A Hundred Times: Ascending With The Strongest System
Chapter 86 - 85: To Leave a Legacy

Chapter 86: Chapter 85: To Leave a Legacy

The pulsing of the portal loomed heavily over Zoey, the cold Mana blowing on her face and sending a fresh, but sombre breeze through her.

Celina, David, Lana, and everyone else stood behind her, looking at her as she was about to leave with a sense of loss befalling them all. Celina however, was impacted the most by this, as she felt her heart ache at the sight of her mentor and friend about to leave, realizing that she probably wouldn’t see her again.

Zoey exhaled slowly, reflecting on her journey in the second trial with a bitter smile. She had never thought that she’d actually be one to lead others, protect others, and even provide for others. Her role as a mentor has been both fun and rewarding, something she knew that she would treasure.

The Hunters still referred to her as Miss, or Boss, which she found extremely endearing. Her journey in this world wasn’t an easy one, especially at the end of the Trial, the enemies had pushed her to her limits.

’I need to leave them with a few words before I go, leaving without saying anything would end up being bad.’ Zoey thought, turning around to face the Hunters.

David stood behind Celina and Lana, his fatherly frame towering over them both. She remembered how she had first met him by saving him from the zombies, a choice she struggled to make as she didn’t want to help anyone at the time, but felt like she had to in that moment, as the people residing in this world aren’t her own, so they don’t deserve her wrath.

She recalled all the scolding she had received from David after informing him of his daughters important role as Hunters, he was extremely against the idea, as imagining his daughters fighting against beasts would only drive him insane with worry.

But after some convincing, she managed to get his permission to train his daughters, especially Celina.

"Before I leave, I have something I want to say to all of you." Zoey started, looking at the crowd with a serious expression. The Hunters seemed tense, anxiously waiting for what she was going to say.

"After I enter this portal, I’ll be gone from this world and going back to my own. I won’t have a way to return here after I do so, I’ll be gone forever." Zoey stopped for a moment, observing their faces as she let them take in her words.

Her words hit them harder than any weapon, as after their time spent together in the Apocalypse, and after awakening, everyone started to grow attached to Zoey. Unlike Marlius, Zoey was kind and provided for everyone.

Sure, she was strict at times, and didn’t tolerate messy work, but it was all to benefit them, to toughen them up for when she won’t be here.

A small smile appeared on Zoey’s face, "But even if I’m gone from this world, it doesn’t mean that I’ll forget any of you. I understand that becoming your leader wasn’t done by the any ethical and morally acceptable means, but I had no choice to do so.

Even though the apocalypse has been tough and draining on me and everyone else here, I am truly happy to have played such an important role in the destiny of this world."

Zoey’s words inginited a deep sting in the hearts of many, as some started to feel extremely sad about her impending departure, a few of them even on the brink of tears.

"Hunters," She said once more, straightening her back and putting on a serious and dominant expression, her arms behind her as she took the stance of a military commander, her tone becoming cold and deadly.

"I trust that I’ll be leaving the world in good hands?" She asked, raising an eyebrow, but her expression remained the same, cold and terrifying.

"YES MISS!!!" The Hunters responded, saluting her as they straightened themselves their voices cracked and a few sniffs breaking out here and then.

Zoey smiled, nodding approvingly at the Hunters. Just then however, she caught Celina looking at her with tears in her eyes, her fists were clenched and she was visibly trembling, causing Zoey to look at her with a confused look.

’Is she okay?’ Zoey asked herself, but before she could react, Celina ran towards her and hugged her tightly, causing her eyed to widen in shock.

"Miss Zoey...please...don’t go..." Celina sobbed in her arms, trembling as tears streamed down her face. Celina couldn’t stop herself from crying, as she could only see her mother in Zoey, and she didn’t want to lose her mother again....not for a second time.

"Celina," Zoey said, comforting her as she hugged her gently, brushing her long golden hair with her hands. Zoey pushed her away slightly, just enough to take a proper look at her face. She saw this side of her in the dungeon raid once, and it surprised her greately.

She knew that Celina wouldn’t just cry like that randomly, there has to have been something that had happened to her, but Zoey didn’t want to be rude to ask, especially when she is crying now.

"I’m going to have to go, I’m sorry but I can’t stay here any longer than I already have." Zoey grabbed her hands in her own, "I know you’ll probably miss me when I’m gone, and trust me, I’ll miss you too, I had never met someone as brave and strong as you before. You’re strong, Celina."

Celina sniffed, tears still streaming down her face as she took in Zoey’s words. Even after all Zoey had said, she still struggled keeping herself together.

"I need you to be strong for me, alright? I’m putting you in charge now, and I need you to protect and look after everyone for me, okay?" Zoey asked, her tone dropping to a much more gentler one. She cupped Celina’s cheeks and wiped the tears away with her thumbs, it was almost heart breaking seeing her like this.

Celina, feeling a bit better, nodded. She sniffed, wiping her tears with her sleeve as she couldn’t afford to cry any longer. She was strong now, she was the strongest here without Zoey, and she would need to adopt the role of a leader long enough for the world to protect everyone and see the world recover from this catastrophe.

"I will..sniff....I’ll stay strong, for you." Celina said.

Zoey smiled, letting out a sigh of relief, her shoulders slumping as she felt a huge weight lift off them. She pulled Celina into one last hug, a warm, comforting embrace.

’Poor girl, I really that she gets better soon and recover from whatever she’s going through.’ Zoey thought, and after a few seconds, she broke the hug and stood up from the ground.

Celina walked back to the others, where her father and sister also embraced her, comforting her as they were incredibly worried about seeing her cry out of nowhere like that.

"I’ll be taking my leave now, farewell." Zoey said, turning around as she faced the portal once more.

With a deep breath and determination, she stepped through the portal, leaving behind the Apocalyptic world. Memories flashed before her eyes rapidly as her vision faded to black, her consciousness fading into nothingness.

"Goodbye...Miss Zoey.."

....

"GASP!!" Zoey gasped awake, awakening from her sleep as she caught her breath, her heart racing as she tried took a few minutes to stabilize herself.

"I’m back..." Zoey’s eyes widened, quickly snapping onto her phone with insane speeds as she grabbed it, her movements as fast as lightning.

"How long have I been gone for!?" Zoey muttered to herself, worried as she knew that she was almost inside of the Apocalypse for a week. Just as she opened her phone, a great sense of shock and confusion hit her at the same time.

The time....only passed by one day in this world.

"Huh? I’m confused..." Zoey whispered to herself, her eyes squinting. It was still early morning, and the date and time on her phone confirmed it. But it just didn’t feel right, she was inside the Apocalypse for so long, and now suddenly, not even a single day has passed, only a few hours did, leading to her waking up.

Zoey sighed, putting her phone back onto her desk. She knew there was no point in contemplating too much on the mystery, the Tower Of Hera was something that she didn’t have knowledge of, so thinking about it too much was just going to give her a headache.

"Oh! My Status Window." She said, quickly bringing up her status window as she looked at her stats one more time for a moment.

[Name: Zoey Monroe]

[Level: 3]

[Stats]

[Health: 100/100%]

[Mana: 100/100%]

[Stamina: 100/100%]

[Strength: 151] [Vitality: 155]

[Intelligence: 155] [Defense: 152]

[Talent(s): A Hundredfold Ascension(-), Heightened Senses (A+)]

[Skills: (E)Fireball Lv100, (C+)Earth Skin(Passive) Lv100, (C)Hardened Will Lv100, (C+)Concentration Breathing Lv100, (C+)Armour Weathering Lv100, (C+)Grace Of The Wind Lv100, (C)Hindering Earth(Passive) Lv100, (C+)Meteor Smash Lv100, (B)Runes Of Power Lv100, (B) Equivalent Exchange Lv100, (C+) Virulent Poison Resistance Lv100, (B)Virulent Poison Injection Lv100, (B) Extreme Perseverance Lv100, (B+) Leader’s Voice Lv100]

[Stat Points: None]

[Inventory]

[Exp: 6,005/100,000%]

She glanced at her Exp bar, her eyes shining with an extremely dangerous light.

"Let’s level up again, shall we?" She grinned, opening up her [Inventory].