After Viri's spar with Adrian, we returned to the orc stronghold. We traversed the forest, and I began to notice something different about this floor. Unlike other floors, this one became peaceful after the orcs had eliminated all other threats. Once they were gone, the area was safe. It featured several ponds where players could gather and interact. Some guilds even brought animals from other floors, such as birds, deer, and rabbits, which quickly settled here since there were few predators. To manage the animal population, Mana organized hunting parties to prevent them from overrunning the area, and only under specific rules could these animals be hunted.
The stronghold was in its last leg of reconstruction. Players and NPCs were actively working on the walls, and a teleport circle in the center allowed for easy access in and out. The scene was a stark contrast to the devastation from just a month ago. Where there had once been rubble and ruin, now there were banners of icy blue and white adorned with a snowflake emblem, decorating almost every building and wall. A world guild office stood prominently, distributing quests, though I was unsure how they had managed to get themselves here.
In the center of the teleport circle stood a familiar figure—Eli. When she spotted us, she rushed over and embraced me. Viri rolled her eyes at this display as we made our way through the city, where players were discussing the next floor.
"Floor 8 hasn't been beaten; it's been a month," a player with a sword complained.
"Yeah, the top guilds are busy enchanting their gear," the one with a spear added.
"Why don't other guilds attempt it?" the player with a bow inquired.
"No one wants to risk their lives," replied the one with a wand.
I nodded at them, and they all returned the gesture. As we continued, we reached the castle. The castle's appearance had transformed significantly: what was once a ruin now stood strong and imposing, with newly repaired walls and a grand entrance.
Outside the castle, a group of players gathered around a sign for Mana. They were dressed in various gear and armor, jostling for position as they tried to join. In front of the sign stood a woman with a commanding presence. Her light purple hair contrasted sharply with the darker hues of others, cascading down her back. She wore an elegant, flowing dress that seemed to amplify her natural magical energy. Her grace and authority drew the attention of many players who were eagerly asking her questions and trying to get closer. We pushed through the crowd to get a better look at the sign.
—-------------------------------------
Guild Name: Mana
August 28, 2035.
WE ARE RECRUITING!
Become part of something bigger!
Benefits:
Access to exclusive dungeons and raids
Powerful gear and resources
Guild events and training
Guild ranking competitions
Requirements:
Proficient in earth magic
Apply Today!
Location: Guild Hall, Floor 7
Contact: Guildmaster Lyra
(Or speak to any guild officer)
—-----------------------------------------------
"Why would they need that element?" someone asked, puzzled.
"Earth is the weakest magic type," another person added.
Another spoke with Lyra. "Earth is the least chosen element?"
I glanced at Eli, who was clinging to me. "I thought we could manipulate all of the types of magic ?," I asked.
"You're right," Eli replied, "theoretically we could."
"Theoretically?" I questioned.
"Manipulating the elements is one way we use mana to affect the world around us, and each element has its own frequency," Eli explained.
"That makes sense," I mused. "So, if each element has its own frequency, manipulating another would be like having two songs playing at the same time."
"Exactly," Eli smiled before continuing. "Which makes it nearly impossible to improve at both. Most mages just stick to one element."
"So, what you start with is what you're locked into," I muttered to myself.
Eli noticed my confusion. "What's bothering you?" she asked.
"If that's the case, why not manipulate the mana itself?" I asked.
Eli looked puzzled as I said. "Why not manipulate the source to affect everything around it?"
She laughed. "If you had enough mana, you could do it that way."
"Manipulating the source of mana directly is incredibly complex. You'd need a vast amount of mana to control and maintain influence over multiple elements simultaneously." she replied.
"You're right; you'd need an enormous amount of energy to control everything," I said, nodding in agreement.
"And what about the dragons?"
"The ancient dragons are the living embodiments of their elements," Eli explained. "Lithorax is earth, Infernia is fire, and so on."
"That makes sense," I replied.
Eli added, "All magic tied to their element flows through them, and every natural event connected to it exists because of their presence."
"So, mages make pacts with the dragons to gain higher rank skills?" I asked.
"Correct," Eli smiled.
"So, does that mean there's a dragon for gravity or other forces? And what happens if an ancient dragon dies?"
Eli paused, thinking for a moment. "I don't know."
A girl nearby laughed, overhearing our conversation. I looked over and saw her name above her head: "LV 8 (Crusaders) Shino." She wore armor that blended seamlessly with her surroundings, reminiscent of a ninja. Her green eyes and white hair, adorned with a black hair tie, caught my attention. She stared at me intently.
"I heard about the wager with Ascend," she said, noticing my gaze.
"Does everyone know?" I wondered.
Shino continued, "I'm sure my guild leader mentioned this, but if you need any help, just reach out to us."
Viri glared at her. "He said exactly that."
Shino smiled back. "I know; I was there." She handed me a card for the Crusaders guild. "He told me to give you this."
Eli's expression was unreadable as she looked at me and smiled.
"We won't need your help," Eli replied. "Doesn't your guild not use magic? You'd be useless on Floors 9 and 10 anyway."
"Only Floor 9," Shino interjected. "There are other ways to beat Floor 10 besides using magic."
"Isn't magic already useless on Floor 10?" I thought. They should definitely ask a guild for help.
"And how would you beat Floor 10?" Eli asked.
"Classified," she replied flatly, then allowed a small smile to appear. "Aren't you trying to recreate our mana bombs? You should consider our guild's help as an act of benevolence."
"Benevolence?" Tenshi mumbled.
Shino vanished suddenly—no light, no magic detectable. She seemed to disappear right before our eyes. Eli looked confused, but we continued towards the main capital.
As we approached the castle, the transformation was striking. Banners of icy blue and white adorned the walls, with snowflake emblems proudly displayed. The castle, now a majestic and imposing structure, stood in stark contrast to its previous state of ruin. The walls were solid and well-fortified, with intricate designs and a clean, polished appearance. It was a far cry from the devastation that had once plagued it.
Knock.
Knock
Knock.
The sound of our knocking echoed through the city like a well-tuned orchestra. The door creaked open slowly, revealing a player with the name "LV 7 (Sho) Kenjiro Sato" displayed above his head. He had a commanding presence and was a high-ranking member of Sho. With gray hair and emerald eyes—identical to Sho's—he seemed pleased to see us.
At the center of the entrance hall, Sho sat menacingly in a giant chair, reminiscent of a queen awaiting her commanders. Her expression was inscrutable, a mix of confidence and perhaps other emotions. Kenjiro ushered us in, and we found ourselves standing before the queen.
Sho's hair flowed gracefully to either side as she sat. Her demeanor suggested disappointment, and that alone was enough to unsettle us. The interior of the castle was pristine, and I marveled at how they managed to maintain such impeccable condition in such a short time.
Sho was infamous among players. Not only was she the strongest player in the world, but she was also the guild leader of one of the most prestigious guilds—all at the age of sixteen. Her reputation was both envied and resented. She went by many names: The Gale Empress, Princess of the Tower, Child of Whisira, Daughter of Gold, The 21st. Yet, among all her titles, "The Strongest" was the one that truly stuck.
As we bowed before her. "Where is Reyna?"Sho asked.
Tenshi stepped forward, snapping her fingers. A white rune appeared next to her, and when the light dissipated, Reyna stood there, quickly bowing in deference to Sho.
"I'm sorry for being late," Reyna said. "I had some debts to repay."
"Rise," Sho commanded.
As soon as she spoke, an invisible force compelled me to stand. My body obeyed against my will.
"Is this not important to you?" Sho asked, her voice carrying a chilling authority. Kenjiro moved to her side, standing silently..
"No," Reyna replied quickly. "We'll get it done as soon as possible." She stood straight, showing respect.
Sho's gaze lingered on me, her expression one of indifference, unlike Valen, who had shown visible disgust. Her look conveyed a detached, calculating attitude.
A silver light enveloped me. As the light faded, I found myself back on Floor 1, in City 23rd.