45 Ch. 45 29th floor pt. 1

( Ashborn Pov )

" E-Rank regulars news! Arlen's hand, which is in the 28th floor regulars area...blew up. And many regulars nearby were killed or injured. Additionally, the regulars who rented the gloating ship found nearby are presumed dead..."

' FUG...' I thought as I looked at everyone's reaction.

" I'm sure they are fine. But it seems they've gotten Viole." I said.

" For now, let's focus on getting to the workshop." Everyone nodded as we continued our journey to the 30th floor.

I was about to turn away when Yui called me.

" Uhm, dad. Hear this." I looked behind to see Yui holding up the news.

" This is interpreted as a warning message from the slayer nominee Jue viole grace... and a challenge to the rising hero... Ashborn..."

" Rising Hero?" I looked at Yui, who raised an eyebrow.

" Haven't you heard? All the missions we have done? The stuff we found and the people we killed? It was all about saving people or something, which is why we're always behind when we climb floors." Yui explained, gaining a nod from everyone.

" And don't forget your fights with FUG which has been known to the public and you defeating Karaka." Arie continued.

" And the ancient relic which we found out was a curse that cursed the entire 24th floor, and we saved them by breaking it."

I remembered the cursed object, which I thought was cool, but I accidently dropped it, causing it to break.

" R... really?"

" Yes!!" The three of them shouted as I sighed.

" Great... it seems they are holding Viole as hostage now. Come on. Let's save him and find khun and the rest." I said as we continued our journey.

" But they declared war on us!!" Yui shouted.

" And we'll beat them. First, we'll need to find my friends, and then we'll team up and fight against FUG." I replied.

Yui groaned as she followed.

( Khun Pov )

Hwaryun arrived, and it seemed the elders in FUG backstabbing them, and now they needed me to lead the Bams team to win the workshop.

And there was also Zero. They called him the anomaly.

" He was able to escape. And kill his captain who was supposed to keep him in check, but it seemed Ashborn grew too fast for us."

" We had someone to eliminate him, which he did, but later we found out he survived having his throat and stomach being punched through. How he did it, we don't know. Maybe that's why he's irregular."

" We want you to team up with Bam's team to win the workshop."

" And Zero? What happens if he joins? They called him out for a battle." I said.

" You can either team up with him or team up against him."

" What?" I looked at Hwaryun.

" He isn't going to the workshop for the battle or you guys... he's going there for something specific that I accidently spoke about."

" What... do you mean?"

" Sigh, let's say we had a close relationship, and I was blind to see the Zero was using me for information... and on one occasion, I accidently let something I shouldn't."

I blinked my eyes as I tried to picture the broody Zero having a girlfriend.

" Either way, you should be careful... Zero is still the cold-blooded man he is. If you or FUG gets in his way, he might kill us."

" Are you saying... we should team up to stop Zero?" I clenched my fist as I stared Hwaryun.

" No... if we did, it won't he enough. The elders are trying to find a way to brainwash or manipulate him to our side. Which has failed numerous times. "

" Brainwash..."

" His mentality is strong enough to withstand any mind control...."

Hwaryun began to speak about Zero, his strengths and weaknesses that are few. Amd. how strong he is.

Bam and Zero are alive, and my team is gone. I have no choice but to trust Bam's team and to win the workshop and maybe bring Zero as well.

" Where's Zero?" I asked.

" I don't know... he has a guide that covers their tracks. The only reason Karaka found them is by using the 25th floor as hostage."

" I clenched my fist as I realized there was nothing I could do except use Bam's team."

" Blue haired, Guy!!!" I looked to see one of Bam's teammates.

" Come here! Your teammate is awake!!"

I quickly followed him.

" I see. I can't run fast as before...." he muttered.

" It's not so bad that you can't walk, but it's not the same... I'm sorry, Dan. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have asked you to join..."

" Hey khun...please.... take me to the workshop battle." Dan spoke as I looked at him in confusion.

" W..what? Your legs are...!"

" Rachel... kept me alive on purpose. She wanted to see if I could live with pathetic legs, too... that's why she let me go alive...she'll be expecting me to be in misery... and give up on everything."

" Dan..."

( Ashborn Pov )

Clap! Clap!

" What a great team." I smiled as I looked at Wangnan and Khun, shaking hands to work together.

" Huh? Zero..."

" Ashborn...??"

" How did you find this place?" Khun asked as he walked towards me.

" Well, it's not hard when you have a guide. They're basically GPS's." I tapped Seung's shoulder.

" We were in the area and needed a place to stay Nad as a way to save some money. We decided to crash at your place." I said.

" Dad is really stingy with money." Yui chimed in as I tapped her head.

" Dad????" Khun froze as I passed him.

" Well, it seems team sweat and sour pork is here too." I tapped Wangnan's shoulder as I found a room for my team.

But as I walked into the hallway, I saw a trail of blood on the floor.

' They really did kill Khun's teammates...' I thought as I opened a door and threw my stuff inside.

" Are you really staying here?" Khun asked as he entered the room.

" Yes. But I also wanted to speak with you as well."

" Good, so do I. What do you really want at the workshop, I know it's not the battle." He said.

" Waa hwaryun here?" I asked as I took some stuff out of my spatial bag like an air humifier and some candles.

" ....yes." He replied.

" I see... I'm sure you heard of an ignition weapon, correct?"

Khun nodded as he e crossed his arms.

" Are you saying you're going up there for an ignition weapon?" He asked.

" No, but what if I told you, some scientist tried to put an ignition weapon into a human. Making a living Ignition weapon." I looked at Khun, who blinked his eyes.

" That's impossible..."

" Bam's teammate, and the devils right hand is proof of this."

'...Viole as well.'

" And I also heard of a machine that could potentially clone a person... and I'm trying to find that machine to stop it from cloning me. Maybe it's alive or some abomination."

' Though I doubt they could since the system proved to corrupt my DNA and not let it be copied.'

" Im going there because of the amount sacrificed children were used in their project. So I'm going to end it."

' Sorry. Khun, I cam tactually let you figure out my real goal.' I thought as I pushed khun out.

" Alright get out. I gotta change."