Alex observed everyone around him. They all had a powerful aura, with their mana seeming especially dense—Henry's, in particular, was notably intense, making him appear to be the strongest in the group. However, Alex knew better than to jump to conclusions. The density of mana alone didn't determine strength. It was the type of ability, how it worked, and the user's skill in controlling and enhancing it that truly mattered. Mana was crucial, but without a useful ability, it wouldn't be much help.
"Alright, you all know me already, so I'll skip the lengthy introductions. My name's Mike. My ability lets me turn my skin into metal and control it within a certain range," said the tall man first. Alex noticed that people tended to develop powers that matched their personalities—athletic types, for instance, often favored direct confrontation.
"I'm Joanna. My ability is simple; I can create and control mist," the sole woman in the group said, keeping her introduction short. Alex then looked at the last person in the group, a young man with glasses who had such a minimal presence that one could easily forget he was there.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Terry. My ability is called 'He Who Speaks No Lies.' By setting specific conditions for myself and the opponent, I can impose a penalty if those conditions are broken," Terry explained. His description was the most detailed and also the most complex. Alex had a few guesses about Terry's ability but couldn't be certain. This power was intricate, and underestimating its effects could lead to serious complications.
"Alright, everyone knows my name," Henry continued. "My ability lets me close off a certain space and control it. People can enter this space, but they can't leave it."
After Henry finished, he glanced at Alex, a clear sign that it was Alex's turn.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Alex, and I'll be joining you this time. My ability grants me superhuman strength and speed, as well as complete control over blood inside and outside my body, so I can act as both a fighter and a medic," Alex said. He didn't reveal his true abilities or the summoning of Vlad. He knew that everyone else was likely hiding the full extent of their powers, too. The team only needed to know each member's primary roles, not the full details of their capabilities.
Henry looked at him with a hint of surprise. Even a minor healing power was a valuable asset. The female leader of another group had already proven this by using her exceptional healing abilities to draw people around her and keep human casualties to a minimum.
"Good, Alex, that's an excellent addition. You and Mike will lead from the front, with Joanna and Terry in the middle. I'll cover the rear. We don't know what caused this or where it started, so we'll begin searching from the first floor and work our way up to the top. Any objections?" Henry asked.
The team distribution was clearly dangerous for the front positions. However, with Alex's offensive capabilities and Mike's defensive ones, plus Terry and Joanna in support, the team was well-covered. The rear was actually the most dangerous spot, as Henry would be alone, facing any attacks with a delay in backup from the rest of the team. Henry was fully aware of this but still chose this arrangement, which spoke to his high level of confidence.
Alex saw him in a new light. To place himself in such danger showed absolute confidence in his own abilities.
No one voiced any objections. Henry didn't like delays, so after finalizing the plan, he headed toward the entrance with the others following close behind. Jon bid Alex a quick farewell, his trust evident—he believed in his friend's judgment and strength.
"Hold on a moment, everyone," Terry said suddenly as they neared the entrance. Everyone looked at him curiously, but before anyone could question him, he continued.
"I've been thinking about it. When people enter the tower, they disappear as if they've been transported somewhere else. So it's likely that the doorway acts as some kind of trigger, transporting anyone who enters to a different place," he suggested.
"Terry, we're all aware of that, so get to the point," Mike interrupted, clearly impatient and eager to move on.
"Mike, be patient. Rushing in isn't wise," Henry replied, encouraging Terry to continue.
Alex had guessed that the entrance might be some kind of condition that, once crossed, transported people elsewhere, so he was curious to hear Terry's conclusions.
"Well, I've come to a few theories. First, everyone who enters the tower might be transported to different parts or entirely different dimensions. Second, all those in the tower may already be dead," Terry stated.
Terry's words hit the group hard. While they had considered several theories, none of them had arrived at this particular conclusion. If people were indeed being sent to separate areas, it would pose a significant problem, potentially leading to their deaths within the tower. None of them entertained the idea that those transported might end up somewhere safe. The ominous aura emanating from the building reinforced that grim possibility.
"Alright, everyone. When we enter, hold hands with the person next to you. That way, even if we're transported, we'll all be taken to the same place," Henry instructed. If teleportation normally scattered individuals to different locations, holding hands might cause the system to treat them as a single entity. His suggestion received unanimous approval, and no one objected. As they neared the entrance, everyone linked hands, with Alex holding onto Mike's.
"Prepare yourselves for a fight the moment we enter. We can't predict what'll happen, so be ready to defend and attack immediately," Henry said, leading the group into the entrance. The doorway was wide enough to accommodate several people walking together. As soon as they crossed the threshold, they felt a powerful pull, and everything around them turned to darkness.
When light returned, Alex looked to his right to confirm that his teammates were all there. He held his sword in his left hand, ready for action. Once he confirmed everyone's presence, they began surveying their surroundings. They were in an entirely different place—it seemed they'd been transported somewhere else.
The group now found themselves in an enormous, eerie room with red walls and floors, as though everything had been painted in blood. Ahead of them was the only door in the room. As they glanced around, a strange noise began emanating from the walls. Moments later, the walls extended, and bizarre creatures started emerging.
The creatures looked human but lacked skin, with exposed muscles and blood covering their bodies. They appeared one after another, with no signs of stopping.
In a matter of moments, Alex and his team found themselves completely surrounded. At that instant, Mike transformed into a metal knight clad in medieval armor. He looked truly formidable, ready for the fight that awaited them.