Irrelevant Jack
Page 33
Off-world Terror -45 | Defeated
Lex finally got a hold of herself and began hacking the creature chasing Alt, and as a team, the second monster quickly disappeared into ash.
“It’s the same!” Lex cried, spinning slowly in place as she looked at their surroundings. “How can it be the same?”
Jack followed suit and discovered that they were standing in an enormous library. The bookshelves around them contained countless tomes of various colors and continued upward for about four stories before disappearing into darkness. At this point, he had experienced hundreds of unique floors, but he had never been ambushed at the entrance. There was also the fact that both he and Alt were doing reduced damage. As he did on every floor transition since he received his favorite item, Jack checked his lucky coin.
Lucky Coin - [Off-Hand | Value 67]
| Main Hand Damage -10 (Randomizes on Floor Transition) |
| Max HP + 12 |
| Dodge + 30 |
| Instant Exit: Entire Party Exits (Item destroyed on use) |
~ Holding hands with fate
It was the worst damage bonus he had ever seen, and he knew the coin needed to be swapped out for a shield, but his attention went straight to the hysterical woman he had come to cherish dearly.
“Relax, Lex. Talk to me,” he said, stepping close.
Her wild golden eyes focused on his and she rushed into his arms, sobbing.
“It’s the same. It’s all the same,” she repeated into his chest.
“Something is very odd here,” Alt said, hovering close. “This Floor has been loaded and running for years. This shouldn’t be possible.”
Then they heard a man’s voice yelling in the distance.
“I say, is someone there!? Hello!”
Lex pulled her face away and said, “Thymus?” before she tore off sprinting between the shelves in the vast library.
“Wait, Lex!” Jack shouted and dashed after her. She whipped through the bookshelves and around corners through the Floor until they came face to face with another group of three alien spider monstrosities.
The creatures saw them approach and began skittering swiftly in their direction. Both Jack and Alt blasted one with their ranged beam attacks while Lex readied her shield. It was not like her to rush headlong into danger like this, and when this fight was over, Jack was planning on grabbing her and holding on until she calmed down.
Then something happened that Jack wasn’t expecting. As the creatures closed the distance to his party, a bolt of lightning from an aisle between the shelves struck one of the creatures as it ran past.
Off-world Terror -140 | HP 105/245
Jack switched his beam to that creature and burned it down before it reached Lex.
When the other two did, Lex slammed her shield into the first alien terror to reach her as the second clambered up the bookshelf to her left with its needle-sharp claws.
She brought her sword down, screaming with rage as she hacked at the monster in front of her, but the second creature leaped from the towering stack of books and landed on her back.
Critical! Lex -60 | HP 230/290
“Behind!” Alt called out, and before Jack turned to look, he saw a terrible message.
Alt -47 | Defeated
He spun to see one of the dog-sized alien terrors closing in from behind and turned to focus his death laser on it.
Off-world Terror -45 | HP 200/245
The shiny, black monster skittered close along the waxed wooden floor of the library as Jack held his beam steady, but it was going to take five more seconds before the thing was dead.
Off-world Terror -45 | HP 155/245, HP 110/245, HP 65/245
It made it to him in three- leaping the last few feet in an attempt to latch onto Jack’s chest. Utilizing his focus on dodge, Jack turned sideways and was able to spin away from the attack. He threw out his arm at the last minute and brought his blade wide across the thing’s chitinous back, activating Double Strike as he made contact.
Off-world Terror -90 | Defeated
Continuing his spin, he turned to face Lex again struggling with two attackers and noticed she was losing health fast.
Lex -30 | HP 150/290
Jack blasted the one on her back with his Mining Laser, and Lex focused all of her attention on ending the wounded alien creature in front of her. After a few more seconds, the battle was over.
He sprinted up to the Bastion with the intent to hold onto her, but she dashed forward down the offshoot where the lightning came from.
When Jack reached the intersection, he saw an old man in blue robes shimmying around what looked like a silver Tesla coil- something he saw in a museum once that made his hair stand up on end.
Lex stood in the hallway panting as the elderly mage with a long gray beard came to meet her.
“Lex! You came back… But you’re all grown up. If you’re here, that must mean…”
The stranger looked past her and sprinted right for Jack. He held up his blade, not knowing what to expect, but the crazy wizard never gave Jack a second glance as he hightailed it back through the towering bookshelves.
“Thymus, wait!” she yelled.
Lex followed the man, tears streaming down her cheeks, but Jack grabbed her when she was in range.
“Tell me what is going on,” he demanded. “Was that the same Thymus from-”
Jack was cut off when a deafening screech hit them from further into the lofty hallway of books.
Both Heroes turned behind them and saw a creature that was half-beetle and half-bear crawl around a corner. It wore the same shiny, black, bug-like armor as the other monsters on this Floor and had thick, hairy legs ending in bizarre tapered points, like wrought-iron harpoons. The creeping horror was straight out of a nightmare.
Lex tore herself from Jack’s grip and screamed, “You killed my mother!” before she rushed the monster like a maniac.
With Alt gone and both of them half dead, there was no way they could risk fighting what had to be the Floor Boss. Even if he swapped out the coin for a better Off-Hand item and formulated a plan of attack in the microsecond he had, Lex seemed to be in no state of mind to act strategically. A little voice in Jack’s mind called him a coward for what he was about to do, but he knew that this was the only real option.
Jack whispered, “I’m sorry, Lex,” before he looked down at the silver coin wedged into his glove and activated Instant Exit.
After the blinding flash, Jack blinked and saw half of the Town gathered around the fountain. Demi stood in the middle and was holding out a cake with the number 25 written on it. Everyone’s mouths hung open as both Lex and the stranger called Thymus fell to their knees on either side of Jack.
Lex pounded her sword onto the round pebbles, sending up sparks, while the older mage in the blue robes collected handfuls of the smooth stones in his fists. Both were sobbing.
“Thymus?” Demi said, breaking the silence.
“Damn you, Jack!” Lex said, standing up. She turned her red-rimmed eyes to face him, and he had never seen her so furious. “I could have exacted my revenge- I could have…and… and you took that from me!”
The golden-eyed Hero stalked off along the cliffside toward the Mill, and Jack just watched her go. He had only the faintest idea of what was going on, but even if she hated him forever, he knew he had made the right call.
The old wizard struggled to get to his feet, and Jack reached out to him, feeling sorry for the old-timer. The man looked up into his eyes as he gripped on to Jack’s arm for support. He was stronger than the frail old man his curly gray beard projected. Deep brown, almost black eyes focused on Jack’s, and the old wizard nodded his thanks. Jack took a moment to Inspect him.
Thymus - Hero Class: Arcane Mage | Level 29
[Health: 25/260 | Mana: 404/520]
Relationship -
[Disposition: Reserved]
By this time, the group of Townsfolk had recovered from the shock and swarmed the two Heroes.<
br />
Thymus blinked away tears as he shook hands some while others patted him on the back.
“Melo, it’s good to see you friend. Jasper, it’s been so long. Garl, my you’ve aged. Everyone’s aged.”
Demi stepped in, still holding a cake she made to surprise Jack and Lex after they reached Hero Level 25.
“How is this possible, you old coot?” After she spoke, her eyes shot to Jack, pinning him in place.
He held up his hands. “It wasn’t me this time. I swear!”
The Mage looked over at Jack and then shook his head, his long beard swaying back and forth on his chest.
“It’s been a long nightmare, but it’s finally over. That is, unless I’m hallucinating again…” He slapped himself in the face, making a loud crack, and Jack saw the damage report.
Thymus -1 | HP 24/260
Alt spoke quickly in Jack’s mind. “He’s in your party because he was still in Lex’s party. One of her group was still alive inside when she reentered Floor 24, causing the same Floor to load. Apparently, this man survived in there for over a decade.”
Jack nodded. That explained a lot, but not everything.
“Stop that nonsense!” Demi said and handed Ryea the cake. She then grabbed Thymus and began to sing. Everyone remained still and quiet as the bygone Siren healed the old Mage.
Jack had seen Lex do this a hundred times, but Demi pulled out all the stops for this healing. A beacon of light shot up into the sky and bathed the area in a green glow.
By the time the mesmerizing song was over, both Jack and Thymus were fully healed.
“I think I know what happened, sorta,” Jack said. “He and Lex were still in a group when we entered Floor 24. The Tower must have presented us with the same exact Floor because he was still alive, waiting all this time.” He turned to the old man inviting him to continue the story.
Thymus nodded. “After Mica set off the trap, I watched that foolish boy die, and then I found myself separated from the others. I thought them all dead. I was ever so glad to lay my eyes on Lex, but I almost didn’t recognize her. When I saw that she had grown, what 12 years?”
“Something like that,” Demi said.
Thymus looked to the ground and nodded. “When I saw her standing there… I knew they had come back. I should have held my ground and helped fight, but I was a coward and ran for the Exit Orb. I knew the rescue party must have cleared the way to the entrance. Tell me, where’s Emme?”
The old wizard searched the crowd for this Emme person.
Demi bit her lip and shook her head. “Lex says she saw her mother die in the Tower, Thymus. She was the only one to Exit that day.”
The old Mage in the blue robes hung his head. When he spoke, it was at the ground.
“That impetuous rogue set off a wandering monster spawn trap after we engaged the Floor Boss. Emme and Lex held off the Boss while Mica and I dealt with the constantly spawning monsters. It was utter chaos, and we were overwhelmed. I backed myself into an alcove and put down my Lightning Turret. The Boss wandered the Floor, but if I stayed quiet, the beast always returned to the Boss chamber.”
He looked up and locked his eyes on Demi. “If it wasn’t for the Mana-heavy Rest Bonus that morning… Regardless, the monsters kept spawning and wandering because the trap had never been closed, and with every new foe slain, I recovered more Mana- just enough to cast another turret. The cycle repeated and repeated… and…” The old Mage began to sway on his feet and Demi came to his aid this time.
“Come on. Let’s get a hot meal in you and a soft bed.”
He began to weep again. “I haven’t eaten… I don’t remember…”
“Shh…” the silver-haired inn keeper soothed him as she led him away. “It’s over now.”
The group dispersed, and Jack found himself standing alone by the fountain. He figured he should go check on Lex, so he walked in the tall grass along the cliff after her. He passed under the whirling blades of the flour mill as the stormy sea provided the muscle needed to grind the flour.
Jack wondered briefly why the thing wasn’t torn to shreds by the Cove’s sometimes-violent winds, but then he remembered that nothing of this place needed to obey the laws of physics as he had known them.
It took much longer than before to reach the edge of the Corruption. The Town must have grown in power from the influx of valuable items and pushed its vile influence back. He found the shorter Hero standing alone in a grassy field, gazing out over the black and purple writhing mess spreading beyond. Her shoulder-length blonde hair fluttered away from her neck as the sea’s cool, salty breeze buffeted her from the side.
He walked up next to her and waited, silently lending her his support. After a few minutes, she spoke.
“I apologize for cursing you, Jack. Standing here and looking out over all of this has reminded me who my true enemy is.” She turned to face him, and he gazed down into her clear, golden eyes. “It’s not that… horrible Floor 24 Boss. It’s not my neglectful father or Thymus, and it’s certainly not you. You made the right call, and even though I may never get the chance to physically destroy the creature that cut my mother down before my very eyes, I live to fight the battle that matters.”
Jack pressed his lips tight and nodded.
“Lex, I am dedicated to you and this Town. By your side, we will both continue to fight for what matters.”
Her golden eyes each spilled out a single tear, and she lunged forward into his arms. Jack held the woman he loved for a long time. The sun went down, and he drank in her body heat as she pressed against him.
Eventually, he leaned forward to kiss the top of her head again, but she pushed away slightly and looked up into his eyes with deep longing. He paused, making sure he read what he thought was there, then slid his hand up behind the silky soft hair on the back of her head and pulled the Bastion in for a long, passionate kiss.
The wind picked up and pushed against his back, but he didn’t feel it. He only felt her perfect lips on his and lost himself in their embrace.
Sometime later, they walked back to the inn, hand in hand, but when they got near the front door, Harrak burst out and began stomping his way back to the Wall. Jack and Lex had a moment to look at each other before Thymus came out after him. The mage stopped at the corner of the inn and began to yell.
“Old friend, please, I did everything in my power! It’s been so long. I’ve wanted to talk to you…”
Harrak yelled over his shoulder, “You’ve been dead to me, and you will always be dead to me.” With that, the bygone Knight disappeared into the darkness while the old wizard slumped to his knees again.
“Come on,” Lex said, and Jack could feel determination radiate out of her.
They both ran up to the old Mage and helped him to his feet.
“Thymus, look at me,” Lex said, and the man with a long gray beard turned his bloodshot eyes to meet hers. “My father did not take the death of my mother well… and neither did I... But I know you aren’t to blame.”
The mage nodded slowly.
“This man is Jack,” she said, rubbing her hand on Jack’s arm. “He is a good man. You stay with him while I go talk to my father.”
The Bastion didn’t wait for a response before stalking after her old man, leaving Jack alone with Thymus outside the Eye o’ the Storm.
Jack reached out his hand to the Arcane Mage. “We’ve not properly met. It’s good to know you, Thymus.”
The old wizard took his hand firmly and nodded. “The feeling is mutual.”
“Have you eaten?”
“A bit, but I could do with another of those odd, blue boiled eggs…”
They both entered the inn and sat at a table. They ate while Jack filled the old, new Hero with his own story and what he was capable of doing for the Town. Demi came by a few times and corroborated everything, but Inspecting Jack and his Main Hand item sold his unbelievable tale more than anyone could. He left out most of the true stuff regarding the reality of the
ir world, or more aptly, the virtual reality of it. He also left out the existence of Alt, for the time being.
Jack was pleasantly surprised to see how sane the Arcane Mage was after his nightmarish solitary confinement in the Tower and set it in his mind to recruit the older Hero.
A few days passed, and everyone took it easy. Jack and Lex stopped each day at Floor 23, and Thymus spent some time acclimating to normal life again. Harrak never came back from the Wall and renewed his downward spiral of more and more joyweed. Their training ended the day Thymus returned. Instead, Jack and Lex woke up early and sparred with each other, Jack focusing on his dodging while Lex focused on her blocking.
On the third day after they pulled him out of the Tower, they found the old wizard waiting for them at breakfast time.
Before Thymus could speak, Jack gave him a nod and said, “Welcome to the team.”
The End
Of
Irrelevant Jack
Keep your eye out for Irrelevant Jack 2 - I’ll be honest, the more positive feedback I get about Jack and his struggle to save multiple universes, the sooner the story will continue! So, please leave a review on Amazon, won’t you?
~ Prax Venter
Jack’s equipped items
at the end of Irrelevant Jack I
Main Hand: ARV Alternis - [Sword | Value: 10,660/15,000]
| Dmg: 55 |
| Def: 15 |
| Hit Chance +0.10 |
| Crit Chance +0.20 |
| HP + 15 |
| MP + 30 |
| Magic Power + 7 |
| 15% chance to heal 1 HP on kill |
| +1 Sneak |
Off-Hand:
Chest: Wolf Leather Armor - [Chest | Value: 89]
| Def: 33 |
| Max HP + 60 |
Legs: Pirate Greaves - [Legs | Value: 108]
| Def: 38 |
| Max HP + 45 |
| Dodge + 18 |
Feet: Lightfoot Boots - [Feet | Value: 105]
| Def: 30 |
| Max HP + 43 |
| Dodge + 15 |
Hands: Serpent Skin Gloves - [Hands | Value: 110]
| Def: 29 |
| Max HP + 50 |
| Max MP + 5 |