This wasn't how the battle was supposed to go.

According to our strategy, we had estimated that it would take us at least two hours to force the Verdant Warden into its second phase. A phase marked by its devastating ultimate move.

Yet, with Odori and Max fighting alongside us…

We had reached that point in less than thirty minutes.

And now, we were paying the price.

Roots of the Earth.

The moment the Verdant Warden unleashed its devastating ability, the battlefield erupted in chaos.

Massive roots burst forth from the ground, twisting and writhing like living serpents.

Before we could react, they ensnared us all.

"Aaargh!"

The roots wrapped around my arms, my legs, my torso. It was binding me so tightly I could barely breathe.

I struggled, but the immense force of the roots crushed down on my ribs like a vice.

"Dammit!" Muradin gritted his teeth, his massive arms trembling as he tried to pry the roots apart.

Darwyn had already reached for his bow, but his fingers were pinned.

Elena gasped as she was lifted off the ground, her feet dangling helplessly.

I had planned for this.

I had devised a precise counter-strategy to break free from the roots and regain control of the fight.

But… It wasn't even needed.

Because once again, Odori broke all logic.

With an excited twirl of her paintbrush, she summoned something new.

And it was…

A unicorn.

A pink unicorn.

With rainbow-colored wings.

It flapped its tiny wings and soared gracefully above us, leaving a shimmering rainbow trail in its wake.

Glitter.

From the rainbow, countless tiny specks of glitter rained down upon us, sparkling as they touched our bodies.

I barely had time to process what was happening.

The roots vanished.

Just like that.

"…What."

Even the Verdant Warden seemed stunned for a moment, as if it, too, couldn't comprehend what had just transpired.

And Max?

He didn't waste a second.

With a thunderous step, he launched himself forward.

BOOM.

His first punch slammed into the Verdant Warden's massive frame.

The impact echoed like a clap of thunder.

No flashy effects.

No grand bursts of energy.

Just raw, terrifying power.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.

Each blow shook the battlefield, the ground splitting beneath their feet as Max unleashed a relentless barrage.

And us?

The Ironwood team?

We could do nothing.

We were being carried. Completely carried by these two.

Muradin exhaled heavily, watching the spectacle unfold. "…This is humiliating."

Elena, still catching her breath, muttered, "…I can't even be mad."

Orin, despite everything, clapped her hands together in delight. "The unicorn was adorable!"

Darwyn just sighed, rubbing his temples.

I swallowed my pride and exhaled.

"…Fine."

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

We would let them carry us.

For now.

***

Phase two ended terrifyingly fast.

Too fast.

With nothing but Max's relentless barrage of punches, the Verdant Warden was forced into its invincible mode far earlier than expected.

A shroud of glowing emerald energy engulfed the colossal creature, making it completely immune to all attacks.

Then, it unleashed its ultimate ability.

Nature's Wrath.

A spell so devastating that even high-ranking adventurers feared it.

The entire Verdant Glade trembled as the Warden called upon the raw forces of nature.

Fierce storms raged overhead, bolts of lightning crashed down indiscriminately, and the very earth beneath us quaked with terrifying force.

The trees that circled the enclosed battlefield shook violently, cracks spreading across the ground like veins.

The sheer power of the spell was catastrophic.

I had devised countermeasures for this.

I had prepared a detailed strategy to mitigate the damage.

And once again, it was completely useless.

Odori had already solved the problem before I could even begin to act.

With a casual flick of her paintbrush, she summoned something new.

This time, a creature that looked like a strange hybrid of a panda and a sloth.

Large. Round. Fluffy.

And utterly lazy-looking.

It simply lay down on the ground, stretching its massive limbs with a sleepy yawn.

"…You've got to be kidding me." Muradin stared, dumbfounded.

The panda-sloth raised its tiny, stubby hands.

And in an instant, a translucent golden barrier formed around us.

BOOM.

A lightning bolt struck down from above, but the barrier held firm.

BOOM. CRACK. ROOOOAR.

The storm raged on, yet we felt nothing.

Even the earthquake, which should have sent us tumbling and struggling to stay upright, was completely negated.

There wasn't even a tremor.

I stood there in stunned silence.

"…We… don't even need to do anything," I muttered.

Muradin crossed his arms, looking irritated. "We could literally take a nap."

"I actually might," Orin sighed, sitting down and stretching her legs.

Elena giggled. "I kinda like them! Odori's summons are so adorable!"

Darwyn just pinched the bridge of his nose. "This is ridiculous…"

And Max?

He was already moving, charging straight through the storm, fists clenched, ready to bring hell upon the Verdant Warden, whose invulnerability had already ended.

I exhaled slowly, resigning myself to the reality of the situation.

"…Fine."

We'd let them carry us.

Again.

***

At last, the Verdant Warden unleashed its final spell, the Verdant Curse, before its form was swallowed by a blinding green light.

Orin tensed beside me, fists clenched. I knew exactly what she was thinking, if only she could use Mana Surge. But we had agreed. No one else could know. Not while the other team was still here.

Instead, she exhaled sharply and muttered, "That was a lot of Mana Stones."

I nodded, playing along. "Yeah. No wonder, considering they come from a tough secret boss."

Because that was what we were after.

The Staff of Verdant Might.

A legendary artifact, coveted by druids, crafted from the very essence of the Warden itself. Its handle was wrapped in twisting vines, pulsing faintly with life, while the verdant gemstone atop it shimmered with a soft, green glow. The sheer presence of the staff radiated nature's raw power.

Orin's eyes sparkled as she reached for it. "Wow, it's even more beautiful than I imagined!"

"And ridiculously overpowered," I added, smirking.

The Staff of Verdant Might boasted an incredible passive skill: Verdant Surge, reducing the casting time of all nature-based spells. For a druid, that was insanely valuable. Even in the upper floors, where spell efficiency could mean life or death, this staff would still be viable.

Orin clenched her fists in excitement. "This means I can charge Mana Bomb way faster!"

I nodded. "Not just that. The staff's active skill, Elemental Harmony, enhances elemental magic when used alongside nature-based spells."

Her grin widened. "So, if I combine it with Flameburst Flask and use Quick Enhance…"

"The damage output would be absolutely monstrous," I finished for her.

This wasn't just a weapon for the lower or mid-tier floors. Even in the upper levels of the Tower, where most equipment became obsolete, this staff would still be one of the best nature-type weapons available.

We had planned this build for weeks, studying every possible strategy before entering the Tower of Ascension. According to our research, no one had claimed the staff yet. If someone had, we would've had to wait for at least ten Tower cycles for the Verdant Glade to reset.

But we didn't have to.

This time, the prize was ours.

"Well, well, you two certainly know a lot about this weapon," Odori said with a cheerful lilt in her voice. "I must say, I'm impressed. Hardly anyone knows about this staff, not even druids far more experienced than you."

Her gaze flickered to the small antlers on both mine and Orin's heads, subtle yet unmistakable marks of young druids still growing into their power.

Then, her expression sharpened. "But don't forget our agreement." Her eyes locked onto mine, suddenly serious.

"Of course, we haven't forgotten," I replied evenly, holding out the die towards her. "You're welcome to check for yourself, just to be sure we played fair."

Odori let out a laugh and waved a hand dismissively. "No need! I trust you druids. Besides, if you tried anything funny, Max wouldn't let it slide."

At the mention of his name, Max, now back in his human form, cracked his knuckles and pressed his fists together in a wordless display of intimidation. His broad frame and piercing gaze made it clear that he wouldn't hesitate to step in if things went south.

"Alright then!" Orin stepped forward with a bright, confident grin. "I'll represent our team."

Odori tilted her head, her smile mirroring Orin's but carrying a calmer, more composed energy. "In that case, I'll be the one representing ours."

Silence fell over the group. No one spoke, but the air was thick with tension and anticipation.

Everyone knew what was at stake.

The winner would walk away with something invaluable.

And none of us intended to lose.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.