Even though we did not encounter any strong monsters, it still took us a while to get to the 80th floor. Mainly because of how lax we had become. We spent most of our free time chatting about Alex's family and his future plans. He said that when we will get out of the labyrinth, he will join the heroes party and fight the demons, after defeating them, he will find a way to go home and join his family again. We didn't really talk about me, Alex tried to, but after a few as seamless as a skyscraper changes of topic from my part, he took a hint.
After a conversation about school ended in a long silence, I finally asked him "So Alex, what are you going to do about the friend group that has betrayed you?"
He looked at me, shook his head, smiled and said "Nothing, nothing at all"
At first I thought that he was joking or that he didn't understand the question, so I tried to elaborate, but I got the same answer. I couldn't understand him, he was a psycho that kills monsters with a smile on his face, but he wouldn't get revenge on the people that had betrayed him?
"Why?" Was the only thing I was able to say. "Please help me understand your logic. If it was me that got betrayed, those bastards would be tortured far beyond the point of pleading for death, there would be no way for them to be forgiven."
"And who said that I have forgiven them?"
Now I was really confused. "So, you haven't forgiven them, but you won't get revenge either? Are you afraid of the consequences? You know, after leaving this place we will be far more powerful than anyone else in the world, so there will literally be no consequences for you."
"It's not that either" He said to me, making me feel like a child not understanding the world of adults. "There is no way that I will ever forgive them, but I do understand them, I understand that they simply valued their lives more than anything, anything including our friendship or my life. I believe that we were friends and I believe that they cared for me, so my vengeance will be the guilt they will feel for the rest of their lives for betraying me."
I was thoroughly confused. I didn't think that this was enough of a punishment for anyone especially for scum like them. But then again, I had no friends for a really long time and I had never betrayed one, so I don't know how that would feel. How would it feel if I betrayed Alex, someone, to who I actually connected over the time, someone I actually consider as something like a friend?
As I was pondering this dilemma, Alex flipped the question back on to me "And what will you do to them?"
I had to consider for a while before answering. While the first instinct I had was to rip them into pieces as slowly as possible, my 'cold blooded' nature kicked in and I realized that in their shoes, I probably would have done the same. And besides, getting revenge is a waste of energy and quite possibly risky. So I answered with a deep sigh "Nothing, nothing at all. But for different reasons," Alex smiled and we both bursted out laughing. Laughing… How long has it been since the last time I had laughed?
The only really interesting monster that we came across in the dungeon between the 70th and 80th floor was the 'Killer hornet'. Tell me, have you ever been stung by a 'Killer hornet' in our world? well if you have, It probably hurt like hell, right? This one is a bit different, starting with the fact that it's the size of a bus. Cool, huh? Well not so cool to actually face one.
It's a good thing that I actually didn't have to face it since Alex quickly disposed of it with 'Fireball' and 'Air slash' skills. Man, I really Want those skills. After the meal, I gained the 'Pierce' skill allowing me an ultra fast jab that can pierce through even the beetle-like monsters armor. And finally, we arrived at the 80th floor, the floor that looked like one of the earth's poles.
The population was scarce to begin with and in a matter of days it became even more scarce. The top dogs in here were the 'Owl bears' - twice the size of a normal bear, with the head of an owl and the body of a bear, white fur and worst of all not just a 'resistance to magic', but also a 'resistance to physical attacks'. A solid 'S' class monster.
"Now, how the hell do we deal with this shit?" I asked, about ready to give up after a single glance.
"No idea" Was the answer I got. "Let's not provoke him, for now at least."
"Good idea."
While Alex was thinking up a plan, we spent our time hunting the small fry of this floor. Mainly monsters that looked a lot like penguins just bigger. the size of a two storey house big. Yup, those were the small fry here. The 'frost resistance' skill that we gained from them was very useful on this floor for us, Alex also gained the 'ice breath' - a skill that allows you to shoot elemental ice attacks that freezes anything it touches. Guess how I found out.
After what felt like an eternity, Alex finally came to our little owl bear problem solution "If it has both 'resistance to magic' and 'resistance to physical attacks', we just have to top them."
"Do elaborate"
"It's simple, we have to produce an attack that will pierce through its natural defenses." Very simple indeed.
"In other words we have to get a skill that is strong enough to kill it, right? But we have collected all of the skills we could while coming here, none of them will be strong enough and there is nowhere for us to find a new one."
The wicked smile appeared again "We will just have to create one!" I don't like this.
_________________________________________________________________________
"Are you sure that it's safe, because I am starting to get doubtful about this plan of yours." Not gonna lie, I was starting to get anxious.
"Yeah, totally. Just don't worry about it. Besides, aren't you happy that you won't be the bait this time?" He said with an innocent smile.
"I honestly don't know which is better - being the bait or being the flipping missile. Maybe we should reconsider this?" At this point I was pleading for my life.
Alex looked at me, thought for a second, smiled and said "Nope! Let us begin!" Fuck!
I was ordered to strap my shield to my back, a beetle shell spear in my hand was ignited by Alex with the 'ember touch' skill and I strengthened my body with mana. The preparations were complete.
Alex launched a 'fireball' spell at the nearby 'Owl bear', not even leaving a mark, but gaining its attention. The monster charged at us with full force. Just as planned. We began running straight at it with me in the front and Alex behind. When I was around 5 meters from the 'Owl bear' Alex launched an 'air slash' right at my back. The shield absorbed most of the damage, but not the kinetic force, giving me a substantial speed boost. It still hurt though, but I was happy that I kept my limbs.
I prepared to strike with the spear. When I was at the striking range, I used the 'pierce' skill on the spear hand and struck at the neck of the 'Owl bear'. This is the final moment, if it fails, I'll probably be eaten. It went through! It actually pierced the monster's neck and killed it in one shot. We had done it, we defeated a monster with both 'resistance to magic' and 'resistance to physical attacks'. Through combined effort we had killed it!
The 'Owl bears' skin was very tough and thick, it took us a while to get to the meat, but with a little elbow grease we managed. As expected, both of us gained both resistances stepping one more big step towards supreme power. I was happy, but the near death experience made me somewhat worried about the possibility that one of us might die here. In neither of the worlds did I have some that I cared about, but Alex was different. What if he dies? Should I memorize his testament? Should I exact his last will? He is the reason that I am still alive, so that is the least that I should do right?
"Hey Alex…"
"What's up? Why the grim face? I mean your face is always grim, but right now it's even grimmer than usual."
"If you died here… What would you like me to do? About your family or something…" I looked at him, shook my head and continued "I don't really know how to ask this of you but if there is something that must be done and you are unable to do it, I can help… I guess."
Alex smiled, then seemed to wonder about something for a while and finally answered with a serious face "If I die, there is one thing that you must do. My family… Apart from my mother and sister I want you to destroy them."
"You mean to torture and kill them right?"
"No, that would be too easy. What I desire is for them to lose everything they have - money, good name, connections, trust in one another - everything that they value in this life and to spend their remaining life in misery."
"That seems like a lot of work, can't I just kill them?" At this point, I don't know what is more cruel - Alex's plane or mine. Besides How the fuck do I destroy them financially?
"There is one condition that can get you out of this job and that is if they have actually changed in the time that I haven't seen them, but that is unlikely." Ah, there is hope for me… "Oh, By the way, is there anything that you want done in case of your unfortunate demise?"
It didn't take me any time to answer "Nope, nothing at all"
"Good, that means that it is time for your lessons on my family dynamics, their names, business management, Mandarin Chinese and all sorts of fun things! Are you ready?"
"What? Why? I haven't done anything wrong! What's with this inhumane punishment?! All that after I offered you help? That is so unfair!"
Alex gave me an innocent smile and said "If you truly are going to get revenge for me in the event of my death, you have to know all this."
Fuck, I forgot that. Maybe I can just retract my promise to avenge him? "Hey, Alex, maybe we should forget about that and focus on the dungeon ahead?"
"Nope"
Let's try another angle. I really hate studying. "You know, I can always protect you, so there is no real need for any of this, right?"
"There is."
Well, shit. It looks like I am doomed.