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

Nearly half an hour passed by.

Theo remained beside the massive pillar, quietly observing the place while recovering.

By now, everyone else had also recovered most of the mana they’d spent during the battle outside.

But something else had changed as well.

Groups had finally started moving.

The first few had just barely packed up their supplies, clearly ready to enter.

But with that change, the atmosphere in the hall had grown tense instantly.

Theo narrowed his eyes slowly.

’’It’s starting,’’ he muttered.

Everywhere around, other groups started packing their supplies as well.

Their eyes remained locked onto the closest groups near the dark tunnels.

Theo didn’t plan to wait around either.

’’Alright, everyone,’’ he said, turning around. ’’Have you all recovered now?’’

Owen pushed himself off the ground immediately.

’’Naturally,’’ he said, cracking his fists.

Jim rolled his eyes before jumping up.

’’I’m good too,’’ he said, stretching his arms above his head.

Beside him, Lyra and Iris also nodded, while Lucienne, Isabelle and Nadia didn’t seem to have any problems either.

Theo nodded once, his expression growing serious.

’’Alright,’’ he said. ’’Then we’ll prepare to enter now.’’

His gaze swept towards the nearest dark tunnel leading underground.

No one had entered it yet, but there were several groups eyeing it very clearly.

’Do we just go?’ he thought, narrowing his eyes. ’We might get sandwiched, but waiting isn’t a good option either.’

With several enemy groups, entering first or last were the best options.

But the others also knew that.

Theo’s mind continued churning for a moment.

’Going first and instigating a fight between groups might be the best option for us.’

Besides, with the other groups keeping each other in check, they might not even enter immediately after them.

And with a head start, there was no guarantee they’d ever catch up.

’’Alright,’’ he said, glancing back at the others. ’’We’re going in.’’

Isabelle, Lucienne and Nadia instantly looked up.

For a moment, confusion and uncertainty flashed across their faces.

But the others had none of those thoughts.

Owen picked up his sledgehammer with a grin.

’’You heard the man,’’ he said, pointing it forward. ’’Let’s get going!’’

With that, Theo and his group started walking.

None of them questioned his decision for even a moment.

Behind them, Lucienne, Isabelle and Nadia seemed caught off guard for a moment.

Realizing they were being left behind, they quickly hurried after them.

As they caught up to the back of the group, Nadia felt the stares from other groups burning into her back.

’’Are you sure this is good?’’ she asked, her voice barely a whisper. ’’We’ll become targets for all of them...’’

Jim glanced behind and shrugged lightly.

’’We just do as he says,’’ he replied. ’’And so far, it hasn’t gone wrong.’’

Before Nadia could say another word, Jim had already turned back to the front.

Just like that, the group began making their way to the tunnel.

Theo didn’t bother glancing around.

He could feel everyone’s hostile gazes just fine.

’There,’ he thought, narrowing his eyes. ’That’s it.’

As he reached the entrance, he found a wide sandstone staircase descending deep down.

The staircase quickly disappeared into the darkness below.

But that wasn’t a problem for Theo.

With his night vision, he could see the sandstone steps continuing far deeper underground.

’’Let’s go,’’ he said.

Without any hesitation, Theo stepped forward.

The others quickly followed behind him.

At first, the light from the massive hall still lit up their surroundings.

But with every step they descended, it grew weaker.

Before long, the sandstone walls around them were barely visible.

Then even that disappeared.

Owen’s steps gradually started slowing down.

’’How the fuck are you even seeing in here?’’ he asked from behind Theo. ’’It’s pitch fucking black!’’

Theo glanced back at him.

’’Just keep following closely,’’ he replied casually. ’’Your eyes will get used to it.’’

Scoffing once, Owen shook his head.

’’Screw that,’’ he said, raising his hand. ’’I’m making a light.’’

But before he could even gather any mana, Nadia’s panicked voice rang out from behind him.

’’No!’’

Owen stopped right away.

He glanced behind with furrowed brows.

’’What?’’

’’Don’t use any spells inside these tunnels,’’ Nadia said quickly. ’’If you damage even one thing by accident...’’

’’Then what?’’

Nadia hesitated for a moment.

Then she lightly cleared her throat.

’’I don’t know exactly,’’ she admitted. ’’There are many stories about it... but they all end badly.’’

Just then, Jim spoke up.

’’Um, how do they end exactly?’’ he asked, swallowing hard. ’’You know, just in case?’’

Nadia shifted uncomfortably.

None of the information she had could be trusted one hundred percent.

But one story was the best known among the locals in her town.

’’You vanish,’’ she said slowly. ’’And thus far, no one has ever made it back to explain what happened after.’’

Owen remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he slowly lowered his hand again.

’’Right,’’ he muttered. ’’No lights then.’’

Meanwhile, Theo had been closely observing the walls.

Being able to see perfectly clearly, he noticed the peculiar engravings and paintings of people and beasts on the walls.

’Well... human?’ he thought, raising an eyebrow.

Each person seemed human, yet they all had traits that didn’t belong to their kind.

Some had wings, horns, tails, and there was even one woman with a dozen eyes!

Time slowly ticked by.

It had been nearly four minutes since they’d entered when other voices and noises began echoing through the tunnel.

’The first groups,’ he thought, glancing behind for a second.

The sounds were still distant, but there was no mistaking them.

Theo glanced back to the front again.

’When is this damn tunnel finally going to end?’ he thought. ’Is the real danger zone truly that deep underground?’

The staircase continued for another minute before finally leveling out.

Ahead, the tunnel suddenly split into three separate passages, each disappearing deep into darkness once more.

’’What is this now?’’ he muttered.

Just then, Feng’s voice rang out inside his mind.

’’Contractor,’’ he said calmly. ’’There are several presences ahead... and those in the tunnels behind are rapidly closing in.’’

For a moment, Theo’s eyes narrowed.

Then he nodded once as a black robe appeared around his body.

’I’ll halt those behind us first,’ he thought. ’Then we’ll look into these tunnels.’