Chương 42

''Where is Evelyn?!'' Ethan's eyes swept past Beet and Paprika, anxiously searching the room for any clue. His jaw tightened as he shouted to the air, ''Show me where my other companion is.'' A giant screen appeared on the wall in front of him. It showed a gloomy marshland with thick yellow grass reeds all around. On a small piece of dry land, a girl covered in mud was fighting against a boar-like creature with long tusks and horns like a goat.

She was doing a good job avoiding direct hits, but the fight was far from over. The mid tier-5 creature seemed to have skin even thicker than the wyverns', except for the boss, of course. It was taking all the hefty strikes of Evelyn like a breeze. Ethan knew prolonged battles against Evelyn were futile because the skill [Blood Pressure] not only inflicted increasing damage over time but also reduced the awareness of the enemy. He was only afraid of one thing, which happened as soon as he thought about it.

Another beast rose from the swamp and attacked her from behind, stabbing its horns into her back and throwing her into the air. Thankfully, she managed to respond quickly and retreated immediately, escaping with [Wind Step]s and [Long Jump]s. Ethan sighed in relief to see that she was still alive and at least able to escape. But for how long? Since she is fighting against mid tier-5s, this must be her seventh floor, and even finishing this one would be very challenging.

What if she ends up with monsters that she can't escape? What if she somehow went all the way to the tenth floor and had to fight with tier-6 ones? The trials were difficult for him, but with [Void Wrap] and [Blink], he had a few life-saving abilities. For Evelyn, it depended on her luck. If the type of monster turned out to be a bad match for her, she just had to grit her teeth and fight to the death. And no matter the case, he simply didn't believe she would be able to kill a single tier-6.

He didn't like this unfairness, and the fact that she worked really hard for the void skills while he kind of snatched them up, made him all the more guilty.

''Dungeon core, show yourself!'' He looked around the room with a desperate and expectant gaze.

''I want to help my companion! Speak to me!''''What is this dungeon core?'' a confused voice echoed in the stone room, and a transparent image of an old man made an appearance. With long white hair and a beard, he was clad in white robes and held a wooden staff, standing there like your average comic-con participant. Ethan even waited a little for the line 'So, you have chosen… death,' and continued when it didn't come.

''Is it not you?''''I'm an artifact spirit. Are we called dungeon cores now?''''Uh, probably not? Are you saying this whole Wish Well is a single artifact?''''Indeed,'' the artifact spirit nodded, looking smug.

''Magnificent, isn't it?''''Yeah… sure. We'll talk about that later.'' He turned to look at the screen where Evelyn was still on the run.

''My friend is in a bad situation. I want to help her out.''''Well, she can leave any time she wishes.'' Ethan's brows furrowed.

''What do you mean?''''Between floors 5 and 10, as long as one wishes to end the trial, they will be able to leave and still get rewards after being evaluated for their performances,'' the old man explained, gesturing toward Beet and Paprika with his staff.

''Just like them, they thought it was their limit on their seventh floor and wished to leave.'' He turned back to Ethan and added, ''But not a fleeting desire. She has to wish for it sincerely.'' His frown deepened due to confusion.

''So, we could've left anytime… hold on. If we didn't know that just wishing is a way out, why should we wish to quit?'' He kept watching Evelyn with narrowed eyes as he tried to make sense of the information.

''If she thinks that the only way out is to clear all the floors, that would be her only wish, unless she was totally helpless and desperate. But even then, she might just ignore those feelings and fight to the death as it's the most fucking reasonable action!'' The more Ethan understood the implications, the more he found them ridiculous.

''Shouldn't you tell us about this rule, I don't know, at the fucking beginning?''''Well, I believe there should be hints in the place where you entered. The engravings on the wall…'' the old man replied rather awkwardly, narrowing his eyes in consideration. His eyes lit up as he gestured toward Beet and Paprika once again.

''How did they–''''They act on instincts, man. Logic and reason are the curses of sapient beings. And there were no hints whatsoever,'' Ethan interrupted, annoyed.

''Enough of this shit. Go tell this rule to Evelyn so she can have a way out.'''' Impossible. I can't speak with the participants who didn't finish their trials, let alone meddle with an active floor.'' Ethan rubbed his forehead while thinking that perhaps he was exaggerating and that she might wish to leave in a deadly situation. Lifting his head, ''What's the mortality rate for those who didn't finish all 10 floors?'' he asked and added flatly, ''just for the sapient beings.'''' It's, ugh, about 90% or so?''

the old man replied, eyes shifting around the room like he knew where this was going.

''But, hey, fighting till death was also their wish. We didn't do anything against their will. Not to mention those hints, I mean, I'm sure…'' 90% death rate, all the while they had the most basic way of surviving. All they had to do was wish to exit. His fist tightened as he kept thinking about the alternatives to help his friend while staring at the old man who was still blabbering as Evelyn was running for her life. God, I wanna slap him.

The artifact spirit's incorporeal form suddenly disappeared as he materialized in front of Ethan, looking at his own body in astonishment, ''Ethan, hold on a–'' Raising an eyebrow, he paused with his hand twitching.'' You know what? You may continue, actually. I've never been–'' If you insist. Slap! Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.'' Hah… hahaha,'' the artifact spirit laughed with a thrill while holding his chin.

When his body started to become ephemeral once again, he turned back to Ethan in panic.

''Ethan, can you, umm, can you wish for my body to be materialized as long as you're here? You see, this is my first time having a corporeal body ever since I was born. I never thought it would be so interesting.'' Taken aback by the puppy-eyed artifact spirit, he found it both weird and funny.

''You can't do it yourself?'''' No. Technically, it's impossible to do this with only mana, but inside this Wish Room, you can wish for anything that doesn't harm or break the rules of Wish Well. Your will is the will of the Wish Room, and it would imitate it perfectly through mana. Just now, I didn't actually have a body but felt everything as I had.

It was a very novel experience,'' the artifact spirit explained, excited about the foreign concept that had only come to his mind after god knows how many thousand years.

''This room was built merely for amusement. You can't bring anything outside that you've created, and even the food you consume would be pure mana. So, just for fun, can you make me a body again?'' Amused by the overjoyed old spirit, he suppressed his smile and crossed his arms.

''Sure. Can you help Evelyn?'''' N-not on this floor, but we can leave a message on her eighth floor. So that she could leave if she wanted to. Would that be okay?'' I guess that's the best deal I'll get. Those boars don't seem that dangerous to her. At least she can take her time and kill them one by one. Looking at the ragged image of Evelyn meditating, he shook his head and hoped the best for his friend, sighing as his shoulders dropped.

He first wished for the artifact spirit to materialize as long as he was here, then he created a comfy couch next to the tree and started walking toward it.

''Make sure the message is clear and set by the entrance of her eighth floor. What's your name, anyway?''''No worries, that's easy.'' The artifact spirit already started to feel his beard like he was on molly.

''I don't have a name, but you can call me Wish Well.''''Yeah, I'm not calling you that.'' He sat by the couch and wished for some snacks and drinks before patting the seat next to him.

''Come on, Saruman. Looks like we'll be here for some time; better to enjoy ourselves.'' Saruman casually threw his staff and sat next to Ethan, grabbing some chicken wings with much enthusiasm. Meanwhile, Beet and Paprika were just chilling on a tree branch and gazing between the giant screen and Ethan. Ethan looked toward his little companions, and the corner of his mouth went upward.

''So, you smartasses managed to leave your floor when it became dangerous; coming to this place, you've summoned a tree to chill. A single tree which you share?'' He chuckled, staring at the clueless red ball of fur and the cool murder machine. With a wave of his hand, he called for all kinds of nuts that he knew from Earth, piling them next to the tree. Another wave of his hand opened a small screen close to Beet, showing the burning images of a world.

''There, enjoy!'' Saruman threw him a weird look, his lips shining with grease.

''Why would he–''''Some men just do, Saruman,'' he replied, creating a bowl of popcorn and sipping from his beer.

''Some men just do.'' The next hour was spent with the four having their small party while watching and cheering for Evelyn. She was taking a slow and careful approach, which was probably for the best. Knowing that they would be waiting for her for a few more days at least, Ethan tried to understand his new eccentric friend better.

''They've created you in a higher realm and sent you here thousands of years ago. So, you don't know anything about other realms. What about that staff? Can you use skills, or spells maybe?''''Yes and no,'' Saruman answered.

''I can use some skills, but it's different from you, and since I have complete authority in the Wish Well, it's rather pointless. As for the staff, although it's a top-grade artifact, I'm just carrying it for my image. I was created in the image of one of the elders of the Wish Palace, and among the countless artifacts I have here, only this one maintains my scholarly side without destroying my mystique.''''Sounds like you had too much time to consider your appearance,'' he pointed with a smile.

''What else have you got? Show me some– Oh, shit! I forgot about my rewards! Let's see what I got among your countless artifacts.'' Ethan [Blink]ed from the couch excitedly and reappeared in front of the small platform which held two boxes.''I'm sure you'll love them,'' Saruman stated from the couch, trying one of the nigiri sushi.

''After all, it was your wish to have them.''''Is that so?'' He opened the box on the left and saw a rock tablet inside, smiling like a child.

''A skill! This better be good, Saruman. I had some really close calls in your damned trial.''''Oh yeah. It was very exciting to watch it.'''DING! You have learned the skill [Void Mute].' Sending his mana to the tablet, Ethan learned the skill in no time. As he comprehended the skill, his expression turned sour, like a kid who opened his Christmas present and found out he already had the same thing.

''Seriously? I did wish for this, but don't you have something more useful? It doesn't even have to be a void skill as long as it can help me in combat.''''What makes you think that the [Void Mute] isn't useful in combat?'' Saruman asked in confusion.

''At the higher ranks, the skill could be turned into a terrifying one. It's all up to you.'' Frowning, Ethan used the skill, and an invisible void barrier appeared around the room.

''What's the use of this in combat? Do you mean for sneak attacks or something?'' His voice sounded as though he were listening to a recording of himself. Normally, when he spoke, the sound waves would travel everywhere, and he would hear every echo that came from the reflection of the solid objects. This time, the void barrier absorbed the sound waves and sent them to the void. He was able to move the barrier everywhere in his domain while changing its shape.

Its mana consumption was also minimal, requiring about one mana per minute, but other than blocking the voices, it didn't do anything else.

''I can see it would surprise the enemy and could give me an opening, but I lack in many areas in the skill department. Don't you have something better?'''' Oh, surely there are many, but you've already finished your test. I can't change the rewards like that. Plus, among the average skills, this one is one of the best. Also, you're still not thinking about the higher ranks. It may be absorbing sounds right now, but what if, at rank 2, it could absorb light too? What about the higher ranks?''

Ethan cocked an eyebrow at that. He really didn't think that much further. Can skills change that much with an upgrade? Was I being narrow-minded by only thinking about mana consumption and their range? If I can shut down all of the enemy's senses–''Hold on. What do you mean by best of average skills? Why not the best of the best? I completed your bullshit trial with flying colors, okay?'''' Right, flying colors.'' Saruman rolled his eyes.

''It's a miracle that you're still alive. The perfect score is for those who finish it with ease. Still, yours wasn't that bad either. You earned a best of the best item and an average skill with a rare affinity.''''Come on. Aren't you a tough grader? Who can even easily kill beasts two tiers above them?'' Ethan complained half-heartedly because his attention was already on the second box. He carefully opened it with glee.

''Best of the best, huh?'' Inside lay an elegantly designed dagger, maybe even a short sword. It was completely scarlet in color except for the two gemstones placed in its hilt. There was one blue and one yellow gem on it, which looked like a weird color combination, but it wasn't an issue as the gems would be inside his palm when he held the hilt.'' There have been three perfect scores in total, and the last one was only a few decades ago.

That kid Damon might still be in the Elisium,'' Saruman mused aloud from the couch, ignoring Ethan, who was drooling while playing with his new toy.'' I bet they were rich kids who came here armed to the teeth.'' He tried a few moves with his dagger and was surprised by his control over it. It moved like an extension of his body, even though it was his first time holding it.

''I loved this one, though! Is there anything special about it? Should I be sending mana?''''What rich kids? Don't look down on me. Do you think I would give the same trial as you to someone with superior artifacts?'' Saruman looked offended and even dropped his sushi tray before giving a mysterious smile.

''As for your dagger, why don't you smear a drop of blood on it? That's one way to see what it does. It's a soul-bound item, after all.''