Becoming The Strongest Using My Would-You-Rather System!

Just as Theo began thinking of a reason, Lucienne spoke up beside him.

’’So you noticed it too?’’ she said, tilting her head slightly. ’’Everyone’s clearly waiting... because nobody wants to go in first.’’

Theo snapped out of his thoughts and glanced at her with furrowed brows.

She was calmly observing the groups around them.

’’They can enter whenever they want,’’ she continued. ’’They’re just waiting for someone else to take the risk first.’’

She paused for a moment. ’’At least... that’s what I think.’’

Lucienne spun around, her gaze landing on Nadia.

’’I don’t know if there’s some hidden mechanism or something we aren’t aware of...?’’

Nadia blinked before quickly shaking her head.

’’No,’’ she replied. ’’There’s nothing stopping anyone from entering.’’

Lucienne let out a soft chuckle and spun around once more.

After several seconds of silence, Theo finally spoke up.

’’We’ll recover first,’’ he said calmly. ’’And if no one’s moved after that... we’ll be the first ones to head in.’’

Jim’s head snapped towards him.

’’We’re going in first?’’ he asked, swallowing hard. ’’Isn’t that unnecessarily dangero—’’

Before he could even finish his sentence, Owen’s arm wrapped around his neck.

Jim glanced up slowly, finding Owen grinning at him.

’’We’re not doing this scared talk anymore,’’ he said slowly. ’’Remember?’’

Jim’s expression stiffened right away.

As he felt everyone’s gaze land on him, his face slowly started turning red.

’’I-I’m not scared,’’ he muttered. ’’It’s only one of the most dangerous areas in the world...’’

Owen’s grin widened.

He gave Jim a hard pat on the shoulder before letting him go.

’’Good,’’ he said, nodding approvingly. ’’Then you won’t mind taking the front when we’re going in either?’’

Jim’s steps faltered for a moment.

But before he could answer, Lyra stepped in.

’’Will you stop bullying him already?’’ she hissed. ’’Can’t you tell this isn’t the time or place?’’

Owen glanced around for a moment.

Everyone else seemed to be tensing up as they’d started walking through the groups of people.

Several conversations had grown quieter as they passed, while more than a few people openly watched their every move.

But Owen wasn’t bothered at all.

’’Oh, come on, I’m just trying to lighten the mood,’’ he said, shrugging.

As the two of them kept bickering, Lucienne couldn’t help but glance at Theo.

’’You have... an interesting group,’’ she said, tilting her head faintly.

Theo nodded once.

’’You get used to it,’’ he replied.

...

Before long, they reached a relatively empty spot beside one of the massive pillars.

Theo immediately came to a halt and glanced back at the others.

’’This should be fine,’’ he said calmly. ’’You all rest up. I’ll hold watch for the first bit.’’

Everyone nodded and gradually began settling down around the pillar.

Owen dropped down instantly and let out a deep sigh.

’’Finally...’’

Lyra sat down beside him, Jim and Nadia following only moments later.

Lucienne and Isabelle were the last to sit down.

But just as Lucienne lowered herself onto the sandstone floor, she noticed Theo still standing several yards away.

Her eyes immediately lit up.

’Perfect chance,’ she thought. ’I finally get—’

But before she could stand up again, another figure walked past her.

Lucienne froze in place, her eyes locked on Iris as she came to a stop beside Theo.

Gritting her teeth in frustration, she quickly lowered herself beside Isabelle again.

Meanwhile, Iris quietly followed Theo’s gaze across the hall.

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

’’Still watching everyone?’’ she eventually asked, her voice soft.

Theo nodded slowly.

’’Yeah,’’ he replied seriously. ’’I don’t think anything will happen, but I’d rather be careful.’’

Iris nodded quietly.

’’Makes sense,’’ she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Silence returned between them.

Theo glanced back towards the hall, but Iris didn’t.

Instead, she stared at him from the side.

Her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something, only to close again.

Seconds ticked by in silence.

Just as she lowered her head, Theo finally glanced back at her.

’’What’s wrong?’’

Iris stiffened slightly.

For a moment, she seemed unsure how to answer.

’’Theo...’’ she eventually muttered. ’’Do you think I’m strong?’’

Theo blinked in surprise.

Of all the things he expected her to ask, that wasn’t one of them.

’’Of course you are,’’ he replied without hesitation. ’’Why would you even ask that?’’

Iris lowered her gaze again.

’’I don’t know,’’ she muttered. ’’I’ve just been thinking about it a lot lately.’’

Her fingers slowly curled against her palms.

’’Everyone is getting so ridiculously strong...’’

Theo’s brows furrowed slightly.

’’So are you,’’ he replied instantly.

Iris glanced up, a small, forced smile on her face.

’’Not like you are,’’ she said. ’’Or Owen, Lyra, and even Jim are.’’

Theo stared at her for a moment.

There was something about the way she said it that bothered him.

’’Iris, you’re stronger than you think,’’ he said seriously. ’’Just look at who you contracted. Even the Argent Griffin saw something special in you.’’

Iris’s smile grew slightly.

But after a moment, her gaze lowered again.

’’I know...’’ she whispered. ’’Sometimes I just wonder if that’ll be enough.’’

Theo’s expression grew more serious.

Before he could respond, Iris continued.

’’You carry so much on your shoulders, Theo,’’ she said softly. ’’And sometimes... I’m scared I’m only adding more.’’

Her expression tightened slightly.

’’I don’t want to become someone you constantly have to protect.’’

For several seconds, Theo said nothing.

Or rather, he didn’t even know what to say.

Because... she wasn’t entirely wrong.

She was stronger than Jim and Lyra at the moment, but compared to him and Owen... the gap had grown huge.

And with the enemies they’d been facing lately, that gap was becoming harder to ignore.

Still, Theo slowly shook his head.

’’You’re not.’’

Iris blinked and slowly looked up at him.

Theo remained silent for another moment, carefully thinking about his words.

’’Maybe I’ll have to protect you sometimes,’’ he admitted. ’’But so what?’’

Iris stared at him with wide eyes.

’’You’d do the same for me if you could, wouldn’t you?’’

’’Of course.’’

’’Then why is it suddenly a problem when I do it?’’

Iris opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Theo smiled faintly.

’’You don’t need to become someone else just to keep up with me,’’ he continued. ’’You’re perfect the way you are.’’

He paused for a moment.

’’And I wouldn’t trade you for anyone else. No matter how strong they were.’’

Iris’s eyes widened.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then a warm smile slowly spread across her face.

’’You really mean that?’’

Theo nodded instantly.

’’Obviously,’’ he replied. ’’My answer hasn’t changed since the last time you asked, and I don’t see why it ever would.’’

Iris quietly looked away, but her smile only grew warmer.

’’Thank you, Theo.’’

Theo smiled faintly before turning his attention back towards the hall.

’I don’t think you need to worry about strength,’ he thought. ’I’m certain the System will have plenty of opportunities for you and the others.’

Unfortunately, that wasn’t something Theo could tell her now.

Just like that, silence fell between them.

For a while, Iris simply remained beside him, quietly watching the countless groups scattered throughout the enormous hall.

Yet as the seconds passed, the warmth on her face gradually faded.

Theo’s words had made her happy.

She knew he meant every single one of them.

But somewhere deep inside, that unpleasant feeling still refused to disappear.

And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t understand why.