Three days later.
After including Cecily into our party, master did not immediately send us to the trials.
Instead, master used the last few days to send the newcomers to the first floor.
Of the dozens total that were sent, only few people died.
It was thanks to the proper weapons Gerrits and the craftsmen made as well as the strict atmosphere in the training ground that Jonah and the others maintained.
Though most of the newcomers only trained so that they did not seem lazy in front of master and got synthesized, at the very least they learned how to handle a sword in the process, albeit barely.
And also, everyone had accepted there was no way out of this place.
So nobody wasted time to find a way out. They were now doing anything to keep surviving.
[Party 1, come to the square!]
The fairy finally called for us.
I left the lodging and made my way to the square where Jonah and the others were already waiting for me.
Apparently they were deep in a conversation about something.
"What were you guys talking about?"
I asked.
"We were just talking about the trials."
Jonah answered.
"What about them?"
"We only noticed this after climbing the second floor and seeing the newcomers completing the first floor, but apparently we became stronger after clearing a trial."
Shanny said.
I raised my eyebrows in interest.
"Is that so? How can you be certain?"
"We compared it to the time we trained in the training ground and during the trial. Even though we trained for dozens of hours in the training ground, we might become more adept with using our weapons, but our strength basically remained the same."
Trudy explained. She continued.
"But after spending not even an hour in the trial, we got...stronger. Quite significantly. We've confirmed this after observing the newcomers who recently cleared the first floor."
"If I could give a comparison, it was like when I experienced that 'synthesis.'"
Jonah added.
"He's right! I felt the same increase in power after those four people were synthesized with me."
Trudy remarked.
I nodded to their explanations.
They had discovered another rule of the forged land.
The only thing we could do in this forged land was to develop our skills, not strength.
We could only get stronger by clearing trials or synthesis.
It was a foundational law that we needed to pay attention to.
[Alright, you guys ready?]
The fairy appeared in front of us.
She flew over the stone gate and performed her weird pose.
[Open the rift of space and time!]
The gate lit up and we entered through the rift.
My comrades immediately readied their weapons.
I turned to Cecily.
"You know what to do, right?"
"Y-yes! I'll support the others from the back with you."
"I'll leave most of the supporting to you this time since you'll need the experience."
"Of course!"
Cecily had never been to the trial yet.
But she had been training with Jonah and the others.
We had also explained to her about the formation.
Given the level of the enemies we had faced so far, I decided to observe the battle for now and step in when necessary.
Jonah and Shanny were skilled enough to handle a goblin and a wolf with ease. Trudy was following closely behind them too.
Now that we had an archer, it would be an overkill to involve me in the fight.
I would like them to not rely on me too much so they could grow to become a better fighter.
[Climb the tower and save the world!]
[Main Dungeon]
[Floor conquered - 2 -]
The only shining mirror in the room lit up even brighter and its light engulfed us.
We soon found ourselves on the same open plain.
Kekeke!
Like always, enemies were already awaited us.
Five goblins.
But instead of the scrawny ones we faced in the first and second floor, these ones were well-muscled.
Not only that, they had leather armor and iron helmet on them.
Three goblins were equipped with wooden shields and machetes. While the other two with crossbows.
These goblins were definitely better equipped than the last ones.
This trial would prove to be more challenging than the previous floors. But just enough to test my comrades.
"Jonah, Shanny, and Trudy, take care of the goblins with the machetes. Cecily, handle the ones with the crossbows. I'll deflect any arrows coming at any of you."
I commanded.
"Understood!"
My comrades shouted in unison.
The three goblins with the machetes and shields soon charged at us. Jonah, Shanny, and Trudy responded in kind.
They each spread out and took on a goblin.
The two goblins with the crossbows began shooting to aid their brethren.
[Davah Shashanam]
Using telekinesis, I slowed the arrows down and caused them to pathetically dropped to the ground.
Cecily did not waste any time to nock her bow with an arrow and loosed it at one of the two goblins.
Shuck.
Her arrow impaled one of the goblins' shoulder.
Their attention was now directed at Cecily. They quickly aimed their crossbows and fired them toward us.
Ping! Ping! Clang! Clang!
The two bolts of arrows were shielded by Trudy with her shield as she found an opening to defend us.
Though she was aiding the vanguards, Trudy kept her role as the rear guard, protecting both me and Cecily.
Shuck.
Cecily fired another arrow and hit the injured goblin right in the eye.
The other one tried to attack us once more but I parried its arrow with telekinesis and Cecily landed another headshot.
I could use a shield spell to block the arrows.
But I would shame myself as a mage to rely on such an easy trick just for simple assaults. Especially when I was not preoccupied with casting another spell.
The two crossbow wielders were eliminated.
Right at the same time, Jonah pierced his spear through the goblin's leather armor. His immense strength made his weapon seemed to be piercing through mere paper.
The impaled goblin was then raised to the air by Jonah's spear, showcasing the monster's corpse like a banner on a pole.
On the other side, a goblin tried to slash its sword toward Shanny.
But the monster's shabby movement could not compare against Shanny's swift and precise steps.
She shifted to her side, putting her in the goblin's blind spot.
With one clean movement, Shanny rotated her sword-wielding hand, cleaving the goblin's head right off from its neck.
Meanwhile, Trudy was exchanging blows with her goblin.
They attacked and parried each other in equal manner, leaving no opening for one another. It was almost a stalemate.
I looked over to Cecily and signaled her to aid Trudy.
She nodded and nocked an arrow.
Shuck.
Cecily's arrow grazed the goblin's shoulder, caused the monster to stagger.
The attack provided enough opportunity for Trudy to lodge her sword to the monster's throat.
Having dealt the killing blow on the last enemy, we were soon engulfed in the bluish-white light and returned to the mirrored chamber.
As expected after we returned, the whole room shook for a few seconds.
The number on the only shining mirror then changed.
[Climb the tower and save the world!]
[Main Dungeon]
[Floor conquered - 3 -]