Ruler's Awakening: Inheritor of the SSS-Rank Dimensional Talent

"Wait? Separate? What do you mean?"

"I don't want to be separated from you. What if you get into trouble and almost die without me?!" Isabella cried.

The sudden decision made by Aaron left Isabella unable to hold back her anger. She was reluctant to say goodbye to Aaron because the woman was afraid of something bad happening to the young man, even though she admitted that Aaron's abilities were beyond her abilities.

Still, Aaron needs help from people he trusts. Doing the raid alone would only make Aaron easily injured and killed.

"I've killed three raid teams from three major groups. I released a witness as a warning to them. However, they'll definitely keep targeting me."

"And that will endanger you, Annie, and Sokia. I can't forgive myself if you get hurt because of my deeds."

"I thought of these consequences when I killed them. I will face the tortuous journey to the Dark Ruler; you don't need to trouble yourselves by keeping me company."

"I WON'T!"

"If you go, I'll go too!" said Isabella, adamantly reluctant to part from Aaron.

[Monster Raid at Dark Pillar Fifth Floor opened]

[Portal closed countdown]

[00:09:59:59]

A notification panel appeared before Aaron and the others, indicating the raid had opened. Aaron held Isabella's shoulder, asking her to move away from him for a while. Isabella nodded without rejecting him.

Slowly, the doors to the Dark Pillar maze opened. Monsters with level 40 and above were already waiting for the adventurers from within the maze. But, the raid this time would probably be more deserted than usual.

"The raid is opened. I'll help you get to the sixth floor. There, we will agree to separate."

"Didn't I tell you that I-"

"Alright. If that is your decision, we'll follow it."

Annie rudely interrupted Isabella's whining, making Isabella upset and staring at Annie sharply while her eyes turned bright red.

Annie looked to the side, trying to convince Isabella that what Aaron did was solely to protect them.

"Thank you, Annie."

Sokia didn't complain much. The girl felt sad if she had to part with Aaron, but if that was the best decision Aaron could make in response to this, Sokia could only comply.

They stepped inside, with Aaron leading the team. Not forgetting, he also began to activate his compensation slip, which had been used before.

[Compensation Slip:]

[Host with red title detected]

[Name: Aaron]

[Level: 64]

[Host allowed to join raid]

[Host nerfed]

[20% reduction in STR, INT, and DEX]

[Number of available compensations: 1]

[WARNING!]

[Killing another mage within the compensation period will make the compensation slip destroyed]

After making sure the protection of the Compensation Slip was working on him. Aaron and the others began to walk through the door of the Dark Pillar.

Although Aaron's earlier decision was enough to make the three women sad, they had to refocus. The monster strength on this floor would probably be much stronger than the raid on the previous one.

[ANNOUNCEMENT!]

[Dark Pillar Tower]

[Fifth Floor]

[Monster: Lv 44-45]

[Monster Boss: ?]

[Countdown for Closed Gate:]

[00:09:59:59]

"Level 44 and 45 monsters rule this place. We must continue to be cautious of possible monsters we never expected," Aaron explained.

Annie and the others respond by clearing their throats quietly, saying nothing. Aaron met the first intersection, but he could deal with it because he got a map item from one of the dead Night Liberators.

[Map used]

[Number of monsters successfully mapped: 32]

[Number of intersections: 58]

[Fourth floor Dark Pillar Maze area: 300x300m]

Experience more content on empire

'The number is less than the fourth floor. Still, since the monster levels are at levels 44 and 45, I must be careful.'

A map panel appeared before Aaron's face. Surprisingly, the location of the floor boss's room was close to his position.

Still, if one's group didn't have a map like this, it might take a long time for them to find the floor boss room.

To get there, Aaron needed to take a right at the first intersection, then a left at the second intersection, and finally take a right at the third intersection. The floor boss room was right there.

Aaron decided to go to the floor boss quickly, not in the mood to kill many monsters just to gain experience. Annie and the others didn't mind.

Along the way to the floor boss. Aaron saw Isabella's attitude more quiet. Occasionally spoke to Annie for help. However, she never asked about Aaron's condition.

'Is she really angry?

'I don't care. It's best for them; they'll be safe if they're away from me.'

Aaron's team encountered five monsters of level 44: two monsters with earth element, one monster of fire element, and the remaining two monsters of water element. Annie killed two monsters, Isabella was the same. Sokia only killed one.

They get EXP and items from the results of defeating these monsters. Even so, Isabella was acting cold again, showing no enthusiasm.

'Damn! She's really angry. I can feel it through her every attack.'

Until the front of the floor boss room, Aaron hadn't had a chance to kill a single monster. The opportunity was lost when Isabella decided to kill the monster alone.

"I didn't expect killing monsters in the Dark Pillar raid to be so easy."

"Indeed."

Aaron walked to the front door of the floor boss room. No one was challenging the floor boss. Of course, the entire raid team besides Aaron had perished out there. No other team would want to join the raid with Aaron's team still in it.

[Floor Boss Challenge]

[Registration successful]

[Team Name: Aaron Team]

[Team Leader: Aaron]

[Number of Team Members: 3]

[Challenge: Golden Hand Golem]

[WARNING!]

[The team taking the challenge cannot retreat]

[The team can leave only once the boss is dead]

[Take the challenge?]

[Yes] [No]

After registration was complete, the door opened and Aaron invited them all to enter. Annie was the most excited, in contrast to Isabella and Sokia, who refused to let this monster raid end quickly.

Still, they had to go through with it according to what Aaron ordered. The four met a stone golem monster with gold-colored hands.

[Monster Details]

[Monster: Golden Hand Golem]

[Level: 47]

[HP: 63000/63000]

[MP: 65000/65000]

[Element: Earth]

"Alright. This will probably be easy for me."

Isabella, Sokia, and Annie also defeated the floor boss. Aaron smiled and was happy to see their teamwork, something he wanted to finish the floor boss challenge quickly.

Aaron used his fourth sub-talent, a barrage of purple balls from inside the Dark Dimensional Portal.

With the power generated from the sub-talent, the Golden Hand Golem could be defeated easily and quickly.

'It's harder to defeat the Slime on the fourth floor than this one,' Aaron said.

Annie and the others gained a significant amount of EXP, TP, and RL. Annie managed to level up after helping defeat the floor boss, from level 54 to 55.

Now, everything was done, and Aaron was ready to move on to the next floor as planned.

[CONGRATULATIONS!]

[You have successfully completed the Dark Pillar's fifth-floor boss challenge]n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

[The sixth floor of Dark Pillar Tower has been unlocked]

[Floor Access Privilege: 6]

[Want to go to the next floor?]

[Yes] [No]

Before Aaron tried to confirm with them, Isabella had already invited Sokia to leave the floor boss room. They didn't want to go to the next floor because Aaron ordered it.

"Isabella!" called Aaron.

Isabella stopped her steps. Her left hand was clenched while her right hand gripped Sokia's wrist tightly. Annie tried to approach Isabella to calm her down.

"Now, there's nothing else to worry about, Aaron. I'll stay on the fifth floor, or maybe go to the fourth floor. If you want to see me, you can come here after your business is done!" said Isabella sadly, without turning around and looking at Aaron.

"I realize the path you are taking is very dangerous. I understand your concern. That's why I won't bother you anymore."

"I will always pray for your safety and health, Aaron."