CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 201 – THE END OF TOWER’S

The air in the chamber was still warm, like embers that refused to die out. The smell of metal and dust clung thickly to every breath, leaving a bitter trace on the tongue. The aftermath of battle was etched into the room: pillars collapsed in jagged heaps, deep fractures running across the floor, and black scorch marks left by poison and surging bursts of energy.

Sylvia rose slowly, brushing the dust from her gown. Though her body had yet to fully recover from the weight of the fight, her eyes carried a strange new spark not euphoria, but a quiet satisfaction at having passed a trial she hadn’t been sure she could survive.

"All right..." she murmured, letting out a long breath as her gaze swept toward the edges of the room. Normally... there would be a way up to the next floor. That was how it always worked. She began walking, her new heels crunching softly over scattered fragments of stone, eyes scanning every corner.

But there were no stairs.

She stopped, brows knitting. "Huh? Nothing...?" Her pace quickened, circling the walls, checking the parts of the floor that usually hid a concealed passage. Still nothing. The only thing she found was a massive magic circle at the chamber’s center, a web of intricate patterns, its bluish glow pulsing slowly, almost like it was breathing.

Sylvia stood at its edge, rubbing her chin as she studied it. "So this is... a teleportation out? Hmm... in that case, yeah. This really is the end."

The thought clicked into place like the last piece of a puzzle. She smirked faintly. "No wonder the boss was ridiculous. An Ancient Titan on floor sixty? If this is the Tower of Echoes... makes sense. They probably designed it to close the whole thing out here."

Her steps took her toward the far side of the room, where a large chest rested. Unlike the ones on the earlier floors, this one was far grander, crafted from black metal, carved with ancient-like patterns, the grooves inlaid with faintly pulsing gold. Its surface was cold, despite the lingering heat in the air.

She leaned down, fingers brushing the engravings near the lock. There was no elaborate mechanism, just a magic seal that crumbled away at her touch. With a light push, the lid opened, the heavy kraaak echoing against the walls.

Inside... there wasn’t a pile of trinkets as usual. Only a single item, wrapped in thin black cloth that radiated a subtle, deep presence like a quiet whirlpool capable of pulling under anyone who strayed too close.

Sylvia lifted it. The cloth slid away, revealing a long, pitch-black mantle trimmed with deep crimson embroidery along the edges. A small emblem was stitched into the chest: a circular design with fractures like broken glass, and at its center, a pulsing red point.

"...Hmm. Beautiful." A faint smile touched her lips. "And definitely not for a fashion show."

Her system immediately identified it:

[Mantle of the Last Sentinel] – Increases resistance to physical and magical attacks by 40%, enhances regeneration, and grants Endurance Surge when HP falls below 20%.

Sylvia gave a soft chuckle. "Yeah, this is pretty great. Worth all the drama earlier."

She folded the mantle and stored it away. Her hand then flicked open another system panel, eyes sliding to a large icon shaped like the Titan’s silhouette now dulled to a lifeless gray.

Her gaze shifted to the creature itself. The Titan that had been a lethal enemy only moments ago now stood silently in the corner, its dim crimson eyes catching the faint glow from the magic circle. No rage, no threat, just a strange kind of loyalty that almost felt genuine.

Sylvia approached, letting out a thoughtful sigh as her eyes traveled from its feet to its towering head. "You’re huge... If I leave you here, you’ll be a problem. But if I bring you... hmm."

Her smile widened slightly. "The system can’t store living creatures... but zombies? Well, you’re not exactly alive anymore, are you?"

With a flick of her hand, she activated her system. There was a brief pause like a giant door hesitating over something far too heavy and then the Titan vanished, tucked neatly into storage like a statue erased from the world.

"Perfect." She nodded in satisfaction. "Safe, tidy, and portable."

With everything settled, the exhaustion that had been lingering at the edges of her body finally crashed down in full. She walked slowly to a relatively intact section of wall, leaned back, and slid down to sit with one knee drawn up and the other stretched out.

Her breathing slowed. Her shoulders sank a little, and for the first time since stepping onto this floor, she let her head droop. "So tired..." she whispered, though there was relief beneath the words.

From where she sat, she could see the magic circle glowing in the center of the room, its blue light mirrored in her crimson eyes. Questions stirred in the back of her mind about what waited outside, what she might encounter after leaving this tower but for now, she chose simply to sit.

The chamber was quiet, broken only by the faint crumble of loose stone from the ceiling and the soft hum of the circle’s magic.

"Tower of Echoes..." Sylvia shut her eyes briefly. "Finally done."

And for the first time in a long while, she let herself rest without planning her next strike.

She stayed like that for a while, letting her heartbeat settle from a war drum to a steady rhythm. Yet the weight in her muscles remained, clinging like wet sand that wouldn’t shake off.

"Not now," she murmured, glancing at the circle. Its blue glow seemed to call to her, but she ignored it.

She opened her storage, scrolling past icons until she found a simple one: a folding bed. Nothing luxurious just soft enough to keep her back from complaining. With a tap, it appeared on the cold stone floor, set against a wall safe from falling debris.

Sylvia eyed it for a moment, then let out a contented sigh. "Yeah... this is much better."

She lowered herself onto the bed, feeling the fabric cool her overheated skin. The air still carried the scent of dust and metal, but here, away from the room’s center, it faded into background noise.

Her eyes grew heavy. Thoughts of system reports, loot, and next steps lingered at the edge of her mind, but none of them were urgent. Not now. Today’s victory was simply closing her eyes.

Within minutes, her breathing evened out dreamless sleep, wrapped only in silence.

Meanwhile...

In a town far from the Tower of Echoes, the warm scent of soup and toasted bread filled a modest tavern. A wooden table by the window was occupied by two figures who stood out despite their attempts to sit casually Stacia and Alicia.

The bowls before them were already half-empty. Earlier, they’d just finished a hunter’s guild mission, tiring but harmless. This afternoon should have been nothing more than light conversation over a peaceful meal.

But a few hours ago, peace had been far away. There had been a pressure in their chests, one that wasn’t their own, but was impossible to miss. A distant echo pressing from within.

Stacia stirred her spoon slowly through her bowl, voice low. "That feeling earlier..."

Alicia glanced at her, then nodded. "Yeah. Despair."

No long explanation was needed. Their bond with Sylvia wasn’t just any ordinary tie; it was something older, deeper, a resonance that could only be described as blood connection, or... something like a twin’s link.

They were far from the Tower of Echoes, but that hadn’t stopped the wave from reaching them. When the despair had hit, their chests had tightened. Alicia had even set her spoon down, bowing her head to steady her breathing.

Now, though, it was gone.

Vanished like clouds swept away by the wind, leaving a clear sky in its place.

Stacia leaned back in her chair, letting out a long breath. "So... she’s all right now."

Alicia’s lips curved faintly. "Yeah. If that feeling’s gone, she’s out of whatever mess she was in. Or... she’s asleep."

Stacia chuckled under her breath, looking out the window. The late sunlight was stretching shadows across the cobblestone street. "Asleep, huh? Then let her rest. We should be ready in case she shows up again with some insane story."

Alicia lifted her glass for a quiet toast. "To our stubborn sister."

The cups clinked softly, and for the first time since morning, they ate without that weight in their chests.

Night began to settle over the town, bringing with it the scent of hearth fires and the flicker of oil lamps along the main road. The tavern slowly emptied, leaving only the sound of cutlery being stacked by the owner.

Alicia took her last bite and dabbed her lips with a napkin. "Head back to the inn?" she asked lightly, though her eyes still carried a trace of thought.

Stacia nodded as she rose. "Yeah. We’ll check the mission board again tomorrow. But... I think we should set aside some time to train, too."

They walked out, paying at the door with polite smiles to the owner. The night air nipped faintly, but not enough to make them shiver. Their footsteps fell in sync along the lamplit stone streets, interrupted now and then by the roll of a passing cart or the laughter of children still playing outside.

Alicia glanced up at a sky half-veiled by clouds. "If that was really twin resonance earlier... it means we could feel it too if she’s really angry, or... really happy."

Stacia smiled faintly, though she didn’t look over. "Hopefully from now on, all we feel is the happy part. I don’t want that kind of despair again."

Their conversation lingered in the quiet night until they reached the inn. Warm light spilled from the windows, welcoming them inside. The receptionist greeted them cheerfully as they passed through the small lobby.

Once in their room, Stacia dropped her bag on a chair and slipped off her coat. "Tomorrow, we start earlier. If she’s finished with the Tower of Echoes, there’s a good chance we’ll see her again whether she’s in one piece or bleeding all over."

Alicia sighed, sprawling across her bed. "If she’s bleeding, we’ll be ready. If she’s healthy... we’ll still be ready. Because when Sylvia’s healthy, it usually means trouble’s coming."

Both of them laughed softly. The room’s light dimmed, and outside, the town’s night went on in peace.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Tower of Echoes, Sylvia still slept deep, dreamless, her rest kept company by the soft, steady pulse of the magic circle glowing in the chamber’s heart.