Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

The elevator doors slid open, revealing a wall of armored chests. Several security guards immediately locked their eyes on Jax.

“I thought I made myself clear,” the Guard Captain snarled, his face twisted in annoyance. “This floor is under temporary lockdown. Why the hell are you back?”

He waved a hand dismissively, signaling two of his subordinates to grab Jax and toss him back into the elevator.

“Hold on,” Jax said, his voice steady. “I’m here in a different capacity this time.”

The Captain paused, raising an eyebrow. “Different capacity? Did you change jobs in the last ten minutes? Look, kid, I don’t care what hat you’re wearing. You aren’t getting in.”

The guards stepped forward, reaching for Jax’s shoulders.

Jax didn’t flinch. He calmly reached into his pocket and produced the golden card, holding it up between two fingers. “I’m entering as a client. Are you still going to throw me out?”

The guards froze mid-stride, their eyes glued to the shimmering gold card.

The Captain’s jaw dropped slightly. He stared at Jax, bewilderment replacing his earlier aggression. “Huh? What is this? You’re here to… participate in the auction?”

“That’s right,” Jax nodded. “Or are you going to block a VIP guest, too?”

The Captain scrutinized Jax for a long, uncomfortable moment. “Where did you get a card like that?”

“I paid for it, obviously. How else?”

The Captain frowned, snatching the card to inspect it. It wasn’t just a standard entry pass; it was a top-tier VIP credential for the entire clubhouse. Suspicion flickered in his eyes.

“Do you… do you even know what this card represents?”

Jax didn’t have a clue, nor did he care. All he knew was that it was his ticket to Miss Hazel and, by extension, Elena.

“Does it matter?” Jax asked coldly.

The Captain hesitated, then leaned over to whisper something to one of his squad members. Straightening up, he blocked Jax’s path again. “Sorry. I suspect this ID might be fraudulent. I need to verify your identity with management. You can enter only after we confirm you’re legitimate.”

Jax’s eyes narrowed. “You’re deliberately stalling. I don’t recall having a personal grudge against you.”

“I’m responsible for the security of the ninth floor,” the Captain stated, crossing his arms. “I have to be thorough.”

Anxiety coiled in Jax’s gut. Every second wasted here was a second closer to Elena’s potential demise. If this bureaucrat caused harm to come to her, Jax vowed to flay him alive. But making a scene now would only get him detained.

“Fine,” Jax spat, glaring at the man. “Check. But mark my words—once this auction is over, I’m filing a formal complaint against you.”

The Captain shrugged, unimpressed. “Suit yourself.”

He turned to his radio, leaving Jax to fume in the hallway. The Captain was a stone wall; threats wouldn’t move him.

Minutes ticked by like hours. Finally, the guard returned, but he wasn’t alone. Miss Hazel was striding purposefully beside him.

“Why are you here?” Jax asked, momentarily stunned.

Miss Hazel ignored him, marching straight up to the Captain. Her voice was ice-cold. “Are you questioning the financial strength of The Sterling Syndicate? Or are you personally trying to antagonize me? Do you not know my relationship with Mr. Zhou?”

The Captain blinked, a flicker of panic finally breaking his composure. He bowed his head respectfully. “Miss Hazel, I apologize. I truly didn’t know. Just a moment ago he was your assistant, and now he holds a VIP card… I had to investigate. The guests on the ninth floor are the most prominent figures in Redrock Bastion. I have to ensure their safety.”

“Hmph! You’re very brave to risk offending The Sterling Syndicate over protocol,” Miss Hazel scoffed. “Fine. Wait here. After your shift ends today, don’t bother coming back.”

She didn’t wait for his response. She stepped to Jax’s side and wrapped her arm intimately around his.

“See this? He is my boyfriend,” she declared, her tone leaving no room for argument. “Do you have any other objections? Can we go in now?”

Sweat beaded on the Captain’s forehead. He nodded quickly. “Of course! Miss Hazel, I admit my mistake. Please, go right in.”

He waved his hand, and the wall of guards parted instantly.

Miss Hazel dragged Jax briskly down the corridor until they were out of earshot. As soon as they were alone, her demeanor shifted from imperious to frantic.

“Miss Elena is in danger,” she whispered urgently. “She’s merchandise.”

“What? Merchandise?” Jax felt a ringing in his ears, a sudden, cold shock to his system. “You’re… you’re not joking, are you?”

“There’s no time to explain,” Miss Hazel hissed. “Her lot is coming up soon. If you want to save her, you need to buy her. Do you have money? Credits?”

“Yes,” Jax nodded rapidly. “I have money. Can I pay directly with Cores?”

“Yes. Bidding starts at Tier 2 Cores. You’d better have a lot,” she warned. “The bidding for these ‘Test Subjects’ is fierce. Every major family wants them. I saw the manifest—Elena is listed as an S-Grade commodity. Her starting bid is one Tier 3 Core. Do you have that kind of wealth?”

Jax froze. “Shit. That expensive? A Tier 3 Core just to start?”

“Exactly. One Tier 3 Core. How much do you have?”

Jax mentally scanned his spatial storage. One thousand Tier 2 Cores. One thousand Tier 1 Cores. One Tier 3 Core.

The exchange rate was brutal but standard. One hundred Tier 1s made a Tier 2. One hundred Tier 2s made a Tier 3. His thousand Tier 2 Cores converted to ten Tier 3s. Plus the one he already had.

“Eleven,” Jax said. “I have the equivalent of eleven Tier 3 Cores. Is that enough?”

Miss Hazel stopped walking and stared at him, genuine shock on her face. “What? You actually have that many Cores?”

“Yeah. Is it enough?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted, shaking her head. “Based on the earlier bids, it should be. But if it’s not, I can cover the difference. I have ten Tier 3 Cores on me.”

Jax let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Thank you. Really.”

“Go. Hurry inside. You know how auctions work. I need to get back to the stage.”

Jax nodded and slipped through the rear entrance of the auction hall.

The proceedings were currently paused, likely due to Miss Hazel’s sudden departure to rescue him. The room was dimly lit, filled with the murmurs of Redrock Bastion’s elite. Jax found an empty seat in the shadows.

On the stage, three large iron cages sat under heavy black drapes. Through the gaps in the fabric, he could make out the shapes of human legs huddled inside.

Jax scanned them anxiously, trying to guess which one held Elena. Miss Hazel said she’s S-Grade. She wouldn’t be lumped in with the others. He looked closer. The legs in the cages seemed too thick, too rough. None of them looked like her.

Suddenly, the stage lights flared to life.

Miss Hazel stepped back onto the platform, her professional smile firmly in place, though Jax noticed the tightness around her eyes. She glanced briefly in his direction and gave a microscopic nod.

Jax returned a faint smile and waited.

“Apologies for the delay, everyone,” Miss Hazel announced, her voice amplified through the hall. The crowd quieted, the atmosphere thickening with renewed anticipation. All eyes were glued to the covered cages.

“We now move to the highlight of the evening,” Miss Hazel continued. “As many of you know, the next lots are the highly anticipated S-Grade Test Subjects. These individuals have been rigorously screened. They are extremely precious commodities, whether for pharmaceutical trials or Awakening experiments. With the Black Rain continuing to fall, securing a viable subject is an investment that guarantees a return.”

Miss Hazel stepped back, letting Julian take center stage. She clearly had no stomach for this part of the business. Julian, however, looked energized.

Jax listened to the whispers of the bidders around him and finally understood the horror of the term “Test Subject.”

The Black Rain was the only catalyst for humanity to Awaken, but it was toxic. Direct exposure was a gamble with death. To harness the power safely, scientists had to extract specific compounds from the rain. But these extracts were volatile. They couldn’t just be injected into heirs of noble families.

They needed lab rats. Human lab rats.

A “qualified” Test Subject was someone resilient enough to survive the initial phases of injection, paving the way for the perfected serum.

Julian beamed at the crowd, his face flushed with excitement. “Now, let us present the data for Test Subject S1! Please look at the screen!”

The massive display behind him flickered to life, projecting a high-resolution photograph.

It was Elena.

Jax’s heart plummeted into his stomach.