- The Devil's Request -

"Have you ever heard the name of Gardenia?" He asked her after he released her cheeks.

Charlotte said nothing about it. She clearly had no idea what that word means, except for the name itself was similar with the word "Garden".

The man sat in front of her casually as if they were not enemies. He spoke, "Judging from your face, I guess you don't know about it."

"If I know about it, then I wouldn't have bothered my time to seek the answers from you."

The man laughed in agreement, "Indeed. After all, I'm afraid that the one who has the answers for your questions is only me, someone who will kill you in the future."

'In the future?' Charlotte was confused, though she was grateful that it was not for now.

"To put in short, Gardenia is the name of kingdom with most of the citizens rely on the power of nature itself. Unlike this tower, it's a place where most of people live in harmony and peace. Of course, "

As he spoke the last line, Charlotte could feel a hint of mockery and hatred from his voice.

"Beneath the happiness of the young and old, the joy of the citizens lie the sufferings of those unfortunate. Why, you ask?" He asked after he analyzed Charlotte's expression as he told her the hints he promised. And her expression told him that she was surprised to hear the word "suffering" of those who she didn't know.

'Such a kind- hearted child.'

"It's because those people are unfortunate enough to catch the attention of a devil. A devil who is filled with curiosity, using those victims in order to satisfy his thirst for knowledge," he added. "And I was once that unfortunate child."

"But I wouldn't say myself to be that unfortunate. Because when the others are dying and suffering, I found myself the 'light' to escape. Warm and comforting smile, that 'light' brought me out from the nightmare. I felt so happy at that time, to have someone to support and protect me."

'His tone becomes softer suddenly,' Charlotte noticed it.

"The young and foolish me relies on that light a lot."

'He sounds as if he's talking about the love of his life.'

"And eventually became its burden and extinguished it."

He looked at her surprised face, raising his hand to wipe out a trace of blood from her cheek. He wiped it so gentle with a warm expression that not even a bystander would believe that they were enemies. Charlotte pulled her face away from him and slapped his hand.

"You killed your savior?!" She asked him in disbelief. "How can you be such a trash---"

"I know." Her words were interrupted by his and she was once again surprised by his words. "I'm a trash for it. When the light was extinguished, I was deeply lost. I felt that everything is no longer important. I was constantly haunted by guilt and regret. But even in my nightmares, it had never blamed me. I guess I was poisoned by its excessive kindness."

'I looked and searched for its ray of light. No matter how small it is, it doesn't matter. I've always wondered that if it ever blames me, loathes me... could I live more in ease? Will the burden in my heart be lifted slightly?'

"And in order to bring it back, I made a promise with the devil himself. He appeared before me and made a contract with me, bringing me to this tower and allowed me to possess this body just like you."

"WHAT?!"

"He brought me here to fulfill the contract. And as long as I could fulfill his wish, then I could bring my light back. And it so happens that.... you are the requirement, 25th Charlotte."

The warm tone disappeared.

"I don't know how you have offended that devil, but he sent me here to take your life away, to grant you eternal sleep."

All she could feel from him was blood lust, his desire to kill someone.

"Your death is the key to manifest my dreams and hope to reality."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

The wristwatch that young Zahard wanted to give to Bam was taken away by the real one. The real Zahard from the outside who has entered the Hidden Floor.

The giant figure stood up close with them, taking away the item that belongs to him. The said item that was rumored to have the power to defeat Zahard was taken away right in front of Bam's eyes and Khun Edahn who saw and felt his presence couldn't help but to feel amazed.

And when the real one looked at Bam with his yellow eyes, he frowned.

"You look... strange... those golden eyes...."

His voice was calm but dreading. Those eyes looked at Bam in disbelief and hatred.

"I thought I have killed you before."

Bam knew it. He wasn't really surprised since he had heard about his death once from Garam. And now that the one who took his life appeared before him once more, he knew that there was no way he would be kind to spare him.

But for young Zahard who had just taken a liking towards Bam, those words made him felt like as if he had been struck by lightning.

"I killed.... that boy?" He was filled with unacceptable. "That boy? Me? What are you talking about......?!"

"Ah, you didn't know, do you? The data version of me," Zahard spoke and glanced at his data. "Not only you don't know what happens in the future, but you were also set to have a strong adverse reaction and start forgetting as soon as you hear their names. You poor thing."

It was a mocking smirk. Towards his own data and the ruler of the Hidden Floor, he was cruel enough to manipulate him according to his will.

"A fake me who has forgotten the past and only shell remains. I wanted you alone to stay here, unaware of everything."

"... what?"

"But now... today is the end of that too...!"

"Watch out!" Khun Edahn warned as he leapt towards young Zahard. His electrical shinsu boosted his speed and saved the young Zahard right on time.

"Edahn!"

Khun Edahn took young Zahard away from the real one.

"... I didn't expect that. We aren't on very good terms on the outside, are we?" Zahard asked him.

Khun Edahn smacked young Zahard away and loudly declared, "We're not on a very good terms here either!"

"Ugh!"

"Listen, fake," He glanced at the young Zahard. "You said you would send him to the outside, right? I'm thinking about that as well. But the real you looks too powerful for us to do that, although even the great power is nothing compared to his main body on the outside, of course. So, I have a good idea."

"An idea?"

"Before, when you moved the data into another mirror, most of us knew you were putting us in danger," Khun Edahn explained. He explained about when Zahard's data erased his own friends data and Khun Edahn was the only one left. "Actually, most of them didn't really like living as data so they just followed you but I decided to stay at that time and Gustang told me something."

"There was a pill that could turn this entire data world into 'nothing'. He called that pill 'format'. Activating the pill is quite simple. A few minutes after swallowing the pill, the effects will spread inside the body and erases this whole data world. Regardless of the outcome of this showdown, I was actually going to send Bam and Charlotte out of here, swallow this format and turn this level back to 'nothing'. Although things appear to have gone wrong now... anyway, my plan is to get that guy to swallow the pill."

"No matter how strong he is, in the end, it's just digital power. Not even he could get rid of the power that turns this entire level into nothing. We have to steal that bracelet back, give it to Bam, then make that bastard swallow the pill and destroy him along with this level."

Suddenly, he smiled while looking at the person who he said couldn't get along well.

"Will you help me with my plan?" He asked. "This isn't bad for our final adventure, right? We're 'starting the adventure' of our own by sending off a warrior who will fight yourself as the final boss in the future."

Zahard's data grinned.

"All right," he spoke. "That sounds like a real adventure."

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

When Hwang sensed the enormous power coming inside the Hidden Floor, he knew that there was something wrong with it and changed his form from a simple golden ball to a human- looking data.

His appearance was the appearance of Yura's brother. His long blue hair may be brighter than hers, but he had the same stars surrounding him. His hair was tied in the same way with her, in a high ponytail. His eyes were just as blue as his hair with pale skin.

"We have to stop it!" He shouted as he ran towards the mirror.

From the mirror, suddenly there were yellow red things similar with tentacles came out. And one of them stabbed Hwang before he could even dodge it.

"This... this power..."

It was a fatal wound. And Hwang recognized the power.

"Lord... Zahard...?"

When the tentacle that pierced through his body was moving, the pain that he felt increased.

"So it's you. The one who finally opened the gate to the outside," Zahard spoke. "Let's see... you want to be a human. It must have never occurred to you that this isn't the way out, but the way in."

It was then Hwang realized that the ambition he tried to hide was already discovered from the beginning. And when he thought that he was playing everything in his palm, he was the one who got played from the beginning.

"It's actually almost impossible to interfere this level from the outside so I was waiting for someone to make a crack from inside. Foolish, how foolish."

Cracks appeared on his body. At this rate, his body will end up just like his dream.

"You were too greedy."

Both will be shattered by the same person. And there was no use in asking for help.

"A mere human data---"

Because no one would be there to help him. Even if there was someone willing to risk his life to save him, could he even match the power of Zahard?

"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SIGHT! YOU'RE NOT MY SON!"

He admitted that it was his own idea to take over her son, to covet her son's position and to deceive him under the pretense of helping her. It started from curiosity, until the feelings deepened and her words when she discovered the truth wound him deeply.

"YOU MONSTER!!!"

When he deleted his "mother's data", was it simply because of her request or a moment of rage? Did he really feel nothing after he deleted her data?

"Help... me..."

At the end, in the face of his death, he was all alone without anyone to cry for him but himself.

"... it hurts... too much... hold me... mom....."

His last word shocked Yura before he was completely destroyed. The golden orb, his original form, was destroyed and what were left were the pieces of orb and the stars surrounding him.

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"DON'T JOKE WITH ME!"

Charlotte couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"What? Are you scared of death that awaits you?"

"WHY MUST YOUR LIGHT BE IGNITED WITH MY LIFE?!" She shouted, putting her hand on her chest. "The devils... light, Gardenia and everything... I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THEM BEFORE! For the sake of someone who I have never met... WHY MUST I DIE FOR THEM?!"

Rather than saying that she was arguing out of fear for death, she was arguing because the injustice that she felt.

"WHY MUST I BE SACRIFICED FOR SOMEONE ELSE'S DREAM?! THEN WHAT ABOUT MY OPINIONS? I'M ALSO A LIVING PERSON WITH HOPE AND WISH!"

Injustice, as well as the helplessness that she felt.

She thought that FUG was the only one who used her as a stepping stone to manifest their dream. But now, there was someone else wanting to use her life to grant his desire!

"As pitiful as you could be, but my life belongs to me! I DECIDE HOW I'LL LIVE AND DIE!"

How do they actually see her from the beginning? From the beginning when she was resurrected in this tower? So at the end, she was nothing but a pawn to entertain fate, to be a sacrificial lamb?

'Is that the only worth that I have?'

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

"That bastard is totally ignoring us," Khun Edahn spoke about Zahard who didn't seem to hear the two of them discussing their strategies right in front of him. He was more focused on Bam.

"... isn't it better for us?" Zahard asked back, wondering why Khun Edahn found it irritating when it gave them a slight advantage to execute their plan. "If he wanted to, he could have killed us already."

"The outside you is sure terrifying," he admitted. "They say I'm more like a cheating womanizer on the outside."

He looked at Zahard and asked, "So, would you offer me some support now?"

"Support?"

"Yeah. First, I need to distract him. And when he's distracted, I'll fire the pill to his body."

"All right," Zahard immediately agreed with it. But with an innocent expression, "But the word 'support' kinds of hurt my pride. You're a spear- bearer and I am the fisherman. Clearly, I'm the main...."

"Fine," Khun Edahn couldn't believe it. In this dangerous situation, he didn't forget to think about his own pride and was offended just by a simple word. "I'll support you so please just shut up and kill the real you over there for me!"

"Did you just tell your leader to shut up?"

"Don't make me cut off your other arm too!" He threatened. Gathering the shinsu and changed it into electricity, he said, "Let's get started!"

Bam who was faced with Zahard noticed Khun Edahn's power and wondered what he was going to do.

"I'm going in!!" Zahard's data spoke as he began to move towards the "real" him. "'Support' me!"

"... Alright! You stupid bastard!"

[ Khun Edahn's Style Javelin Throw Skill : A Spear Higher than The Tallest Mountain : Montana Azul ]

Just like its name, the spear that he made was truly long. As long as it was, Khun Edahn could hold that long spear just with one hand before he threw it towards Zahard.

"TAKE... THIS!!"

The spear was launched towards it, but without needing to move a finger, it was destroyed on its own. And the real Zahad suffered no damage from it. He was still looking at Bam.

"... Son of Arlene," he recognized him with those three words. "I can tell just by looking at your eyes. I don't know how you manage to come back to life... but fate is really toying with us...."

He raised his hand and touched Bam's head. Bam saw it, but he couldn't slap his hand away. Fear was taking over him. The touch was so cold and chilly, there was no warmth at all.

"The son of a woman I loved more than anyone else," he said. "I didn't think I would get to kill you with my own hands again."

It was too dangerous just to stand idly, but he couldn't move his body. And as the result, Zahard was able to choke him just with one hand.

"LET GO OF HIM!" Zahard's Data declared. But before he could attack Zahard, he was pushed away by the shinsu that he manipulated instead.

[ Edahn's Style Spear Skill : Dawn of Lightning ]

Lightnings appeared from the sky and attacked him. But neither of them could disturb Zahard, as if he was surrounded by some invisible barrier made from shinsu.

"Don't be too sad," he said heartlessly. "I'm going to everyone here and on the train, and everyone you've ever ran into. Then once I've killed them all, I'll send them to you. So, rest in peace."

"BAM!"

The thorn enveloped in bandages began to glow.

The bandages were starting to take themselves off, falling downwards. And once they were done, the thorn itself suddenly became bigger in size.

When he fell to an unconscious state, as if wanting to save its owner, the second thorn activated itself. And it seemed like it wanted to pull Bam to the outside, saving him and bringing out from Hidden Floor to the Hell Train and avoid Zahard.

'That red light...!' Both Zahard's Data and Khun Edahn had the same guess of what the thorn was planning to do. 'It's creating a gate to another space!!'

"That has to be a space- controlling skill," Zahard said, amazed. "That really is a power that desires the abilities of God."