As they stepped through the veil, everything around them had changed. The smell of charred meat was gone, and the dim light of the crystals replaced with gas lamps on sconces. He was astounded at how structurally different the room was from anywhere else he’s been in-game.

  The two of them had walked into the ruin of an old Cathedral that most certainly had better days. Stone bricks laid strewn around, stained glass windows were shattered with their colored glass lying everywhere, and pews laid splintered and thrown everywhere around. Columns held up the ceiling, with several destroyed and others helping to form a path down the middle.

  What this columned path led to was the most magical sight he’d seen since playing the game, and he’d seen magic. Sitting in a pile of rubble, that somehow caved around the item instead of burying it, hovered a floating black sword that glowed with an unearthly red light.

  Nox pulled back his hood for the first time since Colin had known him, showing off short, smooth white hair. His smile was gone, and his eyes were transfixed on the sword for a long moment before he shook his head to clear whatever had happened to him. He looked at Colin sheepishly for a second before looking back at the sword, “what is that weapon?”

  Colin shrugged, “Let’s find out.”

  The weapon seemed to glow a little brighter as Colin approached it. More details of the sword became apparent as he got closer. It was a highly decorated black and steel sword with stylized symbols carved into the blades flat. The pommel had a sizeable clear gem that had a coal-black center wrapped in bands of silver. There was something else about the weapon that had nothing to do with its appearance, even though it looked epically bad-ass.

  He reached out to touch the weapon’s handle when a prompt appeared in front of him.

  Colin stopped reading the windfall of prompts for a moment to let his mind wrap around the information. All of his most common abilities leveled up, which was good to see. Plus, the new knowledge skill would undoubtedly come in handy with everything he’d seen in the previous room. But the one thing that was bothering him was the wording of the Root Elemental Spider Prompt.

  Hand moving to his chin as he thought, Colin looked at Nox and asked, “did I get only partial experience for killing the Root Elemental earlier?”

  Nox rolled his eyes, “of course you did. You did get help to defeat it, didn’t you? So I got at least half the experience points. Not that it helped me level up again any time soon.”

  “Why is that?” Colin asked, curiosity pulling him away from the prompts that remained.

  “Simple math, DevilWalker. I just got seven-hundred experience, and I needed a little over four-hundred thousand to level up again. How long would it take to level up again if I got seven-hundred every day,” Nox said, his tone instructional.

  Immediately, Colin responded, “a long time.”

  Nox shrugged and nodded, “exactly. Now, while you continue to go through your prompts, I will look around. There might be something else useful floating around. Call me before you grab the weapon, will you?”

  Colin nodded and opened up the next series of prompts.

  “Holy shit,” Colin whispered to himself. He’d gotten two whole levels from helping to defeat the Mutator. If he was honest with himself, he wasn’t sure what he was expecting to get from that fight, but Colin would be lying if he said he was upset. He had to fight just saying the words to level up; he was so close.

  But there was one more prompt waiting for him, just flashing somewhere off to the side of his vision. He opened it with a thought and was greeted by a black prompt with red writing.

  With all the prompts finally taken care of, Colin looked at the weapon again and smiled. This sounded exactly like what he was looking for, and he had to hold himself back from just taking the weapon.

  Taking a deep breath, Colin called out, “Nox! I’m going to grab it now.”

  “I’m coming, give a Goblin a moment,” he called, his steps coming closer. As he rounded the weird stone alcove where the sword hung suspended, he pointed where he’d come from. “There’s something pretty interesting over there. I think it would be worth it to look once we are done here.”

  Nodding, Colin gave the Goblin a little bow and gestured at the weapon, “by your leave?”

  Nox gave him a sharp-toothed smile, “DevilWalker. Unless you want to have your spleen extracted through your stomach, only to be shoved back up your arse, I suggest you take the weapon.”

  Straightening up, Colin smiled at his companion and focused back on the sword. Flexing his fingers, Colin raised his hand and reached out for the handle. He grasped the leather-bound handle, and the red light around the weapon enveloped his hand along with the feeling of something pushing into his palm and the limb.

  It started as a simple, physical reaction that was quickly followed by a confusing pain that could only be described as an electric cold. As the red light traveled up his arm and covered his entire body, the pain followed and took up his whole mind. This left no room in his head for anything but this single moment of agony and a sense of something else bubbling up like a geyser.

  Refusal.

  Colin’s lip curled as he fought against the anguish and pulled the sword out from its place in the room. It took some effort, like pulling a jammed door loose, but suddenly and with a crack like thunder, it came loose.

  A voice echoed through the ruined Cathedral, feminine and strong like a goddess stating her ironclad will.

  When there is one, there will soon become two. Neither can be at peace while the other is at war. The World’s Narrative requires a hero that will rise against the odds and a villain that will create these odds. You have chosen to take up the role of THE ANTAGONIST! May your enemies tremble before your might, and even the gods bow in supplication before you.

  A prompt quickly followed the words spoken.

  The red aura seeped into his body, and the pain faded away to a dull ache. Then the ache disappeared to a calm that somehow reached his very soul. But before he could think about that, Another prompt immediately popped into his vision, several others minimized by the system until he was ready for it.

  Then before Colin could properly absorb that knowledge, the weapon in his hand vibrated and started to disintegrate and crumble dust upon the ground. Colin tried to keep a hold of the weapon but dropped it as the effect reached the handle, unable to keep a grip on it. The sword lost layers of metal, decoration, and runes until only a sword blank remained in its place.

  On the ground in front of him, a dull blade and tang sat in a pile of dusty ash with its dark blue color reflecting the light. He reached down and picked up the weapon, annoyed at the injustice that had just occurred. He gripped the handleless tang of the weapon, and a pop-up appeared.

  His annoyance alleviated a little at the prompt’s message. This had fantastic potential, and he already had an idea of what to add to it first, but that could wait a few more minutes. He slid the sword into his belt next to his heavy dagger and hoped it held. When he got back into town, he’d have to look into buying a sheath for it. There were a few more prompts to look at, and the next one was interesting.

  From the prompt Colin got after defeating Harvey Regic, he’d been working under the assumption that you didn’t usually get experience when you killed another player. Ten percent wasn’t a lot, but it was a start. Especially given that the experience would add up over time. It also could increase over time, which made this an even better ability. He just needed to get to a higher level and make increasing this ability a priority when the opportunity arose.

  Now that wasn’t as fun. Especially when he got to higher levels, this penalty could take him back weeks of work. On the other hand, this could save players an undetermined amount of time towards their next level or level them off the bat. There were definite problems with this deal, but so far, he was liking what he was seeing.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  Moving past how ominous that last prompt sounded, Colin smiled at the choices before him. Lust was immediately out given that McKenna would find some way to get back at him for even a virtual triste. Envy and Gluttony were also out. He had no interest in becoming a facsimile or in overindulging himself. Neither was his style or his interest.

  Wrath was immediately appealing, given the wording of the description. God-level fury was something that might come in handy, especially with the power boosts they usually give in pop-culture. Greed was an exciting possibility but was annoyingly vague, and Sloth was definitely a contender for his first choice. Channeling a force of stagnancy that can topple armies and cities? That sounded awesome.

  But Pride, though. Pride sounded absolutely fascinating. If he was reading this correctly, the path of pride unlocks possibilities. Some of the terminologies made it sound like there were rules that stopped people from doing certain things.

  Looking down at Nox, Colin broached the subject. “Nox, can I read you something and get your take on it?”

  When the Goblin nodded, Colin read the path of pride entry to him. The Goblin started off with his usual, somewhat cocky grin and quickly became wide-eyed and slack-jawed the more Colin read. By the end, Nox had released his cane that he’d reproduced at some point and let it just clatter on the floor.

  Seconds passed after Colin finished the read, and Nox was just staring at Colin in dumb-struck awe. He blinked and started to gather himself as he readied himself to answer Colin. Then in a low voice, Nox said simply, “classes, DevilWalker. This is mostly about classes.”

  After Nox decided not to elaborate further, Colin sighed and told him to continue.

  “Classes are a framework for how an individual will grow. At first level, we can get a base class that becomes the foundation of how we are to progress. Tenth, we get to choose a subclass that will either expand our capabilities or focus them further. Then at thirty, we choose from a list of true classes that match what we want to be. You with me?”

  Colin nodded.

  “Good. Now every class has several skills, abilities, and techniques that only they can use. There might be some crossover with some abilities like the Ranger’s Danger Sense ability and the Rogue’s Trap Sensing ability, but they are still different. There is no way around this rule of the world. You choose a class, you get some skills and abilities for that class. This is the law of the world, DevilWalker. What do you think part of this path is?” Nox said with a shark’s smile.

  A smile matching Nox’s crossed his face, “if I take this path, I can do anything.”

  Nox nodded, “at least, that’s what I think.”

  “Just so I know, what qualifies as forbidden lore?” Colin asked, mostly out of curiosity.

  “Oh, there are a few skills like Soul-Forging, flesh magic, blood magic, mental magic, Inverse Ki Manipulation, any sort of Time Magic, the list goes on. Things that could be catastrophic if allowed to grow and rampage. There are a few skills, like Demonification, that you will be killed immediately if discovered. Does that help?” Nox asked.

  “Oh, yeah,” Colin said, lost in thought. “I will have to grow the skills and powers that I get, but if I choose this path… Yeah,” he said, smiling at the ideas brimming in his skull. Ideas that could be useful, destructive, and better yet, be used to enjoy the game. Oh, revenge was still the goal, but did that mean he couldn’t explore the world while he got ready?

  Thinking one last time over his options, Colin shook his head at all the others that had potential before. No, there was really only one option that suited him. So he looked at the options, squinted a little at pride, and selected it.

  He had just finished reading the choices when Nox said quietly, “DevilWalker, you may have an issue.”

  Ears twitching and body going still as he waited for any warning sign. After a moment, Colin asked hesitantly, “what?”

  “I just got a prompt. Shit!” the Goblin hissed. “DevilWalker, take this,” Nox hissed, pulling a clasp loose from a braided silver band that he wore around his wrist. Without waiting for consent, Nox pushed up the sleeve of his Jacket and snapped it upon Colin’s wrist.

  Before Colin could protest about the treatment, another prompt appeared.

  The prompts came one after another, many repeating themselves for several minutes until they slowly trickled to a stop, and Colin looked at Nox in appreciation then horror. Nox, what did that prompt say?”

  In a voice that had the distinct tone of someone reading, Nox spoke aloud. “Rosengard! The Avenger and final Demon Lord Candidate has risen to their calling. Either cower in fear, stand in opposition, or bow in supplication before this new power. No matter what you choose, know that the World Quest; The Grand Crusade has begun!”

  Nox paused and took in a deep breath. He looked up at Colin with a bit of a distressed look. “Are you a demon lord candidate?”

  Colin could only shrug, he hadn’t been through all the prompts yet, but he figured if the Demon Lord Candidate announcement existed, then it would be further down. He quickly opened up the last of the prompts, opting to choose his fifth level ability a little later.

  “Hey, Nox. Did you find anything interesting when you were looking around?” Colin asked.

  Nox raised an eyebrow, “I did. Shall I take it that you would like to see it?”

  Colin nodded, and Nox walked around the rubble made alcove so that the newly crown Antagonist could see the back of the Cathedral. For the most part, it was mostly the same. Splintered wood pews, broken stone bricks laid scattered, and much more shattered colored glass everywhere. Even the shattered remains of a raised stone pulpit laid across the area in artistically sculpted heaps.

  But Nox raised a sharp nailed finger up on the back wall, to an area just below where a giant stained-glass window used to sit.

  A skeleton with tattered clothes hung on the back wall by a rusted and tattered sword that must have been an elegant weapon at one point. The skeleton had a pair of small horns angling up towards the roof, and an octet of fangs showed along with its teeth. Even more impressive was that the skeleton’s arms were grasping the blade and handle of the weapon impaling it to the wall.

  He approached it, and he noticed that the one thing on the ruined weapon was a small crystalline gem on the pommel. It was so out of place that he wanted to take a closer look, but the weapon was too high. Even with his increase to athletics and the supposed bonuses it gave.

  “Hey Nox, would you mind helping me get that?” Colin asked, pointing.

  The Goblin shrugged and waved a hand. Colin watched in awe as a pair of dark misty arms burst out from behind the skeleton and grabbed the sword. The arms pulled and pulled, the sword coming free with a stone on steel screech long seconds later. The sword and skeleton fell free with both clattering to the floor, the latter somehow remaining intact.

  Nodding in thanks to Nox, Colin walked over to the fallen weapon and picked it up by the handle. He put the crystal level with his eyes, and immediately two points of red light that swirled within it met his eyes.

  Colin thought yes, and the red light within burned brighter as a feminine voice, different than the earlier one, echoed through the hall.

  HI! I’m Ari, and I always objected to being called a Demon Lord. I am just a fun and adventure-loving Drow woman who happened upon a mythical sword in one of the caves under my home city. I don’t know why it gave me the Archetype of Psycho, but I cannot complain since it helped free me from my home. What little freedom Drow men have sometimes seemed preferable to the strict lifestyle that my mother put me through as servant to the Princess.

  But the power of the Antagonist freed me from the bonds of tradition and allowed me to leave home. I actually rode out on the sacred spider from the temple after releasing its strongest warrior slave and telling him to wreak havoc. I found out later that he actually broke into the General’s bed chambers and killed her. From what I’m told, he then proceeded to kill three-quarters of the royal guard and all of the house guard. Absolutely fantastic.

  Anyway, I went on a lot of adventures. Kidnapped some princesses, I believe no one should ever have to live with that much stress and I helped relieve some of that. After my proudest achievement, I screwed with cults and churches, I even owned an army from Hydrangea sent to stop my fun. It was only a week ago that I was trapped in the city of Willow’s Cross and had to fight. They brought out all the stops for me, even rolling out the red carpet in the form of the Hero and his party.

  We fought, and the city was brought low in the battle. It was unfortunate, but it’s not like I could control the Hero and his group’s actions. Finally, I was defeated here. Impaled by the Hero’s sword, I found that it was cursed to ensure my death, figures.

  Anyway, I ensure that the Hero would die soon after with a curse of my own. When I die, he dies. I found this to be incredibly poetic and don’t expect to be on this plane of existence for much longer. The Antagonist class asked me to leave a message to the next wielder of the Antagonist class. I decided to do something… crazy, and leave more.

  To the next bearer of the Antagonist class, I first leave a skill. I cannot control which skill you will receive and how many levels it will have, but it’s what help I can give. Second, I give an ability I created, Eyes of Deception. Last, I offer a warning. If you hear of the Hero rising, I suggest you kill the offender as soon as possible. Nothing limits your freedom more than looking over your shoulder and hoping not to see a blade coming towards you.

  The red light died back down to the two points of red light again as the voice vanished like smoke in the wind.

  “Wow,” Nox said, smiling at the room around them. “To think that we’d be able to hear from a Demon Lord from beyond the grave. Will the wonders you show me never cease.”

  “I hope not,” Colin answered, looking back at the sword’s crystal pommel.

  One of the lights in the crystal stilled, the second orbiting around it. The still light streaked out of the crystal and sunk into Colin’s eyes with a sharp stab. He screamed and dropped the sword as his hand went for his eyes.

  The pain seemed to burn and ease repeatedly as if it were a wound being tormented and left alone again. After a long few moments, the agony in his eyeballs eased away and left behind a profound sense of relief. He peeled his hand away from now pain-free eyes and opened them slowly, and a sigh escaped him. No pain, just the room like it was before except for how he was looking at the ceiling.

  He looked to his right, then to his left, and found Nox sitting next to him playing with some dark liquids in steel beakers. He’d just finished pouring everything into the one in his right hand when he noticed Colin’s open eyes. “Ah, good, you’re awake. I was getting ready to try to he-” Nox stopped, looking right into Colin’s eyes. “DevilWalker, what happened to your eyes?”

  Colin pulled out one of his simple steel daggers and tried to look at his reflection. It took a moment for him to see what Nox was talking about, and when he did, his eyes widen.

  Deep within the oceans of his black pupils, a pinpoint of red light burned like the tip of a laser pointer. As he watched, the light seemed to die down to a dot then vanished into nothing. It was a cool effect but was gone before he could really get a good look.

  “Nice,” Colin cheered, pumping his fist once. This would remove the one real worry he had been thinking about since becoming the Antagonist. Now he could move about without fear.

  He explained the eyes to Nox, and the Goblin smiled as well. “Good for you, DevilWalker. I will admit that I was afraid that some seer with a thing for reading anyone might find out. Now you are a little safer.”

  “Now, for the last thing,” Colin said, sitting up from his prone postion. He stepped over to the fallen sword and picked it up one last time. But before he could bring it to his face, the second light flew out and split into two lights. One went for his forehead, and the other went for his heart, and another prompt appeared.

  Colin sighed, “Bardic Magic? really?”

  Nox raised a questioning eyebrow, “why are you complaining about Bardic Magic? It’s a useful skill. At higher levels, it adds sound-based charm magic.”

  Thinking about it, Colin shrugged and dismissed his prompt. He’d have to play with it later, for now. Colin slid the ruined sword into his belt, and Nox stopped him.

  “DevilWalker, do you not have a Journeyman’s Bag?” At Colin’s head shake, Nox withdrew a small, dark sack with a drawstring from his coat and tossed it at Colin. “It's bigger on the inside. Just slide the swords in, and you can retrieve it at any time.”

  He looked at the small velvet bag in confusion before taking the rusted sword and sliding it in. The bag ate the weapon, and it vanished within the bag.

  Looking around for anything else useful before he got to the next important thing, Colin’s eyes fell on the skeleton of the Ari, the last Demon Lord. McKenna had told him that bones, in other games, sometimes could be used as potion ingredients or enchanting goods. If any bones could be useful in this regard than a previous Demon Lord would be it. It looked like a close fit, so Colin carefully took his new dimensional bag and fitted it over the crown of the skeleton's crown. In a moment of wonder and horror, the skeleton compressed in on itself and sucked into the bag.

  In a panic that he'd ruined the bones, Colin reached into the bag and tried to withdraw the skeleton. The skeleton poured out of the bag and splayed out upon the floor, still intact and whole. Relieved, Colin put it back in the bag and closed the drawstring.

  He had other things to do, but he decided that he had another matter to attend to first.

  How does one get out of here?