"Here are some descriptions of our skills."
To create a well-coordinated team, basic trust was needed. We had to at least know each other's abilities.
"Blood manipulator, ice mage and superhuman strength, a combination too good to be true."
Marcello commented as he read the documents.
"Moreover, a guide with the same level to match your combat output, you guys are really lucky."
While there's nothing wrong with his comment, it didn't give new insight to anything related to the tower, so I continued explaining.
"We have also received your data and combat power. We will create a team formation based on this."
As expected, Marcello was a time manipulator, he could stop time for 3 seconds and within that time frame, he could move freely. He was totally someone we shouldn't mess with.
I pointed at Ilyas, "We'll do a test guiding on the two of you with our guide. His role will be crucial in maintaining the consistency of our consecutive tower attacks."
Patricia asked, "While I understand we can use our ability nonstop with a guide, what if we're incapacitated by injuries instead? There's no healer that could help us."
Marcello chuckled and pointed at me, "There's no need to worry about that, my sweetheart here can heal wounds using his manipulation ability."
"Who are you calling your sweetheart?" Ilyas growled at Marcello. The intensity in their eyes was so clear I could see it manifested in the air as sparks.
'It's like a chihuahua and a tiger fighting each other.'
I sighed as I answered, "I can't completely heal your wound or fix your broken bones like a healer does, but I can patch up bleeding to some extent."
"I see, so you can do first aid treatment." Patricia nodded.
The scout teams that were sent to investigate the tower came back with a lot of data, especially concerning their healer's condition.
The problem with a healer was their heightened emotion and susceptibility to the ominous aura generated by the tower – as if their force was the opposite. And within the short duration of that investigation, few of them already fell unconscious with illnesses worse than the civilian's symptoms.
"While it would still be ideal to get a healer, the bureau judged it inefficient to bring them in only to kill them. But don't worry, there will be a medic camp stationed outside the towers' zone to help us with injuries." I explained, and all of them had a look of understanding on their face.
After the important discussion was over, Marcello hummed and gave me a grin. I could sense my teammates glaring in his direction.
I sighed at their rivalry. Marcello was definitely doing it on purpose.
My hand gripping the papers tightened, making them crumpled. I hadn't sorted out my feelings and didn't know how to respond to Ilyas and Xain.
Although they acted normal in front of me, after their confessions, I became more conscious of every little thing they did.
'No, I need to focus on the rupture first.'
The towers were my focus right now. I was sure Ilyas and Xain also understood the urgency of the situation. That's why they were giving me space and time until this attack was over.
So let's think about this slowly.
.
.
12 hours.
That's the time limit the bureau set to finish all four towers.
The Azure Tower in the east was our first destination. Stepping our foot in Yhester, we swiftly made our way to the tower.
"That's the entrance."
"Ugh, the aura makes me sick."
A door had opened at the side of the tower. As we stepped closer, the ominous aura surrounding the tower became even more prominent.
"Let's proceed as planned."
I signaled the group and we lined up based on the formation we agreed on.
Xain and Marcello would be in the front, Cedric and Patricia in the middle and me and Ilyas at the back.
"No trap in the entrance." Marcello announced to the team.
With the coast clear, we carefully ventured deeper into the maze. Stepping inside, we were greeted with tall bamboos as far as we could see. With no clear path to step on, we used the compass on our watch as guidance.
"Are you okay?"
"I can still handle it."
Ilyas was holding his mouth. The ominous aura was making him nauseous.
In actuality, this aura affected espers more than any normal human being. These towers messed with our sensory functions, so espers' heightened sense was a backlash here.
We all acted normal, but we knew once we let down our focus, the aura alone could make us went crazy.
"Stay close to me."
I warned Ilyas as we proceeded further.
SSKK!
"!!"
SLASH!
I sensed something coming toward us so I spun around. Blood spurted when I swung my dagger, and a creature fell down with a thud, throat slit open. Crouching down, I assessed the corpse.
"A monster?"
"Yeah, some kind of rat."
"A big one at that."
I nodded at Ilyas' word, and turned to the others.
"Be cautious of your surroundings."
But as if to mock my words, the deeper we walked inside, the frequency of ambush became even more intense. Each time we killed one, two more would show up.
Ice spears flew across the air, but the agile rat monster jumped around the bamboo, dodging it.
"Tsk, this is endless. Why don't they just come to us all at once?"
Just as Cedric said, it's an endless battle against the mobs that would unnecessarily drain our energy.
"I'll handle this."
I had gathered enough blood to cover the whole area. So, to quickly finish these mobs, my choice of action was to clean them up myself.
Crouching down, I gathered the blood of the dead rats on the ground. With a flick of my finger, it spread out into thin tentacles with sharp edges that homed in on its target.
Cries of pain resounded from all over the forest. The rat monsters which were trying to dodge by jumping around was immediately stabbed in the stomach mid-air. Its blood drained dry the moment my ability tore open its flesh.
After a few minutes, I opened my eyes, retracting all the blood floating in the air.
"It's done."
"Woah, that's such amazing control, the speed is terrifying too. I think I could learn a thing or two just from watching." Patricia clapped in awe.
"That's our captain for you, he's not called the strongest in our country for nothing." Xain grinned widely, proudly showing me off.
I awkwardly cough before opening my mouth.
"Just a little more before we reach the boss, let's hurry before the mobs spawn again."
My teammates nodded and we walked forward. Passing by the pile of dried monster corpses and headed to the boss' area. We stopped in our tracks once we spotted a giant creature curling up in the middle of the forest.
"That's the boss?"
Scales with a deep, iridescent blue shimmered under the sunlight. Its body, long and sturdy, wrapped around its head. Majestic jagged horns, long whiskers floating in the wind, and claws sharp enough to split the mountains.
An Azure Dragon.
Its vertical pupil turned its focus toward us. The cold piercing gaze stared directly into our souls. None of us dared to make a move.
It's on a whole other level. It's not something we can take on.
My instinct was screaming for me to run but my sense of responsibility prevented my feet from moving.
It was the calm before the storm.