[I’m sure you informed your supervisor that Dan had somehow cleared his channels and magically gained a mana-type. What was her response?]

Let’s see here. One second.

“Xotl…,” see what I mean? I had already told that dumb broad my name changed to Ace like five times by then. I submitted the paperwork to HR and everything.

In the names of Balberith, Beelzebub, and Moloch, I curse her a thousand times. May every single spawn in her brood be stomped on viciously. May the genitals of everyone she fornicates with wither and fall off. May everyone she cares about die slowly and painfully.

Okay. After maliciously getting my name wrong, she said, “Why do you keep replying to all? Just reply to your new girlfriend. I know you want to marry her like a huge sissy. Everyone knows Chamosites are stupid prudes that suck at fornicating. And their faces look very stupid.

“You’re a loser and have little, teeny-tiny tentacles. I’m starting to believe you’re not even a real demon. More like a lost soul or one of the damned. Dork. Loser. Here’s another photo of my juicy orifices you’ll never touch again. We’re all laughing at you up here, even your union rep. Loser.”

That photo’s my second favorite. Her holes are completely free of discharge in it, and this somehow makes them a different sort of compelling. Oh, how my tentacles yearn to explore them.

So, as you can see, her reply, minus the photo, wasn’t very helpful.

I should probably review what the other members of my team had been up to.

Nick wasn’t really a good leader. No one was taking training seriously. Most of those slobs were pathetic.

Not Leena. She may not have been a real person, but she was in great shape. She had trained her cardio every day for decades and continued to exercise on her own in the Game. Her Trait could’ve been helping too.

Becky was young and in reasonable shape. She put in a decent effort during group exercises and was willing to train for the Agility Trial as Chet dictated, as was Leena.

I’m sure you’ve guessed at Chet’s real motivation in training those two. If not, I’ll give you a hint – it involved a lot of bouncing and jiggling.

Nick used his injured leg as an excuse to do little. Carlos always volunteered to babysit Bonnie. Luke would do a few push-ups before looking around and joining Carlos.

Austin had been building some sort of pathetically constructed fort to sleep in and was focusing all his efforts exclusively on that.

The one that really surprised me by the amount of effort he always put into exercising was Blacky. He trained hard, off by him...

[Blacky?]

Oh. Didn’t I tell you? The other Ace told everyone he wanted to be called Blacky. What a cool name, right? Blacky. Hey, I’m Blacky! Look at me, I’m Blacky! So cool!

[I don’t believe he wanted to be called Blacky.]

Well, he did.

[Use his real name.]

Have you considered that if he ever thought of the name Blacky, he definitely would’ve wanted to be called that? It’s the coolest name besides Ace. And I just don’t see how you’ll be able to keep everything straight now that you know both Blacky and I have the same name. It’s preposterous. I’m Ace! I’m the real Ace!

[Enough! Continue. And only use the name shown on a participant’s status.]

Jeez. Alright. I think the other Ace was tired of everyone being slothful. I’m pretty sure I mentioned the other Ace had been in the military for a while. He did a stint as a drill sergeant before being promoted. Then he did one more deployment as a platoon sergeant before getting out.

He must’ve had enough of these guys being so lazy. All that drill sergeant energy just burst out of him. He started getting in everyone’s face and yelling at them like a maniac. He put the fear of Leonard into them all, especially that asshole Austin.

So, the other Ace stopped his own training to micromanage everyone else’s. He worked them hard. Anyone that gave him backtalk was on the ground doing push-ups or other exercises. Even Bob and I were kind of scared of the guy. It was like a switch was turned on and he became a high-tier devil.

Carlos had no idea what was being screamed, but he started moving with a purpose anyway, looking around and trying to copy everyone else so the other Ace wouldn’t yell at him. He’d even get down and do push-ups when he wasn’t supposed to. It was very entertaining.

But Dan didn’t get to see it. They were all eating dinner when he got there.

Nick hobbled up to him. “Hey, man. I…hey, you looking better. That rash is gone, and your eyes is looking normal. What happened? And nice cast. How’s the arm doing?”

“I already told you it’s fine. I need you to bring everyone to the Mana Trial. Last time.”

“It’s late, Danny, and…never mind. You got it. I’ll bring them. Where is it?”

“Right below the exit at about 12 o’clock or so.”

“Damn, that’s a hike,” said Nick. “It’s fixing to get dark soon and we won’t be back until after it does. Not that it gets too dark here.”

I could tell Dan was psyching himself up to say something. After way too long of a time and a lot of awkwardness, he said, “I appreciate you helping out, Nicky. I’m sorry I been…like how I am. I’m sorry I’m like this. You know I love you, right? Even if I don’t say it.”

Nick looked very surprised. It took him a while to respond as well. When he did, he smiled first and said, “Hey, man, I know it. I love you too. You’re all I got since Maw…since all that happened. We’re all each other got. I hope she doing okay.”

“Me too.”

“I know it’s been a sore spot between us, but I miss Paw too.”

That looked like it surprised Dan. He didn’t respond.

Nick sighed and said, “I know you working hard and all, but whenever you need to talk, you know I’m here. I hope you’re fixing to tell me what’s going on with you at some point. Sooner rather than later.”

Dan nodded his head and said, “I know it. I’ll see you up there.”

Since everyone had finally been forced to exert themselves and actually exercise and train, they weren’t too happy about walking all the way up to the Mana Trial.

Dan was running in a large circle a little southwest while waiting for the others to arrive. Once they were gathered, he ran around to approach the entrance away from the group.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

As Chet handed over the camera, he said, “You have a Class now, right? You need one for this Trial. Even for F-rating.”

“I will soon. Y’all will before doing this,” replied Dan.

I could tell Chet wanted to ask more questions but held his tongue as Dan took a step toward the Trial.

Dan stopped, turned back to Chet, and asked, “You do them exercises to muscle failure last night?”

“I did. I was adequately sore this morning but not enough to stop me from training hard today. I coached Leena and Becky on the Agility Trial. I’m ready for personal training. When shall we begin training together?”

“Soon. Keep on doing those exercises and conditioning your body for now.”

Dan entered the Trial, set the backpack down, set the camera right under a specific spot of the wall, and stepped into the starting circle.

This Trial’s pretty straight forward. When the Trial Starts, the participant’s Class is deactivated and they’re given something called the Trial Class with two Orbments – First Rank Missiles and Shield Wall, but the cast times are much faster, I think only a quarter second each, they hardly have any cooldown, and barely have a mana cost.

The participant must stand in a small circle and stay in it throughout the Trial. Stepping out means death.

Targets appear all around and shoot little mana balls. The objective is to hit the targets with Missiles and block the mana balls with Shield Wall. The faster targets are hit, the less mana balls they shoot, and the mana balls are deadly.

This is one of the Trials where the participant selects the rating they’re trying for beforehand, like the Combat Trial. And there’s an option to practice for each rating besides SS.

The difference between ratings is how often and how many targets appear, and the speed at which those targets shoot mana balls at the participant. Higher difficulties have additional targets. F-rating is pretty much a cakewalk, even in Hell difficulty. S and SS ratings are completely nuts.

I believe S and SS-rating are exactly the same besides that SS-rating doesn’t give participants the Trial Class while their own Class is still blocked. It becomes a test of the participant’s ability to manipulate their mana with advanced mana techniques. Any hit to a target by any mana-type destroys it. Any mana-type touching a mana ball destroys those too.

This Trial scales some with tier but not by much. It’s impossible above B-rating without being really experienced with invocations. Having decent grades and a ton of points in Speed, Reaction, and Agility helps a ton too.

I wasn’t sure this was going to work for Dan as he had no Class to deactivate. He selected SS and the machine lit right up for him though. Instead of shooting lava, he just made a long whip he held in his right hand while lava covered his whole cast. That’s all he needed.

He was like an incarnate of Lilith as he lashed those targets. I’d like to say he went about it fervently, but his mentals showed otherwise. He was dispassionate about the whole thing, no matter how madly and furiously he spun around whipping those targets. He was a machine.

Right from the start it was clear he was going to complete it. He got the targets down so fast, not all that many mana balls were shot at him.

No one really gets out of breath during this Trial. Dan sure did. He rested up a couple minutes before going to the wall he placed the camera down at. He pried a plate out of the wall with his knife and stole another camera along with its transmitter.

This Trial takes place outside the game too. On a plane where Classes can be disabled.

[I was wondering how that worked. What plane are participants taken to? How can a temporary Class be given? And how are those two Orbments modified?]

No idea, Boss. Other Orbments are modified in the Game too. Teleport and a bunch of others. You have a guess?

[None at all.]

Yeah, there’s a lot of crazy stuff in the Game that defies explanation.

Dan had a hard time with all the wires. He gave up trying to wrap them and just shoved the whole mess in his backpack. He then collected the reward, put the new fragments in his pack, and raised his Mana Stat to C-grade.

Nick met him outside the door. Dan handed the old camera off, pulled out and set down the new one, and pulled Nick a couple dozen meters away from the Trial to talk.

“That was cool as hell, Danny. When’d you get a Class? What’s it called? You spinning around and whipping everything with that fire-whip was really something, boy. Are we all going to be able to do that soon? I hope so.”

Dan said, “That was the last Trial y’all needed to watch. I have something else to do right now. It won’t take all that long but y’all go ahead and rack out. Sorry, but I can’t take a guard shift. I’ll be checking in occasionally. Two roving guards. Y’all got those three weapons, right?”

“Yeah,” replied Nick. He stood there for a moment before saying, “Can I ask something?”

Dan nodded and said, “Yeah.”

“Chet said this area is fixing to get attacked by monsters at some point, and again and again with stronger and stronger monsters. You think we’ll be ready for it?”

“If everything goes as planned, none of y’all will be here for it. But if any of y’all are, yeah, y’all’ll be ready,” replied Dan.

“You ever going to let me in on your plans and what’s going on with you?”

Dan shuffled his feet for a minute before saying. “I have a hard time finding the words. I’m not good at explaining. I hope that changes, but it is how it is for now. The plan is to keep everyone alive and get y’all strong. As strong as possible. But y’all got to train and train hard.”

I was wishing we had saved Bob’s Sortilege. Dan wasn’t going to be there to protect the group. Everyone but him headed back to camp. He headed south, to around the six o’clock area.

Dan was finally going to the Class Trial.

It really shouldn’t be called a Trial. There’s nothing trial-y about it. No chance at all for participants to die.

It’s beautifully decorated inside. The walls are covered with gorgeous murals of battles and heroes casting invocations. There’s a fancy carpet leading to some stairs. Along the sides of the carpet are statues of the high pantheons of Hell and Heaven.

The stairs lead to a fancy platform. Standing on it triggers the Class Obelisk to rise. It works just the same as ours do. Past the platform is the community Transmuter. The…

.

.

.

[What are you doing?]

I’m…one second…almost…just…one more quick sec…and there. Submit.

Why hello there! You’re looking at the proud new owner of the coolest name ever. Ace Blacky, at your service!

No sense letting the second coolest name just go to waste if I can’t use it for the other Ace. The stupid looking one.

Now you’ll be able to tell us apart with great ease. A demon having two names is rare, but my whore mother told me I’m a very special demon, so it makes perfect sense in my case.

[Congratulations. Continue with Class selection please.]

With manners like that, how could Ace Blacky ever say no?

That fat prick was offered a shitload of Classes. I never even heard of most of them. Did you know most of the Classes we know are…uh, like subclasses really?

Picking a 1-Star Class starts carving pathways into us which restricts which 2-Star Classes we’re offered, and on and on. The sphere, type, and line of Orbments we use do as well.

Dan filtered down to show only Legendary ones. He had, like, thirty of them offered. This is the first I’ve seen or heard of anyone being offered a Legendary Class in the Game. I’ve seen some Epics, but not all that many. These were all 5-Star Legendaries.

So, now you know why he did all he did before picking a Class. Having an SS+-graded Soul, a pristine core, all Stats at C-grade, clearing channels, and gaining a mana-type naturally, all while level 0 results in this right here. I personally think he cultivated the vortex too, so I’m adding that to the list.

He was offered Reaver, Warbringer, Harbinger of Flame, Destroyer, Crag Runner, Crusader, Herald of the Choir, Ashen Dragon, Bo…

[Herald of the Choir? Did it specify which? Such as first or second?]

Uh, I think it just said Herald of the Choir. I don’t remember if that was the main Class or a subclass though. I only investigated the non-sissy and non-prude Classes. Why?

[No matter. Continue.]

He took forever looking through each and every Class, and there were so many of them.

That became extremely boring to watch so when the last tech I was being sent finally showed up, I was behind Bob just going to town. Super hot and heavy. Really getting my tentacles all up in there. In a completely platonic manner, of course. At least on my end. This was right around the time I started having a creeping suspicion that Bob was a gay.

The new tech was Az’ga. Another dumb Asmodite broad. She had a stupid face and was wearing glasses and some clothing, so I immediately assumed she was a filthy prude. Turns out she’s surprisingly okay. She doesn’t have as many interesting orifices as Zixy, but she has plenty, and she granted me access to them.

Only two on her face if she’s working or otherwise preoccupied. If she’s on break, most of them are open game. Pretty cool of her, huh?

Somehow, and believe me, I know how crazy this sounds, but for a dumb Asmodite that looks so stupid, she’s actually quite smart. It was her idea to check the…I should explain.

The trauma profiles contain what’s known of a participant up to when it’s put together, so we have no data for the couple days or week between it being put together and the Game initiating. It was her idea to ask for that data on Dan. Absolutely brilliant! I didn’t even know that was possible.

We also requested a deep dive. Everything they could get us. That was also her idea, and another brilliant one. I didn’t even know that was possible either.

And the best thing – we had another Sortilege! It was as if our Dark Master heard my prayer from earlier and answered it! There was a cooldown of about two hours once she connected to my terminal, but still, we had been given another chance to murder these fools.