Warm water lazily caressed the banks of the spring, as if nothing had happened. The air was calm and undisturbed, the only sound the gentle murmur of the surrounding nature. Ashira opened her eyes, suddenly jolted back to reality.

She stood exactly where she had dived moments before. The water around her was still, and the world seemed frozen in time—as if nothing had changed. Yet her mind remained awash with memories—of pain, solitude, and the illusions she had endured in the Tower of Heritage. For a moment, she could hardly believe it was over.

She glanced aside and spotted the robe she had acquired during her battle with the boss of the Gate. It still lay exactly where she’d left it. Reaching for it, she draped it over her shoulders and felt the familiar pulsing of magical energy. The fabric was soft yet sturdy, as if ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.

"Did Eldric really think I'd resurrect him immediately?" she muttered under her breath.

The system did not provide her with a specific timeframe—only that she was required to do it.

But did she really have to hurry? No. It was better to approach the situation with caution, to bide her time until she was strong enough to bring him back.

Without wasting another moment, she headed toward the Shelter. Every step on the soft earth felt both familiar and strangely alien.

When she arrived, she saw Darius leaning against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, as though he had been waiting for her return all along.

"You came back quickly," he remarked, looking up at her.

Ashira stopped, frowning. Quickly? In her mind, days—perhaps even weeks—had passed since she had entered the tower.

"How long has it been?" she asked cautiously.

Darius shrugged. "Maybe an hour. I never thought one could bathe for so long."

Her heart pounded. So that’s it? The whole nightmare—all the trials, the pain, and the loneliness… did it all happen in the blink of an eye? She felt as if she had lost touch with reality, yet she couldn’t deny that the experience had left its mark.

Taking a deep breath, she fixed Darius with a serious gaze.

"We need to talk. There are many things you must know."

Darius straightened up, recognizing the gravity in her tone. Though he didn’t yet understand what had transpired, he knew this was no ordinary bath.

"Alright then," he replied, gesturing toward the interior of the Shelter. "This is going to be a long conversation."

Ashira nodded, ready to recount everything she had experienced—and to decide what to do next.

***

When Ashira finished her story, silence fell over the Shelter. Darius rested his elbows on the table, studying her intently.

"So you’re saying the system put you through something that lasted an hour for me, but for you it was days of trials? And then there’s Eldric… if I understand correctly, you have the ability to resurrect him, but you don’t have to do it right away?" he summarized, frowning.

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Ashira nodded. "Exactly. That’s precisely why I’m not rushing into any hasty decisions. I still don’t know whether he can be trusted."

Darius sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Honestly? It’s incredibly complicated. But it appears that your Tower of Chaos has far more potential than anyone ever imagined. If Eldric was telling the truth, he might possess knowledge that could help you."

Ashira clenched her fists. "I know. And that’s exactly why I need to think it all through."

Darius sighed again and looked at her seriously.

"In my opinion, you should resurrect him immediately," he said. "He might be dangerous, but he’ll start at level one—just like the rest of us. Besides, you can’t be sure he’ll remain the same person or retain his memories. All he gave you was data—something like an existence code, akin to DNA. I doubt the system allows memories to be stored, as was the case with me."

Ashira furrowed her brows, absorbing his words.

"Maybe you're right…" she admitted after a moment.

Darius shrugged. "Anyway, if he possesses the power of nature, he could be an invaluable asset. He might even be able to heal us, which would make him a tremendous advantage in battles at the Gates."

For a moment, Ashira pondered his words.

Darius smiled lightly. "Besides, if he truly starts at level one, we can always show him his place in the pecking order if necessary."

Silently, Ashira let his words sink in. Resurrect Eldric immediately? Perhaps Darius was right. After all, there was no guarantee he’d be the same person—and if he really began from scratch, they’d have control over him. Moreover, his nature-based abilities could prove indispensable. If he indeed had healing powers, their odds on future expeditions would soar.

"You're right," she finally said, lifting her gaze. "Tomorrow, I'll head to the Tower of Chaos and see what comes of it."

Darius snorted softly, folding his arms. "And you know what else puzzles me? That new title of yours—'Unyielding Will'... It seems it has truly changed something in your development." He raised an eyebrow as he looked at her. "Despite being a mage, your strength and agility are already nearly on par with mine. This... is not normal."

Upon hearing Darius’s comment, Ashira opened her system interface, eager to check how her stats had changed after the recent events. After a moment, a familiar window appeared before her eyes.

[SYSTEM]

Name: Ashira

Level: 8

Talent: Legendary – Eye of Chaos

Experience: 3000 / 12,500

[Stats]

Strength: 43

Agility: 62

Stamina: 73 (+10)

Intelligence: 102 (+15)

HP: 860 / 860

Mana: 520 / 575

Chaos Energy: 850

Unassigned Stat Points: 5

[Special Effects]

+5 Mana per damage dealt (Blood Ring)

+3 Magic Resistance (Rat King's Robe)

+30 to all stats (Unyielding Will - Fourth Tier)

Her stats had surged in an unimaginable way. The power she now wielded was on a completely different level than before. She felt her body reacting differently—lighter and quicker—as if she had crossed a threshold she’d never noticed.

For a moment, she stared at the numbers. The figures in parentheses next to Stamina and Intelligence indicated bonuses from her equipment, which explained their sudden increase. She knew that although they were temporary, they gave her a significant edge in battle.

She sighed, feeling the weight of fatigue beginning to press upon her. Everything she had endured—every Trial, every experience in the Tower of Heritage—had left its mark. Her mind and body needed rest.

Closing the interface, she slowly lay down to sleep, acutely aware of the hard floor beneath her. In that moment, she resolved that she must head to the next Gate as soon as possible and acquire something to upgrade the Shelter. With her eyes closed, she decided that this would be one of her next goals—after all, she had no intention of spending every night on the cold ground.

***

When she opened her eyes again, morning had already brightened the interior of the Shelter. She felt better—not fully rested, but ready to act.

Without wasting a moment, she set off for the Summoning Tower, determined to quickly summon another ogre and send him off to search for food.

When the process was complete, she exhaled softly and turned toward the Tower of Chaos.

Every step she took was filled with certainty and determination.

Finally, she stood before its massive structure, gazing at its familiar contours.

Ashira clenched her fists and took a deep breath.

It was time to see what the next step would bring.