Spooky: Fine, have it your way, Carter. Welcome to the Cosmic Center. But you know the rules. Now... Return to Zero!

Yohg: Subject: replicated. Level Set to: 0. Minion Class: Applied. The target was successfully uploaded into The Arena Minigame.

Spooky: Wait, the Grimoire Codex! He still has it! Oh SH-

In an arc of arcane magic, Caster shot out from the Monolith.

Landing on his feet, the momentum pushed him forward. It forced him to run in the footsteps of the five other Minions that arrived before him.

His task was simple - he was here to kill.

More specifically, he and the two other magic casting Minions were supposed to fire orbs of pure energy from the rear, while the three knight-like Minions would fight with their swords and shields at the front. Then they would pray reinforcements would arrive before they were overrun by the next wave of enemy Minions.

Caster wore the same robes and held the same staff as his two identical mage-type Minions at the back. Each held a wizard staff in their right hand, and an ancient leather-bound tome in their left. Although, there was something strange about the tome Caster had spawned with.

He took a closer look to inspect his tome, and as he did, a huge grey text box appeared, floating in the air in front of him.

Yohg: Hello, I am Yohg! I am a sentient dialogue box that will be assisting and explaining things to you during your new adventure through Perdita. I'm very restricted on what information I can share at the moment, but as you progress, so will my liberties to explain. For now, I will inform you of your 2 primary Skills and your 1 primary ability. Good luck, old friend!

Skill Learned: Clever - Knowledge is Power! Caster's Arcane level increases as he learns. Elder God Tier.

Skill Learned: The Monolith's Reserves! Grants Caster Infinite Mana. Elder God Tier.

Ability Learned: Primordial Disintegration Ray! Fires a beaming torrent of pure energy from the user’s hand. Deals 100 initial damage, then stacks additionally for +100 damage per second. Requires Level 0 Arcane. Cost 2,000 mana initially, then stacks additionally for +100 mana per second. 10 second casting time (Reduced by 1 second per 10 Arcane levels).

Clever - Knowledge is Power, Activated! Arcane Level Increased! +1

Who... who said that? Caster asked himself in confusion. How do I know that voice? What are these Skills and Abilities about?

But there would be no answer. He was alone with his thoughts and his silent fellow Minions again.

At first glance, this new Minionborn didn’t look any different than the other billions of Minions that had come before him. And if he didn’t know better, he wouldn't think much of the situation.

But that was the problem. Unlike every other Minion that had spawned inside of The Arena Minigame, he could think.

With his thought, came consciousness. And with consciousness, came anxiety.

Wait... Caster thought, furrowing his brow. A sense of unease began growing in his gut.

But there was no waiting, only forward. He tried to stop, but his legs kept walking.

Why can't I control my own body?

Over the stone steps of their team's base, the Minions continued marching forward as a unit of six.

From under the blue hood that hid his face made of shadowy pixels, Caster gazed up in awe as they passed a colossal tower. The structure was easily ten times his height. Just like what happened when he inspected the tome in his hand, a new textbox of blue appeared over the surface of the tower, and he read the information revealed.

Ally Turret Type: Obelisk HP: 2500/2500 Damage: 50 (+25% per consecutive shot) Armor: 400 Resistance: 300

HP? Damage? What - is this a game or something? Am I dreaming?

Though he wasn’t sure why the structure gave him a sense of security as if it could annihilate any enemy that came near. But as soon as they reached the structure, they left it behind – along with the stone streets of their base.

No, this is definitely real.

Caster's leather boots walked over dirt, grass, and mud. He could hear the battle cries on the horizon, along with the casting of Abilities from the Minions who were created in the wave before his. In a few seconds, he would join them.

They passed a second tower and once again, Caster struggled to gain control over his own body. He tried to slow his pace, but nothing worked. He tried to turn his neck and look behind him, but he couldn't. He could do nothing but move forward. The Monolith had given him life, and now it was sending Caster to his death.

Then, they came upon it, the final tower. From the front, the knight-type Minions raised their swords and ran across the empty plains to battle with the enemy knight-types.

The enemy wave wielded the same straight swords, kite shields, chainmail, robes, wizard staffs, and tomes - but in red. Caster inspected them, and two different kinds of red text boxes appeared over each of the six enemies' heads.

Minion Type: Knight Status: Aggressive Info: Probably a good idea to keep your distance

Minion Type: Mage Status: Aggressive Info: A mirror match? Better caster wins!

Caster stopped his forward march, though not on his willpower. It was as if the Monolith was keeping him at a distance close enough to target the enemy knight-types while keeping him out of the reach of the enemy mage-types.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

From the moment the battle started, the two sides were evenly matched. Raising his staff, Caster prepared a Scaling Strike. A ball of pure energy gathered at the tip of the blue crystal that stood on top of his staff. It was so small, that it could probably fit within the palm of his tiny three-fingered mitten hand.

I have three fingers now!?

Caster was forced to swing his staff forward, sending his Ability flew into the crowd of enemy knights. The fist-sized blast weaved its way into one of their bodies.

-3 HP. Remaining Knight-Type Minion HP: 12

The knights had more durability than mages, but the mages did more damage. It was just one of the many mechanics built into The Arena Minigame.

They were tough, but the enemy knights would not be able to stand forever.

Thundering quakes came from farther down the battlefield. The vibrations made Caster’s arms shake as he was forced to charge another Scaling Strike.

From behind the enemy tower, a figure strode forward. He was half the height of the massive structure itself. It was a titan of a man whose black and ash singed armor covered his body from head to toe. Spikes jutted outward from his armor at several points, several of them on his bulky shoulder pieces. The giant held a massive twin-headed battle-ax, the blades were already tainted with crimson blood. As Caster looked at the new enemy, another red textbox appeared.

Gage, The Cleaver Total Level: 266 Status: Aggressive Info: Witness True Strength

Caster tried to fight the Monolith's mind control with all his might. He needed to figure out how to break it, now.

Why am I here? Why can’t I move?

Caster was forced to raise his arm again, calling forth another ball of energy to swirl at the tip of his staff. To his sides, his fellow mages readied their staffs and did the same. The two took several steps forward toward the titan. Somehow, Caster remained firmly planted in place.

Together, they aimed and launched their abilities at the giant bearing down on them. But the giant came forward with a counterattack of his own. He spun in place, swinging his battleax in a circle around his body. Like a reaper’s scythe, the edge of his blades sliced five Minion heads clean off.

In an instant, their bodies exploded into mists that sparkled with blue and gold hues, their bodies vanished in an instant and only their essence remained. The mists flowed toward and into the titans' body as if he had eaten their very souls.

None of the enemy mages and only one of the enemy knights had fallen before all of Caster’s allies died. He was alone. It was now a 1v5, not including the bloodthirsty giant.

Caster strained as hard as he could and miraculously managed to slightly turn his head to the left. A riverbank was less than a few dozen paces away. Forcing his head to the right, he saw a pine forest that spread across the side of the battlefield.

If I can reach the river, I might be able to swim away. The knights won’t be able to follow me since they’re wearing all that armor, and the mages won't be able to cast Scaling Strike underwater.

Caster tried to turn his body towards the safety of the water, but his legs remained firmly in place. He was reminded once more that his actions were not his own, they belonged to the Monolith.

As the enemy knights raised their weapons and charged at him, Caster could do nothing but ready his last ability.

Then, from behind, a sphere of crackling yellow energy shot past him and landed square in the center of the enemy five. Their bodies burst, crimson and gold colors scattering to the wind. Caster wished he could look back to see what person could harness such power.

“Why don’t you come out from behind that tower and fight me like a man?” The enemy titan howled, speaking to whoever stood behind Caster.

Caster saw his opening. Using the energy gathered in his staff, he pointed the end of his weapon toward the titan. The blue and white ball shot out, and his bolt of magic whizzed through the air. The titan’s gaze returned to Caster, but it was too late for him to dodge.

The bolt connected with the giant's black armor. Caster watched, wide-eyed with excitement as his Scaling Strike landed dead center in the titan’s steel chest plate.

-0 HP. Remaining HP of Gage, The Cleaver: 1,200/1,200

Like a drop of rain, the magic splashed onto, then away from the titan's steel. The only proof that Caster had even hit the titan was the tiny, mitten-sized ash-tinted mark his magic left behind.

“Ha!” The titan’s laugh came out as a single roar. He stomped on the ground, the shockwave forced Caster to fall backward onto the ground. “I am one of the greatest players The Arena has ever seen. You are nothing but a worthless Minion.”

“I… I’m not a Minion! Stop laughing!” Caster choked on his words as tears welled in his eyes. He could only look up in helpless despair at the giant that towered over him.

If... If I can use my Primordial Disintegration Ray I might be able to hurt him! But it would take ten seconds to charge... Still, maybe there's a chance I can pull it off. Caster began to focus his Aura.

But Gage would offer Caster no mercy, nor the time he needed to charge his beam. The warrior raised his battle-ax once more, about to bring it down and erase Caster’s brief, miserable existence.

Everything shook. Not just the ground, but the air, the river, the forests. Everything wavered as if a mirage was spreading across the world. Even Gage was staggered where he stood, forcing him to lower his weapon. He looked to the skies as if the answer lay somewhere in the stars.

“The hell is The Agency up to now?” He complained. “Is this some trick on your part, Boyerton pup?” Gage looked toward the person who stood on Caster’s side of the battlefield.

“Wasn’t me. Probably server issues.” Came the response.

A third voice came from overhead as if the sun itself was speaking.

We are sorry to announce that this Arena match must be postponed. The Agency is experiencing technical difficulties. Please, return to your Monoliths. We will resume this battle at a later date.

As Gage still loomed over Caster, he gave a single grunt of disappointment, then turned his back. Heaving his battleax onto his shoulder, the giant walked away.

Caster sat in disbelief.

I'm still alive?

Caster stood, leaving his staff and tome on the ground. He looked back to see the titan from his side of the battlefield walking away, returning toward their base and the Monolith hiding within.

Then, it hit him. Caster realized that he was looking back.

His heart pounded and he wasted no time. He took a single step toward his tower. Then another. He was walking the other way. He was in control of his body.

Caster giggled. He laughed. He gave a resounding “Yahooooo!” Throwing his fists toward the skies. He retrieved his staff and tome from the ground. Now as he held them, they felt like relics of his mind-controlled past, but he didn’t know what else existed in this strange and dangerous world. It would be better to keep what few, more specifically, one ability he had to defend himself with. Caster began to wonder.

Who were those titans? What am I? Who am I?!

He had so many questions, but no one to ask them to. The world had gone quiet, and he was alone.

With nowhere else to go, he decided to follow the giant from his team and return to the Monolith. He knew he'd come from the energy inside it, or maybe, something beyond it? He strode forward, heading back toward the castle. He took a single step before he fell.

He fell, but the ground didn't catch him. Nothing did. There was nothing anymore. Everything was just… gone. The grass, the river, the forest, the towers, the titans, everything. Everything had been replaced by an inky black void. Caster freefell through it all in silent terror.

A few pinprick-sized lights whizzed past his face. Then dozens, hundreds, and an infinite number of distant stars flew by him. What was once a void was now being flooded with lights that only grew brighter. Soon, Caster had to cover his eyes with his mitten hands from the overwhelming intensity.

The light faded in an instant. Caster dared to crack his eyes open. He was no longer in an abyss of darkness or a tunnel of light.

Caster had escaped the brutal Minigame that had harvested a trillion Minion lives before his. Now, he found himself on a couch somewhere in the overworld of Perdita.

Mainhelm, The Agency's Headquarters.

A new voice greeted him.

“Hey, lil fella - welcome to Perdita! Good to see yer finally awake."