“I wonder where you learned of my power, let alone my name.” Evros said, calmly leaning against a boulder.

  Alaster stared at the man, for that is all he was. As one who had been before a God before, there was a distinct but unexplainable sense of depth that could only be described as divine that followed every movement the God made.

  A divinity that the man before him lacked completely.

  “That matters not. I want answers.”

  “And what makes you think you have any right to demand them?” Evros asked with a raised eyebrow.

  “When you've been spying on me for year, don’t I deserve to know why?”

  Evros waved his hand like it didn’t matter, “Mere curiosity.”

  Alaster chuckled, “Curiosity? A man as busy as you made it a point to spy on a young boy. Someone as powerful as you. Don’t insult my intelligence. Especially when you gave me a ring so one of you could spy on me.” Alaster raised his hand, showing the Summoner's Ring that allowed Sedall to watch Alaster.

  It had later been modified by Belgroth to allow Sedall to converse with both Alaster and Belgroth, but Evros did not know that.

  “You noticed? How long did it take you to find out?”

  “I was suspicious from the very beginning. So when the opportunity presented itself, I had an Enchanter take a look at it. They did not understand what you did to spy, but they did know how to get rid of it while keeping the storage enchantment. It took a while, but I finally have enough Minions to fill it.” Alaster said, spinning the ring on his finger as he bent the truth.

  Evros shrugged, as if it did not matter much one way or another.

  “Ask your questions so I may answer them. Or not.”

  “You will answer my questions because I have something you want.”

  Evros rolled his eyes, already growing tired of the boy’s arrogance, “And what would that be?”

  “The identity and location of a Stage Three. One of the strongest.”

  Evros’ brow rose once more, “Intriguing. That you know what that means and claim to know where one is. You do know just one can destroy the world, do you not?”

  It was Alaster’s time to shrug, “You know my story. I have no desire to destroy the world, but I certainly don’t mind if it goes up in flames.”

  “How about sink into the sea? Millions of lives clawing for air as they are dragged under by a power that even the Gods fear.”

  Alaster leaned in slightly, “The lives of those I do not know are not my concern. They are yours. At least, that is the responsibility that you have taken upon yourself. Treating that responsibility as if it gives you the right to dictate the lives of everyone else in this world.”

  Evros scoffed, “I will not argue morality with a child who holds such a warped sense of it. Ask your questions and reveal this threat.”

  “How many Demigods are there?” Alaster asked bluntly.

  “Excuse me?”

  “I am merely curious. All records I have found never give an exact number.”

  Evros gave Alaster a side eye, but answered, “There are ninety-three, of which I am the oldest.”

  Ninety-three figures whose power Alaster could hardly comprehend. And he would have to neutralize or kill all of them.

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

  “What do you know of the ongoing war between the Gods and the Demons?”

  “Very little. We have no method of communicating with the Divine, and if they have a way to speak to us, they have not yet decided to use it. All we can assume is that with their absence from their own churches and worshippers, it is not going well.”

  “Their absence could also be an indication of their elimination.”

  Evros shook his head, “No, the Demons want this world. If the Gods were dead, they would swarm over and wipe us out.”

  “If a significant threat emerged, how many Demigods would be able to respond?”

  Evros, assuming Alaster was asking in relation to the Demon, answered honestly, “Immediately? Maybe ten. Given a week, twenty. A month? Maybe sixty. There are simply too many tasks that we have to maintain, even in the event of an attack.”

  “Why do you hunt Stage Threes so severely?”

  “Because they hold the potential to completely upheave the current order of things.”

  “The order that you and the other Demigods put into place?” Alaster accused.

  Evros sighed, the boulder he was leaning against molding itself like clay into a chair that he sat in, “It is not perfect, but no system is, not even the System. The way things are, the way we made it, people are able to grow in power according to their determination above all. Sure, circumstances can help, but look at yourself. You started with nothing and rose to the top of the mortal world using nothing but your own determination and will.

  But those we categorize as Stage Three? They naturally hold the potential for great power, without the need for much effort. They grow cocky, arrogant, greedy. And in their blind, unrefined power, they devastate everything around them.”

  It made sense, even to Alaster. If one didn’t have to fight for every scrap of power, they would naturally begin to believe they are owed it. It was a concept that applied to most things. Money, friends, family, respect, even clothing. But the issue was that this was not some stranger. This was his sister.

  She could become a tyrant that butchered entire nations, but so long as she did not willfully harm himself or others he cared for, he would protect her. He did not care about anyone else.

  “What do you know about me?” Alaster moved on with his questions.

  “After our first meeting, I only checked in on you occasionally. I know you are a powerful Necromancer. I know you recently returned to Lissura. That is about it really.”

  Alaster could not tell if the Demigod was speaking the whole truth, but it did not matter.

  “By chance, do you have any idea who raised all those Undead Hordes that raged across the continent?”

  “No. You think just because I am a Necromancer, I somehow know everything going on with the dead?”

  “No, though I figured it was worth a shot. Someone who could raise so many would certainly be a powerful ally.”

  ‘or a dangerous foe.’ Alaster thought to himself.

  ‘Finish this and set me free Alaster. It is not wise to play with Evros. He is old. He did not survive this long by being stupid.’ Sedall warned.

  ‘Very well.’

  “Evros,” Alaster spoke with a hint of finality that caused the Demigod to stand, “I know the exact name and location of the Stage Three. I even know about their Ability that has granted them such a designation.”

  “Yes?” Evros asked, almost excited, or perhaps anxious, “Tell me. They must be eliminated!”

  Alaster smirked, “You see, that is the problem. You want to kill them. But I want them to live.”

  The boulder behind Evros cracked, yet he did neither man moved, “Excuse me?”

  “The Stage Three you seek is in fact my sister.”

  “If you knew what Stage Three meant, why would you tell me?”

  “Because I am no fool. I know that you would discover her eventually. I had hoped to delay this as long as I could, but certain events have forced me to be the one to initiate.”

  “Initiate what?”

  “Simple really. You know where my sister is. If you don’t, I know you can figure it out within an hour or two.”

  “What possible events could push you to willfully begin a conflict with us Demigods?”

  Alaster stared at the old man sternly, “The Demons are coming. I do not know when or where exactly, but they are coming, soon. Soon enough that Ebris gave warning.”

  “The Dead Walker?” Evros shook his head, “Then it is only more imperative that you hand her over. We do not have the time to divide our efforts, nor can we allow her to go unchecked during such a chaotic time as an invasion.”

  “Oh no, you misunderstand. I am not handing her over.” Alaster chuckled, “I am here to warn you. If you seek to touch a single hair on my sister’s head, you should be prepared to lose your own.”

  Evros glared, “You would dare threaten me? A God!”

  The stone under Evros cracked, webbing out for nearly a hundred feet, yet Alaster stood firm, unmoved.

  Alaster returned the glare, “I do, because you are not a God. You are the furthest thing from a God. If you were capable of taking that final step, you would have done so long ago. You are just a pathetic old man.”

  Blue energy leaked out of Evros’ eyes, a dark warning, “I should kill you where you stand!”

  Alaster leaned forward, “But you won’t. Because despite all your great power and knowledge, you are scared. You fear the Gods. You are terrified of what Ebris would do to you if you harmed his star pupil.”

  Evros growled, but did not move, “I will come for her. She will die by my hand and you will watch, too weak to do anything about it. And if you try, you will die next. The Dead Walker would not be able to do anything against me then as you would have attacked me first. Say your goodbyes.”

  Evros vanished in another flash of lightning, leaving behind an unimpressed Alaster.

  “Say your own.”

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