The 33rd floor had an infamous name among the challengers.
Evernight.
Unlike the preceeding levels, it didn't cover a bunch of star systems that challengers could freely navigate.
It was only a world—a stretch of endless forest under an eternal night.
The first thing Varian noticed was the dampness around his ankles. The black water was coming from a waterfall in the distance, flowing across this region of the forest and disappeared into nothingness.
There were little creatures swimming fast in the water, their bodies going transparent at random times.
"So this is…" Varian touched a thin tree and sadness welled in his heart.
'Why am I doing all this when I'm going to die one day anyway? It'll be less painful if I just stopped fighting and enjoy my life. I can return to the safezone and live without risks forever. I don't have to worry about enemies and allies. I can just…'
Varian pulled out of his hand and struck down the tree to its roots with his demon sword.
As the tree's vitality was drained into the demon sword, a bubbling grief swept Varian's mind. Tears pooled in his eyes and he wanted to stab himself to stop the grief.
The sword's tip turned inward and inched closer to his chest. A spot of red formed on his chest before Varian pulled back his sword.
"W-What was that?" He clutched his knees and panted, his heart was thrashing against his ribcage, threatening to breakout any second.
His body was fine, but his mind, his mind was a mess. His emotions were twisted and wanted him to do a million different things.
'Kill her!'
'Kill yourself!'
'Can you survive the power of slivers if they're used on you? Try it out!'
'I don't need slivers, throw them away!'
'There is a woman next to me! A woman!'
'Ambush her! Devour her! Grow stronger!'
'Steal her treasures!'
'Get out of the tower! They're all in danger!'
Varian clutched his head, veins throbbing on his temple, and took deep breaths. The thoughts had his own voice but they were too extreme even for him. But the emotions behind those thoughts...it was definitely his.
After two full minutes which seemed like two days, Varian came to his senses.
[You've endured by the final attack of a rank 4 Grieving Tree. Your soul has grown resilent.
+50XP]
Varian shook his head and turned to Maria who was watching everything with an amused smile.
Embarrassed, he snorted.
Maria Virdis covered her mouth and chuckled, like an aristocratic lady who showed manners even in that small action. "My, my, what do we have here?"
Varian wanted to punch that arrogant face but his rationality won. Not because he was benevolent, but because Maria was rank 6. He couldn't beat her anyway.
"Still holding a grudge? I have never seen someone so petty." Varian shook his head, speaking in a calm and mature tone, even though his resentful gaze betrayed his act.
"I wonder who makes inappropriate comments on a maiden?" Maria's tone of speech had changed and she was speaking formally. Formal words, formal tone, formal posture.
Varian was freaking out. "Anyway, where do we find the pond?"
"The pond of blackwater is at the base of the Chief Tree," Maria said in a relaxed and composed tone.
"Chief Tree?" Varian blinked in confusion and tilted his head.
Maria smiled in response. A haughty, vengeful, and confident smile.
'Oh no…'
The wind blew and the branches rustled. The trees bent to the sides and a silhouette flashed forward, striking Varian from the back.
"Woaaah!"
Varian flipped in the air and landed on his left foot, like an acrobat while his right foot was drawn backward, ready to kick the guts out of the silhouette that was now fast approaching him.
The beast, which had the body of a wolf and the tail of a scorpion, didn't slow down despite his preparedness. Instead, it lunged at him, prepared to kill him at the price of being killed.
The beast opened its mouth and all it took was a moment before a heavy poison enveloped Varian, turning his skin pale purple and failing half of his organs.
"Fuck!" Varian rarely suffered from poisonous attacks. But this one was no laughing matter.
He raised his Assimilator power by fusion and used the vital force to dispel the poison all the while moving his leg to a perfect counter kick.
A muffled sound filled the air and the creature slammed into the ground, Varian's right foot on its cracked skull.
"Why did this even target me?" Varian rubbed the green blood spilled on his face and frowned.
Maria put her hands behind her back and started walking in a particular direction. She didn't touch the trees, much less try to harm them.
The only thing she touched was the grass on the ground and yet, she was walking with extremely delicate steps. If flying wasn't forbidden in the floor, Varian believed she wouldn't be touching them at all.
'The creature is the guardian of the tree I destroyed.' Varian soon concluded. 'Then the Chief Tree…'
"Don't even think about it. We can't beat the Chief Beast. I'll lure it away and you collect a cup of water." Maria seemed to read his expression even though she was walking ahead and said with a strong smile.
"Aren't you afraid? We got chased by dinosaurs on the 31st and had a bunch of Octavians ambushing us on the 32nd. This isn't normal." Varian expressed his concerns as he expertly navigated through the forest terrain.
Using Adept powers, he shrunk his physique, controlled his offensive power and prevented any situation where he might destroy a tree.
"Are you superstitious?" Maria didn't look back but he could almost see her rolling her eyes. With a carefree shrug, she said. "We were unlucky twice. It happens sometimes. Doesn't mean we'll run into trouble. Trust me."
"I trust you," Varian said in an earnest tone. "I just don't trust my luck."
"Huh?" Maria raised an eyebrow and wanted to reprimand him. Was he implying that his bad luck was greater than her—Maria Virdis'—good luck?
Maria wanted to teach him the etiquette but froze as she heard something crack.
ραΠdαsΝοvel.cοm "Uh…oh!" Varian lowered his head and saw three inconspicuous stones under him getting crushed like they were mere glass.
"I haven't seen these types of stones before." He said and lifted his foot to move on.
Maria's face paled and the news articles of an explosive resource flashed in her mind. "No, wait, I've seen those stones be—"
An explosion swept the surroundings, forcing Varian and Maria to protect their vitals at the last moment.
Thanks to the heavy aura in the air, the explosion was subdued. Yet, it managed to destroy at least a hundred trees in the surroundings.
"Oh no!" Varian hurriedly put up a soul barrier but the incoming emotions drilled through his protective layer and started to mess with his mind.
It didn't matter that he improved his Spirit power by fusion. They tormented him the same.
Simultaneously came the guardians.
More than a hundred beasts, ranging between rank 4 and rank 5. There was also a rank 6 leading the horde.
"Oh, dear." Maria unleashed her spear and stood in between Varian and the beasts with a wry smile. "Third term is the charm, huh."
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