*LIAM*
Back at the cafeteria, having got my tablet back, I was casually scrolling through my game space when a notification suddenly popped up. Having nothing better to do, I decided to check it out. All the while, Kim was seated right beside me chatting away with a bunch of guys from his basketball team. The notification was about Seoul's annual e-sports tournament. Not being familiar with such, I sub-consciously tapped Kim on the shoulder and inquired on the matter.
"Seoul's annual e-sports tournament? Yeah, I've heard about it. It's one of the biggest gaming events in the whole of South Korea where all the great gamers from South Korea meet up and battle to the death for the title of Best Gamer in Seoul, a spot on the national team and a cash prize of 100,000 US dollars," Kim explained.
"Hold up. Did you just say 100,000 US dollars? Just for gaming?" he nodded. Sure, it's not like I needed the money but damn?! Plus, just as I kept scrolling through the notification, I noticed something I hadn't seen before. Right at the bottom of the post, in the photo of the stadium's prize confinement area was something that anyone could easily miss. I zoomed in on the screen and activated my evil eye. Lilac inscription appeared on the picture's margins and so did a small piece of paper. After decoding the language, I easily identified the piece of the forbidden scroll.
"Just as I thought, demon coding. From the inscription, it's obvious they were expecting me to find and decode this message. Probably a trap. But if they're not even trying to hide it, it sounds more like a challenge," I thought to myself. Think Liam, what could be the point of all this. But then again, this is the forbidden scroll we're talking about; my ticket out of this bloody contract and it seems pretty legit. Plus, I've always wanted to make a name for myself; Liam Black, South Korea's best gamer.
I like the sound of that.
My fingers hovered over the accept button. A 100% demon trap for a prize and title or a boring week day at school? Yeah, I think the answer is pretty obvious by now.
Accept.
Now there's no turning back. Game on, demon. (I really gotta come up with a better phrase which doesn't indirectly attack me. Definitely.)
*. *. *.
Meanwhile back in Hell, General Ivan stood by a window as a crow flew to his already raised hand. Now perched on his hand, the white haired male noticed a scroll tied to one of its feet. He carefully untied the scroll and read its contents. It had been nearly a month since he'd seen the 2nd prince, but that didn't seem to bother him. In fact, it seemed that had always been his plan from the very beginning. He knew what he'd been up against the minute he sensed the aura that constantly hovered around the raven head.
The time he had been waiting for finally seemed to be approaching.
" Just as I thought, you wouldn't give up a chance to enjoy yourself even knowing it's a trap. As predictable as ever, my dear prince. But don't forget, I'm always one step ahead of you." The trap may not have worked on him but he was still eager to see how he'd approach the matter. His source, though anonymous, proved to be quite resourceful. And all the prince's request had been was the general's undying trust. Though initially skeptical, the general had decided to take the benefit of the doubt which proved not to have gone to waste. But when the time was right, he wouldn't hesitate to take action.
Late at night at their villa, Liam lay on the living room sofa gaming into the night. He'd been practising countless times but had been stuck at one particular level of a dungeon hunt. The raven head ran a frustrated hand through his messy black hair already getting agitated.
Adam came into the room, glasses on and a cup of black coffee in hand. He sat on the same sofa with the now annoyed Liam. It didn't take him long to notice the male ravenhead's agitation leading to an inquiry. In response, the ravenhead just handed him the tablet stating he had been stuck on a particular level for hours. He turned to face the roof wondering which tactic to try next when the blonde finally spoke up, "Done."
"Huh?" he held out the tablet, "What do you mean huh?"
" I'm done with the level."
"You're kidding, right? There's no way you beat the dungeon boss in under a minute. Even the reigning champion took over 10 minutes on this level." The blonde just shrugged and took a sip of his coffee, smiling to himself at the astounded male. Liam thought for a while before the courage to ask for the blonde's help. He'd expected nothing but an easy yes but instead received a, "Beg for it."
*. *. *.
ADAM
I'd noticed how Liam had been glued to his tablet since we got back to the villa. He'd been so focused on it that my curiosity just couldn't help but be peaked. So I decided to sit down next to him, hoping to get some answers which I luckily did. Why he wanted to beat that level so bad, I have no idea, but when he looked at me stunned after having finished the level in a span of a few seconds, I couldn't help but decide to tease him a bit for having got on my nerves earlier that day. "Beg for it," the words came out before I could even register what I had just said.
"Me? A whole demon prince? Beg?" he crossed his arms, "no fucking way."
"Fine. Then I guess I'll be heading to bed now. Goodnight." I said, now getting up, but felt a hand stop me. Turning, I noticed the kid's hand had held me back as he looked away. "I— um— can you please help me beat this level, birdbrain?" he asked meekly. This kid. Still a nuisance while he's begging. I ruffled his hair playfully, "You're never gonna stop calling me that, are you?"
"Not in a million years." I chuckled. Some things just never change, do they?
*. *. *.
LIAM
Tuesday, 11th February, 2025
I was walking along the school grounds at the end of the school day, bag slung over my left shoulder and phone in hand chatting away with a girl on video call. Obviously a hot one.
"So yeah, I've been thinking about taking part in this year's E-sports tournament though I'm not really that much of a gamer. What do you think?"
"I think I'll definitely be rooting for you. For a person who's only recently got into gaming, you've definitely got skills."
We'd met on a dungeon quest and had been chatting ever since. And the girl, yeah, she was definitely a keeper. Totally my type but at the moment I definitely wasn't looking into dating. And when I say the girl was fine shit, I mean fine as fuck.
"Hopefully this time you might actually finally beat Nightfury." Nightfury was a well-known name in the E-sports world especially in South Korea since it had been the name of the E-sports player that had led South Korea to victory in the Global E-sports championship. The one player that I still wasn't able to beat.
Just as I was about to continue chatting, I suddenly felt my phone get snatched out of my hands and only looking up, my gaze met that of a serious-looking Adam.
"Seriously, dude. Kinda in the middle of something," I argued.
"Your call can wait. We've got training to do." I stared at him blankly, "Or did you forget?" That was when I finally noticed what he was wearing. I'm not one to usually care about what anyone wears — except myself of course — but who in their right mind wears a trenchcoat when it's over 70° outside?! I raised a brow, questioning the look.
"A trenchcoat? Really?"
"We're gonna be needing it for where we're going."
Before I could come up with a snarky remark, we found ourselves out of Seoul and in the freaking arctic. My whole body shivered as I hugged my hands together trying to preserve the little body heat I had left. Everywhere around us was nothing but thick white snow.
"Th— Th— The f— fuck is wr— wrong with you, dude? Ar— Are you freaking tr— try— trying t— to kill me!?" I stuttered out, my teeth clanking, making it hard for me to utter a proper sentence. Did he at least reply to my question, you ask? Of course not. He never does, the guy just freaking walked off like I wasn't even there. I'm definitely regretting not taking that potion from Axel.
As I was lost in thought, I heard the blonde suddenly call out, "You coming or are you planning on freezing to death?"
I glared at him and closed my eyes, trying to focus my mana. Luckily I managed to cover my body in mana that somehow maintained my body heat. And with that, I reluctantly followed the male, looking around from time to time. Not like there was even anything to look at. Just snow, snow and — you guessed it — snow. Guess I'd be dying away in a desolate iceland.
This is what I get for asking an ex-arch angel for a training session. Hot shit, but definitely not the nicest.