Level Up Legacy

Beating the game.

Arthur almost laughed at the notion, an understatement of how hard such a thing would be to achieve. If Alaric was not just fooling him and there was indeed such a thing, then it would change everything.

"You look like you're still unconvinced," said Alaric from beside him after Arthur took a moment to think. "You are its living proof, you know?"

"How so?" asked Arthur with amusement. "What makes me related to anything like the game?"

"You are at the Deme-rank, but you are far stronger than the empyreans of your world. It just proves that your ranking is immature and lacking."

"If there is such a thing as the Game of Worlds, then how come I never heard about it, even from guardians and gods?" Arthur shot back at the pirate. "Instead, I hear about it from someone I barely know in the outskirts of Hikma."

"Because you live at the bottom of the well. Many know about ascending to higher worlds, but they don't know it's just a game for us higher beings. For the guardians, they call it transcendence. They sold this world for a promise to join the game."

Arthur considered his words silently. His claim was too vague for Arthur to believe this game existed without his knowledge all this time.

"You said that I need you, but what for?"

"To enter the game," said Alaric as he seemed to jump over the railings, standing underneath the rising sunset. "I can feel that you long for an adventure. A world where you are not the strongest, unbound by any responsibilities."

"Responsibilities are not to be fled from, but to carry on your shoulders until the end," Arthur turned toward Alaric with a frown. "I will not abandon the people who rely on me just for a quick fulfillment of adventure."

"You are a good man, but that's what I asked. You still have work to do in this world before you can enter the game. You still have the Holy Crown Trials, preventing Devaheim from descending, and uniting this world under one banner."

"My ultimate purpose is to lead countless worlds against Devaheim," Arthur answered. "Not to beat some game."

"You already have countless armies from the level of your world, but what about higher realms? You have to prove yourself worthy for them to raise their weapons against their gods once again."

Arthur no longer disbelieved his words. Alaric was too knowledgeable to be just a pirate, and it proved what Diana suspected about him. There were hints that he was unique throughout their journey, but Arthur didn't think he would be a higher being.

"How do I ascend to a higher world?" asked Arthur after a small pause. He could feel Alaric grin, his existence beating with joy because Arthur believed him.

"Ascension was not possible before you merged the two worlds," said Alaric with a laugh. "You have unknowingly achieved the first step to lead your army of wrath."

"And you are fine going against Devaheim, Alaric?"

"I have my own pride. I built this world for thousands of years, only for them to ruin my game and destroy it. As long as they exist, we can't have fun."

"Is that life to you? Just fun?"

"What else?" answered Alaric with a laugh. Arthur could feel him spreading his arms wide. "This world was created for fun, so why are we not enjoying it?"

Arthur realized that Alaric referred to the reason that the creator has created this world. He did indeed create it just for fun and to experience emotions.

"What are the other conditions to ascend?"

"To be worshiped by the world," answered Alaric as he jumped down. "That is the reason the guardians protected humanity. However, none of them obtained the worship of the entire world."

Arthur paused as he heard that, and then he began to laugh. Alaric was confused as he turned toward the blind man who held his head in realization.

What dawned on Arthur was the realization that his father wanted him to be worshiped too. However, his father never explained the reason. If ascension required worship, then his father might have lied about his reasons.

"What happens if I don't ascend?" asked Arthur, surprising the pirate/historian. "Are there any downsides?"

"Downsides?" muttered Alaric as he looked for an answer. "For most people, there are no downsides. However, you are a little special. You have already made yourself an enemy of Devaheim. If you stay in this world, it would be easier for them to find and kill you."

Hearing that answer, Arthur was silent for a long time. He could feel the rising sun warm his skin, even on such a cold day in January. For the first time in a long while, Arthur wondered whether his father wanted to protect him.

If being worshiped was a requirement to ascend, and ascending helped him escape the eyes of Devaheim for a short while, then his father might have had reasons that he did not reveal.

"It seems I have more than a few things to take care of," said Arthur as he rose. "I will believe what you said, just because it makes sense."

"And what are you going to do?"

"Take care of the loose ends," answered Arthur as he began to hear the vendors open their shops. "But what would happen to Diana? Can she come along?"

"Ascension is unpredictable. Even if she manages to fulfill the criteria, then the two of you might not ascend to the same world."

"Are you saying that I would have to leave her?" asked Arthur after a slight pause. "Just to beat the game?"

"I'm afraid so."

"If that's the only option, then fuck the game," replied Arthur as he shook his head. "I would never choose the world, even if it was on the brink of destruction, over her."

"That's such a lovely feeling, but are you alright spending your life here as a protector, not as the assailant?" Alaric asked him. "How could you limit yourself with such a fate?"

"For the first time in a long time, I'm happy, Alaric," answered Arthur as he raised his head to the sky, feeling the cold breeze dance through his hair. "Even though I got used to misery, I refuse to return to it."

"You are an interesting character, Arthur Netherborne," said Alaric before he offered him a handshake. "My real name is Revelis. Let me be a witness to your struggle, no matter the path you choose."

Arthur shook his hand and turned to leave. Revelis did not follow after him. As soon as the sunlight filled the streets of Hikma, an alarm rang throughout the capital.

"Please return to your homes at once. The brave warriors of Sourna will be leaving the city."

The announcement reverberated throughout the capital as the marching troops filled the streets. The people of Hikma rushed back to their homes, watching the army from the windows.

Arthur knew that these men were going to attack Levan Island, and he needed to visit that place before they got there. If the people who resided on Levan Island were people he knew, then he needed to stop this war even if he had to reveal himself.

Before doing anything else, Arthur returned to the inn. He walked through the door to smell a different aroma accompanying a sizzling coming from the kitchen. He noticed that Diana was not in her bed, but her presence was in the small kitchen in their rental.

"Diana?" he called for her, and the sizzling stopped. Moments later, she emerged from the kitchen, wearing the nightgown she slept in last night.

"Where have you been?" she asked with a light voice. "I had the urge to go out and look for you. But last night, I gave you a lot to think about."

"I indeed thought about it," answered Arthur with a smile as she slipped into his embrace. "My father might have lied to me about his reasons."

"He lies a lot, so why would he tell you the truth about this?" asked Diana with a giggle. "You have to find out for yourself."

"That's what I plan on doing," he replied before pausing. "There is something else. I met the pirate while strolling outside."

"The pirate?"

"Alaric," he clarified. "I had a chat with him while I felt that this entire ordeal in Sourna was becoming meaningless. The things that he revealed to me... shook me to my core."

Diana was confused, and Arthur explained everything to her as they had their breakfast. However, the food remained untouched for a while as she had to process the information he revealed.

Revelis was a higher being that revealed the Game of Worlds to Arthur, a game where they had to ascend worlds and become worshiped in order to win. Devaheim was the last destination of that game.

Diana was silent after Arthur revealed what Revelis told him: that they couldn't ascend together. Their morning should have been joyful, but the two of them spent it in silence.