I will be the Strongest

Chapter 22

'Calculating... So points will only be gained after the entire floor has been completed?'

The iron scent permeating his nostrils. Blood sticking to his feet. Hye walks among and over the bodies scattered in the forest, but the brutal sight around him doesn't seem to register in his eyes.

'Huh? Is that...'

[Congratulations on successfully completing the first floor of the Tower of the Six]

[Choose one of the following rewards]

[Fusion] [Healing of all wounds]

'So points won't be the only things to be gained...? Well, even though I don't know what fusion actually means, choosing healing would be useless since I haven't been injured at all. So...'

[The Fusion ability has been acquired]

"Oh, so it was an ability?"

[Name: Fusion

Description: When used, different abilities can be merged into one. The abilities cannot be separated after merging.]

"This is better than expected..., I guess..."

[Warning!]

[No fusion-prone abilities were found]

'As I thought, there are certain requirements to use it... But the ability description says nothing about that. Do I have to figure it out on my own?'

His steps continued deeper into the forest, leaving a red trail behind. However, with his eyes fixed on the system, Hye didn't even notice when he finally returned to the place where the first giant had been killed.

The green of the leaves disappears along with the brown of the tree trunks, and finally, opening his eyes to the surroundings, he can see a completely altered environment. Not by monsters, but by the devastating attack executed by Samantha.

'To cause something close to this... what level would I need to reach?'

The fallen giant, its body split in half. Around it, not a circle or a small line, but the entire area up to the edge of space had been destroyed. No tree or grass could be seen on the ground.

"Lucas, you..."

Upon hearing Sam's voice, preparing for the imminent impact, Hye closed his eyes, but..., nothing happened.

"What are you doing?! Come closer already, you...!"

After the system message, everyone gathered at the spot where the plane had crashed. Fortunately finding the portal in the center of the hole. Luckily, no one was injured, but Samantha, on the other hand...

"You said it would only be a few minutes...? Are you sure you're okay?"

"Come here, get closer."

Leaning against a rock, Samantha called him with her hand.

"A bit closer. Bow your head lower."

Her intention is so obvious that those watching can't understand why Hye still follows her orders.

The blow that made his head bow a few more inches, thanks to the echoing sound, caused pain to those who weren't even hit.

"Do that again and I guarantee I'll make you wish you were grounded for even a whole year."

Empty words, obviously, and she knows it. After all, to wish for something, he would have to feel, and if she really could make Hye feel any emotion, she wouldn't have waited so long to use such a miraculous method.

"What are you waiting for? Help me get up."

Slowly walking towards the white portal, frightened and hesitant glances followed them. Many trembled, while others swallowed something without even having enough saliva in their mouths. Looking into their bewildered eyes, Samantha sighed.

"Now it's up to you. Will you stay here, where there are no more living monsters, and endure until the supplies taken from the plane run out? Or will you try to move forward and complete all the floors of this tower?"

The trembling intensifies and everyone's gazes wander, sometimes meeting unintentionally.

Among the unawakened, as his body trembles, a man smiled ironically.

"Ha..! It's easy to say that when you can give orders and use the one who completed a whole floor alone as a crutch... What do you expect us to do...? Move forward to die?"

They all glanced at each other, and even among the hunters, there were those who silently agreed with what that man had just said. Soon, parallel conversations full of dissatisfaction began to spread.

"It seems there is some misunderstanding."

"Pardon?"

Hye's eyes wandered, and without exception, everyone felt the coldness in his gaze. The cause of a strange sensation. A cold, empty feeling, as if, deep down, they themselves understood what that look actually meant. None of their lives have value.

"Those who should be responsible for your safety are not us, they are them."

Hye looked at those who worked on the plane, causing all eyes to focus on them.

"We... wait, but we..."

There are so many looks, so much weight. Trembling, the hunters glanced at each other, making a silent decision, but none had the courage to announce it.

"What are you waiting for?! Say something!"

They glanced at each other again, and, closing their eyes tightly, one of the hunters pointed at Samantha.

"What he's saying is a lie. She also works for the company. It's also her duty to ensure your safety!"

"The duties of you, some simple employees who accepted the position knowing the risks and aiming for the benefits, and the duties of the general director of the entire corporate group are completely different."

"The general director of the entire Orian group...?" many wondered, incredulous.

Hye turned away, ignoring all those people and heading towards the portal with Samantha who, still not fully recovered, would resist if attempted, but without proper control, would end up hurting him.

"Wait, I'm not completely okay yet. Let me recover first and then we move forward."

Hye shook his head in denial. He looked up, aiming at the huge message floating in the sky above their heads.

"We don't have that time."

[Warning!]

[The portal to the second floor will close in 2:16]

Everyone looked. Some fell to the ground, their legs losing all remaining strength. Others, especially the A-rank hunters, fearing what it could mean, crossed the portal right after Hye and Samantha, leaving all those who didn't have the courage behind.

[1:29... 00:51... 00:21... 00:05... 00:03... 00:02... 00:01...]

[...00:00]

[Warning!]

[The portal to the second floor has been closed]

Diminishing rapidly until disappearing completely, the portal could no longer be used.

Everyone looked around, fearing what could possibly happen. Their eyes wide and bodies paralyzed. However, even after a few moments, nothing happened.

From the edges of dimension, a roar echoed from all sides.

[Warning!]

[The first floor of the Tower of the Six will be deleted]

"Deleted...?!"

"What does this mean?! What does this damn message mean?!"

The hunters knelt, knowing the meaning behind those words. And after the next tremor, everyone understood perfectly.

The barriers delimiting the edge of space continued to c***k slowly to the top.

"What... what is this...?!"

"Mommy..." murmured the little girl, clinging to her horrified mother's arms. "I want to go home... I'm scared."

"...It's going to be okay, sweetheart..., don't worry..."

Tears streamed down her face as her eyes instinctively followed the spreading cracks. Her whole body shook during their last painful embrace. Her mind faltered, and, for her daughter and especially for herself, a lie was all that remained to say, something that, honestly... she knew wouldn't happen.

"It's going to be okay..."

When they all met at the center of the skies, everything, including the sun, shattered before their eyes.

Pain couldn't be felt. Their deaths were so swift that they didn't even see how it happened. Their last sight? The emergence of void, like the deepest darkness.