“No—no, we’re gonna die! We’re gonna die!” Pica screamed, slamming her fists against the shimmering barrier that sealed us in.

  “Shut the fuck up!” I snapped, voice cracking under pressure. “Stop whining, or we really will die!”

  Something was wrong. Our core spells, Summon Treant, Overload, Rejuvenation, were all gone. And the heavy, deliberate footsteps of the Gnoll Berserker were getting louder.

  “Okay, stay calm,” I said, forcing steadiness into my tone. “Alwen, use Tether on the enemy.”

  I grabbed Pica by the shoulders. “Focus, alright? Stay behind and maintain Living Armor. Can you do that?”

  She didn’t speak, just gave a quick, panicked nod.

  I barely finished laying out the plan before the monster appeared.

  It was enormous. A hulking, hyena-like brute with jagged teeth and claws like scythes. Compared to this beast, the Gnoll Archer was a toddler.

  The creature let out a guttural, broken cackle before charging straight at us.

  Alwen raised his staff. A blue thread of energy shot out, anchoring to the monster’s chest. Its movements slowed instantly, and a faint pulse of energy surged between them, lowering resistance on both sides.

  I nodded to Pica.

  Golden-green vines coiled around Alwen, then, through the Tether, snaked outward. The spell twisted, its protection inverted into a strangling bind that wrapped around the creature, digging deep into its flesh.

  “I didn’t know Tether could be used like this,” Alwen breathed, half in awe.

  “Just drink your potion!” I barked.

  He flinched, then gulped down the Painbane Potion. The deep violet liquid shimmered as it hit his system, dulling all pain, while through the Tether, the effect reversed.

  The Gnoll convulsed, shrieking as pain flooded its nerves. It crashed to its knees, muscles locking in torment.

  We didn’t waste the chance. Alwen and I struck together, blow after blow, until its growls turned to choked gasps.

  But it wasn’t a Black Crown monster for nothing.

  Its body tensed, heat rippling through the air.

  “Shit—”

  I dashed toward Alwen, activating Windstride just as it roared.

  A blast of fiery energy erupted outward, a cone of yellow-orange flame scorching the floor. The shockwave hit like a hammer, sending us flying.

  I hit the ground hard. Flames clung to my armor, searing into my skin. Worst of all, our spells were jammed.

  The Tether snapped. Living Armor dissolved.

  “Inner Fire…” I muttered as the beast rose, now wreathed in roaring flames. Its claws glowed like molten metal, fur blazing orange. It looked unstoppable.

  If not for the lingering slow from Windstride, we’d already be dead.

  “Run!” I shouted.

  We didn’t argue. We ran. Heat and smoke biting at our heels as the Gnoll’s flaming roar echoed behind us.

  “Why is it so fast?!” Pica shrieked, stumbling over her own feet.

  “Because it’s angry and on fire!” I snapped, half-dragging her by the arm.

  The ground trembled with every step behind us. The distance kept shrinking.

  “I’ll hold it off!” I stopped mid-sprint. “Help me as soon as your spells are ready!”

  My fingers brushed against a small gourd in my pouch. Not much, but maybe enough.

  “Time to put out that fire.”

  I hurled the water straight at the charging Gnoll. It hissed on contact, steam rising, but the beast only roared louder.

  “Damn it. It didn’t work.”

  I threw another splash and turned to run. Too late.

  Its claws raked across my back.

  I spun and swung my staff, but the monster batted it aside like a twig. Desperate, I splashed the remaining water in its face before jabbing my staff into its open jaws.

  It bit down hard. The staff jammed in place.

  “Take it, then!” I spat, letting go and scrambling backward, only for another slash to tear across my thigh. My leg buckled. I hit the stone floor hard.

  Lightning crackled.

  Alwen had reattached the Tether and chugged a bright yellow potion, the Thunderlash Vial. Energy surged between him and the Gnoll, sparks dancing violently across its burning fur.

  He raised his staff, channeling a surge of Mana crackling with electricity. The Gnoll jolted violently, spasms wracking its body as lightning ripped through it.

  The potion granted Alwen lightning-infused attacks and applied a debuff to the monster, making it suffer a shock effect whenever it was damaged.

  I crawled away as Pica rushed over and poured a healing potion into my mouth. The cool liquid dulled the pain just enough to make breathing possible.

  The Gnoll was still alive, twitching, refusing to fall. The longer it fought, the stronger it became.

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  We needed to end this, now.

  I pulled out the mid-rank healing potion Vallen had given me, feeling a twinge of reluctance.

  “Alwen, drink this,” I said, handing it to him.

  “No need, I’m not hurt.”

  “It’s not for you.”

  He blinked, then realization dawned. Without hesitation, he downed it.

  The Gnoll convulsed violently. Through the Tether, the potion’s healing power inverted, its restorative energy twisting into torment, searing through its veins like liquid fire.

  It howled, light bursting from its body as the flames died.

  [Special Event: Challenge 2 of 3 Completed]

  “That was brilliant!” Alwen shouted, throwing an arm around me.

  “Careful,” I winced. “Still bleeding here.”

  He laughed weakly.

  “Hey, guys, check this out!” Pica called, her voice cutting through the fading hum of battle. The air was still heavy with heat and smoke as she pointed at something on the ground.

  It was a small, semi-transparent orb pulsing in hues of molten orange and ember red.

  I hurried over and crouched beside it. Up close, I could see a faint, ghostly silhouette swirling within, a distorted shadow of the Gnoll Berserker itself.

  I reached out and picked it up.

  The orb nestled perfectly in my palm, light as a feather, yet oddly solid, as if existing in two states at once. Despite its fragile look, it didn’t crack when I pressed my thumb against it.

  “It’s a Soul Fragment!” Alwen exclaimed, eyes wide with excitement. He hopped up and down like a kid who’d just found candy.

  Pica blinked. “The Soul Fragment? From that monster?”

  “Yup!” Alwen grinned, puffing his chest. “We got one this early? Luck’s finally on our side!”

  I turned the orb in my hand, watching the ember-like light flicker within.

  “What should we do with it?” Alwen asked eagerly, already snatching it from my hand.

  “It suits you the most,” I said quietly.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Do you even know what it does?”

  “Increases Vitality and Health Regen, and a bit of Agility too,” I explained. “But the real gem is its passive, Kindled Spirit.”

  “I know that one!” Pica cut in before Alwen could speak. “It amplifies any buff you receive. Now I see why you said it suits him.”

  Alwen’s grin widened. “What about the active skill?”

  “Inner Fire. You saw it in action,” I said.

  “You mean that fire blast? That was incredible!” His eyes gleamed like a kid staring at a new toy.

  “Yeah, well, don’t get too excited,” I warned. “Druids lack Soul Power. You won’t be able to use it. But even without the active skill, it’ll still boost your combat strength a lot.”

  His shoulders slumped briefly, but the disappointment didn’t last long.

  Pica crossed her arms. “Hold on. This thing’s worth a fortune, right? What about us?”

  I knew exactly what she meant.

  “Relax, I’ll pay you guys back,” Alwen said with an awkward grin, scratching his nose. “Just… let me owe you for now.”

  Before either of us responded, Alwen lifted the glowing orb and swallowed it whole.

  “How does it taste?” I asked, crossing my arms.

  Alwen grinned, his eyes flickering faintly orange. “Tastes like power.”

  ***

  Other than stronger monsters, the Black Crown Room had other notable differences.

  “If the others find out about this, they’ll lose their minds,” Pica said, scooping a handful of Mana Stones from the treasure chest that had appeared along the stairs.

  Aside from the chest, there was also a black statue, a one-and-a-half-meter-tall figure draped in a hooded robe, massive wings spread wide across its back. Both hands held a golden skull pressed against its chest, as if guarding it.

  “So… we just touch it to get out of here?” Alwen asked, leaning in to study the statue’s eerie details.

  “The real question is,” I said quietly, “do you two want to keep going?”

  Doubt stirred in my chest. This was the second time something unexpected, something outside my knowledge, had nearly gotten me killed.

  “Of course! We agreed to stop at floor twenty, right?” Alwen answered quickly, tone brimming with confidence. “Besides, I’ve gotten stronger.”

  I turned to Pica. “And you?”

  She hesitated, then nodded slowly. “Honestly… it feels safer here than outside. Only one monster appears at a time and we can rest as long as we want on each floor.”

  “And no other adventurers to mess with us,” Alwen added with a grin.

  They both had a point. Maybe I was being too paranoid.

  “Alright then,” I said, exhaling as I helped Pica empty the chest. “We stay on course.”

  After making sure we hadn’t left a single piece of loot behind, we slipped back into our routine, making our way through the Descent of Despair floor by floor.

  The monsters grew stronger, but Alwen’s Soul Fragment had changed everything.

  “You see that? It only took a few hits!” Alwen grinned triumphantly after frying a massive Gargantua with his Overload. The crackling surge of lightning around him looked far more potent than before. We didn’t even need the Treant as a shield anymore.

  “Looks like we can go deeper than planned,” he said confidently.

  The same thought I’d had when I first entered this place in Dreadspire, I mused grimly. And I’d paid a hefty price for it.

  It wasn’t the monsters that made the Descent of Despair dangerous.

  It was greed.

  “Stick to the plan, okay?” I reminded him. “From what I’ve read, past floor twenty, the difficulty spikes exponentially.”

  “Okay, if you say so,” Alwen replied, clearly unconvinced.

  We gathered the loot in silence before heading toward the next staircase. A crimson door with the number 13 shimmered faintly at the far end of the chamber.

  “I think that’s enough for today,” I said, glancing at my Lunaris.

  “Yeah, I’m starving and sleepy,” Pica said, stretching.

  We spent some time cleaning up, washing off the grime, setting up Canopy Pods, and preparing dinner. The aroma of roasted parsnips and dried fish filled the small camp.

  “So,” Alwen began between bites, “what are your goals?”

  “To survive the Tower, obviously,” Pica said.

  “No, I mean your real goals. Long-term ones. Something beyond just staying alive in this place.”

  I paused, caught off guard. “I… don’t know,” I admitted. I thought the answer was obvious—go back to my world. But somehow, I felt more alive here. “For now, I just want to get stronger. Strong enough not to worry about quotas or annual taxes.”

  “I want to get stronger too,” said Pica softly. “To protect the people around me instead of always being the one protected.” She looked down at her bowl, eyes distant. “How about you?”

  “I want to become an Instructor,” Alwen said firmly. His conviction surprised me.

  “With that, I can make a real impact for the Druid race. And maybe, one day, we’ll stop being looked down on.”

  “Just admit it, you want the tax exemption,” I teased.

  “Yeah, that’s the bonus,” he said, laughing and rubbing his nose.

  “Let’s make a promise,” Pica said suddenly, stretching out her hand.

  “I’m in,” Alwen said immediately, placing her hand on top of Pica’s.

  “Are you serious?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Come on, my hand’s getting tired,” Alwen complained.

  “Alright, alright,” I sighed, placing my hand on top of theirs.

  “We promise to chase our goals, no matter what,” Pica declared.

  “Yes!” Alwen shouted, grinning wide. I echoed him halfheartedly, though I couldn’t help smiling.

  If only I’d known how precious that moment was… how soon it would end.

  this time, they got what they deserved.

  you’re here, Eryndor and the gang won’t face what’s coming alone.