[San Jose, California]
Before the final struggle in the base in New York began, somewhere else in the world, another event unfolded. Jake Grant, an awakened who survived the monster horde at the base 35, was trapped in the hands of the Wold king, Shrektha Mord.
'What was the fifth trial about?' he thought. Jake was following the wolf lord when he was taken to a place called 'scorched earth'. It was located in the ruins of California. The place which once held cities and advanced metropolises is now a wasteland of dragons.
The ruins held massive bones jutted from the ruble—arches of spines and ribcages lay next to broken skyscrapers.
He does not understand the current developments. However, from what he can tell, a large battle took place here–not an ordinary one, at least. You can see ashes and claw marks everywhere you step.
The monster king was speaking to a wyvern about the current state of this area. And Jake could not understand a single word they exchanged.
"You can't be serious? Now? One of the twenty kings has been slain and only now I've come to know about this."
"Apologies. My lord, but… as you can see, none of our brethren were in a state to even seek help."
"Are you saying a champion is already here?"
"I'm afraid so… nothing else would describe this?"
Meanwhile, Jake had to consider his own situation. He knew he had to return as soon as possible but he couldn't have the monster king accompany him, can't do anything that would make him suspicious. Right now he was at its mercy.
"Hmph, pity, it happened so soon," the wolf said, turning back to the human it brought. "And here I was starting to have fun in this world as well."
The monster changed tone to what the little human can understand.
"Tell me," it said, the voice looming over Jake, "what do you think?"
"W-what? I don't know what you expect me to say."
'What monster goes berserk here,' Jake thought. 'Considering the damages, it must have been something on the scale of disaster class.'
The monster boss of fifth trial, after he single handedly wiped out his entire force of heroes and army from the base, for some reason, spared Jake. He spoke something about his brother. But Jake hardly believed what the monster said. He was still trying to figure out its intentions.
"Hmm… was that a vague question? " the wolf king said. "Then tell me this. What do you know of the champion?"
'What champion?'
Jake found it hard to focus when there was a large carcass of a dragon behind it. Even the corpse can send a shiver down his spine. A creature of this magnitude must have been terrifying when it was alive.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jake asserted. He could not be more on guard with this creature.
Shrektha was a bit irritated at how things were developed.
Only champions are blessed with the power of a dragonslayers. For someone to appear when not even a hundred days passed, it is strange and has never happened before.
This confirms what he sensed when arriving here. No matter what might have happened, Shrektha could tell it by the essence left in the aftermath. There is only one distinct scent here that didn't belong to monsters.
There was no mistaking it. Although a bit different, the human in front of him has the similar scent as the one who destroyed the dragons.
'They must be related,' he thought, silently thinking up a scheme to deal with this problem. Then he smiled. 'Everything is still under control. I should just take a different approach.'
"It can't be helped then," alerting Jake, the wolf spoke loudly. "What do you know about ruined earth?"
"Huh?"
***
When Jake made sense of his surroundings in the concrete grounds atop a skyscraper. A building he recognized when there was still internet available. But now this is just a hollow of its former glory, a ruin undeserving of its name.
He said nothing while the wolf somehow brought him here. Still uncertain about his future, Jake still wasn't able to grasp the wolf's intention.
This made him remember the moment he was awakened.
[would you like to be awakened with the power of ancient gods?] [O]/[X]
When that message popped up after the earthquake that shook his world, he said yes without thinking what would happen.
Like some sort of sick game, that message appeared again five times. Calling it trials, the system expected him to kill monsters and survive in unthinkable conditions. It's been hell on earth since the start.
To top it all off, he had to survive while protecting his family. But things changed when the military bases across the world took refugees.
Then, he could fight without holding back. He defeated monsters for the army in return, aiding their research advancing weapons for slaying monsters. Even under all that pressure he felt there was hope after all. It can't get worse than this, he thought.
He could not have been more wrong.
[fifth trial]
Everything went downhill again after that message. He lost the friends that fought by his side. Even Lieutenant Sands died protecting the base. There was no hope left for it now, the entire place was as defenseless as it gets.
Jake wasn't sure of his family's safety there anymore. But what's more concerning was this monster that appeared out of nowhere and wiped out his entire crew.
There was no way he could defeat it. They weren't even in the same realm of power—like a rat against a god.
"No one should be able to bother me here."
It brought him to one of the demolished cities, for some reason. He could do nothing but obey until he thought of ways to escape.
"You must be thinking why I spared you," it said, standing near the edge of the building, streams of sunlight grazing his figure.
"I hate riddles so let me get straight to the point. You have something I need. And I need you to offer it willingly."
A silent pause followed. Jake swallowed his fear. There are so many things he needed to know. But he can't ask all his questions. For now, apparently, the wolf king needed him alive. Even without knowing his reason, Jake wanted to make full use of this.
'Sounds kind of ominous, but…'
"W-what is it?" he asked. Surely, if this furry friend was asking a favor, turning him down meant certain death.
The air became thicker all of a sudden, condensing around the monster's hand.
Turning around shrektha conjured a sword out of thin air, or at least what looked like one. The monster had strange powers he did not understand.
"A contract," it said. "Between you and me."
"...!? wait, a contract?" Jake stepped back unconsciously, surprised. Does that mean he was getting something in return?
Almost like he read the human's mind, he continued. "In return, you will receive a gift from me."
"Can I ask what you want from this contract?"
"No," it said abruptly.
Jake wasn't left with much of a choice. Before he could think anything, that accursed bluescreen he hated popped up with a message again.
[Rare scenario: Wolf king's contract.
In return for signing this you shall be offered knowledge about ruined earth.
Will you accept?]
It all happened so unexpectedly, but Jake wanted to see this through to the end. He accepted it without faltering. He might be able to learn something useful.
"Good, you've made the right choice." Shrektha came near with the dark sword in his hand. "Now, to complete the contract…"
The sword clashed through air as the monster, in an instant, plunged it into his heart. Shuck of blood splattered from his chest, following a crack in his ribs. With the blade burrowing into his flesh, Jake fell backwards into the ground.
With a sharp huffing breath, Jake grasped for air.
'I did not even see that coming! H-how strong is this monster!?'
[contract completed.]
'Seriously?' Jake cursed himself. For some unknown reason, he understood this wasn't fatal. But it hurts like hell, nonetheless. He would be careful when someone approaches with contracts in future.
"How long are you going to stay there?" shrektha said, walking away. The swords in Jake's chest returned to dust, the wound in his chest healing slowly.
When he stood up, Jake noticed a mark left by the sword was still there, a black mark shaped like a diamond between his ripped clothes.
"We're moving." the monster said.
"O-okay." Jake followed immediately.
After healing, his body felt invigorated, several times stronger than he was before. "Did I get stronger?'
He didn't know where this would lead yet, but he knew can't stop here.
However, on that day, Jake did not realise that he had lost something important in exchange—hat his heart was no longer his anymore. Not until later he comes to know the truth of this world.