Mortals of different species and races come from all over the multiverse, using the portals in their individual planets and universes, just to try their shot at the quest of Heaven's Tower.
Who would pass on a chance to become a god? And for what price? To climb a tower.
It sounded simple and easy but that was far from the truth of the tower.
Better put, the tower was a win-win situation for both parties — the party of divinity, on whose side were the gods and goddesses of the tower and then, the party of mortals, who were gunning for a chance to attain a status of divinity and become the god of the tower.
While the mortals wanted to become gods, the gods had their own goals in mind as well and this required them to first find a suitable vessel to hold their divinity before anything else.
An unsuitable vessel meant death to the prospective vessel as it would not be able to endure the strain of a god's divinity and that also meant a failure in the ploy of the god or goddess.
Eros looked at the mortal wearing a death god's mask, waiting patiently for his answer to his request that he play a game with him.
Daniel also stared at him and seeing how the god was not willing to answer the question of his true identity, the climber lost interest in whatever he had to say.
"So…?" Eros pushed harder, his eyes beaming with impatience.
Daniel huffed. "You don't expect me to answer you, do you?" he asked.
Eros' eyes narrowed, now he had grown grossly impatient with the young man.
"Of course, I do."
Daniel scoffed. "Not when I don't know who you are."
"That I can't tell you," Eros answered, shaking his head. "I really can't."
I see. Then he's really hiding something. Daniel played it cool. Having gotten more than enough information from what Eros just told, he stood up and walked away from the boy, heading over to another seat in the hall.
"Hey! Where the hell are you going!" Eros yelled out, drawing eyes towards him from climbers nearby.
Daniel stopped and turned his head in a half motion, giving the god a sidelong glance. "I can't roll with whom I don't trust."
With that, the climber headed over to another seat. This time, he walked up to a familiar face that had recently entered the hall, someone who he had grown a bit accustomed to.
…Rykar.
Eros' face distorted with irritation at the rejection of his divinity by a mere mortal. He clenched his fist so hard that a speck of blood formed in his grasp.
How can he reject my offer! Eros was utterly exasperated at the climber's response. I'm a god that everyone would want. Love, women and harem! Who in the world doesn't want that?
Deep within him, he was surprised that Daniel had rejected him without even hearing him out for a reason as little as not knowing who he was.
Soon, Eros' irritation turned into a smile, one that expressed his acceptance of a challenge. His interest in Daniel was piqued and he was happy that the mortal didn't disappoint.
Adonisa was right, after all. He thought to himself. He is an interesting one.
*********
Daniel walked over to Rykar's table where the little boy was busy enjoying six plates of food all by himself.
"I didn't figure you for someone with such a large appetite," Daniel commented, noting how voraciously Rykar was eating.
The boy lifted his head and stared at the man, shocked to notice him and the large shadow he cast.
"You…" Rykar mouthed, forced to swallow the chunk of food in his mouth.
Immediately, he stood up and bowed to Daniel. "Thank you for saving me. I'm in your debt."
Daniel cringed at the boy's action. However, he understood why he had done so even if he had mixed up what happened back at the entrance hall of the first floor.
Daniel had not saved Rykar, but himself. Rykar was not the only one in danger of the lackeys under Kastro's helm of authority.
Even Daniel was in a more dire situation than the boy since they took his presence as a challenge to their supposed sovereignty among climbers of the floor.
Daniel said nothing and simply sat down, arranged his tray to begin eating before flagging Rykar to sit and stop embarrassing them.
"You are really strong," Rykar broke the ice even further with his quieter companion. "See how you took those guys on. I would never dare."
Daniel lifted his mask slightly, drawing Rykar's attention to it as he tried to get a peek at the climber's real face. However, he failed, only catching a glimpse of his lips.
For someone who also survived that terrifying wave of mana, you sure praise people a lot, kid. Daniel had the competence enough to read people and situations, it was something that came with his double training in military and medicine.
At this moment, he looked at Rykar with a suspicious gaze. A gaze that was not disgusting but curious.
Daniel suspected Rykar's overly friendly behaviour and needed to praise every person he met.
Perhaps, this behaviour was what made them believe they could bully you. You would rather hide your power than show who you really are to achieve your goal, won't you, Rykar?
"Mr. Thanatos…! Mr. Thanatos!"
Daniel returned from his world of deep thoughts when Rykar's hand touched his as he called his consciousness back to the cafeteria.
"What are you thinking about?" Rykar asked.
Daniel did not say anything.
Rykar shrugged with disappointment at the silent treatment he had received from his fellow climber.
"Not much of a talker, eh," Rykar added, smiling as he shifted his focus back to his meal.
All this while, Daniel's critical gaze was upon the young boy in front of him.
*********
Adonisa's eyes trembled and widened as her speech broke.
"Th-The… laby-labyrinth?!" she exclaimed, unable to hold her surprise in.
Goddess Venus bobbed her head in agreement. "Yes, my dear. The labyrinth is something I've been working on for a while and it is time to test it."
The goddess' lips spread out into a grin, her eyes sparkling with cuteness, almost shooting out love arrows.
"I can't think of a better way to test it out…!"