REVERSE TOWER: INFINITE MEADOW

  Inside the huge white silken cage. Yarkol alongside a group of melee combatants are running away, dodging the continuious thread of web shot by the Taurachnia until it finally reach them and pin them to the ground. They try to free themselves but the strenght and flexibility of the threads are no joke.

  "WE GOT ENSNARED!" Yarkol shouts.

  "It's coming for us!" One of the trapped fighters reported. Yarkol saw the problem as the Taurachnia is falling above them. With intent of crushing the group.

  But before the Taurachnia lands, the soil beneath Yarkol and others deforms like a sheet of clothe and envelops them underground. Saving everyone from the death by monster's impact.

  Yarkol with his group reappears outside the cage.

  "Thanks a lot!" Yarkol shouts as the adventurers outside freed them from the sticky silk.

  "Just focus on the monsters outside. Kolig's command which Yarkol agrees.

  Kolig then rides the end of his shovel and surf on the wave of soil he created, ready to face the Taurachnia that now focused his agression towards the old miner.

  The Taurachnia spats a lump of web aimed at Kolig who dodged by manipulating the soil below to fling him. After reaching the face of the mamalian spider, Kolig gives a smirk.

  And spin mid air to hit his shovel downwards. Smashing the Taurachnia so hard that it falls down.

  Below the Taurachnia is Bhest already prepared to make a follow up as he infuse her body with thick mana to boost his strenght.

  And smash the Taurachnia's chin with his buckler. Making it lifted for several meters in the air and finally flipping it over.

  The monster recovers quickly by standing up and crawling on the wall of the cage it created. Its murderous gaze focused on the powerful individuals that giving him a challenge.

  Kolig and Bhest regroups as they look up.

  "What is your grading on that beast Mr. Kolig?"

  "Hmmm... Its Durability is supperb, the strenght is dangerous, intelligence and combat knowledge is concerning but it's quiet lacking in speed. My estimate is that monster is just slightly above Platinum rank in difficulty.

  "I see. So we have a chance?"

  "Yes. But in my honest opinion. I'm more concerned on the one that younglings is pointed at us with emphasis."

  "The Laffy?"

  "Yes. If this thing is already this powerful, I'm wondering what kind of disaster that monkey is." Kolig speaks with a serious tone

  Bhest look outside the cage, looking if the Laffy appears but he can only see his subordinates fighting with equal footing with the lesser beasts

  Then Bhest focus his attention back to the Taurachnia who suddenly just pouce on them. The impact cause an explosion of land and dirt.

  Far from the impact zone is Bhest and Kolig that just dodged the attack.

  "Why you're spacing out young man?!"

  "I'm looking for the Laffy." Bhest answer Kolig's question casually.

  The Taurachnia unleashes another strand of sticky web which Kolig blocked by manipulating the soil in front of them. The soil deforms to form a wavy wall that stops the white thread. Clumps of web spreads everywhere as the thread crashes on the soil wall and breaking apart agressively.

  "We should focus on our current opponent first. We can deal of the Laffy later." Kolig's priority which Bhest agreed with a nod.

  Bhest almost dash forward to face the Taurachnia but Kolig stops her and advise her to stand still. Behind the wall, Kolig stabs his shovel to the soil behind Bhest.

  "Augh-ARGHHHH!"

  Kolig scream as his forcefuly swing of his shovel to the side behind the wall that protects the two. And just like that, the ground beneath Bhest deforms to his surprise as Bhest us now riding a wave of soil that curved and move upwards.

  The Taurachnia notices the attempt and slam one of his limb to the moving soil. Smashing it entirely.

  But Bhest already leave the transport as he's now mid-air and with his Buckler.

  SLAM!

  Bash the Taurachnia's head harder than before, completely puting the beast to the ground.

  Yet, Bhest is not done yet as he follow up his attack by a downward slash with all of his momentum. Slashing the face of the beast.

  "MOOOAAAAA!!!"

  The Taurachnia's scream of pain as blood pours down on its wound. It thrashes around which the two veterans avoid the rampage.

  "Woah woah... Easy..." Kolig's taunt as he dodge the limbs.

  "Kolig. Can you fling me up again?" Bhest's suggestion.

  "You think it will work again?"

  "The beast is still unfocused. It can still work."

  "Well then. Let's go together!"

  Kolig deforms the soil again and makes another wave to ride with. But this time, he joins the ride and with the Taurachnia still unaware of their attack. The two talks on where to attack next.

  "How about we ride it?" Kolig's suggestion.

  "Why?"

  "It seems it doesn't have any ways to attack anything behind him. It's a free estate for us." Kolig smirks.

  "Fine. Let's do that!"

  The wave they riding stops and the two leap out. Bhest enhance his arms ang buckler to smash his buckler again while Kolig prepares to smash his shovel.

  BANG!

  The two drops directly to the back ot the Taurachnia like comets. The force is enough to finally put the beast flat on its belly.

  The Taurachnia scream and recovers but with the opponents on his back, it have no way to reach them and can only agressively shake its body in attempt of flinging the intruders riding his body.

  As it moves, Bhest and Kolig spend their time attacking the Taurachnia with powerful attacks. Each mana enhanced swings and digs are creating deep gaping wounds on the Taurachnia's flesh.

  The Taurachnia then suddenly jumps away. Its back going to hit the web cage that can jeopardize the two. But the Taurachnia is not thinking that way, instead. The beast just want to escape the introduces carving it's skin.

  "It trying to escape!" Kolig shouts.

  With Bhest's full power, he smash his buckler and push the Taurachnia back to the ground.

  With a loud thud and sustaining huge damage, the Taurachnia is now too weak to move like it used to.

  Yet the two continue to carve the beast, the sound of fesh being cutted and splattering blood is audible for a while until.

  "Finally."

  After digging 6 feet of flesh, Kolig and Bhest finally reach their target.

  The Taurachnia's core.

  The Taurachnia can only twitch and whimper after sustaining lethal injuries. It can't do anything anymore and on the mercy of the powerful warriors on its back.

  "I'm glad we pick the right spot." Kolig wipe the blood on his face.

  Bhest raise his buckler arm and prepares to smash the core. Ready to end the fight.

  "Wait!"

  Bhest stops and he watch as Kolig cut some hair using his shovel and grab it.

  "You know that Jhulzihar beasts disappears once their core is gone right?" Bhest's curious question.

  "Who knows? Maybe in this layer, things are different." Kolig then grin.

  Bhest just sigh and with no more hesistation, he finally breaks the huge core which instantly kill the Taurachnia. And it slowly turn into dust.

  Bhest and Kolig leaps out of the beast and watch as the Taurachnia completely fades away, it's core crumbles into a fine powder.

  Even the cage collapse and become dust that got swept away. The clump of hair on Kolig's grasp and the blood on their body also reach the same fate.

  "Damn..." Kolig's dissapointed words.

  "I told you." Bhest scoffs.

  Bhest the looks around and see that his squad of platinum rank warriors also fend off the rampage of beasts. Defeating every single one including the rabbits.

  But he feel sadness as Bhest clearly see that it's not a perfect victory after finding out that his expedition team also procure few casualties.

  "It's potential outcome for the people like us." Kolig's words.

  "I know, we completely accepted the risks." Bhest calm words.

  "Yet you'll still accept this mission."

  "Everything for our faith."

  Bhest then walks away to tend to the survivors and the fallen. Kolig meanwhile joins his team of Adventurers.

  "Good job." Kolig's compliment.

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  "We barely even survived." Yarkol's cold words.

  "Those beasts are no joke. Thankfully, it seems that they're more focused on the rabbits than us." Herma's scared words, the feeding frenzy she watched still fresh in her mind.

  Kolig scracth the back of his head.

  "So the Taurachnia is really the Apex of this layer huh? What a bummer. It seems we still didn't reach the gold mine of this expedition."

  "The real treasure is the fields and farm Grand Ecstasy and Wanderer reported. If we can get the favor of the Laffy, we might also get those valuable plants." Yarkol speaks as he cleans himself.

  Kolig looks on the vast meadow and squint his eye.

  "We still need to explore this vast emptiness first. Hayss."

  Dfnir Blade the gives a sigh of dissapointment.

  As Kolig scan his gaze. He spotted something that give chills to his spine.

  "No fucking way..."

  "What's wrong Mr. Kolig?" Yarkol asked.

  Instead of answering. Kolig just make an announcement.

  "The Laffy is here!!!"

  Bhest and his team instantly alerted on the important news.

  "Everyone! Put your weapons down!" Bhest's command.

  Both groups put back their weapons and appear unthreatening as ever to appear trustworthy to the pink primate that casually walking towards them.

  Bhest and Kolig act as representative as they stand in front of others, ready to face the elusive monkey of the report.

  "That thing looks weak." Zasstal's underestimation.

  "Looks can be decieving. And I can tell you, that's a completely different beast." Kolig's serious words.

  After tense waiting, the two side finally reach a distance for communication.

  "Oho?" The Laffy's curious sound.

  "I don't know if you can understand us but we're not here to fight! We want to establish a relationship with you!" Bhest's declaration of their intention.

  "Ho?"

  "We're looking for a fruit of our goddess which huge importance for our faith and it's future. I hope you understand us and and make a succesfull communication. We are also willing to trade if that's what you want."

  The Laffy tilts its head slightly and gives a curious yet pokerface look at Bhest and the people behind him. Assessing each one without their knowledge.

  Back in Nattunia's group lead by Gilmore.

  "Haaa.... Haaa..."

  Kiana is panting heavily. In front of her is the White Queen standing in the hill of daggers that she rain down on her.

  "I emptied out my bag."

  Niana observe the White Queen who just standing still proudly. There's not a single hint of injury on her stout frame which make Niana worried.

  "This is more threatening than expected. She managed to survive that hailstorm." Niana's concerned words.

  Gilmore with his fist clenched suddenly walk in front and face the White Queen. He sheathed his sword to Kiana and Niana's surprise.

  "Sir Gilmore? What are you?" Niana's confused question.

  Instead of answering Niana, Gilmore just focus his attention to the White Queen who looking down at him at top of the daggers.

  "Say! Why you holding back against us?!"

  .

  .

  "Holding back?!" Kiana's shocked question.

  "What's stopping you on using your full power against us!? Why you just eat all of our attacks?!" Gilmore's angered questions.

  Deep inside, he felt insulted all the three of them are giving their best to fight the White Queen yet their opponent is underestimating them.

  Like their efforts are not even worth the hassle of exerting full power and instead just wait for them to tire themselves out.

  Gilmore points his finger to the White Queen and with resolve, speak what he desires.

  "I IMPLORE YOU TO SHOW US YOUR TRUE POWER!"

  An eerie silence engulfed everyone after Gilmore's pleading yet stern words. Kiana and Niana looking at him uncertainty on what Gilmore is trying to achieve.

  The White Queen close her eyes and give a faint yet understanding nod. Then he face her right side where there's no people on sight.

  The White Queen slowly raise his sword tail as everyone watch with and wait for what it's trying to to achieve.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  "Ehhhh?" Grand Ecstasy's unsure reaction after Revto reveals her identity.

  "Rev-To? Really?" Claustrine raise an eyebrow.

  "Hmmm... Not the reaction I'm expecting." Revto's unamused voice.

  "Woah... Wow... Amazing..." Beltrand's sarcasm that just make Revto even more unamused.

  "Pffttt... Whatever."

  "I believe you Revto because I see you enter my body back in Reverse Tower. But... Why?" Mateo push the focus back into importance.

  "Why? Simple, because you piqued my interest."

  Revto hovers around the room while Grand Ecstasy follows her presence.

  "You see... Staying inside the Reverse Tower for centuries is starting to become extremely boooooring. If that rut continues, I might do something drastic just to entertain myself. Like you know, removing the barrier that holds the creatures inside our domain."

  Grand Ecstasy feel a shiver in their spine after hearing the casual yet sinister words of Revto. Revto meanwhile shakes erraticly.

  "Hahahahahaha! I'm just joking! I don't have the power to do that and never will."

  Sophia makes a sigh of relief.

  "I assume the thing that caught your interest is my world... Correct?" Mateo's question which make his team give a confused stare. Mateo remembers his dream before all of this happened so he knows that Revto is now have knowledge of Earth from him directly.

  "Yey good job! That's correct."

  Revto comes closer to Mateo.

  "It's all started when you showcase those weird apparatuses when your party was stranded in our dungeon. Then I convince the others to let me investigate you even further thus leading to this fated encounter."

  Revto hovers around Grand Ecstasy again.

  "Then I wait for you to return. I even worried that you might died outside. Thankfully, that didn't happened and I manage to attach myself to you the moment you visit our tower again." Revto's blissful explanation

  "But that doesn't explain why Mateo lose his mana and power." Helyna's angered question.

  "Ehhh... About that."

  Revto shake awkwardly then slowly falls down.

  "S-sorry so much... I kinda used your power to revive myself. Hehe."

  "Ha?" -Mateo.

  "Then get out on Mateo's body right now." Claustrine's stern words.

  "Wait wait wait! Let me finish first ok? Geez."

  "Guys let Revto explain." Mateo's command to his friends.

  "Thanks. Phew, this is the situation everyone. The Reverse Tower is the one powering me so what's happen next the moment I leave that place is self explanatory."

  "So to get the gist of it. You cut your lifeline when you move inside Mateo, hibernates for a while then use his mana to revive yourself and to remain alive?" Claustrine's conclusion.

  "Exactly!" -Revto.

  "You just making us even more mad at you, just saying." Shirna's unamused words.

  "Come on, just calm down ok? You guys are so tense."

  Revto just casually floating.

  "In exchange of using your powers and entertaining me. I willing to give you a very special gift."

  "A gift?" Mateo's curious question.

  Revto goes back inside Mateo and continues to talk while everyone listens.

  "You see. I have a very special connection to a good source and I just reconnected into it but now I'm outside of the tower, I can only achieve a weak link. Mateo, can you scream "Status" for me?"

  Mateo hesistant first but he already got the hint of what Revto suppose to mean. So to satiate his curiosity.

  "Status!"

  And with a single word. Three floating transparent windows appears in front of Mateo which surprised him and followed by awe and astonishment.

  "No way..." Mateo's amazed words.

  "Hehe! Do you like it?! You see, when I explored your mind. I discovered so many things that truly excites me. So... If you really like those called video games, how about we make your life even more fun?" Revto explains with high excitement.

  Mateo views the windows with eyes wide open as he can't believe eveything that just happened. On the three windows shows information that very reminiscent of a video game UI.

  The first window is Mateo's personal information alongside a LVL and a bar showing some sort of experience meter. There's no stats numbers in sight which perplex Mateo as it's very unusual for him because if it's true to a video game design, there must be a stat that can be manually increased by him.

  The second window is a Weapon mastery list beside them are bars that seems like can be also increased in some way.. The weapon list includes...

  Blade RANK 1

  Great Sword RANK 1

  Gauntlet RANK 1

  Bow RANK 1

  Rifle RANK 1

  Shaman RANK 1

  But the real deal that scared Mateo is the third window showing a segment for Weapon and the screen currently displays the Blade section. It shows a list of skills and requirements to unlock them. The skills even have the chuuni names to make them threatening to hear.

  "H-how?" Mateo's disbelief.

  "What are you seeing Mateo?"

  Mateo is surprised on Claustrine's question. He looks at her and not only she but the others also giving him a worried look. Then he looks at the status windows again only to realize something.

  "G-guys... You can't see this?" Mateo's confused question.

  "What?" -Claustrine.

  "Ah... Sorry I forgot to say but only Mateo can see these windows."

  "What windows are you talking about?" -Beltrand.

  "Geez just wait for Mateo to show them to ya'll! Anyways..."

  Revto makes a chiming sound.

  "That's your new power now. As for the way to gain EXP. You get them by killing monsters and leveling up increases your power. Of course, the higher your level, the lower the exp you get to the weaker monsters while also the higher the point requirements you need to reach the next level. Just the usual video games and stuff. To be honest, I feel stupid explaining this mechanic to you as, geez." Revto gives a dissapointed sigh.

  "B-But how is this even possible? There's even a gun here? Like... How?" Mateo is out of thoughts.

  "Hahaha! Everything is possible with magic Mateo, as long as you have the capacity of course! That's what my master told to me."

  "Master? Who is your master?" -Claustrine.

  "The one and only Master Jhulzihar! My very own creator!"

  Grand Ecstasy are shocked on the mention of the name. Especially Claustrine as she now seeing what only gods can make.

  A sentient conscious being.

  "Let me guess? You must be thinking how master can create such complex being like me? Hello, it's the creator of Reverse Tower we're talking here. A millenial genius and the foundation of your societies' magic." Revto speaks with proud and smug.

  Grand Ecstasy are out of words as they can't make sense of what Revto is saying. Except Claustrine as her curiosity chimes in and not only that, something else now bothering her thoughts.

  "Revto. Can you answer some question for me?"

  "Ah yes yes what is it Trinne?"

  "What's the purpose of the Reverse Tower?"

  "Hehehehe good question. You see, Master Jhulzihar created the Reverse Tower as a training grounds for the warriors of the future."

  "Training Grounds for what exactly?" Claustrine continues her inquiry.

  "For the Vielarata's return." Revto says with a sinister tone which make Grand Ecstays feel dread for the mere mention of the gods' forsaken name.

  "And from what I see within my centuries of existence. I can confidently say that the humans of today have zero chance of winning against the Vielaratas." Revto speaks with somber tone.

  "W-wait a minute. You say that the Reverse Tower is a training ground and you see everything that happened inside. Then, why you didn't save every adventurers that died inside your cursed tower?" Mateo asked with stern demeanor.

  "Hmmm... That's part of the training according to Master. "Death is a common part of human experience "he said and denying humanity of the sweet threat of unexistence just make them not take the battle seriously and don't give their best to survive." Revto speaks with shrugness on her tone.

  "I can't believe Sir Jhulzihar was such a twisted individual." Sophia speaks with sadness.

  "Hey he's not that bad... Well, I guess he's bad at some way but still. Master is a hero!"

  "I can't deny that. After all, he's belonged to the legendary heroes party." Beltrand speaks with pondering.

  "Revto... Now tell us the real reason of Reverse Tower's existence." Claustrine now asked with more serious tone.

  "Huh what do you mean Trinne?"

  "From what I see inside your dungeon, the powerful monsters, The white queen, the giant fish, the monkey and more. Reverse Tower is not only a training ground... It also protecting something important. The same thing that you said you connected with, I am correct?"

  The room got engulfed by a defeaning silence as Claustrine's question make Revto freeze in the air.

  Then Revto gives a long sigh.

  "Geez... You're truly an intelligent lady Trinne."

  Revto floats directly in front of Claustrine.

  "You're correct. Reverse Tower is protecting something. A thing that the Vieleratas must never get in any means necessary." Revto speaks with calm yet cold tone.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  REVERSE TOWER: INFINITE MEADOW

  "Haaa... Haaa..."

  Bhest is panting heavily. Now injured with stab wounds from his legs shoulder and stomach. Beside him is Kolig also dealt huge damage on his body. His shoverl have nurmerous indentations.

  Behind the two S-ranked fighters are their comrades, unconcious and bloodied.

  Bhest barely even see what just attacked them. In just milliseconds, he just saw a bunch of pink lines scattered around them and hitting everyone like a flash of lightning, it also disappear in equivalent speed and doesn't even give the two a time to examine what's hitting them.

  The two would not survive if they didn't notice the attack and block the piercing lines. In front of them is the Laffy with its signature pokerface reaction and straw hat.

  "F-fuck! W-what we even do that angered that bastard?! Augh!!" Kolig's mad and pained question as he pat his bloodied stomach.

  Bhest have no answer on the question and instead focus his gaze to the pink monkey who just standing menacingly in front of them.

  The Laffy opens his palm and spread its fingers. Small magic circles appeared facing each tip of the Laffy's finger.

  And not even 1/4 of a second. More small magic circles appears around Bhest and Kolig, floting and surrounding the two and before they even react.

  STAB!

  Pink lines instantly appears and connects to the floating magic circles, creating a web of pink line in the viscinity and also hitting Bhest and Kolig numerous times, knocking them out.

  The pink line is turned out to be the fingers of the Laffy that extends in extreme speed and become a piercing projectile. The magic circles are portals that makes the elongated fingers to travel in very unpredictable way as it become chaotic passing on multiple portals creating an entanglement.

  The Laffy contracts his fingers in the same speed and stare on the field of adventurers and explorers he just defeated instantly.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  "N-No w-way... I-It can't b-be..."

  Niana hugs herself out of fear as she watch with horror at the scene that just unfold in front of them.

  Kiana's mouth is wide open and her pupils dilated as she get engulfed with terror. The knights are silent yet their expression shares what the twins are experiencing - Dread.

  Gilmore meanwhile kneels and admits overwhelming defeat after witnessing such absurdity.

  "There's no way we can defeat something like that." Gilmore speaks with horror.

  Niana, Kiana and Gilmore stare on the vast snow the White Queen choose to showcase her power. With just a single swing of her tail sword, she created a canyon in the bloody snow field 5 kilometers in lenght and with unseen depths that the bottom is pitch black.

  "A-a-aaaa...."

  Gilmore feels inadequete after witnessing such absolute power, ashamed of their audacity to even fight a being wielding such strenght and finally understanding why the White Queen holds back. Then he remembers the stories told by story books, about the feats of the heroes of the past.