After Shanny left the mirrored chamber, I turned to the rest of my comrades.
"You all fought well in our second Quintal Trial. Rest now. For master will surely require your strength again."
The thought of more battle made their stomach twisted.
But they welcomed the word 'rest' as if they just found their long lost soulmate.
The six battle-worn heroes grabbed their weapons with them and started for the exit.
Jonah stared back to the room as he saw me standing still.
"Aren't you coming?"
The shepherd asked.
I shook my head gently.
"You go ahead. I need some time alone here."
I was not sure why but Jonah did not object to my words despite how much he cared for my well-being prior our departure to the tenth floor.
I would had thought he would insist me on returning to the lodging and take my much-needed rest.
But perhaps my face showed the kind of look that told him I would not budge no matter what he said or did.
Once the shepherd left me alone in the mirrored chamber, I turned my gaze to the shining mirror on the furthest left.
[Climb the tower and save the world!]
[Main Dungeon]
[Floor conquered - 10 -]
We had finally climbed the tenth floor.
We managed to conquer yet another Quintal Trial.
Indeed.
Another Quintal Trial was won.
But at what cost did we achieve the victory?
Or whether we could call it a victory at all?
"Warden."
I summoned the fairy.
She immediately appeared upon my call, as ever-present as ever.
[Yes, what is it? Congrats on clearing the tenth floor, by the way! You did very well! Master is very happy!]
Ignoring her praises, I spoke to her bluntly.
"Grant me a Replay Stone. Tell master I want to see the tenth floor's record."
The fairy put on a confused frown.
[Why do you want to see it? You were there in the trial. And it's already cleared, anyway. Including the subquest.]
"Just tell master I want to see the record."
I insisted.
[O-okay then. Hold on!]
The fairy vanished and a window floated above me. Addressed to master, no doubt.
['Serafina (★★★★)' requests record viewing.]
[Floor – 10th floor]
['Do you want to use the Replay Stone on Serafina (★★★★)?']
[Floor – 10th floor]
[Remaining Replay Stones – 9]
[Yes (Selected) / No]
With the request approved, the fairy reappeared before me with a glowing blue stone.
[Here you go! It'll take a while to watch the whole thing. So it might not be a good idea to see the record now when you're supposed to be res--]
"Leave."
I cut her off.
[Y-yes!]
She shrieked before quickly vanishing out of my sight.
I raised the Replay Stone to the air and the rock glowed even brighter before it disintegrated into light in my palm.
['Serafina (★★★★)' begins viewing!]
Darkness crept throughout the mirrored chamber. The three mirrors dimmed into dark glass.
Then, a bluish-white dot shined at the center of each mirror.
The dot grew into a circle, and the circle grew larger till it filled the whole glass. The light proceeded to overflow through the frame, into the entire chamber.
The glowing haze started to fade out of blurriness and the scenery of bustling Loro formed around me. Its citizens were flooding out toward the western side of the city.
The sound and clear images made me feel like I was back inside the second Quintal Trial.
Each of the mirror where the haze spread out depicted different parts of the city. They showed where each party found themselves in at the beginning of the trial and followed them.
Three mirrors. Three parties. Three perspectives.
As I neared to one mirror, the entire chamber transformed wholly into the environment that mirror was depicting.
As I drew myself back to the center, the image blurred and I found myself standing in the collage of three locations, where each party was at.
[I know it's confusing. But for now, I want you all to come to the central square in the inner wall district. Party 1 will head over there as well.]
I saw myself giving the instruction to the party leaders at the beginning of the trial.
What happened after went as how I experienced it on the tenth floor.
By the time all parties were reunited at the central square, the three mirrors depicted the same thing and the three perspectives merged into one, showcasing the whole single event throughout the mirrored chamber.
[Very well. May you all outlive your foes, my comrades.]
After I said those words to the fourteen heroes deployed to the second Quintal Trial with me, the three parties separated and the perspectives diverged once more.
I did not bother to look the mirror showcasing Party 1. Our own experience was not the reason why I was seeing this record.
I stepped toward the other two mirrors, to the ones of Party 2 and 3.
The environment around me had shifted into their perspectives. There was barely left of Party 1's hazing out in the far corner.
[For Loro! For the Eternal Throne! For the Empire!]
The soldiers outside the city shouted in high spirit as the monsters started to march toward the outer walls.
Party 2 quickened their pace toward the eastern battlements.
Zecht addressed his comrades with a raised fist.
[Hear that, everyone? The soldiers are rallying against the monsters! Let's help them win this war!]
[Yeah!]
With heightened spirit Party 2 dashed toward their designated station.
Meanwhile with Party 3…
[Haha! It's begun! The frontline is calling for me!]
Jyrgil shouted as he ran to the southern gates.
His teammates stared at him bewilderedly.
[Hey! Where are you going?! Serafina said we should stay on the walls!]
Ashta reminded the man.
[Shut up! I'm not going to stay on the walls and wait the enemies like some coward! Not after the war song has been chanted!]
The 3-star pushed a guard by the gates' lever and pulled the entrance just wide enough for him to march through.
The guards were surprised for all they could see was the lever pulling by itself.
As soon as the axe-wielding mercenary witnessed the monsters charging toward the city, his blood boiled with excitement.
[There it is! The Striking Zone! By the Tears of Indra, I will not miss it!]
[Jyrgil, come back! We should stick together!]
Ashta called him again.
[Fuck off, losers!]
He snapped back while darting to the frontline, the gates quickly shut after him.
The perspective on Party 3 split further. Half showing Jyrgil's and the other on Ashta's and the others.
I noticed something from Jyrgil's words earlier.
'Tears of Indra.'
It was a rare saying. Sounded only by the prideful warriors of Guntur.
I had probably discovered a reason to Jyrgil's battle-hungry behavior. Though knowing it would not really help.
In fact, Jyrgil would probably refuse to cooperate with us at all had I learned of this fact.
There was only one reason as to why a Guntur warrior became a mercenary in Dunia instead of serving their fearsome naval fleets.
Exile.
Plenty of reasons why a Guntur warrior would be banished.
But in most cases, that I had heard, it was because the exiles were too full of themselves. Thinking the world revolved around them.
Such behavior could not be tolerated even among the strong-willed warriors of the Lands of Never-Ending Thunder.
Had the Guntur folks mistaken for taking such a stance, Jyrgil would had survived the tenth floor.
The record went on.
The siege towers pushed by the ogres began to approach the outer walls.
[Tarran, destroy the towers with your exploding arrows as many as you can! Norn and I will block the ramps that manages to reach the walls! Maddock, help us from behind! Luan, block the stairs! Don't let a single monster get past you!]
With Zecht's precise orders and smooth teamwork, Party 2 fend off the monsters capably.
Dozens would come their way at a time but they struck them down in an instant.
[Rhyss, Kori, take down any goblins that climbs over! Tamo, help them as you guard the stairs! I'll try to get rid of the towers with my explosives!]
Though they were down a member, Ashta managed to form an effective formation against the monster's siege on the southern walls.
The fighting had just beginning. Both parties managed to form an adequate tactic against the initial waves of enemies.
Dread was filling me as I watched my comrades battled against the monsters.