Billion Dollar Player

48  Chapter 48: Meeting again

Elia finally understood what Raven was asking. She nodded in response. However, her countenance quickly shifted, and she drew her sword, positioning herself defensively in front of Raven.

Even Raven, startled by the sound of approaching footsteps, turned to find a figure materializing out of thin air before him.

The person who had just appeared donned a professional suit, and appeared somewhat like a human. He had a walking staff in his hand, even though he didn't need it.

"He isn't an enemy. Calm down." Raven assured Elia, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder, signaling for her to lower her weapon.

The person in the distance had humanoid features, but one thing made it certain that he wasn't a human. It was the fact that he had a lizard-like tail behind him. His hands bore claw-like appendages, and a thin veil concealed his face.

"What are you doing out of the Bloodline Trial?" Raven asked as he moved Elia aside.

The person before him was the Guardian of the Bloodline Trial stage. That's where he was supposed to be, which was why Raven found his presence here surprising.

"I knew you would cause some commotion after leaving the Bloodline Trials, but I never expected it to escalate to this extent," the Guardian chuckled in response. "It has barely been a month, and you have already made enemies of the gods."

Raven replied, "I did not make anyone my enemy. I merely defended myself. Are you here to kill me for that?"

"Kill you?" the Guardian of the Bloodline Trial scoffed, finding amusement in Raven's assumption. "Even if I wanted to, I cannot. We Guardians are forbidden from interfering. We exist solely to ensure that the laws are upheld. In a way, this place is also our prison, where we are mostly spectators."

"Moreover, why would I want to kill you? If anything, I am intrigued. I want to witness the chaos you can unleash. I crave the excitement of something new," the Guardian revealed, an elated smile gracing his lips beneath the shroud.

"So don't worry. I'm not here to hurt you. As for why I am not in the Bloodline Trial, it's because I switched places. Now I'm responsible for something else... As for what, that's for me to know."

No one could see his expressions thanks to the shroud.

After a momentary pause, he composed himself and took a deep breath. "But let us return to the matter at hand. You have achieved a remarkable feat by reaching the Towers in such a short time. For this, you are granted a special privilege, which is the reason I am here."

"A special privilege?" Raven furrowed his brow, feeling somewhat lost amidst the revelations.

He didn't even understand the Novice Island properly, or know where he was now. It seemed as though fate had guided him to this place through a series of challenges without his complete understanding.

"You appear confused. I am genuinely unsure if you're more lucky or more ignorant. You managed to reach here without even knowing what you did." The Guardian shook his head, laughing hysterically at Raven's confusion.

He was clear that Raven didn't know anything about the three towers, which made sense, since before he could have the time to assimilate, he ended up here, clearing that without even realizing.

"The Bloodline Trial was to select your Bloodlines. Meanwhile, the Novice Village was a place where you were to be categorised through various challenges."

"According to their performance, they were to be assigned one of the Three Towers. The Novice Island was the final selection stage. The reason I didn't tell you about that, was because I wasn't allowed to. However, I had a feeling you'll surprise me."

"Generally, the Towers were assigned on their own. After passing challenges, the Players were transferred to one of the three towers. They had no choice in that matter. But remember I mentioned a privilege?"

"Because you achieved something that no other player did, and passed the stage in such a short time, albeit through an expected loophole, you've been granted this special opportunity."

"For you, the Towers won't be assigned on their own. Instead, you'll be allowed to choose one yourself!"

The Guardian stepped aside, raising his hand in the direction of the Three Towers.

"Choose. These three towers represent the three prisons of Hellfire... the Core of Hellfire!" he proclaimed.

"The first Tower is the Tower of Demons, a lawless and treacherous place teeming with demonic trials. Killing, theft, and other crimes are commonplace there. However, many unique bloodlines of Demonic Gods can be discovered there."

"That's the Tower where all the Demon Gods are trapped, including the Demon General of Puppetry, waiting for you to free him."

Hearing the Guardian's words, Raven was taken aback. "You've been spying on me?"

The multiple Bloodlines was his secret. He partially expected gods to be able to see his secret, but they couldn't do anything. They couldn't communicate with anyone. The Guardians were different. They could talk.

"I saw everything. And I am not the only Guardian. However, rest assured that we are bound by restrictions that prevent us from divulging your secrets to anyone. We can only observe, and even that is infrequent," the Guardian explained calmly.

"Nevertheless," he continued, "even I am perplexed by your abilities. What is your Exclusive Skill? I cannot see it, nor comprehend what it actually is. You remain a mystery to us. I can only observe what you do, but not how you do it."

Raven's brow furrowed, a mix of relief and caution washing over him. He realized that the Guardian had been unable to access most of his stats, including his coins and Exclusive Skill even at the start.

It provided a sense of comfort, as he desired to keep his Exclusive Skill hidden, even from those who could potentially use that knowledge against him.

He didn't want others to know what his Exclusive Skill was, and that even he couldn't control it.

"The Second World is the Tower of Gods, where all the Gods have been imprisoned by that being..." the Guardian began, his voice trailing off.

"That being?" Raven cut his words off in the middle, asking. "Who?"

The Guardian momentarily went silent. He didn't respond.