Alice, along with the three visitors, have all gathered near the edge of the tower’s territory. Each of them wore new armor and weapons, and their stats have increased as well. Though it was clear from the way the three now carried themselvesc, but, to satisfy her curiosity, she did a quick check.

[Lucian Corundum]

[Class: Flame Fighter]

[Strength: 38]

[Intelligence: 24]

[Endurance: 28]

[Fortitude: 22]

[Agility: 21]

[Izabel Viator]

[Class: Provocator]

[Strength: 44]

[Intelligence: 20]

[Endurance: 28]

[Fortitude: 14]

[Agility: 20]

[Elliot Lister]

[Class: Apprentice Mender]

[Strength: 11]

[Intelligence: 39]

[Endurance: 20]

[Fortitude: 20]

[Agility: 28]

“Good luck, all of you. When you come back, I’ll throw you a party,” Alice said, teasing edge creeping into her smile. “Well, if you bring me something nice, we can all share it.”

“Will do!” Lucian replied, matching the playful energy while raising his new gauntlets. His new weapon glimmered under the light, and if one looked at it from the correct angle, it would appear to have a bright orange sheen.

In contrast to Lucian’s seemingly light-hearted mood, Izabel looked serious. She was fidgeting with her swords, materializing and dismissing them over and over while her eyes were glazed over in deep thought.

“Izabel,” Alice called out to her, “Do you still regret it?”

There was no reply.

“Izabel?”

“Ah, sorry,” Izabel finally replied, shaking her head to clear her mind. “Don’t mind me, I won’t fail, I promise.”

“That’s not what I’m concerned about. I know you’re still hung up on your— no, it’s my failure as well, I didn’t expect a kidnapping, and I will be increasing the tower’s security. But, you can’t be distracted. This will not be an easy mission. You need all your focus.”

“I know, it’s just… No, you’re right. I’ll try to focus. Thanks for the help, again.”

“Yeah, thank you, Alice,” Elliot added. “Good luck on your search, too. Those were all the book copies I have on Reborn Terra’s myths.”

“Yeah, that will do,” Alice nodded, making a mental note to check on them later.

“We’ll be back. This tower already feels like a base camp, after all,” Lucian said with a smile. “Alright, let’s get out. We’ll take the transport units like before. Elliot, you’re fine with this plan, right?”

“Of course, don’t worry about that.”

When the three was about to step out, Alice was reminded of something.

“Hey, wait, there’s something else. Can you all wait for a few minutes?”

The three of them stopped to look at her, then they nodded in unison.

First, Alice opened one of the notifications from the tower, and she was greeted with the familiar level up screen.

[Congratulations, you have reached level 5]

[Mana capacity increased!]

[2 skill points obtained]

[Alice Ferrophelas]

[System: Vuerga]

[Level 5 Defier]

[Skill Points: 3]

[Mana Capacity: 218.918/300.000 (Rank F)]

[Construction: Rank F]

[Lesser Creature Summoning: Rank F]

[Territory Size: 1km (Rank F)]

[View Skill Tree]

She opened the [Skill Tree] option, and chose to view one of the skill. An information screen appeared in front of her eyes.

[Gaze - Lv 1]

[Allows the Defier to bestow a mark upon a visitor with the latter’s agreement. The mark symbolizes protection from the tower, and the Defier is able to receive any information from the marked visitor’s senses in exchange for sacrificing a fixed rate of energy per hour to increase the power of those marked. Only two people could be marked at any given time.]

[Would you like to spend one skill point to unlock Gaze?]

[Yes]

[Gaze has been unlocked!]

Then, Alice selected the skill once again, before levelling the skill to level 2.

[Gaze has increased to level 2!]

[All stat boost effect has been increased!]

[Percentage: 5% —> 10%]

Afterwards, Alice closed the interface, before turning to look at the three. She flicked her finger, a wordless command for the tower to show the newly acquired skill’s information.

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“This is just for precaution, and I can take it off whenever you want, so you don’t need to worry too much. Anyway, this is the only way I can help you from afar for now, though in exchange, I’ll be able to know everything you see, touch, and feel when I opt in. It is up to you whether you want to take it or not, as I understand that this needs a lot of trust.”

“Does that extend to knowing thoughts?” Izabel asked.

“Doesn’t seem like it, but let me confirm. Vuer?”

“No, it doesn’t, the [Gaze] skill is intended to give Defiers a way to interact with the outside world, not to find out a marked person’s secrets. It’s limited to information that is gleaned with the five senses, and nothing else,” the little dragon replied as soon as it appeared.

“Okay, so it only extends to the five senses, and it rewards a power boost in exchange for that? I don’t mind,” Izabel nodded. “It’d be convenient, anyway.”

“Sorry, I’ll have to say no. I don’t feel comfortable about it,” Lucian shook his head. “It feels kind of weird.”

“No, don’t mind it too much. It’s understandable, that’s why I asked,” Alice said. “How about you, Elliot?”

“No for me as well, I don’t like the thought of someone poking around like that in my head… I hope you don’t take this the wrong way.”

“No, I won’t hold it against you. Alright, then, Izabel, stand still, please. I just got this skill, and I really don’t know what to expect. Brace yourself.”

“A bit too dramatic there, but, sure.”

[Gaze]

On Alice’s command, the tower’s mana shifted, leaking from the environment in a reddish-black color. From the trees, the ground, to the rocks beneath, smoke-like streams of energy seeped out, all gathering on Alice’s hand, hovering and shifting into a symbol reminiscent of an eye. Then, the symbol rushed forward, entering Izabel’s body through her chest, before dissipating upon contact with skin and clothes. For a moment, reddish-black marks appeared all over Izabel, then, like flowing ink, all of it swirled and collected into one, turning into a mark shaped like a red eye on the back of Izabel's hand. When one looks closely, a pair of balanced scales sits at the eye's pupil, faint like a reflection.

She then checked the tower, and saw that the natural mana regeneration rate was reduced by a few points.

"How do you feel?" Alice asked, partly curious, partly for making sure there were no other side effects.

"A bit stronger, but that's not something I can be sure of without, like, actually battling something."

"Understandable. Well... I wish you luck. Come back safely."

In a way, she was a bit attached to them. They were the first visitors who came for a second visit, and as of now, they were her contact to the outside world. Not to mention, Izabel had stayed with her for quite a bit, and it would be a lie to say that she would not miss the girl's presence.

"Of course. When we come back, we will have Valerie with us."

With that, the three passed the border of her territory, their presence disappearing behind the veil she could not touch.

—

Lucien led the way, followed by his two friends, as they hitched transport units and used whatever they could to hasten their travel.

Izabel looked down, seeing hordes of mutated creatures roaming the ground, along with some people who were busy fighting them. From the way they moved, it seemed that they had some time training in the tower, though their movements were still stiff and uncoordinated, a clear sign that they have not mastered their own power yet. Like watching a morbid film, Izabel kept her eyes on them, until they all disappeared into the horizon and she found another group busy fighting the monsters, starting the cycle anew.

She shook her head, then, she looked at Lucien.

"I was following you earlier, but... where are we going?"

"To the north," Lucien answered, his expression serious yet full of confidence.

Izabel raised her eyebrows, prompting him to continue.

"One, the towers hasn't been here for long, so it makes no sense for them to attack towers that were too far from their home base. Two, I heard Alice's tower was attacked by three people, right? A massive crowd moving too far without preparation would attract a lot of attention, not to mention draining resources if they still need to eat or refuel..."

"So, the three were either just pursuing us from the beginning..." Izabel trailed off.

"Or they are sent there to scout," Lucien nodded, "As usual, Izabel, you catch on quick."

"... Thanks."

"In any case, I have a suggestion. I think we should detour to Miss Saville's tower before we head in there. I've gotten stronger, yes, and I can feel you are too, Izabel, but we can never be too prepared, besides, if we can get more items..."

Izabel gripped her knuckles tight, fingernails pressing onto her palm.

"I don't—," She took a deep breath, calming herself, "I don't want to leave Valerie for too long."

"But it's safer this way. Miss Saville seem to know a lot of things, we can ask her for information."

"We would have to clear her challenges first, though..." Elliot pointed out.

"It won't be too bad. We cleared it with two, with three, it'll be much easier."

"... That is, if she didn't change the challenges around..."

Not long afterwards, they stopped right on the ruins of a massive, horn-shaped tower. From where they were standing, the ruined skies looked so close and vibrant, swirling colors creating a beautiful sight to behold despite the apocalyptic destruction it represented. From where they stood, they saw the floors and walls have already been cracked, massive, jagged lines breaking the metal and concrete near where they stood. Chunks of unknown material could be seen scattered all around the place, while the scent of dust choked the air.

"Well, let's wait. If my estimates is correct, it won't take too long for the unit heading to one of the northern stations to appear here," Lucien said. "I will stay and watch. Izabel, Elliot, if you want, you can look around."

"Will do," Izabel nodded, "Hey, Elliot, want to check downstairs? I'm actually kind of curious."

"Ah, sure thing, we have time, anyway."

Not too long ago, this building was a center of activities, always bustling with people following their ROOT-given directives. Now, it felt eerie and quiet, the only sounds a series of cracking, gusts of wind entering the place, and creaks from metals, blackened and charred from the air filled the place.

Sometimes, when one tries to listen closely, there were noises that resembled screams full of agony.

It was a contrast from how everything was some time ago.

After promising to meet within a few minutes, Izabel walked down the stairs, each step giving off a sharp groan of metal. Deciding not to linger, Izabel made her way to the ground floor, using the large debris as her cover to avoid the roaming enemies. Their lack of reaction confirmed that the monsters were at least lacking in intelligence, which they compensated with massive numbers.

"Hey, you two!"

Elliot and Izabel turned to look towards the source of the voice, the latter narrowing her eyes. Too late, as a monster was attracted by her voice. It ran towards the three of them at lightning speeds, before pouncing and targetting Elliot first.

Izabel reacted, materializing her black blade and pushing the monster to jump back. The weapon shined with an orange-red glow, illuminating Izabel's fierce expression.

"Stay back, Elliot,"

"Sorry about that," the person said, her tone rather sheepish.

"Save it for later. We have a problem to deal with."

"Hey, no need to be tense. Here, let me help."

She waved her hand. With the gesture, there was a surge of energy, and both Elliot and Izabel were now bathed in a golden-white glow. Power surged from within them, coming out in waves. Izabel took a deep breath, narrowed her eyes at the pouncing, three-meter tall feline monster, and swung her blade downwards as the monster got close.

Just like that, it was split into two, and silence returned as the aura surrounding their bodies faded.

"Elliot, let's go. The noises might attract more things."

"Heey, come on, I said I'm sorry," the stranger stepped in front of them. She was a head taller than Izabel, long blonde hair reaching down to her back. A playful smile graced her expression as she moved in a relaxed manner, using the massive axe on her side to support her body. She was dressed in all black, however, the most striking part was the pure white mask resting on the side of her head, patterned with familiar golden lines.

"Wait, you are..." Izabel pulled her blade again and pointed it at her.

"Hey, hey, don't be so rash," the stranger raised her free hand and said, "At least let me introduce myself first."

With a flick of her finger, a notification appeared in front of Izabel's eyes.

[Chelsea Limena]

[Class: Apostate of Propagation]

[Stats: ???]

"There's my business card, or something of the like, at least. What remains of the system is surprisingly handy," Chelsea shrugged, "Anyway, I'm not looking for a fight. In fact, I just want to ask, are you going to the north?"

"What is it to you?"

"If you are, I'm going to help, actually," Chelsea said, lifting her heavy axe in a show of power. "I have business with some people in there, and considering how you reacted, likely to this mask, I think we both can make a deal, hm?"

Chelsea took the mask resting on the side of her head with two fingers. Upon closer look, both Izabel and Elliot saw that the mask was tarnished. Long cracks the width of a single hair strand littered the surface, starting at the bottom of where the eye sockets would be. Meanwhile, the golden lines seemed to have long lost its luster, adding to the beaten-up impression.

While the two stared in silence, Chelsea made a show of pretending to put on the mask.

"I mean it, I do need some help. Trust me."

"... I mean, uh, we do need to take this to our leader first," Elliot finally said, his expression suggesting that he would rather be anywhere but where he was right this moment.

"Understandable, yeah. Let's go see them now, then."

"You seem to be under the assumption that we're taking you with us. What is your deal here?" Izabel asked.

"Nothing of the sort you're thinking about. In fact, I have something of mine I need to get from these people," Chelsea said, while playing with the mask. "In a more pragmatic way, I can offer you support skills in battle, as my class is geared for support. How about that?"

"Alright, don't try anything. I'm watching you, Chelsea."

"Izabel, let's go," Elliot said, trying to ease the tension in the air. "This might be a good thing. After all, more allies are always good."

"As long as she really is an ally, that is..."

Seemingly unbothered by the verbal jab, Chelsea didn't react, despite raising her eyebrow at Izabel as a sign that she did, in fact, heard the accusation.

The two almost wanted the awkward silence that should have came from this situation. Chelsea was humming with no care in the world as they walked, a contrast to the ruins all around them.

“Just where did you come from?” Izabel asked.

“I’m from around here, actually, I lived in this area before this whole thing happened, Can't exactly promise I know everything right now, but I'll try to be of help."

"We'll see later."

Once again, when they reached where Lucien was, there was no noise except for Chelsea's soft humming to fill the silence. The three walked inside the room, immediately attracting Lucien's attention as they did.

"Oh, you three are back! This is..."

Chelsea responded by flicking her finger like before to display her information screen. Lucien looked at her class title for a moment, before he furrowed his brows, staring at the mask perched on the side of her head.

"So you too know about them," Chelsea removed the mask once again, her expression more serious than usual. "I will tell you this now, no matter how many you have faced, they have sheer numbers on their side. You will need allies, and I too, need allies. You're their leader, right?"

"Leader might be a stretch here..."

"I have a problem with these mask-bearers, too. If you're going there, let me come with you."

"First, though, you have their mask, relatively intact at that. So, you must know something about them. Me and my team are operating on a limited information right now, so, tell me what you know."

"What I know about them? Sure thing. That'd help us pass time while waiting for the transport unit, at least.”