“Clear!”

“Clear!!”

“Clear over here, too. Shit! Why is everywhere clear!? Where are the monsters!?”

After unintentionally ensuring their safety, Allen began looking around and shouting angrily.

There’s really nothing on the third floor! Aside from the three silver crystals they found, there are even no corpses or bodies around, only blood stains.

“What’s happening? Where are the monsters?”

Like hell I know! Allen exploded inwardly. Feeling fed up with it all, he looked up toward the sun.

Through the window, one could see the should-be shining brightly golden sun was now replaced with a red colored sun shining ominously.

Starting today, this kind of sun would be the norm and the golden sun was now nothing but a history.

Damn it! What the heck is happening?

The silence was almost painful.

Mia let out an obvious sigh and interrupted the following silence.

“Let’s go over the situation. We saw the monsters came here but now they’re gone. Then that’s the end…”

“What do you mean by the end!? Are you serious!?”

“But we don’t have any information, right? They might be on the 4th floor but believe me, if that really happened, things would get nuclear for us.”

Allen made a wry smile. That was true if they were really gathered on the top floor, then no matter how they struggle, they will still end up in a very, very, yes a double very dangerous situation.

“But we still can’t leave yet. We still need to check the last floor and see just what is really happening. Although I don’t want to do this, something is telling me that this is not that simple.”

“But, what will happen if the worst-case scenario happens?”

“If that happens…” Allen paused there, threw off his hesitation, and finally continued. “Then, be ready to pray to all the Gods you know of~”

--- ---

[ Cloak of Agility

Rare-Superior

An item from the Leag*e of Leg*nds world. It doubles the user’s speed and agility. ]

[ Bulletproof Vest

Normal

An item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact and reduce or stop penetration to the body from firearm-fired projectiles- and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso. ]

[ Rough Hide Leggings

Rare

An item from the Diablo III. It allows no disturbance in movements and increased the user’s speed by 10%. ]

“Two Rare artifacts.” Allen mused as he looked at the silver crystal in his hands.

“Well, how to allocate this…”

“This time is my turn, I will take [ Cloak of Agility ].” Mia shamelessly declared and grabbed the silver crystal that store the [ Cloak of Agility ] without waiting for Allen’s opinion.

“I, I will just take the [ Bulletproof Vest ]. That is enough for me…” Aileen, on the other hand, takes a step back. She already possesses the [ Blitz Boots ], taking something good at this time would be utterly shameless.

But even so, Allen just shrugged it comically and instead of the silver crystal that held the [ Bulletproof Vest ], Allen gave her the crystal that stored the [ Rough Hide Leggings ]. He then put the [ Bulletproof Vest ] silver crystal on his bag pack.

“No, I…”

“It’s fine. You should take it~” Aileen tried to give it back but Allen stopped her from doing so.

As the only man in here, it would be shameful if he would take it himself. As the saying goes, ‘Ladies First’ Mia and Aileen’s well-being is Allen’s greatest mission.

“T, Thank you…” Aileen lowered her head in gratitude. Her face beet red and her body were fidgeting, not knowing what to do.

Allen only casually smiled. “You should change in that classroom.”

--- ---

Allen and the two girls arrived at the stair leading to the last floor; the 4th floor.

“Are we really going?” Aileen asked with a doubtful voice.

Allen and Mia looked at her; their faces each wore a smile.

“Are you afraid?” Allen asked but his tone wasn’t mocking, more like he was consoling.

“… …”

“Of course you are afraid. Nobody wanted to die… I could understand that. Even now, my hands are shaking.

But even so, if you cower right now, what do you think will happen to you in the future? This isn’t a one-time event you know. In this kind of world, no matter where you go, you will face danger.”

“I, I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, everyone’s like that. That’s normal. Besides, those who managed to adapt to this kind of world so easily are the ones who are not.” Allen said with a bitter smile. Yeah, if you go as to what is normal, then, they who view this situation as normal is what is abnormal.

Maybe, while fighting they have already strayed from the path of a normal human being. Allen is one, Mia is one. Those who pass their days by fighting monsters might have already gone abnormal.

This might be what Friedrich Nietzsche meant, ‘Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.’

But was that really okay?

I don’t know… Allen and Mia would certainly answer. …for now that is…

“Both of you are really amazing.” Aileen looked at the two youth in front of her in astonishment with a gaze full of solemnity and awe.

Their calm demeanor despite facing danger really overwhelms her.

To this, Allen only shook his head. “I’m sure you can be like us, Aileen… might even become better than me.”

Yeah, the Aileen he knows is strong and courageous. It wouldn’t take a long time for him to see her again like that.

“...I hope so…”

--- ---

Allen and two girls quietly crept into the fourth floor. Their hearts beating like a drum in anxiety.

But as soon as they arrived, they couldn't help but be stunned in shock.

Again, what greeted them was nothing but complete silence.

What’s going on?

Just like the third floor, the whole place was empty. Now, even the silence felt somewhat eerie.

“What is happening here?” Allen muttered under his breath.

The two girls beside him held the same doubt.

Where did those monsters go to?

What the hell is going on?

Although the entire place was silent that you could even hear a pin drop, but for some reason, Allen’s back was covered in cold sweat.

For some reason he couldn’t explain, he felt a bad premonition.

“Let’s leave,” Allen said as he swallows a mouthful of his saliva.

His hands were now covered in sweat.

“What?” Aileen asked in a doubtful tone.

“Let’s leave right n---” now is what he wanted to say but suddenly, Allen’s sense of alarm was heightened.

Having no time to think, he shouted, “Danger!” and pushed Mia and Aileen out of harm’s way.

A silvery flash flew across the place like a comet and slammed right down in the exact location Allen and the others were standing on.

Allen watched that striking silver line—- which was making a buzzing sound.

Once the line came to a stop, the door together with the wall behind them was severed into half.

Tap Tap Tap

A series of footsteps echoed in the silence.

Mia who was slumped on the ground because of Allen’s tackle couldn’t help but frown when she heard the sound of footsteps.

“What happened?”

“Run…”

“What?” She asked Allen who was in front of her but the only answer she heard was ‘Run’

Then she noticed, Allen’s entire body was trembling.

What happened?

But when she turned her gaze in front of Allen, her eyes suddenly widened.

Her face turned pale, her whole body froze.

--- ---

After saving the two girls, Allen couldn’t help but cursed inside inwardly. Sh*t! Just like I thought, there is a very strong monster hiding in this place!

However, as soon as he turned his gaze in the dark corner in front of him, he was petrified.

No, his soul almost flew out from his body!

“What happened?”

“Run…” is the only word he could think. Before them was something, no, someone that shouldn’t be here.

"Interesting." A voice muttered with a slight astonishment. “A human actually managed to evade my attack…”

“Al, Alkrasha!?”