by Prax Venter
Irrelevant Jack II
By Prax Venter
Cover by Jaka Prawira
Edited by Celestian Rince
Copyright © 2019 Prax Venter
All rights reserved
Author’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Characters with any resemblance to persons that exist now, or have ever existed, are purely coincidental.
Special Thanks
~ DeepMind ~
Machine learning research has inspired many of my characters and worlds.
Table of Contents
Irrelevant Jack II
Table of Contents
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The End
- 1 -
“Welcome to the team,” Jack said with a nod toward the old mage sitting at the bar.
Thymus slid off his stool, straightened his back, and held his head up high.
“As you so astutely deduced, Jack, I wish to join your climb in the Tower. I have sat idle for longer than a man should ever have to endure. And, as I’ve already professed to our elegant Innkeeper, yes, I’m sure I am ready to once again face the horrors within the Tower. I am ready to be useful.”
Jack gave the older man a reassuring smile as he and Lex approached the bar for their Rest Bonus breakfast. Thymus wanted this and was ready to argue even after he’d already been invited.
Jack extended his hand, and the Arcane Mage shook it firmly despite the frailty of his paper-thin skin.
“I’ve been waiting for the day you’d come join us, Thymus,” Jack said, then hopped up onto a stool. “Now sit down and get a good breakfast in you. Depending on how things go, I’d like to take out the Floor 24 Boss today.”
He noticed the blonde Bastion with the pointed ears stiffen in his periphery, but they both knew this was coming, and the sooner they were over this threshold, the better.
“The usual for you two?” Demi asked, a single silver eyebrow raised.
“Yes,” Lex said, snapping out of her inward focus.
“One Jack’s Egg Sandwich, please,” Jack said with a grin, reminding everyone that he had an item on the menu named after him. The tall woman in the white smock spun away from them with a nod and slipped behind the blue curtain. One of these days he was going to follow Demi into the kitchen and see what she did back there. Especially since whatever videogame nonsense was involved also created the appropriate smells.
“I hate to criticize your choice of a title,” the slightly electronic voice of Alt said in his mind. “But you do realize it sounds as if that dish is made using an egg you yourself laid…”
Jack’s smile faltered, and he sighed. Over the last few days, he and Lex had discussed how to go about introducing Thymus to the powerful stowaway linked to his mind and entwined with his decorative scabbard. Besides the heavily armored Kron guarding the Wall, there were no other Heroes in Blackmoor Cove, and Jack had hoped the time-lost wizard would want to join them eventually. If not, he had intended to broach the subject himself. Now that it was happening, they agreed it was best to show him the same way Jack had done with Lex. On Floor 1.
Seeing is believing, after all.
“Thymus,” Lex said, “I want you to know that we can handle covering what the Town needs to hold its Level. If things become overwhelming as you reenter the Tower, you can always Exit on any floor.”
Jack cringed internally. If he were reading the old wizard’s will to move forward correctly, her words seemed overly patronizing. But Thymus just responded with a slow nod.
“Of course, my dear. The last thing I want is to hinder your progress.”
Demi came spinning out from behind the curtain and placed Lex’s plate down first. Every morning since they had gained the ability to order a custom meal and control their Rest Bonus, the blonde Bastion had chosen a crab and mushroom omelet paired with roast potatoes and onions. Jack was served his “Jack’s Egg Sandwich” next, a blue fried egg, grilled onions, crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and extra mayonnaise, all on a toasted bun. On the side was a pile of breaded pheasant nuggets and a cup of a mustard sauce. Thymus received a bowl of vegetable soup with a hardboiled egg.
“That soup give you a big mana boost?” Jack said, before taking a huge bite out of his messy sandwich.
“Actually, no. I wish to focus on Magic Power. My Lightning Turret deals varying damage, and this spicy soup ensures the low end is sufficient and that the high end is devastating.”
Jack nodded as he chewed. He wanted to avoid discussing group dynamics and combat roles until Alt was part of the equation, so the three heroes ate their breakfasts quietly. Lex’s mind seemed to be focused inward, and Thymus seemed lost in his own soup. Jack wondered again how sane he’d be if it were him trapped inside the Tower, isolated for twelve years. Hopefully, the old mage didn’t crack in there. Lex was correct when she said they could handle climbing the Tower alone, but having more damage output would only make clearing the random Floors quicker and safer.
After he’d had enough, Jack let out a sigh of contentment, and an icon with a white eye over a blue square flashed at the edge of his vision. With a glance, he checked his Rest Bonus for the day.
Rest Bonus [+50 Health | +50 Mana | +25 Dodge | Gain 2 MP/ kill | Duration: Exit]
~ Breakfast: Made your way.
They thanked Demi for a yet another delicious meal, and as they left the Eye o’ the Storm, Jack invited Lex and Thymus into his party using their character interface.
“You both ready to kick that Tower’s ass?”
Thymus’ eyes went wide, his gray, bushy brows edging near the top of his head.
“You’ll find that Jack has some interesting ways of phrasing things,” Lex said as she equipped her black leather gear.
“Thymus, my friend,” Jack began, putting his hand on the wizard’s back as they left Demi’s Inn, “interesting is not strong enough of a word for what you are going to experience today.”
After a brisk morning stroll, they were under the impossible Tower. Jack looked up its seemingly infinite height as its smooth stone bricks stretched skyward farther than he could see. Ever since the last Town Level, everything in Blackmoor Cove had received a new coat of beautification. The Inn, the Townsfolk homes, even this unsettling structure filled with deadly madness had been spruced up.
They passed the fountain, its clear stream hovering steady at about seven feet, and Jack smiled to himself. These people had been pulled from the brink of oblivion… and this was only the beginning. A vision entered his mind of all the Towns and all the fountains across this world that he’d help soar into the cobalt-blue sky. He felt invincible.
Jack stopped, his boots sliding a bit as the smooth pebbles under his feet settled.
“Why don’t you go first, Lex? Then Thymus. I’ll be right behind. Once we are inside and determine today’s Floor 1 layout, we’ll stop and discuss how we should work as a group. I can’t wait to see an Arcane Mage in action.”
The bearded man smiled as a huge gnarled staff appeared in his hand. It was intricately carved from a smooth, tan length of wood with a translucent yellow crystal the size of a fist woven into the top.
Thymus gave Jack a quick nod
. “It is high time I take purposeful action.”
Jack Inspected the old-timer’s mage weapon.
Energetic Staff - [2-Hand Staff | Value: 134]
| Dmg: 10 |
| +250 Max Mana |
| +20 Magic Power |
| +50 HP |
| Lightning Abilities +27 Dmg |
| 25% Threat mitigated |
~ Strike them down.
Lex caught Jack’s eye, then nodded once. She knew he planned their entrance into the Tower so Thymus wouldn’t be alone by going either first or last. The pair had grown very close since their first kiss on the windy cliffs overlooking the stormy bay. Not as close as Jack wanted, but he had long ago decided that Lex was everything to him, and he could easily wait the long game. By the way her golden eyes shone on him now, they were closer than they’d ever been.
She gave him a sweet smile before she clasped the iron ring affixed to the Tower door and became a ball of brilliant energy. An instant later, Lex was gone.
Jack quietly waited for Thymus to do the same. There was still a chance this poor man would freak out at the last minute and understandably have an aversion to going back into the nightmare that had punished him so severely.
But, with a deep breath, the blue-robed man forced his wrinkled hand to grasp the handle. Jack’s confidence in their ability to push past this Level 24 blockage soared as he followed the Bastion and Arcane Mage into the Tower.
White light filled his vision before he found himself standing on a wooden boat under red, smoke-filled skies. Spinning in place, he confirmed that both Lex and Thymus were there. Behind them, near the back of the warped wooden deck, was the Exit Orb pulsating softly in its stone, birdbath-like plinth. A strong wind blew against Jack as a sail of shredded canvas flapped uselessly over his head.
A distant explosion drew their attention, and he discovered they were absolutely surrounded by burning boats. Today’s Floor 1 was the aftermath of a naval battle.
“This is new,” Jack said, stepping to the edge of the rocking galleon. A shoddy bridge made from wooden planks connected them to the next ship above the heaving waves, and gazing into the distance, he could see men fighting in clumps, scattered on the decks of various vessels. The wind picked up again and burning char mixed with sea salt filled Jack’s nose.
Lex came to stand next to him. “I’ve been to Floor 1 countless times… and every time is something I’ve never seen before.”
Jack rubbed her back and turned to face the old mage standing against the wind, his long gray hair fluttering to the side.
“Looks like we’re safe for the moment,” Jack said. “Time to show you all my secrets, Thymus.”
“Secrets?” the old man said as he turned to Lex. “What does he mean?”
“I am not from your world. I come from outside System Sana, and it is my destiny to push out all Corruption within. I was brought into your world by a guardian spirit. His name is Alt. Come on out, Alt.”
Jack activated the first skill in his third ability Path, Call Alt. An instant later, a miniature spaceship shimmered into existence in the middle of the boat. The tiny science vessel swiveled its jet thrusters to remain in position on the windy deck, then faced the mage and dipped forward in greeting.
“Nice to meet you, Thymus. I’m looking forward to climbing the Tower together.”
The old man gaped at the talking spaceship, and Jack wondered if Thymus was too fragile for this type of shock.
“You told me today was going to be interesting…” the mage said, then turned his wide eyes to Jack. “But I never imagined fate of the world type of interesting. Plenty of children have come to me, tugging my robes and asking me to watch this or that nonsense.” Thymus grew more excited as he spoke. “Not to say that you two are children, no- though the last I saw Lex, she was only- but no! Now is where I am now.”
Jack shot a glance to Lex, and by the look in her golden eyes, she was also detecting the madness in his voice. He didn’t really know what was ‘normal’ for the guy, and after his ordeal, perhaps no one did. Thymus continued, his wild eyes focused on Alt.
“And now there is this living device from the unknowable cosmos beyond? I need to know so much more. Tell me of your limitless power!”
Alt swiveled his thrusters to back a few inches away from the mage and spoke directly into Jack’s mind.
“Is this how I sounded the day you increased my complexity?”
Lex stepped forward.
“Thymus, it’s not like that. Alt is…” She trailed off as she faced the sleek spaceship. “He’s like one of us but with a few extra abilities. He’s not all-powerful and needs to level up as we do. We will take it slow and answer your questions, but I need to know you will keep your mind before we ascend one more Floor.”
Jack quietly let out a deep breath. He was glad she took this initiative. He certainly didn’t want to be the one to tell this old mage that he had to go home, and the two seemed to be close, like family. The message would be clearer coming from her.
Thymus rubbed his eyes and took a shuddering breath. Afterward, he turned his attention on the Bastion, and Jack saw unwavering focus in them again.
“Yes. I’m just so excited to be… here. To be anywhere. I will not be a burden. I owe at least this to you and your father... and your mother. Please tell me what this all means.”
“It means,” Jack began in his best commanding voice, “that while we may have some advantages inside and outside of the Tower, the danger is still very real, and the fight against the Corruption is far from over. It means we will to climb this twisting madness every day and take everything that isn’t nailed down until we reach the top. With good men and women by my side, we will save Blackmoor Cove… then the world.”
Jack hoped his inspirational speech didn’t come off as too over-the-top, but both Lex and Thymus radiated determination and hope.
After a short stretch of silence to let the words sink in, Alt moved forward and spoke again.
“I believe Thymus’ scholarly mind would benefit from hard facts. I am a being of pure energy living outside of your universe, and my influence is permanently linked to Jack’s decorative scabbard. Your Town grows in power from being fed items, and I grow from Sword-type items. The more influence I gain, the more I will be able to affect this world in substantially unique ways. Currently, I have augmented Jack’s max inventory to hold nearly limitless items. I have given him the ability to summon this physical form, me, for aid in battle, and the ability to alter this form to anything he has ever faced in the Tower before. And much more nebulous and impossible to explain, I can alter reality and your perception of it.”
Jack saw Thymus flinch as his eyes shot up and to the left. For a split second, he thought the old mage had seen an enemy, but his brain caught up, and Jack recognized the look. Alt had augmented his interface.
“This is truly astounding,” Thymus said, his gnarled hand clenching tightly on his staff. “I can see the whole party’s Hit points!”
Jack reflexively looked at his own heads-up display.
JACK HP 263/263 MP 160/160
LEX HP 330/330
THYMUS HP 260/260
ALT HP 40/40
Coins: 261
Inventory Value: 0
Alt Value: 11,001/15,000
Another explosion from cannon fire in the distance caught everyone’s attention.
“Alright,” Jack said. “Enough talk. The best way for all of this to become normal is to just jump right in. Usually, Alt can solo the first few Floors, but I want to see what you can do. So, Thymus, you’ll do all the work while we watch. We’ll be right behind you.”
The old mage stood tall against the wind coming off the sea and gave Jack a solemn nod.
“I am ready,” he said, before walking straight toward the edge of the weathered wooden deck. With barely a pause, Thymus stepped out onto the narrow bridge between the ships and began his sweep of Floor 1. His loose robes fluttered around his thin fr
ame as he used his long staff held sideways to help keep balance.
Jack smiled. He had a good feeling about the old fella.
Lex went after him, deftly placing one black boot in front of the other, and Alt hovered to her side, his thrusters keeping him in the air over the dark ocean below. The shorter Bastion’s leather armor fit snugly in some places, and he had a hard time keeping his eyes off her as she gracefully crossed to the next boat.
As Jack moved to join them, the ocean breeze encouraged him to take a swim, and he wondered how he would have fared if this had been his first Floor instead of the sparkling crystal maze he’d failed to conquer. When his boots hit the deck of the next bonfire of a galleon, Thymus was already crossing over to the next one.
His smile widening, Jack picked up his pace after the determined mage. Movement caught his eye, and he saw two men fighting with curved swords among the plumes of smoke two boats ahead of them. One man was dressed in an ornate, powder-blue uniform, and the other was wearing the sun-bleached and battle-stained tatters of a pirate. When Thymus stepped onto the connecting vessel, the pirate yelled out “Arrgh!” before decapitating the 1800’s naval officer and claiming victory.
“The gold be mine!” the pirate yelled out, brandishing his long, curved blade, daring the old mage to approach.
Thymus simply held out a hand and sent a cluster of purple sparks into the chest of the black-bearded privateer.
High Seas Pirate -72 | Defeated
The foe became a screaming amorphous blob of static before fading away and dropping a wooden spear onto the deck.
Oh yes, Jack thought. They were going to climb high with this new Arcane Mage in their party.
“Astounding!” Thymus shouted into the wind. “Those new words were its name combined with my damage!”
“Handy, right?” Jack yelled back. “Nice blast, by the way.”
Thymus gave him a sagely nod, then crossed the gusty wooden planks and continued his one-man push though Floor 1.
“Let Jack pick up everything,” the leather-clad Bastion yelled out while flashing him a smile over her shoulder.
Jack threw his hands up in mock frustration. “It’s a full-time job picking up the mess Lex and Alt leave all over this Tower.”