(Author: Hello! Another random release. Will there be another one? I don't know. My main goal is my main story and making every chapter as long and rich as possible. Enjoy.)

-----------Chapter 9: The Carnage Ball----------------------

Eddy's POV

Big brother changed. He used to smile a lot and joke around. Of course, he was also in charge of leading the other cadets so he was strict when doing his duty as cadet lieutenant, but looked over the cadets behind the scenes. Even the rebellious students hesitated to get on his bad side.

He used to say, "An officer only punishes you because you did something wrong. If we say you have to run a mile, you run a mile while we run behind you. If we say do fifty pushups, you can bet that you will see us do it at the same time as you when we say 'Push Up' and 'Down!' We don't make you do something we can't."

He was always stronger. When my dad married his mom two years after his dad died, he did not say a word against it and accepted my dad while he also loved his dead dad. He probably accepted it as my dad consoled his mom when his best friend died. He treated me like a real brother while I treated him as a stranger for the first five months, while I was 8 and he was nine.

When the end of the world came, he actually killed zombies to save me. He killed undead that used to be people we saw everyday at school. I barricaded the doors with Jean and....my best friend who was killed by a third grey zombie when we tried to escape the building as my brother acted as bait to stop the other two grey zombies. He has a girlfriend now, but he changed. It was as if he accepted this fucked up version of Earth as he had lost hope to go back.

I want to go back.

Back to the time my girlfriend and I just sat on the benches and enjoyed the weather. Back when my brother and I shot hoops or practiced shooting air rifles. I had still had hope, even when killing the goblins and zombies. When I fought the goblin chief, it didn't seem real. I felt pain but I was able to endure it and kill. It was as if the pain we felt was lessened. It seemed like a virtual reality, but it's not. This is real. When my brother and I were given a choice between choosing the peaceful life among elves or the violent life of dwarves, the brother I used to know would have picked the elves. My brother learned how to fight as he went to a mixed martial arts gym, but he did not like fighting. While I hesitate to kill, he only sees the enemy as experience to level up.

My brother and I share everything, even the things he doesn't share with Junghwa like how I don't share them with Jean. We are not married to our girlfriends. Thus, family first and foremost. I know the skills my brother chose and it scares me. I somehow knew he would drawn to the darkness. That's why I chose the Sun Conqueror class. I could not allow the world to change me, so I will conquer it instead. Demons love the light and may tempt my Jean and my big brother, so I must enslave or eradicate them.

He's accepted our tragic fate. I can't. I won't.

I can't change because the world changed my brother. We have to go back before I, too, change. Before I get numbed to killing and become a cold-blood machine.

Is it too late for my brother? He has a girlfriend. No, even she cannot stop his change. If my brother becomes evil and loses all his humanity.......can I bring him down? Can I kill my own brother?

I don't know. The fact that this might be reality......scares me.

-------------------------------

"Something wrong?" Aeron asked Eddy as the two brothers walked at the back as they all headed to the auction house.

"Huh? Oh, big brother......It's nothing," Eddy said. "You're strong, right?"

"For a hero in Division 2, yeah. Why?" Aeron asked and saw Eddy's expression. "Relax. I won't die anytime soon."

"A part of you already did," Eddy thought as he faked a smile as they all arrived in front of white, marble building.

"What's going on?' Frankie asked a nearby hero as they all gathered in front of the building, a large crowd packed in front of the large courtyard.

"New hero?" a red-haired young man asked as Frankie nodded. "Ah, you were dragged in here too. Every two years, groups of heroes gather to try to find a way back home. Some fanatics believe killing the demon king will bring us home. Lately, some of the higher level heroes have been getting assassinated by unknown forces working for the other side. Probably traitor heroes who were captured, tortured, or enslaved by enemy races."

"So they gather here to recruit people?" James asked.

"Another one, huh?" a blonde kid laughed. "Yeah, it's like this every year. I have been here since I was six years old. I believe I am sixteen now, based on the ten groups of heroes that arrived after my own. It never changes."

"Has anyone got past level 100? Is there a level cap?" James asked.

"So far, most people believe there isn't. See, we have not even explored the entire planet. It's like this Alternate Earth is the size of Jupiter. At least, that's what the elder heroes told me. I was only six and I only new it took more than twenty Earths to fill Jupiter," the blonde sighed. "The people who care to go back are those who came here as teens or young adults. The people past their thirties believe they'll age back, from their eternal youth at 27, and turn to dust. We're stuck here. That's a fact."

"We haven't explored the world?" Aeron frowned.

"Nah, kid. I've been searching for a good twenty years," the red-haired man said. "I'm about eighty five now? Does the U.S. have a female president?"

"No. There is a candidate but she's embroiled in all sorts of controversies. We did have an African American president," Aeron answered. "So why hasn't the world been explored?"

"It's like a virtual reality game you read in novels, comics, and dreams," a girl said as she stood next to the blonde kid. "We have to do some quest to unlock the land. People even get titles for finding it first. After coming here, the system announcement gets personalized."

"In what way? Is it bad?" Eddy asked.

"Your god is the one who talks to you. He or she might add some remarks but the important system box messages cannot be altered. "They're like GMs, game masters, that oversee the progress of players. So far as I know, there are gods for each of the thirteen elements."

"Thirteen? So many?" Frankie grinned. "Oh, how I want to be the mage that can cast spells using them all."

"That's impossible, even for mages. The elements are categorized into four different categories," the red-haired man said. "Name's Grey Shanks by the way. I fight with the dark elves against the wyverns. The blonde kid is my great grand son and the girl is my great grand daughter, both separated by two years. His name's Gary and her name is Carly."

"As my mysteriously young, twice grandpa said, the elements are divided into four categories. They are basic, rare, ancient, and forbidden. One element is outside of those four as it is the non-element known as destruction. It's not really an element but it is the unofficial thirteenth. Dragons, demons, fiends, and giants use the destruction element but to have affinity for it is rare. Some heroes get to use destruction, but that is through their class or a loot drop ability," Carly said.

"The basic elements are fire, water, earth, and wind. The advanced elements are ice, lava, lightning, and wood. The ancient elements are light, darkness, life, and gold. The forbidden elements are life, death, blood, and poison. Those who use forbidden elemental magic are feared and respected," Gary answered. "There are countless types of magic. Some famous ones are healing, summoning, necromancy, and blood magic.

"My Healing level 3 skill," Aeron said as he added a skill point to it. He thought he could upgrade class skills, but they could only change as the hero got stronger. He could heal major wounds, fractures, illness, and magical afflictions. He couldn't heal diseases or broken bones with a single cast, yet.

"That still doesn't explain why a lot of people are gathered outside the building," Junghwa said.

"That is because the auction is selling magical beasts for contract summons as well as slaves for all kinds of purposes," Grey said, all them moving and seeing a large platform with caged monsters and chained humanoids of all races.

"Slaves?" Jean frowned.

"Yeah. Some people buy them for all kinds of purpose, most of them either to serve or for pleasure," Grey nodded. "Even in Hero Market, there is a red light district where men and women find prostitutes to relieve their sexual frustrations. Most people like the female beast kin, every man's fantasy. The cleaner ones are usually the most expensive, from what I hear at the bars around here. However, the ones with a good time and ultimate protection enchantments are the most expensive, usually costing four digits at the least. The saying is that '1,000 black dragon coins is for the best fuck of your life. Add more to break that fantasy.' Of course, they have an age restriction there. Beer is okay though. Guess the gods don't care if a kid drinks alcohol."

"I'm going," Frankie said, everyone staring at him. "What? I want the monsters for the contracted summoning. Owning a magical beast is essential for any mage."

"True. I might take my chances at the shops if I don't see a useful one in my pricing range," James nodded and followed Frankie through the crowd.

"Are you coming?" Eddy asked as Jean and Cindy went ahead.

"No thanks. I already got enough of a boost. I also have my blood golem. For now, I need to gain combat experience. My blood golem will guard you in case some thieves might want to steal your black dragon coins. Tell the others to buy a storage item first. Any would be fine as it will prevent others from stealing from you," Aeron shook his head.

"Then why don't we go to the gladiator arena? Heroes fight against monsters all the time there. There are also blood coins you can earn to buy rare goods in their prize list. Every hero fights at level 20, wearing a special mask that reverts the levels back or advances them forward. You will have the same stat differences. For example, you would still have higher agility than vitality if you had higher agility before wearing the equipment," Grey grinned as the golem followed Eddy to the auction house. "The masks also gives you a costume you envision, making the illusion over your body real for as long as you wear the mask. This is to protect the hero's identity in case the loser bears a grudge."

"If you tell the coliseum guards that you came with others, they will be able to know who you are as even spectators wear masks and costumes. The only difference between you and your enemy is the weapon you use, the skills you know, and your combat experience. If you evolved your training weapon, you naturally have an advantage over people who use other weapons. Most people who did are at Division 3, levels 20-29. I'm at level 45, so I revert back my levels once I wear the mask," Gary said. "You can fight in unranked combats: group fights with five-on-five battles to the death. Ranked battles are one-on-one. Even if you die, you are not sent to your revival point outside Hero Market. If you win, you get blood coins and increase in rank if you did a ranked battle. Some prizes require a certain rank to be eligible for purchase."

"Most people are rankles and have to defeat one hundred heroes to qualify to fight the weakest of the top one hundred heroes. Ranks 100 to 90 change all the time. However, you get a chance to challenge someone from rank 95 below if it is your first fight. Most don't as they test themselves in the unranked fights," Carly said. "Oh and you technically don't die as the arena stops the fight once you die in that other state, leaving 5%HP of your original level left as you are kicked out of the coliseum. So you die, but not really. You're just disgraced."

"Then I'll challenge someone from those ranks," Aeron grinned. "If they change all the time, they must not be strong."

"HAHAHAHA! Good. Someone with a backbone. I support you kid," Grey laughed. "Take your lover and let's go."

"I don't like him," Junghwa said. "It was just once, to get it over with."

"Let's not argue about great sex," Aeron whispered as they followed the three veteran heroes to a Roman gladiator arena. Outside, there were several statues of heroes in strange costumes with their weapons in their hands as they perform some technique or pose.

"Those are the heroes who ranked first in the arena at least once. They received the title of Paragon of the Arena and ascended to demi-godhood. It is a very difficult method to get that much closer to the power of a true god, but the most successful one," Grey said, looking at them with fear and awe.

"Where are they now?" Aeron asked.

"The arena master said they all gained access to another area of the planet where demi-gods were allowed. Everyone dreams of going there as there is a proven fact that you can return home with all your powers. You can also bring four people with you, if you ascend to godhood. Each dimension travel takes a few hundred people from all over the planet and causes the Cosmic Quake. You have all your belongings, but there is no such thing as levels anymore when you return to Earth. You head back to Earth and the next batch of heroes is selected from that Earth and comes here. You said there was an African American president, but who can say the Earth you came from is the one me and my descendants came from?" Grey sighed. "But we do go back and it's a whole new ball game. Fuck. I really miss baseball."

"Also, there is no telling what kind of Earth you will go to or how people will receive you," Carly said.

"In other words, we were taken here because of demi-gods and god heroes who returned?" Aeron snarled. "It's their fault my school was randomly selected?"

"Yeah," Grey nodded. "Who knows what they are doing on your Earth. All we know is that the same Earth is never picked twice, heroes leave and enter every two years, and the cycle never ends. It never ends. We're just pawns of amusement for the Game of the Gods. What it is, we have to become a demi-god or god to find out."

"Now I really want to go to the coliseum," Aeron said as they arrived at the back of the line..

"You can't get to the first rank that easily," Carly sighed. "Don't be arrogant."

"I'm not. I just really feel like killing someone right now," Aeron said darkly.

"If you win, let's add each other to our friend lists. You younger generations sure bring excitement wherever you go, whether its chaos or serenity," Grey laughed.

"Halt! You stand before the Hero Coliseum. Admittance costs 10 black dragon coins for spectators. For gladiators, admittance is free," a guard said as they arrived at the front of the line. "How many is in your party?"

"We haven't added each other into a party yet," Gary said.

"Be quick about it," the guard said and waited for them to add each other to their parties.

Aeron narrowed his eyes as he could see all their names, levels, red HP bars, blue MP bars, and green stamina bars. He was level 13, Junghwa was level 11, Gary was level 45, Carly was level 46, and Grey Shanks was level 74! They also added each other to their friend lists as they could trust each other now that they knew the others' identities and levels. Grey, Gary, and Carly were surprised that Aeron was already level 13.

"Okay, who's competing?" the guard asked as an orb of light surrounded the six of them and the other guard beside him. They teleported inside a room inside the coliseum as another pair of guards appeared in their place. In this way, their privacy would be protected and no one would know if they were competing or spectating.

"I am. I wish to challenge the gladiator ranked 97," Aeron said.

"So that is a total of 40 black dragon coins. Here are your masks. Please envision a costume before going inside. Welcome to the Masquerade Blood Ball, the name of our humble establishment," the guard said, passing Junghwa and the others silver masks as they gave him the fees.

"Very well," the guard said as he gave Aeron a gold mask. "Okay kid, what weapons do you wish to use?"

"I'll use my Fiend Ghost Axe and my Dragon Heart Seekers," Aeron said, one of them appearing as a short sword as three others floated around him. "I aim to use the other three as hidden weapons."

"You're not going to fight with your blood golem.?" Junghwa asked.

"No. People will recognize loot-drop summoning skills as they are unique. Most skills have similar effect so I don't mind using those. It's kind of a good thing that I did not bring my golem," Aeron answered.

"As is your right to challenge anyone below the 95th rank, your challenge to the 97th rank is accepted as the gladiator is also in the coliseum. Please pick and alias and envision a costume for your match. The mask will also change. This decision is final so please choose carefully," the guard warned.

"Trying picking a name using a skill you use for reference. It's what I did," Grey suggested.

"Yeah, don't pick a dumb name like I did. Ugh, never going into the arena with that name and costume," Gary sighed, deep regret in his voice.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

Thinking if his most powerful magic attack and his shadow diamond dragons, Aeron said, "The Nightmare Harbinger. As for the armor, make my appearance with black medium armor with dark green cloths and a dark green hood. The hood should cover my head and never fall off. Also, my mask will be the color of steels, only showing my eyes as completely black. Protrusions should appear shaped as my nose and mouth, gold metal where my cheeks would be going down to the bottom of my chin in a similar, but not exact, V-shape."

"That's seriously a nice name and a cool outfit. You look like an assassin with a mask from the medieval times," Grey laughed as they saw the mask shine a white light and saw his appearance change. "Good luck kid. We'll be watching from the stands. Spectators can change their costume's image at any time. We'll look like you, but with gold armor and white cloth and white hoods. We'll look like a cult. It should match the name well. As people see you rise in rank, more and more people will dress as us. We'll call it the Nightmare Cult. HAHAHAHAHA! Why didn't I think of this?"

"Seriously, eerily cool," Gary shivered as their appearance changed. "Good luck. We don't really fight much and mostly just watch if we have the extra time. You need to stand out. Make it flashy. The more terrifying, the better."

"I have just the thing," Aeron said as he knew the image of the nine shadow diamond dragons were tattoos on his body. Otherwise, it would look vaguely similar to when he wore his Fiend's Raiment.

"It seems the match will be the afternoon's main event as some of the higher ranks will increase or defend their rankings at night," the guard said as another appeared in the room. "You have five minutes to prepare. The Nightmare Harbinger will fight Red Death. Furthermore, the 97th ranker wishes to fight with the winner getting all the black dragon, and blood coins. Do you accept the conditions?"

"Yes," Aeron nodded as he already made his purchases.

"You have no choice but to win now," Junghwa said as she kissed him on the cheek. "Good luck. Your opponent obviously robbed a lot of greedy gladiators of their money."

"Don't worry. I'll ensure it'll never happen again," Aeron smiled ominously as the others disappeared.

In a flash of light, he appeared in the center of the arena with a man in blood red armor to his right. All round them was sand with several white pillars at the edges of the arena. Many people filled the seats, going wild as they heard the details of the fight. Red Death, a well renown gladiator, made another bet with a newbie gladiator. Most spectators made bets against the new Nightmare Harbinger. They noticed only three four people bet over a thousand black dragon coins on the Eclipse Harbinger, one even betting forty thousand. It was definitely a powerful hero as one could only make a bet after turning in the money first. Even three thousand blood coins were bet for the Eclipse Harbinger to win.

"Isn't that a lot of money?" Junghwa asked as the four party members sat together.

"Money? Who cares at my level. I already started a hidden quest to become a demi-god. I'm only interested in the third type of currency for heroes," Grey laughed.

"I bet a fifth of mine, a little over ten thousand black dragon coins. However, I only had 200 blood coins," Gary said.

"I bet against him with the same amount," Carly said. "No offense but I don't see how he will win."

"If he was human, maybe not," Grey said, all three of them staring at him. "Ah, right. You're weaklings. HAHAHAHAHA! Let's just say he lost a bit of his humanity. Should prove entertaining."

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for our main event. As you know, there is six hours until the high ranking arena games. Thus, this is the last fight until the sun sets and the blood flows!" a clown wearing white makeup and a gold suit bowed. "Welcome to the Masquerade Blood Ball, where hearts are broken and dreams are made through carnage and slaughter. The ultimate gamble of life or death!"

"Hell yeah!" a man cried.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Fuck him up!"

"To my left, the challenger. A mysterious assassin who wields a short sword made of dragon bones and an axe made of dragon scales: The Nightmare Harbinger!" the arena master cried as he gestured onto the sands, most of the crowd booing Aeron. "And to my right, a man who must have been born when a devil raped succubus. A man who makes killing into an art and traumatizes his victims for life: Red Death!"

"Red Death"

"Red Death"

"Fuck me!"

"Forget that whore! Take me!"

"Kill that assassin!"

"I don't care which limb you tear off, just make it slow and bloody!"

"HAHAHA! Fights such as these are truly what makes this crowd so amazing," the game master smiled, many heroes approving. "Heroes? This is a place for gladiators, a place where even dirty tactics are allowed for the sake of victory. You want to be a hero? Go somewhere else because the carnage ball will now....BEGIN!"

"Stupid runt. I just hope you have enough black dragon coins," Red Death laughed. "Try to scream a little loud. Most of my fans love it when my opponents scream."

"Are you gonna fight or exhibit yourself?" Aeron sighed as he brandished his axe on his right hand and his Dragon Heart Seeker on his left, the dagger the size of a short sword.

"Then allow me to make the first move: Blood Cannon!" Red Death roared, beams of blood energy blasting at Aeron.

Aeron dodged the beams that shot in a singular direction. Red Death laughed as Aeron's left foot was destroyed by the blast. He licked his lips, going for the kill. He cried out as sand, not blood, seeped from the ankle and became a foot. It was as if he had never been injured. It had to be said that Blood Cannon was his most powerful magic. He shook his head as it was sure to have taken a lot of HP.

"Sand Aura. Not bad," Aeron nodded as he stared back at Red Death. He charged, his axe high as it slashed downward. Red Death snarled as he blocked it with his great sword, the sword crimson red.

"Don't underestimate me!" Red Death roared and a wave of blood was sent from his great sword. The crowd watched as the wave became a crescent moon of blood as it neared Aeron. Blood? Blood was a liquid. You can't pierce it but even small ripples can disturb a puddle.

"Quake Fist!" Aeron cried, his left fist punching at the blood wave as he tossed his short sword into the air. The blood wave trembled and exploded as it made contact. Red Death laughed as tossed a giant fireball at Aeron. However, Aeron was uninjured by the blood wave and cut the fireball with his axe, a strange energy cutting through it as if it could cut through magic.

"Fuck! Fireball, fireball, fireball, fireball, fireball, fireball, fireball!" Red Death cried as his left hand tossed fireball after fireball.

"That the best you can do?" Aeron mocked as he cut the fireballs with his axe while catching his short sword. "Allow me to return the favor!"

Everyone cried out as Aeron disappeared in an explosion of rock, appearing in front of Red Death like a ghost. Aeron laughed as he hacked into Red Death's shoulder and stabbed the other shoulder with his short sword.

"Flame Explosion Barrier!" Red Death cried, blasting Aeron back with a circular barrier of fire. Red Death grimaced as he pulled out the short sword and tossed it aside.

"Double Blood Wave!" Red Death cried, his  great sword using the forbidden element to send back-to-back waves of blood.

"You're not the only one with forbidden magic! Take this: Eclipse Spear!" Aeron cried, creating a jet black spear with strange purple streaks shining all across the spear. The blood waves were destroyed, as if the never existed, as the spear soared and struck through Red Death as fast as lightning.

"What?" Red Death groaned as he stared at a four inch hole in his chest.

"Welcome to the nightmare! Now, my dragons, feed!" Aeron roared as nine dragons made of shadow diamonds burst from his body. Red Death could only watch, terror in his eyes, as the dragons flew like snakes slithering on sand. They seemed almost alive and most people had never seen such a diamond before. The dragons bit off his hands and feet, progressing to the arms and legs. Two bit into his sides as the last two dug into his heart through the opening of his chest.

"No, that's.....that's the soul!" the game master cried, inwardly grinning, knowing the fight got out of hand but found an interesting prospect.

"Soul? He wrenched out the soul?"

"What kind of skill is that?" another whimpered as the nine dragons abandoned the body as two held a sphere with burning white flames with a slight blue hue inside the sphere. Many felt shivers down their spine as they heard an horrible scream as the dragons ripped it apart with their teeth and swallowed it, the scream resounding in their minds as if the soul were under endless torment.

The crowd looked around and saw the dead body as it was. The body should have left, the gladiator with 5% of his HP left outside. Their hearts thumped as Aeron slowly walked over to Red Death's corpse, removing the mask and revealing a brown haired youth of English decent. Aeron took on look at the face of the man he killed and beheaded him, the dragons relishing as they fed on the corpse. The dragons were a part of him, Aeron enjoying seeing them feed on the body. It was scary, as if he and the dragons were of one mind.

"W, winner: Eclipse Harbinger!" the game master shouted, the crowd undergoing silence for five seconds before going wild. Heroes that attacked the soul were incredibly rare and dangerous. Many of them wondered why they hadn't known such a person. Some of them saw Junghwa and the others wearing costumes nearly identical to the Nightmare Harbinger. Soon, several also wore the costume, etching the scene into there hearts as they chanted his alias.

"You see. I told you it would be exciting," Grey laughed. "Junghwa, you got quite the boyfriend. Make sure he kills every so often. It seems those dragons are a part of him and might drive him mad if they are hungry. Quite the fearsome racial ability with an equally terrifying price. Feeding on souls....at least I made quite the hefty sum. I can bribe some people now. HAHAHAHAHA!"

"He won! All that money will be mine," Gary laughed as Carly's face darkened. She was at a higher level than her brother but spent way too many coins on equipment than skills.

"The Nightmare Cult is invincible!" Grey roared.

"The Nightmare Cult is invincible!" spectators nearby cried, the words carrying through the entire coliseum as the adrenaline and excitement took over.

As Aeron was awarded his prize, an elderly man watched from the VIP box overlooking the arena. It is known that all heroes would revert back to age 27 or slowly age normally if they were below the age. The fact that an elderly man was there meant he was no hero!

"Your Holiness, it seems another soul devourer is here. I don't think he even cast soul magic or used a physical skill that targeted the soul," the game master bowed as he knelt on one knees.

"He has to defend his rank once a month. Be sure to watch his progress. I have a feeling he just experimented his spear magic skill and that fist technique. He is a new hero from this two year round of hero recruits," the elder said.

"Could he be the one that killed Tulaga?" the game master inquired.

"Yes, my demi-god servant. He has a Damned Soul, as his heart must be made of that mysterious diamond. To think a new member of the fiend race was born albeit a Halfling. Be sure to coax him into killing his future gladiators opponents by destroying their souls. If his soul is destroyed,  he will have outlived his usefulness. Retrieve his heart and bring it to me for my.......... collection. Fiends make quite the relics," the elder ordered.

"Yes, God of the Masquerade. Thy will be done," the game master grinned as he held a marble containing a small ember of Red Death's soul. It was supposed to be the 5% of HP Red Death had left. The game master gave it to the elder before he left.

"Another marble added. I so love soul devourers. People always assume the entire soul is destroyed. They've no idea the mask prevents that and grants me a piece of their soul when they are destroyed after the mask is returned. It's a pity very few gladiators could destroy souls. I would have had more souls to play with," the elder smirked maliciously as he placed the marble in a gold lacquered white box.  Many souls screamed as Red Death's own screams joined them, the sound barely a whisper before the box was shut. Now, the god had another hero's soul to play with. "Mortals. What fun creatures they were before and after death."

"That was my champion," a voice said, the elder smiling as a shadow loomed in the darkness.

"He played in the gladiator games. His soul is mine to take and play with. You can wait another two years for the next hero batch if you don't have another champion," the elder chuckled.

"What do you intend to do with so many hero souls?" the voice asked.

"My dear friend, you must set your visions higher. There is always a bigger masquerade out there. That Alternate Earth.....do you remember when we used to be like these mortals? I remember you. Ah, such a energetic little scamp. I almost thought you were high on drugs, always challenging and killing stronger foes. Good times," the elder said as he drank some wine. "Would you like some? They come with a mix of thousand year dragon blood. Quite the exotic taste to it."

"I don't know how to appreciate wine," the voice said. "You became the God of the Masquerade and started these games centuries ago. You, who were once a gladiator back in Rome."

"Ah, Rome. How I miss it. The gladiators fought to the death and the slaves just begged to be fucked. Did you know, I even had sex with the emperor's wife. His wife! Heh. The woman just wasn't satisfied with the man," the elder laughed and turned to look at the shadow. "For now, my box still has some space. That's all you need to know. Best to hurry off now. You don't want to keep your followers waiting."

"I want Red Death's soul," the voice said.

"You bring me the soul of a unique monster and I'll return your hero's soul. Why do you still care? Don't you remember what heroes are and why we chose them?" the elder frowned as he tapped his box with the wine glass. "After all, there is a reason we never choose the same Earth twice. You also know why zombies exist in every city that arrives here before it is destroyed and remade if the city is chosen to host more heroes."

"Have you forgotten you were once like them?" the voice asked.

"It's been over two millennia. Maybe even three," the elder said, watching the wine move as he rotated his wine glass. "It is best to remember what heroes are and leave them be if they are gone. You'd be wise to remember that, Theseus."

"You better control yourself, Remus. You are not the only god here. I'll have a champion of a friend of mine harvest that soul. Don't damage it," the voice warned before it disappeared.

"No, I am not the only god. However, I'm the only one that truly feels alive," the elder said, savoring the wine before incinerating it with green fire. "You heard it all. Does that answer some of the questions you had, game master? Like I said, it does not matter if demi-gods learn some parts of the truth. Otherwise, dear Theseus would have killed you first."

"Yes, Holiness," the clown smiled as he poured more wine. "Was it wise, to anger another god?"

"Him? He took over a millennia to become a god and we became demi-gods within the same year. It only took me one century. Don't tell me, you believe him to be a match for me? I've killed a few gods in my time. Some bits of their soul are in this very box," the elder laughed and took out a similar box. "Give this to Aeron Ao. He is the Eclipse Harbinger, the little demi-fiend. Tell him he can store small embers of the creatures he kills. Like all my soul devourer gladiators, as you had once been, give him the box with the price that he gives me the souls of heroes he kills back on Alternate Earth. The number of souls each box can hold is unknown. Either way, I have three boxes of god souls, nine boxes of demi-god souls, and twenty six box full of ordinary hero souls. This last box must be full for me to complete my plan. The number of soul devourers is too few."

"This one understands," the clown bowed and accepted the box. "And what title will he receive?"

"Soul Reaper, like all the others. Just remind him not to kill heroes with his axe or shadow diamond dragons as they devour the soul. Tell him he needs it for his class advancement and to be a full-blooded fiend. Even if he investigates, he'll learn all kinds of fiends have similar conditions. Just tell him what I told you. No more, no less. Unnecessary information always ruins the mastermind's grand plans," the elder said as he laughed maniacally.