Guild bot: "GOOOOONNNNGGG, system alert. Guild war initiated."

Hearing the alert suddenly sound off in his head, Solomon became tense. Though he hadn't heard of guild wars before, he could easily guess what they were.

Guild bot: "The guild, capitalist mages, has declared war on you. At 1 Am they will appear in the mission world. Due to the significant difference in strength between them and you, several benefits will be supplied to you."

Finished conveying its message, Guild bot stopped talking. But even the few things it had said were enough to worry everyone. But before anyone even had the chance to talk, bright pillars of white light suddenly shone down onto everyone. Pulling them up into the air, the light pillars suspended everyone in the air. looking around, Solomon saw that everyone was isolated in their own personal pillar. Surprised by the sudden movement and bright light, they were panicking. Looking around at the light by himself, Solomon also started to worry. He could feel it trying to force its way into his body. Though he tried to resist at first, his drained QI pool wasn't nearly enough to stop the tide of light. Feeling it enter his pores, he worriedly observed it. As the energy swirled around his internal organs, he felt extremely vulnerable. At this point, it wouldn't take much for the light to constrict around his organs and kill him. But contrary to that, the light didn't start attacking him. Instead, it slowly spread around his body. Seeping into his muscles, it revitalised his tired and damaged body. Feeling the odd warmth of it, he couldn't help but be surprised.

Solomon: "Agh, this must be one of the benefits."

Regaining his composure, Solomon started thinking about what this mystical energy could be. That's when he connected this with the benefits Guild bot had mentioned before. It wasn't surprising that the system would heal them. Especially when they were soon going to be facing up against an E rank guild.

Solomon: "Calm down!"

looking over at his teammates, Solomon noticed that they were all still struggling against the energy. Trying to gain their attention, he called out to them. But when he did, he was surprised to realise that his voice didn't reach them. Hearing the echo of his shout bounce around in his ears, he realised that was the only noise he could hear. Though he didn't notice it earlier, the only sounds he could hear were the ones he was making.

Guild bot: "This is the first of your rewards. You will now be fully restored to your best condition."

Voicing out inside of Solomon's brain for a second time, Guild bot confirmed his earlier conclusions. Understanding the situation, Solomon let his guard down. Even if he wanted to resist the light energy pouring into his body, he didn't have the power to do so. As his resistance disappeared, the energy started cascading into his body. As if the floodgates had been opened, the torrent of energy flowed into all of his pores. Due to the increased intake, his body began healing at a faster rate. Within a few moments, he could feel his muscles fill with a sense of power. Then as the energy penetrated through his muscles, deep into his bones, his fatigue completely disappeared. Like wisps of smoke before a strong breeze, all of the problems in his body drifted away. Finally, the light seeped into his almost empty Dantian and his brain. With that, his mental exhaustion and Qi were fully recovered.

Solomon: "Ahh."

Feeling like a weight had been lifted from his shoulder, Solomon let out a sigh. Only now that his mind had regained its clarity did he realise how stressed he'd actually been.

Solomon: "Wow, it really works well."

Marvelling at his refreshed body and mind, Solomon almost couldn't believe how effective the systems healing was. In the course of a minute, everything wrong with him had been completely fixed. Now as the light around him faded away and he was freed from its grasp, he landed back down onto the ground. Though Solomon had never doubted the power of the system, he had thought that it would take more than a minute to bring him back to his best. Even in the ends of missions when the system would completely heal him, it would take a decent bit of time. But then again thinking back on those times, Solomon realised he'd been severely injured for each of them. Considering that he could see why his impression of the systems healing was a lot weaker than what others probably was.

Solomon: "Can you hear me now!?"

Bringing his attention back to everyone else, Solomon noticed that they were still struggling against the light. Curious as to if his voice could reach them now, he called out to them. Knowing that their resistance would prolong the time it took to heal, Solomon sat down on the ground. looking at his watch, Solomon realised it had stopped moving.

Solomon: "You've got to be kidding me."

Thinking his investment of 5 points had gone down the drain, Solomon bitterly pulled his phone out of one of his combat armours pouches. But looking at the screen, he had a surprise. Just like his watch, his phone also had the exact same time on it. The funny thing was, both of them were stopped exactly on midnight.

Solomon: "It can't be."

Looking at the two devices, a crazy idea formed in Solomon's mind. though he had no way to test or prove it, he suspected it wasn't his devices that were malfunctioning, but in fact, that time itself had currently stopped. Dazzled by possibility, he stared blankly at the items in his hands. But before he had any more time to dwell on it, a sudden noise to his side drew his attention away.

Alice: "Ah!"

Hearing a cute high-pitched squeak, Solomon looked up to see Alice standing on the ground in front of him. The light around her body had disappeared by this point, revealing a fully refreshed Alice.

Solomon: "You've finished."

Hearing Solomon's voice, Alice looked over at him. She was too busy wondering at the new state of her body to even notice that Solomon was there. It was only after he spoke that she noticed him sitting a few meters from her.

Alice: "Ah, I did. I'm surprised to see you finished before me. weren't you more injured than me?

Looking Solomon over, Alice was puzzled as to how he'd finished healing before her.

Solomon: "I didn't resist the light, so it healed me a lot faster. Anyway, it looks like those two are about to finish too."

Answering Alice's question, Solomon noticed that Sasha and Nicholas were also about to finish healing. Looking over at his 3 remaining teammates, he could tell they wouldn't be finished healing anytime soon. Going by the struggling expressions of Gareth and Tony's faces, he could tell they were still resisting. Knowing how much that reduced the effect of the healing, he could tell that they had a long time to go yet. As for Pluvia, she was still unconscious. Floating in her own pillar, she was absorbing in tonnes of the light. Knowing how effective the light was on unresisting people, Solomon grew worried. If even the godlike healing of the light was taking this long how bad were Pluvia's injuries. Feeling responsible for her current state, Solomon couldn't help but show concern.

Alice: "Are you worried?

Seeing Solomon stare at Pluvia with a worried expression, Alice could easily read his thoughts. In truth, she was also worried about Pluvia. As another person who'd experienced the lights magical properties, she also knew what it meant for Pluvia's healing to take so long.

Solomon: "Hmm, I am"

Glancing over at Alice, Solomon honestly answered her. After his response, a silence settled over them. Both looking up at the suspended figure of their comrade, a mix of emotions raged in their hearts. for Solomon, it was a mix of guilt at having caused her condition and hatred for his own weakness. For Alice, it was frustration at not being able to heal her and worry that one of her few friends in this world was seemingly on the edge of life and death.

Alice: "It's okay, she'll definitely wake up soon."

Coming over to Solomon's side, Alice offered some consoling words. As much as she was hurt, she knew that Solomon would be much worse. As the one who was there when Pluvia was injured it was natural that he'd be the most affected. Hoping that it would help him, even if only a little, she tried to comfort him. In her heart, she also felt a sense of guilt. as the only person on the team with any type of healing skill, she felt like everyone's healing was her responsibility. After giving Pluvia her potion, she could tell that her injuries were worse than what Solomon had said. Call it her intuition, but she knew there was more to it. Because Solomon didn't want to dive into it, she didn't press him on it. Never the less, she knew. Now seeing Pluvia floating in the pillar of light, she realised how injured Pluvia actually was.

Solomon: "I know she will"

Grinding his teeth, Solomon focused intently on her floating figure. But even after almost half a minute, she hadn't recovered. At that time Nicholas and Sasha had both finished their healing. Seeing Solomon's mood, they were confused. But after Alice's explanation, they understood the situation. Sitting quietly nearby, they didn't disturb him. Then as time went on and he kept watching Pluvia hovering in the sky, Gareth and Tony emerged from their lights. Even with their resistant attitude, the light had finished healing them before Pluvia.

Gareth: "Hmm, maybe she's not able to recover without being awake."

Coming over and spectating Pluvia's condition, Gareth offered his own thoughts. Though what he'd said was possible, was it likely that the systems healing would have such a huge flaw?

Solomon: "Maybe that's it, But what do we do if it is? We can't force her to wake up and we can't move her either."

Spitting out bitter words, Solomon clenched his teeth together. If that truly was the case, he didn't know what they could do. But before he could dwell on that thought any longer, the scene before him took a drastic change.

Guild bot: "Due to excess damage in one participant, the healing power will be amplified."

Immediately after Guild bot had spoken, the pillar of light around Pluvia suddenly trembled violently. Shaking roughly, the light started to grow brighter. After a few moments, the previously see-through pillar had become a bright beacon of light. Like a mini sun in the large cavern, the light just kept on growing brighter and brighter. Feeling the light burning into their retinas, everyone was forced to turn away.

Gareth: What's happening?!

Shocked by the sudden change, Gareth blurted out the first thought that came to his head.

Solomon: "You guy's stay here, I'll check it out."

Worried by the lights development, Solomon dashed off towards the light. Before anyone could try to stop him he was already half way there. Holding his hand over his eyes he tried to block out the light. But as he grew closer even the protection of his hand couldn't stop the rays from shining through. But at this point, Solomon didn't even notice that. All that was occupying his mind was a single thought. "Is she okay".

Solomon: "Argh"

In his mad dash forwards, Solomon had run straight into the light. When he did the powerful energy forced him back, putting him on his ass. Standing back up, he tried forwards one step at a time. Holding his arm out in front of him, he felt for the barrier made by the light. After a few steps, he found it. Placing his hand on top of it, he felt a repulsive pressure pushing back against him. The more he pressed on it the more it would push back at him.

Solomon: "Pluvia, can you hear me!"

Calling out to her, Solomon waited a few seconds. But after getting no reply he knew she was still unconscious. Unable to bare the nervousness in his chest, he tried to force his way into the light. After pushing against the wall, he didn't feel it budging an inch. Even when he used all of his considerable strength to push against it, the result was a total failure. Realising he needed to change his tactics, he started punching the barrier. Though he knew his strength was far from enough, he couldn't just sit there and do nothing. Feeling the guilt on his shoulders grow stronger, he started losing his mind. Though he knew logically he couldn't do anything, that wouldn't change the way he felt. Screaming out in anger, he punched the wall with all he had. But no matter how much he hit it, the wall remained unmoving.

Solomon: "AAAARRRGGGHH!!!"

Unable to accept his own weakness, Solomon pushed his arms to the limit. But even then, the wall didn't budge an inch. As he surpassed his own limits, his fists landed heavily against the barrier with a force many times stronger than his usual punches. Obviously, this didn't come without a cost. His hands were being reduced to tatters by the force. Broken fingers and dislocated wrists sent unbearable pain shooting up his arms. But even with such a heavy level of damage, Solomon still put his all into his fists. The main reason he could even bare to do so was the barriers properties. Every time his arms hit the barrier, a little of the light energy there would sink into his hands. Surprisingly that tiny smidge of the energy was enough to completely fix his hands between every single one of his punches. Such an amazing healing ability really showed how condensed the light was. Yet even under such a strong healing ray Pluvia hadn't yet healed. Coming to that conclusion Solomons already unstable emotions went insane. Continuing on, Solomon's punches grew stronger and more damaging to himself. In the endless cycle of pain and repair, it was like his mental limiter was gone. With no regard for his own health, he put his all into his strikes. But Before he fell deeply into that dreadful cycle, a sudden tightness wrapped around his body. Feeling that odd sensation, he forced himself to open his eyes. Looking at the person embracing him, he could only spit out one word.

Solomon: "Pluvia"