After resting up and selling a few extra loot drops for quick Arcshine, Kael and Riven found themselves walking through the streets of Skyreach—finally taking time to explore.
The city was far bigger than they first realized. Layers of platforms hung in the sky, connected by rope bridges, rune elevators, and even floating orbs you could ride like glowing bubbles. Magic ran through the veins of the city like electricity, and everywhere they looked, adventurers moved with purpose—some laughing, others wounded, all wearing gear from worlds unknown.
Skyreach was alive.
As they stepped into a larger square, Grumm caught up to them, still wiping forge ash off his apron.
"Thought I'd find you here," he said. "You've seen my quest board—but that's just one of many. Every major city's got its own board, each tied to the System's tier grid."
He pointed across the square where a massive circular platform stood, surrounded by color-coded crystals and quest screens glowing with radiant energy. Adventurers lined up, scanning jobs and forming teams.
"That's the public board," Grumm said. "Skyreach handles Tiers I through III. You boys are sitting around Tier I right now. Tier II quests start getting messy. Tier III?" He tapped his nose. "You'd best have backup. Real backup."
Kael looked up at the glowing crystals hovering over the boards:
TIER I – Levels 1–10 (Green Crystal)
TIER II – Levels 11–20 (Yellow Crystal)
TIER III – Levels 21–35 (Orange Crystal)
TIER IV – Levels 36–50 (Red Crystal)
TIER V – ??? (Black Crystal – Locked)
Riven crossed his arms. "And Tier V?"
Grumm's voice dropped low. "The highest tier we know of. Rumors say only a handful of people have ever qualified. No one's seen the actual board. They say it's hidden—only visible when you meet some system condition no one's cracked yet."
"Level cap?" Kael asked.
"No such thing. Not really. The System doesn't just measure experience—it measures potential. You can grind all you want, but unless you evolve—change, adapt, make choices that unlock your deeper traits—you'll stall."
Kael and Riven exchanged a look.
"So," Riven said, "there's more towns like Skyreach?"
Grumm nodded. "Yup. Some fixed. Some drifting. Skyreach is just the start. There's Emberpoint to the east—fiery tech-magic city. Cloudvault in the skies—home to aerial races. And down in the Riftlands… well, let's just say only fools and legends go there."
He pulled a rough map from his belt—unfinished, parts missing.
"You want to climb the tiers? You explore. You map. You survive. The System favors the bold."
Kael grinned. "Then let's start acting like legends.