I entered the cave with the stairs with my shorts around my ankles. It honestly took me a second to realize that my pants were around my ankles because I was in the cave. I was supposed to be getting my ass kicked by Mord’s younger self. But I was in the cave. Did I hit my head so hard that I forgot the training room? I hoped that two sessions weren’t all I got. I knew the treasure room, like the rest, was a one-shot deal, but if I didn't get to fight Mord, it would be a dull existence until my rescue. I was still delirious that I also missed that I missed the vending room. That was less of a loss. I can only window shop so much. While I did initially realize my pants were around my ankles, my revelation of missing two rooms distracted me. I was sharply reminded as I attempted to take a step. You guessed it. I woke up in a cave.

  After my impromptu nap, which was probably only a few seconds, I started up the stairs. I guess I lost a little weight since I made my shorts, so they were a little loose even after removing the two pounds of coinage. I eventually just carried the bag with one hand and my shorts in the other. I was alone in the cave, so there was nobody there to judge me on the state of my undies.

  It was after much trial and tribulation that I made it to the top. And much bitching. I was exhausted. You would think that a few pounds extra wouldn’t hurt that much. It was a really long staircase. I lost track of how many times I switched hands with the coins. Both shoulders were on fire as I gained the last step. I collapsed at the top against the still-sealed door. I woke up in a gray room.

  I breathed a sigh of relief. I was no longer hungry, thirsty, or delirious. I wasn’t sore, either. I was, however, still pantsed. My shorts were not with me. This was beyond mildly upsetting. I started to rant and rave about the injustice of it all. That lasted only a few minutes. I had lost my shorts, but my blades were still intact in their sheathes. I had shifted them to my shoulders at some point and failed to realize that they would have made a perfect belt. I put them back on my hips in a lament to my shorts.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  At least I was somewhat clean. While I felt like I could really use a shower and didn't know when I had last put on deodorant, I didn't smell too bad. I guess this room did everything. I was full. I was clean. I was rested. I was healed. I also wanted out of this fucking room.

  I didn’t lunge for the door, though. The coin debacle almost made me forget Mord’s lesson and the fact I had a burning ball of what I expected to be Potential and probably unaspected potential sitting right around my stomach. I went to pat it is a congratulatory manner when I felt something weird under my shirt. When did I get abs?

  I lifted my shirt, and sure enough, there was the starting of a six-pack. Did I always have these and now just burnt enough fat to set them free or was a getting stronger? Sexier? Curse this place and its lack of mirrors. I did a rough once over, getting very handsy with myself. Probably not as sexy as when Vex did it, but I think I finally got some of her joy.

  Thinking back to Vex gave me confidence. If I was her Paragon and that was as important as Mord made it out to be, I wouldn't be stuck here forever. Hells, Mord even said gods had already intervened to keep me alive. I was here for a purpose. It all started to click. Mord taught me the basics of cultivating potential, even if he never explained how. He talked about circulating it through the ‘loci’, as he called them, and that they would get stronger. I glanced back at the menu and saw that I was still six of six unlocked. I had to try to circulate.

  However, one did that.