Castle Path

As they traveled forward the muddy path began to change to stone, first the floor and then the walls. Until the ceiling also became stone. Wooden torches line the walkway, and in the distance, they could see an opening.

"So, which one is this one?" Zeke asked.

"This is the castle." Scarlet replied. "The highest-level monsters are in here. Mostly skeletons, zombies, and low rank vampires."

"This one attempted to warn you." Sara said.

"If it's so dangerous, why don't we just turn back?" Zeke asked.

"Labyrinths don't work that way." Scarlet replied. "Once you enter a chamber you have to complete its objective before you can exit. Usually, the castle's objective is a hidden treasure. Once we find that a doorway will magically appear and lead us outside of the labyrinth."

"What even are labyrinths with they behave like this?" Zeke asked. "I have never heard anything about it."

"You wouldn't have as a merchant." Scarlet said. "It is something only seasoned adventurers know. You don't usually enter a labyrinth until you have considerable training, because of this danger."

"Wait so why did the last room we were in not trap you?" Zeke asked, realizing they were not trapped in the last room.

"Honestly, it surprised Devin and me." Scarlet said. "That room was very odd, it was unlike anything we had ever encountered before."

"Hero protocol was predicted to appear near this location." Sara said. "This one's summoning chamber was moved to facilitate the nurturing of the hero."

"So, you knew that I would be a hero? Before the attack ever happened?" Zeke said. "You could have stopped the attack! You could have saved my mother! You could have saved my love! You just waited?!"

"This one was deactivated." Sara explained. "The chamber itself knew of your arrival and prepared for it. However even if this one was active, this one still would not have intervened in the creation of hero candidate fifty-one. The primary objective of creating a True Hero must always be this one's priority."

"So, you still would have just watched them all die?!" Zeke yelled. Rage was building within him, and the power of lightning began to spark from his body. With each shout another bolt shot forth.

"Calm down." Scarlet said. "I am pissed off too. Devin was the love of my life and this heartless machine just said she would have watched him die instead of saving him, given the choice. There is nothing more I would rather do than turn her into scrap. However, the last time I hit her I broke my hand. So just calm down there is nothing we can do. Besides, your lightning might cause a cave in if you are not careful."

Zeke closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. "Alright I understand." He said, the lightning subsiding. "Let's just find the treasure and get some experience points. We have a long way to go before we are ready to defeat Galendor."

"This one feels obligated to point out that hero candidate thirty-seven is not the main objective of hero candidate fifty-one." Sara said.

"What do you mean?!" Zeke asked. "He is the whole reason I became a hero! He murdered everyone I knew and cared about! Of course, he is my main goal. I live to end him."

"Incorrect." Sara said coldly. "Fifty-one must not follow the path of vengeance unless evolution into demon king class is the desired outcome. Suggest alternate path of justice."

"What is the difference?!" Zeke asked. "Justice or vengeance, both end in the death of Galendor."

"The reason an action is done is just as profound as the action itself." Sara said. "If you strike thirty-seven down with hatred burning within your soul, evolution to demon king class will occur. This one has seen it happen before. Eons past in the cycle of candidate thirty-seven, the arch nemesis of the cycle killed all of his nonessentials. Thirty-seven did not take the loss well and struck down the nemesis with a heart full of rage and hatred. His evolution to demon king was swift and merciless. All caring and love thirty-seven once possessed was replaced by rage and a sadistic hatred for all life."

"Yeah, I saw that firsthand." Zeke said. "He enjoyed torturing us."

"Cycle thirty-eight was jump started early to stop the cataclysmic event that thirty-seven had become." Sara continued. "Candidate was gifted a special skill to seal the demon king, and the objective was successfully executed. However, the catalyst for evolution to True Hero was not found during thirty-eight's cycle."

"And now I am a hero to stop him?" Zeke said. "Why did I not get a skill to seal him?"

"Fifty-one has a different mission." Sara said. "Predetermined cycle already started. Demon king variable unaccounted for. Fifty-one must complete both tasks."

"What?" Scarlet shouted. "What do you mean by a predetermined cycle?"

"Access denied." Sara said. "This one only wished to warn fifty-one of greater danger than just thirty-seven."

"This just keeps getting better." Zeke sighed sarcastically. "So now I have to fight an all-powerful demon king that could only be sealed before, as well as some yet to be determined threat?"

"That is correct." Sara said. "I have faith in your ability fifty-one." She said while giving him a thumbs up.

The path began to open, revealing a large black starless sky with a blood red moon in the distance. A massive castle sat below the light of the moon and an army of the undead guarded the front gates. A hundred skeletons shambled around carrying large two-handed weapons behind them. Some had armor, others were just bone.

"So many skeletons." Zeke said in surprise. "I had a challenging time with just a handful."

"Leave this to me." Scarlet said confidently. "Time to show this stupid android just how essential I am, then maybe she will use my damn name!" Scarlett pointed her staff forward and focused her mana. A massive magic circle appeared under the feet of the skeletons. In unison they all lifted their heads and looked directly at the party.

"Oh, great mother of fire, I beseech you!" Scarlet started her spell. "Grant this mortal the power to burn my foes. May your eternal flame cleanse their blight and may the world rejoice in your name. Mana Art! Atomic Explosion!" She yelled.

The magic circle ignited into a massive explosion that created a pillar of fire that rose higher than the tallest tower of the castle. As the fire cleared, none of the skeletons remained, only dust.

"How's that for nonessential?!" Scarlet celebrated. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder, and she looked down to check it out. She found an arrow piercing her. A moment later she collapsed on the ground.

"Scarlet no!" Zeke shouted out.