When morning came, I went to engrave my first seal.
None of us knew what would exactly happen during the engraving process.
So I had people supervising me for the ritual.
My party comrades came along for the observation, of course.
I would be fighting alongside them in the trials and they would be the people to immediately experience the effect of my seal.
The other 4-star heroes were also with us.
I was worried about the 'corrupted' state I would fall into if I were to fail engraving my seal.
Should I become mad and turned erratic, these strong individuals should be able to prevent me from causing harm to the others in the lobby.
Though I shuddered what would come next if that were to happen.
"Alright then. Everyone knew why they're here, right?"
I told to the people I brought for the engraving ritual.
We were currently inside my private training chamber in the new wing of the magic hall.
I had put a small pedestal at the center of the training ground where I laid the seal.
All of us were standing around the pedestal and observing the silver orb I obtained from the Advent Dungeon.
After looking at it for so long, I realized the seal was a bit similar to the orb we found inside the subquest crystal.
That crystal orb did not grant me a seal when I touched it, of course. So I knew it was not one.
Though I supposed the similarity was because the two objects shared the same origin, which was the mysterious temple.
"We're here to kill you in case you become crazy and started acting rampant, right?"
Graihan said nonchalantly while staring at his dark claws.
Jonah immediately corrected him.
"We're here to stop Fina from hurting others in the lobby. There's nothing about killing."
We did not know how dire the corrupted state would be.
However, the fairy said a hero inflicted with the condition would eventually die.
I hoped we would not have to reach that scenario.
But I believed the 4-stars would make the right decision should the time come.
"Just be on your guard as I engraved my seal. Be ready for anything."
I reminded everyone as I approached the pedestal.
The moment I went near the silver orb, a system message emerged.
[Wings of Malaikat (???, Lv.1)]
[Essence of an ancient being. Great undisputable power lays dormant within.]
[Effect: ???]
[Exclusive Skill: ???]
[Note: The rank and attributes of the seal depends on the engraving process on the targeted hero.]
The Being said my seal's power would be determined by my worthiness.
I was not sure how I was supposed to become worthy for the seal.
How would I prove myself to it?
I had decided that I wanted to reach the top of the tower. I would do anything to accomplish that goal.
Would that determination be enough for the seal?
As I neared my bare hand to the silver orb, another notification appeared before me.
[Initiating engraving!]
[Seal stone used – Wings of Malaikat (???)]
[Target hero - 'Serafina (★★★★)']
[Success rate – 99%]
The system message indicated that I would more than likely absorb my seal's power successfully.
I probably would not fall into the corrupted state.
However…
[Prove that you are worthy to don the power of eternity...]
The Being's words flashed in my mind.
I immediately turned to the only other 4-star in the lobby that had no seal of his own.
"Come here, Yuxia."
"What's the matter?"
The elementalist asked as he joined me by the pedestal.
I nodded to the silver orb on the platform.
"Try reaching for the seal."
The long-haired man frowned.
"But isn't it yours? Master ordered you to--"
"You don't have to absorb the seal. Just near your hand to it."
I told him.
Despite what I said, I was actually considering on giving away the seal to Yuxia.
I had made sure to wait for Master to arrive before we started the engraving ritual.
So everything we were doing right now was under Master's supervision.
If Yuxia had better compatibility with the seal, then I would recommend to Sigyn to order the elementalist to obtain it instead.
Alam said this seal might be powerful enough to greatly help us in the Quintal Trial.
Then we must ensure to extract most of its power as we could. And that meant prioritizing the seal to a hero that could unleash its full potential.
Yuxia hesitated to do what I said. He was aware of the risk of corruption after all.
But he eventually put his hand toward the silver orb.
Another system message soon emerged before us.
[Initiating engraving!]
[Seal stone used – Wings of Malaikat (???)]
[Target hero - 'Yuxia (★★★★)']
[Success rate – 1%]
One percent chance.
I supposed that settled it.
This seal was for me and I alone.
"Thank you, Yuxia. You can draw back now."
"I don't understand why you would let me have the seal instead of you. You're the one who risked your life to get this seal. Though, frankly, you don't actually need it given how strong you already are."
Yuxia rambled as he retreated from the pedestal.
The others nodded with him.
"After seeing your battles through the Replay Stones, I was actually surprised you did not have special powers like us."
Ulrica stated while gesturing to the dwarf and the lycanthrope.
"I have encountered a few strong sorcerers you called the High Mages from the Tower of Circle. You are definitely stronger than those that I have met, Great Mage."
Djhotti said with conviction.
The lycanthrope nodded to the dwarf.
"Had she been part of the Farista forces that hunted me, I would've probably been long dead. That I can admit."
"Serafina is the main reason we've climbed this high in the tower. I was there in the trials when she repeatedly saved us with her spells."
Shanny said.
"There are many reasons why Master appointed Lady Serafina to be their second. Her strength is certainly part of them."
Darius stated.
"If she's already this strong, just how much more powerful would she be with a seal?"
Devisha wondered out loud.
I could only chuckle at their over-exaggerated praises.
How foolish these people to think of me that highly. Especially my party comrades.
Didn't they realize how much I had been relying on them and the many times they had been saving me instead?
Honestly, they should be more aware of themselves.
"Just so you know, should I obtain a powerful seal, the Main Forces would be challenging the twentieth floor in the next attempt."
I stated to everyone in the room.
They had to know what it meant for me to obtain a seal.
I actually already told them yesterday. But I had to remind them.
Everyone should understand that all these powers we kept gathering, developing, and nurturing had always been for the sake of the climb.
Everything was for the grand mission to save our world.
"Then we will march to the Quintal Trial. With you leading us, Fina, there's nothing to be afraid of."
Jonah said confidently.
He continued with warm trusting eyes.
"Like always, you will bring us to victory on the twentieth floor. With or without a seal. We believe in you, Fina."
Upon Jonah's encouraging words, I neared my bare hand to the silver orb on the pedestal.
A warning message appeared just before I made contact with the seal.
[※Caution!]
[Engraving can fail, and a failed hero will fall into a state of corruption. Are you sure you want to proceed with the engraving?]
[Yes / No]
After hearing what Jonah just said, how could I hesitate to go through with the ritual?
Master was counting on me to obtain a powerful seal and strengthen their army further.
The other heroes were counting on me to lead them to victory in the Quintal Trial ahead.
We also had an entire Dunia counting on all of us to reach the top of the tower and save the world from its doomed fate.
So I extended my hand further and grasped the silver orb.
[The engraving begins!]
[The process requires some time.]
[Please wait.]
The silver orb started to vibrate.
A warm energy flowed through my fingertips and streamed throughout my body.
I had never felt anything like this before.
This energy…
It was different from mana.
This was something else entirely.
The energy felt more…pure. Untainted and strong.
There was also the sense of antiquity to it, as if it had stood the passage of time and yet it remained whole and perfect.
I felt this divine energy surging into my heart.
It concentrated there and amassed into a great bundle of power that rivalled the stars of the heaven.
And then that bundle started to extend outward, toward my back.
I felt this pure ancient energy flowing continuously to that direction.
Eventually I began to feel new limbs growing out of my shoulder blades.
And that was when I heard an echoing layered voice in my mind. The Being's.
[Your resolve remain unclear…
[Whether it could withstand the great turbulence of time is not yet a certainty...
[Thus,you have yet owned the Wings…
[The power of eternity will only rest on the One whom will determine the course of All…
[Search that part of you within, then the Wings shall name you master…
[Fail to do so, then you will seal this world to an inescapable fate, such as what befell the countless others and countless more to come…]
As soon as the Being ended its speech, the silver orb evaporated into light.
The immense energy raging inside me suddenly waned drastically.
There was only a faint trace of it left. A miniscule speck.
I stood there silently with dreading eyes as the system message emerged before me.
"Fina, what's the matter?"
Jonah asked from the side of the training ground.
His words made me sigh.
"I failed."
The others immediately turned worried.
"You failed the engraving process? Are you…c-corrupted now?"
Jonah asked concernedly.
I shook my head to ease everyone's worries. Correcting their worries, to be exact.
"No. I completed the ritual and successfully obtained the seal."
"Then what did you fail at?"
"I failed at being…worthy."
I claimed.
Jonah frowned.
"What do you mean?"
I then turned to the new system message to confirm my own words.
[Ba-dum!]
[Engraving complete.]
['Serafina (★★★★)' has been engraved with a special ability!]
[Wings of Malaikat (F-, Lv.1)]
[Small traces of a mysterious power.]
[Effect: Mana Overflow Resistance +3%]
[Exclusive Skill: None]
An F-rank seal.
Given the effect, I believed it was the lowest grade possible.
I practically received no benefit due to how minor the seal's attribute was.
The others might be right about me not needing a seal.
We managed to climb all the way to the nineteenth floor without one, after all.
But Sigyn did not think so.
My own abilities alone apparently were not enough to overcome the upcoming fourth Quintal Trial.
If they were, then Master would not send an Exploration Team to search for an Advent Stone and ordered me to engrave a seal once we found the rock.
My failure in obtaining a powerful seal also confirmed another thing, unfortunately.
[Item Distribution Order 1:]
[Recipient: All members of the Fourth Advanced Scouts]
[…]
The Fourth Advanced Scouts would be deployed to the twentieth floor.
The scouting attempt continued.