Ryan had been so focused on showing off that he didn’t keep track of the Demon King after he had thrown him into the distance. It was almost too late when he saw Arctus blurring towards the group of adventurers. The greatsword rose and Ryan switched from glee to fury in an instant.

  “THEY’RE MINE!”

  The aura that had replenished and been wrapped into a blade–launched.

  [Aura Slash]

  An enormous wave of red slammed into the Demon King’s greatsword. It shattered all the extra blood absorption and wrenched it from gauntleted hands, sending it flying into the distance. Arctus looked at his broken wrists.

  Then both Arctus and Mahjit turned to him, in all his righteous fury.

  Fighting Fancy were already running for hills while Mahjit didn’t bother. The [Mage] understood that there wasn’t really a point in fleeing. The Demon King nodded at Ryan.

  “Ah, it was not an empty boast after all.”

  –

  They sat in a cleared patch amongst the corpses. Ryan, Valee, Zedart, Mahjit… and the Demon King. Arctus had zero desire to continue the ‘farce,’ as he put it and Ryan stopped having fun when the demon nearly killed the adventurers he liked.

  Ryan chuckled. “Damned adventurers, am I right? Ruining things for everyone.”

  Mahjit raised his eyebrow at him, then looked around as if he was trying to figure out if he had lost his mind.

  Valee laughed. “This is the real Artigan. He’s not actually a psychopath hellbent going on the route to slaughter. Though he definitely is crazy.”

  The [Mage] seemed to have a hard time trying to process what she’d said.

  “Were you not all trying to kill each other?”

  Ryan waved him off, the movement made Mahjit flinch. “Nah, that was just a disagreement. These two idiots wanted me to join their team and I was proving a point.”

  That explanation did nothing to clarify anything to the [Mage].

  Ryan scratched his head. “Agh! How do I explain? Honestly there’s a lot you don’t know, Mahjit. We’ll tell you afterwards. But first I think we should let the Demon King tell his story before he has an aneurysm.”

  The Demon King Arctus sat there with his hands mangled, just staring intently at Ryan for the entire time. It was a little too intense for his comfort.

  Arctus sighed. “You already know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, adventurers aren’t very good at keeping secrets and there have been other standouts you went after. We all know what you want.”

  Arctus shook his head. “Such an earth-shattering secret and all of you know?”

  Ryan tried to be nice. The demon king had a lot on his plate and it was only fair he got to vent. “If you want to talk about it you can. You always tell it a little differently and first hand accounts are different from the real thing.”

  The Demon King’s shoulders sagged slightly, he stopped staring at Ryan and went to staring at the dirt in the middle instead. To hear that his message had already been sent was undoubtedly disheartening. The lengths he must have taken to force this encounter was definitely soul crushing for a proud king.

  But as always, Demon King Arctus spoke, for he had to make sure his tale got out there.

  “When the great civilization descended on our warring nations, it promised us restoration. It promised us everything for a period of service, for an experiment. We were so broken at the time that we agreed on the deal. For our conflict to be the proving grounds for future generations to participate in. I hoped they would learn from our folly and we could learn from them in return.”

  The Demon King was pained, remembering the memory of the deal that happened oh so long ago.

  “It was the greatest mistake I have ever made. I remember things from time to time, from other Trials. Sometimes memories are shared while others resurface… I agreed so I could learn to be a wiser ruler, to be a better guide for the future Trialists. But it was not supposed to be forever… These memories… just how long have I–we been here?”

  The Demon Kings were like the Skeleton Lords and the Dragon. They had some memories and reviews of each Trial. The royals seemed to remember more than the Lords and the dragons remembered more. Though none of them knew the exact number, they all believed it to be in the twenties maybe fifties for the dragons.

  None of them thought that the Trial System was an impossible task either.

  Arctus turned to Ryan for an answer. This was an answer the Demon King might never have received… until now.

  “Hundreds, likely reaching a thousand.”

  Everyone other than Valee turned to him in shock. Demon King Arctus’ shoulders rose, along with his fury.

  “IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE TEN. TEN GREAT EXPERIMENTS. THAT WAS WHAT WAS PROMISED TO US. HUNDREDS?! HOW. WHY?!”

  “I think whatever great civilization that created the Trial System is dead, or missing.”

  Everyone turned to stare at him.

  “The Manager told me that its creators have been unreachable for eons now. I didn’t really think much about it because of everything else I was going through but it fits.”

  The Demon King seemed to be in denial.

  “That is impossible. You do not understand the scope of these civilizations. This one was supposed to be one of the greatest civilizations in existence, spanning countless worlds, each of which would make my kingdom, all the kingdoms of my world look like ants in comparison. Such a civilization would have no need to lie or trick us like this.”

  Ryan thought of the veil of the Trial System. . The Demon King had a point.

  “Well then, something’s happened and they’ve lost control of the Trial System. That’s my best guess. Maybe it all ends when someone completes it but until that happens we have no idea how it’s supposed to go.”

  Mahjit finally seemed to gain his wits to ask a question. The supposed [Savant Mage] was far meeker than Ryan had expected.

  “What do you mean it all ends when someone completes the Trial System?”

  “Ah right, neither you nor Zedart know. The Trial System hasn’t been completed in hundreds of iterations. No world has completed it and it doesn’t look like Earth is likely to complete it either. Makes more sense the more I think about it. A great civilization makes a project, loses control and it continues to infinity.”

  Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  “What?”

  And so Ryan once again went on to explain what the Witch Tyrant had told him, about how when the Trial System disappears they will have to face a siege against the multiverse and somehow survive. Zedart took it in stride, like he’d expected something like it and all he needed to do was swing his sword and everything would be alright.

  Ryan remembered the words and resolve Zedart had in the Sector One. He knew something was coming, just not what it was.

  The slightly smarter [Mage]’s blood drained out of his face. The Demon King just sat there, despondent and hopeless.

  “It’s all dragonshit.”

  All of them turned to him.

  “I think I was fed a bunch of pretty dragonshit by the Witch Tyrant and really didn’t question her words. She did a whole lightshow and everything, made it very realistic and pretty.”

  Valee seemed confused, and a little hopeful.

  “You’re saying it’s not going to happen?”

  “I’m saying I don’t think the Tyrants are that worried about the apocalypse or the multiversal siege. Either they’ve prepared The Realm enough or have other countermeasures in place. Maybe they’ve negotiated with other civilizations already.”

  Words and hints. The Witch Tyrant had said she’d verified the information with an outside source. Gamielle had said to give Larix fifty years and he could uphold the Obsidian Sect alone. She wouldn’t have believed that if the Witch Tyrant’s lightshow of the future had been true. But most importantly?

  “The Witch Tyrant had a daughter.”

  All three adventurers looked to him. Even Zedart didn’t know Gamielle was her daughter.

  “That’s my biggest proof that they hadn’t been worried. The Witch Tyrant, who had gone through a great war and was considered a passionate but logical person, decided that it would be fine to have a child.”

  Mahjit pointed out the obvious problem with his wording.

  “Sorry, had a daughter?”

  “She’s dead now. It’s why everything was going to shit. The dragonslayers attacking her, me being forced to duel Zedart to the death.”

  Mahjit frowned, “The attacks on all The Realm’s communication systems?”

  Ryan scratched his neck. “Sure. Technically that’s her fault.”

  The [Mage]’s curiosity was overwhelming. “But why? How? This is–”

  “That took a little bit to figure out too. Do you remember the promise that’s given to everyone when they become a Trialist?”

  Mahjit was desperate for something, anything that wasn’t a desperate thread of too much information. He grabbed onto something that everyone knew.

  “Of course, unmatched power, unending wealth and eternal life. All can be obtained by completing the Trial System.”

  “Exactly, can be obtained by completing the Trial System. Maybe even–”

  “Bringing back someone from the dead.” Valee finished for him.

  They all turned to the soul that was continuously being recycled. The Demon King was the shining example of what the Trial System could do. Though Ryan felt like he was missing some things, he had a feeling this answer was closer than ever.

  All of it, everything. The chaos and destruction, the plotting that probably ended with so many adventurers dead, his suffering. All of it was done so the Witch Tyrant could find someone that could complete the Trial System.

  Ryan continued.

  “I didn’t understand why none of the other Tyrants stepped in when she was obviously wreaking havoc. I knew they were better than that. Now I know, they don’t want to step in because she’s doing whatever she can to revive her daughter.”

  The silence lingered for a moment.

  “The Witch Tyrant won’t stop. I was naively thinking if I could become strong quickly enough then she would let things go.” He shook his head, “She can’t let go, not with her daughter haunting her. Either the Witch Tyrant dies or she brings the world down trying to find someone that can help complete the Trial System.”

  Ten slots for the highest Trials. Seven Tyrants, Mezhar and him. One other slot left. The layers of plotting was dastardly the more he stepped back and saw it. The Witch Tyrant him to know why she was doing it. She couldn’t gain his loyalty with the way she treated him… but sympathy?

  Mahjit was in denial. They had thrown too much for even the most talented [Mage] in generations to process.

  “I’m still having a hard time believing that a team like the Tyrants can’t complete the Trial System.”

  “Hundreds of worlds, Mahjit. All with their own history and tyrants. Not a single completion. As much as we like to think our Tyrants are all that, I don’t know how outstanding they are compared to a world that constantly stayed in strife.”

  Ryan turned to the Demon King. Arctus was weary yet not hopeless, he still had a task to complete. He shook his head before the Demon King could even ask.

  “That’s the situation of our fucked up world. We have our own issues and don’t have time to make promises. I’m sorry Arctus.”

  The demon bowed his great head. Ryan knew what was coming next.

  “I do not request a promise, only that you will consider my plea. That if you reach the top, if any of you were to reach a point where you have enough power to force even the gods to bend, that you leave a consideration for this poor King and his foolish mistakes.”

  Ryan was silent for a moment, then he sighed.

  “I’m getting sick of people overestimating me, but fine. If I ever get to that point I’ll see what I can do to free you all. But–”

  There, of course, was always a catch.

  “A favor for a favor Arctus. I have one request from you in return.”

  –

  Then there were four.

  Ryan, Valee, Mahjit and Zedart. The three adventurers sat awkwardly, trying to digest the information that was thrown at them and at what he’d just asked Arctus to do. Valee seemed to do a little better with the information. Better than Mahjit at least.

  The orc girl scratched at an ear.

  “I don’t understand that part of your plan, you’re obviously trying to make us stronger, yet you don’t want to team up.”

  “Well first of all, I think I made my point clear. A team only makes sense if we’re all at a similar strength and that we can keep up with each other. As it stands, I’m too strong and will ruin the achievements for all of you.”

  Ryan turned to Zedart who finally understood his point. This was, after all, the conversation they had back in the first Sector, when they’d first met.

  “If you want to team up then you’re going to have to catch up, but I don’t see that happening anytime soon. Not with the stuff I’m planning.”

  “What are you planning?”

  Ryan stood up and stretched, he bent his back and rolled his shoulders.

  “Well, someone’s got to stop the Witch Tyrant from wreaking havoc everywhere. She’s been getting good adventurers killed in the background and nobody’s realized. Gotta stop that, as well as whatever else she’s planning.”

  “Did you let your new arm take over your brain? You think beating a group of realm threes puts you at the same level as beating thirty dragonslayers?”

  “I know more than you about how powerful she is. I know I’m completely outmatched. She’s not going to stop. I think the closer we get to the fifteenth Trial and she’s not satisfied with their strength she’s going to do something unforgivable. More than whatever she’s already done. I have a few ideas but I need to grow and learn.

  Zedart looked grave. “And you want to do this alone?”

  “If you can’t let what happened in Sector One go. Then fine, you can help me Zedart. When the time comes then I’ll call for you.” Ryan shook his head, “I’d prefer to keep you all out of it. You guys are supposed to be the backup plan.”

  They all frowned at him. Ryan spread his arms.

  “You all will be the next generation. The ones that will make sure the world doesn’t go the way it did with the Settler generation. If I fail to stop the Witch Tyrant, if all the Tyrants die in the Trials or the apocalypse really does happen, then you guys will be there. If it all turns to ash and even one of you guys are left alive then I win. The world wins.”

  Zedart, the [Swordsman] that was eternally shameful of what he’d done, Valee who despised her dragonslayer father, Mahjit who had stayed at a deadly siege until the very end, having been forcefully dragged out.

  For some reason the expectation from was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Mahjit shook his head.

  “I–I’m just a [Mage], not a [Savant], it was a lie. I–I can’t keep up with anything like this. I’m sorry.”

  Ryan laughed.

  “And I was just a Manaburger employee two months ago! Come on, your start point doesn’t matter. What matters are your choices from now on! It’s why I’m so strong. Let me explain why the Witch Tyrant created the Adventurer’s Guild in the first place.”

  And then Ryan gaslit the future generation.

  –

  Fighting Fancy fled for their lives. Good adventurers knew when to run, it was a core tenet of adventuring. The Realm could get nasty and sometimes pop up with a monster that had snuck in from a higher Sector. Learning when to run was an artform adventurers prided themselves on.

  This was definitely the time to run.

  Enzo didn’t think for a second they could have contributed to that fight.

  “You think we’re far away enough?”

  “I don’t feel any fighting, it’s hard to tell with auras damn. Whoever heard of a demonic style aura before?”

  By demonic-style aura they were talking about siphoning power from others. They knew Artigan built up momentum from being in an advantageous position but just from others being in awe? Truly demonic.

  “Damn, I really hope that we didn’t completely fuck everyone over.”

  Of course, adventurers barging in and ruining things was also part of adventuring.

  “Wait Enzo, I’m getting something from my skill. A target heading from over there towards…”

  Lars pointed it out and Enzo got his binoculars out.

  “Well I’ll be fucking damned.”

  Demon King Arctus was running at speed, away from the battlefield, clearly running away. Mangled arms, no second phase blood armor and no weapon. Enzo wondered if the others had killed Artigan and the Demon King had won. Or maybe Artigan had won and all of them fled. Either way…

  “This is an opportunity, we can steal the kill. Ruin Artigan’s achievements and maybe even save the others by ending the Trial early. Fighting Fancy?”

  “Yes captain!”

  “Let’s go!”

  Fighting Fancy. Don't know if I hate em or love em.

   is

  23 chapters ahead!