With everybody clamoring to pick their own tunnels to go through, the whole mushroom forest began to quake with shoutings and arguments.
"Everybody, settle down," said one of the adventurers. "I know that we would all like to pick our own tunnels, but how do we decide among us who will be the first to choose? It’s only fair that we go through our Golden 500 rankings!"
Once he said that, everybody began to calm down.
It was widely known that the stronger the guardian, the better the treasure. So, it was only natural that those who had the power and ability to fight those strong guardians would pick tunnels with the appropriate difficulty. This would leave the weaker tunnels to the weaker adventuring party or companies.
"I agree with this."
"It’s only natural for the strong to pick first."
Once that was settled everyone turned to the Rising Six, the best up and coming companies in Metropolis.
Everyone knew that Metropolis was on another level compared to most cities and territories. It was very competitive, with most companies unable to even get a spot inside.
So, the fact that they were from Metropolis already gave them an edge over everybody in the first place.
"Miss Beau, I believe that you have the honor of picking first," said one of the adventurers.
Everyone nodded in satisfaction. With the Pyramidic Cuisine ranking in the 200s, they were by far the strongest company in this entire mushroom forest.
At least, that’s what the others believed.
Beau shook her head. "I am not the strongest out of all of us," she confessed. "Michael, you have the first pick."
Everyone turned towards the golden-haired boy that Beau pointed at.
Immediately, confusion broke out amongst all the companies and adventuring parties outside of Metropolis. They had never seen Michael before, nor have they heard of him.
A kid being stronger than Beau? That seemed impossible.
Some even thought that she was just joking. However, the rest of the Rising Six simply nodded their heads and patted Michael’s shoulder as if they already expected this to happen.
"Excuse me, Miss Beau, but you cannot give away your spot to somebody else," someone said to her, thinking that she was just doing this out of pure kindness.
"I’m not giving it to him. It’s not even mine in the first place. He’s better than me, fair and square."
"Yup. he beat us too," said Erlos and Reptar.
Talks and discussions broke out amongst everyone in the Mushroom forest. They just couldn’t believe that a small kid like him would be able to defeat a legendary figure like Beau.
"...wait... what’s his name? Michael?"
Someone from the crowd remembered something. He hurriedly brought down his backpack and picked up a crumpled piece of newspaper from his belongings.
This was none other than the Daily Metro article the day after the auction, when Metropolis finally learned who Michael Vanderbilt was.
The man looked at the sketch in the paper, then looked back at Michael.
They were exactly the same.
"IT’S HIM! THAT’S THE GUY WHO DEFEATED ALARIC IN A GAME!"
Gasps echoed out in the mushroom forest. It was already unbelievable enough for Michael to defeat Beau, but he also defeated Alaric? That was absurd. He was in the Nascent Spirit realm!
A few people in the crowd finally remembered hearing about it as well. But they never thought he’d be so young.
"Let me see that!"
"Is it really true? I want to read it!"
It wasn’t long before everyone finally learned about what happened at the auction. And suddenly, everyone turned to look at Michael with amazement.
"Do I get the first pick now?" he asked them.
And immediately, everyone nodded their heads. They wouldn’t want to argue with someone that was able to defeat Maugnetics three or four stages ahead of his own.
"Choose the Steel Pyramid guardian," Reptar advised. "That’s what I would have picked. It’s difficult enough to get a GodForge piece, but not too difficult to fail."
Michael appreciated his advice, but he didn’t need it. He already chose what he was going to pick.
"I choose that one," he said, pointing to the ominous-looking tunnel to the side.
Everyone was taken aback at his choice. Even someone from the Major Factions wasn’t able to defeat that guardian!
"Michael, did you listen to what I said?" Erlos said in a panic. "Only the Vampires were able to complete that!"
"I know," Michael nodded. "And I want to choose that one."
No one could make him change his choice. "See you on the other side," he said to his friends before walking over to the ominous-looking tunnel.
Beau could only shake her head and chuckle at Michael’s choice. "Of course he’s going for the hardest challenge. He’s not the man that captured my heart if he didn’t."
Reena looked at Michael’s back and muttered to herself, "good luck...," before turning around and picking a tunnel for herself.
Once he was at the entrance, the Dragonborns finally caught up to him.
"Are you guys ready?" he asked them.
"Yes, Lord Michael."
"Yup! Yup!"
" Yawn... sure. I’m ready."
"....yes...."
Michael then looked down at the shadow on his feet. "Fudge?"
"Hehehe..."
That was all the confirmation he needed from the little slime.
So without further ado, he stepped inside the dark tunnel, finding himself being transported into a brightly lit room.
He had to cover his eyes from the stark difference from the dim mushroom forest.
"It’s so bright in here!" Zion complained.
Michael opened his eyes and scanned his surroundings.
He was standing near the edge of a circular arena fully enclosed on all sides. There was no window, no chairs, nothing. There was just the arena, and the tunnel exit behind them.
The only thing that was inside this arena was a giant knight statue in the middle of the floor.
It was kneeling, with its sword stabbed on the ground and head looking down.
The whole structure was made out of stone, making it look lifeless, but judging from the fact that he could feel an intense amount of Aubility Power from it meant that it was no mere statue at all.
And using his Aubility Vision, he confirmed the fact that it was indeed alive, with Aubilty Power glowing in its chest.
He’s strong, he muttered. Even from far away, he knew that he’d have trouble dealing with this guardian all by himself.
He could have a chance if he used his batteries and his Quantum techniques, but that would be a bother.
In fact, he didn’t even have to fight it at all.
"Fudge," he called out.
And immediately, the little slime jumped out of his shadow and somersaulted to the ground.
With a flash, Fudge showed off his new cloak with fashion and style.
"Yes, Master? Do you need my ninja skills?"
"Yup," Michael nodded, pointing beyond the knight. "Do you see that platform at the end?"
According to Reptar and the others, the only way to get to the treasure was if they defeated the guardian or if they were able to completely bypass them and get to the other side.
This was exactly what he was going to do.
"Fudge, unleash your shadows."