Tay bathed in the warm light of the late morning sun in the cloudless sky. Even in his full leather armor, he could still feel the rays of comfortable warmth. Tay was trying his best to enjoy these last few minutes as he would soon be inside the tower for what would be a long rest of the day.

He was lying on the stairs leading to the Mansion. They were so thick that he could sprawl out on just one of them comfortably. He played with the hilt of his sword, turning it and listening to the soft scrapping of the blade against the slightly warm grey stone beneath him.

It had been three days since he was brought before Alexander's team—and the team leader, Raya Vania Finick. It was still hard to believe what they had offered him. He felt oddly about it, actually. It was like he was getting tossed around between forces that could just as easily tear him apart.

Why, he had already had to diplomatically decline an invitation to the HQ of the Red Cross Guild. He had done so with a surprising amount of fines, if he said so himself. Although he had a sneaking suspicion that he would not be able to simply shrug them off again.

The plan for today was something else that was making Tay a little nervous. Raya, without much thought into it, decided that for Tay to truly show his worth, he would need to follow them all the way up to the 15th floor. Halfway up the tower where the first level 3 was known to appear.

The difference between level 3 and 2 could not be overstated. Tay, who was only a level 1, was able to kill one of the plant-like Fey monsters. Sure, that was an impressive feat, Even if it had taken him almost dying dozens of times.

But it wasn't unheard of. People had done it many times in the past. What was unheard of was a level 1 killing the most powerful type of monster in Gholroc's tower. Only one man from this city was ever able to do such a thing, and it had earned him the title: Of the storm.

Tay certainly did not have any foolish aspirations of killing one of the beasts on his own, he knew too much about them for that. That was very unlike the rest of the monsters in the tower.

Much like other young and foolish adventurers who had never been inside the giant structure, research into those that dwelled inside was limited at most. Such was the mark of the naive. But the fault did not truly lie with them.

When they are young, all the stories and rumors in the world would never satiate their curiosity for something only hidden from them by a single wall. That was not the case with level 3 monsters.

When people talked about them, it was not in the mild fear, or in a fake fear to scare the younger. It was a raw fear. Those that saw them for the first time have either one or two reactions; paralyzing terror, and or unlovable resolve to come back and slay it after their certain defeat.

As Tay thought about the upcoming trials facing him, he failed to notice Alexander and the rest of the Phantoms—as they were officially called.

“Tay!” Called a cheery Olivia Bellmen. The young-looking woman had quickly formed a bond with Tay during the last three days, it had formed into a sort of sibilingly kinship. Although it was mostly one-sided as Tay still felt overwhelmed by the much higher leveled group.

Tay pushed himself from the stair, brushing off his back and picking up his sword.

“Are you ready, Mr. Mallor?” Came the soft voice of Raya Finick. Tay felt especially uneasy around the team's sergeant—or leader.

With more than a little apprehension, Tay ascented.

Lithra Rose prided herself on keeping her composure. She had an uncanny ability to hide any emotion she might have been feeling, even from people who knew things others simply couldn't. But she Couldn't do that today, because the one emotion harder to hide than any was fear.

She was afraid. The man in front of her, Henry Carval, her captain, was fuming with anger. Over the last few days, the Guild had found itself attacked. It was sudden and without warning. And the Captain had been swamped with work. Add on the information about Tay Mallor she had just told him, and her fear was understandable.

The Captain took a quivering breath. “Lithra,” he said slowly. “You couldn't have chosen a worse time to tell me this without also bringing good news.” He stared at her with his green eyes.

“I—” she tried to say she was working on it, but the words stopped before she could.

“Alright, just…” He paused. “Figure out a way to assure his position in our guild. I will not lose him to the damned Baron.” he slammed his fist into his desk, cracking it.

He slumped back in his chair, gently rubbing a finger over the crack regretfully. “First these thugs, and now this summoner…someone is playing us like fools, and it is starting to piss me off.”

He stood, walking over to his prized spotter. “I need you to do this correctly.” He said darkly.

“For the good of this city.”

Tay’s legs gave out from exhaustion. He tried to hold himself aloft with his sword, its tip buried in the ground, but it was to no avail. Even his arms were sapped of their strength, so he simply accepted that he would fall, back-first, into the quickly drying Fey blood.

“Nicely done.” Said Alen Marbay in his thick accent, which Tay still couldn't place. A small horde of level 1 Fey lay dead around him, most of them already fading to dust.

“Not bad,” Said Olivia Bellmen who was sitting on a rock that she somehow made look comfortable. She was twirling a dagger in her hand as she watched Tay interestedly.

They were on the seventh floor of the tower—the highest Tay had ever been.

“We’ll Take a break here.” Came the voice of the team's Sergeant. Tay had been the only one to have fought so far, much to the amusement of the team. Tay Suspected that they were starting to feel bad for him.

They found a safe part of the wildly winding tunnels that shouldn't produce any Fey, and set up camp. From a pouch on his hip, Olms produced a literal kitchen.

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Three deep pots, two pans which were most certainly magic stickless items, a whole set of utensils that could have filled even the tables of Baron Finick's mansion, and a whole slew of seasonings.

He pulled from a second pouch what would be their meal. Freshly cut lamb chops, full and healthy chicken breasts’ and legs, whole juggs of an almost golden liquid, and a vegetable from every color of the rainbow.

Tay leaned over to Olivia who was sitting next to him. “He does have actual adventuring gear in there, right?” He asked as Olms set the pots and pans up on little mettle stilts that he also had. “Nope.” She chuckled. “Isn't that foolish?” He asked.

“Food is ‘important as swords and spears!” Said the big man seriously. He had apparently heard them. Tay wondered about that, but said nothing.

“Damnit…” growled Olms. “Forgot my lighters.” He looked at Tay expectantly. And, Tay noticed, so did everyone else. With a sigh, he commanded Orby. As swiftly as it could, the spirit whirled under the cooking set and began to produce a wide arcing flame. Olms smiled appreciatively as the oils in his pans began to smoke.

“Pretty good this ‘un is.” Said the big man. He began cutting the pieces of meat on a chopping board before lathering them in a layer of oil, seasoning them, and gently Laying them to sizzle in the hot pans.

He felt an elbow press into his arm. Olivia was smiling at him happily, glancing between the Large chef and Tay. He had apparently done something right.

Their lunch—as it was past two o'clock, was promptly ready. It was served in fine porcelain bowls. It would Have been good by itself. The meat was tender, broth heavy with flavor, and bread warm. But with empty stomachs, it was heavenly.

Being so close to something you have heard horror stories about your entire life would be a surreal experience for anyone. Being close to that something with people as strong as Ray and her team was a whole different feeling.

They were now on the 14th floor, resting one final time before taking the tower's elevator.

“It'll be fine.” Said Olms Brown as he sat down beside Tay. The rest of the group were all doing their own things in other parts of the small tunnel they had stopped in.

Alexander was doing some exercises while Olivia Bellmen and Raya Finick lightly sparred. Alen sat in the middle of it all, cross-legged and with his eyes closed.

“How do you prepare for something like this?” asked Tay. His whole body shook—much to his annoyance, as he thought about what he would be fighting.

“I don't!” Said the big man proudly. “Just bash them in!” he chuckled. He stopped when he noticed he wasn't helping. He cleared his tthrote and put on a more thoughtful expression.

“If you let it get to ya’,” He said. “Then you'll never be able to face it properly. You've got to just run at it like this.” He pumped his arms as he running.

“And eventually it stops bein’ scary.” He crossed his arms contentedly. Tay didn't really feel better, but at least he wasn't feeling any worse.

A half-hour passed before they decided to move on.

“Make sure you keep an eye on your vines!” Shouted Raya to Tay. When they encountered the first of the level 3's, she pulled Tay back and told him the plan.

The Phantoms would treat today as if they were all level 2's instead of what they were. They would let Tay experience the power of the new monster, and allow him to begin to grasp an understanding of how to fight it at his level.

The monster was barely recognizable to its lower-level counterpart. Instead of being a large bush-sized monster with flailing tentacles and legs as small as twigs, this one was more like a living jungle. Any sign of a real body had vanished, and was instead replaced by some sort of thick, dense, malleable sludge that stuck to the walls of The tower. It leaked down in places, creating things that looked like stalactites hanging from the ceiling. Appendages that only held a vague resemblance to those before grew everywhere. Each was lined with solid barbs that could easily rip off limbs.

Each member was assigned to a different section of the cavern where they had found the Fey. It was evident that Alexander and the others were holding back. They easily, almost lazily dodged the dozens of vine-like tentacles that lashed at them as if they were simply too slow to warrant effort.

Orby was doing quite well, having decided to simply spin in place and release a constant stream of consecrated flame. It worked surprisingly well and kept the attention of several of the tentacles.

Tay, on the other hand, was struggling.

He had no easy way to fend off all the attacks, and so simply swung his sword. His clothes had spots of red all over where he had narrowly avoided serious injury, and his head was starting to hurt as he tried to keep track of all the unpredictable movements.

He needed to do something, and he just might have an idea. Level 3 Fey were strong, but not perfect. They had weaknesses that could be exploited. The problem was being able to do so without losing your head. Calling Obry to him, he began to run towards the closest sludge-covered wall.

Orby blasters many of the frantically waving tentacles as it could, but some still managed to slash Tay. One almost got his leg, but with a quick jump and a desperate swing of his sword, the tentacle fell to the ground harmlessly.

Embewing as much power into his sword as he could, he jabbed the Tip of it into the monster's flesh.’ It quickly began to sear the flesh, and some of the tentacles attached closest to the wound flailed in pain, but It didn't do what he had hoped.

He pulled back, taking even more glancing blows from the enraged monster. It didn't work. It wasn't hot enough. If only he had an ability to project fire like his familiar. Dodging more of the monster's attacks, his mind raced, trying to figure out a way to land a useful blow.

“Tay!” Shouted a voice behind him. Looking back, he saw that it was Raya. “Your spells, they are not one-dimensional.” She easily Slashed a tentacles with her pollsword. “They can be bent to your will and need. Use it as such!”

Tay looked down to his weapon. It was a simple sword, thin and long, but still heavy enough to fit his style. Bend it to his will… He called Orby again, but instead of acting as support, he had the spirit activate its second spell ‘enhance,’ and absorbed his Familiar.

Instantly, he felt power surge through him, his well of magic now like an overflowing pond. He charged again, uncaring of the many injuries being dealt to him. He activated his spell again, ‘stoke’ heating his sword's blade. But this time he forced the spell to contract and focus. He pushed all the heat to the point of the sword. It glowed a bright white, only not melting because the spell itself kept it together.

With all the strength he could muster, he jabbed the sword into the flesh of the monster again. This time, it had an effect. The sludge around the wound Bubbled, soon spreading to other parts of the Fey as well. Tentacles dropped dead to the ground, boiled from the inside.

Soon, there wasn't a single moving piece of flesh around him. He fell to His knees, the amount of power he had just exerted through his body had pushed him to his limits.

He backed up against the still warm wall and watched the Phantoms. Alexander was in his usually dark grey army with his huge longsword.

Olivia danced around the room, her two dangers toyed with the tentacles that tried to hit her. Her blond hair danced freely in the air, and her light armor let her move like a gymnast.

Olms in stark contrast to Olivia was standing almost completely still. He wore armor that probably tripled Tay's full weight, and only swung his battleax when necessary.

Alan Walked leisurely around, his rapier moved through the air like a fish in water. He wore very little armor, rather opting for a heavy jacket that came down to his knees.

Lastly, Raya Finick. She moved with a grace Tay could only wish for. Her pollsword sliced tentacles as if they were droplets of water falling around her. Her black hair was loosely braided on either side of her head, going around it to fall down her back. She had flowing clothes covered in areas with obsidian black armor.

Almost as soon as he had sat down, she noticed him. “Retreat!” She called calmly. The Phantoms followed her order instantly and ran back to where Tay was as it was now safe. Raya stayed.

“isn't she coming?” Tay asked. Alexander laughed. “You'll see.” He said with a smirk.

And Tay certainly saw. With one swift swing, a wave of darkness washed out from her weapon. It had tinges of purple in it like lighting. As soon as it reached the Feys flesh, the sickly grey, and everything else, vanished. As soon as it appeared, it was gone. The part of the Fey touched by the magic were wiped from the tower's walls.