"What about the traitor?" Nyle asked back.

Aster gritted his teeth even harder. "Didn't you, Cecil, and Boar go on an exploration together?"

"We did," Nyle asked back with a heavier tone. "Why?"

"Boar is dead," Aster replied.

"Aster, I assure you, if this is a joke, you better say it right now." Nyle's eyes appeared dangerous.

"It's not a joke." Aster narrowed his eyes. "Which is why I am asking you, what were you doing together with Cecil and him, and why is he dead?"

"I don't know." Nyle didn't expect Aster to be so daring. 'Isn't he way too weak to confront me? Why does he sound as if he is my equal?'

Currently, together with all physical enhancements and magic, Aster was able to hold his own against Nyle. At the very least, he wouldn't die so easily.

"You don't know what you were doing with Cecil and Boar?" Aster gritted his teeth. Nyle's replies appeared more and more ridiculous in his eyes.

"We went together to check the boss room. After that, the three of us decided to have a preliminary exploration of the three paths that are there."

"Boar went down the hole, Cecil took the left tunnel, and I took the right tunnel." Nyle decided to answer Aster. He didn't wish for a confrontation, especially after the exit had been found,

"So you went outside?" Aster asked Nyle.

"Yes," Nyle replied.

"Alright." Aster crossed his hands. "Go on, tell the whole story. I am listening."

He activated Enhancement just to be safe.

Although Aster was injured, he believed that he could hold out until Ash came. And with Ash and Gold Pile, Nyle was as good as dead.

'All of that under the assumption that he's the traitor, but I gotta be safe.' Aster thought.

"Well, I went out, explored a little, met survivors from other temples, and decided to go back and try helping survivors."

"But then, I saw Ash trashing an outsider and making him spill some valuable info. Everyone learned that we had found an exit. After going to my room for a bit to pack some things, I saw you." Nyle explained what happened.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"And you didn't see Boar's corpse on the way? What about Cecil? Where is she?" Aster asked. Suddenly, he felt alarmed inwardly. 'Actually, why did I never think of Cecil as the traitor?'

"I don't know." Nyle shook his head.

At that point in time, Aster had already cycled his mana many times.

Each time, he was slightly stronger.

Usually, wanna-be mages would need months of effort for what Aster could achieve in a single day.

His foundation of twenty meridians was showing its worth.

And because of that, Aster had noticed a slight change in Nyle's mana.

Nyle was stronger.

Much stronger than he was supposed to be.

It was hard to judge earlier, but now that Aster had better control of mana, he noticed it.

"Nyle, what is your Providence?" Aster asked Nyle while sighing.

"I told you. I can get stronger, but I have no control over it." Nyle shook his head.

"If you want me to trust you, you'll have to answer me with exact details." Aster really felt like sighing again. He had doubts about Nyle, but now wasn't the time to think about it all.

Because although he doubted Nyle because of the circumstances, one fact remained.

Nyle was the strongest, and he didn't need to do things this way.

On the other hand, Cecil and Ash would benefit quite well from Aster and Nyle fighting.

But it all didn't matter anymore.

They had found the exit.

All was well.

Aster really didn't even care anymore about who was the traitor.

He just wanted to have peace of mind about Nyle's sudden strengthening.

"My Providence is quite simple. It's-" Nyle was cut off.

"Oy, Aster, give me Gold Pile." Ash approached them, requesting Gold Pile.

Aster narrowed his eyes. "If you do it more than four times, I'll make sure you regret it."

Aster also didn't trust Ash.

Not because he was stupid but because the temple amplified negative thoughts. Even the most random theories that usually wouldn't make sense were things Aster wished to consider.

And because of that, he didn't wish to allow Ash to flip the coin more than four times.

Because with five flips, Aster estimated that Ash would be strong enough to deal with both Nyle and him together. Or, at the very least, it would make Ash extremely hard to deal with.

"Got it." Ash grinned, unbothered.

After Aster threw Ash the coin, Ash started flipping it.

"Can I continue?" Nyle twitched his eyebrows.

"No." Ash chuckled.

After four throws, his grin widened. After throwing the coin back at Aster, he turned towards Nyle. "You can continue now."

"Did you do something?" Nyle narrowed his eyes.

"Do I look like I did?" Ash laughed.

Nyle only shook his head, deciding not to bother with the mad Ash. 'At times, he really acts like a lunatic.'

"So, what's your Providence?" Ash's grin looked ominous in Aster's eyes.

"Anyway, my Providence is really simple," Nyle repeated. "It's: 'The more you sacrifice, the stronger you become.'"

Suddenly, Nyle widened his eyes. "Did I just say it?"

"You did," Ash said. "I wished for you to speak your next thoughts. And lucky me, it's exactly what we asked for."

"Ash, are you declaring war on me?" Nyle suddenly narrowed his eyes. And as he did, Aster could feel his heart beating faster. He felt scared as if a person with a natural advantage over him was threatening him.

Currently, Aster was injured, but his injury also healed quite fast.

The knife that went through his chest was small, and it didn't really get any important parts. Along with his miraculous healing, Aster was able to fight, although he was weaker than usual.

At that moment, a person appeared from the corridor.

"Asher, Aster, Nyle is the traitor!" Cecil limped towards them, her eyes full of hatred. With gritted teeth, she ordered.

"Get him!"