The Villain's Story

Chapter 360 [360] What we want to be.

No matter how many times he lost.

No matter how many times he died.

No matter how many times he lost everyone.

No matter how many times he lost himself.

No matter how many times his blade shattered.

No matter how many times he despaired.

No matter how many times he saw them all die.

No matter how many times he faced that monster…

No matter how many times he fell down.

He always got back up.

[Was it worth it?]

The sea of blood became restless, something…someone was rising.

[Was it worth it?]

The blood turned into steam, hot steam that rose high up, tsunamis raged forth as the tranquility of blood was interrupted.

”I donʼt know yet!”

The answer finally came, accompanied by a column of fire. A beacon of hope.

Elijah soared up high, his vibrant flames dyed the world an orange hue.

”I donʼt know…yet!”

He answered the tower. He didnʼt know itʼs worth…yet. BUT!

He would find it, no matter what.

[Yes.]

The voice echoed, and the blood sea changed into the endless, beautiful plains once again, filled with grass, flowers, and all things beautiful.

The sky turned blue once again, with only a small amount of clouds. The sun shined its Impartial light on all.

[No matter what happened…]

The voice filled his head. Elijah readied himself for what would come next.

[You always stood, as a bastion.]

It seemed to be praising him.

[You stood as a beacon of hope, shining its light brightly in an eternal darkness.]

Amidst an expanse of unending darkness, a solitary beacon of light, standing as a defiant symbol of hope and illumination. A lone source of radiance, piercing through the abyss, casting its glow in all directions, like a lighthouse guiding lost souls through the inky sea of night.

[You were just like that.]

Taking the form of a towering structure, slender and majestic, with intricate patterns of light woven into its very essence. Its core emits a brilliance that seems almost tangible, a pure and ethereal energy that seems to push back against the encroaching shadows. Was that not him?

[Your story is…]

Was it pitiable?

Was it tragic?

Was it pitiful?

Was it idiotic?

Was it Pathetic?

Was it laughable?

No.

[Admirable.]

It was admirable.

It was worthy of respect, it was worthy of even the highest honor.

To stand, again and again against hopeless odds…even when you knew you would lose miserably?

Was it not worthy? Was it not admirable?

To lose again and again and again…but never give up?

To die, to see death, to face despair but still get up?

To know your hopeless odds…but even then face them with a bright smile? A smile that encouraged others to believe again?

Was it not admirable?!

[You are judged as worthy.]

The towerʼs voice changed, and the voice of a gentle mother returned.

[Climb the tower.]

Elijahʼs figure began to disappear.

[Letʼs see if you will know if it was worth it, on floor 50.]

The world beneath him disappeared, and Elijah cleared the 10th floor.

[You have cleared the tenth floor!]

His figure was almost gone. But before he departed for the Eleventh floor…

He remembered the words of the Tower.

[Letʼs see whether you can change your miserable defeat…On floor 50.]

His figure disappeared completely.

***********

[Alan Peccator POV.]

ʼWhat is this eternal darkness?ʼ

I thought as I continued my stride in this never ending corridor filled with Darkness.

The tenth floor was truly…odd.

The previous floors provided one with at least a hint of what they were but this floor didnʼt…or at least I didnʼt get anything from it.

[Trial of Faith.]

Faith? Am I supposed to pray here or something?

It canʼt be that…right? I donʼt think I have to pray to the tower…hopefully.

The previous trials at least gave you a gist of what the floor was gonna be…but I have no Idea with this one.

”How much longer?”

I muttered to myself…How much longer do I have to walk in this endless corridor? What else am I supposed to do here?

What Faith?

How long has it been? Half an Hour? An Hour?

Should I just use Teleportation, or other skills to increase my pace?

ʼWill it affect the rules..?ʼ

I thought. Will activating such skills affect the towerʼs rules? Like |Dragon Eyes | had done?

In the end, I decided to wing it.

”I guess Iʼll just check it o-”

I stopped all of a sudden…something had changed. The darkness…was still the same but something had definitely changed.

My instincts told me, nothing here was the same anymore.

I looked around but found only an endless void.

I wasnʼt even walking anymore…I was floating. Whatever was happening…I didnʼt like it. Not at all.

[What is the extent of your faith?]

Suddenly, I heard a metallic voice coming from all directions.

”What?”

I questioned, and the question was repeated.

[What is the extent of your faith?]

Once again, I was confused. I failed to grasp what it meant.

Extent of my faith? Faith in what?

[Faith in yourself.]

”...”

I fell silent. It was as if this…voice could read my mind.

”Faith in myself…”

I muttered to myself, pondering over the question.

[What do you wish to become?]

The question changed before I could even answer.

”...”

What do I wish to become… thatʼs hard to question.

After pondering for a while, I answered.

”I want to be free.”

I want to become free from the fear of the abyss.

I want to become free from the control of James.

I want to use everything at my disposal, freely, never worrying about anything.

[Is that what you seek?]

The voice asked.

I fell silent. But I knew I shouldnʼt have kept quiet. Why must I ponder about this? I know this is the right answer…so why hesitate?

”Yes.”

I answered, firmly.

A moment of silence came, which was broken by the mechanical voice pretty soon.

[You are worthy.]

”...”

[You have cleared the 10th floor!]

And just like that, I cleared the tenth floor.