Dust scattered through the air after the tree fell, leaving everyone blinded for a few minutes.

They covered their noses as the haze slowly settled.

Aside from the coughing of someone in the distance, there was no sound of any creatures or ambient noise.

The dungeon had simply gone still.

When their vision cleared, they saw the massive tree split into several pieces.

Strangely, none had fallen on anyone, though the dungeon could have used the opportunity to kill someone in the group.

That was not the case this time.

All that remained were shattered wood and tangled roots, strewn across the floor like the bones of some great beast.

Horin's cat, Nuel, had already returned to her side, radiating new strength.

Calling it stronger was an understatement; it was at least twice as powerful as before, and so full of aether that Fay didn't even need spirit vision to sense it.

Horin herself seemed stronger as well. She stroked the cat happily as the others watched it closely.

"Did it absorb all of the tree's core energy? Or did it at least leave a little for the rest of us?" Selûne asked, sounding disappointed.

"Half of it," Horin replied. "I know what we need to do now, and that is to give Maria the push she needs to summon her creature. With the rest of the aether from the core, she should have enough."

Maria, hearing her name, didn't know how to respond.

"Well, at least tell us where it is so we can start looking for it. Your cat should be able to tell us, right?" Selûne urged, eager to finish and leave for the day.

"It should be near that third piece that fell over there. We'll need to break it open."

Horin turned to Fay, knowing he had the strongest weapon and creatures among them.

"If it's deep inside, I'll need my creatures to split it in two. While I am busy working you should all check if there's anything worth taking. This wood is quality material, and we might be able to use parts of it for something later."

Fay, already planning to cut the wood in half, debated whether to have Grin or Jolt handle the first part of the job.

His sword would be saved for when they had a clear view of the gem.

"It isn't too deep," Horin added. "About a meter in from one of the sides, the one with a branch growing out of it."

Fay nodded at her instructions and signaled for Grin to start. The beast's powerful jaws bit deep into the trunk, tearing through layers of pale wood. Once it was weakened enough, Jolt would step in to break the section down even further.

It took more than half an hour before Fay finally caught sight of a white gem. It wasn't as brilliant as he had expected, but the golden-white streaks running through it were clearly visible.

He reached in and pried it free, the wood cracking apart with a reluctant groan.

The gem was warm in his palm, almost as if it had its own heartbeat.

Faint pulses of aether could be seen as if it was slowly dying, and though they weren't overwhelming, there was a strange steadiness to them.

Horin stepped forward, eyes narrowing as she studied it. "That's enough to bring out your creature, Maria. Don't wait too long, it might disappear since Nuel already fed through half of it."

Maria's eyes widened. "Right now? I… I'm not ready."

"You won't get a better chance," Fay said, holding the gem out to her. "The aether is stable now that there are no more monsters, and we're safe as long as we stay on this floor."

Reluctantly, she took it.

The moment her fingers closed around the stone, the streaks brightened, casting light through her hands. She drew in a slow breath, steadying herself, and began to focus, just as she had done with all the aether stones the others had given her.

Aether swirled into the air, forming faint ribbons of energy and light around her. The ground beneath her feet trembled lightly. Everyone could feel the presence of the powerful creature that Mirage had once called by name.

Then the energy faded, leaving Maria holding only an empty core the size of a fist. She let it drop, allowing the dungeon to reclaim it, and took another long, deep breath.

"I think I can summon it… Should I do it here, or outside?"

Fay studied her, knowing she was probably afraid of summoning her creature only to be told she was still too weak. He tapped Joan's arm lightly.

Joan looked back at him for a few seconds before nodding in understanding. "Don't worry, Maria. I'm sure it'll be just as excited to see you as you are to see it. Just summon it."

"I'm also sure that's the case," Selûne added, her voice tinged with fatigue. "Now please… summon it. We'll need to fight a few creatures to see its potential, but I really want to go back soon..."

Horin stepped forward and placed a hand on Maria's shoulder without a word.

Fay, deciding she could use one last push.

"Go on, Maria. It'll be fine, and you might just make one of the best friends you'll ever have."

Fay added his own encouragement, standing with the rest in support.

Maria nodded before she closed her eyes, clutching the gem's lingering warmth while her mind began to call out to her creature.

She had little experience with this, and the nervousness showed.

Suddenly, the air stirred around her. It wasn't just a breeze; it felt as if the entire chamber itself was breathing.

A faint ticking began to echo in the space until a bronze ring took shape around Maria, slowly rotating like the hand of a clock marking each second.

[You have gained strength, child, and in such a short time. That is good. You have also built a beautiful friendship with this group, which is also good. Sadly, I cannot appear just yet, but I will not make you wait forever. Until you can summon me without difficulty, I will give you a part of myself.]

Maria opened her eyes slowly and saw the ring floating above her head like a halo, its motion steady and precise like a clock.

[Before you start asking questions, know that this is a tool you can use in many ways, including as a weapon. With it, you will be able to fight far better than before. Now, how about we test it on that carcass over there?]

Maria hesitated for a moment, glancing toward the remains of the massive tree trunk as the dungeon slowly consumed it.

The ring above her shifted slightly, as if responding to her thoughts, and a faint pulse of bronze light passed along its edge. She took a step forward, her fingers curling instinctively as the air around her grew heavier.

[Focus on your intent,] the voice urged. [The ring will respond to what you need most.]

The moment her attention fixed on the carcass of the large tree, the ring rotated faster, its ticking sound deepening into a low, resonant hum.

Threads of light unfurled from its edge, spiraling toward her intended target.

The part of the tree that had been slowly eaten away suddenly began to crumble into dust, but the effort was already taking its toll on Maria. Her breathing grew heavier, and her stance wavered under the strain.

She quickly shook her hands in a frantic gesture to let everyone know she was fine.

[Alright, you should stop. This is only the beginning. As you grow stronger and can wield more aether, you'll be able to do far more. That is the challenge with magic tied to time… it drains too much energy.]

When she finally stopped, Maria sat on the trunk, hoping the others might forget seeing her nearly collapse.

"Seems it took quite a lot out of you… And is that your summon or something?"

Fay, who had been watching everything through spirit vision, stepped forward. He had seen the fluctuations of magic that had affected the tree and the way the bronze ring drew in and released aether.

"Yes… my creature, Chronos, said I'm not strong enough yet to summon it, but it gave me this ring to help me fight. I just need to accumulate more mana so I don't feel weak after using my magic."

Horin folded her arms, studying the bronze halo with a thoughtful look. "If that's only a fraction of its power, I can't imagine what the full summon will be like."

Selûne smirked faintly. "Hopefully something that doesn't drain you to the point you fall over mid-battle."

Maria flushed and looked away, clearly embarrassed. "I'll get used to it… just give me time, I won't disappoint you all."

The ring above her head ticked softly, as if in agreement.

Fay's gaze lingered on it, the steady rotation and faint pulses of light; something was telling him it was far more dangerous than Maria realized.

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