Chương 375: Chapter 365 - Welcome to the Team

Pablo had remained frozen from the moment the spar began. At first, he genuinely thought he was hallucinating, that the room was glitching or that they were somehow tricking him. But as the fight escalated, as the movements blurred far beyond what his eyes could track and even his waves failed to detect Alonso's position, the truth finally began to sink in. Leonie wasn't holding back. Not even a fraction. She had used everything she possessed — her refined forms, her Dark Stars, her ruthless technique.

And she was faster than the last time he'd seen her use it, almost certainly thanks to that boost Lukas provided. And yet… she still lost. Not narrowly. Not respectfully. It was an overwhelming, decisive defeat. His perception of the world faltered for a moment. Leonie, the strongest and most talented person he knew, the one he had always believed was the pinnacle of what a Climber could become at this stage, had been dismantled as if she were a beginner.

And the person who did it was none other than his best friend! The shock twisted in his chest. He knew Leonie's background, her organisation, the time she had spent training under the harshest conditions, the kind of mindset required to even invent a technique that brutal. She was not someone who lose easily. She was not someone who lose at all. Yet here they were. His heart skipped as a cold realization crept in. Just how strong had his friend become? And how… how had Alonso reached such a level?

Leonie stood in silence, though her mind was anything but calm. The person before her felt like the apex of what a Climber could be at this point. His skill, combat awareness, technique, pattern recognition, muscle control, EM manipulation… everything about him was polished to a degree she had not believed possible. And yet… he had not been going all out? More than that, she felt the seriousness in that last transmission from her brother. Her curiosity sparked again." Could you share visuals of the fight?""

I can," Lukas answered, " but I think it is appropriate that you ask him first." Leonie steadied her composure. She took a slow breath and released all the Dark Stars lodged inside her body in one sharp burst of pain. Her muscles spasmed. She gritted her teeth and flooded her regeneration. A moment later she felt it increase even more from an external source. Lukas was healing her too. In less than a second the wounds sealed shut, her body stitching itself back together.

She exhaled, allowed the Dark Stars to merge back into her inner vest, and lifted her gaze toward Alonso.

"About the fight against the seven-tails," she said, voice steady, "would it be possible for you to share some of the visuals with me?" Alonso studied her for a moment before smiling.

"I was blind during the fight, so I am not sure I can share much," he said with a small laugh. What? Leonie's eyes widened. Blind? He had to be joking. Was he teasing her after that humiliating loss? Her brow twitched. She may have been beaten easily, but this was—" He is not lying, Leonie." Lukas' transmission hit her mind like a stone dropped into still water. She froze again. Alonso continued calmly.

"In any case, Lukas should be able to give you clear images. However, before you see them, there are some important things we need to talk about." Leonie straightened her posture and forced her expression back under control.

"Alright," she said.

"First things first," Alonso said, "Pablo just told me if we die we will be brought back to Earth, uninjured." Leonie felt her heart tighten. He… he was not going to back away now… right? After such a display, such power… losing someone like him would be catastrophic. No, she could not allow that. And yet… she could not afford to lie either. She tensed as a cold sweat slid down her neck. For one of the very rare occasions in her life… she did not know what to say.

She closed her eyes, exhaled slowly and gathered herself.

"Yes," she answered.

"That is correct. As far as we know, all Gen-1 Climbers who died inside The Tower were returned to Earth unharmed, with all the Stage Progress they gained." Alonso nodded.

"Is there a way for us to go back and then return here? Or a way to send a message, communicate, or even observe what is happening on Earth right now?"

"No." Leonie shook her head.

"While it is possible for someone who died and was brought back to re-enter The Tower, it would have to be during the next Ascent… and as far as we know, the selection is completely random and unpredictable. As for interacting with or observing Earth in any way from inside… no. There's no method we're aware of. For all intents and purposes… if you go back, you may never be able to re-enter." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

Alonso rubbed his chin, glanced at Ayu, then looked back at Leonie.

"Can you tell us the situation on Earth when you left? Anything about our families, what's happening with returnees, how the world changed… anything that might matter to us?"

"That…" Leonie hesitated, jaw tightening for a moment. But she knew withholding now would help no one. In the end, she chose full transparency. She assembled everything important into a compact signal—every detail she had shared with Lukas, everything she believed Alonso and Ayu needed to know—and sent it to them both. Alonso's eyes widened slightly in surprise. Not that she had expected anything less. She waited in silence as they processed it—and then—"They cured my dad!" Ayu burst out.

The words ripped from her chest, raw and trembling. Her eyes went wide, shining with disbelief and desperate hope. Her breath caught, shoulders shaking as the meaning sank in, her heart pounding so violently Leonie could almost feel it through the air.

Alonso shifted his gaze to Ayu. For a moment, time seemed to still between them. He didn't need words. With a thought, he shared his feelings with her—the happiness, the relief, the quiet gratitude swelling inside him. Ayu responded instinctively, sending her own emotions back: joy, disbelief, longing, and beneath it all… a deep ache finally easing. He could feel it. For an instant, Ayu really wanted to go back. To run home. To see her father standing once more and hug him. But then—she steadied herself.

Because they both knew what had to be done. What they had to do. And now… it was no longer a burden forced upon them. It was a choice. A choice for their loved ones. A choice for their future. A choice for themselves. They would climb. Alonso continued reading the data Leonie had sent, pausing when he reached the part mentioning his mother. She should be cured by now. Awake. No longer trapped in a coma. It hadn't yet happened at the moment Leonie left Earth, and she didn't know the details…

but after seeing the scope of Gen-Zero's organisation, their influence, their control— He exhaled softly. With his status on Earth, he was certain of it. His mother should be safe, healthy, and properly protected And with the way they managed powerful returnees, he had no doubt they possessed the means to keep Earth stable and prevent any dangerous outbursts from those who came back… at least for now. That was good. As for himself… if he returned to Earth at this moment, he would be almost worshipped. A symbol.

A legend. Some sort of god, or whatever people had turned him into. And that thought made something else clear. The gap between him and a normal human was now so large that ordinary interactions would be difficult, maybe even impossible. He wasn't just different anymore—he was something else. So even though he wanted to see his mother, to see Ayu's father, to see Jack again, Arjun again, and some of his other friends… even though part of him ached for it… He understood the truth.

He no longer had a place among 'normal' humans. His place was now— Here. He looked at Ayu. And she nodded, as if she had reached the same conclusion. The Tower—with all its danger, all its cruelty, all its mystery—had become their world. The place they belonged to. He let out a small chuckle at the absurdity of it all. So long trying to find a way out, to return home… Only for the moment they finally found it… to choose to stay.

"Thank you for sharing the information, Leonie," he said.

"I'd like to pass this on to the others as well." Leonie nodded quickly.

"Of course. And… if I may ask, I know four of you, with Chiara Lin included, but who are the other two?"

"Imani and Wang." A small flicker crossed her eyes. Clearly, she knew the names.

"Alright then," Alonso continued.

"That's all I needed for now. Lukas can share the visuals. When you analyse them, you'll notice a new… concept, or rather a new kind of force present in the fight. We can go over it later, and it would be good to share it with those you trust — the people who'll matter in what's coming." He stepped forward and extended his hand, offering a faint, steady smile.

"For now… welcome to the team."

Leonie felt her heart skip a beat. The intention was unmistakable. He was going to stay. She smiled, relieved, a weight she hadn't admitted to carrying finally easing off her shoulders. Good. This was good. Better than she had even hoped. But a new type of force…? She filed it away, curiosity sparking hard. The visuals would tell her more. But first— She reached out and clasped his hand, posture straight and self-assured, eyes bright.

"A pleasure to be fighting at your side, Alonso," she said, smiling wide. Lukas clapped enthusiastically from behind.

"Well, we should do a welcoming party at this point," he laughed.

"Invite everyone, make it a generational meeting. Bring-your-own-plate type. Thoughts?" Leonie shot him a look and grinned. That was her brother, through and through.

"Sounds good." Alonso returned the nod… but as he looked at her, his posture shifted just slightly. No change in expression. No words spoken. No one else would have noticed. Then a private signal cut cleanly into her mind." About that…

"he said," There is someone in your group… we have issues with." Leonie's muscles tensed before she even processed it. A coldness slid down her spine, and her gaze sharpened instantly. Issues? Her mind ran through possibilities in an instant — old grudges from Earth, conflicts from early Tower days — until the answer clicked with a sickening certainty. Ian. Of course. A faint chill spread across her chest. Through the private link, she asked." This issue… can it be resolved?" His reply came without hesitation." No.

It cannot. He is someone I will not work with, and someone I want gone. Here… and on Earth as well. And he is not the only one. There are a few outside I want dealt with." For a moment Leonie simply stood there, pulse tightening, her expression schooled to neutrality while the others continued chatting obliviously in the background. Inside, however, her thoughts sharpened into a blade. She understood the meaning behind those words perfectly.

This wasn't petty dislike. This wasn't some rivalry or ego clash. This was the kind of hatred that came from true, unresolvable harm. Her jaw tightened by the smallest fraction, a change so subtle only Lukas would ever notice. A brief silence followed as possibilities flickered through her mind. When she replied, her tone carried the cool, controlled precision of the commander she was, cold and analytical." Understood. Give me the names and leave it to me."