The second day was much the same as the first, though our cooperation increased. Sadly, once I hit level 9, the returns on experience were much reduced. I no longer received visible chunks to my XP bar every time I killed a low-leveled Risen Gladiator. The single star gladiators did still add a chunk, but otherwise, my XP growth had slowed down to a crawl. Conversely, with the improvement to my skills and the additional level, I now dealt decent damage to single star opponents, much to my surprise.

  It still took most of the rest of the day to get Veyda’s Shadowstrike up to level 15. When she did get it to 15, there was a loud series of interesting curses before she announced that she’d done it. We then proceeded to clear the area outside of the arena once more before we settled down for the evening. The next day, first attempt, we were going to clear level 20 of the arena, thus defeating the summoner and making the arena unavailable. I wasn’t too upset about it, even if my life was riding on the rules of this stupid game, it was beyond monotony at this point.

  We set up for camp, made a clear plan of action, and tucked in early to get some rest before we were finished in the area. I was most of the way to level 10, which I assumed would bring about some kind of change, but Veyda, as usual, was more than happy to disappoint, snorting condescendingly before she spoke up to let me down.

  “Pfft. Level ten? What is this, a human milestone? Gonna throw yourself a party with streamers and cake shaped like a zero?”

  I blinked. “...It’s a round number.”

  She leaned forward, all mock-conspiracy. “Okay but listen, real talk? We kinda-sorta picked the wrong base. Tens are trash. The universe runs on twelves—twelve hours, twelve months, twelve segments in a clock, twelve goddamn eggs in a carton. Base twelve is cosmic law, and our base ten fetish is why math hates us.”

  Art chuckled. “She has a point. Twelve divides evenly a lot more ways.”

  “Exactly!” she said, stabbing a dumpling with her chopsticks. “Twelve is the OG buff. Ten just makes everything weird. Like, try dividing 100 by three. Go on. I’ll wait.”

  I stared. “...So there’s nothing at level ten?”

  She smirked and shrugged. “There’s disappointment. Welcome to the party.”

  I sighed, but wasn’t too surprised. Everything in this place was screwed up, why not the numbers too?

  Despite my hopes being dashed, I didn’t mind. After leveling up with these guys, I felt almost overpowered. No, I wasn’t going to hold a candle to these two, at least not anytime soon, but I felt like compared to where I was, I was pretty strong. I figure the rest of this floor was probably behind me, and all I needed to do at this stage was prep for my boss fight. Of course, I had no clue what I’d be fighting, but according to the others, I wouldn’t know until it was time to fight.

  I would, however, get to see where I’d be fighting as Veyda and Art requested that I accompany them to their exit. And when I say Veyda and Art, what I really mean is Art recommended it because it would help me. Veyda was indifferent, and I wasn’t going to turn down help, especially when it meant increasing the likelihood of staying alive.

  We worked out a few hypotheticals regarding the 20th round in the arena. Art would actually be tanking the whole way through, and I was slightly excited to see how strong he was. For the most part, I’d been flailing about while Veyda took shots at the stronger opponents. It helped me get my skills leveled and helped me feel comfortable at timing my maneuvers properly. What this hadn’t helped me with was understanding what Art could do, or how effective he would be. I tried not to let it bother me, it was mostly fear of the unknown that was getting to me. Having some blind faith in someone, Art in particular, wasn’t the worst deal. If I had to blindly trust Veyda, I’d already be gone, but Art seemed to be the sort to say a thing and never boast about it. Like, if he said he could tank it all and keep himself healed up on the way, well, he was just speaking facts. Veyda on the other hand… yeah, I still didn’t understand their dynamic. Two people never seemed so unalike, and I would argue that opposites attract and all that, but they weren’t lovers. Their relationship was a little chummy, almost like they were each other’s favorite coworkers or something.

  Still, I was primed and ready to go by the next morning.

  We woke, and I distributed the last of my stolen breakfast food. I figured it was only fair as these two had provided food for two thirds the day, I ought provide the other third. I had the day before as well, figuring that building some mutual grace wouldn’t hurt things.

  We hastily set out to clear the area of the Animated Armors that were aimlessly looking for confrontation. We provided it, in spades, and before I knew it, we were readying ourselves for the 20 rounds that would be the last in the arena.

  I passed around my enhanced waterskin, giving everyone a minor buff. Veyda handed me a stick of gum that she told me not to swallow or I’d get sick for a week. Arthur, on the other hand, simply cast a few buffing spells but he would have to reapply them every ten minutes or so. The gum and the spell each buffed constitution, making my health bar in my HUD double in size.

  I looked over my stats before we started, noting that my experience bar was most the way to 10. My crushing hold was nearing level 4, my Grapple hit level 5 as we were clearing the Animated Armor, and I had a blinking achievement waiting for me to open. It could wait a bit, I found that just so long as I didn’t wait overnight, the AI didn’t throw any tantrums or take away loot.

  To my surprise, my Shielded Block made it to level 3, making the shield equivalent to 35% of my health bar. Seeing as I was buffed to the teeth right now regarding my HP, I was pretty certain that my Shielded Block had more HP right now than I did naturally.

  “You ready for this, tough guy?” Veyda asked, though I wasn’t looking at her, I could hear the grin in her voice.

  “So excited to be rid of me?” I smirked teasingly.

  “Please,” she said, twirling her dagger like she was filing her nails with it. “You’ve been a delight. Like a stray dog that bites everyone but still expects bacon.”

  “I’m more of a steak guy,” I muttered.

  “Figures. Big bark, bigger appetite. Probably think ‘medium rare’ means cooked with love.”

  Art chuckled from where he was adjusting the fit of his gauntlet. “To be fair, steak is one of the few things in life worth getting snobby about.”

  “Exactly,” I said, nodding to the paladin. “See? The golden boy gets it.”

  Veyda rolled her eyes, flicking a glance at Art. “Yeah well, golden boy also thinks the stars are watching him. Don’t take validation from the guy who’d write a thank-you note to the sun.”

  “I have written a thank-you note to the sun,” Art said, deadpan. There was a beat of silence that broke the tempo of our banter.

  “Of course you have,” I sighed.

  Veyda snorted, then jabbed a thumb at me. “Alright, Grapple McMuscle—when we get in there, you’re on skull-snap duty. I’ll shadowpoke the beefy ones, and Art’s gonna light up the back row like a preppie rave.”

  “I still don’t know what half the shit you say even means,” Art said, half-laughing.

  “Means you’re old,” she shot back.

  He raised a brow. “You’re like five years younger than me.”

  “Exactly. Generational divide. Now stop being ancient and finish your buffs, Grandpa.”

  “I could smite you.”

  “You could try.”

  I shook my head, watching the two of them banter like this wasn’t life-or-death prep. But even I could feel it—beneath the sarcasm, the jokes, the ribbing—there was a rhythm to this group. A confidence. We were actually ready. And that was the scary part.

  The menu had been surfing around in my vision while we prepped. I looked at the other two, confirmed that they were ready, and started the arena trials one last time.

  The first 17 matches were much as they were before. We had grinded them on repeat for two days now, and we knew what to expect. Round 18 and 19 were much the same, only two more opponents, and with Art there this time, we mopped things up with some haste. Art really was a fantastic tank, and he had an area of effect ability that dealt over-the-top damage to the undead warriors. Then we were there, at the 20th round.

  “Hold off, let’s reset buffs, I don’t know what we’ll be facing so it’s best if we’re completely prepared.” I nodded and we took five to reset buffs and make a plan of action if everything went belly-up. This is also when I realized why I’d been the once to commence the battles. I was the only one locked in.

  It didn’t sit well with me, but I decided there was little to do about it now. Even bringing it up might cause unnecessary discord, and just before we fought the big bad? No, not the time.

  Still, the plan was that we immobilize the boss, if he was too strong, Art and Veyda both had their own abilities to do this from a safe distance. We would proceed the flee over the arch of the arena entrance, using Veyda’s levitation and enough time, we could do it. Then, we sprint pell-mell to the safety zone. It wasn’t a perfect plan, but it was a plan, one that Veyda insisted wouldn’t be necessary.

  Gathering my courage, I looked down at the menu once more. “Keep going?” Then in small text underneath it said “Note: This is the last available challenge in the arena.”

  I selected “yes.”

  The lights dimmed and I felt a faint rumble course through the arena sands. The stands would be empty if not for the bland undead crowd that sat there. You couldn’t even fight them, they were just filler, but when the rumble made its way up the walls and into the stands, all of the arena came to life. I don’t mean that figuratively.

  You know when you watched an animation and every part of the background followed a uniform kind of coloration with exception to the one part of the scene that the characters interact with? Like when a cartoon character throws a piece of dynamite at another, and the one miscolored rock explodes? It was almost like that, and I was a miffed that I hadn’t noticed it before.

  Most of the crowd was like that, same kind of coloration, but the portion that wasn’t, and there were plenty, those started leaping to the arena floor. Rough guess? Forty, and only a small portion didn’t have a star. That’s when I saw it, the three 2 star and one 3 star Risen Gladiators. It was a fuck-ton of zombies, and all of them 1 star and above had some kind of weapon. I swallowed.

  “Hey, Art, I think it’s time you hit off on that AoE…” I tapered off as I spotted Veyda, cutting the back of her arm. I looked at her bewildered before I readied my stance.

  “He only gets to AoE after I make them squishy. Hold the hay, horsey, it’s about to get HOT!” She shouted the word hot, Art, who was about to cast something, responded like it was a command. He backed up to me and cast some kind of barrier spell. A fucking wave of fire started from my right and swept to my left. It didn’t catch everything on fire, from start to finish the spell maybe lasted fifteen seconds, each one of the Risen Gladiators was exposed to about 6 seconds of flames. The barrier around Art and myself ignited, mystic shapes and runes appeared intertwined across the barrier as the flames moved past. I felt close to nothing as the flames went by, though I did note the oddest smell, sweet like tangerines.

  The heat dealt fair damage to our opponents, most of them sporting active flames and dwindling health bars. That was when several things all happened at once. The ominous shadowy figure that had been sitting atop the opposing archway erupted with blue darkness. Not light, but somehow it caught my eye the same way light did.

  Frost spread out across the arena, from the edges and worked itself in. I didn’t take any damage, but I did experience a sudden cold. PAI spoke in my mind, “Warning: You will suffer from Hypothermia (Debuff) in less than 3 minutes.”

  I watched as Art moved his position, leaping in bounds I didn’t think possible. His glowing metal armor sung through the chaos of ice and fire where he began igniting in a brilliant white arch that should have left me light blind.

  I heard Veyda behind me shouting curses as the darkness radiating figure drifted down and was enveloped by the light let off by Art.

  All of this happened in less than three seconds. Meanwhile, I had stupidly followed along with Art, not realizing his entire raison d'être involved taking all the hits. Halfway into the three seconds of approaching flaming zombies, freezing my balls off, Arthur exploding, and the dude that had been running the arena this entire time joining in, I paused. I didn’t know what to do.

  So, I did the first thing that came to mind. Everything had its attention on Art, so I observed for just a moment. In the still, I saw him there, lulled by whatever mystic force Art was exerting. I heard him behind me, yelling something, before the sounds of metal against metal filled my ears. A clatter followed by a rhythmic pounding. Experience markers pinged in my vision and minimized quickly, I was charging.

  The figure erupted in darkness before sending a shadowy bolt towards Art.

  A brilliant flash erupted, illuminating an orb-like structure made of floating glyphs. It made a hallow pong sound as the Shadowbolt was deflected.

  Losing my concentration, I stumbled, like a jackass, before correcting myself and sprinting forward. I leaped onto the shadowy figure’s back. I was only able to do this because I really don’t think that he was expecting it. I couldn’t make out his face as I passed right under the other guy’s raised arms. I got behind him, hooked in my underhooks beneath his shoulders and wrapped my legs around his waist. His name popped up in my UI as “The Necromancer- Lvl 20.” The “20” was written in gold. This was a really bad idea.

  To my complete horror, the entity I clung to barely budged. It was like I was hanging onto a tree.

  If I’m speaking complete honesty here, what I did next wasn’t what I thought I should do, it’s what happened. On a whim, hanging there like an asshat, clinging to a writhing mass of shadowy darkness that resembled a man, I had the strangest vision. I thought of the moment Goku got shot through by Piccolo in the first season of DBZ. I thought of Veyda, back there, probably powering up some scary ass shit, with a spell strong enough to run us both through. This, dearest Kevin, is not where you want to be.

  I spammed every activated ability I could. I was absolutely shocked at both the reactions I got. My Grapple activated and was Resisted. I hadn’t seen that before, I hadn’t even realized that could be a thing. I was doubly shocked when my Crushing Hold activated, dropping my opponent straight to the ground. I let out a whoop as he dropped like a pile of bricks.

  A minute timer appeared above its head, but I wasn’t going to play around. I got up and ran, calling out to Veyda. “He’s paralyzed for a minute, do your worst!”

  “You’re a fucking idiot, you know that?” The disgust in her voice was plain, but I didn’t think it was too much of a risk, besides, it worked out for now. I moved over to the next set of one-star Risen Gladiators and started to kite them as they moved towards Veyda. I figured I should help where I could, and this was the next logical thing to be doing while Veyda did her thing. Art was apparently fine by himself, he drew enough attention alone. It was my job to keep the enemies away from Veyda so she could do her witchy witch things, at least that’s what seemed apparent to me. She wasn’t pulling much aggro, but the closer Risen Gladiators seemed to be less lulled by the light of Art’s ability. The closer they were to Veyda, the more likely they’d turn their heads. Some would turn back to Art, but others didn’t, and those ones began moving Veyda’s direction. I came by and took the two closest ones, back peddling as I went. I’d stop and set my feet before dropping a quick combo against my slow-moving pursuers. It took me a grueling forty seconds before I dropped them both. One had a really good helmet that slowed me down, and it drained most of my attention while the timer ran out on the Necromancer. By the time I had dislocated the remaining one-star Gladiator’s shoulder and removed it’s head, not killing it by the way, there was maybe ten seconds left. I looked over at Veyda’s direction. Zombies had surrounded her, but she had some kind of emanating aura. It was equal parts black and red, small rivulets of dark lightning pulsed as the zombies struck. It was terrifying to behold, but it was also fucking wicked. She was scaring me for completely different reasons now as the orb around her grew darker, eclipsing her form in black. Then, her outline shown in red, she cast something and the orb went out like a candleflame. A shot of lightning struck out, hitting the Necromancer as he lay facedown in the dirt. Another lightning strike, then another and another. The necromancer’s health shot down dramatically, but didn’t disappear. A moment passed, everything on the battlefield hushed. The Risen Gladiators all suddenly lost direction and hadn’t noticed Art bounding towards the fallen opponent. At this point, all I could do was sit back and watch as Art took massive strides that led to an obnoxiously high anime style jump. He came crashing down with a glowing blade, and I wanted to puke for how fucking over-the-top it all was. The enemy died, flailing in a heap, and all the zombies nearby dropped dead. I spotted a strange whisper of light pass by and then a sudden brilliance by the corpse of the Necromancer, a large amulet on its corpse began sparkling. Not glowing, no, it sparkled, almost like sparks on an anvil as hot metal is being shaped. It also gave off an overt sense of unease. Veyda started shouting, “Fuck yeah boys! Fuck yeah!”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  It took me a moment, I was a bit frantic. Everything was just moving at a mile a minute, it all happened so fast, my hands were shaking. I was still filled with nervous energy, looking about for any threat.

  I started replaying the fight in my mind, which is when I realized I was literally in the way for most of it. These two… there was no way I’d ever get skills like that, they were unreal. It got me thinking about whether or not the stupid life insurance in the city didn’t have secondary benefits.

  Though Veyda was still shouting in celebration, I was still shaking. I had taken some residual damage from the cold spells, and hadn’t even felt getting hit later. Though my health bar was still above half, I knew that if I wasn’t all buffed up from Art and Veyda, I’d be toast. I let the calm of area surround me for a moment before my racing heart finally got the memo.

  I laughed, hard, I had the same feeling you got from having just gone on an unbelievable rollercoaster. The exhilaration was still pumping through me, even if I knew it was over, my body had that lighter than air feeling you got when you were surprised to be alive. I raised my fists in celebration, letting out a loud victorious shout.

  As I caught my breath and my brain caught up, I looked over the chaos. Charred zombies lay strewn about, others had been smote by whatever aura Art had let out. There was this charred and spoiled meat smell that was lingering in the arena.

  “Veyda, we need to go, and we need to avoid all conflict. I’m too close to leveling up.” Art was looking concerned, but Veyda was assured. She picked up the sparkling Amulet. “Don’t worry too much golden boy, I’ve got you covered incase you ding. We’re partied, we just need to get Aera, and we can finally get off this damned floor.” She sounded hopeful and assuring, out of character for Veyda.

  As the sparkling amulet disappeared into her inventory, the lights above the arena exploded. Giant floating letters with obliging fanfare floated down from above, it read “Congratulations Champions!” There was some kind of confetti falling from above and translucent hands began clapping behind the floating letters.

  I groaned.

  Rewards:

  Arena Champion’s Token (1x – Unique Item) - This item glows faintly with system approval. Used to unlock prestige paths, vending machines, or exchange for elite favors. Marked with your contender ID.

  Contender Distinction: Arena Champion (System Notification) - You have completed the Arena Challenge in full. Your performance exceeded projected capabilities. Contender is now eligible to skip standard floor boss encounter.

  2x Level 3 Treasure Tokens - For not just winning but doing it with flair. The system isn’t mad. Just disappointed it couldn’t kill you.

  1x Class Voucher (Bound) - This item allows the user to access the Class Selection Interface upon reaching Floor 2. Redeemable at any safe zone or class shrine.

  1x Unique Item – “Mantle of the Mid-Tier” (Light Cloak, Rare) - +1 to Charisma, +1 to Wisdom. Passive: Grants a +5% XP boost when in a party of three or more. Effect doubles if you’re the lowest level in the party. Description: You’re punching above your weight and looking good doing it.

  I looked over the loot once more, assuming the other two had also gotten their own rewards for the fight. I jumped up in excitement, it looked like I’d be heading to the next floor with these two after-all.

  “Hey Art,” I called out to the still glowing paladin. “Need me to tag along so you don’t hit 25? Looks like this fight ended up giving me access to the next floor.” I held out the Arena Champion’s Token as I strode towards him.

  He tilted his head, and I realized he had done that to other items too. He must have some kind of identification ability he’d associated with the gesture. I mentally asked PAI if she could associate me tilting my head to inspecting items rather than the current method of “I stare at it until the system catches on.” She agreed in a tone that was so cheery that it pissed me off a little. Not sure why, perhaps because I wasn’t in any kind of mood for that level of positivity.

  Art finally replied, “yes, that is fantastic, I would be hard pressed to turn that down. I fear Veyda isn’t far off herself with that fight. How odd that the minions gave experience, that usually doesn’t happen.” He looked contemplative for a moment before he called over to Veyda to come over.

  Art turned back to me. “Well done, my friend. That’s more than just a key—it’s proof you’re meant to climb. And yes, I’d be grateful for your company. I doubt I could keep Veyda from charging into her own demise, but I’d prefer not to make the trip alone.”

  Veyda, fingering her new amulet, said, “speak for yourself, you over-grown toaster. I could solo the floor boss with a limp and half my spells on CD.” She tossed the amulet in the air and caught it, grinning wildly. “Still, two meat shields are better than one. Besides, I’m way too close to bustin’ 25, and as excited as I am to hit it, I know that sometimes it’s all about timing. I know you know what I mean.” She looked dead at me and she winked. She fucking winked, like a lewd old man making bad jokes to young nurses. My mouth opened in to respond, but nothing came out. I closed my mouth for a second, thought it over, and shrugged in agreement.

  “Timing is important.” A little embarrassed, I moved on quickly. “Hey, don’t act like you didn’t enjoy me frantically flailing about, even if I was in the way the whole time. I probably could have just hid off to the side and let you two do your thing.”

  Veyda, in a tone of false mockery, said, “Oh no, I loved it. Nothing gets me more hot and bothered than watching you bellyflop onto an eldritch nightmare like a frat guy off a roof.”

  Art starting laughing, not a chuckle either, but a whole genuine from-the-belly sort of laugh. Still chuckling he said, “She’s lying. What really impressed her was how you actually landed that ability, what was it, Crushing Hold? He resisted most of my abilities, and I’m a higher level than The Necromancer was. Not only that, but you had the tenacity to charge something ten levels higher than yourself? I’m not afraid to admit it, but Veyda isn’t the only developing a soft spot for you, Kevin.”

  Veyda’s face grew red hot for a moment, something she tried covering by scowling. “It was luck, don’t get your ego all buffed up just yet.”

  I smirked, “I don’t know. Maybe I have earned a little swagger. He was a boss, after all.” I shrugged, then put a stupid look on my face while I did the “can’t see me” gesture. “TM87, baby!”

  Annoyed, but laughing slightly, Veyda said, “and you grapple-hugged him like he was your prom date. Iconic. Tragic. Definitely worth trauma counseling.” Her laughter subsided quickly as she turned to her tone of dry humor.

  Art stepped up, calming things a bit. He didn’t speak over her, he was too respectful for that. “Regardless of style, the outcome speaks for itself. We’re still alive. Together. Let’s not waste that.” He smiled reassuringly at the two of us.

  “Yeah, agreed. Let’s get out of here before the AI decides we’re being boring and it needs to spice things up.”

  Veyda, turning to the exit and yawning slightly, said, “onward to capitalism, curses, and completely avoidable moral quandaries.”

  I nodded, “can’t wait.”

  The stone corridor ahead narrowed slightly, torches flaring to life one by one as the three of us moved forward. My mood was light as we progressed, I wasn't dead, and I had more victories than I’d expected to rack up so soon. I couldn’t help it, I had a bounce in my step.

  That’s when Art slowed beside me, adjusting his gear with that effortless grace of a guy who probably learned ballroom dancing because his parents made him.

  “You know… as much as I’d welcome your company to Floor Two, you may want to consider heading back before you cross over.”

  I raised one brow at that. “Backtrack? After all that? You trying to get rid of me already?”

  Art smiled, wearing an expression of sincerity. “Not at all. But preparation matters. You’ve got a rare chance to step into a new tier with breathing room. Stock up. Burn through those tokens. Enchant something. Maybe even see if there’s anyone you want to pull up with you.”

  Before I could reply, Veyda chimed in from just ahead, not even turning around.

  “What he’s trying to say, poorly, is that living in your mom’s basement rent-free has perks. No rent. No monster taxes. No ‘oops, your firewood’s haunted.’” She half-turned, walking backward now. “Use the free space to build your war chest, bro. Don’t be the idiot who moves out and realizes half his paycheck’s going toward cursed laundry detergent and curse-breaking rituals.”

  “...That was a very specific example.” I said this with a tone of trepidation.

  “And yet. Not hypothetical.” She whipped back around with a shudder. “Laundry that folds itself should not talk back.”

  “You’re close to your Class Awakening, Kevin. Don’t rush it. The second floor is less forgiving, and every advantage matters.”

  I looked between them. Two very different people, same advice. Part of me hated the idea of going backward. But a bigger part hated the idea of going forward unready.

  I nodded slowly, contemplating what to do. “Alright. Stock up, plan ahead. Make sure I don’t die over something dumb like a lack of rope or clean socks.”

  Veyda grinned wildly. “Exactly! Step one: hoard like a paranoid raccoon. Step two: profit.”

  “And step three, when you do arrive, find us. I’d like to see what kind of class this climb shapes you into.”

  Veyda slapped him on the shoulder, despite it being heavily armored, "he means, find us on the fourth floor, because we're about to smash straight through our instance."

  Confused, I asked, "wait, why not floor 3 then?"

  Veyda replied before Art had a chance. "Technically, floor 2 is the city. To escape, you do the "instance," but that is technically floor 3. Once you beat the boss, the floor chamber opens up."

  "Oh, well what is the fourth floor supposed to be, anyways?"

  Art responded this time. "Nobody knows, because nobody comes down after that. There are a few working theories as to why that is, but nothing conclusive."

  I was interrupted by an odd-looking rock-insect that was about the size of a dog. It broke off the wall and started charging me, where I had to dodge it. It was incinerated a moment later by Veyda in a way that was so casual, you'd think this was just every day. Then I realized it literally was an everyday thing here. I sighed.

  "So, what are the working theories then?"

  "One is that you get the option to go home, but that would be a disaster. Another is that, just the same way that the first three floors are connected through a single elaborate system, the next three floors work in the same fashion. So, backtracking is allowed, but only to an extent. Besides, could you imagine making it to level 50 and still needing to come way back here?"

  “Any others?” I queried.

  “Ya. That nobody actually beats the instance, and everybody just dies at the end.” Veyda said, malcontent heavy in her voice.

  Art replied, “that is a possibility, but not one that anyone puts weight behind.”

  “You wanna know what I think?” Veyda asked me, and Art visibly winced.

  “Uh, sure?” I said, unsure as to what kind of can of worms was being opened.

  “I think it’s the insurance.” She said this in a conspirator’s tone, like she was talking about 9/11 being an inside job or something.

  Art spoke up then, “I just can’t believe that. I’m not saying it isn’t possible, what I mean to say is that people aren’t that mean spirited. Offer an insurance, but keep people indentured, and even if they break the confines of that, they never get to move on to the next floor? It’s too insidious to believe.” He was shaking his head.

  In a hushed tone, Veyda commented, “it’s because he has too much faith in people, he refuses to see it.” I wasn’t even sure if she intended for me to hear that, but I did, and it gave me a sinking feeling.

  We approached the chamber where the boss fight would take place. A white wall was there, something I couldn’t traverse. I asked them to describe what it looked like beyond that point, and they explained it as a kind of upward sloping cavern that had a set of stairs towards the back. Something opened in my UI when I got too close to the whitewall, it read, “use the token?” I minimized it, hoping that my decision wouldn’t be permanent if I didn’t reply.

  Art gave me one last nod, then turned to walk toward the shimmering threshold. I looked at Veyda, half-expecting her to lob some kind of emotional grenade before they left. She didn’t disappoint. “Don’t die. Unless it’s hilarious. And make sure you record it.”

  She paused, frowned, then added with an awkward shrug. “…Also, like, I dunno, don’t be a stranger or whatever. I guess I’d miss your flailing. It was entertaining.”

  Before I could reply, she turned, flung her hand over her shoulder like she was casting Dismiss Kevin, and strolled off after Art.

  Just like that, I was alone again.