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

I spoke, shored up by Ian’s silent support and my own confidence that I was doing the right thing. But then…

An icy indifference overtook me, as if I’d brought Cold-Blooded Punisher into the real world with me. The sight of Malik and Tissa embracing didn’t bother me, nor the catcalls from particularly vindictive contestants, nor the falsely sympathetic questions from the journalists. My brain seemed to understand — just a little more and I’d either fall into the despairing dark of depression or I’d go insane. Or maybe it was the Sleepers helping me — they always seemed to be with me, somehow. Whatever the reason, my state didn’t change: I stopped feeling emotions, deciding to do what I must and let be what would be.

Ian disappeared into one of the press center’s capsules after whispering to me that my friends (if they even were friends) Edward Rodriguez and Hung Lee had contacted him, wanting to comment on the situation with Tissa and Malik.

I stayed sat behind the table, my arms crossed, seeing nothing until I suddenly realized that someone had been shaking me for some time:

“Alex! Hey, Alex!” I turned and saw Kerry. “Well, thank Two-horns, you woke up! Come on, the communal meal is about to start! That’s it now, kiddo, you’re officially a contestant in the Demonic Games and obliged to follow the organizers’ rules! You have a contract!”

I made myself stand up. Kerry stroked my cheek and said quietly:

“Now you’ve done it… Chloe is screaming and crying, Kiran is out of his mind with rage!”

“I have to compete. They all think I’m a coward since I didn’t accept the challenge in the desert.”

“I know, I know…” She sniffled, hugged me and held me close. I scented sweet perfume that reminded me of rotting flesh. “I know. They all just see your status, but they forget you’re just a kid…”

“Ahem,” someone delicately coughed nearby.

Pushing myself away awkwardly, I saw a girl on rollerskates, in a tube top and the shortest skirt I’d seen in my life. The girl smiled warmly, but her eyes were serious. One flashed red — she was streaming.

“Hey, Alex! You’re live on the air! All forty million of my subscribers are watching you and they’re bombarding me with questions. Will you answer some?”

“Do it,” Kerry whispered. “Win them over!”

Nodding, I forced a smile:

“Hey!” It was hard for me to concentrate; the girl’s legs ended at around the level of my stomach. “Hey, uhm…”

“Oh, sorry, I thought you know me,” the streamer said, blushing. “I’m Lia Solo, but that doesn’t matter, millions are watching you. I’m not here, I’m just the eyes of the audience!”

I got a grip on myself and spoke:

“Hey, Lia! Hey, viewers! You probably saw what happened. My friends… former friends, Tissa and Malik… That was sudden. And it hurt. So sorry if I don’t seem too friendly right now… Anyway, ask your questions.”

“Oh, yeah! We’re sooo sorry that happened!” Lia cooed. “What are you feeling right now?”

“Sadness. Disappointment.”

“Be yourself!” Kerry whispered in my ear.

“Hell, I’m having a shit time, guys! I’m used to hate from strangers, but friends… That’s something else.”

“We know just how you feel, Alex!” Lia clapped her hands together. Her sympathy even seemed sincere. “Another question. Your class, Herald. Tell us, what’s special about it? There’s nothing about it online or in the game encyclopedia!”

“I’m very charismatic,” I laughed. “That’s a decisive stat for the class. I also have a high level of Persuasion and…”

“That’s enough, sorry, sorry!” Kerry moved between me and the streamer. “Alex is late for the shared meal!”

“Hold on, Alex!” Lia shouted as we left.

Kerry walked me out of the press center, looked around and hissed:

“Are you out of your mind? Keep your secrets to yourself!”

“I know what I’m doing! I didn’t plan to tell them more than they need to know…”

I didn’t remember anything about our path to the ceremonial hall, I was so deep in thought. Kerry gave me advice, tried to convince me that I had to be strong, and even explained her own stake: the assistants to the players made bets between themselves with a big prize pool — the longer her ward stayed in the game, the greater her reward. The company bonus system worked the same way.

We reached a wooden door with a wrought-iron handle… not a door at all really, but a full-fledged set of gates, and Kerry handed me over to a servant droid. The huge gates opened inwards.

Following the droid, I crossed the threshold and looked around. The hall of ceremonies was impressively large. It even made me wonder for a second if Snowstorm had learned how to work with parallel dimensions. How else could such a massive room fit into the hotel?

The hall was like a two-tiered amphitheater. At its center was a round stage, not yet lit. Shadows moved there behind holographic stage curtains. Dozens of tables for the contestants were arranged around the stage. Unoccupied tables sank into the floor, and as soon as you approached them, they rose on special pistons. The journalists and VIP guests were seated on the upper level.

The droid brought me to a table with one empty chair.

“Mr. Sheppard, your seat is here. Please sit down.”

My neighbors were silent a moment, then just resumed their conversations without greeting me.

My comm told me that the white-haired beauty sat to my left was the sculptor Anna, Miss Commonwealth 2074, and the portly old bearded man sat opposite was a grand master of Jewelcrafting and winner of a professional tournament. Next to him sat a brown-haired man with high cheekbones called Frankie, champion of Dis in gryphon racing. The man was flirting with Anna and dropping sarcastic comments. The fifth at our table was bald Theodor Novak, also known as Shemshur, a tamer,