Chương 1178: [1100.3] – Y05.100.3 – The Realms Beyond III

'Should it feel this easy?' Adam thought, wiping Lightaxe. They had slain the beastmen upon the floors with ease, slaying the humanoid, and yet rabid, dogfolk and wolves, as well as the snakefolk and snakes.

'They don't seem much stronger than the skeletons either. I should be careful, just in case it's meant to keep our guard down.' Once they were done with their third rest, they made their way forward, coming across a giant python within the large jungle that existed within the floor. Adam wasn't sure how large each floor was, for even as they trekked miles within for the stairs leading down, the floors were far more massive, to the point they only spotted one or two adventuring parties within.

"Is it strong?" Adam asked, staring at the giant python which hid among the trees, though the four and it had met eyes.

"I will see," Jurot said, stretching his neck, stepping forward in order to meet the creature. He had to be careful with his Rages, since they were so limited. He could only dance four times each day, the limits of his body, though he had already felt it. His rage had become more powerful, and whenever he struck true, his axe dug deeper. Thankfully, unless they were in a spot of bother, Jurot did not dance, and the floors had yet to challenge them so.

"I will support," Kitool said. She could feel it. She was slightly weaker than the day before, not just from losing some Defence from the tiara, but something else. The pair darted forward, engaging with the python, ready to tear it apart, while the python readied itself for the meal that decided to deliver itself into its fanged maw.

"Adam," Jaygak called, glancing aside. Adam followed her gaze to find adventurers, two different groups. As they spotted one another, Adam narrowed his eyes, donning his shield as the groups readied themselves opposite, drawing their bows and crossbows, their warriors up ahead, each of them focused upon Adam and Jaygak.

"Nice and easy now," one called out, readying herself, drawing her blade.

"Just give us your things, and we'll let you go."

"Adam, do you want to give them your things?"

"Not particularly."

"Me neither." Jaygak flipped her blade over the back of her hand, glaring at the figures in front of her.

"Do you want us to gut you?" The adventurer swallowed, having waited for them to be distracted by the python. Even though Kitool and Jurot had noticed, they remained engaged with the python, so this was the best time for them to act.

Battle Order D20 + 1 = 16 (15) Mana: 21 -> 18 Spell: Fireball 8D6 = 31 (31) Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Mana: 18 -> 15 Spell: Fireball 8D6 = 28 (28) Unfortunately for the adventurers, Adam's pool of Mana had increased enough that even if he did use his Mana as he had done so previously, he still possessed three Fireballs worth of extra Mana. As the Fireballs rained down upon them, the adventurers scrambled, glancing around to see if it was perhaps a trap, even as Adam had chanted the words to the spell.

'We'll have to kill them,' Jaygak thought, now that Adam had revealed his greater magical abilities. She was upon them like a beast, her blade cutting through those that had barely managed to survive the Fireballs, her blade slicing through each of them with ease.

"No! P-please! I didn-," the last cried aloud, before he was silenced forever.

'Fuck,' Adam thought, the chill taking root within him, his sweat seeping through his clothes.

'I thought they'd be stronger… I didn't expect them to die from just two Fireballs.' Victory! XP Gained: +300 XP: 10 000 -> 10 300 Victory! XP Gained: +700 XP: 10 300 -> 11 000"We should skin the python's remains," Jurot said, rubbing the side of his neck, while Adam and Jaygak looted the bodies, before Adam began to Identify each of the items.

"Whoa!" Adam gasped.

"Let's go! Finally! A Cloak of Protection!" Once Adam was done Identiying, they split the items. Jaygak and Kitool traded the Circlet for the Cloak of Protection, for Kitool wanted to test out if the Circlet had granted her enough toughness, while Jaygak was happy to wear a much better Cloak than the Cloak of Bravery. She also accepted the sword, which, while a Basic sword, was still better than her mundane blade. Jurot donned the Bracers of Minor Defence, which increased his Defence slightly.

Jurot glanced back to the shallow graves they had buried the bodies within.

'They were… only C Rank?' The next day, they came across another giant jungle, where they found a larger snake, the small boss of the floor.

"I thought it would be a wolf or something," Adam thought. Victory! XP Gained: +1 000 XP: 11 200 -> 12 200 To call it a slaughter would be to understate just how easily the group defeated the small boss. It had dared to swallow Kitool, who stunned the creature from within, and it died swiftly thanks to the four's great strength. Viper Fang (+1) Deals 1D6 slashing + 1D6 poison. Once per day, on a hit, you can deal +4D6 poison. This ability recharges at dawn.

"Will the scale give me more Defence?" Adam asked, holding up the magical scale armour which held a Basic bonus.

"You should stick with heavier armour since you're a special Priest," Jaygak replied.

"What does that mean?"

"Your Defence, it's increased when you wear heavier armour." Jaygak swung the sword in front of her. It was made of bone, curved, more a scimitar than a typical longsword. However, Adam had informed her of its abilities, and she was excited to use them once they were done with this set of floors. The group continued onward, resting right before the boss of the twentieth floor. They readied themselves to face against the boss, that surely would have proved a challenge.

"This may be more difficult," Jurot said, feeling the air tickling his skin. The snakekin shaman hissed towards the group as they prepared themselves as the edge of the path. She wore scale armour, and carried a large staff, with snake skulls dangling from it. However, the snakekin royal guards, each taller than even Adam, and almost as wide as Jurot and Adam standing side by side, seemed far more imposing.

Their large greatswords were curved, like Jaygak's sword, their scale armour thick, their shields, painting with skull, held the stench of death. The foliage around them hid the stone beneath, but the standing stones around were no doubt of some religious significance, but Adam spent no time admiring the land. He wasn't here to admire the world, the people, or even to loot the place. He was here because he wanted to farm XP.

Battle Order D20 + 1 = 8 (7) Mana: 34 -> 33 Defence: 20 -> 25 Health: 126 -> 111 Kitool's body burst forth, striking viciously at a royal guard, and while he was distracted with her, she ducked, allowing Jaygak's blade to cut slice through his side, the royal guard falling. The four remaining guards blocked off each of them, allowing their shaman to cast her magics uninterrupted. To allow their shaman to cast her magics, they would each grow more powerful, and all they had to do was keep the four at bay.

They may have slain a single one of their guards, but it required the might of two of their warriors, who did not hold back. Even as Kitool panted for air, barely able to block the blow, and as Jaygak winced as the mighty glave struck her shield with so much force, she could feel it against her elbow, they had yet to feel the great magic of their shaman flow through them. Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Health: 111 -> 116 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 20 (5) D20 + 11 = 23 (18) Hit!

Mana: 34 -> 33 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 16 (4)(3) 16 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 28 (17) D20 + 11 = 30 (19) Critical hit! Mana: 33 -> 29 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 58 (18)(31) 58 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 15 (4) D20 + 11 = 30 (19) Critical hit! Mana: 29 -> 25 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 66 (15)(42) 66 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 20 (1) D20 + 11 = 23 (14) Hit!

Mana: 25 -> 24 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 27 (7)(11) 27 damage! Constitution Save D20 + 8 = 21 (13) Success! Health: 116 -> 112 Unfortunately for them, they were born as the boss monsters of the twentieth floor, meant for the likes of C Rank adventurers. A glave met a longsword, another a staff, and a third met an axe. That axe then carved through the royal guard as though it was painting a landscape, but that landscape was of death, for as the fourth glave met the axe, it was a different axe.

That axe was of death.

"You can handle the shaman," Adam said, having slain the two royal guards, resting his axe against his shoulder, blocking off the retreat of the last two royal guards currently engaged with Kitool and Jaygak.

"Okay," Jurot replied, his violent axe clashing with the shaman, whose eyes grew wide. Even as the beams of light fell upon them all, including those of the royal guards, her opponents did not even flinch. Victory! XP Gained: +2 000 XP: 12 700 -> 14 700 Adam whistled, having Identified many of the items, from the necklace, to the shields, to the special eye she possessed, not that he had noticed.

Even the annoyance of finding several pearls didn't overcast just how many magical items they had come across, from the daggers, to the scale, to the glaves, and that didn't include the various magical scrolls or potions.

"Truesight too," Adam said, holding up the eye.

"Anyone want to give up their eye for it?"

"It is a good trade," Jurot said, reaching for the eye. Adam quickly held it up.

"You're not going to take out your eye, are you?"

"… I cannot?"

"You can't! Damrot and Monarot would be so sad, and what would Pamarot say?"

'Pamarot?' Jurot thought.

"Okay."

"Jaygak, you can hold it, and you can't give up your eye either," Adam said, glancing aside to Jaygak, who had her fingers dangerously close to her eye.

"I can't?"

"Do you want me to beat you up?"

"Ah. You wanted to be the one to take it from me?" The twenty first floor was similar to the eleventh, except it was far more green, and full of wooden buildings along the jungle like terrain. The guildhall was particularly large, with another A Rank adventurer taking the role of the Guildmaster, except she was much younger than Zephrine or George.

"You killed nine adventurers?" Samantha asked, raising her brow.

"Yes."

'Why did you tell me?' Samantha thought, annoyed by the amount of paperwork she'll need to do.

"Did they try to attack you?"

"Yes."

"Explain the situation." After the party explained what happened, each allowing themselves to go under a spell to speak the truth, one by one since they didn't entirely trust the Guild, they paid the fee for killing the adventurers.

"We should have over one of the scale armours," Adam said, holding onto the shield.

"We have too many shields."

"Yeah, but we actually use the shields. The armour?"

"The amour is considered among the best for armour that is not heavy."

"I guess…" Adam frowned.

"What if we gave up a dagger instead? I mean, it's only a plus one, I mean, Basic dagger."

"Okay." The group traded their items, the scrolls and some of their coppers and silvers for various health potions, and the next day, they continued.

"Orcs?" Adam asked, the floors once more ruined stone, but greyer than the first ten stone floors. The rapid orcs roared and charged them.

"It is rare to see full blooded orcs," Jurot said.

"They are gone from our world."

"Oh?" Adam said, raising his shield.

'Oh. Yeah. They're all horcs, aren't they?' The next day, the group came upon the small boss, that of an orc warchief, who was surrounded by four warriors, each wielding mighty weapons. Victory! XP Gained: +1 000 XP: 16 100 -> 17 100"I mean…" Adam stared down at the greataxe.

'I guess it's an okay axe?' The loot from the warchief shamed them from beyond the grave.

"The rings are worth more," Jaygak said, noting the eight silver rings, and ten gold rings, with the gold rings being worth at least fifty gold each, considering their intricate designs and small flecks of gem. The traps upon the floors proved a greater threat, some even bringing Adam below 100 Health, if he decided to push through without resting. They came upon a room full of panting adventurers, each who stared at the group in shock, grabbing their weapons quickly as they stood.

They were a B Rank party, but were heavily wounded, and easy pickings.

"The floor is treating you rough, eh?" Adam chuckled.

"Be careful, guys. You only have one life. Good luck." The adventurers watched the group leave, confusion filling the group. They waited. Waited. Waited. Yet, the four did not return, too busy enjoying their baths several rooms away. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

"The baths are helping, but I think you driving us so much during our adventures has helped us keep up this pace," Jaygak joked.

"We might reach the A Ranks if we keep this up."

"I'd rather not," Adam admitted.

"Let's stick with B Ranks, since we can easily deal with them if they want to attack us."

"Yes," Jurot agreed. Finally, they came across the boss room. The group glanced between one another, with Adam stretching out his muscles, before they stepped within.

"Oh, come on now. You're the bosses but you can't afford clot-," The roars filled the air, though somehow, the four did not need to make Wisdom Saves. Opposite them stood four mighty figures, each towering over the group, and each adorned in near identical attire, save one item apiece. Each orc was tall, large, and their chiselled physiques caused even Adam to pause.

One orc wore a tunic made of scale, with large discs of silver and gold, each engraved with faces of all emotions, and he was slightly taller and wider than the other orcs. Another wore a large gauntlet upon their left arm, with the face of an angry orc, and his arms were certainly slightly wider and thicker than the others, save one. The other wore a gauntlet on their right arm, with the face of an angry orc, and his arms were slightly larger too.

The last wore a belt, with a buckle which held a wide grin, as though he was ready to fight, like a particular Mad Dog. Battle Order D20 + 1 = 15 (14) Health: 126 -> 110 Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Health: 111 -> 116 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 20 (9) D20 + 11 = 29 (18) Hit! Mana: 34 -> 33 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 22 (8)(5) Damage resisted! 14 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 14 (3) D20 + 11 = 30 (19) Critical hit! Mana: 33 -> 29 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 56 (14)(33) Damage resisted!

45 damage! Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 15 (4) D20 + 11 = 24 (13) Critical hit! Mana: 33 -> 29 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 65 (15)(41) Damage resisted! 54 damage! Adam and the barbarian clashed, and while his large greataxe struck Adam's magical shield, Adam focused. Though his blows were dampened by the rage of the orc, he was not a member of the Rot family.

He knocked the orc down and readied the last blow, the fourth and final blow, but the orc, though having regained consciousness for a moment, remained knelt upon a knee.

'Hmm?' Adam thought. Kitool and her opponent were locked in a deadly clash, Kitool barely managing to duck under a giant greataxe, before she jabbed the barbarian's knee, sending in her inner energy, freezing him in place. She struck him viciously, keeping him stunned for a long while, until his rage wore off, before it returned, and they continued to fight. Eventually, the barbarian fell to his knee. Jurot and his barbarian clashed violently, throwing caution to the wind.

Unfortunately for the barbarian, Jurot was not just a specimen of an Iyrman, and not only did he possess such great items, he had recently become a Master. The barbarian fell to a knee and remained upon it. Jaygak panted having burst through her limits, striking harshly against the barbarian's axe. With each swing of her blade, with each raise of her shield, she could feel it. Her body grew heavier, her breath more laboured, her muscles screaming at her.

She had yet to use the blade's ability, and even after taking a mighty blow, which threatened to knock her unconscious, she slammed her boot down and drove her blade through the barbarian's gut, even then, she did not use the poison. She panted as the barbarian knelt before her, and she fell onto her bottom, gasping for air. She glanced aside to her companions, Adam who hadn't broken a sweat, to Kitool and Jurot, who had regained their breaths since their fight.

Her fight lasted twice as long as the rest, but she had won. Victory! XP Gained: +1 000 XP: 17 400 -> 18 400 The four barbarians remained knelt, but each removed their particular items, handing them to their victors. Adam smiled, taking the belt, while the barbarians continued to strip out of their jewellery, their amulets, rings, and even their weapons, offering them one by one to the party. They only glanced up after handing over their greatweapons, bowing their heads, before turning to dust.

"I feel a little bad about looting the treasure chest now…" Adam whispered.

'Damn. Those guys were so cool.' Adam decided against Identifying anything, instead they made their way to the thirty first floor, which housed a large castle, where they made their way to inform the Guild of the bosses they fought, and to put away their items.

"Ho!" Adam said, staring down at the ring.

"Finally!" Interspatial Storage Ring This ring can store up to 100KG, not exceeding a volume of 2 cubic metres. Retrieving an item from the bag requires an Action. The ring cannot be overloaded, pierced, or torn. If the ring is destroyed, its contents are scattered in random planes. Creatures cannot be stored into the ring. This ring can be stored within other similar items, but all items will scatter before it is placed within such an item.

"Not one, but four?" Adam whistled.

"We can probably keep most of our gold, and most of our items in it, other than the weapons?"

"Why are you so excited about this item?" Jaygak asked.

"Foolish Junior, to ask this Venerable Senior of such a simple question, are you Courting Death?" Adam replied, using the same voice he used whenever he mimicked royalty, though it was now without the disrespect.

"…" Adam smiled wider.

"Damn. Only four? I would have loved to get one for all the children…" Adam stared at the ring, rubbing his thumb along it, feeling the cold, rough metal.

"Should we party with another group?" Jurot asked, noting the look on Adam's face. If he didn't say this now, he may not find another time.

"We can fight through to the next boss, and gain the B Rank title. If we continue to the boss after, we can gain the A Rank title and work with greater nobles."

"We can do that, but…" Adam exchanged a look with Jurot, who nodded, understanding his thoughts.

"We should be generous in our offer, and ask the Guild."

"I'll leave it to you." Jurot and Jaygak made their way out, while Adam checked upon the rest of the items.

"You should wear all those items," Jurot said.

"I have my pride," Jaygak replied.

"Your pride will not bring us home, but I will not force you."

"…"

"Jirot and Jar-,""I won't," Jaygak said.

"We should split it in four ways."

'I should not have pushed,' Jurot thought. The B Rank party, the Mighty Nine, joined stared at the four which made up the Platinum Fate Troop.

"You're only C Rank?" the leader, a middle aged warrior, asked. He was rather handsome, adorned in full plate, and carried a finely made blade at his side.

"Yes," Kitool replied.

"We are more powerful than our rank suggests."

"Right," Kim said, scratching his short beard.

"How strong?"

"A Rank."

"Uhuh." Kim eyed the rest of the group up. Adam stood up, stretching out his arms.

"Alright. Let's get this over with."

"What?"

"Send your strongest to test me out." Adam held Kim's gaze. The annoyance filled the man, but he remained calm. He had been in this game for too long to let his emotions get to him.

"No," Jurot said.

"We should allow Kitool and Jaygak a turn."

"A turn?"

"We have already defeated A Ranks, but they have yet to."

"Oh, right, but they're B Rank."

"We should still share."

"You're right. Kitool, Jaygak, do you want to fight."

"I'm still reeling from the orcs," Jaygak admitted, feeling the ache in her body.

"I can fight," Kitool said.

"Alright." Adam allowed her to step forward.

"You don't have to do this act."

"Just send your strongest already," Adam said, his eyes darting to Jurot.

"Adam, are you okay?" Jaygak asked.

"I'm fine. Let's just get this over with. Once we fight, they'll understand our strength. Also, we should take the leader position, and they won't listen if they think we're weaker, right?" Jaygak placed a hand on Adam's shoulder, holding his gaze for a long moment. She remained focused upon his eyes, keeping their eyes locked together for a few seconds, before slowly nodding her head.

"What was that?"

"You've become short tempered." Adam swallowed.

"It's all the fighting. Got me on edge. That's all."

"If they were nobles, I'd understand, but they're adventurers like you and I. They still fear death, so they won't start fights, and you should keep fearing death so you shouldn't start fights either."

"I'm not starting a fight, it's just, it's always like this. What, you're C Rank? Brats, who do you think you are. Then we'll beat up an A Rank and everyone will be shocked, again, for the third time, because for some reason the Guild doesn't want to rank us up until we've reached floor forty, fifty, so on. I'm just a little tired of it all."

"We've earned a lot here, from our gold, to our experiences with fighting," Jaygak said, gently patting Adam's shoulder.

"We should cherish the opportunity."

"…" Adam sighed.

"You're right. I should…" Adam tapped his chest lightly, feeling his hand striking his chain, before he glanced down.

"I don't even have my plate."

"We might find some plate armour as we continue exploring."

"Yeah, okay. Sorry, Jaygak. Jurot, Kitool. Kim." Adam bowed his head lightly.

"Though, it would be a good opportunity for us to prove ourselves to you."

"Alright. I'll face your, Kitool, was it?"

"Yes," Kitool replied, bowing her head.

"Your staff magical?"

"Yes, but its effects will not assist in our battle."

"That's fine either way. My blade is magical, pretty good one too. I won't use its effects though."

"Thank you." The pair faced off against one another, with bets all around. Without missing a beat, the trio bet fifty gold each on Kitool. With how swiftly they made their bets, the other group of four, agreed to their bets, with a pair going half with one another. As Kitool charged forward and struck once, Kim's Fate was sealed.

"Thus begins the terror known as Kitool," Adam whispered, as Kitool battered Kim without giving him a chance to fight back. The others watched in horror as their leader was beaten so brutally, before the young woman pulled back, and the leader, frozen in place, fell to the earth, slumped. Victory! XP Gained: +400 XP: 18 400 -> 18 800 The four stared at the group, and Adam noted the shock within their eyes, and the group bracing themselves.

"I'll go heal him," Adam said, slowly approaching Kim. Lay on Hands: 45 -> 44"We should have sent Jaygak to fight you, since Kitool is the scariest," Adam admitted. Once the group signed their contract, with Adam writing in the clause that though they might go in to fight the bosses first, they will hand over a tenth of their loot to the party anyway, they slept in for the night.

The next day they cleared the first few floors with ease, and they spent some time getting to know one another, before they continued on the day after, getting to the small boss pretty quickly later.

"It's just one blue dragon?" Adam asked.

"A drake," Jurot said.

"It is not as intelligent." Dexterity Save D20 + 1 = 2 (1) Health: 126 -> 78 They make their way through and hand over most of the loot they find. The group is happy they have help heading into the mini boss fight. Kim blinked as they stepped out of the room a moment later, letting them enter.

"We haven't touched the loot," Adam said, and considering they had gone in, and then had opened the door less than a minute later, Kim believed the half elf. XP: 20 400'Damn,' Adam thought, having managed to gain more XP than he started with even after his Level Up.

"We would like the sword," Jaygak said.

"We will hand you over all the platinum, silver, copper, and ten gems." Kim raised his brows at the offer.

"We don't even know if it's magical." Jurot shrugged.

"I would like it for my brother."

"You're overpaying us."

"We will consider that a yes," Jaygak said, reaching out her hand.

"Does your leader think so?"

"Eh," Adam replied.

"I'm not their leader. If Jaygak makes the offer, it's good enough for me." Kim slowly nodded his head, shaking Jaygak's forearm. He wondered why Adam was the only one that wasn't tattooed, but hearing Jurot say they were brothers, he left it there. He noted just how much they each trusted one another, to the point they didn't even bother checking the loot, splitting it out in a few moments, with one taking all the gold within their ring, the others not even acknowledging it.

'Who are they?'

"I know we said you could have the gems, but would you mind taking the gold for them instead? I'd like the gems," Adam offered.

"Ah," Jaygak said.

"Right, I should have remembered." Adam winked, flashing a smile.

"If you don't mind."

"We don't," Kim replied, noting the look from one of his own, but he shook his head at them.

"Why are you so interested in gems?"

"My twins, they love gems, and so do my eldest triplets."

"You have children?" Kim asked.

"Yeah," Adam replied, smiling, but saying no more. Thus, Jurot, Jaygak, and Kitool, each understood just how lost Adam felt. Blue Drake Sword (+2) Deals 1D6 slashing + 1D6 lightning Once per day, increase the damage to 2D6 slashing + 2D6 lightning for one minute. Recharges at dawn.

"Nice," Adam said, before letting Jaygak claim it. Kim stared at the tower, still not used to it. Right now, the group had spent most of their power, after facing the small boss, and after spending so much magic on Identifying and forming this tower. Yet, they seemed mostly at ease around Kim and the others, though not entirely letting down their guard. As they continued, they approached the boss door of the fortieth floor.

"Damn it!" Kim frowned.

"I thought this was going to happen, but I didn't realise it was going to…"

"What's wrong?"

"It's two drakes."

"Two drakes?"

"Probably bigger drakes too…" Kim scratched his beard.

"It's going to be hard."

"Do we know which kind of dragons?" Adam asked.

"White," Kim said, motioning to the symbol, though Adam wasn't sure what to look at specifically, so just let it go.

"I brought a couple of Potions of Frost Resistance, but we'll probably need to use the others too."

"How many potions do you have?"

"Ten."

"Mind if we borrow three? We'll pay you back by killing them quickly."

"Better to use it than for us to die because you all got yourselves killed." Kim handed over three, with Adam, Kitool, and Jaygak taking them from him.

"You want one too?"

"I do not need it," Jurot replied, his arms crossed, the Iyrman closing his eyes.

'What?' Kim thought. Meanwhile, Jurot could feel Adam's gaze upon the back of his head, while the pair shared the same thought.

'How cool!'

"We should split our groups slightly," Adam said.

'I'd like to fight one myself, but I don't want to chance it.'

"Kim, mind if I join you?"

"No?"

"Would you send two of yours to help ours?"

"Two?"

"You can send one, it's just, Jaygak doesn't really like the cold," Adam half joked. Jaygak grumbled quietly, saying nothing in particular, but they all understood she didn't want to admit that Adam was right.

"Sure…" Adam checked his Omens, just in case. Omen: 8, 16'Not bad.' The doors opened up to reveal the white room of snow and frost within, with icy pillars everywhere, while the two shadows stalked through the mist.

"We should hide behind the pillars, and once they step forward, we can engage them," Kim whispered, leading his group forward, Adam following behind.

"That's a good idea," Adam whispered back, flanked by two others. Jurot stalked within the snow, feeling the chill of the air against him. They didn't have the right clothing for this area, feeling the chill already invading them, but as long as they didn't spend more than a few minutes, they would be fine.

'Are they already fighting?' Kim thought, filling with shock as he peeked to the side, seeing the blurry forms of the three as they rushed to one of the drakes, which roared, and blasted snow and ice at them.

'What are they doing?'

"It's too damn cold!" came a shout from nearby, the chattering teeth only silenced by a roar, and a blast of cold air and snow. Battle Order D20 + 1 = 16 (15) Constitution Save D20 + 8 = 9 (1) Omen: 8, 16 -> 8 16 + 8 = 24 Success! Health: 126 -> 110 Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Health: 110 -> 115 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 17 (6) D20 + 11 = 30 (19) Critical hit! Mana: 34 -> 30 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 60 (13)(38) 60 damage!

Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 26 (15) D20 + 11 = 31 (20) Critical hit! Mana: 30 -> 26 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 72 (19)(44) 72 damage! Onward Soar: 2 -> 1 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 26 (10) D20 + 11 = 31 (15) Hit! Mana: 26 -> 25 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 14 (3)(2) 14 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 17 (6) D20 + 11 = 20 (9) Hit! Mana: 25 -> 24 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 26 (10)(7) 26 damage! Victory! XP Gained: +700 XP: 21 000 -> 21 700'What?' Kim thought, staring at the half elf.

He had gone on ahead, without the rest of them, and within the span of moments, while Kim and his companions were readying themselves to assist, the white drake fell to the earth, still.

'What?'

"Alright," Adam said, wiping the frost of himself.

"Let's split the loot real quick and make our way. You can have all the copper for free, but let's split everything else half and half."

"Okay," Kim said, noting that his companions had barely attacked the dragons from either group.

'Who are these kids?'

"Jaygak," Jurot called, allowing her to check the gems, while Kitool unfolded a handkerchief, that continued to unfold until it covered the floor like a blanket. She stared at it for a moment, before placing a coin atop it, which sunk into the blackness, disappearing.

"Is that a…"

"Mobile Sheet," Kitool confirmed.

'Oh. Is it the same thing?' Adam thought.

"The swords they left behind are beautiful." The pair were white, and were identical, save the designed were slightly mirrored. Both were katanas, white as snow.

"We will give you all the coin and gems, we would like the items," Jaygak offered.

"Do you want some of the gems too?"

"We will offer you two of our magical greataxes for the gems." Kim glanced to his allies, and they nodded, allowing them to take the items and the gems, while leaving them the gold. Adam leaned in to whisper into Jurot's ear.

"Let's give them the Cloak of Bravery and the Bone Staff, and the other spell scrolls we had."

"Okay."

"What about the drake scales?" Gin asked.

"We'll split them half and half like we did with the blue drake." Since they had slain the white drakes, the snow was not quite so fierce, the chill kept at bay. Thus, upon entering the forty first floor, and to the large fields full of hope, the entire area more like a series of villages than a large town, the group took in a breath of fresh air of crisp air. The A Rank adventurer, an old man who wore a rapier at his side, eyed them up.

He had a long beard, covered in tattoos all across his hands, snaking into his shirt, where the rest of his tattoos remained hidden.

"You want to rank up, but you do not?" Sir Radun asked, glancing between the youngsters and the middle aged adventurers.

"We're not ready yet," Kim admitted.

"Even though you'd made it to the fortieth floors for the first time?"

"The youngsters did most of the work." Sir Radun looked towards Jurot and the others, with Adam smiling innocently towards the old man.

"Alright." Whatever it was that had happened, Sir Radun didn't get paid enough to deal with it. Even when he found out that the group had become A Rank adventurers within the matter of months. Adam noted the amount of silver used within the plaque. Adam looked towards the open sky, almost purple from the evening.

'Hmm.'

"Now we can travel more freely," Jurot said.

"It is the start of noonval, and we have plenty of time to do as we please."

"Alright. Let's stick around, trade some items, and make our way out."

"Okay." Somehow, their fortunes picked up further, for they were able to find a great many number of magical items that suited their particular needs, from the blazing sword that Adam found cool, to the gauntlets which set one's Strength to 16. Adam held onto the gauntlets, a small smile upon his face. It had been easy, too easy, to gather these gauntlets, but he understood why they were not wanted by the adventurers. Adam pressed his forehead against the gauntlets, thinking of the child's smile.

'Yeah. It's all worth it.' Jurot thought of his brother's smile upon them collecting those gauntlets. He had guesses as to why Adam smiled so much at the thought, and he was certain they were all correct.

'Cousin Jurot!' Nirot had cried back then, wrapping her arms around Jurot, tears pouring down her cheeks.

'Cousin Nirot, what is wrong?'

'Huu! Mother! Mother is too strong?'

'Good.'

'How! How I can be stronger if mother is too strong?'

'You will grow strong.' Jurot ruffled her hair.

'You are only eight, but one day… you will grow strong too.'

'It is mother's gloves!'

'What?'

'They are too strong!'

'They are not gauntlets.'

'They are not?'

'No.' Nirot eyed Jurot up incredulously, but her tears stopped flowing as she fell into thought.

'Mother is strong because she is strong?'

'Yes.'

'Why is father so weak if mother is so strong?'

'He has not fought in so long.'

'I will fight. I will find them, the gauntlets, and I will fight mother.' Jurot recalled it was one of the last times she had cried while wanting to hug him. Is that what it meant to grow up? To stop crying and to stop hugging? To endure the world so that you could find gauntlets to gift to a child, who knew not the worth of the gauntlets, for they were surrounded by insane wealth, and yet, doing so anyway? Jurot thought of his father.

There was a point in time Jurot had thought about gaining such gauntlets, for he wanted to help his father. Kitool lay in her bed. She stared at the ceiling.

'There is such little loot for me to gift.'