SSS Ranked Shadow Monarch: Summoning Infinite Shadows-Chapter 216: A deal

Aren froze when Loki called him by his actual name. He looked at Loki with fear.

"Don’t be afraid, that much should be expected when dealing with a god like me," Loki said, and then stepped back. "You are an anomaly, something that shouldn’t have existed, yet it does.

But there is more to what you are than what you know, Aren," Loki said. He leaned in again, looking Aren right in the eyes.

"Your memories, you don’t have them, right?" he said.

"How do you know that?" Aren asked, being defensive.

"Haha, because I make research, kid," Loki said. "While those other gods are busy wasting their existence, I watch and I learn, but that’s not the issue here, Aren.

You see, I prefer for things to be fun and far more exciting, and I want this tournament to be a bit more fun, you see," Loki said calmly.

"So what do you want from me? Why would a God go out of his way to meet me?" Aren asked. In his heart, he was worried and panicking. He didn’t know what would happen if he mistakenly said the wrong thing, and that was very possible when dealing with a powerful being.

"Aren, I have the answers to everything that you have been searching for, your memories of your past life, everything that happened to you, the truth of who you are.

Most importantly, I have the truth about your parents, the people that gave birth to Nathan," Loki said. A smile formed on his face as he spoke.

Aren’s eyes widened. He looked at Loki with so much shock and confusion.

"What, what are you saying?" Aren asked.

"Oh? Seems you are interested. Well, what I’m saying is that I know what happened to you and what happened to your parents, and I’m ready to help you if you do what I want," Loki said.

Aren looked at him, and at this point, his mind had removed the fact that Loki was the god of trickery. The mention of his past and the possible hint at his parents immediately clouded Aren’s mind, and he wanted to know what happened to his parents and his former life.

"What do I need to do?" he asked.

"Nothing much, but you have to make this tournament interesting. You have to ensure that you go all out and go for the kill. Do this and I’ll tell you everything that you want to know," Loki said.

"You want me to kill Awakened for your entertainment, and then you’ll tell me about my past?" Aren asked.

"Indeed, that’s all you need to do. I’ll tell you about what they did to you as a kid, and how you are connected to the trials, why you are an anomaly, and also how your parents’ disappearance has to do with the trials," Loki said.

When he said that last line, Aren froze. He looked at Loki with wide eyes.

"My parents, their disappearance has something to do with the trials?" Aren asked, genuine confusion on his face.

"I can’t say, until you make our deal work," Loki said. He took a few steps away and then turned. "Aren, you are more than just an anomaly, there is more to you, but it has been hidden from you so much. I’m ready to spill all the truth and allow you to see your true self," Loki added and then kept walking away.

"Oh, and don’t tell anyone about this. Let’s keep this between you and me, after all, a god isn’t allowed here at all," Loki said and then walked away, vanishing right before Aren.

Aren stood there looking at the ground, his fist clenched, his mind a mix of so much that he could barely understand himself.

He stayed that way for a few minutes, not moving at all, and then suddenly he lifted his head and looked at the ceiling. He took a deep breath. "Screw you, Loki, along with everyone that thinks my life is some game.

I am tired of this, of all of you, every single one of you, curse you all," Aren said, his face twisting into anger. He balled his fist even tighter and his knuckles turned white.

"You have all pushed me into becoming what I never thought I would be through your trials, and now you want me to dance to your pleasure, there is a limit to how far I’ll bend.

My past is very important to me, but it doesn’t get to decide what I do in my present. I’ll not become a mindless killing tool if I don’t have to," Aren said. He took a very deep breath, his hatred for the trials and the gods increasing even more.

[You have been selected for the first duel, head to the Arena in one minute]

The system sent a message about the first duel. Aren looked at it, his expression blank. "Typical," he said casually and then started walking in the direction of the Arena.

When he arrived there, he saw his friends standing at the entrance.

"We got the notifications of who was the first to duel, so we came to see you before you start," Aiden said.

"Kick some ass out there," Kira said, smiling. Despite what had happened, she had become more free again.

Aren looked at the group. He cracked a smile.

’The reason I hate you the most, Loki, is because you tried to turn me into a monster that destroys my present for my past. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

But my present is one of the best I have ever had, with friends that stand as my new and better family.’

"Of course I’ll kick ass," Aren said and walked out onto the Arena. The lights shone bright in his eyes as he covered them with one hand to adjust. The chants and cheers of everyone that was around reached his ears. Despite the angel coming here a while back, the atmosphere had returned to a high level.

He dropped his hand and looked across the platform at his opponent.