"Grrr, I lost so much, those three billion credit points of mine, you're just so annoying, kid," the Dean muttered to himself. He remained calm on the outside, but inside he was about to explode with anger.
"Here is the announcement before revealing the ranks of the Ladder of Fortitude; let me announce to you that the final test is set three days from now so you can all rest first and stay on your best condition before your hardest trial begins. That is the Silent Hill Hunting Ground, prepare for that day candidates so rest for a while." Said the Fatty Cook of Medicine.
"That brat made me lost 5 billion, how sinister!" Exclaimed the Supirentendent. The Dean pretended not to hear him. He never thought the Supirentendent would bet such a large amounts of money.
Null was still inside of that small world in the top of the Ladder as he entered the golden door.
Null continued for some more time gathering energy to his core and releasing it to his body making his body weaker and softer.
"What did you do? Stop that, it's not the right way to do it!" The God of the Pathways was so worried as he look at Null becoming more like a slime.
Null stops, What is wrong? He asks. He didn't even feel that he was destroying his own body.
"You can't practice like that, I'm sorry I misunderstood the core of emptiness. It's really different from others. I wonder how the Overlord train to be strong during those days? Why my Lord? You didn't give any pointers to your student before you left.?" She complained.
"I don't know too. This is my first time to live with this core." Said Null.
"Now, you have to strengthen your body again" told the God of the Pathways.
"Does it mean, I have to feed myself to a giant beast again?" Asked Null.
"Ofcourse not, why did you think of that stupid idea?"
"After I was eaten, my body improved a lot." Null confessed.
"You mean, it works. It could be a life force sucker. Ahem, so your body sucked life force and your core will empty your life force. This is evil. Tell me, what did that demon Lord do to you?" Asks the God of the Pathways.
"I don't know what he did to me, he said it was a gift but I don't know what it is" answered Null.
"So there is really no escape. You are destined to be a villain and this is not a place for you. Maybe I just send your way to the Demon Domain." She said with regrets and then she sigh.
"Hey wait, Why would you send me there? What would my mom do if she find out?" Asks Null.
"She, ahh; Why did I forget about your mom. Hmmm, this is complicated." Reacted the God of the Pathways.
"Just let me stay here for a while" begged Null.
Null's physical body has weakened since he feed it to his core but he can now control 4% from it. He fall unconscious and his soft skin got wounded at that but he fell nothing.
When he wakes, he was inside the jail with a stronger build much stronger than before. As he looked, there were two guards lying on the floor just outside the bars.
"What happened?" He asks.
Well then, what really happened? Here is how things ended Null at the prison.
The God of the Pathways was so worried about him so she has no choice but to sacrifice her own consciousness for the sake of Null.
"Oh boy, you left me no other choice, but since I already found you I have no other reason to stay here, maybe this is also fate.
This is the only thing that I can help for you. Take care of yourself." Said the God of the Pathways as her body of consciousness was slowly dissipating, floating towards the body of Null bit by bit until all of her was gone.
A light from the huge golden door on top of the Ladder of Fortitude brilliantly shines like the Gods are descending then a body that shines golden was being thrown out of the giant door.
"As expected, the Gods rejected the cheater," mocked the Dean.
"Watchmen!" "Arrest that cheater and send him to level 20 jail," he said, as the two guards removed his body.
Dynamo said, "It seems unbelievable that he cheated to get to the top."
"You see it didn't you. Since he cheated, the gods thrashed him and expelled him," Damon declared bluntly.
"He should be expelled as well from the Heroes Academy" said the Fatty Cook.
"Even if a cheater has great potential, I will not put up with him since he is only a good villain and does not deserve to be a hero."
Suddenly, the ground shake, "It's an earthquake!" Cried the candidates.
The Ladder crumbled and suddenly become small and it fly away from the Academy towards the easternmost region.
It travels like a shooting star.
"The Gods are angry!" The candidates cried.
"Kill the cheater!"
"Kill the cheater!'"
"Kill the cheater!" The chants of the candidates were echoing through the plains.
"He seems to have cheated seriously, and even the gods are upset about it. Please, Dean, I humbly ask that the cheater be put to death right away so that the gods' wrath will lessen," the law faculty pleaded. Kabo is his name as a hero.
A SSS class.
"What do you think?" The then asks the Supirentendent for advise.
"It's up to you," answered the Supirentendent, he really wanted this Null to suffer or get killed but he don't want to partake in it if anything goes wrong.
"We need to investigate things properly before we judge. The guy was injured for now and was jailed so everyone calm yourselves first."
"No way, There is no need the investigation sir. The evidence was clear, Kill the cheater so God's anger will lessen!" Damon demanded.
"Kill the cheater! Kill the cheater! Kill the cheater! Kill the cheater!" The candidates shouted in chorus.
"What kind of people are you? Do you know you don't even have the chance of passing without Null helping all of you? Now you want him to get killed," rebuked Lucky Zero and everybody were put into silence.
But after a moment Damon spoke again. "No, it's not because of him that we pass but because of your own strength!"
"Yeah, we passed by our strength!" Said Swarm.
"We didn't need his help after all. I'm sure we can passed without him" said another candidate named, Badidap.
"Kill him! Kill the cheater!" A chorus was chanted again but not everyone say that words this time. Others fell guilty knowing the reason that they pass and survive was because of this cheater.
One of those, from the candidates that remained in the 51rst step said, " I can only blame myself for being weak and I regret being helped by a cheater. However, I don't like to let the sinner go unpunished. Please Dean, do kill the cheater and let God's hatred subside."
Other candidates who remained on the lower ladder was convinced so they began chanting the 'kill' chant.
"Kill the cheater! kill the cheater!" More and more candidates again were chanting.
"Don't you know? How many students died in the Ladder of Fortitude each year? I tell you, about one third of the candidates population died in the Ladder of Fortitude every year." Narrated Mitsu.
"That many!" Tundra was stunned.
"Why are you telling us now about this trivia?" Asked Kurae.
"If Null did not stop me, I've already killed hundreds of you, Now you want him to die? Are you being fair? What do you think?"She asked those who were chanting to kill the cheater. Before turning to the Dean.
She said, "Sir Dean, I request that Null, be given a chance and be released from prison" as she sided with Null.
The candidates are divided into two groups now. The first group are those that wants Null to be killed believing he cheated. The second group is asking to give Null a chance, but not everyone in the group believe he did not cheat so they were also stunned by Mitsu's words.
Mitsu didn't believe Null has cheated, she is a smart woman and has the ability to analyze every situation.
"It was not his fault at all, I know it's the owner of the Ladder that pulled him in." Said Mitsu that shocked everyone.
"How dare you invert veracity and deception infront of us!" Scolded the Supirentendent.
He plummeted Mitsu to the ground using his pressure.
"She's audacious!" Said the Fatty Cook.
"But I think she was right" That was Bubbles Up who speak this time as everyone turned to look who was it that said those words.
The Dean got curious, "Why is she siding with Null?" He muttered.
Two big roto-ship, hovered above them carrying some injured students.
"It's the Director, they are back!" Cried the students.
The Director, step down from the roto-ship, "What is going on? Where is the Ladder of Fortitude? What happened to it?"
"Ahmm, Sorry for our incompetent, but it was taken by the Gods." Said the Supirentendent.
"The Gods where angry so they take the Ladder of Fortitude away" cried the Dean.
"The Gods are angry but the two of you, still alive! Do you think I'm a fool?" Said the Director.
Since the Dean and the Supirentendent cannot say something the director continued to speak. "Tell me, did any candidates been recognized by the God of the Pathway?"
"I'm afraid, it's not like that" responded the Dean.
"Then what is it? What really happened?" Ask the director.
"Some just cheated using a device to enter the golden gate on top of the Ladder so he did enter it but then was thrown away by the furious God and then he take away the ladder." Explained the Supirentendent.
"Then, where is that device? Do you have proof? Kabo, is this how you investigate? Where is the kid?" Asked the director.
Kabo scratched his head, "I only followed orders" he muttered.
"Then where is that kid, bring him to me. I'll be waiting for him In my chamber! All of you are dismissed." Ordered the Director.
At the 20th underground prison Null was wondering why he was brought to jail. His was tougher than before.
"God, where are you? Answer me" he cried.
"God of the Pathways!" He shouted but got no reply.
"Where are you?' he asked but nobody was answering.
"You're an idiot" a voice said.
"And who the hell are you?" Null asked.
"Hahahaha! Kid what did you do? You are still young, what is your fault?" Came the voice from below.
"Why would I did tell you? I don't even know why the lock me up?" Null answered.
"Are you a demon? No not. I can sense you are a human. But why are you here? What is your crime?" The voice was curious.
"I told you, I don't know," he said.
Then a little puppy appeared in front of him.
"Hello! It's me!" The puppy said.
"A ghost!" Cried Null.
"I'm not a ghost, I'm just a soul!" Explained the little puppy.
"Get the hell out away from me!" Cried Null who accidentally triggered the power of the core and the puppy was gone.
At the 60th underground cell, A three -headed wolf was prisoned and was chained using a demon binding soul chain.
"That was scary if not for my intuition sensing danger my would would have been completely wipeout. What kind of power was that?"
"Where are you? Are you still there? Hello! Answer me if you are still there. Said Null.
"What? You are looking for me after trying to kill me!" Replied the three-headed wolf.
"Can you come back, I want to see you again" said Null.
"No way! I won't come to you, You are dangerous. And you told me to stay away from you, why ask me to come this time?"replied the three-headed wolf.