Chapter 458: Trial

Ruka POV

Perseus went to do his sleeping thing in a lone secret base of Lilith with Maple and Buddy with him in case a god comes for him and so they're his protection, Leilah and I are going to go meet Tanner for the first time in a long while, and Lilith is going to send a personal attack on the gods, to distract them and take their mind away from Perseus' possible reason for the recent disappearance.

However that attack will put the demons in a bit of a conflict since they're currently in an alliance with the cult, who are allying themselves with God, so they're going to question whether to follow the goddess or the cult or simply stay out and continuing what they're doing.

For now, we came back to our private bunker because Leilah wanted to check on Rosa, and while I had to prepare some items to bring along with me, which isn't much. Nyra and Rylee questioned me on what Perseus was doing since he was being ambiguous with all of his answers.

"We know that it's going to be dangerous...but..." Rylee said, "Based on your red lips, it meant that you gave him some sort of a goodbye kiss, we just want to know how dangerous exactly."

"...Do you really want to know?"

"Oh, it's bad, isn't it?"

"Well...if it works...he may be on par with the demon lord in terms of strength...if it doesn't...he'll explode and the force will be strong enough to destroy the village and the surrounding forest in its entirety."

"That son of bitch!"

"Hey!" Nyra exclaimed while punching Rylee, "That said, when you see him again, tell him that I'm going to strangle him when he comes home."

"He's your son."

"Exactly, I'm being merciful here."

His...I'm questioning my choices right now, but it's a bit too late to turn back time.

*****

Currently, Leilah and I are going to head for this rebel's camp where Tanner is supposedly located, it's going to take a while to find him as his location within the camp would be kept secret since there are spies within their midst.

As I approached the outskirts of the camp, the air was alive with hushed whispers and the muted sounds of activity. Torches flickered in the distance, illuminating the makeshift structures that housed the rebel fighters. 

The rebel camp resembled a vibrant night market under the cover of darkness. The air buzzed with a frenetic energy, akin to a bustling bazaar at its peak. Tents and makeshift stalls adorned with colorful fabrics and flickering lanterns lined the paths, forming a maze of activity.

Torches and lanterns cast erratic shadows, painting the scene with a flickering dance of light and darkness. Amidst this vibrant chaos, individuals moved with purpose, their faces etched with very pessimistic expressions as they were currently on the losing side, but they tried to still have some fun due to the atmosphere.

*****

Perseus POV

"This is your dream?" Maple asked

"Well, it's some sort of trial, and since you're in here, you can help me make sure my mental state is stable while Buddy is practicing his powers outside."

I stood amidst the towering structures that pierced the sky, their glass façades reflecting the muted sunlight. The metropolis stretched endlessly in all directions, a sprawling maze of concrete and steel. The air felt heavy with an unspoken silence, as if the very city itself held its breath, waiting for something unknown.

I gazed at the skyscrapers that loomed over me, their sharp angles casting long shadows on the deserted streets below. The once vibrant city now stood eerily still, devoid of the usual hustle and bustle. It was a dystopian dreamscape, a surreal realm where time seemed to have frozen.

Based on the dark and ominous feeling, this was Satan's trial first.

In front of me, there's this swirling vortex, a portal emitting powerful energy. The portal's core seemed to spiral endlessly, a vortex of swirling lights that beckoned with an eerie energy. Within it, I sensed a faint resonance, a distant echo of something ancient and powerful.

"Shouldn't you dream of something more easy?" Maple asked

"Hey, this isn't what I wanted, why would I do something hard on purpose?"

The moment we stepped through the pulsating portal, the world around me transformed. The air grew thick with acrid smoke, the scent of sulfur assaulting my senses. Before me loomed a nightmarish landscape decorated with a fiery hellscape adorned with jagged rocks and rivers of lava.

And there, seated upon a grotesque throne forged of bones and shadows, was Satan himself.

This time, he wasn't in that cyclop vessel looking thing, he was me in my demon/satan form, black hair, and everything. I still don't know what the purpose of the wings are when we can just use magic to fly anyway.

"I can see why he's Ruka's type."

"That's your concern?" Maple chided

"What?!"

"Narcissist..." she mumbled under her breath

"To still be disrespectful in my domain..." Satan said as his voice resonated like thunder, a rumbling growl that echoed through the infernal abyss, "You truly are an insolent fool."

His presence commanded the space, a figure of immense darkness and power. Crimson eyes bore into mine, holding a chilling intensity that seemed to pierce through my very soul. This must be what everyone feels like when they're fighting against me, huh...

"Well, you know, I always did have a knack for finding myself in the most charming of places, like...this...we're just tourists on a date."

"If this is the date, I want to break up." Maple muttered

"What? You don't like going to hell for a date?"

"Who does?"

"Um...Lilith?"

"No, she doesn't."

Before I could gather my bearings, the ground beneath me shifted and trembled. Suddenly, I found myself whisked away, transported to a colossal coliseum. Around me, a horde of monstrous creatures roared and hissed, encircling me and surrounding the both of us.

[Quest: Survive the Coliseum Trials. Defeat all adversaries to claim victory and transcend.]

Well, it could be worse.