Side Story - 009 - The Twelve

Sitting cross-legged Game Master Sao was frowning while drinking away from a flask of wine mulling over data and the labyrinth setting.

“That damn seed girl, what's her name? Xue! Thanks to her my plans have been ruined! I was planning on that Cyclops covering this area to make the test harder! Now I have to use a Useless beast hoard for this place!

Those 'seeded’ bastards are forcing me to dig lower into the labyrinth layers and pull up more powerful beasts. You are ruining the balance you bastards! Humph! No wonder those younglings what to ramp up the test up!”

Mumbling to himself aloud he started messing with the labyrinth algorithm typing on floating screens around him. Around him, a few disciples were sorting through the contestant's data ranging from their battle prowess to their fighting techniques.

It was a chaotic battle in itself numbers could be heard crunching and descriptions being written down while other files were removed when another contestant was eliminated.

One of the disciples who we meet before the glasses one had walked up to his master to give him a message, “Grand Elder I ha--”

Spit exploded into the disciples face Sao was livid, “You bastard! Didn't I tell you to call me Game Master! What don't you get here I'll spell it out for your thick head G-a-m-e M-a-s-t-e-r!

Taking the verbal abuse naturally the disciple bowed his head apologizing, “Disciple has made a mistake Game Master!”

The old fart snorted, “Humph, whatever what do you want number 289 can't you see I'm stirring up potential and discarding trash! What could be more important than this?”

While bowing to disciple 289 reported, “Game Master the seventh day is almost over and 'the twelve’ are ready to head out will you not say any words to them? After all, they are your main pieces the 'bosses’.”

Hearing about his bosses the old man had a rare smile crossed his face. Turning his head in another old man Sao saw the number 67 stitched on her robe and yelled at him, “Number 67 take care of the command post for thirty minutes I'll be back by then!”

“Yes, sir!”

Leaving 67 to take over managing old Sao was led away by number 289 to another room nearby where the two entered inside. With a smile on his face, Sao scanned the room and took note one by one of the figures and nodded in approval but stopped when he counted thirteen.

Turning to 289 with a frown Sao spat, “Didn't I say I only wanted twelve bosses?! Why is there one extra don't you idiots know how to count!”

289 nodded his head in approval, “Twelve were picked but Sect Master Celia included an extra Gemini stating that the necromancers twin should be added as they are a pair and considered one entity.”

Snorting in displeasure looked the twins and looked away in displeasure, “I'll only allow it as long as you move together. If you ever move away from each other I'll kick you out of my labyrinth!”

The black-haired twins nodded their heads in acknowledgment staying silent. Seeing them agree old Sao continued talking, “Thanks for picking up this mission and being my chess pieces for this exam you brats. Now let's get the rules down if you forgot to read the doves sent to you.”

Pulling out twelve cards from his ring of holding Sao took a moment to think and split one of the cards in half which then formed into two exact same cards. When finished Sao began to explain to the thirteen pawns, “The rules are simple you brats, everyday go around and ‘hunt’ contestants and force them to pay 100 talismans every 24 hours if they don't, draw them into this card world and battle them.

If they lose and keep their lives kick them out; if you somehow lose to those newbies they’ll get a full pardon, 100 talismans, and won't have to face another boss for the remainder time. Next is you be acting as one of the guardians on these zodiac symbol cards as follows; Gemini, Libra, Scorpio, Taurus, Virgo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Capricorn, Leo, and Cancer.”

Throwing the cards at the youths old man Sao turned around and walked away and almost reached the exit only to her a soothing female voice from behind him, “Game Master Sao I have one question do we have a limit of how many people can enter this world a day?”

Turning his head with a vein popping in his forehead turned to the girl holding the Virgo card, “None you are free to do as you like as long as you follow the rules, remember you are getting rewarded for getting talismans and removing contestants.”

With that old man, Sao left disciple 289 with the thirteen card holders his face expressionless while in fount of these inner disciples who gave off a powerful aura. Virgo turned her slender neck towards a man holding the Leo card his muscles built like steel dressed in black robes.

“Senior Apprentice Brother Vulkin shall we have a contest on how many points we can farm? Loser has to listen to the request of the winner what do you say? Do you dare?”

Vulkin raised and eyebrow scratching his hair in embarrassment, “I fear Junior Apprentice Sister that your thoughts are impure I’ll have to decline such a bet.”

Laughing card holder Scorpio hid his face in embarrassment, “You’re scared Vulkin? What happened to your saying of, ‘No one can defeat me. I am the strongest!’ Can’t you take on a simple bet? If you won’t I will! What do you say guys winner gets to ask the losers any one thing and they have to do it what do you say?”

“I Dare.”

“Sure pay me sweets when I win.”

…

One by one the ‘bosses’ jumped in agreeing to the bet leaving Leo alone in backing out to the point his pride couldn’t take it. With a sigh full of contempt Leo raised his hand, “Fine, fine if you guys insist that badly then lets bet! I just wanted to relax and earn some easy points you guys take it too far!”

Seeing all the ‘bosses’ pumped up ready to lay waste to the contestant's disciple 289 inwardly shook his head, ‘Their is going to be fewer contestants joining the sect this year. I wonder how those seeds will react?’