When Nicholas said he wanted our reconnaissance of the area to be thorough, he wasn't kidding. He has me constantly using my [Artificer's Glasses] to inspect every plant and bush that's out of the ordinary, expecting to find some miracle superfood or medicinal compound hidden within. Even when I confirm— multiple times— that the plants are just ordinary wildlife, he's still taking small cutlets and storing them in his [Inventory] to take back to base.

So far, at least, there haven't been any signs of hostile wildlife. A few insects of a trivial level, and a couple of other wild critters that have shown no signs of wanting anything to do with us. Considering that the local nonmagical wildlife probably isn't level 40 yet, I'd consider that a case of a working survival instinct.

Unfortunately, however, we haven't yet stumbled on anything that seems particularly useful, nor any signs of this back entrance that Nicholas is so certain both exists and is the intended path through the dungeon. We have stumbled upon a couple of healing potions and [Ether Canisters], at least, so the extra time spent hasn't been purely for naught, but one thing does concern me.

Nicholas said to assume he was dead if he wasn't back in 48 hours, and yet, here we are, taking our sweet-ass time, looking over every nook and cranny and checking them all thrice. It's almost as though he wants to… Maybe he does. Maybe he's intending to–

Nicholas harrumphs at me in the middle of my musing, and I just decide to go ahead and ask.

"Does something concern you, Ms. Mortensen?" Nicholas asks.

"I was just wondering. You handed out all those contingency orders as though you were certain that you were going to die in here, and yet, you almost seem to be stalling out that time. Do you plan to force Alana to take command of the local theater in this manner?"

"You are astute, Ms. Mortensen. Were your disposition toward the armed forces more amenable and the circumstances we face less dire, I would personally recommend you for admission into West Point. Regarding your question, I shall not deny it. The urgency of the national situation demands my personal attention, and Lieutenant Morris possesses both the personal strength and the ethics for leadership. Right now, she needs more experience and training in thinking at the command and operational level, rather than the squad and tactical level. I plan to fast track her personally so she's ready to assume my position as Colonel Wilson's executive officer by the time of my departure."

"So, we're merely stalling for time, is that it?" Chloe asks. "I hope you have enough food and water for the next two days."

"I have an adequate store of water for the three of us. Regarding the food situation, however, you will have to settle for MRE's. I hope you like omelets."

Chloe shudders. We weren't working as a contractor for the army for that long, but even we'd heard the infamous stories of the so-called vomelet and its legacy. Apparently— or so the food scientists who concocted the recipe from the depths of the nine hells say— the dish is safe for human consumption. In practice, however, its only effective uses in the military are as a punishment and a hazing ritual. I'm fortunate enough to have escaped learning about them firsthand, and I like my tastebuds far too much to satisfy my curiosity.

"A shame. In any case, adjusting military doctrine to the existence of these interdimensional [Inventories] has proven quite the task. No longer will we be limited in what we can provide paratroopers to what they can carry on their back and fight with, forcing them to live off the land. Now, we can provide them enough rations and munitions to last for months, all while allowing them to secret intelligence documents in a place where they are immune to interception in the case of the soldier's untimely death. Yes, getting them to Level 50 will remain a challenge, but we are addressing that here today."

"So," Chloe asks. "Is there anything I should be looking for in particular? Or am I just following the two of you?"

"Chloe, I apologize if I'm making you feel uncomfortable in any way."

"You're not. I guess I forgot how… domineering and manipulative Nicholas can be. I don't like it in the slightest."

"Let's just do our best to get through this as painlessly as possible."

"Agreed."

"Please, Ms. Jacobs. If you see anything suspicious, point it out all the same. There may be things that one of us unintentionally glosses over, or what may look in place to us and not to you."

Chloe gives a hesitant nod, casting her eyes back and forth through the forested area surrounding this giant tower. There are no windows contained within the massive, stonewrought, metal-reinforced structure. The entire thing, from base to top, exudes a powerful force of [Ether], but near the top floor, that force goes from a mere gale up to a raging maelstrom. Whatever, or whoever, sits atop the tower is colossally powerful. I don't like the idea of facing it, but I know I have no choice. The only way out is ahead. And I won't die here.

"Ms. Mortensen," Nicholas says, pointing to a rock in the center of a small grassy field in the middle of the forest. "That boulder seems out of place. What do your eyes detect?"

Activating [Archangel's Gaze], I stare at the boulder, including the parts buried underground. "A monster," I say. "Some sort of stone construct, likely feeding or sleeping."

"Approximate level?"

"Lower to mid 50's? Maybe a bit higher if it has low [Ether] for its level."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Excellent. I believe we should engage. This will be a good opportunity for us to practice working together and get accustomed to each other's fighting styles."

Nicholas taps me on the shoulder, filling me with a dull red glow, followed by a System notification popping up in the side of my vision.

[You are affected by [Strategist's Gambit]. [Strength] increases by 50%. Up to three times per sixty second interval, you may switch which major stat is increased by this effect. (Effect stacks multiplicatively with other enhancement spells. Swaps remaining: 3/3; Effect duration remaining: 00:49:57)]

"Interesting," I say. "I can see why you'd want me to practice with this one."

"Ms. Jacobs," Nicholas says. "Please refrain from casting your own spells unless Ms. Mortensen enters an emergency situation. I would like to assess her fighting style with just my Skill, and then we will incorporate your abilities in as well."

Chloe takes a deep breath, then exhales. "Fine. Let the record reflect that I am displeased by your request."

"It has been noted. Ms. Mortensen, you may begin when ready."

With Filia gripped in a simple, two-handed thrusting stance, I charge forward. Wind blows through my tied-back locks as I cover the fifty or so feet in barely a quarter second. I grip my weapon tightly, and Filia lets out a mental assent of their own, prepared to strike on my command.

Just as I begin my attack, though, I'm thrown back by a sudden burst of Etheric pressure, followed by a shifting of the ground at my feet. I summon my wings by pure instinct, flying myself backward and out of the way of the thousands of fist-sized clumps of rock and dirt explode out of the ground. Worse still, they seem to be controlled by the stone giant we've awoken, as they are now chasing me.

I accelerate further, pushing well over a hundred miles an hour, but they continue to follow. I turn, stabbing Filia's blade into the ground to twist my momentum. Credit to them, they don't give under the intense shear strain in the slightest. Unfortunately for the both of us, the stone shards assailing me don't seem to care about such things as 'inertia', considering they're able to turn completely on a dime.

Not liking my chances if I keep up with this charade, I switch my enhancement to [Speed] mode. Immediately, I notice a lightness in my step, but a loosening of the tendons in my arms and shoulders that previously felt so high-strung, ready to snap with massive power at my will. The added celerity is just enough to allow me to start putting distance between me and the cloud of debris chasing after me.

Which is just perfect, because the rock monster from before, which had been moseying about as it was shaking off its slumber, is now fully upright, its massive torso and bulky arms improbably supported by two tiny stubs for legs Its attacks aren't particularly difficult to dodge— just simple but large stony projectiles and the occasional punch or body slam. But coupled with the thousand shards still chasing after me, it proves more difficult, even with the speed enhancement.

Even still, my experience on the battlefield, coupled with the distance I'm able to gain, allows me to start engaging in some offensive maneuvers. Nothing exceptional, just the odd stab upon the rock projectiles, turning them into clouds of dust with a single attack.

"Seraphina, might I recommend blasting them all away with a [Wind]-type [Elemental Ether Strike]? These monsters are almost always physically sturdy, but weak against magic, and doubly so against [Wind]-element spells."

"Understood."

I take to the sky, flying higher and higher, directly away from the monster which seems content to attack me alone at the expense of my comrades. Once I've built up enough of a space cushion— about thirty yards— I veer down and around, sliding past the brunt of the attack.

Only to get hit by the veering pebbles anyway. And without the comfort of Chloe's [Saintess's Cloister], the attacks sting. I switch to [Vitality] mode, and the pain deadens to a significant degree. My [Health] continues to fall as I find myself unable to parry or dodge every one of the projectiles. And also, yeah, I've forgotten the pain of battle. Too much reliance on Chloe's spells.

I think this is another part of Nicholas' intent with this fight. To get me accustomed to fighting without Chloe's overpowered buffing spells boosting my combat parameters to levels far higher than I ought to have at my level. To hone my instincts even further, to train at a higher intensity than that which I should hope to ever need on the battlefield. Better to overprepare than underprepare.

Blood oozes down my right arm. Pain throbs in my head and shoulder. It's not quite the biting, piercing sensation that it would have been before the System arrived— [Indomitable Will] and my high [Vitality] both mitigate the sensation, augmenting the work of my natural endorphins. But it's always there. Just able to be ignored. And so I do. I block it out and fight through, even as I watch my [Health] tick below half and the injuries start to mount.

Chloe is about to cast her spell, but Nicholas stops her. This is my trial, yes, and I trust that the both of them won't let me die, should my gambit fail here.

It won't, though. This has all been calculated.

My health drops to one third, but I'm now at point-blank range. I use my final switch and shift to a [Mind] boost just before I fire my [Wind Ether Strike], hitting the core of the rock beast's chest. The greenish-hued mass of energy explodes out of the tip of Filia's spearpoint, burying itself into the monster's chest. I'm thrown back from the outward pressure of the blast. Compared to the creature that was once before me, though, I got off easy. What was once a Rock Titan— per the System notification— is now just specks of dust blown away in the wind.

[You have crushed a Rock Titan (Level 55). You have gained a boosted 54,000 Experience.]

[Level: 59; Experience: 4,163,870; To Next: 14,860]

[Current Stats: [Health]: 2,875 / 9,914; [Ether]: 4,979 / 7,398]

[Current Stats: [Strength]: 91; [Speed]: 92; [Vitality]: 113; [Mind]: 243 (Base: 162)]

[Your [Elemental Ether Strike (Rank IV)] has upgraded to [Elemental Ether Strike (Rank V)].]

Once the battle is over, Chloe rushes over to me, her new [Healing Burst] repairing all of my injuries and returning me to full [Health] in the span of half a second. The two of us share a brief hug, though Nicholas's cough keeps us from further enjoying the opportunity for one another's closeness.

"You are as exceptional as I had expected, Ms. Mortensen. And Ms. Jacobs, I do apologize for stepping in like so. It was necessary to ensure that Ms. Mortensen maximized her Experience gain during that fight."

"But–"

"It's okay, Chloe." "We don't have to like him or get along with him. We just need to be able to work together on common ground. And protecting our home and family is, unfortunately, something we can accomplish better this way."

"I know. I just… Really needed to express that irritation with you."

"I love you, Chloe."

"I love you too, Sera."

"Now then, shall we be on our way?"

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