'Huh? Someone wants to team up?' Lu Song questioned inwardly with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Someone had actually went out of their way to text him.
Hope sparked within him. Without hesitation, he opened the sender's profile, only for his expression to flatten almost immediately.
| Username: [Flaming Rose]
| Floors Cleared: [Two]
| Classification: [Caster]
| Affiliation: [None]
His lips twisted into a bitter smile.
'So, they're not part of a cohort or even a party. I figured as much. Would someone like that really pay attention to a newbie like me who hasn't even cleared the First Floor to begin with? Still… it's better than nothing, I suppose.'
Then his gaze lingered on the number beside Floors Cleared.
'Two floors? That means they've already cleared the Second Floor and entered the Third. More than that, they're a… Caster?'
Casters were a specialization of Espers that excelled at long-range combat, similar to Archers, but with one crucial difference: they harnessed magical abilities instead of physical projectiles. Among all Esper types, Casters typically boasted the highest damage output.
To picture it more vividly, they were akin to Magicians from a traditional RPG, fragile in defense but devastating in offense. They were completely powerless when someone entered their space, but when positioned correctly, they could wipe out an entire group or even a colony of monsters in seconds.
They were simply that incredible. But something didn't add up.
'Hold on… why aren't they already affiliated with a group?'
Lu Song frowned. It didn't make any sense at all.
Most parties and even entire cohorts scrambled to recruit Casters into their ranks. No one in their right mind would let such a valuable asset wander around alone. A Caster without a team was practically unheard of.
'Wait… don't tell me they rejected all the invitations?'
The thought struck him like a spark in dry tinder.
Naturally, it wasn't unheard of for an Esper to choose the independent path and refuse to rely on others. But those kinds of people were rather few and far between because walking that path demanded exceptional strength, adaptability, and a hint of madness. The rest simply died somewhere along the way.
To survive alone, one needed mastery over both close-quarters and long-range combat, along with instincts sharp enough to know exactly when to advance and when to retreat.
Very few ever managed to balance all of those traits, least of all a Caster, who naturally struggled in close-range battles. Simply put, the independent route wasn't meant for their kind.
And yet, somehow, this person had cleared both the First and Second Floors alone.
That was… impressive, to say the least.
'I see. How interesting. In that case, teaming up with someone like this might actually be worthwhile. An Archer and a Caster… that's a solid combination. Though I'm no expert in close combat, I can switch between long-range attacks with my trusty pistol and revolver, and close-range strikes with Fallen Glory.'
Not wanting to waste this golden opportunity, he tapped on the chat window.
[Devil Crybaby]
ㄴSure, I'm interested. But are you certain you want to team up with a newbie like me?
The message sent, and the screen fell silent for a few seconds that felt strangely long. Just when he thought he'd been ignored, the notification pinged again.
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴ Hehe, everyone has to start somewhere. Besides, I'm not exactly strong myself. We can always cover each other's weaknesses, right?
Lu Song stared at the reply for a moment before chuckling softly.
'Cover each other's weaknesses, huh? Sounds like a reckless kind of optimism… but I'll take it.'
He typed back a brief confirmation, and soon after, a party request popped up on his screen.
[You have joined a temporary party with 'Flaming Rose.']
A small, satisfied smile curved across his lips.
It might have been just a two-person team, but it was still a party nonetheless. And as the old saying went; two heads were better than one.
'So, what now? I guess the next step would be getting to know each other… at least a little, right?'
The better they understood one another, the smoother their coordination would be once they teamed up. Of course, that didn't mean he planned on revealing all his cards. He wasn't naive enough to hand out every secret to a stranger he'd just met online. Still, sharing something was necessary; otherwise, the other party wouldn't open up either.
Too cautious, and the partnership would crumble from distrust.
Too careless, and he'd risk exposing himself.
With that thought lingering in his mind, Lu Song began typing a message.
ㄴHow about we properly introduce ourselves? I'm Devil Crybaby. You've probably seen my profile but I'll say it anyway. I'm classified as an Archer, but I use guns: basically a Gunslinger. My Mythic Ability isn't very practical for everyday use, but it has one blunt application: it can instantly kill a target.
After finishing his message, he reread it once more, and once satisfied, hit send.
A few seconds later, a reply appeared on his screen.
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴI'm Flaming Rose. And if I may say, that's quite a nasty ability you've got there. Are you into assassination or something? It's really scary.
[Devil Crybaby]
ㄴI really wish I were that impressive, but honestly, it's not as useful as it sounds. If I could've chosen, I'd probably have gone with something else.
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴWhat are you talking about, dude? Most people would kill for an ability like that! So don't sound so depressed. Speaking of abilities, I guess I should share mine too. My attributes grant me an affinity for fire. So yeah, my ability revolves around fire manipulation. But it's a bit special… I can also use it to heal.
Lu Song didn't miss the phrasing in that last line: "Can also use it to heal."
That specific wording caught his attention. Did that mean the ability had broader applications than they were letting on? Of course, he knew better than to expect full transparency. Just like him, this mysterious individual wasn't about to reveal all their cards upfront. Still, healing abilities were exceedingly rare — and one that wasn't limited to healing but could also serve as an offensive weapon was both terrifying and unheard of.
But then again, there were countless mysteries in the world, far too many to count on one hand, and the Black Mire stood as a reflection of them all. Someone like him had awakened a Divine Mythic, so truly, nothing was beyond possibility.
'I wonder what her Origin rank is… Probably somewhere between Radiant and Luminous or even higher perhaps. Wait a minute, why did I just assume this person's a girl?' Lu Song blinked in surprise at his own thought.
Gender wasn't displayed on a user's profile, likely a deliberate choice by the InterCom developers to ensure privacy. Because of that, people often tried to infer it from usernames alone, which, of course, was wildly unreliable.
For instance, someone could have a fierce or masculine username like Steel Fist and still turn out to be a sweet-tempered girl in real life, or a name like CherryMist might belong to a burly middle-aged man with a beer belly and a love for cute things.
In the world of InterCom or the vast circuits of the Internet for that matter, names meant absolutely nothing.
'Still, something about the way they talk feels… feminine. Maybe it's the phrasing? Or that little "hehe" earlier… yeah, definitely suspicious.'
More importantly, they reminded him of someone he knew rather well but it was probably his imagination. It was impossible after all.
He quickly shook his head and dismissed the thought before it spiraled further.
'Focus! You're not here to play gender detective!'
Before he could type another message, a notification blinked on the screen.
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴSo, Devil Crybaby or should I just call you Mr. Devil? Anyway, since we're teaming up, how about we plan when to enter the Tower together? I can guide you through the First Floor since I've been there before. The layout's tricky if you don't know what to expect.
Lu Song blinked.
That was… unexpectedly generous. Most veterans wouldn't waste time hand-holding a total newbie, even for experience points.
Was he being pampered?
[Devil Crybaby]
ㄴYou're offering to guide me? That's more than I expected. I don't want to be a burden though.
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴRelax. You won't be. Besides, it's been a while since I've had company. Running solo gets… boring sometimes.
Lu Song smiled faintly.
'Boring, huh? For someone who cleared two floors alone, that's a humble way to put it.'
Still, something about that reply carried a subtle undertone. It was neither arrogance nor pity. It was an almost melancholic honesty.
Maybe this person wasn't so bad after all.
'Alright then,' he thought, moving his fingers to type his next response.
[Devil Crybaby]
ㄴFine by me. When do we start?
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴHmm, I have a tight schedule so I won't be free on week days unfortunately. How about next weekend by 9 a.m? Does that sound good for you?
[Devil Crybaby]
ㄴYeah
[Flaming Rose]
ㄴAlso, don't be late or I might assume you chickened out.
[Devil Crybaby]
ㄴYou'll regret underestimating me! I'll be there!
The conversation ended with a quiet beep as the message sent successfully.
For a moment, Lu Song just stared at the darkened reflection of his face in the screen. Just then, a faint grin tugged at his lips.
'This weekend, huh? Looks like things are finally starting to move.'
He slipped his phone into his pocket and made his way back to his apartment, unaware that this simple message would change everything.