[Ring - 2nd]

[Realm - Torheim]

[Unknown Alpha Testers PoV]

'You can do this Anna'. I shook my head. 'No, not Anna. Hanna'. I fisted my palms and directed the Energy in me to them. It uskef subtly. 'I can do this'.

I took a quick gander of my Records and smiled. I could do this. I had to. Looking at the creature lying in a daze at my feet I smirked. The little pain it had brought me had long gone. But still, it would pay for such an attempt.

"Come". Turning I selected a path and moved. Pushing onto its feet and following behind was a creature the Records had informed me was a Divine Lion. A menacing beast that stood well over 6 feet tall and higher when it reared up on its hind legs. And yet I had survived the thing ambushing me.

A glance at the pink skin of my right arm the only reminder of the gruesome injury it had inflicted made me smile. Such a monstrous beast and it had fallen under my grasp. There was something about the look in its eyes when it realized it was no more predator but prey that sent a tingle of passion through me.

There was a situation where I would have been confused by such an absurd feeling. Wondering why I would possibly take joy in what I did to a lifeform. But I was not dense nor did I doubt what or why I felt this way.

People who came to games had various thoughts and wishes. There were the normal folks who just wanted to enjoy themselves, the others who wished to for a moment to forget their stupid or bad lives, and others who wanted something else from the games.

I was one such figure.

[Flashback]

Anna sat on a worn-out couch, clutching her teddy bear as her parents argued in the kitchen. The house was a shabby one left to her father by his dead mother. A lucky escape they gained from the rent payment.

She was six, but already she understood more about survival than most adults. Their voices were a constant background noise, the soundtrack of her childhood.

"How are we going to pay the bills, Tom?" her mother demanded, her voice rising. "We're barely scraping by!"

Anna's father sighed heavily. "I'll pick up more shifts. We'll manage."

"We're always just managing," her mother shot back. "It's not enough."

Anna watched them, her young mind absorbing every word. She knew their struggles were a constant battle against a world that didn't care. She glanced at the toys scattered around her, most of them hand-me-downs or charity shop finds. Her favorite, a shiny toy car, was a trade she had orchestrated with a classmate, convincing him that her old toy was somehow special.

Even with the argument in the kitchen Anna couldn't help but smile at how delusional and stupid the kid had been.

By middle school, Anna's skills were better. Sitting in the cafeteria, eyes scanning the room split into social hierarchies that most of these kids didn't even understand, and she needed to navigate it carefully. She spotted a group of popular girls and made her move, sliding into an empty seat with practiced ease.

"Hey, Mindy," Anna said, flashing a confident smile. "I heard you aced the math test. That's amazing!"

Mindy beamed, with a clear haughty smile that should have been nowhere on a kid's face. "Thanks, Anna. I studied really hard and I'm just that good."

Anna nodded. " Yes, you really are". Mindy's smile brightened even more and Anna made a mental note. Compliments increased favourability.

Over the next few weeks, she ingratiated herself with Mindy's group, offering help with homework, sharing gossip, and always knowing the right thing to say. Soon, she was a core member, subtly steering conversations and decisions.

But it was high school that was her real proving ground. She joined the student council, became captain of the debate team, and maintained a perfect GPA. Her influence grew, but so did the stakes. The fundraiser for extracurricular activities was her biggest challenge.

Standing in front of the assembled volunteers, Anna projected confidence even while her heart raced at miles a minute. "This event is going to be amazing," she declared. "We need to raise more money than ever before, and I know we can do it."

She divided tasks and assigned roles based on each person's capabilities. She secured donations by charming local business owners, organized promotional events, and managed every detail with military precision. The night of the fundraiser, the school gym was transformed into a vibrant gala, and the donations poured in.

As she mingled with guests, Anna overheard whispers of admiration. "She's incredible," one teacher said. "Such a natural leader."

But there were also murmurs of dissent. "She's so controlling," a student muttered. "It's like she's running everything."

Anna brushed off the criticism. Success came with a price, and she was willing to pay it. She had learned that power was not given; it was taken. And she was ready to take whatever she needed.

Graduation was both a triumph and a relief. Her parents beamed with pride as she walked across the stage to accept her diploma. They didn't know the lengths she had gone to, the strings she had pulled, and the manipulation she had employed. They only saw the polished, successful daughter they had always hoped for.

As she packed for college, Anna felt a mix of excitement and determination. She was leaving behind the struggles of her childhood, but the lessons learned would guide her. She was stepping into a larger world, and she was ready to conquer it.

Stepping onto the university campus, Anna felt a surge of adrenaline. The sprawling lawns and historic buildings represented a new arena, a place where she could further hone her skills and expand her influence. She had chosen her majors—business and psychology—with a clear purpose in mind.

Her first semester was a whirlwind of activity. She joined several clubs, attended social events, and excelled academically. One evening, she found herself at a networking mixer, a glass of wine in hand, scanning the room for potential allies.

"Anna, right?" A voice interrupted her thoughts. She turned to see a tall, confident senior extending his hand. "I'm James. I hear you're making quite a name for yourself already."

Anna smiled, shaking his hand firmly. "Just trying to make the most of my time here."

James laughed. "Well, you're certainly doing that. I'm president of the Business Club. We could use someone like you."

Over the next few weeks, Anna became an integral part of the Business Club. She organized events, led discussions, and networked tirelessly. Her knowledge of psychology gave her an edge, allowing her to read people and situations with remarkable accuracy.

In her sophomore year, Anna landed an internship at a top marketing firm. She walked into the sleek, modern office with a sense of purpose. This was her first real taste of the corporate world, and she was determined to make an impression.

Her supervisor, Mr. Collins, was a shrewd and demanding man. On her first day, he handed her a stack of reports. "Analyze these market trends and prepare a presentation by tomorrow morning," he said, not bothering to look up from his computer.

Anna nodded, suppressing a surge of anxiety. She stayed late into the night, poring over the data, and crafting a compelling narrative. The next morning, she stood in front of Mr. Collins and a few senior executives, presenting her findings with confidence and clarity.

When she finished, Mr. Collins finally looked up, a glimmer of approval in his eyes. "Well done, Anna. We'll use this in our next strategy meeting."

That small acknowledgment fueled her. She threw herself into her work, impressing her colleagues with her insights and strategic thinking. Her ability to influence and persuade became her trademark, and she quickly gained a reputation as someone who got things done.

Back on campus for her junior year, Anna's influence continued to grow. She took on leadership roles, mentoring younger students and expanding her network. One evening, she was sitting in the library, helping a freshman named Lisa with a challenging assignment.

"You're good at this, Anna," Lisa said, admiration in her eyes. "How do you do it?"

Anna smiled, a hint of satisfaction in her voice. "It's all about understanding people, Lisa. Knowing what they want, what they need, and how to give it to them in a way that benefits you too."

Her senior year was a whirlwind of achievements. She graduated with honors, and her resume boasted impressive internships, leadership roles, and academic accolades. Job offers flooded in, but Anna had her sights set on a prestigious consulting firm known for its high-stakes projects and rapid career advancement.

Joining the firm was another strategic move. Anna navigated the corporate environment with the same precision she had honed over the years. She aligned herself with key figures, always staying one step ahead. Her ability to deliver results under pressure made her an invaluable asset.

During a particularly challenging project, Anna's strategic mind shone. The firm had been hired to revamp a struggling company's marketing strategy. Anna led the team, analyzing data, conducting focus groups, and developing a comprehensive plan. The project was a resounding success, earning her accolades and a promotion to senior consultant.

Despite her professional success, Anna's personal life was often a source of frustration. Her need for control and manipulation created tension in her relationships. Friends and romantic partners found it difficult to connect with someone who always seemed to be two steps ahead, always calculating.

She didn't see what was so wrong about being two steps ahead. It had gotten her this far in life. Her days become one of a loner at home and an extrovert at work. She filled herself with escaping the reality of her bleak life with wine, movies, work, books, and games.

Then she watched one of the streams of a Creator Player. It was nothing like she expected. For some reason, it called to her.

****

[Ring - 1st]

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

[Realm - Sol]

After the fairies were done introducing themselves the players realized how annoying and hard it was to try remembering their names. It was a thought task thanks to the long names they all had but luckily we managed to pick up on the first pronounceable part of their names.

There was Myrsi Gray Guy's fairy. Amazon lady's was Tirtis and it was all that the players could keep from laughing at how close to titties it sounded. The other girl's fairy was Ziei, the large guy's was Antmo and the first player's fairy was Jimin.

All weird names but they shrugged them off as fairy names.

"Now, if you've all selected names it's time for your ascension rewards".

"Ascension rewards?". He looked confused. "But we already got those?". His fairy Jimin nodded.

"Yes. But rewards are different for each of you". It faced him.

"How?".

"Each realm has different kinds of entities. These entities are all children of the six Primordials in more ways than one".

"The Primordials". Big guy grunted.

"Wait wait. Since we've picked names let's know it. I'm tired of tagging y'all with he and her, gray guy and Amazon lady. Sorry". With an apologetic expression, he continued. "I'm Hellion. Kind of got up here first. And you are?". He looked at gray guy.

"By Hellion I'm guessing that's the in-game name you chose?". Gray guy asked back. His hands were crossed in front of him with the left beneath the right.

" Yeah. I think it fitting considering where we are. Sun and all". Hellion smiled and then looked at him expectantly.

"Blaze". Everyone just stared. He grunted. "What. Everything here is on fire. Plus with what I can do it feels applicable".

Hellion shrugged. Big guy stepped up next. "Sorry to ruin the naming trend but I picked Thorin". He looked apologetic but not regretful.

"Pfft. It's the beard. Isn't it?". Amazon chuck toled. Thorin smirked at her and made a slight head tilt in acknowledgment. Hellion just looked to the next fella. The girl.

"Hi, I'm ...well, I picked Stryder". She waved and everyone was sure she was a teenager or atleast some jovial kid.

"I'm Mera". She picked up the locks on her shoulder and admired it. "Always loved redheads. Their hair I mean not them, I'm not gay I'm straight....not that I .."

"I think we get the point". Thorin assured. Hellion chuckled while Stryder grinned. He then turned to face the fairies. "So who are the Primordials".

"Children of the Creator. Your parents". Jimin offered. " To survive you must connect yourselves to them in the monument".

"What's the catch?". Blaze asked.

Lightning flashed in the sky, followed sharply by the deep rumble of thunder.

**Elder Force Slain**

**Alpha Testers - 54/54**

"That is the catch". Myrsi had a dark and foreboding look on her face.

"I'm confused". Mera took a step forward."We11 completed the ascension. We are here. We've gotten and are still getting rewards for it ". The look in the fairies eyes made Hellion sigh.

"It's not over is it?". All eyes turned to I'm but the player kept his gaze on the Fairies.

"No". Jimin replied. Tirsi buzzed in front of her taking Hellion's attention. Still when she spoke all five heard her.

"The rules of the Prologue were scattered and different. More due to what each of us does than anything else.

"Does this have to do with the realms we crossed to get here?". He asked. Ziei was the one to reply though she remained in her position.

"Yes".

"What do you mean?".

"When we ascended you must have received notifications that mentioned some locations". He looked at Thorin. The big man nodded.

"Those were realms. Just like this place" Antmo spoke.

"Okay. One person talks and tells us everything we need to know". Thorin spoke in a commanding parent voice.

'Definitely got a kid or something close'. Hellion thought. The fairies buzzed before Antmo was sacrificed since it was her owner giving them death glares.

"If you noticed, you are all tagged under something called the Sol Rank which calls you Elder Titans".She looked around.

" Elder Titans are children of the Primordial Giant. Just as Elder Deities are of the Primordial Deity and Elder ..."

"Wait. Elder. We're all called Elder. That notification said an Elder Force was Slain". Mera interrupted. Thorin glared at her but she ignored him.

'Okay, she doesn't feel awkward unless she gets embarrassed then'. Hellion noted.

"Yes. You are correct. In chronological order, we have the Elder Titans..." She tapped a finger out and began counting as she called the other names. "...Elder Divines, Elder Psions, Elder Gods, Elder Spirits, Elder Devils, Elder Magis, Elder Demons and Elder Forces". She sighed and took a breath.

"That's a lot of Elders". Thorin whistled. " What are we?. The Elder committee?". The sarcasm in his voice hard to miss. His switch-up was also quite shocking from his British speech before but no one pointed it out after giving him looks.

"I'm guessing the chronological order is not due to strength or importance". Blaze spoke.

'Speaks Little. Asks important things. Hellion mentally nodded at the guy.

"No. It's an arrangement of the realms where each Elders is located". Antmo replied. Stryder's mouth gaped open.

"That's nine different Elders and realms" she muttered.

"It doesn't add up". Hellion commented.

"Fifty-five ERROR..." Blaze blinked and frowned. "Fifty-five of us came but there's only a fourth accounted for if. .." he focused on the fairy. "...by my calculations, the division is a five-way split. Unless we're missing some folks amongst us".

Hellion and Thorin eyed Blaze with wide eyes 'Silent and observant'.

Jimin spoke this time. "There's also the Bands and the River but they're not exactly realms so they're not part of the order in a way. They're more for order and balance than anything else I believe". She scratched her head.

"But there are Elders there. What are they called?. Elder what?".

"They're not called Elders Unlike you and the others on the realms they lack something They're simply called Aeus for those on the Bands and Deities for the Rivers".

**Elder Magi Slain**

**Elders : 53/53**

The chatter paused for a moment as eyes blinked at the announcement. No one said it but the were all sure that knowing all the players were Elders was the only reason the text had changed from Alpha Testers to Elders. Still the quick death following the last was astonishing.

"Alright, I think that's good enough for now". Thorin looked at everyone and then the fairies sighed and spoke again. " I think we should all work together".

No one spoke and all eyes went to each other. Mera subtly distanced herself from Stryder while I kept my eye on Blaze just in case.

"We've seen that dying here is permanent. Those ERROR...hmmh...Elders are not coming back". He grunted at the game censoring him. " Together we can watch our backs, and have no qualms about one or the other ending us. I'm a team player, and I'd love for us to tackle this together".

"Is that allowed? Banding together". Stryder questioned. Her fairy nodded. Ziei spoke up quickly with something about an accord to hold them to their words.

"An oath of sorts". Tirsti added.

"A parliament!" Myrsi giggled out buzzing around. Tirsti caught her and Antmon slapped the back of her head.

"It's a Pantheon. And I believe while there are rewards for killing each other there are also rewards for making a Pantheon". She looked hopeful.

"I prefer this Pantheon thing. Best to not have my back unprotected".

"Who'd lead us?". Mera asked eyes going from one to the other.

"Probably the big brute guy who thought of it". Hellion winked at Thorin who sighed.

"That's not how leadership works". She raised an eyebrow.

*There's a chance for all to lead". All eyes went to Ziei. "As long as all first joiners are of the same rank and same power level then it's doable. But there must always be a veto power".

"Like a tiebreaker. Sounds alright. Let's do this then". Mera took as to closer. Stryder followed. Hellion stepped as well and all eyes went to Blaze who was already walking up to them.

"Initiate it by thinking of adding the others to your group".

Thorin shut his eyes and then the next thing we saw was a notification.

**Thorin Giantson has invited you to join his Pantheon**

**Accept/ Decline**

"Giantson". Hellion blurted. The looks the fairies gave had him sober up as he realized. "Don't tell me".

"You're all Giantson". Tirsti buzzed around Antmo.

"And the girls?. How does that naming work? Giant daughter?". Hellon poked. The fairy shook her head.

"Daughter of the Giant".

"No fair". He groaned.

"I take it there's only one giant. If not there'd be a need for differentiation". Thorin pointed out and Mirsi nodded quickly.

With everyone accepting the request a new record opened showing them their names and a yet-to-be-named Pantheon. Slowly they watched as Thorin slotted them into leadership positions.

"All done". He muttered.

"What now?". Stryder piped looking at everyone with large doe eyes. 'Definitely just a kid'. Everyone thought.

"Now, your rewards". Five boxes appeared behind them. Turning as the wooden material slammed into the ground raising fiery dust they found long boxes almost the length of coffins.

"As you check out your rewards you must understand your status and how things there work. Since we already covered rank next is your level and how that works. First you...". Hellion zoned out the talking fairy as he'd seen all that in his status.

Crouching he touched the box and found it locked with some weird-looking fantasy padlock. It had no keyhole and nothing to show it needed a key.

'Hmmh. Maybe'. Touching it he let some essence slip. The padlock glowed and then dimmed before vanishing. Unhooking the bolt he raised the lid and let it fall on the other side. 'Guess that worked'.

Hellion didn't know what he'd expected but it wasn't this. Silently his hand vanished into the box and grabbed the first thing he saw. It was a leather armor with a skirt of plates. Turning it he admired the golden weaves and the tiny plates that were forged into the leather for added protection.

The skirt was made of some thick stuff that while weighing nothing was still hard. The moment he thought of how to wear it the armor dissolved into liquid gold and flowed up his arm before wrapping around his body and reappearing.

"That's one nasty equip right?". Mera chuckled from ahead. She had on a pair of pants she didn't have before. Hellon quickly looked down to see that indeed there was a pair of pants. It looked to be made of the same gold weaving as the leather armor. It was equipped the same way and he was looking back into the box at a pair of boots.

'It's a full outfit'. The boots were equipped and he found the last item inside the box. It was a material that covered the bottom. Touching it made him shiver as he felt a coldness from it. Pulling it out he stood and spread it out.

It was a cloak. A black thick cloak. He saw no way to put it on as he didn't know how the head or neck went where he equipped it and he suddenly felt a bit chilly. Like he'd been in the sun and suddenly had a cooling unit around.

Looking into the box he found it wasn't empty. The cloak had covered the last two things. One was a pair of vambraces that he equipped quickly and almost absentmindedly, all the while his eyes unable to leave the last thing in the box.

Leaning down and taking it the box vanished in a burst of light. Hellon had eyes only for what he had.

"A sword".

The scabbard that he held was made of some black and steel material that was comfortable to the touch and somehow the sword weighed nothing.

His right hand came forward slowly to the handle. The pommel of the sword was golden with an eye engraved on it. The handle was black and he suspected it to be made of the same material the scabbard was. The guard was straight and cleanly horizontal lacking any curves. It was as golden as the pommel.

'Bloody draw it out. It's just a blade, stop acting weird man'. With a mental grunt, he tightened his palm around the handle, skin touching the guard and slowly pulled the sword free of the scabbard. The metallic scraping sound sent a warm tingle down his back and up his arm.

'Black?'. The steel was like the darkest of nights from the point it left the guard to the very tip. It had red and golden lightning cracks from its guard edge down to the blade point on both sides. Pointing the blade to the ground he tilted it to both sides feeling a sense of excitement.

"Ewww man. Stop that". Hearing Mera's voice Hellion looked up and almost fainted at the sight before him.

Thorin held a gigantic hammer. Its handle was the length of a man's arm and thicker than a palm. Which was okay considering Thorin had large palms. The hammer head itself was black just like Hellion's blade with the same cracks of golden and red on all its six sides.

The hammer head's length was double an average lean male's torso. The width of a single torso. And he just hefted it up and unto his shoulder.

"What the hell!". He blurted out in shock. Mera looked at him and shook her head.

"Tell me about it. That thing is ridiculous".

"As much as his". Thorin shot back eyeing Blaze. All eyes went to the silent unless necessary male and they just stared. The chains were thick, black, and with the same cracks. Each link was the size of a child's head. And it seemed endless, wrapped around his arms, calves, and waist.

"What'd you get?". Hellion turned to Mera. She must have seen the plea to not have something ridiculous as a weapon since she just chuckled and showed him her hands. The gauntlets he'd seen were it.

Black and with red cracks running along it like their weapons. It covered from her fingers to her elbow. She and Stryder were geared up like him but instead of a skirt they both had a single backward loin cloth.

Turning to the two behind him he found Thorin in steel armor. It was golden and red. Blaze had an armless furred jacket that was open down the center leaving him bare chested.

Hellion's attempt to snort in disbelief died when he saw the garish scar on the man's chest. It was like two lightning strikes from both shoulders meeting at his chest and then flashing down to just above his upper abdomen.

"I'm guessing that's an in-game thing". He pointed. The man nodded and then everyone turned to Stryder. She was geared up like Hellion except for the twin shorblades at her hips.

Looking themselves over it was clear they were ready.

"What now?". Mera asked the fairies congregated to one side chittering amongst themselves like housewives at a barbecue night.

"Now...". Antmo buzzed forward the others following behind. "...you get your domains". Notification prompts appeared in front of them. It took just one minute for them to put one and two together before the questions erupted.