The city was in chaos. Screams echoed through the streets, and the sound of clashing steel and roaring creatures filled the air. Fires burned in the distance, casting an eerie glow over the night. The team gathered around Tyler's unconscious form, their faces a mix of determination and fear.

“Darius, check the store over there, see if there’s anything we can use to make a stretcher. We need to get him back to camp,” Elric said, pointing at a half-destroyed store down the alley.

"We can't go back to the slave camp," Livia said, her voice trembling with worry. "They'll dissect Tyler to take his core when they find out what he did to that creature."

"What’s the alternative? It’s not like we can escape either," Marcus added. "They’ll track us down with magic, that’s what these slave brands on our shoulders are for. I’ve heard stories of men escaping into the sewers and going down the river. The Empire Hounds caught them before they even left the province."

A heavy silence fell over the group as they processed their bleak options. The distant sounds of battle and the cries of the injured and dying filled the air, adding to their sense of urgency.

Livia broke the silence. "What about the tower?" she asked, her face set with determination.

Elric shook his head. "What are you saying Livia!? The tower is a death trap. We have no supplies, no weapons except what we can scavenge from the dead soldiers, perhaps. We probably wouldn’t make it past the first floor."

Livia looked at each of them, her eyes fierce. "Think about it. If we go back to the slave camp, what do you think will happen when they find out what Tyler did? We're as good as dead if we go back. This is our chance—our only chance—to fight for our freedom."

"But we have no supplies," Marcus argued. "No food, no proper weapons."

"We raid a few half-destroyed shops on the way," Livia said. "The city is in chaos. We can grab what we need while everyone is distracted. And once we're in the tower, we can find supplies on each floor. It's not like we ever intended to come out before reaching the top anyway."

Elric still looked doubtful. "Even if we get in, how are we supposed to make it to the top? We barely survived that creature, and there are a hundred floors."

"Tyler did all that with zero preparation," Livia said, her voice steady. "Imagine what he could do if we had some time to ourselves. We can use the tower to train, to get stronger. It's what we've been working towards anyway."

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Marcus looked at Darius, who shrugged. "She's got a point. If we lose Tyler before our next battle, we're as good as dead. At least in the tower, we’ll have a fighting chance."

Elric sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But we need to move fast. Let's raid a shop and get to the tower before more of those creatures find us."

They quickly devised a plan. Elric and Darius would carry Tyler, while Marcus and Livia scouted ahead, keeping an eye out for danger. They moved swiftly through the narrow alleys, using the confusion and darkness to their advantage.

The city was a battlefield. Griffons ridden by heroes soared above, clashing with the monstrous creatures that had descended from the tower. Fires raged in buildings, and civilians were caught in the crossfire, their screams a chilling reminder of the chaos that had overtaken the city.

As they moved, their custom-tailored Akatsuki robes—black adorned with red and white cloud symbols—fluttered behind them, a stark contrast to the destruction around them. They found a small weapons shop, its door hanging ajar. Inside, the shop was in shambles. Shelves were toppled, and the smell of burning wood and metal filled the air. The walls were lined with swords, knives, and various other weapons, many of which had fallen to the floor.

"Grab what you can," Elric said, his voice urgent. "We need to move quickly."

They quickly grabbed swords, knives, and whatever supplies they could find—bandages, basic medical kits, and some dried food. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

As they approached the tower, they saw more creatures descending from its heights, spreading destruction across the city. The entrance to the tower wasn’t an entrance at all. In front of the tower was a pedestal with a large orb. To enter the tower, one simply had to place their hand on the orb and the tower did the rest.

The usual guards were distracted, rushing around trying to help the soldiers who were fighting the smaller tower beasts. The team casually walked up to the pedestal, and one by one, they disappeared, Marcus placing Tyler's hand on the orb for him before following his team.

The team found themselves in a dark, damp corridor. The air was thick with the smell of mold and decay, and their footsteps echoed softly against the stone walls.

"We need to find a safe place to rest," Livia said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Tyler needs time to recover."

They moved deeper down the corridor, navigating the labyrinthine passages. The further they went, the more they felt a strange, oppressive energy pressing down on them. It was as if the tower itself was alive, watching their every move.

Finally, they found a small chamber that seemed relatively secure. Elric and Darius gently laid Tyler down, while Marcus and Livia checked the surroundings for any hidden dangers.

"We should be safe here for a while," Marcus said, his voice echoing slightly in the small room. "But we need to be ready to move at a moment's notice."

Livia knelt beside Tyler, her hand gently brushing his hair. "Come on, Tyler. We need you. Please wake up."

As they settled in, the oppressive energy of the tower seemed to grow stronger. Strange sounds echoed through the halls, and the flickering torchlight cast eerie shadows on the walls.

"Everyone, stay alert," Elric said, his eyes scanning the darkness. "This place is full of surprises, and I doubt they're friendly."

As they waited for Tyler to regain consciousness, the team couldn't shake the feeling that their presence in the tower had not gone unnoticed. The real challenges were just beginning, and they would need all their strength and cunning to survive.