Is this really a Game?!

Chapter 876 War of Realms: The Evolution Challenge Unveiled

The revelation from the king cast a shadow of complexity over the gathering. Eight individuals, each summoned from different worlds, were now entrusted with the fate of two warring kingdoms. The implications of such a situation were profound, and questions began to fill the minds of those in the grand hall.

"So, this won't be like other challenges we have gone through," Seraphina said as the king nodded to her.

"I have to be honest, I have no idea why you were given such a challenge."

"I myself have naturally gone through the same challenge, but mine was just like my previous ones, I was alone, on a different planet, doing my best to complete the mission given to me."

"Of course, the universe is vast and there are bound to be plenty of people who have gone through the same thing you are going through now."

"But I don't know of any of them."

Ding!

[ The players have successfully gained the recognition of the king and started the true challenge. ]

[ Help the kingdom end the war that has been going on for two decades, if the Irason Kingdom falls, the challenge will be deemed as a failure. ]

[ In order to be fair to the two kingdoms, the system has decided to place several other people who are also undergoing their evolution challenges in the kingdom of Elais with the same mission as you. ]

[ May the best side win. ]

Reign and the others stared at the system notification before sighing.

"That explains it."

"Yeah, to think that this will actually be a match against us and other combatants that are undergoing their evolution, I truly have not heard of such a thing before," Gideon said while Theron, the scholar who seemed to know quite a bit more than the others, shook his head.

"Not the first time, I have heard of such challenges."

"It is given to exceptional talents, which means that the system has recognized us all as above average, and not by a little, compared to other peak Tier V combatants, and this is usually done to make two sides battle and for those that survive and come out of the ashes of war as victors to become even more powerful."

"It is akin to a proof of the strength that the system wants to see."

"I have heard of challenges where two sides are able to work together as well, but this one is not one of those unfortunately."

"Work together?" Elara asked Theron who nodded his head.

"Yes, you might have already noticed something was a bit weird in the notification," Theron said as Siabas, the hooded man, nodded his head.

"End the war, not win it."

"Correct, we need to end this war, it doesn't tell us to win it for the Irason kingdom, which means that a truce would also work, we could all complete it," Theron said as the king nodded from his throne.

"I would not have minded that in the past, unfortunately, Azkaran has never responded to me, he is still certain that I snuck into his palace and forced myself on his daughter."

"As if I would ever do such a thing!" The king suddenly roared in anger as he struck the armrest of his throne, which warped under his immense power.

"Thus, it will be impossible for you to do that, I have tried myself multiple times, and to be honest, I don't think I really even want peace with that bastard any longer, I have been insulted by him time and time again, even though I tried being cordial and polite, doing my best to explain that I truly did not do what he accused me of doing."

"And yet, it was all for naught."

"Alright, so peace is not an option, well, at least not while the Elais king is alive."

"What if we kill the king with the help of the other team and then broker peace, would that work?" Lumi, the petite girl with green eyes asked as the others shook their heads.

"It would be a big risk for them, why would they do that when peace could also be acquired if we assassinated His Majesty over there as well?" Gideon asked the girl who nodded her head after thinking for a bit.

"And we of course would not risk our challenge failing by doing that, so we will definitely have to clash and battle against one another," Theron said as the others sighed.

The gravity of the situation sank in as the reality of their challenge unfolded. They were not only tasked with aiding their respective kingdoms but were pitted against counterparts from other worlds in a deadly contest. The prospect of facing formidable opponents like themselves in a battle for supremacy brought a somber mood to the gathering.

The king, sensing the tension, addressed them with a measured tone. "I understand the complexity of the challenge you all face. The outcome of this war might very well be resting on your shoulders, and I have no doubt that each one of you possesses the strength and determination to make a difference."

He gestured towards a large map of the continent, depicting the territories controlled by both the Irason and Elais Kingdoms. "The war has reached a stalemate, with both sides holding strategic positions. It's a delicate balance, and any shift could tip the scales in favor of one kingdom or the other."

Seraphina, the Guardian from Eldorias, stepped forward. "We need information—about the enemy's strategies, their key figures, and weaknesses we can exploit. Only then can we formulate a plan to turn the tide in our favor?"

Athlaston, who had been observing silently, nodded in agreement. "Knowledge is power in war. We have scouts and spies, but their reach is limited. With your unique abilities, you might uncover details that elude our conventional methods."

"As some of you have already noticed, the forces of Elais have something that we do not, combat aura."

"Combat aura is a potent power-up that the forces of Elais can utilize, the bloodline of the people of Elais is a bit different from ours, and it is that bloodline that allows them to activate it a lot more easily than others."

"We have a few people that can utilize combat aura, but that is not our specialty."

"Our specialty is called 'Elemental Resonance', it allows us to sense the elements more easily, wield and control them with greater ease, as well as to even disrupt, to a degree, elemental powers of our enemies."

"The greatest foe that our kingdom is facing is the one they call my son, the second-in-command of the forces of Elais, a peak Tier V that is about to evolve, Aragos." The king suddenly said with a heavy voice.

"He … he certainly does resemble me, and he can utilize both Combat aura and the Elemental Resonance with ease thanks to his bloodline, which has proven to be royal from both sides." The king said with a sigh.

"If it was not me they have accused of being his father, I truly would have believed that somebody else has forced himself on that young girl, forcing her to bear his child."

"That is why I can understand Azkaran's anger and determination to kill me, after all, the love a father holds for his daughter is enough to make him topple down mountains and split open seas if need be."

The revelation about Aragos, the second-in-command of the forces of Elais, added a layer of complexity to the challenge. The king's acknowledgment of the resemblance between himself and Aragos raised questions about the true nature of their relationship. As the gravity of the situation settled, the group understood that defeating such a formidable opponent would require careful planning and coordination.

Seraphina, with her experience as a Guardian, stepped forward once again. "We need to gather intelligence on Aragos as well then—his abilities, strengths, and weaknesses. If we understand his combat style, we can devise strategies to counter him."

Gideon, the heavily armored warrior, spoke up. "I've faced powerful opponents in my world. If this Aragos is as formidable as the king says, we need to focus on exploiting any vulnerabilities he might have. Every warrior has a weakness; we just need to find it."

The group started to discuss their individual strengths and how they could complement each other in battle. Solis, the color-shifting man, suggested using illusions to create diversions and confuse the enemy. Lumi, the Trickster, proposed using her misdirection skills to sow chaos among the enemy ranks.

Theron, the Scholar, who had been quietly observing, interjected. "In addition to direct combat strategies, we should also consider diplomatic approaches. If we can sow discord among the leadership of Elais, it might weaken their resolve and create internal conflicts."

The discussion continued, with each member contributing their insights and expertise. The king, impressed by the unity forming among these diverse individuals, offered his support. "I will provide you with the resources you need. Whether it's information, supplies, or reinforcement troops, you will have the full backing of the Irason Kingdom."