“Right now,” said Max. “I’m not sure. The city has it pretty well set up that people in the tower-zone can’t communicate with those in the outer-rim and vice versa, but I’ll figure out a way. What I need you to do is promise me, you’ll look after everyone.”

She nodded her head, determinedly.

“I’m sad to say goodbye,” she said, her eyes tearing up again. “But I’m glad you’re one step closer to achieving your dream.”

“Thanks,” Max smiled. “And hey—I think I helped you get one step closer to yours as well. I have a pretty good feeling the Mr. Grimes we grew up with is no more.”

They hugged each other again and said goodbye for the final time.

Max hurried out the door and through the streets of the outer-rim.

He only had fifteen minutes left to get back to the secret tower-zone entrance Sakura had brought him to.

He picked up the pace as he walked through the city he once called home.

This was the last time he’d come here, he thought.

He wasn’t going to miss it.

The tower at the center of the city loomed large in the night sky.

It felt as if he was walking determinedly towards it.

A shadow flickered at his side.

The glint of steel emerged out of nowhere.

Max grabbed hold of the attacker’s arm.

“Agh,” screamed the attacker.

His face appeared beneath the streetlight.

It was Seth.

So the bully spent his free time mugging people in the streets, too, huh?

He had always wondered why Seth picked on him so much. What had he ever done? It was finally crystal clear to him. He picked on those weaker than him so he could feel strong. Stroke his demented ego. That was the reason. Simple as that.

Max wished he still had that powerful punch ability from the minotaur.

“Maxie—” Seth shivered recognizing him in shock.

Max twisted Seth’s arm and kneed him as hard as he could in the gut.

The boy collapsed to the ground.

He kicked him again in the stomach, just to make sure the bully didn’t run after him to get some kind of revenge.

He looked down at Seth, groaning in pain.

In a little over twenty-four hours, the tables had turned.

Landing a good kick into Seth was a fitting conclusion to his life in the outer-rim.

He was a citizen of the tower-zone now.

* * *

Samuel Archer stood at the window of his penthouse home in the tower-zone.

His view looked over the whole city. The tower, the tower-zone, and even beyond the wall into the outer-rim.

The sounds of rattling chains echoed behind him, followed by the groans of several monsters.

“Settle down, my pets,” said the man. “I’ll feed you soon enough.”

He was waiting for someone. He didn’t like to be kept waiting.