“...”

I stared at the empty Floor Shop. Though I was expecting it, I was still shocked. I worried for her safety but decided to trust her.

“Sherafina, are you ready?”

There was no reply. But I knew how to get one. I threw my body at the gate to Beyond.

Monsters that began to appear from Beyond’s 41st floor, Elang. They had a unique trait which prevented them from taking damage from non-pure aura attacks.

Furthermore, the way they talked suggested that they knew who I was. Though I wasn’t sure until now, I became certain after obtaining the Demon Lord’s power.

Elangs should be puppets that use Sherafina’s power. From the beginning, she wasn’t trying to hide it.

The 45th floor wasn’t big. It was a tranquil marble room that was extremely silent. Moreover, this room was full of the dungeon’s power.

[I’ve been waiting.]

A creature with black skin and a pair of white wings spoke.

[I believed you would accomplish it one day.]

The voice belonged to a man, but I knew it was Sherafina.

“What are you?”

[I’m not sure myself. Too much time has passed for me to remember the past. But I do know that I was once a girl.]

He... She... Sherafina said that and asked back.

[There’s something I can’t understand. How did Kain Zerahard hide his ability from me?]

“The power he got was the ability to conceal himself and his comrades.”

[That’s...]

“Yeah, it was to hide from you.”

For a moment, Sherafina became lost for words. She then asked again.

[How did you enter the dungeon?]

“I can do at least that much.”

[Not according to my calculation.]

“95

floor.”

[So it’s as I suspected. To be capable of deceiving my eyes, was it a dragon?]

I nodded. From Sherafina’s jet-black skin, eerily crimson eyes opened.

[So there was a dragon left alive. I thought I got rid of them all.]

“What a mistake.”

[It can’t be described as a simple mistake. It threw off my plan that had an absolute chance of succeeding.]

“But you’ll still try?”

[The goal I’ve been working for my entire life is now in front of me. Kang Shin, if you were in my position, would you stop just because the chances decreased?]

“I wouldn’t set such an annoying goal in the first place.”

[Of course, that’s because you were already born with everything.]

Born with everything, huh. The question I had when I first entered the dungeon remained to be answered. Now, it was time for me to find out.

After taking in a deep breath, I spat out.

“... You’re the one connecting two worlds.”

[Yes.]

She acknowledged it straightforwardly.

“You’re also the one stealing worlds’ powers and designating the attacking side and the defending side.”

[Yes. I’ve been setting worlds without possibility into attackers, worlds with possibility into defenders.]

“Possibility?”

[Yes, the possibility of you existing.]

The puppet Sherafina was controlling didn’t show emotions well, but I knew that its current face portrayed joy. I asked again.

“You’ve been doing all of this just to find me?”

[Yes.]

“You brought countless worlds to extinction, tricked powerful ability users into creating the dungeon, and shared your power with explorers as if you were generous. Everything, just for me?”

[Yes.]

People would call a being capable of such feat this.

“Are you a god?”

[What is a god?]

“What?”

[On your head, there is a shining power I can’t comprehend. Is that the proof of a god?]

“I don’t know.”

[I also don’t know if I am a god. But, other existences would indeed call us gods.]

I chuckled at her words. God. The ones who created this word were humans and other beings with intellect. Zeus, Odin, Hermes, Shiva, Kali, Durga, Ignis, all of them! They were birthed from humans.

Still, to think this is how she would respond to my question. It seemed she really didn’t know.

“Right, you’re not a god. If anything, I’m closer to a god than you.”

[That’s also what I think.]

“Do you want to become a god?”

[Not at all. You becoming a god is not part of my plan. That might be where the plan started to go awry. But that’s it. I expected you to have a power or two beyond my understanding.]

Sherafina sounded surprising calm. Almost as if it didn’t matter how strong I was.

[I have the ability to wield worlds’ powers.]

“I know. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to put worlds’ powers into people’s body as you like.”

[I can’t put these powers into just anyone. They have to be a Hero.]

In other words, the designation of Heroes wasn’t under her control.

[When the world I lived in became connected with another world, I learned of the existence of worlds’ powers and became stronger from it. Soon, I realized I could freely move any world’s power. That’s how I came to create pathways to all worlds.]

“And?”

[I wanted to contain all worlds’ powers inside me. I thought it would be possible if I used my ability.]

The way she spoke sounded as though it was the most natural thing to do. I could already feel myself getting a headache.

“Just because of that... you brought countless worlds to extinction?”

[Yes. The pursuit of power is a natural instinct. Is it not the same for you?]

“I wouldn’t kill everyone I know for the sake of getting stronger! Even if you got stronger, what would you have left?”

[An absolute power.]

Speaking as though it was a matter of fact, the corner of Sherafina’s mouth twisted into a smile as she stared at me.

[You should know the nature of your ability, and you still say this?]

“Knowing the nature of my ability and destroying other worlds have nothing to do with each other.”

[I can wield worlds’ powers, but I couldn’t succeed in containing all of them in my body. I didn’t have the ability.]

“... So?”

[But you have the ability to fuse any power, any number of powers into one. Simply put, it is the concentration of all into one.]

I shut my eyes.

[After so long, I finally found you. You grew up magnificently and your ability bloomed excellently. Though it might have gone a bit overboard, it is still within my control.]

“That’s it? The reason you connected different worlds and the reason you created the dungeon?”

[Yes.]

“Just for that, you made so many people suffer?”

[I only accelerated what was happening regardless.]

She continued calmly.

[In Earth years, it only took 4,200 years. Even I didn’t think it would be so quick. I was prepared to have the dungeon’s administrators, its form and name change several times.]

“What made you like this? Humans, elves, dragons, anything! You shouldn’t have been alone from the start! So why?”

[Is a reason required to pursue power?]

“What?”

[No matter what it may be, is there a need for a reason to pursue it?]

“...”

She laughed. Though it was through her puppet, it was the first time I was hearing her laugh.

[Why do you seek a reason? Since when was there a reason for every act? Kang Shin, you are too na?ve. I do not question why I am the way I am. I simply do what I wish to do. And that is to pursue power. No matter how many worlds disappear in the process, no matter how many existences perish, that is none of my concern. Why should it matter?]

“You... Don’t you have anyone you cherish? If not now, in the past?”

Ellos’ face immediately popped up. He was a man of passion who was selected to become a First Dungeon explorer. He met his love and lost her to the world’s enemy. For him, a single woman was more important than himself or his world. As a result, he sought to get revenge by pulling me in and died because of it.

I didn’t pity him. The moment he schemed against me, he was no longer my friend. He was just my enemy. But thinking that he was simply toyed by Sherafina, I was filled with nothing but pity for him.

[The moment you place a value on others, you become weaker.]

She said assuredly.

[And in reality, you split your power to protect your family, friends, and Loretta.]

“... Ha.”

historical

“When I tried to secure Loretta, I felt my existence threatened and had to give up. To give Loretta so much power, you must have spent quite a bit of your own. Am I wrong?]

I smirked.

“Rather than my power, it was the axe’s power... but no, you’re not wrong.]

Where was Loretta hiding? I wondered. In any case, it was good to know that Sherafina failed to secure Loretta. As I was worried quite a bit, I was greatly relieved to hear Sherafina’s words.

Sherafina continued talking. I didn’t know whether she understood what I was thinking.

[As such, no one holds any value for me. No one, except you. As such, I must have you.]

With that, the puppet finally began to move.

[Of course, I am only going to measure your ability for now. I wouldn’t dare to think I could defeat you with a puppet.]

“Smart.”

I reached out with my hand and grabbed the empty air. Above my head, the halo let out a fierce light before the mana of Enigma obliterated the Elang.

“But something like this is no longer capable of measuring my power.”

[... It seemed I underestimated a god’s power.]

This time, the voice didn’t come from the puppet. I could feel a slight trembling in her voice. When I grinned, she gave me a surprise.

[It seems I really will need Ciara Kenex’s power.]

“... What? She should be...”

[She’s in the dungeon.]

Sherafina said.

[It was smart to try to hide her from me, but you made one mistake.]

“...!”

[The selection of explorers doesn’t only occur with designations of other explorers. Ciara Kenex is working hard to climb the dungeon to be of help to you.]

I began to run. Casting aside the restrictive force of the dungeon’s power, I returned to the First Dungeon. Then, without hesitation, I ran up to the 96th floor.

[I will be waiting for you on the 100th floor. If you do not hurry, you won’t make it in time.]

“Shut it!”

Sherafina spoke in glee.

[Her power is connected to yours. Once I obtain hers, I will get to know you more.]

“Huaaaaaap!”

The earth twisted and the space distorted as I charged straight through the 96th floor. However, the 100th floor was too far away. If Ciara was really in the dungeon, she was practically in Sherafina’s hands!

[Kang Shin, when the time comes, you will no longer have the qualification to fight me.]

I ran.

Towards the 100th floor!