n

n

n

"Bit of both actually,

" she gave me a smile that wasn't like one,

"anyway, did you get what I said? I only recall fragments aside from it.

"

n

"You said a few things before…

" I paused as I didn't want to remind her of what happened.

n

"Did you get what you wanted?

" she asked and as if she knew the answer she waved her hand at me,

"I only got a glimpse on a large stele made out of black and sturdy stone. It had writings by green neon coloured letters, in many languages. But I understood part of it.

"

n

"Really?

" my hopes were rekindled,

"did you get to see everything?

"

n

"No,

" she shook her head,

"I might need to try it again, but…

"

nWithout thinking about it, I took out a large amount of stat points and gave them to her. She used up her stat points during the past attempt. And I still needed to get the answer to my questions.

n

"Take these as well,

" I also bought a bunch of various healing potions, and few of body strengthening ones.

"Consume one of each for now, leave the rest for later.

"

nShe wasn't polite and took everything away.

"Thanks, you are really a good sponsor for me,

" she suddenly stretched her hand and touched my face without warning.

"I can't believe someone like you is living without a girl by his side. What do you think?

"

nI coughed and took a few steps away from her,

"thanks, but let's get to our task.

"

n

"Humph,

" she shrugged as if she didn't care about my rejection for even a bit,

"one day you'll be mine, mark my words pretty boy.

"

nYou should say rich boy instead, you lewd girl! I inwardly snorted but didn't show anything on my face.

n

"Alright, I'm ready,

" she sat again on the ground after using part of the stat points I gave her and a few potions.

nThen she restarted using her ability while saying in warning:

n

"I never tried to use my ability two times in a row, so I don't know what might happen to me.

"

n

"I'll stop you if things went wrong,

" I reassured her,

"just focus on the stele this time, try to see the whole thing and memorise it.

"

n

"Leave it to me,

" she then started to perform her hand seals again and I only waited on the side for the results.

nLike before, she released dense threads of bright white energy for ten minutes. However when she started to speak, she spoke in a language that I couldn't understand.

n

"Shall I stop her or what?

" I stood in front of her while hearing a weird tongue coming from her mouth. I didn't understand a thing, but let's hope she would remember that stele.

nLike before, she gushed out blood and turned ashen white before convulsing. Once she started to convulse, I snapped her out of it.

n

"This time I managed to see more of it,

" she panted after taking two healing potions,

"but I don't think I can sustain another attempt today. My body seemed to crack and crush… It was like… was like my soul was about to leave my body and get sucked by that stele.

"

nHer tone came shaky and even her body trembled. I didn't tell her that she didn't speak in a known language. I already expected that. I had no other choice but to inwardly sigh and accept such a result.

n

"Tell me what you saw,

" I helplessly asked, hoping she might say something noteworthy and useful.

n

"There are a lot of missions there,

" she said before having an apologetic expression,

"but I only got to see five missions only.

"

n

"Just say them,

" I gnashed my teeth while repressing my disappointment.

n

"First mission is to challenge a god and survive in half an hour fight,

" she paused before adding,

"it's a suicidal mission, right?

"

nI nodded but said nothing. I already was aware of this mission and another one. And both were practically impossible.

n

"The second mission is to capture an angel alive,

" she also paused and looked straight at me before sighing and continuing to narrate the missions.

n

"The third one is to capture twenty cities in one day. The fourth one is to establish a kingdom…

"

nAll of these weren't something I could possibly do at this moment. The second mission was already known to me. In fact it was the mission given to the dragon race, as the first mission was the one given to humans before.

nAs for capturing twenty cities in one day, it didn't make any sense. Not to mention the vast distance between cities, taking a city and controlling it was a very hard mission that would take a long time to do.

nI was lucky that Jersey city was just on the other side of Hudson river, not far from here. But other cities were. So this mission was something I couldn't do for now.

nAs for establishing a kingdom, it was already one of my top priorities here. But it needed lots and lots of preparations. I lacked strength, enough backing, and not a single condition fulfilled.

nSo all the missions she told me about so far weren't suitable at all. That left only the last one. C'mon, give me something easy and it could be done girl, c'mon!

n

"The last mission is to get total control over a gate linking to another realm,

" she slowly said before adding another condition,

"provided that you have someone of your people inside that realm.

"

n

"...!!!

"

nAt this moment I couldn't help but stop myself from shouting in delight. This… this might seem impossible for other people, but not me.

nI already had someone from the succubus race bound by a contract with me.

n

"Why do you look so happy?

" she asked,

"is it an easy task? It's impossible! How can you send someone of us to a realm without stirring a big fight? You might not know this but any gate to another realm is now secured by many forces.

"

n

"Not a problem,

" I didn't think about this mission like her. In my eyes, this was the only doable mission I had in this list.

n

"No, you don't understand,

" yet she persisted,

"the issue isn't about wiping them out, but the way to send someone inside in the first place! To do so you need to take total control over a gate for an entire day without losing your grip over it for even one second. It's impossible, not to mention the worldwide subquest it would be issued once you attacked that gate!

"

nI now realised why this mission was mentioned in the heroic calling list. This mission contained the ability to issue a world wide calling to arms. If it was doable to my enemies, then if I succeeded it was logical to have it as a reward for me as well.

nYet still there was a single issue I needed to solve.

n

"Do you know the locations of these gates?

" I asked,

"I have a world where I need to locate the nearest gate.

"

n

"Are you out of your mind?

" Alex didn't understand my plan at all. And I didn't bother explaining things to her.

n

"Just tell me if you know or not,

" I said while opening my list of contacts, sent a message to my dear succubus and waited for her answer.

nAs I waited for Rachel to give me her answer, I also waited for Alex's as well. Seeing my calm expression with no speck of worry or hesitation, Alex couldn't help but loudly sigh.

n

"I dunno what went wrong inside that big head of yours, but I'll tell you about the gates,

" her face changed to show a far more serious one,

"the angels just shared a list of places she asked top traitors to go there and defend them. According to the latest message sent by them in the traitor channel, they said these were related to five main realms coming to merge with us very soon.

"

n

"I know about this,

" I said in a way to hurry her to give me the answer I wanted,

"I only want the closest gate of a certain realm to New York. Do you know such info?

"

nShe shrugged,

"I only know the locations they asked everyone to go there, but can't tell which belonged to any realm from the other,

" she said.

n

"Is there anything like this inside the city?

"

n

"Not a single one,

" she shook her head again,

"but the nearby Jersey city had five locations at one go.

"

n

"Five?

" my eyes shone in realisation,

"that means a gate for each realm, right?

"

nShe hesitated before trying to dissuade me again,

"this is a suicidal mission! They didn't only send a large number of strong traitors there to defend these gates, but they mentioned the assembly of a large number of higher grade monsters as well. Higher grade monsters, do you get it now? It's impossible, impossible!

"

n

"If you are afraid,

" I shrugged back,

"then stay here and don't follow me.

"

n

"Crazy,

" she said in deep belief,

"you are really crazy.

"

nAnd her remark made me laugh without saying anything.

nMy world is called the Gmini world

nAt this moment the answer of Rachel came through and I couldn't help but shake my head in regret. I had no way to tell which gate belonged to which world.

nOr else I might have just swarmed that location head on without any trouble.

nThis only meant one thing, that Jersey city must be conquered and controlled by me.

nI had my warriors, my dragons, and my jumper. Thinking about mobilising the human forces of New York city over there was out of option.

n

"I can also use him,

" I thought about using the help of a spearhead. His unique domain could turn any strong human or other race into useless weak being.

n

"What?

" Alex asked as it seemed I said it out loud.

n

"Nothing,

" I rubbed my face with both hands, even slapping my cheeks to get ready for this mission,

"let's go. We have to control this city before going to the other one.

"

n

"Ah, about that…

" she stopped for a moment there before asking,

"can you drop me to a place more secure? You know…

"

n

"You have enough stat points to make you one of the strongest in this city,

" it seemed she got used to being broke on stat points to the point she mistook her current situation.

n

"Oh yeah… But I don't have any skill at all.

"

nI looked into her eyes before realising it.

"Just say you are afraid to come with me,

" I teased her and her face turned all red from embarrassment.

n

"It's not! I just don't have the strength to fight! Not to mention no weapon or gear at all!

"

n

"Here,

" I threw two swords, full body armour, even gauntlets and boots for her to use.

"Happy now?

"

n

"...

"

nI knew she didn't want to tag along, but sending her back to that spearhead was out of question. In time I would mobilise the people inside the central park, but not for the next few hours at least.

n

"Just stay by my side,

" I started to walk in wide strides,

"and you'll be fine.

"

nHaving no other option here, she started to follow in full silence. I didn't bother with her. After all, she would not make much difference anyway in the upcoming mission.

nThe next thing I did was to get myself busy fighting all the way to the scattered castles. Just seeing the vast scene of wolves growling at both of us made Alex almost faint out of fear.

nBut when she saw the way I fought, or my warriors did, she realised how strong I was. After taking control of a bunch of castles, she finally left her fear far behind.

nYet the more castles I conquered, the less warriors I had.. I had to leave behind a group of mixed warriors at any castle to defend it against any monsters.

n