Asher and Liam, still catching their breath from the intense battle, turned their attention to the crystallized heart lying amidst the remnants of the WaterHowler. The crystalized heart, with its mysterious glow, sparked a sense of bewilderment in both of them. They were well aware of the rarity of such drops, but to have them occur consecutively was beyond their expectations.
"This doesn't seem normal. It's as if the crystallized hearts are meant to drop in this particular area." Asher remarked, his tone laced with suspicion and contemplation. He couldn't help but feel that there was more to these drops than met the eye.
"I'm not so sure about that, but I definitely won't complain if we get two more from the remaining Wolves." Liam replied, trying to maintain a positive outlook despite the lingering doubts.
Asher, however, found it hard to shake off his unease. The crystallized hearts, though valuable for their ability to grant new skills, seemed to hold a deeper significance in this area. He felt an intuitive nudge that there was something more profound about them, a hidden layer of meaning yet to be uncovered. Yet, without concrete evidence, he decided not to dwell on these thoughts for too long.
The pressing issue at hand was the remaining elite wolves. The group had managed to defeat two, but the victory had come at a great cost. Their resources were depleted, and Asher's guardian's shields, his main defensive and offensive tools, were now rendered useless after the fierce combat against the Flame and Water Howlers. The situation painted a grim picture for the challenges that lay ahead.
The remaining elite wolves, presumably possessing their own unique elements and abilities, posed a significant threat. Asher knew that facing them with their current power level and lack of resources was equivalent to walking into the jaws of death. They had been fortunate to clear two elites in one run, but their luck was bound to run out.
Asher’s tone was firm, and his gaze serious as he addressed the group, emphasizing the gravity of their situation. "I think we need to stop our progress here." he declared, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility.
Carl, still clutching his fallen comrade tightly, retorted with palpable frustration, "What? We can’t just give up now! My two other friends are still unaccounted for. We have to find out if they're safe!"
Liam chimed in, aligning himself with Carl's sentiment, "He’s right, Asher. We can't abandon them without at least trying to find them. There’s a possibility they're still out there."
Asher sighed, understanding their concerns but also aware of the dire straits they were in. "I get it, I really do. But look at us. We're battered and barely standing after facing those two wolves. And me? Without a shield, my guardian is incapacitated. I can’t protect or attack. We're going into unknown territory, against unknown enemies, with no information about what types of wolves they are or what capabilities they possess. In our current state, death is almost certain. And for what? The slim chance that the others are still alive? We need to face reality here. The likelihood of them being alive is extremely low."
Asher’s words hung heavily in the air, as the reality of their situation settled on each member of the group. The decision to forge ahead or retreat was a heavy one, laden with potential guilt and what-ifs, but Asher’s realistic approach highlighted the peril they would put themselves in by proceeding without proper preparation.
Carl's face contorted with frustration as he angrily opposed the idea of retreating. "We can't just turn our backs on them! We have a duty to at least try and save them. What if they're still out there, waiting for help?"
Asher, understanding Carl's distress but remaining resolute, put his foot down. "Carl, I sympathize with your situation, I truly do. But I am not willing to risk my life, and the lives of the rest of this group, on a mere possibility. The people you're worried about are strangers to me, and the harsh truth is that they are most likely already dead. We barely survived our encounters with the flame and water wolves, and that was with my guardian at full capacity. Right now, we would be going in blind and defenseless against unknown enemies. I’m not willing to lead this group into almost certain death."
Carl’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of him as the reality of their situation sank in. Asher's words, though harsh, were rooted in truth. The group needed to prioritize their own survival.
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Seeing Carl's defeat, Asher softened his tone, "I know it’s hard to accept, but we need to be smart about this. We need to regroup, come back stronger and better prepared. That’s the only way we can hope to tackle the challenges ahead."
"How on earth are we going to achieve that?" Liam questioned, his voice laced with doubt as he pondered how they could possibly return stronger.
"I believe our most viable option is to venture back into the Tower of Awakening." Asher proposed cautiously.
"What?!" Both Carl and Liam exclaimed in unison, taken aback by Asher's suggestion. They understood that the Tower of Awakening had the potential to significantly enhance their capabilities, but it also carried the risk of fatal consequences. It was no stretch to say that their current survival hinged on their collaborative efforts as a team, drawing strength from each other to overcome the numerous challenges they had encountered. However, within the confines of the Tower, they would be isolated, left to rely solely on themselves.
"But we've still got six days left. Isn't it too soon to be considering that option? Once we leave, we might not be able to return until we've reached the 10th floor, given that the return stone is only available for purchase every five floors." Carl argued, his concern evident.
'Every five floors? Seems like someone from his community chat provided this information.' This was new information for Asher; he had assumed that the return stone would be available for purchase after completing the 5th floor, not realizing that it was only accessible every five floors. This revelation made his earlier suggestion to return to the Tower of Awakening even more perilous and fraught with risk.
"Look, I get it. This is risky and scary, but it's really our best shot," Asher explained, trying to make his point clear. "If we have to get to the 10th floor of the Tower of Awakening to come back stronger, then we'll just have to do it. We'll level up, get better gear and skills, and we can even pick our subclasses. I'm sure by the time we get back here, we'll be way stronger and ready to take on this dungeon. We can't be scared now; we've got to think about getting stronger and beating this thing."
Liam rubbed his head, the strain of the situation evident on his face. “This is insane. But I get it, Asher. We’re backed into a corner here, and we need to take any chance we can get.”
Carl, still reeling from the earlier discussion, took a deep breath and nodded slowly. “I... I’ll go with you. I don’t want to feel helpless anymore. If this is what it takes to get stronger and make a difference, then I’m in.”
Asher, relieved to have their support, nodded in determination. “Alright. Let’s head back, prepare ourselves as best as we can, and face the Tower of Awakening. We’ll come back stronger and ready to face whatever challenges await us. ”
With their decision made, the group made their way out of the dungeon. As they emerged into the daylight, the weight of the dungeon’s darkness seemed to lift from their shoulders.
Upon reaching Captain Albert's home, they were greeted by the sight of the captain himself, waiting anxiously at the entrance. His eyes lit up with relief and joy as he spotted Carl among the group, but quickly clouded over with sorrow as he realized the others were not with them.
“Carl!” Captain Albert exclaimed, rushing forward to clasp Carl in a tight embrace. “Thank God you’re safe. I was so worried.”
Pulling back, he searched Carl’s face, his expression turning somber. “And the others…?”
Carl’s face fell as he shook his head, the weight of the loss hitting him anew. “They didn’t make it, Captain. We were ambushed by those monsters. They fought bravely, but…”
Captain Albert closed his eyes, taking a moment to compose himself before nodding solemnly. “I see. They were good men. They will be missed.”
Turning to Asher and Liam, he offered a nod of gratitude. “Thank you for bringing Carl back safely. I can see that you’ve all been through hell. Come inside, rest. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you need.”
As they stepped into Captain Albert’s home, weary from battle, Asher took a deep breath and spoke up, “Captain, we appreciate your hospitality, truly. But we need to decline your offer to stay. We’ve made a decision. We’re heading back to the Tower of Awakening.”
Captain Albert’s eyebrows furrowed in concern, and Sarah exchanged a worried glance with him. “Are you sure? You’ve just come back from a dangerous mission. You need rest,” the captain urged.
“We understand the risks, and we know we need to be in top shape. But time is of the essence.” Liam added, his voice steady. “The Tower of Awakening can provide us with the strength and resources we need to clear the dungeon.”
Carl, though silent, nodded in agreement, his expression still sorrowful.
Captain Albert sighed. “I can’t say I’m happy about this decision, but I understand your resolve. Just… be careful, all of you. From my understanding, the tower is no less dangerous than the dungeon.”
Sarah stepped forward, her face etched with worry. “Are you really leaving? promise me, promise all of us, that you’ll come back safely.”
The group nodded, grateful for the captain and Sarah’s concern. after a brief rest, as if the system knew of their intention, a holographic window appeared Infront of them, asking them to confirm their return towards the Tower of Awakening.
Would you like to return to the 'Tower of Awakening'? (6 days remaining) [YES/NO]
"Yes!"