I was eating various dishes while sitting in a huge restaurant.
Grimori and the others were sitting with me.
This was a celebration for their promotions from four years ago.
I wasn't holding back.
I was going to make them as poor as me again.
I said nothing as I devoured more and more food.
[Kel]: Come on, you're going to burst.
He said with a smile.
I looked at him with serious eyes, my cheeks stuffed with food.
[Pratik]: I'm not a balloon.
I replied while continuing to eat.
Kel stared at me.
[Kel] (thinking): He's eating and talking at the same time?
After finishing my food, I ordered some warm water and slowly drank it.
[Lila]: You know, a lot has happened. Grimori got married three years ago, and Kel and I are getting married soon. That leaves only you and Mala as bachelors.
I immediately spat out all the water in my mouth.
That's a shock.
I guess a lot happened while I was away.
I looked at Mala.
Well, I'm still a bachelor, and that's fine. I'm still relatively young.
But Mala?
She's older than me.
Why hasn't she married anyone?
Mala instantly read my expression.
Her face turned annoyed.
Oops.
[Mala]: I don't need some prince charming to save me. I'm strong enough to defend myself.
She said with a huff.
Haha...
Maybe I should reconsider my thoughts.
Grimori, Kel and Lila simply laughed.
I sat there clueless.
What was so funny about that?
Am I missing something?
We continued talking for a while.
Then our watches suddenly rang.
Mission Alert.
Now?
But we were on leave!
Why does this always happen?
Judging by the notification, this seemed important.
Grimori immediately opened his wallet and placed some money on the table.
As soon as he did, we teleported away.
[Waiter]: Those guys are as chaotic as ever. I hope they always remain together.
We teleported near Training Ground Sector 1.
Grimori, Mala, Lila and Kel landed heroically.
I landed in a river.
My eternal enemy was, as always, luck.
It had never sided with me.
What awaited us in the training field was...
TEAM GATSKALTT.
Master Krishna, Sir Arun, Sir Gaku, Sir Tego, Ma'am Sunita, Ma'am Kajal, Sir Treta and Sir Lai.
The entire squad was here.
It looked like they were preparing to wipe out an entire civilization.
It was then that I learned I wasn't the only one who had been training hard during the past four years.
Everyone had chosen a master of their own.
Mala had been trained by her elder sister, Sunita, who happened to be the strongest female sorcerer in the Master Class Elite Squad.
Grimori had trained under Sir Tego, who happened to be the strongest sorcerer in the Master Class Elite Squad.
Kel had trained under Sir Treta, the strategist of the Master Class Elite Squad.
Lila had been trained by Ma'am Kajal. Both were healer-types, and Ma'am Kajal had also taught her several techniques that were still secret for now.
Everyone had pushed their Maximisers again during those four years.
The side effect was a slight reduction in their lifespans.
However, according to Master Krishna, it wasn't a major concern.
The reduction was only around five months.
Phew...
Then why were we called here?
[Arun]: There's a new mission, and it has been classified as a ZZZ+ Tier mission.
Talk about absurdity.
That's something only a transformed Leader or General could normally handle, especially when supported by a group of powerful sorcerers.
[Arun]: Although the mission itself is ZZZ+ Tier, its actual difficulty is surprisingly lower. It's rated SSS+ Tier.
Talk about absurdity again.
That difficulty still suggested coordination between Leader-level sorcerers and a group of powerful elites.
What were we even doing here?
[Arun]: The mission reward for each of you is 300,000 Karo.
Talk about absu—
WHAT?!
300,000 Karo?!
Yeah!!!
Money!!!
I'm bathing in money!!!
I can finally pay my rent, buy more books and eat to my heart's content!
I'm in!
This mission is great for my training too!
I agree!
Seeing my excitement, everyone gave me awkward smiles.
Master Krishna simply placed his palm over his face.
[Kel]: In that case, are you assisting us with the mission?
He asked.
[Treta]: Of course. This mission is extremely important. There is no room for failure. Moreover, you will be acting as secondary elites.
This mission is dangerous, and it also contains Black List Quests.
[Arun]: You'll be rewarded separately for completing the Black List Quests.
I started salivating.
With this money, I could build my own mansion near the Apprentice Sector.
Filthy money.
Hahaha...
[Mala]: When are we leaving?
Good question.
I need to pack my bags and—
[Arun]: Now.
He said with a smile.
Before I could even react, all of us were teleported automatically.
I hadn't even realised we had been standing on a Teleportation Circle this entire time.
I appeared in the sky.
This wasn't Earth.
Everything around me was red.
The ground was covered with traces of lava.
This must be hell, I suppose.
I crashed nearby.
Teleportation had never been my strong suit.
Meanwhile, Team GATSKALTT was standing atop a nearby cliff.
These guys are kinda cool.
[Krishna]: Your mission is simple. Find and eliminate the monsters bearing circular symbols on their necks.
That's all.
They said this before teleporting away.
Man, they're always in a hurry.
Wait...
Where are the others?
Why am I the only one who was teleported here?
How did Master Krishna not notice their absence?
*
Mala, Grimori, Kel and Lila — Earth
[Mala]: We didn't teleport?
[Lila]: Look here.
Lila pointed at the Teleportation Circle with a surprised expression.
One side of the circle had been burned.
[Grimori]: I can understand one thing from this. Someone did this intentionally.
*
Monster Realm
[Kae]: At last, the guests have arrived. I must welcome them with due warmth.
He sat upon his throne, wearing his usual calm smile.
Before him was a chessboard.
Kae slowly moved one of his pieces across the board, placing his pawn directly before the opposing king.
[Kae]: Checkmate, Kara.
The Knight serving Kae could only smile bitterly at his defeat.
[Kara]: I shall pass the orders to the lower demons.
Kae's smile remained unchanged.
[Kae]: Do so. The first move of war has already been made.
What remains is but its consequence—the choices of those who stand upon the board, and the fate they shall carve for themselves.
Kara bowed.
[Kae]: Let them struggle. Let them believe each victory is their own.
For when the final hour arrives, they shall learn that the game was decided long before they ever understood they were playing it.
He looked at the chessboard.
The pawn he had moved stood directly before the enemy king.
[Kae]: And now, we shall see whether our little heroes possess the strength to survive the game they have unknowingly entered.
The war had already begun.
What lay ahead would determine the face of the battle.
To be continued...