Saang's foot stomped on a random creature that was annoying her for the past minute. She grimaced after seeing the creature, what looked like a squirrel, smashed to bloody pieces.

She only just dragged its corpse across her feet on a nearby tree, trying to get it off of her new boots she bought for this occasion.

"God, what's with these low-level mobs?" Saang complained. "How come they're following us?"

Normally low level creatures knew better than to come after beings higher level than they were. They didn't even need to use Identify to sense the danger coming from them. The only reason why they bother is when they have someone of a lower level, ignoring their normal instincts and coming straight to kill the person.

Still, these creatures were barely Experts, but they kept following their party of Journeymen for a while. Follow, but not attack. Still, it irked her.

"It might be possible that this tower thinks of us as intruders," Kote mused, surveying his surroundings as per usual. His class and skills have a higher sense for scouting than Saang's own, so she always trusted him to keep a lookout even when she lazes about. Not that she can do much else.

"Well duh," Saang said, sounding almost offended. "That's what we're doing now, aren't we?"

"I meant as residents that don't belong to the tower," Kote explained further. "If we had Zeke, Mikella, or the others, we might be ignored, or perhaps they'll target us anyways because we're here."

"Oh…" Saang mumbled. "That makes sense. But why follow us and not attack us?"

"Not like I have all the answers here myself," Kote shrugged. That immediately got Saang to scowl at him.

"Then why were you acting like you know your shit!?"

"It's easy to trick you into thinking I do. That's not my fault."

Veins started throbbing on her forehead as Saang gave what she believed was the most intense middle finger she ever gave. Kote just shrugged that off.

"Guys, we need to focus," Hamil said, getting themselves out of their little banter. "We need to find our otherworlders and see if we can clear this tower soon."

"What do you think we've been trying this whole time?" Saang pointed out.

Since they arrived, they were unfortunate to be separated from their own otherworlders. Not that they were in any danger, but they were more worried about how they were faring. She was particularly worried about the new otherworlders that joined them, being so weak as they were. She can only hope that they weren't separated on their own.

However, no matter how much they searched, they can't seem to find hide nor tail of their comrades. So far, they were ready to pull out all the stops.

"I think we need to use the Locator," Kote finally said, getting Saang to wince.

"Do we have to?" Saang said, sounding more nervous than before. She hated feeling like this, but she was more worried about Zeke and Mikella. "Cronus told us to use that if they start acting suspicious or shady. If we use it, won't that tell Cronus something we didn't mean?"

The Locator, in question, was a specialized magic tool created by the top manufacturers under Cronus' demand. It was specifically tailored to spot either Zeke or Mikella, considering that their equipment that Cronus gave them were also tagged to keep their location in check.

This was done to see whether they would keep their promise or would run off using their own methods. If they do the latter, then it was up to Saang and the team to follow and capture them. However, Saang had never even considered using the Locator after seeing how dedicated they were to clear the towers.

So using that, which would also notify Cronus about their circumstances, would feel like lying and treating them as enemies.

"Cronus isn't some dumb noble," Kote argued. "Once we explain what happened, he'll understand. Besides, it was also to be used if they were somehow kidnapped or got lost by accident. I think this is the perfect chance to do so."

"Ooh, good point," Saang said, understanding dawning in her eyes. "Alright, go for it."

"I don't think that's necessary."

Saang and Kote turned to Hamil who suddenly spoke.

"What do you mean?" Kote asked. "This is the perfect chance to do it."

"And what if they did try to run, and leave us behind?" Hamil said, pointing at him. "They have a perfect chance of getting rid of us now that we're here in the tower. All they have to do leave the tower and leave us here to rot."

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"Hamil, what the fuck?" Saang asked incredulously. "You know as well as I know that they aren't the type to do that. Besides, what do they get from trapping us here? Cronus would be on their asses on day one!"

"But does Cronus know exactly how the otherworlders worked?" Hamil asked. "For all we know, they could have some form of communication between themselves. Didn't they say that they got a soul link or something that allows them to share experience points and levels? What if they can do more, and treat us like we're potential threats?"

"Hamil, what's up with you?" Kote asked, staring hard at him. "We already know all the risks involved here, so I understand you have doubts. But Zeke and Mikella aren't the type to hide from us. Anyone with eyes can see that."

"Seriously, I get you're trying to look out for threats, but that's just barking up the wrong tree," Saang had her hand on her hip as she spoke. "Hamil, seriously, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly nervous about the otherworlders?"

Saang asked, but at the same time, she also realized that something was off about Hamil lately. Before they got permission to enter the second tower, she noticed that Hamil have been… off, but she wasn't sure why.

She wasn't good on details, but her instincts told her that Hamil had changed his patterns somewhat. During their quests, sometimes he had this look in his eyes that spoke differently than usual.

Saang remembered his eyes to be laid-back and casual, but they also carried a will that was hard to break. This man's eyes, however, felt hollow.

Hamil only just shrugged.

"I just think that otherworlders should not be here at all."

Those words rang through Saang, widening her eyes. These weren't Hamil's words. Whoever it was, those words were spoken with clear, unadulterated prejudice.

Saang didn't even think. Her hands hovered over the hilt of her axe as she spoke slowly.

"Hamil… what are–"

Before she could even speak the next word, Hamil raised a corner of his lip.

Then a sharp stalagmite jabbed through Saang's stomach. Blood poured out of her mouth as it cascaded down her chin and to her waist from the blow below. It didn't even take a moment before Kote immediately struck back with his gauntlet wires.

Hamil, however, disappeared completely, dodging the wires entirely. Kote's eyes widened as he searched the scene around him.

"Saang!"

"I'm fine," Saang bit out. The taste of copper in her mouth was common but annoying. "Get the bastard!"

Though Saang knew it was pointless. Kote would rather stay near her as he conjured sharp bones from his arms and threw them like knives at whatever noise he heard from around him. One bone knife in particular was blocked by a raised stone wall from the ground, revealing Hamil who appeared from behind the stone wall.

"Kinda cruel to attack outta nowhere, Kote," Hamil, or whoever was talking, said with a twisted smile. "Thought we were friends?"

"Friends don't stab each other," Kote said simply. "Who are you? Speak, or I'll force you to."

"How about 'nah'?" The fake Hamil said. "Besides, don't you realize who the real enemies are? The otherworlders are nothing short of invaders. They're clearly trying to take over our world, and you all are just fine with that. I consider that treason."

"You don't know them," Kote said with finality. "Only a fool would judge someone dangerous without taking the time to learn about them. They were forced here against their will!"

"We also force soldiers to fight in wars against their will, but that doesn't mean the end result would change," The man said, eventually shifting straight towards the stone wall.

The man literally submerged into the wall like water, and the stone wall slowly dug back into the earth below them. Saang finally stood up, her regeneration and a drink of a potion enough to cover the wound.

"What's with this guy?" Saang muttered, bringing out her axe and glaring at the environment with bloody murder in her eyes. "What's his goal?"

"Keep your wits up," Kote said, flexing his gauntleted fingers. "Who knows what he might do next?"

"This!"

The man suddenly shouted, and a strange object flew right in front of them, hitting the ground with a crash. A vast plume of white smoke soon flowed everywhere around them like a torrent of water. The force was so powerful that it blew their hair and dried their eyes.

Saang, however, noticed the intense scent from the smoke. It had a sickly sweet scent, faint for her senses, but she knew this smell from all the years spent adventuring with her team. Her eyes widened at the realization.

"Kote! It's a Monster Lure!"

"What?!"

Kote shouted in alarm as he tried to swipe away the smoke with his arms but to no avail. Saang turned the axe over with the flat side facing forward, and swung with all her might.

The smoke parted from her powerful swing, the flat side of the axe used as a fan to blow away the smoke, revealing the cloudy environment once again. However, no matter how much she searched, she can no longer find the fake Hamil.

But that was the least troublesome part.

"Damn it! That crazy bastard!" Saang cursed. "Just how powerful was this lure?! It's everywhere!"

"A Rare rarity? No… an Epic rarity Monster Lure? This level of volume and potency… he's gonna call out the entire dungeon at this rate."

Just as Saang and Kote feared, once the smoke cleared a little, they could hear several footsteps from the far distance. Their senses picked out several steps that were larger than the others, and some smaller than a paw's step.

But there were many. More than a hundred, a thousand footsteps. And they were still increasing in numbers.

Saang cursed again while Kote's gauntlets faced forward.

"Saang, it has been an honor working with you for all these years," Kote said, his voice filled with determination as he prepared his gauntlets for battle.

"Don't talk shit like that, Kote! We're gonna survive, find Zeke and Mikella, and get back at the bastard!"

Saang swung her axe, ready to fight as she spotted the several dozens of monsters approaching them.

"I won't accept anything else!" She yelled.

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