Chương 21: Tides and flames

"Ha! The wind is no match for my armor now. I won't tumble around anymore." The guardian of the challenge stood up from the platform as water escaped the hollow armor. Eric chuckled as Vex twisted its skull back into place.

"Hey, over here. You need some help?"

"Not one bit! You did enough for me. Now… how can I repay you?"

"Well… you mentioned some kind of reward…" Vex smacked his own skull. It slipped from his fingers, dropped into the breastplate, and rattled all the way to the bottom.

"Oh, Lord! How could I forget? Just give me a second."

"Don't worry. I'm right here," Eric said. He sat down on the arena as it floated in an endless sea. The night sky reflected the stars in the water. Moonlight illuminated both him and Vex, as he watched the struggle to take the skull out of the armor. Eric thought about helping the guardian of the challenge but decided against it. He didn't want to force it. It took him another minute of fumbling before he finally yanked his skull free and set it back on his shoulders.

"Now, where were we?" His armor split open from the center, revealing three separate windows floating in the air. The windows listed the choices waiting for him. Eric leaned closer to take a look. /——————————————\ Special Challenge Rewards Warning: Rewards obtained from this trial or future ones influence your class, skills, and behavior. Choices are final and rewards are non-refundable. You may trade items here for better rewards or make bets with your stats.

These options will no longer be available in future trials. \——————————————/"Trading, betting… is this some kind of screwed-up casino?" Eric asked.

"These are the rules. You either accept and play the game, or walk away," Vex closed the breastplate, and the holograms disappeared. The guardian of the challenge moved closer to the end of the makeshift raft and took a seat at the edge. Eric joined him soon after.

"Take your time. I'll be right here while you decide," Vex said. Eric looked at their reflection in the water below. A college graduate sitting with an undead skull with armor and a strange-looking raven. It couldn't be weirder. He wondered why Vex was here and wanted to ask since meeting him. Public speaking and breaking the ice weren't Eric's best qualities, but he had to start the conversation somehow.

"I was thinking… how did you end up here?"

"Aren't you most interested in getting more powerful? Discovering what lies beyond your class and skills? The system could give you more than you can imagine, yet you sit here and ask about me," Vex's head turned around. Not having neck muscles made Eric uncomfortable.

"Yeah. I've wanted to ask ever since we met. Besides... nobody talks in this tower except monsters trying to kill me." Eric stirred the water with his legs.

"I'm grateful for Ash, but it gets lonely in here sometimes." Vex lifted his gaze from their reflection and looked toward the stars.

"I died during a castle siege. Death needed help, and he brought me here. I still remember the black cloud of arrows he came with. Then… poof. I was dead." The guardian of the trial put a hand over the dents in his armor and continued.

"Purgatory didn't look like this back then. I accepted the task from The Reaper, and he granted me the same class as you. My meat suit gave up, but the steel holds." Eric turned around and almost startled Ash with his rapid movement. The raven lingered near, attentive to the tale.

"Wait... you're a Reaper Acolyte too?"

"I barely remember anymore. My travels led me to the rose-decked fountain. After failing the challenge, I was assigned as its keeper, forever."

"Grim didn't help you?" Eric asked.

"He couldn't." Vex slouched forward and peered at the water below them.

"I had many things going on for myself, but I don't plan to tire you any more. The good news is that I'll have company every time you find such a shrine!" Vex practically bounced toward the center of the arena. He has a lot to tell. I'd go mad if I had to endure this.

"Follow me! This is my first time giving away rewards, so you don't want to miss it." Where the steel cube dissipated earlier was a small handbook filled with drawings. Vex had filled it with sketches and ideas for skills and traps. Eric picked up the small notebook.

"Not so fast, young one! This is for another time," the guardian snatched it out of his hands. Ash hopped over to the group, unbothered by all the stories. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"How does the raven behave with you?" Vex turned around and faced the winged companion. He leaned forward and placed both hands on his hips.

"I had a dispute with Death about my eye because a flying someone tried to peck it out." Ash let out several soft clicks and cawed once.

"We don't have such problems. Actually, I think we get along," Eric said. Vex didn't answer and turned around. He raised his hands in the air and clasped them together, forming a prayer. Two gigantic waves hit the raft and washed over him. When the water receded, he was no longer undead. Long brown hair fell across his shoulders, and the rugged face of a seasoned soldier emerged from beneath. Eric blinked several times. Centuries trapped here… and somehow he's better groomed than half the people on back on Earth.

"What? Is my hair looking strange?"

"It's… perfect," Eric said, flabbergasted by the transformation. Vex only smiled wider. The raft they were sailing on moved to the shore of an island. It had a cave on the beach and lots of cliffs sticking out from the ocean.

"Our journey is finished. Welcome to the rewards section." Eric hopped onto the sand and waited for Vex to come over. The soldier led him into the cavern. A few strikes of flint and steel were enough to light a fire inside. The flames twisted high into the air and formed more windows Eric was familiar with. He recognized one of them. Seawater rushed into the cave, lifted into the air, and condensed into another translucent window.

"I need the dagger," Vex said. Eric summoned his weapon and passed it over to the seasoned veteran. He placed it over the violent fire, and another display flickered into existence, this time with the green energy from Death.

"Once upon a time, I wished to see these rewards. That privilege is yours. Choose wisely." Eric motioned for the notifications and tapped the water one first. /——————————————\ New class unlocked! Class Name: Tide Caller Description: The ocean is yours. You control the tide. Whatever power is trapped beneath the unfathomable depths, with this class you can harness it. Tide Callers are a mobile, agility-driven class that controls water and other flowing liquids.

After ascending further into mastery, a Great Tide Caller can control the life force of an enemy. Choosing this class gives you bonus resistance to water-based attacks. You cannot recover life force through water anymore. Warning: Your 'Essence' attribute will be replaced with the appropriate one for this class. Choosing this class resets your progress. Progression: 0/150 souls [LOCKED] \—————————————/"The system liked our small sea journey," Vex said.

"Do you think so?" Eric glanced at the stone raft on the shore.

"That's my assumption. I'm not a fan of fire, but you might be. Check out this one." The blazing fire-tinted class selection screen let out small puffs of smoke into the air. Eric turned his attention to the new screen and flicked the water class away. /—————————————\ New class unlocked! Class Name: Pandemonium Flame Description: Eriphion has taken notice of you. All of Hell awaits a new leader to take hold. Expand the realm and become the demon lord.

Wielders of the Pandemonium Flame are personally selected by Eriphion's scouts. This class grants power over curses and command over lesser demons. Absorbing more souls grants progression and strengthens the wielder. Grants resistance to curses and a small resistance to fire attacks. Grants command over lesser demons. You can sacrifice demons to replenish your life force. Receive critical damage from Heaven's classes. Warning: Your 'Vitality' attribute will be replaced with the appropriate one for this class.

Your 'Essence' attribute will be replaced by the appropriate one for this class. You will no longer be actively hunted by Eriphion's demons. Other demon lords receive a notification upon your induction. Choosing this class resets your progress. Progression: 0/150 souls Curses: Terror, Life Tap [LOCKED] [LOCKED] \——————————————/"Woah. What's all this demon mumbo-jumbo?" Eric said.

"You caught someone's attention. Eriphion is one of Hell's demon lords. He overthrew two of his brothers and commanded a rebellion against the old order. It's a long story," Vex said and scratched his chin, absentmindedly drawing circles in the sand.

"Have you done something bad? Downright vile? I can't tell anyone either way, so feel free to say whatever." Eric looked over at the soldier, as if struck by lightning.

"No, nothing. Never. I'll admit to cheating on some tests, but that's about as criminal as I get."

"I'm just asking. The demon lords saw some potential in you. Or they might have plans for the future, who knows." Awkward silence filled the already tense atmosphere. This wasn't the first time other factions and powers showed themselves to Eric. He began to wonder if Death's need for help was something way bigger, just hidden in plain sight. No knowledge of the realms and history of the world made everything even more confusing.

Each soul Eric met in Purgatory revealed parts of the puzzle, but as time went on, things got even more tangled up. Grim might be hiding something from me. Either that, or there's so much going on that even Death cannot keep up. Vex stirred Eric's thought as he explained about the last screen.

"When passing a Special Challenge, you are eligible for a class upgrade. Most of the time. With your profile, it seems that we might see fascinating offers in the future. Since you're still at the first rank in your class, you're guaranteed one class evolution." Eric placed the fiery, smoking display from Hell to the side and focused his attention on the last one. The familiar colors of his mentor gave reassurance. He decided to choose the last skill because the other ones were not fitting for him.

/—————————————————\ Class Evolution unlocked! Reaper Acolyte -> Reaper Disciple Description: You're closer to Death than any mortal should be. Your former life is no more. Immersed in the ways of the Pale Sovereign, you earned new powers and now possess the first rank of the Reaper class. You become deadlier with light weapons. Passive essence regeneration is increased. From now on, you can better understand other disciples of Death. Progression: 1/150 souls Last Rites: You hear the bell toll before others do.

Activating randomly, this augmentation gives you foreknowledge of when a soul will meet its end. The effect might trigger on allies or enemies alike. Visions reveal the target and cause of death moments before the event occurs. The accuracy of the information is increased while in Purgatory. [LOCKED] \——————————————/ The window blew up into green smoke and entered Eric's body.

"Damn! That's a great roll," Vex said. Eric remembered the description again and shivered at the Last Rites effect. He could foresee an individual's future. The last waking moments of a soul were his to observe. Despite its utility, Eric couldn't shake the thought of seeing a loved one perish. Naturally, he wondered if such events could be prevented. He would save a soul from demise, but he would change its fate. A screeching sound interrupted Eric's thoughts. For the first time, he could understand it clearly.

"Ash!"

"Hey, you finally said something. I missed your caws," Vex said and smiled at the raven. Eric snapped his attention toward the warrior.

"What do you mean, caws? I heard a crystal-clear…" The black bird flapped its wings again.

"Ash!"