New Eden: Live to Play, Play to Live

The party appeared in an enclosed tent, some of them stumbling from the sudden change of scenery, or being transported mid-attack.

They all received a notification simultaneously.

*Ding*

Congratulations on clearing the third and final stage of the time capsule dungeon. For clearing it, the system has judged you worthy of the bonus stage. Welcome to the demon war, Players.

**

Astaroth frowned, as did Phoenix, Violette and Chronos.

The sound of a private message dinged in Astaroth's ears.

'Do you think this is the ones in the history books?' he replied while turning to face the rest of the party.

'It would make sense. But why show us this?'

Then he spoke to the rest of them.

"Alright. It seems this stage will be a lot more risky. I suggest we all stick together and work as a team."

Everyone nodded.

Astaroth threw a side glance at Jaxx, who nodded a second time, understanding the silent message.

Then another notification appeared.

*Ding*

You have been assigned to platoon fourteen, of the sixth company, third battalion of the allied Themiscus forces. Report to your Platoon Leader as soon as possible, for your orders in the upcoming battle.

**

Phoenix had half expected this since they would be in a war scenario. But she had also hoped they would be allowed to act independently.

But it mattered not. One way or the other, they would end up on the front lines, if she knew Astaroth as well as she thought she did.

Jaxx raised his hand, getting her attention.

"Yes, Jaxx?"

He retracted his hand, realizing he looked like a child asking for permission to speak.

"Ahem. I was wondering if we got rewards from the last stage. Or did we lose them?"

Phoenix looked at him before scanning her eyes on the party. She could already see some rewards from that stage, in the hands of Galtion, the face of Meat-Shield, and the entire body of SharpTusk, who was now apparently named RedWing.

"I believe we had rewards. Maybe not all of us, but certainly some of us got good stuff," she said, pointing at the concerned people.

Astaroth chimed in.

"I believe all the ones who went into the soul spaces were rewarded, in one form or the other."

Jeanne nodded, even if her reward was not something they could see. But Phoenix's face soured.

"Not all of us," she spat.

Astaroth recognized the look on her face and decided to change the subject.

"In this case, I think the rewards will be distributed at the end of the dungeon once we clear it. Or die on this stage. Which I would like to warn you all, is a very big possibility. Demons; actual ones, not those little imps, are not something easily defeated."

He saw a few confident smiles on the faces of Galtion, Jaxx,  RedWing, and Meat-Shield. But he wanted them to understand what it was like to face a veritable demon.

So he summoned Asmodeus to his side while they were still in this enclosed tent.

As soon as the demon appeared, a heavy pressure descended on everyone present. For some strange reason, even Astaroth felt its weight.

Immediately, the players in his party started sweating, Phoenix, and Violette included.

"This is a demon king. His name is Asmodeus. He may not be your everyday demon, but the current pressure he is exuding is but a fraction of his true power. If he were to exude his full aura, most of you would faint. Asmodeus, say hello to my allies."

The demon looked at his master, a faint sneer on his lips.

"These weaklings are your allies? I sometimes wonder why Solomon let us become bound to you, Master."

Astaroth smirked at him.

"Shut up and go back into the ring, you prideful prick. I'll break you soon enough."

Asmodeus did an exaggerated bow before disappearing.

"Pay no heed to his words. Demons are overly proud creatures who only respect power. I still don't have his respect, but it will come.

"I want you all to expect the demons to look down on us in the upcoming battle. This is a good thing, as they won't expect our power level. We can use it to our advantage. But they are never to be underestimated. Understood?"

As the players recovered from the pressure it subjected them to, they nodded.

Another message rang in Astaroth's ears.

'Wasn't that pressure abnormally heavy? I've seen Asmodeus before. He wasn't this powerful.'

Phoenix was right. Astaroth also found it weird that even he was affected by the pressure.

He had summoned the demon king more than once before, and never felt it. The attitude of Asmodeus was also strange.

But then, he noticed the flicker of mana in the air. It was filled with demonic mana particles.

'I think we are inside the demon plane. Or something very close to it. I also think the time he spent in the ring has weakened him, and this dungeon's past timeline has given him his past power. '

Phoenix frowned slightly at his words.

'I'll keep the stronger demons inside the ring while we are here. I don't want them to break free,' he assured her.

As the party was recovering their sense, the tent flap burst open.

"Where is it?!" a soldier screamed, weapon at the ready.

Astaroth raised his arms at him, trying to calm him.

"It's gone. I was merely showing my platoon a demon I had contracted."

Astaroth took the lead here, since military folk often only respected power. And he had plenty to swing around if need be.

The soldier eyed him warily but stowed his weapon.

"Your platoon leader is looking for you. Report to him immediately, foreigners," the soldier spat, before leaving the tent.

Astaroth smiled in response, nodding his head.

"I guess we don't have more time to plan. Let's head to the platoon leader's tent."

He pushed the tent flap to the side, exiting it first, followed by the rest of them. Their minimap suddenly updated, and a yellow marker appeared on the map, showing them where to go for their mission.

'Hmm. Convenient,' Astaroth thought, as he started walking.

He wondered what the platoon leader would be like. But he would soon find out.