The group ventured deeper into the jungle, but the ground became softer, and the humidity rose. The three were unaccustomed to the moist climate, and their movement slowed. A pack of harassing monkeys in the trees attacked them, but this time around, the three had better coordination.
Luke used his soul skill, Stone Barrage, to knock down their attackers. Luke’s summon, Liam, Darrel, and his summon relentlessly attacked the fallen monkeys, wiping them out. They collected the origin cores and continued traversing the third floor.
The jungle gradually changed into a swamp. The group finally ended the day at a safe spot built by the Adonis Guild inside a large living tree. Liam picked the farthest area away from the others to absorb the origin cores of the beasts he slayed. After everyone seemed to sleep, he entered his miniature world. Liam harvested the herbs and sold them to the Marketplace while also collecting his origin stones from the previously sold batches. He decided to keep the herbs low-priced to quickly sell them for the origin stones he desperately needed. Once he completed his transactions, he continued to absorb the origin crystals.
After three days of traversing the swamp area, the group climbed the staircase to the fourth floor of the Tower. The fourth floor was an endless mountainous terrain that continued to elevate higher and higher into the sky. The journey would prove to be treacherous and full of dangers.
Over the last few days, Luke and Liam had seen a different side to Darrel. He proved to be meticulous and calculating, very similar to his summon, Molt. The Darrel they used to know only harassed them daily, picking on their poor circumstances and making fun of their family members. The new Darrel they came to know in the last three days was dependable, and although he still made comments, the tone was not degrading.
Hansel looked at the three and smiled, seeing how their shared tribulations brought them closer together. He sensed a growing sense of mutual respect between the once feuding new climbers. However, reduced bickering did not mean it no longer happened.
Darrel pointed his finger accusingly at Luke. “Give it back, Luke! That’s my last Orb of Cleaning!”
Luke ignored Darrel and infused his soul energy into the orb, shattering it. A swirl of shimmering liquid enveloped Luke, washing him clean.
“Ah! That’s the best feeling! I’m going to get addicted to these! I’m too lazy to groom and clean myself anymore with Darrel’s orbs around.” Luke said as he inhaled a deep breath of air.
“So you know it's MY Orb of Cleaning! What am I supposed to do now?! We still have to climb the fourth floor and then go all the way back down!”
“Use what we use! Leaves, water, soap, a toothbrush, and some toothpaste. It’ll be a good experience seeing how the other side lives. That way you’ll stop making fun of us being poor. But now I want to be rich like you! Shattering an orb to clean myself every day!”
“By the Gods of the Tower! Do you want me to use leaves?! That’s impossible!”
“Well, what else are you going to use then?”
Luke laughed at the nervous Darrel, and Darrel chased Luke around, trying to catch him.
Liam sighed. “Here, Darrel. Use this one. I didn’t use the one you gave me a couple of days ago. It’s okay. I don’t need it.”
Darrel looked at Liam like he was his savior. He finally stopped chasing Luke and took the orb from Liam.
“Che. It’s not like one orb will save you from using leaves to wipe your butt. That’s your last orb, buddy!”
Darrel glared at Luke and slumped helplessly at his minor predicament. Ordinance warned Liam of their bigger issue, stomping footprints into the earth as it strode out from behind the corner of the ravine of the mountain.
“Master! Alert! A bear-like creature entered within range of detection!” Liam used an order to Ordinance a few days ago to analyze enemies upon sight.
Ding!
System Function: Analyze
Name:
Stage: 1
Species: Mammal - Bear
Subspecies: Sepharath (modified)?
Stats:
Strength: 9
Agility: 5
Dexterity: 7
Intelligence: 4
Willpower: 7
Aligned Elements:
Water: 7
Earth: 5
Skills:
Frenzy stage 1
Rock Smash stage 1
Flash Freeze stage 1
Blizzard (locked stage 5)
Evolution paths / Ratings
Polar Titan / 3 stars
Terra Bear / 6 stars
Liam warned his two friends of the incoming danger in the distance. “Guys, we have trouble ahead. That bear looks strong. We should attack from afar.”
However, their troubles doubled. “Master! Another bear with similar data followed from behind the first one!”
“Another one just walked from behind!” Liam warned.
Hansel looked at Liam with a peculiar look in his eyes. Over the last couple of days from observing Liam, he noticed a few oddities when Liam alerted the others. Sometimes he voiced out his warning before actually looking at the threat. Hansel wanted to pry open all of Liam’s secrets, but he held back. He didn’t want to scare away Liam before he was officially a part of the Adonis Guild.
Luke and Darrel reflexively called out their summons. Through experience from their battles in the last couple of days, the trio learned having their summons out quickly optimized their available options to act upon.
Like Luke and Darell, their summons learned to be vigilant and assess their surroundings once called out. The bears had thick white fur coats and walked on all fours. Seeing the two large summons emerge out of nowhere, the two bears roared and dashed with blazing speed toward the group.
Liam readied his sword, but he stayed away from this fight. He knew physically fighting against the bears would only be detrimental to the group and stayed behind Darrel and Luke.
Luke used his soul skill and lifted stones and boulders off the ground. Darrel commanded Molt to spit fire and melt the rocks and boulders into burning magma, and Luke launched the molten fire at the rushing bears. The magma burned off the bears’ fur and scalded deep into their flesh. They screamed in agony but did not back away. Rather, the bears’ eyes turned red, and they rampaged with reckless fury even faster at the group.
Luke had Sardonia impede their path using Stone Spires, and Darrel continued to have Molt spit blame flames at the bears. However, they kept smashing through, unable to feel their pain.
Ordinance’s anxious voice startled Liam.
“Master! The more damage done to them while under their skill, Frenzy, the more powerful they become. Currently, all their stats have doubled! Warn everyone to stay away from their physical attacks!”
“Luke! Darrel! Avoid physical contact at all costs with the bears! They’ve become two times stronger than Sardonia!”
Hansel eyes opened wide at Liam’s statement. He immediately acted, and he dashed at the bears.
The two became alarmed and warned their summons, but the bears were not only stronger but also faster. The commands were too late. The bears rushed forward, each swiping at one of the two summons. Molt instinctively turned into a shadow and dashed away in time, but not Sardonia.
The powerful strike of the bear snapped off its already injured arm as it smashed Sardonia’s side. Hansel lightened the blow as he dashed into a jump kick, shattering the bear’s leg. However, the power of the bear’s strike was still too strong. Sardonia was just as large as the bears but flew off the ground before crashing and rolling away.
Luke cried out for his summon. “No!!! Sardonia!!!” He ran to Sardonia, who was bleeding heavily on the ground. Luke heard the weakening breaths of Sardonia. She was fading. Fast.
This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
Hansel killed the other two bears and immediately called out one of his summons. “Come forth! Gilda of the Morning Light! Heal that summon immediately,” Hansel yelled, pointing at Sardonia.
A small pure white gazelle gracefully pranced to Sardonia. Its body glowed a luminescent golden color and kissed Sardonia’s wound. The shimmering gold light transferred to the wound, and the bleeding stopped. Slowly, the wound healed, and Sardonia breathed again. However, she was still sweating and panting heavily. Hansel walked over with a solemn face. His newly contracted summon was still in the early stages and didn’t have a powerful healing ability. His soul skill, unfortunately, only cured poisons and not wounds.
Hansel consoled Luke, “your summon will make it. Fret not. I can only do emergency healing for now. Once we get back to the guild, we can heal her completely. For now, it’s best to keep her back in the soul house. Any more damage will be irrecoverable at this point.”
Like wiped away a tear in his eye and recalled Sardonia back into her soul house. Liam looked sorrowfully at Luke. There was nothing more he could do to help his friend.
Luke ran to the dead bears’ bodies and unleashed his rage, kicking and stomping on the deceased bears. He took his sword and stabbed it through the skulls of the bear, further desecrating the bodies.
Liam never saw Luke in such a state and was stunned. He called out to Luke, “Stop. They’re dead, Luke.” However, Luke ignored Liam and continued hacking and slashing the bodies. Liam didn’t like this side of Luke, and walked over, trying to stop him.
“Luke. Please, stop! This isn’t like you. I know they hurt Sardonia, but you’re better than this. Sardonia wouldn’t want you to do this.”
Darrel was going to stop Liam, but Hansel shook his head.
Liam was not thinking clearly and approached Luke as he was madly swinging his sword. Liam grabbed Luke’s arm, but Luke recoiled and his sword cut Liam’s arm. Blood seeped down his arm, and Liam pulled his arm back from the pain.
“What are you doing, Liam!”
“I was trying to stop you! The bears are dead! I know you’re mad, and I feel bad for you. But you’re going too far! I told you, this isn’t like you!”
“You’re stupid! Why did you do that!? Now you’re hurt too!”
Hansel stepped in. “Cool off. I said your summon isn’t dead. What would you have done if your summon really died? Mindlessly kill everything in sight? Get a hold of yourself. You hurt your friend.”
Luke stuttered, paralyzed by the realization. “I hurt Liam…” Luke looked at Liam’s arm dripping blood. “I hurt you too…” Luke stopped and sat down.
Liam was confused. “Me, too? Who else did you hurt?” Liam thought of Luke’s summon. “You can’t blame yourself for Sardonia getting injured. That wasn’t your fault.”
“I should have warned her sooner. You knew before I did, but I didn’t even know. I just had her keep attacking. It was my fault.”
Liam wanted to smack his friend, but he sighed. He didn’t want Luke living in guilt for something he wouldn’t even be capable of knowing. He crouched down to Luke’s ears and whispered. “Only I knew. So don’t blame yourself.”
“What do you mean!?” Luke shouted at Liam.
Liam glared daggers at Luke, and Luke realized it was supposed to be a secret.
Luke tried to cover up his mistake. “What do you mean you’re not bleeding!? Vice Guild Master! Please heal this hairless idiot!”
Luke looked at Liam and lectured him. “Blood-letting will not make you grow more hair, Liam. Don’t believe whoever told you so.”
Liam was dumbfounded, but Hansel laughed. He already knew something was up with Liam, but he played along.
“Sit down, Dysfunctional. Gilda, heal that foolish boy.”
The gazelle happily pranced to Liam and licked his face. It seemed to like Liam. Hansel complained, “how come you never give me any kisses, Gilda!? That’s not fair! I’m your contractor, not that brat!”
The gazelle turned away, scorning Hansel. It ignored its shouting owner and kissed Liam’s cut, transferring the shimmering gold light.
Liam pet the gazelle and its small bunny-like tail twittered happily.
Liam asked Ordinance to analyze Gilda, but Ordinance's response shocked Liam. “Would you prefer if I was cute and furry too, master?”
“Are you jealous, Ordinance?!”
“All summons deep inside want to be liked by their contractors, master. I am no different.”
Liam chuckled. He saw so many new sides of the ones he thought he knew. “Don’t worry, Ordinance. I like you just the way you are.”
“I wish I could help you more, master. I am troubled over not being able to assist you during your times of peril.”
“Thanks, buddy. I appreciate the sentiment. But I understand your situation. Don’t worry.”
“…displaying window screen now…”
Liam wondered if Ordinance was acting shy, but he focused on the screen before him.
Ding!
System function: Analyze
Name: Gilda
Stage: 1
Species: Mammal - Gazelle
Subspecies: Holy Sprite
Stats:
Strength: 2
Agility: 7
Dexterity: 4
Intelligence: 6
Willpower: 7
Aligned Elements:
Light: 8
Time: 4
Skills:
Heal Light stage 1
Cure All Stage 1
Blessing (locked stage 5)
Light Barrier (locked stage 6)
Last Revive (locked stage 8)
Evolution Paths / Rating
Life Giver - 4 stars
Elder Gazelle - 4 stars
Divine Embodiment - 6 stars
Gilda licked Liam’s hand, enjoying the belly rub. Suddenly, it faded into light and was pulled back to its soul house by Hansel.
“Alright. Since only one of you is currently capable of fighting, I will assist as we move through the fourth floor. Let’s try to get to the fifth floor on time. Six days to reach the next floor is the goal. Let’s collect what we can from the bears and go.”
Hansel took the lead and had Darrel stay at the rear while Luke and Liam stayed in the middle. The group walked off, scaling the growing mountain range.
Along the way, Luke sneaked glances at Liam’s cut that healed over. Liam noticed and decided to get some payback. “You feel guilty, Luke? Did you learn your lesson?”
However, Luke joked back with his regular self. “Yeah, I did. Never let a hairless kid touch a knife. They might cut themselves. Stay away from swinging knives, Liam.”
Liam glared at Luke and shoved his scar in Luke’s face. Luke replied honestly, “I’m sorry, Liam. In my anger, I cut you.”
“So you’ll try not do it again? Seeing so caught up in anger was frightening. I didn’t recognize you.”
“I’ll try, but I make no promises. You can try to stop me. And I’ll stop you if I see you go crazy.”
Darrel chipped in with sarcasm. “What’s this? Luke actually apologized? I thought you never knew how. Apologize for using all my Orbs of Cleaning!”
“There’s nothing to apologize for, Darrel. I was helping you out. Now you’re just like us. Isn't that grand?”
“Luke! You bastard! I want my Orbs of Cleaning!”
Hansel sighed and gave up trying to tell the three to be aware of their surroundings. He simply rounded them up and smashed their heads together. “You fools never learn, do you?”
Luke argued back. “Not if you keep knocking the lesson out of our heads! We have forgotten everything now that we’re all brain-damaged!”
“Maybe I need to make you forget thinking that too?”
Liam quieted down. Along the way, they met large boar-like creatures. Hansel had Darrel handle a few, but he mainly handled all the beasts. They made their first stop at the end of the day. The safe spot was hidden on the mountainside, and they rotated the person on guard duty. Liam did his usual daily routine, harvesting and selling herbs before absorbing more origin energy.
They continued climbing up the mountain range until finally, they reached the tip of the tallest mountain. The top of the mountain morphed into a set of staircases, leading to the fifth floor. Hansel turned around, cautious and alert. The group had company.
Out of the group of four people walking up from behind, Luke and Liam were very familiar with two of them. Their old friend, the size of them combined, spoke, greeting Luke.
“Yo, Luke. Fancy seeing you up here. That arrogant Darrel is with you as well. How odd.”
“Aren’t you forgetting someone, Reld?” Luke seriously said back.
“Hmmm? No. I’m not.” Reld stated seriously.
Liam stopped Luke. “Don’t bother, Luke.”
Reld shouted with a sharp tone at Liam. “Why the hell is a damn Dysfunctional interrupting the conversation between climbers?! Know your place! You disgusting abomination!”
A lady dressed in a luxurious red fur coat, hugging her figure tightly, seductively spoke to Reld. “Now, now, Reld. Play nice. Hello, Vice Guild Master Hansel. I didn’t know you recruited the Dysfunctional of this generation. Is the Adonis Guild tight on funds? You couldn’t give any benefits to get better recruits?”
“Fortuna scum. Money and a nice shiny guild house can’t solve your weak summons.” Hansel scoffed. “We did take in Liam. He is now part of our Adonis Guild.” Hansel reminded the Vice Guild Master of Fortuna. “You forget the true history behind the Dysfunctionals, little Mia. You would do well to remember the first summoner was also a Dysfunctional and also the most powerful!”
“Hahaha! Old man! Jealousy is the ugliest. Not only are you ugly, but you also seemed to have lost your marbles as well! What your referring to is merely a legend of old. No Dysfunctional has ever shown any worth. The real history has proven so. Your new recruit is weak and powerless. Oh, how low has the Adonis Guild fallen? Stooping to recruit a pathetic Dysfunctional.”
“If we’re going to start talking ugly, you’d be the first, old hag! The whole kingdom knows you, the Vice Guild Leader Mia of the Fortuna Guild, is hiding your sagging face behind potions! I bet you bribed the Fortuna Guild to get a good discount, seeing how you would need that many to look human.”
“You wretched old man! I can’t believe we almost got married! You were such a mistake!”
“Thank the Gods of the Towers! I didn’t have to kill myself to rid your ugly ass!”
Vice Guild Master Mia screeched and was about to attack Hansel.
A deep man’s voice echoed in the surroundings. He too, came along with a group of three.
“Why are you two always arguing like children? That’s lowly for two of supposed top Vice Guild Masters of the Lazar Kingdom. The Polaris Guild, will take the first step, as always. Keep bickering.”
“Get back here, Antwon!” Hansel shouted. “We’re all on equal standing here!”
“I’m not agreeing with Hansel, but let’s get the facts straight. Polaris has always been dead last. Now the Vice Guild Master of the Polaris is claiming to ‘always be first’?! Ha! What a lie! You probably fooled your little recruits there!”
Liam watched the three Vice Guild Masters dumbfounded as they berated one another, back and forth.