Gardener of Eden

Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Fifth Floor

Rowan set his wooden mug down, the soft tap echoing over the quiet table in the private alcove of the Glowstone Refuge inn. Tipping the brim of his Enchanted Straw Hat, he looked around at his exhausted yet thoroughly powered-up companions and officially deactivated their active party interface for the evening.

”Alright, everyone,” Rowan said softly. ”The squad is disbanded for the night. Go get a hot meal, hit the baths, and get some real sleep.”

Caelen let out a massive sigh of relief, stretching his arms high until his new Pauldrons of the Molten Hearth clinked against his armor. ”Man, my body feels like lead after that Leviathan fight and my trial forge. I’m going to sleep like a boulder.”

”We made staggering progress today,” Princess Lyra agreed, her silver hair spilling over her shoulders as her golden aura dimmed down to a peaceful hum. Her fingers gently brushed her Bracers of the Sun. ”Reaching Level 10, securing Floor 4, dismantling the Order of Humanity cell, and claiming these relics... it’s more than most high-tier guilds accomplish in a month.”

”And we still have four full days left in the Tower before we have to head back out to the surface,” Seraphina added, taking off her Lenses of Divine Focus and wiping them clean. ”Plenty of time to prepare for Floor 5 once our mana pools are fully restored.”

Mirei gave a rare, subtle nod as she vanished toward the hall wrapped in her new phantom cloak, while Barney was already halfway to the sleeping quarters, clutching his enchanted anvil like a prized trophy.

”Save your energy for tomorrow,” Rowan grinned softly, stepping into his own quiet room at the inn. Setting his trusty hoe against the wall and hanging his straw hat on the bedpost, he settled in for a peaceful night’s sleep. ”Day two is in the books. Four more days to go.”

***

Morning broke over Glowstone Refuge as pale blue light filtered through the cavern’s bioluminescent canopy. Squad 07 assembled near the outpost gates, each member still nursing a dull, persistent ache in their muscles. Even with a full night of rest, a brutal two-hour battle of attrition against the Gloom-Root Leviathan wasn’t something a body simply forgot overnight.

Caelen rotated his shoulders with a quiet wince, the broad plates of his Pauldrons of the Molten Hearth settling over his sore back. ”My legs are still screaming from dodging that acid, but I’d rather move now than get caught in a room with a freshly respawned hydra.”

”Agreed,” Princess Lyra said, her voice crisp as she adjusted her Bracers of the Sun. Her golden aura flickered gently, warming her muscles to ease the lingering stiffness. ”The floor boss respawn timer typically resets within twenty-four hours. Moving now ensures a clear, unobstructed path to the next stage.”

Guild Captain Marcus watched them depart with visible relief, offering a deep bow as the group set a brisk pace back through the crystal-lined corridors of Floor 4. Moving with practiced synergy, they bypassed the quiet quartz monoliths and crossed directly into the cavernous boss chamber.

The sunken rot-basin where they had fought yesterday was eerily quiet. The knee-deep acid pools had receded into subterranean drainage, but faint, violet spores were already beginning to coalesce in the air—an unmistakable sign that the Tower’s ambient mana was preparing to recreate the titan.

At the far end of the cavern, hovering above the pristine stone dais, stood the grand spatial portal leading to Floor 5. Pulsing with a dense, emerald light, the towering gateway hummed with an inviting warmth, completely untouched by the surrounding decay.

Seraphina glanced at her slate while adjusting her Lenses of Divine Focus. ”Spatial stability on the gateway is peak. We have plenty of time before the boss entity re-manifests.”

Rowan adjusted his trusty hoe over his shoulder and tipped the brim of his Enchanted Straw Hat, a calm smirk touching his lips as he looked back at his sore but resolute team.

”Day three, Floor five,” Rowan said smoothly. ”Let’s see what the Tower has lined up for us next.”

Without a second thought, Squad 07 stepped together through the emerald light, leaving Floor 4 behind.

***

As Squad 07 stepped through the emerald spatial gateway, the damp, claustrophobic rot of Floor 4 vanished in an instant. In its place, a warm, cresting breeze swept past their faces, carrying the crisp scent of dry sweetgrass and mountain ozone.

They emerged on a massive, stone-paved overlook above The Golden Steppe. Beneath a breathtaking, perpetual sunset sky painted in hues of crimson, amber, and deep violet, endless fields of glowing golden grass undulated like an ocean under the wind. Ancient, rune-carved monoliths hummed softly across the landscape, while colossal six-legged megafauna drifted peacefully across the horizon like moving hills.

”Talk about a change of scenery,” Caelen breathed, resting a hand on his sword hilt as his Pauldrons of the Molten Hearth caught the golden evening light. ”No damp caves, no toxic miasma. Just pure open sky.”

Dominating the center of the steppe stood The Crossroads Citadel—an awe-inspiring metropolis built directly within the colossal, hollowed-out torso of an extinct stone titan. The ancient titan’s massive ribs arched high above the city skyline like natural mountain vaults, holding up multi-tiered districts, bustling auction halls, and grand guild spires. Banners from the Tower’s premier Tier 1 and Tier 2 factions fluttered from the stone ramparts, signaling its status as the supreme commercial hub of the lower floors.

Seraphina adjusted her Lenses of Divine Focus, her eyes widening as data flashed across her vision. ”The mana density here is incredibly balanced, but the concentration of high-tier adventurers inside the citadel is off the charts. High-grade marketplaces, specialized crafting guilds, luxury accommodations... it has everything.”

”It’s the border floor,” Princess Lyra said, her Bracers of the Sun gleaming warmly against the sunset. ”Beyond this floor lies Tier 2. Everyone coming up or heading down gathers at the Citadel to trade rare boss drops, hire elite mercenaries, or buy domain land.”

Rowan tipped the brim of his Enchanted Straw Hat, a relaxed smirk on his face as he adjusted his trusty hoe over his shoulder. The vibrant vitality of the grassland hummed in deep harmony with his Gardener of Eden traits.

”Sounds like the perfect place to grab a top-tier lunch, check out the auction houses, and see what our loot is worth,” Rowan said, gesturing toward the paved merchant road leading down to the Citadel gates. ”Let’s head inside.”