That’s really surprising, Azaroth thought. And it is. To think this is a prison? But above all, this is an artifact and a thought crossed his mind, ’can I be able to be the master of the artifact, the Arc?’

And as if the Crypt Master could read his mind he smiled. "Right now I’m serving one of the the Lords of the Inferno Legion. I was given to them."

Azaroth met his eyes. "Is it a one where you have to obey their every commands?"

The crypt Master shrugged. "We artifact that are aware to the extent of having our own spirit are....different. We can’t be forced to serve but once we give our word, we stick mlby it, and that’s only if our master keeps theirs."

Azaroth gained one thing from what the crypt Master said. He’ll keep his word if his master keeps theirs but that doesn’t mean he won’t serve another. He put it in his mind to go back to this conversation in the future.

The crypt Master waved. "Anyway, during the war a lot of people were captured by the Inferno Legion and not all of them were killed. Most of them were imprisoned here for questioning. Some are not even enemy Awakener or opposing the Inferno Legion."

Azaroth wondered where this is going.

"They were so many so instead of my creating a prison I just build a town for them and put all of them inside."

"Wait." Stallus asked with a shocked expression. "There’s a town here full of prisoners? Of Awakeners?"

Crypt Master grimaced. "Not all of them are Awakeners. Some of them are just ordinary human soliders. But yes there’s a town like that here."

"Wow. Just how big is this place?" Alex asked, he looked around as if his eyes might just see the end.

Crypt Master shrugged. "As big as I want it to be. But the reason I’m telling you all this is because of your next phase. The task will be based on this town. You guys will go there and in a span of a year you must be the leaders of the town."

"What?" Three set of voices were raised at once.

Be the leaders of a town? They all understood what that mean! They’ll have to make everyone in the town submit to them. A town of Awakeners!

Azaroth stared at him steady and asked. "How powerful are the Awakeners in the town?" Because he’s already began to think of how the task might be possible.

"The town will be full of Initiate ranks and few Acolyte. There shouldn’t be any rank above that but there might be one or two." Crypt Master admitted. Then he added. "No matter how the Awakener is, once they become a prisoner here then they are bound by my rule and a restriction is placed on them to low their power to the Initiate level. But some fall into Acolyte rank."

Azaroth nodded. If it’s like that then he has a chance but the problem will be the Awakeners themselves. Azaroth know that he’s strong for someone in the Acolyte rank but he has no experience fighting Awakener especially those who are veteran. He already know why the crypt Master set them on this next stage.

Stallus took a step forward. "Are we going to kill them all?"

The crypt Master shrugged. "Can you kill them all? You should just do what you want. But al the end of the year they must have all submit to you. One way or the other."

The team turned to Azaroth then. Alex, Catena and Stallus all looked at him with an expectant expression. Azaroth looked at the coldly and then at the crypt Master. "So the manner I carry out the mission isn’t important. I can chose to kill them all but at the end I must stand at the top of the town."

"You...." The crypt Master said and frowned slightly. "It’s a team work. Azaroth, you must work with your team or I’ll consider the results to be invalid."

Azaroth narrowed his eyes. He thought this might but be his time to work solo a little but it seems the crypt Master really did want to stick to the ’team’ training till the five years is done with. So he said instead. "Then what are we waiting for? Take us to the said town."

The crypt Master hesitated. "I’ll tell you this as your trainer. Just advise. Some of the prisoners in the town are vicious Awakeners and there’s nothing like legal and illegal."

Azaroth looked at him blankly. "Legal or illegal? No such thing exists in the first place. If you have power then you are right."

Azaroth then turned to the team next. "I will lead you in this mission. If you don’t want, talk now."

Stallus didn’t hesitate. "I’ll follow your lead."

The others nodded as well and Azaroth looked at them a bit to see if anyone will change their mind but no such thing, so he said. "I will lead you and you will follow my orders."

"Well crypt Master, you can send us to the town now."

Still, the crypt Master hesitated as if he have a lot still left unsaid. "You should know that even in a prison town they must have some kind of rules....and it’s not one town. There must be villages scattered around."

Azaroth stared at him calmly. "Is there something you are telling us?"

The crypt Master laughed but it sounded strained then he sighed and pulled his hands in the air as if he’s controlling strings. Power gathered and essence flowed together in front of him, building into a portal like door. "This will take you to where you want to be. Do be careful."

Azaroth gestured. "You go first." Then immediately the three disappeared into the portal he followed. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

With only the crypt Master standing there he looked at the portal thoughtfully. Little bird hovered in front of him. "Why don’t you tell them?"

"That I can’t interfere? Well, we’ll see." The crypt Master replied softly.