Kracka! Kracka!
All sorts of magic flew in the air. The entire floor shook violently as rankers in the ranks of B+ to S– engaged inbat against two people.
Two people.
"Two people…."
Yi Jihyeon whispered hoarsely. She had not joined the battle, but led each of her members to attack in coordinate.
But….
"Akh!"
"Kh…!"
It wasn''t enough.
They were being pushed back.
Two figures, whom Yi Jihyeon had no information about, had been easily holding her members off.
A man and a woman.
And the fact that Yi Jihyeon had no idea who they were, despite the strength they held, told her enough of their identities.
''They''re from Milis.''
Yi Jihyeon refused to shake these thoughts off.
It was the only possible answer.
A sudden chill ran down her spine, as cold sweat trickled on her back upon realizing this fact.
''Just two people from Milis….''
And they were already at this level.
A level that a mere S–ranker couldn''t handle.
But Yi Jihyeon was by far not just a mere S–ranker.
While S+ was her limit, she had fifteen years of experience under her belt.
However, during this moment, her thoughts drifted somewhere else.
The cadets.
This continent''s future.
''They mustn''t die.''
''If they really are in this tower, then they should never encounter them!''
''Someone has to alert them.''
On the off chance a cadet would explore the lower floors in an attempt to go back home, and would find themselves witnessing this entire catastrophe, the two figures from Milis could use them as leverage, taking them as hostage.
Yi Jihyeon couldn''t allow it.
For that reason, she screamed, calling out for her Vice–Leader.
"Leon!"
Leon fared a bit betterpared to the other members, especially in thebat department.
He had exchanged the most blows against the two figures. After all, he was only second after Yi Jihyeon.
"Guild–Leader!?"
A bit startled, maybe annoyed that his name was being called during battle, eximed.
His head flicked towards Yi Jihyeon with raised brows.
"Find them, Leon!"
Yi Jihyeon''s desperate voice resounded.
Just how did things escte like this?
Hours ago, she was just in the academy, monitoring the students undergoing the exam.
And now,
….She was fighting with her life on the line.
Leon was confused for a brief second, but his thoughts suddenly broke as Yi Jihyeon took that first step.
Tak.
The sound of her heels clicked.
Tak. Tak—!
Attention fell on her. The guild–leader was finally about to go all out.
That was what the ted expressions of her guild members had told her.
Leon nodded his head briefly before rushing ahead. However, the two figures didn''t allow him.
One of the figures blurred, appearing right behind Leon who was running without ever looking back.
Before the figure''s attacknded, Yi Jihyeon was already moving. Yi Jihyeon''s hand, wrapped in ice, shed with the woman''s fist.
Bang!
The impact sent a shockwave through the chamber as Yi Jihyeon gritted her teeth, her feet digging in as she absorbed the blow. Ice spread up her arm, forming armor.
Frost spread under her feet as she twisted, deflecting the next strike. The woman retreated, and Yi Jihyeon seized the chance.
"Leon! Go, now!"
She roared out.
Leon sprinted away. However, the male figure moved to chase him, but Yi Jihyeon blocked his path. mming her foot down, ice erupted, forming a barrier.
Cr–Crack!
Yi Jihyeon''s eyes flickered, emanating a chilling blue glow as her face darkened. ring at the man, her lips parted open, her tone sounding cold.
"Messing with Holy Britannia''s youth is the worst mistake you''ve ever made."
***
Brandon and Raven entered the fifth floor.
It was the final floor.
"...."
"...."
The sheer sight had taken them aback.
A vast garden extended endlessly before them, filled with beautiful, alien nts.
The sky was filled with a golden color, and a hollow light shimmered, casting a fixed radiant glow in the distance, most probably the center of the floor.
It was beautiful.
Aplete contrast from the other floors thus far.
The two exchanged brief nces before nodding. Then, they made their way towards the light''s direction.
The two looked around, taking in the beautiful fight.
There wasn''t a single monster on sight.
Nothing but floors as far as the eye could see.
But regardless, the two remained vignt. The flowers must have their own gimmicks.
After all, this was the fifth floor. It should be the hardest one thus far.
As Brandon further scrutinized the vicinity, he could see the flowers blooming at an unusual pace.
"...."
They navigated their way through the path spread out for them, trying not to harm the flowers in any way.
"Raven."
Brandon''s mouth parted open.
"What?''
"It''s probably not the time for this, but could you help me out tomorrow?"
"Sure, what do you need?"
"It''s Evelyn''s birthday tomorrow, so I''m nning on throwing a surprise party for her. Could you let the others know?"
"Oh? Sure, though why—Ah."
Raven paused in his steps, brows raised. Brandon halted as well and nced back.
"You…"
"...?"
Brandon''s head curiously tilted. It seemed like Raven had a sudden realization.
"Don''t tell me…."
"What?"
"Do you…. perhaps…. like her? Our teacher!? You damn cheater!?"
It was only when he had heard Raven''s ridiculous statement, did Brandon react. His brows knitted, and a look of disgust spread across Brandon''s face.
"But like…. I don''t think she''s interested in you like that, dude. You''re a kid in her eyes…. You''re like…. probably not even her type."
It wasn''t just the fact that he was getting used of cheating, but Raven''s look of disapproval irked him for some reason as he looked at Brandon from head to toe, grimacing.
Not that Brandon was interested in Evelyn in that way.
But not her type?
''Did he just call me ugly?''
That seemed to have been the implication, especially by the looks Raven was giving him.
''I definitely look better than you, bastard. Have you ever seen yourself?''
"First of all, go look in the mirror."
Brandon''s words trailed off from there. It felt like he was dissing himself for some reason.
"Secondly, no, I don''t like her like that. The hell is wrong with you?"
Brandon spat out.
"Then…?"
"Because she''s like family to me."
"Oh."
Silence.
The entire exchange became awkward as the two stood still momentarily.
However, the silence was soon broken by Raven, who seemed to have just realized something.
"Hey...! What do you mean go look in the mirror!?"
But Brandonpletely dismissed it off, shrugging his shoulders and walked back towards the center.
"Did you just call me ugly!?"
Raven chased him and started yapping.
"You know, I received over a dozen of confessions throughout my li—"
Brandon raised his hand, shing his middle finger, silencing Raven.
"...."
Raven paused once again as if he couldn''t ept it.
Then, he rushed towards Brandon, who waspletely ignoring him.
But Brandon could hear Raven continuously mutter, "I''m not ugly, am I? Now that I think about it, Amy''s never called me handsome before…."
Poor guy.
In the end, they reached the center.
Blue words suddenly entered Brandon''s peripheral vision.
[Time Garden.]
[Time Remaining: 3:48]
[Guidelines and Objectives:]
[Guidelines: Time moves differently depending on the area of the garden. Some areas speed up the growth of the flower, while others slow it down. The challenger must control the bnce of time to allow the seed to bloom.
The passage of time is tied to the challenger''s emotions. If they are impatient, time speeds up too quickly, causing the nt to wither. If they are too passive, time slows to a crawl, dying progress indefinitely.]
[Objective: The challenger must learn to regte their emotional state, maintaining calm focus to keep time flowing in the garden at a steady pace. Meditation or mental rity techniques are key to controlling the flow of time and ensuring the flower blooms perfectly.]
"Oh."
A sudden memory triggered, and Brandon realized what this floor was.
"Isn''t this kinda easy for the final floor?"
Raven massaged his chin as he mulled over the instructions.
However, Brandon remained silent, peering into his thoughts.
"This floor…."
….Was the 32nd floor.