‘Woah ascend to the second floor within a month? Are you serious?’ Arvin asked in astonishment.

{Yeah. But it depends on your attitude and mental strength.} Lopt nonchalantly. ​ ​

After reaching the Kalgan forest, by Lopt orders, Arvin went deep in the forest. They stopped at a small cliff in the forest. At the tallest peak of the cliff, Arvin landed and transformed back. Arvin then brought some cakes that he had placed in his inventory as emergency food. And he was glad that he did that. Lopt had said that after eating, he would start Arvin’s training. So after he had eaten his full Lopt started instructing him…

{Now Arvin, what I need you to do is sit down on the cliff and start meditating.}

‘Then?’

{That’s it. You have to meditate.}

‘But I thought you said that you will train me. And make me strong.’

{Don’t question my judgment, boy. Just do as I say}

Arvin then sat in a lotus position and started to meditate. In between his meditation Lopt instructed him to clear his mind and focus on his breathing. He should focus on his surroundings. Arvin followed his instruction. And soon he started feeling the call of the tower…

{Good. Now give into the feeling. Loosen your body…}

Arvin did what Lopt instructed him to do. And as he gave in to the feeling, he started feeling ticklish all over his body…

{Don’t break your concentration no matter what. Endure as long as you can.} Lopt instructed.

Arvin followed his instructions meticulously. The feeling that Arvin was feeling started as the feeling of being tickled. But as the time started to pass by that feeling of tickle started converting into the feeling of scratch. And then it started converting in the feeling that thousands of needles were being pierced simultaneously on Arvin’s body. And slowly and steadily it started getting worse.

And finally, Arvin caved in. He could not endure it anymore and broke his trance. When he opened his eyes, he saw that night had already fallen upon them. Arvin wasn’t able to see much due to the darkness. He thought that he should light a fire first. During the training with Josh, he learned how to light a fire. He was about to get up when Lopt chimed in…

{You did better than I expected. No wonder you are a General piece..}

‘What do you mean by General piece?’

………….

In a desolate mountain covered with ice, stood a man. Despite the cold winds that blew in that mountain, that man stood at the edge looking at earth down below with his golden snake-like eyes. That man had a lean body. He had long hair which was tied with a bun on his head. That man was wearing a tiger hide to hide his private parts. Other than that he did not have any clothes on. On the man’s head he has 3 lines made from white ash. The middle line had a 3rd eye of the man which was closed. He had a trident in his hand. While unlike humans that man had a bluish shade to it…

Still facing towards the edge of the mountain, that man was glaring towards the abyss in front of him. While he was still gazing down, that man’s eyes were moving here and there like he was trying to find something. Suddenly that turned around and a minotaur appeared before him. This minotaur was white and was wearing a white color tunic like the greeks. He was kneeling in front of the man…

“Nandi.” That man said in ancient Sanskrit.

“My lord.” Said the minotaur also in ancient Sanskrit.

“It is gone. My General piece, it is gone.” That man said.

“Maybe those two…” the minotaur said.

“No, it was not them. You and I both know who took it.”

“Lopt.” Minotaur said while gritting his teeth.

“Finally he lost his patience.” That man said.

“But how did he find the piece? Did Vasuki…”

“You don’t have to worry about the culprit. Worry about the puppeteer.”

“Lopt?”

“Yes. Find him for me.”

“Your wish is my command, my lord.”

“And do it discreetly. I don’t want to alert other pantheons.”

“Understood my lord. What about those big two?”

“I will handle them. And Nandi…”

“Yes my lord.”

“Behave. You are my vessel but try not to offend Lopt. He will kill you.”

“Understood my lord,” Nandi said. Then he vanished from his place.

Then the man turned around and started looking back at the abyss in front of him. Then looking at the abyss, that man started murmuring to himself…

‘You desperately want to win huh Lopt? Although my General piece is one of the excellent pieces out there, it isn’t the best. I would like to see when you will enter the leader board.’ That man then smiled.

…………..

2 months later…

In a mansion located in Dwane city, Phyllis Cullen was sitting on a chair by the fireplace. She had a glass of wine in her hands and looked like she was a little bit intoxicated. But she was not so drunk that she could not think properly. She looked like a mess. Her hair was messy while there were dark circles under her eyes. She didn’t look like the lady from a big family like she looked at the HTC branch.

Suddenly the door of the room she was in was pushed open and an old man with a butler uniform came in and bowed in front of her.

“What is the news?” Phyllis asked without looking at the butler.

“Lord Cullen is no more. With him your uncle also perished by the hands of Alman.” He said.

“What about Claire and Cassandra?”

“They both are fine and will reach Dwane city by tomorrow morning.”

“What about Alman? Is he still pursuing Cullen’s family?” Phyllis asked

“Miss about that… Alman is dead.”

“He is?” Phyllis said with astonishment, while she finally looked up.

“Yes, miss. He was killed by a man clad in black clothes and golden snake-like eyes. My man said that he was wearing a skull shape mask hiding his lower face.”

“Arvin. That son of a bitčh did it.” Phyllis said while finally smiling. She smiled like suddenly a very heavy weight was lifted from her chest.

“Your next orders miss?”

“Deliver a message to Cassandra and Claire. Meet me at the family mansion” Phyllis said.

“Understood.”

“And prepare a carriage for me. I am going back to Cullen city. And we will leave as soon as the carriage is ready.”

“Understood miss. I will make preparations now. Excuse me.” The butler said and then he walked out of the room.

Phyllis then sighed in relief. The past 1 month was a hell of a rollercoaster ride for her. And that was all because of the man named Arvin. She had never personally met the man. He just appeared out of nowhere telling her that he could make her life a lot easier. She laughed at his proposal then. But now as she thinks back about the day when she met him, she thinks that maybe that was the best day of the year. Or maybe the luckiest day of her whole life.