~~~~
*9Ether World*
*Forest*
*Ogre Clan*
*Main Hall*
*Night Time*
Under Commander Duel's lead they arrived and settled down in the main hall, even though it was called that it was basically just a large cave made in stone.
But it was very well built and crafted, it had two stone thrones one big and one smaller with then a red mat that led to them, then below were 3 chairs at each side for the high officials.
Bors walked straight up and sat on the smaller throne getting comfortable, resting his head on his palm he gazed at Navir calmly, Commander Duel sat on one of the chairs.
Navir was left to stand with Nancy over his shoulders but he didn't mind it, if he sat anyway he would be at an even great disadvantage than he already was.
While he himself is at Level 0, Nancy is also only a level 1 hunter, not only that he is starting to notice a pattern, the base stats of demons and demi is much higher than humans.
When a human levels up they gain 5 stat point to distribute and have 5 in everything but Luck and Dex before leveling.
Nancy on the other hand seems to have 7 extra point, like she had 7 base already, two more than the average human, both Bors and Commander Duel weirdly enough after Navir calculated it had 10 extra.
So instead of the usual 5 stat points per level demons or for now just Ogres gain 10 stat points and demi-humans gain 7, that is such a big disadvantage for humanity.
Everything balances itself out it seems as humans have far greater numbers overall than any other race or species, so that 2 or 5 extra stats more than evens out itself.
All the while Navir thought and analysis them he had totally forgotten about himself seemingly forgetting that he was also now not human and that he was only level 0 yet his stats would say otherwise.
."So human, why are you silent, are you finally coming to terms with all the bulshit you spewed and is ready to crawl into my mouth?."Bors asked now calm, he is going to keep his promise after all but he would like to finish effortlessly.
Navir placed Nancy down gently on the ground to sit then also sat down besides her cross-legged putting himself at a purpose disadvantage."Ok, say, who are the greatest threats to you becoming Demon Lord."He asked indifferently.
."Really, are you some type of human therapist now, alright I'll oblige, Mm if I were to say then the prince of the Orcs Jho and princess of the Goblins, Hobgoblin Enaa."Bors said casually not taking any of this seriously, he glanced over to commander Duel struggling to not laugh.
Navir after contemplating for awhile started telling Bors a plan and at the start Bors was completely uninterested but as Navir continued to speak he gradually sat up and even Commander Duel focused intently.
."Oh, that does make some sense, I thought it was just your human ignorant rambling, why'd I never think of this."Bors said impressed, it started as a joke but maybe he might have to give it some serious thought.
Commander Duel trembled in excitement."Genius, this is genius, this could change everything, prince Bors, I believe this could work."He said standing up happily.
."Yeah yeah, it's alright but I wouldn't say genius, after all."Bors said grinning as he looked at Navir."Should you really have told us the full plan, what's stopping me from killing you right now."
Nancy started shaking her head."See, see, this is why we shouldn't have came here, how could you trust a demon, now we're both going to die, we're dead."She said holding her ears with tears in her eyes.
."Have you another human willing to be bait for Demon Ogres?."Navir asked tilting his head confused, he scratched his chin in thought.
Both Bors and Commander Duel glanced at each other.'It does make sense.'Yeah I know, it does.'They both eyeballed to each other.
."Alright then, I'll take you up on your offer, if this succeed then I'll not only release you but also your bunny friend as well."Bors said folding his arms, it was a good deal for him, if he could have a guaranteed path to be Demon Lord he could do anything.
Nancy's expression paled realizing she wasn't always in the deal, she glid swiftly hiding behind Navir's back, she peeked over at Bors who showed her his smelly butter teeth threatening or maybe just smiling.
."Ok, then if you want, start tonight and kill the prince of Orcs, Jho."Navir said standing up, he closed his eyes, he was betting his life on this, he walked over to the dirt wall and started writing down some ingredients.
."6 soybeans, water, salty rocks or just anything high in salt, also something with acid, if you can get some venom from an ordinary snake as well"".
Bors rubbed his chin, he looked at Commander Duel."Commander can I leave this matter to you?."He ask not really knowing what most that stuff is.
."Mm, yes I believe we have most those thing in the clan, but venom, the only ones with powerful venom are the level 10 purple snakes, can that work?."Commander Duel asked looking at Navir.
Navir nodded, he just needed any venom so it doesn't matter, Nancy behind him hesitated for a moment but gritted her teeth."I have a purple snake, I got it in the forest when I was hunting."She said taking out a dead small purple snake from her small bag.
."Huh, how did you manage to kill a level 10 snake with your strength, Hahaha did the little bunny rob someone."Bors said laughing out at her like he heard the funniest thing.
Nancy looked at Navir who glanced back at her."N-no, i-i found it, I'm not a theft, I really did find it, please believe me."She said dodging his gaze suspiciously.
."Nevermind now, can you get the other ingredients."Navir said ignoring her for now, but kept it in the back of his mind, if there is one thing he hates in the world, then it's thieves.
Commander Duel hurriedly left not wasting any time, after all, it seems that the time has come for the Ogre Clan to rise above the rest and dominate the entire demonic forest.
As he went and fetched the products everyone sat in awkward silence, after all its not like they were friends so small talk was definitely out the window.
."*Ahem* A warm day today isn't it, the Demon Lord is blessing the land."Bors said looking around his cave like he'd never seen it before.
Nancy sniffled a laugh at this strange scene, Navir gave him a sideeye."It's night-time still though."He said casually.
."Uh yeah...."Bors said feeling like he's been poked in the eye with a stick, he couldn't look at anyone, yeah he also wasn't a social person.
Luckily for him he didn't have to endure it for too long, Commander Duel quickly returned with all the necessary ingredients and a knife.
."Alright here it is, I found 10 soybeans, a jar of salt, a jar of water, acid from a Talapian Caterpillar and the venom..."Duel said putting the materials on the ground, he then reached out to the snake, his hands glowed silver-black and it levitated to him.
Navir looked at this with surprise, the general rule of classes was that you couldn't use powers of another class."How did you do that, aren't you a warrior?."He asked confused.
."Hm, what do you speak of, Mm maybe, I see you mean that thing those humans were always talking about, classes and limitation."Duel said with a smile, then his eyes clouded with magic."That has not much affect on us demons, I can't use Magic on par with Mages but I can still use a few spells."
Navir began to wonder if maybe such a system only applies to people like him who came from another world, he has already established that this wasn't just a game, it was way more.
Duel holding the snake opened its mouth and squeezed out its venom into a special clay bowl, it was purple just like the snake itself and sizzling but surprisingly it didn't burn through the bowl.
After extracting every last drop Duel threw the snake in his mouth and ate it, he then placed the bowl on the ground infront of Navir.
Navir looked at all the ingredients then at Bors."Do you have a stove, fire?."He asked, he needed something with heat.
."Stove, what's that some kinda vegetable, disgusting, but fire sure."Duel said snapping his fingers, from it a orange fire sparked on the ground, he then stuck his hand into the ground and pulled out a root throwing it in the fire.
*Crackle*!
Just looking at this fire Navir knew it was enough to turn him to ashes, but he didn't have time to think of all of that stuff now, he got to work accompanied by six eyes watching his every move.
~~~
*Kingdom Of Rosia*
*Capital*
The kingdom of Rosia was one of the 5 most powerful kingdoms in the entire world, not just because of its powerful military even though that was also the case, it was infact because here exists one of the 6 great human guilds.
Arcane Citadel Guild, which in the real world is the Arcane Citadel Academy, but in the world of 9Ether, it was a great guild.
The other 5 academies also held positions of Adventure Guilds in this world each settling down in a powerful kingdom and almost instantly taking control.
Then, there was the World Council Guild, the only known human Guild not in a country but has become instead it's own sovereign nation, it is also the most powerful organization in the world or at least in the Hollie Continent.
For all the guilds especially the Arcane Citadel today was a great day, around this same time every year they would be receiving a batch of fresh blood from the real world.
So in the guild's main hall as though a celebration was underway many of the top guild members were gathered around a giant circle.
Standing at the front was a tall man in a robe, he had a freshly trimmed white beard and red eyes, he was a fairly handsome man but his face now was twisted with impatience.
.""Why is this taking so long, they should be here already, the teleportation is half hour late"".
.""Yeah, with the Mp of those 200 new members we were told are coming that should've been easy work for the forced teleportation device"".
.""Do you think something went wrong?"".
A few of the members discussed amongst themselves as it was a strange occurrence, the man standing infront frowned, next to him was a professional looking woman.
Black hair tied up neatly, light brown eyes hidden behind some glasses and a slim figure, she was a very beautiful woman with a calm disposition, the clothes she wore was that of a secretary.
."Vice Guild Master Don, please don't worry I'm sure there was just some delay on the other side, they should be here any minute now."The secretary like woman said calmly as she pushed up her glasses.
The Vice Guild Master glanced at her and sighed."I'm fine Galene, I just expected when they say a specific time that it follows that specific time, not a second late or an hour early, on time."He said frustrated, he took a deep breath.
One could physically hear some of the other Guild members groan, cause they knew what was coming next, another episode so they blocked their ears.
Vice Master Don put up a finger."And you know another thing, those damn bastards got away with it 4 years ago didn't they, I'm still angry about that, 2 second late what the-."He said before being interrupted.
*Shhhh*!!!
The Guild members could almost celebrate as the giant circle on ground glowed brightly in a beautiful yellow light.
One by one small white lights mixed in with the yellow and human figures started to appear, soon everyone from the academy had appeared and more than confused.
.""Huh, what is this place"".
.""Where are we, did it work, are we in 9Ether?"".
.""Who these people"".
The students were rowdy and disoriented as they found themselves in a strange location surrounded by people, amongst them were four particularly familiar people.
Illise, Maria, Leon and Arrilie, they were looking around curiously, Illise smiled brightly as she reach down grabbing a hand.
."See sir Navir, I told you everything would be fine, it's safe see, there's nothing to worry about at all..."Illise said smiling with some relief, then her face froze as she looked down."Why is your hand so soft and slender all of a sud..den..."
Maria rolled her eyes."Because it's my hand your fondling, gosh, trying to make me like you or what."She said casually taking back her hand from Illise.
Illise looked around in shock." Sir Navir...sir Navir..?She said calling out his name but received no answer, Navir was nowhere to be seen.
."That's so not manly, how could he disappear on us like that, on a journey to the milky mountains."Leon said realizing Navir was gone.
Illise stumbled on Maria who caught her, she felt light headed."How could this happen, what am I going to tell Whitney, how could I lose Navir."She said with a pale face.
."Relax Illise, maybe Navir just got teleported somewhere different."Arrilie said calmly, she closed her eyes and clasped her hands."Either way, God will protect him."
.""I welcome you all from the plane of earth, students of the Arcane Citadel Academy"".
The Vice Master stepped forward putting a smile on his face as he drew the attention of the student."I am the Vice Guild Master of the Arcane Citadel Guild in this world."He said proudly.
A number of panicked students wanted to ask some questions but Vice Master Don raise his hand stopping them.
."I know you have alot of questions and they will be answered, I assume since you are here you have had the basic run down of how thing work here."Vice Master Don said with a serene expression."But I will say one thing, this world is not just a game."
With those words ringing in the ears of everyone a multitude of students gained some complicated emotions and others just in disbelief.
But even so many others were also calm and collected unaffected by the news maybe already having been instructed on this, Maria and Illise were included in this.
."I know I know, it's shocking news but it's the truth, some of you may have gone and researched stuff before you came here, then you must have seen there was nothing at all."Don said casually, he had done this for 9 years already.
Don gazed at the students seeing their facial expressions then stopped on Maria and his right eye twitched but he ignored it.
."Good, I can see you are level headed ones, better than last years batch and I-."Don was speaking but felt a pull on his robe, he glanced back at Galene.
Galene had a frown on her face."Vice Master, I did a head count and I only counted 199 students, what's going on?."She said unnerved.
."Huh 199, let me see, 10, 20, 30..."Vice Master Don started counting to see, then he froze at the last one."What the, who is missing."
Illise raised her hand."It is my friend Navir, he was teleported with us but now he isn't here, what's going on here?."She asked with a frosty expression.
Vice Master Don copped his chin in thought, on the outside he was completely calm but inside was a different story.
.'Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, did we lose a student, could the forced teleportation have failed, if so then..'Vice Master Don thought with a look of regret on his face, he looked at the students.
He cleared his throat."Um, I'm sorry for your lost, I don't know what happened but we have a forced teleportation to here in your devices, so that means, if he's not here and alive, he can only be.."He said letting it trail off.
Illise's heart clenched tightly as she heard those words, in her stomach she felt a heaviness that weighed her down."...No, that's a lie, there's no way he would die like that, no way!."She screamed out with images of her savior flashing in her mind.
Maria squint her eyes as she held Illise up from falling down, she grit her teeth staring at Vice Master Don with her violet orbs."Then send a search party to find him and you better pray to your God and hope he isn't dead, or you'll regret it."She said with intensity like that of a beast.