Chapter 1692: First Trial Rankings
(Drake's POV)
After Pandemonium's defeat, we finally had some time to take a rest. The Monster Waves kept coming though, but we dealt with that fairly more easily than with that bastard's endless army of demons. Surtr told me I could kill them all with my party if I wanted, to make sure I had the highest score, but I decided to just split the earnings to make things fair. I didn't want to stop him from growing stronger just because of my own selfishness.
I wanted something from this Trial, and I was going to get on my own terms. Eventually, as the hours went by, the day-long trial finished with the last Monster Wave and the two territories standing.
Messages made of flames and colorful fireworks appeared above the sky, celebrating the victory.
[Congratulations on completing the First Trial!]
[You have reached the end of the Trial without suffering any casualty, you gained a bonus of +50.000 Score Points.]
[You have destroyed one Territory while in the trial, you gained +50.000 Score Points.]
[Total Score Points earned: 27.550.000]
[The Other Territory, belonging to the Participant Surt, has also passed the Trial successfully.]
[The Territories belonging to the Participants Pandemonium and Unknown have been destroyed, but because they have met the minimal quota of Score Points, they have passed the Trial.]
[Showcasing First Trial Score Points Ranks]
[1st]: [Drake]: [27.550.000]
[2nd]: [Surtr]: [15.670.000]
[3rd]: [Pandemonium]: [14.220.000]
[4th]: [Unknown]: [9.500.200]
[You have reached the First Rank; you qualify for the best rewards!]
[The First Trial Score Point Shop will be open once you enter the Resting Area, where you will be able to spend your earned Score Points and purchase all kinds of treasures.]
[Everyone will be teleported to their own Resting Areas, assigned to each Participant in separate, in the next 10 Minutes.]
"Looks like we did it, everyone!" I celebrated, raising my arms from atop my castle.
The rest of my friends and family were resting right outside the castle's walls, over the warm sand, they were all utterly exhausted. I was relieved there was a Rest area, or it would be too intense to go to another Trial of 24 Hours.
"Finally! Can we take a little break now?" Miranda wondered.
"It did say something about a Rest Area, so let's pray..." Benladann sighed in relief.
"Papa I want ice cream..." Kate sighed.
"Me too! And a bath... I am all sweaty," Benladra said.
"We'll eat a lot and rest, don't worry," I nodded.
Although the threat of Pandemonium was ever-present, rest was needed, and as he was teleported away, it seems he can't properly fight the trial's own laws to an extent.
Or due to his "promise" to whoever revived him, he can't just wreck everything, despite how monstrous he is, he does keep his word.
"Master Drake! It seems we'll be going our separate ways once we enter the Rest Area!" Surtr's voice echoed inside my head, he spoke to me through Telepathy through a Telepathy channel I had created with my own Psychic Mind Divine Ability.
"Yes! It does seem to be that way, but don't worry Surtr, make sure to rest and recover, if the first trial was this intense, there's nothing saying the second won't be," I told him. "And even more, be prepared for the worst! Pandemonium could try to kill us in the second trial with his friend, we've pissed them off quite a lot."
"I understand, and don't worry," Surtr nodded. "I have my own trump cards if the worst comes, rest assured. Emerald is also with me, he's powerful despite his lack of self-respect."
"I agree, treat him well while I am not there," I said. "And thanks, thank you, Surtr. For helping me do this, for coming with me. You're... aside from a disciple, you're a good friend."
"Master Drake..." Surtr muttered, with his much younger-sounding voice. "You're also a good friend! Let's do our best together. We dragons must help one another!"
"Well said," I laughed.
The ten minutes finally passed, and as little Drakda woke up from his nap over my legs, we were instantly teleported elsewhere. I held Drakda on my arms so he wouldn't fall on the ground, and we suddenly appeared in the middle of a large hall.
It seemed like the interior of a huge, old temple made of red stone, it was lightly illuminated with yellow crystals on top of the ceiling, and there were many paintings across the walls, depicting giant fiery beasts and a titan of flames commanding them, while smaller red people surrounded him, kneeling before his power.
Could this be a painting of the Flame Venerable?
But what are those beasts?
Suddenly, I noticed a larger beast amidst the paintings, a giant, purple and black scaled dragon-like monstrosity, it resembled a lot the Ragnarök Fragment we fought before.
So that was something he had to fight, huh? Well, makes sense, seeing how he was able to seal it away.
"We're finally somewhere else, I was so bored of the desert!" sighed Yuki in relief. "But what's this place anyways?"
"Looks like some sort of old, abandoned temple," said Pekora.
"Oh, there's couches here!" Tisha ran to sit down, resting and throwing away her boots. "Ahh, I needed this..."
There were indeed a lot of couches neatly arranged in this area, alongside several wooden and stone tables with drinks to pick from, and even piles of fresh fruits.
"Looks like this place is really for us to rest!" said Hector.
"Oh, there's a passage over there..." Kraxka said.
"Papa, there are other rooms over there!" said Benladra, pointing at the distance.
"Is that so? Okay, let's explore the place then," I nodded.
We moved around, exploring the area. We found out it was a very large, enclosed temple, the living room was huge and where all the couches, books, fruits, and drinks were.
There were also ten other rooms, with five large beds each. And then there was a huge kitchen full of fresh ingredients and everything needed to cook them.
And lastly, a large, shared bath, separated by two for males and females, and then several personal bathrooms in each room.
It was oddly comfortable and cozy...