[Ding!]
[There is a strong connection between the five individuals.]
[Linked Heroes - 'Andaman (★★★★★)', 'Lauressia (★★★★★)', 'Morivia (★★★★)', 'Wallack (★★★★)', 'Fandina (★★★★)']
[A bond called the 'Royals of the Abyssal Sea' has been formed!]
By the Eternal Serpent…
Three 4-star heroes and two 5-stars?
I believed this would be the strongest party in the lobby as of now.
Did the effect of the silver feather was still in place?
But I already used it for my seal's Advent Stone.
Perhaps the remaining effect still lingered and affected the summoning rate.
Or maybe the effect got enhanced due to my seal's awakening?
Nonetheless, the lobby gained more powerful heroes for the climb.
What a bountiful blessing after our losses in the 20th floor.
If my vision was to be trusted, then all the 4-star heroes available in Dunia had been summoned.
This would be the first time Sigyn summoned 5-star heroes.
Two of them at once!
That left only two other 5-star heroes remaining.
Out of entire Dunia, we only had four of them.
I could see the reason for their rarity.
Even on merely level 10, the two 5-star heroes had already outstripped every hero in the lobby in terms of status points.
Imagine how much stronger they would be once they levelled up further.
If the Garudas took about ten days to reach the 19th floor, then the Tsamudrans only needed five.
It was them that Master sent to the 21st floor to further our climb since the Quintal Trial.
They had only been here for less than half a month and already they contributed to the climb effort.
The Tsamudrans were simply that powerful.
Nobody ever knew how strong these water-breathing people really were.
There were simply no survivors in the battles against them. No one to tell the tale about the Tsamudrans' prowess.
And Tsatu had never warred against the Tsamudrans.
So their capability was truly a mystery to the rest of the world.
In this forged land we would finally unveil that secret.
"Greetings, land-dweller! Or should I say, Vice-Master!"
The huge man with the golden trident shouted with an overwhelming voice.
Tsamudrans surely had powerful lungs.
I could feel my surroundings vibrated upon his voice.
"Greetings to you, as well. I see that I no longer needed to introduce myself."
I replied the 5-star.
"Your heroics in those trials were enough for an introduction, Vice-Master. We could see why Master put so much trust in you."
The huge man said approvingly.
Just like the Garudas, Master had also showed the Tsamudrans the Quintal Trials' records.
The woman with the golden crown smiled upon the huge man's words.
"Who knew a land-dweller could turn to be such a powerful mage. The forged land sure is the place for heroes."
"That's right, my darling! And I believe it's time we introduce ourselves to whom the heroes call leader in the forged land."
The huge man said while raising his golden trident.
He pierced his weapon at the center of the rise and spoke aloud.
"I am Andaman Varun Matair! High Blood and Lord Patriarch of the Matair Clan!"
From what little records we had of the Tsamudran, it was stated that the ocean empire was consisted of a number of clans.
Each clan was ruled by a family of High Bloods.
It was basically a noble rank among the Tsamudrans. A pretty significant status, apparently.
"An honor to make your acquaintance, Lord Andaman. I am Serafina Magda Zeref, Vice-Master of Master Sigyn's lobby."
I replied with a slight bow of my head.
The woman with the golden crown then curtseyed to me and gently introduced herself as well as the rest of the Tsamudrans.
"And I am Lauressia Tigarin Matair. High Blood of the Hadall Clan and Matriarch of the Matair Clan. And these are our children. Fandina, Wallack, and Morivia, High Bloods of the Matair Clan."
The Tsamudran 5-stars were married to each other.
Their combat synergy must be outstanding.
And it would only increase exponentially once their 4-star children were involved.
"When our ocean was claimed by the calamity that engulfed the world, my family and I accepted the contract offering us to come to the forged land."
Lord Andaman told.
Even when he suppressed his voice, I could still feel the air vibrating.
He went on.
"We've given our pledge to serve the forged land's master and win the trials they set us upon. That is the promise we've made, Vice-Master. And the Matair never breaks their promises. I swear upon the Great Mother's name Herself."
Unlike the Garudas where only the Priestess remembered the contract, all of the Tsamudrans had their memory intact.
They at least understood their duties in the forged land.
Even so…
"I heard we were not very welcoming when you first arrived. Does the unpleasant experience still bother you?"
I asked the Tsamudrans.
The 5-star pair simply laughed.
"Have no worry, land-dweller! Tsamudran High Bloods may have great pride, but we have great mercy as well!"
Lord Andaman said while laughing very loudly.
"Unlike other ignorant High Bloods, we understand that land-dwellers are as complex as Tsamudrans. We know they may have faults. But we're also aware of their virtues that might be hidden deep within the abyss of their soul."
Lauressia explained in melodic tone.
She went on while staring at the young Tsamudrans.
"Our children were saved by a human once. So they are learned in this lesson as well."
Were they? Now that was a story I wanted to hear.
And what a relief that the Tsamudrans were easy to forgive.
I was not sure how they would react since there were barely any knowledge about them.
And unlike the Garudas, I doubted I could fully force the Tsamudrans to obey my orders should they were not inclined to cooperate.
I might had awakened my seal.
But the Tsamudrans' party was composed of 4-star and 5-star heroes.
It would not be ideal for the climb effort if the lobby were to clash against this single group.
Thankfully that scenario was out of the way.
"You've proven yourself by climbing to the 21st floor and contributed to the climb effort. So Master and I will be counting a lot on all of you from now on."
I told the Tsamudrans.
I went on while they were listening.
"On top of participating in the missions, I will also have you train the raiders of the Raid Team.
"You will be given the same deal as the Garudas.
"No one shall disturb the peace of your residence. But you shall come whenever I summoned you."
Lord Andaman immediately nodded to my terms.
"That is appropriate. We've joined Master's army, so it is natural for us to help one another and obey their general."
"Morivia and I shall also provide any assistance you require in the Magic Hall, Vice-Master."
Lauressia added.
It was really humble of the 5-stars to submit to my authority bestowed by Sigyn.
Usually someone of their standing and power would seek to obtain my Vice-Master position.
The Tsamudran High Bloods were truly noble, according to what I had seen of them so far.
Jonah also spoke good things about them while I was having my meal earlier in the mansion. So did Alam.
There did not seem to be any plot brewing hidden beneath those golden eyes.
These Tsamudrans truly meant what they said.
So I was really glad these 5-star heroes were such good characters.
I needed them to be so given the things I planned to confide with them.
"Would you mind if I speak with the two of you alone?"
I asked the 5-stars.
"Not at all, Vice-Master."
Lord Andaman said.
Lauressia then nodded to her children and the three of them immediately jumped back into the water.
"What is it that you wish to speak with us?"
She asked.
While I was unconscious, my seal provided me with many visions.
The scene in Floor 0 was certainly important.
But there was another one that was quite significant as well.
I wanted to ensure what that vision was all about.
"Dunia fell due to countless monsters invading the world."
I told the 5-star heroes.
I continued with curious expression.
"Did the monsters truly emerge from mysterious ruins?"
My question made the 5-stars raised their eyebrows in surprise.
It certainly piqued their interest.
"They say you are a 4-star hero, Vice-Master. Are you not?"
Lauressia asked.
"I am a 4-star hero."
I told her.
Lord Andaman then nodded.
"For you to be questioning this, that must mean you've realized the whole truth like us."
This was the reason I wanted to speak with the 5-star heroes alone.
Being a rank higher, they must know things I did not.
Certain memories that were blocked to even a 4-star hero like me.
These two Tsamudrans surely retained theirs. And I had regained mine through my seal.
I just wanted to confirm if what I saw was the truth.
"Our children also thought that the monsters came from inaccessible ruins that emerged all over the world."
Lauressia said.
She went on.
"The Garuda Priestess remembered it so. As well as the other land-dweller mage, the thunder ocean High Blood, the Chandran Devil, and the Agni's Keeper."
"But that's not how Lauressia and I remembered it."
Lord Andaman stated.
I agreed with him.
It was not the ruins.
My mind no longer believed it as such.
He then continued.
"The monsters came from titanic eggs. They were as large as mountains on land."
The Tsamudran was right.
My seal showed it to me in my vision.
More like correcting my false memories.
It happened before my vision on Floor 0, in another one where I was having tea with Headmaster Elgar.
Every false thoughts were overwritten by my seal with new ones. Replaced with the supposed truth.
After my Floor 0 vision, I was practically reliving every moment of my life where the false memories were present and were being rewritten by my seal.
I now would like to confirm those new memories.
"The land-dwellers called them seeds. They descended from another dimension through distortions that manifested throughout the world."
Lauressia explained.
She was right.
Everything was according to the new memories of mine that my seal had corrected.
There was something else too.
"The monsters. What were they truly like?"
I asked the 5-stars.
"They were endless. Moreover, they had this special powers unlike the Tsamudrans had ever seen. Even our mighty Matair army was destroyed."
Lord Andaman said.
He went on.
"Their wounds regenerate. They became stronger after they resurrected. We could hardly kill them."
That sounded like how our enemies turned out at the end of the 20th floor.
'Let me show you what a real mission looks like.'
Was that why Tel said that?
All the enemies we had been facing so far were just Samesta's followers.
They were the factions that wanted to stop the heroes to save the world.
But we had not yet face the actual enemies that engulfed Dunia.
We would eventually.
And we needed to be ready for them.
"Thank you for revealing the truth to me."
I told the 5-star heroes.
I went on as I prepared to teleport myself away, readying myself to continue my duty as Vice-Master and hero of the forged land.
"I am glad to have you by my side.
"Because powerful enemies are waiting for us in the tower.
"And we'll need all the brave heroes we could get to save our world."