Chapter 56：Guidance

James walked into the nearby church and sat himself down on a pew at the back. The Priest glanced in his direction to welcome him in but a quick flash of blue fire in James' eye gave as much indication to the Priest as was needed to say James didn't want much company. The man continued with his service with a single bead of sweat lingering on the side of his face; clinging desperately for it's life.

James reached for a copy of the bible in front of him looking so words of wisdom. Anything would be useful t this point. He flicked through the pages and stopped at one page. On it read:

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk

through the darkest valley,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

7 He already knows my choice,

for he guides me with his words.

When I am ready,

he will take me.

The last verse seemed to appear as James read on as if it was being written as he read. Closing the book slowly and sliding back into the bench, James pondered his decision.

If he didn't say yes then all his friends would die. So of course he should say yes. But who's saying that this is all a joke and that book can't do anything? But the fight against Okubi with all the gods and goddesses? It was so easy to defeat them. As if it had been planned out all along. But he if did join, how many other people would die from the events afterwards. It would probably be better if he left completely. Nothing else would happen to Abigail or Alcie or William ... everyone would be fine and alive. They could live out the rest of their lives knowing that the true source of all their problems was gone. James looked at the book laying in his lap and read the final verse in his head.

'I've made my decision ... take me with you' thought James.

"If you truly have made your decision then take my hand." he said. James walked over to him and looked down at the appendage.

"You won't hurt my friends or family if I go with you, right?" asked James. The man smiled slightly.

"The only people getting hurt, are the ones you'll be fighting."

"Wait, what?" but before James could understand what had been said, they entered the kaleidoscopic branch of universes for a split second before dropping out onto a large stone circle.

There were 31 other people standing on the circle with a seemingly limitless amount people forming a crowd. Many of the people in the circle turned to James with arrogant smiles as they surveyed to fresh punching bag. But one person, clad in thick black cloak, seemed to bore a hole through James' body with a stare that could cut through stone.

"LADIES, GENTLEMEN, GLORKENS, AND WHAT EVER OTHER RACES OR GENDERS ARE MIXED INTO THE CROWD TODAY! I AM YOUR HOST MACULL! AND TODAY WE DECIDE WHO WILL BE MY NEW SECOND IN COMMAND!" boomed a deafening and echoed voice. James whipped round to a elevated balcony stood on which was the man from the grave yard. His name was Macull, second son of the omni-god.

"THE ROLE WILL DECIDED AS SO! THERE WILL BE A TOURNAMENT! FIVE ROUNDS LEADING TO A FINAL MATCH BETWEEN THE LAST REMAINING CONTESTANTS! THE WINNER WILL THEN HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING SECOND IN COMMAND! ANY QUESTIONS?!" asked Macull. Someone behind James cleared their throat.

"Yeah, I have two questions. When do we begin and who will be fighting in our matches?" asked a tall man. He had a short torso but his arms and legs were miles long. He was wearing a suit made out of a red fibre that was almost like plates of armour wrapping around his frame. He also held a small, red and blue disk in his hand that looked to be made out of the same material.

"WELL, COLVERK, THE MATCHES BEGIN RIGHT NOW! AND YOUR OPPONENT IS ... STANDING RIGHT THERE!" Macull pointed at James who swallowed hard. The other people, pushed and pulled by a mystical force, skidded off the circle and were sat on chairs facing what James now realised was a stone arena. James and Colverk also skidded along the arena but to opposite ends. Colverk squatted down - one leg stretched out and the other bent - and slapped the disk onto the back of his head. A red helmet with blue lightning patterns on it that almost looked like a rain drop was deployed around Colverk's head.

"THE RULES ARE SIMPLE! KEEP FIGHTING UNTIL EITHER THE OPPONENT GIVES UP, FALLS UNCONSCIOUS, GOES OUT OF BOUNDS, OR DIES! 3, 2, 1, BEGIN!" Called Macull without warning and the fighting tournament began.