On the 10th Floor, I already had one — Noel Bora. He was my closest ally in this relentless fight through the Rift, the one I trusted implicitly. We had come far together, and the difference his presence made was undeniable.
All we needed now was one more person to complete the team and finally push through the 10th Floor successfully.
I hesitated, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
Maybe Astraia's proposal wasn't just some distraction after all.
Maybe it was the edge I needed.
"You're not wrong. But relying on others comes with great risk. Trust is earned, not given."
I paused, considering my next words.
"So here's what I'm thinking — let's keep grinding up the floors separately for now. Once I reach the 10th Floor, we clear it together."
In my mind, the plan was clear. I knew the layout, the traps, the enemies. That's why I was building a team of three — the exact number needed to guarantee a successful clear.
