Silence settles in.
Quiet.
Adrian looks at Teruki. In his eye I see pain, something raw, something I'm not meant to witness.
This tower. This cursed, awful tower. It is nothing but suffering. And how. HOW. How are we supposed to even finish it?
After everything we have faced, every challenge, every monster, every twisted spell, how are we supposed to beat this tower when we are not even fifteen percent through?
Some guilds keep track of player deaths. The numbers are staggering. Thousands, tens of thousands already! This is just the start.
That was just the tutorial.
"Why don't we change," Rei says. A tired sigh crossed her face. "We need to relax."
Adrian gets to his feet. He opens his mouth like he is about to speak. He then stops himself.
"I'll have Sera pick something out for you and Shino," Rei adds.
"Thanks," Shino says. I didn't notice when she entered.
Adrian's expression turns distant. As I walk him back to the room.
I know what he is thinking. I heard it in his words.
He will have to tell Calder's family that he is dead. That his death becomes a video others can watch.
I wonder how it happened. How that drone, that light, makes it onto the floor. How did noone notice? How did it get past Sera?
I sat Adrian down. His once bright gold eye look dull now. I can feel his mana. He refuses to give up. He cannot.
He is just a kid. Why are we fighting this kind of war? We haven't even seen the worst of the tower.
I break the silence.
"I'll leave you here," I say, trying to sound upbeat.
He rubs his hands together. The feeling slowly returns.
"You should be able to move on your own soon."
"Hopefully," he says. He stared down at his hand.
Night begins to overtake the sky.
I grab some clothes and leave the room. Sera enters shortly after, carrying outfits of every size, hoping one will fit Adrian. Behind her mask, her eyes look solemn. They betray exactly what she is thinking.
I changed into my swimsuit. A good copy of one I wore back on Earth. I pack extra clothes, towels, and potions.
I wear a white tankini. It has a yellow floral design that covers my back. I tie a yellow towel around my waist.
I head to Teruki's room.
She sits in bed scribbling into her notebook.
She's still focused on her book. I'm sure the moment we left earlier, she started writing.
WHOOSH
I grab the book from her hands.
"You will have all the time in the world," I yell. "Get ready!"
"I don't have anything to wear," she complains.
"Weren't you the one who made us spend all that money?" I say.
Teruki sighs.
"Fine..." She opens her closet. Clothes spill out. Dresses, shoes, and outfits in styles I have never seen her wear before.
"You shopping addict," I mumble loud enough for her to hear.
She drops to her knees and rummages through everything before pulling out a plain blue wetsuit with no design.
"How about this?" she asks.
"You are not wearing that," I complain.
I sit beside her and dig through the pile, pulling out a longline bikini.
"How about this?"
"Too revealing," she says.
"Then why did you buy it?"
"That is a good question," she mutters, trailing off.
I keep looking and find a sports one piece in muted pink with a pale gold design. A small symbol of the guild is engraved into the fabric, too small to tell what it represents.
"This would look nice on you," I say.
She nods and stands. I turn away to give her privacy.
While she changes, I glance at the book she is writing. The floors are still rough, mostly random words. I know she plans to add details later.
She starts with Floor 11. Our current floor.
I skim the pages.
================================
Floor 11
No boss. Peaceful.
Lard squid. Awakened crabs. Crafting potions. Treasure.
I turn the page.
Floor 12
Boss. Cliffs. Ruins. Illusions. Opposite magic.
Floor 13
Boss. Mountain. Stone. Phoenix. Cliffs.
Floor 14
Boss. Minotaur. Camp. Horns. Eyes..
Floor 15
Boss. Peaceful. Infinite. Library.
=========================
"You are really going in depth with this," I say.
Teruki sighs. "Yeah. It's still just notes."
"The floors are not in the same order as the game, right?"
"They are not," she says. "But if we collect what players remember, even if the order changes, we still know the bosses, traps, and patterns."
"That still helps a lot."
She reaches out and lightly pokes my shoulder. I turn around.
Her hair is tied into a neat bun. It's held together with a small silver pin.
"You look great," I smiled.
"Thank you."
We met on the top floor. The rune carved into the glass acts as an elevator.
Adrian is finally able to walk on his own without wincing. I meet him as he steps onto the platform.
"You good?" I ask.
"For now," he says, forcing a small smile.
Shino waves at us from below.
Adrian, Teruki, and I ride the elevator down while Viri and Rei stay back, still talking with Shino.
Rei wears a red longline bikini with gold accents. It's the first time I've seen her without armor here in this world. She looks slightly uncomfortable.
"Stop staring," she yells at Viri.
"I wasn't …," Viri replied immediately. "But now I am."
Viri wears a green halter top with black accents. It's similar in style to Rei's. She looks completely at ease. Her arms are crossed. Her posture is relaxed.
Shino wears a simple white sports top and shorts. Adrian matches her in plain swim shorts, his eyepatch somehow completing the look rather than standing out.
When I step closer, I notice Sera.
She wears her mask. Her wetsuit is black. It's patterned with red snowflakes that fade to white near the legs.
"Are you coming too?" I ask.
She nods once. "
I thought you hated the beach?"
"Someone has to keep you all alive."
Adrian lets out a quiet laugh.
"Then I feel safer already."
Sera doesn't reply.
"I wanted to wear a swimsuit too," Teruki complains. "Eli would not let me."
"Then what is the point," Viri says, crossing her arms, "if you are not even getting in the water?"
"I would have been more comfortable," Teruki mutters.
"I am sure Adrian thinks you look fine," I say, trying to steer things away from another argument.
Viri grins, clearly not letting it go. "Alright then. Which of us looks the best?"
"I am not getting into that," Adrian sighs.
"Oh you are absolutely getting into it," Rei says. She stepped closer with a smile.
"You can't dodge a question like that."
"Is this a trap?" Adrian says flatly.
"Don't answer." Sera says softly.
Viri points at Rei. "She started it."
Rei scoffs. "I did not! Though, I am curious."
"Sure you are," Viri replies. "So come on, Crusaders guild leader. Be honest."
Adrian looks away. "I refuse."
"Refusing is an answer," Rei says. "And I don't like it."
"You all are ranked evenly."
Teruki tilts her head. "If you are going to rank us, at least commit."
Adrian groans. "That is how people get stabbed."
Viri laughs. "Coward."
Rei crosses her arms. "If you don't answer, I will assume you think I win."
"That is not how that works."
"He's only scared because you would attack him if you lose." Teruki laughs.
"Too late," Rei says smugly.
"Fine." Adrian exhales, then mutters, "Sera."
The group freezes.
Rei blinks. "Wait. What?"
Viri slowly turns. "Her?"
Teruki's eyes widened. "Why Sera?"
Adrian rubs the back of his neck. "I am not explaining myself."
"That isn't fair," Rei says. "You can't just say nothing."
Viri smirks. "Yeah. You owe us a reason."
"I don't know," Adrian replies. "I like her mask. I've never seen her face, and that just makes her more mysterious."
Sera stays silent. Her red and white mask is unreadable.The tension around her eases just slightly. She heard more than he said.
"Did you hear that, Sera?" I taunt. "He likes you…."
"I'm just happy to be alive," He replies.
We all stand within the rune as Rei prepares to teleport us.
Crack.
A pulse of purple light bursts outward. A lilac rune forms. A familiar figure steps through.
Risto.
Her white hair is styled half up. It's swept to one side, tied low, with soft bangs framing her face. The rest falls straight down her back. Pale lilac eyes glow behind thin square glasses.
She wears her Ascend armor, a silver cape flowing behind her and marking her status.
"What are you doing here, Risto?" Adrian asks.
"Valen asked me to keep an eye on his sister."
"It's a beach," Shino says. "What's the worst that could happen?"
"You can come," Teruki adds. "I don't plan on going into the water anyway."
"Your armor is going to get sandy," Viri says.
"I can get you a change of clothes," Teruki offers.
"I'm already wearing it underneath," Risto replies.
She snaps her fingers. Pale purple light washes over her body. The armor vanishes, revealing a mint monokini beneath.
"That's not something I expected you to wear," I say.
"Thanks? I guess." Risto replies calmly.
Rei channels mana into the rune.
A bright red flash.
CRACK.