All of Elysium had gathered in the main island where mini platforms circled around so that the deities could stand on as they waited for the Festival to begin.

The festival of the Fantasia world.

Achilles appeared in the center of the stage; he held his spear in his hands and twirled it. The spear turned into a microphone.

The angels and deities who were around the stage summoned their instruments and started to play a percussive led beat that signaled the start of the festivities.

“Seventy-two hours has finally passed, the calls have been answered, and the eight chosen deities have chosen their faithfully retainers!”

The crowd cheered, they had all sectioned themselves either with their deity group or with groups that cheered on specified retainers. Damaris appeared in a cloud of pink explosion holding her own microphone.

“It’s finally time to enter the Fantasia world!” She moved her hand to the center stage and the ground around it opened. There a portal appeared; it was a physical portal, unlike the ones that the deities could make on earth. The rim was gold and encrusted with jewels. It started to hum and a light blue image appeared in the portal. It was ready for anyone to jump in.

“The starting year is 875 F.R. The retainers will live in the Fantasia world until then. If you happen to find another retainer before the starting year, there are no restrictions, you could fight them and take them out. So, keep that in mind,” Achilles said. “Let's bring out the chosen eight!”

Achilles snapped his fingers and summoned fifteen figures. The humans saw every deity in Elysium in the crowd.

“Wow…” Charlie said as he took in the crowd.

Freya smiled and pointed to the Norse section. “There’s our cheering squad. Hey even your little fan club is with them.” Charlie’s fan club was a mixture angels and deities, and deities of the in-between who chose no standard conventional forms.

These deities were from the Celtic, Greek, and Chinese factions. They had custom shirts with Charlie’s name and face on them. They also held signs with Charlie's face.

“It’s our prince!” one of the deities next to Jopheil shouted.

Charlie was a little embarrassed but still appreciated their effort. He waved at the Norse section and his fan club. He scanned the crowd and couldn’t find Freyr at all. Where was his teacher?

The tricksters all started to yell and cheer Lugh and Ariel's name. As they stood waving, Ariel looked at the other humans and locked eyes with Audrey. The two delinquents quickly started to move to each other; it was like a natural switch in their brains.

I need to beat this guy/gal up.

They both thought this, and Lugh quickly stopped Ariel while Zhong kui moved his arm and stopped Audrey. He didn’t even turn his body, he just stood waving at the crowd and lightly turned his head to his retainer.

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“It’s not the time to fight,” Zhong kui scolded.

“I know but he’s like me. I mean look at his pompadour, a true man’s hairstyle. No way I’m going to lose the title of strongest delinquent in the Tryfing.” Her eyes shone with fire as she spoke, while Zhong kui eye’s eyes rolled.

“There is no such title, Rey,” Zhong kui said.

“His hair is super old fashioned,” Jeremy replied. He was currently inside Zhong kui’s Chinese hat.

“So? It’s the hair of a true man, one that I must defeat,” she said with a smile. Zhong kui and Jeremy also saw how red her face looked as she stared at Lugh’s retainer. They both rolled their eyes and sighed. Don’t tell me this guy is her type, they both thought.

“All of Japan's deities are here to cheer us on, Kento Sanosuke. Are you ready?” Inari asked.

Out of every retainer here, it was Kento who had dreamt of this moment. Finally he was here; finally he could represent his land and his deities that he prayed too; finally he could prove to everyone and himself he had what it took to be a warrior, to win the Tryfing that his great grandfather had failed.

He could send his Lady Inari back to Eden and be with the deity she loved. He saw Darren who gave him a sadistic smile and then saw Charlie. Kento bowed to him with a smile, one that Charlie returned.

“Yes, I waited my entire life span to be here… for you to choose me. I am grateful that it was you that chose me, Lady Inari.” The two smiled at each other, ready for the battles they would face.

Inari in particular was even more excited than she usually was. “Yes, the battles that we will face ohohoh.” Her face was redder than usual, and she had to cover it with her fan.

“You know the plan,” Ra said.

“Yeah, yeah, my lord. But could I break the lowly commoners spirits first?” Darren asked. From the time that they spent together Darren had started to gain an immense respect for Ra, something that Ra noticed early on. It was almost child-like how Darren quickly respected Ra.

“You may,” he said with a small smile.

Nuada stood by himself holding the bracer in his hands, Lugh noticed this and wondered where Nuada’s retainer was. A group of angels floated down next to Nuada holding what appeared to be a naked human. Although the human had no face, and in its chest shards of glasses were placed into its skin.

“A homunculi?” Lugh said.

Michael stood with Aster holding him up, he decided to be the only member of team Archangel on the stage so there was enough room for everyone else. Aster still looked lifeless and stared at his feet the entire time.

Next to them Team Minerva stood, they said nothing and didn’t wave to anyone. Wu kong, who was with the tricksters, was trying his best to wave and cheer for Minerva which made her standout. Minerva was ignoring him with the best of her abilities but her eyebrow started to twitch in annoyance.

“Wu kong I know we are Judicators but stop! You are making us look suspicious” She thought. Alessandro chuckled, “ is that monkey your boyfriend?” Minerva got flustered and her helm became crooked. “ This is what I didn’t want people to think! We are coworkers” She shouted.

“I’ll call you up one by one and shout your deity's noble name, I’ll bless you with God’s light and then you can jump into the portal. Once you are in, your consciousness will awaken in the age you and your deities choose. Certain information is restricted when deities enter the world to talk with you and you will only remember these other retainers and their faces when you meet them in the Fantasia world.” Achilles said

The Judge and his support judge jumped back, unblocking the entrance to the portal.

“Let’s begin. Ra’s retainer, the ultimate life form, the perfect human being, Darren!”

All eyes shifted to Ra and Darren. Darren looked back at his lord, and in his eyes Ra could tell Darren was making sure that he could crush the spirits of his enemies. Ra nodded to him and Darren ran up to Achilles.

He put his bracer arm up to Achilles, who in true placed his hands around it. His hands glowed with silver energy.

“Okay, shout you–”

Darren moved his arm out and snatched the microphone out of Damaris’ hand, causing her to yelp in surprise. He turned to face the other retainers, and the crowd of angels and deities.

“I’ll tell you right now, all you losers aren’t going to see me for a while. As a Demi-god that is my gift to you all, enjoy another pathetic life. Enjoy it before I defeat and kill every single one of you.”

He stared at Kento. “Remember sAm-uR-ai, I’m killing you first.'' Then, he stared at Charlie, Ariel, Audrey, Aster and Alessandro. He laughed as he looked at all of them. “The winner of the third Tryfing is going to be me and Lord Ra.”

He threw the microphone back at Damaris and then shoved his bracer back into Achilles’ hands, he inhaled and then shouted out the noble name of his Lord Ra.

“AD-VEN-TO, THE FIRST PHARAOH!”

Light shone all over his body and then he lept into the portal. The other retainers each had a face of contempt for the would-be demi-god and his words. Ra stood with a grand smile on his face.

3rd Tryfing

Official judge: Heroic Greek deity, Achilles.

Support judge: Angel, Damaris.

Chosen deities:

Ra: Demi-God: Darren Donaldson

Lugh: Knight: Ariel Morales

Zhong Kui: Exorcist: Audrey Rhodes

Inari: Polymath: Kento Sanosuke

Freya: Assassin: Charlie Wilson

Nuada: Conqueror: João Machado

Minerva: Tactician: Alessandro Lorenzo Bianchi

Team Arc-Angel: Hero: Luther Satenly (Aster Orion)