Wyn held his pack alongside John’s, sweating with effort. This was not the kind of work he enjoyed. Fighting monsters wasn’t exactly the safest or easiest job either, but it was better than the mindless task of raking gold into pouches and bags. Still, it was mostly gold crowns they earned from the bosses, and he wasn’t going to complain about his share. It reminded him of harvesting crops and putting them in torn sacks to be stored or sold.

  On second thought, this was far, far better than farming. And it was literal gold they were collecting. Wyn chastised himself for his negative outlook.

  Beside him, John might as well be a child picking out candy where his parent’s told him he could have whatever he wanted. The man scooped and stored handfuls and armfuls of coins like they might disappear any second if they weren’t claimed.

  Wyn thought it was funny seeing John so excited. He never lost his excitement as a Climber no matter what challenge they faced, which was admirable. It was a good trait that deserved to be recognized.

  All in, their haul had to be thousands of coins with over a dozen impressively large and clear gemstones of varying elements. That alone was a great reward, though the other items they found were just as welcome. They found several mana and healing potions, which would help offset what the group used to clear the floor. But they also found two magical potions that were more rare, and typically only found on the second tier and higher. Cedric was curious and immediately identified both of them.

  The first was a Reflex Elixir, which boosted the Climber’s reflexes and dexterity by a moderate amount for five minutes. According to Cedric and Marcy, rare potions varied with their boosts of ability and times based on their color rarities. This one was a blue rarity potion, and was on the higher end of both values. As well as being quite valuable monetarily. They all agreed to keep it, though, with John wanting to use it. The two veteran Climbers mentioned that dexterity enhancing effects were favorites of Rogues or Fighters who wanted to round out their physical buffs. John didn’t have any skills that improved his speed or dexterity, and wanted it just in case.

  The other potion was a Mana Recovery Potion, which worked similar to the Regen spell. It recovered mana over time at a greatly increased rate, and the potion they found was green rarity that recovered one and a half times the Climber’s full mana pool. It was even better and more valuable than the elixir despite its green rarity, which was odd. But apparently items could be like that. They agreed to give it to Tasha, though Wyn had a feeling she would be giving it back to Cedric, as the look in his eyes was pure, envious desire. And she was too nice not to let him have it.

  Outside of coins, gems, and potions, the bosses dropped items that were the best haul. One was a blue pair of heavy boots. The unidentified pair was boring leather with metal tipped toes and heels, but it was obvious what the pair was without even needing to identify it. They were told there was a fair chance of at least one of the bosses dropping another of the Frost Giant’s set, and the boots were likely one of them. While it was good finding another rare item in the set, it didn’t benefit any of them directly. The two Climbers who could possibly use it were Lucy and John, and both of them were aiming to have different kinds of equipment. So, they decided to keep the item to be traded. If they could manage to compile more of the Frost Giant’s set, it would be a solid trade option for more gear that Cedric listed for them.

  Wyn thought about his own equipment list and figured he and Cedric were the ones still needing to actually upgrade their equipment. The others already added at least two or three items each, and their power was already growing. Cedric gained his arm, though, and while he didn’t have enough of a grasp on it to be useful while fighting Monsters, Wyn had no doubt in the coming weeks and months he’d be able to utilize its effect more strategically. For himself, he could stand to upgrade a couple of items to be ready for the third tier like the others. He didn’t want to be the one holding the others back, after all.

  In addition to the blue rarity boots, they also found a blue rarity shield and four blue rarity monster components. They wouldn’t be directly helpful, but their value was high. It would be worth taking them to Cara or the guild’s crafter to exchange it or use it for a custom item.

  All in, it was a great reward for a hard fought battle. The group thankfully didn’t have any setbacks like the last time they entered the floor. Wyn wondered several times while collecting the rewards why that was. Was their last climb a fluke? Maybe it was bad luck finding the Fodakas patrol and having multiple groups of enemies find them. Maybe their equipment being better now gave them more strength to be able to clear the enemies better, giving them an edge that was needed to tip the balance their way. Maybe Tasha’s new strategy of focusing on defense let the others focus on attacking without being hurt too badly, so climbing with a new plan made the experience better.

  At the end of the day, Wyn didn’t know the answer. What he did know was that it would be more common to have bad experiences the higher they climbed, so he needed to get used to it. Others in the guild warned them that the high second tier and third tier were difficult enough that they could be possible to clear but the layout and challenges needed to be a certain type of path to be easier, and that was mostly luck. So Wyn and the others each had two keys on them at all times just in case.

  Standing in the front of the floor portal, Wyn acknowledged the challenge of the eighth floor and respected it. Every new floor added another layer of obstacle to overcome and planning to make sure they left the tower intact. For today, they succeeded. Not every climb would be that way. But it was important to take the victories when earned.

  “I don’t want us to return to Alestead yet,” Tasha said, stepping out in front of the group. She was only a few feet from the portal, turned to face them. “I want to go to the ninth floor and see the next challenge that awaits us.”

  Several of them tried to talk at once, and Tasha merely raised a hand to try and restore some order. Everyone listened except Lucy.

  “We already know what’s on the ninth floor,” Lucy said, pointing at the portal with her axe. “That information parchment told us. It’s the outer chamber and entrance to a temple. Filled with monsters even stronger than the ones we just faced.”

  “With a dragon,” Cedric said. “Don’t forget that very important detail.”

  Lucy waved her free hand at Cedric and nodded enthusiastically.

  “But seeing is different than knowing,” John said. “We can learn about it from others all day long, but actually feeling it and seeing it for ourselves would be beneficial. I’m with Tasha.”

  “No surprise there,” Lucy said, her voice low.

  “I’m with Tasha, too,” Marcy said.

  The others looked at her questioningly.

  “Really?” Cedric asked. “Why waste a key?”

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  “Because I want to see, too,” Marcy said. “We won’t finish today. But maybe we can feel out just the first one? I think we can do it.”

  “We absolutely can,” Tasha said. “Remember, I’ll protect you! And we all still have charges on our equipment to facd at least one monster group. But I want to step foot in there. That’s better than knowing what’s inside. Actually being on the floor.”

  Wyn understood her. It would be a large confidence boost to him, too, saying that they were able to step inside the ninth floor already. They wouldn’t finish it, and they might not even finish it this month. But he wanted to try once or twice next week when he would be their leader again, at least. The temptation was just too high and they had proven that it was at least possible.

  The problem with the ninth floor was that it was designed to be a test of both power and resolve. They had the resolve, but Wyn was afraid they didn’t quite have the power. The floor design was a long, large hallway that was supposed to be the temple entrance hall, with the dragon guarding the inner chamber. Before that, though, were waves of enemies, in a space that was nearly the size of the several city blocks wide and over a mile long. None of the other guilds or Twilight Blade groups reported any traps, at least.

  “I say we go,” Wyn said. “Tasha, you’re a natural leader. Lead on.”

  The others hesitated but didn’t argue further. Tasha nodded in agreement, took a deep breath, then stepped into the portal. The rest of the group followed in short order.

  Floor Nine

  Group: 6/6

  Quest: This temple deep in the mountains of Isoterra was once home to an entire civilization of mountain dwellers. The massive halls spread out like open roads of a city, both in size and breadth and with the number of footsteps traveled. Unfortunately the citizens met an unknown fate, but a guardian continues to stand their ground just before the inner temple chambers. What will you find in the other temple? Or rather, what will find you?

  Wyn slowly closed his parchment while taking in the environment. Or at least observing and studying what his mind was trying to register as being the environment.

  The description and information didn't do it justice. The temple was flat out massive.

  Standing in what felt like an endless sea of darkness, the only source of orientation was brightly glowing orange crystals spread throughout the area. There was one just above them about twenty feet in the air, lighting a large area of about fifty feet in all directions, including above. Past that, however, was more darkness. To their left, another crystal could be seen in the distance, maybe three hundred feet away. Wyn’s eyes couldn’t process further than four crystals, where the fourth was a small orange speck in the distance. The same could be said about the right direction of their location.

  Directly in front was a similar layout but instead of the orange glowing crystals guiding their way, a singular, large yellow glow shone like a beacon, calling them to venture forth straight ahead. It was like a miniature sun, extending its light far and wide. And yet it was still strange, too. It wasn’t bright like the sun to light up the area or be too intense to stare at. Instead, it cast a deep, dull glow that somehow reached even their position, though barely lighting the environment around it to be seen.

  The effect reminded Wyn of his lantern, of how it cast a similarly dull glow further than a torch but not nearly as bright. The comparison made Wyn shiver. What exactly did that mean?

  As the six Climbers looked around, not a single sound could be heard. Their breaths were all that Wyn could focus on. There was no sound of movement, no water, no footsteps on stone, no growls or whines in the dark. It was an empty, infinite void.

  “I don’t like this,” Lucy said, her voice soft. It did not echo, but instead sounded confined as though they were in an enclosed chamber rather than a large, city-sized room.

  “At least the layout is easy,” Marcy said. She pointed forward with an arrow. “We go to the middle and ignore the sides. Don't let the sides disorient you.”

  “That has to be thousands of feet away,” John said. “Just how big is this place?”

  “The report noted it was likely bigger than Alestead,” Cedric said. “But no group has taken the chance to explore it fully. They all said to just go to the middle to progress.”

  “Past wave after wave of monsters,” Tasha said, holding her wand in front of her. “We’ve overcome that challenge before. It’s possible for us to do it again.”

  “Yes, I believe you’re right,” Wyn said. “But likely when we start fresh. Not today.” He couldn't shake the foreboding feeling that was taking hold of his body. He was so confident about stepping inside, but he slowly started regretting his decision to support Tasha. It felt wrong being inside the floor.

  “Not today,” Tasha echoed. She turned to the group and talked while waving her wand for emphasis. “But do you feel that under your feet? Do you see those crystals and the path before us? It’s possible! Others have overcome this challenge and we can too! Believe in yourself and in us and we'll be able to eventually cross that disatnce. I just know it!”

  A deep, guttural growl came in the direction of the large glowing yellow light. All six Climbers turned as one, equipment raised ready to fight. Tasha immediately began casting a spell, and when the familiar Arcane Armor covered Cedric, Wyn, and Marcy, another, closer growl came from the darkness outside their crystal’s orange light.

  Then a second growl joined the first, immediately followed by several more.

  “Can you see them?” Lucy asked. Her voice trembled.

  “Yes,” Marcy said, pulling back an arrow on her bowstring. The arrowhead glowed red with the magic of her Ignite spell, and she loosed it in front of them. The projectile lit up a small area around it as it flew, like a small, precise bolt of fire. It struck something not ten feet outside their lit area, where the arrow exploded in a shower of flames. Flames that caused a small swarm of strange looking monsters to scurry about trying to avoid the spell’s impact and damage.

  In that moment of exposed light, there were easily thirty monsters that moved like ants covering fruit dropped on the ground. It wasn't easy to see their exact form, but it was obvious they were fast and numerous. They eerily made no noise except for their growls, and when the flames died down moments after impact, the noise stopped.

  Then the growls grew in intensity.

  “Fuck this,” Lucy said. She reached into a pouch at her belt and pulled out a key. As she raised it, she fumbled the large item and dropped it, cursing again.

  Monsters clawed their way into the orange glow of their area, clambering over each other to get to them. The light finally illuminated them. They crawled on four legs with oversized paws bearing long claws, with skin a mottled grey and a body and head that resembled a dying wolf. Each of them were large, easily the size of a cow or small horse.

  There were so many of them and they moved so fast. Wyn couldn’t even remember the parchment’s description of the monsters on this floor in that moment. He did remember that the monsters that could appear were all beast-like with a half-dozen types, none of which had a certain element but all were physically strong.

  Cedric immediately began a spell while Tasha started another one. Marcy started and continued to rain arrows on the monsters, and each one seemed to knock one to the side from their fast approach. It wasn't clear if they were dying or not from her arrows, but Wyn wasn't that hopeful. John stood ready to engage while Wyn used his last Web charge to create a trap on the left side to slow them down. Then he waited beside John while the monsters barreled towards them.

  The Fodakas on the previous floor were difficult opponents, but waiting on the beast horde to approach felt more terrifying. There, holding the front line with John, Wyn felt his heart race. Could they actually progress on this floor? Was it even possible?

  A crack of lightning pierced the front line and nearly a half dozen of the beasts fell right then, their bodies charred and smoking. Another red arrow hit and blew apart a monster, then caused those around it to catch on fire. Those running down the left side were caught in the sticky trap and slowed to a stop, growling in anger. Monsters on the right side began to close the distance but a sudden beam of white magical energy hit and knocked back another three of them, and continued its assault as Tasha flew overhead with her wand pointed at the enemies.

  Wyn activated Speed Up and formed his spear. When the beasts finally came, John’s Squire Aura was already around him and together they held the brunt of the attack. But not before Wyn cast a well-timed Flash. The spell caught about a dozen of them, and they cried as one in a strange whine. They stumbled while the monsters who weren’t affected advanced, and John and Wyn met them with a clash.

  With Wyn’s speed and John’s Aura, it was surprisingly manageable to heavily damage and kill the monsters. Soon Lucy joined them, and together the group cleared the monsters without significant effort.

  “That looked worse than it was,” Lucy said.

  A familiar growl came from behind them this time. The portal that previously floated in the air was gone, and more darkness was all that remained.

  “Already?” Wyn asked. Just how quickly did the monster waves come? They barely even registered the disappearing smoke and fallen loot from the now-dead bodies.

  “Come on,” Tasha said, standing beside a fresh portal. The large key in her hand dissolved, and she pointed to their escape. “I got what I wanted.”

  None of them argued this time. Jogging to the portal, Wyn took one last look at the floor. If they wanted to progress, they’d need to overcome this challenge. It wasn’t impossible. Others had done it, of course. And they had faced monster waves in the past.

  But this was a devoted floor, not a secret room. The path was long, dark, and fairly unknown. It would be a difficult climb stressing their endurance, teamwork, and overall power.

  It was a perfect capstone to progressing to the third tier, and a perfect example of how each of them have arrived at this point. To Wyn, this was their next true test as Climbers. They would finish this floor, defeat the dragon, and advance.

  As the portal overtook him, Wyn made an inward vow to accomplish that goal for himself and his teammates.

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