14 The Rebationary Reward

In the hot environment where a constant stream of lava and the fiery surroundings seem unquenching, a voice echoed in the depths of intense flames that swirled around the area.

"So wait the fucking minute, first of all, from the conversation we are having. You set me up to die didn't you?"

"Arthas, the procedural to becoming a champion of ours is a meticulously observed process in which they must survive until we deem it necessary"

"So let me get this straight, 'You' would just watch me as I struggle in the fight against giant waves of bugs?!"

"Yes," The short reply ticked Arthas even more.

"I succeeded in your test, right? Can I at least get a rebate for this shit? I almost died, what would have happened if I died?"

"We have no worries, if worse comes to worse, you die. If we think you are of potential, the mountain lion would save you but it seems that it was no need for that"

"UGH, assholes" His eyes glared at the man with scary icy eyes. Seemingly challenging him even though he just got out of a precarious situation.

Arthas's pride didn't allow him to take in this surprise without having to return the gift he just received. Full of malice, he was thinking of buying another full-grown rex just for this moment.

"Pfft" A giggle encompassed the situation that broke the serious tone. The soft, cute, angelic giggle broke through the heavy atmosphere that pressured around the area.

'Who is this?' Arthas thought as he just noticed the girl that was wearing a robe and the environment around them. '...It's such a mess…'

Everyone looked at where it came from. The giggle came from the mage that healed Arthas, she was a girl that covered her face with her robe. She was relatively tall for a girl but still shorter than Arthas.

"Oh, I'm sorry I just found his outburst funny. Please carry on"

The girl apologized for the giggle that escaped from her mouth. Arthas heavily breathed out from the intensity of the atmosphere and remembered the breathing lessons that he learned from P.E. classes.

He inhaled and exhaled hot air that went through his body and lungs as he did the same motion at least ten times. He took one last before he started a conversation.

"Okay, before we continue can I at least ask for your names? I feel like you guys skipped too many steps for the introduction and demand"

Arthas crossed his arms as he aggressively demanded an introduction from the random figures that wore red robes. There were three figures right now. Arthas noticed that their numbers were smaller but didn't mind since he doesn't even know them or wanna know where they went.

"I apologize for the sudden and ambiguous mission. Allow me to introduce them on their behalf. My name is Aislan, it is a pleasure to meet you. The hot-tempered man is Hayem."

"Yo" A man with a bulky physique covered with a red robe from the top to bottom covering his face, although it was difficult to see his eyes glow with intensity as they glowed with pure ruby-like eyes.

"Sup, nice to meet you" Arthas replied to his greetings, "As someone who is quite tempered, I think we would get along"

"Watch your shit, punk. But hey it's nice to meet someone new, I guess" Hayem retorted with a smile on his face that was visible for a split second.

"The mage's name is Lia, she is our support and everyone considers her the best mage in the world, possibly the strongest that has ever lived."

"Hehe You flatter me Aislan, but thanks for the compliment. Yodayo, Nice to meet you Arthas. We have been expecting you, hope you stay till the end or at least make it till the end."

'Yodayo? That's one familiar greeting… and Expecting me? Till the end? Am I gonna die soon?' Arthas gave an impulsive thought to what Lia said.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Aislan and company."

"Yeah" "Mmmm"

"Regarding the current issue, Arthas, I will have to give you a new quest regarding the escapees that were caused by your mana-breaking explosion"

Arthas wanted to ask what Lia meant about expecting him and what it means to be at the end but before he could, Aislan spoke to everyone.

"To properly explain. The Red Dominion is surrounded by an invisible magical barrier that makes the outside world not notice our existence, trapping all the special monsters called Amirites in this magical field including us. It is impressive magic made by Lia herself, but due to your summon that exploded, it caused a massive mana-breaking phenomenon that disrupted the barrier causing all the Amirites trapped inside to be burned, killed, or escaped to the outside world."

"Haiii~ I'll take it from here, Aislan" Lia intervened and continued the explanation. "You see Arthas, Amirites are creatures that have stemmed from the core of the planet that would continuously grow into a monster that would possibly destroy a kingdom. The barrier that I have synthesized has made it possible to weaken it to have the strength to only destroy a house. But when your summon broke my barrier it gave them freedom and without the barrier, they would slowly regain their original strength that would allow them to ravage the kingdom."

The explanation provided by Aislan and Lia shed some light on the situation for Arthas. The Red Dominion existed within a hidden magical barrier, protecting the outside world from the dangerous creatures known as Amirites. However, Arthas's summoning explosion disrupted the barrier, allowing the Amirites to escape and regain their strength.

Arthas took a moment to process the gravity of the situation. He realized that he had unknowingly endangered the kingdom and its people by his actions. Guilt began to well up within him, and he felt a sense of responsibility to rectify the consequences of his mistake.

"Is there anything I can do to stop them?" Arthas asked, his voice filled with determination.

Aislan nodded. "Indeed, there is. That's the reason we're here. Your new quest is to eliminate the remaining five hundred escaped Amirites. You possess unique abilities, and we believe you have the potential to become the champion who can unite the continent and protect our people."

Arthas hesitated for a moment, contemplating the daunting task ahead. He knew it wouldn't be an easy feat, but he couldn't ignore the call to action. He had already experienced the dangers lurking within this world and understood the consequences of inaction.

"Hold on a second, I know that I have somehow messed things up along the way but I didn't know it was something that could lead to this. I just wanted to survive, how about the reward for actually staying out alive? Can you at least hold some accountability for this shit?"

Arthas was dismayed by the request that they have made, although it was absurd to make a complaint right now, he feels like this should be his right as someone who just survived a massive meltdown of magical abilities and terrifying monsters that could destroy the world.

The members of the Red Dominion looked at each other and knew that they have no choice as they couldn't even believe that Arthas who was just recently reincarnated almost decimated everything from the touch of his summons.

"As much as I would say about it, the display of skill and power you have displayed deserves a reward. I know that it would seem to be unfair to not give you anything but the best that we can at least do for now is something simple, but I hope that this would be of help as you go into your journey"

As Aislan said something about his reward. A bright purple portal opened, the swirling mana that surrounded the portal seemed ominous and scary as if it was a portal to an underground dungeon that would lead to his death.

Arthas was worried whether the reward he would receive would be death but Arthas knew that wasn't the case. Even though he just met these guys for a short amount of time he was certainly sure that they won't be this underhanded to at least do something like this with a malicious intent

The portal continued to glow bright purple as time passed the hue became darker and every second the space around it became contorted as if it was a black hole that sucked space itself. It was an interesting sight to see, it holds mysterious and mystical amazement that every enthusiast of the unknown would love to see.

'Nope, fuck that, let's get out of here, and hopefully I get to find a beautiful wife and have kids. Yep sounds like a plan.'

But for Arthas who was to receive this reward, it was like stepping onto a firing range on a battlefield where he would be shot from all sides. It was a gamble for him that would potentially cost him his life.

"Lia" Aislans sharp voice made him snap back to reality as he was deeply thought of what would happen next.

"Yes, Aislan I fixed the entire barrier, there won't be any more leakage from now on, and in case something of this caliber would happen again. I decided to improve the threshold in which it would hold magical influx such as explosions" Lia replied in a calm demeanor as she gave a report on what she was doing.

"Great Job" Aislan eyes glanced at Lia and quickly made their way back to Arthas. "So, Arthas. I think you have thought long enough about what you want to do right? Time waits for no one"

Aislans smiled with happiness and delight as they looked at Arthas, while his facial expression was friendly and he wasn't able to see everything inside the robbed. The chilling atmosphere once more came back from the time when he was 'forced' to make another decision, and he realized there was only one answer and other options would lead back to the same outcome.