I stepped out of the shimmering rift of the subspace and back onto the blistering sands of the desert. The heat was a stark contrast to the frozen silence of 'Zero Ground,' but the battle was over. In my pocket, I felt the heavy weight of the Sun-Token I had stripped from Wilong's unconscious form.
"[Activating 'Nymph's Song' Lvl 1!]"
I knelt beside Jean D'Arc, her breathing ragged even in sleep. The gentle green light of the healing spell washed over her, mending the internal fractures caused by her over-exertion of 'Divinity'. Between my magic and her own high-tier Passive Regeneration Skills, her eyes soon fluttered open.
I didn't give her time to process the confusion as I explained what had happened, excluding some parts obviously. I handed her both my party's 'Sun-Token' and the one I had taken from Wilong. She tried to protest, her pride as an S-Rank bristling at the idea of a handout, but I was firm. I had already gained the 'Abyssal Tome', a new Exclusive Skill, and Levels. I didn't need the official "Clearer" title, I only needed the Tower to move forward.
After much insisting, she finally accepted the tokens.
"[Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the 3rd Floor, 'Desert of Echoes'!]"
"[Notice: The 4th Floor of the 'Tower of Trials' will open after 60 days.]"
"[Notice: The 3rd Floor has been officially cleared by the 'Slayer' Guild. Rewards have been distributed.]"
The system messages rolled across the sky like a victory banner.
Humanity had earned another 60 days of borrowed time. I gave Jean my name and confirmed my Rank before turning to leave, letting her party handle the official exit procedures.
Returning to the 'Atlas' Guild Headquarters was a chore. I provided a report that matched the testimonies of John and the others, carefully omitting the manifestation of the Black Hound and the existence of Melchior. I painted the incident with Zang Wilong as a "misunderstanding fueled by the floor's madness." Since Wilong had confirmed that even the Guild Masters of 'Black Serpent' and 'Reaper' didn't know the exact location of the 'Cursed Crown' yet, I had time.
Noah Jackson, true to his word, had pulled the necessary strings. With the 3rd Floor cleared, he successfully wrestled the regional Tower rights away from the 'Reaper' Guild. After a 6:5 split of the profits we'd gathered on our way to the blue beam, I finally retreated to my apartment.
The self-activating barriers I'd placed around my home hummed with a reassuring frequency. Safe, for now.
I sat in the center of my living room and pulled the dark book from my inventory. It was time to gamble.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Fusion'!]"
"[Fusing the SS-Rank Item 'Abyssal Tome', the A-Rank Skill 'Fire Element', and the A-Rank Skill 'Telekinesis'...]"
"[Notice: The 'Status' of a Higher Tier has been detected! Tower's 'Restriction' and 'Probability have been applied!]"
I felt the Tower trying to suppress the fusion, the weight of the universe pushing back against the birth of something too powerful.
"[Activating 'Tyche's Wheel of Fate' Lvl 1!]"
"[Activating 'Favor of the Stars' Lvl 1!]"
"[Notice: The Wheels of Fate have granted you 'Fortune'.]"
"[Congratulations! Your 'Luck' has increased by 80%!]"
The oppressive pressure vanished, replaced by a warm, golden glow.
"[Congratulations! You have obtained the L-Rank Skill, 'Hell Flame' Lvl 1!]"
A small, flickering flame danced in my palm. It wasn't orange or red, but a deep, void-like black rimmed with violet. The Legendary Flame of [Pandemonium]. With this, my destructive capability had just entered a different league.
Finally, I opened the subspace to deal with my guest. Wilong stumbled out, naked and shivering. Curiously, he wasn't dead; it seemed his [Adaptation] Skill had allowed him to survive Cero's freezing environment. I tossed him a set of my spare clothes.
While Wilong was getting dressed, I leaned back and watched him.
"Wilong, think carefully. Has anything felt... off about your Guild Master lately?"
He paused, a shirt halfway over his head. "No, not really," he started, but then he winced, his brow furrowing as he corrected himself.
"Actually... after he visited the 2nd Floor a few weeks ago, he came back feeling... different. He looks the same, acts the same, but the energy around him changed. I just figured he'd obtained a new Skill or a rare title and didn't think much of it."
I nodded slowly. It was exactly as I feared. If the Guild Master of 'Black Serpent' was already possessed or replaced by a 'Demon', then the rot would have reached the very top already. Fortunately, because my [Triune Axiom Field] had cut off all surveillance, they wouldn't know exactly why the ritual failed or that a Patriarch had manifested. They shouldn't be able to track me down easily.
However, if I just tossed Wilong back into that viper's nest without a warning, I'd be signing his death warrant. I didn't want to see an innocent man, and a valuable S-Rank, waste away like that.
"Sit down," I said, my voice dropping an octave. "There's something you need to know."
I laid it out for him, the silent invasion, the possession of high-ranking officials, and the true nature of the 'Cursed Crown.' I chose to omit the part about the Vampires for now; one shock at a time was enough for him to process.
Wilong sat in stunned silence, his face pale as the reality of being a literal puppet for a demonic ritual sank in. After a long moment, he looked up, his eyes regaining some of the fire I'd seen in the desert.
"If what you're saying is true... then my Guild is already gone," he whispered. He stood up and extended a trembling hand toward me. "I'll do it. I'll help you take those bastards down."
I took his hand, sealing the pact with a firm grip.
"[Activating 'Brand of Tribulation' Lvl 1!]"
As our hands met, I didn't just shake his hand; I reached into his very essence. The 'Stigma' burned itself into his soul, a hidden mark that would act as a fail-safe and a tether. He winced as the brand settled, but he didn't pull away.
Now, it was time to play the long game.