《Game Reincarnation: Building An Empire From Scratch》 Shot to death Inside a hemispherical building, a man in his late 20''s could be seen typing on a floating keypad, his eyes focused on the hologram floating before him. "What in the void? Devil''s Playground will have a moratorium placed on it?" He shouted with disbelief, drawing the eyes of his coworkers. "Why are you shouting, Kiaus? That announcement was made yesterday." A younger person asked, amused at his reaction. "Anyways, our shifts are about to end. Let''s go to the nearby hedobar. The company is going to be closed for a few days," the youngster added, his face hiding a slight rue. The two colleagues went out, quickporting to the enterprise''s exit. Both of them worked as graphic designers for the Goman Games World Limited, the creator of Devil''s Playground, one of the most popular games in the 22nd century. The pair left the buliding''s vicinity. The streets were replete with various establishments, all using different techniques to get traction. A particularily bold advertisement caught their eyes. It showcased a group of elgant ladies dressed in flamboyant and daring attires. "They need to tone these ads down, kids walk through here." The younger of them said as they walked past the building. "No they don''t, Reuman. This is a protected adult''s zone¡ª , " suddenly a bead of sweat ran down his forehead as the sight in front settled in. A masked man with an eccentric handgun had his hands pressed on the activation button, the gun aimed straight at his head. He crouched as fast as he could. For a moment he thought he had saved himself but a sudden sharp pain in his head proved him wrong. Gasps and shouts sounded as the passersby exclaimed in horror. Alarms began to blare out and Defbots started to rise out of the ground near the streetlights. One of them maneuvered at lightning pace as three cubes shout of its hands trapping the shooter. Kaius was sprawled on the ground, copious amounts of blood oozing out from his wound. The experience was excruciating to the point where he felt death would be better. His coworker was trying to talk to him as he waited for the emergency health units to arrive. Kaius'' eyes began to lose life as they closed more and more, the distant noises and shouts fading out. Pure darkness subsumed his vision as his consciousness ceased. ????? After what seemed like an eternity, his consciousness accumulated again. His eyes parted open tardily. His gaze shifted through the surroundings. He was in a intricately decorated medievel room, a huge chandelier with bluish light on it hanged directly above his head. "Is this heaven? It feels vintage." He muttered and soon realised his voice felt odd, more weaker and effeminate. "Wake up, your highness." A voice sweet as honey permeated his ear from outside the room. He slowly pulled himself up. "Highness? I must have done some great deeds to have become a royal in the afterlife. I knew it." The man smiled to himself shamelessly. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. His monologue was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. An adolescent girl with luscious brown hair entered the room. "Your highness, the royal court is about to begin in some time. Your father, his majesty has summoned you to be present there." She said in a respectful tone, her eyes hiding worry for him. "Certainly. Before that, could you bring me an atlas of the region?" "As you wish, your highness." The girl replied, baffled by his politeness. She soon left the room. "This is not heaven, I have been reincarnated." Kaius said to himself as he assesed his body. He got down the bed and went near a small mirror. It reflected an androgynous youngster with long dark hair and red eyes. His skin was unblemished and seemed to glow in the sunlight falling in through the window. "Sheesh! I look like those synthetic models." Kaius uttered as he could not help but admire himself. Quite a narcissist, he was. As someone who had declared his life to be the most boring on planet earth and mars, for that matter, the excitement of his reincarnation overcomed the dissapintment of death. He was finally out of that shithole and a new adventorous life as a prince awaited him. "Here is the atlas you asked for, your highness." The maid entered the room and handed him the atlas. Their hands brushed past each other which flushed the face of the maid. She had been working as his maid for years and had thus gotten very attached to him. She didn''t dare to act on her feelings however. Kaius noticed the redness of her face. "I am too charming, aren''t I?" He thought shamelessly as he told her to vacate the room. She did exactly that. The now lone reincarnater opened the book reading through its pages one after another. And what he see made him pinch himself. "Aerthys kingdom? Isn''t that a kingdom in Devil''s Playground?" This connection astonished him. "No wonder the style felt familiar!," he added, connecting the dots. This revelation was not a pleasant one. Devil''s Playground was famous for its notorious difficulty, some called it "a sadist''s haven". As a graphic designer who had assisted in its making, he could not agree more. A sudden thought struck him. The maid had said he had to arrive for the court in a while and while his attire was nothing to scoff at, he should probably donn something more formal. ????? The grand palace''s hall was adorned with iluminating crystals shimmering in soft blue light. The entire place seemed ornate, and the nobles present there¡ª even more so. Kaius walked through the room drawing the attention of the seated individuals. There appeared to be a strange apprehension in their gaze and some, he noticed, staring at him in hostility. This confused him. "As far as I remember, no major political intrigue was brewing in Aerthys. At least it didn''t involve the current me." His thoughts were broken by a high pitched voice that called out to him. "Prince Arin, you are quite late." He looked towards the source, it was a boy slightly older than him. He said it with a seemingly affectionate voice but his expressions showed something else. "It takes time to dress appropriately, royal brother." He replied staring mockingly at his attire. This was actually one of the characters he had seen being designed, the crown prince of Aerthys. "Let''s see if you are able to keep that hubris after the court ends." The crown prince sneered in a low voice. Before kaius could say anything, the announcement of the king and queen''s arrival was made. All the people stood up in unison, lowering their heads slightly. The royal couple entered, accompanied by various advisors and figures of authority. The nobles present inside all bowed their heads, their voices syncing perfectly as they cited "Your Majesties and their advisors, your union blesses us all. We stand in your service." Their heads remained lowered till the figures took their respective seats. Thereafter the stentorian voice of the king reverberated through the hall,"Let the affairs of the realm be heard. Court is in session." A burly man stood up from his seat, his tall frame radiating authority. "Your majesty, as the realm is aware, the luminous sage Nicolas, from the holy church, has arrived in our kingdom and a discovery forced him to appear in this court today. The rest, he will announce to the court himself." The voice of the man was ferocious despite his humble tone. A elderly figure entered the courtroom. He was wearing a white robe and his hands held onto a violet gem. The shrill voice of the sage echoed in the court. "O righteous king Raphael, this lowly messenger of the almighty lord is here on this fateful day to relay a most pertinent intell. The gem in my hand is the prized possession of the lord''s servant, the nexus of augury," as this was heard, visible tension could be noticed on the people''s face. The nexus of augury was a gem infamous for its divinations which were most certainly destructive. The sage held up the gem chanting a cadence in an arcane tongue. The gem started to shimmer in iridescent incandescence. It showed an astral projection, a syzygy. "These are the prime star''s positions during the birth of prince Arin, it forms the figurine of a taurus, an ominous omen seen once in a century. However heartbreaking this maybe but this follower of god has to tell you the impliactions. A person born in this star projection is fated to be the harbinger of doom wherever he might tred." The announcement was a shocker, for some at least. "Forgive this lord for doubting the church''s prognosis but is this information really accurate?" The king questioned with an unreadable expression as if this promulgation that could destroy his child''s future barely mattered to him. "I understand your worries for your child but for the protection of the people it is imperative that you abandon familial affection and think with your citizen''s wellfare in mind. It is heartwrenching but the fait accompli is that your child is the portent of destruction." The sage replied in a calm voice. Meanwhile Kaius stood dumbfounded at the event that were unfolding. "This was not in the script! What''s going on?" Out of the blue, the queen adressed the sage. "O the luminous sage of the holy church, we understand. Our love for our child is boundless yet within bound. Our subjects'' fate matters to us more. With a stone heart I announce that prince Arin will be sent off to the forest of Rokaal, never to return again." Her words were like spikes of shock to the people present there. Everyone knew how dangerous the forest of Rokaal was, even some adventures feared to venture into it much less a prince with no magical or physical prowess. "Damn! This bitch is really scheming. Child? You aren''t Arin''s mother, you are instead the killer of his mother." As someone who had helped design and spent innumerable hours playing Devil''s Playground Kiaus knew how twisted this queen was. The king of Aerthys loved Arin''s mother more than anyone else and out of jelousy and thirst for power the then concubine Malisha had colluded with her brother, the very person who had brought the sage here, to defame her as a licentious cheater. This led to her being demoted after which Malisha killed her and eventually became the queen. As Kaius was cursing her entire lineage, the queen''s brother said while feigning a pained expression,"It is truly disheartening that the prince we all used to adore is a person with such destiny. I pray to the lord that our kingdom recovers from his loss." "Like sister, like brother. What do you mean loss? I am not fucking dead, arsehole!" Kaius sneered in his mind at the ludicrous situation. Suddenly his lips arched upwards as his mouth parted,"This prince apologizes for interrupting the court. I wish to say that I will uphold her majesty''s discussion but my care for our kingdom''s people is beyond just this. If I can cause such havoc to the kingdom then I am afraid my belongings and affiliated setvants are doomed to have been effected by my curse. I will bear the difficulty to evacuate them from the kingdom with me." To kaius, it was best that he go out of this kingdom anyway but doing that alone would be tremendously arduous. Once he reached the forest of Rokaal there were piles of oppurtunities and treasures waiting for him. The queen couldn''t say anything and had to agree. It was decided that 2 carriages, 5 labourers and 3 servants would leave together with the king. ????? In the meanders of a bucolic terrain, 2 carriages traversed throught the curves. The faint humm of the zephyrs combined with his steady breaths. The scent of the mystical grass outside adding a touch of freshness to the air. Prince Arin or Kaius looked out of them admiring the view outside, some of it was his own creation after all, the landscapes of the game most beloved by the 22nd century folk. "Tomorrow starts the oddysey of prince Arin unto the heights of this plane. The past caresses a broken heart Amid gigantic mountains and humongous valleys, two carriages sprinted through the curves. The sun had started to set, the iridescent hues of the twilight spreading through the skies, imparting color to the bland clouds. The sky seemed to be a display of chintz. The outline of a settlement''s walls could be seen becoming clearer as the carriage approached the town. "We are about to reach the town of Seraphelle, your highness." A sound announced inside one of the carriages. Arin looked out of the window. The town was encapsulated by pristine white walls, the towering architecture inside standing tall above them. Seraphelle was a place famous for potionmaking and alchemy. Known as the alchemical hub of Aerthys, it was home to numerous enterprises and famous alchemists. This was their shelter for tonight as the journey to Rokaal was a lengthy one. The carraige sprinted toward the entry gates of the town. Just as a guard was about to block the carriages'' path, a hand grabbed hold of him and pushed him aside. "Do you want to die? Can''t you see the symbol on the chariot?" A sharp gruff voice berated the guard. "But sir, lord Darren had said to check even the chariots of nobles." The guard replied in a subservient tone trying to defend himself. "Was your training useless? Trash. The imperial tiger''s symbol means its the property of the royal family." The guard''s superior chastised in an angry voice. The carriage pulled to a stop. The guards around lowered their heads in a submissive manner. Three people exited out of the carraige in the back. One of them, a girl dressed in a maid''s outfit, opened the door of the main carriage. "We have arrived, your highness," the maid''s calm yet tenacious voice echoed all around as a figure got out. His attire and ornaments sparkled with the sun''s rays. Standing in the open air, his form radiated an ethereal energy. The guards mouth was open in astonishment. It was only a while ago that the news of the prince''s exile had reached their town and now the devil was before their eyes. As a kingdom filled to the brim with religious citizens, a divination by the church''s highest sage carried paramount weight. A prince that was once the subject of discussion for his talent and looks had become to the people more dreadful than a primordial monster. To see the very being that was augured to bring their beloved kingdom into ruin was a matter of most worry. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Sensing their aprehension, Arin commanded the maid Phaedra,"tell the chariot pullers to take the vehicles to the shed, we will travel by foot." "You can cotinue with your duties," he commanded to the guards as he turned around to face the town. The guards went back to their work but inside of their mind was filled with repulsion for the unwelcomed arriver. ***** Inside an inn of the town. Arin lay recombent on his bed, his gaze toward the ceiling, as various thoughts raced through his mind. He would leave the town tomorrow but before that a more important task was to be done. In his past life, Seraphelle was a relatively famous town in Devil''s Playground. A popular streamer had discovered a hidden questline here that wasn''t focused on combat with the end reward being ridiculously overpowered. This was the reason he had chosen this particular town to stay in. He was no fool and knew Rokaal was too dangerous of a place for a unawakened to venture into. He wanted to gain at least the powers to not be torn into shreds on his mere arrival in Rokaal. ***** Early morning Arin was changing into a new outfit. His eyes looked a bit red as if some matter had stolen away his sleep last night. A knock sounded on the door,"your highness, the food has been prepared, may this servant enter." Arin replied in the affirmative. She brought in with her a portable tray with delicacies placed on it. Arin felt a bit grateful to her, he hadn''t expected that the first person he met in this world would be so loyal as to follow a dreaded person as him. She busied herself in serving the food. He finally said in a low soothing voice,"Thank you Phaedra, for looking after me even after all that happened." His words reached her ears, consuming all her thoughts. Her lips arched upwards but a moistness was noticeable in her eyes. "Its my duty since birth, your highness. This servant will forever serve you." A quiet sound escaped her mouth, her eyes turning wetter. Arin was taken aback by her reaction, a strange nostalgia filling his mind. He could see it in her eyes, an emotion greater than a servant''s loyalty, that of pure love. He had seen it before, numerous times, in eyes even livelier than hers. His eyes shut themselves for a moment trying to conceal the beads of liquid forming inside. He had thought of it as useless, as meaningless. Yet now, that exact emotion, he missed more than anything else. It felt surreal, the memories that he considered a waste had engulfed his mind and moistened eyes. "Your highness?" A feeble voice called out to the prince lost in the past. "You may leave," he uttered in a low tone as his frame took comfort in the chairs recline. The maid had left, yet Arin, no Kaius wasn''t alone. Kaius had always thought of himself as person with a steel heart. As a child who had been tormented by his own classmates because of what his parents did, he had started to feel repulsed to his own guardians. His parents claimed to hear his every worry but in reality, no one was there for the tender child being punished for something he hadn''t nor even known about before. The gorvernment of his boasted about the mental and physical security of its citizens. But the reality, a child in agony had neither his parents for support nor the courage to report to the authorities. Such was the country claimed as the epitome of human excellence. In those days where every moment felt like hell, she discovered the fallen him. Her inquisitive and caring nature finally exposing to her, the anguishes he was going through. The girl, as young as him, took a stance against the entire academy and confronted his parents. As the two found about their child''s pain, the entire academy was shut down for a few months. The reason being that they held immense power. She was the person who had peiced together his ruined heart and awakened the life inside him. But society as unforgiving as ever still didn''t stop chasing his shadow. His new supporter famous for her beauty bolstering their offenses even further. Constantly clashing against their brutal remarks, he finally got a job. But this aruduous life had emptied the inner him, the enormous wealth he possesed, the supposedly loving parents, and the person he loved¡ª nothing was capable of reigniting the real him. Ungrateful? Immensly. But the broken person could do nothing else. This was the reason he felt euphoric as he reincarnated into this game. Yet now those exact moments called to him, her love screamed inside his heart, her care caressed his enfeebled soul. These people are more shameless than me After a long period, Arin slapped himself on the face. This was his defense mechanism of sorts to get out of his monologues. "There''s no use thinking about the past," he said, but his expression betrayed him. Eventually, he finished his food and left the inn. The guard who had left the capital with him accompanied him. Arin knew what complications going alone in a region where he was dreaded would have. He was his personal bodyguard, actually¡ªa fact he had learned from reading the personal diary of the original Arin, a find that was sure to help him. "Nocterin, we are going to the house of an acquaintance of mine. You will have to stand outside his place for a while," he said to the guard. "I understand, Your Highness," the calm voice of the guard replied with nonchalance. Arin was facing the guard as he talked with him. Out of the blue, his burly hands grabbed hold of him, and he was spun through the air toward the back of Nocterin. Just as Arin''s mind had processed the movement, sounds of innumerable shots sounded. Arin could see crowds of cloaked figures holding some sort of propulsion canons. Noticing their plan had failed, the armed figures rushed toward Nocterin, planning to take him down. Arin did notice one peculiar thing, however. Not all attackers were actually participating in the fight; some of them just stood still at the back. As they ran, the projectiles of fire shot out of their canons simultaneously. Though all of them were being dodged by Nocterin effortlessly as he maneuvered around with Arin in his hands. The guard himself looked like a tremendously fast projectile as he moved around. The figures were getting closer to the two, and their barrages of fire were growing more violent. The surrounding people had already evacuated the place, and surprisingly, the attackers didn''t harm them at all. As the figures were about to get into close quarters, Nocterin pulled out a huge, shining scythe. It looked incredibly heavy, but the guard attacked with ease. Their attackers had shifted the strategy as well, now switching to a short blade that was luminescent with red light. Nocterin closed in on one of them, his gleaming scythe slashing the figure''s head, causing blood to ooze out of his neck as the corpse fell lifeless. This was just the start, apparently. The unforgiving scythe of Nocterin brought down one attacker after another, no matter how many of them attacked him in unison.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. 4 attackers. 4 seconds. 2 attackers. 2 seconds. The entire place was strewn with corpses, yet the ones in the back stood motionless. They felt strangely eerie to Arin as if they belonged to a different category than humans altogether. Another bizarre find was that no town guards, no awakeners, or anyone else had arrived yet. It made no sense; this was a thriving town, after all. Arin felt that Nocterin had the same thought about the still figures at the back as he noticed the guard getting away from the blade-yielding attackers and toward the ones at the back. Seeing him approach the motionless figures had turned their companions insane. They crazily threw themselves toward Nocterin without a thought for their lives. It was extremely disturbing. Their efforts were in vain, though, as the scythe turned their bodies into mush. Nocterin and Arin were fast approaching their intended targets, and it was at this moment the still figures moved. All of them pulled out a strange rock from their pockets and started to throw them at their companion that stood perfectly between them. As the rocks were brought together, they morphed into one. The figure at the center threw them high in the air as his lips parted, a lifeless but clear voice radiating out of them. He was chanting something. Arin was confused by the sudden actions. Suddenly, Nocterin threw him far away and leapt unbelievably high into the air. But instead of going toward the stone, he crashed into the chanting person. That figure tried to escape from him, his lips still chanting. Nocterin suddenly glowed in blue light, his figure cracking through the air like lightning as he charged straight into that figure. His hands grabbed hold of the person''s head as he completely rotated it, finally stopping the chanting. The figure could only gasp as his life flashed before his eyes, but bizarrely, an eerie smile covered his face. In an instant, Nocterin turned around and shot a beam at the distant Arin, pushing him out of even his sight. Just as he did, a boisterous roar sounded from above, like a dragon was expressing his fury. The midday sun was swallowed by a blinding flash, white-hot and searing. A deafening crack shattered the air, followed by a shockwave that rippled outward, tossing dust, debris, and shattered glass into the sky. The ground buckled underfoot as flames erupted, consuming everything in their fiery embrace. Smoke billowed upward, darkening the bright day with swirling chaos, while the acrid stench of burning filled the air, choking the life out of the silence that followed. From afar, Arin could see the explosion wreaking havoc. Being thrown two times had injured him quite a bit, but the fact that a servant the original Arin hadn''t even cared for protected him with his life filled Kaius with awe for the valiance and loyalty of the guard. His eyes trembled suddenly as a light flashed before them. A familiar silhouette tardily exited them. His hands carried a scythe covered with blood, but he himself was totally unscathed. "Y-You are alive!" Arin''s face twitched as he uttered with shock. "Of course, Your Highness. You should have more faith in me. I was chosen specially by Lord Mikhael to protect you," Nocterin replied, baffled at the prince''s sudden obliviousness to his power. "Here I was thinking he died to protect me," Arin thought as his face turned slightly red. "On the bright side, this late grandfather of mine has provided me such an overpowered protector. Love you, Arin''s grandpa," Kaius added without shame. As he was about to say something to Nocterin, he noticed a few people coming toward them. "Your Highness, are you injured?" one of them asked while making a saddened expression like that of a child who had been grounded. "Really? The audacity to ask that! These people are more shameless than me," Arin thought, disgusted at their pretense. Necrowolves "Yes, I am completely unscathed, thanks to your timely arrival," as Arin uttered these words blood started dripping from his lips mid-sentence and he coughed violently. The townspeople who had come to supposedly save him could only smile awkwardly as they scratched their heads. Even the usually serious Nocterin could barely hide his chuckle as he pulled out a bottle with purplish liquid in it. "Drink this, your highness. It is a second-grade healing potion." Nocterin said while opening the bottle''s lid and bringing the bottle near Arun''s lips. Arin took a sip, it tasted pleasant. He gulped down the entire contents of the bottle. As he did, his calloused body began to revitalize and the wounds closed completely without leaving a single scar. "This is even better than the Regelix Serum." He thought to himself. Regelix represented the heights of technological advancements, it was the culmination of decades of research. But this epitome of technology fell short to the power of a simple magic potion. After Arin had healed completely, he told the townspeople to leave and finally ventured en route to the quest''s place. He wanted to leave this place as soon as possible especially after this incident. ***** Arin and Nocterin stood at the entrance of a bizarrely huge wooden house with its gate open. Contrary to what he had decided before, Nocterin entered together with him. The enterior felt like a family residence that had been untended for a long time. Every furniture was in the wrong place. It looked like a mess. "Sir Evans, could you come out for a moment." Arin''s loud shout echoed through the interior. No movement was apparent at first but soon they noticed a faint shuffle from the darkness upstairs. "Evans? You must be mistaken, I am just a pious old man." A creaky voice made its way to them as a sillouhette drew near.Stolen novel; please report. The figure entered their eyesight. A old weak man with sunken eyes and a famished body. He looked pathetic. Nocterin couldn''t help but question the prince''s friendship choices in his mind. "P-Prince Arin?" The old man''s voice trembled slightly as he realized who this visitor was. "How come your highness visted this lowly commoner?" The old man''s tone stabilized. "Lowly? And you? What are you talking about, sir Evans. You are the grandmaster of vine, after all." Arin''s lips arched upwards in a smug smile as he said in a teasing manner. "Vine, you must be mistaken. This follower of god doesn''t dare to even about something as sinful as alcohol." The flustered old man replied, appearing a bit shocked. "Really? Whats this then?" Arin kicked over the nearby table to the side revealing rows upon rows of bottled alcohols. "..." The old man was completely aghast not knowing how to react. "Forgive me god, this servant''s house has been defiled by someone''s mischief. I will surely punish this prankster." The old man kneeled to the ground as he looked upwards and prayed in a saddened tone. "Why is everyone so dramatic in this game? Do they think I am some child!" Arin started cursing the game''s creators but stopped when he realised he had helped too. Sighing, he said to the old man,"Sir, you could benefit from some acting classes. That act is not going to fool anyone." "I am only here to help you, we should not waste time." He added while staring daggers at the man. Knowing no trick was gonna work, the old man said with a defeated expression,"fine, what is it that your highness requires my assistance for." "I don''t want assistance but to assist you. I heard that the potion you spend years making has been lost by you somewhere." Arin explained with a teasing smile. This master of vine actually had a dangerous foible. He would often forget recent events when he drank alcohol and this was the reason he had lost the potion. "Ah! I do remember that the potion was left by me in the vampiric ruins but unfortunately the key to that place has been reduced to a lump of metal." Evans replied in an embarassed tone. "If your highness really manages to find that bottle, I would be incredibly grateful," he added. "Your gratefulness isn''t what I want, however if you could give me that renowned tome of yours..." Arin looked intently at the elder. The elder hesitated at first but finally heaved a sigh and replied,"I accept your conditions, your highness." "Smart choice, sir Evans." Said Arin with a smug expression as he signaled Nocterin to go outside. He felt that Nocterin had been traumatized enough. ***** Arin and his guard were roaming through a sparse forest when Nocterin finally gave into his impulsive thoughts and asked,"where are we headed? Your highness." "To the cave of Necrowolves, the wolves known for loyality." This statement startled Nocterin. Necrowolves were highly dangerous second-grade creatures and the prince wouldn''t be able to hunt them without his help. He didn''t say anything though. After an hour or two, the two had finally reached their destination. A humongous rocky mountain opened to a narrow cave entrance. The rocks that constituted it were a bleak green decorated by traces of moss. Arin went in, followed closely by Nocterin. As they traversed deeper and deeper into the cave system the interior got increasingly darker and more dingy. There was a peculiar odor present in every part of the cave, like that of rotten potatoes. The stillness was broken by a shuffle in the shadows, a low howl sounded as if warning them not to tread further. Despite their scary name, Necrowolves were neutral and only attacked if they felt threatened and going further in the cave would make them feel threatened. As Nocterin was about to retrieve his scythe from his spatial pouch Arin signaled him to stop. "We aren''t gonna kill a single one of them." He said, his confident smile hiding a ingenious scheme. Hidden Conditions Instead of going toward the wolf''s presence, Arin shifted his route and turned tail, going towards another path. After several minutes passed, a small crack in the cave walls entered their view. Even his small frame barely fit through the opening and he had struggle to enter. "How is Nocterin gonna ente-" just as this thought crossed his mind, a destructive boom sounded. Rocks flew everywhere and the hole cracked open. "..." Thankfully they were far enough from the wolves, so the commotion wouldn''t attract their attention. "From this point onward, try to be as still as possible. I know you are fully capable of killing the wolves but that is not our plan." Arin warned in a slightly complaining voice like a grandma chasting her grandkid. After he finished whining, he brought out a piece of paper from his spatial pouch. It was an odor-concealing talisman which he had brought about an hour ago for 2 gold coins. Rip. Arin tore the talisman into two, a nebulous black mist consuming their body. Gradually the mist disappeared without a trace as if it had never existed. "Let''s go," Arin commanded going ahead. Their path was extremely narrow and the atmosphere, fetid. Occasional spiders that were bioluminescent would craw just inches away from their bodies. Arin''s repulsion could be seen on his face apparently because a beam of red electrical pulses shout out from Nocterin''s fingers exterminating the spiders without a single sound. This action startled Arin, gratitude settling in his heart. "This guard is really adorable," Kaius thought pleased at the late king''s decision. "Nocterin, pay attention to what I say. Three seconds after my hand goes up in the air, you have to shoot a fire incantation at the empty space you see," as Nicolas completed the sentence the pair had reached a dead end. It wasn''t completely blocked though, there was a hole the size of a watermelon etched onto the walls'' surface. Behind it they could see a spacious cave where throngs of wolves could be seen going about. Bones and carcasses were littered throughout the space and a fowl odor was everpresent. There was a small waterbody present at the centre, near it a wolf was sleeping. It looked significantly larger than the others, like a terrifying smilodon. Its frame was extremely robust, the air around it exuding a palpable supression on the others around.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "I must say, my creations really look majestic seen from this close," Kaius couldn''t help but remark, his narcissistic instincts kicking in. Once he was done admiring, his hands went inside his spatial pouch as he fiddled around for something. His face lit up suddenly and he pulled his hands out which were now occupied with a transparent packet filled to the brim with a powder which had the hue like that of amethyst. Opening the seal, he filled his hands with the powder and in one swift motion threw it inside the crack in the wall, as his other hand rose into the air. The particles of the powder started to difuse into the air as if they had turned magically to gas. No sooner had the wolves realised the entry of this non-living intruder than a blazing streak of orange passed perfectly the hole. The seering flames on the arrow mixed in with the nebulous powder and in a instant, booms after booms sounded in the cave''s semi-closed environment. The cave''s surface tore apart like sand, debris falling all around. The wolves natural survival instincts kicked in, as they ran out of the explosion''s vicinity as if they had been possesed. After a while, the only things present in the wolves'' den were debris, carcasses of hunted prays, and the thing Arin had done all this for. Confirming no wolf was left, Arin immediately jumped in through the wall which had expanded due to the explosions it suffered. Once inside, he immediately sprinted toward the very place the pack''s alpha had been sleeping. The lake like structure was filled with dark blue water. At first glance, it appeared completely normal but a deeper analysis would reveal the fact that there was no sky to impart the color blue to the lake''s fluid and it made no sense for there to be such clear water inside such a filthy cave system. Arin knew that the wolves would come to check their shelter very soon and therefore he didn''t waste time, jumping straight into the cold water body. With a splash, Arin''s figure was submereged in the water surrounded by chilling yet pleasant ripples. He dived in the depths searching its surface for something particular. The lake was quite large actually about the size of a cricket ground. The waves had started to have a numbing effect on his weak body but there was an unknown force which was reinvigorating him after every few minutes as if the water here was blessed. Its effect so great that he didn''t even have to go to the surface for rebreathing. As Arin''s body drifted around in the lake''s interior, his foot hit a hard object causing gusts of pain to rise from within. He looked down and the instant he did, his face scrunched in relief. A metallic chest with bronze-like color was what injured him. Picking up the chest and cleching onto it with his arms, Arin floated upwards with a swift pace. Nocterin had been standing for quite a while now and was in a delimma: whether to go into the lake to see if the prince was fine or trust him and save himself for the whining he might get for not listening to his order of leaving him alone. So when Nocterin noticed Arin''s head popping out of the water, his stoic face changed slightly; the tensed eyebrows lowering ipso jure. Out of nowhere, a series of footsteps shaked the ground and distant howls began to be heard. "Run!" Shouted Arin, and without uttering a single other word began to sprint out of the cave as if satan himself was attached to his shadows. Just as the prince''s frame crossed Nocterin''s, he was held by his firm grip. Immediately after, the pair started to whizz through the wind like the breeze that blew before storm. In less than a minute, the pair''s figures stood outside the very cave they had been in a minute before. Apparently the powerful Nocterin also had great memory capabilities as the cave system route that Arin could only traverse through beacuse of him being its very creator was learnt in a moment''s time by him. "Ridiculous! Just ridiculous." Arin could only complain at the unfairness in his heart. Done ranting, Arin finally got to opening the chest. His hands pulled at its lid but the insanely heavy cover wouldn''t even budge. Arin struggled with the chest like a child causing a subtle smile to form on Nocterin''s face. Flicking his finger at the chest, Nocterin applied slight pressure. The chest''s hefty lid shot up into the sky and its entire frame trembled in the arms of Arin. A glow extended outward, slowly diminishing and revealing an orange key. It was the key of purification, granting access to numerous abodes of evil, including the vampiric ruins. Arin retrieved the key and closed its lid, he could that at least. As his sight moved from the chest in his arms to the air at his eye-level, he was given a jumpscare. A rustic tune like that of an old machine sounded and a large green holographich display consumed his eyesight. [Hidden Conditions Met.] [The Sytem Of Universal Civilisations has fused with the host successfully.] [Welcome host! To the world of civilisation creation.] The Sun Soothes The Fallen "Your highness?" Nocterin''s questioning voice penetrated into the ears of Arin, pulling him out of his stupor. He pulled his gaze away from the floating screens of texts. "Let''s go, Nocterin." As soon as his lips closed, Arin turned toward the way that lead to Seraphelle with Nocterin following his shadow. But Arin was shocked to find that the screen had disappeared as if it was a hallucination all along. "I have read enough of those novels, I need to say something to make it reappear." His face displayed a confident smile. "System!," nothing happened. "Status!," still nothing. Arin couldnt help but think that maybe it was a dream all along. "Panel!," he tried for the final time. With a swish only he could hear, a large green hologram manifested in his vision. [Host: Arin Roseheart (Kaius Reed)] [Race: Human] [Age: 19] [Magic level: unawakened] [Combat level: newbie] [Spirit arts level: None Note: a draconic spirit affinity has been detected in host.] The screen followed his pace, travelling in the direction Arin trode. The panel had various other options in the upper-left corner including but not limited to: Guide System Store Progression Quests Skills Out of these options, two were greyed out: system store and guide. Knowing returning back to Seraphelle would take quite a bit of time, Arin wanted to utilise the present to explore this supposed golden finger. Affirming his decision, he internally muttered,"progression"This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. An entirely new tab opened, its background a dull red. A sentence in bold black writing was displayed: "Yet to establish a settlement." Apart from this piece of text, nothing was evident on that tab. "Quests" as the word was said, the previous tab was replaced by a new one. [Daily quests: A ruler of a civilisation requires sufficient power in order to rule over his subjects and protect them. Arin Roseheart, thou must: 1. Exterminate a first-grade mutant (not completed) 2. Meditate thy spirit force for 20 minutes (not completed) 3. Absorb 1 mana-catalyst (not completed) ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Special quest: Recruit a person of significant offensive and defensive power who shall safeguard thy demesne. Details: Make the desired person say I shall be at thy command and his mind not resist thy rule, thus shall a protector be recruited for thy demesne. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª Main quest: ???] It was a lot for Arin to take in at once but all of them were quite feasible, especially the meditation one. It was something he would have done anyway. Reading his predecessor''s diary had familiarised Kaius to this new world''s affairs. It was a domain where knowledge and power existed in synergy, yet was home to people more superstitious than the ancient earth. Three kinds of persons had their dominion here: Mages, the master of magical arts and runes; Warriors, those with bodies that surpassed earthly comprehension; and the most enigmatic of them all; Spiritualists, the wizards of unparalleled intelligence and mastery of energies. Most people would only choose to pursue a single discipline from these three. There were some prodigies however who would take up and master them all, one such prodigy was Arin''s grandfather, lord Mikhael. ***** Having reached the inn in Seraphelle, Arin ordered for his belongings to be packed up and the chariots to be readied. He was not planning to stay any further in a place where everyone wanted him to either leave or perish forever. Thus, the magnificent chatiot departed from the town of Seraphelle, its next visit; a place dreaded by all, the vampiric ruins. The route was through the unsteady uptops of abyssal valleys, the wind roared in the the direction opposite to theirs. The clouds were exactly below the wheels making it look like the god of wind was streaking through the clouds with his volant chariots. Gradually they descended from the lofty valleys into the meanders of a quiet forest. Innumerable red tress whose leaves spiralled into the sky decorated its canopy. The sun had began its descent, the orange sky blending in with the crimson canopy. Suddenly, the chariots halted and before Arin could inquire of the reason, a series of distant screams wishpered into his ears. Looking ahead, the sight he saw caused beads of sweats to roll down his now numbed back. The crimson foliage of the forest was blemished by scarlet liquids. A throng of lifeless corpses littered the ground, slowly being dehydrated and disintegrated by blobs of semi-transparent slimes. Some of the fallen, with signs of life still left, screamed in protest and pain, their moist eyes begging for the creatures'' mercy but in vain. It was a scenery that could terify even the toughest hearts, a sight that begot sympathy of humankind. Out of left field, Arin''s view was blocked by someone''s back. Enough for Arin to discern that it was none other than Nocterin, his scythe held in his left hand and the posture signifying a seriousness that he only saw when his life was saved by him. Just as his scythe was about to unleash its fury, an adolescent boy''s frame cam into view. His purple hair swayed in the wind, appearing almost angelic. His lips parted suddenly and out of them escaped a chant foreign yet soothing, calming to the soul. Streaks of azure particles radiated from his small figure, which flowed to the ruthless slimes stopping them instantaneously. They seemed to be frozen in time, no movement could be observed even after quite a while. As the boy''s ethereal cadence of chants ceased, the slimes turned their course, retreating peacefully to the confines of the dense forest. None of the injured were alive unfortunately. Arin opened the carriage''s door, stepping foot outside. There was a palpable graveness in the air, the stench from the half-decayed corpses intruding his senses. ***** A flake of flames produced crisp cracklings, akin to a rhapsody or a dirge for the dead people. Arin had decided to burn their bodies as their uniforms revealed that they were of the sun faith, a religion that favored the principle of incremation and believed that the heats of the flame purified the sins one had commited in life and soothed their souls. The sun had fully set now, the crepuscular sky slightly alit by the moon''s radiance. Arin looked at his resting followers. A certain young man trapped his gaze. He was a natural spirit actually, someone his magnanimous grandfather had entrusted to him. He had the name Bhavesh Marlette. The spell he had chanted just now was his spiritual technique, The resonance of the esper. It was a technique using which he could control the target''s intentions, emotions, and motives to resonate with his, albiet for a short period. A skill that once again attacked Kaius'' insecurity of being powerless. His sleeping face exuded a numinous presence as if the world was too crude to do justice to his ethereality. Yet it contained an innocence resembling that of a child. The dreaded and the sympathetic In the midst of the endless stretches of sand, a palace made from rocks stood deteriorating. Its grand scale and the carvings made onto its pillars seemed to signify its importance in the past. The dusty wind obscured its appearance. It felt oddly timeless, as if it had existed since the dawn of life and would continue to even if the rest perished. Two golden chariots approached from afar, each being pulled by two canine beasts. They were spirit beasts as the mutants abhorred humans to the point where taming them was only a pipe dream. Inside one of these, Arin sat facing Nocterin and Bhavesh, both of whom seemed to be lost in a trance of their own. Arin could see the ruin''s shadow from the window as the chariots drew increasingly near. Suddenly, the motion halted and the voice of the auriga announced, "We have arrived, your highness." As Arin opened the carriage''s door, the fierce dusty wind hit his face. Each swish, like a cautionary whisper dancing in his ears. The infinite dunes of bland yellow could numb any mind, much less Arin''s. Finally having stepped outside, Arin approached the ruins of the palace in front, an observation startling him. A group of 5 were walking toward the same route, their faces veiled by blue shrouds. One of them, a girl, appeared as the leader. The coterie''s leader and Arin''s eyes met, communicating a faint warning to one another through the language of gestures. By now, Nocterin and Bhavesh had come to his side. The others were to stay in the chariots. Nocterin''s hands were pressed against his scythe''s handle, ready for any skirmish that may follow. Arin''s palms gestured him to stop, however. Arin didn''t want unnecessary fights. He had trust in Nocterin''s power, and believed that if things were to go south, Nocterin and Bhavesh would be able to handle it. Speaking of Nocterin''s power, a lightbulb went off in Arin''s mind. "Arin is powerful enough to be a settlement''s guardian, right?" Deciding to test his hypothesis in the moment, Arin muttered to Nocterin in a low voice, "Nocterin, could you say and I quote: ''I shall be at thy command''?" Nocterin''s mind was another mess altogether. He thought he had caught onto something, for the prince that was so ruthless before to let be a group that could potentially harm them and now asking for such a weird request could only mean one thing.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. "The prince has fallen in love with the girl. Ah! What a happy situation, a prince and a female adventurer practicing forbidden intimacy. The prince now wants to show off his authority over his subordinates, in order to win her over, that is," he thought, conspiring a story of his own imagination. If Arin were to know what was going on in his head, he would probably cough up blood. Having settled on matchmaking the prince, Nocterin''s temperament took a 180¡ã turn as he said while revealing a humble subservience: "O most exalted Highness, this wretched servant shall bow to thy command ''til thy boundless grace dost bid me cease. Verily, fortune hath smiled upon this lowly soul, granting me the sacred boon to serve and cherish thee, whose wisdom doth outshine the heavens." These words were like showers of embarrassment on Kaius'' mind, as someone who had never imagined one could speak in this manner unironically. He was completely baffled by Nocterin''s response as his cheeks flushed red in embarrassment, especially after noticing the group looking at him with intent gazes. Seeing his red cheeks, Nocterin cheerfully assumed that his master was blushing at the group''s and most importantly the girl''s admiration. Arin''s ashamed face finally brightened slightly as a screen manifested in thin air. [''Special Quest: Recruit a guardian'' has been completed. Rewards: 1. Settlement Establishment Talisman ¡Á1 2. Holy skill; the boon of extermination (first-grade variant)] Before he could check the skill, he and the others had reached the ruins entry. Despite the dilapidated state of the ruins, the gates were completely intact. It was made of orange metal, with a huge carving that depicted a graphic face with vividly detailed fangs indented on it. Retrieving the key, Arin bound it to him, Nocterin, and Bhavesh by touching it to their respective foreheads. The alien group that they had happened to meet had made a camp in a nearby area, waiting for them to return. Arin pressed the key against the mouth of the depicted vampire. Black smoke started to explode out of the key as it disappeared into thin air. Arin started to feel dizzy, a foul stench invaded his senses, and his vision turned blurry progressively. --- Arin woke up feeling cold, a darkness hiding anything else from his view. He called out to Nocterin and Bhavesh but there came no response. Everything felt bizarrely eerie and disparate from the vampiric ruins he knew. All of a sudden, bright orbs of white light began to conjure ipso jure in the air, illuminating the surroundings. Looking around, Arin couldn''t find even a trace of his subordinates. "This is completely aberrant from the original view in the vampiric ruins. Nocterin and Bhavesh should have been teleported together with me," Arin assessed the environment while thinking. It was an incredibly large but closed-off chamber. Many murals and paintings were illustrated on the walls, seemingly of brutalities humans had committed on vampires in the ancient ages, and various statues adorned the corners. A sudden observation disconcerted Arin: the growling abdomen of a vampire attached to the wall. His bright ruby-colored eyes stared inside his very soul, and bovine droplets of crimson trickled down his exposed fangs. He seemed an extension of the wall itself, a figure that was bound in place yet radiated such fierce bloodlust that one''s eyes would turn away in fear and shock. Out of the blue, an ancient voice escaped his mouth, a disturbing expression elicited on his face: "The hearts of the dreaded are the most broken, the minds of the feared supremely sad. Those who feign sympathy conceal the darkest schemes, and only with vitality theirs, shall my soul attain fleeting peace." A rueful tone manifested ephemerally on the vampire''s harrowing face, only to disappear with similar instantaneity. His face was completely still now, having lost its previous ostentation. The Vampiric Trial Arin stood motionless in front of the now silent vampiric head. Various thoughts¡ªthose about this world''s history¡ªraced in his mind. In the game''s lore, many graphic details had been added by them to make it more realistic and lifelike. One such detail was the vampires. In the primordial era, only humans and spiritual beasts lived. Initially, there were peaceful relations between the two species, but everything changed on that one fated day. It was said that something¡ªsomething that could defy anything and everything in existence¡ªhad happened to land in humanity''s hands. The two races, who once lived in synergy, turned into bete noires. A fight for survival broke out between the two sides. Entire countries turned to ruin, and rivers of blood flowed everywhere they fought. The humans of the past were weaker than those of the present; they couldn''t use magic. This fatal weakness had started to turn against them, and for some reason, they didn''t use the fate-defying item they had chanced upon. Tardily, humankind dwindled, its territories being captured one after another. In a desperate attempt at survival, a sealed technique was reused. It could turn humans into a being much more powerful¡ªand extremely deadly creatures: Vampires. Fearing their own creation, the humans afflicted several restrictions on them. And as the war ended, the very vampires who had allowed them to live were treated like devils, bound and tortured. Forced into chambers lower than those of mounts, starved of the very blood that fueled their lives, and suffering brutalities whose mention could chill the most stoic hearts. In an attempt to seal the vampires, humans had turned worse than them. In dread of the dreaded, they had become a source of dread. --- Arin wanted to think that this was only a game¡ªbut his heart betrayed his mind. As someone who had endured similar torment, a profound sense of empathy dominated his heart. This was only sympathy, however. The vampires of today were just as heartless, punishing the present because of the past, which was in no way acceptable. "Now is not the time for this," he said, diverting his mind from the topic and focusing on getting out of this place.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Assuming it was still a non-combat trial despite the abnormalities, the vampire''s words most likely were a hint to solving the puzzle. "Only with their vitality shall my soul attain fleeting peace," quoting the vampire''s words, Arin pondered on them. "Theirs means humans'', so is he asking for a human''s life? No! Vampires don''t EAT humans." Arin disregarded his conjecture. While his brain raced through various thoughts, he noticed the walls of the room closing in, ever so slightly. Their pace mocked his psyche. "Vampires need....." Arin repeated the words in his mind. "Blood!" His face lit up. "Of course, it''s blood. Why did that take so much time?" Retrieving his hairpin, Arin used it to prick a tiny wound in his finger. Immediately going near the statue''s mouth, he aimed the lethargic blood flow into it. A sigh seemed to escape the vampire''s mouth, his entire face contorting and turning into bloody mist. A symbol revealed itself below and began to emanate sharp light, the wall opening like a gate in disguise. --- In a room that seemed like the carbon copy of Arin''s trial room, someone who looked like an adolescent boy opened his eyes tardily, the vision in front concealed by pure darkness. He saw orbs of light appear from nowhere, revealing the chamber''s appearance and the vampiric head. But its terrifying appearance had no effect on the spirit''s mind, an expression of detest showing on his face instead. His purple gleamers shifted to an unseen hue, vestiges of soft sky-blue rays pierced out of his orbs of sight, invading the creature''s eyes. The creature, once wrathful, had turned passive¡ªto the point where his harrowing fangs were hidden away by him, and pernicious gestures now ceased. A cadence of chants in a foreign tongue escaped the spirit''s lips, causing sudden trepidation, fear, to consume the vampire''s face. His visage elicited resistance, his countenance screamed unwillingness, but it was futile. The beast''s figure converted into crimson mist, diffusing into the area. This was another skill of the spirit, Infatuation''s Ruin. A technique that first turned the target into the caster''s pawn, making his heart, soul, and body submit to the caster. And when the target''s infatuation was at its peak, the hex would force the intended target to end his own life. It could work on any gender, any race, and any person, providing he doesn''t exceed the caster''s power level. It was a ruthless technique, something that should be utilized if and only if the target deserved such an end. After the mist disappeared completely, the wall opened in the middle, and the spirit walked into the next place. --- Inside another room, sounds of clashes could be heard. A group of insanely fast vampiric beasts could be seen going neck and neck with a scythe''s offensive barrage. Their dim black bodies covered in silver fur resembled the Necrowolves, but the gleaming horns that reflected the orb''s light and their fangs, which were a foot long, indicated otherwise. Nocterin wasn''t aware of the rules of this place and directly slashed the vampire. While the appalling creature died, these monstrous wolf-like creatures took its place. Their bodies bespoke eternal stamina, as if they were utterly indefatigable. Their numbers also seemed inexhaustible; his scythe had probably decapitated tens of wolf heads, yet their throng still appeared daunting. Wanting to clear this place as soon as possible and ensure the prince''s safety, Nocterin decided to put his scythe aside. His sudden heroic stance, a threat to the already cautious wolves. The warrior''s eyes closed, his hair changing color, from mahogany to silver. The entirety of the surrounding quaked as if this sudden shift afflicted too much weight for it to bear, shockwaves went off¡ªin both air and through the ground. Ripples of pitch-black energies coalesced into a blade''s outline, streaks of burgundy beleaguering the wolves. A sudden attraction pulled them instantly to the vortex of energies around the blade. Their bodies struck each other as they grasped at straws to escape the predicament. The blade started to rotate rapidly on its axis, giving birth to chaotic ripples that appeared to tear the air itself. Shrieks sounded as the wolves turned into mush, their remains nothing more than paste of meat and bones.