Unlimited Revamp for the Pawn

The sun is about to set, casting the city in a mellow glow of apartment lights and street signs. I stood at the edge of Second Street, staring at the remains of my e-bike. I'm pretty sure it's salvageable. I rang my friend, Raymond, a batchmate from the university.

"Hey, can you pick me up? My e-bike's had a rough night," I said, trying to keep my voice light.

"On my way," came the reply, and within minutes, my friend pulled up with this pickup. He helped me load the e-bike into the trunk, and we drove to the repair shop in comfortable silence. Raymond had a tanker ability like mine, but he had crowd control, which enabled him to roundup the enemies using chains and pull them in a single spot.

But he perished after a cave raid in New Zealand after he was recruited. His family was so distraught and I wasn't able to hear much about them after his passing.

After dropping off the bike, he took me home, waving off my thanks with a grin. I'll remind him to remain in the country for the meantime and strengthen himself once the monster wave starts.

"I'll catch up with you soon," I promised as he drove off. He jokingly went for a hug, which I took seriously and gave him a squeeze. He looked at me quizzically.

When I walked through the front door, my mom greeted me but she glanced back at the house, as if telling me something.

I stepped into the living room, my mood soured. There, sitting on the sofa chair with a can of soda in hand, was Uncle Jimmy, acting like he owns the place

"Liam," my mom said softly, slightly apologetic. I'm relieved I made the call earlier, or else Uncle would've dragged her to the lawyer's office.

Uncle Jimmy looked at me, his expression a mix of sternness and thinly veiled irritation. He forced a smile. "Your mom told me you're against selling the island. Mind telling me why?"

I took a seat across from him, my jaw tightening. The island is handed down to my mother as a gift, but Uncle Jimmy is itching to convert it into a beach resort, but his offer was laughably low - barely a fraction of its actual value. He knew we were in a tight spot financially, and he's intimidating me to give up.

"I have plans for it," I said, keeping my voice steady. "And your offer isn't even close to what it's worth." My father and other siblings are in the other room, but they are averse to conflicts.

He snorted and he tried masking the smirk on his face by taking a slow sip of his soda. "Plans, huh, how cute? Do you have the money to make those plans happen?"

I clenched my fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms. He was right about one thing: the legal complications of selling inherited property meant we couldn't easily sell it to anyone outside the family, unless the heirs agree and sign unanimously.

"Sorry, Uncle Jimmy," I said firmly. "We're not selling." My voice flat and final

His smile vanished, replaced by a look of disdain. "You're a nuisance, you know that?" he spat, standing up abruptly. He didn't even bother to clean up the soda he spilled on the floor as he stormed out, expecting us to clean up the mess he made ourselves.

I picked up a rag and a bucket to clear the spill Uncle Jimmy had left, my mind raced. We are at the Chasm's door, I would've just agreed to sell it and take it back once I got my ability from the tower back. I could force Uncle Jimmy to give up the island, but that's a more jackass move compared to what he did in the past.

"I'm heading out," I told my mom, grabbing my jacket. "I need to clear my head." I lied. The towers might descend tonight since SVERN in Europe has been activated. That's when the strange occurrences happened right after. I'm unsure if they have something to do with it.

"Where are you going?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry. She might be thinking that I have lost my mind. If I tell her now what would happen, she might not believe me.

"Just for a walk. I'll be back later," I said. In truth, I was heading to the island, alone. I might have to spend all the cash I have to reach my destination, but I know it will be all worth.

••••••••••••••••••••

Even though our family owns the island, reaching it is no simple feat. The journey demands a grueling three-hour commute by bus and boat - a chance I'm willing to make in order to get a new skill. This time, I'm determined to unlock a different ability. The last time, the tower from the construction office bestowed high health points , but now, through this new tower, I hope to awaken a finisher-type power or perhaps something arcane. My heart pounds with a mix of nervousness and anticipation.

The journey is long, but I used the time to prepare. On my phone, I've meticulously documented the major events of the next ten years, rewriting and refining details as memories resurface. One thing is clear: I must avoid Markus' team at all costs. To throw them off their path, I'll bait them into making different choices, ensuring their missions fail and Markus never ascends as a tower king. The only question is how.

For my family, I have a separate plan. I need to bring them here, by hook or by crook, to this island, and reveal the potential skills they could awaken. If all of us become favored humans, our chances of survival - and success - will increase exponentially.

The skies above are heavy and gray, devoid of stars or the moon. It might rain soon, so I need to hurry. At the port, the locals eye me with surprise as I step off the bus. My phone buzzes incessantly in my pocket, and when I check it, social media is ablaze with reports of mysterious bright orbs in the sky and crevices appearing on land. Trending hashtags like #sinkholes and #localburj dominate the newsfeeds.

The so-called sinkholes are actually caves, their sudden appearances sparking confusion and fear. While some investigate, most dismiss the sightings as hoaxes, as there are regions without towers and caves. The #localburj hashtag, I suspect, refers to the towers. I wonder if anyone has already been gifted with abilities.

Finally, we arrive at the island. I gesture to the boater to await my text message, but as he departs, I notice the tattoo on his arm - a tiger biting a sword. My stomach tightens. That symbol is associated with a notorious terrorist group. It's no wonder our family has avoided surveying this land; the fear of abduction or worse death, has kept us away. But now, there's no turning back.

As I step onto the island, a swirl of golden dust fills the air, coalescing into the shape of a dove. The sight is mesmerizing, a reminder of the tower's otherworldly nature. The dove ascends, and from above, a radiant golden orb emerges. Slowly, the tower materializes, its base forming first, rising majestically until its peak emerges.

The tower is a marvel to behold. Its stone body is adorned with intricate carvings and embedded with crystals and gems that shimmer faintly in the dim light. The massive door, ten times the height of an average person, is sealed with an arcane symbol etched deep into its surface. At the very top, an eternally rotating shard crackles with energy, ready to unleash streaks of lightning against any creature foolish enough to venture within a five-kilometer radius.

I take a deep breath, offering a silent prayer. This is it! The moment I've been waiting for. I place my hands on the tower, expecting the familiar surge of heat that signals successful bestowment of powers. But nothing happens. I wait, my palms pressed against the cold stone, but the warmth never comes.

Dread washes over me. No. This can't be happening. I wave my hands frantically, as I've done countless times before. My life as a tanker flashed before my eyes.

Then, as if in response to my desperation, my personal black scroll materializes before me. The familiar inscription glows faintly, and my thousand-point HP comes into view. My skill, my power, hasn't changed. Even in this rewritten past, my power remains the same.