"Why? Does she want to release monsters into Karo to harm my Batholem?" Nae yelled furiously.
"No, I mean, once it's out, nothing of those Dungeons will be left. Nothing at all. It's a new power she’s gained, which makes me excited to see!" Peter declared, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"You can see the future, huh?" Batholem asked. "I know you can, but is it accurate?"
"I can see everyone's future but Aurianna’s."
"Our older siblings would try to attack her. But if she didn't know they were related to me or Batholem, she would have slaughtered them all like animals. So my best advice is, when you meet her, do not make an enemy out of her, no matter what. I'll leave now. I'll let you all decide what to do with your future," Peter chuckled before heading to the door.
"Can I ask why she destroys the dungeon city?" Batholem inquired.
"Slave traders. Seems like she has a grudge against the organization that dared to kidnap her," Peter revealed.
"Wait, so all this time you knew they were there?!" Batholem asked angrily.
"My Sacred said I shouldn't mess with the futures I see. Even telling you this would make him punish me seriously when I get back home," Peter replied, scratching his spiky hair with a goofy smile. "Yelina, she may be a princess of a small country, but trust me when I say, do not mess with her. The High God told my Sacred to bring her to the World Summit meeting."
"High... God?" Yelina trembled.
"Yes," Peter answered with a serious expression.
---
[Welcome to the trial of the copycat hero Jugi Hitario.]
Aurianna read the screen before her, staring at the sprawling landscape filled with pillars that reached the sky.
"I wonder if I can transfer all my power to you, Kiana," Aurianna mumbled with a subtle grin.
"Huh? Why?? It's clear that you're the one more suitable for this kind of trial!" Kiana protested. "But is that even possible?" she asked curiously.
"Did you forget that I killed a group of copycat monsters just for this trial? Now we are fighting a hero. Since he's a copycat hero, he can copy skills. But can he copy talents such as singing?" Aurianna asked. Kiana just gave her a blank stare, knowing that Aurianna, the battle maniac, wouldn't waste such an opportunity. Her sudden suggestion meant she wanted to test something, and Kiana was the test subject.
"Nope..." Kiana replied nervously.
"Good, so let's test out this new skill of mine," Aurianna declared with a grin, plunging her hand into Kiana's head.
"Though I think using this skill would reduce my power by half, but no worries, at least it would boost yours for a limited time," Aurianna shrugged.
"Why the hell did you stab my head?!!!" Kiana shrieked, distancing herself from Aurianna.
"Ah, such a worrywart, Kiana. No need to panic, just fight and show me what you've got, mermaid. I can't keep saving you like a prince all the time, y'know?" Aurianna sighed.
‘I hate her, but she's right,’ Kiana pouted.
"And I wanted to try a new skill," Aurianna pursed her lips, looking as though she was offended, but Kiana knew better than to fall for Aurianna's play.
"So I'm just a guinea pig!!" Kiana mumbled under her breath, gripping her palms and crying.
"Humph, on with it then!" Aurianna declared as they moved forward in hopes of meeting the hero Jugi.
‘But my body feels weird, too much mana,’ Kiana thought as her body felt extremely hot despite the cold water temperatures. ‘Way too much mana and very calm for a chaotic person like her,’ she thought while staring at Aurianna, who was happily swimming forward and humming.
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‘Aurianna Vanluad, maybe we can actually leave here like she says,’ Kiana sighed inwardly, accepting her fate.
"Oh, a new fighter," grumbled the person before them. Before them stood a beautiful brown-skinned man with a feminine face but a deep voice. His black eyes stared at them coldly yet playfully. He wore normal-fitting attire that seemed old and worn out, but his top was nothing but a mere crop top.
"Huh, where's the rest?" he gasped, noticing that there were four people and one cat.
"There won't be any," Aurianna replied, unfazed by his looks.
"I thought we were meeting a man. Why is there a woman?!!" Kiana yelled, pointing at Jugi.
"That's clearly a man," Hadina stated plainly with disinterest.
"Which part of him looks manly? His face looks more defined and feminine than mine. I'm so jealous!!" Kiana gritted her teeth as she glared daggers at Jugi.
"Get ready, hero Jugi! I may probably die in a few seconds, but I must fight you!" Kiana declared boldly but soon began to shiver as Jugi’s gaze shifted to her, his eyes forming crescents.
"Haha, a mere High Mermaid dares to challenge me?" he asked arrogantly with a crazed expression.
"Seriously, is your world filled with idiots like you now?" he asked mockingly.
"Hey, if you're out there, better help your friend or else I'll kill her," he scoffed, clearly referring to Aurianna. ‘She’s obviously the strong one as well as the other two ladies, so why let this weakling fight?’ he wondered.
"Oh, giving us the chance to help her? My master shall do no such thing. Proceed with the fight," Boara stated, ignoring Kiana's teary eyes staring at her. The poor mermaid was obviously scared.
"Hey, are you Boara?" Jugi asked, recognizing her voice.
"Oh, you recognized me, Jugi?" Boara asked with a smile while stepping forward.
"Why are you with a native of this world? And even out of your trial? How's that possible?" he asked, clearly curious.
"She became my master, and that's all there is to it. If I betray her, I would surely die," Boara stated, pointing to Aurianna who was sitting in one of Hadina's tentacles. Zagan felt annoyed by the creepy, ecstatic look Hadina had on her face.
‘Taking a closer look, she's clearly a child. But why's a child's charm so damn high? I almost lost my mind for a moment there. Was Boara charmed? Not possible. She's not one to easily fall for charm magic,’ Jugi thought while staring at Aurianna carefully.
"Come on, you and Kiana should fight. After that, we can discuss some personal matters," Aurianna stated.
"What personal matters?" Jugi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I want you to join me, hero Jugi. I'll grant you freedom, but you'll serve me," Aurianna offered with a cold smile.
"Serve under some child? What do you take a man my age for?" he scoffed.
‘Talks like an old man, looks like a young man. How funny,’ Aurianna clicked her tongue.
"Do you want to live in this endless cycle of fighting and dying?" Aurianna asked coldly.
"Hmmm..." Jugi remained silent.
"Betraying her won't be possible once you've made a contract with her. So I wouldn't advise that," Boara stated.
"Humph, annoying youngsters!" Jugi crossed his arms.
"So you are aware of the cycle of the Ruin?" Aurianna asked.
"Of course I am. I've realized this for a while. I'm nothing more than a prisoner here," he said, sighing. "But knowing what I did in the past, I probably deserved it." He chuckled.
"Also, would those angels just let you walk away here with some heroes?" he asked.
"Oh, you would no longer be yourself technically. I'll be your master with my power. So yes, I can leave here with you," Aurianna revealed.
"I don't see any other hero," Jugi stated.
“I have no need for those weaklings. I prefer quality heroes like the top three,” Aurianna said with a grin.
‘Weaklings? That's not true. Those heroes were definitely strong. Everyone here is basically a Grand Human or Primordial Human, yet a mere child and mermaid defeated them? Or maybe Boara helped them, but Boara isn't strong enough to fight them on her own. Maybe that octopus wpman as well,’ he thought nervously.
"Child, what's your level?" Jugi asked curiously.
"You must tell me yours first since I can't see yours," Aurianna replied, her answer causing Jugi to frown a bit.
"I'm a Primordial Human; that's why you can't see my level," Jugi stated.
"I'm a Grand Human, level 8542 to be exact," Aurianna revealed proudly, and Jugi's eyes almost popped out of his sockets hearing her words.
"Whhaaatttttt?!!!! Aren't you like 12??!!" he asked.
"Yes, I am. Chi, chi, chi, chi," Aurianna giggled.
‘We had the same reaction when we met her, so don't worry,’ Kiana and Boara thought.
"And my dear mermaid here is a Chaos Mermaid, level 670."
"Boara, she's Primordial like you but she's working her way up to be an Arcane monster!"
‘I see. So she's looking at quality over quantity,’ Jugi thought calmly.
"So, I guess you want the top three to join you?" Jugi asked.
"That's my plan," Aurianna grinned.
"I don't mind joining you then. Convincing the other two won't be so hard I think," Jugi sighed.
"That's great!!" Aurianna beamed.
"I mean, after all, they have been watching you since you started this Ruin. The two most powerful heroes in this entire Ruin," Jugi stated nervously.
"Watching us?" Aurianna asked nervously.
"Yes."
"I see. But will you fight Kiana though? I want to test this new skill of mine," Aurianna blurted out, and the hope in Kiana’s face drained. Since they were all talking so much, she prayed they had forgotten about her, but Aurianna remembered.
"Aurianna, he already looks convinced to join us. There's no need to fight him..." Kiana said, trying to convince Aurianna to change her mind.
"Did you say something, lazy Kiana?" Aurianna asked with an annoyed tone.
"No, nothing," Kiana cried inwardly. ‘Brother, I hate this crazy girl. Save me!!!’
"Is there a reason I should fight this child?" Jugi asked, confused.
"I need to see your powers after all. But first, before you two start, why not accept my mark of submission?" Aurianna asked with a smile.