Return Of The Strongest Player

"It's working!" Kai announced, his expression bright. A few hours passed since his training began, and after discovering that the Strings Of Fate could affect non-living objects, the boy began attempting to unlock his sixth sense.

After a few hundred deaths, Kai realized that it didn't affect him all that much. Instead of feeling the urge to disappear into the darkness, Kai only felt a slight pain along with a feeling of emptiness for a few seconds after death.

Now, he could exert himself to his limits.

His sword skills continued to grow, and although he didn't practice an art, his insane reflexes and precision compensated for the lack of rhythm and order.

'However, it's still not enough,' Arthur muttered internally, glancing at Kai. 'If he attempted the tenth floor right now, he would inevitably fail, and perhaps get lost within the illusions that the trial constructed.'

'Although his physical growth is phenomenal, and his fear of death has been wiped, he still needs stronger mental fortitude.'

Arthur stroked his chin, seemingly troubled. "All right, we'll stop the training here."

"Huh?" Kai, stupefied by Arthur's decision, furrowed his brows. "I've only just started getting the hang of it, though!"

"That's not the purpose," Arthur replied, massaging his temples. "The purpose was to strengthen you mentally, and that's not working. Your mental state was best when I first bought you, but now…"

Silence.

"I… I apologize," Arthur suddenly said, realizing his mistake.

"It's fine," Kai replied emotionlessly, strapping the sleek, dark blade to his waist. "Let's go back, now."

Arthur remained silent for a few seconds before nodding.

*

"You're doing it?" Ferhill asked, watching Arthur pack his belongings. "You know what this means, right? You'd be starting a massive war that could put millions of innocent lives at risk… Do you have to do this?"

Arthur revealed a faint smile. "The Divine Rankers are not stupid, Ferhill. I know how they think about certain things. The War will most likely be on evacuated grounds, and there will be several Rankers protecting the civilians if they are to get caught."

"How can you say that for certain?"

"Because not a single innocent person is fated to die during this war," replied the crimson-eyed man, wiping the grin off his face. "The war will be in succession to me clearing the thirteenth floor, so it'll be difficult for me to fight back without seriously injuring myself."

"What about us?"

"Stay here. Do not interfere, whatsoever. There are people who can kill you with a mere gaze, so don't even try to step onto the battlefield. I just need to reach the temple after clearing the thirteenth floor, so for me, it's just a death race."

"Will you be fine?"

"Oh, look who's all concerned, now," Arthur replied playfully, lightly punching Ferhill while glancing at Diamond, Matthew, and the disappointed Kai. Although Arthur hadn't known the four for long, he still had somewhat of a connection.

'Didn't expect myself to be able to trust someone other than my family, after what happened.'

"How long are you going to be out?" Diamond inquired, her face full of worry.

"A few days, or perhaps a few weeks," Arthur replied as he headed out. "Kai, don't forget to practice your fate. Matthew and Diamond, focus on Refinement. Ferhill… Just do whatever you want, I don't know."

"Very motivational," Ferhill yelled, watching Arthur leave. "Dumbass."

"Do you think he'll come back safely?" Matthew asked, plopping down on the sofa beside Diamond.

"Not likely," replied Ferhill. "You have no idea the obstacles he has to face. People that can potentially destroy an entire nation by themselves."

Matthew's jaw dropped.

*

Arthur traversed the Outer District, arriving at the Floor Teleportation Hub. Requesting to challenge the eleventh floor, Arthur was quickly teleported without trouble. His vision was dyed with darkness for a few seconds before light returned.

"The Eleventh Floor," Arthur muttered blankly. "The Floor Of The Mirrors."

As he uttered those words, he watched the millions of pieces of glass and the thousands of mirrors littered across the entirety of the world in awe. Despite having completed this trial during his past life, he still couldn't help but be surprised.

Suddenly, a bear-like creature dressed in a stark black tuxedo emerged from the shadows before the crimson-eyed man, his eyes a deep shade of azure and his hair lush and brown, akin to an actual bear.

"I am Junior, a Guardian of the Tower Administration," the bear announced, bowing in a courteous manner. His movements were smooth yet filled with caution as if he recognized the man before him.

"I am Arthur Solace. I'm sure you know me."

"Of course, how could I not recognize you?" Junior asked rhetorically, a faint smile plastered over his face. However, his body seemed stiff, as if he were uncertain of what to do. Managing the existence of a man allied with the Saint Sealing Devil was above his pay grade.

'They should've gotten fucking Intrascal to do this.'

"How does this floor go?" Arthur inquired, realizing Junior was in a daze. "I assume you're supposed to explain."

"Ah, yes. The Eleventh Floor consists of a world of mirrors, in which one has to locate the real player. There will be copies of you that claim to be the real you, but you have to determine the real you."

"Is that it?"

"Yes," replied Junior. "Use any means necessary. However, the trial only ends if the real you dies."

"I see."

With those words, Arthur watched as Junior bowed yet again, disappearing into an explosion of shadows. The former's eyes fell upon the world of mirrors.

'If I remember correctly, one of the Divine Rankers cleared this by killing everyone,' Arthur muttered internally. 'I admire the decisiveness, but that's not a guaranteed method of winning, because maybe you aren't the real you.'

'But the version of that Divine Ranker who killed others was real. That started a chain reaction, and eventually, the only they were left.'

'But I'm not going to do that.'

'I don't know if I'm the real me.'

Arthur's gaze fell upon the thousands of Arthurs that stood before him. With an unwavering gaze that seemed to reflect upon the gazes of the others, Arthur unsheathed Skofnung. 'Skofnung, are you real?'

No response.

'So, I'm not real.'

Slash!

With a decisive slash, Arthur beheaded himself. His head fell to the ground, drowning in the pool of blood that formed shortly after. His body collapsed, drawing liters upon liters of blood that stained the world of mirrors.

Another Arthur called out to Skofnung.

'Skofnung, respond if you're real.'

No response.

Stab!

Arthur stabbed his sternum, digging into his heart using the tip of his blade. Blood spilled in all directions, marking the end of his life.

'Are you real?'

No response.

Slash!

Thud!

'Are you real?'

No response.

Slash!

Slash!

Thud! Thud!

Thousands of bodies lay on the ground, an ocean of blood staining the world. Providing the world a crimson glow.

Arthur could only stare at the world in apathy, lifting his sword. 'Skofnung, are you real?'

No response.

Slash!

'Skofnung, are you real?'

[The Demonic Blade 'Skofnung' admires the bloodbath you have created.]

[The Demonic Blade 'Skofnung' wishes for more blood.]

'No more blood,' Arthur muttered internally, gazing upon the crimson world. A deathly silence seemed to have enveloped it, as not even the beating of hearts was audible, except Arthur's own.

His ears rang.

*

"What… The… Fuck…" Junior muttered to himself, grabbing his rather cutesy, soft ears while attempting to pull them out of his head. Spectating the scene from nearby, he couldn't help but gasp.

'Has anyone tried this before?'

'Probably not! That guy's fucking crazy! Who the fuck let this lunatic into the tower! I vote for him to be kicked out!'

"What are you so scared of, Junior?" A humanoid shark approached the bear-like creature, confusion plastered over his face. "Did some lunatic enter the Eleventh floor again? Oh, did he kill everyone?"

Silence.

"No? Then what happened?"

"He… He fucking killed himself. Thousands of times without fail, without hesitation."

Silence descended upon the area. Everyone's head turned to face Junior, wondering if the humanoid bear had gone crazy. Junior shook his head as if denying all allegations while suppressing the urge to sob.

He'd seen many things in his life, but he was still young.

"How much time did it take to clear the floor?"

"...T–Thirty… seconds," replied Junior, grabbing his short fur in an attempt to cope with the scene before him.

"He actually killed himself?" A humanoid koala asked, utterly stupefied by the scene.

"Yep. He muttered something to his sword before frowning and killing himself, thousands of times."

…

"What's the guy's name?"

"Arthur Solace," replied Junior, forming a knowing expression. The surprise faded, and all Guardians returned to their seats. "What's wrong?"

"You thought that guy would have a normal trial? He's a fucking lunatic. Did you not already know that?"

"I mean, I did, but…"

"Yes, this is a new level of crazy. We hear that about every floor he clears."

"Um…"

"Don't mind it. There's no one crazy enough to do this except him."

"Uh… Okay."