An abyss where there is no light, only rancid blood.

A so-called "companion" who can't even utter words.

It's a hell where nothing else.

There is nothing to borrow except the fragile spider silk.

- A real, inescapable desperate situation.

Every time you "try your best and fail", only a second passes.

Other than that, there's nothing to interact with, to investigate; There are no powers that can be used, and not even the goal of clearing the level is given.

Just let him repeat the failure.

Just like the suffering of Sisyphus in the past.

Annan was convinced that this was indeed an incomparably brilliant trap.

Because even here, with infinite physical strength, even if you fall from a height, you can be resurrected immediately, but the human spirit will eventually be tired.

It's not sleepiness.

It's numb to despair...... Directly destroy the whole sanity of a soul spiritually.

The difficulty of this dreadful fragment does not lie in the fragile spider silk itself...... It's about the unknown.

The unknown brings endless fear.

That's the fear of "how many more times am I going to fail here?"

Radically different from the previous shards of fear, the other fears can be left with just a "decisive escape" or a "brave entry" into that fear.

Because, whether it's a "sudden neutralization of power", or an "unstoppable sacrifice", or whatever...... It's just a momentary, short-lived fear.

Only the "fear of constant failure" can last a lifetime - it cannot be survived by relying on the thought of "hold on and get over".

Isn't it true that after failure, we will not continue to suffer failure?

"If you think about it intellectually, you know, it's impossible."

It's just a fairy tale for adults.

To add value to one's own failures, to make failures less "failure...... Just a placebo to comfort yourself.

Annan didn't need that kind of thing.

- Failure is failure.

Failure to succeed, and therefore failure, that's all.

No excuses, no reasons, no need to attach hypocritical values to failures -

Because people should not be afraid of failure in the first place.

"People are not supposed to be holding back in the face of failure."

Annan gripped the spider silk again.

Alone, in the abyss of no light and no sound, struggling to climb upward.

Those people have long since given up following Annan.

They were just silent, looking up at Annan.

Looking at Annan, who kept failing.

Hoping that he will succeed?

No.

More ...... I'm afraid I'm looking forward to and waiting for when Annan will give up.

However, on Annan's face, there was no pain and struggle that they wanted.

Only happiness.

Focus. Conscientious. Attentively.

Fail with all your might.

"If no one does it, I'll do it."

- Three hundred times.

"If no one sacrifices, it is up to me to sacrifice."

- five hundred times.

"Nobody insisted...... Just let me stay the course. ”

- Seven hundred times.

That's not the kind of perseverance that normal humans can have.

Like the practice of an ascetic...... Although it is a march towards victory, defeat is also one of the precious gains.

Those who gloat.

Those who waited for Annan to give up.

…… They have even given up on this emotion itself, and have gradually enshrined and worshipped Annan as a god and as a symbol.

Annan, on the other hand, remained unchanged.

It's not about enduring pain.

It's about enjoying the pain.

No......

In this hell that seems to last forever, Annan gradually captures his own essence.

To be precise, he is enjoying "being alive".

It's like when you're bored, you can read the text in the manual and the newspaper advertisement several times.

He didn't know how long he had been here.

Even his original purpose, his killing intent towards Denton, has faded due to the passage of time.

It was as if I had spent a life of hardship in a dream.

– but even in the most desperate moments.

At a time when Annan had completely turned into a bloody man...... His ice-blue pupils still shone with pure brilliance.

"Have you rested enough?"

Annan shouted again: "As long as you can lift your spirits, crawl with me—

"Just keep up!"

There are no high promises.

There is no warm atmosphere.

There is only silence.

Only the silent followers—

Not all of them, but dozens of people.

But after Annan fell again, new people joined in, and others retreated from the ropes.

That's not a meaningless imitation.

Just, you can't turn a blind eye to that.

Even if it has long been known, the end of the goal is failure......

But looking at the people with such bright eyes trying to climb up, how can they stop where they are and remain motionless?

The attempt failed.

Habit fails.

Failure of adaptation.

And then—

"—to defeat defeat."

This is the fate of humanity.

Annan held the spider silk slowly, for the sixth hundred and sixty-sixth time.

"Does anyone come with me?"

His eyes sparkled.

It's been more than ten minutes outside.

But in Annan's mind, there was no idea of "dragging time and waiting for Salvatore".

Like a captain who laughs and launches an expedition towards the sea of defeat.

Since the previous times, Annan has not looked down at those who follow him.

Or rather...... From the very beginning, Annan was sure that someone would follow him.

Because the struggle to the heights - the very thing is enough to fill a person's heart.

Annan also never needed anyone to follow him, so as to provide the determination and confidence to move forward.

But he noticed...... This time, no one followed Annan to climb up.

It's not like they're giving up again.

Instead, he raised his head and looked at Annan in silence.

It's like a premonition of something—

And only this time.

Alone, Annan crawled out of the narrow mouth of the bottle.

He woke up again at the corner between the rubble and the wall.

Everything I had experienced before seemed like a dream.

But that bright smile remained on Annan's face like a scar left by a flame.

He slowly opened his eyes.

The brilliant brilliance also shone from the bottom of Annan's eyes.

“…… Six hundred and sixty-six, the number of beasts? ”

Finally crawled out of hell and completed the impossible task, Annan was overjoyed.

— but what made him even happier was that Denton had succumbed.

Yes, there is no end to this nightmare in itself.

It's just repeating meaningless failures.

However, Annan, who has constantly experienced failure, has not flinched...... But Denton, who designed this level and tried to murder Annan here, was instead afraid in front of Annan, who was unchanged and even more excited.

He was fearful of Annan's fearlessness.

It's a madman, a fanatic.

But it seems to have some kind of divinity......

Like a butterfly that has just broken free from its cocoon, it struggles to raise its wings.

"—you're throwing in the towel again, Denton!"

Annan burst out laughing, laughing heartily: "You have all my memories, and you can't defeat me!"

"You think you can kill me?

"I'm a loser! I'm a fanatic! I am Sisyphus! ”

Whatever cannot kill me will make me stronger!

Annan couldn't be more convinced.

He is not the same now as he was before he was tormented by the infinite fall into hell.

It may not have changed much, but it did change.

"You have one last chance, Denton."

Annan opened his eyes and looked at the portrait in front of him.

His eyes were as bright as the stars.

A glorious, thin flame that ignited at the bottom of the frozen lake.

This heavy death trap was also transformed by Annan into a trial to wash his heart.

"You're also going to ...... What kind of gift will I be given? ”