A Twin's Final Message (3)
'I couldn't believe my eyes when I entered the Zeroth Floor or simply, Floor 0. I met a talking rabbit. Can you believe that? But this was not even as shocking as the rabbit's dress sense. The rabbit had a more admirable fashion sense than even celebrities back on Earth.
"Ever seen a half-human sized rabbit in a dapper tuxedo suit and a bow tie. This guy looked like Mr. Steal Your Guy, man. Hehehe, now that I think about it, it's funny. Eventually, I found out that Karnickel the Rabbit was the Administrator of the Zeroth Floor.
'January 30, 2027. I cleared the tasks of the Zeroth Floor and a few days after I became a part of a small guild that would eventually become a big name. We called ourselves the Phoenix Guild.
'By the middle of the year, the Phoenix Guild had established a solid base on the 10th Floor, something that was acknowledged as a feat since the second strongest guild was yet to clear the 8th Floor. I felt happy. I felt closer to my goal. I felt Heaven's Tear within my grasp.
'November, 2027. I became the Guild Master of Phoenix Guild and that position came with benefits. In this month, I found love and eventually had my first kiss.'
'David kissed a girl?' Daniel unknowingly thought out loud with an expression of shock and disbelief that the romantically inexperienced half of their twinhood finally had something intimate with a girl.
Everyone that knew David also knew that he had an extroverted personality and this made it very easy for one to assume that he was also a ladies man who probably had a large harem. However, that was not the case at all.
Daniel knew that his brother had so many friends and acquaintances and even the beautiful girls that he was talking to were just friends with him and nothing more. David always got a cold feet whenever matters switched to intimacy despite his outgoing persona.
Even Daniel couldn't make sense of it, that someone could be so outgoing and yet haven't even gotten his first kiss. Hearing David reveal this information made him feel relieved.
The recording continued to play.
'August 8, 2028. The progress of Phoenix Guild started to slow down at the 18th Floor after a third of our force was wiped out by the dreaded Twin Dragons. Eventually, and with the help of a new skill I acquired, I defeated the dragons and acquired their powers, but little did I know that the Phoenix Guild won't be recovering from the damage we incurred that day.
'December of 2028, my dream was drifting away and becoming far-fetched. I had spent much longer than I planned inside this world. I was homesick and was beginning to doubt the possibility of finding that Elixir. Members of the guild including the girl I loved were becoming comfortable with our current progress. I didn't want that.
"No, I didn't! That was not why I chose to climb the tower! Only to become comfortable? No! I had come here for something much more important and I was going to get it!
'May 3, 2029. A civil war broke out within the Phoenix Guild. The guild divided into two factions with the greater number siding with me since I had made a name for myself as the 4th Ranker in World Rankings. Following the civil war, I dropped down to 7th place.
'July 17, 2029. We are on the 20th Floor. I'm called selfish for pursuing my far-fetched dream. Just two days after this, I'm coughing blood. I'm growing weaker and weaker as the days come and go. The memories of my mother and brother, whom I left behind haunt me.
'As the months come and go, I persevere but I have very little progress. I'm not as strong as I used to be. I sense a betrayal in my ranks. I have my suspicions which I eventually confirm. My heart is broken a second time since the love of my life left me.
'It's 2030. 4 years since I entered Heaven's Tower. I have grown weary and lonely. Everyone has abandoned me. My heart is weak and my will is no more. I just want to go back home, hopefully my loved ones will accept me back. I just want to feel my mother's warm embrace and watch my brother come up with his crazy fan theories.
'A year passed but it seems I've not been forgotten. Everyone is searching for me. My name had spread far and wide as the former Guild Master of the once strongest guild. Everyone wanted my items like they were some legendary treasures. I try to save myself. I'm on the run. I don't not have enough mana to leave the Tower and so, I'm stuck here.
'Three months later, I found a way to send word out into the real world. I'm relieved that I can speak to either my mother or my brother thanks to this beautiful ring he has gifted me. The preparation took me five more months. Now I'm completely drained of mana thanks to the long term effects of the poisons in my body. I found out late. I'm dying. I barely have any time left. I need to reach my brother and tell him that Heaven's Tear is real! The Elixir does exist! I need to tell him before they get to me. I had found an astounding clue to it but I can't make the journey anymore.
'Mother can be saved, Daniel. Please do your best to save her, brother.'
…
That was where it ended.
That was the end of his brother's final message.
Tears rolled down from his eyes after having listened to how his brother suffered just so he could save their mother. He felt worthless for letting him go alone. He felt sad for losing and finally, he felt anger toward those who drove David to his untimely death.
Contrary to what his brother wanted in his final message, Daniel was not going to simply forgive them and move on like nothing happened. He was not merely going to find the Elixir now that he knew for sure that it existed.
No. Definitely not.
'Those scoundrels will pay for what they did to you!' Daniel swore bitterly from the depths of his heart.
While he gasped with anger and his mind was ravaged with vengeful thought, Daniel felt a flash in his eyes almost like he was about to black out but eventually didn't.
Bzzt–!
Out of nowhere, a luminescent screen appeared to float in front of him.
Daniel blinked several times than he could count, surprise beaming from his eyes.
'What is this…?'
[You have inherited the Legacy of...]