Apocalypse Architect: A Tower Defense LitRPG

Chapter 123: Champion’s Altar

Fear sat heavy on the accelerator. Jax pushed the vehicle to its limit, the tires tearing through the loose gravel as he sped toward Sector 33. His mind was a loop of worst-case scenarios: a Tier 3 breach, a slaughtered crew, a smoking crater where his Bastion used to be.

He drifted into the valley entrance, the engine echoing off the canyon walls. Silence answered him.

“Too quiet,” Jax muttered, gripping the wheel until his knuckles turned white. “Did the Tier 3 wave not hit? Or is it already over?”

He drove deeper, eyes scanning the darkness. Then, he saw it—the warm, flickering glow of bonfires atop the central platform.

Light meant life.

Jax let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He pulled up to the base of the ramp, and before the engine even cut out, figures were scrambling down the ropes.

“Jax! You made it!”

Elena was the first to reach him. Her face was pale and drawn tight with tension, but the moment she saw him, relief broke through like the sun parting storm clouds.

Jax stepped out, scanning the group. “Status report. Everyone intact? Did the swarm hit?”

Elena nodded, breathless. “We’re okay. The swarm came… but it’s gone.”

Jax froze. “Gone? You mean you repelled them?”

“I handled it,” a cool voice drifted from the back.

Raven leaned against a crate, casually picking dirt from her fingernails. She looked exhausted, her skin waxy and pale, but her posture remained defiant. “I sent the Acid-Web Arachnids away.”

Jax turned to her, eyes narrowing. “You sent them away? You killed a pack of Tier 3 monsters solo?”

“No. Killing them would have been messy,” Raven said, stifling a yawn. “Don’t forget, I’m a Psionic Awakener. I mimicked the neural signature of a higher-tier predator. I projected an aura that told them this territory was occupied by something far worse than them. They fled.”

Jax stared at her. “You can do that?”

Raven shrugged. “It’s a new trick. Not exactly stable yet. They’re gone for now, but the fear won’t last forever. They’ll realize it was a bluff and come back.”

She swayed slightly, bracing herself against the crate. “I’m tapped out. Wake me if the world ends.”

Without waiting for a dismissal, she turned and walked toward the sleeping quarters, her movements sluggish.

“She saved us,” Elena admitted, watching Raven leave. “Over a dozen Acid-Web Arachnids charged the ramp. If she hadn’t stepped up…”

“We would be meat,” Barnaby finished grimly. “Boss, can we actually hold this place? One spider was a nightmare before. A dozen? That’s a death sentence.”

“It would be,” Jax said, his voice projecting calm authority. “If we were still fighting with scraps. But I brought back enough Stardust Stone and Refined Iron to turn this place into a kill box.”

He walked past them toward the central command node. “Debrief later. Construction now.”

Jax ascended to the platform. The Tier 3 Bastion had expanded the available build area, leaving ample space on the flanks. He pulled up the architectural grid in his mind.

“The Champion’s Altar is a 5×5 meter structure. I’ll place it on the left flank,” Jax muttered, visualizing the layout. “The Spell Factory has the same footprint. Right flank. Keep the symmetry.”

He selected the blueprints and authorized the construction.

[System: Consuming Resources…] [Constructing: Champion’s Altar (Tier 1)] [Constructing: Spell Factory (Tier 1)]

A pillar of digital light erupted from the ground, engulfing the piles of raw materials Jax had hauled back. The stone and iron dissolved into particles of light, reassembling themselves into intricate, glowing structures.

“Damn,” Jax winced as he watched his resource counter plummet to near zero. “This tech eats money. I need to secure a constant supply line, or we’ll stall out at Tier 3.”

As the light faded, a stone dais revealed itself. It was etched with glowing runic circuits, pulsing with a soft, rhythmic hum.

“This… is the Altar?” Elena asked, stepping closer, her eyes reflecting the blue luminescence. “It gives us powers?”

“It unlocks potential,” Jax corrected. “Similar to an Awakening, but cleaner. No mutation risk.”

“Like the machines the great families use in Redrock Bastion?” Barnaby asked, scratching his head. “I heard they use filtered Black Rain to force mutations.”

“Similar concept, superior execution,” Jax said. “This uses the System, not biological gambling.”

He turned to the group. “It has strict requirements. Line up. Let’s see who qualifies.”

The crew, used to Jax’s strange abilities, formed a line.

Gareth stepped up first, bowing his head eagerly.

Jax placed a hand on his shoulder.

[Subject: Gareth]

Class: Level 1 Miner

Proficiency: 100 (Ready for promotion to Level 2)

Awakening Potential: Incompatible.

Jax withdrew his hand. “Not yet, Gareth. Your potential is too low.”

Gareth’s shoulders slumped. “I knew it. I burned myself out digging too hard…”

“Wrong,” Jax lied smoothly, seeing the man’s spirit breaking. “You’re not burned out; you’re unrefined. Digging builds your base stats. The harder you work, the higher your potential climbs. You’re building the foundation for a stronger Awakening later.”

Gareth’s head snapped up. “Really? Hard work increases the odds?”

“Absolutely,” Jax said with a straight face.

“I’m going to the mine right now!” Gareth shouted, grabbing his pickaxe and sprinting into the darkness.

Jax shook his head. At least he’s motivated.

“Next. Silas.”

[Subject: Silas]

Class: Level 2 Miner

Proficiency: 121

Awakening Potential: Incompatible.

“Sorry, Silas. Keep grinding.”

Silas nodded, disappointed but resigned, and followed Gareth.

Next was Annie. The young girl shuffled forward, twisting the hem of her shirt.

“Jax… I probably can’t do it,” she whispered, looking at the ground. “Maybe you should skip me.”

“Don’t decide before you try,” Jax smiled gently. “Come here.”

He placed his hand on her head. The interface popped up, and Jax nearly choked.

[Subject: Annie]

Physical Constitution: 30

Burst Capability: 112

Loyalty: 90

Status: Eligible for Altar Awakening.

One hundred and twelve? Jax stared at the small girl. She has more explosive power in those skinny arms than a grown man. She’s a sleeper agent.

However, he had already promised this slot to Elena. Awakening Annie now might disrupt the group dynamic, and Elena was the acting second-in-command.

“Close,” Jax lied, keeping his voice encouraging. “You’re just on the edge, Annie. A little more time, and you’ll be ready.”

Annie let out a massive sigh of relief. “Oh, thank goodness. I didn’t want to take anyone’s spot.” She beamed at him and skipped away.

Jax watched her go, making a mental note to prioritize her equipment later.

“Barnaby. Front and center.”

The big man lumbered over, sitting on a crate so Jax could reach his head.

“Bro, just give it to Elena,” Barnaby grumbled. “She’s the smart one.”

“Shut up and sit still.”

Jax touched his forehead.

[Subject: Barnaby]

Physical Constitution: 90

Burst Capability: 170

Loyalty: 99

Status: Eligible for Altar Awakening.

Jax’s eyes widened.

Holy hell.

His own stats, boosted by the System and days of combat, hovered around 97. Barnaby, with zero augmentation, was sitting at a base 90 Constitution with a terrifying 170 Burst. The man was a biological tank.

“Barnaby,” Jax said slowly. “You are a freak of nature.”

Barnaby scratched his head, looking sheepish. “I just… eat a lot? I can cut back if supplies are low.”

“No,” Jax said, staring at the monster of a man. “You keep eating. I can afford it.”

He turned to the final candidate.

“Elena. You’re up.”