Although we were deep in a cave, the room that opened up to us was brightly lit by the glowing blue crystals growing all through out the walls. Well a room wasn't the right way to describe this, it was more like a chasm. It was so large we couldn't see the end of it in any direction.

Was that what I was focused on though? No. The first thing that caught my eye was the plowed land filled with farms and houses. Even strange grey humanoid people were working them.

In particular, there was a skinny guy leading what appeared to be some sort of cattle, and riding it was a child.

"A village..?" I questioned as I looked closer at the villagers. 'Their ears, and skin color. They couldn't be...'

"Wait this isn't a treasure room... what the heck is this place Aremi?" Hindren asked as he grabbed Aremi's shoulders.

Aremi's face flushed. "What, why are you asking me..?!"

Hidren continued to playfully antagonize Aremi. It really made me wonder which way he swung. Contrary to their playful demeanor, Mare and the rest of the party closely analyzed the situation.

"Mare what do you make of this?"

"This place... the people, village, everything here tells me one thing. This is a bonus room...!" He said as he clutched his fist and smiled brightly.

"Woahhh!"

"Bonus room..?!"

Mare's excitement and confidence was through the roof as he stepped forward. "Yes, you can tell by the way this area is designed so different than the rest, there's even free experience to help us level up before we get to the real boss."

"Free experience?" I asked as I looked around. There was nothing that really appeared to give off the idea of free experience. Even if there was it wouldn't really matter for me though.

Suddenly I felt something wet and warm hit my face. "Why is there blood..?"

A couple beads of blood hit my face, and then I heard a child's scream.

"Kill all the monsters!" Mare shouted as he stood above the dead body of the farmer and his animal.

The child spoke a strange language as he screamed in horror at his attackers. Tears rolled down his eyes, but without a second thought he was killed by a flying arrow.

"Oh I leveled up!" One of the guys shouted after killing the kid. "The experience they give is insane!"

"Let's get the rest of them!"

"What're you guys doing? Can't you see these are people?!" I yelled as I stepped in front of the child's dead body.

"Eh?"

Mare squinted his eyes, and shoved me aside. "They're monsters, now get the fuck out the way."

'What kind of monster cries like that?' I thought as I glared back at him. There was nothing I could do though, I was too weak.

They left me behind, everyone except Aremi and surprisingly Hindren. His face clearly showed he also thought there was something wrong with this.

"Even though they look like monsters, they live like people..." He mumbled.

Suddenly from afar I heard a treacherous scream which prompted us to catch up to them. Doors were kicked down, and bodies littered the streets.

Mares party held down a young girl who helplessly attempted to get away. Tearing away her clothing and grabbing her hair. An old man attempted to stop them but he was kicked to the ground.

Before I knew it my legs moved, and my arms were around the necks of one of the guys. 'I don't care if I'm weak, I'll die before I watch someone do this!' I thought as I squeezed.

"What the hell man, get off me!" He yelled and squirmed.

"Kukuku, oh no did we make him mad?"

The others began to laugh at him, and in their negligence the girl escaped their grasps. She immediately ran to the old man, and together they escaped as I was pummeled into the ground. As she ran away, if only for a second, she glanced back at me with eyes filled with thanks and concern.

"You should be grateful we brought you along and just learn your fucking place!" He yelled as he went to stomp me again.

Swoosh!

A ball of flames crashed into his side, effectively stopping the rest of them from beating down on me. "The hell, who dares..?"

"If you're going to attack him then you better be ready to attack me too." Aremi announced as balls of fire raged within his palms.

Mare stepped in front of Aremi. "Hey, I allowed you to come cause I like you. Don't do anything stupid."

Not backing down, Aremi came chest to chest with Mare and glared him straight into his eyes. This moment went on for a while as they both released their killing intent. Then an unknown voice broke the silence.

"Excuse me, brave warriors..."

Said a strange grey old man who look like he could barely see from behind those thick long brows of his. Even if that was so, he gave off an eerie feel. As if he could kill us at any moment.

"..!"

Everyone turned to him with full attention and completely on guard.

"Who the fuck are you?" Mare asked.

The old man spoke in a very tired manner and gestured his hands toward us as if he wanted us to relax.

"Please let your guard down, I only come to lead you travelers to the throne room. The Emperor awaits."

"The emperor?"

"He must be taking us to the final boss. Mare you were right about this!"

The goons excitedly talked amongst themselves, and Mare was eating it up. A satisfied smile crossed his face as he stepped forward. Without notice he unsheathed his sword, and pointed it at the old man.

"Well hurry it up then, lead the way, heh."

"Ah yes, of course. it's just this way." The old man hastenly said before leading us away.

We followed a trail up the hill which resided beyond the village. At the top was a structure that appeared more dignified than the village houses. One could even call it a castle if they assumed monsters built it.

If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

I wasn't sure what was to come but I was at least thankful we were finally leaving. Now no one else would be killed.

After a short awhile we entered through the large twin doors which led directly to a spacious room. The ceilings were high, and long thin windows decorated every wall. The old man paid us no mind and bowed down into a full prostration.

"My liege I've brought the trespassers..."

As the words left ours guides mouth a sudden realization of impending doom engrossed us. Everything up till now felt fine, so where did this suddenly come from. I caught the rest of the party laser focused directly in front of us, and so I looked too.

There, at the very end of the room, casually sitting as if nothing in the world mattered was a beautiful man. So beautiful that Aremi paled in comparison.

"..." He blankly stared at us.

"Prostrate yourselves before the emperor." One of the knights standing at his side spoke, and we fell.

It was interesting. Although his words held no aggression, they were mighty. Therefor we fell, and bowed to the extent of our faces smashing against the floor.

"Fuck, what is this?!" Mare yelled as he tried to push up to no prevail.

"I can't.. I can't move!"

"Fuck, fuck, fuck fuck fuck!"

'No way, what is this. I feel like my heads going to explode..!" I thought as my mind became dizzy and unfocused.

Then as if it were a lie, the pressure alleviated itself. We could breathe. It couldn't be helped, everyone gasped for air, and drooled uncontrollably from their mouths. Aremi and I were no different, but as soon as he could speak he turned to me.

"Allan we have to get out of-"

"Gahhhhhhhh!" Mare yelled as he rushed the emperor. 'I'll smash that stupid face in..!"

The emperors expression never changed, nor did his knights position, and for this they were hit with Mare's best surprise attack. Or so it appeared to the rest of us, so why was Mare suddenly facing our direction.

"Huh..?" He was confused for a moment, but turned to attack the emperor again, but the same thing happened. Again, and again.

"Ah stop fucking with me!" He yelled as he attacked once more.

For the first time, the emperor made a different expression and looked to his side as he sighed. "By slowing myself down by about one hundred times, I'll give you the blessing of knowing."

This time we could all see it somehow. I say somehow because it was still nearly instantaneous. The emperor moved at unrealistic speeds, and turned Mare around while also absorbing all the momentum from his attack.

"No way.." Hindren mumbled as his body began to shake. "I've been on numerous expeditions with Mare. His attacks have literally blown holes into mountains. Something like that shouldn't be possible!"

We were speechless, and so was Mare. It was clear that he wasn't the emperors match.

"I see, I'm completely outclassed." He laughed as he dropped his sword. "Strike me down then, I'll gladly accept dying at the hands of someone of your caliber."

"Strike you down? I'll be doing no such thing. In fact I brought you all here for something I think you all will find very much entertaining."

All the knights and guards in the room began to march around us until we were surrounded.

"You see, I heard the screams of my people. I smelled their blood being spilled, and I wondered what on earth could be happening. What calamity is befalling them?" He said as glanced over at me. "Then I smelled the scent of humans."

A chill ran down my spine and I hesitantly gulped and looked down. It felt wrong to even look at him at this point, his presence was too strong. Never have I wanted to disappear more in my life. So why was I feeling more seen.

"Only humans could be capable of such meaningless acts of violence." Standing now in the middle of us, he reached out his hand and placed it in my hair. "So kill yourselves through a game you humans came up with using your talent for wickedness. Endure."

'What..?' Was the only thing I could think as my mind went blank. Endure was the torturous game played by those with demonic souls. One that goes against the very nature of all beings. Making loved ones fight each other.

"..."

Everyone else was without words as well. Not because they couldn't understand, but because they had no choice but to accept whatever judgement this being placed on them. The emperor smiled slightly while recognizing this.

"You'll fight each other one on one until there's only one of you left. Last one standing will be allowed to live."

The guards and knights suddenly grabbed up everyone and held them out of the center. Everyone except for two people, Mare, and one of his trusty followers.

"Fight." The emperor commanded.

Mares usual intensity came back, and his eyes became sharp. "Sorry I have to do this to you Tom, but I'll be leaving this place alive."

Tom took a step back and unsheathed his daggers. "Fuck this, you think I'll just sit around and die-"

Before he could get the rest of his words out Mare made his move. At times like this it was clear why he was a C rank wanderer. He only looked pitiful in front of the emperor.

"Hmph!" He thrusted his sword into toms chest.

"Keuk..!"

Tom coughed up blood and desperately tried to push it out of him, but Mare was too strong. The look of hopeless desperation took over his strained eyes until his body lost strength and began to fall and dangle.

A single glance at the emperor for confirmation was all it took for Mare to throw Tom, his once lifelong buddies body to the side.

"Next." The emperor said.

I didn't realize it till just now, but my breathing was loud. Loud enough for everyone else in the room to hear.

'Please don't choose me, please don't choose me..!' I prayed upon hearing the emperor call next. 'If I get called, I'll be slaughtered even easier than that guy.'

A moment passed, and then someone was pushed into the center. Another one of Mare's close companions. Someone I have built an affinity towards during my first expedition, if only just a bit.

"Wait, no, wait wait wait...!" Hindren yelled and screamed as he tried to break back into the arms of the knights. Tears rolled down his eyes as he reached for someone to save him.

Aremi reached back out, and their hands almost touched, but it was no use. Hindren was taken away without being able to put up a fight.

This time it wasn't mare who attacked first, but the knight. A light punch for him, was a jaw shattering blow for the Hindren. Now he could barely talk as blood and teeth fell from his gapping mouth.

"Lem..me go.. I.. I.. I... wait mare- keuk..!"

And just like that he was killed right in front of our eyes. I watched in horror as Mare massacred all his friends. Some fought back, and others ran, but in the end it wasn't possible for a E or D rank to beat a C rank.

Now there was only me and Aremi left. 'Who would get chosen next' I thought. 'It should be me, mare could be tired after everything. Aremi has a chance.'

Before the emperor could say next, Aremi stepped forward. His eyes were dilated, and a vein crossed his forehead. This was a rage in his eyes I have no never seen before.

"You'll pay for what you did to Hindren!"

Mare who was breathing heavily took a battle stance and sighed out. "I too liked Hindren, but it was either me or him."

"Ahhhhhhhh!" Aremi screamed as he shot a barrage of fire balls at him.

Not being able to react fast enough, Mare was hit. At first I was surprised but then I remembered how heavily he was breathing.

'He must've been tired after all his battles. In that case a D rank might stand a chance? No..' I thought as I watched Mare dash out the clearing smoke.

He swung down, but Aremi jumped back just in time to avoid a fatal blow. Then came a spin kick which he wasn't agile enough to dodge.

"Keuk!" Aremi fell to the ground, and Mare got on top of him.

"Do not worry, I'll kill your friend quickly."

Yellow tears of burning flames began to fall from Aremi's eyes, nose, and mouth. "Say that after you kill me!" He yelled as a light began to emerge from his throat. "Dragons breath!"

An attack I've never seen before flew from out of his mouth. The fireball was so large I could feel the hairs on my arms burn from all the way from where I was.

"..."

All that was left of the weakened Mare was a charred version of his body. Aremi had won. I ran to him without even thinking, gleaming the whole way.

"Aremi... you did it!"

I expected a smile back, maybe his shoulders would relax, but none of that happened. He wobbled his way to his feet and put his hand out, gesturing me to stop.

"Huff huff huff... Allan..."

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked as I tried to grab his hand.

He rescinded his, invoking me to take a step back. I was confused. "What, why..?"

Then to remind us, no me, of where we were at the emperor spoke.

"Fight."

A chill went down my spine. Now I knew why Aremi was acting so cold towards me. Even though he had won, we would also have to fight. I was so overjoyed I forgot that only one could leave alive.

I hesitantly raised my sword as I watched Aremi point his wand at me. There was clear sadness in his eyes as he opened his mouth to incant a spell. I would be dead in the next moment. I smiled and closed my eyes.

"Allan. Take care of the family."

Krrrk..!

When I reopened my eyes at the sound of something breaking I saw Aremi's beloved wand snapped in two lying at his feet.

"No, Aremi you can't! You won fair and square. I can't do it!" I yelled.

A freezing pain of sharpness suddenly filled my chest, and my hearing began to ring. When I looked down I saw a hand piercing through the right side of my chest.

"You're right. He won. I won't accept an ending like that."

The emperor threw me to the side, and as I was flying through the air I saw Aremi rushing towards me. Even at the last moment, he wanted to protect me.

Swoosh

He vanished as the emperor tapped his shoulder. I felt my body hit a pool of water, and everything became dark as I began to lose consciousness.

Ping!

[ Secret requirements have been fulfilled. Seal of divine judgment has been removed... ]

Something popped up on my screen, but I was already long gone.