Vell and the others were quiet, knowing what they know about the system of the tower, they didn't know what to react now that the voice was talking to them.
[Welcome to the 2nd floor players. The mission is simple, each of you will be assigned a monster, all monsters will be adjusted depending on your rank. Then you just defeat the monster and move on. Rewards will be given instantly upon mission completion. I wish you all luck.] The voice then faded, without talking to Vell or anyone, just told them what they needed to do and left.
'Strange, looks like it knows we learned the truth.'
[Hmmm, something about all this is not adding up for some reason.]
'What do you mean?'
[I don't know but it feels like there is something important I am missing.]
'You know what, I have this same feeling too, I also can't place my finger on it....well whatever, let's not overthink it too much, let's just get this done, find the fractures and get this whole mess finished with.'
[Yeah, be careful though, since monsters will be adjusted based on player ranks, yours will probably be a high floor monster.]
'Yeah. Might actually try this time around.'
Screens appeared in front of all of them showing them their monsters and where they are located.
"Looks like we will be splitting up." Luna said, already facing her direction.
"yeah but you guys will be fine right? You have all grown strong." He said, watching them with proud eyes.
"Don't worry about us master, we got this." Wren said, a large smile on her face.
"Let's check what we're all facing," Regina suggested, studying her screen. "Mine says... forest sprite. Located in the western region."
"I've got a stone golem," Jolly announced with a grin, cracking her knuckles. "East of here, in some rocky hills. This'll be fun."
Ada peered at her screen with a slight frown. "Mine's a shadow stalker, whatever that is. In the dark marsh to the south."
"Venomous serpent," Luna said calmly. "Northeast, by a river."
Ruby shrugged. "Ice elemental. Far north."
"Thunderbird," Jia announced, looking excited. "In the highlands to the northwest."
"What about you, Master?" Wren asked, looking up from her own assignment. "What monster did you get?"
He glanced at his screen but didn't immediately answer. The assignment was troubling in its simplicity.
"Something challenging, I hope," Regina said with a small smile. "Given your rank, it should be quite powerful."
"We should establish a meeting point after we're done," Luna suggested practically. "Maybe back here at the portal?"
He nodded. "Good idea. Return here when you've completed your missions."
"Should we travel in pairs?" Ada asked, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness.
He considered this. "No. The system has calibrated these challenges to each of us individually. You'll learn more facing them alone." He looked at each of them in turn. "But be smart. If you're outmatched, retreat. There's no shame in that."
"As if!" Jolly laughed. "I'm going to punch my golem into gravel!"
"Just be careful," he warned. "The second floor isn't like the first. The mana is different here—denser, more volatile. It might affect your abilities in ways you don't expect."
"We'll be careful, Master," Regina assured him, adjusting her pack.
"Any last advice before we split up?" Ruby asked.
He thought for a moment. "Trust your instincts. You've all developed good ones. And remember your training—the fundamentals work in any situation."
They stood in a circle, a moment of silence passing between them. There was a new tension in the air—excitement mixed with apprehension.
"Well," Wren said finally, breaking the silence. "No point standing around. The sooner we finish, the sooner we can move on!"
"Be safe," he said simply.
One by one, they departed, each heading in a different direction. Wren gave a cheerful wave, Jolly a confident thumbs-up, and Regina a formal bow before they disappeared into the strange forest. Soon, he was alone in the clearing, the portal platform quiet behind him.
[They've grown quite attached to you.] Viana observed in his mind.
'I've grown attached to them too,' he admitted. 'More than I expected to.'
[Is that a problem?]
He didn't answer immediately. 'No. Not at all, guess I am just scared of losing them.'
He waited until the last of his companions had vanished from sight before looking at his screen again. He read the assignment aloud, disbelief in his voice.
"Red panda, fuck."
[A red panda? That can't be right.]
'Exactly what I was thinking.' He frowned at the screen. 'Even adjusting for my rank, a red panda seems...'
[Ridiculous?]
'I was going to say suspicious.' He studied the map on his screen. The red marker indicating his target was deep in the forest to the south, in an area marked with strange symbols he didn't recognize.
[Could be a trap.]
'Almost certainly is, but we need to complete these missions to advance. And to find those fractures.'
[A red panda huh...hahaha, how interesting. Brings back memories.]
"Let's get this done." He began walking towards his location, his thoughts else were as the wind hit his skin, "it's been a while since I was truly alone like this. Back to my roots you might even say."
[True, I can't wait to see how this improves your skills.]
"A red panda though," he muttered again, shaking his head. "Either this is an insult or a sick joke."
[Or both.] Her voice had an edge of amusement.
'You're enjoying this.'
[I find it... poetic, in a way.]
According to his map, he was getting closer to his target. The terrain had grown steeper, with moss-covered boulders and fallen logs creating natural obstacles. Small streams cut through the forest floor, their water a strange bluish hue that glowed faintly.
He paused by one of these streams, crouching to examine it closer.
"The water's infused with mana," he observed, dipping his fingers in. The liquid felt cool but tingled against his skin, like tiny electric shocks. "Interesting."
[The entire environment is saturated with it, pfft, basically a battery for you.]
"Yeah....something is not right here. For once, why are there no other players on this floor."
Just then, the tower voice came back, [So you realized huh. That's good, I expect that much from you.]
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow, "because that's some basic shit right there."
The voice went silent.