Outcast Hunter

Before they move on to the lower level, they offered the fallen hunters a prayer. And they share the same food for breakfast.

-

[Ehem, okay, you're all here? Finally! You guys sure took your sweet time climbing the tower huh? Hmm... I forgot what kind of test I wanted to give to you guys. I'm the administrator of level 4, I'm what they call 'Rig'. About your test guys, um... I think, I'll just ask you one by one, nothing really personal. Just some kinky stuff, hahahahaha. Ehem! I guess no one laughs. Back to our topic, as I said, a one on one question and answer portion. I'll create a room, sound proof room, for privacy.]

'Will it be really nothing personal?'

[Okay, I'm done preparing the room. I will start calling you guys, one by one. I think, for every person I'm gonna ask, it would last for about 5 minutes? Yeah, yeah, 5 minutes]

The 18 groups that they were, were down to 17. Not all groups had the same count, there's one or two to other groups. Those groups' other members had died. And are you ever wondering if the group that failed the test had gotten a treasure? Sure they got, as a consolation prize but it wasn't of the finest. Some of the leftover treasures' what they had gotten.

-

He began calling them inside the room. The five minutes question and answer segment, taking longer than what they had thought. Different expressions, that's what they show after they went back. Some were dismayed, there were others that were happy and some are somewhat sad.

The last guy had just finished and it was Leo's turn. Rig called him in and he entered the room. It was pure dark, Rig showed him a chair and he took a seat.

[Pure darkness, mm-hmm... Leo it is, right?]

"Yeah" it was uncomfortable for him. He felt like he was blind and can't see anything but darkness.

'So, is this what they call blinding darkness?'

[Leo, I'll drop the formalities, is that okay?]

"Yes"

[Good! Then, this darkness represents your desire. The more you desire something the more the it will darken. So, my question is...]

Before he could finish his question, a notification from the Cabal had been sent.

[Skill, Luck had reached proficiency to 100 percent. Would you like to upgrade this skill?] [Yes or No]

'Of course, Yes!'

[Your skill Luck had been successfully upgraded to 'Great Charm']

[Appeal status has been added. It will increase when you do a good deed and will decrease when it's bad. The purpose of this is to serve as a scale if you're an appealing person.]

[You are given a one time purchase at the store with a 50% discount. No expiration. C.]

'That's useless, why add that?'

[It is not useless for it will serve as your sex appealing status. Negative means no one will possibly like you and positive means... C.]

'It doesn't matter if they hate me or not. What matter's my family, I don't give a damn about others who talk shit about other people when they can't see their own shit stinking'

[Are you listening to me Leo? Why aren't you answering?]

"Oh, sorry I was spacing out. What is it again?"

[My question is, why do you crave for more powers? Are you not contented on what you have now?]

'Why? You ask'

"It's not that I'm not contented on what little power I have or whatsoever. It's the power, the opportunity is the one who's always come knocking on my door. And what's wrong with craving for more?"

[I asked you, you asked me. Quite the nature of humans, one thing they always do when they're not sure what to answer, or they seek something in return and they'll ask you a question instead. Equivalent exchange... okay I'll answer yours since you answer mine.]

Rig cleared his throat first before he answered.

[Actually, I also think that craving for more's not bad. We train for so many years, trying to reach the peak of power. We will give our best if we really desire power, but will eventually lose the will to do so once one had reached the peak. I don't think there's a peak for power, humans have unlimited potentials. I hope that answers your question although, all I've said was you know, an opinion. We still have a minute, one last question. Really, who are you?]

Leo could not answer immediately, a question that troubled his mind. Who am I? That was the question that confused him.

"...who am I? I... that now I don't know"

[I see, okay that's all. When I'm finish with your brother, you two can proceed to level 5.]

The room's color had changed into white, there he saw a heart, beating. It is connected to people who'll enter the room and the heart will project your color.

Leo stood up from his seat and when he's about to leave, he heard the administrator said something.

[Are you really the Leo who died back 'there'?]

"Wai-"

He was finally outside of the room. He was gonna ask Rig what was that about? What does he mean by that?

His thoughts were filled with jumbled thoughts, again. Trying hard to come up with an answer to Rig's question. He was left with curiosity.

'Status Window'

[Leo K. Nicholas]

[Level: 50] (Max level reached, acquire a class for further upgrade of level's capacity)

[Title:King of the Tower, stats will be doubled when nearby to another bearer of this title. Plus 2 more titles..]

[Class: None]

[Health Points: 730] +500 Health points, Black Suit's attribute

[Mana Points: 555]

[Attack Damage: 151] +30 when wearing Black Suit of the Immortal Ruler

[Toughness: 135] +30 when wearing Black Suit of the Immortal Ruler

[Agility: 132] +20 when wearing Black Suit of the Immortal Ruler

[Dexterity: 132]

[Sense : 134]

[Appeal : 0] Max at 100 but can be lowered up to -100.

[Magic resistance: 30 %]

[Exp. Points: 0/999999999]

[Skills : Luck (Proficiency - 100%), Cloak (Proficiency - 32.9%), Hotfoot (Proficiency - 13.4%), Immortality (Proficiency - 0.0%)]

[Points Available : 0]

'I want to see Immortality's description'

[Can't process, class required]

*Face palm*

After him was Tom, why does it looks like Tom didn't took long inside?

Maybe he answered it quickly.

---

The level 5, as usual, gathered in one area, waiting for the administrator to speak.

[Hallo~ are you kids in good shape? If not, I'm gonna have you do some exercise. But before that, let me introduce myself. I'm Harley, your friendly administrator~ for level 5 test, you kids will do a one week of exercise and eating. You kids will be doing it alternately, exercise, eat, exercise, eat, or a whole one week.]

-

[Have you already change into your gym clothes? If, then let's begin!]

'She said not to overexerts our bodies. If we can not do it anymore, just stop and begin eating, then an hour of resting, then sleep. We will be doing that for a week. I can do it if it's me, but I'm afraid Tom can't. He's not athletic and was always bad at sports. He said he hates P.E'

But he seems to be doing just fine. He doesn't pressure himself and took some rest after a few laps and some push ups.

This routine continued for a week, with nothing but animals' liver as a food and their water were mixed with milk for further improvements of bones and muscles.

Girls and boys' exercise were different, their gym also.

--

[You kids sure have improve, just by looking at those muscles. It was a fun week for me and I hope for you kids too.]

"Where is she exactly looking at us? Do they have closed circuit television here?"

"Idiot! Stop looking around!"

[I made lunches for you kids before you went down to level 6.]

"I hope it's not liver"

One of them decided to open the lunch box and...

[Tada! Your favorite, fried liver! Hahahahaha]

---

They proceeded quickly down to level 6. This isn't what they're expecting inside the Underworld.

"Are they all humans!?"

Seeing people living in the Underworld was a surprise. They live like normal people. Trading, selling, there are even inns and bars. That place is very similar to the stories in the medieval period, where there are dungeons and guilds houses where you can register as an adventurer and take on some mission. An old-fashioned way of life. No technology or machines can be seen.

"Big brother Leo, where should we start? Administrator Rig said it will took 3 days for us to go to level 7"

"He said we should meet first with 'her'. She'll fill in the gap of our group"

'This should be around... here!"

"Follow me, she's waiting for us here"

Leo and Tom entered a bar not too far from where they came from. They were greeted by the bar's waiter and asked if they were there for a drink. Leo said, "We're looking for someone, we're told she's here"

"Oh, that must be her," he was pointing at the corner of the bar, There she was, sitting alone, drinking a cup of beer.

"She's here since morning, She looks like she was waiting for someone, so it's you two huh?"

Leo nodded and headed to her.

"Miss Khione, right?"

her gentle face was the first thing their two eyes saw. Her thick eyebrows that matched her thin lips made her beauty even brighter. She smiled, "Tom Nicholas and Mr. Leonardo"

(Hello Guys, it's me again, the Author. A lot of them have dropped this and I don't know if anyone's reading this. I just want to thanks those who are still reading this, and will be reading this. I don't really plan on prolonging this series since I, myself, know that most of the idea of this story comes from Solo Leveling.)