The longer Alex built his network within the demon king's palace, the more he began to understand that he had to leave the palace soon.
He required an exit strategy-a way in which he could slip out under the ever-watchful gaze of the demon king.
His abilities had grown, and he was becoming far more confident in the control of his clones; the risk of him being found out was growing with each passing day.
One evening, while Alex sat in a secluded corner of the palace gardens, one of his more trusted allies, Duran, approached him.
Duran was one of those great sources of information, since he had spent years serving on the demon king's guard; he knew more about the palace than the majority who lived there did. He is always looking for things he could do to help Alex.
Alex," Duran whispered as he sat beside him on the stone bench. "There is something I must tell you."
Alex turned a questioning glance at him. "What is it?"
Duran glanced around them cautiously, his eyes checking their surroundings to make sure no one could watch or overhear them. "There's a way out of the palace. A hidden exit."
Alex raised a questioning eyebrow. He'd heard rumors of secret passages, but nothing certain. "Where?
"It's deep beneath the palace," Duran said in a low tone. "It's guarded, though. That's why no one's ever used it. But if you can get past them, it leads out of the palace grounds. You'd be free."
Alex's mind started racing. A secret exit? This was all he had hoped to hear, but the implication of powerful creatures standing guard turned a cautiously optimistic notion sour. He'd fought his share of monsters in the arena, but this sounded different-much darker.
"Why hasn't anybody else ever tried to break out?" Alex asked cautiously.
"They have," Duran replied, his face grim. "But they didn't survive. The creatures down there are stronger than anything the demon king has in the arena. They're ancient, bound to the palace by magic. It would take more than brute strength to get past them."
Alex leaned back and considered the information. The exit could be his only chance at true freedom, but the risk was enormous. Still, he couldn't stay here forever.
Every day he stayed within the palace walls, the suspicion of the demon king grew. If he didn't take action soon enough, he might not get another opportunity.
"Do you know how to get there?" Alex asked, his voice steady.
Duran nodded. "I've never been down there myself, but I know the way. It's through a series of tunnels beneath the palace. But like I said, it's not just the creatures you have to worry about. The magic down there is old and dangerous. It warps the mind, makes you see things that aren't real."
Alex frowned. "What kind of magic?
Dark magic," Duran growled, his face turning darker by the second. "It was placed there by the demon king himself, to ensure no one could leave without his permission. The magic will try to break you, even if you survive the creatures.
Alex sat in silence for a few moments, digesting all this information. The more he thought about it, the more hazardous the plan sounded.
"I need time to think," Alex said finally. "But thank you, Duran. This is valuable information."
Duran nodded and rose. "Just be careful, Alex. You would not want the demon king to know what you have in store. You will have no going back."
Duran gone, Alex's mind was cut short by the now-familiar voice of the system in his head.
[You have learned of the hidden exit] the system said emotionless.
[This could be your chance to get away from the demon king's grasp.]
"I know," he replied to himself mentally, his mind racing in circles. "But how am I going to make it through the creatures and the magic protecting it?"
[There is a way] the system replied.
[ I can offer you an upgrade. One which would give you the power to defeat the creatures and to get through with magic.]
Alex's heart quickened. "An upgrade? What kind of upgrade?
[A great one] the system said.
[But it is at a terrific risk. The upgrade shall press both your body and mind to their limits. There shall be a sacrifice—a part of you has to go away in order for it to be harnessed.]
Alex's stomach did flips. "What kind of sacrifice?
[Your memories," the computer said, "it would have to come at the cost of memories for an upgrade of power. The bigger the memory, the better the upgrade.
Alex froze. His memories? He'd already lost enough in this twisted world, and now the system was asking him to give up a part of himself? The thought that he could lose his memories-his past, the few things that still reminded him of who he was-made his chest tighten with fear.
What does he have to do? If he didn't take the upgrade, then he would never make it past the creatures guarding the exit. And if he remained in the palace, it was only a question of time before the demon king discovered his plans.