For once, Sam entertained the thought that he should ignore Katie's antics and get back to the training-slash-torture, but then the girl jumped backwards (the sea of chaotic chaos parted around her like a crowd around a school fight), got a running start and smashed into the barrier with both hands stretched out, seemingly wanting to hug it.

Or use osmosis to get through. He wasn't really sure about the particulars.

"This is the most concerning event that the roiling chaos has conjured up. I haven't seen such visuals since I started my tenure here…" the Void Lady murmured as she leaned closer and observed Katie like one would an interesting specimen.

"I'm afraid that is truly my friend," he told her while keeping a wary eye on Katie, who was trying to climb up on the smooth shield and sliding back after every move.

"Truly? Your…friend…is capable of traversing the chaotic in-between?" his teacher asked, fascination flooding her voice. "What manner of magic does she wield?"

"Ignorance, probably," Sam blurted out before he could help it.

However, the Void Lady just gasped in realization a little. "My! What a novel idea…I should experiment with it!"

Then, as she finished, she waved a hand and a circular area of the shield, right under Katie and Puffball, who were in the middle of crawling upward, and Sam watched as the two of them fell through. As the shield closed up, Sam saw the tide of chaos slamming into the same place, flooding the area with itself now that it didn't have to avoid Katie. He could have sworn that the chaos outside was feeling rather petulant.

"Oww!" came the pained cry from his friend while the cat simply landed on its paws and let out a dismissive meow.

Both the Void Lady and Sam watched as the cat looked around curiously before sauntering toward a discarded training dummy – one with real cloth on it for some reason – hopped on it, and settled down for a nap.

Then their heads snapped back as Katie managed to get up while they were looking away and was in the process of launching herself at Sam. He caught the excited girl, though he had to use Body Reinforcement due to the heavy armor she was wearing. Funnily enough, some of his shield even dipped thanks to the multitude of sharp things extending from the armor.

"Sam! So glad I found you!" she exclaimed excitedly. "I was like I really need to do some new training, then I was in this weird dimension with toads fighting mushrooms, but it was boring, so I left, then I was in this weird corridor where a little man in red tried to get me to play chess, but when I refused that gave me some skill which I used to leave!" She took a deep breath, then continued, not even letting the two other people present comment. "I had to fight so many things, but it was such fun. But then I got bored and missed Isabella, that stupid cow, which made me think of my other friends, and I told Puffball that I wondered what you were doing, and bamm! I slam into a barrier! Isn't that crazy?!"

Sam blinked, processed the deluge of information, and nodded. "Did you make any deal with the weird man?"

She let go of him and shook her head proudly. "No! I did what you taught me! I let him talk, then punched him in the face before running away! Weird dudes in weird places offering you unlimited power are not to be trusted!"

Sam let out a relieved sigh. "That's good. Glad you listened…"

"Hey! I pay attention!"

Sam raised an eyebrow, remembering well the number of times Katie fell asleep during a team meeting or debrief.

She saw it and looked away, her face lightly dusted with pink. "Most of the time…"

This was the moment when the Void Lady decided to make her presence known. She cleared her throat, causing Katie to whirl around in surprise before exclaiming.

"Oh my gosh! I love your boots!" she almost yelled, before rushing over to the scary overseer of the tower in the middle of the sea of chaos and began excitedly chattering about said woman's boots. Boots that looked as if they were exactly for the purpose of stepping on someone because they liked it.

Taken aback, the Void Lady allowed Katie to chatter away for a moment, she cleared her throat again. "Welcome, young lady, to the Tower of the Void!" she declared, holding up her hands dramatically as the void held back by the barrier chose this exact moment to let out a brilliant lightning strike, which dramatically illuminated the scene.

Sam just let out a world-weary sigh as Katie began to clap. "Whose idea was it that those two should meet…"

Then, slowly, he began to walk after the two as they began to discuss the merits of spikes on shoes.

After some illuminating discussions between the two women that he desperately wanted to erase from his memory. Katie asked the Void Lady what they were doing, and now she was going through a similar test as he had done.

Which was perfect because it occupied the chaos gremlin and allowed him some downtime to check his skills.

[Quest updated!]

[Let's make a…mage out of you!]

[You haven't disappointed the ever-youthful Void Lady yet. She has taken an interest in your training, which you have proven to be worthy of. Continue making sure she isn't disappointed. Or that she goes without access to your wolf.]

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

[Time Limit: None]

[Penalty: Disintegration, Light mockery]

[Reward: Mastery of Void Magic]

A little clarity on his quest was a nice gain, though he still didn't know what mastery meant in this case. After all, he could use the mana-type to do anything he wanted, so the fact that his teacher and the game deemed him not yet sufficient for the 'title' was worrying him a little.

Still, the training was rather useful as it revealed to him ways to use his new element, as well as improving several of his magical skills.

[Perfect Mana Core is now Level 30!]

[You gained a new subskill thanks to the training you received.]

[You learned Core Void!]

[Core Void: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) Due to training, your Mana Core has developed an inner Void. This Void allows it to process void-type mana more efficiently. Reduces the casting costs of all void-type skills by 9%. Grants the Void Immunity skill.]

[Void Immunity: Level 0/99 (0%) (Passive) Thanks to your training, you began walking on the path of standing against the encroaching void. Each level increases the immunity by 1%.]

[Mana Scales is now Level 157!]

[Mana Weaving is now Level 27!]

[You gained the subskill, Delicate Touch!]

[Delicate Touch: Level MAX (MAX%) (Passive) No matter how tiny or ephemeral the mana, you can control it.]

[Void Manipulation is now Level 30!]

[Void Affinity is now Level 42!]

[Void Soul is now Level 42!]

Seeing the Void Immunity skill, Sam had a sinking feeling that he knew what the next part of the test would be.

[Unknown Sight is now Level 10!]

[Mana Body Infusion is now Level 35!]

[Corruption Resistance is now Level 63!]

[Dimensional Mana Resistance is now Level 43!]

Finished with the new growth, he returned his attention to the two women who were in the middle of crossing swords. Well, the Void Lady was wielding some kind of gothic-looking frilly rapier that oozed decadence and wealth, while Katie was lobbing around a slab of metal with spikes on spikes.

WROOOOOOOOOOOM

Which, apparently, also functioned as a magical chainsaw.

'Huh…I wonder if Liz made that…' he mused as he watched several training dummies get bisected by the crazed berserker.

A few minutes later, Katie had been chastised for destroying more than was expected, and the three of them were sitting around a nice table, sipping from porcelain cups while Lucky rested his head in their host's lap.

For a few minutes, there was peace as they enjoyed their drinks. If you discounted the roiling chaos behind the magical protections around them. However, after some time, the Void Lady put her cup down and spoke up.

"And now… we come to the next part of your training," she said, looking at Sam and Katie.

Katie grinned, and Puffball, who wandered by from somewhere, jumped on the table, swallowed a cup, then sauntered away with a satisfied look on its face. The lady of the tower blinked but continued without missing a beat.

"You have experienced what it is like touching the void. Now, you will have to experience what it is to protect yourself against it."

Sam pointed toward the barrier with his thumbs. "You mean go outside?"

Katie laughed a little. "That's awesome! There're some super cool things out there!"

The Void Lady raised a delicate hand in front of her mouth and let out a small giggle before smothering it.

"Forgive me," she said, before her face turned serious. "The void is an ever-changing place that consumes everything that is not properly protected. However, there are still some islands that, for some reason or another, stand against the tide of the chaos. A perfect place for aspiring trainees."

Katie nodded, and Sam followed soon after, indicating their understanding.

"Good. Then I shall show you what you are going to be doing," she said, before waving her hand and summoning forth a small circular portal, showcasing a piece of blackened land, dotted with stone ruins and a few equally blackened and lifeless trees with silvery leaves.

"This, my dear students, is one of the previous Towers of the Void, which was abandoned when the owner decided to start experimenting on void creatures and some randomly selected mortal villages."

Sam just let out a tired sigh.

"Abominations against nature?"

The Void Lady let out an equally tired sigh. "Afraid so, young man…"

"If the place was abandoned, why is it still in one place?" Katie asked with a sad look on her face.

Their teacher gave her a small smile. "Good question. Some of the essence of the protection lingered, which was enough to prevent the full destruction of the area. We decided to leave it there to use it as a training area."

"So, just go in and survive?"

"Pretty much."

"Joy."

Taking a short break from the game, the two of them returned with great exuberance and quiet acceptance to the owner of the tower, who simply waved a hand, and another portal appeared, this one big enough to step through.

Sam looked at Katie, who was doing a warm-up as Puffball did its best to trip her up by walking around her legs.

'Now it makes sense why the game led her here… I would have probably been cooked if I went in alone,' he mused to himself as he also did a few stretches while inviting Katie to a party.

The lady of the tower stepped next to the portal, looked through it with a forlorn look on her face, before turning to them.

"Just go in there and survive. When you're ready, I shall open a new portal. Good luck!"

Then the barrier separating them from the desolate area disappeared and a strong suction force sucked them in and spat them out a second later over the ruins.

THUD

Both of them landed on their feet, weapons out and shining with magic, ready to be unleashed. Which was a good thing, as the chaos convulsed and spat out several small voidlings, snarling and ready to tear them from limb to limb.

"Let's tango!" he called out as he began surrounding them with defensive magic.

Katie let out a delighted laugh as she turned away, leaving her back to Sam. "I love tango!"

Sam took a few steps until he was back to back with her and let out a chuckle. "I know…Try not to go full berserk."

"Or what?"

"I will tell Isabella, and she will make fun of you!"

"GASP! You monster!"

"You really need to stop saying gasp…"

Before Katie could retort to that, the monsters had had enough of their banter and began to rush toward them. They just braced themselves against each other and both unleashed a devastating crescent of magical energy. Void for Sam and something more eldritch than the chaos surrounding them for Katie.

Either way, the monsters wanting to do unspeakable things to them were vaporized. Only to be replaced by bigger and meaner things.

Things with lots of claws and teeth. With a few extra mouths and appendages added in for flavor.

[You acquired a new quest!]

[Into the breach, once more!]

[You need to survive.]

[Time: 2:59:11]

[Penalty: ???]

[Reward: Survival]

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