The first rays of sunlight had barely tinted the mansion's towers with gold when the morning bustle began to take over the corridors. The day of our definitive departure for the depths of the dungeon had arrived, bringing with it that peculiar mixture of contained adrenaline and absolute focus that precedes great expeditions. I left the comfort of the bed and stared at my reflection in the mirror for a few moments, adjusting the folds of my combat tunic while mentally going over every detail of the logistics I had organized the previous week. Every potion case, every polished blade, and above all, the valuable dimensional stasis bag were rigorously filled and ready to withstand weeks of isolation on the unknown floors of the labyrinth.
I went downstairs toward the main hall, where a hearty and substantial breakfast awaited the squad. The girls were already gathered around the long table, dressed in their light travel armor and treated leather cloaks that offered maximum mobility without sacrificing basic protection against the elements. The atmosphere in the room was one of disciplined relaxation; they spoke in gentle tones, exchanging jokes about who would eat the last slice of toasted bread while quickly checking the clasps of their bags and the edges of their weapons. Liriel's assistant completed the group, displaying impressive serenity for someone who had begun facing the dangers of the tower relatively recently.
"Good morning, Commander," Scarlet was the first to notice my arrival, raising her steaming cup of tea with an ironic smile on her lips. "I hope you slept well, because today's breakfast needs to last quite a while. I doubt we'll find a bakery with this level of quality on the floors where monsters roam freely."
"I slept enough to know that today's breakfast is our last civilized meal for quite some time," I replied, pulling out the chair at the end of the table and serving myself a generous portion of eggs with bacon and fresh fruit. "So enjoy every bite, because soon the main menu will consist only of monster meat grilled over an improvised campfire and filtered water from the magic bag."
"If the monster meat comes seasoned with your special touch when you roast it, it's not such a bad deal," Rai'kanna joked, giving a light laugh as she spread jam on a thick slice of artisan bread. "The important thing is that the logistics are guaranteed and no one will have to fight over a piece of dry rations in the middle of a dark corridor."
While we ate, I allowed a serene thought to occupy my mind for a few moments. The camaraderie built over so many trials was priceless. Seeing such powerful and independent women sharing simple moments around a table before facing certain death in a legendary dungeon reinforced the conviction that our success had never been a matter of chance, but rather the direct result of the unshakable trust we placed in one another. This deep connection functioned as an invisible anchor that prevented any hesitation when the pressure of the hostile environment began to weigh on each member of the group.
After the meal, we gathered all our personal belongings. I gave final detailed instructions to the head butler and the servants responsible for keeping the mansion in perfect order during our prolonged absence. Then we went outside to the courtyard, where a sturdy carriage, reinforced with metal plates and pulled by four large horses, was already waiting for us with its axles greased and its cargo compartment properly locked.
We climbed into the vehicle and arranged our equipment. The journey toward the Isolated Lands proceeded peacefully, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of horseshoes striking the packed dirt road and the gentle rocking of the carriage's springs. I took advantage of the journey to observe the horizon through the partially opened curtain, noticing how the civilized vegetation gradually gave way to a wilder and more solitary landscape, marked by arid hills and ruins forgotten by time.
I reflected on how the journey of a leader is filled with moments of contemplative silence. The grandeur of the goals we sought to achieve demanded daily sacrifices, but looking at the face of each companion inside that vehicle gave me absolute certainty that it was worth facing any abyss.
After about four hours of continuous travel, the carriage gradually slowed down until it came to a complete stop in front of the military forward outpost located at the entrance to the tower complex. The sound of the wheels stopping echoed across the stone courtyard, immediately attracting the attention of the garrison soldiers guarding the neutral zone. As soon as I opened the door and stepped onto solid ground, the local commander came quickly toward us, accompanied by a group of elite knights.
"Lord Takumi, it is an honor to see you here again," the officer said, saluting with genuine respect. "My men have kept the perimeter completely clear since your last inspection. No hostile creature has dared to cross the containment line in the last forty-eight hours."
"Excellent work, Commander," I thanked him, returning the salute firmly before walking with the group toward the immense access gate to the first floor of the tower. "Keep a heightened watch while we are inside. The real test begins now."
The vast dark-stone portal rose imposingly before us, exuding that dense and familiar aura of pure mana that seemed to vibrate directly through the soles of our boots. Approaching the anchoring panel embedded at the base of the structure, I placed my palm over the runes engraved into the ancient stone and channeled a controlled fraction of my internal energy. A bluish light shone intensely for a second, emitting a soft hum that confirmed successful synchronization with our previous progress record.
"The path is completely cleared and saved up to the thirty-fifth floor," I announced, turning toward the girls, who positioned themselves in strict formation directly behind me. "We will execute the chain traversal exactly as planned. Scarlet will go first, followed by Liriel's assistant, Rai'kanna, Elara, Vespera, Lyannis, and Liriel. I will close the group at the rear."
Without wasting a single second, Scarlet took the first step forward, crossing the threshold of the portal and disappearing in a translucent flash of arcane energy. One by one, the remaining members advanced with surgical precision, dissolving into the blue light without hesitation. When my turn came, I took a deep breath, absorbed the last breath of fresh air from the outside world, and crossed the dimensional barrier.
The sensation of zero gravity lasted only a fraction of a second before my feet firmly touched the polished stone floor of the twenty-fifth floor. The smell of controlled humidity and the heavy silence characteristic of the tower's intermediate floors immediately enveloped the environment. I looked around and saw all the girls already positioned in perfect defensive formation, weapons in hand and senses fully alert, ready to explore the unknown and plant another historic milestone in our journey toward the top.