Chapter 517

“Behind you!” Yao Jing roared, waving the kids out of the way. The team was taking the side of the trail through the desert, just to avoid people clumping up the way but it was, sadly, true that there were idiots who swayed out of the line for one reason or another.

Clogging the way for no good reason.

The group ran, when the others walked or trudged through the sand. Forcing their way through the shifting ground, sweating with each moment, pouring salt and energy into the air. Wary of the monsters that might strike from below or above alike.

Not the Malaysians. Different skills allowed them to cross the ground with relative ease for the most part, while higher attributes allowed them to bully their way through the earth without care. Their stamina refilled faster than it was expanded, such that they could up this punishing pace for hours on end.

As for the monsters… they were but first level creatures. Arthur and his team did not even need to slow to kill them, only a single member of their group ducking to the side to pluck out the beast core before rejoining them at double time.

Monsters fell, and the Climbers around – even individuals who had cleared their first or even second Tower – could only stare at the Benevolent Durians as they made their mark, crossing ground at a run.

 

***

 

Establishing the new Clan building was done pretty much at a run. They had another Malaysian Climber, coming in slower behind them, who was already designated as the Clan head for this floor. He would take care of those coming in, though the need for such training grounds were fewer here.

It was more necessary in the higher floors, but they would have to establish them slowly. Rather than push matters, they would have their people go ahead and open up the floors when they were ready, taking it step-by-step.

They had more and more Malaysian Climbers exiting the KL Tower each day. Even some managing to make it through the Kuching Tower, but the numbers were still low. Those who were willing to travel to another country, to risk fighting and dying in another Tower, even lower. Those who were more ambitious would come, but it would not be overnight – and the most loyal, the ones they trusted the most, they were also the most needed.

“So that’s why we’re going to build this slow,” Arthur said, looking at Yao Jing as he sealed the doors even though there were others crowding around. “Bhutan threw our numbers off entirely, caused us to realise that there’s only so much that we can do. As much as we’d like to keep expanding forevermore, there’s just not possible.”

“But what about Dhaka, boss?” Yao Jing asked, curiously.

“Well, we had some people who wanted to go back;” Arthur said. “Felt they belonged over there more than in Malaysia. Had family, had a language they could speak.” A long shrug, a smile. “You take what you can get.”

“So, close it up, hope it works out?” Yao Jing said, slowly. “What if it tidak lah?”

“Then we send in someone to fix it,” Arthur said. “You can’t expect everything to work out.”

“You’re chilling out, boss.” Yao Jing murmured and Arthur could only shrug. “So what now, boss?”

“The next floor, of course.

 

***

 

Climbing was fast, hard and fast. The team barely slowed, only taking brief breaks to recuperate, test new ideas and take more cores. It was not as though clearing the floors or killing the monsters were giving them much in terms of experience, just cores. The few times there were quests that they had to complete and contribution points in the Tower, they pooled their points together to acquire reusable technique manuals that would be made available for newbies.

None of it was particularly good, but if they built a big enough library, everyone would have something they could use. Running all these Beginner Towers could make life for those joining easier, but it offered little for them.

At least, till they reached the last of the Beginner Towers here – but the point was to get the Clan and Arthur stronger. The first was done by clearing as many Towers as possible, by establishing the Clan in as many Towers as possible so that they could climb the rankings and, more importantly, increase their standing in the Tower.

Then, he would have the ability to upgrade things like the Clan Seal.

Making Arthur stronger would take longer, it would require getting him time in the Towers itself – but they needed good Towers for that. So knocking the basic Towers out fast was the goal, which was what they were doing here.

Fighting their way up floors, keeping their Clan Head safe while he drained stones on the move. Pouring energy into his foundation so that he could reinforce it later. He even spent some of the contribution points to acquire a new Skill, a more base one that was unnecessary – except that in learning it, he could also help refine his main skill.

 

Energy Dart

Project a dart of compressed energy to strike an opponent at range. Range and damage varies dependent on proficiency.

Cost: 1 Energy

 

It was one of his skills that was fast climbing, mostly because Arthur had no fear spamming the attack. He had a lot of Tower Energy these days and could cultivate and recover a lot of Tower Energy quickly, so learning how to manipulate and wield multiple of the darts, firing them at enemies was his main form of attack in this Tower.

Refining that ability, empowering himself, growing stronger and crashing through the entirety of the Tower with his friends. Focused on adding to his Refined Energy and adding more attributes, so that he could climb towards his Fourth Transformation.

Even if that was miles away.

Until, as they were staring at the corpse of the Boss and they were leaving, Arthur was yanked out of the usual transition period to deal with things that were reserved just for Clan Heads.