Chương 20: Strategist and General

"We have always, always, strived for peace between Earth and The Realm. It is the nations of Earth that labeled us as tyrants as they made slaves of Realmers in the name of ideology. We have only targeted trialists and never the innocents of Earth. Make no mistake, that does not mean you are innocent or us as weak. If you continue to escalate beyond military targets and Trialists, then so shall we." - The Witch Tyrant. *Tyrant sympathizers spread this message across Earth.

The first public demonstration of Destined working against their country of origin. Ryan's feet touched the ground fifty feet from the strategist. The landing didn't hurt, neither did his bleeding nose. He rushed forward once again, the adrenaline and the thrill pushing him on. He still had one advantage. Forty five seconds No, he had two. His hood had blown back during the freefall. Avale's shield wall shifted slightly, as if flinching. Maybe it was just his imagination…

no, he'd definitely seen it when he was prising the shields apart, he'd seen into the eyes of Avale. It was the same look that Chris had given him. Avale, the upgraded melee-mage strategist, was afraid of him. Ryan laughed as he ran at the line of converging golems. Avale had offered a deal with no timer while he was fighting a war. Avale had practiced enough martial combat to learn [Shield Bash] but had been toppled over by a measly realm one [Rogue]. The strategist, a Trial boss, was afraid of him.

Oh, he could use that. Ryan swung out the crossbow and shot it upwards.

"[Arcing Shot]" He threw the crossbow to the ground and started shooting wildly upwards with his gun. Three times. How did you deal with someone who could think with multiple minds? You overwhelm their processors by making up bullshit. That was the problem with skills like [Threaded Thoughts] they tended to tangle each other up. Even a skill like [Parallel Thoughts] had significantly decreased efficiency compared to a singular focused mind. Sixty seconds His grin widened further. Even the golems were clumsier.

He leaned back from a suddenly buffed golem and laughed at the strategist.

"Getting sloppy!" He took an exaggerated glance at the outside of the spell circle.

"Doesn't look like the war is going well either!" He, of course, had no clue whether his words were true. He couldn't tell how a war was going from far away, but that wasn't the point. Nonsense spewed out of his mouth like Kingsley's guts had.

"I'll tell you what, I'll make you a deal." The golems weren't quick enough to force him into an encirclement. It didn't help that most of the newly summoned golems were on the defensive instead, trying to buy Avale time to set up the catalyst. The strategist took the bait.

"Why would I believe you?"

"I can do this all day. Keep you occupied and wait until you lose the war. You can't kill me quickly, and if I get overwhelmed, I can just run. You get nothing." Ryan had actually just come up with that one, and then he realized it was actually true. He could technically just run away and help the human army win the war. Avale tried to keep stalling.

"Once I am done with the catalyst, I will deal with both you and the war."

"Hah! If that were true, then you would've teleported here immediately. Admit it, Avale, you're on a bigger timer than I am." Thirty seconds"Leave the circle and I will accept your offer." He dismissed the notification from his Trial Quest. What a pathetic boss. Why would he quit now? He was about to win. Ryan shrugged and jogged to the perimeter of the circle. The golems parting to make way. There were so many in front of Azale that he no longer had the confidence of winning a frontal assault.

The strategist was shuffling backwards, towards the middle of the circle. Shields still facing him. Ten seconds He dodged a buffed golem that tried to tackle him outside the circle.

"Don't be rude." Then he recalled his soulsword and took a deep breath.

"I have broken two catalysts! Avale is here! It is time to charge! TELL THE GENERAL THAT VICTORY IS AT HAND!" Trial Quest updated Clear conditions Kill the Strategist OR Accept Avale's deal - Failed! OR Survive in the spell circle until the human army wins. Ryan grinned as he dodged the charging golems. Things couldn't get into the summoning circle, but golems and people sure could leave it. The included sound as well. He turned around to face the boss of the second Trial.

– This was a crucial war against the human kingdom. The Golem of Wings, Avale, was ripping his spines out trying to figure out what the motivation of this mad [Rogue] was. The hood and the chase by the elves and humans in the reliquary had led him to believe that this was a demon or one of the 'demonic' races. The [Rogue] didn't even try to loot the treasure in the guardian chamber. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Avale had thought he might have been an ally or a refugee and could be hired. Then the [Rogue] shattered the catalysts and tried to kill him. A madman trying to make a name for himself—that was what Avale had decided. There was always a few like him. It was just that this one did not stop nor relent no matter how much he was pushed back. At first, every single action seemed reckless, but now Avale felt like a noose was slowly wringing around his neck.

The [Rogue] used another of his golems to jump into the air and spun. He hit a leaping golem with the flat of his longsword and leveraged it to land diagonally downwards. The human laughed at his own maneuver, looking delighted that it even worked. The bastard was having fun. Not just that, he was improving over time. Avale wasn't going to defeat him with just the golems.

"General Dupoire!" The [Rogue] called out again.

"Where art thou?! The catalysts are destroyed!" Another error, the war was already lost. Avale had been focusing on making the marvelous blade into a catalyst that he hadn't realized it was a legendary soulweapon. Now he was stuck to the spell circle, acting as a catalyst until his mana ran out.

"The catalysts are whoa-" A leaping golem used the back of another golem to jump at the [Rogue]. The human swiped at the stone golem as the blade sliced through the stone like butter. The [Rogue] looked at his blade in realization, then looked at him and grinned. Avale grit his teeth. The human started slicing his golems apart, they did not have obvious weaknesses like cores or exposed manastructures, but were also too slow to hit him.

Avale tried many combinations, surprise attacks, stock formations, but it was as if the [Rogue] had seen them all. The [Rogue] had Avale's measure. Horns started ringing, and he closed his eyes. The General had finally been alerted, and the battle was truly lost.

"Looks like your time is up, Avale!"

"Indeed, though I intend to make you pay the ultimate price." The [Rogue] kicked at a broken golem, then winced at his foot.

"What about a deal?" Avale laughed at the mockery. He parted his shields to look at the human that ruined it all.

"I'll kill the General for you."

"You expect me to believe that?."

"Now, listen to my plan. What have you got to lose?" Avale had expected the [Rogue] to go for the weird artifact that fired small projectiles. Instead, the mad human was dead serious. A devious madness danced in the eyes of the human. Avale listened to the human's plan. Then he realized the [Rogue] was serious.

"Why? What have you got to gain from all this?" The [Rogue] shrugged.

"I have no choice. I have to get stronger."

"This path leads to ruin. Gaining power that way is folly. The odds are tiny you'll gain a true skill or recognition from the world, and even if you do, it is likely to be corruptive."

"Yeah, but you guys don't have the Trial System."

"The what?" The [Rogue] sighed, no longer looking like he was enjoying everything, just the resignation of doing what he needed to do. Those were the eyes of someone who had recognized he was going to die. That convinced Avale more than anything else.

"I have your word?"

"Yeah, I'll do my best to kill the General. I give you, my word." The demon strategist believed in the words of a human rogue. Using [Bird's Eye View], he saw the General begin his charge from afar. Avale focused back on the nameless [Rogue] in front of him.

"Come then, let us make a show of it. I AM AVALE TSUZURRA, THE GOLEM OF WINGS, STRATEGIST UNDER DEMON KING ARCTUS. COME STRANGER, SHOW ME YOUR SKILLS."

"I'm just Ryan. Ryan Robinson." Avale laughed, Ryan laughed too. They both charged at each other. Avale's shield came slamming down at speed as Ryan dodged to the side and slashed. He swiveled and brought up his other shield to block. His enchanted shield blocking the souldsword.

"You are weak! How do you intend to keep your promise?" His blocking shield pushed out with a [Shield Bash]. [Instant Dodge] Ryan suddenly sped up around the shield. Avale's back was open, but he just needed to twist- Two loud sounds rang out, and Avale felt two impacts pierce his ribs on the side.

"Ah-""Sorry, I don't play fair. I do follow through on my promises, though." Avale laughed as he fell. He shouldn't have fallen for that one. He looked at the clear blue sky and then at Ryan. A human, not a grinning madman exulting in his victory, but a man who looked sad he had just killed a demon. For some reason that gave him more hope than anything else. – Trial Quest Objective Completed! You may exit the Trial at any time through designated exit zones.

Ryan had made a promise, whether it was to a Trial person or whatever, he intended to follow through. He knew the background story of most of the Kings and Queens that would appear in the first five Trials, but that wasn't important. What was important was the bonuses he'd get for killing another boss. He held Avale's dismembered head by the hair as he approached the circle's edge. He shouted.

"Avale is dead! Where is General Dupoire?!" There were roars and shouts in response as the human army gained. The golems were even slower than when he'd first seen them. Avale's passive portion of his buffing skill must have been wider than he'd thought. Ryan eyed the General leading the charge and collapsed. It would be showtime soon. About fifteen minutes later, an armored man on horseback approached the [Rogue] within the circle.

He cautiously touched the air of the spell circle and found that his hands could pass.

"Blasted thing, we tried everything to get through this. How did you manage it, boy?" Seriously, what was it with old people and calling him a boy? He was 22, damnit.

"Not a boy. I went through this marbled tunnel dungeon thingy."

"You went through one of the demon king's reliquaries? You were on one of the teams that we sent to sneak through?"

"Was a lot less sneaking and a lot more running for my life." Ryan said.

"What's a reliquary, anyway?" The General was taken aback by his question.

"It's a relic bearing chamber. You must tell us the location." Ryan just looked at the General, then he flopped back down.

"Hahaha, fuck! I didn't see any treasure. I didn't want to check because of Kingsley's guts everywhere!" One of the aides riding next to the General scowled at him.

"You should have some more respect, you are speaking to-" The General cut his aide off.

"Have some respect, this boy just saved countless soldier's lives with his actions."

"Of course, sir." General Dupoire dismounted. Ryan looked blankly at the sky, then turned his head to look at the Avale's head in his hand. He flung it away in sudden disgust, then he looked at the blood smeared on his hand. His hand shook.

"You shouldn't look that way about killing a demon, boy."

"I just want this war to end." He said, looking at the General.

"But yeah, that does make me feel better." The General offered his right hand to the [Rogue].

"What is your name, boy?"

"Ryan, and I'm not a boy." He put his hand up to clasp the offered hand, then moved forward at an impossible speed. [Instant Dodge] The General with years of honed instincts raised his other hand to block Ryan's striking. A sword that wasn't there before appeared as it pierced through the General's hand. With all his might and momentum, Ryan pushed, and the blade barely paused at the General's throat. Unfortunately for General Dupoire, Ryan had another skill.

[Double Stab] The second stab added a sudden push to the stalemate, the blade digging deep into Dupoire's throat. Ryan slashed upwards as the enchanted blade cut cleanly through the jawbone. Blood arced outwards and splattered on the horrified aides' faces. [Warriors] were tough, upgraded [Warriors] doubly so. He stabbed again through Dupoire's eye, just to be safe. Then he leaped backwards to dodge one of the quicker aides and ran backwards. [Instant Dodge] level up!

[Instant Dodge] level 3 -> 4 [Double Stab] level up! [Double Stab] level 4 -> 5 Ryan ran, he had dropped all his gear away from where he lain to lower the General's guard. He picked them up and brought up the Trial System's interface. Exit the Trial? The summoning circle counted as a designated Trial exit zone. And the [Rogue] was gone. He slew both leaders for no apparent reason and left both kingdoms in a state of disarray. Ryan knew the consequences of doing what he did for his future Trials.

Frankly, he was starting to look forward to it. Trial Quest Completed Completed Objectives: Kill the Strategist. Completed! OR Accept Avale's deal. Failed! OR Survive in the spell circle until the human army wins - Completed! OR Slay the General - Completed! Calculating realm 1 achievement score… Realm 1 achievement rating: S Congratulations! No adjacent classes available! Teleporting you to the safe room.