----
While Lucian was barely managing to deal with the Knolls through exhausting himself to absurd degrees, Matthias and the others watched as the restriction of the boss's path dissipated.
Deep inside the passageway, a gate presenting enormous wooden slabs outfitted with thick metal rods and other securing items could be seen. Moreover, it was larger than they were tall.
"Say, why's the gate so large if the Knolls are such a small race?" Cezar questioned, inspecting the gate before him. At most, the Knolls stood 4 feet tall, yet the gate before them seemed to be no smaller than 7 feet, and maybe even larger than that.
Generally, a significant amount of information could be gleaned from the state of the boss's passageway. For example, a large gate meant the monster in question was gargantuan in size. Also, the crudeness signified its lacking intelligence.
"Well, perhaps it's a mutant. I'm sure you're aware of mutants by now," Elaine commented. By default, a mutant was the term given to monsters who strayed away from their typical evolution cycle. For example, a boar breathing fire or an eagle conducting lightning.
However, in the case of monsters summoned by the Fractured Monolith, they originated from different planes altogether. While most youths thought the Fractured Monolith created these monsters, that wasn't true at all. In truth, all the Fractured Monolith did was "summon" any race of its choosing except for the humans.
After all, how would they go against a race that was vaporized to empower the Seed World effects?
The Fractured Monolith was simply a link to the other worlds in this dimension's quadrant, hence why most Overseers referred to it as a tool. Meanwhile, the purpose of authority was simple; it enabled the recipients of the Monolith to access more prominent quadrants of the dimension.
Effectively gaining access to new routes to power.
Nevertheless, the presence of quadrants wasn't revealed until a Guardian entered the Alpha Echelon. Of course, there were other ways to learn of the quadrants but that required the usage of a guardian's exclusive right.
Sadly, that right wasn't completely operational until the Merge officially began.
"Of course I know what mutants are! But...isn't 7 feet too tall for a Knoll? Those imps shouldn't be able to grow that large," Cezar responded, shaking his head doubtfully.
"Remember, it is boss. If the monster has evolved and crossed ranks then it is feasible because some logic doesn't properly apply to evolved beings. Simply put, it's possible if what we're facing isn't a mere Knoll. Truthfully speaking, I hope it isn't normal at all. It would be the perfect opportunity to acquire additional points," Matthias interjected.
"Mn, right," Elaine nodded along.
"Guysssss~"
A gleeful shout was heard in the distance, triggering everyone's response. Everyone except Matthias was surprised by the appearance of this seemingly harmless girl.
"Why are you back already, Priscilla? Wait… don't tell me. Did you actually do what I think you did?!" Cezar shouted, partially in panic. While he understood Lucian was a hindrance to the team, he couldn't justify abandoning or purposely introducing the boy to harm.
"The hell I did~! I wasn't staying there with that boy, no I mean pissant. Are you stupid? If you like him so much, why don't you go?"
"Go? I can't! Look here," Cezar pointed at a few markings on the wall. After the boss's gate opened, a few symbols appeared alongside the wall which was then translated by their Guardian Marks.
It read: "Once inside, only total clearance of the enemies within the respective barrier will permit the reopening of a room's restriction."
To put it differently, unless the monsters INSIDE the room were cleared, then the occupants of the rooms were trapped! Based on the wording of the text, it seemed that clearing the boss wouldn't reset the restrictions either.
"Welp, then he's screwed. Not my problem," Priscilla shrugged. Straightaway, she took a step forward, stepping inside the boundary of the boss's room. "Well, are you coming?"
Matthias followed behind but before he could get far, Cezar grabbed his arm without remorse and pulled him back, "Matthias, you can't be serious?! You can't actually be supporting this behavior, right? This is someone's life we're talking about here, it'd be different if he died in the line of battle, but you sent him to his death!"
"No, he sent himself to his death by entering this place, to begin with. There is no difference between accelerating the inevitable. I'm sure you're aware that this tower isn't a game. It wasn't put in this world to babysit the terminally weak. Our parents have instilled information in us and we're tasked with growing to their height and beyond. Only then will we be able to protect our life. What's a little sacrifice on the way?"
After he said this, Matthias slapped Cezar's hand away.
Though his logic wasn't incorrect, it was morally corrupt and Cezar couldn't stand behind this principle. 'It is as my father said, the allure of power corrupts man's reason. My behavior was also uncalled for. Hopefully, you find a way to survive.'
For a moment, Cezar was motionless as he closed his eyes. Once he opened his eyes, he turned back. There were two figures standing behind him. One was a muscular youth with black hair and piercing eyes while the other was an attractive girl with olive hair and well-proportioned curves.
Naturally, this was Ragna and Blair who appeared after clearing their own room. After their combination attack, they cleared the room in a few minutes. During that time, the argument and Cezar's pause allowed them to catch up.
"Is something wrong," Ragna questioned. Cezar's usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced by a partly melancholic and even frustrated attitude. However, Cezar merely shook his head, choosing not to speak on the subject.
"Nothing, just enter the boss room and prepare yourself," Cezar shook his head. Afterward, he glanced back towards the path leading to Lucian's position yet again. As he did so, his fist clenched so tight that blood could be seen seeping through.
----
Meanwhile, Overseer Vohr bore witness to this situation from within the Proximal Space. There was apparent disappointment written all over his face.
"If this is how you all cultivate your children, then I'm afraid you won't be able to pass the Merge. Your opponents will move as a singular unit. What they have just done is needless sacrifice. Truly disappointing,' Overseer Vohr sighed.
Though he wanted to intervene, it was outside of his jurisdiction. Once a Guardian entered a floor, unless there was something amiss with the monolith's interface, the Overseers were forbidden from intervening.
That meant even infighting was permitted by the bylaws of the Fractured Monolith's code.
Thus, Overseer Vohr was powerless in this situation. If he moved, he would be put under review and in turn placing his position as an Overseer in jeopardy. The benefits that accompanied the position were too enticing to give up. It allowed the Overseer to evade the stipulations of the Merge on their own world!
In other words, it provided a place of unmatched security to its staff members. After all, the entity that designed the Fractured Monolith is the same one who authorized the Merge. Hence, falling under their grasp was akin to having the most authoritative backer.
Nevertheless, Overseer Vohr crossed his arms, focusing his attention on Cezar, "At least there is camaraderie in your adolescent heart. If you pick your company wisely, you will go far. But, if you pick a poisonous entourage, you too will rot in the process alongside the cancerous deceit."
Almost as if he sensed Overseer Vohr's presence, Cezar looked up, gazing directly into the screen before Vohr.
'Hoh? He can't see me, but his predatory senses can most likely generalize my surveillance,' Overseer Vohr surmised, swiping the focus back over to Lucian. Surprise filled his countenance as he watched the scene unfold.
"He's putting up quite the fight but those numbers... It has to be quite overwhelming to deal with based on his stamina levels. And, those items are only temporary fixes due to their inferior concoction. Will he make it?"
Despite the extremely unfavorable odds, Lucian was putting up a fight by exhausting every means at this disposal.
A moment later, Overseer Vohr sighed with a heavy heart and panned back to the boss room; the sight of 7 individuals standing before a seemingly giant Knoll. Oddly enough, he started to smirk.
"Ah, so they've been given a D Rank monster on the higher spectrum; a Knoll Chieftain. Let's see how they manage against this for. After all, this monster is quite odd," Vohr chuckled, finding amusement in this situation.