Chapter 212: Moving Forwards

Chapter 212: Chapter 212: Moving Forwards

Floor 20 Boss Drops: Pyroth, the Scorching Tempest Drake

Precious Metals

[S-Rank] Ignition-Core Titanium

Description: A glowing, ultra-dense ore harvested from Pyroth’s central chest plate. It remains perpetually warm to the touch and possesses a natural thermal-retention property that repels physical kinetic impact when charged with fire mana.

Best Use: Primary material to upgrade heavy B-Grade plate armor into A-Grade flame-and-impact resistant vanguard gear.

[A-Grade] Gale-Vein Mithril

Description: A featherlight, silvery-blue metal laced with microscopic channels that naturally funnel air currents. When swung or shot through the air, it produces zero wind resistance and emits a low supersonic frequency.

Best Use: Forging high-velocity arrowhead tips for longbows or re-balancing a greatsword for faster swing speeds.

Rare Herb

[S-Rank] Pyre-Gale Blossom

Description: A rare elemental flora that only germinates in extreme environments where volcanic heat meets high-velocity gale winds. Its crimson and translucent-blue petals continuously release small embers that float gently on self-generated micro-currents.

Skill Scrolls (Fire & Wind Synergy)

[Skill Scroll: Thermal Updraft Step]

Element: Fire / Wind

Type: Active Mobility & Evasion

Effect: Detonates a localized thermobaric burst beneath the user’s feet, launching them up to 15 meters into the air or in any direction instantly. Upon activation, it leaves behind a 3-meter fiery shockwave that knocks back surrounding low-tier enemies and clears localized smoke or gas hazards.

[Skill Scroll: Tempest Arc-Cutter]

Element: Fire / Wind

Type: Active Ranged Attack

Effect: Cleaves the air to launch three crescent-shaped, pressurized wind blades infused with hyper-heated embers. The wind pressure pierces through physical defenses (bypassing 25% of armor density), while the embers ignite the target, dealing continuous fire damage for 6 seconds.

***

Rowan crouched by the glowing pile of boss loot, his dust-stained fingers sorting through the warm, radiant drop items with practiced ease.

He picked up the Ignition-Core Titanium along with the shimmering slab of Gale-Vein Mithril, feeling the distinct hum of dense physical and elemental energy emanating from both. Turning toward Barney, Rowan tossed the heavy, glowing ores straight into the dwarf’s massive gauntlets.

"Take these, Barney," Rowan said, stepping back with a nod. "Your plate armor took the brunt of Pyroth’s physical heat during that opening blast, and your tower shield could use a serious upgrade before we push any higher. Let the blacksmiths back in town melt these down to reinforce your frontline gear."

Barney caught the metals with an appreciative grin, his eyes gleefully tracing the fiery veins running through the titanium. "Ha! Now this is what I call proper hazard pay. With this titanium added to my shield face, even a dragon’s breath won’t leave a scuff mark!"

Next, Rowan carefully scooped up the Pyre-Gale Blossom, holding the rare flora by its stem as faint crimson embers floated gently off its translucent petals. Instead of tossing it into a standard supply pouch, Rowan channeled a faint thread of his Origin Earth mana around the root bulb, safely encapsulating the delicate herb in a sphere of nutrient-rich soil before storing it away.

He glanced over at Seraphina, who was already staring at the floating embers with bright, analytical eyes.

"I’ll transplant this into my spatial domain’s accelerated soil matrix as soon as we catch a breath," Rowan promised her with a slight smile. "Once the root system stabilizes and multiplies, you’ll have a steady supply of fresh fire-wind petals to experiment with. See what kind of high-tier buff elixirs or flame-resistant compounds you can boil up."

"Deal," Seraphina replied, a rare, eager smirk tugging at her lips as she adjusted the alchemy pouches on her belt. "A renewable S-Rank catalyst is a dream setup. I’ll have a fresh batch ready before our next major descent."

Finally, Rowan picked up the two glowing parchment tubes containing the [Thermal Updraft Step] and [Tempest Arc-Cutter] skill scrolls. He unrolled them slightly, evaluating the dense dual-element fire and wind mana seals inscribed on the leather.

"Neither of these cleanly fits our active skill slots right now," Rowan noted, rolling them back up and sliding both scrolls securely into the shared party vault pouch on his belt. "We’ll keep them safe for now. Once we clear out of the tower and head back to the guild hall, we can decide whether to sell them at auction, trade for skills we actually need, or hold onto them for future fusion requirements."

Caelen wiped the last bits of soot off his broadsword, sheathing it with a satisfying click as he stretched his arms over his head. "Works for me. Floor 20 is officially cleared, the loot is packed, and I’m starving. Let me guess—portal’s open?"

***

As if on cue, a tall, shimmering blue gateway materialized at the center of the reshaped amphitheater, humming soft spatial mana as the path back to the floor sanctuary unlocked.

Stepping through the shimmering blue portal on Floor 20, the suffocating heat and ash-choked air of Pyroth’s domain vanished in a single breath, replaced by a gentle, temperate breeze and the distant, rhythmic hum of a bustling settlement.

Floor 21 opened up into Aetheria’s Waystation, a sprawling safe-zone city nestled under a towering stone cavern roof illuminated by vast networks of glowing mana-crystal lanterns. Cobblestone streets hummed with activity as veteran awakeners in glittering armor, merchants wheeling stacked supply carts, and potion peddlers bargained beneath colorful awnings. For those braving the higher floors of the Tower of the End, Floor 21 was an invaluable sanctuary—a place to turn hard-won blood and battle into liquid wealth and luxury.

Squad 07 didn’t waste a second taking in the sights. Still covered in dragon soot, dried acid, and stone dust, they marched straight into the grand hall of the Central Merchant Exchange.

When Rowan hauled open the party’s spatial storage pouches and presented the harvested carcass materials of a Level 35 dual-element Boss—including Pyroth’s pristine flame glands, high-density tail scales, pristine wing bone splints, and dense elemental hide—the chief appraiser nearly dropped his ledger. Paired with the mountains of lower-tier monster cores and beast hides accumulated during their sweep through the earlier floors, the total payout was staggering.

Heavy leather pouches weighed down with thousands of high-grade Tower Astral-Coins were handed over, splitting a fortune among the squad that easily covered all gear upkeep, supplies, and living expenses for weeks to come.

With their pouches full and their weapons stowed, the sheer weight of back-to-back life-or-death battles finally caught up to them. Joints ached, mana pools sat drained, and the lingering scent of smoke called for nothing less than absolute comfort.

They navigated past the lively taverns to The Zenith Suites, a high-end hotel catering specifically to high-tier climbers seeking privacy and pristine rest. Barney eagerly slapped down a handful of coins at the front desk, securing five individual deluxe rooms along the top floor, each equipped with enchanted hot-spring baths and soft feather mattresses.

"No strategy meetings, no mana cultivation, and definitely no dragon hunting until tomorrow afternoon," Caelen declared with a heavy sigh of relief as he grabbed his brass key card.

"I won’t argue with that," Mirei agreed softly, unstringing her bow and rolling her tight shoulders. "A real bath without sulfuric ash blowing into it sounds like heaven."

After brief goodnights in the carpeted hallway, each member retired to their own private quarters.

Inside his room, Caelen barely bothered to strip off his singed chestplate before sinking onto the edge of a wide, plush bed, letting out a long, contented breath. Across the hall, Seraphina immediately filled her stone tub with steaming water, washing away the green acid residue and potion soot from her skin.

Barney collapsed into an oversized mattress that barely held his dwarven frame, snoring loudly within minutes. In her room, Mirei sat quietly by the window overlooking the glowing crystal skyline of the safe city, peacefully sipping a cup of warm chamomile tea before drawing the dark curtains.

In the quiet solitude of his own suite, Rowan placed his Hoe of the World-Tiller against the wall, took off his straw hat, and lay back on the soft linens. The quiet hum of the city outside was a welcome relief from the thunderous roars of the twentieth floor. Closing his eyes, he let his mind drift into a deep, dreamless sleep, knowing that when Squad 07 woke, they would be stronger, fully rested, and ready to take on whatever awaited them on Floor 22.