Eleven humans stood before an immense tower, tearing through the murky clouds, concealing its mysteries.
Shafts of rays of the emerging sun, somber as it peaked through the murky clouds, permeated through the area with the new day dawning upon the surviving humans.
Out of 7 billion, 11 humans persisted till the 10th tribulation.
Kicking the rubbles that bore witness to the past prosperity of the city of New York, the humans made their way in front of the spherical tower.
Loitering in wait for the commencement of the final trial, a series of films darted through their minds as they couldn't help but reminisce about their struggles for the last 9 tribulations.
"Is it finally the last challenge? Is this a dream?", a young man adorned with tight armor emitting its incomprehensible power, pinched his cheeks with bewilderment.
His words appeared alienated as he spoke the language of gods.
No one could fathom that the tribulations thrown by God would eventually come to an end.
It felt like a far-off dream.
In closeby areas, dyeing the rundown soil with solemn hues of whitish tinge, skeletons poured out from a spherical gate reflecting ethereal darkness.
A man in his forties conjured a spell, furthering his loyal army of undead.
"1000 undead is not enough. For this 10th challenge, I have to summon a thousand more", the man extended his hand. The chaotic morning breeze fluttered through his dark robe.
In the sky, a woman adorned with angelic wings danced in the murky sky, fanning the clouds as her golden halo launched a symphonic hymn.
"Finally, I can have that One Wish! Kikiki"
In pure contrast to her celebratory demeanor, the ground below reflected a rather serious ambiance. Their vigilance was piqued by the tower before them.
At last, their most-awaited system announcement rang.
[Congratulations on reaching the 10th Tribulation!]
[The world resonates with your determination to conquer the last challenge. The world yearns for your success]
[10th Challenge: Conquering the 10-floor Tower of Life
Description: Break through the floors of the towers and conquer it to its final floor where the Stone of Life resided.
Main Quest: Conquer the 10-floor tower
Restriction: A guild comprising of 10 members
Reward:
- 1 billion gold
- Stone of Life (Ex)]
"This?!"
"A guild with 10 members?! A wishful dream!"
Their minds solidified by their tragic recollections couldn't help but crumble upon the system announcement.
The remaining goal, Stone of Life, was just a challenge away before their hands. However, the strict restriction of a guild of 10 members hindered their reach.
The man cloaked in tight armor punched through the unwavering wall of the tower, stubborn to its entry.
"Let us in, you goddamn tower! Let us in!", the young man lost control of his emotions, and a surge of horrifying cries of his beloved ones dying in the previous challenges dwelled in his mind.
He was reluctant to let their death be in vain.
The other humans equally fell in distress. The celebratory hymn of the human wrapped in an angel wing came to an abrupt halt.
"This is impossible! Forming a guild at these times!", the woman shrieked
The formation of the guild had long been over since the 8th challenge. Forming a guild at these times was a rather wishful thought.
As survivors of different countries, they couldn't possibly establish a common guild. Alas, they only gathered at this very place during the end of the 8th challenge.
With this thought in mind, their persisting hope vanished at this instant.
Just then, as if throwing more wood into their scorching demise, the system resonated with yet another announcement.
[In a minute, the monsters on the entire planet will rally their way to this area.]
[Survive!]
With no duration in between, the ground tremored as rubbles leaped. Dust danced with chaotic air
And there, encircling them, an army of monsters peaked through the shattered buildings, marching in the direction of the surviving humans.
A young man, deemed as the weakest among the surviving humans with nothing but his overpowered item and luck to rely on, turned his head to the approaching monsters.
His name was Arthur, the 10th rank during this Ten Countries Era.
Arthur tightened his grip on his SS-grade weapon that accompanied him since the 4th challenge.
It was the strongest item to exist, the Death Thread.
Invisible threads flew out of his fingertip, establishing a dome around him. In his view, the threads were still, however, Arthur could feel the unfathomable speed of the thread, seemingly impatient to savor blood.
Piercing his ears, the subtle shrieking of the threads was evident to Arthur. He had always felt that the threads had a life of its own.
At last, the stampede of monsters collided with the surviving humans. Screeching resonated in milliseconds that every monster came in contact with his threads.
With little contact, the blood in their body whirled, and then...
*puff
Their blood burst out of their body, spurting through their skins like popped balloons.
"Can we even resist these endless monsters?", reluctant he might be, Arthur couldn't help but be dubious at the sight of chronic monsters. With every death of monsters entered another batch of monster stampede.
Their strength became tremendous as S-grade appeared in multitude.
'I'm running out of threads!', Arthur felt his reservoir of threads running thin over time.
He was stingy in using the item as it was consumable. He had managed to conserve it till the 10th challenge yet the endless stampede deemed his efforts futile.
He would soon run out of threads and after that was his inevitable death.
'I couldn't possibly survive a herd of SS-grade monsters.'
12 hours went unnoticed with their vigilance concentrated on the herd of monsters.
Persisting with the hope that this stampede would eventually come to an end, the humans threw skill after skill, depleting their mana reservoir.
Consuming mana potions then right after standing their grounds against a multitude of monsters, the humans found no time for a breather.
Reluctant they might be to give up, the unveiling of another batch of monsters extinguished the little flame of hope they tightly held onto.
'We will soon die', they all soon came to accept the harsh reality.
Encircling them, around 100 SSS-grade monsters tardily strode in their direction. Their scornful eyes belittled the surviving humans.
At this sight, Arthur could only quench his throat with a deep gulp.
Had there been 10 SSS-grade monsters, triumph might have been within their sight. However, with this number, they could only succumb to the mournful reality.
'It is the end'
With no words needed, the SSS-grade supporter who was closer to the bipedal speed-type SSS-grade monster met her death as her vision shifted to the sky.
Her head kissed the ground, gazing at her detached torso.
In just a split second, one human met her demise.
Witnessing this scene, the other nearby SSS-grade human clinging to his golden staff cast multiple divine attack spells. His years-honed desire to survive urged his body to retaliate, hopeless it might be.
As if expected, the speed-type humanoid monster, with feet akin to the blade of a skate, was unfazed in hurrying his way to the man in a golden robe.
"D--- Die!", the man turned disoriented
And at that moment, just right before the bladed feet beheaded the man, the world came to a halt as if the world itself heaved its last breath.
The surviving 10 humans drenched in sweat, witnessed the SSS-grade monsters just an inch away from them, froze along with time.
Apparently, they were about to meet their deaths in the face of these monsters.
In this still world, only the surviving humans weren't restricted.
*huff huff
Releasing ragged breaths, the humans watched the system announcement unfold before them.
Their eyes were watery as they escaped their imminent death.
[Congratulations to the 10 surviving humans!]
[As there are only 10 survivors in Planet #1434, the Tutorial Phase will now come to a wrap]
[The surviving humans will be sent back to the day of their awakening. A corresponding reward will be given befitting their struggles to survive.]
Looking at the translucent screen before him, Arthur finally heaved a sigh as he stole a last glance at several monsters before them. Their bloodied mouths curled upward, scornful of their being.
'I will go back... With the power strong enough to singlehandedly defeat you all...', Arthur swore.
[You will now regress to the day of your awakening.]
"Stronger... I need to get stronger", all the surviving humans muttered as their bodies disintegrated into white lights.