David held his company in high regard, similar to his achievements. For a very long time, it was his life, effort, and home. Clutching the ring, its purpose was heavily emphasized by its usage and history. It was his precious little price that had been with him since he was young. Lisa recognized it as part of her gift to him, yet didn't demand it outright; she just wanted what was inside.
David didn't want to lose it, yet he knew that the facts spoke the truth. He had no problem losing his company if it ended up in good hands. What Lisa said to him today definitely changed many things as well. She was fine to trust, though her situation was still perplexing.
She was back! The one that changed and clutched his life all those years ago. It was a time that he had never felt after she left, deeply engraving his life, and he was upholding those memorials so they wouldn't disappear.
David had no idea how or why she got back at this time; the Blessed were weird beings with different rules, but not every one of them would get their chance to influence this world for the future Blessed, let alone be reborn. David had no idea how it worked. Few beings did. The surroundings about the origin of all Blessed was a mystery this work held since the godly pantheons advanced past the Old World.
The End was virtually impossible to escape, but there she was, floating and smiling at him with her distinct smile, demeanor fit for a queen, and eyes that seemed to look through him. Expecting a past Blessed to become a Blessed Life Companion wasn't normal. Few would prefer it, as they were lofty individuals, yet what was a third chance in life? If not ridiculous, it was something worth trying and seeking, while questioning it wasn't always fitting.
After all, the reasoning was simple: a lot of Blessed Life Companions were beyond lofty, no longer caring for faces or facts. They wanted to get going no matter what and turn back to life. It was either to get revenge for their lost lives or seek something that only they knew.
In this world governed by Gods, doubting the history and how it had always been like wasn't fine. David understood it when he was nobody, and some Taboos weren't that either. More than half a century ago, he was just a boy serving the Centralis Kingdom, forced into the temple, and becoming nothing but a foolish human in the middle of this unkept temple wasn't exactly fine. That went on until Lisa saved him, then touched and helped him with many things.
David owed her his life. He was hardly helpful to her before, so perhaps this was what Fate was about? Now, he should repay her favor while knowing something else. This could be a joke too. He didn't believe in Fate very much, but something about this meeting stunk of it for sure.
She came back to his side, involuntarily or not, or perhaps it was all just a farce of someone great? He couldn't help but shiver and question it, for he was unsure about something. Cherishing the situation was fine even if she appeared before him like a strike of lighting.
It was an equal business, however. A simple meeting that wasn't so simple. Lisa took him for a sudden gift, as David would expect: calmly and without a shred of shame.
He would take her to the end of this storm, even if it would kill him. But then, what was his life in this place? He established his company and work. He had people to care about now. Ultium was a huge part of this, and an example of doubt, though he doubted this devil would ever live a normal life without him. He would lose it, in fact.
Encounter was a chance he couldn't forfeit. Few of those looking for a significant change in their lives would. Even for other outside Blessed away from the already established Encounter, or irregular powers, it was a very mighty time, as well as an opportunity.
For those well outside of godly interests, a Helper status or mere appeal in the Encounter's ongoing efforts could change their lives. One could get acquainted with one or both Sides, or on various fronts surrounding the Encounter that might be further from it, or hoping to get close. Finding footing in this unkept world in many ways, or meeting the End, was quite easy if one wasn't careful.
It was all possible, but it wasn't as if it was mandatory to take it. There was a subject of choice that surrounded everyone like that. Because of that, there were only regrets that one wouldn't see, or hopes they see far too much. Apart from Blessed being responsible for the Encounter, or those responsible for it at all, there were many things to say about them.
Choosing to take part in any capacity was up to the individuals. Accepting its consequences or worth was the rest, hiding many consequences.
Lives could End left, right, and center in most of these times, ensuring the flow of godly interests that were all subject to all Sides.
Those willing to bear with it, who never got lucky to be Blessed or Gifted, could gain merits and powers, followed by reputation. It was like a rush of prestige, giving one fame or a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
That was a fact that David liked similar to money. Taking it on could provide privileges, but if the terms of Will of the Battleworld didn't work, what would happen next? One's choices dictated the progression of most lives, but it wasn't entirely true. Most Boosts proved the readings, validating lives, battles, and continuity. In essence, halting Will of the Battleworld was much worse than the lack of Boosts themselves, as it was giving direction and protected the status quo.
Stopping the connection between Ravine and the concepts of the Battleworld, made an incredible wide web of interest, crack. No one should be sure what was happening across the planet when something that had never happened before, happened.
Most took it worse, David though. He did take it for a chance, however, thinking and knowing that it was up to the individual to seek happiness. The world was and wasn't that accompanying on its own. It wasn't about luck. It was about acts.
The rewards of being Helpers varied a lot, as it was a status akin to an assignment. The Encounter would charge the Helper with something intense, so depending on the context, power, difficulty, and Sides of the Encounter, balance and everything could shift. Possibilities of betrayers were also nigh while giving up being a Helper was also possible and not rare.
Hence, choosing good Helpers was essential. Razmund had his long ago, yet Lisa nor David knew of them.
Lisa took this into her own hands, giving Murai a touch she didn't take lightly. She was glad with David. It was in her deep honesty, hiding in the unknown depths of her confidence or life.
More often than not, Helpers included an unspecified greed in people from all sides of the world, but it wasn't all about them. Small and limited in numbers, what about the hegemons? The kingdoms and nations of this world were made of all important people with history and many ideas. Some could be close to Gods or far away from them. Those powers of the Surface always made many moves about the Encounters, regardless of being Helpers. Ceila was something like that, though unknown to Lisa in her ways.
Then, there was the Centralis Kingdom and Razmund, which were chapters on their own. Power and resources were among the many reasons Razmund did not intend to do things alone. He utilized Encounter and its perception of the best possibilities that the Centralis Kingdom preferred. They were a land of Blessed, so it made sense their knowledge was wide and well-informed. He used this to his advantage since the very beginning, forcing the means of Hell Party as a claw, and his journey to be like his sword.
Lisa talked about Razmund to David as well, but even his gathering hadn't found much for her needs. At least Razmund was well-researched and known, so Lisa discovered a lot about him.
Hell Party was a private issue, hidden from the public in most cases since the military was always involved in them, rather than denizens around the Gates. David paid some price to discover the rumors of Hell Party in Gate 4, yet he wasn't sure if it was true or not. He mentioned it to Lisa without knowing if it was connected to the Encounter.
Lisa didn't know it either, but if the Hell Party was below Hellscape, it could be related. There were no clues to seek. No answers. Just guesses. Thar or Lorry would know something, she believed, but a Hell Party was always crazy in its premises and tough in finishes. It wasn't public simply because Levandis demanded it, while its reality might be problematic for Lisa's plans.
Hell Party was a trial for the army and the crashing party. That was about it. David couldn't give it any more clarity.
As for Razmund himself, he was a different story under David's gathering. He knew quite a lot of things about that man who was here for the third time. Of course, he talked and mentioned to her all he knew about him, thanks to the Mindarch, publicly made records around the Surface Challengers or hidden pieces.
There was a lot onto it since Razmund was quite a famous figure around this place, thanks to his relatively young age and rather high power. For a human under thirty years of age, he was like a blazing star that was yet to dim.
Lisa shuddered when she heard him reaching Gate 6 in his last attempt, while his barebone readings and powers were complicated and intense. It mostly spoke of typical equipment, rough estimates of attributes, rare abilities, or other things. Of course, the mention of the Sword Sage Path was also included, which meant a lot of things.
She gained a lot out of it, but not a single good thing. These readings were also limited in time.
Why?
They were old, coming from his last attempt quite a few years ago, while the new readings weren't as obvious. Since Razmund came back, the past ones became irrelevant, and new ones arrived because far more than three years had passed. His knowledge was also expensive because of the circumstances, and the way this Gate worked, gifted prizes many prices. Mindarch was like the Ravine of this distinct location, giving information much more weight. David spent some money to purchase whatever he could, as nothing was free in this world, let alone this Gate.
What he discovered disturbed Lisa's plans, but she pretended to be fine and continued her plotting.
Something was getting on her nerves and David could see it. A terrible plot was brewing around her, latching to her and Murai like a hungry dog. Gate 3 could turn into a mess very soon, below was an ongoing Hell Party, and Razmund was certainly arriving at this Gate very soon.
The latest reading about him was a battle before the Last Island. He was close to the end, which David uncovered not that long ago.
Because of that, Lisa got nervous and opted to focus on her plans, even if they were turning desperate and uncertain. She didn't know what could work anymore; she could only risk it with David and his pawns because he assured her he could still make it work. That was wonderful, if true.
She doubted his claim. Until he earned the truth of trust, she was still uncertain about everything, but she could no longer pause or hinder Murai or herself.
They had to move on.
The Encounter should still work. It was far too important for Gods to forget it, so whether the Will of the Battleworld was gone, it should be here like Laws, looming around them in some point or interest, even though Mindarch and Levandis were in the way.
Probably. That was Lisa's idea. Not a fact.
This pair before her was a variable in the equation Lisa couldn't predict. If one Side wasn't well-balanced, it was simply too bad, and change would arrive in terms of new rules across both Sides. That might no longer happen, if it was even possible. After all, Murai was against Razmund, and their disparity was tremendous.
Normally, things could get messy quite quickly if one Side suddenly became way too powerful, so some neat ideas surrounded most Encounter and possible Helpers. The kind that Murai didn't know, but Lisa did. It mostly touched on the premises of both Sides and what some Gods wanted.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
In this case, there was so little clarity over the bigger picture, that Lisa had no qualms to give. And with Murai aside, thinking and not thinking about a lot of things, nothing was fine when she had to consider him too. So she stopped caring for rules if Gods didn't care about them either. They weren't fair, so she won't be fair either. Rules might be gone like the normalcy surrounding her life with Murai.
Outside, people should fear the loss of their precious power and rules that had never gone away.
Now it did, and the world was set ablaze.
In Lisa's mind, this was a kind of situation that Gods inevitably caused by their influential power and rules. One shouldn't expect everything to work to perfection in a world with many Gods. Some problems were meant to occur at some point.
Gods should've intervened with the systems or ideas of questionable balance, making the lives of both Sides—or unkept Helpers—different or fitting for their needs. It depended on how messy or problematic the Sides of the Encounter were, or how much needless folks changed the overall picture. In simple terms, the Sides of the Encounter were like paws in a game, yet the kind that had the game running on their own terms.
Gods weren't clear about their intentions or touches for the most part, though some would notice them better than others.
Lisa saw no indication of a direct godly connection on Murai's Side besides that situation with Pachi and Lordis's warning. Neither of those should've caused such problems. Still, it ended up touched by the Centralis Kingdom, so perhaps she was misled as well.
The possibility that Lisa and Murai had was to influence what they could do away from some Gods. Those were David and Ultium on the sofa, with potential help coming from some of David's employees. Razmund had his influences that were or weren't warranted by some Gods.
In most cases, Encounter's Parts were long-term problems and missions surrounding many people. Even outside of Murai or Razmund, many people should slowly turn their interest toward them, and if the Centralis Kingdom was slowly bearing its fangs, it was possible that everything could turn upside down in later Parts.
How and when that would happen poised as the success of the current Part since the end of it would indicate how well the other Parts would proceed. Lisa had no idea what to expect; she was finding this whole start insane, whereas Murai was finding it amusing, albeit limiting enough in many ways. Many overbearing forces were hunting his little life, yet Lisa was there to give him direction when he felt lost.
In some capacity, he was glad for her.
Now, without the Boosts to change further tides, or Will of the Battleworld around to voice or work through some reasons, Lisa wondered what would happen next. Perhaps they would help her regardless of some voice or world being stolen.
Murai's case was messed up enough, although he wasn't even aware of how much of it was outside of his understanding. He had no one else to blame for that but others and his circumstances. Nothing but bearing with the reality was possible, which Lisa agreed with.
It wasn't as if Razmund started the Encounter willingly. Some God found some loophole or interest to let it start and the rest was only up to the Sides to handle. If there was no such interest to start it with, nothing would've happened. That was the truth that Lisa knew, but she never mentioned it to anyone, Murai included.
It all started with Pachi's Gift and Major Task. Neither of those was up to Murai's choices, nor hers. All of it was forced, wasn't it?
“Good!” David cheered. “It is all good now. Should be plausible when we... do the thing. So let's try what we can, shall we?” David slammed Ultium to the shoulder after getting close together, no longer fearful of Murai. Now, David laughed too, hoping to ease the nerves he had.
Ultium wondered what he meant by a try; he took the majority of this conversation up his head, but some things were complicated for him to understand.
“Let's hope then,” Lisa added, knowing what he was about to do. “that nothing bad will happen. Take your chance.”
David hunched down, cleared his throat, and looked at Murai in wonder and meaningful glance. “Therefore, I swear upon the name of David Copper, that I will serve Murai Hisagi's terms of the Encounter. In the name of the Battleworld, I will help him in his Part, so let it bear my Will, witnessing the World.” David recited his Pledge as Lia had when the Encounter started.
She had a little different take on the Pledge because the pledging could be various, ranging from brief words or full-blown rituals. It was mostly quick and simple. Lia's time was an opening sequence, so her rewards and case were limiting in means and accomplishments. It wasn't that difficult for her to get rid of Centralis Kingdom's troops before the Vermillion Mansion.
Now, David held a different case before him. The kind that had to follow specific routes because he was before the direct Side of the Encounter. One had to simply Pledge their allegiance in any form before Will of the Battleworld would work with it, followed by acceptance from the direct Side.
Seeing David, Murai accepted his Pledge by having no refusal in mind. He wasn't sure how pledging worked; he just accepted his proposal by not refusing him, so whatever would happen next wasn't up to him.
Lisa wondered about this point specifically since Murai's acceptance carried some connection to the world that was no longer spinning right.
Pledge and confirmation were always presented upon a Blessed—or any normal or crazier Side. Because of this fact, anyone aware of the Encounter could force himself onto the other Side, as long their Pledge got accepted. Of course, that only worked for the sake of being official Helpers. There were those stirring away from these ideas, working independently against the Battleworld's wishes, ignoring Gods, and having their own agendas. These were Breachers and various Taboo Makers.
Thus, it was always important and sensitive to get accepted, find the Side responsible for the Encounter, whether the Encounter was fine to follow, or what would happen if they were accepted.
Sometimes, the whole nations and kingdoms itched for such involvement, if the Part or specific Sides of the Encounters were up to their benefits. Taking either Side was important for politics and Gods alike, which made many political schemes hidden, or very clear.
Hence, it was no surprise many wars were normal in every Encounter. Be it Mortal, Holy, or Divine Wars, they could happen, albeit the worst ones would happen at later or closing Parts where involving parties or Sides were reaching their definitive epilogues, or when certain Gods were fed up with the way mortals meddled with the Encounter.
It was always making a mess that was much more involving and dangerous for mortals, or workings of the entire nations. A loss could mean a more inferior prominence, while winners dictated the rules.
What were the worst parts of all of this? The Gods involved filled the lower realms with their ideas and appeals that were impossible to foresee, making the Encounters hardly anything that one could solve easily, or predict too far.
That fact was something that Murai felt itching to his bones long ago, while Lisa hated it to her nonexistent bones.
They never asked for that. Murai never got anything good out of the Encounter besides a change of pace. Lisa gifted something good instead or forced it for the betterment of the mess she felt.
It no longer made him that dispirited and angry, even if this whole situation stunk with a huge plot.
Upon the end of the pledge, none present, apart from Murai could feel some tingling sensation between him and David. It was like a weird flowing noise, whispering and touching his head and soul. It was insensible, feeling different from Lia's pledge. Somewhat, Will of the Battleworld gave its opportunity to David, individually raising a mission for his Pledge. Success would give rewards, failure nothing or some punishment, or a partial reward.
David heard that voice alone, sounding like a pleasant female voice. It spoke clearly as if it was inside of his head.
[Pledge has been accepted, Helper who accepts his chance and grace of a challenge.]
[Your course and courage have been accounted for, thus raising a mission for the Encounter of Part 1.]
[Task: Escaping Seventh Death Forest is the whole idea, though it weighs in many ways because of Levandis Temple which is your home and limiting factor. Now, you should get it going fast, or get lost in the weight of its problems.]
[Your part in this Encounter is simple: Wall the dangers, spend the blood, bear witness to freedom, and fight for your life as you depend on it.]
[Rewards: certain freedom, Major Boon, Significant Attribute Boost, and minor possibility of Time Remedy. Possibility of gaining choices for +3 Levels to any ability apart from Unique Grade ones is high]
[Grade: S]
That was it. David heard this message, looking shocked since he had never heard such a clear and nice-sounding Will of the Battleworld. It was usually genderless for a good reason, but he didn't know the truth about the Divine Camp.
The room tensed up, unlike what David felt. Lisa was looking at him, curious and almost clutching her fists into pieces.
David wasn't sure what to expect next. He expected a problem, yet this was the usual stuff, which was weird and good for them. How easily it went indicated that the Encounter functioned and the world was still impacting its rules.
So he quickly compelled Ultium to do the same Pledge, lest there be some issue with it or not.
“Oy!” Lisa shouted when he ignored her gaze. “What was that? Did it work just like that? What is going on?” She doubted such Pledges were that simple, but if he heard it right, what did it mean or matter? A lot of things, apparently.
“Don't look for answers in good cases,” David argued. “It did speak... to me. Or she did? Someone did. It was a weird feminine and soft voice, but my case is done and familiar. It is filial to what you've said to me before. Forest escaping, as you've said. Thus, Ultium should do this as well. Then we talk. I swear on it.”
Lisa accepted his reasons begrudgingly, thinking that it was suspicious how well it went. She wondered what reasons and words he held.
Weirdly, after Ultium pledged his case and Murai didn't refute it, the pair held the same base of a mission, words, and messages. It was almost a barebone copy, following the pattern of a soft female voice.
That was to help the hurdles against Murai's Encounter in general, but in a sense, it was set and worded weirdly. It wasn't as clear, but there weren't any hidden rules or anything vague. There were no restrictions, or some limits like time, levels, or anything else.
Lisa got the gist of it when David spoke of it after Ultium was done hearing his Fate.
It was a fairly loose case. This pair could be their help in anything, which was good to hear, and worrisome in practice. The former was yet something that Lisa understood, but it was too late to change anything.
As for the rewards, they were weird.
Certain freedom?
She wondered what that was, but David was uncertain and unwilling to give her some concrete answer of what it was. David was no War Slave anymore, so that was that? One had to take the words of the mission for what they were, and as long as one acted alongside them, one got the reward. It was as simple as any Task.
Lisa was in a pinch. She was overthinking their terms so much that her body convulsed and skipped a beat. Perhaps how it happened wasn't that complicated, but why was another thing. The part about blood was an analogy for something, similar to the walling. Wall the dangers was the term mostly mentioned in protection and defensive missions.
Failure or success meant some sense of freedom for them, but it might not be that easy. It depended on their success, and Lisa also hadn't forgotten that Murai had a time limitation himself. He had ten days to get out, and quite a few of them had already passed.
Major Boon was some sort of Status. It was a choice with fitting causes for them, so depending on their choice or luck, it could be very important. As for the attribute Boost, it held a direct cause for power and numbers. It should be dozens of attributes across the board, which Lisa hadn't questioned even once. It made sense to have great rewards because the difficulty was set at Grade S. As for the choice of +3 Level, the probability of getting them across most of their abilities was high, while the Time Remedy wasn't something she had ever heard. It might be something unique or new.
It sounded intense when Lisa heard it and accepted them, leaving David and Ultium both satisfied. There was no mention of their Paths or anything more meaningful like mana, or their direct Level, nor they would gain an Artifact or some equipment. It was unnaturally straightforward without anything specific. For Grade S, that was unusual.
The content of their mission was their new purpose, so Murai or Lisa didn't know it word by word. But they could speak out loud about it if they wanted.
The biggest hurdle had passed. Will of the Battleworld was still there, speaking and working, even if it wasn't the real deal.
How and why? David was almost certain it wouldn't work because he heard that there were no exceptions in the flow of voices or readings from the Surface. Nothing! There should be nothing, or so he thought, which meant that Lisa or Murai were expectations that still worked.
“Well, it happened. Now what?” David asked Lisa who was frowning and almost cursing out loud. She hated it when she could not fully understand something.
“It did. This is too weird. It also voiced things the same way, correct?”
Ultium nodded.
“Is that weird?” David asked.
“It is Grade S, so yes. Such things never act like that. Helper status is too individualistic, so why is your mission the same?” Lisa glanced at them both. “Are you joking, perhaps?”
David sighed. “No. We don't! I can attest to Ultium's sincerity, while we have ours covered, right, Lisa?” He eyed her, almost pleading.
Lisa grunted and looked at Murai, who seemed to sit and relax. He almost acted as if he was outside of this problem, yet almost every problem hovered around him like a curse. She couldn't lift it anyway.
“With this said,” David said, “we have another issue. How many Helpers can help our cause? More than a pair, I hope.” By this point, he accepted the inevitable course that finding answers about the wronged world was futile. Lisa should accept it too, because Murai already did, while Marthosh pretended to be a crate because this conversation was far too mighty for his little head. Ultium acted tough like his heart, but he listened to them both.
It was an incredibly enticing and useful opportunity, and there were no clear problems with this voice or its purpose. Being a bodyguard was a suitable job for anyone in David's company.
“Number of direct Helpers depends on the part of the Encounter. For ours, it's half a dozen fools, is that correct?” Lisa asked as she glanced at Murai.
“I guess. Never took Helpers for something decent at the start,” he quacked, remembering Lia and her butchering.“Until now... That devil feels strong. Who is that guy? Is he right to follow me behind? Won't it crash the scales of balance?” He eyed Ultium and their gazes met and clashed.
Both started an involuntary staring contest. Neither wanted to lose, thus, a weird situation—where a unique devil and the worst Anatidae in this world fought with their gazes alone—started.
“Not that large number, huh?” David reckoned, ignoring their staring contest as Lisa did.
“Of course. It is neither big nor small. Half a dozen is a decent start, but as my little pet said, the scale is a problem.” Lisa added, figuring that Murai hadn't heard her sarcastic comment.
“What are we against, is that it?” David asked.
“More Helpers could be redundant. We don't care about forcing too many people into the length of our mess. Fewer the better. Let's call it quality.”
“Why not? It's not like many would refuse it if it's working for you. The Encounter seems to follow you, even when the world is strange. Or, do you fear others would seek the other Side if they understood the context? Are you fearing betrayal that much? Oh... I misspoke.” David laughed, noticing how Lisa glared at him unhappily.
“Yes. I fear the betrayals, alright? That is why finding you is perhaps an unexpected turn of Fate. A little bit of it is fitting. But Murai...”
“What?” Murai quacked, still having his contest. Ultium glared at him, unwilling to accept a loss, so his eyes turned redder and his palms trembled in his pockets. “Are you going to tell them my or your whole life story? Shut up and get a grip. Going over the problems is a fitting end to this charade. Do it already. Lose. Lose.” Murai quacked at Ultium, causing Lisa to wonder what was aimed at her or him. She didn't know, but she did calm down.
David and Ultium heard his quacks filled with confidence.
“You heard the boss.” Lisa sighed, shrugging her arm at the curious David.
“What... did he say?”
On the other end of the sofa, Ultium seemed to have his new mission and war. His eyes strained, glancing at Murai who was standing so close to him, that they were almost touching. Murai was also far too close to David, which wasn't something comforting for this regular man. Down with whatever issue they had, Ultium seemed itching and trembling for a confrontation, but something was warning him. A sense of duty, perhaps.
It seemed it was better to accept the presence of this Anatidae that didn't seem to shudder or flee because of his stare. That was rare. He liked his raising opportunity that felt tremendous to his heart, which made his blood boil. So out of respect for that, Murai or his own heart, he closed his eyes and turned his head away after an awkward sneer.
Murai huffed a breath, accepting this long battle as victorious.