The deeper they ventured into the Bloodthorn Forest, the heavier the air became—thick with the scent of iron and something rotting. The trees twisted unnaturally, their bark peeling to reveal pulsating veins beneath. The swordswoman, Lira, kept her blade drawn, her sharp eyes scanning every shadow.
Ray stayed at the back of the group, his steps deliberately clumsy, his breathing just a little too loud. *Perfect.*
A scout ahead hissed, "Boss area up ahead!"
The group crouched behind a cluster of thorned bushes, peering into a clearing where the ground was littered with bones—some fresh, some picked clean. At the center stood a monstrous fusion of vine and flesh, its body a writhing mass of tendrils, with a single gaping maw at its core, lined with jagged teeth.
[Bloodthorn Devourer – Floor 1 Boss]
[Rank: C]
[Weakness: Sustained Frost Damage]
Lira cursed under her breath. "We can take it. Archers, aim for the mouth. Tanks, hold its attention. "Healer—" She glanced at Ray. "Just don't die."
Ray nodded quickly, fingers trembling. "R-Right!"
The fight was brutal.
The Devourer lashed out, vines whipping fast enough to tear flesh from bone. One of the tanks screamed as a barbed tendril impaled his shoulder, yanking him off his feet.
"HEALER, NOW!" Lira roared.
Ray scrambled forward, pressing his hands to the wound. Golden light spilled from his palms—just enough to stop the bleeding, not enough to fully restore him.
Let them struggle a little longer.
The Devourer's health dropped steadily, but so did the party's. One archer went down, her leg snapped by a crushing vine. Another tank was flung into a tree, ribs audibly cracking.
Lira's sword glowed red as she activated a skill—[Flame Cleave]—searing through a thick vine. The Devourer shrieked, its maw gaping wide in pain.
Now.
Ray's fingers twitched.
[Skill: Veil of Weakness – Disengaged.]
For the first time since entering the tower, he let himself smirk.
The temperature plummeted.
Frost crackled across Ray's fingertips as he raised his hand, his voice no longer trembling but cold, deliberate.
"[Permafrost Lance.]"
A spear of jagged ice materialized midair and slammed into the Devourer's maw, piercing straight through. The monster convulsed, its body freezing from the inside out, veins turning blue as the frost spread.
Lira's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
The Devourer shattered, exploding into a rain of frozen chunks.
Silence.
Then—
[Floor 1 Cleared.]
[Rewards Distributed.]
[Bonus: First Strike – Additional Skill Unlocked.]
The party stared at Ray, their expressions a mix of awe and dawning horror.
Lira's grip tightened on her sword. "You… you lied."
Ray tilted his head, his voice eerily calm. "Did I? I did heal you."
The injured tank snarled, struggling to stand. "You bastard! You let us—!"
Ray sighed. "I let you weaken it. And now, I've saved you. Ungrateful, really."
Lira's blade flashed toward his throat—
[Skill: Bloodthorn Reflexes – Activated.]
Ray's body moved before he even thought, sidestepping the strike with unnatural speed. His hand shot out, gripping her wrist.
"Ah-ah," he chided. "You don't want to do that."
Her face paled as frost crept up her arm.
Ray released her, stepping back.
"I'm not your enemy," he said, his tone light, almost conversational. "But if you attack me, I *will* kill you."
The party froze.
Lira's teeth clenched, but she lowered her sword. "…What are you?"
Ray's lips curled into a faint smile. "Just a healer."
[New Skill Acquired: Glacial Dominion (Area Frost Control)]
[Floor 2 Unlocked: The Mirage Labyrinth.]
As the portal to the next floor shimmered into existence, Ray turned away, humming softly.
Behind him, the climbers exchanged glances—fear, anger, calculation.
Let them talk.
The tower had only just begun.