Classless Ascension

At the LoA hideout, there was a red ruby room that was bloodied all over. In it, there were two individuals. 

One was restlessly torturing. The other was suffering incredible torment. 

One was slumped on the ground, towering over the other. 

One was currently crying in despair while Josh was laughing. 

Anyone witnessing this scene would have been utterly mindfucked. How was it that the woman holding the whip and generating deadly sound attacks...was the one despairing?!

At this moment, her pride was in tatters. It was one thing for him to endure but another to see how recklessly he cackled. Was he trying to have himself killed?! The more it went and the less she understood him. 

No matter how much she threatened, he just wouldn't surrender. Hell, even the flesh-devouring spider had failed her! These tiny creatures had the most painful bite and could crawl inside someone to devour them from the inside. 

Yet they had barely taken a step toward him that the spiders had run away in fright. Even as he was completely paralyzed, they hadn't dared to approach him. All he had done was send some killing intent their way.

The more it went and the more irritable she felt. He kept showcasing his power, and she began to desire it more and more. But he was way too tough of a nut to crack, so much that it didn't make any logical sense! 

She had even used various truth serums on him, but the results had been catastrophic: 

Where had he learned his technique?

- It was self-created, and he had never met his match yet. 

How was he so relaxed? 

- He knew she wouldn't kill him. 

What if she DID kill him? 

- If he were to disappear, so would she and her LoA branch, and probably most of the Climber's world. 

Was there any other condition he'd teach her? 

- Nope. He was too busy to care about teaching her if she wouldn't make it worth his time. 

Why had he even joined the LoA in the first place? 

- It seemed like fun, and he wanted to expand his connections. 

What was the strongest enemy he had faced? 

- A god, but he wasn't sure which one. After all, he had only indirectly fought them. 

She felt at a complete impasse. What kind of freaking answers had that been?! 

She knew how effective the truth serums were, and she saw his eyes. He showed so much conviction. Her instinct was telling her he was being truthful. But what now? 

She slumped down, sitting next to him, feeling overwhelmed. Half of his organs were out in the open, but he didn't care. It was healing so fast that it was visible to the naked eye. 

"How are you even alive right now?" she murmured. 

"What do you mean? You kept feeding me pills." He replied, puzzled. 

There was a limit to pills….but apparently not for him. He had been devouring every single medicinal pellet she had given him as if candy. He had even licked his lips?! This was insane! 

"Did you really meet gods?" 

"Oh yeah. Every core member of Dimensional Legion has." 

"Is that so." She didn't have the mental energy to call bullshit on that one. 

After a while of staring blankly, she spoke once more. 

"What are you planning right now?"

"Probably going to Climb, maybe lobby the MTA if they still have the Tower blocked." 

"I see." 

That's when he gently turned his head, smiled at her wordlessly, and handed her a magical contract. 

At this moment, this single sheet of paper felt as heavy as the world. She weakly grasped it in her hands. She gave a self-deprecating smile: so much for all her efforts to break him. 

She had felt her pride hurt when he had proposed this deal the first time. Who did he think he was? Apparently, someone that she couldn't do anything to. She wasn't even sure why or what gave him such confidence.

He slowly rose, lazily stretching, and headed toward the corner of the room. She couldn't help but stare blankly. Was he heading to her shower? It was a large rectangular one with transparent glass walls. 

He began undressing without waiting for her input, completely disregarding her presence. What?! As his clothes touched the ground, she could see his wide back. But, he was so bloodied that he almost seemed clothed still. 

He entered it, then came the sound of running water. She could even sense the warmth from the other side of the room. It had to be boiling hot! As she observed him, she couldn't help but gasp. 

It was just a shower, but there was an incredible nonchalance to it. Even after all she had done to him, he didn't even seem rattled. He began softly whistling as he washed away the blood, slowly revealing his toned muscles.

Somehow she couldn't take her eyes away...just a little more! 

But then the hot water quickly created a mist that spread all around, hiding most of his body. With all the grime gone and his relaxed face, he seemed to be in a spa. What about the earlier torture? There was no trace whatsoever! 

She internally clicked her tongue. Damn mist, what a shame, blocking her view like that! Wait…why had she thought that just now?! 

She began panicking. Had he used a skill on her?! She took out an artifact, one that tested for anything will-altering. It flashed green, meaning there was no issue. Then why did she feel so muddle-headed? 

More importantly, what did he think of her? 

He was ignoring her entirely even when she had hurt him so much. Why didn't he try to take revenge? Had he shown mercy? Then there was the contract. She checked it, and a few clauses were gone. 

He had made the terms better for her?! 

For some reason, she felt a smile blossom on her lips. She had utterly lost this exchange, and yet he had taken a step back? 

That's when the room returned to quietness. She found her eyes inexplicably glued to the shower door. Then he appeared, and she could see all of it— all of the gray suit he was now wearing. Tchh—! 

His wet, dark hair had been brushed backward, giving him an elegant yet mysterious look as he glanced her way. "So, what do you think?" 

She unconsciously gulped. What did she think? He was very dashing, but the suit was utterly irksome! She slowly uttered a soft "Very nice." as a whisper. She wasn't good with praises. Her specialty was on the more grisly side. 

"Really? You were so opposed to the contract at first, too." He chuckled lightly. 

The contract?! Right, that's what he had been asking about. She couldn't help but feel at a loss. She didn't want to sign it, not at all! But she also really wanted to learn killing intent. What if she kidnapped him? 

She could chuck him in a room and assign people to take care of him. They wouldn't object too much since they would be happy to get close to an elder. Then again, did she really want others to take care of him?

"Are you alright?" Josh slowly approached, pressing his hand on her forehead. "You seem to be heating up. You should probably pop one of those pills for yourself." He said with concern. 

"A-alright." She replied in a tiny voice. 

"Don't worry too much about it. Think things over and sign it when you're ready. I have some things to do anyway." He winked at her. "Alright, I'll see you later then!" He amicably waved as he left, soon disappearing outside. 

She remained behind, stunned. He was going already?! Her brain stopped working as she didn't know what the hell to do. Should she chase after him? Let him leave? Argg! Why was this so complicated! 

She felt like pulling her hair. This would all have been so easy if he had caved to the torture! She could only sigh, lowering her eyes. She noticed the contract that she was holding. 

She slowly studied it once more, well, in fact, the writing on it. The words were simple yet written with confidence. She carefully removed the creases on it before pocketing it. She didn't know why, but she now quite liked this contract, even if she didn't want to sign it. 

Student? She wasn't sure she liked the sound of that...

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

As Josh left, he couldn't help but chuckle to himself. 

Who would have expected the powerful Matriarch of an LoA branch to be so naive? Then again, he had to admit that she had shown so much zeal while torturing him!

It wasn't that she was soft, not at all. He just happened to counter her. She desired power. He could offer it to her by guiding her path. She was used to everyone cowering before her, and he just didn't care. This huge failure was probably a first for her. 

Still, if the LoA hadn't attacked D-23, then who was it? Also, who had been behind the trouble at the Fallen event? It felt like many forces were at play, but he was in the dark. 

As he left the hideout, the random assassins were bowing even deeper. They took the fact that he was still alive and well as a sign that the Matriarch had accepted him. 

As for his fresh-out-of-the-shower hair, they didn't dare comment on it. Yet, they had trouble dissimulating their surprise as their mind wandered due to the implications. 

One such bystander helped him leave. "Right, this way, Sir. There are many alleys in which you can exit to Metropolis-D. Where would you like to go?"

"Surprise me!" He casually mentioned. 

"Y-yes, Sir!" Instead of relaxing, the guide became stiff as he walked forward, guiding Josh and hoping that he would love where he'd bring him. Talk about over-thinking! 

Then he was out. 

His first order of business was to check for updates on the Tower. 

- Josh MF Malum: Hey, how is everything going with the Tower. Can we go in it yet or not? 

- Markus: It went from bad to complete shit. At this rate, we'll be killed by the Tower directly. There won't even be a need for monsters. This is the worst! 

-Josh MF Malum: So, what happened? 

- Markus: There are tales of a god being spotted near Metropolis-C, the blackout event. Sadly, the only eyewitness didn't see much, but he recollects a gigantic face. Any idea what it could be? 

- Josh MF Malum: No idea whatsoever! So, can I head to the Tower or not? 

- Markus: Fine, whatever, but it's at your own risk. 

- Josh MF Malum: Alright, thanks, dad! 

At his own risks, eh? He mumbled to himself:

"Call an ambulance, but not for me. It will be for the Tower....."