Chapter 34- The World’s Original Hero

"I'm not very interested in long-dead heroes Seline, I feel a broader explanation would be better. What is this dungeon tower, are we in some kind of country? Is the world at war?" I began trailing off as though I was very interested I was exceedingly more interested in the outside world.

"I'll have to take a page from your book then, I have no idea of the current situation in the outside world. As you may have already guessed I have no idea how long I've been imprisoned, could be a month could be a thousand. I have no way of knowing." She replied with a shrug and I sighed at that. "Though, I very much doubt the world is at war at this moment, but for your other questions…." She trailed off.

"To explain where we are and this tower you must first understand who Lord Hyperius was" She replied and I nodded, intent on not interrupting her further.

"To begin our story I must explain the Demonic Convergence and how it completely changed society as we knew it. Well over a millennia ago the gods made their presence known for the first time in recorded history. Envoys, priests, and even physical avatars spread like wildfire across the lands, skies, and seas. A divine exodus to deliver a simple message." And leaned forward and paid rapt attention. 'Gods coming down from their realms? What could warrant such a reaction?'

"We are at war, the one simple order plunged every continent into fear, as what could do battle with the gods? What could mortals due to impact such a battle?" She continued as despite myself I leaned forward in interest.

"Seven Daemons, gods of death and destruction. These powerful and deviant deities staked their claim on the world of Asterious, thus began the three-hundred-year war. Demonic beasts and monsters began appearing around the world, appearing from portals or gates and waging war across the land. This period of history is referred to as the Golden Age of Adventures" She stopped there to allow us both to consume and interpret the information. I was already fumbling a guess as to why these towers could've come to be.

"Though the races of Asterious tried their hardest to drive back the Daemon's forces they still ended up losing an entire continent in the process. Thus the gods stepped forward once more, thirteen giant towers rose to their decree. If you seek power or riches come forward and to those that are worthy my champion you may become. A challenge of the gods in an attempt to produce a hero." Seline continued.

"The first to ever succeed was Hellio Von Hyperius, the Paladin of black flames. He managed this feat towards the start of the third century of the Great War. Thirty years later he killed two Daemons forcing a retreat and an armistice that has lasted well over a thousand years. Later he would stake his claim on the entire Northern continent, establishing the Silverine Empire and ruling as emperor for a few hundred years before his death." I was left in slight shock at this man's achievements, no, was it even right to call him a man anymore? He was closer to a god, killing two of them himself and living for hundreds of years after the fact?

"He sounds more god than mortal….." I said after a few moments of contemplation.

"Truly, as were the members of his cohort. The thirteen champions were chosen by men and gods alike to lead their armies against the seven tyrannical beings. They were all legends of their time, some may even still live today." She said as I quickly began understanding exactly what the purpose of this tower was. A proving ground.

Though I'd quickly refuse such an option if given the chance. I'd much rather adventure and explore my whole life. Hell, I didn't even join the army in my old world, putting my life on the line for anyone other than myself just always seemed so foolish.

The horror stories of the homeless veterans I talked to while offering whatever I could spare really took that patriotic view and crushed it in my younger mind. Why risk my life for such an ungrateful society? It was crazy to even consider at least in my opinion.

"That is insane. But based on this story and your earlier explanation. Should I assume we're in the Silverine Empire and in the exact tower that Hellio conquered?" I wagered to guess as to what other reason could she have for telling us this particular story.

"Correct." She answered as she looked at me with a cunning smile. "Though it would be important to note that not one person since Lord Hyperius ever managed to conquer this dungeon, so unless we figure out another way out of here..." She trailed off but I was left shocked at her claim and Ivar hacked up a lung.

"We?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. Sure I trusted Ivar pretty much right off the bat but he was also not a man-eating monster.

"Before we get to that might ask what floor we are on Ace?" Seline asked as my eyebrows raised higher at her use of my name. 

"The ninety-eighth, though I'm pretty sure we're a few turns away from the boss room" I replied as she hummed in acknowledgment. I was still stuck on the fact that she thought she was coming with us, I have enough stress to deal with killing the monsters the tower creates or inhabits. But to also travel with one? That can most likely grow as fast as Ivar and me. Hell no.

"Only one and a half floors in a month and a half? Do you intend to spend a decade in here?" Seline asked which caused my eyebrow to twitch and Ivar to growl. Mostly because he had spent double the time I had in here, making her jab piss him off all the more.

"Sorry miss 'I eat people and grow stronger from it'. Some of us had to start as weak humans that barely had the strength to hold their weapons" I said with narrowed eyes as if this was her attempt to persuade us to let her join our group. Well, she definitely couldn't have made it as a salesman back on earth.

"Fine fine. That was rude of me. Well, do you have information on the floor boss?" She asked and for a long moment, I wanted to tell her off and just leave. But it was almost too obvious she only told us one piece of the valuable information she had, she had much more to offer.

Basic geology, possible races, and their abilities. The great powers of the world, who were the thirteen gods? Who was the god that resided over this tower? Who were the other thirteen champions and what were their stories? What did she know of the process to obtain a class? The list went on and on almost endlessly.

The question remained as to how would I get all of this information out of her, most likely I'd have to part with an enchanted item which I was extremely reluctant to do. Though, it would be a fair trade for either party given the value that information held to me.

"Taking your silence as an answer I'll take this as an opportunity to show my worth" She said as she basically faded away, though a vague distortion in the air remained I was left shocked at the ability. 'She has a class….. A stealth skill, a possible thief or assassin build most likely given her choice of weapons and relatively light armor.'

Before either us of could get a word in Seline was gone, most likely to scout out the floor boss.

However, I did appreciate the fact that it gave Ivar and me a chance to regroup together and figure out how the hell we were gonna get rid of her.