Mark stared at the ground.
"I can't... I can't do that."
Despite feeling like the iron ball in her stomach had suddenly expanded, Elisa wanted to lighten the mood.
"Oh... Haha... Yeah. Yeah! I get that. I mean it's-"
He suddenly raised his gaze.
"There's somewhere I have to go." Mark continued.
'Have to... Not want to... Not need to... Have to...' Elisa took a mental note.
"Well... Hey. We can still... Umm... We don't have to part ways right away, right? We might be heading in the same direction after all."
"Mm. We might be." Mark muttered.
"Well, it's... Uhh... Hey, if you don't want to, I understand completely-"
ραпdαn૦νel "It's not that." Mark interrupted. "It's just... Alright. I guess we could."
"Good. We can figure out our respective routes once we're outside. So..." Elisa's gaze moved towards the Exit.
Mark's did the same.
An impatient Moonlit Feline walked closer to the doors.
Once Krista was inches away from the Exit, she turned back to look at them.
Mark sighed before approaching the doors.
He lay his palms against them.
They were cold.
Practically freezing.
"Is it just me or is your leg shaking a bit?" Elisa asked.
And as Mark heard the question, he became painfully aware of his own anxiousness.
"Didn't think a Monster could be nervous about something like this." She chuckled.
"Mm." Mark nodded.
Just when he was about to push the doors open,
"Wait." Elisa turned away from the Exit. "Krista, come with me for a second."
Surprised, both the Moonlit Feline and the Monster stared at her.
"Please?"
Krista followed her.
The two walked towards one of the Boss Room's walls.
"Can you freeze a portion of it?" Elisa asked as she pointed at the wall.
Krista was confused, but obliged the request.
The next instant, Elisa could stare at her own reflection.
"Alright."
She stepped closer and raised a hand.
"We're going outside... Going back outside."
The Wind around her moved.
It seemed to collect pieces of dust off the ground.
Seconds later, a small pile of dust lay on Elisa's left palm.
She brought her face closer to the mirror of ice in front of her.
"We're going..."
Her right pinky gently tapped the pile of dust.
"To war..."
The Moonlit Feline, who had walked back to Mark's side, stared at him.
"Makeup...? Really...?" He whispered.
"It's not makeup dumbass."
Mark was surprised she could hear him.
After a couple more seconds, Elisa was done.
She walked back towards them.
"It's warpaint."
"Right..."
"Goes well with my hair, right? Hard to tell whether it's the paint or strands of hair."
'But it's not paint though...? And... Goes well with your hair? What does that have to...?'
Under their confused gazes, Elisa stood proudly.
"Ready when you are." She declared.
Mark lay his hands against the doors. He took a deep breath in.
Moments later, the doors were pushed open.
***
A minute earlier,
"Think he's going to make it outside?"
"Stop pestering me."
"Oh, come on. I'm bored. Neid is fighting, so..."
"Neid?"
"Yes. That's my Candidate. How is yours called again?"
"The Devourer. Or the Evolving Monster."
Arani rolled her eyes at Nia.
"Is the Devourer going to pass his Test?" She accentuated the word 'Devourer'.
"Possibly. Truthfully, I'm more worried about Raven doing something he shouldn't."
Arani eyes shone.
"So you are worried."
Nia remained silent. She took a seat at her desk.
"You like him, your Candidate. As in you care for him."
"As much as I do the other Candidates."
"Oh, is that so?"
"It is so-"
Floating words appeared in front of Nia.
Floating words only she could see.
She was notified.
And of course, she would be.
Nia was the acting Dungeon Master after all.
Arani couldn't tell what information or message had popped up.
She studied Nia's face, but couldn't find a clue.
'A robotic face for a robotic person...'
Not one thing had changed about Nia's facial expression or posture.
The silent and quiet fist pump hidden below the desk remained a secret.
***
An hour later, floating words appeared in front of the one Titled "Training Fanatic".
The one who held a portion of Greed.
[Kai.]
"Yes?"
The True Werewolf let the unmoving Monster on its back fall to the ground.
He wiped the drops of sweat that covered his forehead.
[I see you are not neglecting your Training in this Form either.]
The Training Beast chuckled.
"Of course not. I'm way weaker in this Form, which only makes Training more fun. And simpler, since I don't need as much weight." Kai answered as he flexed his left arm.
Currently, he could have easily passed himself off as a Human.
A bit hairier than most, but still.
[A Candidate has exited his Dungeon.]
Kai froze for a moment.
A wide smile appeared on his face as he chuckled.
"No way... Already, huh? That guy must be quite the Beast."
[Comparing yourself with others can only impend on your Training.]
"I know, but you still decided to tell me that."
Seconds later, the timer was up. Growls echoed as Kai's body started changing.
A True Werewolf.
For now, this meant rotating between two Forms.
For twelve hours, a Human.
For twelve hours...
Kai's heart started beating faster and faster.
Excitement and enthusiasm filled him.
"I can't wait..."
The smile on his face just wouldn't leave.
"To meet that guy."
***
[Free to chat?]
"Sure. What is it, Al?"
[Someone has made it out of their Dungeon.]
"Okay and..." An Corrupted Dark Elf Warrior's neck was twisted. "What does that have to do with me?"
[You have Leveled Up!]
[Every Stat increases by 1 Stat Point!]
[Your Title "Leveling Addict" increases the Stat Points gained by Leveling Up!]
[Your Strength Stat increases by 2 Stat Points.]
[Your Vigor Stat increases by 1 Stat Point.]
[Your Endurance Stat increases by 3 Stat Points.]
"Thanks for that."
[Your Title "Leveling Addict" smiles.]
[Number of Experience Points Required to Level Up has increased.]
[Your Title "Leveling Addict" lowers the Required Number.]
[Your Title "Number Enthusiast" aids in lowering the Required Number.]
"Al said that Leveling Up wasn't the others' forte. That they have different preferred ways to get stronger. How strange..."
[Your Title "Number Enthusiast" nods enthusiastically.]
"Everything just makes a lot more sense when quantified this way."
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