Tower of Paradise

With a single motion of her hand, I witnessed a thin gust slice through the air and gather at the ceiling of the expansive corridor. The light shone with blinding intensity as the concentrated mana rippled dangerously, unleashing multiple deadly bursts in all directions, annihilating most of the minions surrounding us. The echo of their pained screams reverberated off the walls, creating a macabre symphony that made my skin crawl. It was a clean, precise, devastating execution.

—Brat! —Alice’s shout rang in my ears, momentarily snapping me out of my awe.

—Yes! —I responded immediately, refocusing on the situation.

A mage’s abilities varied depending on their training and inner nature, but all were rooted in visualization. To successfully cast a spell, a mage not only needed the necessary knowledge of the spell but also a vivid mental image of its effect and outcome, along with sufficient mana to materialize it.

While many mages used a staff as a focus, spells could be cast without one. Although a mage’s formal education could shape the spells they mastered, it was their inner nature and mindset that determined the strength, skill, capabilities, limitations, and unique weaknesses of each mage’s magic. In short, the greatest difference between a novice mage and an Archmage was not just the amount of mana they possessed but also the astronomical disparity in the mindset with which they approached magic.

With this knowledge firmly rooted in my consciousness, I had already completed the spell’s incantation after witnessing Alice’s impressive display of power. I extended my hand at the precise moment, feeling the power flow through my body.

[Level 1 Spell: Chains of Fire.]

The words echoed in my mind as I visualized the effect with absolute clarity. Immediately, incandescent chains of fire erupted from my hands and wrapped around the dying bodies of the minions scattered on the floor, igniting them one by one. The surrounding area filled with voracious flames, tinged with an intense red that reflected the unpleasant smell of burning flesh.

Mages could use all types of spells, but only by following the path with which they had the greatest affinity could they reach their full potential. In my case, I had a natural talent for the fire element, which responded to my call with particular strength.

These elemental affinities were crucial, as they directly influenced the types of spells a mage could use most effectively. While we could manipulate other elements, it was clear we would never be as proficient with them as with our primary element.

The battle paused momentarily, giving us a much-needed breather. Though I remained standing and appeared stable, I felt exhaustion beginning to manifest in my body, a consequence of the considerable magical expenditure from my spells. My breathing had become slightly heavier, and I could feel my mana reserve had significantly dwindled.

—Alice —I called, noticing she seemed lost in her thoughts.

—What? —she looked at me with a raised eyebrow, her expression a mix of irritation and curiosity.

—How’d I do? —I asked, seeking her evaluation of my performance.

To my surprise, she nodded slightly in approval. Having understood a bit of her personality, I knew this was Alice’s way of giving praise. It wasn’t effusive, but coming from someone like her, that gesture was equivalent to high recognition.

At her response, I felt my face light up slightly. I no longer cared about the horrific scene before me; I had grown accustomed to it rather quickly. We were surrounded by a dozen charred corpses, but I knew we had to keep moving, and as if she had read my thoughts, Alice led us toward the room from which the minions had emerged.

This new space presented its own challenges, though it proved less disturbing than the corpse-strewn corridor we had just left behind. I had mentally prepared myself to find something akin to a sinister laboratory, but my expectations faded upon seeing the room’s interior.

The space was surprisingly narrower than I had anticipated. Inside, there was only an old, broken bed and some rickety shelves. Alice immediately began examining the place, clearly determined not to overlook any detail that could provide valuable information. Without needing instructions, I mimicked her behavior, searching for anything that might prove useful.

—Find anything? —she asked after several minutes of silent searching.

My eyes gleamed momentarily at her question. I approached a corner where I had spotted something interesting, but my initial enthusiasm quickly faded. I shook my head, evaluating my find.

—No. I’ve checked everything, but… —I replied with apparent disappointment.

Without finishing the sentence, I showed what I had found during my search: three gleaming gold coins and a scroll with ancient writing I didn’t immediately recognize.

—Ugh… only three gold? That’s way too little! —Alice complained, her expression one of evident disappointment.

Despite her reaction, my perspective was different. I quickly recalled the monetary system: one hundred steel coins equaled one bronze coin; one hundred bronze coins were worth one silver coin; and one hundred silver coins made up one gold coin. From this viewpoint, I considered our find to be, in fact, a considerable sum.

—Did you find any important information? —I asked with genuine curiosity, hoping her search had been more fruitful than mine in terms of tactical intelligence.

—No —she replied curtly—. Anyway… instead of rushing up the stairs, it’s better to clear the first floor and then check the second.

Based on what we had observed from the outside, I estimated the building must have at least three floors. If we couldn’t precisely determine the size of the first floor, it was likely it extended in all four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west, assuming the corridor we were in served as the central axis. Logically, there should be a staircase leading to the second floor somewhere along the way, excluding the direction we had entered.

—In that case, we should clear the entire floor before moving to the next —I offered my opinion, backed by my analysis—. Rushing to the upper floors could lead to unnecessary dangers and leave us vulnerable to attacks from the rear.

—Good, we need to secure the perimeter as we advance —Alice agreed after briefly considering my suggestion.

It was undoubtedly the optimal strategy. We couldn’t predict with certainty when or where we might be attacked again. From what we had observed outside the room, each floor seemed quite expansive, increasing the likelihood that more dangerous enemies awaited us on the second level. This hypothesis gained strength considering the Evolutionary Container was likely protected by more powerful members of its own species.

—We’ll set out immediately.

—Yes!

The urgency of our mission weighed heavily on us. We had to complete it as quickly as possible, as we were aware that the moment the mutant completed its evolution, our chances of success would be practically nonexistent. Perhaps that was precisely why the minions attacked us so desperately: they were buying time to allow the creature to finish its transformation.