"In any case, we need to proceed upwards. Aren't we here to see if the Sage needs our help?" I ask.

"Ah! Yes... that’s right." Aria realises.

As if in answer to this, the entire tower shakes once more, and more electricity zaps down the walls, presumably from combat still taking place above.

Taking this as our call to arms, we break once more into a dash, heading up the central grand staircase, which gradually winds around the walls. Checking the lower rooms is not high priority right now.

Kaede runs like the wind, and most impressively, does so on the railing, rather than the stairs themselves. I guess an effective 45 Agility is pretty godlike.

Aria is still pouting for some reason, but it beats her hannya face I suppose. Kiku has put down her visor again, so her face cannot be seen; but part of me thinks she is busy snickering to herself.

We reach the top of these main stairs about three stories up. They reach a majestic landing flanked by two gargoyle statues cast in copper. The large double doors between them, have, once more, been thrown open.

Inside the next area is what can only be described as an arboretum, set on two different layers connected by ramps. The plants and trees are all apparently cavernous, nocturnal, or otherwise thriving on darkness. Water trickles down the walls, and this area is apparently well insulated from most of the electricity in the rest of the tower. There is even a gazebo.

It's such a stark contrast from the architecture so far that it gives all four of us pause.

"Um... is this a garden?" Kiku queries.

"Yes, I believe that is the purpose. Many of these plants have sorcerous applications, do they not?" Kaede agrees.

As I set foot further inside I was mostly bewildered as I was assailed by the various applications for explosives that many of the strange plants immediately suggested to me. This skill is weird as hell, it feels like the plants all whispered to me at once...

"Um... I only recognise the Ghostfruit... oh... and the Faselock vines... they can make cough mixture, and thread."

"There is also Terimarr. You can recognise its serrated black leaf. Be careful around it." Aria adds, looking annoyed.

"Is that one dangerous?" I query.

"Terrimarr is also called the Black Eater, yes. It has contact poison on its leaves, and is valued by assassins like myself, Nii-sama. It causes violent rashes, and if the leaves break the skin, the poison prevents clotting." Kaede explains.

Woah, thats a scary plant. No wonder it instantly suggested 'gas grenade' to me. Sounds like some serious Geneva Convention defying shit.

"But, we shouldn't be held up here, yes?" Kaede urges.

I nod, and as we skirt around the Terrimarr patch, we proceed up the ramp to the exit leading further upwards. I pick a Ghostfruit as we pass by it, throwing it into my tunic pocket.

I also kind of wanted a Terrimarr sample, but I'm not wearing gloves, so I guess it will have to wait... I don't really want to have to ask Kiku to grab it with her gauntlets, and there is no time to waste anyway.

The next area gives us all a fright again. This is clearly where the earlier explosion we witnessed occurred, as wind is whistling through a gaping hole in the closest wall, next to which there is a pile of around a half-dozen burnt demon bodies.

From the arrangement and equipment of the bodies, it seems they came in the same door we just did, in a four abreast phalanx, holding up tall wooden shields and wielding crossbows, only to be instantly blown away by a huge electrical blast, of such voltage that it scored the masonry and blew the wall up. As we saw, three fell into the abyss below.

Fortunately, the wind is mostly sucking out air, so the stench of seared flesh is only moderate. Still enough for a serious nose wrinkling.

We carefully pick our way past the bodies.

Past the remains of this area, which I think was an atrium, there is an audience chamber, complete with a small throne.

Battle clearly occurred here as well, or rather, probably continued here. There are piles of charcoal next to melted swords, and trails of blood, and most confusingly, a line of demons that appear to have shot themselves with their own crossbow bolts.

"What in the world?" Aria exclaims.

It occurs to me, of course, that this lightning sage is probably more a general controller of electromagnetism. If so, these iron bolts could have been spun right back at their original source. Pretty cool ability. An earth physicist would love to see it I'm sure, well, before tearing their hair out at the impossibility anyway...

"Um, just how many were attacking this place?" Kiku wonders.

"At least thirty, I would plausibly suggest, yes?" Kaede adds.

That’s kinda rubbish news. I don't know how us four can help against a small army. Though we hopefully have surprise on our side, and clearly the sage hasn't been slacking in their kill count, and has at least halved that figure.

Another rumble occurs upstairs, much louder than before. My game sense is telling me that a boss is ahead...

Well, I have lolis, bring it!