God's Avatar

Rewards

Once the battle has ended, Jon returned to his formal attire, his golden armor was no more which indicates his battle readiness. He walked forward at the pinned Alice and with a sway of his hand, the treasured swords disappeared, followed by the falling girl lifelessly.

“Oops…”

He caught Alice and carried her as if she was a princess and approached Inigo, he carefully laid down Alice who was injured and wounded from their battle.

“Heal her, I can’t have her dying on some mere test…” Saying that he glared at the king, his crimson eyes burning with hate.

“Are you happy now? Injuring one of your subordinates that could’ve ended her life just to ascertain me? How presumptuous for a king like you…”

The king’s forehead wrinkled at the remark of Jon, for a king, it is utterly disrespectful for someone who speaks to him like that. But he needs to control his swelling anger within him. That man after all is strong and are capable of defeating the strongest heroes in Bethia.

If he were to make him or the Surrender at 20 his enemy, then it would be the country’s doom.

“I’m sorry, I will not let it happen again.” He looked at Alice who is being cured by the healer of Surrender@20, watching it, he was dumbfounded by the healing powers of Inigo.

All the wounds that were inflicted upon her, despite the severity, were cured in an instant as if the injury was not there in the first place. Seeing one of the great heroes of Bethia cured. He nodded wholeheartedly.

“Now that you’ve achieved my condition, the member of Surrender@20 will become the citizen of Bethia, Jon and Ian will become an adamantite-ranked adventurer. Now you can set up your own guild and complete any quest that will help you reach adamantite rank faster.”

Hearing the king’s announcement, Ethan bowed gratefully.

“Thank you…”

“Now that you’re a citizen of Bethia, you should abide by the law of the country and help her when in peril. That’s the wish of the king.”

The battle gods bowed their heads deeply once more. The king continues speaking.

“I heard that you want to join the Guilds' tournament, am I right?” The king asked.

Ethan raised his head, his body in bowing posture, answers the king:

“Yes, we from the guild wish for something.”

“I see, with your strength, I believe you can give us a win since we’re losing streak here.”

“Well you’re lucky, we want something from the tournament after all so your victory is assured,” Matthew said proudly.

“Ho, if you’re confident because you’re strong then I acknowledge it, however, there are also strong participants from another country that rivals even the great demon generals…”

“You don’t need to give us some warning, your majesty. We will, after all, check if the wishing grail is true and we will be the judge of that. Those fools who want to get it will have to face us.” Jericho said.

“Then, I’ll deliver the official rules and regulations and the process of the Guilds’ tournament tomorrow. Also, I want to ask you some favor.”

The king said in a serious tone. Ethan nodded, giving him a go-signal.

“The truth is we don’t know how powerful you all are. My daughter has a true sight that can see the power of an individual translated in numbers. However, she can’t grasp your power so we have no clue. So the favor is, I want you to fight among yourselves.”

The atmosphere got heavier.

“Fight? How do you propose to do that?”

“You have twelve members right? Then not group yourselves into two teams? Six versus six. We will grade your performance and those performances will tell what rank you deserve. How about it? Seems reasonable right?”

The battle gods exchanged a meaningful glance and decided.

“Okay, we agree on the proposal, when can we start?”

The king was surprised that they’d agree to such a proposal. So he smiled and replied:

“In three days, we will prepare the stage until then. Now that I’ve granted your wishes you may now continue enjoying the party prepared for you. If you have any questions, feel free to ask my advisor, Carl.”

The man bowed in front of them. It was the man who escorted them. So his name is Carl.

Now there’s something the battle gods must do.

“My friends, do it.”

With Ethan’s words, all of the battle gods kneeled in front of the king.

“We from the Surrender@20 pledge its fidelity to the Kingdom of Bethia, we shall be the sword and shield to protect the prosperity and the sovereignty of the kingdom. Those who seek to trample and disgrace the kingdom shall face the might of the Surrender@20.”

With a speech that overpowers all, their valiant voice. The king feels the goosebumps from all over his body. Their words filled with power and honor is something that he had never owned before and now they stood there, willing to become the servant of the country.

“Very well, then enjoy the feast.” The king concluded and the battle gods started doing their personal enjoyment and desires.

Most of the boys mingled at the daughters of the nobility, some of them, for example, Inigo, is dancing with a girl the same age as him. The others are eating some of the otherworldly delicacies. A one and a lifetime opportunity.

Jon and Matthew watched the festive scene with a satisfied face.

“At last, goal number one is done!” Matthew celebrated.

“To think that we are interacting with the people here. It’s quite an experience.” Jon replied.

“Yeah, I can’t believe that we are really in another world with different cultures and politics. It’s new to me.”

“We are all adapting and one of our mottoes is ‘Versatility is your best friend’.”

“Uhm….Sir Jon.”

A woman's voice rang out from a distance, calling one particular person. Jon turned around and saw Christine.

He inadvertently blushed for a moment. The Christine that is standing in front of him right now is on a completely different level of beauty. Despite being young, she exemplifies the true essence of a princess.

“Good evening, your highness.” Jon kneeled, following the custom of the rules of nobility.

Christine's face was dyed red, it was a first for her to see Jon kneeling in front of her.

“No...no you shouldn’t do that...Sir Jon.” Wavering her hand at Jon to make him stand. Jon smoothly caught her hand and with a firm look, he kissed the top of her hand. Making her face redder.

“Wh-what are you doing?” She said timidly, her reaction making her cute even more.

“Such a formality is quite new to me, forgive me if it was inappropriate.”

Christine held the marked hand and held it dearly. Her face blushing lightly at the new Jon.

“Quite the contrary.” She said softly, “Anyways, you defeated one of the top heroes of Bethia, you really are strong, sir Jon.”

Jon smiles at the compliment.

“Thank you, I do believe that Alice is strong, however, to state the fact, she is really no match against me, even one from my guild members can defeat her.”

“Your guild is truly mysterious, every one of you is strong. I wonder where you came from…”

“We came from afar…”

After a moment of silence, the two don't have any idea how to continue their conversation, making the situation awkward.

“Uhm...good ta—”

“Wait.”

Just as Christine was to finish her sentence, Jon abruptly interrupted.

“What is it?” Christine asked.

Jon slowly offered his hand to Christine…

“May I have this dance?”

So that’s how it is, Jon looking like a knight, asking her princess to dance with him. His hand was there, if she were to accept it, she can just place her hand atop of it.

“Hmm...I don’t mind at all…” Stuttering at the embarrassment, she placed her hand atop of it. Her face averted from Jon, she can’t look at him directly, because it will make her heartbeat so fast.

“Enjoy your dance, Jon.” Matthew gave his praise and the two heads towards the dance hall. Leaving him alone. He lowered his head in disappointment and muttered quietly:

“Sana all” (A/N It's a Filipino phrase that means “I hope everyone experience that”)

Returning the wine glass at the table, he walked towards the place where his gang was—.

“Excuse me, sir!”

A female’s voice rang out again but it was not from Christine. He curiously turned his head.

There stood a girl with navy-bluish hair who has big black eyes that droop slightly, a small well-shaped nose, and glossy plump lips as though lip gloss had been applied on it.

Even though she is a beauty, Matthew can see them every day, just look at Aeyana, Angelica, Samantha, and Ann. They will make your day just by looking at their goddess-like beauty.

“Uhm, who are you?” Rubbing his head, he asked the girl in front of him.

“Uhm, don’t you remember me?” She asked him timidly. Like Christine, this girl looks timid as well.

“I don’t have a clue if you could give me some hints. I might remember...hmm”

Matthew suddenly raised his eyebrows, as if noticing something important. Then he moved his face closer to hers.

The girl who was suddenly met with such a move flustered for a moment.

“I think I saw you earlier from the city? Are you the one being cornered from the back-alley?”

He finally figured it out.

“Uhm...yes, My name is Sistine…I approached you to thank you for saving us back then. My friends and I were safe afterward but...I am concerned about your actions back then.”

“How so?” Concerned about something, Matthew asked.

“It’s forbidden to use magic inside the city…” She said simply.

“Hmm, I see. Then I’m in a pinch here…” Troubled by it, he rubbed his head once more, letting a forced laugh.

“Don’t worry, we are the only witnesses, we will not tell the authorities.” She assured him.

“Whoa, you can do that? Then it’s a great help, thank you. I will be careful about using my magic next time and as for you. You should be careful from the streets.”

“I will…”

Then Matthew started to walk away—.

“Eh?”

Someone tugged his sleeves. It was Sistine.

“Uhm…” He realized something, “Uh, you are wondering what magic I used right? Well, it’s a simple time and light magic.”

“No…” She shook her head in disagreement. Matthew being confused and at a loss for words can continue an embarrassing conversation, not to mention, all eyes are staring at them, stirring up some misunderstanding.

Since Sistine looks gloomy and sad, the spectators seem to misunderstand the situation.

“Oi is that Sistine? Did she get rejected by him?”

“It’s a pity, most of the boys in the nobility want to make her as their fiance but this man from nowhere just rejected her?”

“Scumbag.”

Their piercing and pitiful gazes are focused on him. His dignity being devalued by their misunderstanding thoughts.

“No it was not like that…please listen to me...”

He tried to appeal but it was no use. He glared once more at Sistine.

“Oi, you’re getting me in trouble…”

“What’s your name?” Sistine said.

“Huh?”

“What’s your name? She repeated.

“My name is Matthew, why? Please I’m begging you to clear up the misunderstanding. They are bullying me...huhu”

He wiped off his non-existential tears.

“I see, Matthew. I’ll remember your name until my death.”

“Whaaaat? Well, I don’t care as long as you clear up the misunderstanding…”

“Well if it’s you then I don’t mind.”

“Haaaaah?”

She spat some nonsense, so he snapped.

“What are you talking about? There’s no way I will like someone like you!” He blurted out accidentally.

“He rejected her!”

“I hope Sistine is okay... “

“That guy hurt our girl’s feelings. We will never forgive him.”

“Scumbag!”

“Eh? Why did it turn like this?” He questioned himself. Then he looked at Sistine, tears were forming up in her eyes, and it flowed down and ran away.

Matthew fell on his knees and shouted.

“s**t!!!!”