The Ascendance Deceiver

About Authority

After another half-hour elapsed, the man known as Mortis approached the majestic golden door, signifying the completion of the entire team's first transactions and the utilization of their bonus questions.

"I believe it's time to share the information we acquired from the one-time bonus questions," Luvern suggested, adjusting his thin glasses by pushing them up his nose with his index finger. He glanced at Mortis and then gave a subtle look in Aria's direction.

Alayn couldn't help but inwardly facepalm at Luvern's obvious attempt to avoid eye contact with Aria. Luvern's behavior inadvertently conveyed that Aria's ability was genuinely affecting them.

"As I mentioned earlier, my question was about the true purpose of this game," Luvern stated, adopting a serious tone. "And the answer I received was a single sentence." He paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to Alayn as if recalling their earlier conversation.

"'Gods made this game to find the most powerful authority among all the authorities,' that's what Solarael said," Luvern revealed.

Alayn's mind raced, processing the implications of Luvern's words. The true purpose of the game being the search for the most powerful authority... It was a revelation that sent shivers down his spine. He couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation and awe at the magnitude of what they were involved in. The thought of competing against others to prove their authority, their power, sent a chill through his veins. A good one at that.

"And here we are, each armed with our unique abilities," Alayn thought to himself, eyeing the rest of the team. "But what makes one truly powerful? Is it brute strength, cunning intellect, or something else entirely? Solarael's answer raises more questions than it provides answers."

Alayn's gaze shifted to Aria, her enigmatic presence captivating his attention once again. There was something about her, something he couldn't quite grasp. He wondered if her ability held a clue to her true power, or if there was more to her than meets the eye.

"The game has just begun, and the stakes are higher than I ever imagined," Alayn mused, his mind brimming with anticipation and a hint of apprehension. Little did he know that the path ahead would test not only his abilities but also the strength of the bonds he had formed with his team.

"..."

The waiting room descended into a profound hush, each breath held captive in the weighty silence. Alayn, unable to bear the stifling stillness any longer, summoned the courage to break the spell.

"So, what exactly does this 'authority' entail?" his voice pierced through the air, laden with an undercurrent of curiosity.

A heavy sigh escaped Luvern's lips, betraying the magnitude of the question at hand. "That, my friend, is a mystery we all seek to unravel," he replied, his fingers absently pushing his thin glasses higher on his nose bridge.

Yet, Alayn, ever the enigmatic strategist, already held within him the answer he sought. He had expended a considerable sum of 300 credits to pry that knowledge from the lips of Solarael, albeit with a discounted price for the leaked information.

However, he deliberately concealed this truth from the others, using their shared uncertainty as a means to deepen the bond of trust he had been meticulously building with Neo. For now, the details remained locked away, waiting for the right moment to be revealed.

Authority, Alayn knew, was not a mere concept but a formidable force within the realm of Kodoku. It held the key to unlocking the true potential of the gods and the true name of the gods, their very essence encapsulated in their individual authorities. These so-called "abilities" bestowed upon the players were not arbitrary gifts but fragments of the gods' own powers and could be also known as the authorities themselves.

As the weight of Luvern's words settled upon his consciousness, a tapestry of revelation unfolded before Alayn's eyes. The gods, it seemed, were weaving a grand tapestry of their own, concocting a real-life, cursed poison to determine the mightiest among them. This was a survival game, a cruel experiment in which humans were reduced to mere lab rats, their fates intertwined with the capricious designs of the divine.

But questions besieged Alayn's mind, an insatiable hunger for answers that gnawed at his every thought. Why employ mortals in their divine machinations? And why bestow upon them meager fragments of authority instead of their full might? If the gods had endowed them with unfettered power from the start, surely the game would have played out differently, for both the players and their celestial overseers.

Unraveling the mysteries of Kodoku had become Alayn's solemn quest, one that would lead him down a treacherous path. As he grappled with these revelations, a mix of intrigue and trepidation danced upon his psyche, for the more he learned, the deeper the labyrinth of enigmas seemed to grow.

As Alayn's thoughts unfurled like tendrils of smoke, he found himself fixated on the enigma that was Aria. The woman's allure had woven its spell, ensnaring his attention in a web of fascination. It was not lost on him that her radiance had seemingly blossomed, transcending the bounds of ordinary beauty. Aria had concealed her true power, for he was certain that her ability was the catalyst behind the magnetic charm she exuded.

Recalling their initial encounter in the train car and their subsequent arrival at the waiting room, Alayn's mind replayed the scenes like a well-worn filmstrip. Aria had remained shrouded in anonymity, her captivating smile and enchanting allure absent from those moments. It was only when Luvern and Seren returned from their visit to the Cosmo shop that her mesmerizing presence emerged, casting a bewitching spell over all who beheld her.

In the depths of Alayn's contemplation, a realization dawned upon him like a lightning strike. It wasn't mere physical attraction that emanated from Aria's enchanting smile; it was something far more profound. Transcending mere lust. Her beauty held a captivating power, an allure that transcended conventional desires. It was a regal beauty, one that commanded obedience and submission without uttering a single word.

As a person who had always harbored a strong aversion to being controlled or dominated, Alayn felt an unsettling mix of fascination and resistance. Aria's beauty possessed an authority of its own, a dominion that reached deep into the souls of those who gazed upon her. It was a power that could make others willingly submit, as if she were a queen holding court over the very fabric of their existence.

Alayn's instincts told him that Aria's ability, hidden beneath her elegant facade, was not one to be taken lightly. It was a force that could shape and manipulate the perceptions and actions of those around her, bending their wills to her command. The implications were staggering, raising questions of free will and autonomy within the confines of Kodoku.

Serene's voice trembled slightly as she explained her decision to use her one-time question at that moment. Standing next to Luvern, her words carried a quiet intensity.

"I-I tried to save my question for a later time," she began, her voice hushed, "but the shopkeeper made it clear that once I engaged in any other transaction, the bonus would become void." Her eyes searched the room, meeting the gaze of her teammates, before continuing. "So, I used my question to ask why we were chosen, why we are the ones participating in this game."

Alayn, nodding in agreement, acknowledged the significance of Serene's question. "Oh, that's a good question," he commended her, recognizing the shared curiosity and yearning for answers among them.

Mortis, however, raised a valid counterpoint. "But why didn't you ask about the meaning of the word 'authority'? It seems like it would have been a better question," he inquired, his tone filled with genuine curiosity.

Luvern interjected, providing an explanation for Serene's choice. "She used her question before mine, so she obviously didn't yet grasp the weight and importance that the word 'authority' holds in this game," he clarified, offering insight into the timing of their inquiries.

Alayn, glancing first at Mortis, then Neo, and finally Aria, voiced his support for Serene's question. "Well, I really think it was a good question," he remarked, his gaze encompassing the entire group. "After all, we all want to understand why we were chosen from among billions of people on Earth, don't we?"

Neo affirmed Alayn's sentiment, nodding in agreement, while Aria silently concurred with a gentle nod.

Alayn, frustrated by the constant distraction of Aria's unparalleled beauty, grumbled inwardly. "Her face is too beautiful, and it's becoming downright infuriating," he silently complained. "Couldn't she just turn off her ability or something?"

"And Solarael's answer was that the 'Pantheons chose the players based on their preferences, observing humans with the potential to become players for a long time,'" Serene concluded, her voice steady as she relayed the information.

Aidan's expression glowed with pride, and he interjected, "I guess it's even better to know that we weren't chosen randomly. Being selected by the gods themselves feels like an honor," he remarked, his enthusiasm evident as he glanced at the other players.

Mortis, however, appeared dissatisfied, a tinge of displeasure on his face. "It also means these so-called 'Gods' deliberately placed us in the same train cart. What are the odds of only seven chosen 'players' ending up together in the same train cart, not to mention the exact same time they planned to summon us? It seems like they went to great lengths to orchestrate this," he said, his tone reflecting his skepticism.

Aria, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed by Mortis' doubts, offering her perspective, "Well, they are gods after all. I'm sure they possess enough power to pull off such a feat without much difficulty," she replied, her words resonating with a sense of admiration and reverence for the divine beings.

Aidan nodded in agreement, affirming Aria's viewpoint. The group's varying reactions became apparent, with some finding delight and privilege in being summoned by the gods, while others harbored discontent and suspicion. The divide within the group was palpable, each player processing the revelation in their own distinct manner.

Aidan's voice carried a sense of eagerness as he shared the knowledge he had gained from his question. "For my one-time question, I asked Solarael how to increase the potential percentage of my abilities," he revealed. "Solarael informed me that I can invest my credits into my ability, seek the favor of my superior to boost the percentage, or utilize my ability on a larger scale to see an increase," he explained, his words filled with a belief that he had stumbled upon valuable information.

Alayn, though he recognized the significance of Aidan's question, chose not to acknowledge it openly in front of Neo. He suppressed his voice, opting instead to nod in agreement with the other players. He understood the importance of maintaining a balance among the group, not letting Aidan's satisfaction overshadow his own intentions or the trust he was building with Neo.

Aidan's dissatisfaction was palpable in his eyes as he turned to Neo, his gaze filled with disdain as if he were looking at discarded trash on the side of the road.

"So, what was the answer you received?" Aidan inquired, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness.

Neo's voice wavered slightly as he recalled the response he had received. "A-Ah, yes, as I mentioned earlier, I asked how to exit this game. Solarael's answer was that we can leave by completing the game, through death, or if our superior chooses to withdraw from the game," Neo explained, the weight of the information resonating within him, thanks to the note Alayn had left for him in the Cosmo shop.

Alayn couldn't help but revel in the situation. With a sly smile forming on his face, he shot a glance at Aidan, realizing that he was likely harboring feelings of frustration. "'You, not we,' Haha, that's probably what he is thinking," Alayn chuckled inwardly, thoroughly amused by the subtle rivalry brewing among the players.