225 A Letter (1/2)

If they had fought without the Tier 2 artifact weapons and the stone golem James brought, there was absolutely no way that they could win against those fifty orcs without casualties.

Because too many people were injured and Nathaniel and Winter had used up their spirit energy, all the other three hundred fighters decided to leave the 11th floor and focus on healing themselves first.

President McCord saw this decision as a very wise one.

”Does this mean we've finished the 11th floor?” asked President McCord.

Winter heard the president's question and answered:

”No, this floor isn't finished yet… When this floor is finished, a new gate leading to the hall of the next floor should appear. My estimation is that we have to defeat 3-4 more times the number of orcs from the previous battle to clear this floor.”

President McCord envisioned 3-4 times the previous number of orcs. There was already no way that they would be able to fight them in their initial state, much less in their current condition...

After they got to the bottom floor, James tried to ask the fighters and soldiers questions and estimate the amount of energy they acquired from defeating the sixty orcs earlier.

The results were quite encouraging. Of the more than a hundred soldiers brought by Captain Marcus, on average, they got an increase of 2 to 3 levels. Whereas the previous veteran fighter who had reached level 4 to 6 only got a 1-level increase and fighters at the top level like James did not get a level increase.

After that, President McCord held a discussion with elite fighters, which included Winter Nathanael. He also invited Edy Grog and the five Grog brothers to the discussion.

The conclusion they reached was:

First of all, the quality of the fighters was more important than the quantity of the fighters. In the previous battles, almost more than half of the fighters present couldn't contribute anything. Meanwhile, the pillar only had a hundred recovery pods. So it would be very dangerous if the victims exceeded more than a hundred people. They agreed that the best number to continue would be from a hundred to two hundred fighters at maximum, as they couldn't afford to have too many people injured at the same time. With this, they would be able to swap positions and become backup support when they needed to.

Second. Their levels were a problem. They decided not to allow fighters under level 5 to join the fight, unless the fighter had an artifact or had mastered one of the elemental spirit skills.

Third, the artifacts. President McCord saw for herself the difference between the fighters who used a Tier 2 artifact and those who did not. The artifacts that could be found from the secret locations that this pillar pointed to were the Tier 2 artifacts. The strength of these artifacts would determine the success of passing the next floor.

President McCord took everything she had noticed in the past day seriously. She herself had been trying to increase her realm to enter the Earth Realm. Currently, President McCord felt as though she had a physique that exceeded that of an athlete.

This Doomsday Pillar was truly something miraculous. The president was lost in thought... she was imagining all the pillars that were now scattered in America, and a feeling of worry began to linger in her mind. She then decided to end the meeting and told everyone to go back.

Everyone, except James.

”Is there anything I can help you with, Madam President?”

”James, I thought I've told you previously. Please call me Elizabeth.”

”Okay, is something bothering your mind?”

The president's expression turned serious. She looked at James with a careful look and said:

”Mr. Randall... what else will we find on the higher floors of that pillar?”

James then told her about the stage above the Earth Realm. When they cross the 30th floor, they would be faced with a new challenge, and if they succeed, the second hall facility would open. There, they would be able to gain access to higher-tier artifacts and knowledge.

”I thought so!” exclaimed the president with a sigh.

President McCord was a former member of the CIA, agents who focus on seeking intellectual information. Her previous position as a secretary of state was also tasked with forming international relations and predicting the direction of foreign threats.

The sigh of the president showed that she was worried about something new.

”How can I help you, Elizabeth?” asked James.

”James, I think this apocalypse's plague is the scariest thing that has ever happened to our world. And my job as president is to rebuild… but… this Doomsday Pillar will be the next disaster for us.”

”Disaster?” asked James. He wanted to know what President McCord's view on this was.

”Yes, James. I believe that our world will soon be dominated by those who have high fighting talents or those who manage to own a lot of artifacts and spirit stones... like the Grog family... To be greedy for power and wealth is a part of human nature that cannot be stopped. I worry about the future of our world.”

When President McCord said this, she realized that, from the reaction on James's face, James didn't seem surprised at all...