Tyrants of Earth - The Legend of Artigan

“I’m going shopping on Seffara’s card, byeee.”

Ryan turned to Barry. “And why can’t I use Seffara’s card again?”

“You can’t guilt-trip me.”

“And how did she pull that off?”

“She says she’s probably going to be fired soon because of all the missed days.”

“Oh. Damn that is a good one.”

As much as Ryan wanted everyone to get the hell out of San Kingsgrove, all three of his ‘team’ had outvoted him. Clara because she wanted to go shopping and possibly witness a coven fallout live. Milo because he wanted the Secretary to meet up with Ryan and make all of them become friendly. Barry because… well it was probably some moral lesson.

Ryan wasn’t sure which of the three of them was the dumbest.

So for that moment, all of them split apart. Milo returning to his hotel room, trying to keep the ring hidden in his pocket.

Valee still hadn’t replied back to Milo’s request to meet at San Kingsgrove while the Secretary was probably busy putting out fires everywhere in The Realm.

So, Ryan was finally left with some alone time.

He had to admit he was a little excited.

What did a healthy hot-blooded adventurer with a multi million dollar bank do when they first visited San Kingsgrove?

A figure in a hoodie walked around San Kingsgrove, trying to casually blend into the crowd while keeping his presence tucked in. It was finally time to splurge on something he hadn’t really thought about until now. Of course, San Kingsgrove was famous for it, all adventurer’s cities couldn’t help but have them.

He arrived at one of the sleekest yet nondescript buildings, only a few tourists wandering out front and taking pictures. Hoping to capture an image of a famous adventurer seeking out such services. Very few actual foot traffic was allowed in.

It was a premium establishment for premium clientele only.

Multiple security guards stood out in front, they all looked at him, fairly certain he was just riff-raff but not willing to risk it if he wasn’t. Ryan grinned under the shade of his hood and flexed his presence. That was all that was needed as proof. They parted ways, letting him in without question. It wasn’t like they could stop him anyway.

Some tourists snapped a picture of this new hooded figure walking in. Not that the picture would go anywhere.

A lobby with an incredibly attractive receptionist stood out in front. She smiled at the hooded figure. Well used to people coming here incognito.

“Welcome to Raidco’s Skill Mastery. Do you have your adventurer’s ID with you today?”

That was right, this was a state of the art facility for training skills on Earth. A facility that every self-respecting adventurer would visit. After all, the best way to learn Trial skills and free your skill slots was to practice them both in The Realm and then try to activate them on Earth.

San Kingsgrove’s Raidco facility was considered one of the best in the world. At least as best as you could get publicly. Undoubtedly, Seffara’s big warehouse was a mere playground compared to a place like this.

“No ID today.” Ryan answered. “Looking to hire a room, dodge skill acquisition hopefully, though I’m also wanting to test the differences in physical stats without some of my other Trial skills too..”

“No worries, as long as you understand that prices are forty percent higher for adventurers without ID.”

Ryan’s eye twitched. “No problem.”

“Is it your first time here at Raidco Mastery?”

“I’ve been to a private facility before, but yes.”

“You’ll have to sign a waiver first.”

“Sure.”

He signed with his real name on the waiver. He had taken off his hood and shown them his face. It wasn’t like he’d been really trying to keep his identity a secret anyway. When the receptionist’s eyes scanned over what realm he was, her eyes went wide. He saw a judgmental look flick past her face.

That was when Ryan realized he may have been a bit hasty coming here so soon. The Realm was in full mobilization, withdrawing cities and towns into the inner Sectors. If he was only in the fourth realm it’d be understandable, they wouldn’t be expected to do much. The Fifth realm and above? They were the bulk of the Adventurer Guild’s forces and were crucial in protecting the Realmers in times like these.

“I’m uhh, a Destined.”

“Ah! I understand. I mean, I wasn’t judging–”

The receptionist started flustering, having realized she’d been caught judging an adventurer.

Ryan chuckled, he leaned over the reception with his arm casually. “No worries. I had some time and wanted to take a quick break to consolidate.”

It was an understandable lie. Just because you were evacuating people didn’t mean you were always on the move. It was a benefit of Destined to be able to switch back and forth like this.

The receptionist looked relieved at how easygoing he was, she smiled. “For a first time participant here at Raidco’s Mastery, we must assign you an assistant, is that okay? They’re all magically contracted to keep everything a secret and every single adventurer always appreciates their insight.”

“Of course, sign me up.”

These assistants were supposed to be the experts at skill acquisition and build planning. If there was one group of non-adventurers Ryan would listen to for skill advice, it would be the assistants of facilities like these.

The receptionist pulled up a phone and called an extension number.

“Just one moment.”

–

There were eight assistants mingling in the common room of Raidco’s Mastery. It was unlike any room you’d find in an ordinary office. An enormous circle was drawn in the middle of the room, and in its center lay a single phone.

The eight assistants of Raidco were all sitting or standing outside the periphery of the circle, pretending they were distracted by their phones or charts on their laptops.

An adventurer would look in the room and see a casual tension ready to snap.

Every single one of the eight assistants were considered one of the best of the best in the world. Either adventurer hopefuls that had just barely failed the mark or people who had truly distinguished themselves with thesis on classes and skill builds.

Now they were specialists hired by Raidco.

They were called assistants but their salaries were at the executive level. They might have failed getting sponsorships but they were the best of the best. People who were gathering the money and expertise to buy a Trial slot for themselves. Acknowledged even by ninth realm adventurers.

They kept up with modern practices, and they had data that wouldn’t be found even in the Adventurer Guild’s private servers.

These experts were also incredibly underutilized because of the chaos happening in The Realm.

Ring, ring.

There was a second’s pause. Not because there was a gentleman’s agreement but because the first to move would never get there first.

But leaving it alone for too long would mean the receptionist would choose which one of them would get the job.

Ring, ring.

Everyone exploded into motion, rushing for the phone. Elbows flew, kicks swung out, one of their elder members used a metal cane and swung down in a beautiful, terrifying bone cracking arc.

All of these were adventurer hopefuls.

It wasn’t just about the commission and the fat tip adventurers paid. None of the assistants of Raidco were used to lazing around. All of them were desperate to put their specialty to the test.

A half-orc took the cane hit with his shoulder with barely a flinch, though not a tackle by a nimble woman that knew exactly where to punch with her brass knuckles. Both of them collapsed into a pile on the side.

“Brenna you bitch!” the half-orc roared.

“Grevich, now!”

A half-elf landed right on top of the phone, dodging painted projectile and sweeping the legs out from a human from the Kingstrike family, he lifted the phone. Tone completely professional, contrasting the mess of bodies in the room.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“This is Grevich speaking, yes. An evolved Destined? Can we ask the adventurer if they’re willing to take on two assistants? Two for one if he’s not amenable to paying for extra.”

Grevich paused to listen, Brenna pumped her fists in triumph, getting two assistants for the price of one was almost guaranteed, and an evolved Destined at that. She stopped celebrating when Grevich’s smile faded.

“Ah I understand, just me then.”

Brenna screamed at the sudden betrayal. “You demonic bastard, you promised the next one would be mine!”

Grevich hung up and gave her an arch look. “They’re looking to learn a dodge skill. Unfortunately I believe I’m the best suited to assist with that. The customer is always first.”

Three voices rose to challenge that claim as he left. Brenna was cursing his name.

He swiped through his phone while on the way. The assistants were the second highest authority in this building. They had full access to the security feeds. He watched the adventurer walk in.

Hmm, judging by the guard’s reactions they hadn’t read him at all until he released his presence. The tourists outside didn’t even react to a presence. That’s an insane amount of aura control. Ryan Robinson?

The information showed up, all the public information neatly assessed and put together by their programming. Grevich blinked.

Damn, didn’t even make it out of State Qualifiers and he became a Destined? Lucky bastard. Ah well. Wait, no matches in the Adventurer’s Guild data?

It was surprising that this Ryan couldn’t be found with their software, detailing all adventurers with a public profile. Then again, it wasn’t completely unheard of for Destined to sign up anonymously with the Adventurer’s Guild. There were a couple of pathways for success that way too. Become some mysterious hooded figure and drum up hype that way… or leverage your anonymity to provide more clandestine services for blackmarket trading…

Grevich didn’t think much more about it. Digging too deep into adventurer business was never a good idea for a healthy career. Especially considering Grevich wanted to become an adventurer himself.

Making friends with evolved Destineds was always the right move.

He approached the young man making conversation with their receptionist and cleared his throat.

“Ahem, adventurer?”

“Oh hey! Julie was telling me all about you and the competition that happens above, that sounds really fun.”

Grevich’s smile strained as the receptionist sunk back. Julie should not have been telling an outsider of how they organized things.

“Rest assured I truly am the best of the best at mobility skill acquisition. My name is Grevich Donovan, please come this way.”

“Sure, thanks.”

Grevich walked the young man towards the elevator and ushered him inside. Then he pressed for one of the basement levels. The second deepest level of the facility.

“Would you like to share any details of what you wish to train for today? I understand that you wish to free a Trial skill slot?”

“Hm, it’s a dodge skill. Uncommon.”

Now that was disappointing. Though Grevich kept that opinion to himself. Generally adventurers in the fourth realm learned all their Uncommon skills before evolving their class… if this Ryan picked an Uncommon for their realm skill after an evolution. It meant bad planning or a very low rarity class.

“Yeah, I should’ve learned that ages ago. Just thought it’d be easier to learn it later than not.”

“There is no judgment from me, adventurer.”

“Eh, no need to lie, bet you see some impressive stuff out here. I mean, I’d be disappointed at an evolved adventurer still having an Uncommon taking up their Trial Skill slot.”

Grevich was a master at hiding his expression. Adventurers could easily see microexpressions and you had to practice to make sure not to offend.

“Rest assured, we see adventurers from all walks of life here. I have seen some of the humblest adventurers rise to dragonslayer despite it all. I do not judge.”

“Hmm, fair.”

They entered the prep room first. The room was designed to fit the style of the safe zone of the Trial System. The only difference being that instead of amenities, they had everything an adventurer up to the seventh realm needed. Durable weaponry crafted with modern or magical means, potions to purchase if you wanted to push yourself and even scrolls if you wanted to practice different drills.

“Please do not use antimagic skills in the room, do not use any ranged or extension skills without telling me first. Beyond that, feel free to take any weapon here.”

Ryan picked out a slightly long one handed sword, he tested the balance, then placed it back. He picked out another sword instead, one where more of the weight was in the handle instead.

An odd choice for an adventurer, but once again, Grevich wasn’t judging.

They entered the training room proper. While technically it wasn’t quite big enough for an evolved adventurer to go all out, it was perfect for a dodging contest. In the center had multiple circles encompassing each other. The smallest circle in the center only being four feet in diameter.

Ryan stepped in the middle

“Are you ready?”

Ryan nodded.

“Starting at realm one.”

A magical image of a person appeared to Ryan’s right. It chucked a magical knife. The adventurer simply tilted his head back, dodging the projectile well before it reached him. It was so slow for the adventurer that he had time to pinch it out of the air. It dissipated as it made contact. That one was non lethal.

“Realm two.”

Two knives, faster now. Ryan this time caught both knives with the tip of his blade and gracefully dragged them to the ground before the magical knives cracked apart.

“Realm three. Careful, it won’t just come from the sides now.”

The illusory figure threw two knives from the front, a turret launched a softball at three hundred miles an hour from the corner. This time Ryan moved as minimally as he could, his upper torso leaning to the side and head tilted back to dodge all three with one movement.

“Realm four. This time–”

“Stop giving me warnings. Thanks.”

Four turrets that fired at once, one illusory figure blurring around him. Ryan dodged the softballs, one angled from the ground. The illusory enchantments hiding the locations of the turrets right until they fired. Grevich controlled the illusion, pressing a button to launch the knife at what should have been perfect timing for an opening.

Ryan lazily flicked his sword and caught the illusory knife with the tip again.

Grevich nodded. Indeed this was an evolved adventurer.

“Realm five. Stage one.”

Now the enchantments blared out, red warnings giving Grevich a confirmation button on whether the settings were allowed. The previous softballs could kill a normal human. At realm five it the turrets would kill lower realm adventurers.

The smaller turrets all went back into the walls as the room started to split open. Massive rails rising up from the ground and slamming together above the adventurer.

Ryan was now underneath a massive dome made out of three enormous semicircle rails. Three enchanted turrets rising from the ground, constantly moving on the rails. Moving at over five hundred miles an hour.

“Are you able to keep up?”

“No problem.”

“Beginning.”

And the turrets started firing.

The adventurer began to move at a blur. Showing that he had truly evolved his class. Grevich couldn’t follow it so he had to switch to a slow motion screen. With the slow motion camera he could tell the slightest problems of jilted movement. The slightest errors showing that he had advanced recently.

But it was still a thing of beauty. Something Grevich truly envied.

Say what you want, the Trial System made impossible talents out of anyone. He was cutting down every single enchanted rubber ball with his blade, switching forms seamlessly from rapier, to longsword, performing at a level that seemed almost flawless. He was truly creative in his forms, pushing his body not to efficiency but to practice everything he knew.

Though Grevich could still tell that this adventurer was not truly practiced.

Why? Because Ryan was improving in front of his very eyes. Fixing mistakes on the fly, then adding a new form into the mix, all while deflecting or cutting down every single projectile on the way.

A [Rogue] evolution for sure. Maximum dexterity without much strength. Specialized, not bad.

Both Grevich and Ryan had forgotten that they were supposed to be focusing on dodging. Both entranced at the swordplay.

When the turrets stopped, the adventurer didn’t even look out of breath. Ryan looked excited, having improved in his movements in such a short time. Grevich was finally getting in the mood, truly wanting to see what this adventurer could do.

“Moving up to realm six.”

Four of the old turrets appeared from the wall as well as the illusory image that threw knives. In general, something like that wouldn’t add much. But added with the enchanted turrets?

It became something that even sixth realm [Rogues] found tricky.

Here would be where the test truly began.

This adventurer Grevich had never heard of was apparently in the sixth realm. He wanted to see it, that rapid improvement, the shoring up of mistakes in real time. Then he wanted to see what this adventurer would look like in a couple of years.

The blade sang out as it deflected the impossibly fast projectiles from the enchanted turrets. He pirouetted into a low stance, flexing his newly upgraded body. Improving even quicker than before. As if he hadn’t practiced at all! The room was a raucous sound of projectiles firing at speeds faster than bullets. Everything launched at impossible speeds that would kill anything under a third realm in one hit.

Yes they were supposed to be training a dodge skill but getting used to your upgraded body was always a priority.

Ryan was keeping within the smallest circle in the ground. If you moved out, you would be admitting to a loss. Ryan didn’t want to lose, there was fire in his eyes. Grevich’s envy went out the window, now this was a true adventurer. Probably taking a break from a mission to get some more practice in.

He ducked a knife, dodging two softballs at once. The rail turret aimed a shot at his foot and all he did was flick his wrist to deflect. The projectile hitting the rail harmlessly. These were enchanted rails designed to withstand a full blow from eighth realm adventurers.

He was moving faster as the turrets did, just as they reached stage three of realm six–

Ryan slipped.

The movement was so sudden that Grevich almost missed it on his other screen. Despite it, he still hit the button only a split second after the adventurer went falling backwards.

And got pelted by five different projectiles.

–

Ryan had been in the flow, pushing his body more than it had ever been. That was until he slipped. His foot should’ve moved to where his mind had placed it but it had been a little too slow. It was something he’d been fixing throughout the whole training center. It should have been an immediate, instinctive response with his body.

Yet there was a slight mismatch, and that was all it took, his arm flung out, the timing screwed up and he tried to readjust so he could block and dodge at the same time.

That was apparently too much at once.

When he slipped he knew something was fundamentally wrong. It was such a surreal moment that it almost looked like the projectiles were coming at him in slow motion. A [Rogue] like him couldn’t make such huge physical errors like that. Yes blitzing the realms could have acclimatization issues, but not when he had slowly ramped up, and knew the limits of his body. Even with the massive increase in strength, an evolved [Rogue] shouldn’t have such a huge coordination error.

The projectiles slammed into him. Ryan shielding his face as the rubber projectiles and softballs landed throughout his body. This was speeds suitable to push sixth realm adventurers. He took it with his fifth realm body. They were supposed to be non-lethal to evolved adventurers.

It still fucking hurt.

“Are you okay?”

The intercom blared out in the room. Grevich’s voice calling out in concern.

“What the fuck?!”

“Well… it’s not that uncommon for [Rogues] that newly advanced to the sixth realm to have this issue. Every realm grade is much more of a gap than pre-evolution. This does happen from time to time.”

Ryan made a face, the professional Grevich not actually saying what was on his mind. It was undoubtedly pathetic for an evolved [Rogue] to slip like that. Especially considering he hadn’t actually skipped into the sixth realm. He was used to fighting with the might of a seventh realm. A [Rogue] like him shouldn’t have…

His eyes narrowed.

Wait, I’m not a [Rogue], I’m a [Conceptual Metamorph]. Are you trying to tell me that the class has no physical dexterity focus at all?

That didn’t sound completely right. He’d tested his physical abilities while he waited for Gamielle in The Realm. It didn’t feel that uncoordinated at all.

He thought about it for a moment. It could’ve been many different things. He had tested his physical abilities with the [Conceptual Assassin] class and with the full effect of the [Undisputed Apex of the Fourth Realm] title. He also had Trial skills like [Hastened] which could be messing everything up.

He needed to test things a little more. Ryan raised an index finger at one of the cameras in the room.

“I’ll be right back.”

[Return to The Realm]

…

Grevich watched the body turn limp and lifeless through the screen.

He sighed. “Definitely a Destined alright. Some people have all the luck.”