Ralian Lunewolf stood at the edge of the ornate meeting chamber, her acute senses documenting every heartbeat in the room.

  The Salt Duke's mansion sprawled across the highest hill in Merasca, its white marble walls gleaming in the afternoon sun that streamed through tall windows. Inside, the gathered power players of the Empire made the atmosphere thick with tension and competing scents.

  The Salt Duke himself, a portly man whose wealth far exceeded his magical talent, fluttered between guests, his nervous energy radiating from him like heat from a furnace.

  His significance came from salt mines that supplied the entire Empire, not from combat prowess. Now he played host to individuals who could level his estate with a casual gesture.

  The Lightning Duke sat like a barely contained thunderstorm in human form, his white beard immaculately trimmed, his eyes sharp as steel. Even seated, he dominated the space around him. At his side stood two elite knights, their armor crackling with subtle arcs of electricity, either from themselves or their artifacts.

  Three Guild Masters from Merasca occupied another corner, their voices low but tense. Merasca’s representative from the Church of the Dance—a severe woman with a scar running down her neck—stood apart, fingering holy symbols as if expecting demons to materialize at any moment.

  And then there was Chancellor Amelia Duskleaf, Sharan Desert's golden dragon. Her purple eyes constantly scanned the room, as if reading invisible threads of fate.

  Only Munera wasn't here; it was necessary.

  A known vampire matriarch at a gathering of imperial powers would have created complications none of them needed. Instead, she lurked in the forest near Merasca, leveling herself by killing monsters. Ralian would soon join her.

  The satisfaction wasn't lost on Ralian that she—a werewolf—was welcomed where a vampire was not. Being the daughter of Vargathrian, the Beast Hero, brought her entry to places typically closed to her kind. That, and her previous encounter with Amelia in Lockdarn had forged a strong alliance.

  "So, from what you just told us," Amelia finally said, her voice cutting through the murmured conversations, "it's wise to assume that this Outer God Cult operates in cells throughout the Empire, with Merasca functioning as a significant hub connected to whatever they're planning on Nevaramis."

  Ralian nodded, leaning forward. "I'm not sure if they knew that Nevaramis would come over Merasca, or if it's just a coincidence, but their activities intensified just months before it's arrival. They've been sacrificing people—sometimes cultists themselves—to power rituals connected to this 'Outer God' they worship."

  The Salt Duke visibly paled. "Sacrifices? In my city?"

  "In every city," the Lightning Duke said, voice raspy. "Including Waybound itself."

  That made the Salt Duke pause. “Did you deal with it yet…?”

  “But of course,” he said, running a hand through his white beard.

  Amelia's lips thinned. "We discovered that unfortunate truth after the Winter Festival attack. Several students were involved, manipulated by higher-ranking cultists."

  "Students?" Ralian's eyebrows rose. Her thoughts immediately went to Iskandaar, trapped on that floating island.

  According to her mother's report, that boy was a part of some cult, too.

  It was unlikely, but could it be that he planned to sacrifice Lilian…?

  Her forehead went cold.

  The Lightning Duke's voice rumbled like distant thunder once again. "We rooted them out with an iron fist. Those behind the intrusion were dealt with—permanently." His hands clenched, a small spark jumping between his fingers. "But turns out we never understood the scope of their influence. This cult has spread like a disease throughout the Empire."

  "That's their strength, I guess," Amelia added. "They isolate their cells. Each knows only fragments of the larger plan. We eliminated the Waybound branch, but dozens more operate independently."

  The Church representative of Shivaron leaned into the table, her wrinkly face serious. "If I may. Our auguries indicate a convergence—all their isolated activities building toward a single event. Something they call 'The Awakening.'"

  Ralian suppressed a growl. "And the focus appears to be on Nevaramis. Which means my child is directly in harm's way. Along with many of your students there, Chancellor.”

  A heavy silence fell across the room.

  "I-is there no way to breach the barrier?" the Salt Duke asked, wringing his hands. "I was delighted to hear such a legendary city is appearing above my Merasca, so I sent my own nephew to compete in those trials!"

  The Lightning Duke shook his head. "The adventurers and mages in your city have already tried. I did too, although not with my full power. But I doubt my powers can penetrate the island's defenses. The island was created by people stronger than me. Those ancient barriers were designed to withstand gods, some say.”

  "So we just wait?" Ralian asked, her patience wearing thin.

  Every moment of inaction was another moment Lilian faced danger alone.

  Especially now, after realising that there had been a cult’s branch in Waybound. If she connected the dots with Iskandaar's cult, things got complicated. Was he also part of this Outer God Cult? She couldn't be sure if her daughter was safe with him anymore.

  "What choice do we have?" one of the Guild Masters countered. "We can't reach them."

  Silence fell upon the room. Amelia studied Ralian's face, recognizing the maternal anguish beneath her controlled expression. "There's another consideration. If we somehow, out of pure luck, forced our way in, we might trigger whatever the cultists are planning. Sometimes a premature response causes more harm than patient observation."

  "Patience is a luxury my daughter and your students may not have," Ralian said, her voice dropping dangerously low.

  "Your daughter and my students, you keep saying," Amelia countered. "I got the report that Iskandaar didn't even come to Merasca. Are you certain Lilian is up there?”

  “Hmm?” Ralian blinked. Ah right, Munera told me they're under disguise.

  Amelia sighed. “Anyhow, if the cultists' plan centers on Nevaramis, they'll reveal themselves when the barrier drops. The trials are nearing completion—we've observed increased activity on the island through our scrying."

  The Lightning Duke nodded. "Smart. We shall position our forces all throughout Merasca. When the barrier falls and the participants return, we'll be ready to intercept any cult activity."

  "And if they succeed before that?" Ralian asked. “There are cultists above. What if they've already killed everyone by then?”

  The room fell silent again.

  "Then gods help us all," the Church representative whispered.

  Ralian looked out the window at Nevaramis floating in the distance, its crystalline spires catching the sunlight. Somewhere up there, her daughter fought not just for glory or prizes, but perhaps for survival itself.

  The cruelest wounds are those we cannot heal for those we love most, she thought, remembering her mother's words.

  The Lune Wolf matriarch had spoken those words when Ralian's father died defending their territory. Now Ralian understood them with painful clarity.

  "Very well," she said finally. "We wait and prepare. But know this—" her gaze swept the room, lingering on each powerful figure, "if that barrier falls and reveals my daughter has come to harm while we stood down here debating, there will be no corner of this Empire where those responsible can hide from me. Or my mother.”

  Not a threat, but a promise hanging in the air like the scent of blood before a storm.

  “That's alright,” Amelia said, standing up. “But I have something else I want to talk about with you. Shall we take a walk in the garden?”

  Ralian had a feeling she knew what the dragon wanted to talk about. And to be fair, she too wanted to talk about Iskandaar.

  She had to ask Amelia if her son-in-law was an Outer God worshipper or not.

  ****

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  I kept my expression neutral as I watched the blue text floating above Nebula's face, but internally, my mind was racing.

  "Survive the Next 48 Hours," I read quietly.

  Rather than being a normal Ascension Quest, this was an omen.

  We moved as one to a quieter corner of the arena floor, away from curious eyes and potential eavesdroppers. The noise of celebrations and groans from eliminated participants provided decent cover for our hushed conversation.

  I half-constructed [Eclipse of the Shadow Tyrant] to work as a sound-blocking spell, and only then did the others speak.

  "This is bad, right?" Solara muttered, her normally confident demeanor subdued. "Really bad."

  Lilian's red eyes narrowed as she looked from Nebula to me. "Young master, this is exactly like my quest in Lockdarn."

  She was right.

  When Lilian received her Ascension Quest back in Lockdarn, it had been the same cryptic "Survive" directive. Hours later, the entire city was engulfed in chaos as the Obsidian Vampires laid siege to it.

  "I know," I replied grimly. "And I don't think this is just about Nebula."

  Nebula tugged her mask back into place – it'd become a little loose in her confusion and fear, her blue eyes flashing with concern. "What do you mean?"

  I gazed around the colosseum, taking in the celebrating victors and the dejected losers being teleported away. "Well. Last time with Lilian, it wasn't just her in danger—the entire city was about to become a storm's aftermath."

  "You think the ritual is probably going to happen without any interruption," Solara said. It wasn't a question.

  I nodded. "Probably within the next 48 hours, exactly as the quest states. Or in less than an hour. I'm not sure. I'd bet anything that if we checked other participants who just hit their Ascension levels, they'd have the exact same quest."

  Lilian cursed under her breath. "Those cultist bastards never quit, do they?"

  "The timing makes sense," Nebula added, her analytical mind cutting through the tension. "I feel like they're planning something big for the final match. What should I do?”

  I reached out, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Nothing. You don't need to worry about this. I'll make sure you survive this, Nebula. All of us will."

  Her eyes softened momentarily behind her mask. "I'm not worried about myself. I'm more worried about what it means for everyone else."

  Solara's gaze drifted to the sky above the colosseum. "Fair point. With those cultists summoning an Outer God, 'survival' takes on a whole new meaning."

  She was right. Something was coming to Nevaramis, something big enough that the System itself was acknowledging the threat. I didn't know if I could stop its emergence, so I had to mentally prepare for its ultimate arrival.

  "What do we do?" Lilian asked, her voice uncharacteristically quiet.

  "For now, we play their game," I said, my resolve hardening. "We stay alert, we watch the cultists, and we prepare to intervene the moment they make their move. Ideally, we want to stop their attempt before they can actually summon the entity.”

  "And hope we're not too late," Nebula added darkly.

  A hush fell over the arena as the android administrator's metallic voice echoed through the colosseum.

  "Attention, participants. The first round has concluded on all platforms."

  We turned toward the center where the android hovered, her form gleaming in the sunlight. I quickly scanned the remaining platforms where battles had just ended, identifying the other victors.

  Platform One: A cloaked figure I immediately recognized as Selthira Duskbane, the dark elf assassin who'd cheated to stay here by giving her levels away.

  Platform Four: Varis Steelhand, Level 99, the cultist who had been teammates with Lyra before she died. His face was stoic as he surveyed the arena. I glared at the fool who had stolen my treasure.

  Platform Six: Victor Seraph stood with his usual arrogant posture, not a hair out of place despite the battle. No surprise there.

  Platforms Eight and Nine each had a victor I didn't immediately recognize, though my Demonic Sphere quickly confirmed they must be cultists. Both were high-level, 95 at minimum.

  And finally, Platform Ten: Princess Jin Ha-Yun, her pink eyes shining with triumph, though I detected worry in the way her gaze kept drifting toward me.

  Many people whom I knew hadn't won, and my eyes wandered around to search for their well-being. My brother Iaskin looked fine, as did Prince Alaric and Prince Rhydar.

  The illegitimate daughter of the Erebian Empire, Zahra Al-Zahiri, hadn't won either.

  Oh, and I barely noticed Prince Orion, who was far from a victor. It made sense. Because, to be fair, when I played the game as him, I participated in the Nevaramis event years from now on. Naturally he wasn't that strong yet.

  Only a few years from here would his bloodline grant him the insane main character-type benefits.

  "The ten victors will now proceed to the semi-finals," the android continued, her voice a little… excited? "Now, unlike the previous arrangement, you will be divided randomly between two platforms."

  With a snap of her metallic fingers, eight of the ten platforms began to sink back into the arena floor, leaving only two massive circular stages hovering.

  "Each platform will host five participants. Victory conditions remain the same—be the last one standing."

  Another snap, and I felt the disorienting pull of teleportation magic. “Be careful, girls,” I quickly said as the world blurred around me, and when my vision cleared, I was standing on one of the two remaining platforms.

  I quickly took stock of who was with me.

  Lilian and Solara had materialized nearby, looking relieved to see me. Ha-Yun stood a few meters away, her expression cautious but determined. And on the far edge of the platform, Selthira Duskbane's cloaked form tensed at the sight of us.

  Which meant...

  I spun around, eyes frantically searching the other platform across the arena. My heart sank as I confirmed my fears.

  Nebula stood alone on the opposite platform, surrounded by Victor Seraph and the three cultists—Varis Steelhand and the two other creepy bastards.

  "Shit," I cursed as shimmering barriers began to rise around both platforms, sealing us in our respective arenas.

  ****

  My thoughts swirled like a tornado for a few seconds.

  Nebula was separated. She was in grave danger.

  The timing couldn't have been worse. The cultists definitely saw her as a danger since she was my teammate—me who had exposed them to the whole audience. And Victor was someone who could never be trusted.

  Four against one, with a personal grudge against me, and she was outnumbered by enemies who wouldn't hesitate to kill her.

  I immediately tried to reach her telepathically. I should have told her about this beforehand, but I was too occupied with the turn of events.

  Nebula, listen to me. You need to withdraw. This isn't a fight you can win.

  No response came. It didn't look like she even heard me. The barriers must be blocking telepathic communication too.

  "Nightshade!" I shouted her alias at the top of my lungs, but my voice seemed to hit the barrier and die there, not carrying across to the other platform.

  I slammed my fist against the transparent wall, frustration building inside me.

  The countdown for the next round had already begun, leaving precious little time to intervene.

  "Young master," Lilian whispered beside me, "the sound won't pass through."

  "I know," I growled, my mind racing through options.

  Then, like an unexpected blessing, the android administrator's voice echoed through both platforms.

  "Unlike the previous round, where I intervened to teleport injured participants away, this match has different rules," she announced. "Many of you possess abilities that activate when your life is in danger. Therefore, victory can only be achieved through rendering your opponent unconscious, killing them, or forcing them to surrender voluntarily."

  So they're allowed to surrender. I felt a little relieved. Then she doubled down on it, her metallic gaze sweeping across both platforms.

  "Speaking of which—would anyone like to surrender before we begin?"

  Hope surged through me.

  I caught Nebula turning around to meet my gaze once she said that. Our eyes met, and I nodded vigorously, pointing outward from the platform. Please understand what I'm asking.

  To my immense relief, Nebula immediately raised her hand.

  "I wish to withdraw," her voice carried clearly through the arena.

  The android acknowledged with a nod, and Nebula's form shimmered before disappearing from the platform. She reappeared safely outside the barriers, and I felt the tension in my shoulders ease slightly.

  "Does anyone else wish to surrender before the match commences?" the android inquired. Nobody raised their hands. “In that case, the match starts now!”

  The other platform exploded with skills and magic.

  I slowly turned my attention to my own platform. With Nebula safe, I could focus on the immediate threats. I glanced at Lilian and Solara, subtly indicating Selthira with a tilt of my head.

  Lilian's face split into a predatory grin, happy to finally fight the dark elf who had threatened me at the academy. Without hesitation, she charged across the platform, Solara right behind her.

  "This is cheating!" Selthira shouted as she found herself suddenly confronted by both girls. "Two against one!"

  I ignored her protests, turning instead to Ha-Yun, who regarded me with a small smile.

  "I want to fight you, Cheonma," she said, her pink eyes twinkling with anticipation. She seemed excited to measure our gap since the last battle. "Will you grant me a round?"

  "I think not, Princess," I replied, keeping my voice low. "I'll need my energy for the next round. The situation here is a lot more dire than I initially thought. Can you let me off this once?"

  Her smile turned understanding as she sighed and raised her hand toward the android. "I'd like to surrender then."

  With a nod from the administrator, Ha-Yun vanished from the platform. Behind me, I heard a pained cry from Selthira.

  Turning, I saw Lilian had the dark elf pinned to the ground, looking entirely too pleased with herself.

  "Take it easy," I called out. "She's an assassin, not built to withstand a direct assault from someone like you."

  "No worries," Lilian replied cheerfully, "she's already unconscious."

  On cue, Selthira's limp form disappeared from under Lilian's grip.

  Lilian and Solara exchanged glances before both raising their hands toward the android.

  "We'd like to surrender," they announced in unison.

  The administrator paused, perhaps assessing whether our teamwork violated some rule. But the team assignments had been random, not our doing. Finally, she nodded, and both girls vanished from the platform.

  "Platform One victor: Cheonma," came the announcement.

  The barrier remained in place, leaving me alone on my platform. I turned toward the second arena, where the battle was just beginning.

  Victor Seraph faced off against the three cultists, tension crackling between them.

  I could only watch and wait, hoping this would end quickly so I could prepare for whatever was coming.

  Although something did bug me.

  I wanted to kill Victor myself, but at this rate, he'll die to the cultists. To be fair, at least that'd save me from any possible blame.

  Book 4 just started on Patreon! If you want to read the next 10 chapters, the end of Book 3, the start of Book 3, you can visit my Patreon! Don’t forget to check out our Discord too, where you can hang out with us.

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