Tusk's Pleading: Alab's Rejection

The next day, a rumor spread like a wildfire on the 10th floor and below. 

"Hey! Did you hear? About that Necromancer's son?!"

"You mean that rumor that he is an F-grade awakened?!"

"Yeah! That is funny as heck! To think that we felt afraid that a new Necromancer would spread havoc in the Tower again HAHA"

"HAHA, throw that havoc aside, even us, D-rank awakened could easily kill him!"

"Yes, we should find him and sell his head to the Sword Saint or Arimaonga Guild!"

It was the third day after the Tutorial and turmoil already erupted multiple times now. Everyone had yet to absorb the news of the remarkable battle between SSS-grade Captains and now they were greeted by the rumor first thing in the morning. 

Enraged players who had a resentment against the Necromancer couldn't help but get excited by the news. Since they could not direct their revenge on the deceased Necromancer, they could only divert it to his son. Their bodies perked up at the prospect of killing the F-grade son in one hit! 

With their D-grade strength, they presumed that murdering Alab was a feat easy as breathing. 

The entire 10 floors erupted as they began their search for Alab's location. 

Meanwhile, on a cave a hundred meters away from the Resurrection Hall, Tusk stood as he kept glancing at an 18-year-old boy who was sleeping soundly in the deepest of the cave as futton shield his back from the stoned floor. 

A candlelight illuminated the area as a drip of water sounded in the dreary cave. Moss covered the walls as small insect monsters crawled on them, their antennas pointing toward the sleeping Alab. 

Tusk plucked an insect from the wall and threw it towards the side. The insects were harmless despite being a monster, it was to the point that a kid could even kill them. 

His eyes dreary, Tusk glanced at the wall as with another extension of his hand, he plucked an insect and kill it. Repeating this process for the nth time, he halted as his face flashed guilt, in a low voice, he muttered. 

"S-sorry, Lily", he muttered as he plucked another insect and threw it to the opposing wall, instantly smashing its small body from the heavy throw, carrying Tusk's guilt. 

He knew exactly that the [Sage Turtle] was Lily's first tamed monster and that slaughtering it would cause Lily an agonizing pain, but, Tusk was driven into the corner, not to mention that Mordred and Lily didn't even restrain their killing intent towards Alab. 

Tusk was clouded by rage, coupled with his need to escape that he couldn't hold himself, and decided to kill the [Sage Turtle] which was considered Lily's backbone due to its immense defense. 

Shifting his gaze to the sleeping Alab, Tusk swore to protect him even at the expense of killing his former friends, Lily and Mordred. He had to protect him regardless.  

His eyes twitched, and Alab's eyes started to be unveiled as his eyelids gradually rolled upwards, greeted by a dreary ceiling with small insects pouncing on him. 

Pluck

Tusk plucked the hurling insects as he turned his head and greeted Alab who was raising his spine as he sat. With eyes half-closed, Alab witnessed Tusk, and the events right after the Tutorial resurfaced in his mind. 

"Y--you, where did you bring me?! What about Hiraya?! What did you do to her?!", Alab asked as he skimmed his surrounding only to be filled with worries at not seeing Hiraya. 

Pain assaulted his head as he remembered Mordred and Lily craving to kill him, their faces screaming desperation as they pounced on him. Then, he remembered Tusk saving him and Hiraya but he couldn't find Hiraya anywhere in the cave which made him doubtful of Tusk's intention. 

Turning his head, Tusk walked towards Alab, kicking corpses of insects as he walked, with a relieved smile, he uttered. 

"I'm glad that you finally woke up, Guildmaster. I am Tusk, the Captain of the 10th floor, and will always be loyal to you.", Tusk introduced as he reached out his hand, asking for a handshake from Alab. His black coat swayed with the cool morning breeze as he grin, his eyes formed wrinkles on its side as he was relieved to see Alab was fine.

Though reluctant, Alab felt warm from glancing at Tusk's demeanor, he felt that if it was him, he could trust him even at his wit's end. Alab extend his hand as he locked hands with Tusk, shaking it steadily as they exchanged greetings. 

"I'm Alab, it's nice to meet you, Tusk, and thank you for saving us", Alab introduced as he felt a great pulling force coming from Tusk's hand, assisting him as he stood up from the soft futton. 

Standing on his feet, Alab now realized how tall Tusk was. He was almost the same height as Mordred, his finely built body clad with fair skin paler than snow was coated by a formal attire. He stood upright as his posture emanated elegance, his soft thin lips grinning as his jeweled-like green eyes amusedly glanced at Alab. His small yet perfectly shaped nose breathed a sigh as he let go of Alab's hand. 

Ruffling his silky black hair, Tusk glanced at Alab as his soft lips moved. 

"Don't worry, your friend Hiray is safe.", he muttered as his green eyes sulked as he retracted his gaze, the wrinkles in his eyes vanished as his cheeks plummeted. 

His sharp jaw clenched as he began his story. 

"I'm afraid that you have to sever your friendship with her after all, she must have hated you to the bone by now", Tusk muttered as he tapped his foot on the rough floor. 

Alab tilted his head as with a pucker face, he asked. 

"W---what do you mean? I didn't do anything for her to hate me… could it be related to those two people who attacked me?! Just why?!", Alab muttered as his breathing started to be irregular. 

Tusk heaved a sigh as he responded. "You may not do anything but for them, you are a threat that should be eliminated", he added as he glanced back at Alab who was looking at him with inquisitive eyes, craving for more explanation.  

"Your f--father, they branded him as a traitor but believe me, he is not! He had always been a good guy, there is no way he would betray anyone.", he muttered as he bit his lips, and fury reflected in his eyes, and his mouth quivered as he spoke. 

"But, it's those guys, their guilds just won't believe us, they are submerged in hatred, in revenge, in fear for your father. They wouldn't believe us regardless of what we say and then…"

Tusk paused as he recollected his ragged breathing, his clenched hand clanging as the tightness squeezed his bones, his jaw clenched as he recalled their past misery. 

"Then… they declared a war on us, we were reluctant, we want to resolve it with peaceful talk but they won't let us, they invaded our base and killed our people. We had no choice but to fight back! It's all of them! It's all on them… they destroyed us… we trusted them… but they– they didn't believe us", Tusk fell to his knees as he got overwhelmed by his emotions. Tears evacuated his eyes like spring as his lower lip pressed on his higher lip, his elegant demeanor washed off by his tearful eyes. 

It had been years already but every time he recalled that day, he couldn't help but feel devastated. He was but a kid and was forced to witness a grave scene of acquainted comrades being slaughtered in his very eyes, their faces screaming for help as they died in a very gruesome way thinkable. 

He saw a head severed from its body, eyes being plucked out whilst the person screamed for help, young kids like him getting brutally raped in his very eyes, their frail bodies squirmed as they pleaded for help. He had witnessed it all. 

And now, he fell on his knees as he begged Alab. 

"P---please, please, p--please, p---please, p---please, l--lead us. P---please, give them retribution. Please, p---please, save our guild"

The futton became soaked with tears as Tusk pleaded to Alab. His eyes screamed the loudest begging possible as he let out every ounce of emotion he could, his mouth deformed as he erratically plead to Alab. 

"P--please, save—", but, he was yet to finish his words when he heard a hurried sound of footsteps echoing. Raising his head overwhelmed with tears, he saw Alab running away from the cave, his steps in a hurry to leave. 

Tusk, with mouth agape, fell into despair. He begged Alab to help them but he knew that it was up to Alab to make a choice and unfortunately, he chose to reject them…

"S---sorry, sorry", Tusk wailed as the suffering bloodied faces of deceased members resurfaced in his mind, their grieving eyes flashed horror that made Tusk fall into a sorry state. He could only fall on his knees as he wailed in apology. 

—--

Meanwhile, Alab sprinted towards the exit of the cave, his face reflecting not a single ounce of empathy towards Tusk. 

"He never showed his face all these years and now you want me to take revenge for him?!"

Alab had this single thought running in his head. Tusk wanted him to avenge their guild, his father, at the expense of severing his friendship with Hiraya. Alab felt that it was an absurd request. 

Running on the rough surface as stones protrude irregularly, Alab reached the exit as blinding light assaulted his eyes, causing him to squint as he covered the sunlight with his palm. 

Scanning the forest that was no different from Earth, Alab searched for a path as he sprinted away from the cave. Despite lacking information, Alab knew that he needed to talk with Hiraya. He was certain that she didn't hate him just like what Tusk said. 

The Hiraya he knew in the Tutorial wouldn't exchange their friendship just for petty revenge for their negligent parents. 

But, Alab was unaware that the Hiraya he knew from the Tutorial was now non-existent…

Running for who knew how long, Alab kept on pushing his feet to their limit, afraid that Tusk would follow him and drag him to their petty revenge. He panted for air as he took a rest, he was now going downhill as trees started to subside, unearthing a fertile soil with grass and medicinal herbs rooted on multiple corners. Alab speculated that he was closing into the City. 

And as he expected, a land covered by concrete road greeted his eyes as he exited the dreary forest. Countless people flocked to the busy street with stalls situated on both edges. People flocked with armor and some were not, walked as they indulged in the euphoric medieval outlook of the bricked houses with triangular canopies and wooden shutters that greeted Alab's eyes. 

Alab indulged at the otherworldly sight as carriages carried by quadrupedal monsters passed by him as he stepped foot into the concrete road. Vendors occasionally presented him with their commodities ranging from regular foods to magically imbued weapons, and finally, concocted potions. 

Alab shook his head as he continued walking forward the street, sightseeing at the wonders of the Tower. 

It took him no time before a player who had been in the Resurrection Hall days ago recognized him. 

"Hey, isn't that the son of that Necromancer?! The guts to stray in this congested street! Indeed, the blood of that arrogant Necromancer is running in his veins!", the player shouted which caused a commotion to stir up in the nearby players. They shifted their heads to the naive player who strolled the street, mesmerized by the beauty of the Tower. 

And they recognized Alab. At their fastest speed, they sprinted towards the oblivious Alab as they pushed their feet forward, stumbling with players who blocked their paths, their smirks knew no bounds as they licked their lips maniacally. 

Alad heard the commotions as he turned his head, only to witness the grave sight of several players dashing towards his direction, killing intents oozed out of their bodies as they exclaimed. 

"I'd kill that Necromancer's son!"

With dilated eyes, Alab figured out that their killing intent was directed towards him, he shortly pushed his feet to the ground seemingly to escape but it was futile. The players around him similarly heard the commotion and recognized him, instantly encircling Alab, and blocking his retreat. 

"T--this", Alab could only utter as he knitted his brows, not knowing what to do next. 

Greedy and vengeful eyes flocked towards him as their fierce attacks could spell imminent death to Alab, their heavy bodies clad in bloodied armor reflected their desires to kill Alab. In a short time, the blade of their swords was about to pierce Alab right in his head when a gust of wind blew away their bodies, sending them rolling meters away as they stumbled on each other. Their rusty swords pierced the concrete road as it broke and some swords swept meters away. 

ARGGHH

Shrieking as they hit the ground, butt first, the swarm of players glanced at the sky. Above them was a humungous bird with sharp wings, and a body dyed the same color as the sun, its sharp feathers coated its wings as they flapped through the air, overcasting the area below. 

Alab, blown by the wind as he hit the ground, couldn't help but rejoice at seeing the bird. With a joyous voice, he exclaimed. 

"Minokawa!!!"