The climb effort resumed.
After I failed to obtain a powerful seal, Master began the preparation to deploy the Fourth Advanced Scouts to the Quintal Trial.
Sigyn ordered the squad to be supplied with double the amount of the usual provisions and equipment. The list became even longer after I recommended some additional special supplies.
That was why we had about another week to prepare for the deployment.
As the trial supplies were being prepared, we used the time to train the Fourth Advanced Scouts and ensure they were truly ready to face the twentieth floor's mission.
"Isn't that too much? They're just humans, you know?"
Graihan said to me with a frown.
We were currently in the vast training ground assigned to the Reserve Forces.
I had gathered the lycanthrope, as well as the Near-Kin, and the dwarf to provide special training for the Fourth Advanced Scouts.
"No holding back this time. Truly. I want you all to use the full power of your seal against these scouts."
I told the 4-star heroes.
So far they had been refraining from unleashing their true abilities.
The 4-stars claimed they would only be massacring the raiders and not having an actual training.
But the Fourth Advanced Scouts would be facing something even worse on the twentieth floor.
They needed the experience of facing overwhelmingly powerful opponents.
"I'm telling you, southlander. It won't be much of a training for these people."
Ulrica said while staring at the Reserve raiders, what was left of them.
Djhotti nodded to her.
"The fight would likely be over in an instant. They won't get to do anything."
"As I said, don't hold anything back. Fight them with your all."
I repeated firmly to the 4-stars.
Graihan smirked at my words.
"You actually want me to kill them?"
"Don't kill them, of course. Just put them to the brink."
I told the lycanthrope.
The bare-footed man chuckled.
"It's your order, daywalker."
Ulrica nodded alongside him while Djhotti made a slight bow.
"As you command, southlander."
"It shall be done, Great Mage."
The three 4-stars then turned toward the large field where Party 6 to 10 had been waiting.
Each party would be facing against one of the 4-stars in a duel. The pairings would be rotated after each match concluded.
Although it would be ideal, I could not dare make them duel in the special chamber where the lobby's healing power was restricted.
The Reserve raiders might actually die there while facing these uninhibited 4-stars.
"Let's do this, then."
Ulrica announced as she gripped her great axe in front of the wavering Party 8.
Zinggg!!!
A powerful electrifying energy suddenly burst forth from the Near-Kin.
['Ulrica (★★★★)' is activating her exclusive skill.]
Her flaring silver hair radiated with golden brilliance. Her sky-blue eyes now shined like the sun. The golden markings on her face glowed with ethereal light.
Strong electric current ran throughout her entire body and concentrated at her giant axe, making the artifact radiated like the stars.
[Exclusive skill Tears of Sky God is activated!]
['Ulrica (★★★★)'s stats have increased by 30%.]
[Lightning attribute has increased by 50%.]
Following Ulrica's skill activation, Djhotti raised his giant halberd and sounded a chant with his strong voice.
The members of Party 7 trembled upon his mere echoes.
['Djhotti (★★★★)' is sounding a combat chant.]
Fierce burning energy exploded from within the dwarf.
A layer of white-crimson flame manifested all over his magnificent armor and halberd.
[Exclusive skill Flame's Blessing is activated!]
['Djhotti (★★★★)'s stats have increased by 15%.]
[All attribute defense has increased by 30%.]
After his peers transformed using their special abilities, Graihan followed their act with his.
Boom!
A powerful violet shockwave erupted from the half-beast.
[Exclusive skill activated! 'Graihan (★★★★)' is transforming!]
As the light and energy subsided, a new entity had stood in the lycanthrope's place.
A creature as large as an ogre.
It had the appearance of a six-legged wolf. Fur as black as night, flickering with silvery glowing dust at every gesture.
Its tail was burning with bright white fire.
Its penetrating violet eyes were glimmering like the glow of the full moon.
Its fangs and claws were as silver as the moon itself.
This was the true power of lycanthropes.
It was for this reason they were called the Devils of Chandra.
Indeed.
From the looks of the frightened Party 6, Graihan seemed to had transformed into the incarnation of evil itself.
Crash! Boom! Clash!
The duel began.
As I instructed, the 4-stars did not hold back in this battle.
Ulrica constantly channeled lightning to her artifact and repeatedly unleashed barrage of deadly thundering assaults.
Using her special skill, the Near-Kin moved like lightning and engaged all her opponents at once, overwhelming them which outnumbered her.
Meanwhile, Djhotti had become the embodiment of an unwavering force.
His assaults could not be blocked. His defenses could not be penetrated by any weapon or spells. His strength, speed, and resilience were thrice his opponents'.
The dwarf fought the raiders like a fierce ogre against juvenile goblins.
At the same time, Graihan was unleashing carnage on Party 6.
In his transformed state, the lycanthrope became thrice as fast and thrice as powerful, turning into an entirely different beast.
Most of the attacks could not catch him due to his great agility.
The ones that did could barely scratch the surface of his thick dark fur.
His giant silver claws hit like the strike of multiple great swords in each swing.
These were the powers of seals.
With a strong seal, a hero could double or triple their strength. Or gaining new abilities altogether.
Every raider would eventually need at least one seal just to survive a trial in the future.
A particularly powerful seal would probably even guarantee our victory.
Master had relied on me to obtain such seal for the twentieth floor's mission.
But, unfortunately, I had failed in my endeavor.
[Serafina Magda Zeref (★★★★) Lv.17 (Exp 7/145)]
[Class: Mage]
[Strength: 13/13]
[Intelligence: 128/128]
[Stamina: 33/33]
[Agility: 19/19]
[Skills: Telekinesis Lv.9, Intermediate Enchantment Lv.8, Intermediate Fire Magic Lv.10, Hands that Twist Space and Time Lv.9, Intermediate Research Lv.5, Intermediate Alchemy Lv.8, Mana Transfer Lv.4, Multicasting Lv.5, Mana Shockwave Lv.4, Mana Overflow Resistance Lv.1, Intermediate Wind Magic Lv.8, Mana Detection Lv.6, Golem Summoning Lv.4, Intermediate Water Magic Lv.7, Intermediate Earth Magic Lv.6, Intermediate Lava Magic Lv.7, Intermediate Lightning Magic Lv.7, Intermediate Ice Magic Lv.7, Compulsion Magic Lv.4]
[Seal Slot: 1/1]
[1: Wings of Malaikat (F-, Lv.1)]
[Small traces of a mysterious power.]
[Effect: Mana Overflow Resistance +3%]
[Exclusive Skill: None]
After risking my life in the Advent Dungeon, I only managed to obtain a low-rank seal.
There was not much change in my capability.
I could not cast my spells more than I usually could before I reached the overflow state. So the seal was practically non-existent at this moment.
The seal stone I acquired from the Advent Dungeon was not the problem.
I had felt the enormous energy it previously channeled. This seal was supposedtobe powerful.
I simply could not utilize the seal to its full potential.
According to the Being that I encountered in the Advent Dungeon, I was not worthy enough for the seal's true power.
It got something to do with my resolve not being strong enough.
I was not sure how I was supposed to prove otherwise.
If I could not ever own the seal the way the Being told me, then the Exploration Team's great sacrifices might end up for nothing.
Quinda's death would be pointless.
And it was all because I was not enough.
I failed to be enough.
"They're really strong."
Jonah said as he joined me in the training ground.
The shepherd's eyes were fixed on the three 4-star heroes fully-powered with their seal.
"Is this the first time you're seeing them like this?"
I asked him.
He nodded.
"Whenever we sparred, they would always push me to my limit. But I knew they were still holding back on me. I just did not realize how much."
"This is the kind of difference a seal could make in battle, Jonah. We are very fortunate to have these heroes in our ranks."
"Are you still upset with your own seal?"
The shepherd asked me.
It was hard to keep things from him.
"I should've obtained a powerful seal, Jonah. My seal was supposed to guarantee our victory on the Quintal Trial. We needed it to climb beyond the twentieth floor."
"You did not have a seal with you in the previous Quintal Trials. And yet you brought us to victory every time."
"The twentieth floor is different. It will be, I just know it. My failure in obtaining a useful seal might instead guarantee our deaths in that Quintal Trial."
Jonah immediately turned to me and took hold of my hand.
"You will not need a seal to overcome the twentieth floor, Fina. You are more than enough, just the way you are. We would not reach this high in the tower if that were not true."
The shepherd's words sounded warm and strong in my ears.
Whether he was right or not remained to be seen in the future.
A speculation which staked all of our lives. And probably an entire world.
One thing for certain, however.
There was still a Quintal Trial for us to face and Master intended to sacrifice another five parties to the deadly floor.