There was a fleeting silence in the jungle as Nathan stood gasping for breath. His surroundings were a chaotic mess, the ground painted with blood, and the air thick with the stench of death and rotting flesh.
The four corpses of the remaining wolves lay scattered along his path. Nathan turned to walk back, his steps heavy and deliberate. But midway, a sudden jolt of pain surged through his body, forcing him to halt.
The aftereffects of the strength potion struck hard. His muscles bulged uncontrollably, trembling with an unnatural intensity. His skin grew hot, reddening as though it might burn. Within moments, steam began to rise from his body, curling into the air as he dropped to one knee, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"D-Dan... te," Nathan stammered, his voice weak and strained as he called out for his partner. But Dante was too far away to hear him. The pain became unbearable, and his vision blurred. His body fell with a soft thud onto the ground, the steam still rising faintly from his skin as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Nathan had overexerted himself with the constant fights, the toll on his body and mind finally giving way under the strain that hit him.
The steam rising from his skin slowly faded as the sun began to set. The horizons were dyed in hues of orange and crimson, painting the bloodied ground in an eerie light.
A shadow fell over Nathan's still body, unmoving and unbothered by the surroundings.
"To think there was a cub hiding amidst a flock of sheep," a voice echoed, low and amused. It carried a hint of intrigue, as though marveling at the potential he had overlooked.
Buer studied the unconscious Nathan with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. He was sure he had taken note of all the promising ascenders from this batch, but looking at Nathan now, he was having second thoughts.
'He is a promising talent, maybe not at the level of Taizen Walpurgis or Clara Dawnstar, but he is definitely one to look out for.'
He decided to take a peep at his status screen. Being a guide to this floor, he had the authority as a toverian to check on every detail of the ascenders taking part in the floor quest, ensuring things remained fair. Nothing would remain hidden under his authority, as everything about Nathan was laid bare for Buer to see.
As he studied the status screen, his expression shifted—first a flash of surprise, followed by an understanding look. Then, shock returned, but not out of fear, rather from the absurdity of the situation.
After finishing the inspection, he burst into laughter.
"Hahahhhaha... To think there is someone to be this unfortunate." He wiped a tear from his eye. "Here I was thinking he managed to learn killing intent on his own, yet it was mostly thanks to his [trait]. And he is a black entry to top that, hahhhaha..."
Buer continued to laugh as he understood the hidden factors at play. He couldn't help it, for a moment, he had compared Nathan to the geniuses of the 17 elites. If anyone were to hear his earlier thoughts, they would have called him a fool and made a laughing stock out of him.
"Well, at least he is a sturdy one, I will give him that," Buer said, regaining his composure. He had seen Nathan's entire battle and knew when to acknowledge one's efforts, as he too was once a daemon seeking fame and recognition in the past.
Sure, Buer was arrogant, but he also knew when to bow down to greater fish in the large sea. And his instincts, honed throughout the millennia, told him that Nathan was anything but a small fish.
He snapped his fingers, and Nathan began to float in the sky. Buer turned around and started walking slowly.
******
Dante sat, looking at the aftermath caused by Nathan. To say he was shocked was an understatement.
He knew that Nathan had probably taken an enhancement potion to face the large wolf and battle the large group of dire wolves, but it was still hard to believe all the destruction had been caused by the same man who had struggled to awaken just a week ago.
"I knew I was right to have picked him," he said with a grin. Whether Nathan was an animalistic menace or not didn't matter to him. What mattered was the fact that Nathan hadn't abandoned him.
Just then, he heard the slow footsteps of someone approaching. He turned in the direction, expecting it to be Nathan. But to his surprise, it was someone he hadn't expected to meet—at least, not here.
"You—" Dante trailed off for a moment, reminding himself of who the man in front of him was. The man wasn't someone to be taken lightly. To show even a hint of disrespect would be to invite death.
He coughed once, regaining his composure as he tried to speak again. But when his gaze landed on the floating figure, he was shocked once again.
"Nathan!... Is he alright?" Dante asked in panic, attempting to get up. But he winced and flinched as his shoulders ached, his body refusing to cooperate. He tried again, but the pain was too much, and he collapsed back down.
"Easy there... He's not in danger, at least," Buer spoke in a playful tone, poking at Nathan's arms. His clothes were half torn, and his skin was still hot from the earlier steam. "Just exhausted and worn out from the pain."
Dante relaxed at Buer's reassuring words, studying Nathan's condition for a while before turning to Buer.
"May I know the purpose of your presence here, Lord Buer?" Dante asked with a respectful tone, his voice laced with caution.
"Oh, I was just looking around. Supervising you all is also part of my job, remember?" Buer replied in a cheerful tone, clearly pleased by the praise.
"Ah... I see. Thank you for taking care of him," Dante said, attempting to get up, but he flinched as his shoulders ached once again.
"I told you to take it easy," Buer advised his voice firm but kind. " You are in no condition to move?"
Dante remained silent for a moment, his mind still processing everything that had just happened. Then, his voice broke the stillness, filled with the same respectful tone.
"Lord Buer, about the large wolf, What was it?"
Buer turned slightly, his gaze settling on the distant jungle. "Ah, that was a berserker wolf," he explained, his voice casual. "It's considered a leading figure among the other dire wolves. A beast of great strength and ferocity. An
Dante nodded slowly, absorbing the information. He had heard of such beasts ferocius beasts existing deeper in this jungle, but encountering one was a different matter altogether.
Buer gave a quick glance at both Nathan and Dante, his expression turning slightly more serious. "As for your condition, both of you are lucky to be alive. Nathan pushed himself far beyond his limits, and the backlash of taking the strength potion struck his physique even harder. He will be fine, but he needs rest. As for you, Dante, you're in no condition to move for the next few days, at least not until your internal wounds heal."
Dante felt the weight of Buer's words sink in, his body aching in places he hadn't even realized. He looked around, the jungle now seeming even more ominous as the light began to fade.
"The jungle becomes much more dangerous as night falls," Buer continued, his tone carrying a warning. "The dire wolves, having affinity to darkness, become more ferocious and alert in darkness. You need to find shelter, or you may not make it through the night."
Dante's mind raced as he considered their options. "Lord Buer," he called, his voice strained but respectful in seeking advice, "what should we do now?"
Buer's lips curled into a sly smile. "Well, I can help you in one way," he said, his tone light. "I can take you both out of this jungle."
Dante's face brightened with hope. "You can?" he asked eagerly, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
Buer nodded, his smile widening. "Of course, but as you should know, it isn't a free service. It will cost you 100 G."
Dante's expression immediately shifted, his face draining of color as the weight of Buer's words hit him. He understood exactly what it meant—either he emptied his pockets or they would be left at the mercy of the jungle's deadly creatures.
Buer observed the shift in Dante's demeanor. It was a subtle lesson in how things worked inside the Tower. As a Guide, his role was not only to supervise but also to show the ascenders how the Tower functioned. It wasn't just about strength or skill; it was about understanding the balance of power, the consequences of every choice, and the cost of survival.
The Tower operated on a different set of rules, where every decision, no matter how small, could impact one's fate. In this world, resources, whether currency or strength, were the key to navigating the challenges ahead.
After glancing at his remaining balance, Dante sighed in defeat. Survival was the priority, but giving the money away wasn't easy. He was already in debt, and every Grand mattered.
He stared at the remaining balance with a resigned expression:
[Bank: 28 G]
After accepting the transaction, Buer snapped his fingers again, and the wind gently lifted Dante's body. With Nathan still unconscious, the two ascenders were carried higher into the sky. Buer, too, floated upward, and together, they soared toward their destination.
The journey back to the village was swift and smooth, the wind carrying them effortlessly. They landed near the familiar hospital, the place that had become a temporary haven for the weary ascenders.
After gently setting both Nathan and Dante down, Buer waved a hand in farewell. Without another word, he shot into the sky at an unimaginable speed, his figure vanishing in mere seconds.
'He could have admitted us inside as well,' Dante grumbled, frustrated by Buer's lack of further assistance. But as his thoughts turned, he remembered Buer's words—he had only mentioned taking them out of the jungle, he too hadn't asked or specified the destination or added anything else. Dante sighed, coming to terms with the fact that he couldn't expect more.
Lying flat on the ground, Dante stared at the sky, the weight of the situation sinking in. The wards arrived shortly after, carefully lifting both him and Nathan onto stretchers, preparing to carry them inside.
A sudden realization hit Dante: 'They also needed to pay for the treatment now.'
'Fuck my life!!!' he cursed inwardly, the frustration growing.
The next day, Nathan slowly opened his eyes, the familiar ceiling greeting his blurred vision as he stirred from the lingering effects of exhaustion.