Chapter 87: Exploring the Tower

The magical elevator opened, revealing a vast workshop illuminated by blazing furnaces. Hammer strikes echoed against the metal, and the air smelled of molten iron. A stout dwarf, with a braided beard adorned with runes, awaited them with a proud smile. "Welcome to Kragmir’s Forge. No blade in this world can match mine." Tala stepped forward, her eyes shining like a child at a fair. "Is that dwarven steel? Look at those temper lines, they’re perfect! What blend do you use to keep the edge from breaking?" The dwarf laughed with a booming sound that rattled the walls. "Finally, someone who knows how to appreciate a weapon! Girl, this isn’t common steel—it’s Obsidian Mithril, reinforced with runic fire. Forged over seven moons without rest." Zela unsheathed one of the displayed swords. Its weight made her smile with satisfaction. "This cuts like it’s part of my arm... I’ve never felt such perfect balance." Zyra struck with a massive war axe, testing it against a nearby stone block that split in two. "If this is just a sample, I’ll take ten." The dwarf raised an eyebrow. "Ten, you say... If you can pay in mana, girl, all ten are yours." Riven lifted a war hammer bigger than herself, laughing. "I think this hammer weighs more than me. I like it." Meanwhile, Elnara and Lira watched the bows hanging on the wall with some disdain. "Dwarves never understood precision," Elnara murmured. "Yes... but I admit the string work is flawless. Maybe they tried at least." The dwarf snorted. "You think dwarves don’t know about bows? Curse you! We don’t use them because we prefer to feel a skull split under an axe, but if you want a bow that can pierce a dragon’s hide, I’ll make it myself." Tala crossed her arms, wearing a challenging smile. "If you say so, prove it." The entire workshop filled with laughter, and even Jax was surprised to see Tala so fired up, arguing with the dwarf as if she were one of his own. Suddenly, Zyra swung another sword and clashed it against Zela’s. Sparks flew. "Let’s see which holds up better." Zela smiled fiercely. "When I break yours, I’m keeping it." The dwarf snorted, amused. "Those swords cost one hundred fifty thousand GRB each. If you’re going to use them as toys, at least do it in style." Manaia stepped back, startled by the price. "One hundred fifty thousand... for a single sword?" "That’s the cheap stuff," replied the dwarf, pulling out a gleaming rapier that looked like it was made of ice. "This beauty costs four hundred thousand. It can pierce a golem’s armor like butter." Jax examined the rapier carefully, whistling softly. "A+, almost S. Light, fast, but fragile against heavy weapons." "A+?" the dwarf repeated with a laugh. "Listen, boy, this is the best there is in this plane!" "No, the best would be S or S+. This doesn’t reach that yet." The silence was broken by Zyra’s laughter, nearly doubling over. "Told you to your face, Kragmir!" The dwarf gritted his teeth but ended up laughing too. "It’s been centuries since someone talked to me like that. I like your audacity, boy." Riven lifted a round shield decorated with runes and threw it against one of the stone columns. The impact echoed, but the shield didn’t dent. "This can block a fire-breathing dragon." Jax examined it and nodded. "S." "S?" Riven repeated, incredulous. "I felt it was S+!" "Don’t get carried away," Jax said calmly. "An S+ could block a dragon... and you behind the shield without scorching your feet." Everyone laughed, even Leila and Lyra, who rarely joined fights. After an hour of testing weapons, bows, and armor, Tala wiped the sweat from her forehead with a pure smile of happiness. "This was like a festival for me..." But Manaia spoke honestly, shoulders slumping. "All of this costs too much. We barely have anything left after what we spent on the guild house." Jax gave one last glance at Riven’s hammer, Elnara’s bow, and Zela’s sword, and sighed. "We can’t afford this luxury right now. We’ll come back later." The dwarf clicked his tongue, disappointed, but bowed his head. "When you have the means, come back. My weapons won’t rust waiting." With that farewell, the group gathered and ascended to the next floor. The elevator opened, and before them was a spectacle of luxury and desire. Soft, shimmering fabrics hung from the ceilings, and golden light reflected off polished metal and jewels embedded in the floor. The scent of exotic perfumes mingled with the warmth of moving bodies. The succubi serving as attendants approached with seductive movements, swaying their hips provocatively. Each wore luxurious and revealing clothing, showcasing perfect curves, smooth skin, and accentuated feminine features. Tight corsets, short skirts revealing long legs, and sheer lace stockings that showed more than they hid. Even the "orc" warriors and other strong races were women, with toned muscles and bodies combining strength and sensuality, wearing decorative armor highlighting breasts, waist, and hips. Each was dressed impeccably, their gleaming armor demonstrating high-quality craftsmanship. "Welcome, Hero’s Guild Leader," said a red-haired succubus, arching her hips elegantly as she bowed her head with a slight reverence, suggestively displaying her large breasts fully visible through her cleavage. "Everything you see... is the best that has ever existed. And if you’re looking for something even more exclusive... I can show you. On this floor, everything you see is for sale at a reasonable price." The succubus leaned in, licking Jax’s ear, making him blush intensely and look away. Zela and Zyra exchanged glances, curious yet nervous. Lira murmured in a thin voice: "This... is too much..." Jax walked among the counters, evaluating everything calmly, activating his [Temporal Evaluation] skill. The succubi presented a group of warriors of different races, each with a rating sign: A+, S-, S, S+. Jax activated [Temporal Evaluation], checking their true levels: [A+: Orc Warrior – Lvl 63, expert in forest and jungle combat tactics, specializing in traps and ambushes.] [S-: Wolf Woman – Lvl 75, former scout of the Brusk kingdom, expert in pursuit and target tracking.] [S: Young Dragoness – Lvl 84, heir to the Draconic Kingdom of Maeris, has royal lineage from the Ancestor Dragon.] [S+: Demon Warrior – Lvl 92, general of the infernal legions, known as the massacre monster, feared for millennia until exiled by the demon emperor.] "Aren’t there any higher-level beings?" Jax asked, surprised by the stats. "Young leader... beings above 96 are almost impossible to enslave. Even here, with our GRB system contracts, we only handle up to S+," the succubus replied with a mischievous smile, showing cleavage that seemed to defy gravity. Jax frowned and asked: "And how do you ensure they don’t escape or disobey?" "Each of us has an enslavement contract registered in the GRB system," explained another black-haired succubus, adjusting her corset coquettishly. "There’s no way to break it. Everything is controlled by the guild’s magic. Even the strongest warriors obey without hesitation." The guild girls exchanged surprised glances. Manaia murmured: "It’s... overwhelming... to think such powerful beings are just simple slaves here." Tala smiled, a gleam in her eyes: "Leave her be, Manaia. If Jax wants, he can take advantage however he likes." The succubi approached, showing the attributes and skills of each slave or assistant, moving gracefully and flirting with Jax and the girls. "This warrior can train your soldiers and maintain your army’s discipline... and is excellent in hand-to-hand combat, can endure as many rounds in bed as you want," said a succubus, leaning in and brushing Jax’s waist lightly. "Price: 500,000 GRB points." Jax activated [Temporal Evaluation]: [S+ Level. Perfect balance of strength and speed, plus control abilities, virgin.] Manaia, red with embarrassment, crossed her arms: "Are we... really going to need this...?" Tala nudged her playfully: "Leave her, Manaia. If Jax wants it, we can use it to our advantage." After reviewing everything, the group decided not to spend immediately, justifying it with needing to organize the village first. The succubi saw them off with sensual gestures and promises that the best specimens would be waiting when they returned. "Remember, master... only the very best will be available to you," said the red succubus, turning and revealing the perfect line of her back and legs before disappearing into the labyrinth of fabrics and lights. The group gathered and entered the elevator, the doors closing behind them. A playful tension filled the air as the girls surrounded Jax, their expressions a mix of amusement and mock warning. "Don’t even think about buying all those whores," Zela said, crossing her arms with a smirk, her tone both teasing and serious. "If you do, we’ll make sure to drain you dry... until you can’t take another drop," Zyra added, her eyes gleaming with playful menace. Tala leaned close, her voice dripping with mock jealousy: "That goes for you too, Jax. You better not get carried away. We’ll know... and we won’t let it slide." Jax could only chuckle, a hint of nervousness in his smile, as the elevator began to rise to the next floor. The girls exchanged mischievous glances, clearly enjoying their playful dominance over him.