Broken Tower Saga: The First Swordsman

      Tanya was feeling a little nervous today—the reason being, she had to fight today again after a couple of weeks break from everything. After Anton, Jacob, and Michelle were attacked in the market, in the evening and Wrik and Byul outside the dome, they had decided to raise their growth. And the best way to do that, climbing the floors of the tower. So, for today's goal, they were trying to clear the second floor of the tower.

          "We have arrived," Wrik said and looked at everyone.

          Before them stood a large gate. After teleporting to the second floor, they had to walk for a few minutes to find the place where the test would be taking place. She had expected to see at least a few people here, but other than a couple of contestants in the way, she saw no one of the higher authority. Maybe there was no need for someone to reside over the second-floor test. That should be for the best.

        "The only thing we know about the second floor is that we have to enter her individually or in twos, and with our training we could pass it in an hour," Wrik continued. "But I want everyone to consider this as a chance for training. I can't say for everyone, but I don't have much experience in combat. So, I would like to train for another hour even if this floor could be cleared easily."

        "So, should we go individually?" Jacob asked. "Or in twos?"

        "I can't say for everyone, but I already have a partner," Wrik said and looked at the girls.

        Tanya thought he was looking at her, but his gaze was towards Byul. Tanya knew why Wrik wanted to join with Byul. In the assault a few days ago, they seemed to have found a new way to utilize Byul's ability. Even she did not believe it when she heard Byul could share her wind attribute with others.

Well, Byul appeared to be oblivious of it as well to her ability and training togterh more should be the only way she could progress. Even knowing all this, she could not help, but feel a little disappointment in her heart.

        "I would like to go in twos as well," Jacob said, looking at the other available candidates.

        Even though the archer progressed outrageously on the first-floor test, he was still afraid of many things. Like going alone now. Davin appeared to agree with Jake, but Michelle voiced out first.

        "Come with me then," she said. "It is good to make pairs with a mage and warrior-type class."

        "If you haven't forgotten, I am an archer," Jacob said. "A long-range class."

        "I know," the redhead said, "but he has a better constitution than a mage. Just come with me, will you?"

        Jacob joined Michelle. While Davin peeked at Tanya first, then to Anton to find he was advancing towards Kevin.

        "I guess, I'll go with the big guy," Anton said, slapping the shoulder of Kevin. The big guy did not speak like always, and nodded. If not for his two-metre-high figure with a broad enough body, they might even forget he was with them.

        "That leaves Davin, and Tanya," Wrik said as he and Byul advanced towards the entrance. "Good day hunting, I'll see you all in the evening."

        The two of them jumped at the entrance, and light flickered out of it. Their figures vanished from it as they were teleported to the test. The next pair to leave was Michelle and Jacob and, after giving a nod, Kevin and Anton left as well.

        "We should leave as well," Davin said hesitantly and came closer towards her.

        She nodded and sucked in a deep breath. Releasing the breath, the two of them jumped at the warp gate as well.

        It only took her about a couple of seconds to find out the place she was in. It was faintly like the first floor where they went through the test for over a month. This region was similarly wilderness as well, but it was far vacant. The trees she saw, most of them had no leaves. Although the sounds of insects and birds came to her ears, she did not find it harmonious.

        [Welcome, Mahasayer Tanya Syfinn, and Mahasaya Davin Mckain to the second test.] the transparent notification greeted before her eyes as she expected more.

        [In the test of the second form of the Maha Tower, you must show your individual capability to pass the test.]

        [Requirement to clear the test: find the source of the infection in this region.]

        [May Maha be with you.]

        "That did not appear hard," Davin said. "We should move then."

        "Yes," Tanya said, her staff in her arms. She narrowed her eyes and felt the undulation in the mana particle in the air. She pointed to their three o'clock and said, "That should be the way."

        Davin nodded as he could feel the undulation of mana in that direction as well. The two of them advanced in the direction while Tanya did not converse and Davin appeared to be hesitant to converse.

        "You appeared to be uncomfortable here?" he asked hesitantly.

        "Is this a place to be comfortable with?" she said curtly, avoiding the question.

        "Well—" Davin had to shout his phrase as they both heard the screeches of the infector. There were two types of screeches. One was no different than normally the type they had battled with, and the other appeared quite different, as if from a mad wild animal.

        "They will arrive any moment now," Tanya said as her eyes narrowed again and a cold and rigid look appeared on her face. She had masked away all her emotions with [Mist of Change].

        "You still can't handle it?" Davin could not help but ask.

        Tanya said nothing and her eyes focused on the abomination appearing towards them. She prepared a few of her basic ice spells while Davin sighed and readied himself with the sword.

        The infectors did not take much time to appear. At the sight of two humans, they rushed at them, screeching. As for the other screeches, it came from the two vermin that had the shapes of a hound—two metres large while about a metre in height. Their legs appeared to be a few times faster than the normal infectors behind. The two dark hounds bolted towards them, and it would only take them a couple of seconds to reach them.

        Tanya accoladed her spells and shot them towards the two-incoming hound. the hounds howled and a shock wave like aura burst out of it, destroying half of the ice spikes and needles. They dodged the other half with their fast speed, though a few of the spikes still hit them. The basic spell only scratched them a little. It was never enough for them.

        Tanya knew it too. She only attacked with it to know the defence of the hounds. An ice spear formed within a blink of an eye and it shot with double the acceleration of before. She attacked one of them, while still supplying the basic ice spikes. One ice spear was not enough for the hound. Their speed and defence protected them from most of the spell, but with a good hit, they were just as vulnerable as them.

        Even though the hounds had better strength and speed, they were dull and stupid and only assaulted with instinct. With a little misdirection, she killed one of it, piercing its neck with two ice spears. While Davin fought with the other one.

        Tanya focused on the other normal infectors that came in their way and showered them with her ice spikes at once. Wrik had told them to take as much time to train in the battle, but she did not appear to have the same plan. In barely a couple of seconds, she had killed over a dozen of infectors while Davin was still dealing with the other hound.

        He was not struggling by any chance, but he was not fast with it as well. It would take him a minute of two to finish it.

        Meanwhile, in another region with a similar sight, two individuals were encircled by a couple dozen infectors and a few dark hounds. Anton stood there still, biting his lips. Before him was Kevin battling alone all the infectors with the monster relentlessly. Not being able to use his mana effectively, the big guy was injured already, but he did not stop.

He was almost in bound for an entire month in the little war, eliminating him from the chance to train and the experience everyone had. His mana application progressed marginally after the initial success.

        But of all things, Kevin had the best brute strength among their group, and he used it entirely in his battle with the infectors. Mana flickered out from his spear, wasting most of his mana before he could hit the infector. In the process, he already got half a dozen injuries so far. 

_________

I'll focus on the underdeveloped side characters for a little.