"Get ready to deploy the formations!"
Sitting atop Kaiser, Erik, calculating the time since the last 'active phase,' ordered with a serious voice as Kaiser quickened its pace to cover as much ground as possible. In Myst's vehicle, Chen and Ethan quickly retrieved a crystal tablet each from their storage pouches, along with several metal spheres densely engraved with runes.
"Now!"
Soon, just as the staircase leading to the final floor came into view in the distance, Kaiser halted abruptly, and Erik created a large Myst platform in the air, onto which he jumped while announcing loudly. With visible familiarity, Chen and Ethan leaped from the Myst vehicle toward Erik while activating the crystal tablets, which projected holographic screens filled with control interfaces and data.
As the metal spheres Chen and Ethan had taken from their pouches rose into the air and positioned themselves in various spots, the rest of the group jumped from the vehicles to form a defensive formation around Erik. Soon, the group was arranged with Erik, Chen, and Ethan at the center, surrounded by a first ring of mages, a second of knights, and a final one composed of the wolves, Hiyori, Tomás, and Zoe. They mobilized their mana to the fullest, ready to strike.
With focused expressions, Chen and Ethan reviewed the data flashing across the holographic screens at high speed, simultaneously making adjustments on the control interfaces. This caused shifts in the positions and in the active runes on the spheres. Once everything was ready, the pair of formation specialists stored away the crystal tablets, then hurriedly mobilized their mana while pulling a metallic disk from their pouches.
Without wasting time, the two young men quickly threw the rune-covered metal disks to the ground. Chen rapidly performed hand signs, while Ethan conjured various sets of runes that organized into multiple geometric patterns in front of him. Soon, Ethan's rune sets gathered around his metal disk, at which point he focused his hand on his right fist and crouched to strike it. At the same time, Chen finished his hand signs and prepared to do the same.
In perfect synchronization, Ethan and Chen struck the metal disks on the ground, which lit up brightly alongside the metal spheres. Simultaneously, the Myst began reorganizing into hexagonal threads, and large amounts of mana started flowing between the spheres. This caused Ethan's spheres to conjure enormous runes above them, which began emitting mist that formed what looked like an illusory castle. Meanwhile, shadow-made doors appeared above Chen's spheres, which soon slammed shut and vanished along with the castle.
"Formations deployed successfully!"
At that moment, Ethan announced in a serious tone as the others looked down at the golems below with grave expressions, weapons in hand. Quickly, Chen and Ethan also grabbed their weapons and eyed the golems, ready to fight. But after nearly a minute of complete silence, during which the golems seemed to notice nothing, Erik announced in a calm voice.
"Stand down, we're safe."
Hearing Erik, the group let out a sigh of relief as they loosened their grip on their weapons. After all, though they had done this over and over while descending through this strange geometric labyrinth, it never ceased to be stressful, as a single mistake could cost them their lives. At that moment, Tomás sheathed his sword at his waist, then looked at the distant staircase and commented in a serious voice.
"We've finally made it… The last floor."
"It was long, but quieter than I expected… We barely had to fight." Zoe remarked in a calm voice while looking at Erik, at which point Christine stepped toward the starry-haired young man and commented with a seductive smile.
"Well, we owe that to Erik. Thanks to the potions, formation flags, and pseudo-formation plates, we managed to slip by unnoticed and survive the 'active phases' easily~"
"Am I invisible or something?" Ethan couldn't help but grumble at Christine's words, who let out a melodic giggle and flashed a sweet smile at Ethan while replying.
"Of course, Fellow Disciple Williams and Daoist Ming were also a very important part of our success."
"Heh, it was nothing."
Ethan slightly raised his chin and commented in a 'casual' tone, while Chen took a step away from him, not wanting to get involved. For his part, Erik began petting the wolves that approached him and commented seriously.
"But the 'easy' journey ends here. From now on, we're blind, so we need to be extremely careful and prepare for anything." Erik turned to look at Zoe and added with seriousness.
"Zoe, I need you to deploy Scouting Spheres to the last floor before the 'active phase' begins." Zoe quickly nodded and reached into her storage pouch, at which point Erik looked at Chen and Ethan and instructed seriously.
"At the same time, I need you both to set up fixed formations here to serve as a Plan B in case we have to retreat."
"I was thinking the same. We can try to recreate the entire array of attack, defense, and concealment formations we set up earlier around the shelter. They'll be crucial for holding the fort against a powerful enemy." Chen quickly added seriously, to which Ethan chimed in, even more serious.
"It's definitely necessary. We could even use what's left from making the flags we're using to reinforce the array."
"Sounds good. Christine will work with you on that." Erik nodded and commented calmly, then looked at Christine and asked.
"Is that alright with you, Christine?"
"Of course, I'm at your complete disposal, Erik. You can ask me for anything~"
Christine replied in a slightly suggestive and flirty tone, which caused Elara and Zoe to click their tongues in annoyance. For his part, Erik casually ignored Christine's tone and responded in a calm voice while pulling a bag of cookies from his storage pouch.
"Then I'm counting on you." After taking a bite of his cookie, Erik turned to look at the rest of the group and calmly ordered.
"For now, everyone else focus on recovering and getting back to full strength. We might enter combat the moment we cross those stairs."
Once Erik saw everyone nod before sitting in lotus position or beginning various martial arts stances, he looked at Elara and Tomás and commented seriously.
"Let's have a small strategy meeting to figure out how we're going to move."
After Elara and Tomás nodded, Erik walked a few steps with them and created a table and chairs out of solidified Myst, where they all sat. In his chair, Erik placed the bag of cookies on the table, and as the wolves lay by his side, each about a meter long, he commented in a serious tone.
"From here on out, things will be on a whole different level, so I'm thinking of making a couple of changes to how we move."
"It's necessary. You can't be at the front anymore, Erik. It's too risky." Elara quickly replied in a serious tone, to which Tomás nodded gravely while watching the Scouting Spheres controlled by Zoe head toward the staircase.
"I agree. The wisest move is to advance in a defensive formation surrounded by barriers. The fact that the Scouting Spheres lose connection as soon as they enter doesn't sit right with me."
"Actually, what I'm thinking is a bit different. I'm considering sneaking in under Tiberius's shadow to do some reconnaissance before coming back. Going in completely blind isn't a good idea."
"You can't! What if you end up teleported to a dangerous place alone? Or something happens like before, and you have to pull another crazy stunt to move through the shadows? The risk is too high!" Elara replied with a solemn expression, staring intently at Erik, who wanted to respond, but at that moment, Tomás spoke seriously.
"Miss Belmonte is right. We have no idea what's down there, and we can't afford to lose our leader. But you're also right—we can't go in completely blind. So this time, I'll take the role of scout."
"The Scouting Spheres failed again. The moment they reach the last step of the staircase, they lose all contact." Just then, Zoe approached the table and commented in a serious tone before sitting down and adding while looking at Erik.
"And I agree with them. Anyone can take the risk except you, Erik. So we won't agree with you on this. Though I think there's a better candidate for scouting—me, or rather, Hiyori-sama. She's fast, strong, and even if something happens, she can relay some information through the contract before returning to the spirit realm."
"Is she willing?" Erik asked, a bit curious, while looking at Zoe, who couldn't help but blush subtly, a little embarrassed by how the fox spirit now ignored Erik, before responding.
"I spoke with her, and she's willing. After all, she doesn't really lose much. She can't die like we can, so she's not truly risking anything. And since my safety depends on it, there's no conflict with her promise to my grandparents."
"…If she's willing, she really is the best option. Any of us could die in there without relaying any information…" Erik couldn't help but comment quietly while reflecting.
"Though your power would be greatly reduced, Zoe. Are you sure about this?" Elara looked at Zoe and asked seriously, to which the beautiful knight replied in a calm voice while pulling a teapot from her storage pouch.
"Completely. Though my strength would indeed be affected, we need information, and every one of us who falls will greatly reduce our overall power. So it's inevitable."
Just at that moment, the music returned, and the walls began to glow brightly, causing everyone present to look down seriously. As some golems emerged from the walls and others increased the pace of their patrol, Erik commented in a calm voice.
"Then let's do it this way. Once the 'active phase' ends, Zoe will send her contracted spirit ahead to scout while we wait here on guard."
""Understood.""
The three young people replied in unison with serious expressions, to which Erik nodded before pulling a notebook from his storage pouch and beginning to write in silence.
…
…
…
After some time, the glow of the walls dimmed along with the music until it disappeared. At this point, Erik, now at the center of a two-ring defensive formation, looked at Zoe by his side and ordered in a serious tone.
"Go ahead."
"Hiyori-sama, please."
Zoe quickly looked at the fox spirit to her left and requested respectfully. The fox nodded casually, then glanced sideways at Erik before leaping off the Myst platform and shrinking in size.
As the formations created invisible energy shields around the group, the white fox, now measuring just over 20 cm, advanced at high speed toward the staircase, soon disappearing from everyone's sight. Not long after, Zoe announced in a serious voice while looking at Erik.
"She's reached the last step."
Erik nodded silently, locking eyes with Zoe while holding his machetes in hand. Zoe nodded back, and with a solemn expression on her face, gave the mental order to proceed. Clenching her fists, Zoe kept her gaze fixed on the staircase, but after a few seconds, the beautiful young woman let out a sigh of relief and turned to look at Erik with a smile.
"She got in. There's nothing in the area except Scouting Spheres lying on the ground. Not a single golem, and the walls are completely 'off.' It seems there's no danger."
Hearing Zoe, Erik's eyes widened in surprise, but they quickly narrowed as he instructed in a serious tone.
"Tell her to advance 100 meters without using mana, then come back and create a small explosion. But she needs to be ready to return at the slightest anomaly."
"Understood." Zoe nodded seriously, then relayed the mental instructions under the nervous and expectant gaze of everyone present.
Time passed slowly in complete silence, where even the slightest sound of swallowing resonated loudly, but no one cared, as everyone was equally on edge. This was especially true for Zoe, who couldn't help but wipe the cold sweat from her forehead while trying to keep her heart under control. But just at that moment, her beautiful blue eyes widened in shock, and she quickly announced with seriousness.
"She's been attacked!!"
***
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