SUPREME ARCH-MAGUS

As Kent approached the Southern Resting Palace, the whispers grew louder and clearer.

His Golden Throne floated down, depositing him at the foot of the tightly shut palace doors. The structure looked even more ancient and imposing than the northern palace, its surface cracked and covered with the crimson tendrils of invasive vines.

For a moment, all was silent except for the faint rustling of the wind. Kent leaned forward and stared at the door for details.

Then, he heard it—again. The mysterious voice became more obvious as he heard loud laughter.

"Hehehe… Puny Human… Show me your strength…"

The voice was louder now, with a mocking edge that itching Kent nerves. Kent turned around, his fists clenching as he scanned the area around him.

"Who's there? Reveal yourself if you have guts!" Kent roared, his voice echoed against the cracked walls of the palace.

A faint, wicked laugh echoed again in response.

"Ahhh, what's this? I thought a beautiful, tender, soft lady would come to rescue me from this dreadful place. Instead, I get... YOU. A greedy little human, probably hiding his ugly face behind that mask."

Kent's brow twitched. "You really got guts. Why don't you show yourself?" Kent scanned while taunting the voice.

"Why don't you open these doors first? I'd like to see if you're even strong enough to entertain me." The voice countered in an amused tone.

Kent's lips curled into a smile. Without another word, he moved his inner mana. His nimbus knuckles glowed and awakened to life as Kent lifted his fist. He slammed both fists against the massive doors.

"Boom"

The impact sent shockwaves along the wall. The ancient metal door cracked before shattering into countless pieces.

"...Hmph."

For a moment, the voice was silent in shame. Then, it spoke again.

"Well, well. Not bad for someone like you. I'll admit, you've got some power, tiny human."

Kent rolled his eyes, ignoring the snarky remark, and stepped inside.

--- Enjoy new stories from My Virtual Library Empire

The Southern Resting Palace was in worse shape than the northern one. Collapsed walls and broken relics littered the interior. Blood-colored trees had grown wild here too, their hanging roots splitting through the floor and reaching toward the ceiling like skeletal arms.

Kent carefully stepped, his sharp eyes scanning every corner. He had learned his lesson from the northern palace and began searching for carvings, paintings, or hidden places that might contain useful treasures.

"Tiny human, you're wasting your time. There's nothing left here for your greedy little hands." The voice spoke again, smugness dripping from every word.

Kent paused mid-step. "You're quite the chatterbox for someone hiding like a coward."

"Coward? Oh no, weakling, I prefer the term 'strategically hiding.' Besides, why would I bother revealing myself to a masked human? Unless, of course, you're hiding a handsome face under there. Are you a handsome, tiny human?"

"You're the most irritating ghost I've encountered in my life." Kent groaned.

"Flattery will get you nowhere. Now, if you'd stop rummaging through garbage, I could guide you to something actually useful." The voice replied cheerfully.

Even though Kent ignored it, the voice insisted that Kent head to the underground barracks. With a sigh of disappointment, Kent followed its directions, descending a staircase behind a crumbled wall.

"Why are you even helping me?" Kent asked as he reached the bottom of the staircase.

"Helping you? Don't be ridiculous. I'm merely ensuring that you don't embarrass yourself further. Besides, I'm bored. And watching you stumble around like a lost puppy is the most entertainment I've had in centuries." The voice replied in offence.

Kent ignored the tone, stepped into the barracks. At the far end of the room, he saw a golden-framed mirror, its surface inscribed with strange symbols and a faint glow.

"There it is… The only treasure left in this place. Don't say I never did anything for you." the voice said, its tone smug.

Kent approached the mirror cautiously, inspecting its intricate carvings. "It looks… ordinary."

"Ordinary?" The voice sounded offended. "That's no ordinary mirror, you ungrateful human! It's… well, it's special! Trust me. One day you will definitely find out its speciality"

"I'll trust you when you stop calling me 'tiny human,'" Kent muttered, storing the mirror in his spatial ring.

The voice wasn't done. It then led Kent to courtyard outside the resting palace, where an ancient well stood surrounded by spiders and **blood-sucking worms in the size of his arm.

Kent peered into the well, his sharp eyes widening as he saw the golden liquid bubbling at the bottom.

"Human, collect that. Every single drop. It's currency from the God Realm. Do you even know how valuable that is?" The voice asked mockingly.

Kent raised an eyebrow. "Why is it here?" "It's the life essence for god race. Like mana stones to humans. We drink it before going to war. Enough questions, take every single drop."

Despite the voice's annoying commentary, Kent summoned a spirit ring and began drawing the liquid from the well.

"So, who are you? A ghost or abandoned slave spirit?" As Kent worked, he finally addressed the voice directly.

"Ah, where are my manners? I am the magnificent, the charming, the utterly irresistible God of Mischief!"

"God of Mischief? You sound more like the God of Annoyance." Kent snorted.

"Excuse me? I've been trapped here for centuries, and you dare insult me? Do you know how boring it is being stuck with no one to tease? You should be thanking me for gracing you, a male with my wit." The voice replied, mockingly offended.

"This place has been sealed for centuries. You must be an unsatisfied ghost. If you're really a god, why are you still stuck here?"

There was a pause before the voice replied, its tone dripping with smugness. "Ah, you see, I'm… I'm in a soul spirit form. Yes, a soul spirit. Before dying, I separated my soul from my body. I used the energy of all remaining treasures to survive till now."

"More like you destroyed all treasures here to survive… Right?" Kent rolled his eyes in frustration.

The voice chuckled. "Perhaps. But that's a story for another time. Now, how about a real deal? You help me out of here, and I'll guide you to treasures that'll make you the envy of the mortal realm."

"And what happens if I say no?" Kent said while draining the last drops from the well. The well was deeper than he expected and he collected hundreds of gallons of golden liquid.