Keys jingled as Kelford unlocked his apartment door. Much like everyday after work he threw his keys on his desk before collapsing on the couch nearby. Absent-mindedly he took his shoes off before laying back staring at the bland ceiling above.

  How did I get here?

  Months of that same thought echoing in his mind. Months of avoiding friends and family who’d only recently started to push for him to leave his imposed isolation. They didn’t understand. He couldn’t go back. It was hard to say but he’d given up. His mind flowed down the same self destructive thoughts as before. Grades slipping as one bad quiz led to two then a failed test. A heavy malaise that seemed to get worse as time went on. His friends ,Derek and Emma, try to be encouraging only to be drowned out by angry phone calls from disappointed parents. The warnings from the school and the cheating he started to use to keep his grades up. He shook his head as pulled himself out of the spiral. There were some memories that were still too fresh to contemplate. He just wanted to be alone. To lose himself in stories that promised better things. Kelford lumbered over to the kitchen to see what he could eat.

  He stopped confused. On the stove was some kind of soup. It bubbled from the heat seemingly almost done. The smell of it made his stomach growl which was strange as he hadn’t smelled anything in the living room. It was a small apartment so he really should have noticed. He cautiously looked around. Nothing else was disturbed and his door had been locked right? His stomach growled again and the thoughts about potential intruders slowly seemed like less of a concern. A bowl was already on the counter and scooped it up as he found a ladle. He dipped it into the mixture after turning the heat down. He poured it into the bowl and before he knew it he had eaten it all. Blinking he filled the bowl again and again. His hunger turned ravenous and he kept eating dimly aware that the pot should have been empty by now. Things weren’t adding up but his hunger was overpowering. He didn’t remember what the soup looked like or tasted like. Only that some part of him was satisfied with every bite. Something seemed to build within him. A potent fire in his chest that seemed to steal the warmth from him. Just as he thought it was too much the soup ran out.

  “ Weird…” He was no longer hungry but that feeling in his chest still persisted. He staggered into the living room not even bothering to clean up after himself. He passed his desk, TV and bedroom to stop in the bathroom. Not even bothering with the light he turned on the facet and splashed the cold water across his face. It was exhaustion, had to be. Barely sleeping and solitude had finally caught up to him. Maybe he’d skip the reading tonight and just go to bed. The thought halted just as he looked up into the mirror. That wasn’t him. He flipped the light on and gasped. It was him but different. Bloody and bruised with an almost feral look in his eye. The eyes that glowed! Actually glowed violet. They stared at each other before Kelford slowly nodded as the cloud over his mind blew away. It all came back to him but still he didn’t dare look away from his reflection. The reflection grinned back.

  “ Good, you are yourself, “ The reflection said, “ I would have been disappointed if you failed to break through this illusion.”

  Kelford stared at the unnatural look on his mirrored face , it sent shivers down his spine.

  “ Who are you and why am I here?” Last thing Kelford remembered was drinking from the ogre stew after throwing the mystery meat into it. Standing in his apartment was not exactly what he thought would be the consequence afterwards.

  The reflection grinned , “ Yes, your interesting actions have brought you here into this… metaphor. It is much like a defense mechanism to protect your sanity from what is actually out there. Your will and the skill enhancing it seems to have been just enough for you to be aware of it. At least in part.”

  “You still haven’t told me who you are,”

  “You know who I am. “

  They both fell silent as Kelford sought the answer. To his surprise he knew it right away.

  “ You’re the Black Sun,” He whispered, “ at least a part of it somehow.”

  “ Not fully,” The reflection clarified , “ I am partly you and partly my progenitor. Again a metaphor your mind and the Tower use to keep you sane.”

  “That only leaves me with more questions…” Kelford leaned against the counter, suddenly exhausted. The reflection looked at him with what could pass as concern.

  “ Seems as if time is short, your mind can not handle this for too long less you see something that will warp your mind beyond its capacity to heal. Soul destruction is something not even the Tower can assist with.”

  Kelford’s blood went cold. Soul destruction? The reflection continued as if nothing was wrong.

  “You are about to do something that will potentially be irreversible. The risks to us both are massive and the potential rewards equally so. The Tower is assisting us in this only because of the circumstances and the amount of interference that has occurred.”

  “Interference?”

  “ I am not at liberty to say more. Just know we were not originally meant to have this class! “

  Kelford looked up sharply, “ What do you mean by that?”

  “ We weren’t meant to have this class! Originally we were meant for something else and we have that option again, “ The reflection growled, “ Now listen! If we die here we will no longer be able to get this class.”

  Kelford’s eyes widened but he held back his question. The reflection nodded in appreciation.

  “ We will get something more suited to us but potentially with less of a pay off. If you dismiss the power offered to you we will be free of risk. Yet, this class has yet to realize its potential. We stand to lose out on much if you give it up. Called of the Black Sun is unique to this worldshard and which comes with opportunities unique to this section of floors. Opportunities that will set the basis of the rest of your climb. Yet to touch the Black Sun is to risk yourself and that risk will only grow as you gain power. You’ve seen how that could end. ”

  Kelford’s mind saw Quraq’s corrupted form and the mindless beast he had been at the start.

  “ Safety vs power. Either give up and forget about the class or bet that I can handle it? Either way I lose.”

  The reflection said nothing but stare. Kelford’s mind raced as his fingers were white against the faucet. The climb had been long. He was so close to getting out of here but soul annihilation? Really, just as he thought he was getting a grip on everything here was another curve ball.

  “ If I take this power and lose, will this mean anything?” Kelford’s question seemed to amuse the reflection.

  “ If you take this power, no matter how many times you die the path will be set. You’ll have just lost an edge,” The reflection’s gaze bored into Kelford’s eyes , “ but I don’t think you’ll lose.”

  The power in Kelford’s chest was growing heavier and his growing exhaustion was making his mind sluggish. He had to make his choice now or never. Still Kelford hesitated. Something warned him that this was a trap. That this thing wasn’t giving him the whole story. There were plenty of reasons not to do this. His parents and friends still waited on the other side. He could still help save everyone. Even if he wasn’t the strongest. He’d gotten this far, discovered something like this by himself. T.U.I had trained him and this was a great adventure. He didn’t have to come back to this apartment or this life. He could do so much to improve his life and the lives of everyone around him.

  He didn’t have to be the hero but oh how he wanted to be.

  The reflections gaze never waivered. They both knew what they would choose. He’d fallen into a cycle of failure that he’d let hold him down. He'd bet on everything but his own abilities for too long. He wanted to believe in himself again. He’d proven he was tough in here. He’d proven he was willing to suffer in the silence of the Tower just to progress. He’d been stuck failing for too long. Now he had an opportunity to be the best. To stand on top after being on the bottom. His mind firmed as a familiar excitement sent his heart to racing.

  He wanted challenges like this. There were a hundred floors in the Tower and he’d climb every single one. Even if he couldn’t be a hero he could still be number one. What was the risk of death to him now? He’d been dying for weeks.

  “I’ll take the deal.” The reflection laughed at the words eyes flaring with power.

  “ Good Kelford Booker I was afraid you would disappoint me!” It reached out like a snake grabbing Kelford by his neck !

  I Will Wait for You Beneath the Heart of Ice

  Kelford screamed as power raced through his veins. His mind shook as the dream was torn asunder as before him a massive sword encased of ice radiated power. Tendrils of power tore and changed his body. The cold in his heart solidified around his heart. With each beat pain radiated through his body as cold power traveled through his veins. His skin grew thick and his bones strengthened. New strength rushed through him and with it came the whispers. They grew loud before the beating of Kelford's heart drowned him out. Kelford laughed at the power in his veins as his heart beat like a war drum. The sword disappeared into darkness leaving Kelford in the dark as purple words blazed into existence.

  Corrupted Ogre Stew Consumed !

  Warning Void Essence detected !

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  Processing….

  Congratulations !

  Skill Earned

  Heart of the ShadowTusk( Constitution Mutation)

  Description:

  Among the many creatures that live in the Do’Wor mountains few have dominated as the FrostTusk.

  Known for its mastery of Ice and Monstrous Endurance it stands amongst the top of the world of ogres.

  Even these great beasts can be corrupted by shadow.

  When a ShadowTusk is born the mountains tremble with fear.

  For if a FrostTusk could ignore all but the most devastating of wounds, what could the ShadowTusk endure?

  Kelford smiled to himself.

  It was time to get back to the fight.

  …………………………………………………………………………………………………………

  Essence erupted before cutting off abruptly. Kelford’s eyes snapped open as the pains and wounds from his battle came back into focus. Quraq started, all its disgusting yellow eyes seethed with hatred as Kelford stepped out from the broken pot at his feet. Kelford spit blood as his body no longer weighed as heavily. Kelford’s eyes no longer glowed but blazed with the essence in his body.

  “So you have survived the blessing of the sun,” Quraqs many mouths chuckled, “ Still that will not be enough to..”

  “ Stop,” Kelford’s voice echoed between them as he interrupted its boasting, “You talk too much. I’m here to kill you.”

  Broken sword in hand Kelford crouched down a wild grin on his lips. A heady high built as his void corrupted heart beat in his ear.

  “Just try and survive okay?”

  Tentacles shot forwarded as Quraq roared in rage. Kelford charged forward, meeting them head to head. Empowered Strike blazed along the shattered edge as he tore into the flesh around him. Quarq roared as his tentacles were torn to shreds with Kelford taking each strike easily. Blood and infused skin rent the air but Kelford kept going. Pain was a thing of the past as his heart beat louder and louder. The ogre bellowed as it met his charge and they tore into each other like rabid tigers. Kelford took a punch to the chest that shook his skeleton only to grab onto the massive limb as he buried his sword into its knuckles.

  Again and again he stabbed before being thrown bodily away. Dimly he felt his body bury itself into the wall. The heart beat louder and the pain grew farther away. Laughing he tore himself out of the crater just in time to meet a punch. He blocked feeling his arm bruise but not break. The ogre stopped in surprise until Kelford stabbed it in the gut. Tongues and mouths roared and Kelford laughed. He reached into one of those maws and ripped the tongue out! Eyes glared hatefully at him as he stepped back from a devastating stomp that broke the damaged stone. Shadows pooled around the warlord and Kelford felt the essence around him bend to the Ogres' will . The whispers turned angry. Kelford’s will bent the essence into his aura as he asserted his dominance over his surroundings.

  Radiance of the Black Sun

  Shadow Essence swirled and tore at them both . Quraq’s eyes widened as a bubbling laugh erupted from Kelford. His body sang as his control over shadow expanded beyond his earlier battle. The whispers and his heartbeat rose in a crescendo. Around him his will contested Quraq’s. The more Kelford channeled the clearer the whispers became! A tear of blood slid down his cheek.

  “ I can hear them! It’s so beautiful! So beautiful!”

  It all made sense now. Flashes of insight from his time climbing the Tower. Constantly fighting with Darkness and Empowered Strike . Fighting the Shadow Fiends and their free manipulation of essence. Climbing to the fifth floor with the Acolyte class and its Shadow Bolt . Now Quraq with its corruption. Kelford understood what the whispers were telling him and in the middle of the storm he reached toward a small part of the essence. He molded it into a ball, forcing it into shape. More tears of blood fell and the ogre raged as it charged. Kelford didn’t care. His mind was so enamored with the ball of energy. The whispers explained it to him, passing the knowledge directly into his psyche. When the ball was ready he shot it forward right into the ogre. A smile graced his face even as the pain finally hit.

  Congratulations

  Skill Learned:

  Shadow Bolt

  Staggered Kelford couldn’t dodge when a ton of corrupted flesh slammed into him. Teeth gnawed on his exposed flesh spraying blood and flesh. The ogre threw him into the wall again but Kelford's new heart held him steady. Rolling Kelford dodged to the side as the ogre's momentum slammed it into the wall. Kelford dodged back as more essence raged around into his new spell. The ogre tore itself out of the broken wall to see bolts of violet streaking towards it.

  Shadow Bolt

  The ogre screamed as its form was torn asunder. Its monstrous will unfurled again to dominate the essence around it just as Kelford rushed in close. Kelford stabbed its hateful eyes. They exploded in gore as he stabbed and ripped the orbs out. A punch rocked him but he didn’t dodge. He needed to do this! The whispers were loud enough to cover every thought but one.

  Kill it. He tore at corrupted flesh despite the desperate injuries his body was gaining. Another punch rocked his chest and just as he braced his leg gave way. With a snap white hot agony broke through the roaring whispers and beating heart! Kelford gasped as if waking from a dream as he fell. The ogre bellowed in victory before a blast of Shadow Bolt tore out half its face. Its bulk lurched back at the shock , just enough for Kelford to crawl away. True tears finally began to clear the blood from his cheeks as his bodies cried finally reached his mind. Kelford had healed just enough to continue the fight with his enhanced body. Now after so recklessly fighting the ogre he was thrust back to exceeding his limits. His leg was broken. A presence that kept his mind clear enough to push back against the whispering dark. Blood leaked from the countless wounds covering his body. Any other run he would have died already.

  The ogre lumbered to its feet and the realization hit Kelford that it was on its last legs too. Bloody holes and rents marred it’s skin. It’s Tentacles were bloody messes and most of its eyes were gone. Hatred still burned in its remaining eye even with half its face blown off. Kelford couldn’t help the awe that grew in his chest. Ogres were tough bastards.

  Both of them stared across the distance between them. Their battle had reached the end.

  They both lunged ! The sword between them gleamed in the dull light while both combatants raced towards it. Kelford’s hand desperately reached forward but he was on leg. The ogre was not. It crashed forward like a tidal wave slamming its foot down on the hilt with a roar of victory! Its hateful remaining eye blazed as its fist crashed down upon Kelford. Time seemed to slow as Kelford slowly looked up at his doom. His eyes blazed with defiance and smug victory. His mouth moved as he turned his lunge took him past the hilt and between the ogres legs. He rolled as the earth shook from the ogres fury. His leg blazed with agony causing him to flinch. The ogre began to turn and Kelford felt the narrow opportunity he grasped begin to close.

  He crashed to the cratered floor, eyes never leaving the turning ogre. His aura pulsed as the ogre met his eyes.

  Radiance of The Black Sun

  Pain and confusion on top of its exhausting battle had weakened its will. The climber had survived again and again despite the terrible blessing of Quraq’s god! This climber was a creature of flesh and blood. Fit for nothing but sustenance to grow Quraq’s own strength. In Kelford's desperate eyes wreathed in the radiance of an eldritch deity something stirred. For just a moment Quraq didn’t see a tired adversary on the edge of collapse but a small piece of something more. A gaze of a creature that hungered for the end of all things. Quraq hesitated just for a moment. That was all Kelford needed. With the remaining leg pushing with all its considerable strength. Kelford slammed into the ogres back. His arms wrapped into a vice grip around its neck .

  “Got you,” Kelford barred bloody teeth, “ I win.” Kelford began to squeeze

  Quraq roared in rage as it reached for Kelford. It roared and slammed its back into the wall. Kelford hung on squeezing tighter a laugh bubbling from his throat. Again and again the ogre raged around itself as it tried to smash him off. Bloody tore at his arms only for its warped form to prevent it reaching his straining arms. Maws across its body brought air but could do nothing as Kelford’s right hand made a claw.

  Empowered Strike

  Claws of darkness dug into Quraq's torn face ripping at bone and flesh. Kelford's laugh turned to a mindless roar as he slammed into the walls and floor. Cracking of stone and bone echoed between strikes. The ogre fell to its knees as finally Kelford’s claw broke through the skull.

  “ I… was an… unworthy …vessel… “ Quraq’s body fully collapsed. Kelford spilled onto the floor battered body barely held together.

  Congratulations!

  A Threshold has been conquered

  Climb to safety to receive your just reward

  Slay the Warlord

  1/1

  Kelford ignored the message as he crawled away from the body. His body ached , purple and red blood covered every inch. His leg dangled useless and his arms were covered in wounds. Yet he didn’t stop.

  “I…Promised.” The words seemed to stir what remaining fire Kelford had. His eyes opened ever so slightly. There, behind the throne was a set of stairs ascending up the mountain. Up to the safe room.Kelford began to crawl as the body of the ogre behind him dissolved into dust. Lingering darkness slithering away from its heart to join Kelford’s own broken form. Kelford only felt some measure of strength return to his arms as he pushed himself up the stairs. He didn’t count them. He only had enough energy to keep climbing. To pull himself up one more step.

  One after the other, Kelford pulled himself up. He nearly gave up but remembered the promise. The pain increased and his arms grew tired. He reminded himself of the trials he had faced to get here. Of the closeness of the goal. He pumped defiance through bloody veins and breathed curses through ragged lungs. It wasn’t enough. His arms grew more tired and he was beginning to feel cold. Superhuman capabilities still held limits. He was far past his. Memories of past victories and defeats weren’t enough. He didn’t know when he stopped. All he knew was there were still stairs in his limited sight.

  His arms just wouldn’t move anymore.

  “ Just…one more,” If he could just climb one more. He found the strength and pulled what felt like the entire mountain on his back. Yet there was still more.

  “One more.” He climbed begging for just a little more.

  Begging to go that little further.

  To climb each and every stair.

  Not for any deeper reason aside from their existence.

  His world narrowed down to the stairs in front of him.

  he would climb.

  He would climb even if there was nothing left.

  Even if he had nothing left.

  An empty husk eternally reaching.

  A piece of the void endlessly climbing.

  Until he reached the peak.

  .

  He held his hand out and met only air. Kelford’s flagging awareness dimly recognized there were no more stairs. He’d reached the top. A door stood a few feet away. It was human sized, simply made and out of place in the ancient stone around it. Kelford pushed forward inch by agonizing inch, until he lay at the threshold. One bloody hand reached up towards the handle and turned it. Light blazed as it slid back and Kelford finally collapsed. Nothing was left. He was utterly spent. The last thing he heard was a voice raised in alarm, then the darkness took him.

  It was filled with whispers.