[SIDE STORY — SEA SERPENT]
Difficult: B+
Task: Successfully defeat the sea serpent.
Time: 30 minutes
Reward: 50,000 stars
Failure: Death
“Are these the side story edits you wanted?” Chang asked.
I stared at the blue screen in front of me, the broadcast still hidden from everyone but Athena.
“What about 75,000 stars for the reward?”
“Are you trying to get me fired? Stop being greedy.”
“Do you even know what that means?”
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front wants to discuss details of the contract.
“Whatever, that’s fine for the side story. As soon as you restart the broadcast, assign it to only me. As for the contract…” I typed my own terms into the iridescent blue box first.
The entire system was, in a way, a manifestation of an uber-capitalistic society. One that had people turn into disciples and work as slaves for the gods—and apparently now observers as well.
Simultaneously, it was the most pure and elite form of entertainment. That meant if I could do something interesting, more gods and observers would watch me. Oh well, more spiritual energy and stars for me, then.
Although Socrates did go radio silent, that wasn’t a big concern. I still had enough spiritual energy to get through this.
[LIU PEIJIN CONTRACT]
Liu Peijin will receive 100% of profits from all messages sent within the broadcast.
Liu Peijin will receive Medusa’s head from Divinity ‘The One Who Fights in Front.’
Liu Peijin must uncover ‘Eternal Wish.’
Liu Peijin may only be streamed directly from Azure Dragon Chang’s broadcast.
Liu Peijin will ally with Greek divinities.
All parties involved in the signing of this contract will not disclose any details to any external parties.
Contract will only be terminated in the case of Liu Peijin’s death.
Under the circumstance that Liu Peijin fails to meet any of these obligations, Liu Peijin’s death will occur.
“Are you insane?! 100% of profits earned? How do you ever expect me to agree to that?” Chang erupted.
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front says the contract is fair.
A god needed to pay 50 stars and expend spiritual energy to send a message to a disciple through the system. This was easy for most prominent gods like Athena or Archangel Michael, but smaller gods struggled without enough believers or worshipers—disciples were a chance to bring more fame.
At this point, I didn’t know how much observer messages were costing, if anything at all.
Chang gawked at Athena’s messages before protesting, “Are you delusional, too? In what world does 100% of profits ever exist within a contract? You may be a god, but you are by no means a businesswoman. Peijin is completely screwing us both ov—”
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front is warning the Azure Dragon to watch his tongue.
Chang was a young Azure Dragon, and he was thus in charge of a relatively unimportant broadcast. He was lucky to have both Feiyu and me. Even though 100% sounded like a lot, it would only help me during the earlier stages. Once karmic limitations permitted gods’ descent, there would be no incentive to continue sending messages through the broadcast system.
“Athena is right. The profits will only help me in the short-term, and you gain most of your finances from channel subscribers anyway,” I said. “Term D ensures that I’ll only be streamed from your broadcast, and I can promise you that I’ll give you the best stories out of any other disciple. Besides, I’m now bound to Greek divinities. How limiting do you think that is, Chang?”
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front says you’re overestimating your abilities.
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front laughs and says you’re not the most promising disciple in the area.
I glared at the words, biting my lower lip—Socrates also mentioned that I wasn’t the strongest when he threatened to watch other allegedly interesting disciples.
I figured that I wasn’t the richest disciple from my earlier fail with ‘Editor’s Pen,’ but this confirmed it. How could there be anyone else stronger than the writer of the story? I should’ve been beating Feiyu.
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“Well, there must have been a reason for you to want to sponsor me instead of them, right? No reason for you to have forced me to ally myself with you otherwise.” I grabbed the rock above my head and pulling myself up to avoid the rising water.
“Eternal Wish is my current sponsor,” I continued, “So, I’m the only disciple with the best shot at uncovering them. If I fail to, then I’ll die for breaking the contract unless it’s terminated by my death.”
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front adds a condition that you must read her fate and explain her death.
“Ah, but what would that do? I’m sure you remember the story of poor Oedipus. I’ve already given you the name of your killer and the time,” I said with a wide smile was on my face.
Saying I was the god of fortune and fate was especially impactful on any Greek gods; with their heavy religious emphasis on oracles, they were terrified of playing around with something inevitable.
Divinity The One Who Fights in Front adds a condition that she must become Amelia’s sponsor.
“Can’t do that either. That’s her decision. I won’t stop her from picking you if it’s what she wants, but this deal is already against my favor. You want me to bring down my own undefeatable sponsor, or I’ll die.”
“Why would I make this deal with you if you aren’t even the best disciple here?” Chang interjected stubbornly.
“I will be once you sign the contract. I’ll even lower my profit to 86%.”
The Azure Dragon huffed before signing his name down on the contract.
Chang began growing in size, spikes tearing through his back and his jaw unhinging. “Do you have any idea what this means, fool?” Chang roared. “If you fail Athena or me, you will di—!”
“I’ll die,” I said, annoyed. “I’m aware.” I typed my name into the screen and waited as Athena reasoned through her options. As soon as she agreed, the broadcast would open once more, and I’d need to defeat the sea serpent. If I failed? Well, there was nothing to blame but my own skill.
[All signatories have signed! The contract is now in effect until Liu Peijin’s death.]
Chang quickly reopened the broadcast, and a flood of messages appeared from during the ad break.
[You have received 43 stars!]
[You have received 43 stars!]
[You have received 43 stars!]
[You have received 43 stars!]
Blue screens erupted all around me, blocking my vision. I quickly toggled my personal settings, so that the small star notifications would no longer be seen.
“Hello everyone! So sorry about the ad break, but it’s mandatory in terms of my managers. Special treatment could get me terminated. I take my job very, very seriously here. So does karma.”
Any spiritual energy I had was fully expended now, and all messages from Athena were terminated. I was alone once more with not even Socrates to bother me.
There was nothing Athena feared more than defeat. She was overwhelmed by her reason, but even then, her rage was unparalleled when she lost against those she viewed as weak enemies. Thus…
Medusa’s head appeared in my hand, and the snakes on her head wrapped tightly around my wrist. The Shield of Truth glowed in my hands; a glowing orange light seemed to make up the missing half. It was incredibly heavy and glistened in the water, painting beautiful orange reflections in the blue waves. I reattached pigeon’s lung to my mouth.
By buying the Shield of Truth, I would fight with a symbol of Athena. To lose against an easy enemy in her eyes would bring shame to her name. If I wanted to survive, I needed to play to the god’s desires for entertainment, money, and greed.
Before I could be crushed by the crumbling cave, I dove back into the tunnel and swam out. The sea serpent slammed against the cave once more, and it finally collapsed on itself.
[1,583 observers and gods are crying out in anger!]
[Observers Chat]
Nipon23: booo, the wicked witch of the west is back
The dark water surrounded me, and I quickly swam back from the sea serpent as its fangs became embedded in the rock from the collapsing cave. I hid Medusa’s head behind my shield; I had only one shot to kill the serpent, and I couldn’t let it discover my plan so soon.
Just a few meters away, the sea serpent broke free and shot toward me like a jet. I raised the shield in front of me, grunting as the glowing orange light forced the serpent back. It roared under water, sending a current that forced me back, but ‘Hindsight’ quickly calculated its next move.
Was ‘Hindsight’ keeping me calm and level-headed? The shrieking sea serpent snaked closer, and I lifted my shield. With my right arm, I revealed Medusa’s head just before the serpent.
As soon as Medusa’s writhing head locked eyes with the sea serpent, the vicious beast froze. Its eyes took on a hazy gray color before hardening and turning into stone. The back end of its long body thrashed and slammed into the side of the river.
Fate. Something I knew and could alter in this world. My survival was proof of that.
[638 observers are screaming in excitement!]
[Observers Chat]
Hedgehog1938: How is Peijin pulling this off? I thought she was stupid?
CommerceADK: It’s clear she cheated! What do you think that ad break was for??
Socrates: Peijin isn’t cheating. She’s using the system. Isn’t that the whole point?
With the last ounce of its strength, the sea serpent crashed into the sides of the river, violently spasming and trying to break free of its curse. The river collapsed in on itself, clouds of soil and rocks blurring my vision.
Damnit! I dodged the debris and swam toward the head of the sea serpent. If the sea serpent didn’t kill me first, the underwater landslide would.
Avoiding a crashing rock, I latched onto the now stone whiskers of the sea serpent. I gripped onto my shield and slammed it into the eyelid of the serpent, watching the stone crumble away. I dug and pried into its eye socket to try and remove its eye.
The entire river floor was shaking violently, causing countless rocks and sediments to cascade down.
The eye shifted, half of it popping out. I was so close; it was almost loose. Just a bit more, and—
A rock smashed the front of my face, knocking the pigeon’s lung out of my mouth.
Divinity Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts is urging you to swim to the surface!
Water flooded into my nose, sending a sharp stinging pain. A flurry of bubbles burst from my mouth, and I choked, losing oxygen. The serpent’s eye finally fell loose, the eyelid crumbling away as fine gray dust.
Kicking desperately, I hacked underwater, my body spasming as I tried to break through the surface of the water. The sun’s rays were beaming down into the deep river, casting bright ripples on my skin.
The influx of messages had brought in thousands of stars, but I was forced to spend all of them once more.
[Agility level 10 → level 20]
I moved with unparalleled speed as my hand broke through the surface of the water. I sputtered, spitting up water while swimming over to floating debris from the freeway. Pulling myself onto a chunk of concrete, I briefly vomited all over it.
I had made it. Broken Shield of Truth, Medusa’s head, and Petrified Eye of the Sea Serpent. I had all of it.
[Side Story #1 - Sea Serpent has concluded!]
[You have completed the side story.]
[You have earned the exclusive achievement Butcher of Abyssal Horrors.]
This was the world I knew. This was the world I fabricated with my own hands and mind, and it was a world I knew better than anyone.
I wouldn’t fall back into the way of my old life. This was my playing field; I was going to become a god and make it all the way to the last arc. Then I’d tear down this wicked system piece by piece with my party beside me. Karmic restraints, Eternal Wish, gods, and the observers—I wouldn’t allow myself to lose to any of them.
‘Hindsight,’ the skill that had served me most so far, began to flicker before me. The screen crackled, glitching as the pixels shifted into an unfamiliar deep red.
[THE MAJOR ARCANA HAVE SPOTTED YOU.]
… The Major Arcana?
My eyes grew wide in a mixture of confusion and fear, my throat thick with anxiety. Had I written about such a thing in Surviving My First Run? The system glitched at times, but it was promptly fixed by one of the thousands of gods like Chang that kept it running. Never did it display a red screen. The idea that the system was hackable was even more impossible than the existence of Eternal Wish.
[THE MAJOR ARCANA HAVE SPOTTED YOU.]
The screen glowed in front of me, waving unsteadily as bright orange sparks flew from the red screen and burned my skin. This one notification sent the most dreadful rush of anxiety through me, more than anything else has up to this point.
[THE MAJOR ARCANA HAVE SPOTTED YOU.]