They all stared at me, eyes wide in shock.
"You...didn't you say you had amnesia?" Hana asked, looking at me with a hint of annoyance.
"You were lying, weren't you?!" Her expression darkened as her anger grew.
"No, no! I'm serious! I really don't know anything. I don't remember anything! These words and names just keep popping into my head randomly," I replied quickly, trying to calm her down.
She could overpower the Vergrizzler I encountered earlier with just her physical strength—at least according to the attributes on her status screen.
I'd really prefer not to get on her bad side; her stats are more than double mine.
Huh?
A word I had never used before suddenly entered my train of thought.
'Stats'? What does that mean?
I had never used the word 'stats' in my life, and I didn't even know what it meant. Yet, suddenly, it just slipped into my mind.
The word just popped into my head out of nowhere. It felt right to use in that moment, but what's going on with me?
It was a strange experience, but I ultimately dismissed it as a simple mistake.
"Relax, Hana. No one in their right mind would bring up the Demon King so casually. He really does have amnesia," Andre said, trying to reason with her and diffuse her anger.
I wonder why she's so hot-headed. I thought to myself.
"Look, kid, the Demon King isn't a name to joke about. Since you don't remember much, I'll bring you up to speed," Kaeler said, steering the Cruiser.
"It all began during the Era of Ascendancy, about five thousand years ago. It was an age unlike any other, when the most powerful magic users were born—wielders whose talents have never been matched since."
"Legends say that it was during this time that the islands first began to rise from the ocean depths and take their place in the skies, though how or why remains one of Verenthia's greatest mysteries."
"Many believe it was the combined magic of those ancient magic users that lifted the lands into the sky, creating the floating archipelago we know today. That's why we call it the 'Era of Ascendancy.' But some claim the islands were never on the ocean floor at all, and that an even older power must have caused it."
"Back then, magic—arcane arts and rune magic—flourished in ways that are hard to imagine today. Much of the magic we use now was developed during that era, and the older generations always tell stories of spells so powerful they could reshape the world itself."
"It wasn't just magic that thrived; technology also began to emerge, merging with magic in remarkable ways."
"Humans, unlike other races, were at a disadvantage when it came to raw magical power. They had the smallest mana reserves and struggled to manipulate it as skillfully as others. But that didn't stop them."
"Instead of trying to compete in pure magic, they turned their focus elsewhere. Their ingenuity led to the creation of technologies that allowed them to use their limited mana far more efficiently."
"During the Ascendancy, they crafted the first mana-powered inventions—gizmos, gadgets, and devices designed to maximize their scarce power. This marked the beginning of a transformation that would bring magic and technology together for ages to come."
"Every race accepted these changes happily, and technology was integrated into society extremely quickly."
"It truly was an era of peace, full of great discoveries and boundless growth—a time when the harmony between magic and technology brought prosperity."
"But... that peace did not last."
"Everything changed with the sudden appearance of a new race—those who called themselves Daemons. They were strange beings, almost human in appearance, with scales on some parts of their bodies. Radiating with pure mana, they possessed a love for magic unlike anything the world had seen."
"No one knows exactly how the Daemons came to be. They just began appearing one day, as if they had always been here, hidden out of sight. Some said they were born from the very fabric of mana itself; others believed they came from beyond the moons or deep within the earth. But no one could say for sure."
"One thing was certain—their arrival brought trouble. The Daemons had a goal: to eradicate technology. They believed that the purity of magic was being corrupted by the material trappings of technology.
To them, magic was meant to be pure, untainted by metal gears and alloy plates. Technology, in their eyes, was a blight that had to be wiped from existence. Soon, they made their intentions clear—they wanted nothing less than the complete destruction of all technology."
"These ideas resonated with certain groups. Among the followers of Obscura, the shadowy moon, rumors spread that the Daemons were a gift from their god—a force sent to restore balance, to stop technology from overshadowing magic. Obscura's worshippers saw the Daemons as a necessary evil, a divine force to rebalance the world. Their views gained traction among those who feared technology's unchecked growth."
"On the other hand, the worshippers of Luminara, the bright moon, had a different belief. While they also saw Obscura's hand in the Daemons, they believed that their goddess allowed Obscura to have his way, knowing that magic itself needed to be preserved and polished further. Therefore Luminara was also against technology."
"For the first time in history, the two opposing religious factions found common ground, each seeing a higher purpose in the arrival of the Daemons."
"But while the religious factions debated, the rest of the world was in shock. People feared what the Daemons' presence could mean for their future, and soon decided they had to be dealt with. Their ideas were too extreme, their power too dangerous."
"And so, the inhabitants of Verenthia—Humans, Elves, Beastkin, Aether Dragons, Stonekin, Sylphids, and the Undine—created an alliance. Together, they assembled the strongest individuals from each species to confront the Daemons."
"This marked the beginning of the Era of Turmoil. The Daemons, led by their powerful leader—the Demon King—did not go down quietly. They fought fiercely for their vision of a world where magic reigned supreme, untainted by technology. The war that followed would last two thousand years. The Demon King sought to dominate the world, and his followers were fanatically devoted to his cause."
"The war raged across the floating islands, with battles that shook the very skies. Entire islands were lost, and the death toll was incalculable. But in the end, the alliance prevailed. The Demon King was defeated, his power shattered, and without their leader, the Daemons scattered, disappearing back into the shadows."
"The world searched for them, scouring every corner of Verenthia, but it was as if they had vanished. Without their king, the Daemons seemed to lose their purpose, and eventually, the world decided to let them be."
"Three thousand years of peace followed. The world rebuilt, and slowly, people began to forget the horrors of the Turmoil. The Daemons became myths, and the Demon King a ghost story told to children."
"But now, things are changing once again. The Demon King has returned—reborn to restart the Era of Turmoil. He is still weak, still young, but if left unchecked, he will grow, and his followers will rise again."
"We have only a short window to act, to stop him before the Daemons regain their strength and plunge the world back into chaos. Time is not on our side."
"So, do you understand now? There's tension everywhere because of the Demon King's return. Mentioning that name casually can really frighten people," Kaeler finally concluded his history lesson.
As I listened attentively, absorbing the tale, only one question came to mind.
"What's an ocean?"
Kaeler looked a little confused at my question but answered anyway. "The large body of water below the islands. It's called an ocean."
He must have assumed my amnesia affected that part of my memory. The truth is, we don't have oceans in Demo City—just lakes and rivers. Nothing more.
Another question surfaced in my mind. "Why is the race called Daemon, but their leader is called Demon?"
"Not Demon—Demon King," Kaeler corrected. "The Daemon race isn't particularly powerful compared to the other species on Verenthia, aside from their larger mana reserves. What makes the Demon King different is that he has a unique ability known as 'Demon King.' He's still a Daemon, but that power sets him apart from the rest. That's where his title comes from."
"I see... Thank you for the clarification. I'll be more careful about using that name so casually," I said, feeling a bit remorseful.
"That would be wise," Andre said, visibly relieved.
"You better!" Hana added firmly, her eyes narrowing in a warning.
So, I was right. The Demon King is insanely powerful. And now my mission is to stop him? Yeah, this probably won't end well for me.
But the idea of the other races banding together to wipe out an entire race feels... unsettling. That's basically genocide and racism wrapped into one. Well, I guess it's their world, not mine.
Still, how am I supposed to defeat the Demon King when the last war against him dragged on for 2,000 years?
"How was the Demon King defeated last time?" I asked the three of them.
"A group of individuals from different races banded together," Andre explained. "Aether Dragons, Elves, Beastkin, Humans, Stonekin, Sylphids, and the Undine. They were the best of the best—the most skilled. They were known as the Celestial Concord."
"Celestial Concord, huh?" I echoed, pondering the name.
Celestial Concord... Wait. When I checked their status earlier, I saw something like 'Celestial Concord candidate' on each of them. Could it be…
The pieces started falling into place.
"Earlier, when we first met, you said this was Stonekin's Island. And now there's an Elf, an Aether Dragon, and a Beastkin traveling together. Are you guys part of the Celestial Concord?"
I tend to catch on quickly, especially when the hints are right in front of me.
"You're pretty sharp," Hana snorted.
"Yes, you're right," Andre confirmed, a look of accomplishment on his face. "But technically, we're still just candidates. We won't be fully fledged members until the High Council approves us."
"To be honest, we thought you already knew," Kaeler added. "We figured that's why you tried to get our attention in the forest earlier. We assumed you wanted to join us, but we couldn't allow that."
"Yeah, that's why we planned to drop you off in Drakenfall and leave you disappointed," Hana added, clearly still irked.
What did I ever do to this elf? She hasn't said a single nice thing to me since we met.
"I see... that makes sense. But what if I said I wanted to join?" I asked.
"You want to join?" Andre repeated, sounding confused.
"I told you guys his common sense is gone," Hana muttered under her breath.
"Uh, didn't you listen to the story I just told you? This is a serious matter. Besides, it's not even within our power to decide that," Kaeler added, his tone a mix of confusion and concern.
"Why would you even want to join us? I thought you said you had amnesia," Andre asked.
"I do... but something keeps telling me this is what I'm supposed to do. The name 'Demon King' keeps popping up in my head. I have to join you guys, please," I said, almost pleading.
I wasn't sure if it was a coincidence meeting them or if the system had orchestrated the whole thing. Either way, if I joined them, I wouldn't have to do anything alone.
Their objective is the same as mine, and they all look strong—strong enough to carry me.
Wait…'carry'? How does that word even make sense in that sentence, what's happening to me? I'm using words that don't belong here. Is the system messing with me somehow?
This was the second time it happened. I started to worry that my whole way of speaking might change if this kept up. I didn't like the thought, but there were bigger problems to focus on.
Anyway, I have to join them. It's my best shot at survival and completing this mission—whatever it even is.
"We're dropping you off in Drakenfall, no use begging," Hana said, her voice firm.
She hadn't been on my side since we met, and I was starting to think it had something to do with either my race or my looks. But I was too intimidated by her to bring it up.
"Even if you wanted to join, Jay, it's not that simple. Each race has their own unique test they have to pass. That's what qualifies them as a Celestial Concord candidate," Kaeler explained.
"Okay, so what do I have to do?" I asked.
"Well, you'd have to participate in the test for humans, but..."
"But what?"
"You're weak. There's no way you'd pass," Kaeler said bluntly.
I almost thought he wanted to say the tests were already over. This is good news, then.
"Is the test one of those where you have to duel someone else?" I asked.
"It's different for each race, but the tests are meant to measure your strength in a way that suits the traits of that particular race."
"For us Aether Dragons, it was a test of arcane mastery. We had to weave intricate spells in the Grand Arcane Hall, showing both power and precision."
"The Beastkin had a scavenger hunt in Mistwild Grove. They relied on their primal senses to track down items amidst a very thick fog and various illusions."
"The Elves meditated beneath the Moonbark tree in the Whispering Woods, resonating with the world's natural mana. It was about harmony with the world itself."
"The Stonekin had to carry the Heart of the Mountain—a magical item that changes its weight constantly—up the cliffs of Stonehearth Peak, a test of pure endurance and strength."
"Sylphids faced the Sky's Tempest Maze, a labyrinth of powerful winds. They had to navigate the maze, using their bond with the wind to reach the center."
"The Undine haven't taken their test yet, but it will most likely involve diving into the Abyssal Trench—a test of endurance, adaptation, and depth."
"I think humans might go for a straightforward duel, but I'm not entirely sure," he added.
"Raldorin isn't far from here. It's a human-dominated island, and that's where the human test will hold. We were planning on observing it after visiting Drakenfall," Andre continued.
"But I personally urge you not to participate. It's for your own good," he added, concern lining his face.
"Don't waste your breath explaining. We're dropping him off at Drakenfall anyway," Hana said coldly.
"So, it's not like I can't join—I just have to pass the test, right?" I asked for clarification.
"Well, yes, but—"
"Then that's all I need to know. Thanks," I interrupted.
I was honestly tired of everyone, including the system, reminding me how weak I was. It wasn't like I didn't already know that.
"Tch! So rude," Hana scoffed.
Look who's talking, I thought, feeling a slight annoyance bubble up inside me.
"Sigh. Do what you want, I guess." Kaeler seemed to have given up on me. It was clear he believed I wouldn't pass the test anyway.
Now, how do I go about this? I sounded confident to them but I really have no clue what to do next.
I pulled up my status screen to take a closer look at the skills and abilities section.
==============================
[Skills]:
Active Skills:
[Appraisal] (Lv. MAX): Provides an overview of an object or entity's information. (Confirm to see more) [Shadow Step] (Lv. 1): Increases Dexterity by 10 for 10 seconds, making it harder for enemies to spot the user. (Confirm to see more) [Lockpick Mastery] (Lv. 1): Increases the success rate of lockpicking by 20% for 5 minutes. (Confirm to see more)
Passive Skills:
[Keen Eyes] (Lv. 1): Increases detection range by 15 meters and enhances critical hit chance against unaware enemies by 5%. (Confirm to see more) [Silent Footsteps] (Lv. 1): Decreases noise level by 2%, improving stealth and evasion capabilities. (Confirm to see more)
────────────────────────────
[Abilities]:
[Nimble Fingers]: Grants a 10% bonus to Dexterity when performing delicate or manual tasks. (Confirm to see more) [Survivor's Instinct]: Increases ■■■■■■■■ by 5% when the user's health drops below 20%. (Confirm to see more)
==============================
All my skills weren't combat-oriented; they leaned more toward stealth, likely a result of my experience as a thief. And each one of them was at a low level.
I initially planned for them to do all the work while I played the role of an idle member in the Celestial Concord. But if I have to fight in a test to join, that means I need at least some minimum level of power.
How am I going to get stronger if my skills are this low to begin with? I don't even know how to fight…that should probably be my first priority.
I would've loved to ask one of them to teach me, considering their levels were much higher than mine and they looked more than capable. But after my little show of confidence—and given how they've been constantly discouraging me from participating—I was pretty sure they'd just laugh at me. Honestly, I would if I were in their shoes.
As I pondered these thoughts, trying to devise a plan to gain some kind of strength, we were suddenly jolted by a loud roar in the distance.
"ROOOOAARR!!!!"
The sound was so powerful it reverberated throughout the Cruiser, shaking me to my core. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and panic surged through me.
"What the hell was—" I started to ask, but then I caught sight of the three Celestial candidates. Their expressions had transformed, replaced by intense seriousness. Even Andre, who had been smiling the most among them just moments ago, looked completely focused now.
"Strap in, kid. We're about to encounter something very dangerous," Kaeler said, his tone grave.
"What's going on? What made that noise?" I asked, my fear escalating as I realized the gravity of their seriousness.
"A Sky Dragon." Andre answered, looking straight ahead.