Alpha & Omega," but the XP haul was still massive.
[ Gacha Pulls: ]
Palworld Ticket.I might come back.
Ned Flanders / Fernando Whitmore (Simpsons LA-Z Rider).Wait, Ned is a mafia boss now?!
Felbat (Pal).The 'Gloom Bat.' A bit late, but I'll take it.
I activated the return. A rainbow flash, and I was gone.
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~ Evey 150 PS = Bonus Chapter
~ ush the Story forward with your [Power Stones]