The Hero's Supplier 2 The Master's Artifacts

Rick immediately realized that a fight was out of the question. He would be crushed in a moment if he tried that nonsense!

He dropped the chair in his hand and put on the best smile he could put on, given the circ.u.mstances.

"Sir, if you can just let me pa.s.s through I will be really grateful" Rick chittered.

"What are you trying to do human?" The grey-skinned Second frowned.

"Do you take us for fools? You slaughtered through all our legions of demons, and now you ask for mercy. Haha, what a fool!", the grey-skinned Second continued.

"We are the four Kings of h.e.l.l. Do not think you can beguile us with your words.", the goat-limbed Fourth bawled in anger.

Rick was already too scared to breath facing these four creatures. But Rick just realised that it was not just him, who was worried. Even the four "Kings" seemed to be on guard.

Rick immediately realised the reason for their hesitation. The four Kings a.s.sumed that he had reached the eighth floor of the library by defeating everything that they had placed on the floors below, one by one. They had no idea that it was merely coincidence that the mutation occurred while he was on the Eighth floor.

An idea suddenly popped into Rick's mind.

'I might as well try this.' Rick thought. 'There is no way I can get out of this place any other way. Plus, I can't wait for long, if this Master comes back soon, Heavens know how strong he is.'

"Not bad!" Rick's voice resounded. He had his head tilted in a 45-degree angle, with his hand folded behind his back, as if he was an inconceivable expert.

"This is a disguise I have put on. I have been away for so long that I do not recognize this place any more. You have served me well. Now move aside as I take back my throne. Your Master is back!"

The sudden turn of event stupefied the Kings. How was it that the human child who was begging for his life moments ago was not claiming to be their Master? The kid in front of them did not seem like an expert of any kind. It was strange that he had reached so far up the tower, but he in no way gave the aura of their master.

The four looked at each other in confusion.

Rick took a step forward. While his intestines were tingling in fear, his face exuded absolute confidence. He was certain any moment would be his last now.

The four Kings did not know what to do. The change in the kid's att.i.tude was too sudden. He even looked too young to be the insurmountable expert that was their Master.

But the Kings still hesitated. Who in their right minds would dare to deceive the world by putting on a disguise and pretending to be Him? There was no one who would court such misfortune.

Moreover, if this was Master, none of the Kings wanted to offend him as soon as he returned back after his travels!

But Rick did not stop walking. He kept trotting forward towards the centre of the hall.

Meanwhile, the Kings were at the end of their patience. They had to ensure that this was their King. If a mere human child trampled across their Master's chamber while they, the Kings a.s.signed to guard, stood on the sidelines gawking, it would be their end. What honour would Master even have left?

"Welcome Master. I apologize for our earlier hostility, we did not recognize Master's impeccable disguise.", the Mist covered Third King suddenly addressed. "Please receive your Signet Ring and the Lemegeton that we have faithfully protected in your stead."

Rick immediately became alert, something did not seem right. His plan was to temporarily confuse the Kings with his 'masterful acting' for a moment till he reached close enough to the door on the other side of the room and then dash forward, praying that he reached the door first before the Kings reached him.

There was no way he had fooled them to such an extent that they took him for their Master right?

And Rick's intuition was absolutely on the spot. The other three kings gave a quick glance towards the Third King and immediately realized the tray he had set up.

The Master's artifacts could only be used by Master or someone He had blessed to be able to. If anyone else tried to forcefully take the artifacts, he would be immediately burnt to cinders. The four Kings stood guard only to ensure that no one tried to steal the artifacts.

"Next time. I am in a hurry right now. I only came to check on you guys this time" Rick quickly composed himself and waved at the Kings.

"Master, you must take possession of them and rightfully a.s.sume the mantle as our Master again." The First King insisted.

"We insist."

"We beg you Master"

The other three Kings chortled with smirks in their faces. The four Kings surrounded Rick and urged him towards the throne, closing off any other way to escape.

The Kings were almost sure that Rick was bluffing. And the solution the Third King came up with was the best way to determine the truth. If the human King was a fraud, he would receive the just punishment of being burnt to cinders and if he was actually their Master, all they could do was lower their heads and beg for forgiveness. In any case, the Kings decided it would be for the best to be safe than be sorry.

Rick did not know such a gruesome death was expected of him by the Kings, but he knew for certain that nothing good could come out of doing what they wanted. But he had no choice in the matter, he ground his teeth and moved towards the hulking throne at the centre of the room, surrounded by the four Kings.

He slowly walked up the pedestal and eyed the throne for the first time. The throne was made of a polished black material with a circular back and two lions sculpted on its arms. On the seat of the Throne were two things, an ancient looking book and a ring.

Rick looked around to see if there was any way he could avoid touching the throne or the things on it, but luck did not seem to be on his side that day.

'Please don't let me die so young.' With prayers, RIck bent his back to reach for the ring and the book under the watchful gazes of the four Kings.

Gingerly he touched the ring with his finger...

*Ding

A notification sound resounded in his mind.

Startled by the sound, Rick stumbled back and nearly fell over the throne.

*Ding

*Ding

*Ding…

Rick continuously received a flood of notifications. But he did not hear any of them. As soon as Rick touched the artifacts his vision blurred and he collapsed on the floor, with the ring on his right hand and the book on his left.

---

When Rick regained his consciousness, he suddenly found himself in an empty white expanse. As far as he could see, there was nothing else.

'This is getting too much for one day!' Rick screamed silently.

He groaned as he got up to his feet. He was wearing the same clothes as in the library but he also had the atifacts the Kings were yapping about in this hands. The book was in his left hand, while he was wearing the ring on his right hand. He tried to pull it off the ring, but after a few failed attempt, he decided to give up.

He quickly self-inspected his body and then looked around. There was not a single soul anywhere. He checked the book in his hand. For its voluminous size, it was not at all heavy. He placed the book on the ground below and started walking in a random direction.

"Hey!" Before he had even taken five steps forward, Rick suddenly heard a scream behind.

He stopped and glanced back.

Out of nowhere, there was now a white-bearded man standing behind him, wearing an exquisite armour holding the book Rick had just put down.

"Hey, lad! Why did you leave this behind?", the man said waving the book. "Did you hit your head somewhere to leave behind something so precious unattended?"

Rick was past the point of saturation where nothing could shock him .

"Who are you? Where am I? And how did you get behind me? Am I dead?" Rick babbled.

"Haha, Calm down boy. You aren't dead. At least not as of now." the beaded-man started. "You can call me Sol. As for where you are, this is the subconscious s.p.a.ce I created to leave a strand of my will on the artifacts."

Rick could not understand a word of what was said, but he was glad to hear he was not dead.

"Come, sit down. I don't have a lot of time to undertake your mundane questions." Sol gestured

Rick walked close and sat down.

"Let me start by saying congratulations on being able to inherit my artifacts." Sol said.

"Wait, so you are the Master those creatures were talking about? How is it that a human is the Master of those creatures?" Rick asked with narrowed eyes. "Wait are you a shapes.h.i.+fter?"

"No, I am a human. I did it the only way you can do, I beat them to submission." Sol chuckled. "But you already know that you had to beat those thick heads too didn't you."

"Haha. About that…" Rick smiled sheepishly. He quickly explained everything to Sol.

"Hmm. So you did not beat any of them? Not even a single demon?" Sol asked stroking his beard.

Rick shook his head no.

"Well, That's not for the worst either I guess.", Sol mumbled.

Sol started pacing around, with his one hand behind his back and the other stroking his beard.

"I already figured you did not have the strength to defeat the four Kings. My inheritor wasn't meant to. I wanted my inheritor to be someone who was not only strong but could also find a way through tough situation using their brains", Sol voiced in a self-consoling tone.

"But it looks like I have an inheritor with no brawns and at best-mediocre brains" Sol let out a distraught sigh.

Rick pursed his lips, a little annoyed at being addressed like an idiot.

"Hey, didn't your artifacts see potential in me and choose me to be the inheritor", Rick snapped.

"Is that what you think happened? Those artifacts were stored in the depths of Earth's h.e.l.l. Guarded by the might of the entire demon horde. The artifacts were meant for ANY HUMAN who could fight their way and obtain them!" Sol exclaimed.

Rick was stunned. It meant that he was not really even chosen. He merely stumbled his way across it.

"Aah never mind. Listen, kid. Let me explain to you what the artifacts are." Sol continued.

"The ring on your finger is known as the Signet. With it, you wield the power to control all of the demon hordes, including the four Kings.

The second artifact is the book. Actually, it's a grimoire. It called th-"

Rick had his hand raised, interrupting Sol.

"What?" Sol asked.

"What is a grimoire?" Rick replied.

"Aah!" Sol shook his head dejected. "It's a spell book."

"So continuing. The grimo… spellbook is known as the Lemegeton. It's the most powerful spell book in the history of mankind. It has the power to summon demons from h.e.l.l to a.s.sist the Master of the spellbook in his times of peril."

"Whoa!" Rick was truly shocked. If he could summon the ma.s.sive demon horde or even one of the Kings to protect him, there would be little to worry about the upcoming apocalypse that the Heaven's Dictate spoke of.

Seeing Rick finally show interest, Sol's eyes burned with pa.s.sion. "Not just that son. The Lemegeton is a treasure trove of information. Never mind, all that you will figure out its uses over time anyway."

"Thank you, sir! This is the best thing that has happened to me all day." Rick truly felt like all troubles and life-threatening situations we had to encounter were worth it.

"Hmm. Use them all wisely for the betterment of all humanity" Sol gave a serene smile.

"Yes sir" Rick replied. He did not mind helping people till it did not involve him being put in harm's way.

"I have already left Earth behind. Maybe we will meet again someday. Do well son." Sol tossed the grimoire Lemegeton at Rick and turned away.

Rick caught the grimoire carefully and pet it like it was a precious diamond.

"Oh and one last thing. The powers of the Lemegeton will unlock along with the power of its wielder. With your power, you would not even be able to summon a demon puppy if you tried. So work hard," Sol explained. "And if you are unable to become strong enough to summon at least one of the Demon Kings within the next one year, they will most definitely revolt and kill you."

Saying this Sol vanished.

'd.a.m.n it! How could I think this thing would be good for me? It's a death sentence!' Rick cried his eyes out.