The God Contest Regina [Progression Fantasy, LitRPG-lite, Apocalypse]

"Education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."

Oscar Wilde, Irish Author (1854 – 1900)

"The answer is also Mercury," answered a tall, lanky young man wearing a black athletic tracksuit with the University of Regina logo splashed across the back. "Look at that! Introduction to Astronomy wasn't completely useless. Such a bird course. I've taken them all to keep my grades up. Bits for Twits. Rocks for Jocks. Stars for…"

"That's quite enough, Chad," Dr. Ami interrupted sternly, as the carnival machine accepted their answer. "While I am aware of the… rather derogatory nicknames for Introduction to Computers, Geology 101, and Introduction to Astronomy, I happen to know their instructors are deeply passionate about their subjects."

"Yah, Chad," chided a redheaded woman in a dark blue bunny hug with the university logo across the chest. "Professor St. Claire is delightful."

"Professor St. Claire fell asleep in the middle of our midnight telescope workshop," countered Chad, leaning casually on a thick, iron pole with the tip sharpened to a fine point. "And when I called her on it, she called me an 'ungrateful meathead jock whose only purpose in life is to throw a football a little further than his competition'."

"Sounds accurate to me."

"Shove it, Sybil," Chad scowled. "Quarterback is the most strategic position on the field, and you know it. Your brother's on the damn team."

"And your sister is on my volleyball squad," Sybil reminded him. "Which means I have carte blanche permission to mock you relentlessly."

"Listen, you little…"

"Can you two be silent for a few moments?" Dr. Ami said, with a touch of annoyance. "You two are the captains of our two most prestigious clubs. And the leaders of our most successful defense squad. But if I'd known you would fight this much, I wouldn't have selected you for our Trial team."

"Sorry, professor," Sybil and Chad said in unison.

"A silver Emporium coin says Sybil and Chad are secretly fucking each other," Becka whispered in Bethany's ear as they observed from the shadows. "Also, that quarterback's name is Chad? God, he's like a walking cliché."

"They're from the university," Bethany said, ignoring her.

"Yah, and they look like they raided the campus gift shop before they came here. Not that I blame them. I have three of those same bunny hugs at home. So comfy."

"Dr. Ami mentioned defense squads," Bethany said, digesting the opposing team's conversation like a puzzle. "Maybe they banded together?"

"There would have been a lot of students with no where else to go," Becka agreed. "Those without family in the city, including a ton of international students. Shit, there must be thousands of them. How are they keeping everyone fed?"

"It sounds like they grabbed their strongest for their Trial team," Bethany said, studying them with a critical eye. "The captains of the football and volleyball clubs… who else do they have?"

"The blond cutie in the lab coat is the brains," Becka observed. "If the other eight members of their team are like these four, we could be in trouble. Unless we… handicap their team right now."

Bethany saw the cold calculation in Becka's eyes.

"I'm not going to become a murderer, Becka" Bethany said, aghast at the suggestion. "And we can't only have enemies in this game. We need allies."

"Question Nine," came the mechanical voice of the carnival fortune teller. "What is the largest organ in the human body."

I know this one.

"Allies? You and I are barely allies, and we're on the same team," Becka answered sharply. "Why on earth would we ever trust these four?"

"Because the other competition has literal guns," Bethany hissed back, growing angry. "They are in as much danger from Benton's team as we are. And… and I won't become a monster to win this thing – like you did!"

Her final words – louder than she'd intended – carried across the chamber.

The voices of the academic team suddenly grew silent.

Oh… damn it, Bethany. You've done it now.

A great flare of light erupted from Dr. Ami's hand, illuminating the chamber and its offshoot tunnels in bright light.

"Shit," Becka said, drawing her blade as the light stole their protective shadows. "They heard us. Good job, idiot."

"You there!" Dr. Ami called out, as her three students readied their weapons. "Come out - slowly."

"We don't have to be enemies," Bethany whispered to Becka as she rose to her feet, her hands stretched in the air. She called out to the other team. "We don't mean you any harm. We just want to talk."

"Damn it, Bethany," Becka said, following behind her, blade drawn and eyes fixed on the quarterback. "You're going to regret being soft."

Bethany approached the four players with a gentle smile, breathing deep to appear calm and collected.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

"You must be members of another team. Which one?" Dr. Ami demanded pointedly, her flickering fire casting shadows across the chamber.

"Rocky's Remarkable Rogues," Bethany answered simply, keeping her voice controlled and her arms raised.

Chad snorted at the name. "That's you guys? You don't look remarkable."

"Hey, don't give us that bullshit," Becka scowled at the man, her blade flashing in the light. "Ami's Adventurous Academics isn't any better. You sound like a lame book club."

"I thought it was clever," Kendell mumbled, a kitchen knife clutched awkwardly in her hands.

Dr. Ami has a fire magic talent, but the other three haven't shown any yet. Be careful Bethany – we don't know what they may be hiding. And we need to find out.

"Our… eclectic… team names aren't important," Dr. Ami said calmly, pulling back her light until there was only a dim glow. "Our guide said no one from the other teams would wake up for hours. Even most of our own team is still asleep. Seems like he miscalculated. Which is… unfortunate."

Unfortunate? She… she can't be thinking along the same lines as Becka? Handicap the competition before the race even starts…

"We just want to talk," Bethany assured her, though she narrowed her eyes at the professor. "But we can – and will – defend ourselves if you try anything. And it won't go well for you."

"It's four against two," Sybil scoffed. She snapped her fingers, and fragments of the dungeon floor ripped free and encircled her fist, forming a glove. She flicked a finger, and a stone the size of a walnut shot out and cracked against the far wall. "We are more than strong enough to handle you two."

The volleyball captain has earth magic, like Rocky's axe. Only she can shoot projectiles. Is it an upgraded version of the talent? They would have needed to clear multiple Arenas to get the clues for the Trial, so that might not be all she can do. We can't underestimate them… or any of the competition.

"Cute, you can throw a rock," Becka mocked, flashing her blade. "So can my four-year-old nephew. You'd be adorable if you weren't so pathetic."

"What did you say to her?!" Chad bellowed angrily. His metal pole crackled with purple electricity, and the energy flowed across his skin in waves.

He looks like that plasma ball Mr. Bernard had in high school physics. But is it defensive or an attack?

Becka gave a sharp, dismissive laugh. "Electricity? Sounds like fun. Hey volleyball girl, he ever bring that out when you're fucking around?"

"What? No, we… we aren't…," Sybil stammered.

"With her? I… would never…," Chad added at the same time, their denials tumbling over each other.

"See? Totally fucking each other," Becka whispered to Bethany. "You owe me an emporium coin."

"No, I don't. Why are you antagonizing them?" Bethany whispered back.

"You wanted to know their skills – now we do," Becka answered.

That's… clever? I guess that depends how much she pissed them off – and if we make it out of this alive.

"The answer to the nineth question is the skin," Bethany offered, trying to simmer down tempers. She took a cautious step towards them with her hands still raised.

"Correct," the mechanical carnival machine screeched, its static breaking through the tension.

"I… I was about to say the intestines," Kendell said, glancing back at the machine. "I forgot the skin counted as an organ."

"My high school science teacher used that question to trick our whole class," Bethany said, slowly lowering her arms and giving Kendell a small, understanding smile. "Said we could skip the pop quiz if anyone got it right. No one did."

Dr. Ami raised a curious eyebrow at Bethany. She folded her flame into a ball and set it atop the carnival machine, its light illuminating the cavern. She extinguished the fire in her palms.

"I think we should all take a breath and calm down," Dr. Ami encouraged, waving at Sybil and Chad to shut off their magic.

"Professor, are you sure?" Sybil asked, stone fists clenched. "She has a sword."

"Someone must make the first peaceful move," Dr. Ami explained. "And as the stronger party, it is incumbent upon us to be the one to lead. We cannot expect two women, alone in the dark, to so easily lower their defenses."

Sybil nodded, and her stone clattered to the ground. Chad's electricity vanished, and Kendell returned the knife to her lab coat.

Bethany nodded to Becka who reluctantly – very reluctantly – sheathed her blade.

"Thank you everyone," Dr. Ami said, as if she were praising her class. "Now, let's talk. The world may have been turned on its head, but that doesn't mean we can't…"

"The final question," screeched the machine, interrupting the professor. "Who is the right hand of The Authority?"

Dr. Ami glanced back at the machine, and a moment of confusion flashed in her eyes.

She doesn't know the answer. They must have gotten their clues from another knowledge god.

"What kind of bullshit question is that?" Chad spat, walking up to the machine and kicking its base. "Who the hell is The Authority?"

"Shit," Dr. Ami muttered under her breath, her composure fractured. She turned to Bethany and Becka. "I don't suppose you know the answer?"

"I've not very motivated to help the competition," Becka observed coldly. "We could just let you flounder and get zapped back to the entrance. And take the prize for ourselves."

Dr. Ami sighed. "You can have a fair share of the treasure," she offered.

Treasure? More ramen or cigarettes – or more drugs. No, there's something more valuable we need.

"You asked your guide two questions – questions that made you fall in the ranks," Bethany countered. "We'll give you the answer if you tell us what the information was.

"Hell no!" Chad exclaimed, aghast at the suggestion. "That's insane!"

We need all the information we can get. And if we can get it without losing our own ranking…

Dr. Ami studied Bethany, as if seeing the young woman for the first time.

"I'm impressed, Ms.…" Dr. Ami said after a few moments.

"Bethany. The violent woman with the sword is Becka."

"Well, Bethany, I didn't think any other team would figure out that little loophole. Was your guide as reluctant to answer your questions as ours was?"

"I… think it might have given her an existential crisis," Bethany admitted, recalling Olive's panic.

"Very well, I will exchange our information for the final answer… on one condition. You have to tell us the information you gained from your guide as well."

They asked two questions. I only asked one. Even if we tell them what we know, we'll still come out ahead. It's worth the trade.

"Fine," Bethany agreed, as she turned to the machine. "The answer…

"The answer is Omoikane," Becka said before Bethany could finish. "The right hand of the son-of-a-bitch that dragged us all into this damn game."

A victorious ding rang across the chambers. "Correct," the machine announced. "You have completed the challenge. Reward imminent."

There was a clang inside the machine, and the compartment at its base burst open. Bags of potato chips and candy erupted across the floor.

All six players just stared at the junk food in disbelief.

"Chips? We did all that for some god damned chips!" Sybil complained, kicking a bag halfway across the chamber. "What a waste of time."

Chad opened a bag of Ketchup chips and started munching. "Could have been worse."

"Not what we expected," Dr. Ami said, her eyes still on Bethany and Becka. "But we might have found something far more valuable. Come, Bethany and Becka, let's talk. And at least we have snacks to ease the tension."

Dr. Ami grabbed a bag of jellybeans and sat cross-legged on the floor.

"This better be worth it," Becka whispered to Bethany. "Let's hope your kindness doesn't get us killed."

The woman grabbed a pack of licorice and leaned against the now-dormant machine.

It's not my kindness I'm worried about, Bethany thought as Becka left her side. She studied the woman with renewed suspicion.

You weren't in Omoikane's maze either, Becka… so how did you know that answer?