The soft brightness of the new day in the tower began to gradually spread across the ceiling of the seventeenth floor, dissolving the last traces of the bluish night illumination and bathing the forest in a clear glow. The morning air, filled with the fresh scent of the silver leaves and the dew accumulated on the vegetation, brought a pleasant feeling of renewal. The night's rest had fulfilled its role with extreme efficiency, returning vitality to the body of each of my companions.
Lyannis was the first to organize the utensils beside the campfire, already lit with small, smokeless embers. With agile and perfectly trained movements, she removed from one of the supply crates a ceramic pot sealed with wax, containing wild boar meat hunted days earlier and carefully preserved in lard and spices. The choice of ingredient had been deliberate: consuming the previously prepared provisions allowed us to keep the packages of dry rations and emergency supplies completely intact for the more advanced stages of the ascent.
"The preserved wild boar meat has maintained its texture and aroma perfectly," commented Lyannis, slicing the juicy pieces on a wooden board while placing a heavy iron frying pan over the campfire's support grate. "The herb seasoning we prepared before entering this floor sealed in the flavor and prevented any deterioration."
"The smell is wonderful," said Scarlet, approaching the improvised kitchen area while adjusting the leather straps of her armor. "Nothing compares to a hot and hearty meal in the first hours of the morning to prepare the muscles for the walk."
"The natural fat of the wild boar meat provides excellent caloric density for our metabolism," observed Liriel's assistant, sitting on a nearby log with her notebook in hand. "Considering the energy expenditure we will have during the navigation of the next few hours, this breakfast is the most appropriate nutritional choice for our squad."
Liriel served cups of warm tea made from an infusion of leaves from the forest itself to everyone, while Vespera and Elara organized the blankets and sleeping bags inside the tent, folding each piece of fabric with precision to optimize the internal space of the transport backpacks. Rai'kanna checked the weapon straps and inspected the soles of everyone's combat boots, ensuring that no wear went unnoticed.
"Here you go, Takumi," said Lyannis, handing me a deep metal plate with generous slices of golden, crispy meat accompanied by travel bread lightly toasted over the embers. "A hearty meal to ensure all your energy while leading the vanguard."
"Thank you, Lyannis," I replied with a serene smile, accepting the plate and appreciating the rich and comforting flavor of the food. "Your care in planning our provisions is one of the fundamental pieces for the stability and speed of our advance."
We ate in an atmosphere of camaraderie and tranquility. The conversations flowed lightly, interspersed with restrained laughter and exchanges of observations about the day's itinerary. The breakfast moment functioned as a silent ritual of psychological alignment: the shared table strengthened the bonds of complicity that united us, transforming that group of exceptional warriors into a cohesive and unbeatable tactical family.
After finishing the meal, we began dismantling the camp. In less than twenty minutes, the tent canvas was folded, the cooking utensils cleaned and packed away, the campfire completely extinguished and covered with damp earth, and the personal belongings distributed with perfect balance among the cargo backpacks. Not a single trace of our presence remained in that sector of the silver forest.
"Equipment checked and backpacks sealed," announced Scarlet, positioning herself beside me with her longsword firmly secured in the sheath at her waist. "The vanguard is ready to begin the march."
"All positions are in order," confirmed Elara, taking her place in the rear with her longbow in hand and her quiver of arrows properly secured to her shoulder.
"Excellent," I declared, taking command of the formation. "We will advance north, following the elevation of the terrain until we find the passage to the next level."
We began walking at a steady and well-regulated pace. During the first two hours, the landscape remained dominated by the trees with shining leaves and the mild atmosphere that had accompanied us since the beginning of the seventeenth floor. However, as we advanced toward the northernmost boundary of the map, the appearance of the environment began to undergo visible and drastic changes.
The silver vegetation, once dense and lush, gradually became more sparse. The large trees gave way to dry and twisted shrubs, until the soft ground covered in moss gave way to a surface of dark rock and loose gravel. The pleasant temperature of the air began to decline with impressive speed; every hundred meters we traveled, the warm breath of the forest gave way to an icy and cutting breeze blowing down from the heights.
As we reached the crest of a large rocky plateau, we stopped for a moment to contemplate the biological boundary taking shape before us. The contrast was absolute and impressive. Just a few steps behind us, the warm and welcoming forest remained motionless beneath the clear light; immediately ahead, an almost perfect dividing line marked the beginning of a monumental mountain range of frozen mountains, covered by thick glaciers, pointed peaks of ice, and steep cliffs beneath a gray and stormy sky.
"What an abrupt and violent environmental transition..." commented Vespera, hugging her own arms as the freezing breeze struck her face, causing her breath to instantly condense into a white mist. "It seems like we crossed an invisible barrier between two completely opposite worlds."
"This is the environmental bisection characteristic of the tower's more complex floors," explained Liriel's assistant, pulling on her thermal leather gloves and covering her hands before handling the clipboard. "The Demon King's arcane architecture divides the same level into antagonistic ecosystems to test the explorers' ability to adapt immediately. The mana flow in the ground undergoes a drastic variation along this line."
"The cold ahead is extremely severe," observed Rai'kanna, narrowing her eyes as she analyzed the wind howling through the cracks in the frozen rocks of the mountain. "The snow on the ridges is being blown in strong gusts. The terrain will be slippery and visibility will plummet as soon as we enter the Gorge."
I approached the biome boundary, stepping onto the first layer of thin ice covering the dark rock and feeling the rapid drop in temperature affect the surface of my face. As I observed the steep path climbing along the frozen mountain slopes, I allowed a focused and analytical thought to organize my tactical perspective. The tower's unpredictability was not a threat if faced with the correct preparation and mindset. The drastic environmental transition was not merely intended to wear down the body through the cold, but rather to shake the team's mental state by abruptly removing the comfort of the forest. Understanding that the change in climate was merely another testing mechanism created by the structure's architect allowed us to maintain absolute emotional control. The cold, snow, and rocky terrain were merely physical obstacles that would be overcome through the discipline, caution, and mutual support of our group.
"There is no reason to hesitate," I declared aloud, turning toward the group with a firm and confident posture. "We knew that this floor held variations in terrain. Our physical preparation and provisions were sized precisely to withstand these fluctuations."
"Takumi is absolutely right," said Liriel, raising her sacred wooden staff and causing the gem at its top to emit a soft golden glow that projected a faint aura of protective warmth around the group. "This climate barrier is merely the outer shell of the challenge. By maintaining our alignment, the frozen mountain will not be an impediment."
"Adjust the thermal cloaks, tighten the boot straps, and prepare the fastening spikes for marching on smooth rock," I ordered, watching everyone promptly respond to my command, putting on their heavy coats and checking the security of their belongings. "Our route leads directly to the top of that frozen elevation, where the passage to the eighteenth floor is located."
With the squad perfectly equipped, adjusted, and psychologically shielded against the severity of the new biome, I took the first step into the domain of ice and rock, leading our firm march toward the heights of the mountain.