18 Reward
Immersed once again in the infinite darkness, Sasuke stood silently before the slumbering Administrator. After a few minutes of his arrival, the Administrator woke up and stretched like a dog… Yes, dog.
"Apologies, kid, I was deep in a dream with a lady Eel."
Controlling the twitching of his mouth, Sasuke replied,
"Understandable, have a great dream!"
"BUHAHAHAHAHAHA!" The space shook with the Administrator's laughter. "I saw everything. You exceeded my expectations, kid! You may not know, but some of the Fishes at the Top changed their positions because of what you created."
Sasuke puffed his chest proudly, but that shattered when he heard the Administrator continued,
"And because you brought a little change to the Tower that has remained still for millennia, some of the Administrators won't make it difficult for you during your climb."
"What do you mean?" Sasuke asked with apprehension. "Do I have to take all the Administrators' tests as I climb the Tower? And when did I offend an Administrator?"
The Administrator shifted his position slightly and explained, "We Administrators tested everyone before the creation of the current Empire, especially the Outsiders. However, since the Tower is now under a 'King,' we no longer need to interfere."
"But you, you are different from everyone, whether Insiders or Outsiders. Now, don't ask me how you're different, as neither I nor the 'Caretaker' knows. The same applies to all the Administrators on the floors above."
Sasuke wore a puzzled expression but refrained from interrupting, listening intently to the Administrator's words.
"As the Guardians of the Tower, we protect it from harm. So, you being an unknown variable. That's why I gave you a test that will benefit the Tower. While it may not earn the favor of all the Administrators, it will give you some leeway with a few."
Sasuke widened his eyes, trying to make sense of this unexpected situation. But he noticed something unusual.
"Why would you help me?" he inquired, gazing directly at the Administrator with seriousness.
"Instinct," the Administrator replied with a smirk.
Sasuke looked dumbfounded at the smirking Administrator; Bro, you animal or something? Wait.. you are.
The Administrator chuckled at Sasuke's reaction and continued, "The only reason you passed the first Floor is because of that. Our instincts usually respond when something good happens to the Tower, but the instinct I felt from you doesn't come from the Tower; it comes from… My Existence."
"Something that can evoke an instinct from my existence, for the 'first time' since my creation, isn't just a variable."
Sasuke didn't fully grasp the situation, but he understood one thing from the way the Administrator phrased it: he was an anomaly.
"Not everyone above will trust their instincts, kid. What I've given you is a spark of survival. It's up to you to 'shine everything into Existence' or 'scatter into Nothingness.'"
"So, choose your reward wisely," The Administrator concluded.
Sasuke stood there, contemplating everything he had heard up to this point. His new circumstances wouldn't make him despair or shed tears in blood, Far from it. What he is facing now wouldn't come close to what he faced in his past life.
The stage just shifted not his Will and Soul.
He will survive even if he has to hunt down the Administrators. Plus,
'I'm not at the bottom like in the past… Just you wait my future Summon, I'll prove how good of a decision you made today.' With a smile that showed all his teeth, he looked at the Administrator with a little gratefulness.
"So, What do you desire Boy?."
Sasuke taking a deep breath, lifted his right hand and pointed it toward his EMS,
"I want to awaken this eye of mine."
"Hmmm? interesting... Don't you want a powerful weapon or anything like a special Contract?" The Administrator didn't expect anything like this. He asked amusedly.
"No!" Sasuke shook his head and explained, "A weapon is a good choice. But, in the end, they aren't a power of mine. They are external choices I can rely on. A Weapon may break or bleak, but not me. "
"HAHAHAHA, You really are an interesting Kid! However, that alone isn't enough of a Reward for the risk you took. You shall ask one more Reward, "
Sasuke thought for a movement and then smiled wildly,
"Then … "
…
In a dimly lit chamber, a red pillar of light soared to unprecedented heights, serving as the sole source of illumination. Standing on one side were Khun, Anaak, Endorsi, Rak, Paracule, Alexay, Laure, Hatz, Shibisu, Rachel, and, lastly, Sasuke, all facing Hansung Yu on the opposite side. One thing to notice is the change in Sasuke's appearance. While it isn't anything major. For others, they felt he looked less scary and more appealing.
Dressed in a sleek black suit, a crisp white shirt, and black formal shoes, with tousled hair and eyes as dark as the abyss, Sasuke couldn't help but notice the occasional sidelong glances from his teammates. While he isn't against the girls,
"What the heck are you looking at, you creep?" Sasuke snapped at the nearby Shibisu and kicked him lightly.
"Haha, don't worry, bro. You just look less intimidating without that weird eye of yours. Normally, I feel as if I'm standing naked in front of that eye. So, ehehe..."
"Why are you 'geh'?" Sasuke looked at him with disgust.
"What is 'geh'?" Shibisu blinked, genuinely perplexed.
"You are 'geh'!" Sasuke retorted, moving to stand near the crestfallen Endorsi.
"Enough, Regulars!" Hansung Yu interjected their quarrel and produced Eleven small boxes from his pocket, distributing them to all the Regulars.
"It's to commemorate your graduation. I thought I should celebrate this moment."
"Is this marriage or something?"
Ignoring the comment raised by Khun, Hansung Yu continued,
"So, now that I have given you these rings, it's truly time to bid farewell. I hope your journey will be filled with blessings. Bye-bye, Regulars!" Hansung Yu watched as, one by one, all the Regulars teleported away. When it was Sasuke's turn as the last person, he spoke while bowing,
"Till we meet again, Slayer Shinigami."
"Tsk."
…
In an obscure, lightless realm where nothing could be seen, Aisand shifted his attention away from the profound darkness below.
"You're going to great lengths for that kid, Eel. Well, that's normal when you witness something beyond comprehension, even for me!"
'Aisand' then raised his hand, from which emanated a small white spark. It descended into the infinite darkness and vanished.
"If you truly exist beyond reality or something of the sort, I couldn't fathom. I'll await the day you become one of 'Us.' Then, you'll understand for yourself, and if possible, you'll tell me."
After observing the abyss below him for a few more seconds, he returned to the 134th Floor.
Upon reentering the main hall, he noticed that Arankar hadn't left and was still kneeling there.
"Why are you here?"
"S-Sir, it's about the Irregular. Do we need to send people to monitor him?"
"Do you think it's easy to monitor an Irregular? Leave!"
An invisible force pressed down on Arankar, propelling him out of the hall like a missile. He crashed into a nearby floating carrier.
"Are you okay, bro?" A bald man with a brown beard and sunglasses floated down from above.
"Don't worry, Trankar. I'm fine," Arankar replied, albeit grumpily.
The bald man shook his head and whispered to Arankar, wary of being overheard.
"One day, we Fatte brothers will defeat this guy and make him realize who we are!"
"Yes, brother!" Arankar responded solemnly.
