Mamon looked down on the skeleton.
It's head was crushed into small pieces but the right hand was still moving. Though it wasn't doing any offensive moves, just reached towards it's own chest. After tapping around a few times it went over to the neck, pulled out something from the chest and held it to him.
- What is it Skelly? You want to give me something?
He leaned closer and looked into the hand. It was holding up a small white ball which gave off a faint glow.
- A soul? Why do you have one?
'You are not supposed to get a soul in the tutorial. Is this also NG+ feature?'
He took the stone and looked at it closer while the skeleton's hand fell to the ground.
'Seems like any other one.'
As he looked deeply into it he felt like his self was drawn into it, felt the grudge of a person who could not accomplish what it wanted. A soldier abandoned by his king, a knight that has vowed to protect their people until the end but failed.
'So that is who you were sir knight? Tragic but it fits the theme of the game. A desolate world destroyed by dark magicians who corrupted the world's magic and every living being with it.'
He crushed it with his hand and felt a warmth traverse through from the palm to his whole body.
A blue window appeared saying "You have successfully absorbed the soul of the forlorn knight." but instantly a red one followed saying "Soul absorption function forcefully activated.".
A slight headache followed the information and the world started to spin around him.
'Agh... I should have waited until I got the function unlocked in the tower. These effects are really horrible.'
He fell on his butt next to the skeleton and after taking a break for a minute picked up the sword laying next to it.
'A fancy sword with slightly better performance than the starting one and freezing effect that slows down anything it cuts. It will be really useful in the tower. I should take his armor as well... Wait a second! Why is it so silent?'
He once again looked around suspiciously.
'I have turned off the boss musics, but not the other sound effects so there should have been a small melody playing when I picked up the sword... Also, when I used the soul stone.'
He stood up and started to take the armor off the skeleton.
'The game is more bugged than I thought. This is not good. I just hope the alarm turns off the system soon.'
He put everything into his inventory and opened up the Souls window. It displayed three bigger slots on the top and five smaller on the bottom. Under the slots there was an inventory with the soul he just acquired.
'Soul of the forlorn knight, which gives increased damage using swords. I guess it will be one of the starting minor souls out of the five equip able. I have to wait until the 5th level of the tower for the first of the three equip able major soul though, so nothing else to do but to head out. I still have an hour or so to spend.'
After looking through his character and inventory he stopped for a moment.
'Why did I not get an announcement on destroying the skeleton? And more importantly, no Soul Power (SP) was absorbed from it, only it's soul. I know you only get it from enemies inside the tower, but that can happen after getting the soul absorption function unlocked so I should have gotten SP after absorbing it's soul besides the ability... Oh well... Not like I can do anything about it. At most I won't get a few cheeky levels as soon as I get into the tower.'
He turned to the door on the right side of the building.
'After seeing from the outside that there is a cliff next to the temple, it seems ridiculous that the only way forward is towards that side of the temple but it's just a trick.'
As he walked up to the door he looked at his leg with the scratches on it.
'When is this going to heal up anyway? Will it sting until I get into the tower?'
He shook his head and touched the door with his left hand.
'Here comes the next trick.'
Prepared himself for the incoming attack and pulled the door inwards. Just as expected a bare bone skeleton immediately tried to cut him from the front with a rusty sword but he moved to the side and punched it into the face. It crumbled from the hit. Then he lift his right arm as fast as he could to his side to ready himself for an impact.
'I hate this attack as it is unavoidable!'
But instead of pain he saw the other skeleton thrusting towards him and he was able to barely react to it to move out of the way.
'Is it moving slower than usual? No? I think I'm faster? But how?'
As he regained his composure his right knuckle said hello to the skeleton and it died on the spot. Then he clenched his fists a few times.
'Although I'm faster somehow I'm glad these have not changed. They were only here for the trick so they weren't made durable. If they were then I could not avoid luring in the others from the outside and being overwhelmed by ten of them.'
Outside the door a small flat area leading into a chasm was waiting. In the distance from between mountain peaks the sun was shining brightly at the temple as it was saying goodnight to the world.
Mamon stepped out of the temple and looked around as a gentle wind greeted him outside.
Far below the temple a gruesome scenery awaited him. A valley fully gone awry. Blackened ground and dead trees everywhere. A small river flowing through it which people usually call it a life giving sustenance, but it was dark like it carried death inside of it.
'I never liked this scenery. Supposedly that is how the whole world looks like. Dead and decayed. Just as the people in the tower say everything outside is gone wrong.'
He looked to the left of him. A stairway was leading upwards behind the temple. On one side the temple itself and on the other side the already raised ground was keeping it company.
'Now the next trick. This is the easiest part as long as you know where to step. First on the second step on the stair on the left, then the third on the right, fifth on the middle and repeat until you get to the top.'
On top of the stairs a small raised stone platform waited him not far from the away. A few simple stone pillars were standing around it like they are trying to hold the sky above it. After taking a quick glance, he turned around and smiled. On both sides skeletons were standing looking towards the middle of the staircase. Four on the left side on the flat ground, three on the roof on the right and one next to it.
'If you don't step at the exact parts then they will jump you one by one. I can't believe someone figured out how to avoid them. They helped me greatly in the last few runs.'
Then he walked to the roof of the temple to the first skeleton that was standing next to it.
'First you have to take this one out.'
He casually punched it in the head.
'They don't even notice you, unless you are on the staircase, on the wrong side or start talking. They really pulled punches with the tutorial. Now for the next one.'
After walking to the other side he punched another one and then went around a few times until all of them got finished.
- No drops still? You guys are really stingy, aren't you?
After grabbing one of the rusted swords they had he looked at it's stats.
'It's literally worse than using bare hands and it even poisons the wielder. No one even buys them so there is literally no use for these.'
He dropped it and then turned around again and walked up on to the platform. A magic circle filled with alchemy symbols greeted him.
- Haven't seen you for a while, eh? Glad to be back... Actually I would be more glad if I could be outside of the game instead! But what can I do really?
Then an old man's voice came from behind him.
- What game are you playing? Can I join in?
He spin around and readied himself for a fight, but instead of an enemy he saw an old, long white bearded, bald man leaning on his simple walking stick and pulling a long robe along the ground while closing in on him.
'This is new! I have never seen this old man. But he responded to me talking about the game? NPCs (Non Playable Characters) usually ignore these kind of talks.'
- I'm just humoring myself.
- Now that is a new one! An undead humoring themselves by talking something weird! Hahaha...
'It's not funny though...?'
- Oh! Forgive my rudeness! I'm the Gatekeeper. I keep watch to the teleporters leading up to the tower and meet with everyone that tries to enter. Though it has been a few decades since the last person.
- It is nice to meet you. I'm Mamon. I came here to climb to the top of the tower and kill the Demon God as it was foretold by the prophecy.
'The casual introduction in the game. Usually people respond positively so I'll just stick with it for now.'
The old man scratched his head.
- Prophecy? Demon God? I have never heard any of it...?
- What?
'How is that possible? I mean he wasn't in the game, but that is the whole point of the game!'
His thoughts were cut in half by the Gatekeeper.
- The only thing I was told is to stop any undead while getting close to the teleports and question them. And if they don't seem to have reason, simply deactivate the teleport and leave them. Also, I have never even heard of a Demon "God". Did it came through one of the cracks?
This time it was Mamon scratching his head. Something is not okay here. This doesn't sound like anything in the game.
- Then could you tell me what you know about the creature on top of the tower? And what is going on presently, please?
The old man sighed.
- Sure, but it is going to be long, is that alright with you?
- I got nothing but time on my hand.
They walked to the side and sit down on the edge of the platform.
- I assume you know what happened in the world. Or did your head mix up your memories when you turned into an undead?
Mamon shook his head.
- I remember the most important parts. Dark mages opened portals to the demonic realm and the energy emanating from the portals corrupted everything. Then one of the gods have descended and made the tower to rescue the people still alive. Then a Demon God has occupied the top of the tower so no-one can even look outside while it's power corrupts the tower.
This time the old man shook his head.
- You got most of it right. However! It is not a demonic creature on top of the tower. It is the God of Light that has descended. After making the tower they have closed the portals and tried to purify the land but it all went wrong and they were corrupted. Afterwards their dark energy influenced the tower, however it is still better inside than outside. It shouldn't take long until they are purified and will restore the tower to it's glory. At least that is what we all pray for!
Mamon had a really confused look.
'I don't remember the exact lore, but it wasn't the literal god that was on top of the tower the last time, people talked about it as a monster that took over after the tower was made and the tower's inside was pretty messed up as well due to the corrupted guardians that were supposed to purify every 5 levels. Did they really change the whole story for NG+? Or is this something else?'
- So don't worry young man. Just go into the tower. It will purify your body and soul then you can live there comfortably with the others.
The old man smiled at him so he smiled back sourly.
- I guess it's the best option for me.
He stood up, but the old man grabbed his hand when he tried to walk away.
- Do my eyes deceive me, or are you a Soul Master?
'Soul Master? Is that what he calls someone who can handle souls?'
- Yes I'm. I have even gotten my hands on the soul of the knight from the temple down the stairs.
The Gatekeeper thought for a minute, Mamon thought that maybe leaving him might be the best choice, but the old man was not letting go of his hand.
- Just a moment. As you are one of them, you should take this.
He pulled out an amulet and put it into his hand before letting it go.
- Thank you for the gift, but what is it?
- It is something that will help you in your journey.
Mamon looked at the amulet. It was a symbol of atoms that looked out of place for the world and it boosted SP gain. He looked back at the old man smiling.
- It will certainly be useful. Thank you again, but now I should be on my way. It was nice to meet you Gatekeeper. May our paths cross again.
- Indeed Mamon. Indeed.
The old man stared into the distance and slowly faded away.
'What? Did he just disappear into ether?'
He looked around to see if he was still around, but there was no-one.
- I guess forward I go?
'But what now? Should I still go up the tower and see this God for myself? ... Actually! Game! Just log me out already!'
He was cussing in in his thoughts while he walked onto the magic circle and in a flash of light disappeared from the platform.