I will be the Strongest

Chapter 28

Nightmare. Not the ability of Baalzephon, the guardian of paths and portals, the one that allows them to invade the minds of the weak. But rather, a simplified copy that, unlike the original ability, has various ways to escape.

Originally, in some cases, there are two ways to escape the realm of nightmares: carrying an unmatched selfishness or simply believing with all your might that this is not what you deserve.

To escape the realm created by the demon guardian, the necessary selfishness is far from simple. You must be certain that your life is worth more than any other creature’s, regardless of the situation or the number of others involved. The act of ignoring the happiness of others for your own benefit or the deaths of others to preserve your own—this is only the beginning of such a path. Those who walk this path are the ones capable of escaping the Nightmare by their own will. Those whose fate after death is already sealed.

Your belief must be unwavering and not even slightly weak. Although belief can sometimes be tied to selfishness, this is not the kind of belief needed. You must believe, not with your mind, but with the deepest corner of your soul, that this is not your deserved fate. This is what allows you to glimpse an escape from the nightmare realm via a different route—the belief that your rightful place is not among men, but beyond the skies, in the golden realm, the Palace of Angels.

---

"Is this... an illusion..?"

In the midst of the darkness, the man moves his hands, searching for something to hold on to.

"Huh...? But what..."

The moment his hands touch something solid and cold that, for a brief moment, he was sure had moved, his ability activated, summoning a flame that illuminated the surroundings.

Raising his eyebrows, his eyes widened. Immediately, cold sweat started running down his body, and desperate hands clung to his legs.

"No, no, get away! Go away! Damn it! Stay away from me!"

Kicking at the people crawling out of the darkness had no effect. They kept grabbing him. The creatures continued to close in, their huge claws circling him. However, by throwing the flame toward those begging for help, a chance to escape appeared before his eyes, a small point of light in the distance.

"Don't go, please help me...! Please..."

"What is this?! No, get away! Get away! Stay back!"

Ignoring the voices and the cracking bones around him, his legs carried him toward the light. Spiders passed by him, and bones were crushed all around, but... though he clearly remembered the faces of each one... his own face bore a huge grin from ear to ear. After all... he was still going to make it out alive.

"No! Get away! Stay back! Stay away from me! Stay..."

Upon hearing the voice, he turned immediately, only to see Samantha huddled in the darkest part of the waiting room, a place where the light from the illuminated paths barely reached.

"Stay away... please... please, stay..."

How much time had passed since then? Since the moment the fourth-level mission was completed? The clocks didn’t work, and there wasn’t even a sun to mark the passage of time. In the end, the only option was to wait patiently until the end.

Hye remained standing, waiting for Samantha to regain herself and occasionally approaching the available paths on the fifth level. A new trap-laden, but illuminated, path had been added.

"Hm..."

Noticing movement from Samantha, Hye approached a little.

"Aunt...?"

His voice definitely reached her, as a shiver spread through her body, as if she had been shocked.

Wiping her tears, Samantha slowly lifted her head. Her eyes constantly scanned the surroundings.

"Are you alright..?"

She nodded, hesitantly.

Approaching Hye was not an easy task. As she did, blood splattered and dripped onto her face, and claws emerged from her chest.

"Are we moving on, or do you need more time?"

Shaking her head, Samantha briefly looked toward the nightmare path. Hands emerged, choking her furiously.

"Let's not take that path again... choose another."

"...Alright..."

"In that case..." Hye thought, "...despite the number of monsters inside, the level one path might be the best option. There won’t be any mental effects, and it won’t strain the body..."

"Sorry..."

The man stood up, dusting off his clothes, and approached the unlocked path on the fourth level.

"I'll take this one again, so... I guess I'll see you on the other side."

Hye glanced at the available paths. Without the light from the flames, their only option would be the third-level path. But... when he tossed a stone in earlier, he saw that the path had changed a bit.

As it flew through the air, the stone was enveloped in a thick layer of ice, and before it hit the ground, swords appeared and shattered it.

The man was the first to leave the waiting room and enter the chosen path. Hye tried to think a little, but no other options came to mind. If you eliminate the passages that are mere traps, there are only two choices left. But if you remove those with mental effects and no light, there are no options left. However, if you ignore the fact that there are swords, the third-level path would be the only option.

Before entering the passage, Hye glanced back briefly at the path he had just completed.

He sighed.

"A cheap copy..."

[Congratulations]

[The fourth level of the second floor of the Tower of Six has been successfully completed]

[Complete the level five mission to proceed]