Harem Tournament of Champions

Lancaster's eyes bulged with the 200% percent boost in his Sux. Although he didn't understand how it had been done, all he knew was there could be no mistake in what he had felt.

Aster's mouth gaped open at the sight of Hisha transferring a fraction of his Sux to his brother.

[Why did you do that, host?!]

Hisha turned his attention away, not uttering a word.

Ding!

[Task: Win over Lancaster is achieved]

[Reward: Charm stats unlocked]

'Exactly.' Hisha replies with a satisfying grin.

He had a hunch that Lancaster had been pushed around by Aster due to his clumsy, weak, young, and naive state of being.

If that were to have a slight change even if it was a drastic one on any of the things he lacked, it would aid him greatly in winning Lancaster over.

[How did that do the trick?]

HTC had numerous confused emoji scroll across the screen.

'Why does it seem like you didn't want me getting that stats?'

Hisha narrowed his eyes at the user interface.

'Why was it him?'

Gritting his teeth in restrained anger, Aster picks up the book from the table.

A blue hard-covered book bordered with silver decorative ornament swirls.

He walked back towards the chair, taking his seat on the far end, a frown evident on his face.

There was an eerie silence for a while, as they all stared at one another, awaiting Aster's explanation.

Slamming the book on that table, Aster pushes it towards Hisha.

Placing his hand on the book, Hisha raised a brow as the borderline glowed from his touch.

[You have raw carnage spurned from the pit of doom]

HTC mocks its host as it processed the main reason for the glow.

[Accumulated deaths of individuals, point accessed through direct and indirect involvement is immeasurable, host]

Hisha's mood dropped to the words, it had him thinking the previous host might have gone on a killing spree once in his life.

Retracting his hand, he narrowed his eyes when he placed his hand back again to confirm it.

"The book finally glows!" Aster chuckles with a maniacal glint.

"Finally glows?" Hisha repeats, tired of not getting answers so easily.

Lancaster's vision was slowly getting blurred as he stared at Kritz.

Aster pauses when he witnesses his brother's horns grow an inch longer signifying his evolving progress.

Raising his hand, Lancaster got to his feet. His words were jumbled up, all he wanted was a chance to walk out and have some sleep.

Not bothering to explain the body change that had taken place, Aster simply nodded his head to the request

Slouching his shoulder, he drags his feet, yawning and waving to the rest.

'Was it because of me?' Hisha chuckled at the sound of Lancaster letting out a burp as he left.

Aster let out a sigh of relief, seeing Lancaster didn't need to be present too for the explanation of the book's secret.

Confident that Lancaster had left, he let out a sigh of relief.

Hisha's mood immediately turned sinister as he glared at Aster at the unnecessary delay of the big reveal of what could be found in the book.

"I know nothing of its content, just that whoever possesses it can find a way of finally eradicating my tribe's mortal enemies."

Opening the book, Hisha shielded his eyes from the blinding light, grimacing and peering into the blinding light.

Shaking, Hisha held down the book from drifting and dropping onto the table.

Stylishly walking towards Hisha's side, Aster tried to peer into its content.

"Ahhh!" Aster lets out a scream at the blinding light that prevents him from seeing anything.

Hisha wiped on the surface of the book, hoping to tone down the blinding light.

Kritz hisses, pushing back and rolling his eyes at the scene before him.

"It's blank!"

Aster furrows his brows at the deadpanned word of Hisha.

With the book being unable to be looked at by anyone other than Hisha, it made it difficult for Aster to confirm the words.

Hisha's furrowed brows knew no end as he flipped through its pages in a rush.

Slam!

Throwing the book on the table in a fit of rage, Hisha steepled his fingers in front of his face.

Aster jumped back in fear and confusion, mumbling to himself. "This wasn't what was meant to happen."

"Aster," Hisha's chilly voice had all hairs on his body stand on its end.

Grabbing the book, Aster tried to open it to no avail.

Cursing repeatedly at the strange occurrence, Aster stiffly turned to Hisha, going down to his knees.

"Am I a joke?" Hisha questions, his green eyes glowing as he stares down at Aster.

Shaking his head and profusely denying the words, he looked to Kritz to come to his aid, "I would never, please listen to me."

Kritz scoffs and ignores the plea in Aster's eyes.

'My lord, just kill him.'

Hisha took a glance at Kritz and the twisted smirk on his lips gave away the thought that crossed his mind.

'I have bloodthirsty people as my close companions.' Hisha declares to HTC.

[For someone who could fuel a book powered by raw carnage, you're one to speak, host]

Bam!

Hisha unintentionally slaps his hand on the table to HTC's words.

"I am deeply sorry, my lord!" Aster yelped while bowing his head repeatedly.

Clenching his fist, Hisha gritted his teeth at the unintentional outburst he was meant to keep in his subconscious.

[I apologize, host. I got carried away]

"The book," Hisha commands, opening his palm.

In a rush, Aster gets to his feet, picks up the book, and places it gently onto Hisha's palm.

Hisha examined the body of the book for any signs or clues that could explain why it was blank.

'There must be something that should explain what's going on.'

Bringing the spine of the book closer to examine, he noticed a glint flash onto his face.

Scratching the spine, he notices a strange letter come into view.

Aster had wanted to tiptoe once more but was stopped by Kritz glaring at him and shaking his head.

'HTC, what do these letters say?'

Scanning the letters, HTC put up a rotating thinking emoji.

[Scanning.... loading 10%]

Drumming his fingers on the table, Hisha waits for the result of the scan.

Ding!

[The truth is only prevalent to the true one]

'What the fuck does that mean?'

[The blank pages are merely a result of you being among others who the book doesn't trust]

To explain further, HTC added.

[You are the true one]

Hisha stifled a laugh as it reminded him of the silly protagonists that were the 'chosen ones'.

"My lord?" Aster muttered, skeptical about Hisha's silence while staring at the book.

Raising his head to the call of his name, he raised his brows to the disturbance. "Is there anything that you'd want to say to get my attention?"

Gulp!

Kritz shook his head at Aster's stupid move on getting Hisha's attention.

Shaking his head, Aster looked down.

Hisha's smile only grew as he stared at Aster. Patting his hand on the book, "thank you for sharing this book with me."

"My... lord?" Aster whipped his head up to meet Hisha's gaze.

"You've passed the test, your abilities won't be taken..."

Aster let out a sigh of relief, stretching to get the book.

Pulling the book closer to himself, Hisha shook his head. "I take this with me."

Aster's mouth gaped open at the new development, "Lord Hisha, it's a blank book, you said that."

"It doesn't trust you, I will be taking this with me to peer at its content later on."

Hisha's words felt like a stab to his heart, the book of his people rejected him.

Forcing a smile, Aster nods his head to the explanation.

Getting to his feet, Hisha hands over the book to Kritz.

"I would like to commend you on the delicious meal..."

Aster cast a deadpanned look on the untouched food before Hisha.

'Did I miss the part where he tasted the food?'

Kritz nodded his head in agreement, being the only one who ate, he took Hisha's words on his behalf.

"... the drinks were poison free." Hisha specifically points out.

Gulp!

Aster masks his nervousness with a smile.

"I would never be so stupid to poison my immortal lord," Aster replies with a bow.

Hisha raised his index finger, emphasizing the most important part he enjoyed.

"I enjoyed the fun and comedic relief from your brother," Hisha added with a smile.

Aster stared at Hisha for a while, stunned by the change from what he could recall several years before the start of the tournament.

'HTC did I make a mistake again?' Hisha's heart thumped at the strange stare from Aster his way.

*****

A/N

¶ Any idea why Aster got stunned?

My heartfelt appreciation also goes to those who vote with powerstones on my book constantly or happened to devote them currently.

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