The complete dispersal of the mist of purple particles that remained from the dissolution of the Demonic Dragon left the vast chamber of the twenty-fifth floor enveloped in absolute serenity. The environment, which moments earlier had trembled under the weight of a colossal battle, seemed to have caught its breath again, breathing through the clean breeze that flowed through the upper openings of the dome. The great blue-flamed torches burned steadily, casting clear and uniform illumination over the flat floor of dark marble, where the raised geometric mosaic of bronze and silver reflected the light with a soft and measured glow.
While the squad finished organizing the equipment and checking the newly collected elixir bottles, I decided to explore the more distant corners of the black rock wall that framed the back of the hall. Tactical intuition indicated that a structure of such magnitude, erected as the final landmark of an entire sector of the tower, should house something beyond the transition portal and the main activation pillar. The experience gained throughout the previous floors had taught us that the tower rewards methodical curiosity and attention to architectural details.
Walking silently along the right side of the chamber, I moved slightly away from the group to examine the fissures carved into the polished rock. The floor there was rigorously flat, without any irregularities or residue from the recent confrontation. It was then that, hidden by a support column partially shaded by the light of the torches, I noticed a different relief on the wall. It was a metal plate embedded directly into the black rock, measuring approximately one meter in width by eighty centimeters in height, completely covered with fine geometric inscriptions and engravings that simulated energy circuits.
I approached the structure, bringing my face closer to examine the engravings more clearly. The lines engraved on the plate began to pulse with a faint bluish glow, reacting directly to the proximity of my aura and the presence of the runic stone stored in my breastplate. At the exact center of the metal plate, a rectangular cavity without any relief seemed to be awaiting a direct command or the insertion of a specific mana signature.
"I found something interesting over here," I called out in a moderate tone, without losing my attention to the smallest details of the metallic surface.
At that very moment, the sound of light footsteps echoed across the marble, and the squad approached in an organized formation. Scarlet positioned herself to my right with one hand resting on the hilt of her long sword, while Liriel and her assistant stopped just behind me, analyzing the plate with professional curiosity.
"What is this structure, Takumi?" Scarlet asked, narrowing her eyes to observe the pulsating glow that was beginning to intensify within the engravings of the metal plate.
"It does not seem to be part of the light portal's mechanism," Liriel pondered, moving a little closer and raising her sacred staff to illuminate the dark corner of the column. "The energy signature emanating from this plate is different from everything we have seen so far. It has a fixed anchoring frequency."
Liriel's assistant quickly opened her note panel and began recording the readings captured by the measuring device. The numbers on the screen flashed in an accelerated sequence, indicating that the metal plate was absorbing the residual energy from the environment and converting it into stable data.
"The magical voltage of this panel is directly linked to the tower's structural core," the assistant reported, her eyes fixed on the graphs forming on the clipboard. "It is neither a trap nor an ordinary reward item. Based on the characteristics of the inscriptions, it is an anchoring and transit-mapping registration terminal."
While the technical analysis was taking place around me, I allowed a focused and serene thought to structure my interpretation of that discovery. The ascent of the tower is not merely a linear succession of combat tests, but a complex system of logistics and progress that requires safety milestones. Without a mechanism capable of permanently recording a group's progress, every deep expedition would require restarting the journey from the base, making the exploration of the upper floors a logistically unviable task for any living being. The presence of that mystic panel on the twenty-fifth floor proved that the tower was designed to allow the consolidation of conquered territory, transforming a suicidal exploration into a viable commercial and strategic route. Understanding the function of a device before interacting with it is the difference between absolute control of the situation and blind submission to the rules imposed by the environment.
I extended my right hand toward the central rectangular cavity of the metal plate, driven by the certainty that the tower's system was specifically awaiting direct validation from the leader of the squad that had defeated the guardian.
"Takumi, wait a second," Vespera warned with a slightly tense voice, taking half a step back while preparing a defensive gust of wind in the palm of her hand. "We do not know how the panel will react to direct physical contact."
"Everything is under control," I replied with a calm smile, conveying confidence to the group. "The energy pulsing through the engravings is stable and shows no traces of hostility. It is a recognition mechanism."
I placed my open palm directly against the surface of the rectangular cavity. At the exact millisecond when my skin touched the cold metal, a wave of bluish energy burst from the plate, enveloping my fingers and locking my wrist with a gentle yet irresistible magnetic force. A translucent beam of light emerged from the engravings, traveling up my arm and rapidly scanning the density of my mana, the structure of my armor, and the runic signature of the sword secured at my waist.
The process lasted only a few seconds, but the sensation was as if every fiber of my body were being weighed and measured by an ancient consciousness. Suddenly, the metal plate emitted a melodious, high-pitched sound, similar to the ringing of a crystal bell, and the blue light gave way to a welcoming green hue.
"Scanning successfully completed," proclaimed a mechanical and clear voice that seemed to echo directly in the minds of everyone present in the hall, without coming from any specific direction. "Leader's signature validated. Twenty-fifth-floor anchoring permanently registered. Monster respawn system in this sector permanently deactivated."
The magnetic grip on my wrist dissipated instantly, releasing my hand. I looked at the metal plate and noticed that the geometric engravings now glowed with a fixed green hue, indicating that the operation had been completed without any unforeseen events.
"Incredible..." the assistant whispered, her eyes wide with surprise as she looked at her measuring panel, whose numbers had now stabilized into a continuous green line. "The panel actually performed the anchoring mapping of the entire twenty-fifth sector. This means that, from now on, this floor is permanently cataloged as a safe transit point for our squad."
"That eliminates the need to redo the entire route through the previous floors if we decide to return to the surface and climb again," Lyannis observed, crossing her arms with a look of approval on her face. "A monumental logistical advantage."
"The tower has officially recognized our achievement," Liriel said, closing her eyes for a moment and taking a deep breath, feeling the calm that the newly registered environment conveyed. "The effort of every battle in the forests and ravines was worth it to secure this safety."
While the group absorbed the importance of the achievement, I directed my gaze toward my companions and allowed a new tactical line of reasoning to guide our next steps. Registering the anchoring of the twenty-fifth floor was an extraordinary milestone, but it also placed us before a crucial planning decision. Our supply stocks brought from the surface had been considerably reduced after more than a week of continuous ascent, and the accumulated wear, although perfectly controlled by our discipline, deserved attention before we began the journey toward the unknown floors that started from the twenty-sixth onward. The security provided by the newly activated panel meant that we could choose the exact moment to advance or to make a strategic retreat to resupply.
"The activation of this panel completely changes our room for maneuver," I commented, turning toward the group with a serious and determined expression while maintaining a calm and natural tone of voice. "But before we decide on the next leap toward the twenty-sixth floor, we need to precisely assess the state of our resources and the exact usefulness of this terminal for every member of the squad."