The large group made it quickly to their destination as they started to set up. The sand of times started to slowly tick in the countdown for their fight. Everyone worked hard, pushing rocks and setting dynamite into crevices for the rockfall. They knew that their lives depended on this success.

Snow was busy, running back and forth to make sure everything was going in plan. Most of her work lead the healers to be ready for the injuries. She even distributed the potions, making a small profit, that she was squirreling away whenever the Dragon's express brought in new items. There was no time to be stingy as she knew that they would be of no use if they all died.

Snow stood on top of the cliff, looking down at the people. She could see that everyone was hurrying as the light was slowly setting. In a few hours, the dungeon lights were bound to go dark.

Closing her eyes, she sat down as she began to chant softly under her breath. It was more of a prayer than anything. I hoped that the prayer would be answered by God. The wind picked up, taking the energy along with it as it silently disappeared.

Soft steps of pebbles moving could be heard from behind her. Opening her eyes, she wondered who it was. It was Dairen, sitting down next to her as he gazed off into the distance.

"It's a beautiful sight," Dairen spoke, almost in a longing expression. "I can't believe something like this exists in this dungeon."

Snow didn't think about the dungeon to be beautiful until Dairen had said so. Maybe because most of the time, she would be too caught up in working and taking care of the business that it didn't even occur to her until now. Looking out, she couldn't help but watch the beautiful scenery before her.

Even though there wasn't a real sun around, the flavorful light that glimmered around them gave it a soft glow.

"It's not too bad." Snow replied.

"Back home, such a view is a rarity."

She couldn't help but wonder what he meant. "Don't you guys have trees, ocean, and stuff like that?"

Dairen gave her a half-hearted smile. "We destroyed half our world from our selfish desires. Right now," he seemed to simmer with a hint of anger as he couldn't speak anymore. "Our last oasis is a treasure."

"What do you mean?"

"War," Dairen said with a hint of humor that told her that there was something dark and savaged that went on in his world. "Nuclear Warfare."

"I'm sorry?" This was a term she wasn't so sure of what he meant.

"Science and our pride destroyed our world's life. Think of it as a giant bomb that can destroy a city and leave behind a sickness that kills you slowly over time. Half the world is inhabitable, while the other half is crammed with people. People are slowly dying; most have cancer or some kind of disease that is harmful to their bodies. Many come to this world in hopes of creating a second home, riches, or eternal life."

Snow knew then what he meant. Large scale magic that created nationwide destruction was still apparent and used as threats to one country to another. She knew that this was similar.

"When we started getting invitations, it became a craze, almost a religion. The experience points, status, jobs, and even loot that you would read in some famous novels makes it more so."

She could see Dairen had a hint of displeasure at the thoughts of what was going on in his world. There was nothing she could do. The only thing she gave him was a light pat on his shoulder to comfort him.

"The people don't know how dangerous this world is. Their second life here is only one that is given. No reboot, no resurrection, nothing, but they still find it as a game." He shook his head.

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She understood what he meant, mostly because she had interactions with the Players regularly. There were always two cases of Players: the one like Dairen that understood the value of a second life. The latter were the game fanatics that saw everything as a reward and some kind of experience base.

Even now, her people still had a difficult time grasping the mind of the Players. Trying to control them was out of the question, mostly because of their outrageous behavior. Again, that didn't stop the world from turning; it accepted them and melded them quickly into society.

"Luckily, we can bring back small things." He smiled, "I have been collecting small seeds and transferring them over to my world."

Dairen shuffled in his pocket, pulling out his phone. He then scrolled through his pictures, showing it to Snow in excitement.

Curiously peering over, she wondered what he was trying to show. Awe filled his very core, realizing what was planted. It was a Golderon Apple tree. "It grew?"

"Yes," flipping through more, Dairen showed his small greenhouse. There were other varieties of plants that Snow was surprised to see, mostly because she didn't think the plants would even live in such conditions.

"See this?" He pointed out a specific picture of a barren land with nothing but damaged buildings, empty streets, and a desolate hell that screamed death. "This was where I was born."

"Oh wow, that is insane. It's like the apocalypse." Snow couldn't help but voice her opinion at what she had seen. Realizing how rude she was, she raised her hand to cover herself to stop. She felt stupid for saying such things.

"It's alright. It was a long time ago. Plus, my home isn't too far from there as well. It's where I started a small greenhouse to change the city into a replenished forest. But the toxicity level is too high to live in." He dryly laughed. "I am lucky the sickness hasn't' hit me yet."

Concerned, Snow took a good look at him.

"I don't get it." Snow asked. "I thought you were here for the Philosopher's Stone because you were hired for it.

"Yes, I'm after that. My contract is a bit fickle, but it helped me get out of a tight predicament. Luckily, I can bring a seed or two over here every time I leave." Dairen excitedly said as his eyes sparkled. "I'll be looking for some other seeds around that I am allowed to take with me."

Snow could feel the passion in his voice as the excitement seemed to grow even more.

"Did you know that the Dragon Plant is called that because it tends to spit fire?" Dairen replied with excitement in his voice. "I honestly have never seen a plant spitfire before. Not only that, I took a bag of seed with me to grow. It took a while to get it into a seedling stage, but the weather was a bit difficult. I swear, I thought I would lose my greenhouse when it kept spewing out fire every time it was brought out into the frost."

"Well, they do hate the cold." Snow laughed. She enjoyed listening to his rambling of the plants that he spoke. It helped take her focus away from the dungeon life.

"It would be best for them to be in a warmer climate considerably in the desert. The only reason the plant spit out fire is when they are in danger, or it gets too cold; they do this to keep themselves warm."

"I thought it was those reasons as well." Dairen bashfully spoke as his cheeks turned slightly red. "I accidentally had my first greenhouse fire because of it."

Snow couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Dairen fanned himself, embarrassed.

"At least you are alive." Snow jovially said, shaking her head while laughing. "Well, because you are a plant enthusiast, I suggest a couple of plants to try next. They are more beneficial to you and your environment, but growing them will be very difficult. You think you want to try?"  

"Absolutely." Dairen didn't even hesitate. His eyes are sparkling at the thought of a challenge.

"Well, then. I suggest three plants that you should take with you next time. They are a Starfish plant, Banana Liquorice tree, and finally, the one I highly suggest taking with you is called the Purple Snake plant."

"What does each do?"

"Banana Liquorice is famously known for its delicious banana tea leaves, but the best part of the plant is its ability to keep the soil around it pure. Starfish plants are well known for keeping common colds away, while Purple Snake Plant is an air purifier. I don't know how they will do in a foreign land, though."

Darien nodded. "Trial and Error. I have a partner working on finding ways to make the plants grow on foreign soil. Though I must say, the results are terrifyingly groundbreaking."

"Have you told your people yet?"

"No." Dairen shook his head. "I'm just biding my time as well as making sure it doesn't become a threat to the native plants. A little more research and we should have some good results.

Snow was quite interested in Dairen's goal, mostly because it sounded grander and quite a vicious goal to solve. To turn a barren land back into a forest, what a sight to see. She had a feeling that he wasn't going to stop there, mostly because if the study were successful, it would revolutionize habitual places for the people to reclaim back again. Still, it was a painful dream; she knew he would have to work tears and sweat for it to become a reality. Silently, she prayed for his success.

Momentarily, both of them continued to sit on the ledge as they quietly lived in the moment. It was peaceful before they got up and split ways again to help with the fight that was coming.