Chương 19: Chapter Nineteen: Observer

NINETEEN"What's your opinion, T?" Darren asked as they watched the independent, Roan, hammer away at the last guardian. The stolen hammer was a blur as the man flew at it, hitting with resounding blow after blow, chips of bone flying everywhere as it failed to guard its head.

"My name is, Taoya, not T. For the millionth time, Darren," Taoya complained, but Darren knew he liked the abbreviation. He'd seen it after all. While not as flashy as Taoya's ability, he preferred his own. In pure fighting power he was obviously outmatched, but Darren knew how to maximize his skillset.

"He's trained, obviously. Heard him say it was old Bao who was his mentor. No idea who that is, but the other locals acted like he'd mentioned Headmaster Grady." Darren scoffed at the idea and frowned as he thought over the name, old Bao.

"Doubt his mentor is a dumpling. Elder Thomas didn't say anything about the local talent. They were beneath his notice," Darren told Taoya.

"Thomas is an arrogant prick. And it's not like we're at the top of our classes as is. Even if he knew there was a dangerous tower climber training people, he might not have told you, "Taoya said. Darren had to agree as they watched Roan land the final blow, caving in the giant's head.

"Do you think he knows he's smiling like a maniac?" Darren asked as the target of their conversation turned to look at them. Roan carried himself like a man in complete control, his every movement precise and brutal. But his training couldn't completely hide the sheer joy he was obviously experiencing fighting.

"Not at all," Taoya said with a snort.

"Anyways. He's good but we're better. And he's a loner. Every time he tries to talk to someone you can see him wincing and looking like he wants to sink into the ground. Unless there's a floor where we NEED to kill each other, he'll keep with us," Darren said. He even believed it.

"Good. You know who he reminds me of? The Verdant kids," Taoya said and Darren had to fight back a shiver at the memory of those days. Competitions that had seen the deaths of several high potential candidates.

"We know exactly where Kira is at all times. If he comes out of the Arctic we'll all know it," Darren reminded Taoya. Kira definitely wasn't old Bao.

"Verdant has produced more than one tower climber. Could be one of them," Taoya whispered as they watched Roan go to the side of the room and grab some bones, setting them down and starting to grind them away.

"Anyways, we don't have to worry about Roan. We will have to take care of Nash though," Taoya said and Darren agreed with a grunt.

"Dudes a shit head, but he's got a few people with him. If we corner him and it comes to a fight, we might lose a few people. People we can't afford to lose until we reconnect with everyone else," Darren said.

"If there's other saferooms. If there's other survivors. If the dick doesn't push the issue. Lots of ifs, Darren."

"You think this layer killed Nikki? Or Tyler? What about Amir? You think anything we've seen could kill them?" Darren asked, trying not to scoff. Even Taoya's ability paled in comparison to those monsters. It had been the work of years to get them to join in their pact.

"It's a tower, Darren. The moment we underestimate it we'll be dead."

"I know that, but what have we seen here that's not beatable? This level will kill the unprepared and the easily panicked." Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"That compendium has hints in it. You need to read it. Should do it now while they finish clearing the alleyways." Darren rubbed at his temples as he thought of the book that Taoya had bought with the association's money.

"Don't look at me like that. The coffins alone will recoup most of it. Ten coffins is two-fifty straight into the coffers," Taoya said with a chuckle.

"That's not how much the book cost."

"No, but it's what we earned already. I'm telling you, Darren, stop being a prideful idiot and read the damn book. I can tell you already what Roan is doing." Darren waited for Taoya to continue and when he didn't he was forced to ask.

"What's he doing?"

"Bone dust. It's one of the harvestable materials that's listed. In the compendium." For such a big man with a rumbling bass voice, Taoya was able to fill it with more sass than a valley girl.

"Hand the thing over. Are you going to be ready to go when we start pushing?" Darren asked, trying to change the subject as Taoya handed the compendium over. The old leather creaked in Darren's hand.

"No, but I'll make do. Like I always do. I wonder how much money he'll earn grinding all those bones up?" Taoya said as he wandered away without so much as a good-bye." Not like we're friends. Not really." Darren watched the man's broad back as he went and flopped like a fish next to Roan. Darren could see how the man tensed, ready to attack or flee before his mind could process the motion.

"Never would have thought a spook would play nice with a bruiser," Moira said as she sidled over. Darren had noticed her waiting patiently for minutes, but hadn't rushed his talk with Taoya. Moira was easier for him to deal with, a woman who understood that not every problem could be solved with punching something harder.

"Taoya is easy to deal with. Not like Nikki at all," Darren said, forcing a theatrical shudder at the thought. It fulfilled its purpose as Moira laughed and nodded in agreement.

"Nikki is a bit much. She's not stupid though. Neither is Taoya," Moira said as she reached over and pulled the compendium out of his hand and started skimming it then and there.

"Never said they were. They just prefer solving things more directly. The privilege of power," Darren said with a sardonic smile.

"We all have that privilege compared to these independents. Not a speck of natural mana in most of them."

"Most?"

"Nash. He has a bloodline or something like it. He's suppressing it, but I could feel it the few times I got close to him," Moira told him.

"That name keeps getting brought up. Wish Tristan was here," Darren muttered as he rubbed his eyes with the palm of his hand.

"Moving from bruisers to knives? Tristan is useful in these situations, but you're not bad yourself. I remember the Budapest games," Moira reminded him.

"Just keep an eye out for if we can separate him from his pack. If he has an ability it makes him much more dangerous," Darren said. It felt more and more natural to give orders as the day continued on. Everyone turned to look at him for leadership now." Damnit, Gideon. This was supposed to be your job." Darren didn't say it out loud, not with others in hearing distance. Gideon hadn't entered the tower with them. Hard to enter a tower when you get a knife wedged between your ribs.

"The pact will ensure we all stay together. We cull any problems and clear the tower, once and for all," Moira said as she tapped at a page and smiled widely.

"What's got you in a good mood?"

"This book is very useful. We're going to need to arrange harvesting teams as soon as possible and there's a few skills and items we need, but I think I can start making our own healing potions. All the ingredients are in this level of the tower," Moira said." I'm going to have to read this damned book." Darren didn't let any emotion leak onto his face, but his eyes were stuck on the independent as he tried to grind a bone to dust with a warhammer." I don't care what Taoya says. He's dangerous."