"Waah! What's that sound! Did something explode?!"
As a violent tremor shook the tower, March swayed back and forth, finally steadying herself by grabbing onto Stelle's arm, nearly falling to the ground...
"Something's not right. Everyone, proceed with caution from now on," Himeko warned the group.
How could there be a sudden explosion here...
Wende looked up toward the top of the Legendary Tower; the sound had just come from above... But it was obvious the Stellaron wouldn't do something as stupid as blowing itself up. Could it be that some facility inside the tower had malfunctioned? Or had another faction trying to save Punklorde attacked the tower before them?
Wende didn't know, but besides continuing forward, they didn't seem to have any other good options, did they?
However...
Wende glanced behind him at Jingliu with lingering fear. This time, it was better to let Jingliu walk in front. He was afraid that if this crazy woman messed with him a few more times, he was going to develop full-blown Jingliu PTSD...
"Hehe."
In response to Wende's reaction, Jingliu merely let out a light chuckle. Once we get back to the Express... we'll have plenty of time.
---o---
The structure of the Legendary Tower didn't seem like something that would appear in a super high-tech world like Punklorde. It still used the most basic spiral staircase, rather than an elevator or some other means.
Of course, the simplest structure made from the strongest materials was often the most reliable.
This was also why the middle section of the Legendary Tower remained unharmed after taking a direct hit from over a dozen bombs. It was the face of Punklorde, after all. The defensive capabilities of this tower could be considered top-tier in the nearby star systems. It was said that the materials used in its construction were the same as those used in the megastructures of Pier Point.
Stepping onto the seemingly endless staircase, the group silently made their way toward the middle floors.
After that explosion, the entire tower seemed to have fallen silent. Aside from the sound of their own footsteps on the stairs, only their breathing could be heard.
It was terrifyingly quiet.
And sometimes, quiet was a sign of something not so good, for example...
Swish!
Something seemed to whistle past Wende's ear, and whatever it was had been shot from directly above them!
"Careful! Stelle! Shield up!"
Dan Heng, reacting instantly, shouted to Stelle. She, too, brought out her Flame Lance, and a shield of fire immediately materialized above their heads. And then...
Clang, clang, clang...
A continuous drumming sound came from Stelle's flame shield. From the upper levels of the tower, it seemed someone was attacking them...
"This is..."
Wende crouched down slightly and picked up a card that had fallen on the stairs. Was this what had just attacked him?
The card's material was ordinary, like a common plastic card, but the character depicted on it was vividly drawn. The scavenger on it looked as if in the next second...
"ROAR!!!"
Squelch!
Wende silently pushed the corpse in front of him aside and sheathed his Yang Sword.
...it would leap right out of the card.
"Everyone, prepare for battle! They're here!"
Himeko saw the card in Wende's hand instantly transform into a monster. As sharp as she was, she immediately understood what was attacking them... It was all those cards!
"ROAR!!!"
Stelle's flame shield was now studded with hundreds of cards, and without exception, each one depicted a monster...
In an instant, the cards transformed into a countless swarm of monsters, baring their sharp fangs and hideous faces at the group!
"Flame Lance..."
Stelle decisively dispelled the flame shield. Looking at the monsters just inches away, she lowered her stance, her eyes filled with determination and gravity... The crimson flames symbolizing Preservation gathered on her lance. Then, facing the monster-infested spiral staircase, she gripped her weapon with both hands!
"Charge!"
"BOOM!!!"
With Stelle's war cry, her figure became like an unstoppable high-speed train, charging relentlessly up the spiral staircase!
Everywhere she passed, the monsters were melted by the scorching heat. A vortex of fire erupted from within the Legendary Tower!
"Let's follow her!"
Dan Heng immediately vaulted over the staircase railing. Cloud-Piercer danced in the air, picking off any stragglers and advancing toward Stelle's position.
"Hey! I can't keep up!"
March stared dumbfounded as everyone else leaped into action. She looked down at her own delicate arms and legs. If she jumped from here, she probably wouldn't go up, but straight down to the very bottom.
"March, grab onto the drone!"
Realizing March's predicament, Himeko immediately took out her large drone from the toolbox and flew it to March's feet. With this, they could take a shortcut!
"Sister Himeko, you're the best!"
The little March looked on with感动 as Himeko, wielding a monomolecular saw, danced through the air, carving through enemies. She promptly stepped onto the drone, raised her longbow, and her Six-Phased Ice shield continuously helped the group block attacks from above!
A sword flash as cold as moonlight cut through the air, scorching foxfire incinerated the foul demons, and Yang lightning as brilliant as a halo arced everywhere. Besieged by monsters, the group carved out an unorthodox bloody path through the air of the Legendary Tower. With Stelle, who had practically become a beam of light, leading the charge, they advanced toward the middle floors at an incredible speed.
---o---
"BOOM!!!"
The fiery express train collided with a heavy wooden door. The lance instantly shattered the thick, sturdy door, causing it to explode outwards in a shower of splinters! And Stelle's relentless charge finally came to a halt...
It wasn't because the door had stopped her, nor was it because she had encountered a troublesome-looking enemy... The main reason was... she had charged too fast and was now spinning...
"Blegh!"
Casually punching a monster that was trying to sneak up on her, Stelle planted her lance into the ground and leaned against it, starting to dry heave.
"Hmm... this method is fast, but it doesn't seem very practical."
Himeko, who had just arrived, walked over to Stelle with a helpless look in her eyes and gently patted her back, which seemed to make Stelle feel a little better...
"..."
Dan Heng, holding Cloud-Piercer, remained vigilant. The monsters here had not been cleared out yet.
"Sister Himeko! Your drone is so much fun! Can I borrow it to play with more later?"
Hopping off Himeko's drone, March licked the corner of her lips, a look of wanting more on her face.
"Well... of course not. It's not meant for passengers, you know," Himeko said with a helpless shrug.