Set

A Small bead of sweat trickled down my brow... I could feel 34 pair of eyes boring right into me... I stilled my shaking and scribbled down the numbers on the sheet of paper.... luckily they were correct, the Spectral Dragon nodded his head in understanding, I'd explained the rules to him properly so he didn't complain, instead he got fired up watching me.

"You're more clever than you look BugBreeder!" Darius proclaimed whilst using telekinesis to scribble with his Pen.

"You honour me my lord," I responded.

"Do not be so meek.... honestly I had half the mind to simply roast you alive for your.... insolence! But that would be a waste! I haven't been given such a challenge since the Drowned Daughter first came here,"

".....Y-You don't say! Hahaha, Maybe others think it Blasphemous to challenge you!"

"Bah! Spineless cowards, the lot of them! If they were afraid of challenging me Physically they need only suggest a game that requires wisdom like this...."

"Sudoku!"

"Yes!"

We've been playing the game for around 20 minutes now, The agreement was first to win 10 rounds, It's 5-4 now, with me being the five.... I did think he'd pick it up so fast! Are all dragons this clever? I don't know what he'll do to me if he wins and I don't wanna find out!

"....I don't know why you call it that.... Sudoku, This is just Canni's Conundrum, isn't it?" Arthur hissed.

"Oh? So this game actually isn't that rare afterall?" Darius asked.

"No my lord.... though it's not as popular as other puzzle games or games in general, but a select few of high intellectuals such as myself play it!" Arthur replied

"That's interesting," Darius said nodding his head.

".... where I come from we call it Sudoku not...."

"Canni's Conundrum!"

"Yes.... that," I said. I guess it's not weird that similar games exist in other worlds.... this one is pretty advanced so it's a given.

"Hmmmm where you come from huh? I guess I'm interested in-!?!?!" Arthur was saying until suddenly one of the worms swimming around Darius's face jotted out and grabbed Arthur's mouth with it's teeth, a few moments later it ripped out Arthur's tongue! Blood spilled everywhere as the Lizardman howled in pain.

"Wha-!?" Barney yelled

"Jesus Christ!" I screamed

The worm swallowed the tongue before returning to Darius.... the Dragon didn't even bat an eye during the whole ordeal, he just kept solving the puzzle...

"Hmmm? What? I promised I'd rip his tongue out the next time he spoke didn't I?"

Everyone nodded their head in fear.... myself included.

"Good, so there are no protests, or are there?"

Everyone shook their head.

We continued solving the puzzle after this.... hiccup, Sir George and Pedro cleaned up Arthur and tried their best to seal the wound, the Lizardman almost wept during process.... he stared at me intently during the whole process. What? It's not my fault! How was I supposed to know he'd seriously harm you?

"Two more and I win BugBreeder! You're starting to slip up!" Darius bellowed.

"I haven't lost yet!" I'm going to lose, I am so going to lose! I can't concentrate anymore after that event! I am imaging him doing something worse to me when I inevitably lose, thereby destroying my concentration! Worse is that Bastard Arthur is still staring at me Menacingly!

Darius solves the final puzzle and I lost 8-10.....

"Ah.... what a shame, it seems I came out on top," Darius muttered.

"You sound almost disappointed my lord..." I said, the shock of losing hasn't hit me just yet.

"Yes, I am.... I had hoped you wouldn't lose... because now I have to kill you!" He roared! He bared his fangs, ready to devour us all, Barney screamed and Arthur wept, Sir George cursed, Vince and Bradley grabbed their weapons.... but they couldn't raise them, was it out of fear or knowing it was futile attacking him? Either way they just stood there! Meanwhile Pedro just stared absently at Gambit's limp body.

"Hahahahaha! Ahhhhhhh.... Yeah, I change my mind! Killing you would be a waste.... although you technically lost, I can make an exception, though there are conditions for that of course!" Darius said.

"Conditions....?" I said meekly.

"Yes! Conditions! Firstly.... I'll allow you to take Ol' Flamesire,"

"Flamesire?"

"The elf.... but in exchange you'll need to become my new disciple!"

"!"

"M-My lord please, you cannot keep Junior here! It's unp-" Bradley was complaining until several of the worms silenced him with a death Glare...

"I will not keep him here... I only 'Suggest' he come here every third week from now to study here with me.... perhaps bring more interesting games as well, I like a challenge so make them good!"

"...is that all?"

"No! There are others.... one of them involves one of Father's spawn.... but that'll be for later! How nice.... my student numbers are growing, You and the Wormeater will make promising apprentices!"

".....You mean Jamie my lord?" Sir George asked.

"Yes! That's her name, I tend to forget!"

".....May I request following Cas Jnr to this lessons my lord?" Sir George requested.

"No, you may not! I don't need you or the others as an apprentice!"

"You may not my lord.... but I need them in traversing this swamp.... it is easy to get lost here... I am not used to it," I said, Not really, I've more or less mapped this place out but.... According to Barney and Pedro, Sir George and Jamie have history together, I say he doesn't trust her and him wanting to tag along is his way of looking out for me.... at least I hope.

"Hmmmm.... well that does make sense... Very well!"

"Thank you my lord!"

"Good.... now you may set up your camp here,"

"My lord?" Bradley asked.

"Yes.... the day is gone and More ruthless beasts run around in the night time, do they not?"

"W-well yes my lord... but we wouldn't-" Bradley was saying until Darius cut him off.

"I have fixed the roof, have I not? You can breath well here now, can you not?"

"Well... yes but-"

"Accept it or fry!"

We accepted it.