Second chancers. They were the closest thing to resurrected Climbers that you got – or, if you believed the right rumors, were actually reborn Climbers. Or zombies. Or revenants. Or demons. Depending on your general viewpoint, the rumors one listened to and how much you believed in them.
The idea behind the rumors were simple – that sometimes, depending on the trials or maybe for everyone – one could be resurrected. Some people pointed out to Star Trek teleporters, the various sci-fi stories of how, if one were just a bunch of data and energy packets transferred over millions of kilometres, then it would make perfect sense that you could make replica copies.
Of course, various religions got upset at those ideas, went out of their way to disprove the very possibility. As usual, it wasn’t something Arthur got into very deeply, but what he did know was that the idea of them had always floated around – but actual sightings were rare.
Initially, some had claimed that; of course, but at least a few of them had been disproven, shown to be outright fabrications or a stretching of truth. If you were frozen or stuck in a long convoluted maze, was that considered a rebirth attempt? Well, for some, they’d agree.
Others, disagreed. Vehemently.
Then, of course, the rumors and the concerns and the testing, on those that came out declaring themselves Second Chancers; the ongoing issues when they were out in the real world. Indiscriminate killings, murder of loved ones and families when said Climbers snapped, rumors of demonic summonings or sabotage of clans and guilds.
All that, in the initial years, before they became no more than a rumor. A suggestion, of what the Tower might do, and less of an ongoing concern. Even in their heyday, Arthur knew of only a few dozen publicly acknowledged Second Chancers.
They went from something the Tower did to rumors, boogeymen that didn’t really exit, crazed psychopaths and, in one case, a series of bad B-movies.
“We’re nothing like that,” his initial table companion hissed.
“Don’t bother. They all think the same…” sneered the man opposite. He had a deep scar over one eye that somehow had not managed to leave it blind, but did give him a rather frightening and menacing look.
“It’s… you know,” Arthur said, reminding himself that he wasn’t trying to antagonize these people. Not yet, at least. Shifting his body closer, he offered them all a smile. “All the rumors.”
“I have my soul.” Again, the woman snarled, short curly hair in short bangs shifting as she spoke. “I still pray to Allah!”
Around the table, a number of others – including the Tun – chimed in with. “Inshallah.”
“We are not forsaken, other than by you all.”
“I didn’t…”
“Then, stop acting like I’m going to reach over and snatch your heart out!” she snarled.
"Fine. Why don't we start by introducing yourself then?"
"Datin Nor."
"Dato' Ramli."
"Dato' Aryan."
"..."
The names rolled out, one after the other and Arthur did his best to remember them, knowing that it was going to be a little bit of a struggle. When they were done, he introduced himself, offering them all a small smile before continuing. "So, uhh.... what's the quest?"
That caused Nor to snort and offering him a shrug of one shoulder. When he glared at her, a little peeved, she continued. "We have some flexibility, but there's things we can't tell you."
"Or won't, eh," Ramli added.
"Or won't. Us winning helps us, you know." Nor grinned, almost seeming to take malicious delight as she spoke.
Arthur couldn't help but note that it seemed that whatever was coming was going to be competitive then. They'd just about admitted it, which meant it wasn't likely to be a group fight or defense, which was one of the two major scenarios he could see playing out. That left a tournament, a series of hunt and kill quests or something he hadn't thought about as yet.
"So, can you tell me about yourselves then?" Arthur asked, curiously as he reached forwards and picked from the meal. Everything was served family style, food being eaten with hands - well, hand. Right hand, in particular. One did not use the left hand, not unless you wanted to be ridiculed.
Long looks traded between the group, before they began to speak, offering their opinions and stories as Arthur ate a proper meal for the first time in, well, weeks if not months. So far up into the tower, even the seventh floor was pretty lacking in actual meals, especially for someone like Arthur who was focused on going up. The cost of procurement of materials was just too high, such that eating out - or having someone cook for you - was a luxurious expense.
"Eight years, you know. That's how long I've been captured, though it doesn't seem like that." Nor was saying.
"Captured?"
"Resurrected," Aryan offered. He was one of the heftier members of the group, broad shouldered and well tanned and annoyingly pretty enough that more than a few of the women were giving him looks. Very familiar looks in two of the cases, ones that he traded back with them.
"Rescued." Ramil corrected.
"So you all don't agree on what happened?" Arthur said.
"Everyone's different, you know. I was caught, my timer running out," Nor said. "Ramil was dying, he said."
"Or dead. And resurrected like me." Now Aryan touched his neck, as though remembering a bad moment, before he continued. "We argue, we talk about it. But none of us feel any different, than what we were before."
"Damn. Do you age?"
Nods from those around, Aryan in particular making a face. "I'll out of my twenties by the time I get out, if this keeps up. All my best partying years, gone!"
"Can you cultivate?" Arthur asked next, curious. If they could, they could easily be near the theoretical maximum of a Beginner Floor, maybe even more. If that was the case, fighting any of them head-on would be impossible.
Nor laughed at his question, as though she could see how he was fishing for information. Or perhaps she was just laughing at their circumstance, for it was rather bitter. But none of them actually answered him, and as though his questions had reminded him that they were competitors, the group fell silent.
It took a bit, the entire group eating like they were starved for weeks on end, finishing plate after plate before they came to a stop. All the while, Arthur was cognizant of the glowering Tun Rahman, the man having grown silent and listening to the group. Of them all, he was the most unusual, something in the way he sat or stood that made Arthur wary of him. As though he was the living, breathing embodiment of the uncanny valley.
When the desserts - sticky rice and mango, aoo cooked and soaked in coconut milk and delicious and so bad for him was half-consumed, did the Tun lean forward.
"Good, you've eaten your fill, yes?" he rumbled. "You have eaten my food, pledged your loyalty to me. In a week, you will come with me, wage war against Tun Lok."
The group was quick to answer, though he noted more than a few sardonic glances shared among the Second Chancers. Arthur was a little slower, spotting them and their hesitation but echoed their words not long after, though his delay had Tun Rahman glaring at him.
"Good! Then, sleep and rest." Hands clapped together, a dismissal that had everyone rising upwards. More servants appeared, individuals that all looked almost generically the same and gave even more of a strange feeling to stare at. These, Arthur knew, weren't really 'real', more like programmed automations that took care of minor tasks. You could kill them, but they'd disperse just like the monsters - but unlike monsters, would provide no monster cores.
Of course, depending on the scenario, killing them could end up with him losing, so, you know - no mass slaughter.
As they were led away, Arthur taking his time to move, picking up his backpack and spear from where he'd deposited it, one of the other Second Chancers - a smaller man stepped close, stumbled and landed on one knee beside Arthur. Head bent low, he whispered, quickly before he straightened.
"Don't sleep. The game begins now."
Then, he was up, moving away. Looking up, at the retreating back, Arthur could not help but spot Nor looking back at him and the smaller man, the kid, and shaking her head.
Then, she stepped through the doors and was gone, leaving Arthur wondering exactly what was going to happen tonight.