Temple of the Demon Lord of Wishes

"Have you guys come up with a better plan to get out of this Fractured Reality?"

Ivaim asked, his tone steady but with a hint of frustration.

He had been feeling the pressure of their situation weighing on him.

The Black Veil Master's eyes remained hidden under her veil, but her voice was calm.

"Not really. There's still so little information to go on. But from my experience with other Fractured Realities, the end is always the most dangerous part."

Ivaim frowned, his mind racing as he processed her words.

She nodded slightly, her voice steady.

"However, before we can even think about the end, we need to find the main character—Neli's son, Darian."

The Black Veil Master paused for a moment, her eyes unreadable as she seemed to weigh her words.

"You said you've encountered him twice already, right?"

Ivaim nodded slowly.

"Yeah, but… are you asking me to find him again?"

She gave him a steady, almost stern nod.

"Yes. We need to establish a connection with him before this ends. He plays a crucial role, and we need him on our side."

Ivaim hesitated, glancing away for a brief second.

"I doubt I'd find him again…"

He let out a small chuckle, trying to hide the uncertainty creeping into his words.

"Or are you putting that much faith in my luck? What do they say… third time's a charm?" Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

The Black Veil Master gave a quiet nod, her tone unchanging.

"Yes. It is my first time seeing someone able to control Fortune itself. Your Reality Master is quite unique."

Her voice softened slightly, a hint of genuine curiosity.

"It intrigues me."

Ivaim's lips twitched at the thought.

'Yeah... and you tried to kill him before too...'

He kept his expression neutral, though the memory stirred something unpleasant.

He didn't let it show, but the past was never far behind.

...

The awarding ceremony hall was filled with a buzz of excitement.

People were eagerly chatting as the curtains drew back, revealing the stage where the finalists stood, waiting to be recognized.

The first award was for the third-place winner, a young fighter from a neighboring town.

As the announcer's voice rang out, the crowd cheered, and the fighter stepped forward, his face glowing with pride.

"Third place goes to Aric, from Ashfall!"

The announcer boomed.

The crowd erupted into applause, with loud cheers echoing in every corner of the hall.

Aric gave a humble bow as he received his award, his smile wide and full of relief.

The cheers were strong, but there was an air of expectation hanging in the air.

The crowd knew who the real competitors were.

Next came the second-place award.

As the announcer's voice rose again, the tension in the room grew palpable.

"And now, for the second-place finisher, the champion from Fendral! The fighter whose mouth is as sharp as his weapons, the underdog who shocked us all... Ivaim!"

The announcer's voice carried across the hall, drawing a sudden surge of cheers that seemed to shake the building.

Ivaim stepped forward with a grin, waving to the crowd.

The cheers were deafening, people shouting his name.

"Ivaim! Ivaim! Ivaim!" Some voices rang out even through the noise, their excitement undeniable:

"Although you lost, you're still my favorite!" shouted one voice.

"Yeah! You gave us a good fight!" another added, their admiration clear.

Ivaim chuckled and gave a playful smile to the crowd.

He was used to the underdog status.

Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived—the champion who would represent the region in the Coliseum of Chosens.

The room fell silent, and the spotlight turned to the grand entrance.

The announcer's voice echoed through the stillness:

"And now, the champion who will carry the honor of our region into the Coliseum of Chosens. A fighter whose strength is unmatched, whose resolve is unyielding... Nathan, the Iron Warden of Elthram!"

The applause this time was quieter, but deeply respectful.

It was as if the crowd was honoring a solemn duty rather than celebrating a victory.

People stood in awe, some nodding with pride, others whispering about his strength and reputation.

Nathan stepped forward, his expression unreadable.

His gaze swept over the crowd as the claps rang out, their pace steady, like the sound of a drum marking the beginning of a long journey.

It wasn't wild excitement—it was reverence.

As Nathan accepted his award, the room held its breath.

This was the champion who would fight for them in the Coliseum.

This was the one who would represent the entire region.

Ivaim, standing to the side, as he clapped along.

The crowd began to settle, the cheers slowly dying down as the announcer stepped forward again, voice booming in the stillness.

"May the birth of a champion... give rise to our Region!"

The announcer chanted, his words carrying through the hall.

"May the birth of a champion give rise to our region!"

The crowd repeated, their voices unified.

The sound of their chant filled the room, but as it faded, something strange happened.

The crowd grew eerily silent.

All eyes turned to Nathan, their faces suddenly serious, as if they had seen something only they could understand.

Nathan's brow furrowed, his instincts immediately alert.

'Something's wrong...'

He thought, feeling a strange weight settle over him.

Then, almost as if on cue, the crowd slowly tilted their heads in unison, their gazes shifting towards the distant mountain where the Coliseum of Chosens lay.

The stillness lingered.

It wasn't just the crowd's silence—it was the world itself pausing, holding its breath.

After a few long moments, the entire crowd spoke in eerie unison, their voices filled with something darker than concern.

"Don't let him... Go there...."

The words hung in the air, chilling in their finality.

Ivaim's eyes narrowed.

'Who? Nathan or Darian?'

He wondered, his thoughts racing.

His heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding creeping over him.

The silence stretched on, the only sound the sharp chirping of distant birds.

Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, the crowd snapped back to reality.

The chanting and clapping returned, but it was different now.

It felt forced, as though everyone was pretending nothing had happened.

Their faces were bright again, their smiles wide, but Ivaim could see the unease lingering beneath the surface.

Ivaim's mind raced.

His heart pounded in his chest as the weight of the moment settled in.

He had felt it too, that sudden shift in the air. Something was wrong.

'The ending is near...'

Ivaim thought, his gaze darkening.