Thirteen watched as he sent off the last batch of Wanderers back home to Pangea.
Since the Temple had recognized him as the Final Boss for this occasion, he had the authority to pass or fail anyone.
Of course, he didn’t make it easy for them and attacked everyone with the intention of training them.
Unlike the first battle, he didn’t summon any Fire Bullets nor did he extend his golden staff.
He simply attacked them using his Martial Technique, leaving them lying on the ground, and groaning in pain.
Even though he didn’t have any more Wanderers he needed to fight, Thirteen remained standing in the arena because there was one last challenger that he needed to fight.
“They all had it easy. Will you give me an easy time as well?”
A middle-aged man with dark brown skin and brown eyes appeared dozens of meters from Thirteen and eyed him with a smile. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
“You’re the Demonic Salamander, right?” Thirteen asked. “How should I address you?”
“You may call me Malic,” Malic replied.
“I can pass you right now if you want,” Thirteen said. “But do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Speak.”
“The winners of this challenge will be sent to the place where they need to go. How about you? Where do you need to go?”
Malic pondered if he should answer this question or not. After all, he was not obligated to tell the human in front of him where he wanted to go.
However, since he believed that this was all preordained by fate, he decided to answer the question.
“Gomorra,” Malic answered. “I want to return to Gomorra.”
“Then, can I ask you a favor?” Thirteen inquired. “In return, I’ll pass you without problems.”
“What kind of favor?” Malic arched an eyebrow.
He didn’t dare underestimate the human in front of him because he knew that Zion was the one who defeated the Ancient Eight-Headed Serpent.
Since this battle was supposed to be fair, that meant that the teenage boy would be granted enough powers to equal him.
Malic had been one of the spectators in the previous battles, so he had a good grasp of Thirteen’s abilities.
Although he believed that he had a good chance of winning, he might still get injured, which would be a very dangerous thing to happen if he were to return to Gomorra.
The homeworld of the Jinn was ruled by the strong, and any ambitious Jinn would be able to rise as long as an opportunity was presented to them.
If he returned in an injured state, the chances of him being killed were very high.
Because of this, he didn’t want to fight the teenage boy, so doing him a favor might not be a bad thing.
“If we ever meet for a second time, I want you to promise that you will not kill me and any of my companions. Deal?” Thirteen proposed.
“Deal,” Malic answered in a heartbeat. “Why? Do you have plans on going to Gomorra?”
“I don’t.” Thirteen shook his head. “But no one knows what the future will bring. I just want to have one less enemy if I ever find myself in your world, or you suddenly appear in my world.”
Malic nodded because this wasn’t a bad answer.
“Very well, if ever our paths cross again, I will spare you and your companions,” Malic promised.
“Good.” Thirteen pointed his golden staff at the Demonic Salamander. “You pass.”
Just like everyone who passed the trial, Malic’s body glowed faintly and shot up toward the heavens.
Thirteen’s gaze then landed on the other monsters who were still in the arena, including the Lizardman Commander, Drazzat, who had accompanied them all the way to the Temple of Courage.
“I will now send all of you back to Fractured Heaven,” Thirteen said as he scanned the faces of the monsters, including Ratatoskr, who had asked Thirteen to send him back to the Ratkins, with the Origin Shard in hand.
Since the Origin Shard had already recognized the teenage boy as its Master, even if they were far apart, he could recall it with a thought as long as he was in Solterra.
In order to make the Ratmen less anxious and allow Ratatoskr to have character growth as a Hero, he agreed to the White Ratman’s request.
Drazzat was having an internal battle inside of him.
A part of him wanted to return to his tribe, but the latter half wished to continue traveling with Thirteen.
Since the monsters like Giga, Rocky, Blacky, Hercules, the Trolls, and the Ogres could accompany the teenage boy on his journey, he was tempted to join their ranks.
He had already discussed this matter with Thirteen, and the teenage boy said that if Drazzat was serious about coming with him, he might not be able to return home ever again.
Faced with this hard choice, Drazzat made an equally hard decision.
That was to follow Thirteen wherever he may go.
Raising the golden staff in his hands, he acknowledged the monsters as challengers and passed them in their final trial.
Those who passed the trial all had their Ranks increased by a realm, giving them something for their troubles.
“Let’s meet again, Zion!” Ratatoskr said as he held the Origin Shard of the Ratmen. “I’m sure that we will meet again.”
“When we meet, you better become super strong,” Thirteen replied in a teasing tone. “I might need your help one day, so don’t disappoint me.”
Ratatoskr nodded. “The debt I owe you cannot be repaid so easily. If we are destined to meet
again, I will do my best to repay the favor.”
“Alright.” Thirteen smiled. “May fortune follow you wherever you go.”
Thirteen then pointed his staff in Ratatoskr’s direction, allowing him to return home to the Fractured Heaven, which would soon become part of Absolute Heaven.
They would no longer be isolated from the world, and perhaps after a year, or two, those who survived would migrate or expand their kingdoms to join the battle in the lands of Solterra.