Together We Stride

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The Gulfstream G650 smoothly landed at Jeju International Airport exactly one hour after departure. 

The aircraft's exit stairs unfolded and lowered. The pilot and co-pilot stepped out as soon as they were positioned in front of the jet's entryway.

Yuhee, who had been subtly tempting Leandro, got up and stretched her stiff back. As she did so, her blouse strained over her ample chest. It was intentional—she even cracked an eye open to see his reaction. 

There was none. He wasn't the type to fawn over exposed skin.

Leandro got up as well and extended a helping hand towards her, a nonchalant gesture with underlying confidence. "I don't understand how you can go from being so cold to being so… gentlemanly~"

She grabbed his hand. He smiled slightly as he helped her down the stairs. "Just because you're being difficult doesn't mean I have to be as well."

Yuhee exuded confidence with every step as she swept down the exit stairs like a gorgeous queen. She glanced at him and sniffed in distaste. "I'm not difficult, I have my needs. Needs that you're refusing to meet, and that breaks my heart."

She almost touched his chest seductively—before she reminded herself of the pilots and ramp agents and cleared her throat. Leandro rolled his eyes with an exasperated smile. 

The scenery of Jeju Island sprawled wide.

A sharp gust of wind and saltwater splashed through the air, sending their hair flapping as they stepped away from the aircraft. It was a sunny and nice day on Jeju Island. 

Leandro, Yuhee, the pilot, co-pilot and a limousine already waiting for them on the tarmac all exchanged some greetings with the ground crews and workers—who respectfully bowed at them as they came over—and prepared to move towards the limousine that would bring them to Cheonjaeyang resort.

And from where they stood, the Monolith was like a dark beacon in the middle of the island. "It doesn't matter how many times I see it, it gives me the chills." Yuhee frowned as she stared at the gigantic structure in the heart of Jeju. "It's nuts how you're so willingly going in there. Why don't you just stay here with me instead~?"

"No can do." Leandro said, looking up at the Monolith as well. "It's calling me. Can't really ignore it."

Yuhee pursed her lips. 

As they made their way to the limo, the pilots and staff all bid them goodbye. 

She was still linking arms with Leandro, even when they settled inside the vehicle. 

Leandro didn't mind the proximity, and Yuhee didn't let her hands wander. If anything, it was almost as if they were a heaven-made couple enjoying each other's presence. He didn't know what to think about that. 

He pushed that thought aside as they started on their journey. Leandro looked out the limousine as they made their way across Jeju Island. Yuhee wasn't interested in looking, having seen Jeju more times than she'd ever wanted. 

In a way, a quiet Yuhee was more unsettling than a flirty one. She had always been a fox in sheep's clothing. It was only with him that she bared her true nature—at least he liked to think so, because even if she could go overboard with her stupid games, the thought of someone else being the recipient of those games didn't sit well with him.

He didn't realize how good of a liar he was becoming.

Leandro peered out at the tarmac of Jeju Airport as they drove past them. He could see another jet coming in for its landing. Probably an incoming foreign visitor. Jeju was still a bustling place even if it was now the apocalypse. 

Crazy, how anything barely seemed to change despite a 'cataclysmic' event. Aside from the Monolith stabbing up high, people carried on like nothing.

There was not too much commotion around the structure itself. 

Yuhee typed furiously on her phone. From the serious creases on her forehead, it looked like an important conversation. Leandro leaned back on his seat and stared outside the tinted window, opting not to disturb her. He enjoyed the serene mood, and her floral fragrance.

Jeju was a big island and the resort was on the other end of it, away from the Monolith's glaring shadow.

Although, as the limousine slowly crawled along the mountain range, he could see its massive size seemingly devouring the sky. 

Next to him, Yuhee shifted. He glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, likely expecting some sort of impromptu innuendo, but—

"Hmm, Leandro? What do you think is the next most important step for our country's economy?"

She pocketed her phone back into her purse as she turned to stare at him, intently. 

Leandro was slightly thrown for a loop, which could be seen from the way he tilted his head. 

"Why do you ask?"

"I ask because... as a company's owner—not that my business is having many issues in regard to the Monolith being here—I'm not blind to the bigger picture, you know~?"

Leandro couldn't fault her logic.

Yuhee rested her chin on her hand, amethyst-colored eyes studying him.

He briefly met her gaze, before his eyes wandered outside the window. The Monolith was so big, that its massive frame seemed to encroach everything in its way, drowning and snuffing out the mountains and the sunlight and everything beautiful.

Yuhee was still staring at him, and knowing her, she wanted a good answer, something with thought put into it.

He took a few seconds to organize his thoughts. 

"Well… everything will spin around the Tower, like a nucleus of its own. We don't know what we can find there, but let's assume resources of all kind. Metals never seen before. New sources of energy. Technology incomparably more advanced than ours."

It was not an assumption; everything you wanted or needed, it was there. 

"..."

Yuhee listened carefully, looking as serious as he'd ever seen her. 

Leandro continued evenly. "It's a gamble. You're not simply throwing a dice; your life's on the line. I'm certain foreign countries are doing their homework as we speak. Find more about the Tower. Exploit it. Dominate it. Whoever finds a solution, no matter if it means bloodshed, is set for life. Even our economy and politics might depend on a small, elite force exploring the Monolith for resources… it sounds stupid, right? But money is blind."

Yuhee slowly bobbed her head and said thoughtfully. "Not stupid. Just human nature." Her eyes had a subtle glow. Her head was slightly tilted upwards, making the lines of her long, seductive neck even more accentuated. "If things proceed this way, won't conflict ensue?"

"Maybe in the far future. Large scale conflicts are very unlikely to happen soon, even with the potential for power that goes beyond human limits." He tapped his chin, thoughts running a mile a minute. Some things, he'd never forget. He had a life worth of memories and experience. It didn't necessarily mean it'd be applicable to this new reality as well, but at least he was not completely lost. "The most immediate threat is whatever the system was speaking about. The true challenge. Means to an end. Prepare yourselves. That sort of stuff."

"I see you've been doing some serious thinking about this." Yuhee curled a lock of hair around a manicured finger. "You're the one who's been in the Monolith. What's in there we should be worried about, Leandro?"

He had to admire her confidence. Not many could confront the reality of the situation with such a calm demeanor. But then again, not many women were this drop-dead gorgeous too. 

Leandro crossed one leg over the other, leaning deeper into the plush, luxurious car seats. "So far we've only explored a bit of the 1st floor. As for what's in there? Monsters. Not particularly strong, but vicious and crafty enough to make up for it. And this is only the beginning. God knows what we'll face next."

"But you survived…" She whispered, almost reverently. 

"Yeah…"

She gently ran a sharp fingernail over the line of his jaw. "And you thrived. You won." 

"..."

Yuhee took mercy from the strange look in his eyes and continued speaking like before. She knew when to pull away. At this stage of their relationship, it was better not to rush him too much. After all, the result would be sweeter as it unfolded. And oh, would that result taste sweeter.

"You're the one who cleared it, weren't you?"

He looked slightly more interested now. She loved having his undivided attention. "And how do you know that?"

"Oh, come on~" Yuhee swatted his chest playfully. "You know me, don't you? The Monolith is a portal to the same dimension. Rumors have been running around ever since the clearance of the 1st floor. It was 'suddenly' cleared, how strange, riiiight~?"

"..."

"And then there was this tantalizing trail I've been following. After all, knowledge is power! I don't know who outsourced this information, but it's been a topic of discussion…" She leaned in to whisper, conspiratorially. "That a single man found the entrance all by himself. Completely alone. Whereas a group of people ended with a severe amount of casualties and injured, all it took was a random ass guy to complete the job." 

Leandro tilted his head. "And? It could've been someone else."

She scoffed. A mocking puff of air that slipped through those glossy lips. "I've heard that the man in question had an eye-catching appearance. Green eyes. Skilled with a sword. And I've seen what you did in that back alley. If anyone is capable of clearing the 1st floor, alone, it'd likely be you, Leandro. No... I'm sure it is you."

"How deductive of you." He chuckled. 

She smirked, hunching forward. "Impressed~?"

He leaned his elbow on the door, fist supporting his face. "Hah. I guess I am… that head of yours isn't only good at looking pretty."

"Hey, hey~" Yuhee's eyes glinted dangerously. "Did you fall for me, Leandro?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm not complimenting you anymore."

"Heeeh~ It's fine. I've heard enough to know what you really think about me." Yuhee licked her lips, shifting into a more serious demeanor. "You're going to be a great asset, Leandro. I mean it. You were right—the Tower is a sacrificial pedestal. The strong will go forward, stepping upon the ones who fall behind. I don't want our country to become complacent. USA, Russia, China. They're planning on standing on the frontline, reaping the rewards for the first clear. It'll be a race. If we don't act fast, we'll lag behind."

"And we don't want that, do we?" Leandro could already read her thoughts.

"No, Leandro. We don't." She smiled, schemingly. "Now, if what you said is true, and I'm tempted to put my chips in that it is the truth, then we're in for real trouble. Disasters never seen before. Won't mankind have to come together as a whole, indiscriminated group of different cultures?"

Yes, like some temporary, twisted sort of peace that won't last long. It never does. 

"Up until a certain point, yes. But the moment the situation gets too hard, fingers will be pointed. Blame will be shifted." Leandro pondered quietly. "And then it'll be each country for themselves."

A slow, domino fall that condemned Earth. At some point, there had been so few of them that nationality didn't matter anymore. It was a gradual decline of society, returning it to its most primitive form. No one wanted to carry the torch—not when everything looked so helpless. 

"Well, we'll simply have to avoid allowing the situation to get to that point." Yuhee said, frowning ever so slightly. She chewed on the corner of her lips. "If worse comes to worst, a cohesion between North and South won't be off the table."

"You think the boundary will be erased?" 

"We're so close to each other. Backup will be drastically faster if it comes from us, won't it?" 

"True." He locked eyes with Yuhee. They seemingly picked at each other's brains. "With how authoritarian the North is, I doubt they would allow their citizens to enter the Tower even if they're on the brink of collapse. Can't have someone become powerful enough to overthrow the regime." 

She began to think furiously. "Can't we use that to our advantage?"

He burst out laughing with how ridiculous their conversation had become, not that he minded. "God, Yuhee Noona. Are you planning on overturning the North?"

"Well, not really~" She pouted, as if the idea had merit but didn't seem feasible. "Not right now, at least. But, hypothetically speaking, if that happened… North and South would be unified and strengthened as a result. Just dispose of the bad apples, lest they infect the rest."

Leandro stared deeply into Yuhee. "Something like that can't happen by brute forcing it. Other countries would be wary. Making use of Challengers as living weapons to wage war wouldn't be taken kindly. Infightning isn't smart in the midst of the apocalypse."

At least not now. On that, she was right. 

"Haha~" She laughed softly. "This is all conjecture, after all. We aren't planning anything bad, right?"

He snorted. "Right, right." 

"But this isn't really the time to talk about the geopolitical climate, is it?" Yuhee straightened her back. "Leandro, who do you think will profit the most from the Monolith?"

Leandro was quick to answer. He had been asked this very same question before. "Those with vision, connections, and most importantly, strength." 

"And between those three traits, which ones do I have?"

He closed his eyes for a moment. "I see where you're going with this. You're greedy, aren't you?"

"I'm glad you do~" Yuhee laughed daintly as she stretched, almost crawling into his lap in the process. "You're right, Leandro. I'm as greedy as everyone else." She cupped his face with a hand. "I have vision. I have connections… but you, Leandro. You could be my strength."