"Of course, I’m the leader here, so I must be aware of anything that occurs within this place, including the new faces that appear." Charles narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
Anne let out a subtle sigh, her thoughts momentarily acknowledging Charles's formidable leadership qualities. His sharp intellect and adeptness at handling situations were undeniable. However, there was one aspect of his character that never failed to rub her the wrong way – his controlling demeanor."You have some explaining to do, Anne."Charles, she mused, had an innate need to maintain a tight grip on every aspect of the camp. He justified it as a necessary hierarchy to instill order amidst the chaos of the times. While Anne couldn't wholly disagree with his perspective, she often found his level of suspicion rather stifling.Yet, despite her personal reservations, Anne recognized the urgency of clarifying the situation, not just for herself, but for the sake of her team and"You are all dismissed," Charles declared, his authoritative voice cutting through the air.One by one, the members of the expedition team filed out of the room, leaving only Charles and his vice president behind. The weight of the recent revelations hung in the air, and Charles allowed himself a moment of solitude to reflect.As the door clicked shut, Anne's lingering gaze caught Charles's attention. Her words, delivered with an undercurrent of subtle reproach, echoed in his mind."You should remember who we have to thank for all of this," she had said, her tone a mix of acknowledgment and reminder before she exited the room, leaving the space to its silence.Charles remained seated, his fingers tented as he steepled them beneath his chin. The dim light cast a play of shadows across his features as he contemplated the complex interplay of events.The corners of his lips curled slightly, a wistful smile touching his expression. "Of course
"Adam… I'll need you to tell me more about these Demons you saw," Charles's voice held a note of concern, his brows furrowing as he regarded the leader of the first group.An air of gravity hung in the room, the weight of Adam's somber demeanor casting a shadow over the otherwise bustling camp. Charles's instincts bristled; if their seasoned leader was displaying such unease, it likely signaled a challenge of significant magnitude.With a sigh, Adam began to recount the tale, his words painting a vivid picture of their harrowing encounter. The narrative unfolded like a gripping saga, each sentence drawing Charles further into the gravity of the situation."Our group and Chloe's took divergent paths from the Camp," Adam began, his voice carrying a sense of urgency. "As we reached the end of our expedition, Chloe shared her intended route with me. A gut feeling, an intuition perhaps, compelled me to reconsider our plans. Instead of pressing forward, we opted
Of course, here's the restructured passage with the requested changes:The tension in the room seemed to thicken as Chloe's brazen response hung in the air like an unspoken challenge. Charles's control over his irritation slipped, his molars grinding together as he fought to contain his frustration.“You mean higher ranked than Hobgoblins? We killed fifty of them, so there are more than enough cores to go around. Unless it’s something better, I don’t see the use of wasting my last remaining skill slot on one,” Chloe's voice dripped with arrogance, each word a calculated affront.Charles's fingers clenched involuntarily beneath the surface of his desk, a silent testament to the restraint he exerted. The sight of her defiance gnawed at him, sparking a surge of internal conflict.‘This little bitch…’ Charles's inner monologue was sharp, his thoughts laced with a venomous disdain that he struggled to temper.Adam's brow furrowed, his expressi
A palpable sense of exhaustion hung in the air as Charles addressed the weary team, his voice carrying a note of understanding. “It’s fine. You should all get some rest. Later tomorrow, we’ll be having a meeting involving all the team members.” The words held a promise of unity, a reminder that the challenges they faced were collective and required collaborative solutions.Charles shifted his focus, consciously choosing to shelve his concerns for the moment. The urgency of the situation demanded clarity and focus, and he was determined to direct his energies toward the task at hand.“We’ll be discussing many issues, so it might take a while, and I’ll make sure the sudden appearance of those Hobs is investigated as well. You may all leave.” The instructions were clear, a directive that underlined the gravity of their circumstances.“Alright. That sounds neat. Thanks, Charles.” Adam's gratitude was evident in his smile, a casual wave of acknowledgment accomp
Chloe seethed with anger, her emotions a tempestuous whirlwind threatening to consume her composure. "That fool Charles… who does he think he is?" Her words dripped with a venomous disdain, each syllable a testament to her frustration and wounded pride. The corridors of the Camp's hallway bore witness to her determined stride, her footsteps echoing with a resolute resolve.The path she tread was a familiar one, leading to none other than Annette's team residence. Her pride had been stung, her lofty facade shattered by the allure of the Ogre skill that beckoned from within those walls.‘Shit! I can’t believe I have to do this. Even Adam couldn’t say anything. That idiot!’ Chloe's thoughts seethed with indignation, the very idea of the course she was undertaking a bitter pill to swallow.Descending the staircase with purpose, each step seemed to echo her inner turmoil. She reached the designated floor, her footsteps measured as she traversed the corridor tha
Presented with a perplexing situation, Damian found himself in the company of someone he knew all too well. The ache in his heart as he gazed upon her face spoke volumes about the past. Chloe, a former high school bully, had been among those who tormented him a mere month ago. The tables had turned drastically.Meeting her at this moment was a true conundrum. The desire for revenge sizzled within me, a burning urge that I couldn't ignore.[A Few Moments Earlier]I quietly pondered when Anne and her group would return. Having left the room a while back, Anne sought rest in another chamber, while the rest of them took a short nap in his designated space.Despite their demanding journey, they managed to rest for a few hours—a commendable feat."Damian, you should rest some more," Anne expressed her concern when she realized he was awake.Though, deep down, I knew they needed the rest more than he did. "You all need more rest than I do," I mused ."I'm fine, not feeling sleepy," I reassu
‘I’ve faced countless Demons, I’m stronger than I was before. I shouldn’t be scared of Chloe anymore. I’ve changed!’Reciting this mantra to convince myself, I could feel her approach the door. In a few seconds, she would be here. In just a few seconds, I would once again see the person who had tortured me for so long.‘Shit! This can’t be… I’m so nervous!’Apparently, I had assumed that I had changed. Meanwhile, deep in my core, I was still the same feeble Jeremy. I only convinced myself to be in control of everything, since my opponents so far were evil monsters and naïve individuals. However, against the shadows of the past… was I still so helpless?>CREAK< The door opened.I buried my face into the book I was reading, pretending to be unaware of the girl that entered the room. A whole second felt like an eternity to me. I struggled to hide my nervousness, but it appeared my acting skills were failing me.‘Keep it together, Damian.’“Oi, who are you?!” She suddenly asked.Clearly,
“Where have you been all this while, you creep?” Chloe kept looking at me condescendingly. I placed my book by my side, and while it pained me to do so, I withheld my desire to kill her.HOWEVER, I absolutely refused to act inferior to the bitch.“This is quite the surprise… Chloe, it’s a shocker to meet you here.” I smiled.My response fazed her a little. Clearly, she wasn’t expecting such a smooth response. While it was possible for me to act the way she remembered me, I had no intention to stoop so low.Why?Because there was no merit in doing so!Unlike in the case of Anne and her group, Chloe proved to be of no worth to me, at least at the moment. My innocent, kind, act had earned me the trust of my current supporters. They thought of me as harmless, and so didn’t give in to suspicion or burrow deeply into my words.As a result, my position among them was cemented. But, with this brat, there was no benefit whatsoever. Not only was she weak, but her attitude would make it difficu
In the quiet aftermath of the tumultuous ARMAGEDDON, I found myself standing at the precipice of a new reality. The remnants of the battle lingered in the air, and I could feel the residual power and (G) Essence coursing through the fabric of existence. As I gazed upon the aftermath, a solemn determination settled within me – a resolve to forge a reality free from the influence of both Demons and Gods.With newfound purpose, I raised my hands, drawing upon the remnants of power that swirled around me. As I concentrated, the very fabric of existence seemed to warp and bend to my will. The Demons and Gods, the Administrators of this chaotic universe, were to be left behind in the debris of ARMAGEDDON.In a surge of cosmic energy, I began to shape a pristine reality, one untouched by supernatural forces. The skies cleared, the land became fertile, and the seas calmed. I meticulously crafted a world where the laws of nature reigned supreme, untouched by the meddling hands of higher bei
"Oh well, there's nothing else I can do…" Even if I was annoyed about the whole thing with Arthur, it was still a fact that he lost.Thanks to their emergency escape, the Pariah party missed their chance to challenge the Hidden Floor of the Tower Of Conquerors.Not only that, but their plan to use Leah and the others as hostages didn't work. They were in my [Subspace].'It's not like they matter to me at this point…'I could simply keep them as (G) Karma Point banks.Now that I could once again resort to farming (G) Karma from people, wasn't this the perfect opportunity to gain as many points as I could?'Ah, but I need quite the number of Points to advance to B Rank…'My Gift was currently in C Rank. While the abilities were pretty broken at this point, I couldn't help but wonder what awaited me if I could get a higher Rank.'With this whole gods business, I need to get as strong as possible…'With a smile, I gazed upon the warbling portal in front of me."Speaking of stronger… I sh
What happens when a person keeps climbing the Tower?Yes, with each Level Up, wounds heal and the body is restored. However, mental fatigue is something that piles up. The strain a person has is something that gathers over time.The Rankers knew this quite well, so they all agreed to climb together. It was very obvious what they were planning on doing.—Letting the other person die!In this world, there were many ways to get stronger. It was also possible to use certain loopholes in the System—especially if one wasn't an Evil Aligned yet.Since the Rankers were in a Party, they must have been very certain of their Alignments, making them completely 'trust' one another.But, these things could be deceptive.Just as I managed to kill a bunch of people without a change in my Chaotic Neutral Alignment, the same applied to a lot of people—especially in a dangerous place like the Tower.As they fought monsters, it was certain that Rankers would get weakened. Then… if, by chance, some 'accid
[SYSTEM ANNOUNCEMENT!][The Tower Of War Has Been Cleared!]Torrents of thoughts flowed in my mind as I looked at the System Window displayed in front of me.'What the hell…?'Why?How?Who?It didn't make any sense.The average Level for the current denizens of the world was 50. The strong ones were about to reach Level 100, but I didn't expect anyone to have attained Level 150 talk-less 200.The Levels and Grades of the monsters climbed as one advanced through the Floors, and since the Towers had similar difficulty, I expected others to receive the same treatment I experienced.No one could have succeeded in that venture, but me. It wasn't pride… but reality!However…'Could it be.—?!'Perhaps it was something I failed to consider. I had always suspected it, but after the Tutorial ended and I kept a watchful eye on the Leaderboard, Auction, Tower Updates, and several other elements of this new world, my doubts were cleared.There shouldn't have been anyone else who was granted somet
"Rise and shine, sleepy head." A voice greeted Abhoth as he opened his astral eyes.His vision blurred, but it only lasted for a moment.Soon, he could see everything around him. It was the exact scene he remembered before dying—the underground room where he was brewing his Elixir.Did he not die? Had he managed to survive?Countless thoughts lurked in Abhoth's ghost-like body… until he realized the fact… that he was in a ghost-like body.He nearly shrieked, seeing as he had a near-transparent form, and floated like a ghost. A purple aura emanated from him, and his body was incorporeal—well, nearly.He was made of energy, and he could even see his actual body—his corpse—lying on the ground.Abhoth didn't need a prophet to tell him that he was dead.'Ghost Magic…?!' His thoughts rang, and imaginary cold sweat broke out on his forehead.He was a ghost, so he couldn't really sweat.Still, Abhoth understood the implications of what had happened to him. As an expert in Magic, he knew of th
The audience was astonished!Sweat fell from their brows and their bodies shuddered. Even though they were protected by the sturdy pink layer, none of them were immune to the chill that coursed through their bones.The group had thought they saw the full extent of the Masked Man's powers—or at least close to it. However, his current actions shattered their preconceived notion."I-impossible…""This can't be real… right?""I can't believe this… is he really human?""Masked Hero! You're so amazing!"They all had different ways of expressing their shock.For starters, the group didn't know how it was possible to clear the battlefield of corpses. They had seen so many dead bodies—like an insurmountable sea—yet, in an instant, the Masked Man cleared them all.It was a feat like none other.As if that wasn't amazing enough, a massive Dragon suddenly emerged from a dark cloud and soared into the sky. The Demon—a being that far surpassed anything they had seen up until that moment—charged bri
There were many ways to win.I knew that from the get-go. I could use [Subspace] to shave off parts of the Dragon's body, reducing its health until it completely fell apart.I could use my purification to severely weaken it and blast the monster to kingdom come. An easy solution would also be to use the seventy-one Treasures OF War to impale the beast on all ends. If I added my Mana to them and increased their efficiency, the monster stood no chance.I could keep going on and on as to how I could win, but what was the point?Once in a while, a person needed some excitement in their life—I was no exception."COME!"My declaration prompted the Dragon Of Storms—or rather, what was left of him—to charge at me with frightening speed.>WHOOOOSSHSHHH
The area around the beast was charred, and nothing but black, sooty grounds surrounding it. Impaling it were several weapons; ranging from spears to blades.They all looked very powerful and valuable.There were seventy-one of the weapons that pierced the monster's body… most likely what killed it.My eyes narrowed on the dead beast, and a wry smile appeared on my face. It now made sense why I sensed such powerful energy from beyond the gate back then.This monstrosity was the cause.Laid on the ground, surrounded by destruction and carnage was one of the most powerful races of Demons that existed.—A Dragon!Judging from the battle scene, I had a fair idea of what transpired here… at least what the narrative of this Floor was.A battle occurred, and the several races combined forces. They had a common enemy, and that was the fallen beast at the center of the battle. I had an idea of the difficulty if seven hundred thousand individuals ganged up on the creature.'It's at least a Grade
I realized my childish body was too inefficient.In so many ways, the fact that I was below average in height and build was going to impede my future plans… which was why I decided to solve the problem.Using Lara’s Gift, now my Skill, I could shape-shift into any form I desired. However, it consumed Mana, and it also had a duration despite how much I maxed it out. Since I couldn't maintain it for too long, the ability was useless as a permanent solution.Scouring for a solution in the SHOP, I finally found my answer. It was a Potion known as the Perfect Growth Compound. After reading its description, I understood its function.The potion simply elevated whoever drank it to their ideal, most perfect physical state. As a result, it could take me to the peak I could ever attain physically.I was a little worried that I was going to remain short, but seeing as there was also a Reversal Potion being sold, I decided to take my chances.Who would have thought… it actually worked!I grew to