Return Of The Strongest Player

"So that's the finish line," Kyler narrowed his eyes, glancing at the rather dramatic scene. The entire ground was colored in black and white to depict a true finish line, along with a ribbon that ran across the middle.

Arthur and Kyler awkwardly glanced at each other.

"You go," the latter said, clasping his hands. "I'll be damned if I didn't get to watch an interesting war. Plus, I also want to see what you get from the Constellation Tokens."

Arthur nodded gratefully, shooting forward before ripping asunder the ribbon.

[The Twelfth Trial has been completed.]

[You have completed the Challenge of the Twelfth Floor.]

[Rankings are being displayed.]

At that moment, Kyler passed the finish line, flashing a smirk at the crimson-eyed man before motioning for him to look at the rankings.

[1. Arthur Solace: 3 Minutes and 45 Seconds]

[2. Kyler Agardia: 3 Minutes and 48 Seconds]

[3. Jacob Festus: 3 Minutes and 54 Seconds]

'The leader of the Paragon Of Vengeance…' Arthur snickered, recalling a certain memory from the past. He shook his head, finding the situation to be comical. 'But the scores are pretty close this time…'

'Unlike the Eleventh Floor, I could have very well failed to achieve first place this time.'

'The State Of Mushin truly does calculate the best scenario.'

"One more Constellation Token," said Kyler, clapping dramatically as he headed towards Yolk, who seemed to be in distress while calculating the reward. Many players shot past, clearing the floor.

Since the Spectre King had practically scared off all the spectres, it was quite easy to pass through the meager obstructions, clearing the floor much faster than usual. The existence of the Spectre King–instead of slowing the players down–had sped them up by a massive amount, increasing the average time required.

No one on the Twelfth Floor–aside from those that perished–received a time of over six minutes.

Once Yolk had successfully allotted the rewards, many translucent, blue windows manifested before the eyes of the players, causing them to glitter in excitement.

[Arthur Solace has achieved the impossible.]

[Unique Rewards are being allotted.]

[User has received 1,000,000 Tokens, Virgo Token, and Mythical Egg.]

[User has completed all possible trials.]

Arthur glanced blankly at the oval-shaped egg in his hands, his eyes wide and bloodshot. The egg was stark black, with golden spots littered across its rather sturdy surface. A faint light escaped the egg as if attempting to glorify its existence.

It trembled in Arthur's arms.

Kyler cocked his head, looking at the egg with a confused gaze. "What's that? Yolk, what is that thing?"

"I cannot reveal that information," Yolk bowed awkwardly. "Mr. Solace, please do take this as a sign of hospitality. Instead of a list of rewards, I have combined your achievements into a single object. Your achievements would have resulted in the allotment of dozens of artifacts, otherwise."

Arthur, with a gaze of excitement, nodded fervently. "I definitely will, Yolk."

Many players looked at the egg in jealousy, but none of them knew the true situation.

A Mythical Egg was indistinguishable from a regular Beast Egg, which was why no one was able to discern the difference. One could only predict what could be present within the black, oval-shaped cocoon.

Mythical Eggs were the rarest of the rare and represented a chance of hatching a superior species from within. Similarly to its name, Mythical Eggs could hatch Mythical Creatures, such as Griffins, Phoenixes, Krakens, etcetera.

It was practically impossible to accurately discern the existence that might hatch. 

Mythical Eggs were usually provided to players on higher floors when one achieved first place. In his former life, Arthur had failed to receive a Mythical Egg, but he knew of a single person who had hatched one.

The number of Mythical Eggs in Heaven's Spire could be counted on two hands.

That was why it was considered so rare.

Arthur gently knocked on the Egg, receiving the faint trembling of the egg in response. It seemed the existence within possessed faint consciousness, but simply hadn't grown an appropriate amount, or could not think beyond the capabilities of a regular Beast.

But soon, Arthur predicted that it would hatch.

'I can't carry this into the Thirteenth Floor.'

"Would you like to enter the Thirteenth Floor?" Yolk asked with an intentful gaze.

"No, teleport me to the Outer District."

Yolk nodded, preparing the portal.

"See you later, then," said Kyler, shaking Arthur's hand. Despite starting off as enemies, the two seemed to have mended their relationship by rescuing each other during the Trial.

As the two parted, a dazzling light descended upon Arthur, engulfing him in a layer of illumination that–when it subsided–revealed nothing but stale air within. The players all disappeared, engulfed by the particular light.

*

As Arthur appeared in the Outer District, he immediately headed to the inn. Entering the hotel room, he found that there was no one inside. He released a sigh, plopping down on the sofa while imagining what would occur after he managed to pass the Thirteenth Floor.

The war that would occur would be disastrous for some, and rewarding for some.

It was somewhat crazy to assume, to think, that the misery of some could equate to the satisfaction of others. If one dies, another receives rewards. The world was never truly fair or equal.

One person could unleash hell upon thousands, millions of people.

And then reap the rewards without consequences.

Alas, this was the reality of the world, and not a single being in existence could change such an outcome, or debunk such a philosophy. Although there were no absolutes in the world, one could achieve 99.99% of such a state without a hitch.

Arthur placed the egg atop a cushion, placing a note atop it that read, "I am Arthur. Keep this egg and care for it until I return."

Then, closing the door to the hotel, he took one last glance at the Outer District before heading off.

He wasn't certain if returning was something he could achieve.