Chapter 38: Climbing Without Rushing

They didn’t rush back to the fifth floor.
Not this time.

Instead of heading straight upward, Kael slowed them down again—but not without reason. They spent time on the lower floors, gathering what they would need for a longer climb. Food sources, clean water, usable materials—everything that could reduce their dependency on returning to the real world too soon.
“We don’t come out unless we have to,” Kael said.
Aerin nodded.
Mira didn’t question it.

This time, their preparation showed.

They moved efficiently.
Through the first floor.
Then the second.
Then the third.

No hesitation.
No wasted time.

By the time they reached the fifth floor again, they didn’t stop long. They knew the terrain now, understood the creatures, and had already taken what they needed before. Their pace didn’t look fast—but it was.
It just wasn’t reckless.

Two days later—
They stood before the entrance to the sixth floor.

“This is where it changes,” Aerin said quietly.

Kael didn’t need him to explain.
She could feel it.

The sixth floor carried a different weight.

Not heavier.
Sharper.

“This is where real climbers start,” Aerin added. “Materials here are used for weapons, shields, armor… everything.”

Kael nodded once.
“Then we treat it differently.”

They stepped in.

The difference was immediate.

The terrain wasn’t forgiving anymore. The ground was rougher, the environment less predictable, and the creatures—stronger. Not just in size or speed, but in behavior. They reacted smarter, adapted quicker.

This wasn’t survival anymore.

This was combat.

But Kael didn’t change her approach.

She expanded it.

Mapping began.

At first, it was rough—simple lines drawn on scraps, marking paths they had taken, areas they had cleared, and zones they hadn’t explored yet. But slowly, it became more detailed.
More precise.

She marked terrain.
Patterns.
Creature zones.

“Why?” Mira asked once, watching her draw.

“So we don’t repeat mistakes,” Kael replied.

Aerin leaned in slightly, trying to understand it, though it took him longer.
Mira caught on faster.

By the second day on the sixth floor, the map had already grown.

And so had they.

Their stats—though only visible to them—had begun to shift.

Strength increased.
Endurance followed.
Even Kael’s physical limitations were slowly fading as her training caught up with her instincts.

They fought.
They cooked.
They adapted.

And they learned.

Crafting became part of their routine.

Simple at first.

Using the materials they gathered to repair, reinforce, and adjust their gear. Aerin handled most of the physical work, Mira assisted with precision, and Kael guided the process—observing what worked and what didn’t.

They didn’t waste anything.

By the time they moved to the seventh floor, they were no longer just climbers.
They were becoming self-sufficient.

The seventh floor tested that.

Their supplies began to thin.

And eventually—
Their medicines ran out.

Mira noticed it first.
“We’re out,” she said.

Aerin frowned slightly. “Already?”

Kael didn’t react immediately.
Instead, she reached into her bag and pulled out something she hadn’t used yet.

The book.

Lera’s book.

She flipped through it carefully, her eyes scanning the pages with quiet focus. The instructions were detailed, precise—but not simple.

She handed it to Mira.
“Read.”

Mira took it.
And understood.

Faster than expected.

“Oh,” Mira muttered, already flipping to another page. “This isn’t hard.”

Aerin leaned in. “What do you mean not hard?”

Mira pointed at a section. “You just need the right combination. The herbs are already here—we’ve been walking past them.”

Aerin blinked. “…We have?”

Kael watched quietly.

And realized.

Mira wasn’t just learning.
She was suited for this.

“Then it’s yours,” Kael said.

Mira looked up. “What?”

“Medicine. Herbs. You handle it.”

Mira didn’t hesitate.
“Fine.”

Aerin scratched his head. “Then what about me?”

Kael glanced at him. “You learn the basics.”

“Only basics?”

“In case you’re alone,” she said.

That was enough.

They adapted again.

From that point on, Mira handled their medicinal needs—collecting, preparing, and using herbs with increasing confidence. Aerin learned just enough to survive on his own if needed. Kael ensured both of them understood the process, even if they didn’t master it equally.

They moved forward.

Eighth floor.
Then ninth.
Then tenth.

A week passed.

Inside the Tower, it felt like progress.

Outside—
It looked like delay.

The rumors didn’t stop.
If anything—
They grew.

“They’re still not past the tenth floor?”
“What are they even doing in there?”
“Snails.”

But none of it reached them.

And even if it had—
It wouldn’t have mattered.

Because they knew.

They were stronger.

Not in appearance alone.
Not in numbers alone.

But in understanding.

They weren’t climbing to clear floors.

They were climbing to go higher.

Higher than most.

Higher than expected.

Higher than twelve.

And that—
They kept to themselves.

Because some goals—
Weren’t meant to be spoken.

Not yet.

End of Chapter 38