As soon as the system message faded, I landed hard on solid ground. I look up, and instead of the Labyrinth, I'm back on Earth.
[You have cleared Floor 2.]
[Returning to Earth…]
[Cooldown started.]
Once someone clears a floor, that floor is locked for 1 hour before anyone else can enter.
[Time until reentry: 59 minutes, 40 seconds]
I pulled out the phone from my pocket, and as usual, the Astral Community went crazy again.
[GLOBAL THREAD - THE PIONEER RETURNS?]
└ Blank… is that really you? You're back? But you cleared Floor 1… that was just hours ago, wasn't it??
└ HOLY SH*T! Blank's name is back in the Hall of Firsts!
└ Wait, what the hell? This guy's cleared TWO floors now?
└ @SludgeSurvivor: You think he did that while we're all stuck back on Floor 1? Impossible.
└ @RadiantMage: No way. No way this is a coincidence. He's still out there... is he in the Labyrinth right now??
└ @LowTierVassal: Damn, I was stuck on the first floor for hours. Now I see Blank is just clearing floors like it's nothing. What's your secret, man??
└ @ScornedVassal: I bet he's some kind of Vassal already, just doing whatever he wants in the Rift.
I scroll down, my eyes glued to the endless posts. Everyone's talking about me. Some people are confused, others are angry, and a few seem to worship the ground I walk on. The Hall of Firsts was buzzing with my name again.
One post catches my eye.
I knew Blank wasn't just some random player. This guy's different. Can't wait to see what he does next.
An idea pops into my head, sharp and clear.
I tap the screen, opening a new post in the Astral Community. My fingers hover over the keyboard for a second before I type:
[From: Blank]
Title: [INFO] Tips for the Upcoming Floors + Third Floor Hint
Body:
Alright, listen up.
I'll be posting a hint for the THIRD FLOOR soon. I won't just leave you hanging. Along with that, I'll be sharing some tips on how to clear future floors.
You might not like the truth. You might not even believe me. But if you want to survive what's coming, you'll listen.
I won't be the one to hold your hand, but if you're smart enough to pick up what I'm putting down, it'll save your life.
So stay tuned. And don't say I didn't warn you.
— Blank
I hit "Post" and sit back, watching the message send.
Within seconds, the feed explodes.
└ @DoubtfulOne: WHAT. IS. THIS? A THIRD FLOOR HINT??? YOU'RE ACTUALLY GIVING AWAY INFO?
└ @RadiantMage: WAIT. YOU'RE SERIOUS? You're dropping a hint? This early?
└ @LowTierVassal: What's the catch? You just gonna tease us, or what?
└ @MapleTactics: THIS IS HUGE. I can't believe he's gonna help us like this. For real??
└ @ScornedVassal: So now we're all supposed to wait for Blank to give us his secrets? This is a joke, right?
The reactions flood in, faster than I can keep up with. And just as I was starting to relax, a new comment caught my eye.
└ @DoubtfulOne: Wait a minute... How do you know about the THIRD FLOOR? No one's even gotten close to it yet, and you're posting a hint? How's that possible?
The comment sits there for a second, and then the notifications start flooding in again.
└ @RadiantMage: Wait… he's right. How does he know? No one's even gotten past Floor 2. This guy's gotta be a step ahead somehow.
└ @SludgeSurvivor: Dude, this doesn't add up. How does Blank KNOW about the Third Floor? That's gotta be a bug or something.
└ @LowTierVassal: Nah, he's playing us. He's clearly been through the Rift more times than we know. He's seen something we haven't.
└ @MapleTactics: Yo, we need answers. He's either got secret info or something's off. Either way, I'm here for whatever he's about to drop.
I watched as the thread exploded. People were now questioning how I could know something they didn't, and the eyes of the whole community were on me.
'Let me tease you for now. Well, what's in it for me to give all these tips? You will find out later.'
As the thread continued to explode, I opened my message tab instead.
New alerts!
[You have received 21 Vassal Pact offers.]
I checked all of them, but the Vassal Patron I was looking for did not reach me out yet. I need to work harder to get his attention. Therefore, I turned them all down without hesitation again.
[21 Vassal Pact Offer Declined.]
***
The God of Time, Vareos, the Goddess of Destruction, Korrina, and The Goddess of Fate, Liraen saw me declining everyone.
Vareos, The God of Time
"Interesting. A mortal who refuses us? Does he not understand the gravity of his decision? Time is fleeting. Without the right Patron, he will be stuck at the 10th floor. Will he continue to reject us, or does he have some deeper purpose?"
Korrina, The Goddess of Destruction
"Hmph. Mortal. The other Patrons may question his choices, but I see the potential for chaos in him. His refusal is strange, but it may just be the kind of challenge I desire. If he won't come to me willingly, perhaps I'll let him burn with his own decisions."
Liraen, The Goddess of Fate
"Fascinating. To resist the very beings that could aid you in your journey. This one is… different. He thinks he can carve his own path without the influence of us. But fate is not so easily escaped. He will either find a Patron of his own choice, or he will be trapped on the 10th floor forever. Does he know this?"
***
The three of them spoke among themselves, their voices distant but heavy in my mind.
Vareos, Korrina, and Liraen—their presence lingered, like the weight of their gazes pressing down on me. They didn't understand why I kept declining the pacts.
To them, it probably didn't make sense. Most Vassals were desperate to align themselves with a Patron for power, for guidance, for safety.
But not me. I had my own reasons. I wasn't ready to give in to any offer—not yet.