Chapter 19 – Celebrations

"We did it!" Cheptah took a keg of beer and threw it up in the air. Everyone from Clico's party had hit up the bars in celebration of the Final Roster results. Omira couldn't really get drunk from the alcohol because of her high aura realm, but that didn't stop her from pretending.

"When we get to that dungeon, I'm gonna slay every administrator I cans!" She proudly proclaimed.

"You couldn't even scrath Murdoc!" Samcyra giggled, clearly enamored.

"Say that to my face, bitch!" Omira challenged, swaying.

"You heard me!" Samcyra challenged. The two started fighting playfully.

"We really can't take them anywhere." Aventi sighed. She and Clico weren't drinking; they were babysitting. Clico pulled the two bar brawlers apart and the party continued.

All around the globe, people celebrated the conclusion of the Dungeon Party Selection. The historic event would go down in history as a famous or infamous event for future generations to come; the exact outcome was yet to be known.

Many moving pieces were required to initiate a grandiose event like the Party Selection, and 100 of the strongest elites would soon take on the 100 floors of Hell.

Virtually everyone involved with the Great Dungeon Party was going crazy with excitement and drank the night away. The hype surrounding official roster's announcement was worldwide. Mite's party was currently celebrating with his apprentice, Clico. Outside on a balcony, Mite and Utone shared a moment together away from the rabble.

"Mite, do you really think we can conquer Hell?" Utone, Mite's girlfriend, asked him curiously. Her short blonde hair and grey eyes shined as she looked at her prophet. She watched as Mite helped bring up Clico as a Wandering Sage, fought in the Shade War, and patiently trained their own party to enter the Selection. Everything Mite did was intentional and purposeful, a reason that attracted herself to Mite in the first place.

"Our party, our friends, my apprentice Clico, and his party, all of them have been raised up for this moment my love.

Why do you think last names are a thing of the past? We identify ourselves with our calling, not our pasts. I am not Mite with the popular ancient surname Johnson but Wandering Sage Mite.

Similarly, our roles have already been decided. Nothing we do will stop what has already been set into motion."

Utone giggled. "You didn't answer me M! Will we conquer Hell or not?"

"Indeed. We will." Mite nodded his head, smiling.

"How many people do you think won't make it?" Utone wondered out loud.

"It's better not to ask those kind of questions…" Mite comforted her and put his hands on Utone's shoulders.

"Now I'm worried. We will make it through Hell, right?" Utone asked.

"It doesn't matter. What matters is we make the most of the experience. This is Hell, the unconquerable dungeon. We will laugh, cry, but ultimately, our names will be marked down in history regardless of if we make it to the end or not. Our deaths don't matter whether they're before, during, or after the conquest."

"Whatever. I hate when you're cryptic." Utone shrugged Mite off and turned back around to enter the celebrations. Taking his hand, Utone dragged Mite into the party. Clico waved upon seeing the couple return to the party.

***

Elsewhere, ex-King Job entered an office complex. Moving quietly during the festivities, he entered a room with a masked man sitting across from him.

"I've done as you've instructed." Job told the masked man.

"I saw. With this configuration and tournament results, we are the closest we've ever been to the necessary variables being in place."

"There are so many people and moving pieces involved. Who exactly is going to conquer Hell?" Job asked.

"This is all a game to the Authorities, a large chess board if you will. We are not main characters; we are but pawns. Protect everyone related to Lavilin's childhood. Only they can get through to The Demon.

"Interesting. I will do everything in my power to keep them alive this time. Last time their party died off so quickly…" Job muttered.

***

At the High Mage Council headquarters, a high-class banquet was taking place. Grand Councilman Ziphe and his fellow council members invited the primary donors and important politicians to celebrate the successful Dungeon Party Selection.

"Grand Councilman, it is an honor to be a part of the Great Dungeon Party." Ryko Corp CEO Evaris greeted Ziphe with a firm handshake. The crafty businessman had a plethora of consultants in the preselected 50, and his status as a Royalty Realm powerhouse cemented his spot as a key member of the party.

"It's always a pleasure Evaris."

"No, no, the pleasure is all mine Lord Ziphe. Your status as a top God is unmatched. I feel safe having you as our Party Leader." Evaris sucked up to Ziphe.

The council members participating in the expedition were watching closely to the exchange. Councilman Ozzy was a laid-back person but looked forward to the subjugation of Hell. As one of the strongest members of the party and a High-King Realm expert, he was not too interested with the politics behind the expedition compared to Ziphe. He had bigger fish to fry than mingling with CEOs.

Walking up to the Arch Priest of Order, Joseph, Ozzy shook his hand.

"Hello friend. I could sense your odd aura from the other side of the room." Ozzy smiled.

"That's quite rude to say to a Deity, don't you think?" Joseph inquired.

"Does the term 'Oceanus' mean anything to you?"

"Ah, so you're one of them huh?" Joseph smiled. The secret Oceanus cult was a mysterious organization with only a handful of members. Ozzy rolled up his long sleeve, revealing a tattoo with the number two on his shoulder.

"How could you tell at just a glance?" Joseph asked. Removing his white glove, the number three was imprinted on his palm.

"Number Three huh? I'm glad I came to this boring event!" Ozzy laughed.

"How many others have you met so far?" Joseph asked Ozzy.

"Besides those two Shades in the tournament, one other. What about you?"

"I've met another as well, likely someone else than yours I would assume." Joseph responded.

"I guess that makes six of us. I'm sure the rest have already made their way into the Great Dungeon Party I would imagine?" Ozzy shrugged his shoulders.

"I would hope so. It is not impossible for some to have lost their memories."

"The fate of Oceanus is at stake. I can't imagine Theseus would allow anyone not to participate."

"Hmm, I would think not." Joseph had a deep and meaningful look on his face.

"It really is good to see you again, number two." Joseph shook Ozzy's hand again and departed back to his group of priests from the Seven Paths Church.

"Wow, Ozzy I can't believe you talked to someone! How unlike you." Superior Councilman Tirips patted Ozzy's shoulder from behind.

"I like that priest. He seemed nice. That's all." Ozzy smiled weakly at the Superior Councilman.

Of the important Priests and Priestesses participating in the Great Dungeon Party there were three: Arch Priest of Order Joseph, Arch Priestess of Chaos Evelynn, and High Priest of Void, Vladimir.

Seeing Joseph talking to a random Councilman, Evelynn appeared next to Joseph.

"What's up with him?" She signaled to the relaxed looking Ozzy, who was the only one in the entire banquet hall with his hands in his pockets.

"He's number two." Joseph pointed.

"Shh, keep it down. Do you want someone to hear you?" Evelynn got angry.

"Who cares? I could yell all about Oceanus, and no one here would know what we're talking about."

"Don't be like that. The malevolent Authorities would like nothing more than for Oceanus to fall."

Meanwhile, the violent and scheming council members were looking for trouble. Typically, other organizations would raise their elite members from birth and gave extensive resources to grow those with high aptitude or potential, but the High Mage Council was different. Most of their Council Members were recruited. Whenever a powerful entity like Murdoc appeared, the Council would try to reason with them. Some were recruited onto the Council to 'reform' them while others like Murdoc perished.

Councilwoman Nexus was a standout troublemaker and longtime Councilwoman on the High Council. Along with her good friend Councilwoman Freya, they constantly provoked others on the council with pranks and shenanigans. They were both undead, and exceptionally powerful monsters. Nexus was an Arch Lich by race, and she was a summoner with a violent Shade aura. Freya on the other hand was a more classically born Shade, whose goal was to one day kill an Authority. Giggling next to their equally disturbed apprentices, the two plotted how to start a fight.

Nexus herself was a comedically stupid individual, but she one of the weakest members of the council along with Freya. Because their inherent races extended their lifespans by a lot, the two had been on the Council longer than Ziphe was Grand Councilman, but they never tried to become stronger. Sitting at the bare minimum aura for a councilperson, the low-Royalty Realm, the two decided to target Ryko Corp Executive Evaris. After he spoke with Ziphe, Nexus approached Evaris.

"Say Evaris, how about a duel?" Nexus laughed underneath the signature councilperson's mask, which was made completely from void aura.

"I'm not sure that would be too appropriate Councilwoman." Evaris tried to rebuke her, but underneath his façade, he yearned to teach her a lesson in respect.

"I can tell you're itching for a duel." Councilwoman Freya interjected. The two Councilwomen looked almost identical because of their matching council masks.

"Fine, you got me!" Evaris had to admit. "Let's have a friendly duel up in the council's arena away from the party where we won't disturb the other guests." Evaris suggested. It was time to show these Councilwomen not to disrespect him ever again.

"Perfect!" Nexus laughed. Watching the three troublemakers and their associates leave silently, Ziphe facepalmed. How could these top world powers be so childish?

Arriving in the Council's arena on the top floor of their headquarters, Nexus and Evaris prepared to fight. Situated in a cathedral-like dome, the Council's arena was meant for training and was equipped with extensive runic barriers and advanced technology. They couldn't get hurt here nor could they cause any substantial damage. Freya and the two Councilwomen's apprentices watched the two in anticipation. On the other side of the arena, Evaris's attendants watched nervously. They were scared of Evaris and watching him fight brought back traumatizing memories.

"Evaris! Feel the wrath of Nexus the Great!" She yelled and ripped off her mask. Underneath, a bony face with three glowing red eyes appeared. One was on her forehead, and it was bigger than her normal eyes. Evaris could tell at first glance that this was her lich core. As a lich was basically an undead Shade, it was surprisingly dumb that she would put her core on her forehead.

"Umm, good luck?" Evaris was super confused at the manic Councilwoman before him, but he was also intrigued. He tried to put up a persona of a cold and calculating businessman, but he was actually a violent and greedy man. Unable to hold back any longer, Evaris powered up his aura, but it was too late.

"Summoner Skill: Lich Necromancy!" Nexus casted a necromancy spell, and two extraordinarily powerful liches were summoned next to her. One rode a skeleton horse in full armor, and the other had a wand in its hand without armor.

Facing a necromancer, Evaris had to use his artifacts wisely. As the CEO of the richest company in the world, he would be stupid not to be a Scientific Path follower. With his access to aura credits and powerful technology, his wealth was unparalleled. The result was a horde of expensive technologies that alone grew his aura to the Royalty Realm. If he had any talent whatsoever along with his wealth, he could probably reach the Deity Realm.

"Skill: Corporate Army!" Evaris let loose and used all ten storage rings on each of his fingers. Coming out of the rings, a robotic army with full on assault weapons, turrets, drones, and tanks surrounded the three liches. A vicious smile grew on Nexus's face as she was about to pounce on the machines.

"Stop!" Ziphe's voice boomed throughout the arena. Nexus's violently happy smile faded as she realized her predicament.

"Oops."

She was like a child caught in the act of stealing a cookie.

"I understand both of your zeal for getting to know each other, but this is not the time. Save your aura and your resources for Hell, both of you." Ziphe stared down the 'respectable' CEO. Rescinding his army, both apologized, realizing their battle junkie natures were taking the better of them.

"I'm sorry!" Both bowed and apologized profusely to Ziphe.

"In less than a week from now, we will be in Hell. Get prepared and stop fooling around."

"Yes sir!"

With these troublemakers under control, the rest of the evening went smoothly.