Chapter 554 Choose

Counting to push through the floors of the special dungeon called the Realization of Self Perfection, Marcus had finally made it to the tenth floor of his own personal challenges.

To this point he had been completely isolated, and while he had no way of telling exactly how long had passed, he was certain it had been multiple days.

During this time he had made his way through a number of trials, each that was a bit different.

After the first floor he had found himself in a massive library and was given as much time as he needed to study for a test on information about skills, beasts, and monster.

However, he could only take it twice before passing, or as he had been told, face grave consequences.

Luckily, he took it pretty seriously and made sure to memorize as much information as he could, since he had already seen that this dungeon was no joke.

His next challenge after that had been to learn a new advanced attack skill in battle with a monster that he could not defeat other than with this specific skill.

It had been a tough and brutal fight, but he eventually learned the skill called vorpal fang and got through the third floor.

The next few floors followed a similar pattern. Giving him difficult challenges he could not just brute force his way through, and either had to think on his toes or learn a new ability to get past.

Of course, at the end he received a chest which held a specific reward that was tailor made for him.

And as annoying as it had been, there was no doubt that he had gotten a lot stronger and more knowledgeable during his time fighting through these first nine floors.

The looming threat of destruction or eternal isolation had been quite the motivator to keep going, since there seemed to be no way to escape this dungeon other than to proceed.

‘I just need to pass one more and then I can get out of this place. Hopefully everyone else had been able to get through whatever challenges they have had to face.’.

Stepping onto the tenth floor and the last one he needed to clear before he could exit the dungeon, he found that it was simply an empty room like the first floor had been when he had arrived.

Still, he had seen this before, and normally on a floor like this he would have to fight some sort of enemy he was at a disadvantage against.

Yet as he waited for an enemy to fight to arrive, none ever came.

Coming out from the doorway that would lead him out of this floor, the guardian of the dungeon appeared before Marcus.

Seeing this he wondered if maybe he was going to get some sort of stupid riddle this time, but instead something far worse was presented to him.

The ceiling above him opened up and falling down from it was Lilia and Mrazivý both bound in a stockade with their mouths gaged.

Looking out in horror at the two most important people to him, Marcus rushed forward to free them.

But before he got far, the form of the guardian appeared in front of him and said, “Stop! If you take another step forward the two of them will suffer the consequences.”

Then to show that it was serious, the stockade closed down around Lilia’s left wrist and her hand went flying.

Watching this happen Marcus abruptly stopped, as he looked at Lilia’s hand hit the ground and leave a splash of blood.

There was pained expression on her face and Marcus’ soul felt incredibly cold.

“Let them go or I am going to destroy you.” Marcus said, threatening the guardian.

Though as he said this, she just laughed and responded, “Certainly if you can, go ahead. Hit me with your best shot.”

Taking her up on the offer, Marcus active his supreme skill and pulled out his focusing lenses, before firing off the combined might of his tier six darkness and light magic spells.

The entire area lit up from the blast and a loud explosion resounded through the area.

Nevertheless, one of his strongest attacks had done absolutely nothing to the guardian who just stood there unharmed.

In fact, the dungeon like always had not even been chipped by Marcus’ attack that could have decimated an entire town.

“Satisfied? Now I will tell you what your challenge is on this tenth floor. Pick one of these two. It is your choice which one lives, and which one dies.”

Hearing this, Marcus stood there stunned.

Never had he thought that this would be part of the challenge presented to him.

He had heard about this kind of sick and twisted scenario before, but to actually be put in front of it was crushing.

With one choice he had to choose between the most important people to him.

‘Hell no. I am not giving into his sick game.’ Marcus thought as his head cleared a bit.

Activating his life sense, he sent it out over towards Lilia and Mrazivý.

He thought that this might just be some kind of illusion meant to trick him and that they were not actually here.

Yet his life sense picked up that both of them were real living beings, and as far as he could tell they were just as strong as they had been.

Still, he was not convinced, and said, “This is just a stupid test, neither of them is real. Just let me out or bring me some other sort of challenge. I refuse to play your twisted game.”

Smirking, the guardian snapped her fingers for effect, and Lilia’s other hand was cut off and she let out a scream that shook Marcus to his core.

It was probably the hardest thing he had ever had to deal with seeing his little sister in so much pain, even if he was trying to convince himself this was an illusion of some kind.

“You are free to believe that these two are not real and save neither of them. But can you really take that risk? They entered the dungeon with you and have been at my mercy the entire time. These could very easily be the real Lilia and Mrazivý. Your sister or your fiancé, which one do you want to save?”

Shaking his head, Marcus refused to make this choice, and instead held his hand behind his back and turned it ethereal.

Then coming out of his hand he cast his iron threads which were also ethereal and sent them towards Mrazivý and Lilia.

He figured that if he could break both of them out and rescue them, this stupid scenario might end.

However, as he tired this, the guardian snapped her finger again and Mrazivý’s remaining hand was sliced off.

Feeling cold through his entire being, Marcus could not bear to see the pained look on her face as she stared out towards him to rescue her.

“I think that is enough. Make any other moves or say anything other than which one you want to save, and I take both of their heads off. Oh, and to make things more interesting, you have three minutes to decide, or I will simply kill them both.” The guardian said with a fiendish smile on her face.

To Marcus it seemed that she was enjoying this situation as he struggled with what to do.

So far all of his attempts to circumvent this trial had gotten him nowhere, and only had all of Lilia’s and Mrazivý’s hands chopped off.

Truly he wanted to believe that this was all fake, but in the back of his mind he was afraid that it was not.

He had no idea what had happened to Lilia and Mrazivý since they had been separated.

Even the engagement ring that held twenty percent of his soul had been cut off from him.

Quickly a minute passed by, and Marcus still had not come up with an answer.

Both of them were so important to him that he could not imagine living without one of them at this point.

“I have come to my answer. Take me instead. Just let them go and I will give my life in their place.”

Saying this Marcus hoped it was the correct answer that would get him out of this situation.

And even if it was not, he was more than willing to sacrifice himself for the two of them if that is what it took.

“Ha, ha, ha. Did you really think that was the correct answer? No, I want you to live through suffering. Taking your life would not accomplish that. You have to learn the pain of loss that you have no chance of stopping. So, which one will it be? Who are you sending to their death?”

Raving like lunatic the guardian began laughing loudly, seeming to reveal in Marcus misfortunate

Also, a timer had appeared above their head at the one-minute mark. Taunting Marcus with how much longer he had before his choice would no longer matter and both of them would die.

Sending his brain into overdrive Marcus tried to find the correct answer, but nothing came to him.

It seemed that the dungeon really was intent on forcing him to choose one of his loved ones or bet that they are not real.

Soon he was left with only twenty seconds, and he had been going over in his mind which one was the logical choice to save.

Naturally he came to Lilia since she was younger, and he was certain Mrazivý would not forgive him for saving her over his little sister.

Except even though logic dictated that he save Lilia, his soul just could not pick between them.

‘I would rather die than live without either of them.’ Marcus thought as he failed to choose between them.

“Oh, looks like your time is up. What is your answer? This is your last chance before you lose both of them.” The guardian said while holding up both of her hands.

However, Marcus just looked at her and said, “I will not choose. Go ahead and do what you are going to, but I will not pick which of my family dies. But know this. Afterwards I will destroy myself trying to bring down this dungeon and follow after them. I have already died once and will do so again.”

“Hm so that is your answer. Well then so be it.”

Throwing both of her arms down the guardian signaled for Lilia and Mrazivý to die. and Marcus watched as their heads rolled off.

Feeling his soul burning with fury, he prepared to unleash all of the power he had, even if he had to completely devour his soul.

But before that happened, the forms of Mrazivý and Lilia turned to mist, and the familiar message sounded through the area.

“Congratulations, you have passed the trial of the tenth floor. Your rewards shall arrive shortly and afterwards you may advance to the checkpoint.”