Velra's group awoke to the filtered glow of light seeping through the spatially warped windows of the tower's first floor. The air was surprisingly cool inside, despite the magma lake outside. This level was vast, lined with towering bookshelves crammed with dust-caked tomes, rolled scrolls, and cracked tablets inscribed with ancient script. The faint smell of parchment and aged leather hung in the stillness, mingling with a subtle hum from the glyphs etched into the walls. Adventurers moved between the shelves, some reverently turning fragile pages while others stuffed anything valuable into satchels.
Velra's eyes tracked every movement, noting the growing tension between squads. A pair of B-rank warriors argued over a gilded atlas, their voices rising sharply. "Enough," she snapped, stepping between them. Her gaze was cold, her authority cutting through the air. "You'll keep your blades sheathed in here, or you'll answer to me."
The grand spiral staircase of polished obsidian led upward to the second floor, each step reflecting flickers of light from floating lanterns. The air shifted, carrying the sharp, clean scent of herbs and medicine. Cabinets lined the walls, holding rows of preserved roots, powders, and vials. At the center, a crystalline altar held the trial's reward: an ancient elixir in a sealed glass vessel, its contents shimmering with a spectrum of colors.
The healers' excitement was palpable. Gasps and whispers echoed—names of herbs spoken in awe, some thought extinct, others seen only in illustrated manuscripts. One healer traced a trembling hand over a jar of moonblossom powder, another knelt before phoenix root, tears in her eyes. The trial was grueling: pressure plates triggered arrow volleys, shifting walls split the group, and the final puzzle required precise mixing of herbs to neutralize a spreading poison mist. Some stumbled out coughing, but the victorious emerged with the elixir, their faces shining with triumph.
The third floor's weapon vault radiated an almost oppressive aura. Racks of weapons crafted from rare metals and imbued with enchantments glinted under shifting light. The trial here tested endurance and willpower—aura suppression fields pressed down on intruders, making each step forward feel like wading through heavy water. More than one adventurer collapsed to their knees, gasping. Greed sparked in many eyes; some imagined auction houses and piles of gold, others dreamed of their squads armed with unmatched power. A silver-edged axe drew a heated argument, a wyvern-sinew bow nearly sparked a duel. Velra's voice cut through the clamor like steel. "No one takes a thing until we're back in the city. Distribution will follow the agreement. If you can't accept that, leave now."
The ornate fan at the room's far end, covered in unreadable symbols, drew little interest beyond curiosity. Velra ordered it taken nonetheless. "Everything has value," she reminded them.
By the time they descended, goods in hand, the squads carried not just treasure, but those who were injured and fell in the trials.
Meanwhile, back at the trio's little group, they started their day staring up at the massive temple doors. The temple belonged to a fallen Deity—once Aria's right hand, until he defied her methods. She had stripped him of divinity, casting him from the divine city for opposing her pursuit of becoming the strongest god in the multiverse. With his fall, the temple lost its divine light, its followers, and its power, crumbling into the ruins they now stood in.
As they wandered through the moss-draped halls, their banter echoed off cracked stone until they reached the towering statue of the fallen deity. Its once-proud face was worn by centuries of neglect, and the moment Drathan's gaze locked on it, the whispers roared in his mind. His vision blurred, his knees buckled, and darkness swallowed him.
When he opened his eyes, he stood in an otherworldly void—a mental space bathed in shadow and drifting embers. Before him rose the spiritual projection of the Demon Lord, his form regal yet scarred by battles untold. "You hear me clearly now," the Demon Lord's deep voice rumbled. "Good. Then listen."
Drathan's mind reeled as the figure began recounting the truth: how Aria stole countless beings from distant worlds, stripping them from their homes to serve her ambition; how every war she waged, every trial she set, was a step toward absolute power. "You are her pawn," the Demon Lord said, eyes narrowing. "But you don't have to be. With your… anomaly, your 'glitch,' you could tip the scales."
Drathan's fists clenched. "Why tell me this? What's in it for you?"
"To see justice done," the Demon Lord replied. "And to end her reign before she devours every universe in her path."
The voice's weight pressed into Drathan's mind, leaving him with burning questions and an uneasy sense that his choices ahead would decide far more than his own fate.
A sudden jolt—Drathan gasped awake, the cracked stone ceiling of the temple above him. Kenshin crouched beside him, shaking his shoulder. "Yo, bro, you just collapsed outta nowhere! Had us thinking you glitched yourself to death."
Seme leaned over with a smirk. "Yeah, you was out cold for, like, thirty minutes. Thought I was gonna have to start planning your funeral."
Mira's brows were knitted in worry. "You weren't responding… I was about to start using magic to wake you."
Drathan sat up slowly, rubbing his head. "Relax, I'm fine. Just… had a little meeting in my head with someone important."
Kenshin snorted. "Bet it wasn't a hot girl, though."
"Depends on your definition," Drathan shot back with a grin. "Anyway, I'll fill you in later. We should get moving."
With that, they gathered their finds—gold coins, weapons, tomes, rare elixirs, and a few spatial pouches—before leaving the temple. As they stepped into the open air of the ruins, they spotted Velra's group returning to the first chamber, the two parties exchanged nods, and set up camp.
Kenshin stooping down next to Drathan " since you had a nap earlier I guess your not going to sleep any time soon right?"
Looking over at his mischievous brother he grinned " lemme guess u got night watch and it ain't with a cutie so u want me to take a shift?"
"Nah its not even like that, you know I was worried and stressing when you k.oed back in the temple I'm kinda sleepy now" forcing out a yawn
" so whose ya night watch partner?"
"Some dude idk who he is, but I think he from crimson something" Kenshin side eyes while talking.
" nope I'm good, I'm going bed have fun on ya shift" Drathan got off from around the camp fire and hopped into his sleeping.
Kenshin looking of at Seme " bro come on I'll owe u a solid"
Not even giving Kenshin a second thought Seme went and lay in their sleeping bag.
" man yall messed up" Kenshin sighed and join his night watch partner for the first watch.