Sophos sat on the dusty floor. He looked disgusted and calmly inspected the hand he had used to turn off the phone. Clearly, he wasn’t happy about touching Rae’s blood residues. He looked up to the still standing Rae and softly spoke.

–My time is limited Hema. I don’t mind if you wish to speak while standing, but you got to start speaking soon.

Rae sat in front of him. She did not trust him but telling her story would be a long conversation, and she was still feeling half asleep. She took a brief breath and started talking.

–Like I said, my name is Rae, please learn it already. I am part of the fifth division of the liberation army, the arctic squadron. My companions and I are currently fighting on the tundra region of Level 36 where we have found the guardian conis soldier. However, the monster skin is too thick which have made it impossible to deal any damage to it. We are requesting your cooperation in slaying the monster and are prepared to pay for your services accordingly.

Rae took a medium bag out her bag and presented it to Sophos. Then she continued:

– In this bag there are two thousand meal vouchers as down payment. We are willing to pay up to five thousand more depending on performance. If you are interested on the proposition I can give further details.   

As part of the equipment that had been given to human on this realm were the meal vouchers. Each person had received five thousand and five hundred meal vouchers that could be exchanged, at any time for, a “Complete meal” on one of the marked stations on the map. The amount of vouchers represented a supply of food of five years, probably ten years if you were to rationalize it. The meals were disgusting on flavor and texture; however it was a granted meal. In this realm there were no farms for grains or meat; furthermore although there was some wild plants that could be eaten, you would need the knowledge to differentiate them. The meals had been dubbed the “Pig’s rice” because of their shape and form, it had all the nutrients and vitamins a modified human would need. The modified part was specifically important because soon after arriving here they had realized that they needed way more food to sustain their bodies. The calorie consumption was so high that depending solely on monster hunting or foraging plants for food was not really feasible. As a result, the meal vouchers had become the de facto currency, since having a meal would guarantee you won’t die of starvation.

Sophos took the bag, inspected their contents and presented it back to Rae. He then spoke:

– I decline. This does not qualify as payment.

– Is the amount insufficient? We believe we are making a very generous offer. Two thousand vouchers are enough to feed someone for almost two years, and this is only down payment.

– You seem to be mistaken. Is not the amount that is wrong, but the payment method itself. What am I supposed to do with all that food? Besides, is that disgusting grain; no one wants to eat that.

Rae re-evaluated the situation. She had offered human food to a monster. It was true that the food was useless to him. She recollected herself; if Ava had recommended this being; it was certain that he would be powerful. All she had to do was convince him to join them and she would save several of her comrades. With some hesitation Rae asked:

– If this is not suitable, what payment would be acceptable to you? In pact with a devil, it usually asks for the wagerer’s soul; but what about pact with a monster. What do you seek? What is the proper tribute?

– I’ll overlook the fact that you are insulting me Hema. And about payment, let’s see. What about the core of 300 of your fallen comrades? I could use some of those.

Rae got cold feet. It was true that many more human have fallen over the two years that had passed since they were transported to this realm. A good deal of those people had been part of the liberation army; in fact, probably the arctic squadron alone had lost that many people. However, desecrating her comrade’s bodies to extract the core inside them was not a notion that excited Rae.  It would be a direct insult to those that had fallen. And even if you didn’t take into consideration the questionable morality of the act; every one of them had been buried on makeshift graves on the lower 36 levels. Whenever someone died, it was a tradition of the liberation army to hold a small ceremony to pray and pay respect to the contribution they had made. The dead were meant to be left to rest. Where would she collect that amount of cores? Rae made a face of disgust and replied:

– I am afraid that it is impossible. The liberation army does not have that amount of dead bodies lying around, and even if they did they wouldn’t allow the mutilation of the deceased. The arctic squadron could be more flexible on that regard but waiting for us to have enough casualties so that the required amount piles up would take a long time. After all, no one wants do die. Would it be possible to ask you to take just the cores of the people fallen on the single battle against the guardian soldier and supplement with another form of payment? – Rae pledged with him

– That would represent a problem, I would have conflict of interests. What I want is human cores and you are offering me the cores on the one that die on battle; why would I try to end the battle on the most efficient way possible? It would be to my benefit to let as many people die to collect more cores and that would take a lot of time, and you guys don’t want to die. Is a lose-lose situation for both of us. Is there some other deal we could make?

– Besides food there is nothing much we can offer. We can provide information about the surrounding territories but you probably wouldn’t be interested on that. – Rae replied shyly.

– I guess you are right. I suppose negotiations have failed, now if you excuse me.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Sophos got up and started to walk towards the exit. Rae pushed her brain as much as she could to come up with a way to convince Sophos to help her; but just like she had told him, there was nothing else she could offer. The liberation army deals always were paid in vouchers, protection or information; and none of it was of interest to Sophos. Rae was out of options and thus she did the only thing she had left. She dropped on all four and bowed her head; she pleaded for the live of her comrades.

– Please. I beg you. You have to help us. If you don’t several of my comrades will die; further more we are running out of time. We have only made it to level 36 despite having pass two years already. At this rate we won’t be able to reach level 109 on the 3 years we have left. I cannot imagine the upper levels been easier than the lower levels, we need to press on and continue climbing. We can’t stop here; neither can we afford to take a huge loss of personal. Please, help us.

Rae begged with all her being. However, what was showing on Sophos face was disgust and perhaps anger. Rae’s pledge has had the opposite effect on Sophos.

– Rude girl, do I look like a charitable person? Do I look like the type that would risk his life for the well being of strangers? If Ava had come without proper payment, I would have been disappointed but still would have helped because I know her; but the one that came was you. Let me ask you, would you risk your life for nothing more than a bag of sea sand?

– Yes – Rae hesitantly answered – if it will save lives I would.

– Save lives? No. The monster in question is just an annoyance to me. I’ll pay you with a bag of sand since is all I have on this shack. A good deal don’t you think?

Rae bit her lip in frustration; the monster was mocking her again. He was comparing the deaths of her comrades to minor annoyances. Negotiations were not going well for Rae and she knew it.  But she could not back up out of this.

– Ok. I will do it. Where is this monster?

– Are you sure? You might die you know.

–It might get you in the mood to help me. If it will save my comrades, it would be an honour.

– Interesting. – Sophos grinned – but before I show you the monster I have to ask, why are you willing to go so far for your comrades? I don’t believe such tight bonds could develop on such a short time.

– is the only chance. Only when we reach level 109 we will be permitted to go back to Earth. All of us miss our families, friends, lovers, our old lives. This is the only chance we have to make it back.

– You still might die. If you die then you wouldn’t be able to go back anyway. Why are you willing to sacrifice your happiness for the possibility of the others reaching it? Do you have that much faith in them?

– No! I have fought alongside them and I am aware that we most likely will fail.  But what if, what if we are able to make it? What if I am able to beat the monster without dying? I rather die early than live longer plagued with regrets. Besides even if I do die, if it helps the other makes it, it would be worthy. There is no need for all of us to be miserable, is it?

– Do you gamble? – Sophos asked while laughing loudly

– I am guessing you don’t mean money. What do you have in mind?

– I am glad you catch my drift fast. I will help you out of entertainment; so let’s make it this as fun as possible. The wager is going to be your life, the terms are the following: I will help you kill that monster for a week. I think I should be able to kill it on that time; however, how many of your comrades will die? I predict it will be less than five, you predict it will be more. If I win I get your life, if you win, well, you get to keep your life and get my help to beat that monster. It is a sweet deal.

– So you are betting that I am going to go back and what I just said and sacrifice my comrades for my own life? You are underestimating me. I am in

– Good. I almost forgot there is one more rule. You can’t tell anyone about this deal, if you do the bet is off and as a breach of contract I would take your life anyway. My fun will be spoiled if your comrades suicide so you survive.

– You are also including emotional torture since I won’t be able to receive support for my teammates? Honestly, this just works to my advantage; I wouldn’t want them feeling guilty about sending me to my death. I have but one question: What happens if the monster is not defeated within a week’s time?

– If I get full command of troops I don’t think that is likely. However, you mentioned being a commander so I am guessing you don’t call the shots; that might hinder me. – Sophos stopped for a moment to think – I guess nothing. If I don’t kill it within that time frame I’ll just leave and the bet is off. You get to keep your life regardless of how many have died by then.

– That seems interesting. I accept the terms.

Sophos exited the shack; Rae followed closely after him.

– It is about midnight. Get yourself ready Hema, we are leaving tomorrow night. There is some stuff I need to get ready.

– Excuse me for being in a hurry but is a long trip, wouldn’t be possible to leave earlier? Even a single hour earlier would be of help.

– Well, I suppose we could leave right now and do my business on the way. But that wouldn’t leave you time to get ready and rest. I can’t imagine the trip here being easy on you.

– That is not as problem. My backpack is ready; I can leave at any time.

Sophos  though for a moment before replying.

– Did you made your way over here alone from level 36?

– No, two of my comrades came with me. One of the, should be waiting on the closest town, about a day’s walk from here. Now that I know the road here it should go way more smoothly.

– Ratail town?

– Yes I believe that is the name of the town. We agreed that two of us would be entering the wastelands, and if we didn’t return in 8 days, the other one would return to our captain with the bad news.

–Then it should be fine even if we don’t inform him, he will go to level 36 on his own after 8 days. What about the other one? Do you have a way to contact him? The wastelands can be very dangerous; making him roam for 8 days without a reason seems cruel.

–You don’t have to worry about that. He is not longer among the livings. About a day ago we fell into a lion ant’s trap. He didn’t make it out.

– Do you remember the place? Lion ants on this area store prey they have captured by paralyzing it and keeping it alive. Your comrade might still be among the livings; he could still be saved.

– Really? Then we still could save him. – Rae looked down for a moment – However, I can’t beat a lion ant on my own and I have no more payment for you. Reinforcements would take too much time. I know the place but he is a good as dead anyway.

Rae kept looking down depressed. Knowing that her comrade was still among the living wasn’t good news if she couldn’t help him. Sophos went back into the shack, and came back holding the bag of meal vouchers.

– Well, I am going to have to take these stupid vouchers anyway. I might as well earn them. Let’s go Hema.

– Yes! And my name is Rae! Learn it already!