After an hour, Hel went to Zeus’ place to give him a token.
“Three days in Hades. Don’t you dare forget that.”
“Of course. Do you think I am someone that forgets their promises?”
“It is not the first time you would have done it. Everyone knows that you are many things Zeus, but an honorable guy? No. So, don’t bullshit me and do whatever you want to do with this. Beware though. You do know what Gambler is capable of. And the very fact that he has not reacted even though we have done so much shit is actually really scary to me.
So, don’t mess with this too much.
This token will grant you five minutes. You should be able to finish whatever you want to tell him in that duration.”
“That is more than enough. Let’s hope that dumbass can understand what I am going to tell him.”
With that, he took the token and proceeded to use it while Hel went back.
Meanwhile, back in the valley.
Dayus is looking at the battle formation drawn on a scroll in the makeshift tent they have established.
His troops are currently fighting against the troops of Kumar in a slow battle of attrition. Kumar’s forces are on the defensive and they played like that. Since Donner is also waiting on the other side, they didn’t want to take any risk.
Dayus is also very cautious with his forces as he didn’t want to lose too many before he confronted Sam, whom he believed will be arriving in this area anytime soon.
All of a sudden, he felt like he blacked. His subconscious appeared in a different space and in front of him came Zeus’ silhouette.
Dayus immediately wanted to fall on his knees and offer his prayers, but his subconscious didn’t have any shape or form that he could control. He is just there.
“You worthless piece of garbage.” Zeus started with his greeting.
Dayus didn’t even dare to rebuke for that comment. He just shut his mouth and gulped hard in fear.
Zeus tried to suppress his anger and slowly spoke.
“Do you know how much effort I have put in to give you this chance and you are wasting it. Anyway, I don’t have much time so listen to this carefully. Do you understand me?”
With that, he started explaining his plan.
As expected within the five minutes, he disappeared and Dayus is back to his operation with his troops. He didn’t know what to say or how to react immediately, but he did know there is a massive change of plans in order.
Slowly, time passed and it is already evening and by that time, some people that are part of the spy’s team came to Sam’s camp for the temporary refugee he offered. As for why they came that late, it is the spy boy who arranged for them to come at some intervals one by one.
This way, nobody will notice that a bunch of them are gone and suspect them and Sam could also get more and more information about the camp’s state.
So, when the last person came, Sam had a talk with him to see how things are and he must say that he was very surprised by that conversation.
Dayus is not acting as recklessly as Sam wanted. He preserved a lot of his forces and in fact he used most of them to drive more than half of Kumar’s forces to the direction of Sam’s camp.
He is using that to intercept Sam.
And even more surprising is that his managed to strike a deal with Donner. Sam doesn’t know what the deal is exactly. But he is curious to know what it is, since Donner who tried so hard not to be considered Dayus’ true ally for years willingly made a deal.
“What the hell are they up to?”
Sam muttered to himself not understanding what to do.
The only good news among them is that, Noah’s presence. She came a couple of hours ago and she is helping Kumar’s troops, but not too much.
All she did was help Kumar reduce his casualties. She is the only variable that Dayus didn’t expect. In a way he expected her presence, but he didn’t expect her approach. The situation is not exactly in anyone’s favor.
The only thing out of Sam’s calculations is that this balance actually preserved Kumar’s base.
In his opinion, people should have stormed his base and occupied the territory. Then Sam would create maximum damage as the final party that arrived.
It would have been majestic to say the least. But still, it is not that bad.
What he doesn’t know is, coincidentally after the last spy that was on Sam’s side left the base, Dayus sent envoys to other players for a meeting. By now, he managed to take control of the troops from the hands of the young lady who is actually in charge.
No one knows what he had done and how he was able to take over the control so easily. But it worked.
The envoy response is not exactly enthusiastic, but it is definitely positive. Because, along with the envoy, he sent a message that indicated that their survival will be guaranteed for the next day without any fighting.
Even though players didn’t like cooperating with Dayus, they knew that he can come up with some cunning plans. They at least wanted to hear him out, because there is another condition he attached. He wouldn’t ask for their cooperation in actually fighting Sam.
He will fight Sam with his own troops, without any real time battle support from the other groups. So, they are much more curious about what he planned.
And when they finally met him and he explained the plan, they were really surprised.
“You just want us to stay our hand without battling at all, until Sam comes. That is all you want from us? Is that it?”
“Yes.”
“You really don’t need anything else from us?”
“Not when it concerns Sam. We can fight ourselves as much as we want from tomorrow. But now, I want you guys to stay your hand. Don’t attack each other. Sam will come here by night and I would like to fight him.”
“I wonder if your brain is dying bit by bit as you get your ass kicked by Sam time and again. Why would you want to go after him in every challenge? You know that he is better than you, better than all of us. Might even be better than all of us combined. Have you ever thought of accepting the truth?”
Noah said matter of factly.
“What truth? Didn’t you see him lose in the previous challenge?”
“Are you really saying that with a fucking straight face? He got played. All the disadvantages were attached to him. He was targeted. And we all know who the fuck did that. You were played all the good cards.
Even we feel bad for taking advantage of him. And you are saying with a straight face that he lost? He controlled all of us with that injured body and torturous pain. I wonder how far he would have kicked your ass if he half as healthy as you were.
Idiot.”
Noah didn’t hold her tongue back. Kumar tried to control his laughter. Akhil didn’t give a shit and just laughed out loud.
Arkiv is not even there.
He doesn’t even care of Dayus’ status as a fellow player. He might be the one to broker peace most of the time or establish cooperation between the players, but assisting Dayus in any way or form is something he wouldn’t do even if he has to fight against all the other players.
And they all know why. So, they are not surprised.
“I am not here to get lectured by you. If it is a fight that you seek, you can have one. Don’t you dare run your mouth off like this.”
“Whatever. Noah just rolled her eyes and didn’t bother to talk anymore.
“Unless Arkiv steps in and aids Sam, I will handle things smoothly. I just as that you stay your hand for this night. I know I am in a disadvantageous position as you guys always like to gang up on me.
But I ask you this favor as a fellow player.”
“You are speaking as if you have not earned that discrimination. You backstabbed us as your fellow players multiple times. Cut that pitiful bullshit.
Anyway, we will agree to your terms if the price is right.”
“What do you want?”
Noah smirked and rubbed her palms. There is a glint in her eyes that made Dayus almost regret the decision he made. But when he thought of Zeus and his warning, he couldn’t help but shudder a bit and grit through this.
Noah and Kumar happily fleeced him along with other players and sat back to watch the show. They do have some doubts on whether Sam would come or not. That didn’t stop them from fleecing though.
