There was an empire in this world, just one empire placed on the continent’s western shore. This was where, 500 years ago, the humans, elves, giants, beast people, and dwarves retreated from the onslaught of monsters.

On their own, the creatures were powerful, but they were also dumb and driven by instinct. However, once the demons and the other mutated intelligent species learned how to command them, more than half the planet fell into their claws.

Thankfully, heat and the sun’s rays diminished the potency of mana. For 500 years, the empire fought against hordes of mutated monsters, losing territory during winter and gaining it back during summer.

Countless warriors and mages rose to the occasion and just as many were trampled and eaten by the enemy. With the empire’s forces diminishing slowly, they now needed even teenagers to fill in their ranks.

‘We would’ve been drafted eventually,’ Finn consoled himself. Each citizen, including his parents, had to serve for at least three years before the age of forty. Joe had completed his duty during his teens, but Elizabeth...

‘Shit.’ Finn shook the thoughts away. Their carriage was headed west towards the ocean. And, although they were still technically in safe territory, the teens had to keep their wits about them.

Since the empire was under constant threat, everyone was paranoid and defensive. Most of the five species did not like each other, and you had to move through their territories to get to the west. From what Ms. Martha had told them, only the church was safe for travelers, corrupt and hungry for money, but safe.

Since they needed to rest for the night, the team dropped by one such church. It was taller than those on earth and covered in pictures of mages and demons doing battle. More importantly, it was placed on top of a hill at the edge of its town, away from any bandits that may hide within.

“Are you sure?” whispered Annie as they approached the entrance. “I don’t trust priests.”

“I don’t trust anyone anymore,” Finn tried and failed to reassure her. “But, let’s do as Ms. Martha said” ‘at least for now.’

Fortunately, the priest welcomed them with open arms. Although it was already dark and he had no beds available, he allowed the travelers to rest on the floor in front of a large statue built on top of the altar. The exhausted teens tried to keep watch just in case, but on the first shift, Michael fell asleep and nobody got up until morning.

“Wake up dumb dumb,” Finn heard an unnerving voice.

“God sure is generous to help you lot.”

Suddenly, Annie screamed. The entire team woke up only to find themselves face to face with the priest apprentices that had drugged and robbed them in the past.

“Shit.” Finn pulled out his knife and went in for the kill. Natalie and Tommy were also about to decapitate their enemies when the church’s priest shouted “Wait! Not inside.”

He was a skinny man in a large white robe with a long face and an even longer mustache. “There shall be no bloodshed in Loki’s house.”

The priest pointed towards the large statue of God in the middle of the altar, the one no one could properly see last night due to the darkness. It was a white man in a roman style robe, with a large mustache and a monocle on his right eye. He lacked the Victorian style wig, but Finn could recognize him at the glance.

“That’s Loki?” Finn almost dropped the knife he kept at the apprentice priest’s neck.

“That is the almighty God.” The priest opened both arms.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“No.” Finn chuckled while shaking his head.

“Yes,” the priest nodded seriously.

“Impossible. But he’s… No… Are you sure?”

“My boy, I assure you. That is the image of God as he has shown himself to us 500 years in the past.” The priest frowned as if insulted and even the apprentices looked at Finn as if he had gone crazy.

Given the evidence, there was only one conclusion he could possibly draw: “Fuuuuuck....”

“No cursing inside the church!”

“Finn, do we kill them or what?” Michael had one arm behind a teen’s head and the other fist clenched and ready to squash it.

“We could’ve killed you in your sleep, but didn’t,” the priests’ leader, Luca, tapped Michael's arm. He was six feet three with fair features and a sharp chin. He wore a bow on his back and his ears were covered by a large hat.

He and three others in their group were clearly elves no matter how much they tried to hide it. The other three were human warriors with longswords and shields behind their backs.

“You broke our stuff,” Tommy pushed his sword a little closer to a burly warrior’s neck. Unlike Finn, he looked rather pissed and ready to go.

“We will compensate you.” Luca took out a pouch full of coins and handed it to Tommy. “We cool?”

It turned out the priest apprentices were given the same task to help out Trident. It was likely that more teams were on their way too.

Since there were countless monsters for everyone to kill and the looming possibility of a large-scale invasion, there was no point in fighting against each other, at least not during this particular exam.

“The towns up ahead are full of bandits,” said the church’s priest. “So, why don’t you all travel together?”

“Hell no.” Michael stood up.

There was a loud knock on the church’s door and another team of teens entered the premises. A giant led them and the rest were beast people armed with swords and knives.

“Crap,” Michael muttered. “That’s the guy who beat me, Yeren Monthos.”

While the new team introduced themselves and shook hands with Luca’s team, the church’s priest brought food to calm everyone down.

In the meantime, Finn and his friends remained to the side. ‘We can manage some bandits, but...’

They did not know what would face them in Trident. Maybe, it would be an easy fight, but if not... ‘Can we really afford not to work with these guys?’

In the end, after much deliberation and a big hug from Yeren which almost squeezed Michael’s soul out, it was decided that the groups would collaborate. No one really trusted each other and their alliance was temporary. But, that was the case with the entire empire, and it was still standing after 500 years.

“Let’s go,” said the giant after all of them had breakfast.

“Since we must pass through that town, shall we cleanse it of its sinners?”

Both teams looked ready to fight with only Finn’s crew still hesitating.

“It’s God’s will.” Luka gave him a wink. This made Finn’s stomach churn, but there was merit to the elf’s logic.

‘We need practice fighting together.’ Finn looked at his friends and then at his allies who were waiting for his decision. ‘But, won’t they go overboard?’

The giant and his beast people grinned maniacally while looking towards the town, and Michael was staring at them like he was already a fan. Natalie and Tommy had their hands on their hilts while Annie was talking to the priests about magic.

‘Of course, they will,’ Finn sighed. “Screw it.” He pulled out his bow. “Let’s stir some shit up.”

[Name: Yeren Monthos.

Age: 15 years and one months old.

Race: Giant.

Titles: The Chieftain’s kid, Young Titan

Abilities:

- Hand to hand combat {Advanced+}

- Earth bending {Beginner+}

Buffs:

- Titan’s body {Teen}

- One with the earth.

Debuffs:

- Musclebrain {Advanced}

Comments: If you step on Andrew Finn, I’ll double your neurons.]