"I had expected it was gonna be a tough fight, but I didn't know we were gonna be trashed like that."
Norn said while resting at the training ground outside the dueling cage. We had all left there once the battle concluded.
"It was definitely surprising that the three of them were able to defeat four experienced mercenaries like us. But I'm more disturbed by the fact the mage did not even involve herself in the battle earlier."
Darius stated.
"We would've definitely lose before we could take three steps!"
Norn said with a chuckle.
"The mage aside, you Party 1 folks fought so well! Were you mercenaries or part of the imperial army before coming here?"
Zecht asked to my comrades.
"No. I used to be a maid who cleans houses and do laundries before arriving to this place. So was Trudy. And Jonah there was a shepherd."
Shanny replied.
"Seriously?! Because I know many people who trained for many years just to be half as good as you guys."
Norn said.
"It's true! When we first arrived here, Shanny and I were weaker than all of you. We could barely kill a small goblin alone!"
Trudy convinced them.
"Then how come you guys are so strong for such nobodies?"
Jyrgil asked. He had woken up right after the battle.
"It's because of the law of this place."
I told them.
"What do you mean?"
"Check your status window. What is your overall level and strength value?"
I asked them.
The 3-stars immediately checked their status as I asked.
"I'm still at level 1. My strength is at 17."
Zecht said.
"I'm level 1 too. Strength is at 15."
Norn said.
"Mine is at 15 too. Level 1."
Darius added.
They were 3-stars.
I had expected they would not level up just by completing that one trial earlier. Just like how hard it was for a 4-star like me to level up.
My comrades soon nodded their heads upon the 3-stars mentioning their status.
"That makes sense. My strength is already at 22."
Jonah said.
"Mine is at 21."
Shanny joined him.
"Though I'm sure their strength was not as high as you guys when they were level 1, but Jonah and Shanny had levelled up numerous times for their strength and other statuses value to overcome yours. That would explain the gap in your performance earlier."
I told the 3-stars.
Though even without knowing about their status values, I had sensed the strength gap between the 3-stars and my comrades.
I already knew my party could overwhelm the mercenaries at the moment.
"Ha! So the reason you guys won was because you cheated!"
Jyrgil blurted out with a crooked smile.
"Is that how you see it?"
I asked calmly. Genuinely curious whether he meant what he said or not.
"Well of course! The reason we lost was because those guys have a higher level than us! But I bet once I levelled up as well, I could beat all of you by myself!"
The giant man proclaimed.
His words triggered a chuckle from Shanny.
"Oh I really wish you would level up soon. Because…"
An intense aura suddenly blasted off from Shanny's surface. Bloodlust was filling the air, slightly suffocating us around.
['Shanny (★)' has gone berserk!]
"What the?!"
Jyrgil watched her stiffly. Cold sweats were running down his temples.
While pointing her sword toward the giant man, Shanny spoke to him.
"…I can't wait to go all out on you."
I noticed her trembling voice and limbs, as if she was trying hard to hold herself down.
It was then that the intense aura dissipated.
['Shanny (★)' is no longer berserk!]
"You've figured out how to utilize the new skill?"
I asked.
"Just yesterday. It's a tricky one to use since it's very hard to think straight while I was under its influence. I got huge headache after using it too."
Shanny replied.
"W-what the hell was that just now?!"
Jyrgil shouted.
"It's one of Shanny's skill. She obtained it during the trial."
I said.
"So the trials can give us such power?"
Norn wondered.
"Levelling up and acquiring skills, this strange land has a lot of ways to make the people here stronger."
Darius commented.
"With a very good reason as well. You folks better not underestimate the tower's trials. You could die if you lose your guard even for a second."
I told them.
With the arrival of the new 3-stars, master would resume climbing the tower soon.
At the moment we only needed one more person to complete Party 1.
There would be three 3-stars left without a party.
Having this extra force gave me an idea regarding our strategy to climb the tower.
After all, we were ultimately here to reach the 100th floor.
Darius was right earlier. We still got a lot to climb left.
With such huge mountain to go over, we needed to be smart in achieving our goal using the resources and manpower provided to us.