Chapter 510: Armor Peripherals Storage Building (2) (2/2)

Well, it was Hikari who led them here but in case they managed to go up to the higher floors, they would surely get something to upgrade their strength.

”Detected Intruders. Activating Building Lockdown. Order Received. Building Lockdown Revoked. Activating Floor Rush Challenge. Switching the Building Interior.”

When those remaining Transcendents shook in fear thinking they would be attacked next. The Gold Automaton suddenly began talking with its mechanical voice.

Following that, I detected a faint trace of controlled Source Energy entering the Building and approached me.

”You may test these low-class Warriors by letting them take the test prepared by every floor. However, you will not be able to find any Sage Level Protective Armor here.”

With that message directly sent to me and the sudden strange behavior of the Gold Automaton, it's most likely the Artificial Intelligence residing in the Central Processing Unit.

So, those three were injured for nothing, huh?

”Daisuke? What's happening?” Lulu turned around and asked me with confusion. There was sweat lining her doll-like face as the tension she was feeling earlier eased up.

The other Heroes and Transcendents also looked at me as if it's already a common knowledge that I knew what's happening here.

Well, thanks to Artificial Intelligence informing me, I could answer them truthfully. Otherwise, I could only make a guess based on my observation.

”Lucky you. This place was changed to something like a Tower of Challenge. Do you hear that?” I pointed above and they all looked up to the ceiling.

Everyone could certainly hear the movements happening upstairs.

On my side, my Companions were also somewhat confused but upon hearing my words, they relaxed and a renewed light filled their eyes.

”D-does that mean I got hit by a close to Rank 3 Transcendent's weapon for nothing?” Raiden who already plucked himself out of that wall came limping towards our location. Behind him, the couple also drew close to us to inquire.

”Perhaps? But isn't that a great experience? How does that feel?” I grinned and that immediately garnered the Heroes and Transcendents gloomy faces.

”I see. You knew that we had no hope in defeating it…” Raiden let out a rare sigh.

”That's not it. If you coordinate better, you can defeat it but no… You three rushed out by yourselves without giving the others their role in battle. I thought you were already trained to coordinate among yourselves. Are you all carried by Hikari's buff skills?”

Upon hearing my words, almost all of them bit their lips in frustration. And that meant it was the truth. Perhaps not only Hikari's buff skills, even her direction during battle. They took all of that without learning from her… They began relying on her and now that she's not with them, they became that disorganized.

”Either way, that's not important anymore. Like I said, this will become an individual Tower of Challenge. Look at that Automaton, he returned to his previous position. Now look to his left and right, the doors leading upstairs opened.”

They all followed my finger and they simultaneously nodded.

Well, they're all smart, technically but they probably became muddled because they were suddenly faced with enemies stronger than them and enemies that didn't possess any Source Energy. That's a lot different from what they were fighting before. At least, they could still sense the Source Energy being exuded by those Dark World denizens or any other enemies they faced so they could react fast against them. But this time, just like with my Companions, they're having trouble adjusting.

”Cheer up. Since it's a challenge, you can expect a reward. But that's only if you win the challenge. Now, who wants to volunteer to go first?”

I was only aware that it's now a challenge, as for the specifics, we had to discover it ourselves.

We could go first but if they saw us blazing through the floors then… that might discourage them so it's better to let them go first.

I also have to contact the other girls to come here and try it out. Even though there won't be a Sage Level item or equipment, it's probably an assurance that they won't be the defective ones.

I just don't know if Reinys' cape was included. If not, I'll just demand it to that Artificial Intelligence. It's aware of my identity after all.