Tower Climber (A LitRPG Adventure, Book 1) Jakob Tanner (reading comprehension books TXT) 📖

able to create an energy shield of some kind that blocked attacks.

It started to dawn on Max that this was a huge problem.

The creature didn’t have an offensive ability.

Without one for Max to mimic, it was impossible for him to win against this thing.

15

“Looks like your prodigy is struggling,” grinned Samuel Archer standing on the battle chamber’s balcony.

Sakura ignored Samuel’s taunts and kept her eyes on the battle chamber below.

“Is there a time limit on these things?” Samuel asked the guild clerk. “The boy doesn’t seem to be displaying any prowess whatsoever. This should not be a difficult test. How long do we let this sham go on for?”

Sakura watched Max as he stepped away from the slime and circled around it.

This might be a lost cause for Max, she thought. She couldn’t see how he could win this.

Shield Slimes were tricky. If Max had a higher strength stat it could break through its energy shield and then kill it. Or, if he simply had an offensive trait to break the shield. But his greatest strength—his unique trait—was proving to be an incredible weakness in this preliminary test.

Sakura shook her head as she listened to Samuel plead with the clerk to call off the test.

“If the boy fails this test,” said Sakura. “He won’t be able to become a climber. Give him some more time.”

“He doesn’t need any more time,” hissed Samuel. “Any half-witted kid would’ve figured out to use an offensive trait or break through the shield with their strength. You’re telling me your kid doesn’t have an offensive trait and is so woefully unprepared that he doesn’t have a strength stat high enough to compensate for that fact?”

“Let the boy take his time,” Sakura snapped back at the man.

The clerk returned to the conversation with a book in her hand.

“Climber’s guild regulations say the preliminary exam can last up to fifteen minutes,” said the clerk. “So Max still has ten minutes left to beat the slime at which point we’ll call the match.”

Samuel grinned at Sakura.

The woman looked down to the battle chamber below.

C’mon, Max. Do something.

Max circled the slime once more.

What was he going to do? The slime must have a weakness of some kind. He needed to break through that energy shield.

The adults on the balcony looked down at him. Samuel Archer crossed his arms and had an unimpressed scowl on his face. The clerk’s expression was placid like a referee. Then there was Sakura. She looked at him with deep concern in her eyes.

There must be a way to defeat this slime and pass the test. If he couldn’t, his whole dream was over. He wouldn’t be able to study at the climber academy. He wouldn’t be able to become a tower climber. He wouldn’t be able to search for his sister and see her again.

Everything he wanted, everything he dreamed for, it all hung in the balance of this one fight.

This fight that was an impossible match up for his particular ability.

He walked around the slime once more.

There must be an opening, he thought. Maybe the shield doesn’t completely surround its body?

Then he thought of something.

He rushed the slime once more from behind and threw out a punch.

The energy shield only formed when an attack came near. If Max was fast enough, maybe he could get an attack in before the creature could trigger its shield power.

THUD!

Max winced in pain as his punch made no penetration against the shield slime’s skin.

He wasn’t fast enough.

He had to give it everything he had.

Max threw out punch after punch into the slime.

His knuckles grew bloody as he tirelessly barraged the monster in an attempt to break through its shield with sheer overwhelming force.

After fifty punches, Max stood over the slime, out of breath. His fists were callused and bleeding.

The slime stood there, smiling.

Not a single one of his punches had made it through.

“Give it up, boy,” shouted Samuel from above. “A shield slime is one of the easiest monsters to kill in the tower. If you can’t manage to kill it here and now, you won’t ever be able to make it in the tower.”

Max shook his head.

Screw that guy.

He ignored the man and renewed his punches at the shield slime.

One of these swings was going to break through the slime’s shield and he’d show that jerk above what he was made of.

The man continued to taunt Max even as he ignored him and focused on the shield slime.

Amidst all of the punches and pain, Max started to think of a new idea.

It was a risky move.

But it was all he had left.

16

Max stopped punching the slime.

He looked up at Samuel Archer, smugly watching him.

“If you don’t think I can win,” said Max. “If you think I should give up. Come down here and say it to my face.”

The man smirked. “Gladly.”

Samuel jumped off the balcony and landed on the arena floor with ease and grace.

Such was the power of a high ranked and trained climber, thought Max. He won’t see what I’m about to do coming.

“Young man,” said Samuel Archer, addressing him. “You will not win this—”

“I’LL KILL YOU!”

Max screamed with all of his might and rushed at Samuel Archer with a raised fist.

Sakura’s shoulders tensed in shock as Max rushed towards Samuel.

What is the idiot thinking?

Max was going to get himself killed. Samuel was one of the highest ranked climbers in Zestiris. He could kill Max with ease.

The boy rushed towards the high ranked climber.

Samuel merely smirked.

This was bad, thought Sakura. Samuel wanted this to happen. This was why he was taunting him. He was going to use this whole set-up as a reason to hurt or even kill Max.

She needed to step in and stop this.

Samuel Archer smirked at the dumb kid rushing towards him.

This boy was making it easier than he had planned.

He could kill the boy right now, if he wanted. Or severely wound him so he’d never climb or fight again.

Climber law backed