For the next few days, Sam just erected different pillars around different cities.
On the fourth day, he finally got a message from Priestess. He went to the mountain temple to talk to Karthikeya.
"How are you doing?"
Karthikeya asked with a faint smile as he looked at Sam.
"I am fine. How are you?"
"Not as good as I want to be. I apologize for the sudden turn of events. Zeus got really pissed what you have done. The whole Olympus is shaking for the past month. You really brought the whole Olympus a peg down.
A lot of gods are facing punishment because of Zeus' wrath."
"I can hardly care about that. How long do I have to stay here? And why did I not know about this extra day rule where the residual effects of the disasters will also be counted under my inaction?"
"Well, it was a ploy from Zeus. I am sure you guessed that already. He made a last minute change and for some reason a lot of gods were strong armed into agreeing it. Anyway, a lot of gods are pissed at you for various reasons.
So, they have many reasons to agree.
But the most important reason could be that Gambler is stirring up the pot here. They might have actually agreed, just to get back at him."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Even more surprising thing is that Hel remaining neutral in this and Gambler actually voted in favor of Zeus. The whole thing is a giant shitshow."
"I can guess.
But I have some questions. If I leave something back on this planet and it activates after the ten days are up, would it still be counted as my fault or whatever metric you are taking for this challenge?"
Karthikeya was stumped by that question for a moment. He looked at Priestess who just shrugged.
"What happened?" he asked in confusion.
Sam looked at her and chuckled.
"I thought she would have filled you in by now. I guess not. Here is what happened…"
Sam went on the explain the whole thing.
Karthikeya sighed heavily. He looked at Priestess and asked.
"Are you okay what is about to happen? You do know that the only reason this planet made the cut is because of your presence here. Your opinion matters a lot in this."
Sam also looked at Priestess.
"You gave them a chance, Sam gave them a means to live and prosper. But they misused it and tried to bite the hand that fed them. I cannot be their safeguard for everything. Whatever decision that Sam makes, I am fine with it.
He is the effected party and he should have all the right to retaliate the way he sees fit."
Sam looked at her and thanked her.
"Thank you for your understanding" Then he turned to Karthikeya and continued.
"You know my opinion about this whole game. This round in particular made me break my word multiple times and I had to act out of my character. It is very unsettling. I don't want to act like that anymore.
I would be retaliating in kind of what they did.
Just tell me if something happens after ten days because of the things I left behind, would I be effected?"
Karthikeya sighed and said.
"No."
"Thank you. Now, just tell me when I could leave this place and go to the next round. From what you said, it is going to be an academy for Demi Gods. I am looking forward to meeting all the forces that you guys are fostering for your future."
Sam had a very weird smile on his face as he spoke to that point.
He left the room and proceeded to erect the pillars once again. The clan members wanted to get in touch with him and stop this. They are very scared of Sam, that is the reason one of them only tried to use some poison and they only made a move when they thought he already consumed the poison.
Now that they knew the poison is ineffective, they don't have any idea on how to tackle this situation.
Sam on the other hand ran out of fucks to give. He didn't care if they are sorry and he didn't care if they were impulsive, they did the deed and they have to face the consequences. They can cry him a river for all he cares.
Ten days passed pretty quickly.
But the pillars didn't show any reaction. Except for the glowing patterns and energy cycles within the pillar, the clans didn't understand anything about them.
Within these ten days, the clans even approached Priestess to see if they could reach any consensus with Sam, but even she gave up on them. So, they just sent their formation masters, artisans and inscription masters to take a look at these pillars and tried to find what they are going to do.
On the eleventh day, at sun rise.
Sam went to meet the Priestess.
"I am ready to go. Finally."
Priestess smiled at him and said.
"I know you don't have anything good to remember about this planet. I wouldn't have too if I faced the same situation as yours. But I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive this place in the future and visit.
Maybe when you are bored of conquering the world and got tired of constant war and need a break, come and visit the temple. I can promise you a freshly homemade meal and a room with a great view for you to relax."
Sam smiled and asked.
"Why are you so kind to me?"
"Unlike what others see, I can't help but look past the dangerous being that you are. And behind that, all I see is a young man who could use some kindness, love and care for a change.
It is just my hunch. I could be wrong."
Sam didn't know what to say to that. He thought back to his previous life and this life. All he could do was let out a sigh.
"I will surely visit this place once again. My grudge was not with you. I will remember the care you gave me for as long as I live.
And if you are ever in a need for anything, please use this at any branch of the Dusk organization. They will recognize this and they will help you no matter what it is."
Sam then gave out the token that has his symbol.
She held it chuckled.
"That is a very big promise to hold up to. You know. I might just come and ask for a realm or two."
"Oh, trust me. By the time you come to a stage where you need that, my organization would be big enough to do that on a whim."
"That is some confidence right there."
She said as she placed her hand gently on Sam's head.
"May everything you wish from this world be bestowed up on you. All the best child."
Sam smiled at her blessing and stood in front of Karthikeya's statue within the prayer room.
"I am ready to go."
As soon as he said those words, the statue glowed a bit and Sam disappeared from there.
He reappeared in a large grey room with no walls. It is just a floor floating in void. There Kathikeya is sitting on a chair. In front of him there is an empty chair.
He didn't hesitate and went there and sat.
"You are looking good. Do you know how ahead of the rest of the players you are?" Karthikeya asked with a smile.
"How far?"
"From the speed the others are going at, at least three to four months on average? The closest is Noah followed by the rest. She might catchup in two months."
"That's smaller than I imagined. I thought the gap would be larger. I might be slipping. I need to improve."
"Can you stop that please? Do you know how many years ahead the competition actually is that it was planned to be? You singlehandedly just pushed the whole thing forward. We thought this would go on for at least another two decades or so, but you shortened it by yourself.
You basically speed ran through it all."
"I will take it as a compliment. So, what would be the next round in these war games. I have done intra planetary, inter planetary and surprisingly against nature. Now, what is the fourth round?"
"It would be a combination of everything you have done until now. Because it is not a one off war and in this round you might stay for a decade or so if your performance is not good enough.
Simply put all you have to do is be a part of the Demi God Academy and be a student there. Raise through ranks with your cultivation and reach the edge of god hood and be ready for the god hood.
Throughout the process, you will be participating in many small wars, but the goal for you should be the domination of the schools under the remaining gods."
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