The Last Human Returns.
Chapter 6 - The First Spiral

Anytime when he has some free time, Ethan will spend his time relaxing with Erica. She liked the softness from the lap pillow Erica gave her.

Ethan's watching the newscast. The news is still busy discussing about the system, the spiral, and the Tower. However, there were also some news regarding people who had superpowers. The government has started recruiting people like that.

"Nothing has changed …."

Instead of researching on Spirals and Towers, the Government focused on strengthening their military by recruiting people with the best special abilities. Of course, by their standards.

Erica plays Ethan's hair, asking Ethan for his opinion. "Sister, from Big Brother's point of view, is the government's action right or not?"

"That's not wrong. After all, this Player is very important to defend sovereignty. Their mistake was not taking the Spiral and the Tower seriously."

The only thing Ethan loves and regrets is, the government is too ignorant of the Spiral and the Tower. They just moved when it was too late.

Knock Knocks.

Someone knocked on the door just before Erica wanted to ask any further.

"Come in."

Door opens. A girl came inside. Round eyes and long hair with bangs, and white skin almost like milk. The girl, Li Mei, went inside.

"Guild Master, Kiaa found a Spiral in the Forest about 500 meters from here."

When hearing the appearance of the spiral, not panic or fear, Ethan smiled happily. This makes Erica or Li Mei feel a bad feeling about the decision of the demon from Ethan.

The two's bad premonitions come true when they hear the crazy thing Ethan said. "Li May, tell all the members. If they don't want to die, train harder for a week. Next week, we're gonna get into the Spiral."

Erica and Li Mei turned pale. Ethan's direction is now far beyond their shadow.

"Sister, shouldn't we stay away from the Spiral? We don't know what's gonna show up there." Erica asks Ethan to rethink the plan to enter the Spiral.

Li Mei also nodded in agreement with Erica's opinion. He spoke with a serious tone. "Please think again, Guild Master. This world is no longer a game. If we die, we're really gonna die."

Ethan understands the point that both of them want to convey. Ethan certainly knows more than anyone about death. He had seen many deaths before his eyes.

"It's important for your growth. If something in the Spiral were to go out... What would you do?"

Erica and Li Mei found out they had locked lips. Ethan's point makes sense. In the current situation, bad things are more likely to happen instead of the best possible.

Mumei nodded weakly. "I see, I'll tell the other Guild members."

"Thank you." Ethan smiled at Mumei.

Li Mei who saw Ethan's smile, was startled for a moment before immediately turning her face away from the room where Ethan and Erica were relaxing and spending their couple time.

***

In the White House, the office of the United States presidency. The current President of the United States, Georges Trump, looks very agitated after reading the report on the Spiral and Tower.

"... We lost contact with the research teams from both places?" ask George Trump.

An old man with hair that started to whiten and fall out, replied. "Really, Sir. Looks like, those two places didn't allow the signal to be sent."

George Trump was very nervous to hear the report. He knocked on the table a few times with his finger. He has a bad feeling that cannot be explained.

"If they still haven't sent word, send a search team consisting of the armed Army as well as a rescue team. I have a bad feeling."

George Trump continues to hope that his never-missing bad premonition does not come true in the form of a worst-case scenario.

***

A week went by quickly. As promised, Ethan gathers all the Trouble Guild members besides Rara and Leo in front of a red Spiral that is the size of a one-story house.

However, other than Ethan, everyone had faces that looked tense and pale. This image is in stark contrast to how excited they usually are when going to go leveling in the game.

"What's wrong with your faces? I can assure you, you will not die against twenty Goblins."

Ethan was watching everyone closely. They were all really training hard and developing abnormally both in stamina and fighting skills. The thing that was lacking from them was, a real fight.

However, Ethan's words were received negatively by the other Guild members. They looked at Ethan as if staring at an evil demon.

"It's natural! People are afraid of the unknown and the dangerous."

"You, Devil, will not understand the feelings of weak humans like us!"

"Don't equate human standards with living standards named Ethan Austin."

One by one they began to utter the words that were in their hearts. Almost everything contains their complaints about the actions of Ethan who is dictatorial.

Ethan didn't take them all seriously. "Because you have the zeal to speak, I assume you are not in a bad condition. If so, let's go in."

Ethan leads everyone to enter the Spiral. Ethan still has a conscience by not letting any of them in first.

Reluctantly, the other Trouble Guild members began to enter the Spiral following Ethan.

A feeling of drifting for a moment that makes nausea felt by everyone. Then, when their feet once again treaded the ground, the scene had already changed completely. No more trees and shrubs. The place they were standing right now was, a dark hallway with lighting relying on the faint light from the moss attached to the wall.

"Law. This place smells so bad!" Nina covered her nose as a foul smell pierced her nose.

Not only Nina, everyone covered their noses due to the pungent stench.

Li Mei looked unhappy. "This place is so bad for my nose and brain."

Ethan also seems distracted. However, not because of the smell, but rather he was troubled by the place they were sent within their first Spiral.

"If so, get this over with quickly. You guys don't want to take too long, do you?"

Everyone stared towards Li Mei, the Assassin in the party.

Li Mei who got the gazes of all the members, looked pouted. "This is why I hate this role."

While complaining, Li Mei started walking forward. He then ran and disappeared in the darkness.

"Let's move too." Jun who acted as a sub-leader, led everyone to move forward.

Ethan, who is not going to fight, walks in the back. He also uses the System record feature.

"Train them while making money. It's perfect."

Ethan praises himself as a genius when he can get past two home with one paddle.