They moved to the Tower's central hub—a massive virtual plaza floating in a space filled with drifting shards of landscapes. Other climbers gathered here between floors, trading, recruiting, forming guilds.
As Riley stepped in, whispers spread like wildfire.
"That's him."
"The anomaly."
"The Glitched One."
"Is it true he rewrote lightning?"
"He's wanted by the Syndicate."
"No—by guilds!"
"The big guilds want to recruit him!"
Aeris walked close, trying to shield him.
"This is bad."
Kaela kept her hand on her sword.
"The Tower's rumor network is faster than magic."
Suddenly, a holographic screen appeared overhead:
BOUNTY NOTICE
RILEY CROSS
CLASS: ANOMALY / ERROR-TIER
STATUS: WANTED FOR ACQUISITION
REWARD: 500,000 CREDITS + GUILD IMMUNITY
Issued by: Red Syndicate
The crowd erupted.
Lyria inhaled sharply.
"They put a bounty on you!"
Riley froze. "What—why?!"
Aeris whispered, "They want your glitch. Your existence threatens the Tower."
Kaela stepped in front of him.
"Let them try. I'll cut every bounty hunter here in half."
Nyra scanned the crowd.
"Threat level rising. Seventeen hostiles approaching."
Riley panicked.
"We need a safe place!"
Aeris nodded. "Then we join a guild. No one will touch us under guild protection."
Lyria tapped her chin.
"And I know the perfect one."