“Holy shit that’s wild,” John said, staring in amazement at Cedric. He was standing with over a dozen others around a table in the guild’s dining hall watching Cedric practice with his new arm. Basic dining items were on the table, and Cedric was concentrating on using his magic arm to interact with them.

  Cedric slowly picked up a plate with both hands, but it wobbled slightly as the incorporeal, dark grey appendage trembled. The plate started to slip and fall but Cedric easily caught the plate with his right hand. He sighed in frustration while the people standing around had various reactions.

  “Amazing!”

  “Not bad.”

  “He was so close!”

  Wyn couldn’t hold back seeing a smile. Cedric finally had his magical arm, and he was getting used to it incredibly fast. He told the group about Cara’s instructions and guidance the day she gave it to him, which was only two days ago. Apparently he’d been practicing with it constantly, working it all day and most of the night. When it lost the mana needed to use it, he just used his own. Initially Wyn was concerned about him but he understood Cedric’s desire to return to some kind of normalcy. It was the group’s transition to Tasha leading them anyway, and they were set to review the week after dinner. They collectively agreed to take another day off to give Cedric more time and for the others to practice with their new equipment.

  During their training session the day before, John seemed more confident than he did the week he led the group. A lot more confident. Removing the added stress of making decisions as well as adding his new gear both seemed to lighten his shoulders and make him seem far more sure of himself. His new sword and shield were both powerful, too, and Wyn knew he would make a strong defender.

  Tasha’s gear made her appear like the noble she was, and Wyn was excited to see her new benefits in action. She was also supporting John far more than before, and Wyn didn’t miss the glances they gave each other all day. He was sure if they hadn’t already committed to being a romantic couple, they would soon. Which was great for them. They seemed happy and in a good place.

  Even Lucy took her share of the items and got a new pair of boots and helmet. The helmet made her look intimidating as it was a metal helmet with bull horns coming off the sides and protected her forehead and eyes, covering half of her head. The boots matched but wasn’t part of a set, though Lucy said she didn’t care. They both gave benefits to her Barbarian class, improving her strength and greatly increasing her defense after being injured. Apparently that effect was one Cedric found, and Wyn had to admit it fit her well. A good portion of her power came after she was hurt, but lessening the chance of being further injured was a great effect.

  The only ones that didn’t get upgrades were himself, Marcy, and Cedric, though Cedric’s arm did technically count as a new item. Wyn could see the potential once Cedric became more familiar with it, though it would likely take weeks or months to be beneficial while climbing. He was already getting a fair grasp on small tasks. In just a day and a half he was able to make it look like a regular arm without much mental effort, or so he claimed. His arm looked completely normal when he wore his usual climbing robe, save for the gray hand that hung from the sleeve. And, it was great to see him so happy and passionate about working towards something.

  He and Marcy still needed to upgrade some of their equipment. Her especially. She had mentioned wanting a new weapon set similar to the others, but she was being supportive of Cedric and helping the others train that she wasn’t focusing on herself. Wyn wanted to make sure she had what she needed. They would be his next focus. Marcy deserved it.

  Sitting by Cedric, Wyn could see that she was happy for her friend. She didn’t care that much about equipment or classes at the end of the day. Not like John with equipment or Tasha with magic. Marcy just wanted the people she considered friends to be happy and successful. That was something Wyn greatly admired. And something he wanted to possess.

  “I still can’t believe you had a crafter make that,” Gregory said, standing behind Cedric. He leaned forward and looked closer at Cedric’s shoulder while the Lightning Wizard held it up to see closer. “It really is amazing!”

  “Maybe we should see about using this Crafter for the guild,” Brett said, standing across the table. “Our other one hasn’t really produced much lately.”

  “Or anything at all,” Nigel said, standing at the end of the table. “And never something to this caliber! Imagine what else she could make!”

  “She made Wyn’s overcoat,” John said, pointing to Wyn. “And my last sword. I used it for awhile and it was a great help! She is absolutely talented.”

  Faye leaned over and examined Wyn’s coat. “Blue rarity. Fantastic craftsmanship, magical effects aside. What was her class before Crafter?”

  “I believe she said she was a Sorcerer,” Tasha said.

  “Makes sense,” Faye said.

  “Why does it make sense?” Wyn asked.

  “Well, typically Sorcerers have a ceiling of power with their class upgrades. Their second tier upgrades aren’t bad, but usually their third tier ones are just flat out weaker than the offensive, elemental Magician class upgrades. So quite a few either stay in the second tier and retire there, and move to more support classes. Crafter is the most common by far.”

  “There are others, like Enchanter and Alchemist, but no one ever picks those. They take a ton of money and time to utilize well, and they just haven’t been popular. I haven’t heard of one being in the city in years. Even for Crafters there are only a handful of them.”

  Wyn nodded along, absorbing the information. Would a Ruby Magician be able to upgrade to that? Or did someone have to meet select criteria with their class growth options? Having more support classes like that would be a huge boon to other Climbers and guilds. Cara already showed her worth, and that was only with three items the group utilized. Who knew how many countless more she made that benefited people.

  “I can send some letters and see if she’d be interested in a meeting,” Gregory said. “If anything, a word of thanks is in order. That really is a one of a kind item there, Cedric. I’m excited to both see the possibilities and that you have an arm once again.”

  Cedric nodded to the guild leader. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to continue making the guild proud.”

  The crowd soon dispersed after that, going to their tables for dinner. Wyn thought about mentioning his experience with the other guilds and the Faceless Four, but decided that would be a conversation better suited to a bit more privacy. Tasha was set to lead the group for the week, and she was going to give her first meeting after dinner. That would be a good opportunity to share and gauge the other’s reactions.

  Wyn only hoped that group wasn’t a threat. Though he did have a feeling he would be seeing them again.

  *****

  Floor 8

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Group: 6/6

  Quest: Isoterra’s secrets are boundless, and you’ve stumbled upon one of them deep in the outer mountains. Many structures and magical outposts have been found around Istoerra - similar to what lies before you. Should you explore deeper? Treasure is bound to be discovered, as is peril.

  Wyn pulled his coat tighter against him. Despite the enchantments to keep him comfortable in all environments, the weather was worse, and his face was being pelted despite the piece of cloth he brought to cover up. It was utterly useless. An icy breeze cut his field of vision and stung against his face through the wrapped material. The roar of the wind was nearly deafening, and it blew directly into them with the floor portal at their back. The only time they previously stepped into the floor they left almost immediately, and the wind wasn’t nearly as violent. It was also at their backs, where as now it was blowing into them with the portal behind them. It wasn’t clear which way was forward, though, but Wyn could see the sky above the freezing wind. Two large mountains were in front of the group, and the entrance portal was directly between them. Wyn couldn’t see anything behind the portal.

  Marcy pointed ahead, gesturing frantically. If she was saying something, Wyn couldn’t hear her at all due to the wind. She wore several layers of cloth wrapped around her face covering everything except her eyes. Tasha and Cedric used their robe hoods to cover themselves, while John and Lucy simply shielded their faces with their arms. At least they did at first. John quickly raised his shield and blocked the wind, taking the lead beside Marcy to help navigate and protect. Everyone huddled up behind the pair before they lined up single file. John’s shield help keep a good portion of the wind at bay.

  Wyn opened his own shield and mimicked John, though his shield covered a bit less area. He sent a small amount of mana into it and caused it to expand to easily cover his body. It was a bit unwieldy but thankfully not very heavy. It would be completely impractical in a fight but useful for blocking the wind.

  A tap at his shoulder pulled Wyn’s attention, and he looked over to see Tasha lean into his shoulder. She had to nearly yell for him to hear, and she was only a few inches from his ear. And that was after he blocked the wind. “Move up and take the lead with Marcy, tell John to walk with you. We’ll advance two at a time!”

  Wyn nodded and moved ahead of the group, relaying the message to John. He positioned himself beside Wyn and leaned into his own shield. They covered a fair area, and Wyn saw the others fall in behind them. It was Marcy and Tasha, then Cedric and Lucy in the back.

  At least Tasha organized them well so far. But they needed to get to cover fast, or any traps or monsters would easily catch them by surprise.

  Marcy put a hand on Wyn’s shoulder, then her voice came soon after, yelling like Tasha. “Just move forward! I can sense a break ahead! If I sense something I’ll hit you to stop.”

  Wyn didn’t exactly love Marcy’s proposed signal, but he understood. He likely wouldn’t feel something more subtle. She leaned to John and likely told him the same thing. Wyn didn’t know exactly, though, as he couldn’t hear her.

  The next several minutes were some of the most stressful. Wyn had had no idea how reliant he was on his senses, and taking them away on a higher floor was just cruel. He was normally alert to his surroundings but now he felt as though he couldn’t afford to lose his focus for even a second.

  The path ahead started relatively easy but the wind carried snow that was piling up. His boots barely made an indention at first, but soon he was more than ankle deep in soft snow. That would make any maneuvering incredibly difficult. He paused for a second to look back, and saw Cedric nearly a foot taller than he was before. Sure enough, his boots were letting him levitate on the soft snow, and he had no problem advancing while the others laboriously forged ahead. Everyone except Marcy, of course. She had her own Boots of Mobility, and she seemed to be navigating the snow just fine.

  Another five minutes passed that was absolute torture. Wyn desperately hoped they’d be free soon, as he expected enemies to come any second. They were already past the point of their first time on the floor when they met a group of champions, and the thought of facing them again now made Wyn’s worry spike. They’d be dead if the same monsters came again.

  A punch in his side alerted him, and he simultaneously drew his dagger and elongated it to a long sword. He couldn’t see anything around him, but when he looked back he saw Marcy signaling him that there wasn’t a threat. She had an open palm and was waving it back and forth at the ground as though saying to get down.

  Marcy then stepped forward to talk. “There’s a gap in the wind ahead, about fifty feet! We just need to push a bit harder!”

  Wyn wanted to tell her that was easier said than done, but he and John immediately picked up their pace. Now the wind was at a force similar to a strong gale, like something in a storm. Wyn immediately assumed this was the blizzard in the floor, which was part of the information they collected during the guild meeting. He assumed it was just the floor since they started in it, but now it was more obvious. The blizzard trap was a long section of harsh wind that carried soft but copious snow. It wasn’t necessarily dangerous in of itself, but add in monsters around it or poor navigation and it was a serious hindrance.

  Knowing what they were dealing with, Wyn’s confidence grew, and soon they were through the mountain path and past the wind. It was a startling feeling when they passed the threshold, as the wind and snow died down immediately. It felt like a door was closed after leaving a blizzard.

  “Thank the gods,” Tasha said, brushing off the snow on her cloak. “I can’t believe we started the floor right in the middle of that trap.”

  “At least it’s done,” Marcy said. “We still have a ways until we get to the outer temple. We need to keep moving. This snow will be difficult to fight in.”

  Tasha had the group continue in their usual formation of John and Lucy leading, herself and Marcy in the middle, and Cedric and Wyn in the back.

  Now that the environmental trap was behind them, it was far easier to see. The floor started in a narrow mountain pass about thirty feet wide, traversing steep, snowy terrain until coming across a large courtyard of a temple. The information parchments given from the guild meetings gave detailed information on the rest of the second tier, and provided the group a good means to prepare. The courtyard was large and deadly, with abundant traps and a constant barrage of monster groups. But once they got there, it was a shorter distance to the boss at the temple’s entrance.

  The floor continued the theme of multiple elemental enemies, too, including the dinosaurs they had been facing as well as a new, more human enemy type. It was called a Fodo-ka, and was very formidable. They had a few variations, including one that could fly on insect-like wings, and an armored one akin to bulky metal armor. They were insect people with tough armor plating and weapons of all types. The magic users were the most dangerous ones, though, and the group was told to treat the enemies like other Climbers with enhanced abilities and magic.

  After about ten minutes of climbing a hilly and snowy incline, Marcy drew an arrow and alerted them to danger. A sharp yelp then pierced the air, and four monsters appeared from the side of one of the mountains. They were crawling down the rocks on four legs, and were each the size of wolves. White densely bristling fur coated their bodies, all except their head which was grey and leathery. Two of them stopped on the cliffside and opened theirs mouths at them, causing balls of blue magic to form.

  These enemies were called Cliff Geckas, and could be any element except fire. Their fur and leathery bodies were most susceptible to bladed weapons, and they were moderately resistant to magic. Strong legs and quick movements made them powerful enemies, but they could be dealt with as long the group wasn’t overwhelmed with numbers.

  Wyn and Tasha each put up magical barriers, stopping the incoming attack. A torrent of water slammed against their defenses and cascaded around them like a waterfall.

  Cedric caused a surge of lightning to hit one of them, and the spell boomed in the air. The Gecka screamed in pain, stunned, but stayed on the cliff. Two of the monsters kept crawling down. Descending fast, the rushed across the snow easily on wide feet.

  John and Lucy met the enemies first, and John’s Squire Aura was already active. He looked like a fire demon incarnate, and immediately engaged and held one of the monsters on his own. Lucy began to fight the other when Wyn joined her. Marcy held down the other Gecka on the mountain with arrows, more distracting it than hurting, but keeping its focus helped prevent it from joining the other monsters.

  Lucy dodged a large swipe from their monster and axed it in the side, causing a large gash. The monster howled in pain. Wyn flanked it and pierced its other side with a spear, stabbing it three times quickly before it turned its attention back to him. The monster clawed at him but he dove to the ground to avoid it. The snow didn’t offer any relief with movement, and he knew if he relied too much on his speed or footing he’d fail at some point by slipping or being caught in the deep snow. So, he rolled on the ground away from the monster to give him a moment to stand up.

  That was when an arrow pierced the monster in the cheek, and blood instantly sprayed out from the critical hit. The monster reared back on its hind legs and clawed at the protruding arrow to try and remove it. Lucy furiously attacked its softer underbelly, hacking it with a large slash and driving her axe deep into it with a final blow.

  Wyn then moved to help John, who was more than managing on his own. The monster’s hits bounced off his shield harmlessly while each swing of his sword caused deep bloody gashes. Wyn thought he looked more like a Knight than ever, and knew that soon he’d kill the Gecka on his own.

  The fight lasted a short time after, as the two injured monsters from the cliff joined the combatants and were taken down without much more effort. The group collected the small piles of treasure and returned to their formation.

  “That was great,” Tasha said. “No other enemies around, and you all handled yourselves well!”

  “I’ll feel better when we get out of this damn snow,” Lucy said. “I can’t get a good foothold anywhere.”

  “The outer temple will be better,” Wyn said.

  “And as long as we don’t meet more than one group of monsters at a time,” Cedric said. “If we do, well…”

  Tasha held up a key in her free hand. “If we do, I’m ready. But I believe we can make it today. Focus on the positive!”

  Cedric nodded in agreement and Wyn felt a surge of confidence. Tasha’s positivity was appreciated, and he could tell she was being a bit over the top while being their leader. But that was fine with Wyn. Keeping morale up was an important quality in a leader.

  As the group turned to continue up the mountain pass, a loud roar pierced the sky above them. They all readied their weapons and defenses and looked up to the cloudy grey sky. High above them, well out of reach, flew a monster that Wyn had never thought he would see. It was long, using two powerful wings to beat the air, and flew gracefully the way a fish swam through water. Another roar bellowed from its mouth, and a flash of blue icy wind separated the clouds in front of it. The monster flew their same direction, heading to where the temple should be.

  The Climbers all looked at each other, shocked. Tasha’s eyes were wide and her previously positive attitude seemed to be gone. Even the others paused to process what they had just seen.

  Wyn knew why, too. Seeing a dragon would make anyone afraid.

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