Chapter 4

As the man had mentioned, Drake followed his lead, and the floor opened up before him. If the surface was scorching, Drake could only imagine how much hotter it might be below.

Doubts began to creep into Drake's mind, but he reminded himself that there could be nothing worse than enduring eternal torture. This thought served as his driving force, the motivation that kept him going.

Descending into the depths, Drake was taken aback by what he encountered. It bore no resemblance to the environment above. The atmosphere was considerably more serene, lacking the suffocating heat, and the ground was not hot either.

Drake breathed a sigh of relief, but this relief quickly turned to concern as he realized he wasn't alone. This area resembled a waiting room, with over forty people present, indicating that the test was far from easy if so many were still on the first floor.

Despite the crowd, Drake didn't feel threatened. He knew he could easily exert control over all these people with his mind control.

"Hey..."

Drake was startled once more; did everyone down here have a habit of sneaking up on people?

"What do you..." Drake's jaw dropped when he saw the lady standing before him.

"H-Hello," he stammered, taken aback by her stunning appearance. There was no way she wasn't a goddess during her time on Earth; she was far too beautiful to be an ordinary woman. However, it was evident that wasn't the case or she wouldn't be here.

She was a dark-skinned woman, dressed in minimal attire, with metal plates adorning her shoulders and forearms. Her ample bosom strained against her bra due to its considerable size. Her physique was well-toned, and her abdomen epitomized the ideal form of a woman in peak physical condition. She appeared to be wearing panties, but the presence of a G-string underneath ruled out that possibility.

Drake felt a mix of curiosity and fascination. He wondered from which era she hailed; her attire was clearly not contemporary.

"My name is Anthea, and I'm a Spartan," the lady introduced herself without him asking, clutching a spear in her right hand and holding a shield in her right.

The people outside had cautioned him against revealing his power, but they had not mentioned anything about forming alliances. Drake was open to the idea of teaming up if it improved his chances of survival, and he certainly didn't mind a little eye candy while doing so.

"I'm Drake. What brings you to hell?" Drake attempted to initiate small talk while also gauging the diverse group of people present. They ranged from intimidating to timid. However, he couldn't help but wonder why no one was attempting to clear the floor.

"I died in battle after a raid on a village, but I think it was killing children and babies that brought me here," Anthea stated matter-of-factly, showing no hint of remorse.

Drake was left speechless. Naturally, the attractive woman had to be somewhat unhinged, but he was willing to tolerate it if she proved to be useful. He was also relieved that she didn't seem curious about his past and remained focused on the current objective.

"Why are these people here?" Drake inquired, his confusion stemming from the fact that the primary goal should be attaining the elixir of resurrection.

"They lack the warrior spirit within them. They're content living here, as it means they can evade judgment. It's a better trade-off than enduring an eternity of pain, don't you think?" Anthea explained, presenting a logic that Drake found himself agreeing with.

While this perspective made sense to him, he understood that not everyone shared it. However, it raised a question in his mind: why was Anthea here? Given the era in which she had died, she shouldn't still be on this floor unless she was among those who chose to stay. Yet, her demeanor suggested otherwise.

Drake decided to ask the question directly, believing there was no reason for her to lie about her current situation.

"I've made numerous attempts to conquer this floor, but I've failed every time, narrowly escaping with my life. However, with each attempt, I've come closer to advancing. Yet, I can't do it alone," Anthea confessed, instantly shedding light on why she had initiated the conversation in the first place. It wasn't to get to know him but to secure a way out of the first floor.

Drake let out a sigh of relief; he was grateful to have met Anthea. Maybe he could consider her a contingency plan if things took a turn for the worse, with his own survival being the top priority.

"And that's where I come in, I suppose," Drake suggested, and the lady nodded.

"I've teamed up with many others, but they've all met their demise. However, I have a feeling you might be the one I've been searching for," Anthea said, her smile radiating a charm that could even make the gods envious.

"Wait a moment... Rewind... What?" Drake questioned, unaware that she had tried forming alliances with others before. This revelation wasn't very encouraging.

"What's the matter?" Anthea asked, her confusion evident as to why Drake had suddenly become hesitant.

"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THAT OTHERS HAD DIED!" Drake exclaimed, unintentionally drawing the attention of everyone around them.

"But I did, that's how you know," Anthea responded, making Drake realize that their understanding of certain social cues might be influenced by the different times they had lived in.

"You know what, I'll join you if you promise to protect me with your life," Drake proposed, and Anthea nodded without hesitation before saying,

"I did make promises to those who came before you, and I couldn't fulfill them. But I'll do my best this time," Anthea responded, intending for her words to offer reassurance. Unfortunately, they had the opposite effect.

"For fuck's sake Anthea! That doesn't make it any better," Drake said with a sigh

Drake, on the other hand, remained unaware of the details of this test and the nature of the boss they would confront. Having someone with that knowledge by his side couldn't hurt. Moreover, he believed that two heads were always better than one, and if necessary, he could forcibly command her to comply with his wishes. In his mind, Anthea going against him wasn't even a possibility. With his highly convenient ability, he intended to use it to its fullest extent.