I chuckled bitterly and went down the stairs.

As we descended to the lower floor, the group expanded. From 10 to 15, and then to 25. Before I knew it, there was a procession behind me.

“The number of participants is increasing. Are we going to have hundreds of people going out in the end?”

Eloka said, sounding exasperated.

When I didn’t answer, Eloka widened her eyes.

“Is it really going to be like that?”

“You’ll know when the time comes, won’t you?”

We arrived at the plaza on the 1st floor.

The rift of time and space was already open.

Beside it, Iselle fluttered her wings and looked at the heroes.

[All of you! You know it just by looking, right? It’s the 30th floor. Don’t take it lightly and fail. Do your best without bothering Han! Han, fighting!”]

Iselle showed me her clenched fist and disappeared in a flash of light.

“You’re quite popular. I’m jealous.”

“Don’t pay her any attention.”

I took a deep breath.

Each party was gathering in the plaza for their final preparations. They checked their armor and equipment and made sure they were in top condition. I conveyed the mission’s precautions.

“Come in when you’re done. Isel won’t wait long.”

I stepped into the rift of time and space.

The 1st party followed, and then the 2nd party.

[Climb the tower, save the world!]

[Main Dungeon: Current Ascent Floor – 29]

The heroes entered one by one.

I leaned against the wall and fastened my scabbard. The faces of the people were filled with tension.

“Everyone, if you stay focused, you can survive.”

Jenna said in a firm voice.

I chuckled.

‘That depends.’

No more words were exchanged.

Light began to pour out of the rift of time and space. The feeling of being disassembled and familiar at the same time.

When I opened my eyes again.

‘A desert.’

As expected, from the 21st to the 30th floor.

Ten floors were assigned to one field.

The sand-mixed wind brushed against my entire body.

I pulled my hood down deeply.

“This place…”

“A city? Is it a city?”

“I’m not sure.”

I looked around.

Square stone buildings stretched out like a checkerboard. However, all the buildings were buried in sand. From the entrance to the windows. White sand filled the buildings from the entrance to the inside.

“It seems quite old.”

I touched the wall.

It’s heavily weathered. It’s been abandoned for at least a hundred years. I took a sip from my water and muttered.

“If you hear me, answer.”

It was Edis’s voice.

“Yeah, it’s Han from the 1st party. Where are you now?”

Twenty-five of us were summoned, but there’s only the 1st party here.

“We’ve come to a strange city-like place. There’s a lot of sand, and the weather is scorching. How about you?”

“I’m in the same situation. Let’s meet up first. Come to the city center. You’ll find it even without me explaining.”

“I’ll be there soon.”

Click.

A grating noise echoed in my ears.

It was the expected noise when the communication ended.

“Are there any other parties?”

“Tell the 4th party to come here too. Try contacting the others as well. It seems like we can’t reach them due to the distance.”

I rubbed my ear.

Raiman’s voice cut off.

‘All the parties seem to be separated.’

Gathering our strength was the top priority.

“Cough. Why is there so much sand?”

Eloka coughed while waving her hand.

The city was constantly battered by sandstorms.

“The weather is the worst.”

Neryssa said as she covered her mouth with a cloth.

The members covered their faces and took heat-resistant supplements.

“Neryssa, please lead the way to the city center.”

“Sure.”

“Oh, and try to find Princess Priasis. She might be here.”

Neryssa nodded and disappeared into the sandstorm.

“Let’s move too. To the designated location.”

The formation was ready.

I was in the front, Jenna and Eloka were in the middle, and Velkist was in the rear.

“The visibility isn’t great.”

“Yeah, it’s not great.”

“Be careful of ambushes.”

“I know.”

We continued walking.

The mission objective window had not appeared yet.

There was no sign of enemies either. Suddenly, Jenna spoke.

“I’m getting anxious. If nothing happens at the beginning like this…”

“Don’t say unlucky things.”

Eloka looked disgusted.

I continued walking. The yellow sand obscured our vision.

“2nd party, 4th party.”

“Do you see a peculiar building in the city center? Gather there.”

Beyond the thick sandstorm, the outline of a massive temple could be seen.

It was clear from the goddess statue on the rooftop.

“We found it.”

“Us too. And we’ve contacted the other parties as well. We’ll relay the message.”

“Understood.”

Click.

I ended the communication. At the same time, I reached for my scabbard.

A faint shadow appeared from the nearby building. The shadow jumped down nimbly from under the roof. Someone was carried on its shoulders.

“I found Princess Priasis. She collapsed in the middle of the street.”

Neryssa gently laid Priasis on the ground.

I raised my hand. Jenna and Velkist assumed defensive positions.

‘There’s a possibility of a trap.’

I signaled to Eloka.

Eloka’s magical wave passed through Priasis.

“She’s the real one.”

“What is she doing here?”

“It looks like she collapsed while overexerting herself…”

I took out a potion of vitality and put it in Priasis’s mouth.

Priasis drank it, glugging it down. Her eyelids trembled and then lifted.

“…Han.”

“Did we help you all the way here to just die?”

“Just… to find the key.”

“Is this the right place?”

“I’m certain. It matches the scenery I saw in my dream. It’s here.”

I took out a heat-resistant supplement and offered it to her.

Freyasis swallowed it with the potion. Her eyelids trembled before finally opening.

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.”

This place, even in the middle of the desert, had particularly harsh conditions. Without thorough preparation, we could quickly become guests of the relentless desert. Priasis bowed her head.

“…I’m sorry.”

“Stick close to Jenna. If anything happens, hide immediately.”

Priasis nodded and stood in the middle of the group, with Jenna and Velkist protecting her.

The formation changed to protect Priasis in the center.

At the same time, the mission window appeared.

[Floor 30.]

[Mission Type – Exploration]

[Objective – ???]

[Special Objective – Survival of NPC ‘Freyasis Al Raguna’]

This is it.

I clicked my tongue and continued walking.

The sandstorm continued to rage.