Rise of the Apex Predator: A LitRPG Adventure

Silas Thorne

The room was filled with a lot of people screaming over each other. Everyone wanted answers, but no one had any. Silas just sat there, absentmindedly rubbing his neck. His death was as unexpected, as it was swift. One second he was preparing to organize more chaos in the enemy city, and the next he was resurrecting back in their capital. He had no idea what killed him, or how. Just the vague pressure he felt on his neck indicated that his death must have been via beheading.

Silas looked around the meeting hall, the entire assembly was completely lost and confused at the way things had unfolded over the last week. He and his retinue were the first to return, each having been killed by unknown assailants. But the ones who used their resurrection tokens later did bring some news. But each piece of the puzzle was more bizarre than the previous one.

"So," a cold female voice came from the head of the table, making the sounds cease instantly. "You are telling me that you all failed?"

A chill ran down Silas' back as he observed their benefactor nervously. He reflexively cast Identify, his dread deepening further.

Human | Mage | Level ???

Lady Lightbringer, as everyone called her, was seated as demurely as any other time. Despite the heavy losses, she never showed any emotion on her face. But her steely gaze was enough to melt their courage like wax.

"Um, no my lady," Silas began to explain himself. "There were just some unexpected setbacks. We don't know the full story yet—"

All it took was one raised finger, and Silas lost his ability to speak. Everyone meekly lowered their heads in fear and shame. Their leader had spared no expense to take out their opponent. She even mobilized more troops and monsters than necessary to ensure success. And yet, not only had they failed, but the reason for their failure was also unknown.

"I give you items and gear far surpassing the current thresholds," she continued in her eerily calm voice. "Provided you with ample leveling opportunities. And this is the result I get? Forget eliminating an insignificant city, none of you can even tell me how you failed."

Even the heads of the city and Adventurer's Guild sat on the sidelines meekly, bearing the chastisement without a word. Even though the room was packed with powerful noble houses, no one dared to question their enigmatic leader.

Silas still remembered the day he had laid eyes upon the woman. The very air around her felt like royalty given form. Her charisma, her demeanor, and even her flawless knowledge about governing the city was proof of her lineage. She had singlehandedly taken control of the city from the shadows, showing them all how to extract the most benefit out of the calamity brought about by the System integration.

Back on Earth, Silas had been the heir to a business conglomerate. He thought he knew the ins and outs of monopolizing power and benefits for the gain of him and his stakeholders. But the guidance she provided far surpassed anything he could come up with. Not only had she motivated the common populace to willingly surrender their power, but she had also made them believe that this was the best way forward. By the time anyone realized, their power had congregated amongst the elite, making it nigh impossible for any objections.

It wasn't her success at achieving it that impressed Silas. It was the speed with which she did it. It was a very common trope on Earth after all. Either through money, political gymnastics, military might, or even controlling media rhetoric, many factions and governments on Earth had managed to control the masses. But it usually took several generations of careful planning to execute. But Lady Lightbringer had done it in less than a year.

"We are still trying to piece together what actually happened, my lady," Silas tried to take some heat off of them. "I am sure the enemy is on its last legs. There is no way they could have withstood our assault. They just got lucky with having an impressive ice mage. I think the people called her an Awakened?"

Silas stared at the woman inquisitively, hoping that she would elaborate on how the ice mage's power worked. He had learned the basics about magic like the rest. But no one had covered that term before. At first, he had assumed that the woman had gotten lucky with a rare loot drop that boosted her ice powers. It was common knowledge by this point that one needed a conduit to cast powerful Spells. Especially elemental ones. But something about the description about the red-haired woman had caught him off guard.

Any time she was mentioned in front of the non-Earthlings, he noticed a subtle shift in the air. None of the weird races, or even humans from the Multiverse seemed to want to talk about what it meant to be Awakened. A pattern that unfortunately continued even now.

"The power level of that woman was taken into account when I made my plans," Lady Lightbringer responded, expertly maneuvering around his unasked question. "Don't tell you can't deal with one girl."

Even though she had spoken it as confidently as before, Silas had been in enough boardroom meetings to note the subtle clenching of her fists, a tell-tale sign of nervousness. Perhaps even fear.

"I understand, my lady," Silas said with a deep bow. "But we still need to know—"

"Is every fighter with a resurrection token accounted for?" Lady Lightbringer interrupted him.

Even though it annoyed him, Silas knew he was in position to question her further. He politely bowed before reporting the facts.

"All but one, the adventurer named Erwin Connor."

"Oh?" Lady Lightbringer seemed genuinely curious.

"The reports I have received from everyone else is completely fragmented, and honestly doesn't make sense," Silas explained. "They all keep muttering about shadows and ghosts." He involuntarily rubbed his own neck, before shaking his head to collect himself. "But no one seemed to have heard from that man."

"Any chance he has betrayed us?" Lady Lightbringer asked with a raised eyebrow.

Silas shook his head. "He has nothing to gain from that town. Whereas your patronage would be a great boon for him. I am sure—"

The door suddenly burst open as two soldiers dragged something in with them. At first Silas thought they were carrying a dead body. The hollow look, and sunken cheeks seemed to suggest as much. But a careful look revealed that it was their last missing spy. The very one they were just discussing about.

The soldiers dropped Erwin in the middle of the room. The man just fell to the floor like a dead fish. If not for the faint signs of breathing, Silas would have considered him dead already.

This phenomenon was another unexplained aspect of those who had managed to resurrect. Without fail, every one of them had the same horrified PTSD looks. Like they had been dragged through the depths of hell. But Erwin's state seemed to be extreme even when compared to others.

"What happed to him?" Silas demanded from the soldiers.

The two well-armed henchmen simply shrugged before quickly hightailing it out of there. No one wanted to be in Lady Lightbringer's bad books. Silas looked at Erwin, and at their leader with nervousness. This was another puzzle piece he had no answers for. Thankfully, she seemed to want to take over the situation herself.

Lady Lightbringer walked towards Erwin, who was curled up in a fetal position on the ground. He was muttering something incoherently. At least till the moment the woman withdrew something from her bottomless supply of rare artifacts. With a simple tap on Erwin's forehead, the man sat up straight with a glassy look in his eyes.

"How did you die?" she demanded without emotion.

"I was eaten alive by Umbral Spider Hatchlings," Erwin replied robotically.

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Silas didn't know what an Umbral Spider was. But the words 'eaten alive' didn't need a deeper explanation. He felt everyone's blood run cold at the jarring responses. Several nobles visibly flinched, including Lady Lightbringer. For the first time, her impervious mask showed a crack, revealing far more than she intended. Although he recovered quickly, Silas had seen enough. Lucky for him, he knew how to ignore the shortcomings of those in power. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of any future retaliation.

"Explain," she demanded.

The empty husk of a man then began to emotionlessly recall every gory detail of his demise. Whatever item Lady Lightbringer had used had stripped the man of anything resembling a human. Erwin was more akin to a puppet than a living person.

But no one was focused on how he was talking. They were more concerned about what he was saying. Every line of the report was more concerning than the last. And by the time he was done, everyone's fear of the ice mage had embedded itself deep within their bones. Her threat level skyrocketed immediately.

Even the incomplete reports of shadows and wraiths—none of which were verifiable—didn't come close to the visceral fear of a woman who could solo a level 95 dungeon.

"Change of plans," Lady Lightbringer broke the silence after a long time. "I want this woman under me. By any means necessary."

"What of their leader?" Silas carefully asked.

"All these attempts at smoke and mirrors are aimed at hiding her abilities," Lady Lightbringer said with a wave. "They obviously have some kind of light mage, creating illusions to hide who has truly devasted our armies."

"Can one woman truly do all this?" Silas asked incredulously.

"If she is an Awakened, then yes," she responded almost immediately.

Everyone noticed the hunger in her eyes, as she looked almost manic with greed. But in her emotionally charged state, she had let slip more than she intended. This was the first time they had heard her acknowledge the term 'Awakened'.

"Make sure it is done," she added hurriedly. "I will not tolerate failure again. I want that woman beneath my boot. Bribe her, threaten her, or bewitch her, I don't care. She is a prize that cannot be let go. My family will reward you beyond your wildest dreams for accomplishing this task. Even this entire planet's worth is nothing compared to her."

With those words, the woman stomped out before anyone could ask anything further. Everyone exchanged bewildered looks. No one had seen their aloof leader show so much emotion before. As one, the entire gathering dispersed, no doubt trying to find a way to one up the other. There would be entire political campaigns and deceitful plots to try to unearth more about their target.

But the room wasn't entirely empty. Silas had hung back, staring thoughtfully at Erwin—who was still on the ground in a trance. Something about the explanation seemed incomplete to him. Something everyone had overlooked.

"Is the ice mage the biggest threat to us?" Silas asked

For the first, some clarity returned to Erwin's eyes. Silas was stunned as the broken man began to shiver uncontrollably. Erwin started shaking vehemently his head.

"You are up against the ice demon witch," Erwin stated with abject madness in his eyes. "But behind her stands the devil himself. I saw him. You dared touch something of his. And he doesn't tolerate that. Prepare yourself. For he always settles his debts."

"Who is he?" Silas demanded, a chill spreading in his veins.

It took Erwin a long time to stop shivering before he spoke just one line. But his hoarse voice made even Silas tremble in fear.

"The boy in the woods."

* * *

Aenon

Aenon was seated in some kind of large library with an inconceivable number of books. The scale of the room was simply ridiculous. There was obviously some space magic involved, but the rows of bookshelves went further than his enhanced eyes could see.

But he did not have the luxury to marvel at the breath-taking sight. Instead, he was trying hard not to stare at the blonde woman sitting across from him. The System Admin was casually sipping some tea as she observed a holographic display hanging in the air between them. Even the System Nurse was standing to the side, keenly watching the scene.

Thankfully, it was something even he was interested in, giving him a valid distraction. The display of course showed the aftermath of his city's political maneuvering. Well, Thalindra's plan to be exact. The large floating window was showing Erwin cowering on the ground, while the sleazy man who had attempted to infiltrate his city was listening intently.

Aenon was amazed at how insightful Thalindra was. She had predicted this outcome to the smallest detail. The last conversation between Erwin and Silas was unexpected, but Aenon didn't see how it could affect their next steps. The goal of having the Alliance focus fully on Jenny had come to fruition. Even when they revealed some of their cards, the hidden leader of the Alliance seemed blinded by greed and refused to see anything else. He doubted even Silas could convince the woman that Aenon was the bigger threat.

"Seems like your little scheme worked," the System Admin spoke calmly. "They are going to continue running around like headless chicken to find more about the ice brat."

Aenon simply nodded, unsure of how else to respond. He wasn't even sure why he was here. Except for the Class selection crystal, the fated meeting had been very lack luster so far. The Admin had barely said anything, just making him sit down to watch the spy cam of their enemies. Not that he was complaining, as this was invaluable intel of his enemies. At least now he knew what the enemy looked like.

"Wondering what you are doing here, and why am I making you watch this?" the Admin guessed accurately.

But based on the power level of the female, Aenon wouldn't be surprised that she had a pinnacle version of his soul reading powers. Aenon had never heard of anyone having their level in five digits, and absolutely no clue what a Primordial was. Neither of which he could ask outright. So he continued his smart approach of simply nodding along. Words had a way of being misconstrued and raise problems.

"Before I answer that," the woman continued while fixing her black rimmed glasses, "let me ask you a question first. I believe you like this game. One question per turn, was it?"

Aenon stared back with a deadpan expression, not giving away his emotions via his body language. But based on her smile, she knew exactly what he was feeling.

"Why Void Regent?" the Admin asked, suddenly getting very serious.

"Well, I am not very good at governing," Aenon explained after some thought, "and have no intention of being consumed by own hunger. Void Regent on the other hand seemed…almost perfect for me. Not sure how exactly it works, but I am looking forward to figuring it out."

The Admin smiled in appreciation, not speaking further. Aenon realized that she was playing along with his game to the letter.

"Why are you helping me?" Aenon asked the most pressing question.

"I am not," the Admin replied with a shrug. "Everything you have achieved has been your doing. I have helped the same way as you helped the people in your city. Providing a tempering fire to forge yourself isn't really help. All I did was make sure that you are fairly compensated for your bold actions. What happened to your extended family back before the integration?"

Aenon was momentarily taken aback by the deeply personal question. But seeing as this was perhaps his only opportunity to gain some useful insights, he answered anyway. "They had caused my sister to kill herself. So, I ended their lives. During one of their celebratory parties, I locked them all in a building and set it on fire. Once I confirmed they were all dead, I escaped into the woods. My secondary Class, how do I upgrade it?"

The Admin didn't even flinch at his confession, merely nodding along.

"The same way you upgraded Void Stalker—by using it extensively till the right conditions are met. Your primary Class was based on soul attacks, which you used remarkably well. Similarly, Abyssal Warden is about using different kinds of mana wisps. Pretty straightforward. Your sister, what kind of person was she? Before your parents died."

"She was…lively and cheerful," Aenon replied, suppressing his discomfort. "She liked to mend bridges and see the best in people. Why am I able to trigger people to Awaken?"

That made the Admin raise an eyebrow, as even the Nurse looked at him disapprovingly. But the Admin didn't hold back her response.

"You have somehow integrated the System shard into your soul. It could also explain how you are able to learn Skills and Spells so quickly. There is no doubt that you are gifted with keen instincts. But your growth is simply too fast. The effects also seem to extend to those who trust you implicitly. Your sister's soul remnants also left some traces onto the shard. It not only erased all traces of the Corruption but made it something more."

Aenon was shocked by the detailed explanation. He was getting used to having partial information in this new reality. Having such a comprehensive explanation was like a breath of fresh air.

A comfortable silence filled the air since the Admin hadn't asked her next question. Aenon too was bound by his own rules.

"Are you really prepared to go that far to settle the debt of one copper coin?" the Admin finally asked.

"I am," Aenon said with confidence. "Why did you make me watch this?" He pointed at the space where the screen once hovered. "This is definitely counted as outside help."

"To show you the aftermath of what your powers can do," the Admin explained. "Awakenings are a big deal in the Multiverse. That girl is ready to pawn off the entire tutorial planet if it means she can control your little ice mage. If she only knew that you have more Awakened hidden away, she would sell her very soul to capture you. As will any the old monsters once they discover your unique talent."

Aenon let the gravity of the situation settle, as he considered what he would have to do in the future. To be honest, his chances of living free seemed to be diminishing by the day. His dilemma was summarized by the Admin's next question.

"You still think you can survive on your own once the tutorial ends?"

Aenon considered his words carefully before answering. "It became obvious quite some time ago that I can't. Which is why I started forming my own faction. I need their help in areas that I am not good at. Like politics for example. I could never have pulled off this insane scheme of Thalindra's. Neither could I have trained Jenny the way Venge and Ignar have. All I am doing in return is give them enough room to grow, while protecting them from the shadows."

With that statement, Aenon decided to end the game. He didn't want to risk getting probed by another intrusive question. The information he had gathered was enough for now. Aenon could see why the Nurse said that the Admin's personality was quite like his. She didn't bother leveraging her position to put pressure on him. She did turn to the Nurse with a smile though.

"Convinced that he is worth it?" the Admin asked with a mysterious look.

"Yes, my lady," the Nurse responded with a bow, before turning to Aenon. "He is definitely an inferno that is going to burn down the old world order."