Gladwyn continued to look at Adam and Emelia with a barely-suppressed grin on his face, meanwhile Beck was blissfully ignorant to the fact that they were in the same dimension.

"I think it's time," Adam started dramatically, "to figure out who won!"

Beck grinned. "This time I won't be last place," he said confidently.

"None of you have me beat," Emelia told them.

"What did you get?" Gladwyn asked. "3000 Points?"

"4308," she answered, leaning back in her chair with a smug look on her face and a French fry hanging from the corner of her mouth. While Adam was seated on his barrier, she sat on a stool that'd been sculpted to look like a padded recliner.

Damn, I really should've done the Hardmode, Adam thought to himself.

Beck's grin faltered. "Time-loopers don't count. Obviously."

Emelia nudged Adam's arm, but Beck didn't notice. Gladwyn laughed.

"What did you get?" Gladwyn asked him.

"You two first," Beck replied, clearly hiding the answer.

Adam could already kind of guess what they had gotten, based on the lights from his earlier query that was still running. It was a bit of an eyesore though.

Change the pillars of lights to coloured spheres above everyone's heads, he told the Tavern, restructuring the command.

Both of them had three coloured spheres above their heads, but they were not the same. Neither of them had unlocked Sylvia, which was a shame.

"I got 2406 Points," Adam said. "I didn't get the Flawless Bonus, but I got the bonuses for Speedrun, All Secrets, and the Secret Boss."

"I got Flawless but not the Secret Boss," Gladwyn said. "I ended up with 2200 Points exactly."

"You got the Speedrun?" Adam asked him, surprised.

"I learnt a thing or two from Emelia's advice last night," he replied. "Besides, I can't let Beck be the only one who kills things quickly."

Beck grinned victoriously. "That makes me the winner," he said. His tone was so smug that Gladwyn and Adam both looked like they wanted to slap him.

"How much?" they asked.

"I didn't get the Secret Relic from the Boss, so I missed out on that Bonus, but I did get the Secret Boss and Flawless, and of course Speedrun."

It was clear that Emelia's words had made him less reckless in his approach to Stages, but Adam knew he still had to have gone pretty fast in order to unlock the Nightwing.

Wait, I'm the only one amongst us who took damage…?

Goddamn.

"And how many Points!?" Gladwyn asked, getting desperate.

"2690," Beck answered.

The number hung in the air above them like a guillotine.

Adam saluted Gladwyn. "It was good knowing you."

He sighed loudly. "Just get it over with."

Beck looked positively villainous as he gave his friend his new nickname. "From now on you will be known as 'Princess Buttercup'."

Emelia laughed and Adam shook his head with a smile.

"I'll get you back for this," Gladwyn threatened him. "Just you wait."

Beck turned to look at Emelia. "You didn't mention that the Secret Boss had a special collectable," he then said.

"I forgot," she replied.

Beck suddenly pulled a massive bloodied organ out of nowhere and placed it on the table in front of him.

"No, you can't eat it," he said to someone off to the side that the others couldn't see. Adam knew it had to be Belamouranthe he was talking to. "This description," he then started, "it's a reference to the Black Mass from Castlevania, right? It's used in a ritual to awaken something, isn't it?"

Emelia shrugged. "I have no idea if it's a reference to something, but yes, it is used in a ritual during a later Stage to awaken a Secret Boss. I'll tell you how to do it when we get closer to the Stage, but you should keep it in your Player House until then."

"Does it awaken a Dracula-type enemy?" Gladwyn asked.

"Again, I'll tell you later," Emelia repeated. "It's a bad idea to focus on what lies far in the future, since you'll end up neglecting the more pressing preparations for the challenge right around the corner. Stage Four is quite tough after all."

Just then food arrived in front of Beck and Gladwyn, and while they were looking away, Adam reached over and stole one of the mussels from Emelia's moules-frites. At the exact moment that Beck turned back to face them, Adam tossed the empty shell back into Emelia's pan. He didn't even notice, since his eyes were locked on the double-decker cheeseburger in front of him. He'd also ordered a beer like Adam. Gladwyn had a plate of fish and chips in front of him, along with a red margarita-looking cocktail.

After everyone had eaten a bit of their food, Emelia started telling them about the next Stage. She described the locations where the Termite Nest was found, as well as the two Relic Chests. Adam had only found one during his last loop and it had been rather easy to spot. The other was apparently atop one of the buildings. Emelia said that the easiest way to get it was to go inside the building and crawl out of a window to the roof. Gladwyn asked if knocking the building down would work, but she said no. She also told them about the Rotmaker Idol but made it very clear that it was dangerous to use, since the monster it summoned would attack everyone, themselves included, and would also make the Elphin hostile to them.

"You especially can't use it," she said to Adam. "Since you've got things that boost summoning, like your crown Relic, the Rotmaker would become way stronger than normal."

She then went on to describe the enemies and how destroying their heads was the best way to kill them. For the mini bosses she recommended incapacitating or snaring them before striking their helmets repeatedly to break through.

Beck said that he had quite a few Force upgrades and Emelia told him that they would help a lot. Adam mentioned he had an Impact upgrade, but apparently that was more useful against living opponents, since it could cause internal bleeding which didn't affect the Forlorn unless he was able to strike their heads hard enough.

She also explained that the Forlorn were weak to fire and that burning them would make them more susceptible to damage. Adam added that corrosive slime might also work and she nodded along. Neither Beck nor Gladwyn questioned how he knew this.

Adam turned to Emelia and asked, "What about the Conflagrate Spell Scroll that Sylvia sells?"

She nodded. "It would work, but you should save it for the Secret Boss."

Then she continued to explain the Forlorn Aristocrat and his moves, but urged them to avoid fighting him unless they were absolutely sure. She went on to describe the main things to look out for during the Stage and the areas of the city that would be hit and in which order.

Emelia also mentioned that the All-Mother's Wrath, the necklace they had all looted from Stage Three, should be given to Belamouranthe before looting the final chest after defeating the Forlorn Captain. When Beck and Gladwyn had learnt that the girl would die without their intervention, they both became eager to know how to save her. Adam also listened closely to make sure he didn't forget how to do it. Aside from keeping Bel alive, the biggest impact from saving her was that Stage Six would change somehow.

Lastly she said, "There is a hidden weapon in the Stage, but I don't know where. If you somehow find it, please let me know, but don't take any unnecessary risks to try and locate it."

With the explanation done, Emelia moved on to helping other Players by using Adam's Dimensional Tavern.

Adam finally asked the Eye how many had survived Stage Three and the answer surprised him a lot. 285 million Players had survived. In his previous loop it had been 173 million. It was impossible to tell if the difference was entirely thanks to Emelia's efforts or not, but he was sure she played a significant role.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

However, if Arturo had looped countless times before her, then he was sure to have managed something similar if not more impressive, and yet it apparently hadn't mattered. Emelia had said he'd given up looping to go through the 'Gate of Nihility'. Adam didn't know if that was the way forward or not, but it sounded ominous.

If it was the way forward and he successfully beat the Trials, then why is everyone still here? Or did Emelia accepting the Self-devouring Eye reset this universe before the Trials could be cleared?

Adam tried to not dwell too much on such worries, but he feared that the Trials were designed to be an endless loop with the Divine Relic being a test. The name of the Relic certainly seemed to hint at that, since it invoked in his mind the idea of the ouroboros that represented eternity.

Perhaps the System asked the Players remaining at the end to pick between the chance to do everything all over again or risk it all to beat the Trials. Anyone who had fought to reach that point would no doubt have a lot of things they wanted to change, people they hoped to save, and wrongs they wished to right.

He shook his head. Emelia had the right idea. Focusing on the future was dangerous when the present posed a huge threat. She could afford to plan ahead since she had overcome these challenges before, but Adam had barely survived Stage Four last time and Stage Five had killed him.

"I'm going to find Sylvia," he told Emelia.

She nodded to show she'd heard him, then continued with her explanation to the twenty-plus Players she was currently connected with. She'd set up the conversation in a way that none of the people there could see Adam. He wasn't quite sure how that worked, but guessed it was similar to how she hid her weapons and Relics from him before they'd met in person.

Sylvia had left with Migraine at some point and Adam exited the Tavern to track her down.

With the Eye's help, he managed to locate them in the Garden next to Alivida's tent. They were having a picnic in the silvery moonlight, and it looked like they'd raided Charlie's kitchen given the amount of food they'd brought.

"Sylvia," Adam said.

The blood mage's apprentice looked up at him. "Have you come to purchase Spell Scrolls?"

"I have," he told her.

Without even standing, she unfurled her travel cloak and revealed her wares.

< < Spell Scrolls For Sale > >

< Frost — Your next attack inflicts Frostbite, halting all of target's regeneration — 200 Points >

< Conflagrate — Your next attack inflicts Conflagration, dealing periodic burn damage to target — 200 Points >

< Zap — Your next attack inflicts Electrification, periodically draining target's Mana — 200 Points >

< Desiccate — Your next attack inflicts Wither, increasing damage inflicted to target by 50% — 200 Points >

< Tangle — Snare indicated target — 500 Points >

< Blink — Teleport to indicated location within your line-of-sight — 750 Points >

< Shade Barrier — Negate the next attack that deals damage to you — 2000 Points >

"I'll buy a Conflagrate scroll," he said.

"Excellent choice," she replied.

< < Spell Scroll Purchased > >

< Conflagrate >

< 101 Points Remaining >

Sylvia pulled a scroll free from its straps on the inside of her cloak and handed it to him. She refused to stand up, which made the whole transaction feel extremely weird to Adam.

"Thanks," he said and returned to the Tavern.

"I should go back to my own Dimension," Emelia said, pulling out the Visiting Stone. She paused without actually activating it and gave Adam a strange look.

The Tavern had closed and they were standing outside the building. Adam was carrying a sleeping Belamouranthe on his back.

He met her purple spiralling eyes and did not look away.

"Thank you for today," he told her.

Emelia lowered her head slightly. It was probably not the response she'd expected.

"Can I come back tomorrow?" she asked.

Adam paused. It was clear she had just used the Kindling Flame as a pretence for coming here and he knew what her ulterior motive was.

Even though my initial encounter with her left a bad taste, she does seem to be trying her best to help people.

Although I don't think I can reciprocate her feelings.

But if I outright reject her advances, will she stop talking to me?

He didn't want that, since he felt that they could still be friends. But perhaps that was just wishful thinking.

It was an awkward situation to be in, and it didn't help that she knew so much about him and he knew basically nothing about her. Maybe if they had met under different circumstances he would've felt otherwise, but it was hard to form a relationship when she was projecting her past experiences onto him. She was expecting him to act like the Adam she'd known and it caused a disconnect every time he didn't live up to that. It was a difficult thing to reconcile.

Emelia looked up at him, meeting his eyes again. Adam swallowed hard.

"Sure," he told her. "You can visit me again."

He didn't move any closer to her and she remained where she stood. A few awkward moments passed in silence like that.

Then she said, "When I come back tomorrow, I have something I want to give you." Without any further explanation, she pressed her hand against the flat stone and vanished.

< < Visiting Stone Deactivated > >

< Player Emelia has left your Dimension >

Adam let out a deep sigh.

Alivida said it could only be used once per day between the Stages, so she won't be able to return. I don't think my poor heart can handle more surprises for today.

He had so many complicated feelings inside of him and it was hard to figure out how he was supposed to feel. He felt guilty for hijacking the past version of him and his relationship with Emelia, but at the same time it felt so one-sided and unfair. She had all the power, all the cards, and if he didn't react like she expected she got upset.

This must be how Willow felt during my last loop, he realised, feeling shameful.

I just come barging into her life, telling her that I already know her even though we've never met from her perspective. Then when I did it this loop and she rightfully assumed I was some kind of creep, I still had the audacity to get upset about her blocking me!?

He shook his head.

I thought it would take longer for the time-looping to mess up who I am, but it's already done a lot of damage without me realising. I could easily have ended up like Emelia if I hadn't met her and experienced the other side of this kind of lopsided relationship…

He pushed his inner turmoil aside.

Now's not the time to worry about this. I have to be prepared for Stage Four.

Hefting Belamouranthe slightly, Adam set off towards his house.

After walking through the moonlit town for a bit, Adam reached the Player House. Outside stood Yenna the wasp musician.

"I thought we agreed that I'd visit you in the Market," he told her.

"This is easier, isn't it?" she replied.

"Are you allowed to leave the Market like this?"

"I am not bound to my place by the fountain. My duty is to play music for the Player residing on Interim Island. It does not matter where I play it," she explained. "It is the All-Seeing System's benevolence that allows me such freedom. Compared to the other denizens in the Market, I alone received a special instrument and knowledge of your culture."

Maybe the System is a fan of music? Kind of odd for a God defined by eyes.

Adam shook his head. Then he went through the garden gate and opened the door to the Player House. "Come on in."

Last night he'd tucked Belamouranthe to sleep in the bed that appeared at the foot of his own bed inside the house, then he'd gone to the Market to see the wasp and have her sing him to sleep. He'd been worried about leaving the Elphin girl alone, but the Eye had ensured him no harm would befall her. Still, this was a much better alternative, since he would not feel guilty for leaving Bel to sleep alone.

He carefully lifted the girl from his shoulders and down onto the bed.

Then he noticed something new in the Player House.

I forgot about this.

Next to the rack where Gram was displayed was an obsidian chest. To the right of that was his wooden storage chest, which had appeared when he'd dropped off the Cracked Slime Core after Stage One. For some reason, the weapons he stored were actually just displayed on the racks on the wall next to his trophy shelves, while the wooden chest seemed to hold stuff that couldn't fit on the available mannequin or racks.

He opened the wooden lid and a small menu appeared.

< < Player Storage > >

< 1 item >

< Cracked Slime Core (Common) >

Adam pulled the core out and the chest vanished, which was odd.

He looked to the Eye floating nearby. "Can you bring the storage chest back?"

[It will return when you have something to store within.]

That's a strange way to do it, but I suppose it eliminates clutter.

He moved over to the new chest. It was a cube-shaped thing with a flat lid. There were no obvious seams or clasps to show where the top opened, so he just kind of fumbled with it until he managed to push the lid up.

Inside the Relic Saving chest was a swirling violet vortex. He dropped the Cracked Slime Core inside and it immediately vanished. Then the lid snapped shut and another menu appeared.

< < Relic Saving Activated > >

< 1 item >

< Cracked Slime Core (Common) >

Adam took off his Cruel Summoner's Gauntlets and opened the chest back up. Then he dropped them inside. They were immediately spat back out, landing on the floor with a clunk.

< < Relic Saving > >

< Unable to store Relic >

Yenna watched him as he picked the gauntlets up and placed them next to his bed. Then he started undressing while looking over his trophies. He had all the available ones for the last three Stages and they were on separate shelves.

Before the end of the Trials, this whole wall is just gonna be trophies…

He was looking forward to getting some for Stage Four, since he currently had none.

There was one trophy for Stage Two that he hadn't noticed before, it was obsidian black like the new chest and read, in black letters, 'Goblin Village Hardmode'.

I wonder if something happens if I collect these Hardmode trophies?

After he'd undressed, taking off all but his shirt and underwear and placing it on the floor next to the bed, he laid down and had Yenna sit next to him. Without needing to ask, she started singing.

He was surprised by the fact that he could look at her wasp body and not be freaked out. In fact, he felt that her presence was comforting somehow, even though it was very transactional in a way.

The lights in the room dimmed until there was only darkness.

With a contented sigh, he sunk deeper into his bed.

Within moments, Adam fell asleep to the sound of Yenna's lullaby.

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