"How did that happen?!" I asked furiously.
"Like I know!" Lara shouted back at me, clearly as frustrated as I was.
I didn't bother going on commissions with the party after that. Mostly because I had zero experience in parties, but also because I felt more than just rejected. I felt useless.
Ros sighed, pressing his hand against his forehead, frustration plain on his face.
I took a deep breath in and out, trying to calm myself. Then I turned to face the golden-haired adventurer standing before me, wearing a simple robe that marked her as a Support.
"We need to find him. Now," I ordered firmly.
"Who died and made you the leader—" Lara started to snap, avoiding my eyes, but Ros cut her off.
"I asked the receptionist," Ros said, voice low but serious. "He headed for the Corrupted Tower. By himself."
Lara's expression stiffened, unsure if she was more shocked by the fact or by me going after him.
But honestly? I didn't care what they thought. If anything, going alone would have been better. I'll make it quick, I thought, clutching the hilt of my undrawn sword tighter.
I flew above the flat, grassy lands where I'd once fought slimes and wolves. The Corrupted Tower was ahead, looming tall in the distance.
Or, rather, we were headed there.
I tried my best to convince them not to come. I wanted to go alone. But in the end, I failed. Lara and Ros both used a flying technique — an air spell.
I followed just behind, barely able to keep up. The concentration this required was immense. One mistake, and I'd be kissing the ground hard. I swallowed nervously, eyes fixed on the plain below.
After several minutes of pushing our flight speed with more air magic, the tower finally came into full view.
A Dungeon Tower — large and spiraling on the outside, dark and deadly within. I knew from experience how dangerous these places were, especially with the Corrupted roaming inside.
It was massive. At least a hundred meters tall, twisting like a giant spiral staircase that could swallow you whole.
With one look, I understood: clearing this dungeon or even escaping it would be no small feat.
I glanced at Ros and Lara, who looked just as tense. I hoped nothing bad would happen to them.
We descended toward the entrance. Lara and Ros landed smoothly, but my first attempt was clumsy — I stumbled on landing. Lara shot me an amused look, but I didn't care.
The entrance gate was massive, colored deep dark blue and black. Without hesitation, I grasped the handle and forced it open.
It was heavy, but I managed, despite Lara and Ros silently watching me — no help at all.
At least lend a hand…
We entered, side by side.
I clenched my teeth, bracing myself.
Ahead was a medium-sized hallway, built of cold stone. It felt like the belly of some ancient beast.
Ros immediately cast a spell, illuminating the darkness with a soft yellow light.
"Be on your guard," he warned as we walked.
His tone was serious and focused — as it should be.
The hallway stretched endlessly. We moved forward, alert, but nothing happened. No sounds, no movement. Dead silence.
I felt a small twitch on my back — like an ant crawling on my skin.
Normally, something that small would have made me jump out of fear. But this time, I forced myself to stay perfectly still.
I stopped walking. The others noticed, but my expression said it all: eyes wide with fear… and anger.
Clutching my sword's hilt, I spun around, ready to strike whatever was behind me.
To my surprise, nothing was there.
I breathed out slowly, relieved. "False alarm—" I started, but then—
Lara and Ros were gone.
My body trembled. That crawling feeling returned.
Suddenly, the whole place shifted.
I found myself standing in a vast snowy field, surrounded by towering trees.
The cold bit at my skin, but the wind carried a strange warmth, like the cold was just pretending.
This place made no sense. It felt like I'd been transported to a completely different world.
I called out desperately, "Lara! Ros!"
No answer.
The snow reached just above my feet as I walked cautiously. I kept looking around, trying to find some clue or landmark.
After a while, I realized I was walking in circles.
I marked a tree with a scratch on its bark and continued walking.
When I passed it again, I knew: I was trapped in a loop.
How the hell do I get out?
Is this some kind of illusion? A trap? Some Corrupted ability?
I scanned the trees, trying to find a way out.
On one tree, I noticed black moss with a faint purple glow. Another nearby tree had the same moss, but cast no shadow at all.
Fear began building inside me.
I stepped closer to the moss to investigate, but before I could touch it, a familiar voice called from a distance.
"Alex! Come out!"
It was Lara's voice, soft and gentle—almost too gentle to be real.
My eyes widened. I rushed toward the voice, but when I reached the spot, the voice was gone.
Then I heard it again, farther away this time.
It repeated the same words over and over, but the tone was wrong. It wasn't really Lara. It was a trap.
I had already fallen for it.
Before I could react, a shadowy figure charged from the trees.
I barely noticed it.
I drew my sword, bracing for the strike.
But then more shadows came—at least twenty of them, surrounding me with terrifying speed.
My heart hammered. I was surrounded before I even had the chance to properly defend myself.
"Shit!" I cursed, gripping my sword tighter.
Suddenly, the bright yellow light from Ros's spell flashed before me. The light stabbed through my vision, blinding me.
"…Up!" a muffled voice said close by.
"Wake… up!" Lara shouted, slapping my face hard.
I was back on the stone floor. Lara hovered over me, pouring healing magic.
I turned my head and saw Ros fighting the same shadowy figures I had just faced.
My mind reeled between relief and confusion. The fake Lara's voice echoed in my thoughts.
I stared into the real Lara's wheat-colored eyes and asked, "Are you real?"
"Do you need me to slap you again?" she answered, voice sharp but familiar.
I hesitated, then pushed myself up, drawing my sword.
"I'll take Ros's spot," I said. "He's a Support, after all."