They had arrived within the tower. And it was impressive big, big enough that Mikael believed some kind of expanded space was at play. The tower opposite the city outside had a futuristic design to it. Holographic screens floating and strange rooms which Dreamers would enter into. The color scheme of the tower was mostly white with golden lines, he had the thought that these could be compared to veins within a human body. He soon also noticed a large congregation of Dreamers, some sitted some standing shouting out different things at other passing dreamers. From what he could see they were selling items.
"That's called the trade Centre. Dreamers consider it the fastest way to sell items and get Dream Points. It's quite useful and you can even get some unique items." Zoe answered after he had asked her this question.
He nodded and they continued to walk once more, deeper into the tower to a location where he noticed the numbers of Dreamers had dropped almost completely.
"The tower offers rooms to anyone interested in staying in them. The only downside is the fact that you need to pay to use these rooms, if not your only option is to buy a cheaper room within the city. The only good thing is that for newbies such as us, the rooms are free until we accomplish our first mission. After that we'll also need to pay for it. "
"The advantage of this rooms is the fact that you will have full privacy, and no one can enter without your permission. You'll also be able to receive healing services within this rooms as an added bonus."
They had stopped walking as Zoe continued to explain to him, to get to their rooms was simply a matter of wanting to and the system would teleport you there.
"Mikael… there're some things I want to tell you but for now we should both need to get some rest." Zoes said, coming to a conclusion on what had been bothering her. Before she vanished into her room.
He did the same and the next second appeared within his room. A fully white room, a white bed, a white table and a white chair. The color he most preferred. The next couple of minutes Mikael had taken a hot water bath and a sense of refreshment washed over his entire being. He traced the thin lines, leftovers where the Death bear had almost ripped him apart, now nothing more than a disappearing injury. The effect of the medical spray as well as his minor regeneration had worked quite nicely.
Mikael had then changed into the clothes provided by the room, another white garment and finally he went to bed. A fluffy mass of comfort started to slowly nudge him into a quiet peace. 'This is my life now.' He thought oddly but satisfied. His eyes closed steadily and soon he went to sleep
…
His eyes snapped open, and he looked around studying the blankness of the room he was in. 'No dream again.' Mikael though but this did not prevent him from pulling further into the comfort of his bed. He then noticed the blue system screen and the message that had appeared on it, the thing itself that had awakened him. It was a message from Zoe requesting permission to come to his room.
'How long have I been asleep.' He thought but the answer came soon after. Eight hours, he must have been really tired. He sat up and gave the permission to her and not a second later Zoe appeared within his room. Equally clean and changed into new clothes. A beautiful flowery dress that emphasized her beauty greatly. Her eyes were bright, her hair was a flawless black and her curvy figure was even more apparent. Strangely, it was her lips that attracted his attention the most.
"You look breath taking Zoe." Mikael appreciated everything that caught his eyes. And beauty was one thing that easily did. Zoe offered an appreciative smile and sat down on the only chair.
"Thank you…you also look like, you've just woken up. Hahaha." Zoe said jokingly and laughed sweetly into her arm. She was happier, freer. She looked less burdened by whatever had been waying her down.
"I like this version of you better. So did you come to a conclusion on what you wanted to say to me?" Mikael smiled slightly as he asked finally getting to the point. He had held back his curiosity enough. Now he wondered what great secret Zoe would reveal to him.
She looked uncertain once again. As if thinking over something and then she released a deep breath.
"First before I tell you, could you show me your status. I know I'm asking for much but…" A status sheet appeared within Zoe's vision. It happened instantly without hesitation and despite her own shock her eyes wandered over the information and her shock only increased further. And what was this she was seeing, what these stat values! Was this guy even a newbie.
"All active attributes above 20, luck above 20 and perception above 30!... You even have an unclassified Innate ability…Five abilities and two skills…Oh great Sol what am I seeing!?" Zoe looked to be on the verge of passing out, what was this? She had expected much but this was too exaggerated. She then looked at the worth value and almost passed out. 200! What was that value! The amount might not have looked big but while comparing it to the average Dreamer who barely had worth values reaching 10 and the lucky few barely reaching 20, it was a miracle.
"You're a Champion… a Champion Infront of my own eyes, praise the great Sol."
Zoe found herself unable to breathe, her original thought was more than true in fact it was past that… this was a chance, a chance from the heavens themselves and she would be foolish to not take it.
She was already on her knees, her head lowered to the extreme, if she could she would have merged with the floor.
"Oh great champion please allow me the lowly an opportunity of being your servant." Zoe raised her head and looked at those eyes which watched her every move. She saw curiosity and amusement in them and luckily for her there was no rejection.
Mikael had seen such a frantic look before. He had seen it to many times in fact. In the white room this was the look the researchers would look at him with. This was the look the other children would give him. So, it was not new for him at all.
"Huhh. Explain yourself Zoe, what do you mean exactly. What's this about being a champion and you wanting to be my servant?" Mikael asked, he had already seen how she behaved earlier and the sudden change from seeing his stat. What had caused this over reaction. Could he be that increasingly unnatural?
Zoe took a deep breath to calm down her own excitement, but she still did not rise from the ground.
"Master Mikael in the tower, I fall under the category of people called Reincarnator. That means that I died once within the tower but instead of completely vanishing, I was reborn again as a Dreamer."
Mikael nodded in contemplation. Her words explained the awareness she had shown earlier and how she answered his questions about the tower. But a Reincarnator, he would have never thought of that.
"And you master Mikael from the moment you approached me and was able to see past my presence concealment, I already knew you were special. Your white hair and blue eyes only made me even more sure of that fact." She spoke with a conviction, the fanatism returning once again.
"A champion is someone who has entered the tower over their own free will. Ordinary dreamers don't get a choice in coming here. One second, they're dead, the other they are suddenly here. But a champion from the rumors I've heard enter from their own violation. Is that true master?"
Mikael was doing his best to ignore her new way of address, but he was finding her words increasing fascinating.
"Yes, I did come here through large golden doors…" Mikael wanted to continue to tell her about the supreme one. He wanted to see if she knew about it but strangely, it was like a dreadful shock that went through his very being, an instinct that warned him to shut up.
"Oh how great. Then the legends of the great Families must be true…. [Cough] To continue to serve a Champion would be the greatest of Honors. It is said that Champions are magnets for greatness, opportunity and great luck. That the appearance of one signifies a period of great change within the tower! And the fact you possess an Innate ability, one that even the system cannot classify. It can only mean you have the greatest potential!" This was her reasoning. Throughout the history of the tower, following people of great potential has shown to be the fastest way to climb the tower. And the faster she could climb the tower, the sooner her revenge could be achieved…
"Wait do you mean not everyone possesses an Innate ability." Mikael asked with rising terror.
"Yes, possessing an Innate ability before arrival to the tower is very unlikely. Most Dreamers in fact acquire their ability while within the tower. The fact that you most likely had yours while still in your home worlds… Please take me as your servant Master." Mikael saw the spike in her eyes and quickly suppressed his own growing dread.
"Is there any other reason you want to be my servant Zoe. Something that would explain the malice within your eyes."
Zoe happy expression suddenly paused, she did not show it on her face, but her eyes were greatly shocked. How, how did he know!? But then she recalled he was a champion…
"Off course, a person such as yourself would clearly see through me… yes, I do have a reason to climb the tower…. I wan't revenge!" She said that with such malice that Mikael saw the light disappear once more from her eyes. There was a great hate in those eyes, and it reminded him…
He smiled a great thrill rising through him. He offered her his hand to her, and she quickly took it, snapping from her state. "Okay Zoe, I accept you. "He said and a smile came to her face. It was enchanting, it was mesmerizing.
…
Zoe had then proceeded to take a box from storage. With delicate care she opened it and took a piece of paper from within it. It had a circle with geometric patterns drawn within it.
"When a contestant becomes a Reincarnator within a tower. The tower strips them of everything they had originally. Like a form of compensation for cheating its rules. Stats, skills, Items, Dream points, titles. All of it is stripped down. The sole exception to this is abilities and special items. Abilities are not completely under this exception but even if they are stripped the progress for a Dreamer to reclaim an ability will be quite easy. This box contains a variety of special items that were not taken away during my rebirth, my greatest treasures. " Zoe showed him the piece of paper she was holding.
"This is a high tier master-servant contract, by completing its ritual, I will forever be bound to you both in body and soul as your servant." Zoe's eyes were fervent. An odd smile was quickly returning.
"Are you ready master. "Mikael nodded. They both kneeled down facing each other, the contract placed between them. She then explained his part in the ritual and begun.
"I Seraphina Lysandra swear unwavering loyalty to my master Mikael Theodoros Garmadon
I offer my breath, my blood, my soul, all that I have and all that I will have I offer to him.
If I falter, let the great flame consume me, if I stray erase me.
Let my name be ash, unless it serves
By the Great Holy Flame of Adolla, I swear!
Now and forever, I am bound.
Latom! "
The contract circle placed between them started to burn fully being engulfed in flame, soon after the paper was completely consumed but the circle with strange geometric patterns within it remained. Without his notice, a flame had been birthed above the circle. He noticed how the surrounding seemed to grow in darkness, how the flames seemed to absorb the very light in the room.
Zoe's hand had appeared above the flame, blood dripping on the flames. He noticed a strange sort of goldness to this blood as if it were more than just blood. The flames consumed the dripping blood, and the intensity of the darkness increased, the flame becoming the only source of light within the room.
"I Mikael Theodoros Garmadon accept Seraphina Lysandra's oath as my loyal servant
Her breath, her blood, her soul, all that she has and will have I accept! "
He placed his palm above the flame and allowed the blood to spill from his new injury. He could feel it now, like something else other than blood was leaving his body. The blood dripped on the flame and the once orange red color changed replaced with golden radiance.
The room was completely dark, the golden fire acting as the only source of light.
Mikael saw something, and he almost believed he had imagined it. It was like a distortion, like the flame was trying to show him something. And Mikael was sure he saw a figure.
No, it was two blurry figures…
The sole flame suddenly separated into two separate flames. The two flames rushed to each of them straight through their foreheads and disappearing. The ritual was over, light returned to the room and the two could finally see each other once more.
The end of the ritual brought a new sort of awareness to Mikael. He felt like he could command Zoe as he wanted. If he ordered her to die, she would do so. He could also feel a strange connection between them, one more spiritual than he could understand.
"Master as a sign of my great loyalty, I give you this storage box filled with my greatest treasures." Seraphina presented the box she earlier took the contract from. Mikael saw the joy as she did this but there was also a sort of reminiscing as she did so. A longing as she looked at the box.
"What should I call you now, Sera or Zoe? "He ignored the box and asked another question.
"Zoe, that was my mother's name. I lost her a long time ago." Her voice cracked but her resolve did not diminish.
"Huhh."
"Keep your Treasures Zoe. When the time comes for us to make use of them we will. And don't call me master, just call me as you usually did" He closed the box and pushed it back into her hands. While he was interested in the items within the box, it was just a mild interest. And there was no difference between Him or Zoe keeping the box. It was the same thing in his eyes.
"Then…Mikael at least accept this I believe it would be of more use to you. Unfortunately, I do not possess the scrolls for soul and Mana Aptitude. If only I knew…" Zoe took out a scroll from the box and presented it to him. She spoke with irritation at her own lack of foresight for not having the spare scrolls.
"What's this." He asked curiously while using Identification.
[
Item: Cursed Energy Aptitude ability scroll
Grade: Blue
Specifications: Awakens the innate cursed energy within a dreamer's body
Effects: Gain the ability Elementary cursed energy Aptitude
Requirements: None
Attributes: Gain cursed energy capacity
Warning: The scroll may fail to awaken the ability. The scroll will be wasted during this failure
]
"I'll use it later." He said storing the scroll in his own storage. He saw how her expression brightened. "Master, I can also give you knowledge over the different mission worlds. I have accumulated a large amount of knowledge over the years." Zoe offered once again.
While the scroll was interesting Mikael did not know how useful it was, he was more interested in something else Zoe would be able to give him. Her knowledge, that was what made her truly special.
"Go on Zoe, tell me everything you know." This was the main reason Mikael was uninterested in the scroll. Even if he did have the ability, he would be unable to master It to a satisfactory level. The entirely of this week he would spend under Zoe's tutelage learning every piece of information she would give. How much he could learn, that was up to how fast she could talk.
"Okay, but the knowledge transfer isn't the traditional method. It'll need…" Zoe spoke with a strange embarrassment Mikael did not understand. Why exactly was she getting flustered?
She then proceeded to walk towards him and to his shock, she sat on his lap completely mounting him. "Please excuse me..." She said and did something that further confused him. Her head moved forward, and their lips met, his lips had been opened and soon enough, a rogue tongue was running wild in his mouth.
Mikael should have always known she had bad intentions.' Could it be she was after my body this whole time!?' Mikaels wondering thoughts were soon stopped by a stream of information entering his mind, a bulk of knowledge filling in the gaps in what he knew. Movies, animes and books he had never read appearing within his memory. The kiss deepened both their tongues now fighting for dominance. His had coiled around her delicate waist, pulling her closer to him, deepening the intensity if their exchange. The memories flashed further, and he felt the bulk increase. He was quickly reaching his limit, a mild irritating headache sprouting.
"Huhh , huhh" Their lips separated both breathing deeply as they stared into each other's eyes. "This is a skill only able to be done between master and servant." Zoe offered a weak explanation. Her breath was hot and steamy, a beautiful shade of red on her caramel skin and a certain drunk delight in her eyes.
"Let's try again, we have the whole week right~" He said with a teasing smile and their lips met again.
…
[[Dreamer Garmadon, your Mission will begin in 10 Minutes.]]
A week passed, a week where Mikael did nothing else other than get information and digest it as quickly as he could. Mikael had gone through countless headaches, countless sleepless nights as well as even more countless organization of the new memories. It was quite stressful. And even still with all that time, the amount of knowledge was still greatly insignificant. For instance, in the aspect of random worlds based of games, Zoe truly had little knowledge. But it was worth it and it was not the hot steamy sessions that made say this…
Other than the memory transfers the two had been making use of their dream points. And Mikael quickly came to realize that he was in fact quite poor! Buying weapons, defensive equipment, healing items, food for daily expenses as well as even clothes for everyday use. It was truly a money burning ordeal. Especially buying weapons. It was damn to expensive.
With a total DP of 147,000 adding about only 3000 from the sell of the materials they got from killing those lizards and selling anything else not of use. Mikael had a total of 150,000 DP. The amount they had would have been higher if they managed to sell The Death bears C grade bloodline. But from the information he had received the current Dreamers had almost zero DP left. Dreamers leaved a very frugal lifestyle, their first week after completion of a Mission most Dreamers would have already spent the entirely of their DP on restocking and buying new equipment. So, they had left the item up for sale seeing that they neither wanted or needed the bloodline. For the Femur bone Mikael had originally wanted to sell it but Zoe had said otherwise saying that it could form possible useful weapon. He would have commissioned a blacksmith for it but by the time he had finished his buying spree, he was completely broke. And he had to save his remaining DP for emergencies.
This was when Mikael realized how much money Dreamers burnt on a daily. From the original,150,000 Mikael now had a meager 24,000 left! He had almost screamed at the unfairness. If he was complaining about the abysmal amount, what about other Newbie Dreamers. Weren't they even worst of than him.
Mikael had bought a Barret M107 as well as it's bullets. A purchase that burnt through most of his money. In total it cost 60,000 Dream points in total. But it was worth it. In the current lower Mission worlds, guns were considered supreme weapons. And a gun that had armor piercing capabilities was even more so.
[
Item: Barret M107
Grade: White
Specifications:
Type: Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
Magazine Size: 10 rounds
Weight: 13 kg (28.7 lbs)
Overall Length: 1,448 mm (57 in)
Barrel Length: 737 mm (29 in)
Effective Range: Up to 1,800 meters
Fire Mode: Semi-Auto
Effects:
Extreme Penetration: Can disable light vehicles, penetrate armor, and destroy equipment with a single shot.
Suppression Power: High-caliber shots cause psychological suppression to enemy units in a wide radius.
Armor Piercer: Ignores conventional body armor and light cover.
Recoil Mastery Required: User must have high strength or training stats to manage recoil and maintain accuracy.
Requirements: Strength:11, Physique:14
Attributes:
Kinetic Impact: Delivers over 13,000 Joules per shot – capable of fracturing concrete, disabling light armor.
HEIAP Compatible: Compatible with High-Explosive Incendiary Armor-Piercing rounds – causes internal combustion or shrapnel burst on impact.
Hydrostatic shock: Massive tissue trauma on soft targets, capable of one-shot elimination with center mass or limb hits.
Quality:80/100
]
His next target was a Medical supply box as well as an Expert explosion set. Both coming to a total of 50,000DP. He was practically crying blood at this point. But no matter the world he was in, he believed explosions would never not work. A purchase he found quite worthwhile. His final purchase in preparation of the mission world was a top-grade Laptop. This was mostly in hopes that he was sent to a somewhat futuristic world. If not, it would be useless. But that was the burden of preparing for any possibility.
[
Item: MSI Titan 18Hx Laptop
Grade: White
Specifications:
- CPU: Intel Core i9-14900HX (24-core, up to 5.8GHz)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR6)
- RAM: 64GB DDR5-5600 (Expandable to 128GB)
- Storage: 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD (RAID support)
- Display: 18" UHD+ (3840x2400) Mini LED 120Hz, 1000 nits, 100% DCI-P3
- Keyboard: Per-Key RGB Mechanical (SteelSeries)
- Ports: Thunderbolt 4, USB-C, HDMI 2.1, SD Express
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
- Cooling: MSI Over Boost Ultra with 4 Fans, 8 Pipes
Effects: None
Requirements: None
Attributes: none
Quality: 100/100
]
Other items such as clothes and food with no special effects were cheaper. Costing barley 1000P. So, Mikael had around 24,000DP left.
[[Dreamer Garmadon, your mission will begin in 5 minutes]]
Three other additional items had been added to his storage. A pistol, two daggers as well as a three-piece suit. These items had been given to him by Zoe, a gift in her own words. He changed into the suit, admiring how it made the blue of his eyes pop.
" Status."
[[
TRUE NAME: THEODOROS MIKAEL GARMADON
CODE NAME: Not set
AUTHORITY: NONE
TITLE: Not set
Equipable: Monster Hunter I
Unequipable Novice Crafter
INNATE ABILITY: SUPREME BODY CONTROL (UNCLASSIFIABLE)
HP: 280
MP: 55
SP: 200
Dream Points: 24,000
Unlocated Attribute points:3
ACTIVE ATTRIBUTES -
STRENGTH:22
AGILITY: 28
PHYSIQUE: 24
INTELLIGENCE: 11
BREADTH: 25
PASSIVE ATTRIBUTES -
CHARISMA:33
LUCK:32
PERCEPTION:35
WORTH: 205
ABILITIES –
1.MASTER ANATOMIST [PROFICIENCY 4%]
2.ADVANCED ENGINEER [PROFICIENCY 42%]
3.ADVANCED WATER STREAM STYLE [PROFICIENCY 36%]
4.ADVANCED CURSE OF KNOWLEDGE [PROFICIENCY 71%]
5.ELEMENTARY WEAPON EXPERT [PROFICIENCY 54%]
SKILLS-
1Augmentation
2Calm Mind
3Basic Explorer's instinct
4Black Fog
ITEMS-
1Claymore
2Mana stone
3Conquest Token
4Discount scroll order
5Cursed Energy Aptitude ability scroll
6Laptop
7Medical Supply Box
8Expert Explosion set
9Barret M107
10H&K USP .45
11Death Bear Femur Bone
12Twin Daggers [Enchanted]
13Clothes
]]
"System set Code name as White."
[[Codename set as white, Mission begins now. Choose either of the two missions]]
*********
[[
World: Terminator
Main Mission: Protect Sarah Connor from the Terminator series sent by Sky Net
Side Mission: Discover the method Sky Net found Sarah Connor's location
Mission Difficulty: C-
Mission time limit: 3 DAYS
Mission hint: TRUST NO ONE
Mission reward: Will be determined upon completion
Mission failure: Death
]]
OR
[[
World: Naruto
Main Mission: Escape the Uchiha Massacre
Side Mission: Ensure survival of more members of the Uchiha clan
Mission Difficulty: C
Mission Time Limit: 24hrs
Mission Hint: TIMING IS KEY
Mission Reward: will be determined upon completion
Mission Failure: Death
]]
He quickly remembered both worlds' information, comparing them instantly in his mind. The terminator world was obviously the easier choice of the two, but the Naruto world offered more opportunities. Mikael was more inclined with the Terminator world though. Not only was it a technological world, but he could also reap more benefits with his current strength. The mission for the Naruto world also gave him a bad feeling. Without his current knowledge he would have most likely have chosen it. But with Zoe's help Mikael saw the mission and could only say that it was a trap. A trap that would result to his death. He would need to face the three extremely strong existences of Itachi Uchiha, Obito as well as Danzo and his Root organization. And that would be accounting for their absurd strength and abilities! A thrill seeker he may be but he valued his life more.
"I pick the Terminator mission."
His vision flashed as he disappeared from the room.
******
Thank you for reading. Finally going to the first world which is the Terminator arc, stay tuned for more. Cover page will be changing for the entirely of the arc.
PEACE OUT !!!!!