The Traveler Initiative [A Monster Evolution LitRPG]

We once again found ourselves sitting around the coffee table in Lophan's office. Just like every other time we generated a new city quest, the whole gang was assembled. Andrius and Orbos sat to my left and right, while Nimma joined Lophan on the couch opposite of me. Redax, as always, chose to stand close to an exit. This time, it happened to be a window.

There was a palpable sense of nervousness in the air since this was the last opportunity for the Asphons to get the one quest they really, really wanted for some reason. They still hadn't told me, but judging by how twitchy Lophan was behaving, it seemed more important than I'd originally assumed. Well, whether or not they would get their shot at betting all of their settlements was up to chance. Win or lose, this was the last chance they would get with me since they wouldn't be able to generate any more city quests for me after this one.

It was uncertain when, or even if, they would be able to host another traveler strong enough to take on these quests, so if this failed, it could mean they wouldn't get a second chance.

"Well then, let's not drag this out more than necessary," I sighed, taking pity on Lophan as he jumped upon hearing my voice. "If you could generate the quest, please."

"Right, the quest," Lophan muttered, realizing that he couldn't put this off any longer. After taking a steadying breath, he looked at me and generated the quest, causing a system window to pop up in front of me. You could cut the tension in the air as everyone focused on me as I read through the quest.

New Quest!

Rejoice!

A festival is coming to the seventh layer! This inter-city festival is a long-standing tradition among the Asphons, to celebrate their unity. Taking place during a time when no new monsters spawn in their area for a week, the nearby settlements gather to celebrate and make merry. Food! Music! Drinks! And even entertainment in the form of a tournament! In the Colosseum, the strongest warriors of each side will clash for the spectators' amusement!

Goals:

Take part in the tournament.

Rewards:

Based on performance.

Failure penalty: (Warning: Both not participating, and placing too low will count as a failure.)

Based on performance.

Randomly lose 100 attribute points.

I pretended to read the quest window for a bit longer than I needed to, mostly to tease the others, but when I saw how Lophan was almost falling off the couch I took pity on him and revealed the contents of the quest. After I confirmed that, indeed, it was the much-awaited tournament quest, a cheer went around the room. I could've sworn I saw even Redax celebrate a little, but he would deny any such thing, so I didn't bother pointing it out. After things calmed down a bit, they had me read out the exact wording for them.

"The quest description is complete nonsense," Lophan scoffed. "There is no such tradition, and there especially is no such thing as a time or area where no new monsters spawn. The system will arrange these accommodations for us, of course, but it's a whole bunch of nonsense."

"That's… kinda weird," I couldn't help but say out loud. "I find it concerning that the system can just lie like that…"

"The flavor text of these quests can be a bit nonsensical at times, yes, but I don't think it's outright lying. After all, the tournament and the festival will take place, and the monsters not spawning will be organized by the system itself, specifically for this quest. It's just… embellishing a little," Lophan waved off my concerns. "Never mind that! We actually got one of the inter-city tournament quests! This calls for a celebration!"

Lophan jumped off the couch and ran over to his desk. After opening one of the bottom drawers, he pulled out a bottle that caused Orbos and Andrius to get giddy. "I've put away a bottle of the good stuff for just an occasion like this! Linny? Linny! Get in here!"

The door opened soon after, and Lophan's giant secretary squeezed into the room with a quizzical look. It didn't take long for her to get filled in, and she joined in on the festivities after Lophan handed her a glass. Each of us got a glass of the bubbly blue liquid. After having a celebratory drink and some fervent discussion of what the festival would be like, the mood slowly settled.

"Now, if you all wouldn't mind, I would like to have a word with Gary," Lophan said eventually. "In private."

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Everybody acceded to the request and slowly filtered out of the room, most likely having expected this situation. Once Lophan and I were the only ones left, the festive mood slowly left the leader of the city, as he leveled his gaze at me.

"I really must thank you, Gary," Lophan said after a while. "It's thanks to you, that we get this chance… this chance to further our goal."

"To get accepted by the system," I nodded sagely. The situation the Asphons found themselves in was astounding. Essentially kept as prisoners, or worse, indentured slaves used to research the monsters of the whole expanse. The quest posed to them by the system was mind-bogglingly vague.

"Exactly," Lophan sighed and reclined on the sofa, a tired sigh escaping him. "For thousands of years, we've been working on finding the solution to the quest. Sometimes it feels like we haven't progressed at all, but then, when you look at all the little victories we've achieved over time, it feels like we just might get there eventually. And, this next small step may be about to take place, thanks to you."

"It hardly feels like I deserve this much praise," I shifted uncomfortably at the gratitude directed my way. "All I did was complete a few quests."

"I don't think you quite understand that what you are doing is special," Lophan chuckled. "You learned a lot since you came to us, but you are still missing a great deal of context due to the system limiting the information you're allowed to learn. Suffice it to say that you are providing us with an opportunity that is beyond rare. I need you to understand that we've been stuck here for almost twelve thousand years. And during that time, hundreds upon hundreds of travelers passed through our layer. Few were strong enough to even take on city quests, let alone complete them.

"Yet, here you are, easily completing two, and happily coming back for the third. There have been less than twenty recorded, system-sanctioned tournaments in our entire history, Gary. What we're about to do, betting our settlements like this? I can only assume that this was never an intended way for us to progress. We're either cheating the system or taking some kind of shortcut. Whatever the case, it is thanks to you and your strength that we get to take this step."

I took a long and hard look at the Asphon opposite me, mulling over his words. They told me before that I was unusually strong compared to other travelers passing through, I just never thought too much of it. But was it really to this degree? Sure, I knew I was strong. None of the quests so far had been truly difficult. Sure, they challenged me in some way or another or even forced me to take a look at myself and consider who and what I was.

I couldn't help but think that the system may have given me the quests it did not to actually challenge my strength, so much as to shore up some weaknesses and essentially hold up a mirror in front of me. I had somewhat come to terms with the fact that I had become… kind of messed up in the head due to my experiences. Part of it was due to having rejoined some form of civilization to which I could compare myself, the other part was the contrast I experienced due to going on these quests.

Was the entire purpose of this layer to rehabilitate the travelers coming through, before integrating them into the program proper?

"I'm happy to help," I say eventually, keeping my thoughts to myself. "And I'm excited to see what you'll gain after this is all over."

"Good," Lophan nodded. "Then, there's the matter of the tournament coming up. All system theatrics aside, I've already been informed about the specifics. It will be a simple knock-out tournament with sixteen participants. Eight from each city, to be chosen by their respective leaders, with you being already locked in for our side."

"Simple, I like it." Thankfully the tournament was a format I could grasp easily, and not some hyper-complicated alien hullabaloo.

"Now, I've already told you that I am conspiring with the other city lord, but even then, we'd very much like to come out on top," Lophan said, his tail swishing excitedly. "After all, the winner will take it all. All the cities and villages will come under the rule of either myself or Garreth, the leader of Kurra city. And I'd much prefer that to be me."

"Understandable."

"And honestly, I think you're our best shot at victory."

"You do?" I exclaimed in shock at Lophans declaration. "How could that possibly be? You guys will register your best warriors, right? They should all be at the ninth tier, two above me! How could I possibly take it all in a situation like that?"

"Again, you are a lot stronger than you give yourself credit to," Lophan corrected me. "Sure, we have some really strong warriors, some even head and shoulders above the rest, but you, my friend, are on another level. With what you have displayed over your stay here, I can confidently say that you are one of the strongest travelers that ever passed through our humble layer."

"Still, they'll be an entire two tiers above me," I said, still skeptical. "The monsters I've fought have mostly been a tier above me, and while I took them out somewhat easily, the warriors in the tournament will be highly trained and intelligent. That should add another layer of difficulty, no?"

"Of course, it won't be easy," Lophan confirmed. "But it should definitely be possible. Especially since they don't know just how strong you are. We have the element of surprise on our side, and if you can hide some of your trump cards in the early rounds, you should be able to rob them of victory."

"Okay, sure," I reluctantly nodded. "I mean, I was going to at least try to win, even before you said this. After all, the better I place, the better my rewards. But why are you placing this much value on me? There will be seven other participants, right? It should be fine if one of them wins."

"Absolutely. Unfortunately, while we generally have stronger team fighters, Kurra values individual strength far more," Lophan nervously tapped his foot as he disclosed this unfortunate piece of news. "While we do have some strong fighters in this category too, and we should be able to win a few matches, victory is but a pale wish at the moment. And it's all because they have Rollo, arguably one of the strongest Asphons in recent history. No matter how much we struggle, in a one-versus-one scenario, he will win every time."

"Which is why you think I'm your best shot at victory," the pieces finally clicked into place.

"Exactly," Lophan nodded. "It pains me to ask you for more, after all you've done for us already. Rollo is a supreme warrior, and the fight won't be easy, but I'm willing to bet it all on you if you're willing."

"Well…" I mulled it all over for a while, but it wasn't much of a decision at all. After all, I'd been itching for a proper fight ever since I came to this layer. And, to top it all off, I was keen to get the best reward possible from this quest, since I'd be moving on to the next and final layer after this.

"What can you tell me about this Rollo and how he fights?" I asked, my face reflecting the hunger for battle. "I'd like to know all about him."