Chapter 66 - Sixty Six
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all."
— Helen Keller
———
"Are you done interrupting me?"
Anton’s voice carried an edge of exasperation.
"Go on, fine bard." Zeke gestured magnanimously from his seating position.
"After that awkward moment, Jude and I spoke. Then we went our separate ways, I realized—I’d become a burden to him."
"Wow. So weak." Michael’s tone was light, mocking.
"Heh." Zeke scratched his chin in mock contemplation. "How powerful was Michael back then? Or in the future? I don’t even know which one it is anymore."
"I’ll get to that part of the story."
Anton’s expression hardened slightly as he continued. "As I said—Jude was the forerunner of geniuses. Even when someone appeared stronger, within months he’d surpass them. He was invincible among his peers."
He paused, gaze flicking toward Michael.
"All except Michael. We even wondered if Michael was his peer."
"Well, I’m not." Michael’s voice was flat, matter-of-fact. "I’m older than him."
"When we say ’peer,’ as long as it’s not a century’s difference, you’re peers."
"The audacity." Michael leaned back, arms crossed. "Did I tell your Father not to have sex earlier? I’m older. We are not peers."
"Funny—that’s exactly what you said back then." Anton’s lips twitched in something almost like a smile.
"At that time, I’d caught up with my brother. I was worthy of his group now—an S-Ranked Awakened. I could finally escape the tag of nepotism."
His voice took on a storytelling cadence.
"We went to see a king—planned on using his high-ranked exclusive dungeon. But when we arrived, Michael had already sweet-talked the king. And as every genius has followers, Jude had lackeys."
Anton’s gaze shifted to Jude.
"One of Jude’s lackeys challenged Michael for Jude’s pride. Jude, riding on his momentum, followed through."
He paused for effect.
"Only to get soundly beaten by Michael. He hardly broke a sweat. It ended in five seconds."
Silence hung in the air.
"The first time Jude had lost."
"Well." Zeke grinned, breaking the tension. "We’ve changed the future. Jude loses to me every time."
He laughed
"After the fight, someone identified Michael as someone from our world. The son of the Council President of Nova Ameriga."
"Jude wasn’t discouraged." Anton’s voice softened slightly. "But the event brought us closer."
"Wooh. One for Michael." Michael cooed, raising an imaginary glass.
"You’ve been a little weird." Zeke’s tone shifted—sharper, more focused. "But we’ll deal with that later."
"Over the years I stayed with my brother—got closer. We faced the mysterious organization repeatedly. For over two thousand years."
Anton’s jaw tightened.
"Before I died."
"We’ve got our villains." Zeke’s attempt at levity fell flat.
"This next part is not a joke." Anton’s voice dropped, grave and steady.
"Ooh." The group leaned forward slightly.
"I made a mistake." Anton met each of their eyes in turn. "I’ll do everything I can to make up for it. But I need your help."
He took a breath.
"In comparison to the percentage of geniuses in the Tower, our world has the most. Before we were born, this organization—these people—hunted geniuses from our world to discover the secret."
The room went still.
"Our world seems to be a high-level floor of the Tower that was destroyed in the past. In a war."
"Is that possible?" Kai’s voice was quiet, uncertain.
"Yes."
Anton’s response was immediate, certain.
"The concentration of mana molecules and providence gives birth to geniuses—far more than other worlds. And not ordinary geniuses. People who go on to shape the Tower."
His expression darkened.
"This organization can’t reach our world. They’re not inhabitants—it’s a hidden quirk of the Tower. But with Jude’s ability, they could. Jude is the key."
"And what is his ability?" Michael’s tone was casual, almost conversational.
"For someone who hides so much, you do like knowing others’ secrets." Zeke’s voice was cold, serious.
"Never mind." Michael waved a hand dismissively.
"To be honest, I don’t trust you." Anton’s words were blunt, unadorned. "In my past life, you were elusive. And when you were found, you were never far from the organization. I never discovered if you worked for them or not."
"If I did—what could you have done?" Michael’s smile was razor-thin. "What can you do now?"
He leaned forward slightly.
"Continue your story. Especially the part about your huge mistake."
"This bastard—" Anton’s fists clenched.
"Continue, Anton." Jude’s interruption was calm, firm.
Anton exhaled slowly.
"If Jude decides to tell you his ability, he will. For now, I’ll continue."
His voice grew quieter, heavier.
"When I discovered what the organization wanted, it was from a young master. Unbeknownst to me, he was expendable—a pawn sent to rile me up. And I fell for it."
He paused, jaw working.
"In my anger, I killed him. Retaliation for the organization wanting to kill my brother."
"But that only gave the upper echelons justification to act against us."
The weight in the room pressed down like a physical thing.
"At that time, Jude was invincible against the cronies they sent. The ones who could take him down couldn’t act without stirring the pot, alerting others. Killing the young master gave them a reason to move."
Anton’s voice cracked slightly.
"We couldn’t fight them. The power difference was too much. She helped us—but she couldn’t act too much. She had rules. Enemies that would exploit her. She could only help to an extent before she couldn’t."
"And you expect her to do more because we share the same last name?" Zeke’s voice was carefully neutral.
"Possibly." Anton met his gaze. "And even if she doesn’t—you’re a genius yourself."
"And you have me." Michael’s voice cut in, light and sharp.
"How would you be of use?" Anton’s taunt was lazy, dismissive.
"I can see you’re hardly scared of me." Michael’s tone remained pleasant. "Unlike before. It seems you’ve reached a level of strength where what I showed in your past life no longer poses a threat."
Anton eyes held confidence.
"Haha. I’m correct."
His smile vanished like smoke.
"The thing is—judging from your current power level, I would have merely been putting up a facade. Which you’re well aware of. But I still feel the need to tell you."
The air grew colder.
"That trump card of yours? Useless against me. I am much stronger right now than you suspect—even when you multiply it by your highest estimation."
His gaze swept over Anton with clinical precision.
"That fear you’ve set aside? Best pick it back up. To you, old fool—I am your god."
Michael’s demeanor returned to cheerful warmth as though a switch had flipped.
"Have you reached that level?" Anton’s voice shook.
Michael summoned a delicate porcelain teacup with a flick of his fingers. He smiled, sipped, said nothing.
"I don’t know what you’re talking about." Zeke’s voice wavered slightly. "But don’t bluff. I saw your status window."
"Really?" Michael’s smile widened. "How are you sure you didn’t see what I wanted you to see?"
"Well, I understand your ability." Zeke’s tone steadied, sharpened. "And even though I don’t know what power level you’re discussing—I believe you."
He swallowed hard.
Michael simply smiled.
"Let’s talk about the Tower." Anton’s tone shifted—professional, informative.
"Let’s start with team placement."
"Naturally, teams can be formed. Small groups like ours. Duos, trios, however many. They can grow as large as organizations."
He gestured vaguely.
"The guilds from our world operate under the banner of a team. All guilds in a continent operate under the name of their continent’s SSS-Ranked guild."
"So every White Fang member enters the Tower, registers under the Althelgard Guild, and is allowed to form smaller teams or go solo—but collectively remains under Althelgard’s banner."
"Which means you need to join the Althelgard Guild."
"Never." The group’s response was immediate, unified.
"Mm." Heads nodded in synchronized refusal.
"No offense, Michael."
"None taken. I don’t particularly care for the guild or Nova Ameriga’s citizens."
Michael’s smile remained pleasant.
"And then there are trials. You can decide to take your trial anytime. Loiter on a particular floor all you want."
"Every floor has NPCs—and trial takers like us."
"NPCs are people born on a particular floor. Unless they start climbing the Tower, they’re stuck there their entire lives."
He paused.
"We’re not the only Tower climbers. There are people from different worlds."
"Any other questions?"
"You’ll brief us if the situation calls for it." Zeke stood from his chair, floating toward his room. "Right now, I need rest. I can’t stay in the same room with Michael."
"Can’t say anything about past me—or future me?" Jude stood, moving to Anton. "Anyway, I’m not disappointed. Don’t beat yourself up. You didn’t know." He patted Anton’s shoulder. "All that emotional shit."
He walked toward his room.
"My sister beat your ass." Kai’s voice was light, teasing. "Always remember that."
"Isn’t Yeon on the third floor?" Aaron asked, following Kai upstairs.
"So it’s just us." Michael’s smile returned, sharp and knowing.
"What are you up to?" Anton’s voice was wary.
"Right now? I’m where it’s most exciting. With Zeke." Michael stood, walking past Anton. "Once he gets boring, I’ll leave."
He paused at the base of the stairs.
"And by the way—I like it when you’re scared."
His voice drifted back, casual.
"Boys, she’s on the third floor—but she hasn’t started her trial yet. She’s stationed on the second floor by Althelgard. She and your other friend, Zeldris."
"He’s not our friend!" Zeke’s shout echoed from his room.
"Hehe." Michael’s laugh was soft, private.
---
’Yo, Zero.’
{ At your service, bitch. }
’By your calculations, Michael could be at whatever rank they were discussing, right?’
{ Definitely. }
{ His aspects makes it very possible. }
’This is both exciting and annoying, you know.’
{ It’s funny how you’ve diverted from your goal of living a slice-of-life life. }
’That’s still what I want. But who says slice of life can’t have action and drama?’
{ You hate drama. It’s illogical. }
’I know. But this one’s a little exciting. What are Michael and Anton planning? They both think they have the upper hand. Ahh, the thrill.’
{ You psycho. }
"Hehe—"
Zeke’s conversation with Zero cut off abruptly.
He found himself somewhere else.
"Hello, Zeke Vaughan." The voice was warm, unfamiliar. "Nice to meet you."