Conqueror

Relief flowed through me when I saw Greta and Zeta's crying happy face when I got the report that they're both back. Seeing how Zeta cried, it seems that he had finally confessed his love for her. I'm proud of him. We let the two of them have their private time since they just both got back.

I still remember Herold's words when we talked last time.

"What!?" He was panicking over the phone trying to understand what's happening. "No, no, no. Zieglind this is beyond impossible. This is... NO! What the hell!?"

"I'm not joking." I replied to him. "The god I met, he's really the god of war. And as I said, his reply was that. He doesn't know Ouroboros."

"This is beyond everything I could think... Wait, maybe Ares doesn't know Ouroboros since he hasn't met him? Or he's not interested in things like this."

"Stop trying to find excuses. Ares is a God of War. Why would he be not interested in the battle royale that's hosted by every god in the world. And Ouroboros is extremely strong as you said and as I heard. I don't know what the hell we're facing. A mortal who could hide himself from the gods."

"I can't believe this. Once again Zieglind, I'm asking, is it really the god of war that you saw?"

"...Yes." I was hesitant to reply but we have to face it. "We're facing someone much more powerful than us. We need to get stronger somehow. Ouroboros is a man that is out of our hands. For now."

"God damn it. All my plans for taking him down goes down the drain. Zieglind, listen to me. We need to make an alliance. We just can't keep this to ourselves."

"...Hmm."

"But we can't absolutely have other players on our alliance. It's just us and some other non players."

"That's... going to be difficult. All kingdoms have been overthrown by players and there has been a ranking system established. Players above everyone."

"Yeah. But with the building of the ranking system, of course the inhabitants of this world will form an army. A revolutionary army. Back in the previous battle royale from where I'm in, a revolutionary army happened and they were against us all the time. They're weak, but incredibly persistent. You must get on their good side not as a leader but as someone who can stand by them. As long as you capture kingdoms, assign these non players as the rulers. You have to remember not to trust any players. In the end you're all fighting for the promise the gods have laid out." 

"Yeah."

"I'll contact some of the connections I have. I'll try to make them join your side."

"Alright then."

"Wait, has Greta recovered?"

"Yeah. Zeta was the one to do the trick."

"That's good then. Contact me later this week and I'll try to think of something to get us started."

"Alright. I'll be cutting the telepathy off."

"Alright. Talk to you later."

As I cut off the telepathy, I looked outside the window and looked at the sky. There are so many things happening at the same time. I'm still wondering what could I do to expand our kingdom. Just hearing the name Ouroboros sends chills down my spine.

A powerful being like him has appeared in everyone's stories. I'm sure that the gods above especially the God of War Ares won't overlook such a monster. He's also the winner of the previous battle royale. But what does he want in this world...

At first I just wanted to conquer the whole world as a wandering adventurer. But the more I know, the more I want to do something. This world has become a battleground as a playground for the gods to pit random million people in a giant battle royale. They introduce us to this system to avoid our attention to how inhumane and wrong this fight is. The more I know about the non players about this world like Zeta and Greta, the more I understand how grave and unfair this battle royale is.

The amount of horror I saw back at Polk because I was too weak. My own kingdom was destroyed in a single blast by Fafnir's son. The people I've saved gone. In an instant. The families that discovered the plans... Died in the blast. All these burdens I'm carrying has accumulated for everyone I've got in contact with. But it's only mine to bear. I can only wish that no one has to bear the pain that I feel.

The only thing that I can do for this world is simply save it.

Now that I know and has been confirmed by the god of war himself that Tartarus is the source of the monsters spawning in this world. Then that's my goal. To destroy the source itself. That's why I'll create more elaborate plans with Herold and Zeta.

For now creating an alliance is a priority that I have to take more than ever. But I need to find the revolutionary army, the other non players and to get even far stronger.

"Inventory!" I took out the sky island's key and looked at the description.

This key will unlock a challenge only for me. But its level requirement is around level 200 or so. This is not the only event that's being held. The Flower of Zeratria was the reward for clearing the first stage of the sky island. That was an incredibly rare artifact and Lam is doing all he can to create a new potion from the remaining petals of the flower.

It was already an Ancient item. So what more could the second stage of the sky island give. 

I'm growing stronger I know it. But I wonder if it's enough. The hero that I saw was powerful. We both killed the Lich with just the two of us. But when we met, something in us changed.

Devil's Advocate... This skill that I have seems to be incredibly powerful to the point that I blocked an elemental dragon with it.

Anxiety grows within me the more I know about Tartarus and the enemies that I'll be facing. I feel like I'm climbing a tower wherein its height is infinite. The more I feel closer to them, the moment I learn something, I'm back at square one.

I'm obviously doubting myself. I don't know if I can keep this up. But...

This world has already given me everything I could've ever wanted. A new shot at life. I'll end this game once and for all.

With an absolute resolute mind, I cleared my head and rested for the rest of the day.

I woke up and patrolled around the whole Izgoy. I didn't know what to do for now. But I do know that we need more power. But something is bugging me. I looked back, "Why are you two following me?"

"Well..." Greta replied as she rubbed her fingers together due to nervousness.

"We don't know how to act towards each other." Zeta was the one to speak.

"Then why come to me..? I'm literally the one without any romantic experience in our team." I replied.

"We were just following you. Since we've got nothing to do and I don't know what to do. Well. We don't know what to do."

"Just act naturally I guess."

"I told you, we don't know how to do that..." Both of them were trying to hide their flushed faces.

"You lovebirds go elsewhere. I also don't know how to deal with you two."

"Have you... never felt this way?"

As I looked back on my previous pathetic life, "All I did was work every single day. There was women all around me in that workplace that I'd be happy to be with and live my life like normal. But I never felt true love so to speak. So, no. I never felt the way you two did."

"Maybe in this world you'll find it here. Love that is."

"Yeah." Greta joined in. "And maybe there are two people that feel the same way about you about love."

I was confused. "What does that mean?"

"Hehe." She giggled like a little child. "Oh I don't know. You're denser than a rock. Let's go Zeta." Greta grabbed Zeta's hands as if it was a natural thing to do as they walked away.

"Wait!" I stopped them before leaving. "Since you asked me for advice, I really didn't give you any. So here's mine. As long as you love each other, everything will work out. The both of you found something that other people search for, for their whole lives. The only thing you need to do is simply protect it."

"Thank you Zieglind. For not only saving us but for giving us a life that we couldn't ask for anywhere. No matter what you do we'll be there for you. Even if the world is against you."