Chapter 472: An Intelligent Plan?
“So…”
“What’s the plan? What direction?” one of the Silverunics asked, as they looked silently amongst each other.
Before them stretched a vast, unending plateau reeking of destruction and death. And here they were, standing on the back of lava whales, which were slowly sinking deeper and deeper into the molten ground.
They knew the assignment—walk through this first level and pass through all the dangers—but they didn’t have any map or direction as to where the door to the second level was.
Should they go west, south, north, or east?
Where could the door be?
Should they part ways or stick together?
What if they stuck together and still went in the wrong direction? Then it would take forever to reach their destination.
But sticking together also meant their chances of facing monumental threats and surviving increases compared to being alone.
“We’re a total of 24, are we not?” a male voice rang through the area, coming from the tallest and seemingly most mature of them.
A boy with long silvery hair flailing behind him while a huge broadsword resting on his back.
His name was Tovilano, and he was seemingly the oldest in class.
“If so, let’s split into 8 groups, each consisting of 3 members. Three people working together would be better than going into these places solo.”
“Each group will pick a random, different direction and head off, cut through all the dangers ahead, and find the end.”
“If you reach the end of wherever your direction is and you meet with a blockade, then come back here and wait in this place…” he said, as he stretched his hand to the side, forging the light phantom of a silvery-white blade which he dug into the corpse of the whale beast.
Immediately, a powerful silvery light bloomed into the sky, turning into a skyward trail of light that reached into the dark clowds.
“This will be the guide. Come here and wait for the others if you were met with a blockade.”
“If you didn’t return, that would mean one thing.”
“Either your direction is the correct path and you’ve already gone to the 2nd level of this ruin—or your group was wiped out.”
“Whatever it is, the other groups, once they all arrive, can follow and come check on you.”
“This light sword will remain here for a day before going off, so we all only have 24 hours.”
“If you find the portal to the next level, then no need to come back—just go in and continue to the next level. We will all follow that direction and join you.”
“Is that understood?” Tovilano asked the Silverunics, who all furrowed their eyebrows before they silently nodded.
That truly was a safe plan, and so they all instantly began choosing amongst each other.
A total of 3 members coming together to stand side-by-side, and Ryuk remained motionless—until he suddenly noticed a person point a finger at him.
“You,” she said.
“Me?” Ryuk asked, looking at Filliana.
“Yes, you. Would you like to join our group?”
“Tsk. More like we don’t have a choice but to choose him. We’re the only incomplete group,” a side voice came, and Ryuk turned to Eliana, who rolled her eyes at her sister.
And when he looked around the area, truly—he realized all the groups had already been formed.
Only Emilian and Filliana were standing together.
They needed one more person, and Ryuk was the only one left.
Safe to say, neither he nor the pair had a choice but to stick together in the end.
“Fine. Seems like that’s been settled,” Tovilano said, as Ryuk shrugged before moving to the side of Emilian and Filliana.
“The plan is simple, but I’ll summarize once more.”
“Go as far as you can, reach the end, and stay alive. If you meet with a wall, then come back using the light sword as reference to find your way back. If you also meet a danger too much for you to handle, then use the light sword to return here. We’ll deal with it together.”
“If on the other hand, you’re lucky enough to find a portal, then enter into it. Your case will be taken as the correct path.”
“Whatever you do, the only thing that matters is surviving. Retreat if you come across a foe too powerful—and regroup.”
“I wish you all good luck…” he said, before he instantly ran off with his group of three.
And quickly, the trio raced into the distance with speed.
Once they were gone, the remaining others instantly took to their heels, also dipping quickly as Ryuk watched everyone dispersing into different directions—and soon it was just their group remaining with the sword beam.
“We go there…” Eliana’s voice rang out as she also took a different direction and began walking quickly, followed by her sister who kept behind her.
Ryuk looked at the light sword stuck in the corpse for a while before his hand spread forward, and a wave of Aether came gushing out, flowing into the sword beam.
The resulting light from the sword beam momentarily became even brighter.
‘Now, it will truly last for a day and not just 6 hours,’ he silently thought, before quickly following after the girls.
_____
“Filliana, you dumb goof!” the remark rang out through the dark lava valley, as the image of two girls overlapped, racing into the distance while a figure silently trailed behind them.
“What is it this time, Eliana?” Filliana said with an eye-roll, turning to look at her white skinned sister, whose gaze held a livid expression.
“Why did you have to choose the machine boy?!”
“We could have gone for Tovilano! He’s the strongest and hence more chance of surviving what’s ahead!”
“When did you stop using our brain to think, you dumb goof!” Eliana whispered under her breath, as if trying to make sure no one else was hearing—but the words were as loud as lightning due to the silence but Ryuk simply ignored it.
“Shut it, Eliana. You’re the dumb goof!”
“Oh? How so?”
“You only want Tovilano because you have a crush on him. And also, he was the first to choose his group and didn’t choose you. If he wanted you, he would have chosen you, but he didn’t want you, okay?
“So shut it and stop blaming it on me.”
“Tch, you dumb goof!”