Eventually, I did manage to find what I had been looking for before Reana’s situation had distracted me; some pork ribs glazed with honey. Something about the combination of flavors had always made my mouth water.
When I arrived at the participant’s booth, I found Cerion chatting with G...
2022-09-09 18:20:12 +0000 UTC View PostI sat down next to Cerion in the contestant’s booth, avoiding eye contact with the other contestants, who were eyeing me with a variety of attitudes. Arcellus had looked calm, but oddly determined. Karon, on the other hand, was probably calculating how to best me, if it came down to it.
F...
2022-09-07 18:17:40 +0000 UTC View PostAs I walked out into the arena, I noticed Ceriion waving at me from across the stands. He was seated in a wide booth that held all of the remaining participants of the tournament, save for two: John and me. The organizers had taken a different approach this time and allowed us to spectate every m...
2022-09-05 15:38:04 +0000 UTC View PostI woke up groggily, blinking in confusion. My vision cleared, revealing white roof and a silver lantern. Evidently, I was laying down. I tried to sit up, but someone grabbed my shoulder and held me down. An older man with brown side-burns and a head full of hair stepped into view.
“Hold o...
2022-09-01 19:30:40 +0000 UTC View PostThe purple egg split into two halves and gushed out a strange green liquid. From its remnants, a strange figure appeared. All of its features were reminiscent of insects. Compound eyes, an exoskeleton with sharp protrusion and a tough carapace that the creature wore like plate armor. Its strange ...
2022-08-30 14:54:58 +0000 UTC View PostI groaned, struggling to move due to my broken bones and torn muscles. They were healing, of course. They always would, saving me from any mistakes I made. Had I become desensitized to situations like these?
I placed my focus back on the issue at hand. The ground was rumbling, and a crown h...
2022-08-28 16:55:52 +0000 UTC View PostA few minutes later, our merry band of twelve was traveling through a dried-up lake bed with the sun hanging high in the sky.
I was forced to travel slowly, so John’s companions could keep up, but, for once, I wasn’t so bothered by that inefficiency. At least, I tried not to be. There w...
2022-08-27 18:08:44 +0000 UTC View PostAs the title says. Something came up and I don't have the time to finish today's chapter this evening. It'll be uploaded tomorrow instead. Sorry, guys.
2022-08-26 16:17:18 +0000 UTC View PostSeveral minutes after Karon had left, a few dozen creatures burrowed out of the ground and took to the skies. The insect monsters that guarded this crown looked more akin to flies than ants. They had compounded eyes and hovered from one place to another, seemingly unimpeded by their size and weig...
2022-08-24 18:20:46 +0000 UTC View PostThe insects' mandibles snapped shut as the person it was chomping on disappeared, teleported out of the arena. I cut its head in two before it could react to this new development, pulling out my greatsword with a wet squelch.
“That should be the last of them…” I muttered to myself. Th...
2022-08-22 14:13:50 +0000 UTC View PostThe next morning, I once again found myself in the arena, staring at the sky listlessly. The second phase of the singles tournament would begin today, which meant that participants of all ages were filing into the stadium. Already, I could tell that there would be just as many people competing as...
2022-08-20 17:33:44 +0000 UTC View PostTen minutes after our victory in the finals, Cerion and I were ushered to a small podium that had been erected in the arena. Arcellus' and Karon’s team joined us as we stood before the Royal booth, awaiting the king’s announcement, before the rest of the top sixteen teams gathered in the aren...
2022-08-18 17:31:25 +0000 UTC View PostA few dozen minutes later, we found out that we would be competing against Karon and X in the final match of the category.
The organizers of the tournament were generous enough to give us all an hour-long break after Karon’s battle ended, so by the time we were supposed to go back out the...
2022-08-16 09:52:17 +0000 UTC View Post“Ladies and gentlemen! Are you ready… for the semi finals?! This match will decide who among our talented contestants will gain the opportunity to compete in the finals, as well as who will be knocked out of the running.”
“Please welcome team A3 and A9!”
Ce...
2022-08-14 15:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostAbout thirty minutes after our match, the sound of battle stilled and I heard the announcer commence the next phase.
“Ladies and gentlemen! Now that the final selection has been decided, the quarter finals can begin!
The first match will be held between…team B5 and A9...
2022-08-12 13:45:40 +0000 UTC View PostI looked up from my slouched position and found Cerion staring back at me, equally confused.
After a moment of silence, I spoke up.
“So… did we win?” I asked hesitantly, “That teleportation was pretty rough.”
“I think we won!” Cerion replied excitedly.
“Wel...
2022-08-10 17:02:43 +0000 UTC View PostAs Cerion and I slowly got closer and closer to the center, we came across more and more teams. Some of them we defeated, while others managed to get away before we could knock them out of the tournament.
Truthfully speaking, the area was busier than we had expected. Any sensible team that ...
2022-08-08 14:36:21 +0000 UTC View PostWith my sword drawn, I took the measure of my attacker. He was young, though not as young as me. Early twenties, maybe? He wore a long white coat, with large golden pauldrons and shin guards, studded with rubies. His arrogant smirk, golden hair and upturned chin spoke of a certain attitude he hel...
2022-08-06 17:17:41 +0000 UTC View PostMeanwhile, back in the arena…
“Aaaand they’re off! As you can see on your screens, the contestants have been scattered in a pine forest. Their first task will be to reunite with their respective teammates. The first team to do so receives a large number of points!”
Th...
2022-08-04 14:39:34 +0000 UTC View PostI was bouncing around the forest using aura step, leaving a trail of destruction in my wake. The forest looked like a typical pine forest, with a dry underground covered in needles and pine cones. I expected an enchanted forest filled with magical creatures, like the announcer had said, but, inst...
2022-08-02 14:40:55 +0000 UTC View PostA few minutes after I had tiered up my skills, Cerion and I found ourselves in my temporary private underground training yard. Cerion had some skills he wanted to practice as well, since he was in the middle of tiering up some stragglers as well, so we decided to do it all at once.
“So ho...
2022-07-31 15:12:50 +0000 UTC View PostOver the next few days, I returned to my previous habits and started to train like I used to. Day in, day out, I swung my sword, practiced my skills and sparred with Cerion.
After all, I had made a promise to the tier 6 classers and, more importantly, myself that I would win that Helios-for...
2022-07-29 14:10:17 +0000 UTC View PostI felt kind of small around the four tier 6’s that occupied the room. Any classer that reached that tier would have a large amount of points placed into constitution, which made them look like they weren’t even human anymore. It would be more accurate to compare them to trolls. Only the guild...
2022-07-27 14:52:05 +0000 UTC View PostI leaned back and let out a long breath, relaxing the tension in my muscles that I had gotten used to for once. Staying on your toes all the time was advisable, especially in dangerous environments, but Helios, if it didn’t feel good to let go sometimes.
As I brought my hands to my side a...
2022-07-25 18:03:07 +0000 UTC View PostA few hours later, Cerion and I accompanied Michael to the academy, where he would be completing his examination over the course of a few hours.
We looked around in wonder as we entered the ornate white building, which was situated at the edge of a central district used exclusively for this...
2022-07-23 14:50:11 +0000 UTC View PostAs the notification appeared in front of me, a certain breeze of air seemed to surround us. For a moment, I felt like every breath I drew was fresh, in stark contrast to the dungeon’s damp, musky air. My mana sense became slightly sharper, turning the ambient mana’s ‘feeling’ from a ...
2022-07-21 17:45:12 +0000 UTC View PostAfter recovering from the small shock [Sacrificial lifespan] gave me, I thought a little deeper about the implications of the options I was given.
[Expanded lifespan] was just a straightforward upgrade, that relied on all of my stats, rather than just my constitution. For someone with a wel...
2022-07-19 08:22:50 +0000 UTC View PostThe will of the people will be followed, the skills with the most votes will be incorporated into the story.
For transparency's sake, I have to admit that [sacrificial lifespan] isn't an option, since Arthur would never risk a skill like that. The amount of votes it gets will instead ...
2022-07-18 16:14:30 +0000 UTC View PostChapter 70: Dungeon conquered.
Finally, we had managed to defeat the final boss of the dungeon, conquering the city of tears.
A few hours later, Cerion and I had healed up a bit, and were resting near the edge of the battlefield, looking at our gains.
Congratulations! Yo...
2022-07-18 16:01:53 +0000 UTC View PostThe two transformed cores gave off an ominous humming sound, which became louder and louder. The cores lit up from their positions in the sword and shield, clearly preparing for an attack.
Cerion and I exchanged a short glance at each other, before dashing away in opposite directions. I jum...
2022-07-15 18:24:16 +0000 UTC View Post