"Well, that's our sign to get going. Good luck, you two," Jack said to the duo.

  "Wait, here, take this." Turning around, Jack barely managed to catch what Alex tossed him.

  "What is this?" Jack asked while inspecting what looked like a metal cube covered in enchantments.

  "An insurance."

  "An insurance for what?"

  "For your upcoming fight." Jack's eyes lit up.

  "So what, is it like a good luck charm or something?"

  "Sure, you can say that."

  "Sweet! Thanks! And good luck on your fight as well!"Jack waved goodbye before heading to the tower entrance with the rest of his team. Mari took the time while she waited for the other teams to enter to drink the rest of the Chill potion Alex had handed her earlier.

  "Is there a team you want to fight with?" He suddenly asked after downing an entire Mana potion.

  'I really need to remember to ask him about that. Aren't those bitter?' She thought to herself, grimacing at the memory of taking a few sips of a Mana potion as a kid. "What do you mean?"

  "Exactly, what I said. Is there a team in particular you would like to fight a boss with?" Mari tilted her head to the side and furrowed her brow as she thought over his question. "Isn't the boss you fight random?" He nodded.

  "Yes, it is, but who you fight it with isn't."

  "Really?"

  "How else do you think they can make sure that each boss has at least one adult to help if needed?"

  "Huh, you have a good point. I never thought of that. So what do we need to do to fight alongside Jack's team?"

  "Jack, Crystal and Seraphina. A good and balanced combination." Alex nodded in approval. "Well, there is only one way to guarantee you get the same boss as someone, and that's forming a team. For obvious reasons, we can't use this method. However, there are three methods we can use to manipulate the odds that we get the same boss as Jack's team." He glanced at the next team entering the tower. "First is the method that the instructor and the other helpers most likely will use. By having more groups than bosses, they can increase the chances that each boss will have at least one helper. With enough helpers, they can even guarantee that this happens, and from my calculations, they have enough to do so."

  "That doesn't sound like something we can make use of." He nodded.

  "Yeah, unless you want to split up to increase the odds of one of us getting grouped with Jack's team, we can't really take advantage of this method." He quickly glanced at the next team entering the tower. "The second method is timing when you touch the entrance. The boss you are sent to changes after a set amount of time between each instance of someone entering the boss's room. For the Soul Stone Desert, it happens every forty-eight seconds." He glanced at the next team.

  "Huh, how the hell did people figure that out?" Mari couldn't help but mutter. "What did someone just get bored and decide to time themselves entering a boss room?"

  "Sure." He absent-mindedly agreed while watching the next team enter. "Well, the finer details of how I know this don't matter. What is important is that the moment Jack's team entered the tower, a timer started, one that resets after every subsequent group. I've been keeping track of the timings so far, but depending on how long it takes for each team to enter the tower, we might have to rely on our luck to get paired with Jack's team."

  "What about the third method?" Mari watched as Alex's gaze briefly turned towards the next team before shifting back to her.

  "Manipulating the order in which you enter. For example, Jack's team will never be grouped with the team that entered right after them. However, they could be grouped with the third team. So, technically, if we wanted the best odds of being grouped with Jack's team, it would have been better to be the third team to enter the tower."

  "But we couldn't do that." He nodded.

  "Yes, so the only method we can realistically use is how we time when we enter."

  "Aw." Mari drooped upon hearing that. "So what, we just have to hope and pray?"

  "No," He said simply before touching one of his Storage pouches. After muttering something, Alex showed Mari a small metal cube between his pointer and middle finger.

  "Isn't that the good luck charm you gave Jack earlier?" He shrugged.

  "He's the one who called it a good luck charm, but what I said was that it was insurance for his upcoming fight." He quickly glanced at the next team before continuing. "This works as an anchor that, once paired, it will attempt to pull us towards its other half as we are transported to one of the bosses." Her eyes grew wide at his explanation.

  "Is that why you gave Jack one? So that you could guarantee that we fight the same boss as him?" He made a so-so motion with his other hand

  "It's not a guarantee. If the team before us gets grouped up with Jack's team, then there is nothing we can do. And even if that wasn't the case, there is still a chance of us ending up with a different boss before this can pull us to the one we wanted." Mari nodded at his explanation before realizing something.

  "Wait, you gave Jack the anchor before asking me what team I wanted to fight with. What would you have done if I said a different team?" He didn't say anything; instead, he raised the hand that was holding the cube. With Mari's full attention on it, Alex palmed the cube before flourishing out his fingers and revealing four identical metal cubes, one between each of his fingers.

  "I would have just handed another one to the team you ended up choosing." He flicked the four cubes in the air and started juggling with one hand. As she watched the mesmerizing sight, Mari was still able to notice Alex's gaze occasionally shifting towards the tower entrance before returning to her. "Here, this one is yours." He suddenly said, catching one of the cubes with his pointer and middle finger before flicking it towards her with his thumb. Mari scrambled to grab it and was able to look back quickly enough to see Alex palming the other three cubes. Then he opened his palm towards her, revealing that the other cubes had disappeared.

  "Tada." He said in a completely monotone voice. "Well, come on, we're up next." Looking around, Mari was surprised to see how empty the area was, with only two other groups and McGaron still with them. Tightening her grip on the cube, Mari ran to catch up to her teammate.

  "Why do I need one of these?" She asked, shaking the cube towards him. She froze and brought the cube closer to her ear. Shaking it again, she noticed a soft rattling sound.

  "The pull of them will be stronger if we both have one. I would have liked for us to carry more than one, but the enchantments don't allow that."

  "Then where is yours?" She asked with narrow eyes. She immediately sharpened her senses as Alex raised his right hand, giving her full focus on watching him.

  "Oh, it's right here." He brought together his thumb, pointer and middle finger. Then, with a sudden loud snap, he flicked a cube that came out of nowhere in the air before catching it with his left hand. He brought both hands together and opened them, showing Mari his palms. And to her surprise, his left hand was empty while a small metal cube sat in the middle of his right hand.

  "Awesome!" Alex awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck as Mari enthusiastically clapped at his performance. "What kind of magic was that? I have never seen any Spell slinger do anything like it."

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  "Probably because it isn't the type of magic you are thinking of. By taking advantage of my high dexterity as a Mana Weaver, some sleight of hand and misdirection, I can guide your focus to where I want it. For example, because you were so focused on the cube I flicked in the air, I was able to grab another one while you weren't looking."

  "Then where did the one you caught with your left hand go?" He brought his index finger to his lips and winked at her.

  "A magician never reveals their secrets, though you're free to try to unravel the mystery yourself."

  "Ha, if it isn't magic, then I bet I'll figure it out by the end of the month!" He nodded.

  "Well, I'm not sure about that, but you'll definitely figure it out faster than I did."

  "Really? Was your teacher that bad?" He chuckled at that sudden question.

  "Well, I was always a bad teacher."

  "What do you mean by that?" He hummed at the question for a bit before answering.

  "I taught myself how to do the tricks I showed you."

  "Really? Then what made you want to learn how to do them in the first place?"

  "I'll answer that question another time. We're here." As he stopped walking, Alex grabbed Mari's collar and lightly pulled her back. "Careful."

  "Huh?" Looking forward, Mari realized she had almost run into the tower entrance.

  "For the best odds, touch the entrance at the count of seven." She nodded."One, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN!"

  1: Cobra, 2: Elemental, 3: Hands, 4: Mummies

  Roll 1D4 -> Result: 1

  Roll 1D4 -> Result: 3

  1: Cobra, 2: Elemental, 3: Mummies

  Roll 1D3 -> Result: 1

  After a flash of light and a moment of weightlessness, Mari found herself in a completely new area. However, due to the unstable ground, she lost her footing and fell to her knees. As she got up, she looked around and noticed others doing the same. "Ugh," She couldn't help but grimace. No matter how many Rifts Mari had been to, she could never get used to the idea that, regardless of the time difference between two people entering the same boss room, they would always arrive at the same time. However, she did perk up when she saw Jack and the other two a short distance away.

  "Looks like luck was on our side this time," Alex muttered next to her, wiping the sand off what's left of his clothes. Then, without missing a beat, he took out a blue potion and downed it in one gulp.

  "Aren't you a bit too relaxed despite being in a boss room?" He shrugged at the questions while storing the empty bottle away.

  "We both know a Rift this low levelled isn't going to have a boss that attacks us as soon as we enter the boss room. We can stand around doing nothing for as long as we want, with only our limited food and water stopping us."

  "Levelled?" He waved her question away.

  "I misspoke, I meant Tier." Mari nodded.

  "You have a point. Hmm, you know what you said reminded me of the time my parents and I entered a low-tier Rift for some family bonding time. Upon entering the boss's room, we sat down and had a picnic. Once we finished, we fought the boss to work off our meal." He raised a brow at her story.

  "And you called me out for drinking a Mana potion while you do things like that?" She let out an awkward chuckle as her cheeks heated up at his comment. Before the two could continue their chat, a muscular female student called everyone to gather together.

  "So," the student started once everyone was grouped up. "First, does anyone know if this Boss starts attacking after a set amount of time or when we enter some kind of territory?"

  "Territory," answered a lanky male. "It would pounce at anyone who enters a ten-meter radius of it. I also remember reading something about the area around them having the properties of quicksand." The muscular female student whose name Mari was sure starts with a B(?), nodded.

  "Does anyone else have any other info on the Boss?" B(?) asked the other students around her.

  "The Boss is a Soul Glare King Cobra." Replied Alex. "A decently difficult Boss for the Tier of Rifts they appear in. Has a few notable Traits we'll have to watch out for, like resistance to fire/heat-based attacks, tough skin, slippery scales and Moderate Regeneration." Mari couldn't help but notice a hint of greed in Alex's voice when he said the last part. "We also have to be careful of the face on its hood, as it can paralyze anyone who stares at it for too long."

  "How long does the paralyzation last?" B(?) asked.

  "Roughly twenty seconds." Mari grimaced at his answer.

  "The Soul Glare King Cobra can also shoot out corrosive venom from its sharp fangs." Added Crystal. "Even if the venom doesn't hit anyone, it, upon being exposed to air long enough, starts releasing a gas that can quickly blind someone. On the bright side, air also quickly neutralizes both the venom and the gas. Fully neutralizing both of them within a few seconds." Mari looked over to the Boss as she continued to listen to Crystal talk. Its large body was lazily coiled up at the center of the arena. Its body was covered in shiny black scales that Mari was sure would be painful to look at if the area was any brighter, along with streaks of duller brown, teal, beige and brown ones. Its hood, which was three times wider than its body, had a pattern of pure white scales that to Mari vaguely looked like a skull glaring at you.

  'Huh, is that where the soul glare portion of its name comes from?' Mari mused to herself. By the time she was done inspecting the Boss, Crystal had already finished telling the other students what she knew about the monster.

  "Does Anyone have anything else to add?" B(?) asked the other students after thanking those who had already spoken up. However, she decided to move on when it was clear no one was going to say anything. "First, who here prefers to be on the front lines?" B(?), Alex, Jack, two other students, and I raised our hands. "Who here prefers to be in the back lines?" Crystal, Sera, and one other student raised their hands. "Who can do either?" This time, only Crystal and Alex lifted their hands.

  "You can?!" Mari shouted in surprise at Alex.

  "Yeah," He nodded. "Though I'm limited to only hurling Icicle Spears when at range."

  "As for me, I have an easier time trapping monsters in ice the closer I am to them." Crystal decided to add. B(?) nodded at the two students' explanations.

  "Then let's divvy up the roles."

  "Wait," interrupted a thin, pale male holding a scythe who wanted to fight on the front lines. "I think we should first figure out who here we need to worry about receiving friendly fire from, because I know you," he pointed at Alex, "are prone to spontaneously combust when you fight."

  "Yeah, I do." He admitted while nodding.

  "Good point. Then, raise your hand if that implies to you." B(?) said to the group. Only Alex and Sera raised their hands. "Elaborate, please."

  "Well," Alex started. "To make the most of my regeneration and healing spells, I adopted a very reckless fight style. This includes setting everything around me and myself on fire, trapping opponents by freezing them to me, and having Icicle Spears erupt out of my body to attack monsters." Everyone but Mari cringed at the image as Alex talked. Once he finished, he turned to look at Sera.

  "Eek!" Feeling the other students' gaze on her, Sera hid behind Crystal as she talked. "Oh, uhm. I'm an Alchemist and I attack by throwing different kinds of potions at my opponents. Despite how many I already used, I still have a few Fire, Ice, Acid, Lightning, and Petrifying potions. I haven't managed to learn any spells or techniques, so once a potion is thrown, I have no control over who it hits. And as you might have guessed, they all tend to affect a wide area around whatever they hit."

  "How far can you throw them?" B(?) asked her.

  "Not far," Sera answered with flushed cheeks.

  "And you have no other method of attacking?"

  "No."

  "How about this?" Alex spoke up after a moment of awkward silence. "You lend me some of your potions, and then we attack the Boss at two different angles. While I alone attack its back, the rest of you can work together and face it head-on."

  "I'm fine with that plan." Jack was the first to agree with Alex's idea, with the rest following soon after. The students then spent the next ten minutes hashing out a plan before finding one they could all agree on. "Wait, everyone!" Jack called out before the other students executed the plan. "Sera wants to hand something out." She nodded a thanks to Jack before handing each student a potion.

  "For the Spell slingers, I handed out a potion that temporarily increases their Mana regeneration, while I handed the others one that boosts their stamina." She quietly explained.

  "Does anyone else have anything that might help in the upcoming fight?" B(?) asked after drinking her potion.

  "I can cast temporary buffs on people." Spoke up a tired-looking, short male. "Though I'm only able to cast one on each person, and I only have enough Mana to maintain them for at most a few minutes."

  "Are you able to deal any significant damage to the Boss?" Alex asked.

  "Not, really." The short student mittered with a defeated sigh.

  "What kind of buffs can you cast?"

  "I can cast Iron Skin, which makes people tougher. Enhance Regeneration and Strength, which does what their names suggest. Blood Boil which increases the target's overall physical capabilities at the cost of their bodies heating up significantly faster. And finally, Swift Wind, which manipulates the air around the target, reducing the air resistance they receive while also boosting their overall speed."

  Alex nodded at his answer before taking out a potion filled with dense, dark blue liquid and handing it to him.

  "I-is this a Grade Seven Mana potion! Don't these cost at least 400 Credits?" Alex nodded.

  "And the whole bottle will be yours to keep. As long as you're fine with staying back, maintaining your buffs for the entire duration of the Boss fight. So what do you say, do we have a deal?" He asked while extending his left hand.

  "DEAL!" The short teen yelled while shaking Alex's hand.

  "Glad to hear." Alex paused for a moment. "What is the exact length of time you can maintain your buffs on everyone?"

  "Oh, uh, I'm not really sure. I've never timed it for this many people before."

  "What's the maximum number of people you timed and for how long? "

  "Four people, including myself, for twenty minutes," Alex muttered something under his breath before reaching to his left back Storage pouch. "To avoid Mana Sickness, drink one of these roughly every twelve minutes," Alex told the student while handing him a 1-oz shot glass.

  "Yes, sir!" The student saluted. Alex just nodded at him before walking back next to Mari.

  "Great," B(?) said with a pleased nod. "With everything sorted out, let's start the operation. Everyone, get to your positions!" Eight of the students moved towards the Boss, stopping just before the quicksand, while Alex circled to the other side of the area.