Return Of The Strongest Player

It was quite anti-climactic, but this was it.

As Arthur walked forward, splishing and splashing in the somewhat deep, cold water, his path was suddenly obstructed by a barrier. Next to the barrier was an altar, on which a tiny, circular hole was imprinted.

Arthur caressed the altar, feeling the rough texture of the material. The barrier was somehow related to the altar. The key to entering the inheritance ground was to be placed on the altar, which would then cause the barrier to disappear.

However, what was the key?

For the past few days, Arthur mindlessly attempted to search for clues, but he returned empty-handed to the cave. One thing was for certain; the key was somewhere in the First Floor, as described by the future owner of the inheritance.

Arthur was not worried about false information, as after recording the incident, he was immediately recruited by the Shimmering Dragon, another high-ranking clan in Heaven's Spire. Almost all clans jumped at the opportunity to recruit him.

After recruiting the person, the Shimmering Dragon immediately rose in popularity, becoming the center of attention. Usually, the Devas, Olympus, and Asgard were the center of attention, while the Heavenly and Demonic Orders were tangled in battle eternally.

The Holy Land and Shimmering Dragon were usually not focused on, causing a veil of mystery to be draped over them. Heaven's Challengers–in Arthur's former life–was a rising clan that eventually settled on the 98th floor.

Heaven's Challengers did not have a powerful ancestry, and was a clan Arthur built from bottom up to clash with the other clans. It soon became the ruler of the tower itself, but alas, it hadn't amassed enough loyalty or power to resist such a devastating tribulation.

Arthur let out a sigh, glancing at the altar as he exited the cave.

It seemed that inheriting the Baron Of Death's legacy would require more time than he expected. It was obvious that such an influential figure would not allow just anyone to inherit his legacy.

However, the Baron Of Death would also not make it impossible for anyone to do so.

*

Once Arthur returned to the village, he began his daily tasks. In return for staying at Isabella's place, the crimson-eyed man offered to assist the elders of the village in farming. During the past few days, he had been working in the farms.

The days were warm, and the nights were cold.

Both temperatures went to the extreme, resulting in a harsh climate for farming. Most crops would wither by the time harvest season arrived. However, the inhabitants of Gargo Village did not have a choice.

Animals were rare in such harsh climates, and consuming them was a great luxury. Since villages on the outskirts were isolated, there was practically no interaction or trade with cities in the center.

Each Floor was a world of its own, with its own ecosystems and lives.

"Elder Gabriel, what is Aunt Isabella like, usually?" Arthur asked, planting seeds in the damp soil beneath. Sweat piled up on his forehead, but he couldn't wipe it away, as his hands were dripping with mud.

The Sun was at its apex and shone brightly, providing the crops ample warmth. However, the comfortable warmth would soon degrade into bone-chilling cold during the night, during which the plants would be subject to a harsh climate.

However, the plants the Gargo Village planted were quite resistant to such temperatures, and generally survived the process. A few withered away, but those were simply the consequences of residing in such a place.

"What do you mean, Arthur?" Elder Gabriel asked, letting out a sharp breath as he straightened his spine. The man was quite old and chubby, but could maintain commendable strength, even at such an age.

He had emerald hair that fell to his ears, with a straw hat bound by a cherry-red band. His pupils were stark black with the immensity of the world confined within them. Decades of wisdom resided within those eyes.

His face was covered in wrinkles. He wore a tunic, which allowed him to work for hours on end without dragging in the soil and ruining the plantation.

"Aunt Isabella is obviously wearing a mask," said Arthur, rolling his eyes. "Her demeanor is overly kind and generous. I respect her generosity, but not a single person who had been subject to the horrors of Heaven's Spire would be so kind and innocent."

Silence descended upon the farm.

Elder Gabriel's expression stiffened for a second before relaxing. He then placed his hands on the sides of his abdomen. "It seems you've noticed the obvious. Well, you're not a child, so it only makes sense."

Isabella seemed like a nice, old lady at first glance. However, since the moment Arthur lay eyes upon her, he could easily discern that she was not that simple. That was why he always kept his guard up.

"Isabella was a strong girl," said Elder Gabriel, reminiscing of the past. He stroked his chin, staring at the sunny sky with a faint smile hanging on his lips. "And no, her kindness is not a mask."

"It's not?" Arthur tilted his head.

"She has truly developed into a kind, gentle soul, despite what she suffered through in her past. I originate from the same planet as her. We entered the tower together, hoping to return once we became wealthy."

"But reality was not so kind, neither to me, nor Isabella."

"Our planet was destroyed by an unknown force a few months after we entered the tower. We received the news through the last survivors. Isabella lost her footing, and she stumbled. Her parents had perished."

"Her family, her friends… everyone was gone."

"I did not have anyone except Isabella, but the loss of my planet still broke me. We continued our rise, but Isabella almost died on the fourth floor, after which she refused to climb Heaven's Spire ever again."

"I climbed to the fifth floor, but soon gave up. My life was empty without Isabella."

"We settled on the First Floor, in the central city. But Isabella, after practically ruining her life, was unable to recover."

"Her temperament turned vile, and she got involved with drugs and so on. She turned herself into a living puppet, ruining her life on her own accord. Somehow, I and a few of our mutual friends in the tower were able to branch out, forming our own little village on the outskirts of human civilization."

"Then, Isabella hooked up with another man and had kids."

"That's when she began changing."