John settled into a cultivation room; the air thick with ambient mana pressing gently against his skin. His focus was singular: mastering his Time-Chi. He yearned for the effortless aerial grace he’d read about in cultivation novels—the ability to simply stand in the air, defying gravity with sheer mastery of energy. Imagine, he thought, closing his eyes for a moment, just hovering there, completely still, the world spread out beneath me. He could swing himself around using his fly rod, but that brought to mind a certain web-slinging hero from his childhood. Not quite the aesthetic I’m going for, he mused, a slight twitch of his lips betraying a hint of amusement. The image of soaring through the air on a sword—a classic cultivation trope—flashed through his mind, but John quickly dismissed it. Swords are for showboats; he thought with a wry smile. What need do I have for a sword when I wield the power of time itself? He could blink-step, of course, but it was a limited technique, useful only for short bursts of movement. I need something… more fluid, more sustained.

Well, until he devised a more elegant solution, the first step was simple: just standing in the air. He began by focusing his Time-Chi on a small area beneath his foot. He could almost feel the subtle shift in the air as he generated a localized field, a cushion of displaced time that held him aloft. The principle was straightforward: minimizing the energy expenditure was key. By focusing the effect on a smaller area, reducing the amount of Time-Chi required, he could theoretically maintain levitation for a longer duration. It was a pragmatic, if somewhat rudimentary, approach, but it was a tangible first step towards his goal.

Having established a manageable first step—simply maintaining levitation—John began to actively draw in the ambient Time-Chi that permeated the "dungeon." He could sense the subtle tug of the next meridian, nestled along his spine, understanding that further advancement hinged on fully activating the current one. With meticulous care, he began to guide the gathered Time-Chi toward the meridian at the base of his skull, where it met his spine. This was his spine, a delicate and vital structure; the potential consequences of a misstep were unknown and unsettling. He became lost in the intricate landscape of his own body, his awareness focused entirely on the subtle currents of energy. Within his mind’s eye, the miniature clock face associated with the meridian began to turn, its hands sweeping steadily forward. They reached the six o'clock position before he deliberately halted the flow, a faint warmth spreading through his back. A distinct sense of balance and control settled over him as he acclimated to his newly augmented power. Now that he was more attuned to his enhanced abilities, it was time to venture to the 50th floor and gather more resources. But first, he needed to see Seraphina, Ayna, and Alana.

John walked into the main hall. Max was already there, deep in conversation with Seraphina, Ayna, and Alana. The conversation abruptly ceased as they all turned toward him, an unspoken question hanging in the air. Seraphina, though she had seen him more recently, felt a fresh wave of surprise at the subtle yet undeniable changes. He's… different, she thought, a flicker of unease mixing with her curiosity. For Ayna and Alana, who hadn't seen him for only a few days, the transformation was even more striking. The tips of his long black hair now gleamed like polished silver, a stark contrast against the dark strands, a detail that seemed almost otherworldly. His eyes, usually so warm and inviting, now held a fierce intensity that made them instinctively avert their gaze. It’s like… looking at a different person, Alana thought, her heart beating faster. The air around him felt charged, almost electric, a palpable pressure that made Ayna and Alana shift uncomfortably, a shared feeling of awe and a touch of fear settling over them.

John approached the group and settled into a nearby chair, his movements fluid and almost unnervingly graceful. He met each of their gazes in turn, a calm and reassuring expression on his face, though there was a subtle distance in his eyes. “It’s good to see you three,” he began, his voice even and measured. “I know I look… different.” He paused, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. “And I understand you probably have questions. I’d appreciate it if you could hold them for a moment. I want to explain a few things first.” He paused again, as if carefully selecting his words. “My goal remains the same: to complete the dungeon. And I want to help you all achieve your own goals as well. I would like to help you ascend,” he corrected himself, the emphasis on "would" suggesting a present inability, “but that’s not possible right now.” His gaze shifted slightly, a subtle avoidance of direct eye contact. “My immediate priority is… my own growth. And for that,” he continued, his tone becoming firmer, “I need you three to focus on strengthening yourselves, together.” He met their gazes again, his expression now more serious. “When the time is right, I’ll explain everything in detail. For now,” he paused, a hint of pleading in his voice, “please trust that everything I do is for the best of our group. I have no ill intent. Betrayal is… not a factor. This is all going to work out.” He offered a reassuring smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “So, please, concentrate on getting stronger as a team. Take your time. There’s no rush. Don’t push yourselves too hard and get yourselves killed—that would defeat the entire purpose. You have all the time in the world to grow stronger.”

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“Some of you may be wondering why I brought you together,” John continued, his gaze softening as he looked at Ayna and Alana. “Ayna,” he began, turning slightly towards her, “I chose you because you’re a high elf. The spirits of high elves are inherently good, pure, and deeply connected to nature—everything of the light. This purity is evident in your natural talents.” He then turned his attention to Alana. “Alana, you possess a quiet wisdom, forged in the fires of experience. As a dark elf, you’ve walked in the shadows. That doesn’t make you a dark person,” he clarified quickly, a gentle smile touching his lips, “it simply means you’ve endured hardship. I won’t pry into the details of your past, but its weight is clear in your demeanor.” He paused, his expression becoming more earnest, his gaze moving between the two. “I hoped that by bringing you together, you would find strength in each other’s differences. You each possess qualities the other lacks, and I believed that through your bond, you could complement each other, growing stronger together.”

“And you, Seraphina,” John continued, turning his attention to her, “you’re the epitome of life and death. Half human, half vampire—literally the definition of a life lived between two worlds, a ‘half-life’ balanced with a constant awareness of mortality.” He paused, his gaze softening. “Just as Ayna and Alana complement each other, you embody contrasting aspects within yourself. You possess the strengths of both human and vampire nature.” He offered a gentle smile. “But you’ve… perhaps lost touch with your human side. That’s why I wanted you to spend time with these two, even though they’re elves. You can understand the importance of connection, of bonding—that’s something both humans and vampires share.” He paused again, his expression becoming more encouraging. “This time with them will help you heal; help you reconnect with that lost part of yourself. It will also broaden your focus, so you’re not solely reliant on me. After all,” he finished with a light chuckle, “they say good things come in threes.”

John turned, addressing all three women. “Do you understand and agree to this proposition?” he asked, his gaze sweeping over them. “I’m only trying to do what’s best for all of us. Does this make sense?” He paused, giving them a moment to process his words. “Do you understand my reasoning a little better now?” Three nods confirmed their agreement. John then turned to Max. “Max, now that they’ve agreed, could you do me a small favor? Let each of the crows accompany one of them.” He gestured towards the women. In an instant, three crows materialized within the tree’s main hall, fluttering down to land gently on the shoulders of Seraphina, Ayna, and Alana. John watched for a moment, then shook his head slightly. “Actually,” he said, turning away, “I have a snake I need to check on.”

John approached the room where the snake resided, and he was taken aback by what he saw. “Looks like I spoke too soon,” he muttered to himself. The snake slowly turned, revealing a pair of bright, golden eyes. The creature—no, the woman—wore what appeared to be battle armor crafted from dragon scales, and a warm smile graced her lips. “Thank you for sparing me, John,” she said, her voice smooth and melodic. “But I do have one question. Why did you keep referring to me as male?” John scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Well… it just didn’t feel right referring to you as female, not after… everything that happened. So, I just defaulted to thinking of you as a guy.” She offered a knowing smile and presented John with a strange, ornate book. “Thank you for preventing me from becoming a true serpent. Thanks to you, I’ve ascended to a dragon form.” She gestured to her scaled armor and the serpentine strands woven through her hair. “As you can see, I can’t entirely conceal my draconic heritage, but I am eternally grateful.” She met his gaze, her expression sincere. “Whatever you require of me, I would be honored to assist.” John nodded. “I have others I’d like you to meet. Your primary responsibility now is protecting this place. This is your home now. The people I deem worthy will bear a crow on their shoulder—you have one as well, so you’ll know they’re with me. You can also train with these three,” he added, gesturing back towards the main hall, “and I’ll introduce you to them shortly.”