Chapter 40 – Floor 2 – Beneath the Ocean

"21, why don't you use this technique too if this opportunity is this rare?" Clico asked after one day into their fall.

"On the First Floor, I went for a swim and already used another Tier Three Spirit Cultivation Rune Stone while nobody paid any attention." 21 shrugged his shoulders.

"If it was that easy, why did you abduct me here?" Clico asked with a tinge of annoyance. Couldn't they have done this in a more peaceful environment?

"You wouldn't have believed me back then, and I wanted time alone with you. Omira wouldn't have allowed it." 21 explained.

"For someone who wants to be alone with me this badly, you sure give off mixed messages. You speak ill of me all the time, yet you treasure me and gave me this amazing opportunity." Clico told 21, perplexed.

"You are indeed a treasure that needs to be protected at all costs. That doesn't change that you don't deserve it." 21 replied flatly.

"Fair enough." Clico shrugged his shoulders. At this point, it really didn't matter.

"Your great plan for me; will I become as strong as Lavilin?" Clico asked 21 curiously.

"At times, Lavilin will defeat you, and at other times, you will defeat him. Don't worry about it too much. There are other opportunities I have lined up for you." 21 dismissively waved off the question. Clico's obsession with Lavilin was part of his fate as the chosen one, but 21 found it bland.

"Opportunities? Like what?" Clico asked, almost salivating from the mouth. They had been falling for over a day now, and Clico's Aura Realm soared.

"In a dungeon with over a hundred Gods and Goddesses in charge, there is sure to be lots of precious Artifacts and skills lying around." 21 cryptically smiled.

"Why not take them and conquer the dungeon yourself? You seem to know more than you should. Are you a time traveler? A Deity in disguise? Come on, give me something. You claim to be many things, but how can I trust you apart from the Runestone?" Clico questioned. He wanted to believe 21 because of this opportunity, but his behavior was too volatile.

"I was a slave once, in another life. They called me Ciradok 2121. It was by brand number. I shortened it to 21 and gained an incredible prophetic ability because of my physique. Using this skill, I killed my master, a Deity, as a Mortal. I was free from my enslavement.

Once I left the island of Ciradok, I traveled the world in preparation for this expedition. The ground work needed to perfectly assemble this expedition so that the world will be saved was monumental." 21 gave a brief life story.

Clico wanted to believe it, but it was quite farfetched. According to 21's own standards, his backstory was more compelling than Clico's own. A mysterious ability gave him the power to kills the Gods, and now, he seeks to save the world.

"I know what you're thinking. And yes, I do think your goals are selfish. Saving Nillvia and Lavilin is indeed, selfish. I fight for the world, while you, you fight for yourself." 21's eyes glared at Clico from behind the mask.

"That's not really what you think, is it? Just what's behind that mask you put up?" Clico probed.

"I'm not just an Author and a Prophet, but also an Actor and a Guide. In Hell, I will play my role in the story, and then there will be peace in the end. After that, I can live as I want to live." 21 said in monotone.

"What is it you really want? Tell me." Clico probed deeper.

"What I desire, is the 100th Floor. If I could reach it, I would be happy."

"And just what is on the 100th Floor that is so great? I don't want to get there; all I ever wanted was Nillvia." Clico provoked the prophet.

"There is power beyond your wildest dreams on Floor 100. If I had that power, I could save the world without going through the trouble of conquering Hell. Right now, I'm just a man who knows too much but can't do anything with that knowledge alone. I'm trapped by this story, enslaved by it. What I want, is to be free again." 21's eyes gleamed as he opened up briefly, but then, his cold demeanor took over again.

"Now, get back to your cultivation."

***

Three days into their adventure, Clico felt exhausted. Although he was halfway to the S Rank, he could barely keep himself awake. However, they reached the ocean floor. Using his mysterious magic, 21 cast his spell to allow him and Clico to fall to the ground like a feather.

"This is close to the end of the Second Floor. As soon as we head into the mists over there, that is considered to be the Third Floor." 21 explained. About a mile into the horizon, there was a veil of fog shrouding what lay beyond.

"Hmm, so where's Trike?"

"He's already on the Third Floor." 21 shrugged.

"What?" Clico exclaimed in shock and rage.

"He'll return on his own soon enough. The Third Floor is rather harmless compared to the first two. The mists put the beasts and ghosts into a trance where they relive their lives and memories, forever. Trike needed to undergo his own journey, alone." 21 explained.

"If he was never in any danger, why did you take us here?" Clico yelled angrily.

"For you, simply for the Spirit Cultivation. As you can see, the beasts and ghosts have avoided us. I used a Tier Three Concealment Rune to hide us. Unless the Administrator comes after us, we won't be bothered." 21 shrugged again.

"How many Tier Three Runes do you have? Creating one takes lots of resources and skill. Are you, perhaps a runic expert?" Clico asked in disbelief.

"I can use every Aura Path. Don't be surprised when the time comes. My knowledge is my strength, not my true Aura Realm. For every battle I will face in Hell, I've prepared specific skills and tactics according on the enemy and matchup." 21 said as he tilted his head.

Chills flew down Clico's spine. 21 Spoke as if everything was already set in stone.

"Don't rest until the Spirit Cultivation Runestone collapses. Whatever you're about to see, ignore it. Don't follow me if you want to live." 21 walked away, perplexing Clico.

***

21 walked up to the fog of Floor 3.

"Come out, Administrator." 21 coldly spoke.

"Ah, as expected of a prophet." A man appeared on the other side of the fog.

"Eros, the B Ranked Deity and Administrator of the Third Floor. I've come to make a deal with you." 21 smiled underneath his mask.

Eros scoffed.

"You think that you, a mortal, can demand anything from me, a God?"

From his storage ring, 21 pulled out seven Runestones that hovered around him with telekinesis.

"Do you believe me now?" 21 giggled.

"How, how can you have those?" Eros was shocked. Seven Tier Four Runestones were hovering around 21, and realistically, they would now be at an even match if they fought head on. The difficulty and resources necessary to create seven Deity level Runestones was truly staggering. In all likelihood, Eros deduced that this was the prophet's trump card.

"I am a rich man. For my fights, all I have are consumable items. I'm weak without my items," 21 said in sadness, but behind the mask, he was still smiling.

"What is your proposition, God?" Eros sneered at 21. In his base form, Eros believed 21 to be at the mid to high Royalty Realm. With his runes and artifacts however, Eros deduced 21 to be his equal.

"You just called me a mortal though, remember? Yes, I'm just a mortal. But, I do have a proposition, indeed. I would like to challenge you to a duel. If I win, I want your Deity Realm Artifact, your Staff of Illusion." 21 challenged.

"And why would I do that? I have nothing to gain and everything to lose." Eros retorted. It didn't even matter to Eros that the masked man knew about his personal Artifact.

"Fine, I'll spice up the pot." 21's face contorted disturbingly with joy under the mask.

21 had one storage ring on each finger. From one of his 10 storage rings, 21 pulled out a particular Artifact that glowed Green.

Silence permeated the area until Eros finally snapped out of his confusion.

"Impossible! How did you get that?" Eros was in complete shock. If he could get his hands on that Artifact, he would be a hero amongst the Administrators. It was more than worth it to risk losing his personal Artifact.

"Let's just say I got lucky."

"Incredible." Eros gasped out. Luck was not a factor, and it was obvious the young man in front of him wouldn't spill his deep, dark secrets.

"Show me the Soul Contract." Eros demanded desperately. There was no way 21 didn't have a contract already prepared for a battle with these stakes.

From his storage ring, 21 tossed over a magical scroll into the mists of the Third Floor.

"I accept." Eros said after reading over the contract. There were a few disadvantageous clauses beyond the loss of his Artifact, but he had to gamble for the Artifact at all costs!

The mist parted slightly, and a battlefield the size of Pyrite Stadium was carved into the fog.

21 entered the Third Floor.

Eros smiled and waved his staff. With his one wave, an illusionary stadium formed around the duo with the souls of the damned watching them curiously as spectators. Eros had probably looked into Trike's memory of the Pyrite Stadium, 21 deduced.

Leaving no time for Eros to attack, 21 used his Runestones.

"Skill: Enhance Sanity." The first Runestone glowed and shattered, activating the spell.

"Skill: Enhance Endurance."

"Skill: Enhance Strength."

"Skill: Piercing Illusion."

"Skill: Enhance Martial Ability."

One after another, five Tier Four Runestones shattered, and the abilities glowed and were imbued onto 21 as they took effect. Two Runestones remained hovering around 21.

"Are you done yet?" Eros asked but then attacked without waiting for a response.

"Skill: Illusionary Barrage!" Eros shot waves of aura like a blast of colors at 21, like an aurora.

"Enhanced Runic Barrier." 21 chanted. One of the remaining Runestones shone brightly and deflected the attack.

"Seven Deity Realm Runestones, truly extravagant." Eros muttered. Tier Four Runestones were exceptionally difficult to craft, and if the rune failed, the resources lost would be heartbreaking. Having seven Tier Four Runestones were more than a King of a country could obtain even with their vast wealth and power. It was more likely that the masked man crafted them himself.

Moving at extreme speeds, 21's enhanced vessel moved closer to Eros, but Eros fired skills with his staff to keep 21 away. 21 enhanced his physical abilities to the limit, and his power in his current state was in close combat. Eros, on the other hand, was a long-range mage who liked to fight at a distance. It was a bad matchup for 21, and Eros wondered why 21 chose this disadvantageous strategy of speed over range.

All Eros had to do was keep his distance until 21's abilities wore off. What worried Eros was the remaining Runestone yet to be used. 21 ferociously moved to close the distance.

"Skill: Illusion's Embrace!" Eros exploded the ground below 21, sending him flying into the air. The extreme fallout from the blast decimated the stadium, yet the spectators were miraculously unharmed. A crater appeared where the illusionary stadium was, but an unknown force stopped the damage from spreading, likely, the dungeon itself.

21 panted for breath underneath his mask. The defensive Runic Barrier Runestone shattered, but 21 was able to survive. If he didn't end the fight soon, he would lose.

***

In the distance, Clico's eyes widened. Blasts of aura and color rose high into the horizon at unprecedented levels. Clico had never seen destruction of this magnitude. If not for the mysterious laws of the dungeon protecting the surroundings, the level of damage would have long reached Clico's location.

Clico shuddered with fear. He suddenly felt as if he had grossly underestimated 21. Whoever he was fighting was at the Deity Realm.

21 was actually a Deity in disguise!

***

The spiral of light caused from Illusion's Embrace was so powerful, even the people on the Labyrinthian saw the pillar of rainbow-colored aura hundreds of miles away.

"Ziphe, there is a battle between Deities in the distance." Tyermsy stammered in confusion.

"The battle is between two B Rank Gods." Ziphe said and sighed, deducing their power levels.

"I'm not sure I could defend against an attack like that." Tyermsy wondered out loud. If the attack wasn't contained, it would have been able to obliterate the Third and Second Floors easily in one go.

"I could have tanked that attack, but only because of the nature of my Authority." Ziphe bragged, although he would have barely survived.

"I would still beat you in a one on one." Tyermsy taunted playfully. Sweat came down her face. The strain on their bodies was extremely painful. They couldn't leave the Labyrinthian, even to watch the battle from afar.

"Probably, but this is why I don't want to face 21. For one thing, his prophecies are all true. Secondly, that's him fighting that God." Ziphe revealed.

Tyermsy contemplated quietly. The other Royalty were eavesdropping. One thing was for sure: 21's true power was revealed to the elites of the party.

***

Back in the stadium, 21 used the final Runestone.

"Skill: Enhance Speed."

Moving twice as fast as before, 21's movements tore through space itself. Eros couldn't keep up and had to go on the defensive.

"Skill: Illusionary Barrier." He stammers as he grits his teeth. A blue barrier surrounded Eros, and 21 pounded on it with his fists. Ripples of aura scattered into the horizon. The loud cracks of the barrier being shattered and rebuilt were like thunder.

It was a game of pure endurance, but luckily, 21 planned this far ahead. By enhancing his endurance first, it prolonged the effects of the other Runestones ever so slightly. In the end, 21 outlasted Eros. Their fight had lasted over one hour, and at its peak, 21 slammed his fist into Eros, sending him into the stadium's wall.

If any of the participants of the Dungeon Party Selection Tournament had seen this duel, they would have been shocked. At the climax of the tournament, the Ex-King Job showed the power of the mid to higher stages of the Royalty Realm, shocking the world. If the public or participants watched the battle between two mid to high Deities, their worldviews would have been completely shattered.

21 stood over the weakened Eros while panting.

"You've lost."

***

Clico kept shivering with fear as the lights and sounds of the battle shook its surroundings. Barely able to focus on his cultivation, he drew closer to the fight. The illusionary stadium was keeping the aftermath in check, but Clico could tell that if not for the mysterious stadium, the Second and Third Floors would have been terraformed, if not obliterated.

21 walked out of the stadium towards where Clico was walking. The gigantic stadium disappeared, and the fog returned to its normal position. 21 saw Clico and walked casually with his hands behind his head up to him.

"Hey, I told you not to follow!" 21 laughed nonchalantly.