The same handle tied to the official clear records. The same handle that had been uploading floor summaries and boss analysis under locked posts, accessible only to certain admin levels and verified friends.
I handed him the phone.
"Check the post history," I said quietly.
Noel squinted, the grin on his face fading slightly as he scrolled. His eyes darted over familiar video thumbnails, timestamps, and insider-only boss breakdowns that had gone viral in the community.
His hands tightened slightly.
"Nile…"
I slowly raised my right hand and pulled open my system interface—directly in front of him.
With a faint shimmer, the translucent blue Status Window appeared, casting soft light across the table.
Noel's eyes widened, and he leaned forward sharply.
—
[ Name: Nile Santos ]
[ Race: Human ]
[ Astral Patron: Caelum Nihil, the Unseen Sovereign ]
[ Title: The Blank Vassal (Exclusive Title) Pioneer of the Depths, Breaker of Balance ]
[ Clear Progress: 5th floor of the labyrinth ]
[ Credits: 15,000 ]
[ Achievements ]
First to Clear the 1st - 5th Floor of the Labyrinth.
[ Exclusive Skills ]
Blank Protocol
[ Ultimate Skill ]
Astral Overdrive
[ Stats ]
Strength: 41 / Penetration: 38
Durability: 33 / Intelligence: 32
Vitality: 35 / Mana: 35
Regeneration: 43 / Resistance: 45
—
Noel's mouth worked soundlessly as he stared, his fingers hovering in the air as if trying to swipe through the interface.
"I didn't… you… you were…"
I gave a small, tired smile. "Yeah."
Noel leaned back hard in his chair, running both hands through his hair. "Holy shit, Nile! Are you serious?! I've been freaking watching your runs like some fanboy, and the whole time—!"
I reached out, setting a hand on his shoulder.
"Listen," I said quietly, "I didn't tell you to impress you, Noel. I told you because things are about to get worse. What's coming next… I'm going to need you with me. And not just as a friend. As someone I can count on when it all hits the edge."
Noel stared at me, chest heaving slightly, lightning flickering faintly along his arms in his agitation.
For a moment, I thought he might push back, or explode with more questions.
But then—he let out a shaky laugh, shaking his head.
"Damn it, Nile…" he muttered. "You always did play way ahead of the curve, huh?"
I smirked faintly. "You ready to catch up?"
Noel grinned, that wild spark flashing back into his eyes.
"Hell yeah. What's the plan?"
I leaned back slightly, fingers lacing together on the table.
"Noel," I said, voice low, "on the Tenth Floor… everything changes."
His grin faltered just a bit. "What do you mean?"
I took a breath, steadying myself.
"There's a boss waiting there," I explained. "It's not like the others. It's not something I—or anyone—can solo. Not even with my build, not even with everything I've unlocked. You need at least three people to take it down. Not because of raw power, but because of the mechanics. The moment you enter the fight, the system splits the arena into three layers, three mirrored phases, and each one has to be cleared at the same time or the boss resets and powers up."
Noel's eyes sharpened, the flicker of lightning along his arm humming slightly louder.
"I've seen the records, Noel," I murmured. "I know what's coming. And you, with Gethos as your Patron… you're one of the few who can actually handle the damage output needed in your phase."
He blinked, surprised. "Wait… me? My lightning build?"
I gave a slow nod, something flickering in the back of my mind.
'Before I regressed… I thought quietly. Noel didn't have Gethos. He was with a different Patron, one way weaker. That's why I never even considered pulling him into the Tenth Floor run last time.'
'But here, now, in this version of the world, he was already synced with one of the strongest Thunder Patrons.'
This timeline had already started changing.
I gave a small smirk, my eyes glinting just a bit.
"This time," I murmured, "we ride into it together."
Noel exhaled sharply, shaking his head with a grin. "Man, Nile, you're crazy. But… damn, alright. If you're saying you need me, then yeah—I'm in."
He grinned wider, punching his fist into his palm with a faint crackle of thunder. "Let's beat the crap out of that Tenth Floor boss."
Noel's grin faltered slightly.
"…Wait," he said, narrowing his eyes. "Hold up, Nile."
I watched him carefully as he leaned forward, elbows on the table, lightning crackling faintly along his fingertips.
"How the hell do you know what's on the Tenth Floor?" he asked slowly. "Nobody's even reached it yet. We are currently at 6th floor, thanks to you. The entrance to the Tenth isn't even open."
I stayed quiet, the faint clatter of plates and the buzz of plaza chatter filling the space between us.
Noel's eyes sharpened, his grin fading into a tense, curious edge.
"Nile," he murmured, "what aren't you telling me?"
I exhaled slowly, tapping my fingers once on the table before resting my palms flat.
"…You're right," I said softly. "Technically, no one's reached it yet. But I know what's coming, Noel. I know what's waiting beyond that gate, because—"
I hesitated, the words heavy on my tongue.
"Because I've already been there."
Noel blinked, his mouth parting slightly in confusion. "What?"
I met his gaze directly, my voice calm and quiet.
"I've already seen the fight. I know how it goes. I know the mechanics, the phases, the death loops." I leaned forward slightly. "Because I lived through it once before."
Noel's brow furrowed, his hands tightening on the table. "Nile, that… that doesn't make sense."
I gave a faint, almost tired smile.
"I know," I murmured. "But the truth is… before now, before this version of everything you see—I failed. We all failed. And then… I was sent back. Back to before the Crimson Rift, before the Labyrinth fully awakened, before the world went completely off the rails."
Noel sat frozen for a moment, his lightning fading into stillness.
I let the silence hang between us before adding quietly, "That's why I know we can't leave the Tenth Floor boss alone. That's why I know you have a part to play."
Noel let out a shaky breath, raking a hand through his hair.