Chapter 1624: Chapter 1624

"So, you want to destroy the Tower, to make it crumble down? Wouldn't that destroy all the worlds inside?"

"No, the Tower's structure will collapse, but the worlds within it will remain in their places in space, no longer bound to the dimension the Tower creates."

"…Huh. Honestly, the promise of no longer fearing that my world could be consumed is… not a bad one."

"I'm not asking you to give me everything, just… to consider, when the time comes and I build an army strong enough to challenge the upper floors, would you join me?"

"…Honestly, I want to, but this isn't a decision I can make alone. My aunt entrusted this Realm to me so I could learn to be a Goddess, to command and protect my own world. But ultimately, this belongs to my entire family, so I cannot decide independently. If you can reach where my aunt and father reside and speak with them, we could arrange a meeting to discuss this further."

"Alright, that's good enough for me! Here, a gift for your troubles."

"Huh? What is this crystal? No, a jewel? It's beautiful, but… why?"

Maria handed her a beautiful, heart-shaped, pink jewel—a Dream Heart crafted by purifying Nightmare Cores.

"It's a power from another world where dreams and nightmares constantly clash. If you absorb this jewel and harness its power, you'll awaken a Dream Weapon of immense strength. But it's your choice to try."

"Hmm… okay? I suppose I'll try… it doesn't seem like a trap or a bomb or anything."

"It's not. Anyway, I'm leaving. Thank you for listening. We'll meet again soon. By then, I hope to see you wielding a new Dream Weapon."

She crossed her arms as Maria departed. The little Kami remained angry but gazed at the jewel, slowly sensing its mysterious essence flowing into her body.

"Oh, this essence is so rich and warm… It speaks to my mind, emotions, and memories… What is this? Like some sort of drug—Ugh?!"

She fell to her knees, gritting her teeth, convinced Maria had tricked her.

Yet the strange pain in her heart vanished a second later.

Her servants panicked, and she did too, fearing it might still be harmful.

Then she realized the jewel had vanished, having merged with her.

"The jewel is inside?! It doesn't seem to hurt me. If anything, it made me stronger?! What is… this power?!"

The Kami stood, feeling something manifest in her hands. Her memories of her life, family, love, and dreams coalesced.

"It's beautiful… huh? A pickaxe?!"

The Kami stared, speechless, at the glowing golden pink pickaxe in her hands.

As a goddess of mountains, it made sense.

Yet she had expected something cuter.

Maria returned with her soul fragment, having learned about the events there and more about the gods inhabiting three distinct floors in the Tower.

If she could persuade the other Kami from that world to join her cause, it would provide a significant advantage, as these Kami were numerous and adept at creating soldiers from their powers.

But Maria knew she couldn't rush things, so she stayed calm and enjoyed the onsen. She relaxed so deeply that she didn't notice an hour pass. After everyone bathed and changed into fresh clothes, they prepared to depart. Those feeling slightly sleepy regained their energy with cold tea and coffee milk drinks Maria had brought from Azure Star.

Before leaving that world, she had purchased supplies equivalent to several supermarkets, including snacks, drinks, skincare products, shampoo, and more. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novèlfire.net

With tens of thousands of items in an inventory that preserved them through stopped time, Maria had become a walking vending machine, freely distributing anything requested without charge.

As they approached the Tower to depart for the next floor, Maria realized she had spent roughly a million System Points on food and baths, a significant sum for some, but negligible for her.

"Alright, here we are, family."

Maria stopped before another white portal. As everyone prepared, she stepped forward, passing through several bubble-like membranes of light.

She plunged into icy water, finding herself in a vast, dark lake. Her family, shocked, struggled around her.

"Are you kidding me? Water?! Ferleen didn't warn us!"

She saw Ferleen and Melianna drowning, overwhelmed by the sudden submersion.

Worse, this water was unnatural, draining their Mana, Lifeforce, and Spirit Energy.

Maria barely felt its effects, as did most of her family, except for less powerful members like Nia and Alma.

Due to the water's properties, Ferleen and Melianna couldn't swim, growing weaker as their magic faltered.

It was a trap to drown anyone from the upper floors!

Maria swiftly swam toward them, extending her Soul Aura to grab them, feeling the cold water attempt to erode her soul, though it had little effect.

"Is everyone alright?!"

She noticed Nia drowning and quickly enveloped her in her Void Aura, allowing her to breathe oxygen from Maria's lungs.

"Aaah! W-What…?! Maria! What happened?!" Nia gasped.

"My entire body is so cold…" Melianna cried.

"T-This is weird…! Melianna! Are you okay?" Ferleen asked.

"Weird how?" Maria inquired.

"The portal shouldn't be underwater!" Ferleen exclaimed. "Something changed… Wait! Is everyone else okay?!"

"Don't worry," Maria reassured.

Behind her, Celes appeared, carrying everyone in a massive bubble within the water, bolstered by a weary, frightened Alma.

Maria entered the bubble with Nia, who hugged her son, and the two fox siblings.

"Hey, fox boy, why didn't you tell us we'd fall into a cold lake that drains our energy?!" Partner demanded. "Were you trying to trick us or something?"

"I-I didn't!" Ferleen protested. "I swear it's not what it seems! This is wrong. The portal wasn't underwater before… and this water is strange, almost the opposite of this Floor's Lake."

After Ferleen said that he didn't know why the entrance was right inside a lake that drained their life force and Mana, Lucifer inquired about this world some more.

"Can't you explain a little bit more?" Lucifer asked. "What is this floor?"