The SSS Beast King: Rebirth of the Legendary Predator
Chapter 53: The Fourth’s Shadow

Chapter 53: The Fourth’s Shadow

’At least, this...was over.’ Tired, I could hardly even spit out my mind, but I couldn’t contain my happiness. It was over, and I didn’t really care about the elimination round. After my loss against Dusk, there was no way I would lose to anyone else. They don’t deserve to be in the same group as him and The Third.

It was sad that I had lost a pawn, but with her conditions, she could have never promoted. Fear, guilt, and many others held her back from becoming a mighty queen. It wasn’t like I truly lost her; she was very much safe. I just don’t think she will ever listen to me again.

There were many others here that I could use, I just had to win the third game so I could gain control. These followers chose to worship those in power, which at the moment was Dusk, but his power wasn’t only because of this win. His influence had already sprung from the elimination game, which was why I wasn’t so scared, after all, it was a chance to catch up.

I shivered a little, as the wind blew, rubbing itself against my skin. ’When are we going back to the house already?’ It was becoming annoying hanging out in the snow all day and my clothes were all wet.

As I was complaining, a bright light reflected into my eyes, as I raised my head which had gotten heavy, I slowly noticed that it wasn’t a light, but the system itself.

[You have chosen the correct side of the bridge, you are safe from elimination.]

My lips started cracking thanks to the cold weather, as I stared at the screen completely baffled. ’Correct side?’ I smile, showing all my teeth. I wasn’t sure how I had won, but I wasn’t complaining. Was it because the system never said the cabin was in the right spot? It made sense, but I was observant of the system’s words, so I don’t know if I had let such a weird choice of words pass me.

The system never said the cabin was the correct side, only that one side held everything and the other nothing. We assumed. We wanted comfort. And that’s what blinded us. We got carried away by greed, our hunger for survival in the best condition.

And this... happens in real life all the time. People value a more expensive lifestyle even where a more simple way of living is more enjoyable. Their greed combined with their pride of being known as superiors was too much for them to let go, and they were dragged by their choices back to the bottom.

Truly, this wasn’t just a game, but a test. And it wasn’t a hypocritical test like I had though, where good gets you to hell and bad to heaven. Your supposed good deed of letting go of your greed, allowing others to live in comfort while you embraced the cold, was the true path to salvation.

But after I could hardly contain my happiness from the sudden turn of events, I remembered something, or two actually. One worse than the other, that went against the plan that I had created and explained a moment ago.

I couldn’t use the elimination round to gain influence, oh and yeah Anri was up for elimination, this was the less important fact.

Without influence, I couldn’t fully develop my pieces, leaving me with them all at their starting positions. And with only being able to do things on my own, due to the lack of followers, I was bound to get checked, and eventually even checkmated.

So I had to somehow use this elimination game, but could I really do it from the outside? I was just a spectator watching others fight. I had to get inside but how? I had to become a piece, I had to become one with the game.

But was that even possible, regressing from a three-dimensional world to a two-dimensional one? And if I did, who would become the player while I took the role of king? I had to intervene in this next elimination round, even if it was through myself, or another.

I had to have full control of the board first before I could start my attacks. And for that, I needed an opening, one even I can’t predict. I had to think of something not even my future couldn’t. To do something out of my character, as if I had become another piece on the board and not the king.

...No, I was wrong. This was all a mistake, I didn’t have to view the battlefield in a two-dimensional field, which would limit my options to only me, not being able to use the others to my advantage, I couldn’t become a piece. But I couldn’t stay in this three-dimensional, even with all the possibilities, my achievement would go unnoticed by all.

I had to be both a piece and a mastermind. I had to transcend into a four-dimensional world.

My eyes had to have the ability to perceive both what was inside the elimination round, and also use it. My brain had to think of every possible outcome before making a decision. I had to lose my omnipotence as it would keep me away from achieving omniscience and omnipresence.

I had to become a deity or a knockoff of one that had its powers but was still human. And with that, I had to become a god in the eyes of others, as only then would I be able to achieve godhood, through human belief, after all, that was how The Core was created.

[You will be teleported back to the mai-]

To become more knowledgeable than The Core itself. I couldn’t leave even a single flaw in my plan, not even one gap in the script, or else how would I be able to fully become that character without a script describing his behavior? Even the mightiest actors can’t improve their character’s feelings and intentions without it being written on paper.

I continued to smile, as the thought as thought accelerated in my mind without any sign of stopping, but... it felt too good to even try stopping.

’I had... to become The Core.’ I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my back as my words left my dry mouth. I opened my eyes to see that I was on the ground. In front of me, I saw a pair of eyes, one held the color of the sun, while the other of darkness. His hair was pitch black, and at the sides a burning fire. One of his arms looked like it was being corrupted by a black substance, was it a tattoo, or something else?

"Hello there firstborn of the moon! I’m Eclipse." He said offering me his hand to get up. What was his deal, and better, when did I get here? Did I perhaps not notice due to my passive? And what was with that nickname? Well, there was no reason for me to not ignore him... but at the same time he was Dusk’s teammate, maybe I could gather something important from him. So I took his hand.

But as we made contact, I felt my soul being drained from the inside. The light from my eyes was gone, and my skin had palled. I felt empty and without a home. Just what power was this...

"Ops looks like I had my skill activated. My fault." She said trying to laugh it off. Was your skill activated? This was on purpose goddammit. But I did feel a shiver run down my spine at the thought of his power. If just by touching him, I slowly lost myself, what other powers could he have?

"Well... looks like the first impression turned out terrible. Maybe the second will be better. See you later." He turned his back on me, still laughing as he left. Just what kind of guy pushes you to the ground, extends you a hand that sucks the light out of you, and then leaves. But then again... this was Dusk’s brother.

My eyes widened, as I clenched my fists. Was I wrong, was Dusk, not the hero? Could The Fourth have been this guy all this time?

’Copy...’ I murmured to myself as Eclipse walked away. He was too of a powerful piece to let go. I need his power, in whatever way was possible. And right now, this was the only one that came to mind.

But as I said those words, I saw Eclipse stop moving, and with a smiling face, he turned to me. "Use it well, son of the moon." And then he left... How was he able to hear me, it didn’t sound like he only heard. He already knew in some way or another that I could copy skills. But how can you access the contract of others unless they let you?

[Copying random skill...]

[Copied skill. [Devourer of Radiance] Would you like to see its description]

Was that really a question? It seemed pretty vivid to me that I clearly wanted to see what it does. If I wasn’t so curious I wouldn’t have copied it.