I will be the Strongest

Chapter 23

[Welcome to the second floor of the Tower of the Six]

[Complete level 1 mission to proceed]

Their breaths heavy, and the absence of light, no matter which direction they looked, made their hearts race, their chests tighten.

'This feeling...' Hye wondered. 'Feels like we're on some rocky terrain.'

Their feet slid slowly over the ground, carefully passing through the small stones surrounding them. In such a dark place filled with stones, everyone wondered what kinds of creatures could lurk there.

"Hello...?" from the darkness beside them, a trembling voice echoed. "...Is anyone here..?

All eyes turned in that direction, fists clenched, weapons at the ready. From the darkness, a light emerged, a small flame capable of illuminating the surroundings of where they stood.

"Oh, so you're..."

In such a dark place... he obviously knew the possible consequences of illuminating, even for a short period, that area. The chance of attracting their attention... whoever they were...

Wide-eyed, the voice couldn't complete the path to his mouth. His finger raised, trembling and hesitant, and the smile on his face faded. Flinging the small fireball in his hands, he sought to rid himself of the object drawing everyone's attention, human or not.

Hye quickly turned around. His eyes followed the path of the fireball as he continued to hear the beats echoing from all sides.

[The skill Invisible Steps has been activated]

Into the tunnel the flames followed, illuminating the path they would all have to take shortly after. A path as crowded as it could be.

The huge, countless fangs emerged from the darkness, swiftly passing by their side. Their grotesque bodies supported by the cause of those strange sounds echoing, their various legs. In the midst of the darkness, their eyes approached, passing side by side.

Moving his hand, Hye quickly pulled the one responsible for creating the flame closer to him. His body trembling, his hands sweating. At some point, he ended up curling up on the ground as screams of pain echoed nearby.

"Damn it! G-Get away! Stay back...! Get away from me!"

Along with the screams, the various sounds of swords colliding against something resistant echoed continuously.

"Don't come near..! No, don't touch me! Get away!"

Flesh and bones being cut and crushed could also be heard. Mostly by the spiders surrounding them. However, in some cases, by the swords of those beside him.

"You-y-you... damn it...! What the hell are you doing?!"

Thanks to the darkness, the tear in his belly couldn't be seen, but the warm blood spreading over his hand was unmistakable. Such a clean cut couldn't have been caused by the fangs of those creatures.

"I-I... I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention!"

Swinging their swords, the darkness limited their vision, leaving them completely at the mercy of luck. Well, two of them certainly weren't lucky enough.

The blades ran, tearing through everything in front of them and finally hitting a surface so hard that it made their fists recoil. The return of the swords came with the fall of their bodies and their heads.

"You..." the sounds generated by the blades and the creatures' legs stopped, but something still resonated nearby. "That skill of yours, do you need to be in contact with the flames for them to stay lit?"

Their teeth clattering and their body trembling. In their mind, endless screams reminding them that they had just caused over fifteen deaths and worse, the certainty that theirs would be next.

Hye sighed.

"We don't have time for this... do you prefer I leave you here alone?"

Their eyes shot up quickly. As if it didn't matter, one fact is that, somehow, probably thanks to a skill, that person was able to keep him alive even though they were surrounded by so many monsters. If they leave, then...

"No! I..." their eyes swept the surroundings. A scream so loud, yet the creatures still didn't bother to attack or move... This certainly is the result of a skill. "I can shoot the flames and keep them lit or, if I want, explode them from a distance."

"I see. And do they need to be created directly in your hand or can you create them away from your body?"

"Well..., I can create them away from my body, but..." such a cold and indifferent voice, somehow, even in this darkness, he is strangely capable of imagining the expression present on his face at this moment. "...Why are you asking me this...?"

'That question borders on naivety, something he certainly is not...' thought Samantha, who silently observes the situation while her body continues to gradually recover. 'The difference is truly frightening... Seeing this Lucas again, cold and impassive, someone who, even if surrounded by dozens of creatures, is able to think rationally and calmly, choosing to pull this man closer to him and ignore all others, even though he was the one responsible for attracting the monsters in the first place, obviously considering how useful his ability could be in the future...'

Samantha sighed.

'It's hard to admit, but... he definitely seems like someone who was born for this kind of place...'

"Alright, then use your ability and create a flame capable of illuminating this place, a bit further ahead."

"What...? But..."

Their hands falter and their eyes widen, the sound of bones being crushed nearby still invading their ears, despite their efforts to prevent it.

"If I do this... the monsters will be able to find us..."

"Don't worry about that and please, do it."

'Please...' the man thought.

Clenching their teeth tightly, their hands rise hesitantly.

'He says it as if he's really giving me some kind of choice... Damn it..!'

The flame emerges, slowly growing and illuminating everything that surrounds them. The dozens of monstrous spiders occupying every corner of the path ahead, and, with no option, forcing them to fight to move forward. Just like the bodies being consumed by the monsters beside them.