Extract from the -{ Tome of the ‘Forgotten One’ }- Divine scripture of the Church of the ‘Forgotten One’.

"As darkness gathers and the false light dims, know that the abyss holds the key to salvation. Trust in the prophecy that heralds the dawn of a new era, where truth triumphs over the ashes of deception." (The Abyssal Prophecy 3:10)

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"You know," Asher said, forcing a grin despite the searing pain that radiated through his battered body, "I was just warming up. How about we kick things up a notch?"

The hobgoblin's yellow eyes narrowed suspiciously, its scarred face twisting into a cruel smile that revealed rows of jagged teeth. "By all means," it growled, its guttural voice echoing off the chamber walls. "Show me what you can do, little human."

Asher took a deep breath, centering himself as he felt the weight of Jormu and Inky nestled against his chest. Their soft, steady breathing was barely audible over the pounding of his own heart, yet it filled him with a surge of determination. The horrors were still asleep, blissfully unaware of the intense battle around them. Their presence steeled his resolve. He had to win this fight, not just for himself, but for the tiny lives that depended on him.

As if sensing the shift in Asher's mood, Infinitie's Echoes began to emit a driving, determined beat. Drawing on every ounce of willpower, Asher charged forward, the Crimson Lotus blazing to life in his hands—the magical weapon pulsed with otherworldly energy, casting an eerie red glow across the chamber.

The hobgoblin met his charge with a thunderous roar that shook dust from the ancient ceiling. Its pneuma shields flared to life, a shimmering barrier of magical energy that distorted the air around the monstrous guardian. But this time, Asher had a plan. Instead of aiming for the creature itself, he feinted at the last second, twisting his body in a fluid motion that belied his exhaustion. With a cry of exertion, he drove the Crimson Lotus into one of the glowing runes etched into the chamber wall.

The effect was immediate and dramatic. The rune exploded in a dazzling shower of multicolored sparks, filling the air with the acrid scent of ozone. The hobgoblin stumbled backward, its massive frame shuddering as its pneuma shield flickered and wavered like a candle in the wind.

"What?" the guardian bellowed, genuine surprise coloring its gravelly voice for the first time. Its beady eyes widened in shock, darting between Asher and the smoking remnants of the ruined magical sigil.

Asher didn't waste time gloating or savoring his small victory. He was already in motion, using his enhanced spatial awareness to dance between the hobgoblin's wild, desperate swings. Each near miss sent gusts of wind rushing past him, a testament to the raw power behind the monster's attacks. But Asher remained focused, targeting the glowing runes that adorned the chamber walls one by one.

With each rune he destroyed, the air crackled with released magical energy. The hobgoblin's movements became more sluggish, its regeneration slowing to a crawl. Asher could see the growing panic in its eyes, the dawning realization that its seemingly invincible defenses were crumbling.

The music from Infinitie's Echoes reached a crescendo, perfectly matching the intensity of the battle. Asher became a blur of motion, the Crimson Lotus leaving trails of fire in the air as he wove between the hobgoblin's increasingly desperate attacks. Sweat poured down his face, muscles screaming in protest, but he pushed through the pain. The fate of Jormu, Inky, and perhaps the entire tower rested on his shoulders.

"No!" the guardian roared, its voice a mixture of fury and fear. It tried to intercept Asher, to protect the remaining runes, but it was too slow, too late. Its once-fluid movements were now clumsy and predictable, giving Asher the opening he needed.

With a final, desperate lunge, Asher plunged the Crimson Lotus into the last glowing rune. The chamber shook violently, magical energy exploding outwards in a blinding flash of light. The hobgoblin let out a horrific scream as its enhanced abilities were stripped away, leaving it vulnerable and mortal.

When the dust settled and Asher's vision cleared, he found himself standing over the fallen form of the hobgoblin. Its once-imposing frame now looked shrunken and pitiful, just another monster defeated by a determined adventurer. The guardian's labored breathing echoed in the sudden silence, a stark contrast to the chaotic din of battle moments before.

Panting heavily, his limbs trembling from exertion, Asher quickly checked on Jormu and Inky. To his immense relief, they were still asleep, their tiny forms rising and falling with each peaceful breath. They remained blissfully unaware of the epic battle that had just taken place, their innocent slumber a reminder of why Asher had fought so hard.

As Asher caught his breath, Infinitie's Echoes began to play a triumphant fanfare. The magical music box hovered near him, its delicate wings fluttering gently. The melody was soothing, washing over Asher like a balm and easing some of the ache in his battered body. It served as a poignant reminder of the invaluable aid the artifact had provided during the intense fight.

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Asher grinned, reaching out to pat the floating music box with a gentle hand. "Thanks for the assist, little buddy," he said, his voice rough with exhaustion. "Couldn't have done it without you." The music box chimed in a surprising response something that Asher didn’t expect, a series of notes that almost sounded like laughter.

Deciding to just label it as one of the strange mysteries that doesn’t need further explanation, Asher turned his attention to the fallen hobgoblin. His expression was unreadable as he gazed down at his defeated foe. The guardian's eyes once filled with malice, now held only pain and confusion. "You fought well," Asher said, his tone a mixture of respect and pity. "But you relied too much on borrowed power. True strength comes from within or at least that's what I think the heroes in the books would have said."

The hobgoblin wheezed, struggling to form words. "How... how did you know?" it rasped, gesturing weakly towards the ruined runes.

Asher knelt beside the fallen guardian, his voice low. "I've learned that in this tower, nothing is quite what it seems. You have to look beyond the obvious, find the hidden weaknesses." He paused. "Rest now. Your duty is done."

With the dungeon guardian defeated and his precious cargo still safely asleep, Asher turned his attention to what lay beyond. The chamber's far wall had begun to shimmer and fade, revealing a passageway that hadn't been visible before. The music shifted once more, settling into an adventurous, upbeat melody as Asher stepped forward, his body tense with anticipation of what was next.

A sudden prompt appeared in front of him, glowing letters hovering in mid-air, interrupting the cliche moment of triumph and exploration.

[ Congratulations to the host for clearing the dungeon. Please check your inventory for rewards. ]

The music box sounded a triumphant horn, the sudden blare making Asher grimace and take off the earpieces. He rubbed his temples as he suffered from a temporary hearing loss, trying to process the strange mix of magical and technological elements that seemed to permeate this world. As he did so, he remained blissfully unaware of the upheaval that every resident in the tower was experiencing at that very moment.

………………….

In the Swift family residence, the atmosphere was thick with tension and uncertainty. Inside the family shop which made up the front of the house, Sarah continued scribbling furiously in a worn ledger book. The afternoon sun hung high outside, casting long shadows across the cluttered shelves and faded merchandise. Occasionally she would pause, her brow furrowed in concentration as she performed mental calculations before continuing her task.

"Haah... 6 months if we are frugal, 8 if we sell everything," she muttered, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. The reality of their situation weighed heavily on her shoulders, each notation in the ledger another reminder of how precarious their future had become.

As Sarah worked on estimating all the assets she and Clover had to survive, her mind would occasionally wander. She found herself thinking about Asher and his odd company, replaying their brief encounter in her mind. There had been something different about him, something that set him apart from the other adventurers and treasure-seekers who passed through their lives.

Just as her thoughts began to drift further, a prompt suddenly materialized in front of her, glowing letters hanging in the air:

[ The tower welcomes challengers from the outside ]

[ The Tower Master Trial has started ]

Sarah sat frozen in her place, her eyes moving rapidly, again and again, reading and re-reading the system prompt. The implications of those simple words were staggering, threatening to upend everything she thought she knew about their world.

The silence was shattered by the sound of the shop door slamming open. Clover burst in, his face flushed and his breath coming in ragged gasps. He dropped a bag full of groceries unceremoniously on the nearest counter, not even taking the time to catch his breath before rushing to Sarah's side.

"Sarah, did you see the prompt as well?" he blurted out, his eyes wide with a mixture of fear and excitement.

Seeing Sarah blankly staring at him without answering, he grabbed her arms, gently shaking her. The physical contact seemed to break through her stupor, and Sarah's eyes suddenly gained complete clarity. They began to shine with a mixture of emotions – fear, hope, and a spark of something that looked almost like defiance.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"That means..." Clover began, his words coming out in a rush, "I am not hallucinating... he... Sir Asher was telling the truth. They did come from outside."

The two siblings fell silent, each taking time to process the whirlwind of emotions coursing through them. Fear and caution warred with excitement and hope, creating a maelstrom of conflicting feelings that left them both dizzy.

"What does this mean for us?" Sarah finally asked, her voice small and uncertain.

Clover shook his head, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "I don't know. But it changes everything, doesn't it? The tower, the rules we've lived by... it's all different now."

As the Swift siblings grappled with their new reality, elsewhere in the tower, others were facing similar upheavals.

……………………

In a serene forest glade, a small robed figure sat at the foot of an ancient tree, leaning against its gnarled trunk. The figure had been enjoying the peaceful solitude, the gentle rustling of leaves and chirping of birds a soothing balm to a weary soul. But that tranquility was shattered by the sudden appearance of the system prompt.

"Haah... Just when I was thinking about retiring and living peacefully," the figure mused, its melodious voice tinged with resignation.

As if summoned by those words, another figure materialized a few meters away, seeming to step out of thin air. This newcomer wore a similar robe to the first, but as it approached, it lowered its hood to reveal distinct features – a curious blend of human and squirrel.

"Lady Poppy," the newcomer addressed the seated figure, its voice respectful but urgent. "The council has called for an emergency meeting."

The figure being addressed as Lady Poppy slowly rose to her feet, stretching her back with a soft groan. Standing at full height, she was barely three feet tall, but her presence seemed to fill the clearing. She had delicate, almost ethereal features – slightly elongated ears, a small nose, and large, expressive amber eyes that reflected both ancient wisdom and childlike curiosity.

Poppy's body was mostly humanoid, but with subtle differences that hinted at her otherworldly nature. Soft fur covered her arms and legs, giving her a warm, natural appearance that seemed to blend seamlessly with the forest around her. Her most striking feature was a long, bushy tail that wrapped elegantly around her waist like a living accessory.

Her robe, made from natural fibers, was adorned with intricate leaf and acorn patterns that seemed to shift and move in the dappled sunlight. It was a visual representation of her deep connection to nature and her position within the tower's hierarchy.

"Alright, alright, I heard ya," Poppy replied her casual tone at odds with the formality of the messenger. "I'll head on over. When are the rest going to descend?"

The male acornian answered formally, despite being addressed so casually. "The council body has contacted them. Four of the eight seats are already home, excluding you. The 1st seat, however, has declined the request."

Poppy rolled her eyes, a gesture that seemed both exasperated and fond. "How typical of him. Oh well, send a squad each to the major towns, and keep an eye on the extremists. I have a feeling that they'll soon be gathering their numbers for a coup. After all, they've just gotten the best fuel for their agendas."

As she spoke, Poppy's gaze drifted to the glowing prompt still visible in the air. Her expression grew serious, the weight of responsibility settling on her diminutive shoulders.

"The tower is entering a new age," she said softly, her words carrying the weight of prophecy.

"One that will decide the future of every being inside it."