The Demonic Games (Disgardium Book #7): LitRPG Series, Dan Sugralinov [the read aloud family TXT] 📗

so harmonious that it was as if they’d been practicing for days. “Class-A Threat, class-A loser!”

I caught a sympathizing glance from Ian Mitchell. Next to him sat a short and balding man in horn-rimmed glasses — Clark Katz, editor-in-chief at Disgardium Daily. He frowned, studying my reaction.

Anger bubbled inside me like molten lava, burning with the desire to break free, but I clenched my will in my fist and somehow kept my back straight, my head up and my expression stony. I just ground my teeth.

Hairo had said that I might have a hard time with the other contestants. He even predicted Malik’s behavior: You kids are going to be on your own there, he had said. It’s fully possible that the corporation finds a way to get to your friend. My predictions might not come true, but best be prepared for everything.

Staring at a single point, I disassociated from the jeers, from the image of Malik and Tissa embracing, from everyone shaking their hands and slapping them on the back. What next? Should I expect betrayal from the other Awoken? A feeling built in my chest that the lava had frozen, had all burnt out and left only ash behind, and now even that was dropping into a cavernous black hole that swallowed up my enthusiasm, my joy at having arrived at the Games in time, my hopes… Trixie, Malik, Tissa… Who next? Hung? Ed? Irita?

“Ahem…” Someone coughed into a microphone and knocked on it. “Ladies and gentlemen, a moment of your silence and attention please! Mr. Sheppard, and Snowstorm directors Mr. Jackson and Miss Cliffhanger are about to give a joint statement!”

Jolted back to reality, I suddenly realized I was no longer alone. To my left sat Kiran, to my right — Chloe. Smiling, businesslike. Jackson, leaning down beneath the table as if to pick something up, sprayed some Accelerant into his mouth.

The room fell silent. The eyes of three hundred contestants and just as many journalists all fell on me. In the sea of faces, I saw only the three I knew well: Malik and Tissa, exulting, triumphant, and Ian Mitchell, sympathetic. The old journalist caught my eye, nodded encouragingly and closed his eyes for a moment.

“Mr. Sheppard?” The host of the press conference reminded me why I was there.

“Hello…” I said, tapping the microphone to make sure it worked before continuing. “As you all know, I nearly didn’t make it to the Games. I arrived in the final hour of registration, so I didn’t get much chance to talk to people. But what I did hear was enough. Nobody here wants me to compete. People think I don’t deserve it, that all my victories were dishonest. I can’t fully agree with that, but I do admit that I owe all my successes in Dis to my unique status…”

I paused and Kiran immediately started off his script:

“What are you talking about, Alex, buddy? You can’t mean you want to resign?”

“Oh, God, Alex, don’t do it!” Chloe said, flinging up her hands almost naturally. “The Demonic Games is the perfect place for you to prove that your success is anything but random!”

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re here to report an unprecedented event!” Kiran said, smiling and addressing the whole hall. “For the first time since the inception of the Games, a globally renowned Threat has entered! But the opening night may be marred by some sad news…”

He turned and looked at Chloe. Cliffhanger picked up the speech like a professional runner in a verbal relay race:

“Well, it’s quite understandable. Young Alex has been through so much… Just so much!” She clasped her hands together. “The weight of all that responsibility, the constant challenges from the entire game…”

“And global!” Kiran said.

“Yes, and global community. It’s a terrible shame that the world is going to miss out on Alex in the Games! Snowstorm tried to convince him to change his mind. Heck, we still are trying, right, Kiran?”

“That’s right,” Kiran shook his head. “I’m sure it’s not over yet and Alex will think again…”

“I would like to remind everyone gathered here of the words of founding father Mike Anderson!” Chloe said imploringly. “Mr. Anderson said that Threats are an important part of Disgardium…”

She continued her speech, convincing the entire hall with total certainty that Alex Sheppard would no longer be taking part, and that this was a terrible loss for the Demonic Games. My lips smiled on their own — I was imagining their faces when I said what I was about to say.

Finishing, Cliffhanger turned to look at me.

“What do you say, Alex?”

“I can’t disagree with Mr. Anderson,” I said. Chloe nodded approvingly and Kiran clapped me on the shoulder. “And you really make a strong argument…”

“Your decision?”

“I agree with you, you’re right!” I said, addressing the hall. “Listen, I admit that I leveled up thanks to my status. But the Demonic Games makes us all equal, right? I’m going to try and prove that I can successfully play without the perks of being a Threat. I’m going to take part! I can’t deprive the audience of the sight they’ve been waiting so long to see…” I finished, spreading my arms.

Then the real chaos started. Kiran started hyperventilating, Chloe stood opening and closing her mouth and the journalists shouted questions. Somewhere out in the great nothing, the Sleepers stopped tossing and turning. The streamers in the first row shouted as they commentated their feed.

Behind them, Ian Mitchell was roaring with laughter and rubbing tears from his eyes. He slapped Katz on the shoulder. Katz gave me a thumbs-up.

Chapter 3. Cursed Outcast

NO MATTER HOW BRAVE a face I put on when I said I was staying in the Games, no matter how Kiran’s twisted snarl of fury warmed my heart, I still felt mostly dead.

My emotions showed only while