Sora navigated through the core area of the city, surrounded by NPCs, his face calm and composed as he exchanged pleasantries with the locals. Here, among the NPCs, he felt an odd sense of ease.
When the world changed, it was discovered that people¡ªwho called themselves NPCs¡ªhad appeared, guiding humanity in its growth. These NPCs were bound by strict "rules" and would rarely harm humans. It was unusual to see them leave the core areas of cities and villages, as they often claimed they were restricted from doing so. Despite numerous tests and provocations by humans, the NPCs, often as intelligent and powerful as their human counterparts, would simply block attempts to harm them and blacklist the perpetrator preventing any further interaction.
''I remember when they first appeared in Ales,¡¯ Sora thought. ¡®The police even tried to shoot them, accusing them of taking up space in our city. But they were protected within city limits... and people had dragged NPC farmers outside safe zones just to kill them, "for science."''
Those murderers had been permanently banned from entering safe zones by the system.
The NPCs had families, laughed, and even formed friendships with humans. Over time, people began to treat them like their own, while still remaining aware of the NPCs'' unique limitations.
But when he was in the presence of other players, especially in the more competitive offices, he kept his guard up. Players could be dangerous in their ambitions, and Sora had learned long ago that showing weakness could be a strength if used properly. In those offices, he feigned a degree of helplessness, downplaying his abilities. He played the part of the humble job-seeker, all the while carefully gathering information and refining his own understanding of the power hidden behind the contracts.
After a 2 days of speedrunning through all 20 offices, Sora finally had a moment to reflect on everything he''d accomplished. He sat down in a quiet corner of an inn, away from the bustling streets of Cordoba, and counted his rewards.
185,000 gold.
It was a staggering amount. More than what most players would earn in several months of work. But what was more important to Sora was the growth of his new job skill.
[Job Level: Human Resources Assistant ¨C Level 17]
He leaned back in his chair, the weight of everything settling in. Level 17 in a single week. It wasn''t just about the money; it was about the knowledge he had gained. Contracts weren''t just mundane pieces of paper¡ªthey held real, binding power in this world. They were the foundation of agreements, quests, jobs, and alliances, but there was something more to them. As he signed each contract with mana, Sora felt as though he were brushing against deeper principles¡ªprinciples that could be applied to mana itself.
Binding power. Equivalent exchange. Trust.
These three ideas swirled in his mind. Every time he signed a contract, he could feel the mana shifting, aligning itself with the terms of the agreement. It was almost like the mana was acting as an unseen judge, ensuring that both parties were held to their word. It was a force of balance, something Sora had never encountered during his time as a swordman.
"This¡ this could be something big," he muttered to himself.
He couldn''t fully understand it yet, but it was like trying to decipher a new language without a dictionary. The principles behind contracts were tied to mana in ways he couldn''t yet grasp, but he could feel it, lurking just beneath the surface. It was like a puzzle waiting to be solved, and as someone loved by mana, he knew he was already getting hints and nudges in the right direction.
"Maybe it''s like when I was a swordman," Sora thought. He had reached level 49 in his previous life, mastering the intricacies of swordplay and mana control. But that mastery had come with time, experience, and years of refining his skills. Here, in the realm of contracts and human resources, he was still just a beginner¡ªa level 17 beginner.
He tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought. Maybe that was why his understanding of contracts and mana was still fuzzy. Just like swordsmanship, he needed to level up this job before he could unlock its true potential. Perhaps the difficulty stemmed from how different it was from his previous experiences. Mana in swordsmanship was straightforward¡ªraw power channeled through physical movements. But here, in the realm of contracts, it was more abstract. It dealt with promises, obligations, and unseen forces.
Sora sighed, shaking his head. "I''m going to need more time to figure this out."
But he wasn''t discouraged. Quite the opposite. If anything, this was an exciting challenge¡ªan entirely new field to explore, one that most players had overlooked or deemed useless.
He grinned to himself. "Too weak, huh? Well, we''ll soon see about that."
He knew he had to keep going. The more he signed contracts, the more he would understand. He was just scratching the surface now, but soon, he would dig deeper. Maybe by leveling up his job, he would uncover the basics of how contracts influenced mana. Maybe the answer would come in a revelation, just like when he had mastered his sword techniques.
For now, he just needed to keep grinding. There was a path forward, even if it wasn''t entirely clear yet. And with mana constantly guiding him, he had no doubt that the answers would come.
After all, mana had always shown him the way.
Chapter 15 : New class !
Sora walked down the bustling streets of C¨®rdoba, his mind already on the next step of his journey. He had spent two days clearing all the offices, raking in an impressive amount of gold¡ª185,000, to be precise¡ªfar more than he initially expected. On top of that, he had his prior earnings from looting monsters and auctions, which left him with well over 345,000 gold in total. It was a fortune by any standard, enough to live comfortably for years or buy the best equipment money could buy.
But gold wasn''t his priority. His real goal was power¡ªtrue, unshakable power that no class, no skillset, and no level could limit.
With that in mind, he headed straight for the Combat Training Center. It was the place where players went to choose and upgrade their classes. Sora had delayed his decision long enough, and now it was time to take advantage of the system. Not for its intended purpose, but for his own.
The center itself was a massive structure, buzzing with activity. As he approached, Sora could see players of all levels milling around¡ªsome fresh-faced and nervous, others seasoned veterans who had already unlocked powerful classes and were here to further specialize or evolve their existing skills. The sound of clashing weapons, spells being cast, and the general murmur of voices filled the air.
Sora paused at the entrance, taking it all in. The building was designed like a fortress, with high stone walls and banners depicting different classes fluttering in the wind. Inside, there were various stations where players were being evaluated, given quests, or undergoing trials to unlock more advanced classes. Each station was dedicated to a particular class or combat style.
He walked inside, scanning the various groups of people clustered around each station.
The Swordman station was packed, with people practicing different sword techniques, and mana-enhanced sword strikes filling the air. Sora could see why it was so popular¡ªswordmen were reliable in combat, with a clear path for growth. Their ability to refine mana into sword energy gave them consistent, reliable power, making them a popular choice for those who wanted steady, dependable combat prowess.
To the right, there was the Mage station, where players were learning to manipulate the elements¡ªfire, ice, lightning, and more. Mages took mana and refined it through long, complicated spells, converting raw power into devastating magical attacks. They could level cities with a flick of their wrist if they reached the highest ranks.
Nearby, the Brawler class attracted those who preferred to use their fists and raw physical strength. Brawlers channeled mana directly into their bodies, increasing their speed and strength exponentially. They weren''t as reliant on weapons, which made them highly adaptable in close combat.
Sora even spotted a few more specialized classes, like Rangers who focused on ranged attacks using bows, and Assassins, who specialized in stealth and critical strikes from the shadows.
"Each of these classes uses mana differently," Sora thought, his eyes scanning the scene. "But the path they follow is fixed, limited by the system. Once you choose a class, you''re locked into its methods."
But not for him. For Sora, choosing a class was a strategic decision. He wasn''t bound by the limits of the system. Each time he reset, he could pick a different class and carry forward the knowledge he gained, eventually turning class-specific skills into classless ones. He would become a jack-of-all-trades, mastering every form of mana manipulation the system had to offer.
The thought brought a grin to his face.
Sora''s strategy was simple: choose a class that would synergize with the base he had already built as a swordman. His goal was to understand how classes manipulated mana, steal their techniques, and use them in future resets. Every class he took would be a stepping stone toward mastering mana on his terms, not the system''s.
His previous swordman experience gave him a solid foundation. But now, he needed something that would complement his growing control over mana. He wasn''t just looking for power¡ªhe was looking for versatility, for adaptability.
A class that could blend well with his current abilities and give him insight into how other types of mana could be used.
As he walked through the Combat Training Center, Sora considered his options. Swordman was out of the question¡ªhe had already walked that path. Brawler might be interesting, with its ability to channel mana directly into physical strikes. It could complement his sword-based combat with raw, explosive power.
Mage was another option, but he was already familiar with the basics of elemental magic from Enzo. While powerful, it wasn''t what he needed right now. He wanted something that gave him control over mana in ways that were less predictable, something that would let him refine his raw mana without locking him into a narrow skillset.
He paused in front of a class station that caught his eye: Battlemage.
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Battlemages were known for their ability to wield both physical and magical attacks simultaneously. They could channel mana into their weapons and bodies like a swordman or brawler but also manipulate the elements like a mage. It was the perfect blend of raw power and magical refinement.
Sora''s eyes narrowed as he considered the possibilities. The Battlemage class could give him access to a wide range of mana techniques. He could learn how to fuse physical strikes with elemental attacks, how to weave mana into every aspect of combat. And the best part? It wouldn''t lock him into just one path. He could experiment, mix, and match techniques.
"This could work," he thought, stepping forward. "I can learn from this."
Battlemage wasn''t as popular as some of the other classes, likely because it required more versatility and higher mana control than most people were willing to handle. But for Sora, it was exactly what he needed. He wouldn''t be limited to a sword or a spell¡ªhe could have both.
With a deep breath, Sora approached the Battlemage station, where a few other players were already gathered, preparing for their trials. He had no intention of sticking with this class for long¡ªjust long enough to understand how it worked, to steal its secrets, and then move on.
The idea of blending physical combat with magic was intriguing, but as he thought about it, he realized something important.
"Isn''t this just a lesser version of what I''m trying to create?" he muttered to himself.
Battlemage was essentially the combination of a warrior and a mage¡ªsomeone who had learned both paths and merged them into a singular class. It was an advanced class, for sure, but it didn''t align perfectly with his long-term goal. He wasn''t here to simply follow a path that someone else had already carved out. He wanted something more than just combining two distinct forms of combat.
His true aim was far beyond that. His plan was to use mana to transcend the very idea of classes. Battlemage, while tempting as a first step, wasn''t what he was looking for right now. Maybe it could serve as a stepping stone later, but for now, it didn''t offer him the kind of insight into mana manipulation that he needed.
What he needed was synergy¡ªa class that would enhance the base he already had with his swordsmanship and growing control over mana.
Sora''s gaze moved away from the Battlemage station, searching for something else, something that would truly complement his existing skills. He scanned the stations, passing by Assassin, Mage, and Brawler classes. Then, something caught his eye.
A class focused entirely on buffs.
His pulse quickened.
The Buffer class was specialized in empowering others¡ªand oneself. It could give all kinds of buffs, from boosting speed and strength to enhancing defenses and increasing mana reserves. The description was fascinating: it wasn''t just about casting a simple spell and leaving it at that. The class specialized in layering buffs, amplifying them until someone''s power could be pushed to extreme levels.
Sora''s mind raced with the possibilities.
What if, when combined with his current abilities, the effect wasn''t simply additive, like 1 + 1 = 2? What if the buffs he learned could multiply his strength exponentially? What if he could take the mana he was learning to control and use it to supercharge his attacks and defenses?
The idea of becoming nearly unstoppable flashed through his mind.
This class wasn''t just about increasing one''s power¡ªit was about maximizing potential.
Sora smiled as he imagined it: a swordsman with the ability to boost his own physical and mana capabilities to the point of breaking through normal limits. A perfect synergy with his evolving sword-based mana techniques.
He could almost feel it¡ªlayering buffs on top of his existing power, transforming into something far beyond what any normal class could achieve.
His thoughts didn''t stop there. Another idea struck him as he looked around the center. He could also see the value in classes that specialized in healing and protection. There were a few that focused on creating shields, barriers, and increasing survivability. The idea of becoming nearly unkillable, a walking fortress, crossed his mind. If he could layer buffs on top of healing and protection, wouldn''t that make him like a cockroach¡ªimpossible to kill, no matter what?
What about tank classes? He glanced over at the Tank station, where players were learning to absorb massive amounts of damage. What if he combined the defensive power of a tank with the offensive capabilities of a swordsman and mana user? A tank who could dish out as much damage as he took? The possibilities were endless.
He hesitated. There were so many directions he could take this. So many paths to explore. His mind kept spinning through the options.
But then, as he weighed all the possibilities, his gaze returned to the Buffer class. This was the most logical next step for now. Buffs would complement his swordsmanship perfectly, and with his newfound control over mana, he could push himself beyond what any normal warrior could achieve.
The Buffer class wasn''t just a support role. With the right understanding of mana and how to manipulate it, he could turn himself into a one-man army.
A grin crept across Sora''s face. He had made his decision.
He walked toward the Buffer station, where a few players were already deep in their training. The instructor at the station glanced at him, raising an eyebrow as Sora approached.
"Interested in enhancing your power?" the instructor asked, noticing the determined look in Sora''s eyes.
Sora nodded. "Yeah. I think this is exactly what I need."
The instructor gave him a nod of approval and handed him a small tablet with the class details.
"Welcome to the Mana Amplifier class," the instructor said. "You''ll be learning how to increase not just your own abilities, but the abilities of others. The key is understanding how to amplify your mana, layering effects on top of one another for maximum impact."
Sora skimmed through the class details. The potential was incredible. By focusing on how mana interacted with physical and magical abilities, he could amplify his sword strikes, make his mana stronger, and even empower his defenses. And that was just the beginning.
"This is perfect," he thought. "With this class, I can learn how to amplify my mana, and after the next reset, I''ll be able to use these buffs without any class restrictions."
Each reset would give him a new opportunity to steal skills and improve his understanding of how mana worked across different classes. The Buffer¡ªno, Mana Amplifier¡ªclass would be the first of many steps toward becoming something beyond classes.
His mind already buzzing with ideas, Sora signed up for the class, excitement brewing within him.
Chapter 16 : Second class : Mana Amplifier
Sora stood where he had paused before, receiving the familiar chime of a notification in his mind. A new class had been unlocked.
Class Unlocked: Mana Amplifier (Level 1)
The moment he read it, a surge of curiosity hit him. He knew every class came with its unique set of skills, and he had been waiting for this. His previous experience as a swordsman, combined with his newfound understanding of mana, would only be enhanced by this new class.
A second notification popped up.
[Skill Unlocked: Amplify]
Type: Buff
Description: Amplifies the target''s mana-based ability or physical action. The Mana Amplifier sacrifices their own mana to provide a boost, increasing the target''s effectiveness by using extra mana on their behalf. The amount of mana sacrificed scales with the amount of mana used by the buffed target. Mana is absorbed from the buffer after the buffed target uses their skill.
Sora read the description carefully, processing the details.
"Interesting," he thought, tapping his chin as he walked down the bustling streets of C¨®rdoba. "I''ve seen this skill used before during raids. Some Amplifiers could work wonders, turning weak party members into powerhouses. Others though... didn''t know what they were doing, and the skill became useless."
He remembered the different ways players used the Mana Amplifier class. Some focused on self-buffing, channeling their skills inward to make themselves stronger. They relied on a delicate balance between boosting their abilities while conserving enough mana to keep fighting. Others, the more team-oriented Amplifiers, would channel their mana into the strongest member of the party, making one player ridiculously overpowered for a short time while conserving mana.
"And then there were the insane ones, the top-tier Amplifiers with massive mana pools and regeneration. Those were the ones that kept the whole raid alive," Sora mused, recalling the skilled players. "They could buff multiple people at once without breaking a sweat. Mana regeneration was always key for them. Otherwise, they''d be tapped out after a few minutes of buffs."
But then Sora smiled, realizing something crucial¡ª[Amplify]wasn''t just a good skill for normal players. It was practically overpowered in his hands.
With his [Loved by Mana] trait, mana practically danced around him, always available and ready to help. His mana recovery was off the charts. For others, using [Amplify]meant carefully managing a finite resource. For Sora, it was a different story altogether.
"Just this one skill makes the class worth it for me," he muttered as he walked. His thoughts shifted to how he could amplify not just his allies, but also himself. The possibilities seemed endless.
Leaving the training center behind, Sora made his way towards the Auction House. With all the gold he had accumulated¡ªnearly 345,000 gold¡ªhe was prepared to gear up for the next leg of his journey. He wasn''t planning to hold back now.
As he approached the massive, ornate Auction Hall, he thought back to how easily he could grind for gold with his HR Assistant job. But gold wasn''t his ultimate goal. What he wanted was raw power.
Inside, he quickly made his purchases. He bought five full sets of gear¡ªone for levels 10, 20, 30, 40, and a final set for level 50. Although he was currently only level 29, he immediately equipped the level 20 gear. His training gear was also upgraded, which could be stacked on top of his regular armor.
Training gear was different from regular equipment; it allowed players to train their bodies and abilities while offering no stat boosts. For Sora, who had begun to see the limits of his old gear around level 25, the new gear would allow him to push his body harder and train more efficiently. Every upgrade would help him grow.
Once his armor and weapons were taken care of, he splurged on something only the wealthy could afford¡ª[Monster radar]s.
The monster radars were blank pieces of paper that activated upon mana infusion and came in different tiers. They showed monsters or players up to 10 levels above the user in the area. Sora bought 10 of the level 50 radars, which would show monsters and players up to level 60, for 10,000 gold each.
He also bought a higher-tier radar for 100,000 gold, capable of showing even stronger enemies, which he intended to use sparingly.
Finally, he purchased a few high-tier cards¡ªutility items that could be used in a pinch. The Invisibility card, Speed card, Strength card, and 5 Home cards, which allowed the user to return to a saved location, were all added to his inventory. These were priceless items for any serious adventurer, and having a Home card meant he could always escape danger if needed.
After buying everything, he deposited the remaining 50,000 gold, along with the level 10 gear, into the bank. This would be useful after his next reset. He also saved the bank''s location in one Home card and stored it in the bank. No matter where he reset next time, he could always return to C¨®rdoba if needed.
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Equipped and fully prepared, Sora headed back to the wilds. His map, newly upgraded and detailed with level zones, showed him exactly where he wanted to go¡ªa level 30-39 zone. It was perfect for testing his new class and equipment.
"I''ll farm for a week, and then return to the city," he thought as he made his way out of C¨®rdoba, heading into the wilderness. "I''ll grind these new skills, and when I come back, I''ll work on my HR job. It''s profitable, sure, but there''s something more to be learned from it."
The wilds opened before him as he crossed the border into the wilderness.
With a new map and fresh gear, Sora was ready for whatever came his way. He was also excited to experiment with his [Amplify] skill in real combat. Would it live up to his expectations? He was eager to find out.
He infused mana into the [Monster radar], watching the paper light up as it displayed dots representing nearby monsters. It showed the monsters'' names, levels, and even their rarity.
Small packs of beasts roamed around, their power levels perfect for testing out his new abilities. The radar worked seamlessly, and Sora smiled in satisfaction.
"This should be fun," he muttered, activating [Amplify] .
The mana surged within him, and Sora could feel the distinct pull as his energy prepared to latch onto a target. But for now, there were no allies to buff¡ªjust himself.
After a short trek, Sora spotted a group of beasts moving in the distance. They were level 35 wolves, fierce creatures known for their speed and pack coordination. Perfect.
"Let''s see what [Amplify] can really do."
As the wolves charged toward him, Sora activated his [Amplify] skill, layering it over his sword strikes. Immediately, he felt the mana surge within his blade, doubling the energy in his attack. When the first wolf leaped toward him, Sora swung his sword with amplified force, cleaving through the beast in one clean strike.
[XP Gained! You''re now Level 30 (5%)]
He barely broke a sweat. Mana was leaving his body at twice the usual rate, but it was already refilling faster than he could use it.
Sora grinned as the rest of the pack attacked, but he didn''t let up. He used [Amplify] before each of his true mana skills. He used [Mana Sweep], amplified by his mana, and even though the skill was primarily meant for buffing others, it worked wonders when used on himself.
In minutes, the pack lay defeated, and Sora''s experience bar had jumped up again.
"Amazing," he said, looking at his sword glowing faintly with the remaining traces of [Amplify] . "For me, this class is way more than it could ever be for others."
He hadn''t even used Mana Mirage Blade in this fight. One True Mana Strike, one Mana Sweep, and one Mana Pierce were enough to destroy level 35 monsters. As he leveled up, he was receiving less experience, even as the level difference rose.
"I could keep going like this for hours," Sora muttered, wiping the blade clean as he scanned the horizon for more monsters.
Having used six skills in a few minutes, his mana was already full again.
He continued hunting for several hours, systematically cutting down packs of monsters with ease. Every time he activated Amplify, he marveled at how effortlessly his mana replenished itself, allowing him to maintain a high output of power with no real downside.
As he leveled up, more skills would unlock, and the potential synergies between them would open up even more paths for him to explore.
By the end of the day, Sora had gained considerable experience, leveling his Mana Amplifier class, and unlocked his next skill: [Echo Strike]. He read the description as it popped up.
[Skill Unlocked: Echo Strike (Level 1)
Type: Offensive
Description: The Amplifier channels mana into their weapon to deal increased damage. The more allies the Amplifier has buffed, the more powerful the strike becomes.
Effect: +10% damage per ally who has one of your buffs.]
Sora''s lips curled into a smirk. "So, the more people I buff, the stronger my strike gets? Not bad at all."
The potential of Echo Strike immediately sparked ideas in his mind. He could already imagine being part of a full raid, buffing an entire team, and then channeling that amplified energy to land devastating blows. In a group setting, it could scale his power immensely. Echo Strike would turn him into a powerhouse, growing stronger the more people he supported. But... was it just useful for large parties?
"I need to test this." He looked ahead and spotted a wandering beast, an easy target to experiment on.
With a swift movement, Sora activated Echo Strike and channeled his mana into his weapon, driving it into the monster. The strike landed solidly, but as he expected, its impact was relatively underwhelming. At its base level, [Echo Strike] was on par with a beginner Swordsman''s [Sword Strike}, and much weaker compared to his [True Mana Strike]. Still, he analyzed it critically. It was only level 1, after all.
"Alright," Sora muttered as the monster fell, "this might be weak now, but if I buffed even just a few people... What if I buffed ten players? That would double its strength."
He tapped his sword thoughtfully. "Sure, it''s not going to match my strongest skill yet, but in a group setting, this could stack up pretty nicely." The possibilities unfolded in his mind. With each ally he amplified, Echo Strike would become exponentially stronger, potentially turning into one of his most powerful attacks during large-scale battles.
For now, he noted its potential. It wasn''t about the immediate impact¡ªit was about what it could become.
"Yeah, this one has promise." Sora''s excitement grew as he moved on, eager to see how much more he could push his new skills.
Chapter 17 : Contract ?
The next day, Sora unlocked [Mana Shield], a defensive skill that gave him his first layer of protection in battle.
[Mana Shield (Level 1)]
Type: Defensive
Description: Creates a barrier of mana that absorbs incoming damage. The strength of the shield increases with mana input. The shield can be maintained as long as mana is available and can be deactivated at any time. Maintaining the shield consumes mana.
Sora activated it, feeling the surge of mana spread throughout his body, forming a light, almost weightless barrier. He could tell that unless someone directly attacked him, the mana drain was minimal.
"I could keep this up forever as long as no one touches me."
With [Mana Shield], Sora had a new layer of defense, allowing him to protect himself or others from substantial damage while still focusing on his offensive capabilities. The synergy between Amplify, Echo Strike, and [Mana Shield] was beginning to show: amplify his attacks, gain bonus damage, and protect against incoming strikes, all while burning through his vast mana reserves.
"Self-sufficient combat," he thought with a smirk. "I''m inching closer to becoming a walking fortress."
Days passed, and as Sora''s class level rose, he unlocked Speed Surge, a short-term buff that greatly enhanced movement and attack speed for a brief period.
Speed Surge (Level 1)
Type: Buff
Description: Temporarily increases movement and attack speed for one minute.
Sora activated it immediately. His body surged with speed, every movement turning into a blur as he zipped forward, faster than ever before. Every strike came quicker, sharper, more precise. But after a few moments, he felt something unexpected. The skill was draining his mana, but more surprisingly, it was also exhausting his stamina.
The rapid flurry of attacks wore him down faster than he had anticipated. Striking twice as often, moving at twice the speed¡ªit wasn''t something he could maintain for long without burning himself out.
"It''s not my mana that''ll give out... it''s my stamina," Sora realized, panting as the buff ended. "Even if I can keep the skill active for a minute, using it recklessly will wear me out before I know it."
"To make better use of this, I''ll need to improve my endurance."
By the time his class hit level 25, Sora unlocked one of the most important skills for a Mana Amplifier: Mana Cascade.
Mana Cascade (Level 1)
Type: Buff
Description: Increases the target''s mana regeneration rate for a short period. Mana Cascade can be applied to allies or to oneself.
For most Mana Amplifiers, Mana Cascade was a lifesaver. Buffing allies took a toll on mana reserves, and without proper regeneration, most Amplifiers would burn out quickly. Mana Cascade allowed them to extend the duration of their buffs without worrying about running dry.
But for Sora, the skill was overkill.
With his incredible mana regeneration, thanks to the Loved by Mana effect, Mana Cascade pushed him into near-limitless territory. He could buff himself and his allies indefinitely without fear of depletion.
Out of curiosity, Sora activated it to see how insane his mana regen could get.
But after a few minutes, he frowned. The increase was barely noticeable¡ªalmost nonexistent.
"Maybe I''m just imagining it?" he muttered, deactivating the skill.
"It makes no difference," he said after a moment of thought. "I guess ''Loved by Mana'' can''t be affected by lower-tier skills."
Sora speculated that Mana Cascade simply couldn''t stack with the effects of his Supreme skill. The power of Loved by Mana from Mana Evolution was far beyond what a basic buff like this could achieve.
"Well, that''s a shame," he shrugged, "but it doesn''t really matter. I have more than enough mana for now."
For most players, Mana Cascade would be a game-changer, essential for long-term buffing and endurance in battle. But for Sora, it was just another tool in his ever-expanding arsenal. Useful in groups, but unnecessary for solo play.
By the end of the week, Sora had reached level 34, and his [Mana Amplifier] class was now at level 29. He had spent the past several days honing each ability, experimenting with different combinations, and testing the limits of his new class. Through constant use, his skills had leveled up rapidly, becoming more efficient and powerful:
Amplify (Level 8): Sora had nearly mastered this skill, reducing its mana cost significantly while boosting his or his allies'' abilities with greater efficiency. The potential for mana manipulation and efficiency was becoming clearer to him as he studied how the skill interacted with raw mana.
Echo Strike (Level 5): The more allies Sora buffed, the deadlier this skill became. At level 5, it gave a 30% boost per buffed ally, making it one of his most potent tools in group fights. The potential of the skill seemed to be uncapped, opening the door for massive damage multipliers in future battles.
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Mana Shield (Level 10): His shield had become a formidable defense, capable of absorbing considerable amounts of damage. At level 10, the mana cost to maintain it was negligible, allowing him to keep the barrier active almost indefinitely.
Speed Surge (Level 6): The speed buff had grown stronger and more refined, but stamina remained the limiting factor. The skill now allowed him to buff up to 12 people simultaneously, a massive boon for group fights but still exhausting when used on himself.
Mana Cascade (Level 3): Though its effects were minimal on Sora, [Mana Cascade] had grown in range, allowing him to assist allies with low mana regeneration over a wider area. This skill would prove more valuable in group settings than solo combat.
The synergy between [Amplify], [Mana Shield], and [Speed Surge] had turned Sora into a near-unstoppable force. Though part of the potential of the class was wasted in solo play, the buffs gave him impressive combat capability.
"It''s alright. I''m happy enough with what I''ve got," he thought, reflecting on the progress he''d made.
His journey as a [Mana Amplifier] had only just begun, but the possibilities were already evident. He wanted to max out his primary skills and unlock the higher-level abilities, but a week had already passed.
It was time to return to C¨®rdoba.
Turning his gaze back toward the city, Sora made plans to earn some quick money and think about his next move. Should he return to France, where he lived in his previous life? He felt strong enough now, and he was curious to see how his Prestige ability would interact with his progress.
"If I die far from where I respawned last time, would I still appear in that same cavern?" Sora wondered. There were many unanswered questions about his ability, but those could wait.
Dismissing those thoughts for now, he sprinted toward C¨®rdoba. His current speed allowed him to cross 100 kilometers in about six minutes. The city would come into view in no time.
"Status"
[Status Update]
Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hoshino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 1)
Class: Mana Amplifier (Class Level 29, Player Level 34)
Title: Humble (Level 30 Title)
Power Level: 800 000
Body Level: B
Energy Level: B
Skills: (...)
Mana Skills (Supreme Skill: Mana Evolution)
Mana Eyes, Loved by Mana, Mana Growth, Mana Customization
Class Skills:
Amplify (Level 8), Echo Strike (Level 5),Mana Shield (Level 10), Speed Surge (Level 6), Mana Cascade (Level 3)
Job: Human Resource Assistant (Level 17)
Sora glanced at his growing list of skills and sighed. Many of them were self-made and didn''t have levels, while the rest had become progressively useless.
Looking at his power level, which sat significantly higher than a typical level 40 player, he couldn''t help but smirk. Most players at that level had a power of around 780,000, but Sora was already ahead. He wasn''t sure how the system calculated power, but he knew the average for each level. A level 34 player should be around 104,000 in power. His supreme skill¡ªMana Evolution¡ªlikely played a role, constantly refining and evolving his mana to increase his power. The stronger his energy and body levels grew, the more his power level rose.
"Eight times stronger than someone at my level," he mused, grinning. "It''s absurd."
But then, he shrugged it off. Obsessing over the numbers was pointless. Power level wasn''t necessarily an indicator of combat ability¡ªit was a raw measurement of energy, body level, and skills, but true strength was more than just numbers.
"Enough of that," he muttered. "It''s time to make use of all this power."
Sora headed toward the auction house, ready to offload some high-level items he had collected. Once inside, he opened his inventory and started sorting through the loot. Among the items were several valuable epic pieces, perfect for auctioning. He estimated their worth at around 100,000 gold. With items in the level 30 to 40 range in high demand, he knew he could get a good price.
He auctioned the epic gear and sold the rest to clerks, netting 50,000 gold from the auction and another 40,000 from the less valuable loot. On top of that, he had earned about 25,000 gold from monsters during his week of grinding.
With 115,000 gold in his pockets, Sora was back in business. He quickly left the auction house, eager to tackle his weekly quests at the Job Hall.
When he arrived, he saw 20 familiar job tokens ready for him to pick up, but this time, there were 10 new requests for Human Resource Assistants as well. His reputation was clearly growing.
He accepted all 30 jobs and set off to get started. It wasn''t long before he met Aria again, her face lighting up the moment she saw him.
"Ralph!" she called out, hurrying over. "You''ve been the talk of the town all week."
"Really?" he replied, raising an eyebrow.
Aria nodded, her excitement barely contained. "Companies that were struggling to keep up with contract work have suddenly turned things around. All because they heard about you. Even some of the businesses that were about to fold are back on track now. Everyone''s eager to get a piece of you."
Sora chuckled, shaking his head. "I didn''t expect to cause such a stir."
"Honestly, neither did we," Aria admitted. "But your efficiency is just... unmatched."
Sora was relieved that the system allowed him to change names and appearances. Fame was not part of his plan. If word spread too much, he could lose the low profile he preferred to keep.
Aria led him into the office, where Sora was taken aback by the sheer volume of contracts waiting for him.
"Five hundred?" he exclaimed, half-jokingly. "Aria, are you trying to work me to death?"
Aria blushed, flustered by his teasing. "It''s not my fault! Everyone heard you''d be coming back this week, and they''ve been saving contracts for you. No one wants to sign them¡ªthey''d rather let you handle it."
Sora grinned. "Well, at least I get paid."
And he did. With his job level now at 17, his work speed had doubled, allowing him to blaze through contracts even faster. He worked through the five hundred contracts in an hour, and after finishing at Aria''s office, he moved on to the next.
By the end of the day, Sora had signed a staggering 7,500 contracts, earning around 750,000 gold in total. His job level shot up to 25. At level 10, his work speed had already doubled, but at level 20, his signature''s quality had improved, adding extra binding power to the contracts.
"It feels like the contracts have a stronger grip now," he thought, intrigued by the new development.
As he worked, he became more aware of the threads of mana used to bind contracts. With this newfound insight, he began experimenting, trying to manipulate those threads, but it was difficult to use them effectively. Still, he had a feeling that mastering this could unlock new possibilities for him.
Once finished with his work, Sora made a few quick purchases and deposited his gold at the bank. His next destination was clear¡ªhe was heading east, toward Barcelona.
Chapter 18 : Piou
As Sora sprinted through the wilderness, his mind kept circling back to the mana threads he had been experimenting with. He was sure they were meant for binding, but something was missing.
''Maybe they couldn''t be used on inanimate objects?'' He thought to himself
Curious, he decided to test his theory on a living creature. It didn''t take long before he spotted a small bird flitting around nearby. Tiny, weak, barely worth noticing. It hovered in the air, its delicate wings fluttering rapidly. Was it an animal or a beast?
Squinting, Sora activated his inspect skill, the name hovering over the bird: Piou. It was level 1.
A chuckle escaped his lips. Pulling out a pair of glasses he had bought in Cordoba, Sora smirked. The glasses had one green lens, reminiscent of an old anime he once watched. They allowed him to inspect monsters and display their power levels.
As expected, the Piou was incredibly weak. Possibly the weakest creature on Earth. But that made it perfect for his experiment.
"Come over here" he said to the little bird, reaching his hand out.
Sora focused, pulling mana from the air. Slowly, he extracted the binding power he had learned through his work as a [Human Resource Assistant]. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he carefully manipulated the threads, guiding them toward the bird.
The Piou froze, its wide, terrified eyes staring up at him. So scared it defecated right there on the ground, unsure whether this giant human would eat it or not. Despite its weakness, the bird, like all evolved monsters, had a basic level of intelligence since the Earth''s upgrade. It wasn''t very smart, but it was smart enough to know it was in trouble.
As the mana thread touched the bird, something magnificent happened. From Sora''s perspective, the mana swirled with purpose, forming into a glowing square of light above them. The swirling energy morphed and changed, taking the shape of a contract.
Sora blinked, surprised as a notification appeared before him, prompting him to define the terms of the contract. Would he offer the bird a job, or did he want to be employed by it?
[Would you like to offer a Job Contract to the opposing party or ask for employment?]
On the Piou''s side, the same thing occurred. Despite its low intelligence, the bird understood the words perfectly, thanks to the magic of the contract. It hesitated, unsure of what was happening. It knew, instinctively, that with humans and beasts, there were only a few options: kill, be killed, or flee. This, however, was an entirely new possibility¡ªan offer of employment.
The bird, completely confused, opted for the "be employed" option.
Sora, for his part, chose the employer option. The terms appeared before him.
[Salary: Food.
Limit: Will perform any task asked.]
A balance appeared, showing the terms:
[Balance: The bird will take all your XP until it reaches your level. It will also take a portion of your prestige power and revive with you. Since it is infinitely weaker than you, this doesn''t affect your innate skill. The bird will become your familiar.]
[Do you accept these terms, or do you want to add conditions and restrictions?]
Sora''s eyes widened in disbelief. He hadn''t expected to end up with a familiar. A familiar was a rare bond between player and beast, granting both parties shared abilities and growth.
Without thinking too much, Sora accepted the contract. After all, he could always release the bird once he was done testing his new power.
The moment he confirmed the contract, the magic sealed it with an intense flare. The mana threads between him and the bird burst into life. From Sora''s perspective, with his [Mana Eyes], he saw the true beauty of the binding. Mana swirled in intricate, delicate patterns, locking them together in a way that was beyond ordinary sight. The thread that connected them pulsed with raw energy, and in that moment, Sora caught a glimpse of something deeper.
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He focused his gaze, sharpening his concentration. The mana thread wasn''t just a line of energy¡ªit held something more. It held emotion. As he inserted more of his own mana into the thread, he began to feel the essence of what bound him and the bird. It was as if the thread was a bridge for their emotions and intentions.
On the bird''s side, the mana carried a mixture of hope, hunger, and awe. It was incredibly innocent, fragile, and weak, its dreams of survival constantly at risk. It looked up at him as though he were a god¡ªan ultimate protector, a figure of power and safety in a dangerous world. The Piou had spent its short life being hunted, scared, and starving. Now, for the first time, it felt safe. It was eager for food, craving sustenance, and hoping to live without fear of death.
From Sora''s side, the mana carried unrivaled curiosity and ambition. He wanted to understand, to learn, to grow stronger. His thirst for knowledge intertwined with the Piou''s dreams of survival. They weren''t equals in strength, but in this moment, their feelings blended together. There was a strange exchange of understanding, a bond deeper than just a contract of words.
Sora''s eyes widened as he realized the potential. ''Mana can carry emotions, thoughts, and even dreams?''
He stared at the Piou, wondering if the bird had changed at all. Physically, it seemed the same¡ªstill tiny, still weak. But looking at it through his Mana Eyes, Sora could see the thread connecting them, a constant flow of energy.
A tiny trickle of mana came from the Piou, but in contrast, a massive flow surged from him into the bird.
Frowning, Sora investigated the thread. It held the full power of the contract they had signed. As he tried to tug at it, he realized it was indestructible. He attempted to release the bird, only to be met with a notification:
[Follow the contract, or face punishment!]
Sora slapped his forehead in frustration.
''What did i just do?! Damn ! I should''ve added conditions and restrictions. Now I''m responsible for this tiny bird!''
Since they were now bound together, the Piou would siphon off all his experience points until it leveled up. Sora sighed deeply. How long will it take to power-level this useless thing?
His thoughts were interrupted by a piercing screech from the bird. As he had started jogging, the Piou took damage from the air pressure. Sora quickly scooped it up, shielding it with his clothes to protect it from the wind.
"Useless," he muttered under his breath as he resumed his run, the tiny bird now tucked securely in his coat.
As Sora ran, the weight of his newfound responsibility settled in. He wasn''t just on a journey for himself anymore. Now, he had a familiar to take care of¡ªand a lot of leveling up to do.
After reaching the level 30-39 zone, Sora came to a halt. He knew he could easily hunt in higher-level areas, but with the tiny Piou clinging to life, he didn''t dare risk it. As fragile as his new familiar was, Sora didn''t want the bird to die in one of his reckless battles. He had to hold back, for now.
He figured the best thing to do was power-level the little bird and see how quickly it would grow. Drawing out one of his monster radars, he activated it, ignoring the low-level creatures around him and setting his sights on a group of level 38 panther-like beasts. These beasts would give a decent amount of experience, hopefully enough to see the bird level up.
The battle was short, Sora slicing through the beasts with ease, his mana-infused strikes cutting them down as if they were made of paper. After the last beast fell, a notification blinked into view.
[XP Transferred to Familiar]
Sora raised an eyebrow. Curious, he checked the bird''s status and was stunned. The little Piou had shot up to level 30 in just that one fight. It was almost absurd. Too fast. Way too fast.
"There''s no way..." Sora muttered, staring at the bird.
He realized that the Piou''s potential was laughably low, so low that even a sliver of experience would force it to skyrocket through the levels. It probably required a hundred or even a thousand times less XP than normal creatures. But there was a problem¡ªcombat power wasn''t just about levels. Even though the Piou had reached level 30, its actual ability to fight was probably nonexistent. It could only rely on level suppression to damage weaker beasts, and even then, it might not be able to beat anything stronger than a level 15 or 20 monster.
"Just my luck," Sora sighed, recalling how some players had tamed weak creatures because it was easier, only to discover their limitations later. He always knew taming weak beasts was a bad idea, but he had hoped¡ªnaively¡ªthat his contract would be different. Most players could release their familiars whenever they wanted, but his contract was binding. No easy out. No optimization.
"Shit," he muttered under his breath.
Still, there was a silver lining. He wouldn''t waste much time grinding XP for the Piou since it leveled up so quickly. If anything, he could just feed the bird, keep it around, and let it live a peaceful life. It wasn''t like he needed any help in battle, anyway. The bird was at least cute, so why not keep it for company?
Anyone who knew Sora well enough would see right through his reasoning. Deep down, he was fuming. A wasted opportunity, one that could''ve been so much more if he had thought things through.
Sora shook his head, dismissing the frustration for now. He killed a few more beasts, and once the Piou''s level matched his own, he began regaining XP for himself. With his goal set, Sora resumed his journey, sprinting east toward Barcelona.
The clock was ticking. Dodging high-level zones was slowing him down, and there wasn''t any more time to waste in the wilderness. He needed to reach the city as soon as possible, and from there, his next move awaited.
Chapter 19 : Last sprint
Barcelona was 8,000 kilometers away, but the path Sora mapped out¡ªdodging high-level zones and weaving through safer areas¡ªextended that distance to 13,000 kilometers. With his speed and ability to evade danger, it would take only a day to reach the city, but his goal wasn''t simply to arrive. Testing if moving far from his original spawn point would alter his next respawn was important, but he knew he had time to do that anytime in the future. He could always go back if necessary.
''What more can i get from this skill ?'' he asked himself. ''With 12 days left before I can Prestige again, it wouldn''t make sense to rush anywhere. I''d rather make the most out of this cycle. Prestige isn''t about rushing home after all''
Sora understood that now. The true power of his Prestige skill lay not just in reaching level 50, but in mastering the journey there, perfecting his comprehension and making his skills his own. If he relied only on the week he''d spent training with his [Mana Amplifier] class, there was no way he could recreate those skills perfectly after resetting. And even if he could recreate them, it would take too long. That would waste the next cycle.
He needed to spend the next 12 days pushing his understanding of his skills to the limit, making them truly his.
He thought back to his time as a swordman. He hadn''t even translated all of his old skills into classless versions¡ªno movement techniques, no defensive abilities, and his strongest level 45 skill, which he rarely used because of its complexity, was still untouched. There were five more sword techniques that he hadn''t even started working on.
Sora knew resetting every time at level 50 without fully mastering his skills was holding him back. His [Mana Evolution]''s potential was limitless, but scratching the surface with each class wasn''t enough. He needed balance. His plan to reset each time and grind quickly wasn''t sustainable if he wanted to master [Mana Evolution].
He would need to rethink his cycles¡ªmaybe two cycles to fully master a class, maybe more. With less and less time for each cycle as he learned faster, he would need to find an optimal strategy.
For now, he would spend these 12 days mastering the [Mana Amplifier] class. Every time he hit a wall, he''d practice his old sword techniques to unlock their classless versions. He could evolve them later.
12 Days Later
Sora stood at the edge of a cliff, the wind whipping through his hair. He had trained relentlessly, pushing his [Mana Amplifier] skills to their limits. He had reached level 10 in all of them. [Amplify], [Mana Shield], and [Speed Surge] had been his primary focus, and his comprehension of these skills was astounding. He knew he could unlock them in his next life, no matter what.
But there were three new skills he had unlocked during his training that still intrigued him. He hadn''t had time to fully master them, but their potential was enormous.
Here are three new Mana Amplifier skills for levels 30, 35, and 40 and his understanding of them.
[Skill Unlocked: Mana Resonance (Level 30)]
Type: Buff
Description: Mana Resonance creates a link between the Mana Amplifier and one or more allies. When linked, any buff the Amplifier applies to themselves is also applied to their allies at 50% of its original potency. Mana is drained from the Amplifier for both themselves and their allies, meaning the Amplifier must carefully manage their mana reserves to avoid exhaustion. The skill grows stronger with additional allies, amplifying mana efficiency within the resonance network.
Effect: Amplifies any self-buff applied to allies at 50% strength. Mana cost scales with the number of linked allies.
Limit: Maximum of 3 allies linked at level 1, but the number increases with skill level.
Skill Unlocked: Arcane Overload (Level 35)
Type: Offensive
Description: Arcane Overload is an unstable burst of raw mana energy that can be directed toward an enemy, enhancing the Amplifier''s or their ally''s next attack. The more mana the Amplifier channels into the Overload, the more devastating the attack. While powerful, the skill has a cost: after the attack is executed, the Amplifier suffers a temporary mana regeneration penalty, reducing their regeneration speed for a short time.
If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.Effect: Boosts the next physical or magical attack by 200%, increasing with more mana input. Causes a temporary 20% reduction in mana regeneration for 60 seconds after use.
Limit: Can only boost one attack at a time.
Skill Unlocked: Mana Burst Field (Level 40)
Type: Area of Effect Buff
Description: Mana Burst Field creates a localized zone of highly concentrated mana around the Amplifier, amplifying all mana-based abilities for allies within the field. It increases the potency of spells, skills, and buffs used inside the zone by 50%. While active, the Amplifier''s own mana consumption increases significantly, making this skill a high-risk, high-reward option for intense battles.
Effect: Amplifies all mana-based abilities used within the zone by 30%, including healing and offensive spells. The Amplifier''s own mana cost increases by 50% while the field is active.
Duration: Lasts for 30 seconds, with a cooldown of 2 minutes.
Limit: Radius of 20 meters at level 1.
He could use Mana Burst Field as a battlefield game-changer. By turning a localized area into a mana-amplifying zone, the skill can drastically turn the tide of combat, particularly in group fights or raids. However, the increased mana cost requires careful management to avoid burning out too early in a fight.
"Status."
[Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 1)
Class: Mana Amplifier (Class Level 45, Player Level 45)
Title: Master
Power Level: 29,000,000
Body Level: A
Energy Level: A]
His power level was staggering, far beyond what it had been in his previous cycle. His mastery of [Mana Evolution] was pushing him into a whole new realm of strength. He had regained his Master title after crossing level 40, and his body and energy levels were now Grade A, a monumental achievement at his current level.
Sora also glanced at his Innate Skill, Prestige, which was now off cooldown. He could reset again whenever he wanted.
With a deep breath, Sora stepped off the cliff.
As he plummeted toward the ground, hundreds of meters below, Sora''s mind flashed back over the last 30 days of training. Every moment spent refining his skills, every fight, every breakthrough in his understanding of mana surged through his thoughts.
His training with [Speed Surge] had shown him something critical¡ªhe could condense the buff to specific parts of his body, rather than spreading it across himself. Focusing most of it on his legs gave him explosive speed, while keeping [Mana Shield] active for defense, and a portion of the buff went to his brain and eyes. This allowed him to speed up his reactions and increase his agility beyond what was normally possible.
As the ground rushed toward him, he channeled mana into his feet, condensing Speed Surge into his legs.
The moment his feet touched the earth, he vanished.
Sora''s speed was so intense that sonic booms echoed behind him, shattering the stillness of the landscape. He was a blur, his movements too fast for the eye to follow. His body tore through the air at a blistering 3,000 meters per second¡ªten times the speed of sound.
The ground blurred beneath him, the horizon vanishing in the blink of an eye. He was only a thousand kilometers away from Barcelona, and at this speed, he would be there in less than three minutes.
He felt the power of [Speed Surge], now beyond the limitations of his class. His comprehension had transcended what the system originally allowed, and he could maintain this explosive speed for far longer than any normal [Mana Amplifier] could dream of.
He shot through the landscape like a flash of light, unstoppable.
In exactly three minutes, Sora reached Barcelona.
He didn''t care how the city had changed since the apocalypse. He was here for one thing. He went straight to the bank, emptied everything he had, and left the city as quickly as he had arrived.
At the edge of a level 80 zone, Sora paused. He called for Hiyoko, the little Piou that had become his familiar.
"Come here," he said softly, watching as the small bird fluttered to his side.
The little bird chirped, landing on his shoulder. Sora glanced down at the bird, worried about what he was about to do. He didn''t want to scare the creature.
"Listen, Hiyoko. We''re about to do something... well, something dangerous."
The bird chirped in response, tilting its head curiously.
"I''m not sure how this is going to go, but I''ll need you to be brave," Sora continued, stroking the bird''s head gently. "I''ll be fine, but you might see some things that''ll shake you."
Hiyoko stared at him with wide eyes, chirping softly. It didn''t understand everything, but it trusted Sora completely.
"Alright then. Let''s go."
With a deep breath, Sora entered the level 80 zone, feeling the oppressive atmosphere immediately. The air felt heavy, almost as if gravity itself had increased tenfold. The weight of the place bore down on him, and he felt a crushing sense of dread wash over him. The pressure here was intense.
Suddenly, a blur of movement appeared before him.
Before Sora could react, he was hit by something¡ªa force so fast and so powerful that his body shattered in an instant.
In a single blow, Sora was destroyed.
Chapter 20 : Second Rebirth !
Sora woke up in a daze, his body cold and unsteady. For a moment, his thoughts were a jumble as the memory of his death replayed in his mind. Something incredibly powerful had erased him in an instant, and he had no idea how.
''Was it a slap? A strike? A spit? I didn''t even see it coming.''
It was over before he could comprehend anything.
His thoughts drifted to the studies conducted by Public Universities, particularly their research on monsters above level 80. According to estimates, such creatures had a power level of at least 150 billion. That kind of power was inconceivable, and it only existed because of the post-apocalypse rules of Earth. The containment of these monsters in specific high-level areas suggested something even more terrifying: whoever orchestrated these world changes had even more power.
''If creatures like that are mere ants, then what am I?'' he thought, a bitter smile on his face. Reality came crashing down¡ªhe was still weak.
Sure, he had unlocked new skills, surpassed his former self, and grown tremendously. But in the grand scheme of things, his power was insignificant. His potential might be infinite, but potential meant nothing without knowledge, skill, and actual power.
"Status," he muttered, almost on autopilot. The familiar notification for his prestige skill appeared in front of him, asking if he wanted to activate his innate ability.
[Do you want to use your Prestige to revive ?]
[Yes] [No]
This time, he pressed yes without hesitation.
The dark space that typically accompanied his Prestige activation was replaced by a bright, blinding space.
[Choose an identity for an immediate revival or create an identity]
[Sora Hashino]
[Ralph Eden]
[New identity (30 Days penalty)]
He opted to keep his current identity, Ralph, without changing his appearance. Unlike before, the lady''s voice was silent this time. He had grown used to her guiding words, but her absence now felt like a small step toward self-reliance.
As soon as he chose to keep his identity, he reappeared as an ethereal form above the area where he had died. A new notification popped up, indicating that he could revive anywhere within 1,000 kilometers from his death point.
"Maybe it''s because I didn''t change my identity," he mused, intrigued by the added flexibility.
He revived in a safe zone, within a level 1-9 area near Barcelona. As soon as he reappeared, mana swirled around him, reforming his body. His familiar, Hiyoko, appeared as well. Their bond was still intact, but Hiyoko''s face showed a mix of confusion, surprise, and happiness.
Without warning, the tiny bird leapt onto Sora''s belly, chirping and hopping excitedly as if checking that he was truly alive.
Sora smiled, feeling an odd sense of comfort from the little Piou''s joy. "I''m fine, Hiyoko," he whispered, stroking the bird gently. "Let''s go on."
He quickly checked his status.
[Status Update]
Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 2)
Class: None (Level 1)
Title: Innocent
Power Level: 200
Energy Level: E
Body Level: F
Talent Level: 4
His class was reset to none, and his titles, skills, and power were back to the familiar starting point. All class-based skills were either locked or reduced to level 1, but his classless skills remained intact. His Supreme Skill, Mana Evolution, was still active and as powerful as ever.
When he was around level 34 in his previous life, [Mana Evolution] had made him eight times stronger than a regular player. But now, with his Prestige multiplier at 4, [Mana Evolution] made him ten times stronger.
Doing the mental math, Sora smirked. "Forty times stronger than average players of my level. It''s insane."
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His base strength was only five, but with the combined effects of his two skills, it was multiplied to an astronomical degree. This time, however, Sora felt different. He didn''t let it get to his head.
"There are others like me out there. For now, I''m just a frog in a well. No use getting arrogant," he muttered to himself.
He looked around the area and decided his first move was to retrieve his items from the bank. He didn''t care about fighting monsters just yet. With Hiyoko perched on his shoulder, he strolled back to the nearest city, quickly heading to the bank. Once there, the clerk was surprised to see this experienced adventurer he has seen before return with level 1 clothes...
"Did you lose all your levels ??" the clerk asked, but Sora didn''t answer, asking for access to his vault.
He retrieved all his stored equipment¡ªlevel 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, and even 50 gear, as well as his training equipment. The items he put before resetting were still there, but he would sell them later as he was not in the mood to do that.
"Let''s get strong quickly this time," he thought, a determined glint in his eyes. "It won''t take 30 days to reset this time. I''ll hit level 50 as fast as I can."
He wasn''t in the mood to relax or celebrate. The memory of his death still weighed heavily on him. All that power he''d accumulated¡ªgone in a second. He was nothing compared to the true monsters of the world.
As he left the city, equipped with his level 1 sword, Sora prepared to head to the wilderness. But as he was about to move, shouting caught his attention. Curious, he approached the commotion.
A group of players was bullying someone. The victim, a level 5 player, was desperately fighting a level 9 Giant Mosquito, while his tormentors¡ªplayers ranging from levels 12 to 19¡ªblocked his escape. They jeered and taunted him, cutting off his retreat and watching him suffer.
The leader of the bullies, level 19, seemed to be motivated by personal hatred¡ªthe victim had apparently caught the eye of his sister, and he had followed him to these dangerous parts to make him "disappear."
Sora was about to walk away, uninterested in their drama, when the leader of the group noticed him. "Just a level 1... he''s not a threat," the leader muttered to an assassin in his party.
"Take care of him," he whispered. The assassin nodded, his hand reaching for a PK Token¡ªa rare item that allowed players to attack others despite the protective rules of the world.
The assassin crept toward Sora, but before he could land a hit, Sora turned and swung his sword. A flash of mana surged through his blade as his [True Mana Strike] sliced the assassin in half. The assassin died instantly, his body falling to the ground before he could even register what had happened.
Sora felt a rush of energy as notifications filled his vision.
[You have killed Ramen, a level 15 player.]
Sora''s level instantly shot up to 8, a powerful surge of mana coursing through him. He could feel more of his strength returning, his body swelling with the power he had lost.
[Legitimate Defense System activated.]
[You may now defend yourself against all members of the attacking party.]
Without hesitation, Sora rushed toward the remaining group of bullies. His body moved faster than they could react, though he missed the Speed Surge skill he''d been accustomed to. He made do with a swift dash, sending out a Mana Sweep that obliterated most of the bullies and the Giant Mosquito in one go.
[Level up! You are now Level 13.]
He hated PVP, but some players couldn''t help but hunt other players.
Only the level 19 leader remained standing, shaking in disbelief. He had just watched Sora¡ªwho was level 1 moments ago¡ªwipe out his entire group with ease. The shock in his eyes was palpable.
"What the hell are you?" he shouted, panic setting in as he tried to fight back.
Sora didn''t give him the chance to attack. With a flash, the bully blacked out, dead before he even realized it.
Without a word, Sora turned around, gave a few gold coins and a shield to the bullied player and helped him get into a safer zone.
These guys ruined his mood as he hated killing other players. However, seeing the experience gains, it seemed less real.
Equipping his level 10 gear, Sora moved on to the next zone. In just a few hours, he had leveled up to 20. By nightfall, he was level 24, cutting through monsters and threats in zones far above his level.
He returned to Barcelona, entering an inn to rest after a long day of grinding. The city was just another pit stop on his path to power.
Sora stood in the small, dimly lit room he had rented at the inn, his mind racing with thoughts of the day''s progress. He had torn through levels far faster than he''d expected, reaching level 24 in just a single day.
But even as the power rushed through his veins, he knew it was still just a fraction of what he''d wielded the day before. The room was quiet, the only sound coming from the soft chirps of Hiyoko, who was perched on the windowsill, watching the fading light of the setting sun.
His power level had skyrocketed since that first encounter in the morning¡ªrising by leaps and bounds with each level-up. His stats, even without a class, were starting to approach those of players much higher in level. It felt exhilarating, but there was a lingering feeling of unease gnawing at the back of his mind. It wasn''t the fast progress that unsettled him¡ªit was the knowledge of what still lay ahead.
As he stared at the walls of the room, his mind wandered back to his parents. He hadn''t thought about them much in the chaos of leveling up, but now, the memories came flooding in.
His heart ached as he remembered how they lost not just one son, but both.
His brother Nathan¡ªkilled, most likely by Rachel.
Sora clenched his fist at the thought. Rachel, their childhood friend, the one who had betrayed him, had also taken Nathan away. His parents must have been devastated by their deaths, not knowing the true reason. He had to make things right. He needed to fix this.
Tomorrow morning, he would choose a new class, then head home. The thought of returning to France filled him with a strange mix of dread and longing.
His parents didn''t know he was alive, and the idea of revealing himself to them after all this time was... complicated. But he had to see them. They deserved to know the truth, and he wanted to protect them, no matter what.
With his mind set on the road ahead, Sora turned toward the bed. He glanced at Hiyoko, who chirped softly before tucking its tiny head under its wing. He allowed himself a small smile before lying down, pulling the thin blanket over himself.
"Goodnight Hiyoko"
Chapter 21 : Travel
Sora woke up at 4 a.m., his mind sharp and focused. Without wasting a moment, he geared up and left the inn in Barcelona. The streets were still dark, the city asleep, but his journey couldn''t wait. He had a long way to go.
He left the inn, his bag packed with supplies for the trip ahead. But first, he needed to visit the [Combat Training Center]. One of the benefits of being in a massive city like Barcelona was the sheer variety of available classes. With more options than smaller towns, he was certain he could find something that matched his current ambition.
''I want to focus on speed when fighting and i want a body that can handle my speed'' , he thought to himself.
Sora had become addicted to speed. The insane movement skills he''d honed in his last cycle left him hungry for more¡ªhe wanted a class that could match his desire for ultimate mobility and power. A class that would push his body to its absolute limit.
Arriving at the [Combat Training Center], he was greeted by the familiar hum of activity. Despite the early hour, a few players and NPCs were already engaged in training, their bodies glowing faintly as they tried out new skills. Sora made his way toward the central console, where class options were displayed.
But as he scrolled through the seemingly endless list, his head began to spin. There were too many choices. Each class seemed promising in its own way, but none stood out enough to match exactly what he was looking for. He rubbed his temples, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options.
"Need help?" a voice piped up from behind him.
Sora turned to see a kid, maybe around twelve or thirteen, watching him with a curious look. The training center was nearly empty this early, so the kid stood out, especially with how intently he was observing Sora.
"Uh, yeah," Sora admitted, glancing back at the console. "There are way too many classes. I''m having trouble finding something that fits."
The kid grinned. "I figured. You looked like you were about to pass out from getting too much information."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "You come here often?"
"More than you''d think," the kid said, stepping closer. "I know a lot about the classes here. I even sell little booklets summarizing what each class does. You tell me what you''re looking for, and I''ll help you find something."
Sora blinked, surprised by the offer. "You sell them?"
"Yeah," the kid replied casually, "gotta make a living somehow, right?"
Sora chuckled, appreciating the hustle. "Alright, let''s hear it. I''m looking for a class that focuses on body strength¡ªsomething that can push my physical limits but still has good potential for growth."
The kid nodded, thinking for a moment before rummaging through his bag. He pulled out a small stack of booklets, each labeled with a different class. "I got a few that might interest you. Here, take a look."
He handed Sora eight booklets, each one summarizing a class that seemed to align with what he was looking for. Sora flipped through them, the kid explaining briefly as he skimmed the pages.
[Martial Titan]
Focus: Extreme physical strength and endurance.
Abilities:
Titan Strength: Grows stronger with each training.
Infinite life: Body cells always regenerate if there is enough energy
Body Forging: As long as the body recovers from damage, it will get stronger.
[War Monk]
Focus: Combines martial arts with chi control for balance and power.
Abilities:
Inner Focus: Boosts strength and reaction speed.
Stone Palm: Devastating strikes that break defenses.
Body Meditation: Rapid health and stamina regeneration.
[Blood Berserker]
Focus: Uses pain and blood to fuel strength in battle.
Abilities:
Bloodlust: Grows stronger the more damage taken.
Berserk Mode: Massive boost in power but loses defense.
Regenerative Rage: Converts damage into health.
[Iron Fist Disciple]
Focus: Master of hand-to-hand combat with lightning-fast reflexes.
Abilities:
Unyielding Grip: Crushes through armor and weapons.
Lightning Reflexes: Counters attacks with perfect timing.
Fist of Fury: Rapid strikes that grow in power.
[Juggernaut]
Focus: Tank-like resilience with unstoppable force.
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Abilities:
Unstoppable Charge: Smashes through enemies and obstacles.
Endurance Mastery: Greatly increases toughness.
Reckless Smash: Overwhelmingly powerful strike.
[Weaponless Warlord]
Focus: Uses their body as the ultimate weapon.
Abilities:
Bone Shatter: Powerful blows that break bones.
Limitless Endurance: Never tires in battle.
Warrior''s Resolve: Heals wounds by converting battle energy.
[Flesh Shaper]
Focus: Can reshape and enhance their body during battle.
Abilities:
Bone Blade: Grow natural weapons like claws or spikes.
Muscle Surge: Temporarily boosts strength and speed.
Chitin Armor: Hardens skin to form impenetrable armor.
[Void Guardian]
Focus: Enhances the body using void energy to become untouchable.
Abilities:
Void Infusion: Temporarily strengthens the body.
Phantom Stride: Phase through matter to become untouchable.
Gravity Crash: Amplifies weight and impact of attacks.
Sora''s eyes lit up as he read through the descriptions. These classes were exactly what he had been hoping to find¡ªeach one with the potential to make his body the ultimate tool for war. They all sounded promising, but which one would be the right fit?
"These are all solid," Sora admitted, impressed by the kid''s knowledge. "But I need something that also allows for insane speed. I want to be fast, not just strong."
The kid grinned again. "Then you''ll probably want to focus on either the War Monk or the Void Guardian. Both classes have movement techniques that make them really fast, but in different ways." He added : "For infinite growth of your body, nothing beats the Martial Titan. But that one is known to hurt a looooot !! Of course, if it is speed that you''re pursuing, you''re looking in the wrong section my friend, the potential of the classes in the assassin, and Fury section is way higher in terms of speed. Let me show you 2 more booklets about speed related classes"
Sora nodded, feeling a surge of excitement. "How much for these booklets?"
"Five gold each," the kid replied. "But I''ll throw in the advice for free."
Sora laughed, tossing him a few coins. "Deal."
Sora took a look at the last 2 booklets :
[Stormrunner]
Focus: Mobility through electricity. Stormrunners harness the power of lightning to enhance their body and movement, making them capable of short bursts of super-speed.
Abilities: By channeling lightning, they can move at shocking speeds, delivering electrically charged strikes that stun or paralyze enemies. Their movement abilities allow for instantaneous dashes across the battlefield.
Ultimate Potential: Full mastery grants the ability to travel as pure electricity over short distances, moving as fast as lightning itself.
[Flash Reaper]
Focus: Pure burst speed. Flash Reapers have the ability to harness explosive speed, using it to overwhelm enemies in a short amount of time.
Abilities: These warriors use short bursts of speed to execute high-damage, close-range attacks before retreating quickly. They are perfect for quick in-and-out assaults in battle.
Ultimate Potential: Mastering this class allows them to move faster than the eye can track, delivering devastating hits in a single blink of an eye.
Of course, everyone knows the drawbacks of these classes. They are too extreme, sacrificing too much to achieve their goal, which means their users lack in all other areas," the kid reminded kindly. It seemed he added these two booklets to show off his knowledge or earn an extra 10 gold coins.
Sora thanked him, paid, and stayed in place to think for a few minutes. He ended up choosing the [Martial Titan] to lay the basis for an unbreakable body before pursuing the ultimate speed path.
He had prepared thoroughly for the trip ahead. His bag was packed with a month''s worth of supplies, enough to last through any unexpected detours or extended battles. Alongside that, he carried an assortment of items for different situations¡ªtools for traps, healing potions, enchanted scrolls, and food for both himself and Hiyoko. Most importantly, he had an updated map that marked every monster zone from Spain to France, especially the ones near his destination: Ales.
From Barcelona to Ales, it wasn''t too far¡ªaround 4000 kilometers. But with the inevitable detours and avoiding high-level zones, the total distance stretched to about 6000 kilometers. Even with his impressive stats, he missed his old skills¡ªSpeed Surge, Amplify, and Mana Shield. Without them, he felt naked. Weak. Slow.
Stepping into the first low-level zone outside the city, Sora couldn''t shake the emptiness left by the absence of those abilities. His body felt sluggish, his movements lacking the explosive speed he had once mastered. He realized quickly that the first thing he needed to do was recover those skills, especially Speed Surge.
Sora stopped in the middle of the field, focusing on his mana. He recalled every aspect of [Speed Surge]¡ªhow it felt to channel mana into his legs, how it had improved his reaction time by flooding his mind and body with raw speed. He remembered how, at his peak, he had modified the skill so that he could channel it to specific body parts, enhancing only what was necessary. It had been more than just a buff¡ªit was a true mastery of mana control.
"I can do this again," he muttered, gathering mana.
He pictured the skill in its entirety, concentrating the energy into his legs, feeling the familiar hum of power building up inside him. But when he tried to activate it... It was weak. The system labeled it as [Fake Speed Surge]. He let out a sigh, feeling the weight of disappointment.
But this was progress.
"Fake or not," he said to himself, "I recreated it." The real work began now.
Sora knew how to fix the fake skill. It wasn''t the first time he''d faced this. The key was to constantly refine the mana flow, study every interaction between the mana and his body, and improve the efficiency with which he controlled it. He didn''t deactivate the skill. Instead, he left [Fake Speed Surge] running, analyzing the way mana coursed through him. Every movement, every adjustment in his posture, was a chance to learn.
As he kept moving, he felt the flow becoming smoother. In less than five minutes, the system updated, notifying him that his skill had shifted from Fake to [Alternate Speed Surge].
He smirked. "Not bad."
With [Alternate Speed Surge] active, he was much faster than before, and as fast as the real [Speed Surge]. But it wasn''t enough. He knew that an Alternate skill wasn''t his true peak. He needed to push it further, turn it into something flawless.
And so, Sora kept pushing. He sprinted across the field, dodging between trees and rocks, using his mana to guide his legs faster, sharper, until every motion was perfectly synchronized. As he moved, he experimented with the mana structure, refining the spell layer by layer, until his body felt like it was one with the speed.
Hours passed as he trained relentlessly, only his body limiting his growth. The sun began to rise, casting light over the landscape, but Sora''s focus was absolute. Every inch of progress was met with increased power, increased speed. And by noon, something clicked.
He halted abruptly. The mana in his body was perfectly aligned. Every part of him, from his mind to his muscles, was in sync with the flow of mana. The system gave its verdict.
[Skill Unlocked: Speed Surge (Perfect)]
Sora grinned, feeling the raw power course through his legs. "That''s more like it."
With [Speed Surge] mastered again, he moved on to the next¡ª[Mana Shield]. This one came naturally to him. He remembered the flow of mana, the defensive barrier it created, how he could manipulate it to deflect or absorb damage. The initial attempt recreated the [Fake Mana Shield], but just like with Speed Surge, he didn''t stop there. He studied the flow, leaving the shield activated as he tweaked its mana patterns. Within minutes, it evolved into the Alternate version. By the afternoon, it was perfected.
Next was [Amplify], his most important buffing skill. This one required more focus, as it involved not just his body but external targets. He tried, again and again, to recreate the intricate flow of mana that would enhance someone else''s abilities. [Fake Amplify] came first, followed by [Alternate Amplify]within the hour.
He could feel the power growing with each minute.
By sunset, Sora had done it. In a single day, he had recreated and perfected his three core skills¡ª[Speed Surge], [Mana Shield], and [Amplify]. Now, they were back to their original, peak forms, and he was stronger than ever.
Chapter 22 : Home
Skills:
[Skill: Speed Surge (Perfect)]
Type: Buff
Description: Speed Surge greatly enhances movement and attack speed for a sustained period, allowing the user to move and react with incredible agility. The skill can be focused on specific parts of the body, granting precision and control over the speed boost.
Effect: Increases movement and attack speed for 3 minutes. The user can selectively channel the speed boost to specific limbs or actions for optimized mana usage, enhancing either footwork or hand movement as needed.
Bonus: Because of the incredible control over mana, and mastery of the skill, the surrounding mana make it easier for the user to move. Mana help reduce air resistance, and all kinds of pressure that are on the path of the user. Effect increases with the increase of proficiency in Mana Customization of the Mana Evolution Supreme Skill.
[Skill: Mana Shield (Perfect)]
Type: Defensive
Description: Mana Shield creates a durable and adaptive barrier of mana that surrounds the user or an ally. The shield''s strength is directly proportional to the amount of mana input, making it versatile and capable of absorbing large amounts of damage.
Effect: Creates a shield that absorbs damage until it breaks. The shield automatically adjusts to the intensity of attacks, becoming stronger with more mana.
Bonus: The Loved by Mana effect from the Mana Evolution Supreme Skill enhances the shield. Mana flows into the barrier autonomously, constantly reinforcing it to protect the user.
[Skill: Amplify (Perfect)]
Type: Buff
Description: Perfect Amplify increases the effectiveness of the target''s mana-based or physical abilities by channeling extra mana from the Amplifier. This skill now maximizes the efficiency of mana transfer, resulting in powerful enhancements without excessive mana loss.
Effect: Increases the target''s skill potency by giving him mana, while using only 50% of the Amplifier''s given mana. The Amplify skill also enhances non-mana-based abilities, such as physical strikes, providing a boost to them as well at half the cost in mana.
Bonus: Amplify can be stacked on multiple targets without major mana penalties. The same mana input can be used for several targets. The number of targets increases with the Mana Growth effect of the Mana Evolution Supreme Skill.
These three perfected skills were the pinnacle.
Each skill was listed as Perfect. Sora took a deep breath, satisfied. His foundation was solid once again. This seemed to be a tier of skill above anything he has ever seen in the past.
''Let''s start running.''
It was late, but he could keep going. Hiyoko needed rest, so Sora transferred the little bird to the [Familiar Bubble] he had bought in Barcelona. The bubble was a protective space that allowed familiars to rest in comfort, isolated from the outside world. From the outside, Sora could see Hiyoko sleeping soundly on a small bed inside the transparent bubble, oblivious to the journey. If he wanted, Sora could make the bubble opaque, hiding his familiar from onlookers.
The bubble floated above his head, bobbing slightly in the wind as Sora activated [Speed Surge] and sprinted towards France.
He quickly passed the border, the Pyrenees mountain range fading behind him as he looked back at the land that had welcomed him for a month. He was now reborn, figuratively and literally.
"Goodbye, Spain!" he muttered under his breath with a smile, the wind rushing past him as he disappeared into the horizon.
As he sprinted toward his home, he activated his monster radar, ensuring that there was always an enemy group on his path. His new class, [Martial Titan], was leveling up rapidly, but he ignored the new skills for now. There would be time for that later. By the time he reached the vicinity of his city, it had been 1 and a half days since he left Barcelona. He was now level 38, much stronger than when he had been just a day earlier as a level 24 player.
His new class, [Martial Titan], had already maxed out, but unlike other players, Sora hadn''t even opened a single skill description.
Standing outside the small city of Ales, Sora pondered whether to gain more power before entering. But then, he realized¡ªhe wasn''t here to fight. He was here to see his parents. And besides, no one from his past would recognize him now. Even if someone who disliked him crossed paths with him, how could they know who he was?
The real challenge would be staying calm if he encountered Rachel or one of her accomplices. Who knew how much stronger she had become in the past two months? She wasn''t even level 50 when they last met. She couldn''t have improved that much, right?
"It doesn''t matter," Sora thought. "I''ll ignore her for now. Our time will come."
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He decided to enter the city and observe his old home first. Heading to the living area on the city''s outskirts, Sora found a bench not too far from his parents'' house. Activating [Mana Eyes], he peered inside. The house was empty.
He waited.
Twenty minutes passed like an eternity. Eventually, he saw two figures at the end of the street. His sharp eyesight recognized them immediately. His heart ached.
His parents were walking home, but they had changed. His father looked twenty years older, and his mother was supporting him as they walked. She tried her best to cheer him up, but the pain in her eyes was unmistakable. Sora felt a lump in his throat, his eyes moistening. He wanted to run up to them, tell them he was back, that everything would be okay¡ªbut he couldn''t. Not like this. He wasn''t the same person anymore.
They had changed so much in just two months.
He observed them closely, noting their levels¡ªboth still level 9, the same as when he left them. Civilians.
At least Rachel hadn''t targeted them. Not yet.
Sighing in relief, Sora deactivated [Mana Eyes] and waited, watching as his parents entered their home. After calming himself for another hour, he finally stood up.
It was time.
He walked toward the door and knocked.
Sora knocked on the door and waited, his heart pounding in his chest. His mind raced, filled with questions about how to approach this. What would he even say? He was alive¡ªyes, but he wasn''t the same person they once knew. He had changed, inside and out, and his journey had taken him far from who he once was.
A few moments later, the door creaked open, revealing his mother. Her eyes were tired, carrying the weight of the last two months, but she smiled gently, more out of habit than true happiness.
"Good evening," she greeted, her voice soft and polite.
Sora hesitated, suddenly unsure. His throat was dry. "Hi¡ I''m¡" He trailed off, his own words catching him off guard. The usual confidence he had built over these weeks seemed to vanish in front of her, this woman who had raised him, cared for him.
"Are you here to see someone?" she asked, noticing the awkward pause, her eyes scanning him as if trying to place his face.
Sora took a deep breath, deciding to rip off the bandage. "It''s me, Mom. It''s Sora."
Her smile faltered, confusion flashing in her eyes. "Sora? What are you¡ª?" She shook her head, dismissing the idea immediately, as if the notion was too painful to entertain. "That''s impossible. My Sora is dead. Please, don''t joke about something like this."
His heart squeezed painfully in his chest. He had expected this, but hearing the words still hurt more than he anticipated.
"I''m not dead, Mom," he said, stepping forward slowly. "It''s really me. I know I look different, and I know it''s hard to believe, but¡" He trailed off again, uncertain how to convince her.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and her hand gripped the doorframe tightly. "This isn''t funny," she whispered, her voice breaking. "If this is some kind of cruel joke, please stop. We''ve already lost too much."
Sora clenched his fists, feeling the helplessness settle in. He couldn''t stand seeing her like this¡ªso fragile, so worn down. "It''s me, I swear. I can prove it." He racked his brain for something only he would know, something she couldn''t deny. "When I was little, I used to call you maman ¨¦toile because I thought you were like the stars in the sky¡ªalways watching over me. No one else knows that."
Her eyes widened, her breath hitching as the familiar words washed over her. She hadn''t heard that name in years. Slowly, disbelief gave way to hope.
"S-Sora?" she stammered, her voice barely audible. "How¡ how is this possible?"
Before he could respond, his father appeared behind her, frowning at the conversation. "What''s going on here?" he asked, his voice gruff but weakened by age. "Who is this?"
Sora turned to face him. "Dad¡ it''s me. I''m back."
His father''s eyes narrowed, taking in the sight of the young man standing before him. He looked so different, yet there was something familiar in his posture, the way he stood.
"You look nothing like him," his father said, his voice harsh but laced with uncertainty. "You sound nothing like him either."
His mother was the first to react, stepping aside to let him in. "Come inside," she whispered, still shaking, her hands trembling. "We need to¡ talk."
Sora followed them inside, his heart heavy with the weight of their disbelief. The living room was the same as he remembered¡ªfamiliar, comforting, yet overshadowed by the sorrow that had filled it in his absence.
Sora sat quietly, staring at his parents. He could feel the tension in the room, the weight of disbelief hanging heavy in the air. His mother''s hand still rested on his arm, as though she feared letting go would make him vanish. His father, though trying to hold back emotions, was clearly on the edge of breaking.
"How?" she finally asked, her voice small. "How are you here?"
He knew he couldn''t keep this hidden from them. They deserved to know the truth¡ªeverything.
"There''s something you need to know," Sora said, his voice soft but steady. He locked eyes with his parents. "Something I haven''t told anyone."
His mother''s grip on his arm tightened slightly, her brows furrowing in concern. "What is it?"
Sora took a deep breath, preparing himself for their reactions. "I didn''t just survive by chance. I¡ have an ability. It''s called Prestige. Every time I reach a certain point, I can reset¡ªstart over from the beginning. I lose my level, my items, everything¡ except my skills. I come back stronger each time. That''s how I''m still here."
His father blinked, his frown deepening. "Reset? What are you talking about?"
Sora hesitated, then continued. "When I die or when I choose to reset after reaching a high enough level, I start from the beginning. My body and appearance can change. I can even take on a new identity. That''s why I look different now. It''s still me¡ but I''ve been through this process."
The silence was thick. His mother stared at him, tears welling up again, but this time out of confusion. "Sora, I don''t understand¡ you''ve¡ reset? That''s why you look like this?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes. I can start over. It''s part of this new reality. It''s not just me¡ªi''m sure there are others with incredible abilities"
His father leaned forward, his expression hard to read. "And why didn''t you come back earlier? If you can reset¡ why now? Why not when you first¡ disappeared?"
Sora''s chest tightened. "I couldn''t." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "The first month after I died, everything changed, I wasn''t reborn yet. I had to wait for a month before coming back and the place i appeared in was extremely far from here ¡ On top of that, I was afraid of coming back as ... My killer could kill me again. "
"Your killer??" His father was shocked at those words
"Yes, Rachel killed me, and I didn''t want to meet her at my weakest", his eyes red, with anger rising, he explained.
Both his parents froze at the mention of Rachel''s name. The room grew even quieter. His father''s fists clenched.
"Rachel?" his mother whispered, her voice barely audible. "Rachel¡ killed you?"
Sora nodded, eyes dark. "She betrayed me. And¡ Nathan."
His father stood up, anger flashing across his face. "What do you mean? Nathan died in an accident¡ª"
"No," Sora interrupted gently but firmly. "It wasn''t an accident. Rachel killed Nathan. She confessed it to me right before she killed me. That''s why I''ve been gone. I didn''t come back because I was dead."
His mother covered her mouth, her eyes wide in disbelief. She shook her head as if trying to process everything. "I can''t¡ believe this. Rachel¡ how could she¡"
Chapter 23 : Reunion
Sora leaned forward. "I came back because of Prestige. After she killed me, I reset. But I needed time to grow stronger. That''s why I''ve been gone for so long. The last month, I''ve been training, pushing myself to be strong enough to handle whatever comes next."
His father paced the room, his mind clearly racing. "This is¡ hard to believe, Sora. You¡ you can reset, you said? Start over like it''s nothing?"
Sora nodded again. "It''s not easy. I lose everything each time. My level, my progress, my possessions. But I get stronger. I wasn''t able to come back because I hadn''t reached that point yet. And even after I did¡ I needed time. I was not ready"
They both stared at him, the disbelief still etched on their faces. His father crossed his arms, trying to make sense of it all. "If it''s really you, then¡ prove it. There must be something, something only Sora would know. You''ve told us things already, but¡ it''s too much to believe without something more."
His mother wiped her eyes, still holding on to some sliver of hope. "Maybe¡ maybe we can test him somehow."
Sora nodded, expecting this. "You want proof? Let''s go through it. Ask me anything."
His father stopped pacing, his brow furrowed as he thought. "Alright. Something from your childhood. What was the name of the treehouse I built for you and Nathan in the backyard?"
Sora didn''t even hesitate. "Fort Griffon. It was half-finished for weeks until you finally got the supplies to finish it. We spent all summer up there, reading comics and playing pretend."
His mother gasped softly, her eyes lighting up with recognition. But his father wasn''t done.
"And when you were eight, you broke your arm. Why?"
"I jumped off the tree in the park, trying to see if I could land like a superhero. Spoiler¡ªI couldn''t."
His father''s gaze softened, but the tension in his body remained. "One more. What did you call your first bike?"
"Red Lightning," Sora answered, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Even though it was blue, not red. I thought the name sounded cooler."
His father slowly sat down, his stern expression melting away. His hands trembled slightly as he stared at Sora, the doubt beginning to fade. "It''s really you¡"
His mother, still teary-eyed, moved closer to Sora. "I don''t understand everything you''re saying¡ but I believe you."
Sora smiled sadly, feeling the weight of their belief settling on his shoulders. "It''s me, Mom. I promise."
His father finally exhaled, running a hand through his graying hair. "We''ll figure this out. Together. I don''t care what abilities or powers you have now¡ I''m just glad you''re back."
Sora felt a sense of relief wash over him. He had feared this moment, worried that his parents would never believe him, that they wouldn''t accept the person he had become. But now, seeing the way they looked at him, he knew that no matter how much he had changed, he was still their son.
They embraced, and for the first time in a long while, Sora felt like he was truly home. But even as the warmth of their reunion filled him, he couldn''t shake the thoughts of what lay ahead.
"I''ll stay for a little while," Sora said softly, breaking the silence. "But I can''t stay forever. There''s still so much I have to do. I will have to leave the house for long periods to train and hunt Rachel"
His parents nodded, understanding but not liking it. His mother held his hand tightly, unwilling to let go just yet.
"Just¡ promise us you''ll always come back," his father said, his voice gruff but full of emotion.
Sora smiled. "I will do my best. I promise."
The next morning, Sora stood outside his family home, feeling the crisp air on his skin. The heaviness of the previous night had started to lift, but the weight of his mission remained. His parents were still in disbelief over his abilities, but they had accepted him back, and that was more than he could have hoped for.
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His mother''s eyes were still red from crying, and his father had remained silent for most of the night, deep in thought. Sora knew they were struggling to process everything he had told them, but they trusted him.
"I''ll be back regularly," Sora assured them again as they sat together for breakfast. "But I have things to do, and Rachel is still out there. I can''t let my guard down."
His father nodded, though his expression remained serious. "I understand, Sora. But don''t push yourself too hard. You''ve already come back to us once¡ don''t take unnecessary risks."
Sora gave a small smile, appreciating the concern but knowing deep down that risks were unavoidable. "I''ll be careful."
Before he could leave for the day, Sora remembered something important. "I need to get you both something first. A way for us to stay in touch, no matter where I am."
His mother looked puzzled. "What do you mean? We don''t have much access to communication here in Ales. It''s always been a problem."
"Exactly," Sora said. "I''m going to solve that today."
Sora headed to the auction hall after breakfast, his mind set on getting what he needed. The place was bustling, filled with merchants, adventurers, and collectors looking for rare items. As he walked through the hall, scanning the various goods on display, his thoughts were clear: [Mana Phones].
These items weren''t hard to make, but they required rare materials, which made them expensive. A standard communication device was limited by natural barriers and magical interference, especially in places like Ales, which were practically cut off from larger communication networks. But Mana Phones operated differently, using pure mana to bypass those limitations.
He found a merchant selling them and quickly purchased three, each priced at 100,000 gold. It was a steep cost, but money was no issue for him. He had earned more than enough over the last month to afford them. Sora wasn''t interested in anything else in the auction house¡ªhe had a mission, and this was just a tool to keep his family safe and in contact.
Carrying the sleek, palm-sized devices back home, he couldn''t help but feel relieved. "This should make things easier," he thought, his pace quickening.
Back at home, Sora handed the [Mana Phones]to his parents, placing one in each of their hands. His mother examined it, her face a mixture of curiosity and surprise. His father turned it over, inspecting the craftsmanship, though clearly uncertain how it worked.
"These," Sora began, "will keep us connected, no matter where I am. Normal communication tools can''t reach here reliably, but these Mana Phones don''t have that problem. As long as I''m within a reasonable distance, we can talk."
His father raised an eyebrow, impressed. "How far is the range?"
Sora smiled. "Far enough to cover most of the continent without interruptions. No more communication gaps."
His mother looked up at him, grateful. "Thank you, Sora. This means¡ we won''t have to worry about losing contact with you again."
Sora nodded. "Exactly. You can call me anytime you need to, and I''ll do the same. There''s one more thing." He reached into his bag and pulled out a large sack of gold coins, totaling 500,000 gold. "This is for you both. Use it however you need¡ªfood, repairs, anything."
His father stared at the sack, wide-eyed. "That''s¡ a lot of money, Sora. We don''t need this much."
"I want you to have it," Sora insisted. "You don''t know how long I''ll be out there. And I don''t want you to struggle."
His mother''s voice quivered slightly as she said, "We''ll be fine, Sora. We''re just glad you''re back."
Sora smiled warmly, but his mind was already thinking of the next steps. "I''ll be training outside the city for a while. I need to master the skills from my new class. I''ll also be working in nearby big cities to level up my job when I can."
His father looked concerned. "How long will you be gone this time?"
"I''ll check in regularly, I promise," Sora said. "I can''t afford to lose focus right now. I need to master this class, and that means hunting monsters, testing my limits. But I''ll keep you both updated."
His mother placed a hand on his. "Just¡ don''t disappear again."
"I won''t," Sora reassured her. "Not like before."
His father nodded, but there was a lingering tension in his gaze. "And Rachel?"
Sora''s expression darkened. "I''ll deal with her. I''m sure I''m stronger than her, but she had allies. And i have no idea how strong they were. I''m not strong enough yet, but I will be. Right now, she''s not my main focus. But when the time comes, I''ll make sure she pays for what she''s done. For Nathan."
Silence hung in the room for a moment before his father finally spoke. "Then we''ll leave it in your hands. Just come back to us. That''s all we ask."
Sora gave them both a firm nod. "I will."
---
As Sora ventured into the wilderness, leaving the comforting sight of his parents'' home behind, he began to focus on his next task: understanding his new class, [Martial Titan]. He had pushed it aside for long enough, prioritizing his speed and mana-related skills, but now it was time to see what kind of raw power this class could offer.
He found a quiet spot in the forest, sat down, and finally started going through the list of skills he had unlocked. The booklet the kid in Barcelona had given him described the class as one focused on extreme physical strength and endurance¡ªabilities that seemed perfect for a warrior who didn''t rely too much on mana, but instead on the sheer power of his body.
Sora smirked. "Let''s see what we''ve got."
Chapter 24 : Bone and Muscle Forging
He scrolled quickly through the skill descriptions. While some were clearly built for combat, what truly intrigued him were the first four. These weren¡¯t ordinary skills¡ªthey were about reshaping his body, about forging his bones, muscles, and cells into something beyond human.
He reopened the skill panel and carefully read through the first three skills again:
[Skill: Titan Regeneration (Passive)]
Type: Passive
Description: Titan Regeneration allows the user''s cells to continuously regenerate by absorbing ambient mana, even in the heat of battle. This ability keeps the user in prime condition, healing wounds without disrupting focus.
Effect:
-
Constant health regeneration at 2% per second in combat.
-
Enhanced out-of-combat regeneration at 5% per second.
-
Recovery from severe injuries, such as lost limbs, over time.
[Skill: Bone Forging (Active)]
Type: Active
Description: Channels mana into the user¡¯s bones, tempering and permanently reinforcing them up to the body''s natural limits.
[Skill: Muscle Forging (Active)]
Type: Active
Description: Infuses mana into the user¡¯s muscles, strengthening and refining them. Each use enhances muscle fibers for either strength or endurance, depending on the user''s focus. This enhancement continues until the body''s natural limiters are reached.
[Skill: Limit Breaker (Active)]
Type: Active
Description: Refines and stores Titan Energy within the dantian. Once sufficiently dense, this energy can be directed to challenge and surpass the body''s natural limiters. If the energy is inadequate, the user risks losing it. Attempting a breakthrough without preparation can result in severe injury or death.
Sora leaned back, feeling a surge of excitement. These skills weren¡¯t about flashy moves¡ªthey were about transformation, about breaking through human limitations and reshaping himself. He was forging his own body, turning it into a weapon.
"Let''s start with [Bone Forging]," he muttered, standing up and focusing inward. The skill wasn''t just about brute strength, it was about refinement¡ªchanneling mana in a way that transformed his bones, making them denser, more durable. He could feel his body respond immediately as he activated the skill.
Mana surged into his bones, flowing in from the air and from his core, settling into the very structure of his skeleton. The process was strange at first, almost like a gentle hum vibrating within his bones. It wasn''t painful, but it was intense¡ªlike a deep pressure slowly building up inside him. He imagined his bones absorbing the mana, becoming harder, more resilient with each passing moment.
Curious about the mechanics of it, Sora focused on the flow of mana. He could feel it entering his bones, breaking down into smaller particles, then merging with the structure. Mana wasn''t just reinforcing the surface¡ªit was penetrating deep, down to the marrow, reshaping the very foundation of his body.
"It''s absorbing a lot of mana," Sora muttered to himself. "But it''s efficient."
He smiled slightly. The speed of the process was impressive, and he knew part of that was because of his Level 2 [Prestige] . It allowed him to learn and master skills at four times the usual rate. Even so, the process seemed extraordinarily fast.
As he concentrated further, he wondered ''Can i guide mana more precisely? I don''t want to let it flow freely through my skeleton but direct it where I want''.
He tried it and decided to focus the mana into his arms first, channeling more energy into his forearms and hands. His body responded immediately¡ªthe buzzing in his arms intensified, and he could feel his bones harden further in those areas.
"It''s working," he thought with satisfaction. He had control over the mana''s flow, and he could focus it where he needed the most reinforcement.
He adjusted the flow again, this time speeding it up. More mana flowed into his bones, intensifying the transformation. His arms felt heavier, but not in a bad way¡ªhe felt the increased density, the strength growing inside his bones. It was as if his very structure was being fortified with each passing second. He clenched his fists, testing the new strength, and smiled as he noticed the difference.
''This is better than using training gears for hours !'' He thought to himself
But he wasn''t done experimenting yet. Sora shifted his focus to his legs, channeling mana there. The sensation traveled downward, and soon, his legs felt sturdier, more capable of handling the intense movements he had planned. He jumped lightly, feeling the extra weight but also noticing the increased resilience.
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As the skill continued, Sora observed the mana flow more closely. It wasn''t just being absorbed¡ªit was also being transformed. A small portion of the mana was being kept and used to nourish the bone structure, reinforcing it even after the skill was deactivated. That meant every time he used [Bone Forging], he was making permanent gains.
"This class is something else," he whispered, feeling the excitement building. The more he used [Bone Forging], the stronger his bones would become over time. He felt like he was shaping himself into something truly powerful¡ªsomething that would last.
He tested his flexibility, moving his limbs around as the mana continued to pour into his bones. Despite the increased density, his range of movement hadn''t been compromised. If anything, he felt even more balanced, as though his body was aligning with the power of the mana, working with it in harmony.
Still, there was more to learn. As the Bone Forging process came to a temporary stop, Sora analyzed how it had modified his body. He sensed that his bones had grown significantly stronger, but what fascinated him was the adaptability of the skill. He could guide it, control it, even modify how the mana was distributed throughout his body. That meant he could improve any part of the body he wanted to focus on.
He began running again, feeling the subtle difference in how his legs responded to the motion. Each step felt more controlled, his movements more stable, and his body seemed better equipped to handle the strain of high-speed travel.
"This feeling isn''t bad" Sora thought, feeling invigorated.
Sora finished experimenting with [Bone Forging], feeling the subtle shifts in his body. The process had been informative, but now it was time to push forward. The next skill in line was [Muscle Forging], and based on his previous experience, he anticipated this one would be just as interesting.
Opening his skill panel, he activated [Muscle Forging].
At once, he felt the familiar pull of mana as it coursed through his body, this time targeting his muscles. Unlike the passive regenerative nature of [Titan Regeneration], [Muscle Forging] was active, requiring him to focus on guiding the flow of mana to enhance the fibers in his body. He could feel the distinct way the mana latched onto the muscle tissue, breaking it down slightly, then rebuilding it stronger¡ªmuch like how intense physical training worked on a normal body.
But this was different. This was accelerated, refined by mana.
As he continued, Sora noticed something fascinating. There was a split in the way the mana operated on his muscles, almost like a choice being offered to him. He could direct the energy in two distinct ways: toward Strength or Endurance.
He paused, surprised by this discovery. "Strength or endurance, huh?" he muttered, reflecting on the choice. "That''s like basic bodybuilding principles."
In his previous life, Sora had seen how people tailored their training to suit specific goals. Some individuals aimed to maximize their raw power, training to lift enormous weights, developing sheer muscle mass. They prioritized strength. On the other hand, there were those who dedicated themselves to long-distance running or endurance sports, aiming to develop muscles that could withstand fatigue for extended periods. These individuals focused on endurance.
The same concept seemed to apply to [Muscle Forging]. By choosing to guide the mana toward one path, he could drastically alter the type of enhancement his muscles would undergo.
He tested the first option, focusing his mana entirely on strength. Immediately, he felt his muscles tense and bulk up slightly. The fibers became denser, and the power within each movement intensified. He clenched his fist, feeling the explosive strength in his grip.
"So this is the strength path..." he murmured, feeling the raw, heavy power coursing through him. It was tempting to keep pushing in this direction, but something nagged at him. Strength alone wasn''t always the answer.
Switching to endurance, he let mana flow into his muscles in a different way. This time, instead of thickening and hardening, his muscles became more elastic, more efficient. The tension in his body lightened, and though he didn''t feel as strong, he could tell that his muscles were now primed for sustained exertion. He imagined running for miles or fighting in a prolonged battle without getting tired.
"Endurance... I can feel it. Lighter, smoother... perfect for long battles or running without stopping."
But as he worked through the process, Sora realized there was a third option, one that hadn''t been immediately apparent: balance.
Instead of committing fully to one path or the other, he guided the mana evenly, distributing the benefits of both strength and endurance. As the mana seeped into his muscles, he felt a more moderate increase in power. The strength was there, but it wasn''t as overwhelming as when he focused solely on it. Similarly, his muscles were more resistant to fatigue, though not to the same extent as when he focused purely on endurance.
"Balanced growth..." Sora thought, his mind racing. "It''s like training for overall fitness instead of specializing. I won''t be the strongest or the most enduring, but I''ll be versatile."
He considered this option carefully. Pure strength would make him formidable in close-range combat, perfect for overwhelming opponents with raw power. Endurance, on the other hand, would allow him to outlast enemies, especially in long fights or during intense training sessions. But balanced growth... that offered versatility. In the real world, versatility often meant survival.
As his mana finished circulating through his muscles, he felt a sense of completion. The choice was made¡ªhe had chosen a balanced path for now, giving him enough power to fight with brute strength when needed, but also the stamina to keep going when the battle dragged on.
His muscles were now tempered, more responsive and durable, thanks to the forging process. But Sora couldn''t help but wonder if he could switch between these paths in the future, perhaps by specializing in one during a specific training session or fight.
"There''s so much potential in this class," he muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead.
The process of [Muscle Forging] was fast for him, thanks to his high mana quality and the advantage of his Prestige skill, which quadrupled his learning speed. He could feel the mana reshaping his muscles more efficiently than a normal player could ever hope to achieve.
Yet, despite the speed of progress, he knew there was more to discover. He''d just barely scratched the surface of what [Muscle and Bone Forging] could do. The next challenge would be to see how these skills synergized with the rest of his abilities, including the new ones he had yet to fully explore.
Satisfied with the initial results, Sora flexed his arms, feeling the power and flexibility coursing through him.
Chapter 25 : Breakthrough
Sora stood in the middle of the forest, his breathing steady, the air around him thick with mana. The early morning sunlight filtered through the trees, casting shifting patterns of light on the ground beneath him. He had been continuously channeling all his Martial Titan skills since he''d read the skills description, flooding his muscles and bones with mana, reinforcing them as much as possible. He could feel the subtle shifts within his body¡ªhis bones hardening, his muscles becoming denser and more responsive¡ªbut it wasn''t enough. He wanted more.
He absorbed mana at a crazed rate, pulling from the abundant ambient energy around him, compressing it within his body to speed up the forging process. It was something most players couldn''t do, not at the pace he was pushing. But his supreme skill, his [Mana Evolution], had evolved his mana control and quality to a level where absorbing and refining mana was second nature. Every breath, every beat of his heart, was in sync with the energy swirling inside him.
An hour passed like this¡ªSora''s body constantly absorbing and refining mana, driving the [Bone forging] and [Muscle forging] skills to their limits. His bones felt stronger than steel, and his muscles buzzed with newfound strength and resilience. Yet, after an hour of relentless effort, something changed.
He stopped, feeling a sudden block. No matter how much he tried to push the mana further, to guide it into his bones and muscles, his body simply refused to absorb more. It was as if he''d hit some kind of invisible barrier. He attempted to force it for a moment longer, but his body''s resistance remained steadfast.
Sora took a deep breath, stepping back and letting the tension ease from his frame. "I''ve hit a limit," he muttered to himself. His mind raced with questions. Limits?
''This is interesting. How do i break this limit now ?'' he thought to himself
Sora had a lingering curiosity about the nature of these limits. He dismissed the questions for now and shifted his attention to something else¡ªthe energy he had been accumulating.
He closed his eyes and focused inward, feeling for the pool of Titan Energy he had been refining. The dense energy swirled within him, stored and waiting for the moment he would need it. However, just like with his muscles and bones, there was a cap. He couldn''t add more. The energy was at its peak.
"So, it''s time..." he whispered to himself, excitement building. He had been stacking and refining this energy for this exact moment¡ªto break through the first of his body''s limits. This would take him beyond the current cap his body had imposed, opening the door to even greater strength.
Sora stood and braced himself, pulling the Titan Energy from deep within his dantian and circulating it throughout his body. The instant the energy moved, a searing pain shot through him, like molten lava coursing through his veins. His muscles tensed and his bones felt as if they were cracking under the immense pressure. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his body trembled.
He clenched his fists, feeling the energy slamming into his bones and muscles, trying to break through the invisible barrier that had held him back. It wasn''t just the pain¡ªit was the sheer force of the energy pushing against his physical limits, straining his body to the point where it felt like it might tear apart at any moment.
"This is... intense," he gritted through clenched teeth.
Sora felt the pain intensify, his vision blurring for a moment. But his body held firm, thanks to the foundation he had built. He couldn''t help but think about how much more dangerous this would have been if he hadn''t already tempered his body with the training gear every time he could.
He was used to equipping the gear because he knew his body would lag behind if he didn''t train it as his level grew. Since his leveling speed rose to such extreme speeds, the settings of his training gear was already pushed to the extreme.
Even with the guidance of the class, there was no guarantee of success in breaking through these kinds of limits. A failure could result in crippling injury, or worse¡ªdeath.
But Sora had something else working in his favor: his talent in mana manipulation.
Classes acted as guides, channeling a player''s mana in specific ways, but someone with exceptional control over mana could take those skills further. Sora''s [Mana Evolution],had sharpened his mana sense and control to a high degree. It meant he could apply the skills more precisely and efficiently than others. This increased his odds of success.
As the Titan Energy surged through his body, Sora adjusted its flow, using his superior mana control to guide it more carefully.
He concentrated on the energy attacking the limiters in his bones and muscles, visualizing it breaking down the barriers piece by piece.
Slowly but surely, the pain began to subside¡ªnot because it was lessening, but because his body was adapting, adjusting to the immense pressure.
Minutes passed, though it felt like hours. Then, suddenly, he felt a shift. A crack. The limit within his body shattered, releasing a flood of energy that rushed through him like a tidal wave.
His bones and muscles seemed to expand and contract at once, adapting to their new potential. The pain vanished, replaced by a sense of overwhelming strength.
Sora let out a slow breath, his entire body buzzing with newfound power. "That... was amazing," he muttered, clenching and unclenching his fists.
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His muscles felt denser, stronger, more alive. Even his bones felt different¡ªmore solid, more resilient. He flexed his arm experimentally, marveling at the fluid power now coursing through him.
He had done it. He had broken through his limit for the first time.
Sora sat back down on the ground, letting the adrenaline drain from his body. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his limbs felt heavy, but there was no mistaking it¡ªhe was significantly stronger now.
His muscles felt tighter, stronger, and more responsive. His bones, once aching with the pressure of the [Bone forging], now felt like they could withstand immense force. The ambient mana that surrounded him was no longer resisting¡ªit was flowing naturally into his body, fueling him.
Hiyoko, perched comfortably on his shoulder, chirped softly, its head tilted curiously as it watched Sora. The little bird''s feathers fluffed up as if sensing the change in Sora''s aura. It hopped slightly, nudging Sora''s neck with its beak.
Sora chuckled, gently rubbing Hiyoko''s tiny head with a finger. "You''re just as curious as I am, huh?" he said with a grin. "Let''s see what I can do now."
He didn''t want to test his newfound power with mana or skills just yet¡ªhe wanted to rely purely on his physical strength, to see how far this new class had taken him. He could already feel the difference, the weight of power in his muscles and bones. But the only real way to measure it was through combat.
"Let''s find something big," he muttered, feeling a thrill of anticipation. Hiyoko chirped softly from his shoulder, the little bird sensing the shift in Sora''s mood.
He activated his [Monster radar], scanning the area for something challenging. He wasn''t looking for an easy fight. His level might have been 38, but with the raw strength of the Martial Titan class, he needed something that would push him to the limit. A level 45 beast caught his attention. It wasn''t an easy target; before this class, fighting something like that would''ve been impossible.
Perfect.
The target was a Grathorn, a hulking creature resembling a rhinoceros, but twice the size and covered in jagged, stone-like armor. Its head was adorned with two massive horns, which it used to gore and charge at enemies. It was known for its overwhelming physical strength and endurance¡ªa beast that relied on brute force, just like Sora wanted to.
As he made his way toward the Grathorn, Sora deliberately blocked off his mana flow. No mana would reinforce his body, no skills would assist him¡ªexcept for Titan Regeneration, which he kept active to heal any damage his body took. This was going to be a pure test of strength.
When the Grathorn spotted him, it let out a deep, rumbling growl. Its massive hooves dug into the ground as it lowered its head, ready to charge. Sora clenched his fists, feeling his bones and muscles tense, and braced for the impact.
The Grathorn barreled toward him with a deafening roar, its enormous weight and speed making the ground tremble beneath it. Sora stood his ground, waiting until the last possible second. Just as the beast''s horns were about to impale him, he leaped to the side, barely dodging the attack.
The Grathorn skidded to a halt, turning quickly to face Sora again. He dashed forward, planting his feet firmly and throwing a punch with all his strength into the side of the creature. His fist connected with the creature''s stone-like armor, and a shockwave ran up his arm from the impact. It hurt. A lot.
But the Grathorn felt it too. It staggered slightly, the force of Sora''s punch disrupting its balance, but it quickly recovered. Before Sora could move out of the way, the beast swung its massive head, slamming into Sora with one of its horns. The blow sent him flying, crashing into the ground several meters away.
Sora groaned, pain shooting through his side. He felt something crack¡ªa rib, maybe more. His body screamed in agony, but Titan Regeneration kicked in, and he could feel his bones already starting to knit themselves back together.
The Grathorn charged again. Sora gritted his teeth, standing up despite the pain. His body ached, but he wasn''t done yet. He dodged another charge, feeling the wind whip past him as the beast''s horns missed him by inches. He retaliated with another punch, this time aiming for the beast''s legs. The blow was solid, and the Grathorn stumbled, letting out a pained roar.
But Sora wasn''t fast enough. The Grathorn lashed out with its front leg, catching Sora square in the chest and sending him tumbling again. This time, he felt the unmistakable crack of more bones breaking¡ªhis forearm, maybe a couple more ribs. He gasped, struggling to breathe as his body writhed in pain. Blood dripped from his mouth, but he refused to stop.
Titan Regeneration worked tirelessly, slowly repairing the damage, but it wasn''t immediate. He still felt every break, every bruise, but he pushed through the pain. Sora knew that this fight was more than a test of strength¡ªit was about endurance, about how much his body could take.
The Grathorn, clearly wounded but far from defeated, charged at him again. This time, Sora stood his ground. He knew he couldn''t keep dodging forever. As the beast lunged, Sora planted his feet and thrust both hands out, catching the Grathorn''s horns with all his might.
The impact was brutal. Sora''s arms screamed in pain, his bones threatening to shatter under the pressure. But he held firm, digging his heels into the dirt, using every ounce of strength his newly tempered muscles and bones could provide. The Grathorn pushed against him, trying to force him back, but Sora grunted and pushed back with equal force.
For a moment, it was a deadlock¡ªman versus beast, both straining against the other with raw, unfiltered power. Sora''s muscles burned, his bones ached, but he kept pushing. Slowly, inch by inch, he began to force the Grathorn back.
With a roar of defiance, Sora twisted the beast''s head to the side, throwing it off balance. The Grathorn stumbled, and Sora seized the opportunity. He charged forward, driving his fist into the beast''s unprotected side, targeting the softer tissue between its armored plates. This time, the impact was different. The Grathorn howled in pain, its massive body collapsing to the ground.
Sora stood over the beast, breathing heavily, blood trickling from the corners of his mouth. His entire body was battered and bruised, and he could feel the sharp sting of broken bones mending themselves. But he had done it. He had taken down a level 45 beast with nothing but his raw physical strength.
He fell to one knee, exhausted, but victorious.
Titan Regeneration worked overtime, healing the worst of his injuries. His ribs were already starting to feel less painful, and his muscles, torn and overstrained from the fight, were slowly repairing themselves. Hiyoko fluttered down from a nearby tree, landing softly on his shoulder.
"Not bad, huh?" Sora muttered, wincing as his body continued to heal.
Hiyoko chirped, seemingly impressed with Sora''s performance, though the little bird''s eyes showed concern for its master''s injuries.
Sora wiped the sweat from his brow, glancing down at the fallen Grathorn. It was dead. But he knew that the fight would have been much easier if he had used his mana. He had held it back, testing only his body¡ªthe strength of his bones, the power of his muscles.
If he had amplified his body with mana, if he had used his items, his skills, he could''ve probably fought a level 52 or 53 beast. But that wasn''t the point of today''s test.
Today was about the Martial Titan class. And today, Sora had proven that his body alone was a weapon of immense power.
Chapter 26 : New Peak
Sora stood at the edge of the forest, eyeing the towering creature ahead of him. The beast was a [Silverback Juggernaut], a rare and ferocious monster known for its overwhelming strength and impenetrable hide.
It was a level 59 monster with a power level above 200 million, towering at four meters, covered in thick, metallic fur that shone under the moonlight. Its massive arms and claws looked terrifying, and its roar was enough to send lesser creatures fleeing in terror.
But to Sora, this was just another challenge to test the limits of his newfound strength.
With a steady breath, he activated his [Mana Shield], the barrier forming around his body in a flash of blue light. [Speed Surge] followed, his muscles pulsing with power as the world seemed to slow around him. His sword gleamed in his hand, empowered by [Amplify], ready to deliver crushing blows.
The [Silverback Juggernaut] roared, lunging toward Sora with its massive claws. The ground shook beneath its weight, but Sora moved like lightning. Like a blur, he darted to the side, his speed far surpassing anything the Juggernaut could match.
With a single slash, he cleaved through the beast''s arm, blood spraying into the air. The Juggernaut howled in pain, but before it could react, Sora was already behind it, driving his blade into its back with precision. The strike sent a wave of force rippling through the beast''s body, dropping it to one knee.
It was strong¡ªfar stronger than most monsters Sora had faced. But in comparison to him, it was slow and clumsy. His [Speed Surge] made dodging its attacks easy, while his sword, enhanced by [Amplify], cut through its thick hide effortlessly.
The beast lashed out wildly, swiping its claws through the air, but it hit nothing but wind. Sora was already gone, moving faster than the creature could perceive. He ducked under a massive swing, leaping into the air with blinding speed, his sword glowing with amplified mana.
With a single, powerful strike, he slashed across the Juggernaut''s chest, the force of the blow sending shockwaves through the air. The beast stumbled, blood pouring from its wounds, its mighty form already beginning to falter.
Sora landed gracefully, watching as the Juggernaut roared in defiance, trying to summon the strength for one final attack. But it was no match for him. His power was overwhelming, his movements too fast, his strikes too devastating.
With a calm expression, Sora dashed forward one final time. His blade arced through the air in a brilliant flash, slicing cleanly through the Juggernaut''s neck. The beast''s roar was cut short, and its massive body crumpled to the ground with a heavy thud.
[Level up! You are now level 49.]
Sora exhaled, standing over the fallen monster as the rush of power from leveling up coursed through him. His body felt stronger, lighter, and the familiar surge of energy filled him. But something caught his attention¡ªa new notification appeared in front of him.
[Notification: You have reached the highest level you have ever achieved.]
[Prestige will no longer provide accelerated skill or level growth.]
[Experience gain will now be x1.]
He stared at the notification for a moment, then sighed. "I knew it was coming."
He had been relying on the boost from Prestige to grow faster, but now, it seemed that advantage had been taken away. From this point onward, every step of his journey would require more effort, more time. But Sora wasn''t discouraged. He checked his status.
[Status Update]
Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 2)
Class: Martial Titan (Level 49)
Title: Master
Power Level: 338 million
Body Level: AA
Energy Level: A
Sora smiled slightly. His power had skyrocketed during this week of training, breaking through limits continuously with his [Martial Titan] class. His body was now stronger than ever before, capable of withstanding immense force and delivering crushing blows that could shatter even the mightiest of monsters.
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He turned to see Hiyoko, perched on a nearby tree, watching him with wide eyes. The little bird had been observing the entire fight, her head cocked to the side in amazement. Despite the difference in size and power, Hiyoko seemed to understand just how overwhelming Sora''s strength had become.
"Did you enjoy the show?" Sora asked, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
Hiyoko chirped in response, hopping down to land on his shoulder, her feathers ruffling in excitement. "Chi, chi!"
Sora chuckled, gently stroking the top of her head. "Yeah, I think I did alright."
The fight had been one-sided. He barely broke a sweat, and the [Silverback Juggernaut] hadn''t even touched him thanks to his better control over speed and skills. Still, it was a good test of his new strength, and now, he was ready to push even further.
"I think it''s time to head back," Sora muttered, glancing toward the horizon. With a final look at the fallen beast, he sheathed his sword and began walking, Hiyoko perched proudly on his shoulder.
The week of intense training had paid off, and now, he was ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
---
With the sun beginning to set on the horizon, Sora made his way through the wilderness, retracing the path that led to his hometown. As he walked, he reflected on the progress he''d made. His body felt lighter, stronger, and more resilient than ever before.
After a couple of hours of walking through the forest, he emerged onto the familiar dirt path leading into the town of Ales. The streets were quiet at this hour, and the air was cool as the evening settled in. Sora slowed his pace, his thoughts turning to his parents. He hoped they were alright. He had been gone for longer than planned, but the time spent training had been crucial for his next steps.
As he neared the outskirts of the residential area, he saw the familiar house he grew up in. It stood quietly under the fading light, a small beacon of normalcy in a world that had become anything but.
For a moment, Sora hesitated. Seeing his parents again, after everything he''d been through, was always bittersweet. He loved them dearly, but he couldn''t shake the guilt of dragging them into his chaotic life, with his promise of revenge. Still, he knew he couldn''t avoid them.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped forward and knocked on the door.
It wasn''t long before his mother answered, her face lighting up as soon as she saw him standing there. "Sora!" she exclaimed, pulling him into a tight embrace.
Sora smiled and hugged her back. "Hey, Mom."
When she finally let go, she stepped back and studied him closely, a curious look crossing her face. A faint smile appeared as she tilted her head. "You know... it''s funny," she said with a hint of amusement. "With your blond hair and blue eyes, you now look like your father. I''m still getting used to it."
Sora blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her words. It hit him again how different he looked now. His original body, before using Prestige, had been distinctly Japanese¡ªblack hair, dark eyes, the features of his birth parents. But now, after resetting his appearance during Prestige, he looked entirely different: a tall, blond man with striking blue eyes. He wanted to go back to his original appearance, but it wasn''t time yet.
His father, who had been watching from the doorway, chuckled softly as he stepped forward. "I never thought I''d see the day my son looked like me, it is funny, to be honest" he joked, giving Sora a light pat on the back.
Sora scratched the back of his neck, feeling a little awkward. "Yeah, it''s strange for me too," he admitted. "I don''t even look like the same person anymore."
His mother laughed, but there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes. "No matter what you look like, you''re still our son," she said firmly, reaching up to brush a strand of his blond hair away from his face. "But I do miss your original face sometimes¡"
Sora gave her a small smile, the sentiment bittersweet. "Give me time, I''ll take it back. I''ll take my life back" he said quietly.
His father looked at him "Doesn''t matter what face you wear, you''re still Sora to us. Don''t push yourself"
The words hit Sora deeply, and he realized how much he''d changed¡ªnot just in appearance, but in every other way. Yet standing here, with his parents who had always seen him for who he was, he still felt like he belonged.
"Thanks," Sora said softly, grateful for their acceptance despite all the changes. For a moment, he was just their son again, no matter what face or form he wore now.
His mother smiled, though there was a hint of concern in her eyes. "As long as you''re alright. You don''t always have to fight alone, you know."
Sora nodded, appreciating her words, but deep down, he knew that his path would often require him to stand alone. It was the nature of the world they lived in now. But for tonight, he was content just being here, with them.
After dinner, Sora excused himself and went upstairs to his old room. The familiar surroundings instantly brought back a wave of memories from simpler times. The room hadn''t changed much¡ªsame bed, same posters on the walls, a quiet reminder of the life he had before everything turned upside down.
He lay down on the bed, the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. Staring at the ceiling, he let out a quiet sigh. Hiyoko fluttered over, landing gracefully on the bedpost, her tiny eyes watching him closely.
"Goodnight Hiyoko" Sora murmured with a soft smile.
Sora closed his eyes, letting the comfort of home wash over him. For the first time in what felt like forever, he felt at ease¡ªno battles to fight, no enemies to chase. Tomorrow would come with its own set of challenges, but for now, he allowed himself to relax. Sleep took him swiftly, and for once, he let it.
Chapter 27 : Paris
Sora made his way to the bank, his mind already focused on the next steps. There was one thing he had put off for far too long¡ªretrieving the items he had stored from his previous cycle before his last reset. He had accumulated a massive number of items, from materials to weapons, but he had never taken the time to sort or sell them.
As he entered the bank, he approached the clerk. "Hello, sir. How can I help you?" the clerk asked politely.
"I''d like to retrieve the items from my storage vault," Sora replied with a nod.
After a few quick motions and verifying his identity, the clerk granted him access to his private vault. Sora stood before the pile of loot and gear he had amassed before his last Prestige reset. As expected, it was a mix of trash, common items, and a few expensive pieces he had forgotten about. There were potions, materials, equipment, and more.
"Quite the collection," Sora muttered to himself as he began sorting through it all. Much of it was outdated, especially now that he had leveled up and acquired better gear. Still, there were hidden gems among the trash.
He pulled out a high-grade space bag he had just purchased from the bank. The bag was a marvel¡ªable to hold vast amounts of items while keeping them neatly organized. Perfect for someone like him who tended to hoard things. Sora began transferring the items he didn''t want to keep into the bag, separating those that would go to the auction house and those he would save for future use.
Some items, particularly a few unique pieces of equipment, caught his eye. He decided to hold on to them¡ªgear that might prove useful in certain situations or with future classes. After making his selections, he tossed the rest of the items into the space bag, ready for sale.
Satisfied with his organization, Sora left the bank and headed straight for the auction house. He had far more to sell than he initially anticipated, and it was time to cash in.
When he arrived, the merchant who had sold him the Mana Phones gave him a surprised look as Sora unloaded the vast collection of gear and items onto the counter.
"You''ve been busy," the merchant remarked.
"You have no idea," Sora said with a smirk.
He started with the lower-level items, selling off everything below level 35. It was mostly junk by his current standards, but valuable to newer players or those training lower-level characters. The merchant assessed the pile, and after a few calculations, handed Sora a bag of gold that represented around 80% of the value of the lower-tier items.
| [You have received 200,000 gold.] |
Sora pocketed the gold without a second thought. It was nice to add to his growing reserves, but it wasn''t the real prize.
Next came the more valuable pieces¡ªeverything from level 35 to 59. The merchant''s eyes widened as he assessed their worth. There were rare materials, epic-level gear, and even some unique items that made the merchant nod approvingly.
"These will fetch quite the price," the merchant said, rubbing his hands together. "As usual, we can offer you a down payment of 50% upfront, with the remainder once the items are sold."
Sora agreed, not too concerned with the final sum. Gold wasn''t a priority for him at the moment, but it didn''t hurt to have it piling up for when he needed it. After a few moments, the merchant tallied the items and handed over his share.
| [You have received 2,000,000 gold as a down payment.] |
Sora raised an eyebrow at the sum but didn''t dwell on it. It was a hefty amount, but his focus was on improving his strength, not amassing wealth.
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Noticing Sora''s nonchalance, the merchant remarked, "You''re not excited about the gold?"
Sora shrugged. "Not really. Gold''s nice, but right now, I don''t have much use for it."
The merchant laughed. "Well, you''re one of the few who can say that! Most people would kill for what you just earned."
"Maybe," Sora said with a smile, "then don''t tell them I''m getting rich!"
With the transaction complete, Sora left the auction house feeling lighter¡ªnot just because he had offloaded so many items, but because he could now fully focus on what lay ahead.
Sora stood outside his home, feeling the weight of the decision ahead. He knew he had the strength to reset if he wanted¡ªhitting level 50 in a day had been simple enough. But resetting now would feel like a missed opportunity for growth.
Even at his current level, Sora could feel how much his affinity with mana had evolved. His control over mana and comprehension had grown so much that, even without focusing on it, he was leaps ahead of where he had been just a few days ago at level 1.
His [Mana Evolution] Supreme skill could now improve faster as his level increased. He wanted to understand mana on a deeper level, to wield it with the finesse and mastery that only true experience could grant. Resetting now would rob him of that chance.
He had also noticed something new, something subtle yet thrilling. With each battle and every bit of training, he began to sense how others manipulated their mana. Thanks to the heightened power of his Mana Eyes from the [Mana Evolution] skill, he felt as though he could see the pathways and techniques behind their abilities. It wasn''t just instinct; it was as though he could study and imitate their use of mana, grasping the intricacies of their classes and skills simply by observing.
"Maybe it''s time to start interacting with others," Sora mused. He had spent the last week mostly in solitude¡ªtraining, battling monsters, and pushing his body and mana to their limits.
If he wanted to keep growing, he needed new experiences¡ªnew dungeons, raids, people, and techniques from all over the world.
For that, he needed to move to a bigger city. Montpellier was nearby and larger than Ales, but it lacked the opportunities he sought. Lyon or Paris seemed like better choices.
Paris had become the second-largest city in Europe since the world upgrade, behind Moscow. It was a hub for geniuses, where players from across Europe came to grow, join top-tier guilds, and compete for power and prestige.
Briefly, his thoughts drifted to New York and S?o Paulo¡ªtwo of the most powerful cities in the world, known for their advanced classes and unparalleled growth opportunities. But he quickly shook his head. Going too far from home wasn''t an option right now.
He still wasn''t strong enough to travel back and forth quickly, and it wasn''t wise to attract the attention of the world''s most powerful figures just yet.
Paris was the best choice.
"It''s decided," Sora said aloud. "Paris it is."
After calling his parents, he set off, heading north toward the capital. The journey would be long, but with his speed and strength, he could reach the city by nightfall.
By the time Sora approached the outskirts of Paris, the sun had set, and the city lights glowed brightly in the distance. The journey had been smooth¡ªtoo smooth, in fact.
| [Level up! You are now level 50.] |
The notification appeared as he struck down a particularly aggressive monster, his final battle before entering the city. Sora glanced at the message and felt a surge of power wash over him. He had done it¡ªreached level 50.
His new class, [Martial Titan], had unlocked a new skill¡ªone that allowed him to summon a clone of himself. He had no idea how good the skill was, and would train it later.
The option to reset was now available. He could press the button at any moment, return to level 1, and grow even faster. But this time, Sora felt no rush to reset.
Besides, resetting too soon meant giving up the advantage he had worked so hard to build. He would save Prestige as a trump card, a secret weapon to use in a truly dangerous situation, or when his gains were enough to boost his next cycle to make it worthwhile.
Paris would be full of new challenges¡ªguilds, rival players, and more dangerous monsters. But for the first time in a while, Sora wasn''t afraid. He had confidence in his abilities and his power to survive whatever came next.
The city''s silhouette loomed ahead as he made his way through the outskirts. The streets were quieter than expected, but Sora knew that Paris never truly slept. It was a place where the strong came to grow stronger, and the ambitious fought for a place at the top.
This was where his next step began. His goals were clear: grow stronger, understand mana at a deeper level, and keep pushing forward. And, as always, he kept one eye open for Rachel. Their paths would cross again, and when they did, he would be ready.
For now, though, he had time. Time to explore the wonders of Paris and test himself against the best the city had to offer. As he entered the city, his heart raced with anticipation, the flickering lights of the metropolis welcoming him to the next stage of his journey.
Chapter 28 : Badge Assessment
Sora stepped into the bustling Adventurer''s Guild of inner Paris - also known as Intra-muros.
The grand hall was filled with adventurers, merchants, and guild staff going about their business. Massive quest boards lined the walls, covered in listings for tasks ranging from simple monster slaying to full-scale wild boss [RAIDS].
The room buzzed with energy, but Sora''s eyes were immediately drawn to the list of available quests.
He moved closer to the quest board, scanning the options. Some were too easy, aimed at lower-level adventurers, while others seemed more fitting for someone of his strength. He knew he had the power to handle a few more difficult quests. With his level now being 50 and his enhanced strength, speed, and skills, he felt confident he could take on anything the guild had to offer below level 65.
However, there was a problem. As he examined the quests more closely, he realized he couldn''t accept any of them.
Sora''s badge, the [Sapphire Badge] he had earned long ago, was gone¡ªlost when he died for the first time at Rachel''s hands. Without the badge, he couldn''t officially take on quests, no matter how strong he was.
"Of course," he muttered, shaking his head. He had forgotten about that little detail.
Not wasting any time, he made his way to the counter. The clerk, a middle-aged man with a slightly weary expression, looked up as Sora approached.
"How can I help you today?" the clerk asked politely.
Sora leaned on the counter. "I need a new adventurer''s badge. I lost mine a while back."
The clerk nodded and began typing into the system. "No problem. What''s your name?"
"Ralph Eden" he replied, without thinking. Then, realizing his current identity and his badge name being different, he added, "Well, it should be under ''Sora Hashino.'' I go by Ralph Eden now."
The clerk raised an eyebrow but continued checking. After a few moments, he looked up, slightly confused. "It says here you had a Sapphire Badge, but... your level now is showing 50."
He hesitated, glancing at Sora with a mix of curiosity and doubt. "You''re asking for a replacement Sapphire Badge? Do you want to upgrade it to Ruby?"
Starting from level 10, adventurer badges ranged from Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Jade, Sapphire, Ruby, Emerald, Diamond, Obsidian, Shadow, Phoenix, to Celestial. Sora didn''t know the names of levels beyond that.
Sapphire was for level 45 to 49 players who matched the strength of their level, while Ruby was for players in the level 50¨C54 range.
Sora winced internally. He didn''t want to waste time with a badge that no longer reflected his true abilities. He was already far stronger than when he had earned the Sapphire Badge. Even a Ruby Badge felt insufficient.
"Actually," Sora began, leaning in slightly, "I''d like a Diamond Badge instead."
The clerk blinked, caught off guard. "A... Diamond Badge?" He glanced at the system screen, then back at Sora. "You''re level 50. Are you sure? Diamond badges are for local powerhouses¡ªthose who can handle the toughest quests."
Sora remained calm. "I''m sure. I can handle it."
The clerk hesitated again, clearly conflicted. While the system verified Sora''s identity, the level mismatch was unsettling. Above Sora''s head, the name "Ralph Eden" floated, but the system confirmed this person was indeed the same "Sora" who had previously held the Sapphire Badge.
It was strange, and the clerk wondered if this was some high-level identity-changing trick or ability. Even though he had rarely seen someone ask to skip two badge ranks, he still had to give the adventurer a chance. Rules were rules.
"The system doesn''t lie," the clerk murmured under his breath, then cleared his throat. "To give you a badge, as you probably know, since you''re a member of our Guild, we''ll need to put you through a test to verify your power."
"I''m ready," Sora replied confidently.
The clerk nodded. "You''ll have to pass a series of combat trials to prove you''re worthy of the Diamond Badge. Only those who meet the strength and skill requirements can get one.
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If it turns out you''re too weak and waste the test administrator''s time... there''s a hefty penalty. So don''t test their patience."
Sora considered this. He wasn''t afraid of the challenge. If anything, the test would be a good way to gauge his current strength and see where he stood.
Plus, having a high-ranking badge would make it easier to take on quests, even after his next reset. When he was back at level 1, he could still access higher-level quests with the right badge, allowing him to level up quickly. He was aiming for this loophole to take any quest he wanted after his prestige reset.
He nodded firmly. "I''ll take the test."
The clerk gave him an appraising look, then sighed and typed a few more things into the system. "Alright, you''re scheduled for the Diamond Badge test. Head to the combat arena downstairs. One of our evaluators downstairs will evaluate you there shortly."
"Thanks," Sora said, giving the clerk a nod before turning away.
As he headed toward the combat arena, Sora thought about the future. The Diamond Badge would be crucial, not just for proving his strength, but for leveling efficiently in his next life.
He wasn''t just thinking about the present anymore¡ªeverything he did now was part of a bigger plan. With the badge, he could continue taking on tough quests, no matter his level.
Sora descended the stairs, his footsteps light on the stone. His heart raced in anticipation of what lay ahead. This was no ordinary test¡ªit would decide his future path. To prepare optimized ways of leveling up fast, he needed this.
He had faced many challenges, but something about the Adventurer''s Guild test made it unique. It wasn''t just about strength; it was a measure of his worth.
At the bottom, he reached a heavy wooden door. As soon as he stepped through, a strange sensation washed over him. It felt like his body was being pulled in all directions for a split second. The air shimmered, and before he could analyze it with his Mana Eyes, the feeling vanished.
"Was I... teleported?" Sora muttered, glancing around. He didn''t sense any magic traces left behind. No mana residue, no illusions¡ªjust emptiness. ''My mana control is still too low to analyze high level phenomenons'' his thoughts still on the teleportation
The room before him was vast, much larger than the guild building should allow. A gigantic training hall stretched out before him, the high ceilings arching far above. The marble floors gleamed under the soft light, and the space felt surreal, as though it existed beyond normal boundaries.
In one corner, a group of adventurers stood chatting. Their laughter echoed across the hall. One of them, a burly man in a cloak adorned with an intricate emblem, noticed Sora and smirked.
"Hey, kid," the man called out, his voice loud. "You''re in the wrong place. This is the mid to high-level testing ground. Diamond to Shadow adventurers only." He chuckled, as if the thought of Sora being there was a joke.
Sora walked forward, his expression calm.
"I''m in the right place," he said. "I applied for a Diamond Badge."
The group fell silent, exchanging surprised looks. The burly man raised an eyebrow, clearly doubting Sora''s words.
"You?" he scoffed. "Diamond Badge? You barely look like you''ve fought a real battle. You think you can just skip to the high ranks?"
Sora didn''t flinch. His voice stayed steady. "I don''t think. I know."
A tense quiet followed. The man stared, trying to figure him out. After a moment, a tall woman with silver hair stepped forward. Her black cloak marked her as a Shadow adventurer.
"If he''s here, the Guild has already warned him," she said. "They probably told him what it cost to waste our time"
The burly man shrugged. "Prepare yourself. You''d better hope you''re as tough as you think, kid."
As Sora stepped into the arena, the small group of adventurers in the corner kept a close eye on him. They whispered amongst themselves, sizing him up. His aura was unmistakably that of a Martial Titan, yet something about him seemed... off.
"Wait, is that a sword?" one of the adventurers muttered, raising an eyebrow, understanding why this player seemed off.
Another scoffed. "Martial Titans using swords? That''s just plain wrong. They''re supposed to rely on their bodies, not external weapons. He''s probably someone who didn''t push his body forging far enough."
But a third adventurer, more observant, leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he studied the flow of mana around Sora. "Look at his mana. It''s¡ smooth. Too smooth. That level of control is not something you usually see in a tank class. It''s like he has high mana control."
The first adventurer frowned. "But he''s a Martial Titan. They rely on brute force, not finesse. Why would a tank have such precise mana control?"
Before they could continue discussing, the tall woman who would be testing Sora stepped forward, drawing everyone''s attention.
"Hey, focus," one of them nudged his friend. "The fight''s about to start."
The woman''s aura flared instantly, releasing the powerful pressure of a low Diamond adventurer. Her presence was overwhelming, and the fight began in a blur of motion. Without warning, she launched a punch at Sora.
But Sora was prepared. His body responded almost instinctively, activating [Speed Surge]. His movements became a blur as he dodged her first few strikes with remarkable agility. The adventurers watching exchanged startled glances.
"He''s fast," one murmured. "Isn''t he a Martial Titan? How is he using a speed buff like that? Doesn''t it look like the skill from the [Mana Amplifier] class [Amplify] but even more potent?"
The woman narrowed her eyes. Sora''s speed was unexpected, but she wasn''t going to let him off easy. She increased her pace, her sword flashing as she closed the distance between them. Sora wasn''t just relying on his speed¡ªhis [Mana Shield] activated the moment her blade made contact with him. The ethereal shield absorbed the impact, though it shattered after just a few hits.
But Sora was relentless. The moment his shield broke, he reformed it instantly. It was as if his shield was a black hole¡ª absorbing mana from the surroundings, forming, breaking, reforming, breaking again, over and over. His insane mana regeneration kept up with the constant drain, and his mana pool, boosted by [Mana Evolution], seemed limitless. Each time his shield shattered, he rebuilt it, creating a never-ending cycle of protection.
Chapter 29 : Quest
"His mana pool and regeneration are off the charts," one of the adventurers muttered. "It''s like he''s running dozens of skills at once without even breaking a sweat. How can it be possible"
The woman increased her speed further, adapting her strikes to the rhythm of his defenses.
Sora''s [Mana Shield] continued to break under her relentless assault, but she noticed something incredible¡ªevery time the shield was down, he was still there, dodging with [Speed Surge], staying just out of reach. His sword strikes, amplified by [Amplify], cut through the air with terrifying precision.
"He''s not just fast," one of the onlookers whispered. "Look at his strikes. Every single one of them is buffed, and not just a little. He''s using [Amplify] on every swing. He''s using the [Mana Amplifier] buffs and shield!!"
The woman pressed harder, her attacks becoming even more brutal. Her strikes began to land during the brief intervals when Sora''s shield broke, and she was quick enough to injure him. Yet, with each wound, his [Titan Regeneration] kicked in, healing him as fast as it could.
Sora gritted his teeth, his body regenerating while his [Mana Shield] reformed around him. His Amplified sword strikes pushed her back, and his stamina showed no signs of faltering. The adventurers watching the fight were awestruck.
"This kid¡ he''s not just holding his own. He''s excelling in every aspect¡ªspeed, strength, defense, even his mana control. Where did he come from?" one adventurer asked, shaking his head.
"It''s like he''s mastered every single part of his skill kit," another muttered. "His shield is breaking and reforming nonstop, and his mana regeneration is making sure he never runs out of steam."
The woman, now fully engaged in the fight, began to push Sora to his absolute limits. She wasn''t just testing him anymore¡ªshe was curious, even impressed, by his abilities. She cranked her power up to the peak of a Diamond adventurer, her attacks becoming faster and more dangerous. Sora, despite the increasing difficulty, held his ground.
His body was battered, covered in wounds, but he regenerated as fast as he was hurt. His [Titan Regeneration] worked tirelessly, healing broken bones and torn muscles. The woman''s blade shattered his shield again and again, but Sora would not fall.
"He''s still standing," one of the adventurers whispered, wide-eyed. "His endurance is insane. No diamond adventurer should be able to withstand that kind of pressure from Areva."
"Look at him," another pointed out, "he''s using the most basic sword skills, but he''s pushed them to such a high level, they''re rivaling advanced sword techniques."
At that moment, the woman launched a particularly vicious strike, aiming to finally break through Sora''s defenses. But just before her blade could land, one of the onlookers shouted.
"Areva!" the man called out. "He''s passed the test! Are you trying to kill him?"
The woman halted mid-strike, her sword mere inches from Sora''s chest. She blinked, realizing that she had lost track of the test. Looking down at Sora, who was barely standing, covered in blood and bruises, she sighed, lowering her weapon.
Sora''s vision blurred, the adrenaline that had been driving him through the fight finally fading. He swayed on his feet, his breathing ragged, but he had done it. He had passed.
With a soft sigh, he collapsed, the exhaustion and strain finally overtaking him as he lost consciousness.
Areva sheathed her sword, staring at Sora'' who was unconscious . "He''s something else," she murmured, then turned to the group of adventurers. "Get him some help. He''s earned that badge."
--
Sora slowly regained consciousness to the sound of laughter and light teasing. His body ached, but it was the unfamiliar kind of pain¡ªone that came overusing mana. The voices around him were casual, and it took a moment for his eyes to fully open.
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"Areva, you went too hard on the poor kid," one of the adventurers teased, their voice light with amusement.
Another laughed. "What were you thinking? He was beyond his limits, but you just kept going! Trying to break him?"
Areva''s voice cut through the chatter, slightly defensive but with a hint of humor. "He kept pushing, so I wanted to see how far he could go. You should have seen him from up close¡ªno one that young should have such mana control or speed. It was like he had trained those skills for years. It was worth the extra push."
The adventurers chuckled again, but their tone softened when they noticed Sora stirring.
"Looks like our fighter is waking up," someone commented.
Sora blinked, clearing the fog from his mind as he sat up. His body was still sore, but thanks to [Titan Regeneration], he felt surprisingly intact given the beating he had taken. His mana was replenished, and his thoughts were clear. The group of adventurers was still around him, chatting casually as if the intense fight that had nearly pushed him to his limits was just another day in the guild.
"You''re alive after that?" one of the adventurers joked. "Guess you''re tougher than you look."
Sora smiled weakly. "I guess so."
Areva, who had been sitting nearby, gave him an approving nod. "You did well. You''re stronger than I thought. Most wouldn''t have lasted against my full Diamond level strength, especially with the basic skills you showed."
One of the other adventurers stepped forward, holding a small metallic object in their hand. "I believe this is yours." He handed Sora a badge, gleaming with the unmistakable mark of the Diamond rank.
| You have obtained [Adventurer''s Badge : Diamond Rank] |
Sora held the badge, the weight of it settling into his hand. He had earned it¡ªevery drop of sweat and blood in that fight had been worth it. He now had access to higher-level quests, and it was a huge step forward in his journey. He couldn''t help but feel a surge of happiness.
"That''s a shiny badge for someone still at level 50," one of the adventurers said, raising an eyebrow. "You''ve got the skills for it, sure, but why are you hanging around such a low level? You should be leveling up and fast."
Sora nodded, understanding their point. His strength far surpassed his level, thanks to his intense training, but he still had a long way to go in terms of pure level grinding before hitting a wall.
Areva, sitting a bit farther back, was watching Sora closely. After a moment, she spoke up. "You know, there''s a quest I''ve been thinking about. My disciple and her team are currently on it, but¡" she hesitated, then added with a slight grimace, "Let''s just say I''m not confident in their ability to succeed."
Another adventurer snorted. "Yeah, her team''s hopeless. No talent, no grit, no way they''ll make it through the dungeon without help."
Areva nodded. "My disciple''s capable, but her team¡ they''re not. I don''t trust them to make it on their own. I was thinking you could help them out. It''s a high-level dungeon, and they need someone with real strength to improve their odds of surviving."
Sora''s curiosity was piqued. "What''s the quest?"
Areva gestured to one of the lower-ranked adventurers in the room. "Go get the details for him."
The adventurer hurried off, leaving the group to chat casually. Sora listened in as they discussed the dangers of the dungeon and the unpredictable nature of dungeon quests in general. He remained quiet, mulling over the opportunity. A dungeon meant not only dangerous creatures but also valuable loot and experience.
After a while, the adventurer returned with a file. Areva looked it over before handing it to Sora. "Look through it tonight. It''s not something you can take lightly. If you''re interested, come back tomorrow morning, and I''ll fill you in on everything you need to know."
Sora took the file and nodded. "I''ll think about it. Thanks for the opportunity."
After some more chatting with the group Sora excused himself. He had more than enough to think about.
As he left the guild, Sora''s thoughts kept circling back to the fight. His mana had been drained and refilled over and over again, thanks to his [Mana Evolution] Supreme skill. His [Mana Shield] had shattered multiple times, but he had regenerated it almost instantly. And yet, the fight had still been close. If Areva had truly wanted to, she could have killed him in those brief moments when his mana was down and his shield was broken.
His body, though immensely strong thanks to his class, still couldn''t keep up with the speed and precision of his mana usage. He needed more power. Not just in terms of mana, but in terms of physical durability, stamina, and raw strength. [Titan Regeneration] had helped him recover, but it wouldn''t be enough in future battles if his body couldn''t keep up. He needed the perfect versions of these class skills. He needed to reset to recreate those skills and push them to new heights.
Shaking his head, Sora pushed the thoughts aside for now. He needed rest. Tomorrow, he would decide whether to take on the quest or not. He could always decide tomorrow.
As he headed to the closest Inn, he thought, "I''ll keep training the Martial Titan skills and hopefully perfect them in the next reset. My body is too weak."
Hiyoko, left her safe bubble and had appeared on his shoulder as he walked. She looked at the shiny badge in his hand, her eyes full of curiosity.
"Here you go" Smiling at Hiyoko who only cared about food, good sleep and shiny objects, he threw the badge to his familiar. She would always be there to change his mood when he started worrying about things.
Chapter 30 : Just heal me already!
Sora woke early, the morning light filtering through the small window of his rented room.
He found Hiyoko awake, playing with his Diamond Badge and a shiny ... watch ?
"Did you go out to steal things ?" His voice was full of suspicion as he looked at the little bird.
Hiyoko shook her head, showing a place under the bed. "You found this here?... You can keep it until we return it to the Inn then"
His familiar, understanding the meaning of those words, turned to face a corner and sulked on her shelf. Sora smiled at her actions.
The sight of the Diamond Badge was a reminder of what he had achieved yesterday. But instead of satisfaction, a strange restlessness filled him. He sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his temples as he replayed the fight with Areva over and over again in his mind.
The truth was clear: his mana control was leagues beyond anything he could have hoped for a cycle ago. His [Speed Surge], [Mana Shield], and [Amplify] worked flawlessly together, keeping him in the fight despite the odds. But the problem remained¡ªhis body was lagging behind his mana control. He needed to upgrade his defensive abilities if he wanted to survive in the long term.
He stood up, stretching his still-aching muscles as Hiyoko fluttered onto his shoulder, chirping softly.
"You''ve been watching me the whole time, haven''t you?" Sora smiled as he reached up and lightly scratched the bird''s tiny head. Hiyoko puffed up, preening under the attention.
"You know, I''m thinking about pushing myself even further," Sora muttered, almost to himself. Hiyoko tilted her head, listening as if she did not understand the reason. She seemed to think that he was already the strongest existence in the universe.
Sora''s thoughts drifted back to the file that Areva had handed him the day before. A high-level dungeon quest where her disciple needed backup. It was a tempting offer. A dungeon raid meant experience, treasure, and perhaps an opportunity to test his limits once more. But he also knew that accepting such a quest would come with its own set of risks.
The other adventurers had said the team was mostly hopeless, save for Areva''s disciple. Could he really trust a group that couldn''t even hold their own? Sora sighed. He was still hesitant about giving others his back. His journey had been a solitary one so far¡ªtrusting people wasn''t easy after Rachel''s betrayal. But the prospect of a new challenge tugged at him.
"Maybe it''s time to see what the world has to offer," he whispered, turning his gaze out the window toward the bustling city of Paris below.
With a resolute nod, Sora dressed quickly and grabbed the file from the table. It was time to see what this quest was all about.
---
The Adventurer''s Guild was just as lively as it had been the previous day. Sora navigated through the throngs of adventurers, merchants, and guild staff, making his way toward the place where he had agreed to meet with Areva before leaving yesterday. The morning sunlight streamed through the grand windows of the guild hall, casting long shadows across the floor.
He spotted Areva, seated with a few other high-ranking adventurers, but her attention shifted as soon as she saw him approach.
"Good to see you back," she said with a small grin, nodding toward the file he carried. "Did you take a look at the information?"
Sora handed her the file. "I did. It seems¡ interesting."
"Interesting is one word for it," Areva replied, a hint of sarcasm in her tone. She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "The dungeon itself isn''t the problem. We don''t have information about the second part of the dungeon and it''s the team that worries me. Like I said before, I don''t trust them to make it on their own. But with you in the mix¡ I think they might have a chance."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Why is your disciple working with people you don''t trust?"
Areva shrugged. "Everyone has to start somewhere. But I didn''t expect her to end up with a group this... unskilled. She didn''t want to change teams, and they were her best friends. They''re enthusiastic, I''ll give them that, but raw enthusiasm only gets you so far in the game. My disciple, Kara, is strong, but she can''t carry the whole team alone forever."
Sora nodded, understanding the situation better. "So, what exactly would you want me to do? Just support them?"
Areva stood up, her gaze serious now. "Support them, yes. But more than that, I want you to make sure they survive. Kara''s capable, but she''s still learning. If things go south, I need someone I trust to pull her and the rest of the team out. If that means stepping in to finish the fight yourself, then do it."
Sora considered her words. It was more responsibility than he initially thought, but the challenge was exactly what he had been looking for. And perhaps, through this quest, he could test his limits once more¡ªboth with his [Martial Titan] class and his mana control.
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"I''ll do it," Sora said, his voice steady.
Areva smiled. "Good. Come back here tomorrow morning, and I''ll give you all the details you need. The team''s already prepping for the dungeon run, so you''ll meet them before setting off."
Sora nodded, feeling the excitement bubbling up inside him again. He had a goal. And whether it was his curiosity or the thrill of battle pushing him forward, he knew this quest was the next step in his journey.
"See you tomorrow," Sora said, turning to leave.
"Ralph," Areva''s voice stopped him just as he was about to walk away. He turned back, and she gave him a knowing look. "Don''t hold back during the quest. If they''re in danger, use every bit of power you''ve got."
Sora smirked. "I don''t plan on holding back."
---
From there, Sora''s mind wandered to his [Martial Titan] class, considering how he wanted to evolve it. His strategy after reaching level 50 involved resetting, becoming classless, and slowly recreating the skills he had trained in his previous life by filtering and refining mana. This method allowed him to recreate ''fake versions'' of the skills that eventually evolved into alternate versions and, ultimately, perfect versions.
With newfound determination, Sora headed to a nearby hunting ground to train in peace.
He wondered if he could recreate his class skills without resetting.
"What if I resisted the class''s natural guidance?" Sora thought. Could he recreate those abilities from scratch, forging a path that didn''t rely on the guiding light of his class?
His usual method involved following the class''s path for guiding mana, but what if he could block that path? Could he forge a completely new direction, one that wasn''t reliant on the class itself?
Sora began to focus, blocking the class''s guiding light in his mind. Immediately, it felt like walking in a dark room. The path forward was unclear, and his mana scattered in all directions.
For hours, he attempted to navigate the unfamiliar terrain, switching between [Bone Forging], [Muscle Forging], and [Limit Breaker]. With each technique, he sought similarities, looking for the underlying principles that connected them.
He became so absorbed in his efforts that he didn''t even notice the constant notifications of unlocked skills flashing in the corner of his vision. All that mattered was the mana¡ªthe way it flowed, dispersed, and interacted with his body.
Each of the forging techniques led to new insights, but they weren''t enough. Sora craved something deeper. The perfect skills he had created so far were impressive, but they weren''t satisfying anymore. He didn''t want just to perfect techniques¡ªhe wanted to understand the bigger principle behind body forging.
"Why settle for the class''s limitations?" Sora muttered to himself, growing more and more intrigued by the idea.
Taking a deep breath, he decided to push further. What if he could forge not just his bones and muscles, but something more intricate¡ªsomething more vital?
He focused on his heart.
At first, his [Martial Titan] class resisted. It was like being held back; the class was advising him not to go in that direction, as if telling him he was not ready for that. But Sora ignored it. He guided his mana, slowly and carefully, into his heart.
The pain was immediate, sharper than any battle wound he had received. His heart strained under the pressure, threatening to stop altogether, but Sora kept going.
He started convulsing, coughing blood, and could barely control his mana under the pain.
He felt his life flickering, as if he could die any second.
He couldn''t afford to back down now. Slowly, however the mana began to refine his heart, making it stronger with each pulse. The process was excruciating, painful, and crude, but eventually, it worked.
His heart was beating stronger, faster, more efficiently.
Sweat dripped down his forehead, but the excitement in his chest overpowered the fatigue and his injuries. He had succeeded. His heart was now slightly stronger, more durable. He could feel it.
"Could I do the same with my blood?" he wondered.
The struggle was even greater this time. His body resisted the change fiercely, but Sora persisted. With each pulse of mana, he refined his blood, forcing it to carry more energy, to move faster, to flow more efficiently. Again, success.
Just like that, he discovered two directions he could improve his body with.
Encouraged, Sora''s thoughts drifted to his brain. He hesitated. The risk was too great. What if he lost control of his thoughts, and passed out?
Instead, he returned to [Muscle Forging], eager to revolutionize the technique. The traditional method involved saturating the muscles with mana, strengthening them through nourishment. But why did it always have to hit a limit before he used [Limit Breaker]?
His mind flashed back to the old days, before the world upgrade, when muscle growth came through destruction and recovery. Why not try something similar?
Sora transformed his mana into something violent, guiding it to destroy his muscles¡ªtearing them apart¡ªwhile simultaneously bathing them in calmer mana for recovery. It was like using [Limit Breaker] and [Muscle Forging] at the same time.
Pain coursed through his entire body. Blood dripped from his skin as his muscles screamed in agony. His [Titan Regeneration] worked tirelessly to heal the damage, but Sora remained focused. His Mana Eyes scanned every cell in his body, searching for changes.
It was working¡ªbut not perfectly. Something was missing.
Suddenly, he realized he had overlooked a critical part of his class: [Titan Regeneration]. It had always been a passive skill, working silently in the background, but what if it held the key?
He concentrated on simulating the way [Titan Regeneration] functioned, trying to recreate its effects manually. But no matter how hard he tried, nothing happened. He couldn''t command the mana to act in the same way.
He kept trying in many ways and after hours he started losing patience.
Frustration boiled over. "Just heal me already!" he yelled, anger and conviction seeping into his voice.
And then, something remarkable happened.
As if responding to his frustration, the mana changed color. It shifted away from his control, surrounding his muscles and healing them independently. The mana acted as if it had a will of its own, obeying the command embedded in [Titan Regeneration].
For the first time, Sora got a glimpse at what passive skills truly were. They gave mana a mission, a purpose that went beyond direct control. This was the essence of passive abilities¡ªthey transformed mana into something that acted of its own accord, guided by a mission.
Sora stared at the shimmering mana around him, a slow smile spreading across his face. He was on the verge of something monumental, a breakthrough that could revolutionize not just his [Martial Titan] class, but his entire approach to power.
"This¡ this might be the answer," he whispered, feeling a surge of excitement. "This is how I''ll forge my body."
Chapter 31 : Eternal Body Craft
Sora sat cross-legged under a large tree, his muscles still trembling from the brutal self-inflicted training he had just endured.
His body ached, but it was the good kind of ache¡ªthe kind that came with progress. Wiping the sweat from his brow, he leaned back against the tree, staring up at the sky. His mind was racing, not with pain, but with the potential of what he had just achieved.
A series of system notifications blinked in the corner of his vision. He had been so focused on controlling his mana and pushing his body to its limits that he had ignored the alerts entirely.
"Let''s see what I''ve missed," he muttered, pulling up the system panel.
The list of notifications scrolled before his eyes:
| [Skill Upgrade - Regeneration (Perfect)] |
| [Skill Upgrade - Bone Forging (Perfect)] |
| [Skill Upgrade - Muscle Forging (Perfect)] |
| [Skill Unlocked - Blood Forging (Perfect)] |
| [Skill Unlocked - Organ Forging (Perfect)] |
Sora barely took a second to register the upgrades. Normally, the sight of new skills would have him eagerly reading each description, but his eyes were drawn to the final notification.
| [Supreme Skill Unlocked: Eternal Body Craft] |
His heart nearly skipped a beat.
"A Supreme Skill?" he whispered in disbelief.
He quickly opened the description.
|
[Eternal Body Craft (Supreme Skill)]
A unique skill created for a madman who forged his body with pure mana.
Description: This Supreme Skill allows the user to tap into the essence of infinite physical potential, refining every part of their body.
|
| Effect 1: Essence Fusion ¨C Merges mana with the body''s cells, bones, muscles, and organs, constantly enhancing their structure and capabilities. |
| Effect 2: Adaptive Regeneration ¨C The body regenerates based on damage received and adapts to become resistant to similar harm. |
| Effect 3: Strength Ascension ¨C Each refinement permanently increases physical strength, endurance, and durability. |
| Effect 4: Unlimited Body Potential ¨C No growth limit, provided sufficient energy is absorbed, allowing the user to surpass natural physical boundaries. |
| Warning: Supreme Skills cannot be affected by anything lower than Supreme level skills, including Innate skills, Special skills, or Racial Skills. |
Sora sat in stunned silence, his mind reeling from the implications. Another Supreme Skill? He had hoped to transcend the Martial Titan class, but this was beyond anything he had imagined. It felt like a reward for doing something insane¡ªusing pure mana to forge his body in ways that should have killed him. He had risked everything, trusting in his connection with mana to guide him, and now he was being rewarded for it.
He glanced at his body, still humming with the aftereffects of his training. He could feel it now¡ªmana flowing through him, fusing with his cells, enhancing his organs, bones, muscles, and even his blood. The process was automatic, as if his body forging had become autonomous. The mana changed color, glowing faintly as it fused with his body, refining it at a microscopic level.
It was passive, working constantly without his input.
Sora tried sending more mana into the process, or stopping it entirely, but to his surprise, the colored mana was beyond his control. It was acting on its own. His body was now evolving without any conscious effort on his part. The result was not shocking as he was aware that passive skills were mostly out of his control.
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And then it hit him¡ªhis body was being forged by a Supreme Skill. A skill immune to lesser abilities, even Innate Skills. Could this mean... if he reset, his body wouldn''t reset with it? Or was his body strength still related to his level ? He would need to try it.
The thought sent a jolt of excitement through him. This was more than he had ever hoped for. His path of body forging, of pushing his physical limits, had led him here. [Eternal Body Craft] wasn''t just about raw strength¡ªit was about constant evolution, and infinite potential.
"Hiyoko," he muttered, glancing at the little bird perched on his shoulder, "looks like we''ve got some more training ahead of us."
Hiyoko chirped in response, puffing up proudly, as if sensing the shift in Sora''s mood. His body was still tired, still aching, but his spirit was anything but weary. This was no small step¡ªit was a giant leap forward.
He kept reading through the skill''s effects, trying to wrap his mind around it.
Essence Fusion: As long as mana was available, his body would constantly improve by fusing mana with his physical structure.
Adaptive Regeneration: This effect had a dual function. Not only would his body regenerate based on the severity of the damage it received, but it would also adapt to that damage, building a resistance to it. If he faced similar harm in the future, his body would be stronger and more resilient.
Strength Ascension: This effect was profound. Every time Sora used body-forging skills like Bone Forging, Muscle Forging, Blood Forging, or Organ Forging, it would trigger [Strength Ascension], permanently increasing his physical strength, endurance, and durability. The increase seemed to slow down as he got further from his current level.
Unlimited Body Potential: The fourth effect was the most tantalizing. There was no limit to his body''s growth. As long as he absorbed enough energy, his body could surpass natural boundaries, potentially reaching heights that no human had ever achieved.
Confused about the differences between effects 1 and 3, Sora did some tests.
Essence Fusion and Strength Ascension in Eternal Body Craft are both focused on enhancing Sora''s physical body, but they operate in fundamentally different ways.
Essence Fusion: Constant, passive enhancement of the body through mana integration. It was always working to make Sora''s body evolve, but the changes are more subtle and gradual.
Strength Ascension: Active, permanent increase in strength and durability that occured when Sora uses specific body-forging techniques. It was a focused and dramatic improvement tied directly to skill usage. The effect seemed to slow down as he kept breaking through new limits.
He took a deep breath. The sheer magnitude of what he had unlocked left him in awe. His entire body was now on an infinite growth path, one where each step forward was formidable. His previous frustrations about his body lagging behind his mana control evaporated.
This was the solution.
His focus had shifted.''Yes, resetting to unlock new skills from new classes might have been my path so far, but now, I have a new option. I have unlocked two Supreme Skills, and it seemed like the path to Supreme Skills might be the key for further growth. I want to see how far can this skill take my body level''
His regeneration was now intelligent, adapting to the threats he faced. Each fight, each injury would only make him stronger. And the fact that the Strength Ascension worked in tandem with his body-forging skills meant that his previous self-imposed training had paid off in ways he hadn''t even realized.
His journey had only just begun, and he couldn''t help but smile.
"Let''s see how far I can push this," Sora whispered, determination burning in his eyes.
---
Sora kept his forging techniques active throughout the entire afternoon and night. Every cell in his body was in a state of constant refinement. The mana, flowing and fusing with his bones, muscles, blood, and organs, kept enhancing his physical structure. But ever since he created the [Organ Forging] technique, everything had shifted. His heart, now enhanced by the flow of mana, pumped life force and energy through his veins at an incredible rate. It felt as though he was overflowing with vitality, a wellspring of boundless energy coursing through him.
No matter how hard he pushed himself, Sora didn''t feel fatigued. His body buzzed with an unrelenting force, as if he had unlocked a new well of strength that couldn''t be exhausted. His Adaptive Regeneration not only healed his injuries but even replenished his energy reserves. Each time he strained his muscles, bones, or heart, the regenerative process seemed to kick into overdrive, restoring him instantly.
It wasn''t an exaggeration to say that his body was practically incapable of getting tired anymore. Every breath was easy, every movement effortless, and the continuous flow of mana was like fuel, driving him further.
Morning came, and Sora finally stopped his intense self-training. His body hummed with energy, almost vibrating from the vitality that surged through him. The sensation was intoxicating¡ªhe was stronger than ever, and it was time to put that strength to use.
He left the inn early, the first rays of sunlight barely breaking through the horizon. The streets of Paris were still mostly quiet, and the Adventurer''s Guild had only just started to stir with early risers. Sora moved swiftly, his mind sharp, as he made his way back to the guild. Today, he would meet his new teammate, Kara, and begin the quest that would test not only his abilities but his new body.
When he entered the guild hall, he immediately noticed Areva standing near one of the quest boards.
"You''re early," she said, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
Sora nodded. "I wanted to make sure I was ready."
Areva crossed her arms, giving him a quick once-over. "Good. The team will be here soon, and I want you to get a feel for them. This isn''t going to be an easy quest, and I''m trusting you to help them through it."
Sora had already heard about the team''s mixed capabilities the day before. Kara, Areva''s disciple, was strong enough to handle herself, but the rest of the group was... less than impressive. Areva had made that clear. Sora wasn''t worried, though.
"I''ll keep an eye on them," Sora replied calmly.
Areva gave a nod of approval. "Good. When you see them, don''t judge too harshly. They might not be the most skilled, but they''ve got heart."
Chapter 32 : Level 60 Dungeon !
The doors to the Adventurer''s Guild swung open, and four players walked in together, chatting as they entered. Sora noticed them immediately, and even Hiyoko, perched on his shoulder, chirped softly in curiosity. Sora activated his [Mana Eyes], taking a closer look at the newcomers.
At the center of the group was a girl who caught his attention right away. She had short, dark auburn hair and sharp brown eyes. Her mana fluctuation were smooth and controlled, and Sora could tell she had excellent control over her mana. The way her energy flowed through her body showed she was not a beginner.
He guessed she was a healer based on her equipment. Her level stood out immediately: Level 61, and she carried a Diamond Badge, marking her as quite powerful for her level.
Sora glanced at Areva, standing beside him. He still couldn''t get a read on her using his [Mana Eyes], but he had always assumed she was a warrior.
"Are you a healer too?" he asked, surprised by her strength despite her role as a healer.
Areva smiled and nodded. "Yes, I am. But I can do more than just heal. I''m strong enough to take on any adventurer up to Obsidian rank, whether it''s with magic, weapons, or hand-to-hand combat. There''s no way someone could tell my true class with such a big gap in strength."
Sora blinked in surprise. It made sense now¡ªAreva''s power was on another level.
Turning his attention back to the group, Sora studied the other three players. They were clearly not as powerful as Kara, the girl in the center.
The boy in the group had dark, curly hair that hung just above his eyes. He was slim, wearing a simple tunic and carrying a sword at his side. His bright green eyes had a serious look, but his mana wasn''t smooth and barely controlled. Sora guessed he was a swordsman, but one without much experience. His Ruby Badge glinted in the light, and his level read Level 58.
Sora frowned inwardly. At his level, he should have at least been Emerald rank, but his Ruby Badge suggested a lack of dedication to training. His mana control and foundation were weak, especially for someone his level. ''He was likely someone who relied on grinding and team play to push his levels higher, without focusing on building a solid foundation in body and energy.''
One of the girls was shorter and stockier, with strong shoulders and muscular arms. She had short brown hair tied into a ponytail and a large shield strapped to her back. Her blue eyes were focused and determined. Her aura felt heavy and protective, making Sora think she was a Tank. Her Emerald Badge gleamed proudly, and her level read Level 62. But again, her badge didn''t match her level. She had a higher level than Kara but a weaker badge, which was concerning.
The last girl had long blonde hair that flowed loosely over her shoulders. She was tall and slim. A bow was slung across her back, and her sharp brown eyes darted around the room. Her mana felt light and fast, fitting her Archer class, but wild. Like the Tank, she was also Emerald-ranked, sitting at Level 61.
Sora shook his head slightly. With levels like theirs, they should be Diamond rank adventurers or higher, but they were stuck at lower badges. It was clear they had leveled up quickly, likely relying on team strategies to progress.
Players were like vessels¡ªleveling up was like making the vessel larger, but the real power was the content that filled it. Without the proper body or energy levels to strengthen the foundation, their "vessel" was fragile. Rushing to level up without building a strong core left them relatively weak compared to others at the same level.
At levels beyond 50, the gap between players who leveled properly and those who didn''t could be huge¡ªsometimes several times more powerful. Maybe that was why Areva doubted their chances of succeeding in this dungeon quest.
The group stopped in front of Sora and Areva. The girl in the middle, Kara, stepped forward with a calm, friendly smile.
"Good morning, Master," she said warmly. "We''re ready for the quest."
Areva nodded and gestured toward Sora. "This is Ralph Eden, the adventurer I told you about. He''ll be joining your team."
Kara smiled and held out her hand. "It''s great to meet you. I''m Kara. Here are Thierry, C¨¦line and Am¨¦lie"
Sora shook her hand, noticing how firm her grip was. "Nice to meet you. Just call me Ralph."
Kara glanced at the Diamond Badge on his chest and smiled even more. "A Diamond adventurer, huh? That''s good news for us. It''s great to have you."
As Kara greeted him, Sora noticed the others looking at the space above his head, where his level was displayed. Their eyes widened as they saw the number: Level 50.
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The boy with the sword, Thierry, stepped forward, looking confused. "Uh... no offense, but you''re only Level 50? Isn''t that a little low for a Diamond Badge?"
The Tank, C¨¦line, frowned slightly and added, "Usually, Diamond adventurers are higher level than that. Can it be that they made a mistake during the badge trial?"
Before Sora could explain, Areva stepped in. "Don''t be fooled by the level. He''s earned that badge, trust me."
The Archer, Am¨¦lie, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke. "You must be pretty strong to get a Diamond Badge at that level." Her voice was calm, but there was curiosity in her eyes.
Kara smiled and waved her hand, easing the tension. "It doesn''t matter what level he is. We know that badge is a proof of strength. We''re lucky to have you, Ralph." The last part was for Sora.
Thierry, looking more relaxed, extended his hand to Sora. "I''m Thierry. Sorry for my first words. I guess we''ll be working together."
Sora shook his hand, sensing a bit of hesitation but also respect. "It''s okay, i''m looking forward to it."
The Tank, C¨¦line, stepped up next. "I''m C¨¦line," she said simply. Her strong frame made her look tough, but her voice was soft.
Lastly, the Archer, Am¨¦lie, gave him a small smile. "And I''m Am¨¦lie. I guess we''ll be relying on you."
Sora nodded, memorizing their names and appearances. The team had a decent mix of roles¡ªTank, Healer, Swordsman, and Archer¡ªbut he could already tell that Kara was the strongest. The others would need serious help to survive a high-level dungeon.
"All right," Areva said, clapping her hands. "Now that we''ve made introductions, you guys head to the dungeon. The quest''s time limit is near."
---
As Sora and the group made their way toward the dungeon entrance, his thoughts drifted to the past¡ªthe world as it was before everything changed.
In 2044, the first sign of the global transformation was the sudden appearance of dungeons. They seemed to be gateways to other worlds, full of dangerous creatures and unknown threats.
At first, humanity was unsure of what to do with these new structures, but it soon became clear that the dungeons were a serious threat. If a dungeon wasn''t cleared in time, it would "break," allowing the monsters inside to escape. Once free, those creatures could wreak havoc wherever they pleased, far from the dungeon that once contained them.
Dungeons became a race against time. There was a rush to clear them, not just for the rewards inside but to prevent the devastation that would follow if they broke. Inside each dungeon, the creatures were usually of the same kind¡ªpacks of beasts, tribes of monsters.
Occasionally, however, something far more sinister lurked within: the eight invading races.
The eight races had come to Earth through portals, bringing war and destruction in their wake. In some cases, these powerful races would use dungeons as a means to send their strong troops or elite battalions. After the first world update, they began summoning their forces in dungeons within their own territories.
But the Beast Race, ever unpredictable, continued to open dungeons across the entire planet. Even within the New World Kingdom, dungeons would spring up, releasing ferocious beasts into human lands when left alone.
From time to time, however, dungeons linked to one of the eight invading races would still appear in human territory. This was always a cause for concern. Those dungeons held dangers that needed powerful adventurers to suppress them.
Once a dungeon was cleared, ownership would be claimed by the faction that defeated it. The monsters inside would respawn after a cooldown period, allowing the victors to farm the dungeon for loot and resources.
However, the first world update brought one rule : no one could enter a dungeon alone. Groups of five were required by the dungeon''s strange, unbreakable rules.
Sora shook off the memories, pulling himself back to the present. Today''s dungeon was different. It was a Level 60 dungeon that had already been beaten shortly after it appeared.
Areva, a high-ranking NPC adventurer from the guild, had caught wind of rumors from her contacts about a hidden section of the dungeon. There, a secret boss supposedly awaited, owning a Legendary Scepter¡ªan artifact that could greatly enhance a healer''s power.
Areva had mentioned this to Kara, her disciple, and the adventurer group had accepted the quest to hunt down the legendary item. And now, Sora found himself standing at the threshold of this dungeon, ready to assist.
As they neared the dungeon entrance, the group took a moment to inspect their gear. It was a good habit¡ªdouble-checking equipment before entering a place where even small mistakes could prove fatal.
Sora glanced down at his own Level 50 gear. It wasn''t the best, but it was solid. A full leather set focused on agility, which was perfect for his preferred speed-based fighting style. He had a sword in hand, simple but reliable.
When he had bought this gear, he hadn''t put much thought into it, choosing to focus on maneuverability rather than raw defense or power. Now, standing beside his new teammates, he didn''t know whether he should laugh or cry.
The others were outfitted in much higher-level gear. Their sets were Level 55 to 60, and Sora couldn''t help but notice the quality of their equipment. It was obvious these adventurers did not have problems with money and had access to rare resources.
Their gear was top-notch, primarily epic pieces with the occasional glint of unique equipment. Sora frowned inwardly, they were equipped with some of the best items sets their level could afford.
Did they rely on gear to level up? It certainly seemed like it.
Kara had the most impressive gear. Her healer''s robes gleamed with enchantments, and Sora could tell that every piece had been carefully chosen for maximum efficiency in healing and mana control. But unlike her companions, Kara didn''t flaunt her wealth or gear. She moved with a quiet confidence that made Sora think she was the most reliable of the group.
After everyone finished their checks, they approached the dungeon entrance, a massive stone archway embedded in the mountainside. The air around it shimmered slightly, a telltale sign of the magic that held the dungeon''s barriers in place.
Sora gripped his sword tighter, feeling the familiar tension that came before entering a dungeon. His mind sharpened, and the thoughts of the past faded as he focused on the present.
"Ready?" Kara asked, her voice steady but filled with anticipation. The others nodded, their faces a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Sora stepped forward, his heart steady, his mind clear. The journey into the dungeon was about to begin.
They crossed the threshold, and the world around them shifted, plunging them into darkness.
Chapter 33 : Reviving ?
As the group stepped into the dungeon, the atmosphere immediately shifted. The air was thick and cold, the light dim, casting long shadows along the walls.
The entire dungeon felt otherworldly¡ªa chunk of a different realm, cut from its origin and pasted into Earth. A barrier, white and tangible, enclosed the area. No one could cross it, nor could anyone see what lay beyond.
The only ways to leave a dungeon were retracing your steps to the entrance or defeating the dungeon''s boss and exiting through the designated path after beating the boss.
Kara turned to the group, her tone confident but focused. "Just like usual, everyone. We know this place. Let''s push through to the boss."
Her companions nodded, assured in their routine. They had beaten this dungeon several times to train, and today was no different, except for the presence of Sora. Kara glanced at him.
"Usually, we recruit someone in the guild to fill the group. Today we''ll handle the mobs and the boss on our own. You can step in if things get really bad or for the hidden section, if you don''t mind" she said.
Sora simply nodded. He was here for the hidden part of the dungeon, the section where a legendary scepter waited¡ªan item that could greatly enhance a Kara''s abilities. His mission was clear. The rest of the dungeon was just an exercise in patience.
As they moved deeper into the dungeon,the first group of enemies appeared, emerging from the shadows. These creatures were massive bear-like beasts, standing well over seven feet tall with leathery skin and bulging muscles. Their faces were twisted into grotesque snarls, and their claws scraped the stone floor as they approached.
Kara immediately took charge. "C¨¦line, up front! Thierry, get into position! Am¨¦lie, find your angle and keep shooting from their back!"
C¨¦line, the tank, moved forward, her large shield raised in front of her. She braced herself as the first monster lunged at her, its claws crashing against her shield with a deafening clang. C¨¦line grunted under the force but held firm. Thierry darted to the side, his sword flashing as he aimed for the beast''s legs. Am¨¦lie, the archer, nimbly positioned herself, loosing arrows that found their marks in the monster''s face and eyes.
Sora watched quietly from behind, observing the group''s dynamic. They were competent, working in unison to take down the monsters. But it was clear they were trying to impress him. Thierry''s swordplay was flashy, almost exaggerated, and Am¨¦lie was rushing her shots. C¨¦line was putting on a brave face, but she was clearly struggling to keep the monster''s blows from overwhelming her.
Sora wasn''t impressed. Their teamwork was solid, but their individual skills were average. They took far too long to deal with these low-level mobs, which hovered around level 57. At this pace, they''d burn out before they even reached the boss.
What truly held the team together was Kara. She was their core, the one making sure no one faltered. Her command of the battle was good. She knew exactly when to buff, when to heal, and when to direct her teammates. Kara''s presence elevated their performance to a decent level, but it was evident that without her, they''d struggle much more.
The fight dragged on longer than it should have, but eventually, the beasts fell. C¨¦line let out a heavy sigh, lowering her shield.
"Not bad, right?" Thierry grinned, wiping sweat from his brow.
Am¨¦lie nodded in agreement. "We handled that well."
Sora said nothing, but he could see their confidence. They were barely keeping up with these mobs, yet they acted as if they were invincible. The truth was, they were leaning too hard on Kara''s healing abilities and leadership without even realizing it. They were taking too much damage.
They pressed on, clearing wave after wave of monsters, slowly but steadily making their way to the boss room. It was the same story every time: Kara''s leadership kept them coordinated, but the others struggled to maintain their concentration and were often distracted.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to Sora, they reached the boss chamber. The room was vast, filled with crumbling pillars and ancient runes glowing faintly on the walls. In the center of the room stood the dungeon boss¡ªa towering, armored beast with glowing red eyes. Its name appeared above its head:
| [Gergo ¨C Titanic Bear ¨C Level 60 Boss] |
Gergo let out a thunderous roar, shaking the room as he rose to his full height. His massive frame was covered in thick fur, but beneath that, Sora could see the intelligent gleam in the bear''s eyes. This wasn''t just a mindless monster¡ªit was an evolved beast, one with intelligence and strategy. Its claws glinted like sharpened steel, and the air around it shimmered with a faint magical aura.
Kara stepped forward, her voice calm but firm. "C¨¦line, tank it! Thierry, get ready to strike at his ankles! Am¨¦lie, keep your distance and aim for his eyes or mouth!"
C¨¦line charged in, shield raised high as Gergo lunged at her. The force of the impact almost knocked her off her feet, but she held on, gritting her teeth as Gergo''s claws scraped against her shield. Thierry moved in, slashing at Gergo''s legs, but his strikes barely pierced the thick fur. Am¨¦lie fired arrow after arrow, but even her well-placed shots didn''t seem to phase the beast.
Gergo was too powerful. His defense was incredible, and even with Kara''s buffs, the group was struggling. C¨¦line''s shield was cracking under the relentless assault, and Thierry''s attacks weren''t doing enough damage. Am¨¦lie was running out of arrows, and Kara was working overtime to keep the team alive.
Sora could see the strain in Kara''s eyes. She was holding the group together, but her energy reserve wasn''t enough. Gergo''s attacks were getting faster, more aggressive. C¨¦line was buckling under the pressure, her shield barely holding up.
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Sora sighed. He had hoped they could handle it, but it was clear they were reaching their limit. It seemed that they were used to finding a fifth teammate and rely on him as well to beat this dungeon, as they couldn''t beat it with their damage output.
Without a word, Sora activated Amplify, sending a surge of mana toward the group. Instantly, their attacks doubled in power. Thierry''s sword strikes bit deeper into Gergo''s flesh, and Am¨¦lie''s arrows flew with greater speed and force. Even C¨¦line''s shield seemed to glow brighter as it absorbed more of the boss''s attacks.
Kara''s eyes widened as she felt the sudden boost in power, but she didn''t hesitate. She adjusted her strategy immediately, using the amplified strength to push the team harder.
Thierry grinned as his sword strikes finally started cutting into Gergo''s legs. "What the¡ª?! This is incredible!"
Am¨¦lie fired off a rapid series of arrows, each one hitting with twice the force. "Ralph, you''re amazing! We can do this!"
C¨¦line, who had been on the verge of collapse, suddenly stood firm. With Sora''s [Mana Shield] protecting her, she felt invincible. "I''m not taking any damage! I can hold him!"
The fight, which had seemed impossible moments ago, suddenly shifted in their favor. With Sora''s [Amplify] and [Mana Shield], the team''s damage output soared, and Gergo''s health bar began to plummet. Within minutes, the once invincible boss was reduced to a heap of fur and claws.
As Gergo collapsed, Thierry leaned on his sword, panting. "That¡ that was incredible. Ralph, you saved us."
Am¨¦lie, her bow still in hand, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, so you were a buffer. That power boost was insane. I''ve never seen such a powerful [Amplify]"
Kara walked over to Sora, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Ralph. We wouldn''t have made it without you."
Sora shrugged with a small smile. "My pleasure"
Now, with Gergo defeated, it was time to move to the real challenge¡ªthe hidden section of the dungeon.
---
Sora felt the familiar hum of energy coursing through his body as he leveled up. A faint notification blinked in the corner of his vision, confirming it. Ignoring the kill notification, he read the other two.
His contribution in the fight against Gergo had been enough. He had done more than he expected, but it wasn''t what caught his attention.
Throughout the entire dungeon run, Sora had quietly observed the others, watching how they controlled their mana, analyzing their techniques, and trying to grasp the mechanics behind each of their skills.
Each member''s mana usage told a different story. Kara''s healing spells were particularly fascinating¡ªthe way her mana moved and latched onto her allies with precise control.
Thierry''s sword strikes had an underlying flow of mana that enhanced his speed and power, though he lacked the refinement Kara had.
C¨¦line''s mana reinforced her defenses in a rhythmic, steady manner, aligning perfectly with her tanking role.
But despite his observations, Sora realized something: watching them for just a few hours wasn''t enough.
They only used each skill a handful of times, and while he could grasp the broad direction their classes shaped mana, it wasn''t enough to mimic their techniques. If he wanted to understand their skills deeply, he would need to spend much more time with them, or grow stronger himself. It was too early for his dream to steal skills on sight to become reality.
His thoughts were interrupted by Kara''s voice, pulling him back to reality.
"Fall back, everyone."
Sora blinked in confusion. The boss, Gergo, lay dead in front of them, his massive, lifeless form still on the ground. The rest of the group exchanged puzzled glances, but Kara stepped forward with purpose, her hands already glowing with mana.
"Kara?" C¨¦line asked, her voice uncertain. "What are you doing?"
Without answering, Kara began casting spells¡ªhealing spells¡ªbut they weren''t directed at any of them. Instead, she aimed them at the dead boss.
"Healing the boss? What''s going on?" Thierry muttered, confused.
Sora narrowed his eyes and activated his Mana Eyes. That''s when he saw it. Deep inside Gergo''s body, faint mana flickered. There was something still alive. A baby bear, weak and struggling for life, lay within its mother''s belly. Kara''s healing spells were directed at this tiny creature, trying to bring it back from the brink of Death.
"Kara''s healing the dying baby," Sora whispered to himself.
The baby beast, too weak to move, started to respond to Kara''s spells. Light fell from the sky and filled the chamber, pouring into the dead body of Gergo. They looked at each other, trying to understand what was happening, but they had no clue.
The baby bear within began to stir, wriggling and pushing its way out of its mother''s corpse. Its fur was matted with blood, and its tiny frame shook with confusion and fear.
The light intensified, strengthening the cub. As it blinked and looked around, its eyes showed hesitation, fear, and... confusion.
The girls, Am¨¦lie and C¨¦line, gasped, visibly shaken by the sight of the tiny bear struggling to live.
"We¡ we killed its mother," Am¨¦lie whispered, her voice trembling. "Was this the right thing to do?"
C¨¦line, her eyes red, almost crying, shook her head. "It''s just a baby..."
But Sora''s focus was elsewhere. His Mana Eyes tracked the flow of power around the bear, fascinated by the energy pouring into it, accelerating its growth.
Kara''s healing triggered something in the dungeon and made a mysterious light appear, heal this baby and even push further. The baby bear was growing stronger by the second, its tiny body expanding, muscles forming, fur thickening. The entire process was mesmerizing.
Thierry frowned, watching the baby as it grew. "This thing can''t be the hidden boss, right? Madam Areva didn''t say anything about a baby bear¡"
Kara remained silent, focused on the process, her mana guiding the cub''s revival. Sora could see that she had access to information they didn''t have.
Then, the baby bear opened its eyes fully, now large enough to stand on its own. It gazed at the group, hesitating. For a moment, it seemed unsure whether to attack and avenge its fallen mother or to flee. Its small body tensed, eyes flicking between Kara, who had healed it, and the others who had killed its mother.
There was a long, painful pause.
Finally, as if recognizing Kara''s mercy, the baby bear made its choice. It let out a soft growl before turning and bolting toward the far wall. With a powerful swipe of its paw, it shattered the stone, revealing a hidden tunnel.
The barrier around the dungeon shifted, expanding to encompass the new path the bear had created. The tunnel glowed faintly with magic, marking it as the entrance to the hidden section of the dungeon.
Kara, without missing a beat, stood and called to the group. "Let''s move. We need to follow it."
The team, still shaken by the scene, picked up the loot from the boss and followed her quickly. Their initial confusion was replaced by a sense of urgency. The hidden section was now open, and with it, the chance to claim the legendary scepter Kara had spoken of.
Sora took one last look at Gergo''s remains, then followed the group into the tunnel.
As they descended deeper into the new section of the dungeon, the air grew colder, the walls tighter, and the eerie glow of the dungeon shifted to something darker.
Chapter 34 : Trial of the Virtuous
As the group advanced through the tunnel, a chilling silence replaced the distant roars and echoes they had grown accustomed to. The atmosphere became heavier with each step, and a notification flashed before their eyes:
| [Welcome to the Hidden Dungeon: Trial of the Virtuous] |
The message hung ominously in the air. They continued walking, following the faint glow along the walls, having lost sight of the baby titanic bear. After what felt like an eternity, the tunnel opened up into a vast clearing. The space was unlike anything they''d seen before¡ªexpansive and strangely serene. But it was what floated above that stopped them in their tracks.
Suspended high in the sky was a glowing object¡ªa legendary item. It shimmered with an blinding light, casting gentle, pulsing waves of energy through the room. The item itself appeared as a delicate, ornate scepter, with symbols carved into what looked like pure gold. At the top of the scepter was a gem, shining like a captured star.
Kara''s eyes widened in awe. She instinctively took a step forward, her hand slightly outstretched in curiosity, but as soon as she did, a deep, commanding voice echoed through the clearing.
"Do not touch what you have not earned."
The group froze, the voice reverberating through the space like thunder. Sora''s gaze sharpened as he quickly activated his [Mana Eyes], scanning the area for the source of the voice. But there was no physical presence¡ªonly an overwhelming pressure filling the room. His inquisitive stare deepened, but the voice chuckled.
"Boy, are you looking for me?" the voice asked, sounding almost amused. "Those eyes... are incredible. You''re¡ not bad. But don''t tire yourself. You will not find me here. I am not in this plane."
The words cut through the tension like a blade. Whoever or whatever was speaking wasn''t even physically present. The voice was distant, yet it seemed to carry power..
"I left that item as a test¡ªa gift for my heir. But first, they must prove themselves worthy, even for this lousy weapon."
The group blinked, stunned by the statement. ''A lousy weapon? This legendary Scepter that radiates immense power?'' The disbelief on their faces was evident.
Kara''s expression changed subtly. She seemed to grasp something the others didn''t. Her eyes flickered with realization, connecting dots in her mind. Her master had spoken of this opportunity, but she hadn''t fully understood it until now.
The voice continued, "I am seeking a disciple. But I am not so desperate as to accept anyone who stumbles upon this place. The hidden path to this chamber was designed to test not strength, but heart. Someone who would try to heal an innocent being, someone with empathy and compassion. That is the bare minimum. The Path of Life demands more than power¡ªit demands kindness, selflessness, and sacrifice."
The voice seemed to focus on Kara.
"You... You healed the baby bear. You meet the basic requirements: a healer''s heart and the capacity for mercy. But do you have talent? Do you have potential?"
Before they could process the weight of the voice''s words, a loud rumbling shook the clearing. The ground beneath them quaked violently, and all around, the shadows began to stir. Kara''s eyes widened as the space around them transformed.
From the dark corners of the clearing, thousands of beasts materialized, their glowing red eyes and snarling mouths a terrifying sight.
Every beast was above level 60.
The group instinctively took defensive stances, their faces pale with shock. Kara''s eyes scanned the hordes of monsters. She knew immediately¡ªthey didn''t stand a chance against this onslaught. There was no way they could kill all these creatures. If this was the trial, they would be overwhelmed in seconds.
A notification appeared before all of them:
| [Quest Notification: Class Change Quest ¨C Trial of the Virtuous] |
Kara''s hands shook as she opened the notification. The details were brief, but they sent a chill through her.
| [Class Change Quest: Trial of the Virtuous: Protect your friends from the assault of 10,000 beasts. Every 5 minutes, a wave of monsters will arrive, each stronger than the last. If your friends die, the trial will end, and you will fail. For the mercy you have shown to the offspring of your enemy, you will be allowed to leave the dungeon unharmed should you fail.] |
Sora received a similar notification:
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| [Quest: Assist Kara in her trial. Your contribution will be rewarded based on your performance. Rewards include gold, experience, and items.] |
The team turned to Kara, confusion and fear written all over their faces. Thierry''s voice cracked as he spoke, "Did¡ did you know this was going to happen?"
Am¨¦lie''s eyes were wide, her bow slightly trembling in her hands. "Kara¡ what is this?"
Kara raised her hands defensively, her voice filled with panic. "I swear, I didn''t know! My master told me there was a great opportunity here, a tough fight ahead, but I never imagined¡ this!"
C¨¦line, always the calmest of the group, frowned, "How are we supposed to survive this? Even with Ralph''s buffs, we barely made it through Gergo... 10,000 beasts?!"
Sora, standing quietly beside them, analyzed the situation. He could see the doubt in Kara''s eyes. This was meant to test her. ''Why are there so many enemies? What kind of test is this?''
Kara''s heart sank. She hadn''t expected this. She''d brought her friends into a trial that could very well kill them. They had trusted her, followed her here without question. And now, they were all staring down a trial she couldn''t possibly expect them to win.
"How much mana can Ralph have?" Kara whispered to herself, her voice barely audible. The victory over Gergo had only happened because Sora had buffed them for a short period. But this? This would be an extended fight, and the trial was designed to push them all beyond their limits.
Kara''s face paled as she realized the grim truth. Even with Sora''s help, they were probably all going to die.
And she couldn''t accept that.
Kara stood there, hands trembling slightly as the reality of the trial sank in. Her eyes flickered between the looming beasts and her friends. Panic tightened her chest, and before she could stop herself, she called out to the voice.
"Why?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. "Why is this trial so difficult? My friends didn''t do anything wrong! Why are they being tested too? If you preach kindness and empathy, why isn''t this trial fair? Shouldn''t I be the only one tested? They don''t deserve this."
The room went silent for a moment. The beasts, though present, seemed to stand still, their glowing red eyes fixed on the group. The air thickened once more, the oppressive weight of the voice returning, but now there was a coldness to it.
"Fair?" the voice asked, the tone dark and almost mocking. "Do you think life, real life, is fair?"
Kara flinched, but before she could respond, the voice continued, its intensity rising.
"I don''t need a useless disciple," the voice said bluntly. "A good healer¡ªno, a great one¡ªmust do more than just heal. They must choose their allies well. Never before have I seen such a weak team beating Gergo. Building a group with reliable, gifted teammates is part of a healer''s skill. If you cannot even assemble a worthy team, what use are you?"
Kara''s heart dropped. She turned to look at her team, her friends. Their expressions had shifted from fear to something more somber. C¨¦line lowered her head slightly, her hands gripping the edges of her shield tighter. Thierry and Am¨¦lie exchanged quick glances before looking down at the ground.
The voice''s presence seemed to deepen, almost suffocating. "I can see it clearly," the voice continued. "They probably treated getting power like a game¡ªsomething fun to show off with, where they could outshine those weaker than themselves. But life is not so easy. If you think the path to power is a playground, then you''re even more unfit than I imagined."
The words hit the group hard. Thierry clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Am¨¦lie bit her lip, her eyes darting to Kara, seeking some kind of reassurance.
The voice wasn''t done. "If my disciple doesn''t know how cruel the real world is, how difficult life can be, then they are unworthy. Only through hardship can one truly grow. The strongest aren''t the ones who complain about their path being too difficult. The strongest are the ones who choose to make their path harder, who create their own obstacles and overcome them to grow to realms higher than their peers."
Kara stood frozen, her mind racing. She had brought her friends into this, and now they were being judged alongside her. But the voice was right. ''Have I been too lenient? Was my master right?'' The weight of the realization pressed on her shoulders as her mind was full of doubt.
The voice softened slightly, but the authority remained. "You need to understand that this world isn''t fair, and the path of life will always be filled with trials. If you cannot withstand hardship, how can you protect others? If you cannot assemble a team that grows with you, you will always fail. I preach about kindness indeed, but only the strong can afford to be kind. Show me how strong you are today"
The silence that followed was unbearable. Kara''s thoughts spun wildly, guilt clawing at her as her friends stood behind her, bearing the same crushing pressure.
Thierry spoke first, his voice low but resolute. "He''s right. We''ve treated this like a game for too long."
Am¨¦lie nodded, her voice quieter. "We''ve leveled fast¡ but we''ve always leaned on each other. I never thought we''d have to face something like this."
C¨¦line remained silent, her brow furrowed in deep thought. She didn''t need to say anything¡ªthe heaviness in her expression was enough.
Sora watched quietly, his arms crossed as he observed the shift in their attitudes. He didn''t say anything, but he agreed with the voice. This trial wasn''t just testing her, but her whole party..
The ground trembled again, the beasts stirring in the distance, ready to charge.
Kara swallowed hard, her heart still racing, but now there was a clarity in her eyes. She had no choice. If they were going to survive this, they had to fight¡ªtogether.
"Everyone," she said, her voice steady now, "get ready. We fight."
Chapter 35 : Lets wrap this up
Sora stood in the center of the clearing, surrounded by his teammates who were all bracing themselves for the trial.
He wasn''t here to die, not today. Even if it came to that, he had his way out. Prestige would let him reset, but that wasn''t an option he was keen on using unless absolutely necessary. Changing identities was a hassle, and reappearing as Sora would carry its own risks. What if Kara met him outside the dungeon and recognized him? It would be awkward, to say the least. ''No, it is better to avoid that situation altogether'' he thought.
Besides, Sora had other concerns. ''What if Rachel has leveled up even further? What if she has level 80 or 90 allies ready to crush me again? Resetting won''t save me forever if I don''t have the strength to back it up. No, this trial was a good opportunity for growth. I''m not going to waste it.''
"10,000 mobs?" Sora muttered to himself. "Sounds like a lot of experience points."
His resolve solidified, and a familiar rush surged through his body. He had just leveled up after the last battle, and every time he gained a level, it felt like the ceiling of his power had been ripped off, letting him climb even higher.
He immediately set his body to forging mode, absorbing mana, expanding his strength, and hitting that new peak in an instant. His skills activated as if by instinct, his body surging with fresh power. This time, he wasn''t going to hold back.
"Let''s finish this," he thought as he rotated his abilities, feeling his entire system click into high gear.
Without hesitation, Sora turned to the voice. "Do we have to wait five minutes between waves?"
The voice paused, surprised at the question. "You may summon the next wave at any time. But you should to take use what remains of the five minutes to recover."
Kara, Thierry, C¨¦line, and Am¨¦lie exchanged bewildered looks. "Five minutes isn''t enough to fight and rest ! Why would anyone want to rush things?" Thierry muttered, confused.
Before anyone could react, Sora extended his hand, summoning Mana Shields around each of his teammates. The glowing blue barriers shimmered into existence, wrapping protectively around them.
Am¨¦lie glanced at her shield, then back at Sora. "Why now? We haven''t even started yet. The first waves shouldn''t be that bad, right? Don''t waste your mana !!"
C¨¦line frowned, her brow furrowing in confusion. "We''re not even at the hard part. Shouldn''t we save this for later?"
Sora just smirked. He didn''t bother explaining. Instead, he spoke to the voice again, his tone firm. "Release every wave. Send them all at once. Whether it''s a hundred or a thousand, I don''t care."
The silence that followed his words was heavy. Even the voice seemed taken aback.
"Are you sure?" The voice sounded almost suspicious. "Do you wish to shorten your life and end this trial prematurely? If you seek to sabotage this potential disciple''s chance, it''s useless. She may return for the trial at a later time if she wishes."
Sora''s voice was unwavering. "Don''t worry about it. I''m serious. Send them all."
The voice hesitated, then shifted its attention to Kara. "This is your trial. Do you agree to this? Or do you wish to take the standard path?"
Kara, her face pale, turned to Sora. "What are you doing?" Her voice was shaky, filled with uncertainty. "Are you trying to get us killed?"
Sora met her gaze, his expression intense. "Trust me. Areva sent me to help you, and that''s what I''m going to do. You haven''t chosen the path to walk on yet, but i can show you the path I have chosen. And there''s no place for hesitation in my path. No second guessing"
There was something in his eyes that made Kara pause. His calm, his confidence¡ªit was overwhelming. In that moment, she felt small, like a child standing before a beast. His aura was so powerful, so intimidating, that she could feel it deep in her bones. This wasn''t a man pretending to be strong. He was strong.
Kara swallowed, her mind racing. Could he really handle this? He seemed so sure, so determined. If there was anyone who could pull this off, maybe it was him. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Do as he says."
The voice, still somewhat skeptical, responded, "Very well. All waves shall be released at once. Prepare yourselves."
The moment the voice finished speaking, the ground trembled. The air grew heavy, thick with the promise of violence. In the distance, the sounds of countless beasts echoed¡ªgrowls, howls, and the thudding of thousands of paws against the ground. The sheer number of enemies approaching was staggering.
C¨¦line''s grip tightened on her shield. "What¡ what did we just agree to?"
Am¨¦lie''s face had gone pale. "There''s no way we can fight all of these."
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Thierry''s sword trembled in his hands. "This is insane. Ralph, are you out of your mind? We''re going to die..."
But Sora didn''t answer. His focus was locked on the approaching horde, his senses heightened, his body primed for battle. The pressure around them was suffocating, the weight of thousands of enemies bearing down on them. The first wave of beasts appeared on the horizon, a dark, endless mass of snarling creatures.
Kara''s breath caught in her throat. She could feel the overwhelming pressure of the mobs approaching. Her hands were shaking. ''Is this still my trial ?'' she wondered.
As the beasts closed in, Sora took a deep breath and clenched his fists. His mana surged, filling his body with strength. The ground beneath him cracked as he took his stance, ready to face the onslaught.
"Let''s wrap this up," he muttered, his smirk widening.
The trial had begun.
Sora vanished from his position in the blink of an eye, his movements too fast for anyone to track. The others barely had time to react as a massive panther lunged toward Am¨¦lie from the back.
She hastily knocked an arrow, her breath hitching as the monster''s snarling face loomed closer. But before she could even release her shot, a brilliant flash cut through the air.
Sora''s sword had sliced clean through the panther, splitting it in half.
Yet, the spectacle didn''t end there.
As the panther''s body collapsed to the ground, more than ten beasts behind it were instantly vaporized into ash, their bodies crumbling before they could even understand what had happened. The team stood in awe, frozen by the sheer force of the attack. It wasn''t just the panther that had died¡ªSora''s sword sweep had obliterated an entire group of monsters in one motion.
A bright light enveloped Sora''s figure, signaling another level-up. The group remembered that he was only level 50 when they had entered the dungeon, yet his strength had already surpassed their wildest expectations.
His muscles ripple with every strike, his body pulsing with raw energy. It was as if he were evolving before their eyes, growing stronger by the second. Kara snapped out of her trance and quickly began casting buffs on him. She infused him with spells that enhanced his speed, strength, and a protective shield to reinforce his defense.
Sora felt the magic coursing through him, his senses sharpening even further. He nodded in approval. "Not bad," he muttered, the hint of a grin tugging at his lips. But he wanted more. "Just focus on speed and attack power," he called to Kara over his shoulder. "Forget the other buffs."
Kara hesitated for a split second, but then complied. She poured everything she had into boosting his speed and attack strength, amplifying his already devastating blows.
And then, just like that, Sora was gone again, moving faster than anyone could comprehend.
From the team''s perspective, all they could see was a blur, darting between the swarms of enemies. One moment, he was slicing through a wolf-like beast, the next he was cutting down entire packs of monsters as if they were nothing. Every time his sword swung, a shockwave of destruction followed, vaporizing creatures in his path.
The others watched in disbelief.
"What the hell is going on?" Thierry muttered, his voice barely audible. "Is he¡ is he hiding his real level? He has to be at least level 70, right?"
"No way," Am¨¦lie whispered, her eyes wide. "He''s leveling up! We saw it happen. He''s not hiding anything. He really is¡ overwhelming."
C¨¦line''s shield trembled in her hand as she stood there, dumbfounded. "Is this¡ is this what true geniuses look like?"
Each time Sora killed a group of monsters, his level increased again. With every surge of power, his body underwent rapid transformation. He activated his body-forging techniques, refining his muscles, bones, and organs, and every time he did, his strength skyrocketed to new heights.
At first, the team could still catch glimpses of him as he moved. But soon, Sora became nothing more than a blur¡ªa streak of light weaving in and out of the hordes of beasts. It became nearly impossible to track him with their eyes, and at times, he was completely invisible, only reappearing for an instant before vanishing again to slay the next group of monsters.
The pressure of the waves, which had seemed insurmountable just moments ago, was now nothing more than a backdrop to Sora''s slaughter. His sword danced through the air, cutting down anything and everything in his path. His power was terrifying. It wasn''t just that he was fast¡ªhe was efficient. He knew exactly where to strike, and his mana control was flawless. Every movement was calculated, and no energy was wasted.
The fight became a massacre. The once overwhelming waves of beasts stood no chance against Sora''s relentless assault. Each swing of his sword felled dozens, and every minute his strength grew. The sound of the beasts'' howls and roars was soon drowned out by the sound of Sora''s blade cleaving through the air, followed by the heavy thuds of bodies hitting the ground.
Kara, Thierry, C¨¦line, and Am¨¦lie could do little but watch in awe and disbelief. The shields on them seemed indestructible, and they could even sit down and watch if they wanted.
They had prepared themselves for a trial of endurance, for a desperate struggle against impossible odds, but Sora had turned it into a one-man battle of absolute dominance.
The beasts kept coming, stepping on bodies of fallen beasts, but Sora showed no signs of slowing down. His body continued to radiate raw, overwhelming power, and every time he leveled up, he pushed his abilities even further. His speed reached the point where he was nothing but a flicker of light¡ªappearing only for the briefest of moments before vanishing again.
By the time the last group of beasts arrived, the clearing was littered with the remains of countless monsters. Blood soaked the ground, and the air was thick with the scent of death. Yet Sora stood at the center of it all, his breathing steady, his sword gleaming in the dim light.
The trial was over.
The beasts bodies turned into light, and the clearing was eerily silent once more, leaving not even one item behind. The others could hardly believe it¡ªthey had barely lifted a finger, and yet the trial had been won. All because of one man.
Sora sheathed his sword, turning back to the group with a satisfied smile. "I told you. We''ll wrap this up quickly."
Kara''s knees nearly buckled from the relief, her heart pounding in her chest. "How¡ how are you¡ this strong?"
Sora shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I got lucky"
Thierry, Am¨¦lie, and C¨¦line exchanged glances, still trying to process what they had just witnessed. He was something else entirely¡ªsomething they had never encountered before.
Kara, catching her breath, slowly nodded. "Thank you, Ralph¡ You just saved our lives."
Sora chuckled softly. "I gained more from this than you did"
Chapter 36 : Stick to him like glue !
Sora stood in a quiet corner of the training ground, taking a deep breath. His body hummed with power, each muscle and bone vibrating with the energy that had been coursing through him since his latest battles.
The familiar blue light flickered in front of his eyes as he opened his status panel, bracing himself for the changes he could feel within.
He smirked as the updated stats glowed before him:
|
[Status Update
Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 2)
Class: Martial Titan (Class level 59, Player level 59)
|
| Power Level: 10 billion
Body Level: AAA
Energy Level: AAA
Talent Level: 4
Growth Factor: 1 |
| Skills: (...)
Supreme Skills:
? Mana Evolution (Click to see effects)
? Eternal Body Craft (Click to see effects) |
|
Innate Skill:
? Prestige
|
"10 billion..." Sora whispered, staring at the number in disbelief. His power had skyrocketed since his last major leap, thanks to the constant refining of his body through [Eternal Body Craft]. The increase in level had pushed him to unprecedented heights. He clenched his fist, feeling the raw energy pulse within him, and flexed his muscles, which now felt as hard as tempered steel but as fluid as water. He was slightly disappointed at the level he had reached considering the number of enemies, but as the gap between their levels was narrowed, he earned less and less experience.
"AAA in both Body and Energy. I could''ve never imagined reaching this level in my 2nd reset..." he muttered, scrolling down to check the breakdown of his skills.
He focused on his [Mana Evolution] skill to review its effects again. He hadn''t fully explored the limits of his Supreme Skill yet, but he could feel the [Mana Eyes] sharpening, the aura of mana around him reacting as if it were alive, eager to aid him.
Satisfied with the update, Sora closed the status screen.
Thinking of his job levels which had been reset, Sora shook his head. His Human Resources Assistant Job was quite interesting. He shouldn''t forget about it. He''ll find an opportunity to raise it in the future.
As he considered this, an idea formed. Displaying his strength wasn''t an issue for him, but you never knew how people might react when they realized how much power he truly wielded. It was best to keep some cards close to his chest, especially after the last trial.
Smirking, Sora decided to experiment. He activated the job skill tied to [Human Resources Assistant] and concentrated, trying to extract the binding power from the job''s unique contract magic. Despite being only level 1 in this iteration, his experience with the skill was still deeply embedded in his memory, muscle, and mind. He had far surpassed the Sora who once nervously used this power to create a contract with Hiyoko.
As mana flowed through his body, it began to coalesce, swirling until the faint outline of blank contracts materialized in the air. A shimmering parchment hovered between Sora and Kara, who stood nearby. Her eyes widened in surprise, as did the rest of the group.
Sora struggled for a few minutes to refine his offer and contract and avoid surprises.
"What is this?" Kara asked, curiosity evident on her face.
The others exchanged bewildered glances. It looked remarkably similar to the contracts created by players with the Law-type jobs¡ªthose typically used for forming alliances or binding agreements between powerful factions.
Was Sora secretly a lawyer, too? That seemed impossible. He was already a peerless swordsman, a buffer, and now it looked like he could draft contracts on par with a trained legal expert? This contract had a slightly different feel, but the resemblance was undeniable.
Kara, ever perceptive, quickly understood the situation and smiled. "Do you want us to keep this a secret?" she asked, her voice laced with intrigue.
Sora smiled back, appreciating her quick thinking. "Yes," he said simply. He just wanted to ensure no one outside the group would know about the trial and his true abilities.
Kara started reading the content of the contract.
|
Player Ralph Eden would like to suggest a contract to you.
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
In exchange for keeping what happened today a secret, he can promise to increase your body strength.
Condition : Do not mention or discuss my abilities to/with anyone.
Reward : The guarantee to achieve higher body level through his help. It is not allowed to explain the source of this gained strength to anyone.
|
The explanation regarding his secret was clear. In return, he''d offer them something invaluable¡ªa boost in their physical strength. Of course, that part needed to stay confidential as well.
Kara''s eyes widened at the offer. A body-level boost? That was unheard of! She could barely contain her excitement. The idea that Sora could offer such a thing left her speechless. She would have accepted the contract without getting anything in return, but this¡ this was beyond her wildest expectations.
Sora, noticing her amazement, shook his head. He was helpless.
The world''s balancing system was forcing him into fairness. If he tried to offer them nothing in exchange for their silence, the system would invoke harsh balancing consequences¡ªeven suggesting weakening him or nerfing his prestige ability.
He had tried a few alternative offers¡ªgold, items, and other such rewards¡ªbut none of them satisfied the contract''s balance requirements.
Finally, Sora''s gaze landed on his supreme skills, and he thought of ways to use them to help them. He thought of his incredible ability to control mana and body forging, and was confident in forging their bodies for them. Controlling mana inside of another body was not impossible, as long as the other party was significantly weaker, or willing to allow the intrusion.
it seemed the system recognized the power of his supreme skills and allowed the exchange.
Kara eagerly accepted the contract, the terms glowing as they imprinted themselves into the air. The others, still clueless about the content of the contract, began to ask questions.
"What did you two just agree to?" Thierry joked, raising an eyebrow. "Did you just get married or something?"
Before anyone could respond, new contracts appeared before the rest of the group, shimmering with the same binding power. They stared in disbelief as the details were revealed: an offer to enhance their body levels in exchange for keeping Sora''s secrets.
The temptation was too great to resist. They knew well enough that not every player took the time to temper their body through grueling training like Sora had. Many, like them, had avoided the pain and focused on leveling quickly instead.
But after the terrifying trial they had just survived, the thought of being so helpless again¡ªof having their lives hang in the balance¡ªwas unbearable. They needed every advantage they could get.
Without hesitation, the others accepted the contracts, excitement flickering across their faces as they imagined their enhanced strength.
The moment the final contract was signed, a voice echoed through the room, startling the group.
"What the hell did I just watch..." The voice sounded intrigued, almost as if it was observing from afar. "I couldn''t even sense an inch of the true potential of my candidate..."
Sora narrowed his eyes, recognizing the voice of the Trial Giver. It was clear that the events had caught the Trial Giver off guard.
The air in the room seemed to vibrate with energy as the voice of the Trial Giver echoed, still tinged with surprise and amusement.
"I must admit," the voice began, a low chuckle rumbling beneath its words, "this trial took quite an unexpected turn. Never in my wildest imagination did I anticipate such an outcome. Your power... it''s beyond what this trial was ever designed to test."
"You didn''t just complete the trial," the voice continued, a trace of embarrassment creeping in, "you shattered it. The ease with which you tore through those beasts, the way you manipulated mana, it''s clear to me that you possess something extraordinary. Though... I won''t reveal your secrets."
Sora''s expression barely flickered, but inwardly, his mind raced. This Trial Giver seemed to have recognized the nature of his supreme abilities, which meant they were far more knowledgeable¡ªand likely far stronger¡ªthan he''d initially assumed. The fact that this person could understand his abilities. Whoever they were, they weren''t just powerful; they also had knowledge beyond his scope.
"You''ve piqued my interest," the voice mused, thoughtful now. "I can''t help but wonder how long it will be before you reach where I am, perhaps on equal footing. You''re not there yet, but the potential... oh, the potential is unmistakable."
Sora''s mind locked onto that last phrase. Equal footing? This was someone who believed they were far beyond him, and yet, they hinted at a future encounter.
The words hung in the air, full of cryptic meaning. Sora''s brow furrowed slightly. The thought excited him, but also made him wary.
"Though," the Trial Giver continued, as if sensing Sora''s thoughts, "it will likely take some time for Earth, to reach that point. The level of power required to even make such a meeting possible... well, let''s just say it won''t be happening any time soon."
Sora could sense the underlying challenge in the words, but before he could press for more information, the Trial Giver shifted topics, cutting off the conversation before revealing too much.
"But enough about that," the voice said, turning its focus now to Kara. "As for you, young lady. Having such an ally by your side is no small blessing. Your strength alone was not enough to pass this trial, but sometimes, wisdom lies in who you choose to stand with."
Kara, who had been silent up until now, straightened slightly, her expression conflicted. She had done nothing during the trial, and without Ralph''s intervention, she knew the outcome would have been grim. The voice, however, softened as it continued.
"I cannot say for sure if you have the talent required to become what I seek," the Trial Giver admitted. "But luck is also a skill, and perhaps that''s enough for now. With him by your side¡ªthe sky is the limit. He is bound for great things, and sticking close to him may very well launch you to heights you never dreamed of. My first mission for you is to stick to him like glue."
Kara glanced at Sora, unsure of what to make of the compliment. She understood now just how far out of her league he was, and yet, there was something about Sora''s calm determination that felt almost reassuring. Despite his overwhelming power, he hadn''t abandoned them. He hadn''t walked away from the trial when it got tough. Instead, he had shown them a glimpse of what was possible.
The Trial Giver''s voice began to fade, the cryptic tone lingering in the air. "You are fortunate, kid. Do not waste the opportunity that has been presented to you."
Chapter 37 : Reward or Torture ?
As the voice of the Trial Giver faded into the distance, leaving the room eerily quiet, Sora stood still, waiting for what he knew would come next. Moments later, a familiar ping echoed in his mind, followed by the appearance of a notification in front of his eyes.
| [Quest Complete: Assist Kara in her Trial of the Virtuous] |
| [Reward based on contribution: XP, Gold, Legendary Item] |
A rush of energy surged through his body, and the notification flashed brightly before him.
| [Level up! You are now level 60.] |
| [Level up! You are now level 61.] |
| [Level up! You are now level 62.] |
Sora''s eyes widened in surprise as the colossal chunk of experience boosted him not just one level, but three. The rush of power was overwhelming, filling him with strength as his body surged with newfound energy.
"Let''s gooo!" he cheered enthusiastically, something unusual enough to surprise his teammates.
But the notifications didn''t stop there.
| [You have received: 9,500,000 gold.] |
Sora blinked in disbelief. "9.5 million gold?" he whispered to himself. Even for a hidden level 60 quest, that was an huge amount of wealth. Most high-level quests rewarded only a fraction of that, but it seemed the Trial Giver had been exceptionally generous.
However, the final reward was the one that truly caught his attention.
| [You have received: Legendary Item ¨C Ruyi Jingu Bang (Monkey King''s Staff)] as a quest reward. |
|
Ruyi Jingu Bang (Monkey King''s Staff) (Legendary)
Level Requirement: 60
Description: The legendary staff of the Monkey King, known for its ability to change size at will. It is said to be able to extend to the heavens or shrink to the size of a needle. Infused with ancient magic, the Ruyi Jingu Bang reacts to the wielder''s mana, growing and shrinking based on how much mana is channeled into it. This weapon was designed to adapt to any combat situation, from close-quarters to long-range, making it a versatile and formidable tool in battle.
Options:
Mana-Responsive Size Control: The staff can change its length and size based on the amount of mana the wielder channels into it. The minimum size can be as small as a needle, while the maximum size is only limited by the wielder''s mana capacity.
Durability: Indestructible by normal means. The staff can withstand the most extreme forces, making it a perfect defensive and offensive weapon.
|
Sora''s smile widened as the legendary weapon materialized in front of him. The staff was unlike any weapon he had ever seen. At first glance, it appeared deceptively simple¡ªan elegant black pole with golden ends.
But the longer he stared at it, the more its intricate details revealed themselves. Engraved along its length were faint golden patterns, swirling like clouds, ancient and majestic, invoking the image of legends long past.
Sora lifted the staff, feeling its surprising weight despite its slim appearance. It felt like it was connected to him, responding to his thoughts, eager to obey his commands. He ran his hand along its smooth surface, noticing the subtle hum of mana coursing through the weapon.
"The Monkey King''s Staff," Sora muttered with a grin. The world update really was something else. It seemed to borrow names, concepts, and even legends from human history and fiction. And now, here he was, holding one of the most iconic weapons of a myth.
He gripped the staff firmly, feeding it a pulse of his mana. Instantly, the staff responded, growing longer in his hand. With another thought, he willed it to shrink, and it obediently contracted, fitting neatly into his palm.
Sora laughed softly, the satisfaction of obtaining such a weapon evident on his face. "This is going to be fun."
Sora looked at his teammates. Kara stood still, her eyes wide and unfocused, clearly engrossed in the notifications only she could see. The other three, Thierry, C¨¦line, and Am¨¦lie, looked far more lively, wearing broad smiles as they admired their rewards. They seemed content, chatting quietly among themselves.
Sora broke the silence, curiosity gnawing at him. "So, are you guys satisfied with what you got?"
Thierry grinned, clearly pleased. "Oh yeah, we each got 100,000 gold. That''s a quite the amount considering the fact that we spent the whole trial in your backpack... We can give the gold if you want, since we feel like we earned this thanks to you, probably lowering your quest reward"
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Sora tried to suppress his embarrassment, knowing he''d received almost 10 million. He guessed the trial had decided that he''d done about 95% of the work, which wasn''t too far off the mark. Still, he didn''t want to demotivate them by mentioning his disproportionate reward. He simply shook his head, refusing their offer, keeping his face neutral.
Am¨¦lie chimed in next, excitement in her voice. "We also got some Unique weapons and equipment pieces. Check this out!" She showed off a bow with a faintly glowing string. Thierry displayed his new sword, and C¨¦line proudly examined a reinforced shield, all brimming with power.
Sora smiled faintly, pleased that they were happy with their rewards.
At that moment, Kara snapped out of her daze, her face lighting up with excitement. "I changed classes!" she exclaimed. "I can''t wait to go back and show Areva. She''s going to be so proud!"
Her excitement was contagious, and Sora could see that Kara was eager to return to her master and share her success. She then turned to Sora, still buzzing with energy. "Why don''t you come with me, Ralph? We can return the main quest now that we''ve completed this hidden dungeon."
Sora raised his hand, stopping her. "Not just yet. Since we''re in a safe space, I can go ahead and improve your bodies now, to complete our contract."
The group paused, processing his words. Their excitement returned quickly as they realized what this meant. C¨¦line was the first to speak, her voice filled with determination. "If you''re ready to do it, then so am I."
Sora smiled. "Alright then. Sit down, all of you. I won''t lie¡ªthis is going to be painful."
The four adventurers exchanged nervous glances, but their resolve remained strong. Thierry nodded. "We''ve been through worse. Let''s get this done."
Sora raised an eyebrow at that remark ''This pampered warrior has been through worse? Was he sure about that?''
Am¨¦lie added, her voice quieter but firm, "If this makes us stronger, we can take it."
Sora turned to C¨¦line first. "I''ll start with you. You''ve already got the strongest body of the group apart from Kara, so this will push you even further."
C¨¦line sat down took a deep breath, bracing herself for what was to come and bringing down all her defense, allowing ''Ralph'' to do as he pleased.
Sora focused his mana, his hands glowing with a soft blue light as he began applying the body forging skills he had mastered. He started gently infusing the mana inside her body, his eyes focused, and slowly scouted her whole body, muscles and organ to notice any thing that''s be different from his body. She had no [Loved by Mana] or [Titan Regeneration] to help her heal damage, so he would have to help her in another way. He focused his mana to imitate the time he had recreated the Regeneration passive skill by forcing mana to heal the body passively.
As soon as the body had a way to recover, he channeled the mana into C¨¦line''s body, sending it deep into her muscles, bones, and organs. The process was brutal¡ªher body had to be torn apart and rebuilt, and though he could regenerate her as he worked, the pain was immense.
C¨¦line gritted her teeth, her fists clenched as the first wave of agony hit. Her body shook as Sora continued, the mana seeping into every fiber of her being, breaking and reforging her physical limits. Her breath came out in short gasps as she tried to withstand the torment. Beads of sweat formed on her brow, blood was coming out of her mouth and her face twisted in pain, but she was trying to persist.
Thierry and Am¨¦lie watched in horror, their eyes wide as they saw C¨¦line endure the process. Am¨¦lie''s hands trembled as she clutched her new bow, while Thierry looked pale, his face a mask of barely controlled fear. Even Kara, who had witnessed many battles, couldn''t hide her anxiety.
Sora glanced at the others as the process stabilized. "Are you ready?" he asked, his voice steady.
"No, we are not !!" Thierry who was terrified couldn''t help but shake his head.
"Be a man Thierry. If you run today, we''ll make fun of your for the rest of your life" Am¨¦lie couldn''t help but say, trying to motivate the group.
A moment later they accepted their fate, their fear momentarily overshadowed by their determination. One by one, they sat down in front of Sora, bracing themselves for the same grueling transformation. Sora worked tirelessly, moving from one to the next, using his body forging skills to enhance their physical abilities. The pain was intense, and their bodies buckled under the strain, but they endured.
Hours passed in a haze of agony and regeneration. Blood pooled beneath them as their bodies were torn apart and rebuilt over and over again. The process was relentless, and soon all four lay on the ground, their once powerful bodies reduced to bloodied, trembling forms.
Sora stood over them, his expression calm as he observed the results. Their bodies had been pushed to their limits, every fiber of their being strengthened and reinforced. The blood that soaked the ground was evidence of the trials they had endured. Yet, despite the trauma, their bodies were fully recovered, intact and strong. The mental fatigue, however, had taken its toll.
Thierry, C¨¦line, and Am¨¦lie had all passed out, their minds unable to cope with the strain any longer. They lay unconscious in the pool of their own blood, completely spent. But Kara¡ Kara was different.
She remained awake, though her breath was labored, her chest heaving as if she were struggling for air. Her body trembled, her mind clearly on the verge of collapse, but she held on. Sora was impressed by her resilience. She had a talent for survival, an inner strength that exceeded his expectations. She was leagues above him in that regard.
He knelt beside her, his voice quiet but filled with respect. "You''ve done well, Kara."
Kara''s eyes were wide, her voice barely a whisper. "I¡ I stayed awake¡ but I wish I hadn''t." She let out a strained laugh, though her body was clearly still in shock. "I would have rather passed out like the others."
Sora chuckled softly, admiring her tenacity. She truly was a talent. "Your body hit the limit of what I could give you. You''ve all pushed past your previous boundaries, but no one has limitless potential. This is as far as I can take you."
Kara nodded weakly, still trying to catch her breath. "Thank you¡ Ralph." Her voice was soft, but her gratitude was genuine.
With the others unconscious, Sora and Kara lifted their companions, carrying them out of the dungeon. Together, they dragged their unconscious friends back toward Paris.
The journey was long, and by the time they arrived, it was late. They brought their teammates back to an inn, laying them down carefully so they could rest. Kara stood by Sora as they finished, her body still weak from the ordeal but her spirit unbroken.
"Let''s meet tomorrow," Sora said, glancing at her. "We can talk more then."
Kara nodded, her eyes tired but full of resolve. "I''ll be ready."
With that, they parted ways, the night falling over Paris as the weight of their trials finally began to settle in.
Chapter 38 : Fear, Regret and Pain
As Sora entered his room at the inn, he felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him, though his mind was still buzzing with the adrenaline of the past few days. His little companion, Hiyoko, fluttered onto the table, chirping softly as Sora settled into a chair.
Sora grinned down at the small bird. "Hey, Hiyoko, you want to get some body forging too? Might toughen you up a little."
The little bird froze, its tiny feathers puffing up in terror, and it frantically shook its head. Sora laughed, the tension easing from his body as he reached out to gently stroke Hiyoko. "Relax, I''m just kidding."
The warmth of the moment calmed him, but as the laughter faded, Sora''s thoughts began to shift. He felt the raw strength coursing through his body and marveled at how far he had come. "I could probably get assessed for the Phoenix Badge now," he mused, thinking about how prestigious that rank was. He knew there was a risk of failure, but he could also easily secure the Shadow Badge. It was tempting, but then again, jumping ranks too quickly in the same area might raise suspicions.
"No need to rush. And i can still go to another city to avoid other players seeing my rank rise" Sora muttered to himself, pushing the thought aside. He needed to be careful, not reckless. The last thing he wanted was to draw unwanted attention.
As he pondered his next move, darker thoughts crept into his mind. What mistakes should he avoid? Should he keep helping Kara and her group, or were they more of a liability? The figure he met after his death had said words that echoed in his mind: if he were to form a team, it needed to be made up of the best. But were Kara and her friends really the best? Could he trust them?
Sora''s chest tightened. What if one of them betrayed him, like Rachel had? What if they learned his secrets and used them against him? Sure, they had signed a contract, but the contract didn''t account for future interactions or deeper secrets. And even if they didn''t betray him, what if they died under his lead, like his old team? That memory still haunted him¡ªwatching his friends, people he had trained and cared for, die before his eyes.
His thoughts turned to Rachel, and a wave of anger surged through him. He hated her. How could she have done what she did after years of friendship? How could someone be so cold, so wicked? Rachel hadn''t always been like that. Sora knew about the rivalry between her and Lara, how Rachel had always been possessive, jealous, and extreme in her actions. She showed her good side only to those she truly cared for, and Lara wasn''t one of them.
But maybe Lara had been right all along. Maybe Rachel had never truly loved his brother or him. The thought made Sora''s hands tremble, sadness and rage building inside him. How had things turned out like this? He didn''t want this life. He didn''t want this curse of an innate ability. What if it had been better if he''d just died back then?
Sora shook his head, pushing the darkness away. He couldn''t think like that. His survival had brought some solace to his parents. The last time he had been home, he saw it in their eyes. Though still grieving, they were beginning to heal. He saw glimpses of happiness in their faces, little moments between the lingering sorrow. They were moving forward, slowly but surely.
For his parents, it was a good thing he survived. And for them, he had to keep going. He didn''t want to become someone chasing power out of fear or necessity. The pressure he had been feeling these past months was immense, and though it had helped him grow stronger, he didn''t want to climb this mountain of power alone. He craved the warmth of friendship, the comfort of home.
Tears began to stream down Sora''s face as the memories of his family flooded his mind. He missed them. He missed his parents, and he missed his brother more than he could put into words. Wiping his face, Sora made up his mind.
"I need to go home."
It hadn''t been long since he last saw his parents, but the yearning in his heart was too strong to ignore. He was strong enough now to cross most zones safely, so after quickly scanning the map, he plotted a route that would avoid the most dangerous areas.
Leaving Paris behind, Sora traveled swiftly, his steps light and sure. In just a few minutes, he was home, standing outside the familiar walls of his parents'' house. The warmth of the place, the sight of it, eased something deep within him.
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That evening, he sat down to dinner with his parents. The meal was simple, but it filled the empty spaces inside him that power and battles couldn''t touch. His parents talked and laughed, and for a while, Sora allowed himself to simply be a son again, not the warrior or the adventurer.
He stayed the night, sleeping in his own bed, surrounded by memories that, for once, didn''t haunt him.
And by early the next morning, he was back at the inn, ready to face the challenges ahead with a clearer mind and a heart that had been mended, if only a little, by the love of his family.
Sora left the inn with a light step, making his way to the Adventurer''s Guild. The fresh morning air and the lingering peace from his time at home gave him a sense of clarity. His thoughts were calm as he approached the guild, eager to meet up with Kara, Thierry, Am¨¦lie, C¨¦line, and their mentor, Areva.
Upon entering the guild, the familiar buzz of adventurers going about their business greeted him. Yet, as Sora spotted the group, missing Kara, something immediately felt different. There was a new aura around them, a sense of growth and quiet determination that hadn''t been there before. He could see it in their eyes¡ªthe focus, the strength, and a bit of confidence that now emanated from each of them.
As Sora joined them, there was a fire in their spirits that made him pause.
"What''s up?" Sora asked, raising an eyebrow, curious about the shift in their demeanor.
Am¨¦lie, the archer, stepped forward, her amber eyes locking onto his. "We wanted to thank you, Ralph," she began, her voice steady but filled with emotion. "We are happy for what you did for us, even if we can''t talk about it. The contract keeps us quiet, but we don''t need to say it to express our gratitude."
Sora blinked, unsure of where she was going with this. Am¨¦lie continued, "You gave us an opportunity. More than just survival¡ªyou gave us the chance to open our eyes and grow. We''ve decided not to stop here. This is only the first step. We don''t want to be players anymore. We want to be warriors, real adventurers who can stand by your side, not behind you. We''re not satisfied with just being your burdens."
Her words struck Sora like a physical blow. Burdens? Was that really how they saw themselves? He had never thought of them that way. Sure, they were weak and had needed his help, but it was just part of the job. Yet, as he looked at their faces¡ªdetermined, but tinged with guilt¡ªhe began to understand. From their perspective, being powerless, relying on him so heavily, had wounded their pride.
He shook his head, still processing their words. "You guys¡ I never thought of you as burdens," Sora said earnestly, his voice softening. "You were never in my way, and I never felt like my life was in danger because of you. I helped because I wanted to. Don''t be so serious."
He paused, catching himself on the next word. "Besides¡ I help my friends when I can." The word "friends" slipped out naturally, and he smiled at the realization. Maybe he really did like this group more than he had realized. Their energy, their quirks¡ªthey had grown on him. "I don''t mind lending a hand to friends."
Thierry, the swordsman, stepped forward next. "We know, Ralph. But we''ve made our decision. We''re going to train hard and, hopefully, one day, we''ll be strong enough to join you again¡ªif you''ll have us." His tone was steady but carried the weight of their resolve. "But for now¡ we want to ask you for something."
Sora tilted his head, curious. "What is it?"
"We want you to take Kara with you on your journey," Thierry said, surprising Sora. "She''s always been the one carrying us. We''ve known that for a long time. But we didn''t want to show it because¡ well, we didn''t want to hurt her feelings. She enjoyed playing with us as much as we did, and we didn''t want that to stop."
Am¨¦lie added softly, "We accepted being power-leveled by our guilds and families because it was the only way we could keep up with her. But maybe, by doing that, we hurt her growth more than we helped. It''s time we let her go, let her reach her true potential."
Sora stood silently, admiring their decision. They could have easily asked him to let them join him, to ride on his success, but they chose not to. Instead, they wanted to free Kara from their limits, to let her grow. It was admirable.
He nodded to himself, making a decision of his own. "I respect that. You''ve made a tough choice, but I''ll respect it. I''ll take Kara with me if she wants to join my party, and I wish you three stay safe. Even if we''re not adventuring together, I''ll keep an eye on you all."
Before they could respond, Sora opened his status panel and sent them friend requests. "Let''s stay in touch," he said with a smile. "We can use the system''s message function to keep in contact."
The trio looked at each other, surprised but happy. They quickly accepted the friend request, their earlier tension easing as they realized they wouldn''t be losing touch with him after all.
Just as they were exchanging smiles, Kara appeared, looking confused by the serious expressions on their faces. "What''s going on here?" she asked, her hands on her hips, eyes darting between them.
The group quickly brushed it off, with Thierry grinning, "Nothing, just some boring talk."
Kara rolled her eyes, clearly not buying it but deciding to drop the subject. "Alright, well, if you''re all done being weird, let''s go meet Areva."
With that, they went to where they usually met Areva.
Chapter 39 : War
The Adventurer''s Guild was bustling with activity as Sora, Kara, and Areva met near the quest board to finalize the reward for their previous mission. Thierry, Am¨¦lie, and C¨¦line had already left, saying they had other plans for the day. Sora noticed how different they seemed after their last dungeon. There was a fire in their eyes, a sense of purpose and determination that hadn''t been there before. It made him proud, though he didn''t show it.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Areva turned her attention to Kara. "Now that you''ve grown stronger, Kara, it''s time to discuss something serious. There''s a war raging in the north, and I believe you''re ready to take part."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "A war?"
Before the World Update, chaos reigned on Earth, with invading races attacking Humans all over the World, relying on Dungeons to access this world, and portals to steadily send troops. Some high level beasts even destroyed hundreds of villages before being stopped. Wars were bloody, and chaotic. But everything had changed after the World Update.
Wars were now something else, having sets of rules and could not be waged randomly. Sora was not yet aware of the rules, but he had heard that wars only lasted for a month, and a territory could be won or lost after that period.''Some people even refer to wars as ''PvP Events...''
Areva nodded solemnly. "Yes. The Dark Elf Kingdom is expanding rapidly. They''ve been pushing into Finland, Norway, and Sweden, and the situation is getting worse. The New Europe Union (NEU) is trying to stop them, but... things aren''t looking good. We''re losing too many battles, and we''re running out of time to turn the tide."
Kara looked concerned. "How bad is it?"
"Bad enough that France has no choice but to send reinforcements. Guilds from all over the country are preparing to send their best players, and the government is mobilizing elite troops to aid the NEU," Areva explained. "But the Dark Elf Kingdom is relentless. They''ve mastered strategies to defeat us in fight after fight, and even our strongest players are losing. If we don''t contribute soon"
Sora''s interest piqued. "What happens if France doesn''t send help?"
Areva''s face darkened. "If France doesn''t help, we won''t receive support in the future. If a high-tier dungeon or something worse appears in France, the other Regions won''t assist us. We''d be on our own, and you know how that ends." She sighed. "This war isn''t just about land. It''s about maintaining the balance of power on Earth. If the NEU collapses, there''s no telling what might happen next. Humanity might lose one of its footholds."
Kara clenched her fists. "I see. The situation must be dire for you to mention this to us"
Areva nodded. "Exactly. The NEU has been trying to hold the line, but we''re getting overwhelmed. The Dark Elves are stronger than anyone anticipated, and they''re backed by some of the most powerful players we''ve ever seen. Our first fights were all disastrous"
Sora folded his arms, absorbing the information. "So, what can we do?"
Areva gave him a knowing look. "You''ve grown stronger than most, Ralph. With your power, you could make a real difference on the battlefield. The question is, do you want to participate?"
Sora frowned, confused by her words. "Why do you say I''m stronger than most?" he asked, his tone laced with genuine curiosity. ''According to newspapers there were people who hit level 100 even before... Rachel killed me. And that was almost three months ago. Shouldn''t the New Europe Union (NEU) have fighters far stronger than me ?'' he thought to himself
Areva nodded thoughtfully, understanding the source of his confusion. "It''s a common misunderstanding, especially among those who haven''t participated in the wars yet. The rules of this new world are... different from what you might expect. "
"I have heard that there were rules, but i don''t know much about these rules" Sora raised an eyebrow.
"It''s not really common knowledge," Areva continued. "To invade a kingdom, another kingdom must declare war following a set process. The invaders can''t just start anywhere¡ªthey have to begin by attacking Tier 4 territories, which are the outermost regions. After all the Tier 4 territories fall, they can then move on to Tier 3, then Tier 2, and finally, the last bastion of a kingdom, the Tier 1 territory. Once that falls, the kingdom is lost."
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Sora''s eyes widened. "So, the war happening in the northern countries right now is only over Tier 4 territories?"
Areva nodded. "Yes, and there''s an important restriction. These lower-tier wars are meant for lower-tier players. Only players below level 80 can take part. However, the system allows some higher-level players to participate too, but there''s a catch: their stats are reduced to the level 80 ceiling, and there can''t be too many of them. It''s designed to ensure that war remains competitive at all levels while still allowing the stronger fighters to participate if they want."
Sora leaned back, processing what he had just heard. The way Earth now functioned was startling.It was even closer to a game than he initially thought... With rules and systems dictating every aspect of life, from dungeons to war, he couldn''t help but shake his head. The thought intrigued him but also left him concerned.
He glanced at Kara, then back to Areva. "But aren''t we too weak to join a war like this? "
Kara shot him a look, her eyes flashing with understanding. She could tell that, despite his tact, Sora was implying that she might be the one unprepared for such a fight.
Areva smiled slightly. "Don''t worry too much about that. We still have time before the battle starts. You should both spend a period training in Stockholm. Besides, you shouldn''t underestimate Kara''s new class. War is a perfect environment for her to thrive in as a healer. She''ll gain plenty of experience and, more importantly, merit. She can earn a reputation as a great healer, and that alone will bring immense growth."
Sora nodded slowly. He could see the logic. Kara would gain a lot from being in such a high-pressure environment. The experience alone would push her far beyond where she currently stood. And Sora wasn''t against it. He''d fought in dangerous situations before, but war was something else entirely.
"You," Areva continued, her eyes sharp as she studied him, "you''re different. You can still fight across levels, can''t you?"
Sora didn''t respond immediately, but his silence was enough of an answer.
"Then, my advice to you is to reach the next level if you want a better starting position in the war. The higher your level, the more influence you''ll have, and you''ll gain a better postion. But... I have an idea of how powerful you are now, even if you don''t flaunt it. It might be hard to hit level 70 before the war begins, even with your strength. There''s not much time left so hurry up."
Sora considered her words carefully. The idea of reaching level 70 intrigued him, especially since he had been wondering what his innate ability might unlock at that stage. But time was the problem. He wasn''t sure if there was enough of it to hit that milestone before the conflict ended.
Still, he couldn''t deny the appeal of war. It was a chance to grow, to test his abilities in a way he hadn''t done before. He looked over at Kara, who seemed resolute, her determination clear in her eyes. She was ready, and maybe, this would be the moment they both needed to take the next step in their journeys.
"Alright," Sora said finally. "Let''s go. If we can level up in time, we''ll push for it. Otherwise, we''ll make do with what we''ve got."
Areva smiled, her expression approving. "Good. Us from the adventurer''s guild can not join you to defend the Union, but we are rooting for you!"
Sora understood that maybe it was her way of saying NPC couldn''t leave their position to help in PVP Events?
Sora pushed the heavy wooden doors of the Adventurer''s Guild open, stepping into the bright sunlight that bathed the busy streets of Paris. Kara followed closely behind.
Kara glanced at him, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips, though there was a shadow of nervousness in her eyes. "So... Stockholm, right? Are we heading straight there?"
Sora shook his head, hands slipping into his pockets as they walked side by side. "Not yet. We need to prepare a few things now"
Kara frowned, her steps slowing. "But the war¡ª"
"We''ve got time," Sora interrupted gently. "We need to become stronger, especially you. We will not participate in the war if we"re too weak. Use the next 3 days to prepare your gear and items, we''ll meet at Gare du Nord at 8 am."
There was a brief pause, and Sora glanced at her, catching the flicker of doubt in her expression.
"I understand" Kara said quietly, her voice almost lost in the noise of the bustling street. She crossed her arms, as if trying to shield herself from the weight of the realization. "But I''m worried I''ll slow you down."
Sora stopped walking, turning to face her. "You don''t need to worry about that for now"
Kara stared at him, her eyes wide, her lips parting as if she wanted to protest. But she knew better. She didn''t know why but she wanted to believe him. With a deep breath, she nodded. "Let''s meet in three days then !"
Sora smirked, his eyes flicking ahead toward the Auction House in the distance. "I need to gear up first. See you!"
''If you''re gonna keep up with me, you''ll need more than just that new class of yours.'' He thought to himself, as he started walking again, this time with a more determined stride.
As they parted ways streets, Sora''s mind whirled with possibilities. The war would be intense, and every advantage would count. Kara needed better gear, better tools. And he had an idea¡ªsomething that would push her beyond her limits. But first, he needed to know if he could trust her. He needed to make sure of it.
Chapter 40 : Leaving Paris
Sora walked through the bustling streets, his thoughts focused on the task ahead. The Auction House loomed in the distance, its towering structure standing as a testament to the importance of gear and resources in this new world. He quickened his pace, eager to secure what he needed before time ran out.
As he entered the Auction House, the atmosphere changed instantly. The sound of haggling filled the air as traders and adventurers bartered for rare items and gear. Sora scanned the listings displayed on holographic panels, searching for the equipment that would give him the edge he needed.
"Alright, let''s see," he muttered, pulling up the gear categories. He needed to make this count.
He started with armor. His current gear, while functional, was only level 50 and for the kinds of challenges he would face in the coming days. Level 60 items were essential, and he wanted a mix of epic and unique pieces to ensure he wasn''t just prepared for the immediate war, but for future battles as well.
He carefully browsed through the options, filtering by quality and attributes.
An epic leather chestplate with high agility and mana resistance caught his eye. Perfect for his speed-based fighting style. He immediately bought it, then moved on to the boots, gloves, and accessories.
Auctioned weapons could be purchased immediately by paying the requested amount if the seller put one. Usually it was quite expensive. Otherwise, he would have to wait for the end of the auction and bid higher than others.
Piece by piece, Sora upgraded his gear, selecting items that would not only enhance his physical abilities but also provide a way to hide his mana fluctuations and aura.
Satisfied with his new purchases, Sora shifted his focus to weapons. His [Ruyi Jingu Bang] was a powerful weapon, but sometimes versatility was key. He picked up a few weapons in case of unknown situations¡ªa pair of daggers with a unique passive skill that allowed mana-infused strikes and a long spear designed to channel large amounts of energy through its length. He even got a gun that could use mana to shoot enemies.
He didn''t splurge, though. Even with around 15 million gold, he knew better than to blow it all on level 60 gear.
Finally, he pulled up a list of miscellaneous items, training tools, and potions. Kara''s growth had to be a priority. She was too far behind, and the gap between them would only widen if she didn''t catch up quickly. He added a set of training potions to his cart¡ªones that would help increase stamina and resistance to pain, vital for the body-forging process he had in mind.
With the gold left, he bought level 70 items, but he didn''t have enough gold for everything he wanted.
"Alright," he said under his breath, "that should do it for now."
As he finalized his purchases and exited the Auction House, he checked the time. "Still got a few days ahead of me. Time to get my Human Resources Assistant job leveled up."
Sora made his way toward the Job Hall, the large building standing just as busy as the rest of the city. His goal was clear: reach a higher level in his job. It would be crucial for gaining the trust he needed from Kara and ensuring their partnership could thrive. As he entered the hall, he was immediately greeted by thousands of job postings. Contracts¡ªthousands of them, waiting to be signed.
Perfect.
He wasted no time, moving from office to office with lightning speed. He presented his job token, rushed through the formalities, and vanished just as quickly, leaving the workers stunned in his wake. At one office, an older woman looked at him in bewilderment as he rattled off his credentials and signed three hundred contracts in under a minute.
"You... you''re done already?" she asked, blinking in disbelief.
"Yeah," Sora replied with a smirk. "Need to move fast. Got more places to be."
And with that, he was gone, leaving the woman staring after him in shock.
This was the routine for the rest of the day. Office after office, signing contract after contract, and leaving a trail of bewildered employers in his wake. He moved like a blur, breaking speed limits with his newfound strength and agility, pushing himself to cover as much ground as possible.
After visiting all 1,255 offices in Paris, he finally slowed down. Three days passed in the blink of an eye with all the running and signing. Looking at the horizon. Sora pulled up his job menu, his eyes scanning the progress.
| [Job: Human Resources Assistant (Level 62)] |
"Not bad," he muttered, impressed with his own efficiency. He had signed hundreds of thousands contracts in just three days, and the prestige multiplier had kicked in, pushing his job level up faster than expected until level 62. Now, he was ready for the next phase.
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He had unlocked unique abilities in his role, such as [Unfair Contract], which allowed him to tip the scales in his favor, gaining better condition than his counterpart. Every ten levels, he unlocked new effects, like the ability to establish contracts with NPCs, form guild contracts, impose harsher penalties, and even create binding summoning contracts between two parties. These abilities progressively made his job more powerful and versatile.
This amount came from the contracts he signed. Most contract he signed provided 100 gold, but he also signed higher level contracts which paid more.
He made his way back to the auction house to prepare his level 70 and 80 gear sets.
After buying everything he needed, he still had gold left.
Heading to Gare Du Nord, he spotted Kara already waiting for him, her expression a mix of excitement and apprehension. She looked ready to go, and Sora could see the weight of her thoughts in her eyes.
"Let''s go" said Sora, his atmosphere different. Kara directly followed into his steps.
They directly started walking towards the exit of Paris not far from Gare Du Nord.
"Stockholm, right? Are we heading straight there?" Kara asked, breaking the silence, her voice uncertain but eager.
Sora shook his head. "Not yet."
Kara''s steps faltered, and she frowned. "Why not? I thought we were in a hurry because of the war."
"We are," Sora replied, his tone calm but firm. "But we''re not going anywhere until we''re ready."
She looked at him, confused. "Ready? What do you mean?"
"We need to talk. Find a quiet place far from distractions, and then we can train."
Without another word, Sora turned and led the way out of Paris. Kara followed, her mind racing with thoughts. He was so focused, so sure of what needed to be done, but his silence unnerved her.
The excitement of the upcoming adventure slowly gave way to unease. She was still new to all of this, and though she was confident in herself, the uncertainty in his tone made her wonder what kind of training he had in mind.
They traveled swiftly, crossing into a level 50 zone, deep in the wilderness where few humans ventured. The air was still and quiet, with only the sounds of nature surrounding them. It was a perfect place to train¡ªisolated and far from prying eyes.
Sora finally stopped, surveying the area. He nodded to himself before turning to face Kara. "This will do."
Kara''s heart raced. "What exactly are we doing here?"
Sora''s gaze was steady. "I plan to help you grow, but before we go any further, I need to be sure."
"Sure about what?" Kara asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
"That I can trust you. Completely."
The words hit Kara like a wave. She stared at him, stunned. "You¡ you don''t trust me?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Sora''s expression didn''t change. "It''s not about trust in the way you think. We''ve only known each other for a few days. Trust like what I''m talking about isn''t earned that fast. And my training¡ it''s special. You''ll understand soon enough."
Kara felt a flicker of anger rise in her chest, but she quickly swallowed it. He was right. They hadn''t known each other long. Still, it hurt to hear him say it out loud. She crossed her arms, feeling a bit defensive. "You don''t have to share any of your secrets with me. I''ll train hard and do my best. I won''t be a burden."
"You misunderstand," Sora said, shaking his head. "This isn''t about keeping secrets from you. The training I''m offering is something different. It''s¡ unique. And it requires absolute trust between us, for both our sakes."
Kara blinked, her frustration fading into curiosity. "Unique?"
Sora nodded, then gestured with his hand. A faint glow appeared between them, and a contract materialized in the air. Kara''s eyes widened at the sight. It wasn''t just a simple document like the contracts she''d seen before¡ªthis one pulsed with mana, a binding force woven into its very fabric. This one screamed power, authority and absolute binding !
"Is this another contract?" Kara asked, her voice quieter now, filled with intrigue.
"Yes," Sora said simply. "This contract will bind us in a partnership. A real partnership where both of us share certain responsibilities¡ªand certain secrets. I need to trust that you won''t betray me, and in return, I''ll give you something that will help you keep up with players ten levels higher than you within a month. But this isn''t just about power. It''s about trust, about growing strong together."
The contract floated between them, the terms glowing softly. Kara leaned forward, reading the conditions carefully.
Terms for Sora (shown as Ralph Eden):
|
Partnership Contract:
Ralph Eden will train Kara in special techniques that will allow her to fight against and defeat opponents up to 10 levels above her current level within a month.
Ralph Eden will provide Kara with resources, training items to help her growth.
Ralph Eden will keep any of Kara''s secrets, including personal and class-related abilities.
Ralph Eden will protect Kara in times of need, ensuring her safety in dangerous situations.
Ralph Eden will never disclose any information learned about Kara, including her weaknesses and vulnerabilities, even under threat of death.
|
Terms for Kara:
|
Partnership Contract:
Kara will undergo training provided by Ralph Eden without hesitation, following all instructions given for her improvement.
Kara will keep Ralph Eden''s secrets and never reveal his methods, skills, or personal information to any third party, regardless of circumstances.
Kara agrees to use the power and knowledge gained through the training solely for the benefit of their partnership and the missions ahead.
Kara will place her trust in Ralph Eden''s decisions during combat ensuring teamwork at the highest level, unless ordered to risk her life without a plausible reason
|
Chapter 41 : Time-Bending
Kara stared at the contract, her heart pounding. The weight of the words before her was impossible to ignore. This was more than just an agreement; it was a binding partnership, one that demanded complete trust from both of them.
"You''re asking a lot of me," she said softly, her fingers lightly brushing the edge of the contract. "But you''re also giving a lot."
Sora nodded, his gaze steady. "I am. If we''re going to survive what''s coming, we need to be on the same page. And I need to know that when things get rough, you won''t hesitate."
Kara''s breath caught, but she didn''t take long to decide. With a deep inhale, she placed her hand on the contract. The moment her palm touched it, a surge of mana pulsed between them. The contract dissolved into a flash of light, and a notification appeared before both of them:
| [Contract Sealed: Trust and Power Agreement between Kara Spirine and Ralph Eden.] |
Sora gave a small nod, satisfied. "Now we can begin."
Kara exhaled slowly, still processing what she''d just committed to. She wasn''t sure what lay ahead, but the weight of the contract made it clear¡ªthere was no turning back now.
Sora stood, observing her closely as the contract sealed. He could feel a shift in the energy between them, an unspoken bond forming. Kara, still reeling from the intensity of the moment, asked, "Where do we start?"
Sora''s gaze sharpened. "First, I need to know what you''re working with. Your skills, your status... everything."
Kara blinked, surprised. "What? My... status? You want me to share that with you?"
In their world, sharing one''s status was considered a deep violation of privacy. It was like revealing your greatest strengths and vulnerabilities, something most players guarded fiercely.
Before she could respond, Sora acted. Without hesitation, he shared his status first, and his window appeared in front of her.
Kara''s eyes widened as she read the details. Her mouth opened slightly, but the words seemed to fail her as her gaze landed on his real name:
Sora Hashino.
Two names? Why did he have two names?
Her eyes darted downward, scanning the rest of his status, and that''s when her shock deepened.
Her breath hitched. That was... absurd. How could anyone at level 62 have that kind of power? ''What the heck!''
She kept reading, each new detail adding to her confusion.
His skill list was endless¡ªskills spanning multiple classes, ranging from swordsmanship to mana amplification and body forging, all mastered at a level she hadn''t thought possible. Many of his skills were perfected, the ultimate form of a skill honed to its maximum potential. She was aware that skills could be upgraded to such level when perfectly honed, but she had always expected it to be something for the endgame.
But then, something else caught her attention.
Supreme Skills:
There were two. He had two supreme skills. Kara had never heard of people possessing even one, and here was Sora with two. Her fingers hovered over the details, but she didn''t dare open them. Instead, her gaze moved lower, falling upon something even more personal.
Her breath caught in her throat. "He has an innate skill¡ like me," she whispered, barely able to believe it.
Sora stood quietly, watching as Kara''s eyes scanned his status, her expression shifting between shock, confusion, and awe. Her mouth opened and closed several times, as if she were struggling to process everything she was seeing.
Kara''s hand trembled slightly as she took in the full scope of his abilities. She had always believed her innate skill was unique, something rare in their world. But here was Sora, not only with an innate skill but also two supreme skills. Who was he?
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Noticing her shock, Sora gave a small, knowing smile. He had anticipated this. It wasn''t every day someone encountered a background as strange as his.
Finally, Kara found her voice, though it was barely above a whisper. "What... what is this? You''re called... Sora Hashino? And you also have an innate skill?"
Sora nodded. "Yeah. Ralph Eden is just the name I use for now, but my real name is Sora. And yes, I have an innate skill. So do you, apparently."
Kara blinked, still trying to wrap her mind around it. "But your power level... 36 billion? How? And... supreme skills? How can one person have so many abilities across so many classes?"
Sora shrugged nonchalantly. "It wasn''t easy. But I''ve reset several times using my innate skill, Prestige. Each reset gives me a multiplier, and every time, I grow faster, stronger."
Kara stared at him, torn between admiration and intimidation. She was starting to understand why Sora had insisted on the contract. This wasn''t just about trust¡ªit was about sharing the kind of knowledge that few people on Earth possessed. And now, she was part of that secret. She felt relieved, though, that he saw her as worthy of this level of trust.
"So... this is why you need to know about my skills too?" Kara asked cautiously. "To make sure we''re on equal footing?"
Sora nodded. "Exactly. If we''re going to train together and fight together, I need to understand your abilities. That''s the only way I can help you grow and ensure we both survive. You''ve seen mine. Now it''s your turn."
Kara hesitated for a moment. Sharing one''s status was deeply personal, but Sora had already taken the first step. It was only fair she reciprocated. With a deep breath, Kara summoned her own status window and shared it with Sora.
|
[Status Update]
Profile: Kara Spirine
Status: Alive
Class: Vital Sage (Class level 1 / Player Level 66)
Power Level: 3 billion
Body Level: AA
Energy Level: AA
Skills:
(¡)
Innate Skill:
? Time-Bending
|
Sora''s eyes quickly scanned through her status, his expression remaining neutral as he analyzed her skills and abilities. It was clear Kara had potential, particularly with her ability to manipulate life force directly in addition to mana thanks to her new class. However, it was also evident that she had much to learn before she could stand alongside him as an equal. Her new class was powerful, but her skill levels were too low since she had just recently changed.
"Your basic skills," Sora began thoughtfully. "They''re good, but the levels are low. You''ve got a lot of room for growth considering the class change and the lack of class skills. And... you have an innate skill too. That''s¡ impressive."
Kara nodded, her confidence faltering slightly. "Yeah, I thought it was unique. But now I see¡ maybe it''s not as special as I thought."
Sora shook his head. "No, it is special. Your innate skill has incredible potential. We just need to refine it."
He paused as he checked the description of her innate skill.
|
Innate Skill: Time-Bending
Description:
Time-Bending grants the user the ability to manipulate time within a controlled zone, including themselves and any entities within the area. The user can slow, accelerate the flow of time inside the zone.
Effects:
Option 1: The affected zone can be placed away from the user, reducing mana consumption.
Option 2: Locked (Level 70)
Option 3: Locked (Level 90)
Option 4: Locked (Level 100)
|
Sora''s gaze lingered on the description. Kara had incredible potential with this skill. With the right training, her ability to manipulate time could make her a key player in future battles. He nodded, knowing they could work with this.
"You''re stronger than you think," Sora said quietly, his tone matter-of-fact. "Let''s discuss how you can grow now."
Sora glanced back at Kara after reading her status, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered her abilities. Her Time-Bending skill was intriguing, but he knew that raw potential wouldn''t be enough. They needed to put it to the test.
"Alright, Kara," he said, stepping back and gesturing toward her. "Let''s see what you can do. Use [Time-Bending]."
Kara blinked, slightly startled. "Right now?"
"Right now." Sora''s tone was firm but calm. "I need to understand how your skill works in practice, not just theory. Let''s try a few things."
Kara nodded, a little unsure but ready to give it her all. She closed her eyes, summoning her mana and letting it flow through her body. A faint shimmer rippled through the air as her [Time-Bending] skill activated, forming a controlled zone around them both.
Sora immediately noticed the shift. Everything outside the range of Kara''s skill seemed to speed up drastically, but within the zone, everything felt normal. The world around them blurred, the trees swaying faster, the sun moving quicker across the sky, yet inside their time-altered space, it was as if nothing had changed.
He took a step forward, testing his movement. It felt completely natural, just like before. He moved his hand through the air, expecting resistance or sluggishness, but there was none. It felt just as it always did.
He glanced at Kara. "I don''t feel any different," he said, his voice sounding completely normal to both of them. But as he looked past the boundary of the time zone, he could see the world outside racing by. It was clear that from an external perspective, time inside Kara''s field had slowed significantly.
Kara nodded. "Inside the zone, we don''t feel the change. But everything outside is moving faster. From their perspective, we''re moving in slow motion."
Sora stepped closer to the edge of the field, watching the outside world zip past. "Interesting. So from inside, it''s normal, but from the outside, we''re slower."
Chapter 42 : Heal
Sora stood still, watching the trees outside the time-bending zone sway unnaturally fast while inside, everything seemed unchanged. He shifted his attention to Kara, his expression thoughtful.
"How long can you keep this effect going?" he asked.
Kara glanced at him, slightly nervous. "Thirty seconds, max."
Sora raised an eyebrow, genuinely impressed. "That''s not bad at all." He glanced back at the world outside their zone, watching the rapid movements. "Now, reverse it."
Kara hesitated for a brief second before focusing her energy. The shimmer of her time-bending ability flickered for a moment, and the world outside began to slow down. From their perspective, it was as though time beyond the zone had nearly come to a halt.
"Twenty-seven seconds left," Kara said, her voice calm but focused.
Sora nodded, taking in the situation. "So, what else can you do with it?"
"I can reduce or expand the zone," Kara replied, her tone thoughtful. "It consumes more mana depending on the size. Smaller zones take less energy, larger ones drain faster."
Sora crossed his arms, thinking through the implications. "Let''s try something. Reduce the zone as much as possible."
Kara nodded, focusing her mana again. The shimmering boundary of the time-bending zone began to shrink, slowly closing in around them. Sora could feel the pressure of mana being condensed, the air growing heavier as the zone tightened.
The world outside moved at the same rythm. Kara''s control was remarkable for someone at her level, but he could tell it took immense focus and energy.
As the zone kept closing on them, he got closer and closer to her.
As the shimmering time-bending field shrank to a tight bubble barely a meter wide and two meters high.
"How long can you maintain this?" he asked, his voice calm despite the tension in the air.
Kara looked at him, her focus unwavering. "Thirty minutes inside the zone. Fifteen minutes will pass outside."
She didn''t seem to be tired anymore. It seems she only needed to focus to make changes with the skill.
Sora raised an eyebrow. "That''s impressive. But can you recover mana while you''re doing this?"
Kara shook her head. "No. The zone blocks out external mana flow, so I can''t recover while maintaining it. We''re in a mana-starved space."
Sora thought for a moment, then nodded. "Increase the intensity of the effect. Let''s see how far you can push it."
Kara nodded, focusing on her mana control. The air within the zone seemed to shimmer more intensely as the world beyond them slowed even further. The wind outside seemed to freeze in place, and the sunlight casting shadows across the field barely shifted, as though time itself had been brought to a near halt beyond the bubble.
Sora moved his hand, noticing no resistance inside the field. "Everything feels normal in here," he noted. "But out there, it''s like the world is barely moving."
Kara smiled faintly, though the effort of maintaining the spell was becoming more apparent. "Inside the field, we feel nothing different. But to someone watching us from the outside, we''d be moving so fast, it''d be almost impossible to track."
Sora''s eyes flicked to the edge of the bubble. "How much faster are we now?"
Kara closed her eyes for a moment, focusing on the energy flow within the spell. "Right now, time inside the bubble is flowing five times faster than outside."
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"Impressive." Sora glanced at the world beyond, where a bird was flying slowly, barely moving. "Let''s push it further."
Kara nodded, her concentration deepening. The shimmering in the air grew more intense as the gap between their time and the outside world widened. The bird in the distance seemed to have stopped completely, its wings hanging in the air as if trapped in a moment of stillness.
Sora observed the change, still feeling no difference inside the bubble. "What''s the difference now?"
Kara''s voice was a little strained. "Twenty times faster. But it''s starting to drain my mana quickly."
Sora nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he continued to study the frozen landscape around them. "Keep going. Push it until you can''t anymore."
Kara gritted her teeth, her fingers twitching slightly as she funneled more mana into the spell. The air shimmered with a near-visible pressure now, and everything outside their field was almost completely static. The sun barely moved, the wind had stopped altogether, and even the faint rustling of leaves outside the zone had gone silent.
After a long moment, Kara exhaled sharply, her face pale from the effort. "That''s it... I can''t push it any further."
Sora looked around, noting the eerie stillness outside their bubble. "How fast is time moving for us now?"
Kara wiped a bit of sweat from her forehead. "We were moving about 100 times faster than everything outside. So we will spend around a hour here. I can''t refine mana further."
Sora raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "That''s amazing"
Kara shook her head. "No. The only thing I felt was my mana being drained. Every time I maintained the intensity, I could still speak or act normally, but changing the effect was... exhausting. And this isn''t useful at all, I can only stay inside without doing anything as mana is not enough to train. I can use it as a way to time skip by reversing the effect, but that is also useless... "
Sora nodded, considering what they''d just experienced. They could spend a while inside the bubble, testing her abilities, yet only a few minutes would pass in the outside world. It was an impressive feat, but it came at a heavy cost to her mana reserves.
He glanced at the edge of the bubble, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "What would happen if I tried to leave the time bubble?"
Kara blinked, caught off guard by the question. "You could cross it, but once you''re outside, you''ll no longer be affected by the time manipulation. Inside, we''re moving faster. Outside, time flows normally again."
Sora''s gaze flicked to her. "Has anyone else seen this skill in action?"
Kara hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Just Master Areva. She told me not to show it to anyone else. Said it was too dangerous, that people would try to exploit it or kill me."
Sora chuckled softly, though his tone held a note of caution. "She''s not wrong. This skill could be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. But you know I can resist its effects, right?"
Kara nodded, her eyes serious. "I do. If you resist the time manipulation, it''ll drain my mana faster to keep the effect stable. I could release you from the field, but if I don''t..."
Sora''s smile faded slightly as he considered the implications. "Then we''ve got a real weapon here," he said quietly. "Let''s not use it in fight until we have a way to keep it secret".
"This skill has incredible potential," he said, his voice calm but carrying a note of genuine admiration. "But it''s not exactly what I expected you to focus on first."
Kara looked at him, still catching her breath from the strain of maintaining the time-bending bubble. "Not what you expected?"
Sora nodded. "Yeah. Your Time-Bending skill is powerful, no doubt about that. But we have to hide it from the world if there is no way to hide its effects. We can''t get ourselves killed in our first week outside. But the problem is, your skill levels are too low for now, especially since you just changed classes. We need to get you up to speed quickly. And more than that, you need to regain some of the abilities you had before."
At his words, Kara''s shoulders slumped slightly. She knew he was right. The change to her new class had been exciting, but the price had been steep. She had lost all the skills she had learned as a Priest, all the healing abilities , her shields, buffs, she had relied on for so long. It had left her feeling exposed, vulnerable. She nodded in response to Sora''s question, her voice quiet. "Yeah... I lost all of my skills from the Priest class. It was hard to accept, to be honest."
Sora placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It''s not as bad as you think," he said, his tone steady. "In fact, it''s okay. Losing those skills might feel like a setback now, but I have a way to help you reach your previous peak. And not just that¡ªI can help you surpass it, make you stronger than you''ve ever been."
Kara looked at him, a spark of hope flickering in her eyes. "You do? How? This is what you meant with the contract?"
Sora''s smile widened slightly, a hint of his confidence showing through. "Trust me. Without your old class and old experience, we can push your growth to an entirely new level. You won''t just regain what you lost¡ªyou''ll explode in terms of power."
Sora paused for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "What skill did you have the most mastery over before the class change?" he asked, his tone calm and inquisitive.
Kara didn''t have to think long. "Heal," she answered softly. "It was unlocked when I reached level 15 in the Priest class. I used it all the time. It could be targeted at myself or others... It was my go-to."
Sora nodded, his expression serious. "Good. Use it now."
Chapter 43 : Playing cards with Hiyoko
Kara blinked in surprise, taken aback by his request. "Use it?" she repeated, her voice laced with confusion. "But... I don''t have the skill anymore. I lost it when I switched to the Vital Sage class."
Sora gave her a patient look. "I know. But who said you can not use it anymore?"
Kara hesitated, feeling a wave of uncertainty. How could she use a skill she no longer possessed? It didn''t make sense. Yet, there was something in Sora''s gaze¡ªa calm confidence¡ªthat made her want to try, even if it seemed impossible.
Taking a deep breath, Kara closed her eyes and concentrated. She reached deep within herself, searching for the familiar feeling of casting Heal, the way she had done countless times before. She could almost feel it, like a distant memory, but nothing happened.
"I can''t¡ª" she started, but Sora cut her off.
"Don''t focus on the skill itself," he said, his voice low but firm. "Focus on what it did. Remember how it did. Ask your body, ask your muscles and look for those memories. You have seen the process, you have felt the process."
Kara''s brow furrowed, but she nodded, trying to follow his guidance. She emptied her mind of the technical aspects, the mechanics of the skill, and focused instead on the feeling¡ªwhat Heal had represented. A warmth, a flow of energy that mended wounds, restored vitality. She focused on that sensation, allowing the intent to guide her mana.
Suddenly, she felt a spark. It wasn''t as strong as it used to be, but it was there¡ªa faint pulse of healing energy. Her eyes flew open in surprise.
"I¡ I felt something," she whispered.
Sora smiled slightly, pleased. "Good. That''s a start. Your body remembers, even if the system says you don''t have the skill anymore. Now, we''ll work on bringing that back and pushing you even further."
Kara looked at him, still shocked by the realization that she could tap into her lost abilities, even if it was just a spark for now. "How did you know that would work?"
Sora shrugged. "I tried it before. I''ve been in situations where I had to push past what the system allowed me to do. The limits are there, but they''re not absolute. You just have to learn to think beyond them."
He leaned back slightly, crossing his arms. "Try it"
Sora frowned as he watched Kara struggle with her attempts to channel healing energy. Her progress was excruciatingly slow, far more than he had anticipated. He knew it wasn''t supposed to be easy, but it shouldn''t have been this difficult either. Five hours had passed, and although she was improving, it was inch by inch. Something was off.
"Stop for a moment," Sora said, his voice steady but firm.
Kara, drenched in sweat and visibly exhausted, paused her efforts, looking at him questioningly. Sora''s mana eyes had been observing her intently, tracing the flow of energy in and out of her body. He could see the process she was going through¡ªfiltering raw mana before refining into life force. That first step was clean, but the second? The moment she transformed mana into life force, it vanished from his sight. It became something else, something he couldn''t track. Life force wasn''t ordinary mana; it was an entirely different kind of energy, one that he had no control over.
"The life force... It is too much to handle for a basic heal. I don''t know how to solve this problem. It feels like I''m forced to create something new, as if the old recipe is outdated."
Her new class allowed her to have an incredible ratio when filtering the mana, allowing her to get much more life force for the same amount of mana as another healer. However, this increase of efficiency threw off her familiarity with the process of using Heal.
Despite his mana manipulation expertise, Sora couldn''t intervene directly. All he could do was guide her on how to better filter the raw mana, but life force¡ªshe was on her own with that.
Frustrated but intrigued, Sora''s mind wandered back to an idea he had when she mentioned her ability to manipulate time. Maybe there was another way.
"Let''s try something different," Sora said, stepping forward with a determined glint in his eye. "Use your innate skill. Accelerate time around yourself while you practice."
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Kara hesitated, her face scrunching in confusion. "But¡ the time-bending zone will be mana starved. How can I train when there''s no mana to work with?"
"Don''t worry about that," Sora said, waving her concerns away. "I''ll handle it. Just focus on increasing the speed whenever you want. And take this space bag."
Still unsure, Kara nodded and created a small time-bending zone, just enough to encompass herself. The zone was tiny, barely half a meter wide and a meter high, but it would do. She activated her skill, accelerating time to ten times its normal flow. The familiar sensation of mana draining quickly within the zone hit her, but she ignored it, pushing forward with her training.
Suddenly, she felt something strange¡ªa massive surge of mana flowing into the zone, almost overwhelming her senses. The oppressive feeling of being mana-starved vanished, replaced by a flood of energy that invigorated her. She glanced at Sora and saw him standing outside the bubble, one finger gently touching the edge of the time field. A colossal stream of mana poured from his fingertip into the zone.
"So that''s what he meant," Kara thought, her heart racing. Remembering the description of his supreme skill, she realized that Sora could channel unimaginable amounts of mana. He was feeding the bubble directly with more than enough energy to sustain her training. ''What a monster...''
Seeing the opportunity, Kara pushed the time flow further. Twenty times. Thirty times. A hundred times. And still, the mana kept coming. How was this possible? She was training 100 seconds inside for every second that passed outside, and yet Sora''s mana input was more than enough. His ability to generate and manipulate mana was unlike anything she had ever seen. She cautiously pushed the boundaries further.
A hundred times.
At a hundred times the normal speed, the world outside seemed frozen, but inside, everything felt normal. Kara''s mind was completely focused on honing her control over life force and refining her healing abilities. She pushed herself harder, using the constant flow of mana Sora provided to experiment, fail, and refine again and again.
Outside the bubble, Sora observed her progress. He could see the immense amount of mana she was absorbing, but it didn''t bother him in the slightest. His mana regeneration was absurd, more than enough to keep up with her. He watched her as she sat cross-legged, focusing deeply. Occasionally, she would stand up and couldn''t move in the cramped space, and every so often, she would close her eyes and fall asleep for just three seconds before waking up again, adjusting the time space to mostly surround Sora''s finger and her own body. He would see her finish her food in a few cycles. It seemed like she didn''t prepare much. She opened his space bag and discovered the stack of food inside. There was enough for 5 years.
After a few minutes of observing, Sora stopped paying close attention. She was clearly making progress, and there was no need to micromanage.
As Sora waited, passing the time while Kara was immersed in her accelerated training bubble, he found himself growing increasingly bored. He stood outside the time field, watching as the world moved on around them, with only the faint hum of mana flowing from his fingertip into the bubble.
But after a while, even that lost its novelty. He glanced down at Hiyoko, the little bird perched on his shoulder, preening its feathers and tilting its head curiously at the strange sight of Kara in her frozen training.
"Bored too, huh?" Sora murmured, scratching Hiyoko''s head gently.
Hiyoko chirped softly, flapping its wings in agreement.
Sora smiled. "Wanna play some cards?" he asked, pulling a deck from his pocket.
Hiyoko''s eyes brightened, and it immediately hopped down from his shoulder to the ground, ready for some action. Sora shuffled the deck, then crouched down and laid out the cards, dealing them between himself and the bird.
The game wasn''t anything fancy¡ªjust a simple game of matching pairs. Hiyoko, with its sharp eyes, turned out to be an unexpectedly good opponent, picking the correct cards with its beak far more often than not. It even chirped victoriously whenever it won a round, hopping excitedly.
"Not bad, Hiyoko," Sora chuckled, watching the little bird play with an intensity that made him laugh. "Maybe I''ll train you to be a gambler instead of the ultimate bird king."
They played several rounds, Hiyoko sometimes hopping around in a circle when it got excited, and at other times nuzzling Sora''s hand when he shuffled the cards. It was a small distraction from the long wait, but it did the job of keeping Sora entertained.
Every now and then, he glanced over at Kara''s bubble, checking on her progress. Time passed swiftly for them, but Sora and Hiyoko seemed to have settled into a strange rhythm¡ªplaying cards, making light conversation (though Hiyoko mostly chirped), and watching the world move by.
It wasn''t much, but the small moments helped break up the long hours. Hiyoko''s antics, whether it was playing cards or simply fluttering around him, kept the mood light, allowing Sora to enjoy the downtime between Kara''s intensive training.
Three days later, Sora felt the time bubble collapse with a sudden pop. Kara emerged, and Sora immediately sensed the difference. She radiated with life force¡ªan overwhelming amount of it. For the first time, Sora felt that Kara could actually be a threat to him if she wanted to be. Her entire presence had transformed.
Her hair had grown longer, nearly 20 centimeters more than when she started, and there was a profound change in her demeanor. Her eyes, sharp and steady, carried a depth of wisdom and strength that hadn''t been there before. It was like her mind had gone through years of battle, training, and reflection in the span of a few days.
Kara smiled faintly, her voice low and slightly shaky. "It feels like... forever since we last spoke."
Sora, his eyes narrowing slightly in approval, crossed his arms. "You''ve changed."
Kara nodded, a strange calm washing over her. "I tried so hard.... Recreating a skill was so difficult... But the reward... It is worth it..."
Sora gave her a slow nod, impressed but not surprised. "Good. I''m happy for you"
Chapter 44 : Supreme Skill: Life Force Mastery
Sora noticed the change in her immediately. Kara wasn''t just stronger¡ªthere was a feeling of life, immense power, and focus around her. Her eyes carried a new depth, and her posture radiated ambition and confidence. It was clear her mental strength had soared during her extended time inside the training bubble.
Kara stepped forward, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It feels like forever since we last spoke."
Sora gave her a slow nod. "It has been. Three days."
Kara blinked at his words, then chuckled softly. "I guess it does feel that way for you. Time flows strangely when you''re stuck in a bubble of your own making." She stretched her arms, feeling the weight of her new strength. "It felt like I trained for a year in there."
Sora studied her for a moment. "So, what did you unlock?"
Kara''s eyes lit up, knowing exactly what he was referring to. "I''ve unlocked a skill¡ªa Supreme Skill. This is what you were aiming for, right?" she said, her voice quiet but filled with gratitude.
Sora smiled. "A Supreme Skill? Then it was worth it."
Without hesitation, Kara closed her eyes and summoned the power within her. The energy in the air changed as life force surged around her, like a pulse vibrating through the atmosphere. Sora could feel it¡ªpowerful, vibrant, and raw.
"Here it is," Kara said, her voice steady as she activated her new Supreme Skill.
|
[Supreme Skill: Life Force Mastery
A skill created for a supreme genius who recreated a healing spell on her own.
Description: As the supreme wielder of life force, you have unlocked an unparalleled ability to manipulate the life essence of all living beings. This skill allows you to harness the full potential of life force to protect, empower, and destroy, ensuring your place as a critical force in battle. Your growth accelerates with each enemy defeated and life force absorbed, making you stronger over time. Your affinity with Life Force increases as you use life force based abilities, and the potency and control of those skills will increase alongside it.
Effects:
Effect 1 : Soul Link:
Form a permanent bond with an ally, linking your life forces. Damage taken by one can be shared to the other. This bond strengthens the weaker party, continually boosting their life force and making them stronger over time at no cost.
Effect 2 : Vital Surge:
Channel the life force around you into a powerful healing wave or life-draining attack. Healing or damage increases with each use, amplifying your control over life energy as the battle progresses.
Effect 3 : Life Source:
Create temporary duplicates of living beings, including allies, with a fraction of the original''s power. These duplicates act independently and can fight, heal, or support in combat, mimicking the original''s abilities.
Effect 4 : Life Recycling:
Absorb the vitality of fallen enemies, converting it into life force that permanently increases your power. This stolen vitality can also fuel your abilities, allowing you to use life-force-based skills.
Effect 5 : Soul Preservation:
Moments before death, trap the soul of a targeted player, preserving their life force until they can be fully healed. This prevents permanent death and allows the ally to be revived under your care.]
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Sora''s eyes scanned through the description, impressed by the versatility and power of Kara''s new skill. It wasn''t just healing¡ªit was an all-encompassing manipulation of life force, giving her control over both life and death in ways that could shape the battlefield.
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He was surprised. He thought that she would unlock [Mana Evolution] as it was described as being given to players who creating a skill without having the class for it.
Maybe the recreated skill and the method to unlock it were important. ''It seems the Supreme skill matches the created skill, the process, and the class''
He was surprised, but maybe this was even better for Kara. The potential seemed infinite too.
Sora''s [Mana Eyes] could barely keep up with the flow of energy as the life force Kara commanded swirled around her like a protective aura. He could see the distinct quality of this energy¡ª It was something that resonated with the core of living beings, moving as if it was life itself.
Kara continued, her voice more confident than before. "I have several effects, but I like this one the most. Soul Link."
She raised her hand, and a soft glow emanated from her fingertips. She focused on Sora, and in an instant, he felt the connection. A tether of life force formed between them, invisible but unmistakable. It wasn''t binding in the traditional sense, but Sora could feel the constant flow of energy, like an unbreakable bond that allowed them to share their life force.
"I can link my life force with yours," Kara explained. "If either of us is injured, the other can instantly heal them. It''s a permanent bond that grows stronger over time, strengthening our life force in unison. It''s also like¡ sharing our HP pool. You can always reject the bond... so can I."
Sora nodded, feeling the life force coursing between them. "Impressive," he murmured. "I can feel life force being sent to you, without me getting any weaker"
Kara smiled, pleased that he recognized the depth of her new abilities. "Yes, i''m getting stronger already... And there''s more."
"Vital Surge" She used her second effect
With a flick of her wrist, Kara channeled the life force around her and directed it outward. The energy shifted and surged, forming a powerful wave. Sora could see the potential in it¡ªa devastating life-draining attack or a powerful healing wave, depending on how she chose to use it.
"This allows me to either heal everyone within my range or drain the life force of my enemies," Kara explained. "The more I use it, the stronger it becomes."
Sora studied the surge of power carefully. He had to admit it was formidable¡ªhealing on such a scale or inflicting equally devastating damage. Kara had become stronger already.
"Show me what else you can do" Sora asked, though he already knew there was more since reading the skill.
Kara nodded again, her eyes flashing with determination.
[Effect 4: Life Recycling]
"I can absorb the life force of enemies who are dead around me," she said, a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. "Every time you or I take down an enemy, I grow stronger. Their life force accelerates my growth and strengthens my abilities."
Sora''s eyes widened slightly. "That''s¡ useful. Especially in a prolonged battle."
Kara shrugged, modest but clearly aware of the skill''s potential. "It''s like an endless fuel source. The more I fight, the stronger I become... I guess."
Sora considered the implications. Kara''s growth rate would skyrocket in war scenarios, especially if she took down multiple enemies. She wouldn''t just keep up with him¡ªshe''d become unstoppable every time one enemy fell.
Kara looked at him expectantly, waiting for his thoughts. Sora let a small smile form. "You''ve become overpowered in three days... This skill¡ it''s powerful. More than I imagined."
"It is thanks to you..." Kara replied, a mix of gratitude and relief in her voice.
Sora studied her once again, then raised an eyebrow. "Now, tell me about the skill you recreated. What did it become?"
Kara took a deep breath, and her expression shifted to one of focus as she brought up her status window, reading to Sora the Skill she had created during her extended training.
As Kara began describing the skill she managed to recreate, she hesitated, a small frown forming on her face. "I''ve managed to recreate the Heal skill I had as a Priest, but¡ it''s weaker now."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "Weaker? How so?"
Kara looked down, feeling a little disheartened. "It''s not quite the same as before. It''s about 20% less effective than the original Heal. I don''t know why, but it just doesn''t have the same strength. The system labeled it as ''Fake Heal,'' like it''s a lesser copy of what I once had."
The moment she said "Fake Heal," Sora''s face tightened. His expression shifted, as if hearing that term struck a nerve deep within him. It was brief, but enough for Kara to notice.
She tilted her head, concerned. "What''s wrong?"
Sora quickly shook off his reaction, his tone slightly sharp. "It''s nothing. Keep going."
Kara hesitated but pressed on, sensing Sora didn''t want to dwell on whatever had affected him. "The skill is functional, but I feel... I don''t know, disappointed. I worked so hard to recreate it, but it''s weaker."
Sora crossed his arms, his eyes focused. "Don''t worry about it being weaker. ''Fake'' skills aren''t permanent. If you push hard enough, that skill will evolve¡ªjust like all skills do when you push them hard enough. When you max it out, it''ll probably return to full strength or surpass what it was. That''s how I''ve perfected many of my own skills."
Kara blinked. "Perfected? Like reaching the ''Perfect'' rating of a skill ? "
Sora nodded. "Yeah. ''Fake'' skills are just the beginning. They''re a way for the system to test your ability to adapt. Maxing out the skill will bring it back to its original form, maybe even stronger. That''s how I ended up with perfected skills. Keep at it, and ''Fake Heal'' will be more than what it used to be."
Kara felt a surge of hope. "So, this isn''t the end for it?"
Sora smiled faintly. "No. It''s just the beginning. Push it hard enough, and you''ll unlock its true potential. The process might be frustrating, but the results are always worth it."
Kara nodded, her determination renewed. She had been feeling disappointed, but knowing there was more to unlock gave her a new sense of purpose.
Chapter 45 : Growth
Sora studied her, impressed. "So, what else did you unlock?"
Kara''s eyes lit up. "Well, thanks to the prolonged use of my [Time-Bending] skill, I made significant progress in refining my mana. My mana quality has greatly improved. I can feel that I can increase the time difference factor by 220 if I push it to the maximum" She paused for a moment before adding, "And I also developed a new ability: [Mana Absorber]. It''s a skill that boosts my mana regeneration, lets me actively absorb mana if needed, and even increases my mana pool over time."
Sora raised an eyebrow. "That''s a lot of options"
Kara nodded. "Yes. It was Epic when I first unlocked it, but toward the end of the year, it evolved into a Unique skill. It''s one of the main changes, aside from a few other minor boosts to my mental strength, concentration, and overall abilities."
Sora crossed his arms, deep in thought. "Not bad. But now that you''ve refined your mana, what do you want to focus on next?"
Kara tilted her head slightly. "I''m not sure. I can either train my life force skills or work on improving my control over [Time-Bending]. Both have a lot of potential."
Sora''s eyes narrowed slightly, considering the options. "Both paths are important. I don''t want to limit your growth or push you in a direction that doesn''t suit you. But I can offer advice if you want."
Kara''s smile widened. "I trust your advice. You''re more experienced, and I''d love to hear your opinion."
Sora looked up, reflecting on his own journey. "In the past, I unlocked fake skills in batches and then trained them. Once I filled in any weaknesses with other skills, I focused on refining each one. In your case, you only have [Fake Heal] right now, and honestly, it''s not enough. You need a range of skills to match your new class and capabilities."
Kara nodded in understanding but grimaced slightly. "I get it, but I''m not thrilled about spending another year to get a new skill."
Sora waved a hand dismissively. "It won''t take as long this time, not with the support of your Supreme Skill. You''ll progress faster."
Kara looked thoughtful for a moment. "I had 14 skills I mastered in the past. Maybe I should focus on recreating those."
Sora nodded. "That''s a good start, but focus on quality over quantity. Having too many healing spells, for example, is redundant. What skills do you want to bring back?"
Kara listed them one by one:
A skill that removes damage over time (DoT) effects and purifies poison. A skill that removes crowd control effects. A strength buff. A speed buff. An HP buff. A defense buff. A mana regeneration buff when immobile. A boost to healing abilities.
Sora nodded as he listened. "Good. Focus on mastering these. They cover a broad range of uses and will support both yourself and others. Ignore the healing abilities skill. It''s probably useless because of your Supreme skill. However you can also train you new class inside"
Kara smiled, her determination evident. "I''ll do that. Should I start training now?"
Sora raised an eyebrow. "It''s up to you"
Kara nodded enthusiastically, her motivation clear. "Here we go again"
They both prepared for another round of training, and Kara activated her [Time-Bending] ability, creating a time bubble around herself. This time, she pushed the limits of the skill, accelerating time by 200 times.
Inside the bubble, Kara concentrated. She could still go faster, but she didn''t want to risk draining Sora''s mana too quickly. When she checked on him, Sora appeared frozen, standing outside the bubble with one finger in the barrier, slowly releasing mana into the bubble.
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Kara smiled to herself, grateful for his support. With his help, she could focus entirely on mastering her skills.
As she began practicing, Kara noticed something different. The obstacles that had once made controlling life force difficult had disappeared. In the past, manipulating life force felt like wrangling a group of unruly children, but now, it flowed easily. It was almost too easy.
She spent hours honing her skills, and before long, she had successfully recreated many of the abilities she had mastered in the past. After that, she switched to learning and mastering skills of her class. She didn''t have many as her new class was low level.
After a while ...
Hiyoko, who had been playing cards with Sora, was the first to react. They both stared at Kara, speechless.
"You''re back already?" Sora asked, blinking in surprise.
Kara smirked. "I''ve been watching you two play cards for 3 days already. Last time it was a whole year. Don''t you get bored? "
Embarrassed, Sora quickly shuffled the cards away. "We were just passing the time."
Kara chuckled but got serious again as she shared the list of skills she had recreated. Sora glanced over the list, impressed by how quickly she had mastered them.
"Not bad," he said, his tone flat but approving. "But don''t get too cocky. You''ve recreated them, but now you need to master them."
Kara grinned but didn''t let his words deflate her. "I know, I know. I''ll keep training."
Before she returned to training, Kara shared her skill list with Hiyoko, showing off to her. However, the little bird was unimpressed.
Kara returned to the bubble, focusing this time on perfecting the skills she could use on herself. After a few more days of accelerated training, she emerged again, having pushed most of her skills to their perfected forms.
Sora stood up, Hiyoko perched on his shoulder. "I think it''s time for a break. I haven''t seen my parents for a few days, and it might be good to visit them before we leave France."
Kara was surprised by the suggestion but nodded. "That sounds nice."
After gathering their belongings, Sora took the lead, carrying Kara on his back as he sprinted toward his parents'' house in Ales. Kara protested at first, hitting his back and demanding he release her, but Sora ignored her. He ran so fast that the world around them blurred, and Kara, unable to see anything clearly, eventually gave up her complaints.
When they reached the door of Sora''s parents'' home, both of them fell silent, the weight of the moment settling in.
As Sora and Kara stepped into the warm, cozy home, the familiar scent of baked bread and the soft murmur of a television greeted them. Kara took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, unsure of how to interact in this family setting.
Before she could gather her thoughts, a booming voice cut through the air. "Sora! You brought a girl home?" Sora''s father appeared from the living room, his eyes wide with playful disbelief. "I never thought I''d see the day!"
Sora rolled his eyes, already bracing himself for the barrage of teasing. "Dad, please."
But his mother had already crossed the room, her hands gently reaching out to Kara''s. "Oh my, you''re absolutely beautiful!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with genuine warmth. "Look at you. Such a lovely young woman!"
Sora looked at her, as he didn''t take a closer look the first time he looked at her.
Kara''s dark auburn hair now cascaded just below her shoulders, its soft waves giving her a natural, effortless elegance that hinted at the year she had spent training in the time bubble.
The length of her hair framed her face, accentuating her sharp brown eyes, which had gained a newfound depth. Despite the fierceness in her gaze, Kara still exuded an approachable, gentle energy.
Hearing the compliment and sensing Sora''s gaze, Kara blushed, offering a polite smile. "Thank you, ma''am." She looked at him, as if hinting at him to change the subject or clarify their relationship !
Sora''s father, not to be outdone, moved closer and gave Kara a quick once-over before nodding in approval. "You know," he began, glancing at Sora with a grin, "she reminds me of Lara. That same kind and gentle vibe."
Sora''s mother tilted her head in thought, then smiled. "You''re right. She does give off that warm, easygoing feeling." She looked back at Kara, her eyes soft with affection. "It''s a wonderful energy to have. You must be very special."
Kara, caught between the compliments and the family dynamic, shifted awkwardly. She was used to quests and farming, not this familial warmth. "Thank you," she managed to say, her smile remaining polite. "It''s really nice to meet you both."
Before the conversation could get too sentimental, Sora''s father chimed in again. "As long as they''re your friends, i''m happy with anyone you bring home, son"
Sora finally spoke up, eager to move things along. "Mom, Dad, this is Kara Spirine, my¡ teammate."
Sora''s father, Henri, and mother, Marie, now properly introduced, nodded warmly at Kara. The teasing from before softened, and Marie gestured toward the kitchen. "Why don''t you both stay for dinner? It''s nearly ready."
Kara smiled gratefully. "It would be lovely, thank you."
Marie turned to Sora, raising an eyebrow. "You go set the table. Let the girl relax after traveling with you."
Sora sighed but did as he was told, disappearing into the kitchen.
Chapter 46 : Echoes of the past
The clinking of dishes finally came to a stop as the last plate was placed in the drying rack. Sora dried his hands, glancing at his father as he moved around the kitchen, a comfortable silence settling over them.
Sora''s mother steps came from upstairs and she soon joined the rest of the group. Kara stood quietly at the edge of the room, her eyes flickering between the three of them as they wrapped up their evening routine.
Sora¡¯s father, Henri, stretched his back and let out a satisfied sigh. ¡°Well, that¡¯s done. Time for bed, I suppose.¡± He turned to Sora and Kara, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ¡°So, are you two sharing Sora¡¯s room?¡±
Kara froze, her face flushing a deep shade of pink as she quickly looked at Sora, her mouth slightly agape. She opened it to protest but couldn''t find the right words. The idea of sharing a room with Sora, after all the teasing earlier, made her stomach twist uncomfortably.
Sora raised a hand, ready to deflect the situation, but before he could say anything, his mother, Marie, swiftly intervened. ¡°Henri, stop teasing them,¡± she scolded, giving her husband a light swat on the arm. She turned to Kara with a gentle smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, dear. You¡¯ll be staying in Nathan¡¯s room.¡±
Kara blinked, her confusion deepening. "Nathan?" she repeated, glancing at Sora as if asking for an explanation.
Seeing the subtle exchange, Marie¡¯s expression softened. She led Kara out of the kitchen, her voice quieter now. ¡°Nathan was Sora¡¯s older brother. He... passed away two years ago.¡± There was a weight in her words, a quiet sadness that made Kara pause.
Kara swallowed, choosing her words carefully. ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± she said softly, her voice filled with genuine sympathy. She could feel the heaviness of the unspoken grief lingering in the air, and she wished there was something more she could say, something to lighten the mood, but nothing felt appropriate. So she followed quietly as Marie led the way.
Sora trailed behind them, his eyes distant. As they reached the door to Nathan¡¯s room, Sora felt a pang in his chest. The door creaked open, and as they stepped inside, the memories rushed back, unbidden.
The room was neatly preserved, just as Nathan had left it. Sora¡¯s eyes immediately fell on a drawing framed on the wall. He couldn¡¯t help but pause, staring at the crude lines and shaky coloring that depicted a scene from their childhood.
In the drawing, a younger version of Sora sat crying on the ground, his knees pulled to his chest, watching as his older brother, Nathan, stood between him and a group of boys, fists raised in defense. The boys had been bullying Sora¡ªmocking him for being different, for being adopted, for having lost his parents.
Sora¡¯s throat tightened as he remembered that day. He had been scared, too scared to fight back, but Nathan had never hesitated. His big brother had always been his protector, standing tall against anything that threatened him. He had gifted the drawing to his big brother. The memory of Nathan shielding him, holding up the sky when it felt like it would fall, had stayed with Sora all these years.
In the corner of the room, Sora noticed the guitar¡ªthe same one he had saved up for when he got his first paycheck as a Human Resource Assistant, back before the world had transformed into the chaotic game it had become. Nathan had always dreamed of learning to play, but the World Update had gotten in the way. Sora¡¯s chest ached at the sight of it, a reminder of a simpler time that was now lost forever.
His gaze shifted to another picture on the nightstand. It showed Nathan, Sora, and a girl between them, all smiling widely. They had been inseparable back then, three friends against the world.
Seeing the photo now made Sora¡¯s heart clench. The girl in the photo...
¡°I¡¯ll see you in the morning,¡± Sora said quietly, stepping out of the room before anyone could respond. The emotions were too much¡ªtoo raw. He needed to be alone.
Marie, noticing the shift in her son¡¯s demeanor, sighed and followed him out. As she left, she grabbed the picture frame with Nathan and Rachel, gently taking it with her.
Kara, confused by the sudden change in mood, stood in the middle of the room, unsure of what to do. She felt like she had intruded on something deeply personal. She took a deep breath, glancing around the room. It had been tidied up, the bed freshly made¡ªMarie must have prepared it earlier while they were cleaning the dishes. Despite being an unused room, it smelled fresh, like it had been aired out recently.
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As Kara moved toward the nightstand, her eyes fell on another framed picture. This one showed just Nathan and the same girl from the earlier photo. Kara leaned in, studying the image. Nathan looked so much like Sora¡¯s parents, with the same kind smile and familiar eyes. But who was the girl?
Kara bit her lip, curiosity tugging at her. She wanted to ask more questions, to understand the people who had shaped Sora¡¯s life. But seeing how the mood had shifted so suddenly, she decided against it. This was clearly a subject that carried a lot of weight for Sora and his family.
With a quiet sigh, she placed the frame back down and climbed into bed. The room was comfortable, warm, and yet there was a lingering sadness that made it hard for Kara to relax. She stared at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling with everything she had seen and heard. She had only known Sora for a short time, but she could feel the depth of his pain, his struggles.
As the night grew quieter, Kara finally let her eyes close, hoping that tomorrow would bring more clarity.
Sora stepped out of Nathan¡¯s room, his heart in turmoil. The familiar scent of the room, the memories it held, clung to him like a fog he couldn¡¯t shake off. As strong as he had become, his emotions still surged within him, rising and falling in waves he struggled to control.
His thoughts drifted to his brother, to the days when Nathan had been his protector, standing tall against the cruelty of the world. And then, inevitably, his mind wandered to Rachel. The betrayal still cut deep, the wound festering. As much as Sora tried to push it down, to bury the pain beneath his focus on the battles ahead, it always resurfaced¡ªstronger, sharper.
He couldn¡¯t avoid it forever. He needed to solve this problem. To avenge Nathan.
As he walked the dim hallway, his mother, Marie, caught up to him. She rested a gentle hand on his shoulder, her eyes soft with concern. "Sora, are you alright?" she asked quietly.
Sora gave a tight smile, one that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. "I¡¯m fine, Mom. Just... tired. I need to rest."
She studied him for a moment, sensing the weight of his thoughts but choosing not to press further. "Alright," she said softly. "But remember, we¡¯re always here for you."
Sora nodded, grateful but eager to retreat from the conversation. With a quick hug, he pulled away and headed to his room. Alone in the quiet, with only the moonlight casting faint shadows through the window, he let his thoughts spiral.
He thought of Rachel. He would hunt her down, no matter where she was. He would make sure she paid for everything.
Bringing closure to his parents. They deserved peace. Nathan deserved justice.
His mind churned with thoughts of vengeance, making sleep nearly impossible. But eventually, exhaustion took over, and Sora drifted into restless darkness.
The next morning, the house was still and quiet as Sora and Kara prepared to leave. They moved silently, not wanting to wake his parents. Kara glanced at Sora, sensing the tension from the night totally absent. It was clear that Sora was way more relaxed than the day before.
Once outside, the cool morning air hit them, and they began their journey north toward Stockholm. Sora was back to normal, but Kara was... wary.
She muttered incantations under her breath, casting defensive spells over herself¡ªbuffing her defense, even layering a protective shield around her body.
Sora raised an eyebrow, watching her with a surprised glint in his eye. "What¡¯s all the fuss about?" he asked casually, though his tone hinted that he already knew. "Don¡¯t want me to carry you again?"
Kara straightened, crossing her arms defiantly. "I can run too, you know!" she replied, her voice firm. She wasn¡¯t about to let him treat her like some helpless tagalong.
Sora nodded, his expression unreadable. "Alright then," he said, and before she could even process his words, he disappeared¡ªvanishing into the distance in a blur of movement.
Kara¡¯s mouth dropped open as she stared at the empty spot where he had stood just seconds ago. "Seriously?" she muttered, her frustration bubbling over. "That guy... always so... arrogant!" She pouted, shaking her head in disbelief. Sora wanted everyone to fall in line with whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
With a sigh, she took off running, heading north. Her steps were steady, though a part of her knew catching up with him was futile. Still, she pressed on, her breath steady as the kilometers passed beneath her feet.
After a few kilometers, Kara felt a tap on her shoulder. Startled, she instinctively took a defensive stance, her magic flaring to life as she prepared to face whatever¡ªor whoever¡ªwas behind her.
But it was Sora. Of course, it was Sora.
"Relax," he said with a grin, effortlessly matching her pace. "I¡¯m not here to carry you... this time."
Kara scowled at him, though she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit of admiration for how smoothly he moved. Before she could say anything snarky in return, she felt a rush of energy wash over her¡ªSora had cast a speed buff on her, amplifying her pace even further.
As they ran side by side, Kara marveled at how precise the buff felt. It wasn¡¯t just a general increase in speed¡ªit was targeted. She could feel the magic concentrating on her legs, a few other parts helping her maintain balance, and on her mind, sharpening her focus. His control was impeccable, every detail carefully managed to ensure maximum efficiency.
"How are you doing this?" she asked, impressed.
Sora didn¡¯t answer immediately. He just gave her a knowing smile, pushing them both faster as they continued their journey north.
Chapter 47 : Customized assessment?
Sora and Kara raced across the landscape, the speed buff coursing through them as they moved effortlessly toward Stockholm. The wind whipped against their faces, but neither of them faltered. For them, traveling at speeds that would have left most players winded was a breeze.
Before noon, they reached the edges of the city. They slowed down, Kara breathing deeply, exhilaration clear on her face. "That was... incredible!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement. "I need to get my speed buff to feel like this all the time."
Sora chuckled, his gaze shifting to the city ahead. "It is fun, I admit. But before you start chasing after speed, you should focus on mastering your skill set first. Speed won''t matter if you can¡¯t control your other abilities."
Kara gave a small pout but nodded in agreement. "Fine, I get it. Still, that doesn''t mean you can''t keep buffing me." She shot him a playful look.
Sora smiled shrugging. "It costs me nothing, so why not?"
As they approached Stockholm¡¯s Adventurer¡¯s Guild, Kara marveled at the bustling atmosphere. The city, nestled between rugged hills and shimmering lakes, radiated a cold beauty. The architecture reflected the city''s long history, with its stone buildings standing tall against the northern winds. The people here had light-coloured hair and many had blue eyes, their expressions anxious.
As they passed through the streets, Kara and Sora noticed that many of the players seemed tense. Some wore furrowed brows, their gazes distant as if weighed down by the battles to come. Others, especially those who stood in clusters, seemed more at ease, their confidence visible in the way they carried themselves. It wasn¡¯t long before Sora picked up on a trend: the lower-leveled players looked nervous, while those with higher levels exuded calmness, almost cocky in their certainty.
"No one''s below level 70 here," Kara observed quietly. "Even the weakest ones look like they''ve been through hell and back."
Sora nodded, his eyes scanning the crowds. "Makes sense. We''re in the capital. These people are gearing up for war. Only the strongest come to places like this."
The highest-level players stood out the most. Sora noticed that the truly powerful ones¡ªthe groups of players above level 80 and even 90¡ªdidn''t show off. They weren¡¯t the loudest or the most boastful. They were quiet, deliberate in their movements, not wasting their energy. No aura leaked from them. In fact, they were so low-key, they almost blended into the background, their power more of a subtle hum than a loud roar.
Kara nudged Sora as she noticed the way people were looking at them. Eyes lingered on the two newcomers with a mixture of curiosity and disdain. Some seemed puzzled, as if questioning why they would show up here. Sora raised an eyebrow, confused. "Why are they looking at us like that?"
Kara shrugged, but her own uncertainty mirrored his. "I guess we don¡¯t look like the typical level 70 players around here. Maybe they think we¡¯re lost?"
Sora frowned. "Levels don¡¯t mean everything."
Before they could discuss it further, a figure approached them. He was a rugged-looking man, probably in his late 30s, with a well-worn axe strapped to his back. His eyes were sharp but friendly. "Are you two diamond badge adventurers?" he asked.
Sora exchanged a glance with Kara before nodding. "Yeah, we are."
The man slapped his forehead, letting out a deep sigh. "Oh boy. You here for the war, right?"
Sora nodded again, a bit confused by the reaction. "Yeah, that''s the plan."
The man shook his head, chuckling ruefully. "You know, you''re not the only ones. A lot of adventurers have been coming in lately, but... there''s a catch. They¡¯re only letting 5,000 players participate. You need a shadow badge to even apply for the war now."
Kara¡¯s eyes widened. "Shadow badge? No one mentioned that."
The man looked apologetic. "Yeah, that''s the thing. Only those with shadow badges can fight. For the past three days, people have been getting turned away for not meeting the requirement. Obsidian-level players are being held in reserve in case some higher-ranked players don''t show up on the day of battle. But the army also has shadow-level reserves lined up, so¡ let¡¯s just say it doesn¡¯t look good for anyone under that rank."
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Sora had a look of realization. He understood now why people had been looking at them with such skepticism. They were judging based on their badges, assuming they were too weak to compete.
The man scratched his chin, glancing at Kara. "You might have a shot, though," he said, eyes narrowing. "If you''re a healer, they might make an exception for you, even if your level isn¡¯t high enough."
Sora thanked the man before leading Kara into the Adventurer''s Guild. The man looked after them for a moment, surprised by their calm confidence, but eventually dismissed his thoughts. He figured the girl might stand a chance, but the guy? Probably not.
Inside the guild, the atmosphere was different. The players here were even stronger, their presence almost suffocating in comparison to the crowd outside. Many of them were above level 90, and Sora could even feel the subtle power of some who were touching level 100. It was a milestone few ever reached in Europe.
They approached the counter, and the clerk gave them a polite but weary smile. "Welcome to the Stockholm Adventurer¡¯s Guild. How can I assist you today?"
Sora didn¡¯t hesitate. "We¡¯re here for a badge assessment. I¡¯m applying for the shadow badge."
The clerk blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "Shadow badge? Are you sure you don¡¯t mean Obsidian?"
Sora¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. "Shadow."
The clerk studied him for a moment, as if trying to gauge whether he was serious, then shifted his attention to Kara. She gave a confident nod, showing that she was just as serious.
After a brief pause, the clerk cleared her throat. "Very well. Please follow me."
They were led downstairs, and just like in Paris, they passed through a door and found themselves teleported to a different space.
In front of them was an arena, its stands filled with hundreds of players watching. Some sat, others stood, but all had their eyes fixed on the center where tests were already being conducted. Kara glanced at Sora, curious. "Why are there so many people here?"
Before Sora could answer, one of the adventurers who appeared to be overseeing the tests greeted them. He was a burly man, a bow strapped across his back, his arms crossed as he sized them up. "They¡¯re here for the same reason you are," he explained. "Half of them failed the shadow test, and the other half are enlisted adventurers. They want to see who the competition is, and they''re curious about anyone still coming in for a badge update."
Sora smirked, his eyes scanning the arena. "Some people have a lot of time to waste."
The burly man raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t argue. He turned to Kara, his expression softening slightly. "Who''s going first, then?"
Kara smiled, stepping forward. "I¡¯ll go first."
Sora watched as she approached the center of the arena. His curiosity piqued as he waited to see how she would perform, a faint smile on his lips. Today was going to be interesting.
Kara stepped forward with calm confidence, her eyes scanning the arena before focusing on the burly man and the shorter, magician-like figure standing next to him. The shorter man, clearly in charge, sized her up with an analytical look before speaking.
¡°You¡¯re a healer class, right?¡± the short man asked, his voice brisk and to the point.
Kara nodded. ¡°Yes.¡±
The short man turned to his companion with a grin. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s your turn to help with this test.¡±
The burly man groaned, clearly annoyed. ¡°Why is it always me? We¡¯ve got two others here for this, you know.¡±
The shorter man waved him off. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who does it, but I¡¯m a gentleman, and I¡¯m not going to let the other two ladies handle it, right?¡±
The short man noticed Sora¡¯s expression and turned back to Kara. ¡°Since you¡¯re a diamond-level adventurer, I¡¯m sure you know how this works. We¡¯ll be testing your healing abilities, resistance to damage, and buffing skills.¡±
Kara gave a quick nod, already familiar with the format. Sora, however, blinked in surprise. He had no idea that tests could be this complex¡ªand, dare he say it, this cool. It made perfect sense, though. There was no way every healer could be tested by taking a beating, right?
Sora watched this exchange with growing curiosity. He hadn¡¯t expected this kind of setup for a test. It was so much more... refined than what he had gone through with Areva. He chuckled to himself, remembering the beating he took back in Paris. This, at least, seemed more civilized and customized.
The short man smirked as the test began, catching Sora¡¯s attention. Without warning, he raised his hand, casting a bright bolt of lightning that crackled through the air. It struck the burly man dead-on, sending him crashing to the ground. The smell of charred flesh filled the arena as the burly man groaned, twitching from the shock but still very much alive.
¡°What the hell, man?¡± the burly man groaned from the ground, his voice strained from the pain. ¡°Why do you never hold back?¡±
The short man chuckled, shrugging nonchalantly. ¡°Oh, stop complaining. You know if she can¡¯t heal you properly, the guildmaster will. So just lie there and take it.¡±
Sora raised an eyebrow, half-expecting the burly man to retaliate, but the guy just muttered a curse and stayed down. It was clear this wasn¡¯t their first time running this test.
The short man turned to Kara, his grin widening. ¡°Alright, healer. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got. Heal him.¡±
Chapter 48 : Phoenix Badge
Kara stepped forward, her expression focused, and raised her hands toward the injured man. A gentle glow began to emanate from her palms as she summoned her perfected healing skill¡ª[Life Heal]. The air around her shimmered as the flow of mana surged through her, transforming into something far more potent.
Sora watched, knowing the extent of her spells. As Kara channeled her mana into life force, the healing power became almost tangible, as though the very essence of life had been woven into the spell, delicate yet overwhelmingly strong.
Her class was specialized in making her efficiency in refining mana into life force and combined with her supreme skill, the effects were superb.
The life force swirled around her hands, radiating warmth as it moved through the air, gentle but unstoppable. Plants sprouted beneath her feet, flowers blooming from the sheer presence of the spell. It was as if life itself was drawn to the power she commanded.
The energy reached the burly man, and Sora could see the exact moment it touched him. His body jerked slightly, then a look of relief washed over his face as the healing force flowed through him, knitting his burned flesh back together, easing the pain, and restoring his vitality. His breathing steadied, the tension in his muscles releasing.
But something more profound was happening. The life force didn¡¯t just heal¡ªit lingered, as if planting a seed in his very essence. His HP didn¡¯t stop when he was full¡ªthere was a barely perceptible increase in his overall vitality, like the spell had left behind a permanent boost.
The burly man¡¯s eyes widened as he sat up, patting his chest in disbelief. ¡°What... what was that?¡± His voice was filled with awe. ¡°I feel... slightly more durable.¡±
The short man and the other examiners froze, their expressions ones of pure shock. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary healing spell. This... was something far beyond what they had expected from a healer of Kara¡¯s level. The flow of life force, the sheer potency¡ªthis wasn¡¯t normal. It wasn¡¯t possible with a skill like [Heal]. Yet they had seen it with their own eyes¡ªit looked like [Heal], but it felt... different.
The short man blinked, at a loss for words. He glanced at his colleagues, who were equally baffled, then back at Kara. ¡°What... what just happened?¡± he muttered.
The examiners exchanged glances, minds racing. The guildmaster¡¯s healing abilities were legendary, but seeing something like this from Kara was unheard of. The similarities... could it be possible?
Sora smiled, his arms crossed as he watched the reactions. He knew Kara was strong, but seeing the shock on other adventurers'' faces was something else.
The burly man stood, still rubbing his chest, disbelief written all over his face. ¡°That wasn¡¯t just healing,¡± he muttered. ¡°It was like being fed with superior life force. I feel stronger, more alive. ¡±
The short man stepped forward, eyes narrowing. ¡°There''s no need for more testing. With healing like that, you belong in the highest ranks of the war teams. I¡¯ll especially award you a Phoenix Adventurer¡¯s Badge.¡±
Kara blinked, stunned. She knew her level wasn¡¯t high enough for a Phoenix Badge, yet here she was. She glanced at Sora, gratitude clear in her eyes. She had worked hard for this, but she knew he had helped pave the way for her.
After Kara¡¯s display of her incredible [Life Heal], the atmosphere shifted in the room. As the short man turned to Sora, ready to ask him if he was prepared for his own test, one of the women in the back interrupted, her voice cutting through the stunned silence.
¡°It¡¯s my turn to test the newcomer,¡± she announced, stepping forward with a confident stride. Her eyes flickered with interest, a smile playing on her lips.
The two men exchanged disappointed glances. The last test had been impressive, but brief. They¡¯d hoped for more action, but now it seemed that wouldn''t happen.
However, the true stir was happening among the onlookers. Shocked murmurs rippled through the gathered players.
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"Did she really just get a Phoenix Badge with one spell?" one man muttered in disbelief.
"That''s not how it worked for us," a woman scoffed, her arms crossed. "I had to endure combat and prove myself before even qualifying for a Shadow Badge, let alone Phoenix."
"Yeah, I got hit by the same damn lightning spell," another player grumbled, rubbing his arm as if remembering the sting. "How did she get special treatment?"
A mix of confusion and frustration spread among the adventurers, some convinced that the guild was playing favorites with healers. But a few, sharper than the rest, had caught onto something unusual.
"Wait a second," a man in dark armor muttered to his companions. "Healing a level 90+ adventurer to full health that fast? You know how much mana that should take? I didn¡¯t even feel any massive fluctuation of energy. Her spell wasn''t using quantity but quality."
"Maybe she¡¯s got some hidden class we don¡¯t know about," another adventurer chimed in, impressed. "But it was a basic Heal spell, wasn¡¯t it? No hidden class has something that low-tier."
"Unless," the man in armor continued, "her life force is off the charts. It¡¯s the only way that spell could¡¯ve had that effect."
The murmurs continued as players glanced between Kara and Sora. The realization dawned on more people that Kara wasn¡¯t just an ordinary healer. The way she¡¯d restored the injured man¡¯s health with such ease spoke to a level of skill or power that few understood.
In one corner of the room, a group of high-level adventurers huddled together, all above level 90, their eyes fixed on Kara.
"She¡¯s too good to be in some random group," one of them murmured. "With that kind of healing ability, she should be on our team."
"Yeah," another adventurer agreed, leaning forward. "She¡¯s the key to staying alive in this war. We need her in our company. Hell, I''d even prefer if she was in my squad"
The first adventurer smiled, nodding toward Sora. "She¡¯s not been given her attribution yet. We could ask the colonels to get her to join one of our companies."
The group exchanged knowing glances, their intentions clear. They were determined to recruit Kara, by any means necessary. A healer with such an extraordinary skill set would make them unstoppable, and they weren¡¯t about to let other teams benefit from her abilities.
But as the woman stepped forward to test Sora, the crowd¡¯s attention shifted. Whispers spread as players wondered if the man who stood beside Kara could match her level of talent.
Some, especially the higher-leveled players, watched closely, knowing there was no way he could amount to a portion of her potential. He had an even lower level.
The real question in everyone¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t just about Sora¡¯s abilities¡ªit was whether or not Kara would choose to stay with him if given the choice to pick her teammates. Some in the crowd had already begun plotting, their minds spinning with ways to draw her into their ranks. To them, Kara was too valuable to remain in the background.
Meanwhile, Sora stood calmly, unaware of the brewing storm around him. He exchanged a glance with Kara, who smiled at him, aware of his overwhelming power. Sora knew she was now exceptional thanks to her class and supreme skill, but he had no idea just how many eyes were now set on her¡ªand by extension, on him.
As the test for Sora prepared to begin, there was a palpable tension in the air.
Sora stood there, fists clenched, knowing full well that he had the strength of a Phoenix-level fighter despite only applying for the Shadow badge.
He hadn¡¯t planned on going all out at first¡ªhis goal was simple: secure the badge he needed to move forward. But now, with Kara having earned a Phoenix badge, there was no use in being low key anymore. He glanced around, aware of the many eyes watching. They had been noticed, some people even looking suspicious, staring at Kara.
His gaze shifted toward his opponent. She stood across from him, calm, composed, and tying her long red hair back. The badge she wore was one he didn¡¯t recognize¡ªit seemed even higher than Celestial. Sora''s instincts told him that defeating her was out of the question, but she would likely restrain her strength for the sake of the test.
She wore weathered gear, designed for speed and maneuverability, with claw-like weapons strapped to her hands. Her aura was sharp and lethal, yet there were no visible signs of mana indulation around her, a subtle hint that her control over her body and energy was exceptional.
A master of both form and function, she exuded a dangerous level of refinement in her movements and presence. Sora¡¯s level was too low to see through how she handled her mana, but he knew enough to be cautious.
The woman stepped forward, her crimson hair falling in soft waves as she finished securing it. Her green eyes sparkled with confidence as she introduced herself. ¡°I¡¯m Elena,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Are you ready for your test?¡±
Her eyebrows shot up in surprise as she crossed her arms, a flicker of amusement in her eyes. "Phoenix level? Don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. Only healers or special talents get that kind of treatment. You haven¡¯t earned that title yet, so stick to the Shadow Badge challenge like you planned. Phoenix-level players are typically above level 75, and you¡¯re what, level 62? There¡¯s no way you can match that strength."
Annoyed by her dismissal, Sora rolled his shoulders, loosening up. "Just do your job and don¡¯t underestimate me."
Chapter 49 : Threats
Sora¡¯s lips curled into a smile as he activated his buffs. Energy surged through him, his muscles coiling with newfound strength. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡±
Around them, the crowd buzzed with curiosity. They had expected a straightforward test, but the way Sora activated his buffs¡ªhis tanking-focused Martial Titan class paired with leather gear more suited for speed¡ªconfused them. Was this some kind of new meta? A strategy no one had seen yet?
Elena, however, didn¡¯t care. She sighed, muttering something under her breath as she vanished from sight, reappearing right in front of Sora. Her clawed hands flashed toward his legs with terrifying speed, her movements almost invisible.
But Sora was faster.
Before her claws could make contact, he blinked out of sight, reappearing high above her, a trail of mana flashing behind him. The crowd gasped in awe¡ªhe wasn¡¯t just keeping up; he was controlling the tempo.
Elena glanced up, her grin widening with excitement. ¡°You want to compete with speed? Fine.¡± She vanished again, zipping around the arena, but Sora was already there, intercepting her dash before she could gain momentum.
Sora struck first, aiming for her chest. She twisted to the side, barely dodging, but his speed caught her off guard. His fist grazed her cheek, drawing blood. Elena¡¯s eyes widened in shock. This guy wasn¡¯t just fast¡ªhe was lethal.
¡°You''re savage, going for the face,¡± she muttered, wiping the blood from her cheek, her excitement now fully ignited.
Sora didn¡¯t relent. He dashed toward her again, his body blurring as he closed the distance. Elena grinned, matching his speed blow for blow. Every time they clashed, the ground trembled beneath them. Sora¡¯s movements were fluid, unpredictable, weaving between her strikes and countering with his fists, each one charged with mana. Despite her agility, Elena was finding it hard to keep up. She was fast, but Sora was faster.
To the crowd¡¯s astonishment, Sora was pushing Elena back. His sheer speed and power were overwhelming her at this level. She couldn¡¯t gain ground, couldn¡¯t outmaneuver him. Every hit he threw forced her to react, and each reaction slowed her down just enough for him to land a glancing blow. His fists connected again and again, sending her skidding backward. She was being suppressed.
But then, something changed.
Elena¡¯s playful grin vanished, her eyes narrowing in cold focus. ¡°You passed for the shadow badge. You asked for a Phoenix level assessment, don''t blame me later,¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Without warning, her body flickered¡ªand then she was gone. Truly gone. Sora¡¯s eyes widened as he felt the shift. When she reappeared, her speed had doubled, maybe even tripled, her movements so fast that even his enhanced senses struggled to keep up.
He braced himself as she shot toward him, her claws slicing through the air. Sora raised his arms to block, but the force of her blow sent him skidding back. His mana shield absorbed the hit, but the sheer power behind it rattled him to the core.
She didn¡¯t stop there. Elena¡¯s strikes came faster, harder, her claws tearing through the space around them with deadly precision. Sora found himself on the defensive, barely able to keep up as she blurred past him, her claws inches from his skin with each strike. He swung back, but she was too fast, dodging with an almost effortless grace.
For the first time, Sora felt the pressure. He retaliated whenever he could, delivering powerful blows that even she couldn¡¯t fully avoid. His fists connected, and blood flowed from her fresh wounds, but every time he hit her, she seemed to slip away, resetting the tempo and coming back even faster.
The crowd watched in awe as the battle swung in Elena¡¯s favor. She was pushing Sora around the arena, her claws slicing through the air like whips. Each time she landed a hit, the impact echoed through the space, but Sora¡¯s mana shield remained unbroken.
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Annoyance flickered across Elena¡¯s face. No matter how fast or hard she hit him, she couldn¡¯t break through the damn shield.
Sora grunted, doing his best to hold on. He retaliated whenever he could, throwing sharp, precise blows at her ribs, her arms, her legs. Every hit he landed made her flinch, the blood trickling from fresh wounds a sign that she wasn¡¯t untouchable. But it didn¡¯t matter.
Elena was relentless, her attacks growing more aggressive by the second. She targeted his weak points¡ªhis joints, his legs¡ªeach hit aimed to cripple his mobility, but could not break past his defense. Sora was struggling to stay on his feet, his mana shield flickering as it absorbed the brunt of her furious onslaught.
Yet, no matter how many times she struck, she couldn¡¯t destroy the shield.
¡°How is this possible?¡± she muttered under her breath, her claws slashing at his neck. He barely dodged, countering with a swift punch to her side, but she evaded, dashing back before he could follow up.
Elena paused, frustration creeping into her expression. Her attacks were fast, her strength undeniable, but this guy... he was impossible to break.
"You fight like a coward, face me without that shield," Elena growled, stepping forward, her tone biting. ¡°How much mana do you have? Why isn¡¯t this shield breaking?¡±
Sora grinned, though he was panting heavily. ¡°Are you seriously asking me that? Cut the crap and break it if you can.¡±
For a moment, they stood there, both catching their breath. The crowd was silent, watching the standoff with wide eyes, unsure what to expect next. Elena¡¯s movements slowed, her frustration evident. She had pushed herself to the limits of the Phoenix-level power, but still, Sora stood tall.
Just as Elena was about to charge in for another round, the short man who had overseen Kara''s test hurriedly stepped in, waving his arms. ¡°The exam is over!¡± he shouted, his voice filled with urgency.
Elena blinked, glancing at the short man in annoyance. ¡°Already? But I wasn¡¯t finished¡ª"
He shook his head, clearly worried. ¡°Let¡¯s not turn this into a bloodbath. Going beyond your current strength would be cheating.¡±
She hesitated, then sighed, wiping the blood from her cheek once more. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered. But as she turned to Sora, her eyes gleamed with renewed interest. "Next time, kid,¡± she said, smirking, ¡°come find me for your Celestial Badge Challenge. I''ll make you bleed.¡±
Sora smiled, ''Are all test givers crazy like Areva and Elena ? Well... that short man was a psycho who burned his friend with lightning earlier''
The atmosphere in the arena buzzed with intensity as the dust settled from the fight. Shadows flickered from the dim torches mounted along the walls, casting faint silhouettes on the watching players.
Whispers spread through the ranks of the shadow and phoenix badge players, their eyes filled with disbelief. Sora, a level 62 player, had stood toe to toe with someone far beyond his level, holding his ground.
Some of the shadow badge players shook their heads, exchanging glances of frustration. "How¡¯s a kid like him even at this level?" one muttered, adjusting his gauntlets. ¡°That¡¯s not normal. At least his teammate makes sense with the healing powers she¡¯s got.¡±
A phoenix badge player nearby scoffed. "Sure, he¡¯s fast, but he¡¯ll hit a wall soon enough. You think he¡¯s the first upstart we¡¯ve seen trying to punch above their weight? Give him another year or two and he''ll hit a wall. He''s pursuing too many paths at once.Good players don''t pursue several paths"
But others weren¡¯t so quick to dismiss him. Another phoenix badge holder folded his arms, his brows furrowed. ¡°You see how he dodged her? That wasn¡¯t just speed; it was experience. He¡¯s not some reckless novice. There¡¯s something about the way he used his skills... like this isn''t everything he''s got.¡±
The conversations among the lower-ranked players shifted from curiosity to unease. Many knew they couldn¡¯t match that kind of power at their current levels, but they also saw the difference between raw stats and mastery. Sora¡¯s control over his mana, his physical prowess¡ªthose weren¡¯t typical for a warrior still in his level range.
Meanwhile, the Celestial players, those above level 80, stood in clusters around the arena, watching with more calculating eyes. Some leaned against the walls, their gazes sharp as they evaluated the fight. These were seasoned veterans, players who had long surpassed the ranks of shadow and phoenix.
One of the Celestial players, a tall man with silver hair and a large broadsword strapped to his back, smirked. ¡°The kid¡¯s got potential, but let¡¯s be real. If it were one of us team leaders in the ring, he¡¯d have no chance. We¡¯re playing a different game.¡±
A woman beside him, her eyes glowing faintly with a magical aura, nodded. ¡°True, but did you notice the way he controlled the tempo of the fight? It''s like he''s been fighting for years, which is weird considering his relatively low level. He¡¯s talented ¡ª And people with this talent who have fought for years are usually beyond level 100... He should quickly catch up though¡±
"Maybe," the man replied, "but for now, he¡¯s out of his league. That shield of his is tough, but it won''t hold against someone who knows how to deal real damage."
The conversation among the higher Celestial ranks drifted into mild amusement. Most of them could beat Sora without much effort, but none of them were foolish enough to completely dismiss him. With such talent, they were sure he would be noticed by the higher ranks, and it would be impossible for them, team leaders, to affect his position in the future battle..
Chapter 50 : Stop Staring !
A few players exchanged knowing glances. "If he is a hidden class," someone whispered, "he¡¯s only going to get stronger."
Further back in the arena, the level 90+ players, those who bore the highest badges and ranks, remained silent, watching with barely a flicker of emotion. These were the best players of this war, players whose power eclipsed all others in the room. For them, Sora wasn¡¯t yet a threat, merely an interesting blip on their radar.
"He¡¯s got potential," one of them, a large woman with deep green armor, commented quietly to her companion, ¡°but we¡¯ve seen this before. He¡¯ll need more than that to survive the next few trials. He needs someone backing him up¡±
Her companion, a man draped in dark robes, shrugged. ¡°True, but everyone will want him. The fight is going to be fierce. And that girl¡ªKara, was it? Together, they might become something worth fighting for.¡±
The higher-level players didn¡¯t see Sora as a challenge, not yet. But there was respect in the way they observed him. He had something that most players at his level didn¡¯t¡ªskill mastery. He had clearly honed his skills levels, developed a deeper understanding of his abilities, and was growing further than his peers. It was showing with how high the impact of his basic skills was.
If he was given time, he could indeed become a significant force, a threat even to them. Some were already considering the idea of pulling him and Kara into their circles, while others debated whether they should squash the potential competition before it became dangerous to their position in the war.
Even the most powerful players in the room couldn¡¯t ignore what they had seen. Sora was something different. And in this world of constant evolution, anything different could become dangerous.
Back in the arena, the short man who had conducted the earlier test approached Sora and Kara, holding out their newly minted Phoenix Badges. ¡°Well, well, well... looks like you two are full of surprises.¡±
He handed them the badges with a grin, though there was an edge of happiness as he watched Elena recovering from her injuries. On the side, Elena commented ¡°You¡¯ve earned these, no doubt about that. You¡¯ve gone far beyond what we expected today. Now, you¡¯ll need to report to the Vice-Guildmaster for your military recruitment. He will handle the next steps from here.¡±
Sora glanced at Kara, who was still glowing from her earlier success, and then back at the badge in his hand. He had aimed for a Shadow badge, but here he was, holding a Phoenix Badge¡ªsomething that probably ensured they would take part in the war.
¡°Thanks,¡± Sora said, his voice calm as he pocketed the badge.
As they left the arena, heading toward the Vice-Guildmaster¡¯s office, the murmurs of the crowd followed them. Some players were still in awe, others whispered conspiracies about hidden classes and special talents. But one thing was clear¡ªSora and Kara had made their mark today.
And now, everyone was watching them.
As Sora and Kara left the assessment ground, they headed directly back to the counter where the same clerk from earlier was still stationed. The moment the clerk spotted their badges, his eyes widened in disbelief. His mouth hung slightly open as he glanced from the badges to the two young players standing before him.
¡°Phoenix badges?!¡± he stammered. He had doubted their ability to even secure shadow badges, yet here they were¡ªtwo newbies, wearing Phoenix badges as if it were nothing.
The clerk composed himself quickly, giving a courteous smile. ¡°Congratulations on your promotion,¡± he said, bowing slightly. ¡°How can I assist you today?¡±
Sora couldn¡¯t help but notice the sudden shift in the clerk¡¯s tone, and neither could the other players in the room. Heads turned. His tone made them think he was talking to a high rank officer or a genius. Soon, whispers spread through the guild hall when people saw their badges and levels, and players began discreetly sending people to the assessment area to gather more information. The fact that two newcomers had earned Phoenix badges was enough to stir up curiosity.
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Sora, ignoring the commotion, leaned in slightly. ¡°We need to meet the Vice Guildmaster. Elena told us to see him regarding the war recruitment.¡±
The clerk blinked, then nodded, still in slight shock. ¡°Of course. Follow me, please.¡±
He led them up a winding staircase, the wooden steps creaking underfoot as they ascended. After a few moments, they reached a door with a simple wooden plaque beside it. "Vice Guildmaster," it read.
The clerk knocked softly, but the voice that responded was anything but welcoming. ¡°What is it? I¡¯m busy.¡±
Unfazed, the clerk cleared his throat. ¡°Two young talents wish to join the war, Vice Guildmaster. Elena told me to bring them to you.¡±
There was a pause, followed by a low grumble from behind the door. ¡°Fine. Come in.¡±
Sora and Kara exchanged a glance before stepping inside. The office they entered was spacious, yet cluttered with stacks of documents and maps pinned to the walls. Behind the large wooden desk sat the man they assumed to be the Vice Guildmaster. He was not what they had expected.
The Vice Guildmaster had a neatly trimmed beard with streaks of gray in his otherwise jet-black hair. He wore glasses that gave him an intellectual air, yet his physique was more reminiscent of a seasoned warrior. His muscles strained against the fabric of his sharply tailored suit¡ªsomething more fitting for a high-ranking businessman than an adventurer.
Before Sora could take in the rest of the room, an overwhelming pressure hit him. It was as though a beast had locked onto him, and every instinct screamed at him to defend himself. Without hesitation, he activated all his buffs, his muscles tensing as he stepped protectively in front of Kara. Kara, reacting just as quickly, cast several defensive spells, buffing them both.
The tension hung in the air for a split second, and then just as suddenly, it vanished.
The Vice Guildmaster let out a booming laugh, his shoulders shaking with amusement. ¡°Interesting! Very interesting!¡± he said, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Still baby chicks, but you two have potential. No wonder Elena sent you here.¡±
Sora remained tense, unsure of whether the danger had truly passed. He glanced around the room, only then noticing a woman sitting on a sofa in the corner, observing the scene quietly.
The clerk, still standing at the door, bowed his head slightly. ¡°Guildmaster,¡± he said respectfully.
Sora¡¯s eyes widened. Guildmaster? This beautiful woman was the actual Guildmaster?
She had long, flowing silver hair that shone under the light of the office lamps, cascading down her back in waves. Her skin was light, and her eyes were a striking blue that seemed to see through everything. Dressed in a simple crimson armor, she exuded an air of authority and class. Her presence, though silent, was captivating, and when she turned to look their way, the three guests couldn''t help but lose their composure.
Sora found himself staring, mesmerized by her beauty, until he felt a sharp pinch on his arm. He winced, glancing at Kara, who shot him a disapproving look. He quickly averted his gaze, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Be respectful" she whispered to him.
The Vice Guildmaster chuckled, seemingly aware of what had transpired. He waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Announce the boy as a Captain in the next troop update. And the girl, Vice-Captain. The boy will lead the 10th company of the 5th battalion, and she¡¯ll serve as his subordinate.¡±
The clerk looked stunned. "B-but sir, Top-ranked Celestial-ranked players barely make the cut to be given command of a company. They¡¯ve only just received their Phoenix badges. Won¡¯t this cause¡ª¡±
The Vice Guildmaster raised a hand, cutting him off. ¡°If I don¡¯t give them these ranks, chaos will erupt. Do you really think the wolves in this guild will sit back while these two talents roam free? They¡¯ll be fighting all over Stockholm to recruit them. I¡¯m cutting the problem off before it even begins.¡±
The clerk hesitated, clearly torn. ¡°But... what about the existing chain of command? Won¡¯t the higher-ranked players protest?¡±
¡°The 5th battalion¡¯s colonel can manage his troops,¡± the Vice Guildmaster said with a sly smile. ¡°And these two will earn their ranks soon enough. Not many can achieve what they did in their assessment.¡±
The Guildmaster, still seated on the sofa, nodded in agreement. Her smile was radiant, and for a brief moment, Sora felt like he was caught in a trance again. She was beyond beautiful¡ªshe was otherworldly. Sora had trouble gaining control of his body again and thought ''What''s wrong with me? Is she using a spell on me?''
The Vice Guildmaster glanced at the clerk, signaling that the discussion was over. ¡°Now go, announce the update. And take these two to the military recruitment office and give them their uniforms.¡±
The clerk bowed and gestured for Sora and Kara to follow him. As they exited the office, Sora couldn''t help but glance back at the Guildmaster, her image still lingering in his mind.
Once they were outside, Kara nudged him again, shaking her head. "You''re hopeless," she muttered, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips.
Sora smiled, rubbing the spot where she had pinched him. "What can I say? She¡¯s got a... commanding presence." He couldn''t help but think that something abnormal had just happened.
Together, they followed the clerk toward the next step of their journey¡ªmilitary recruitment, now as Captain and Vice-Captain.
Chapter 51 : Captain
Kara quickly replied, "Well, they don¡¯t seem to mind the nickname. They¡¯re bound by stricter rules than we are, and they appeared after the update. They seem and act human, but no one really knows where they come from or if they¡¯re truly human. My master always changed the subject when I asked about her past."
Sora frowned as he read her response, feeling puzzled about the NPCs'' origins after his several interactions with them. ''This means a lot and nothing at the same time'' he shook his head, ignoring the matter for now.
As they walked, the clerk''s respect toward Sora and Kara deepened. He knew these two were going to be big shots, assuming they survived the incoming war. Their lack of reaction to the ranks they¡¯d just been given told him they probably didn¡¯t understand the significance of being a captain and vice-captain in a battalion.
Clearing his throat, he explained, "Being a captain means you''re responsible for a company of 100 players, divided into 10 teams, with each team having 9 to 10 players split into two squads. Only Colonels can give direct orders to captains, and above the Colonels is the general in charge of the entire division."
Sora and Kara listened, but their expressions remained neutral.
The clerk continued, "You''re now among the top 60 highest-ranked individuals in terms of military hierarchy. A lot of people would kill for the kind of privilege and responsibility you¡¯ve just been handed." He couldn¡¯t help but sigh. Even with all its rules, this world still felt unfair sometimes.
Soon, they reached the recruitment office, where they were asked to provide their identification tokens, meaning their adventurer''s guild badge.
After receiving their military tokens, they were handed their uniforms, which had a magical effect. When they equipped them above their armor, they felt the weight of their new roles settle on their shoulders. Their interface updated, displaying options for party chat, team leader chat, company chat, battalion chat, and division chat. They could send written messages or use voice chat for communication within their unit, but were restricted in higher rank chats.
A message immediately appeared on their screen:
| [Player Ralph Eden has joined the company.] |
| [Player Kara Spirine has joined the company.] |
| [Player Captain Richard Dosse is demoted to Team Vice-Captain.] |
| [Player Ralph Eden is promoted to Team Captain.] |
| [Player Kara Spirine is promoted to Team Vice-Captain.] |
Sora and Kara exchanged a glance. The sudden notifications caused a ruckus in the company chat, with confused and agitated comments flooding in.
The clerk, noticing their reaction to the interface, chuckled and advised, "I¡¯m heading back to work. You two should introduce yourselves to your company later, when your Colonel is present."
Just then, a notification appeared on Sora and Kara''s interface:
|
[Summons by Colonel Oliver Evans ¨C Main Hall of the Adventurer''s Guild]
|
| [This is a military order by your superior. Disobeying orders can result in punishment by military law.] |
Sora clicked on the message, which explained the nature of a "military order"¡ªa command issued by a superior that had to be followed by subordinates.
He glanced at Kara, who nodded, indicating she had received the same message. Together, they made their way to the main hall.
As they navigated through the bustling guild, a man approached them, offering to guide them to the Colonel. He wore a similar uniform and bore the same rank as Sora, indicating he, too, was a captain.
They followed the man until they arrived at a large table where a group of players was seated, laughing and chatting. Among them was a young man, probably no older than 25, with a bald head and a bright smile. He radiated positive energy, his presence commanding attention without effort. This man, despite his cheerful demeanor, was clearly their superior.
¡°Ah, my new recruits!¡± the man called out, grinning as Sora and Kara approached.
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When they confirmed they were from the 5th Battalion, he chuckled. ¡°The Vice Guildmaster really does like to send the troublemakers to me. " He waved dismissively at the others around him, who were casting envious looks at Sora and Kara. "Relax, everyone. They¡¯re mine now."
The crowd dispersed quickly, as if afraid to linger under the Colonel''s watchful gaze.
With a welcoming grin, the man introduced himself. ¡°Oliver Evans, Colonel of the 5th Battalion. England.¡± His badge was unlike anything they had seen before, but what truly surprised Sora and Kara was his level¡ª105.
¡°Stop staring at my hair and follow me,¡± Oliver said, leading them towards a huge stadium in Stockholm. It seemed most of the army was stationed in such places, stadiums and open fields. In this stadium, many tents stood, and Oliver led them into a large military tent labeled "Colonel Tent: 5th Battalion."
His expression shifted to something more serious and he said. ¡°Listen, there are quite a few people eyeing you two. Your talents don¡¯t go unnoticed, but I¡¯ll crush anyone who tries to steal my soldiers. The other Colonels and the General won¡¯t allow their troops to get out of hand either.¡±
Sora and Kara exchanged relieved looks. It seemed that the issue of unwanted attention had been handled.
¡°However,¡± Oliver continued, his tone becoming sharper, ¡°I¡¯ve already received complaints. Richard Dosse¡ªyour old 10th captain¡ªhas lodged one. Other team captains and even vice-captains are grumbling. They don''t accept your positions. I can silence everyone if I have to, but if I do that, you¡¯ll both face resentment, and respect is hard to win back. Everyone is limited to level 80 during the war, but it doesn''t mean levels do not matter.¡±
Sora frowned. They hadn¡¯t asked for this responsibility, and now they were stuck with people doubting their rank.
¡°But,¡± Oliver said, raising a hand before Sora could speak, ¡°there¡¯s another way. Prove yourselves. Show them you deserve those ranks, and everyone will shut up.¡±
Before either of them could respond, he added, ¡°If you succeed, your comrades will only have respect for you.¡±
Sora didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°We¡¯ll solve this problem ourselves.¡±
Oliver nodded, satisfied. ¡°Good. You¡¯ve got three days before the war resumes. You¡¯re dismissed.¡±
Sora and Kara left the tent, already feeling the weight of their new responsibility pressing down on them. Three days to earn the respect of an entire battalion. The clock had started ticking.
As they exited the tent, Sora and Kara exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of Oliver¡¯s words. This wasn¡¯t just about surviving the war anymore; now, they had to prove themselves to a battalion of seasoned players, many of whom already viewed them as unworthy. The tension in the air was palpable, but neither of them was the type to back down from a challenge.
¡°I don''t understand why they gave us high ranks if it is this annoying to convince others,¡± Kara muttered, her voice laced with frustration, though her eyes remained sharp with determination.
Sora gave her a half-smile. ¡°No, but we¡¯re here now. And we¡¯re going to show them exactly why we deserve these ranks.¡±
They walked in silence for a while, the noise of troops activity in the background as they headed toward their assigned quarters. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city of Stockholm.
As soon as Sora and Kara found their tents, they were greeted by a crowd of roughly 30 people¡ªcaptains, vice-captains, and even a single team leader.
The group stood with crossed arms, waiting, their expressions a mix of curiosity and hostility. At the front of them, a young man who couldn¡¯t have been older than twenty stepped forward, his gaze cold and assessing.
Sora¡¯s eyes narrowed as he observed the young man. His youth was deceptive, as age meant little in this world. Some of the strongest players were under twenty, and those who had been playing since childhood had become terrifyingly powerful.
The young man before him was no exception, and Sora inspected and recognized the name above his head from the earlier notification¡ªthis was Richard Dosse, the captain who had been demoted.
¡°Ralph Eden,¡± Richard began, his voice carrying an edge of barely restrained anger, ¡°I¡¯m sure you already know who I am. I was the captain of the 10th company. Now, thanks to you, I¡¯m a vice-captain.¡±
He paused, his hands clenching into fists as he spoke. ¡°I¡¯m not the strongest of the captains, so I¡¯d have accepted being replaced by someone better. But you?¡± His eyes bore into Sora, sharp with judgment. ¡°You¡¯re not qualified. You just showed up as this war is ending, and now you''re the one expected to lead the company I¡¯ve bled and fought for with my life and my friends blood? No.¡±
"I get it," Sora said, his voice steady. "You think I haven¡¯t earned this. But what do you suggest?"
Richard¡¯s jaw tightened, his resolve clear. ¡°I challenge you to a duel. I can¡¯t take my rank back through a fight, but if I win, you¡¯ll follow my lead. The company¡ªmy company¡ªdeserves a leader who understands them, who¡¯s been in the trenches with them. If I win, you¡¯ll let me manage the company¡¯s strategy. You¡¯ll still be captain, but you¡¯ll listen to me when it comes to leading our people.¡±
Sora''s brows furrowed. He hadn¡¯t expected this. He had thought Richard just wanted his position back, but the guy actually cared about the lives of the company members. There was an odd respect in Sora for this man now.
¡°And if I win?¡± Sora asked.
¡°If you win,¡± Richard replied, his voice firm, ¡°I¡¯ll follow your orders, if you promise to not send the guys to their deaths. I¡¯ll respect your authority and bend the knee if that¡¯s what it takes. But if you lose, you have to understand... I won¡¯t let someone who¡¯s never waged war and doesn''t have strength to play with the lives of our soldiers.The final battle is coming, and I can''t gamble with the lives of my soldiers, and won''t accept their decision if it doesn''t not make sense¡±
Kara and Sora exchanged glances, both surprised. The guy wasn''t just frustrated; he genuinely wanted the best for his soldiers. Sora, however, wasn¡¯t backing down from a fight. Even if Richard had his doubts about Sora¡¯s experience, the only way to prove himself was through action.
Sora examined Richard¡¯s level, and his heart skipped a beat. Level 95. This guy was leagues ahead of him. The pressure he felt from Richard was intense, like a mortal standing before a mountain.
The young captain''s body was honed to the limit, with well-defined muscles visible beneath his armor. His body forging was outstanding, indicating a heavy investment in body forging and maybe even tanking skills.
This wasn¡¯t going to be easy.
Chapter 52 : Bloodbath
Sora took a deep breath, steeling his nerves. ¡°I accept your challenge,¡± he said, his voice carrying across the gathered captains. ¡°But let me make a request. If I lose today, I¡¯ll want a rematch in three days, before the war resumes.¡±
A murmur of surprise spread through the crowd. A level 62 challenging a level 95 player and claiming he could surpass them him in just three days? It sounded like arrogance, or maybe just ignorance. The captains exchanged glances, wondering whether Sora was bold or simply delusional.
But Richard wasn¡¯t laughing. He had seen that look in Sora¡¯s eyes before. It was the same look he had worn when he was 13 years old, telling his parents and friends he would be the strongest player in their city. He had been mocked, dismissed as a kid with impossible goals, but he had fought and clawed his way to the top of Europe. Now, as he stood before this man with that same fire in his eyes, Richard couldn¡¯t bring himself to mock him.
He nodded slowly. ¡°Alright,¡± he said, his voice quiet but firm. ¡°When I win, there¡¯ll be a rematch in three days. And I¡¯ll win again.¡±
There was no doubt in Richard¡¯s mind. He was a genius who had fought above his level many times, but the gap between him and Sora was immense. Level suppression was crushing, and the difference in their strength was too great for Sora to overcome in just three days. Still, Richard respected the ambition he saw in Sora.
The crowd parted, creating a circle around the two. Sora prepared himself mentally, knowing this would be one of the toughest battles he had ever faced.
|
[You have accepted the duel against Player Richard Dosse.
Win Reward : 1780 RP
Loss Penalty RP Deduction: - 15 RP.
Current RP : 500 RP (0 win, 0 loss)]
|
Sora had used the dueling system. With his identity change, all that history had been wiped clean.
He knew how the Ranking Points worked. Even players with a huge level gap could challenge each other, with the weaker one earning massive points if they managed to win. Makes sense, in theory... Sora mused. But it was also easy to abuse. Players cheated the system to rack up points. Not that it matters much. Everyone knows RP isn¡¯t really worth anything, as it couldn''t be used to do anything but show off.
As Sora and Richard stepped into the arena, a magical barrier flickered to life around them, forming a sacred duel ring. The shining dome sealed them in, ensuring that no damage would fall on spectators. The rules of the New World applied here¡ªonce the fight was over, both participants would be restored to full health, as if the battle had never happened.
A flag appeared between them, hovering above the leveled ground of the arena, signaling the start of the duel. The circular space allowed them to move freely, no obstacles in sight, just the wide, flat battlefield. Above them, a countdown shimmered in the sky, each number ticking down as the tension mounted.
Sora¡¯s heart raced as he fully buffed himself. His body was humming with power, muscles coiled like springs, ready to unleash everything he had. He knew this fight would be difficult. Richard was leagues ahead in level, strength, and experience. But Sora thought ''I have survived every challenge before... Well maybe not..''
Three... Two... One.
The flag shot upward, disappearing into the sky. The duel had begun.
Without wasting a second, Sora summoned his staff and infused it with mana. The legendary staff crackled with energy, glowing as it lengthened and hardened. He would have to strike from a distance first, testing the waters, looking for any opening he could exploit.
Sora swung the [Monkey King''s Staff] with all his might, sending a wave of concentrated mana rushing toward Richard. The attack cracked through the air, sharp and powerful. But Richard didn¡¯t even flinch. He stood there, calm, unmoving, almost... bored.
Sora frowned, pushing harder. He swung again, sending another mana-infused attack, this time more focused, aiming directly at Richard¡¯s chest. The impact hit dead on, but Richard barely even blinked. The strike dissipated against him like a gentle breeze.
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Sora''s heart sank. He could feel the gap between them¡ªa chasm that widened with every failed attack. Richard wasn¡¯t even defending himself. He was letting Sora hit him, letting him unleash everything he had, and it wasn¡¯t doing anything.
There was a sense of helplessness creeping into Sora¡¯s mind, but he shook it off. He couldn¡¯t stop. He had to keep trying. Another strike, another flurry of attacks¡ªeach one as useless as the last. It was like hitting a wall of iron.
Then, without warning, Richard disappeared.
Before Sora could react, a crushing force hit him from behind, and he was slammed into the ground with one devastating blow. The impact sent shockwaves through the arena, and his mana shield popped instantly, shattering under the sheer force of Richard¡¯s hit.
Sora gasped, his vision spinning, his weapon [Ruyi Jingu Bang] flying away. But his mana shield was reforming, flickering back into place in the blink of an eye, ready to protect him once more.
It didn¡¯t matter.
Richard was already there, grabbing the thin membrane of the shield between his fingers like it was nothing more than a fragile sheet. With a casual pinch, he popped it again, shattering Sora¡¯s defenses for a second time. Sora¡¯s eyes widened. His shield¡ªhis most reliable line of defense so far¡ªwas useless.
A powerful punch drove into Sora¡¯s stomach, and the world turned darker for Sora. He doubled over, blood and bile spewing from his mouth as the blow sent waves of pain through his entire body. His knees buckled, and he fell to the ground, gasping for breath.
The captains watching weren¡¯t surprised. They had seen Richard fight before. He was friendly, yes¡ªkind, even¡ªbut on the battlefield, he was a demon. His strength was overwhelming, his skills honed to perfection.
But Richard, for his part, was surprised. He had been holding back, using only a fraction of his strength, enough to incapacitate most Phoenix-level players. But Sora... Sora''s body was different. His bones should have shattered from that punch, but instead, he was still holding on.
"Stubborn, huh?" Richard muttered, grabbing Sora by the hair and lifting him to his feet. "Do you want to give up?"
Sora¡¯s entire body screamed in pain, his vision blurred by blood and tears, but he managed to force the words out through clenched teeth, blood dripping from his mouth. "No."
Richard sighed, almost pitying the determination he saw in Sora¡¯s eyes. He lifted Sora again, then slammed his head into the ground with a brutal force. Once. Twice. Three times.
The sickening crack of bones echoed through the silent arena. The crowd watched in stunned silence. Only Kara¡¯s sobs could be heard, her hands covering her mouth as she watched helplessly from the sidelines.
"Please, stop!" Kara¡¯s voice broke through the quiet, her words trembling with fear and anguish.
Richard paused, glancing toward her. The fight was already over. Sora had no resistance left in him. He let go of Sora¡¯s limp form, stepping back as the tension in the air faded.
The duel was over. Sora hadn¡¯t stood a chance. He lay there on the ground, bloodied and broken, unable to fight back.
As Sora lay on the ground, his body slowly healing from the effects of the magical arena, a sharp chime echoed in his mind¡ªa notification. His heart sank as the system message appeared in front of him, its cold, neutral tone mocking the depth of his failure.
[Duel Lost]
[You have lost the duel against Player Richard Dosse. RP Deduction: -15 RP.]
The words burned into his mind, each line a harsh reminder of what had just happened.
Sora stared at the notification, the weight of it pressing down on his chest. The fight had ended, but the defeat lingered. He had fought battles where the odds were against him before¡ªhe had often been the underdog, the one who had to fight harder, push further since his reset. But this time was different. This time, he hadn¡¯t even come close.
Around him, the captains and vice-captains walked away, their voices drifting through the air as they spoke to one another.
¡°He didn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±
¡°He only lost 15 RP ? How low was his arena rank ? Probably didn''t duel much in the past.¡±
¡°All that talking and 0 damage done to Richard. I didn''t expect much, but I''m still disappointed¡±
The comments cut deeper than any wound Richard had inflicted. The mockery, the disappointment¡ªthey hurt, but what hurt the most was how real they were. For once, they weren¡¯t just doubting him; they were right. He had thought he could at least hold his own, but he hadn¡¯t stood a chance.
Lying there, Sora felt a knot tightening in his chest. He had grown so used to winning lately, to defying expectations, that this loss¡ªthis crushing, undeniable defeat¡ªfelt like a blow to everything he had built. He had been considered a genius lately and he almost got used to people admiring his strength, to surprise everyone in assessments. But not today.
The healing magic of the arena continued to work, soothing the physical wounds. ''It is like that day... My death in the level 80 zone back when I was a Mana Amplifier..'' He thought back to that fateful day when he had died in his second life, crushed by the overwhelming power of a beast far beyond his level.
The gap in power between him and Richard was suffocating. His mana shield had shattered like glass, his attacks had been brushed aside, and his body had been battered with ease. Richard had toyed with him, pinching the mana shield like it was a child¡¯s toy before smashing him into the ground.
Sora clenched his fists, for the first time in a long time, he felt small¡ªinsignificant in the face of power he couldn¡¯t match.
As the captains'' footsteps faded and their remarks became a distant hum, Sora lay there, staring up at the sky. He had always been willing to push through before, but now... he didn¡¯t know. He had been soaring through life ever since he gained his powers, but now it felt like he had crashed to the ground, and he wasn¡¯t sure how¡ªor if¡ªhe could pick himself back up.
He wanted to scream, to push the pain away, but instead, he lay there, letting the world continue around him, unmoved by his suffering. The magical healing was complete now. Physically, he was fine, but inside... inside, everything still felt broken.
''How can I face the other captains again ? This is ... humiliating. I don''t want to face them anymore''
His pride, his confidence. It felt like something inside him had cracked, and he wasn¡¯t sure if it would heal as easily as his bones had.
For now, all he could do was lie there, staring at the sky, lost in the echo of defeat.
Chapter 53 : Level Up !
Kara approached Sora, watching as he lay motionless on the ground, his body fully healed, but his spirit bruised. She reached out, intending to ask if he was alright, but the words caught in her throat. One look at his face was enough to tell her that he wasn¡¯t. His usually bright, determined eyes were dull, as if he was lost.
Without a word, she reached down and helped him to his feet. Sora stood, still in a daze, as if the ground had become the only familiar thing left to him. They walked together in silence.
After several minutes, Sora finally broke the quiet. ¡°We¡¯re leaving Stockholm,¡± he muttered, his voice low but firm.
Kara stopped in her tracks, blinking in surprise. ¡°What? We can¡¯t just leave! We¡¯ve only just enlisted. We have responsibilities now. You know deserting would get us killed.¡±
Sora paused, his eyes narrowed as he processed her words. ¡°We¡¯re not deserting,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°But we¡¯re too weak right now. If we stay here and march into battle without preparing, we¡¯re dead. You saw it¡ªwhat happened today. Richard toyed with me. I¡¯m no match for him, and there are probably hundreds more like him on the other side, maybe even stronger.¡±
Kara wanted to argue, to tell him that it was fine, that they could survive, since the opponents would be forcibly weakened to level 80, but she couldn''t. He was right. The gap between them and their peers was enormous. Richard had crushed Sora without even trying, and if they were to face enemies of that caliber¡ªor worse¡ªthere was no way they could survive in their current state.
Sora¡¯s face hardened. ¡°We¡¯ve got three days before the war resumes. We need to use that time to train, to level up. Even if the enemy¡¯s power is capped at level 80 for the battles, they certainly have ways to increase their strength and be extremely strong... We both need to level up. Our ranks are eye-catching, but not strong enough. They¡¯ll target us, and we¡¯ll be the first ones to fall.¡±
Kara¡¯s breath caught in her throat. She had been thinking the same thing ever since the duel ended. They were too exposed, too inexperienced. But hearing Sora say it aloud made it real, and far more terrifying.
He glanced at her, noticing her hesitation. ¡°Listen, Kara. It¡¯s just a reminder that I¡¯m still a frog at the bottom of the well. Every time I think I¡¯ve climbed out, I find myself in a bigger well.¡±
His words echoed in the still air, and Kara found herself staring at him, searching his face for any sign of the despair she had seen earlier. But instead of pain, there was a quiet determination in his expression. .
¡°This defeat,¡± Sora continued, his voice gaining strength, ¡°was inevitable. Now, we have to bridge the gap between us and the rest of the world if we¡¯re going to survive. We can¡¯t afford to waste time.¡±
He reached into his inventory and pulled out a map. ¡°I got this earlier at the Swedish Adventurer¡¯s Guild, before the test. There¡¯s a level 80 zone nearby that¡¯s offering an XP boost this week. It seems that the amount of high level players killing endless monsters triggered XP boosts in quite a few zones, so we need to make use of it. We can grind there for three days, level up, and be ready for the war.¡±
Kara looked at the map, then back at Sora. Something about him still felt off¡ª as if he was forcing himself to keep going.
But as if reading her thoughts, Sora shot her a quick glance and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ve been through worse, and I¡¯ve always come back stronger. I¡¯ll be fiine. Right now, we need to focus on getting strong enough to make it through this war.¡±
Kara nodded slowly, feeling a mix of relief and concern. Sora was strong, and she had started to believe he was invincible, almost including herself in such category. This was a wake-up call for her as well.
They pressed forward, following the path that led them to the hunting zone Sora had marked on the map. The landscape shifted as they traveled, dense forests and rocky terrain known as Kolm?rden.
When they finally arrived, the atmosphere felt different¡ªheavier. Sora remembered the first time he entered a similar place, and died instantly. He had grown since then, and did not fear such zone anymore.
Without hesitation, Sora and Kara stepped inside, leaving the safety of the lower level region behind.
As a beast emerged from deep inside the forest, its presence sent a wave of tension through the air. Its dark fur dripped with water, and its sharp, predatory eyes locked onto Sora and Kara. The notification flashed before them:
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| [Level 80 Water Monkey ¨C Elite Beast] |
The Water Monkey growled low, its body surrounded by swirling streams of water that hovered menacingly. The battle was about to begin.
Sora clenched his baton, his focus sharp as he glanced over at Kara. ¡°I¡¯ll tank it. Let''s farm for a while¡±
Kara nodded, her expression focused as she began casting her buffs. Her hands glowed with soft light as she quickly stacked her skills onto both of them.
[Life Speed] [Life Strength ] [Life Defense] [Life Force Boost] [Mana Regeneration] [Overheal]
These were all buffs or skills drawn from her older and newer classes, each perfected and amplified by her supreme skill. Most of her abilities relied on life force, though she was still in the process of unlocking higher-level skills for her new class, which she hadn¡¯t yet leveled up sufficiently.
Her buffs washed over them, and immediately, Sora could feel the power coursing through his body, heightening his speed and strength.
A moment later, Kara added the final layer of protection: [Life Shield], which surrounded both of them, stacking on top of Sora''s own [Mana Shield]. Together, the shields formed a nearly impenetrable barrier around them, one that would absorb the brunt of the Water Monkey¡¯s elemental attacks. She summoned a clone made of Life Energy, and had him take Sora''s appearance, and use similar combat style.
Kara stood behind Sora, her eyes narrowed in concentration as she prepared to support him from the backline. With their shields and buffs in place, Sora stepped forward, ready to face the monster head-on.
The Water Monkey wasted no time. It raised its clawed hands, summoning a massive torrent of water that hurtled toward them like a tidal wave. Sora didn¡¯t flinch. He braced himself, allowing the [Mana Shield] and [Life Shield] to absorb the impact. The water crashed into the barrier with enough force to knock lesser players off their feet, but Sora held firm, the shields protecting him from the brunt of the damage.
¡°Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got,¡± Sora muttered as he infused his staff with mana, causing it to extend and glow with power.
He lunged forward, swinging the baton with all his strength. The impact connected with the Water Monkey¡¯s side, but the creature barely flinched. Its fur rippled with elemental energy, the water cushioning the blow. Sora gritted his teeth and attacked again, this time aiming for its legs. The beast dodged with surprising speed, its movements fluid and agile.
Kara, standing behind him, was already at work. Her hands moved gracefully as she cast [Vital Surge], targeting the Water Monkey. This was a part of her Supreme Skill, and probably the strongest tool in her arsenal. Thin streams of glowing energy began to siphon from the beast, flowing toward Kara and replenishing her life force. The monkey growled, feeling its vitality being drained, and whipped around, trying to disrupt the connection. But Kara¡¯s focus was unshakable, her [Vital Surge] continuing to sap the beast¡¯s health, quickly weakening it.
The Water Monkey retaliated, summoning another wave of water, but this time, it infused the attack with freezing energy. The wave turned into a torrent of ice shards, raining down on Sora and Kara. Once again, the shields absorbed the damage, holding strong under the assault.
¡°Let me get rid of that,¡± Kara said, casting [Purification], a skill that removed any lingering effects. The freezing shards dissolved before they could take hold, the area around them cleared of any lingering elemental danger.
The Water Monkey, clearly frustrated, shifted tactics. It opened its mouth, unleashing a deafening screech that sent shockwaves through the air. A moment later, tendrils of water wrapped around Sora¡¯s legs, attempting to immobilize him.
Kara was quick to react, casting [Cleanse], a skill that removed most crowd control effects. The tendrils of water dissipated instantly, freeing Sora from their grasp.
Sora swung his baton again, landing a heavy hit on the Water Monkey¡¯s side, but still, the beast stood firm. Its natural resistance to damage was incredible, making the fight a drawn-out struggle. But Sora and Kara didn¡¯t falter. Their buffs, shields, and Kara¡¯s [Vital Surge] kept them in the fight, ensuring they could outlast the creature¡¯s relentless attacks.
Time passed, with the Water Monkey growing increasingly desperate. Every time it tried to land a blow, Sora was there, absorbing the damage with his layered shields. Every time it attempted to hinder them, Kara¡¯s buffs and cleansing skills nullified its efforts.
The battle dragged on, but neither Sora nor Kara took a significant hit. The enemy''s level and health were extremely high, but they were like cockroaches¡ªresilient, difficult to kill, and relentless in their attack.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the Water Monkey¡¯s movements began to slow. It staggered back, its energy reserves depleted.
Seeing an opening, Sora unleashed a powerful, [True Mana Strike], hitting the Water Monkey square in the chest. The impact sent the beast sprawling to the ground, where it lay motionless, defeated at last.
A notification popped up before them:
Sora hit level 63, and Kara reached level 67.
They both stood there, catching their breath as the adrenaline faded. The battle had been long and grueling, but they had come out on top, their teamwork and resilience carrying them to victory.
Sora looked over at Kara, a small smile on his face. ¡°That was tough.¡±
Kara nodded. They had barely taken any damage, thanks to their shields and buffs, but the mental strain of the fight had tired them.
"Let''s start grinding then" Sora said, activating [Prime Monster Radar]
Chapter 54 : Time Space. Soul Pearl
Sora¡¯s breath came in quick, controlled bursts as he stood over the lifeless body of the defeated Ice Bear. He and Kara had been pushing themselves relentlessly all day, determined to close the gap between them and the stronger adventurers in the guild. With this latest kill, they had hit a critical milestone.
A notification flashed in front of him:
Above their heads, their levels were showing.
Sora turned to Kara, a small but genuine smile breaking his usually calm expression. ¡°Congrats,¡± he said, his voice carrying a hint of pride. Kara had reached a major milestone, and despite the long day of grinding, it felt like a step closer to their goal.
Kara was still catching her breath, eyes focused on the flood of notifications appearing in her vision. She looked almost in a daze, her attention locked onto one in particular. Sora noticed the shift in her behavior and raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
¡°Everything alright?¡± he asked.
Kara¡¯s gaze was fixed on something only she could see, her eyes widening with excitement. She muttered something under her breath, too soft for Sora to catch.
¡°What was that?¡± Sora stepped closer, watching her with interest.
Kara¡¯s voice came out as a whisper, filled with wonder. ¡°[Time Space]...¡±
Sora¡¯s curiosity spiked. ¡°[Time Space]? What¡¯s that?¡±
For a moment, Kara remained silent, her mind racing as she processed the details of her new ability. Then, finally snapping back to reality, she grinned and opened her status window, sharing her newly unlocked ability with Sora.
| [Time Space: Accumulate mana in the Time Bead created by your innate skill. Once enough mana is accumulated, you can access your Time Space] |
Sora¡¯s eyes scanned the description, his own excitement rising as he realized what it meant. ¡°You can create a personal time space?¡± he said, almost in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s incredible!¡±
Kara nodded, her excitement matching his. ¡°Exactly! Maybe It¡¯ll let us train for hours, maybe even days in there, while only a few minutes pass outside. We really need to try this skill. It''s even better for training than what I had... I thought my innate skill would only be useful in combat, but this can be amazing for training.¡±
Sora¡¯s mind raced with the possibilities. This was the edge they needed. They had been fighting tooth and nail to keep up with stronger players, and now they had a tool that could potentially help them bridge the gap faster than he had imagined.
¡°We need to test it,¡± Sora said, his tone filled with determination. ¡°If we can train in your [Time Space], we can prepare for the war without losing any more time out here.¡±
Kara nodded eagerly. ¡°Right. I just need to gather enough mana to activate it. We''ll then see what it is worth¡±
Despite the exhaustion from their long day of grinding, the promise of Kara¡¯s new ability filled them both with renewed energy. Sora could see it in her eyes¡ªthe same drive to become stronger.
They were on the cusp of something great. With Kara¡¯s abilities and their determination, nothing could stand in their way.
¡°Let¡¯s farm more monster so I can hit level 70 before we charge your Time Bead. Even if we can not become decent leaders for the upcoming war in three days, we need to at least become strong enough to carry the teams we lead. That''s the least we can do to avoid bringing shame to ourselves and our faction¡± Sora said, his voice resolute. Kara looked at him, a fire of determination blazing in her eyes, and nodded.
She also had no idea how to lead a group, and her experience with Thierry, Am¨¦lie and C¨¦line was the best proof of how bad of a leader she was.
They weren¡¯t preparing to deserve their rank through leadership, but through power..
As Sora and Kara pushed forward, cutting through the monsters in the treacherous zone, each level-up came with a surge of strength.
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For most players, getting stronger was like pouring water into a receptacle. Each new level made the receptacle bigger, allowing them to hold more water¡ª power. But the receptacle had limits¡ªit could only hold the volume it encompassed. Players had to wait for their next level-up to expand it. Otherwise they could only refine their skills to reach higher levels of mastery over their strength, filling the receptacle.
But Sora¡¯s Supreme Skills¡ª[Mana Evolution] and [Eternal Body Craft]¡ªchanged everything.
Where other players had a similar-sized receptacle, Sora¡¯s receptacle refined by supreme skills was bigger and sturdier. His foundation allowed him to support more power without the risk of leaks or stagnation. And with denser content, his power was more effective. When others were trying to fill a ''glass'' with ''water'', he was already filling a swimming pool with a liquid denser than mercury..
For most adventurers, leveling up fast could crack their foundation¡ªskills would fail, or they¡¯d injure themselves after using too many skills, and mana would leak out of the body, making their power stagnate or fall. But Sora¡¯s foundation was solid. Each level-up would only make him stronger.
''Players like Richard have oceans of power. So I should at least try to go gain a few levels and catch up"
Kara¡¯s Supreme Skill: [Life Force Mastery] was the key to keeping pace with Sora. While his strength came from refining his body and mana, Kara¡¯s power lay in her control of life force, which grew stronger with every battle.
As she absorbed the life force of fallen beasts, with [Life Recycling] her own vitality and control deepened, making her stronger over time. This constant flow of life energy allowed her to match Sora''s rapid development.The bond between them, formed through [Soul Link], further accelerated her growth. As Sora got stronger, so did Kara, making them both more powerful together.
Kara¡¯s abilities weren''t just defensive; they allowed her to actively grow, adapting to Sora¡¯s increasing strength. With every victory, she evolved, ensuring she stayed right beside him.
A few hours later a notification soon flashed before them:
[Level Up!]
[Sora: Level 70]
[Kara: Level 71]
As the numbers appeared, Sora felt something shift deep inside him, a barrier breaking. It was a new limit being unlocked, a surge of power flooding his entire being. His [Mana Evolution] and [Eternal Body Craft] kicked into overdrive, working to refine his body and mana further.
He felt his muscles coil with newfound strength, his mana growing more powerful. The air around him seemed clearer, and for the first time, he felt like he could sense the elements more distinctly, understanding their flow. It was as if the world itself was revealing new layers of comprehension to him, opening the door to a realm of possibilities he had only glimpsed before.
As his body and mana adjusted to this new level, Sora immediately activated his refining skills, pushing them to their limits. His body began to absorb and perfect the newfound energy, making sure no potential was wasted. The familiar sensation of his skills working deep within him, pushing against this new limit, filled him with more motivation to grow.
He opened his status window, eager to see the new effect of his [Prestige] skill. This skill was the reason he was alive and gave him an opportunity for growth. His heart raced with anticipation¡ªMaybe this new ability could be the key to closing the gap between him and those who stood far above him.
| [Status Update]
Profile: Ralph Eden (Sora Hashino)
Status: Alive (Prestige 2)
Class: Martial Titan (Level 70) |
| Power Level: 742 billion
Body Level: S
Energy Level: S
Talent Level: 4
Growth Factor : 1 |
|
Skills: (...in progress...)
Supreme Skills:
? [Mana Evolution] (Click to see effects)
? [Eternal Body Craft] (Click to see effects)
|
| Innate Skill:
? [Prestige] (Click to see effects) |
Sora¡¯s fingers trembled slightly as he opened his status window, feeling the rush of anticipation. His gaze locked onto his [Prestige] skill , the very skill that had defined his journey so far. He knew something had unlocked now that he had reached level 70, and the thought of gaining a new advantage was exhilarating.
With a deep breath, he clicked on it.
The familiar description of the skill appeared in front of him:
|
[Innate Skill: Prestige]
Description: The ability to reset your training and experiences upon death or by choice after reaching Level 50. When activated, all levels and skills revert to zero, allowing for a fresh start.
|
He scrolled past the first effect, New Identity, his eyes now firmly fixed on the second option that had been locked until now.
| [Option 2: Soul Pearl]
Upon activating the skill after reaching Level 70, or dying when the skill is off cooldown, a Soul Pearl is created. |
And that was it. No detailed explanation, no further description. Just the promise of something called a Soul Pearl.
His brow furrowed as he stared at the words, waiting for more information, but none came. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± he muttered under his breath. For all the monumental power his [Prestige] skill had already granted him, the lack of explanation was unsettling.
What was a Soul Pearl? What did it do? How was it meant to help him?
There was only one way to find out. He¡¯d have to experience it firsthand.
¡°Looks like I''ll have to end this life,¡± Sora thought, the anticipation rising within him. The mystery of the Soul Pearl teased at his curiosity, hinting at new potential.
Chapter 55 : Time Bead
The war was starting in 2 days... Could he reset and level up to 70 or so in 2 days... That seemed difficult. Even with the experience boost of this zone, he would have to level up to be strong enough to grind experience here... And the experience system made being power leveled by a friend difficult, as contribution to the fight was an important factor.
He would have to try it later.
Sora glanced at Kara, sharing his newly unlocked skill option with her. As she read the brief description of [Soul Pearl], she was as puzzled as he was.
"It doesn''t really explain anything," Kara said, frowning.
Sora sighed. "Yeah, to know what the Soul Pearl does, I¡¯d probably have to reset or figure it out somehow. But I don¡¯t think it¡¯s smart to ask around about something that¡¯s likely important."
Kara nodded in agreement. "And resetting now? Not the best timing."
"Exactly. Hitting level 70 before the war was already hard enough. Doing it again after resetting? No thanks. I¡¯ll just find out after the war," Sora replied, his voice steady with resolve.
Kara nodded, then tilted her head slightly. "So what now? Want to see what my [Time Space] can do?"
Sora grinned. ¡°Yeah, leveling up is getting tougher, so we might as well.¡±
Kara took out the [Time Bead], the small orb shimmering faintly. The item description appeared before her:
| [Time Bead: Absorbs mana to feed the Time Space Realm inside. Needs a certain amount to activate. Current amount: Empty.] |
The bead began to pull mana from the surrounding air, but the process was slow, almost too slow for Kara¡¯s patience. She instinctively brought her hand close to it and focused. The flow of mana quickened as she poured her own energy into it.
Seeing her draining herself to speed things up, Sora raised his hand to help. Mana began to pulse through the air around him, his presence acting like the eye of a storm as he fed the bead faster than before. His mana regeneration kicked in at full throttle, making the process feel like a constant surge of energy.
Minutes passed as they continued pouring mana into the bead, the energy cycling faster with Sora¡¯s influence. Then, with a soft pulse, the bead shifted in her hand. Kara received a notification.
| [Time Bead Charged: Activation Possible] |
Kara glanced at the bead''s new description, her eyes widening as she read the new information.
A warning followed:
| [Caution: Using mana at a high rate inside the Time Space will reduce the remaining time left.] |
She looked up at Sora, excitement dancing in her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s ready. We can enter the [Time Space] for a week¡ but every time we use mana, it¡¯ll eat into that time.¡±
Sora smirked, anticipation building. ¡°Then let''s try that¡±
Kara reached out toward the Time Bead, feeling a pull as it connected with her mind. A notification appeared, asking if she wanted to activate the [Time Space]. She nodded, then noticed an option to invite others, with ¡°Ralph Eden¡± displayed as an option since they were in a party together.
She selected his name and confirmed. Instantly, they both vanished, along with the Time Bead.
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[Time Dilation Active : 1:500 ¨C Inside Time Space: 1 week = ~20 minutes outside]
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| [You have entered the Time Space] |
When they reappeared, they were inside a strange world, almost like a pocket dimension carved out of reality. The space around them stretched a few kilometers wide, bordered by a barrier. The land was eerily flat and deserted, resembling an empty, expansive field. There were no trees, no life, nothing but an endless stretch of open field. The sky, a barrier, was a pale white, stretching far above them.
A new notification caught Kara''s eye as she saw the remaining time in the space:
| [Time Bead: Current Charge ¨C 1 week] |
She looked at him with excitement. ¡°We¡¯re in. It seems like every week we spend here will be barely a blip outside¡ª20 minutes at most.¡±
Sora smirked, a thrill running through him. "A whole week in here with hardly any time passing out there. This is perfect."
Sora took in their surroundings, his gaze scanning the emptiness. ¡°So¡ this is the Time Space?¡± he commented. ¡°It is quite ... big!¡±
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Kara didn¡¯t answer immediately, her attention focused on a panel that had materialized in front of her. Her eyes widened as she read through it, and she let out a sound that was somewhere between a laugh and a groan.
¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Sora asked, raising an eyebrow.
Wordlessly, she shared the panel with him. It was a customization menu, filled with all sorts of options: trees, lakes, mountains¡ªeven houses and furniture. They could seemingly create anything they wanted to populate this empty realm.
Sora skimmed the list, his initial excitement quickly fading as he saw the prices.
¡°Ten million gold for a house? One million for a bed? A hundred thousand for a chair?¡± Kara muttered, exasperated. ¡°Who came up with these prices? It¡¯s like they¡¯re trying to bankrupt me before I even get started! Selling me items within my own skill¡¯s space¡¡±
Sora shook his head, clearly amused. ¡°Guess this space will stay empty for a while. Let¡¯s stick to what we have and make the most of it.¡±
Kara gave a reluctant nod, shifting her focus back to the barren land. She closed the customization panel, and as she did, she felt a stirring within her Supreme Skill. Life force began to flow out of her, and almost instinctively, she spread it around them, coaxing the land to life. Patches of grass sprouted from the ground, small plants appearing here and there, bringing a touch of greenery to the empty space.
She took a deep breath, feeling the flow of life force around her. ¡°Well, if we can¡¯t afford to decorate this place, I can at least make it feel less empty with my [Life Force Mastery].¡±
Sora watched as a faint carpet of green formed beneath their feet, a small smile tugging at his lips. ¡°At least we won¡¯t be training in a complete wasteland. So, what¡¯s the plan?¡±
Kara nodded, summoning a [Life Source Clone] of herself. The duplicate stood beside her, an identical version, and began helping her channel the life force into the plants around them, making the area feel a little more alive.
Turning her gaze back to Sora, Kara said, ¡°I¡¯ll work on pushing my Supreme skill to the next level. Using life force here feels¡ easier than outside, somehow. This place is rich with mana, and the quality is excellent. I also unlocked many new skills for my class, so I''ll train them and see if I can perfect a few¡±
Sora took a deep breath, feeling the abundance of mana surrounding them. It felt like his own mana... ''Wait, isn''t this the mana i gave to this space ? No wonder she thinks it''s high quality''
Dismissing his thoughts, his mind drifted to his recent battles, the fights he¡¯d lost, and the areas he needed to improve. There were skills he¡¯d neglected, powers he hadn¡¯t fully explored. He thought about his Supreme Skills and how he could refine his abilities even further.
The details of his [Eternal Body Craft] skill came to mind. Its effects were potent, focusing on enhancing his body¡¯s physical capabilities.
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[Eternal Body Craft (Supreme Skill)]
Description: This Supreme Skill allows the user to tap into the essence of infinite physical potential, refining every part of their body. The skill offers the following abilities:
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| Effect 1: Essence Fusion ¨C Merges mana with the body''s cells, bones, muscles, and organs, constantly enhancing their structure and capabilities. |
| Effect 2: Adaptive Regeneration ¨C The body regenerates based on damage received and adapts to become resistant to similar harm. |
| Effect 3: Strength Ascension ¨C Each refinement permanently increases physical strength, endurance, and durability. |
| Effect 4: Unlimited Body Potential ¨C No growth limit, provided sufficient energy is absorbed, allowing the user to surpass natural physical boundaries. |
| Warning: Supreme Skills cannot be affected by anything lower than Supreme level skills, including Innate skills, Special skills, or Racial Skills. |
To make the most of this space, he needed a way to push his body to its limits, triggering the effects like [Adaptive Regeneration] and [Strength Ascension]. If he could somehow endure consistent damage while healing, it would force his body to adapt and grow stronger even faster.
Then there was [Mana Evolution].
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[Mana Evolution (Supreme Skill)]
This skill evolves alongside the user''s comprehension and application of mana. With practice and adaptation, the user''s mana grows stronger, more efficient, and more versatile over time. Each breakthrough in understanding unlocks new effects, enhancing the user''s connection to mana and granting powerful new abilities.
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Effect 1 : Mana Eyes: Allows the user to see mana at all scales, zooming in and out depending on the need.
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Effect 2 : Loved by Mana: Mana will assist the user and minimize rebounds from misuse. Mana will always try to help the user if possible.
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Effect 3 : Mana Growth: Every time mana is used, it becomes more refined, efficient, and powerful.
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Effect 4 : Mana Customization: The user can guide how their mana evolves. Progress depends on the user''s talent and comprehension.
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Warning: Supreme Skills cannot be affected by anything lower than Supreme level skills, including Innate skills, Special skills, or Racial Skills.
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It allowed him to refine and customize his mana. When he had reached Level 70, he¡¯d felt a pull, an awareness of the elements around him. He had barely touched the surface of what [Mana Customization] could offer. Maybe here, in this realm, he could experiment and start molding his mana to align with the elements, giving him access to new abilities.
¡°This space has potential,¡± he said, turning to Kara. ¡°Let¡¯s push it as far as it can go. I¡¯ll focus on experimenting with my mana, seeing if I can finally understand this customization effect. ¡±
Kara nodded, the spark of excitement returning to her eyes. They had an entire week here, a blank slate to mold and shape to try all kinds of new skills
Sora took a deep breath, activating his [Mana Eyes] and letting his focus zero in on the air around him. Normally, he kept the skill running passively to track mana flows in battle, but now he wanted to look deeper, way beyond what he usually observed. He wanted to see if the air contained the same components he remembered from his high school Physics classes¡ªmainly oxygen and nitrogen.
Oxygen and nitrogen¡ and there can be a bit of water, he thought. Is the air here still the same as before the World Update?
Chapter 56 : What the hell ??
He zoomed his vision in and out, searching for particles that matched what he knew about water. But it was challenging. The water particles seemed almost nonexistent, far too sparse to provide any meaningful results.
Frowning, he pulled a gourd from his inventory. Using his mana, he extracted the water inside, suspending it in the air as a small sphere. He could force water out of containers like this, but what he really wanted was to analyze it.
''How do players summon water from thin air?'' Sora thought, staring at the orb in frustration. Summoning elements was a common skill, but he wanted to know what made it possible¡ªand why he couldn¡¯t replicate it.
Maybe the amount of water still wasn¡¯t enough. He grimaced and pulled out ten more gourds, emptying each into the sphere until a larger ball hovered before him.
Focusing his [Mana Eyes], Sora zoomed in, adjusting his view to examine the particles at their smallest level. He studied their structure, the way they interacted with one another. He wasn¡¯t sure if this was the "right" way to create water, but it was a starting point.
Alright, he thought, let¡¯s try to move it.
He extended his hand, trying to control the water. He could feel the mana around it, pressing in, encouraging it to shift. But every time he tried to shape it, the particles slipped through his mental grasp. It was like trying to catch smoke in his hands. The mana responded, but the water itself refused to comply.
Frustrated, he concentrated harder, trying again and again to manipulate the particles. Sometimes they would tremble, sometimes they would ripple, but they never fully moved according to his will. He could control the water¡¯s movement by pushing it around with mana, but it didn¡¯t feel natural, and he knew it wasn¡¯t what the summoners did.
Sora spent hours repeating the process, adjusting his mana flow, shifting his concentration, and experimenting with every possible technique he could think of. His focus grew sharper, each failure fueling his determination.
With every attempt, he began to notice more about the particles¡ªtheir interactions, the way they clung together, and how they responded to different types of mana flow. Yet, despite all his attempts, he still couldn¡¯t grasp the key to true manipulation. He¡¯d managed to suspend the water and force it to move, but he couldn¡¯t control it at the core.
This¡ isn¡¯t the right way, he realized. But he wasn¡¯t about to give up. He knew there was something, a method that he hadn¡¯t discovered yet.
Watching the water flow inside a torus receptacle made of mana, he had another idea.
He split his attention, using part of his mana to guide the water inside the torus, while another part of his mana began to mimic the water flow.
"Alright, let''s try this," he muttered, eyes narrowing as he sent his mana into a soft, flowing rhythm. He made it smooth, adaptable, like water effortlessly filling every crevice of an imaginary torus. He recreated the exact same flow.
Almost immediately after achieving such effect, he felt a reaction. It was subtle, but undeniable¡ªa resonance that made his mana feel¡ different, as if it recognized something deeply familiar.
"Interesting," he murmured, sensing the mana shift. It wasn¡¯t just mimicking water; it was transforming, becoming fluid, more responsive. He felt his [Mana Customization] kick in, guiding the change further. His mana wasn''t merely an imitation anymore; it was taking on the essence of water.
As he continued, he could sense the potency of this mana-infused water¡ªit was denser, stronger than any water he¡¯d seen before. This is different... More than just water, he thought, fascinated by the energy beneath the surface. This was no longer simple H?O¡ªit was a force that could actually impact his enemies.
"With this¡ it¡¯s not just water. It is made from mana... It''s on a whole new level," he said softly, almost to himself, watching the mana-water pulse with power.
He focused further, feeling the nature of this mana-water: it was soft but impossible to compress, flowing seamlessly yet maintaining its form. He experimented, making it pulse faster. As he did, he felt the temperature rise when he accelerated the particles.
"Heating up, huh?" he remarked, intrigued. Slowing the particles, he sensed the water cooling, turning calm and almost icy. "It¡¯s all about the speed of the mana particles¡"
The realization hit him¡ªhe could control this mana-water in ways he¡¯d never imagined. Each manipulation brought a new insight, a new understanding of what he could do. "This is¡ the way. Maybe this is how I can open the door to [Mana Customization]" he said, feeling a surge of excitement as the transformed mana pulsed in his hands.
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Each step brought him closer, the boundaries of elemental control unfolding before him.
Sora''s curiosity grew with each new discovery. If this ''water'' is really as potent as it feels, he thought, what can it actually do?
He concentrated, shaping the water into a thin, high-pressure stream, directing it toward his arm. The surface rippled with an almost hypnotic fluidity, but he knew its force held the potential to cut, maybe even pierce.
"Let¡¯s see just how sharp you can be," he whispered, pushing the stream forward.
As the water met his skin, he felt a slight sting¡ªa surface-level scratch that, had it been any ordinary water, would have felt like nothing more than a splash. But this wasn¡¯t ordinary water. It bore the weight of condensed mana. He narrowed his focus, increasing the pressure even further.
The stream bit deeper, leaving a fine, red line on his forearm. His [Adaptive Regeneration] flared to life, sealing the scratch almost immediately, but the sight made his heart race. "Not bad," he murmured, flexing his fingers. He could feel the potential within this water.
Encouraged, he increased the intensity, sending the stream crashing into his palm with the force of a whip. This time, it left a deeper mark, stinging as his regeneration fought to keep up. "You''re no joke," he said, fascinated.
He compressed the mana further, imagining it as a razor-thin blade. As it slashed across his skin, the force created a small cut¡ªa shallow wound that his body once again began to heal. But in that moment, he felt the mana¡¯s raw, destructive power.
There¡¯s so much I can do with this, he thought, as he realized the versatility of this new skill.
Sora centered himself, letting his mana shift as he explored the properties of each element. First came [Fire], blazing to life around his hands as he focused on its raw intensity. The heat spread through his fingers, growing hotter until flames danced across his skin. It took an hour of constant concentration to finally feel he¡¯d captured its essence.
He directed the flames toward his arm, letting them burn his skin. Pain surged, but [Adaptive Regeneration] worked instantly, cooling and healing him as he pushed the flames even further.
Next, he buried his feet underground, letting his mana transform into [Earth].
The energy grew heavy, forming earth-like substance that had higher density as he increased his control. He could integrate that ''Earth'' into his body, making him heavier, forming an almost stone-like texture along his other arm, or condense it to form stones and more.
He spent the next hour adjusting, feeling the weight and density settle. When he felt ready, he clenched his rock-hardened fist and slammed it against his leg. The sound of something breaking resonated.
Spikes formed around him, levitating briefly before they were ''attracted'' to his body. The impact was violent, causing him even more pain, but his body healed quickly, the sensation leaving him with a satisfied breath.
He moved on to [Wind], forming blades of invisible pressure that lashed across his body. Each gust was like a razor-sharp edge, cutting into his skin. It took time to control the flow, to make it fast and deadly. His focus tightened as he absorbed the air''s essence, its slicing precision. Thousands of tiny cuts formed, only to disappear as [Adaptive Regeneration] took hold, repairing him continuously.
Then came [Lightning]. Sparks crackled to life, racing along his arms in erratic bolts. It was fast, unpredictable, and he struggled to contain its energy, to control its direction. Another hour passed, and he allowed a bolt to strike his leg, muscles spasming from the shock. The pain was intense, as his body regenerated the damage just as quickly.
He attempted [Light] and [Shadow] next, feeling mana strain as it tried to adapt, but couldn¡¯t quite hold either form. The elements were elusive, almost out of reach, his mana lacking the subtlety to capture them fully.
''Not yet'', he thought. Perhaps he¡¯d gain the ability at a higher level. Space and time manipulation were even worse¡ªthere was no response at all, as if his mana itself did not understand what he was trying to attempt. He laughed quietly, knowing it was an impossible reach¡ for now.
Settling back on the ground, he combined all five mastered elements at once, allowing them to target him simultaneously. Water drilled relentlessly into his skin, fire blazed over his arms, and lightning bolts crackled around his shoulders. Above, jagged earth spikes rained down, while wind blades carved at him with vicious precision.
Kara watched in stunned silence, disbelief filling her eyes.
Through [Soul Link], she felt his agony. His life force fluctuated wildly, each element bringing him close to the edge of death, only for [Adaptive Regeneration] to pull him back, even stronger. Every pulse of his growth echoed in her, heightening her own strength. Who would push themselves like this? She couldn¡¯t fathom it.
A notification flashed before her:
| [High Mana Consumption Rate Detected] |
| [Warning: At current mana usage, Time Space capacity will be depleted within 24 hours.] |
Kara¡¯s anxiety spiked as she glanced back at Sora, his body nearly obscured by the chaos of the elements. He was drenched in sweat, bleeding out, his muscles trembling, his focus unwavering as he absorbed the relentless assault.
¡°What the hell??¡± she muttered, both in awe and disbelief. But she could feel his determination through their bond. There was no stopping him¡ªhe would push himself, whatever the cost, and she would feel the power building within her as well.
Chapter 57 : Rematch
Inside the [Time Space], the day passed slowly. Sora remained seated, his body battered and bruised as he endured the relentless elemental barrage. Water was drilling his body, fire was kissing his skin, lightning jolted through him, earth spikes pounded him, and wind blades sliced at his limbs. It was torturous, but he endured it, focusing on the growth it brought him. When they finally emerged from the [Time Space], Kara looked at him, her face filled with concern.
Seeing his sorry state, she couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Why put yourself through all that? It looks like torture.¡±
Sora gave a small, tired smile, wiping some blood from his face. "I need to grow stronger, and this is the most efficient way I could think of. It may look brutal, but with each hit, I¡¯m training my [Mana Growth] and [Mana Evolution], pushing my body forging to new limits. Every wound sharpens my [Adaptive Regeneration], building my resistance against these elements and increasing my physical defenses. Earth spikes harden my body, improving my physical defense, and wind cuts make my skin harden. I¡¯m forcing myself to grow fast and consistently.¡±
Kara nodded, understanding but still shaken. ¡°I get it, but it''s still insane.¡±
She paused, looking away. ¡°And yet, here I am, getting stronger just by watching you.¡± Her voice held a hint of guilt. "I¡¯m growing without putting in any effort.¡±
Sora shook his head, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s for the best. We both need to grow. I use your innate skill to grow, and I need to pay for rent ! We¡¯re in this together, and the stronger you become, the better our chances of survival. Besides, you can just find another way to grow¡±
Kara gave a small smile, her worry easing. ¡°What a gentleman... Then let¡¯s make it worth our while.¡± She glanced at the [Time Bead] in her hand. ¡°We should charge it more. Only about 20 minutes passed outside, so we have plenty of time. If we charge it more, we can spend more time inside.¡±
Nodding, they started pouring their mana into the [Time Bead], watching as the charge grew steadily. They kept at it for hours, the bead absorbing mana like a black hole, until it was filled to nearly 16 months¡¯ worth of time inside.
Because the mana expenditures were enormous, they were kicked out of the [Time Space] after two months inside. However, taking full advantage of the intense training environment, they both reach new heights. With each passing day, they had became more attuned to their abilities.
Kara had mastered all skills from her extraordinary class, and practiced a few of them to perfection. Sora had heavily focused on forging his body, but developed many new skills. He had finally invested time in something he had neglected for a while : his class higher level skills.
1 day had passed when they finally stepped back into reality, they felt a profound difference. The zone they were in was harmless to them, and the first monster that rushed at them was cut in half with a light swing from Sora''s Staff
They felt in sync with their power, focused and refined. The bond between them had deepened from their shared training, and there was a complicity that was hard to fight before.
As they exited the [Time Space], Sora glanced at their panel, noticing they had just half a day before the war began. He turned to Kara, giving her a knowing look. ¡°We need to meet Richard as planned.¡±
With a brief nod, they each activated their movement skills, disappearing from their location and reappearing instantly in front of the city gate guards.
The guards stumbled back in shock, eyes wide. Sora and Kara tossed them the toll and disappeared again forward, leaving the guards speechless.
¡°What¡ Was that a glitch?¡± one of the guards stuttered before holding his mouth, watching as the two vanished.
As they arrived at the clearing where Sora and Richard had last fought, the memories of the brutal encounter replayed vividly in Sora¡¯s mind. He took a deep breath, the anticipation rising through him, and activated the messaging feature in his Army interface.
He typed a quick message to his former captain, now vice captain, Richard Dosse:
¡°Richard, I¡¯m ready for our rematch.¡±
The message was simple, but it carried the weight of everything he¡¯d endured and everything he¡¯d gained since their last fight. Sora could feel his entire body humming with the power he¡¯d cultivated over their month-long training inside the [Time Space]. He was stronger, sharper, and more attuned to his abilities than ever.
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Kara stood beside him, a quiet pillar of support, her presence a steady reminder of the support she was becoming in his life. She gave him a nod, a silent reminder that she was ready to back him up, no matter what.
Now, all that was left was to wait.
Richard arrived shortly after Sora''s message, walking toward them with another figure at his side. The man beside him looked solid and composed, a green-eyed individual who held himself with the air of a seasoned fighter.
Richard offered a brief nod in greeting, then gestured to his companion. ¡°This is Jordan,¡± he introduced. ¡°Team Leader of the Fourth Team and my old vice-captain before you showed up.¡±
Kara and Sora acknowledged the introduction with their own, using their aliases. ¡°Ralph,¡± Sora said with a slight nod, and Kara simply replied, ¡°Kara.¡±
Richard¡¯s gaze shifted to Sora, giving him a once-over, his eyes lingering on the displayed level. He raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing the jump. ¡°Level 70 already? Quick leveling isn''t the way us strong players grow stronger, but I suppose I won¡¯t judge until I see it for myself.¡± He crossed his arms, offering a faint, almost challenging smile. ¡°Are you ready?¡±
"During these few mont-.." Sora spoke, before changing his words "these days, I realized something. We were parachuted here without knowing anything about the war, and have no idea how events like this war unfold... We''ll gladly accept your guidance. It does not matter who wins or loses today. I will still listen to your lead and manage the company. I am ready"
Richard opened his eyes, noticing the air of arrogance of this person having diminished. "Oh... That''s interesting. I''m even more excited to fight you now. Show me what you''ve learned!"
Sora met his eyes steadily, feeling the energy of the dueling space materialize around them once again. The circular arena expanded, enclosing them and buzzing with a familiar sense of anticipation.
¡°Sure,¡± Sora replied, grounding himself in the center of the space.
[You have accepted the duel against Player Richard Dosse.
Win Reward : 1795 RP
Loss Penalty RP Deduction: -15 RP.
Current RP : 485 (0 win, 1 loss)]
[Duel is about to start]
Three... Two... One.
Richard cracked his neck, settling into a balanced stance. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve learned.¡± The words barely left his mouth before he surged forward, and the duel was on.
The moment the duel began, Sora activated every boost he had. He also released electricity all over the dueling area.
Richard was instantly in front of him, launching a punch to Sora''s face.
Thinking back to the month he spent training, Sora now had an arsenal of skills he wanted to try.
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[Lightning Movement]
Skill Description: Channel the essence of lightning to propel yourself with unparalleled speed. While in motion, the user is immune to damage, becoming one with the lightning that surrounds them.
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| Warning : You can not control lightning while moving. |
Just as Richard¡¯s punch shot forward, Sora¡¯s body shimmered with electric arcs, and in a flash, he vanished. Richard¡¯s punch landed on nothing but air, the force dispersing in a gust of wind.
His eyes widened as he caught sight of Sora reappearing several hundreds of meters away, surrounded by lingering sparks of electricity.
Sora glanced at Richard, catching the flicker of surprise on his face.
¡°Fast,¡± Richard muttered, dropping back into a defensive stance, eyes scanning Sora''s position.
Sora¡¯s body hummed with energy, the arcs of lightning dancing across his skin, ready to spring into action again. This skill was one of many he¡¯d developed, but it had already proven its worth ¡ªhis ace for dodging lethal strikes in the blink of an eye.
He met Richard¡¯s gaze, noticing from his eyes that he was getting serious. This was only the beginning, as he learned many things that made his strength skyrocket.
Sora steadied himself, his eyes narrowing as he activated his elemental abilities in unison. [Water], [Lightning], and [Wind] surged to their fullest, surrounding him with a chaotic vortex of power.
He took a breath, centering his focus as he prepared to unleash his newest skill, [Thunderstorm].
[Thunderstorm]
Skill Description: Conjure a fierce storm that combines the forces of lightning, wind, and thunder. This ability generates a destructive tempest that surrounds the user, unleashing powerful bolts of lightning and devastating wind gusts, amplifying the user''s control over electric and atmospheric elements.
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As the energy built, the wind whipped around him, forming currents that roared with intensity. Rain began to materialize from the air, droplets pelting down with force as they were pulled into the swirling vortex. Lightning arced through the storm, crackling and flashing in brilliant, blinding streaks, the bolts striking randomly within the raging winds.
Richard¡¯s eyes widened as he stepped back, instinctively raising a defensive arm to shield himself from the storm¡¯s onslaught. ¡°A full elemental assault¡¡± he muttered, his gaze steely but undeniably impressed. "Wasn''t this guy a warrior ?", he added, mostly to himself.
The storm continued to build, spinning faster with each passing moment as Sora fed it more of his mana. The lightning surged within, becoming almost a cage of pure, destructive energy, and the wind howled with a ferocity that shook the ground beneath them.
Sora could feel the strain of making it grow any bigger, but he focused, his control honed from countless hours of being beaten up by these same elements.
He locked eyes with Richard, raising a hand, signaling that the storm wasn¡¯t about to relent. ¡°Ready for more?¡± he called out, his voice barely audible over the roar of the storm.
Richard¡¯s expression hardened, and he shifted his stance, barely seeing anything because of the [Thunderstorm].
The duel had only just begun.
Chapter 58 : The New Captain
The moment Sora unleashed [Thunderstorm], he felt its chaotic energy pulse in the air around him. With each passing second, the vortex of wind, water, and lightning intensified. He had the option to control it further, focusing on damaging specific areas, or to release his control and let it wreak havoc.
He chose to release it. He needed the chaos created by the spell more than its destructive power.
Taking a steadying breath, he summoned the element of fire, red and blue sparks flickered in his palms. Fire orbs appeared across the storm, igniting in mid-air. Evaporating the rain that poured from the dark clouds above, thick steam started rising to shroud the area in a dense mist.
Sora could perfectly see Richard¡¯s figure through the haze with his [Mana Eyes]. Richard had taken flight, floating above the ground to gain a better vantage point. He scanned the misty dueling area, searching for any sign of Sora.
Without a sound, Sora activated [Lightning Movement], his body zig-zagging through the storm with blinding speed. He reappeared directly above Richard, electricity crackling along his frame. A new faint yellow glow around him, illuminating the area with an eerie light.
Sensing a presence, Richard¡¯s gaze shot upward. His eyes widened as he saw the aura surrounding Sora and, for a moment, confusion flickered across his face. ¡°Earth Element?¡± he blurted out, surprised by his fighting style. ¡°How many elements does this guy control?¡±
Instinctively, he reached for his weapon, unsheathing it with a fluid, practiced motion. Sora caught the sight of the weapon and smiled. This was the first time Richard had drawn his weapon, and it felt like a small victory. .
Sora clenched his fists, focusing on transforming his mana. His entire arm pulsed with strength as he channeled it into his attack, summoning his new skill, [Earth''s Fury].
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[Earth''s Fury]
Skill Description: Channel the strength of the Earth into your body or weapon, amplifying your strikes. This skill can be used for defense and offence.
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With his body empowered by the earth element, Sora threw his punch with everything he had. The sheer force behind it made the air ripple, creating shockwaves that seemed to distort reality around his fist.
Richard moved to counter, swinging his weapon to intercept, but the force behind Sora¡¯s punch was devastating. As their attacks connected, Richard¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. He felt the impact through his entire body, as if he¡¯d slammed his weapon against a wall of steel. His weapon vibrated violently, almost slipping from his grip, and a sharp pain shot up his arm as he bled from his fingers.
Sora¡¯s punch landed violently on Richard¡¯s chest, the impact sending him flying downward like a ragdoll. He crashed through the mist, plummeting towards the ground at an extremely fast speed..
Richard hit the earth like a cannonball, a crater beneath him as the shockwaves spread outward. Dust and debris flew into the air, dissipating part of the fog.
Sora was standing in the sky through his control over water, creating two water disks he could stand on. He had other ways to achieve a similar result, but he liked this way the most. With yellow aura still crackling around him, he watched Richard lying on his back, momentarily motionless. He took a deep breath, the unusual thrill of the fight burning like fire within him. ''This is a new feeling... I never knew I would love fighting to this extent''. He was surprised by the fire within him..
Slowly, Richard pushed himself to his feet, breathing heavily, his face etched with pain and blood blurring his vision. "You''ve reached this level in a few days ..." he told Sora, with shock on his face.
Richard murmured under his breath, ¡°I¡¯ll have to try harder now¡ This guy is a monster, forcing me to change forms when he¡¯s only level 70.¡± As the words left his mouth, his body began to shift and swell, muscles bulging, and a palpable aura of power radiated from him. He was activating multiple buffs, and something stronger...
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Sora¡¯s eyes narrowed as he watched the transformation unfold. Is this a transformation skill? He wondered, noticing Richard''s injuries healing, replaced by newfound vitality and strength. In a few seconds, Richard seemed stronger, faster, and the pressure radiating from him was immense. Sora could feel some sort of suppression weighing on him, trying to limit his strength.
Their fight resumed with renewed intensity. Sora moved with speed, his [Lightning Movement] making him a blur, but even as he struck, Richard¡¯s transformed body took the blows with ease. Sora summoned his [Wind Blades], sending them hurtling toward Richard, only for them to glance off his skin harmlessly. He clenched his fists, focusing his energy into [Earth¡¯s Fury] and throwing a powerful punch. Richard staggered back, his feet dragging against the air, but he barely seemed fazed.
''I can''t hurt him anymore through elements'' Sora thought, frustration building up. ''I''ll try to exhaust him with my body strength then...''
They clashed again and again, each exchange growing more violent. Sora¡¯s strikes were relentless, but Richard¡¯s form seemed impenetrable, his movements heavier and stronger with each passing second. Richard was gaining ground, getting closer and closer to victory, injuring his opponent heavily.
Five grueling minutes of relentless battle passed, with one fighter bruised and battered, and the other seemingly all powerful each strike echoing in the skies like thunder. But as they locked eyes, Sora noticed a subtle shift in Richard¡¯s expression¡ªa faint flicker of fatigue.
Richard¡¯s form began to waver, his body deflating, shrinking back to its original size. His chest heaved, his breaths labored. ¡°You¡ I¡¯ve lost,¡± he admitted, a look of disbelief on his face.
He glanced at Sora, who stood firm, his expression unreadable. ¡°You¡¯ve somehow surpassed me,¡± Richard said, shaking his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of talent, skills, or opportunity let you grow like this¡ but it¡¯s beyond what I¡¯ve seen. You can even survive my Juggernaut form¡± He let out a bitter chuckle, then nodded, a look of admiration in his eyes. ¡°Now, in terms of power at least, you truly deserve the captain position, Ralph.¡±
Sora held his gaze, feeling the weight of Richard¡¯s words. He had fought his hardest, but this victory wasn''t easy. He had trained to the point that his body was enough to fight average level 100 players. However, against the level 95 it wasn''t even enough to overwhelm him...
As expected, the elite players had aces up their sleeves.
Sora was taken aback by Richard¡¯s honesty and sense of fair play. Despite being a powerful warrior, this guy had an almost old-fashioned sense of honor¡ªsomething rare in these times. He respected it, even if it did catch him off guard.
Richard turned to him and said, "Summon the Company. There¡¯s something they need to hear."
Sora immediately understood. He nodded and opened his Military Interface, selecting the [Military Summon] option. Instantly, from the way Kara, Jordan, and Richard glanced at the air and dismissed something, they must have received the notification as well.
Within a minute, the remaining members of the Company began to appear around them. As Sora scanned the crowd, he noticed they were quite an impressive force. Everyone stood at least at level 70, except for two players, each at level 69. The team leaders ranged between levels 80 and 90, with Jordan standing at an imposing level 91. This Company was impressive, though he couldn¡¯t compare them to other companies.
Richard stepped forward, and the entire crowd fell silent. Though younger than many, his presence and charisma commanded respect. He looked around, his gaze holding each person before he finally spoke.
"Thank you all for coming," he began, his tone firm. "Up until now, you¡¯ve been under my orders, following my lead. And I thank each of you for your efforts in this war¡ even if some of you have been more of a hindrance than a help." His eyes flicked to a squad of five shaved young men standing in the back, looking rather guilty. They shivered under his gaze, while the rest of the crowd suppressed chuckles, struggling to keep straight faces.
Richard continued, "We have always been considered a group of troublemakers because of our lack of discipline and the overall weakness of our company. However, today marks a turning point. I¡¯ve always said the strong lead the weak. And now, an opportunity has presented itself to follow that principle. As of today, your new Company leader is Ralph Eden."
A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd. Many seemed taken aback, as if they hadn¡¯t expected this. Some exchanged skeptical glances, while others appeared outright confused. ''Wasn¡¯t there an agreement between them? Wasn¡¯t this guy supposed to be weaker than Richard?''
Richard raised a hand, and silence quickly fell. ¡°Yes, I know this is unexpected. But I¡¯ve just lost a duel to Ralph in the [Rematch] he requested. He is now stronger than I am, and by our code, that makes him the rightful leader of the Company. I ask that you respect him, follow him, and look forward to what lies ahead under his leadership. "
The crowd stood stunned, processing Richard¡¯s words. He looked at them, his expression unwavering. ¡°His experience being insufficient, I''m counting on everyone to cooperate and help with what you can. I assure you, you will be happy to have him covering your back during the war. Such privilege, make sure you live up to it. Salute your new captain!¡±
Chapter 59 : Dark Elves
Richard spent the next half hour going over the basics of the team structure, introducing each of the team leaders, and detailing the intricacies of the upcoming war. Sora listened quietly, taking mental notes and occasionally exchanging glances with Kara to ensure they were both following along.
Richard finally wrapped up, and Sora took a moment to summarize, solidifying his understanding.
''War is different from what I believed. Basically, it¡¯s a massive PVP event¡ª5,000 players against 5,000,'' Sora thought, piecing together the details. ''Whoever wins secures control of the territory, which in our case is Sweden.''
He remembered the two phases Richard had described. ''The war starts with Phase One: skirmishes, where both sides aim to rack up points. These points allow access to the [War Shop], which opens at the end of Phase One. Then comes the main event, Phase Two, a 5,000 vs. 5,000 all-out battle where everything¡¯s on the line.''
Sora looked back at Richard, a question forming in his mind. ¡°Why bother with Phase One? Why not just dive into the main battle?¡±
Richard nodded, as if expecting the question. ¡°Phase One gives the defending side time to gather strength. The attackers usually take their time to prepare thoroughly for war, but defending a homeland demands quick, reactive force. The first phase gives every player a chance to accumulate merit and points in each fight without the risk of dying, since we revive after battles in Phase One.¡±
¡°Still,¡± he added, ¡°the side that¡¯s more prepared tends to gain the upper hand in skirmishes, meaning they can stock up on buffs and debuffs in the [War Shop] to turn the tide in their favor for Phase Two.¡±
Richard explained that the [War Shop] offered a vast array of items: gear, potions, even specific [War Buffs] that could strengthen their side. There were also [War Debuffs], designed to weaken the opposing faction in strategic ways.
He paused, casting a shadowed look around the assembled team leaders. ¡°We¡¯ve lost the first three battles,¡± he said, his tone somber. ¡°Out of three. And today, we¡¯re heading into the fourth, and final battle of Phase One.¡±
After a while, a [Military Order] flashed in front of everyone in the Company, instructing them to follow their Captain and assemble at Treriksr?set in an hour.
Sora and Kara joined with the rest of the Company and began the journey. The frontline lay just a few kilometers away from Treriksr?set¡ªthe meeting point of Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Known as Three-Country Cairn,It was a small point where the three borders met. Now, it served as the main strategic location in the war, as the Dark Elf Kingdom waged an attack on all three nations from this single, shared border.
They left Stockholm, heading toward the extreme north of Sweden. Running together in groups of ten, each team used speed buffs to cover the distance quickly. Within moments, they reached the [Military Camp] near the border, where a sprawling setup awaited.
Richard led Sora and Kara to their battalion¡¯s designated area, where they found the Colonel, Oliver Evans, already present, his posture rigid as he surveyed the troops. Around them, four other battalions were stationed, all seemingly waiting for something or someone.
A few minutes later, a figure emerged from the largest tent. According to Richard, most of the seasoned players who chose to participate in the war were military troops sent by their country. Seeing the General appear, most players gave a military salute. Sora and Kara, momentarily taken by surprise, remained still, uncertain whether to salute.
Missing the timing to salute, Sora took a closer look. The woman looked to be around 30 years old, with an elegant, confident presence. Her black hair was tied in the air, and her dark cloak partially concealed an arsenal of weapons. Glints of metal peeked out from her sleeves, and daggers rested against her pants¡ª hinting at an Assassin class player. As her gaze swept across the crowd, her eyes met Sora¡¯s, lingering for a moment before moving to Kara. She showed no sign of what she thought, her expression remaining completely unreadable. Above her head, there were question marks where her level should be, and her Adventurer¡¯s Guild badge displayed a symbol he didn¡¯t recognize.
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Richard leaned over and whispered, ¡°She¡¯s the General of the Swedish division for this war. That¡¯s Asami Hito, a level 132 player from Japan. You¡¯d best avoid annoying her.¡±
Hearing her level, Sora¡¯s eyes widened. She was more than 50 levels above him! No wonder he couldn¡¯t see her level.
Asami began to speak, her voice commanding, yet calm. ¡°I¡¯ll keep this short. We¡¯ve lost the first three battles, and this is our last chance to turn the tides and secure our standing for Phase Two. Prepare yourselves for combat.¡±
Sora was surprised. ''This is it?''. He¡¯d never been one for long speeches, and her approach suited him perfectly, but it did not feel like it had any impact on troops...
Moments later, a colossal structure appeared in the sky, descending toward the ground with a thunderous impact. A massive coliseum took shape, its walls stretching high and encircling the battleground. Without warning, Sora and his Company were transported to the southern side of the arena. Across from them, the Dark Elf Kingdom¡¯s soldiers materialized on the northern side.
The east and west sides of the arena held rows upon rows of ghostly figures, spectating with an eerie stillness. Sora couldn¡¯t discern their features clearly, but he felt the weight of their collective gaze.
Above the coliseum, glowing letters materialized in the sky:
| [PVP Event: Dark Elf Kingdom vs New World Kingdom] |
| [Category: Tier 4 War] |
| [Reward: Sweden Territory Ownership] |
| [Content: Greetings, Week 4] |
Sora¡¯s mouth dropped. This was Tier 4? With this many high-level players? He couldn¡¯t fathom the power required for Tier 3, let alone the levels above it. And this was only a ¡°greeting¡± phase?
A Notification popped up before him, prompting him to select his squad, team, and company members. Knowing the format, he turned to Richard, ¡°Who are our weakest players?¡±
Richard pointed to a group of young men with shaved heads and another smaller group. Sora quickly gathered the 10 players, assigning four to his squad and four to Kara¡¯s, while the squad leaders went to join other squads.
Sora chose the two squads as his team, and selected his whole company as his company members.
It seemed their division was prepared in advance by the Adventurer''s guild to avoid wasting time making teams minutes before the battle.
Another bright light descended from the sky, and suddenly, a wave of energy pulsed through the arena. Every player above level 80 had their level forcibly capped at 80.
Richard groaned as his power diminished. ¡°Damn it! I hate this feeling,¡± he grumbled, clenching his fists as he adjusted to the enforced restriction. Kara and Sora were unaffected;
With the teams set, Sora and Kara prepared to lead their squads into battle. This was the beginning of something massive, and they had only one chance to make it count.
A notification flashed before everyone:
[Squads who have been notified, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight.]
The ground trembled slightly as a hundred squads from each side began moving toward their designated areas in the coliseum, readying themselves for the first round of skirmishes. Sora scanned the arena, noticing that neither his squad nor Kara¡¯s had been chosen for the initial wave. However, he caught sight of Richard preparing to step into the fray.
Sora gave him a smile. ¡°Good luck out there. Smash their skulls in the ground¡±
Richard''s face turned black, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. ¡°Forget about that please...¡± he replied before disappearing into the arena, making his way to the battlefield with his squad.
Kara moved closer to Sora, her eyes following Richard until he was out of sight. ¡°You''re so petty... Look at the number of fighting fields, it looks like they¡¯re running 100 fights at a time,¡± she murmured. ¡°All 5,000 players will fight in these 5v5 skirmishes... Who knows when our turn will come up?¡±
Sora nodded, glancing around the bustling arena as more squads assembled for their upcoming battles. ¡°Yeah, could be anytime. Let''s see how our squads fare against the enemy''s¡±
They watched as the first wave of fighters took to their positions, the tension thickened as battles began, echoing across the coliseum. Sora could feel the anticipation building, both within himself and throughout the arena, as they waited for their own call to fight.
Sora turned his gaze toward the northern side of the arena, where the dark elf squads had gathered. They exuded an imposing presence, even from a distance. The dark elves were tall and slender, with sharp features and silver hair that gave them a beautiful look. Their skin ranged from pale gray to deep ash, and their eyes¡ªshades of red, violet, and green¡ªshone with intensity. They also had their characteristic point ears.
As Sora scanned their ranks, he noticed the average level of the dark elf squads was significantly higher than that of his side. Even the more modest-looking players were around level 73, with the majority being around level 77 or more. Their team leaders were all above level 80.
Kara stepped up beside him. ¡°They¡¯re ahead of us in levels,¡± she murmured, frowning. ¡°It looks like they still have the advantage.¡±
Sora nodded thoughtfully. The first three battles had been tough, and now he understood why.
¡°This isn''t looking good for our faction,¡± Sora replied, assessing the situation. ¡°They¡¯re strong¡±
Chapter 60 : Forget about Dre !
As Sora observed, a countdown appeared in the sky, ticking away the seconds. Most players used the time to mentally prepare themselves, focusing on the upcoming battle.
The counter hit zero.
Suddenly, flashes of light ignited across a hundred fighting arenas. It was impossible to track all the battles, so Sora focused on the fights involving his company soldiers. Coincidentally, two squads from his company had been chosen.
Sora quickly assessed Richard''s team : a healer, a buffer, an archer, and a wizard. Without hesitation, Richard activated his transformation and charged at the enemy, pulling them toward him with a crowd control skill to keep them within his reach. He locked his focus on the opposing healer, grabbing him by the neck while pushing the enemy tank aside with his other hand. Richard¡¯s teammates poured all their firepower into the helpless Dark Elf healer.
As the healer''s health dipped dangerously low, Richard delivered one last punch, finishing him off. From there, the fight became a clean sweep. Richard controlled the battlefield, and overpowered the tank opposing him, ensuring his team stayed safe as they dismantled the opposition. Within 30 seconds, all five enemies had fallen to Richard¡¯s strikes.
Sora received a series of notifications:
| [Your Team Vice Captain Richard Dosse Squad won a Squad Fight. +5 points.]
|
| [Your Team Vice Captain Richard Dosse Squad won a Squad Fight Flawlessly. +5 points.]
|
| [Your Team Vice Captain Richard Dosse Aced in a Squad Fight. +10 points.] |
Sora¡¯s eyebrows shot up in surprise. A flawless victory consisted on everyone in the team surviving, while an ¡°Ace¡± needed one player finish every kill. This was valuable information.
In another arena, a different squad from his company was battling level 78 enemies, with an opposing squad leader at level 88. Their melee fighters charged forward, attempting to lock down the enemy¡¯s ranged attackers and control the fight. But while they managed to take down the enemy wizard, the rest of the skirmish didn¡¯t go their way.
A notification appeared:
| [Your Team Soldiers Ryan¡¯s Squad lost a Squad Fight. +0 points.]
[Casualties: 5 Players.] |
Death was only possible in the second phase. Sure enough, Sora spotted Ryan¡¯s squad members reappearing nearby, looking disappointed but alive. Richard approached them, thanking them for their efforts and congratulating them for not allowing the enemy team to secure a flawless victory.
¡°They had a Vice-Captain, and they couldn¡¯t even get a perfect win,¡± Richard commented with a smile. He seemed to have a keen understanding of the enemy''s ranks and team compositions.
Sora joined him, and together they watched the ensuing battles, studying the other squads until, finally, it was their turn.
As the last wave of the first round approached, [Squads who have been notified, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight] appeared overhead. A hundred squads from each side moved into position.
Both Sora and Kara¡¯s squads were chosen.
Kara glanced at him, her eyes fierce with confidence. ¡°Let''s grab those 20 points,¡± she said.
Sora nodded.
They appeared on their respective rings alongside their teammates.
Kara took her position behind her squad, rallying them with a commanding shout, ¡°Go all out, I¡¯ll keep everyone alive!¡±
Sora stepped to the front of his squad, turning back to his team. ¡°Make sure you don¡¯t die. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡±
As the fight began, Sora activated [Mana Shield] on each of his teammates, and then gripped [Ruyi Jingu Bang] tightly. He infused mana into the legendary staff, causing it to expand as he swung it. His first target, the enemy squad leader, rushed to block the attack. However, as the staff made contact, the leader¡¯s defenses crumbled. His shields shattered, and even his armor seemed useless as he was hit with overwhelming force.
The enemy leader was nearly folded in half by the strike, colliding into one of his own teammates, dazing both of them. The other three opponents, caught off guard by the speed and power of the attack, couldn¡¯t react in time. The staff plowed through them, reducing them to light particles instantly.
In a matter of seconds, only the injured squad leader and the stunned soldier remained. Without hesitation, Sora released two [Wind Blades], cutting down the last two enemies.
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Notifications flooded his vision:
| [Your Team Squad won a Squad Fight. +5 points.]
|
| [Your Team Squad won a Squad Fight Flawlessly. +5 points.]
|
| [You Aced in a Squad Fight. +10 points.] |
| [XP Gained : War Experience boost x5]
|
| [Level Up!] |
Sora clenched his fists from excitement ! He didn''t have enough time to reach a higher level when training. And now he could slowly catch up to others who were level 80 on this battlefield.
He smiled slightly, feeling a rush of satisfaction as he read the rewards. This battle was only beginning, but already he could feel the thrill of growing stronger through fights.
As Sora reappeared in the stands, his eyes instantly found Kara''s fight below. She had taken a strategic approach, choosing to hide her offensive abilities and focus on supporting her squad.
He watched as Kara activated [Soul Link] with each of her four teammates, letting her absorb any damage they took. The opposing team struck with brutal force, but thanks to Kara¡¯s seemingly endless life force, every hit was little more than a drop in the ocean¡ªabsorbed and instantly healed.
Choosing not to buff her team, she wanted to see what they could handle on their own. They had to learn to stand strong even if she wasn¡¯t there to buff them in future fights. "Don''t hold back; focus on taking one of them down!" Kara commanded.
Her teammates, though weaker, became emboldened as they realized what she meant by "keeping them alive." They began to take risks, lunging at the enemy with newfound bravery. With the quicker enemies slipping out of reach, they had no choice but to focus on the one target they could contain. After a few exchanges, they¡¯d settled on such a dumb strategy: ignoring the usual approach of targeting lightly-armored enemies and instead focusing all their attacks on the Dark Elf tank.
''Going after the tank? They sure trust me to keep them alive ,'' Kara mused.
Her squad consisted of four melee fighters, and they worked together to corner the Dark Elf tank, hammering him relentlessly.
Sora said to Richard "What an embarrassing team.."
Richard added, "The enemies aren''t idiots. They''ll target Vice-Captain Kara soon enough."
Sora smiled at those words but did not answer.
As if listening to Richard''s thoughts, the Dark Elf Warrior shouted to his teammates. ¡°Carl, Trek¡ªgo for their leader! We need her down if we¡¯re going to turn this around!¡±
The assassin moved like a shadow, slipping past the melee brawl, while the archer readied his bow, sighting Kara.
She didn¡¯t flinch, sidestepping arrows with an agility that made her appear like an agility class herself. Her focus was locked on the assassin as she maintained [Soul Link] with her squad.
"[Life Prison]", Kara muttered.
A cage of light dropped from the sky, trapping the area just as the Dark Elf assassin appeared.
She had used [Life Detection] to track his path, knowing exactly where he¡¯d emerge. He was trapped, the duration of his imprisonment tied directly to the power gap between them¡ªand from the look of things, the odds weren¡¯t in his favor.
¡°It says I¡¯m stuck here for 24 hours! This is some high-level cage skill¡ªshe probably can¡¯t use more than one at a time!¡± the assassin relayed frantically through their voice chat, clearly panicked.
"We can''t let her stay alive¡ªshe''s carrying their whole team!¡± the warrior growled. ¡°But with a skill like that, there¡¯s no way she has more than one in her arsenal!"
"What about Dre? He''s being bombarbed" asked the archer, glancing back at their tank struggling under the onslaught.
"Forget about Dre, take care of the girl !" The warrior quickly answered
With their tank pinned down, the Dark Elf archer and warrior shifted their focus entirely to Kara, charging at her with everything they had. As the archer let loose a charged arrow, and the assassin reinforced it with a damage boost, the warrior barreled toward her, determined to shatter her defenses.
But as the warrior closed in, another light cage materialized, blocking his path. He looked down in shock, his attack bouncing harmlessly off the barrier. He swung his weapon, hacking at it in frustration, while the archer¡¯s arrow whizzed past Kara, barely missing her.
Watching from the sidelines, Richard let out an impressed whistle. ¡°Now that''s the kind of healer I want on my team. Not one that cries about having no survival skills.¡±
Sora chuckled, his eyes never leaving the fight. ¡°Their strategy might have worked against any other healer, but Kara is in another league.¡±
The battle raged on as Kara¡¯s squad pressed their advantage. They pummeled the Dark Elf tank until he finally fell to their assassin¡¯s high-damage strikes. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, they turned to the trapped assassin, who disintegrated into light particles within seconds, followed soon after by the warrior.
Now only the Dark Elf archer and healer remained. The pair tried desperately to escape Kara¡¯s relentless team, turning the fight into a frantic game of cat and mouse. Kara sighed, half-amused and half-bemused by the spectacle before her. ''How have these four survived this long?'' she wondered, then remembered that this was only the war¡¯s ¡°greetings¡± phase, where death wasn¡¯t permanent.
She cast a speed buff, amplifying her squad¡¯s speed, and within moments, the assassin caught up with the Dark Elf healer, stunning him through his shield. Her teammates closed in, breaking his defenses and finishing him off with a final, coordinated strike.
The archer, now alone, raised his chin defiantly as he glared at Kara. ¡°This isn¡¯t over, healer,¡± he spat. ¡°This was an unfair fight, and you¡¯re only winning because of your special skill. We¡¯ll have our revenge on the main battlefield. Don¡¯t get too comfortable.¡±
Kara returned his stare with a calm, steady gaze, unfazed. ¡®If only you knew how little I¡¯ve actually done,¡¯ she thought to herself, holding back a smile.
Sora received a notification as the final strike landed, showing the rewards for an ace and a flawless victory, and smiled. This was expected, and she even managed to hide most of her strength.
Chapter 61 : This is Madness
Richard turned to Sora with a serious expression. ¡°Check the war menu,¡± he said. ¡°You should see some new options there. Captains have more information¡±
Sora glanced at his status panel, spotting a new tab that hadn¡¯t been there before. He selected it, revealing the [War Menu]. A list of stats and summaries appeared, and as he began to read through them, he shared the details with Kara and Richard.
¡°So, it says here we¡¯ve won 400 squad battles and lost 600¡¡± Sora''s voice faltered slightly, the weight of the losses unpleasant. ¡°That¡¯s¡ not great.¡±
Richard crossed his arms, nodding solemnly. ¡°Yeah, it''s rough. But we knew they had the advantage in terms of levels and troop experience. It was actually way worse before reinforcements came¡±
Sora scrolled down, and more stats filled the display. ¡°It shows they¡¯ve had 187 aces and 115 flawless victories.¡±
Richard smirked slightly. ¡°That¡¯s not surprising. Going for a flawless win is usually harder than aiming for an ace. When you¡¯re trying to get that last blow with one teammate, it can mean sacrifices¡ªone or two players might get picked off. They¡¯re focusing on Aces as they give more points.¡±
Sora scanned further down. ¡°We¡¯ve managed 152 aces ourselves and¡ 130 flawless victories.¡±
Kara¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. ¡°Wait, we got more flawless wins than they did?¡±
Richard nodded, a bit of pride flickering in his expression. ¡°We may be outnumbered, but we¡¯ve got some serious talent. We pulled in elite forces from all over the New European Union. Most of our captains and vice captains are top-notch players. However, our squad members are local military forces as we couldn''t request too many reinforcements. The war in Dubai requested even more reinforcements than we did and NEU also sent reinforcement there. Our strategy¡¯s different, as we focused on elite troops to win the main battle. Even then, we have thousands of players who are even better than us and did not come back for the war... I wonder why.¡± Sora processed the information, a sense of hope mingling with the urgency of their situation. ¡°So, maybe we have a chance at winning the war?¡±
Richard shook his head, a grim look crossing his face as he reviewed the numbers. ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. Sure, we¡¯re way stronger than a few weeks ago, but I can''t say for certain that¡¯ll be enough. They¡¯ve held onto a solid lead, and we¡¯re still playing catch-up.¡± He glanced at Sora, then added, ¡°Check the overall score¡ªonly captains and above can access it.¡±
Sora continued scanning the screen until he found the summary. He read it aloud for the benefit of his vice captains. ¡°In this round, we won 4,170 points, but they scored 5,445 points. Total so far is 41,895 to 24,870... Damn, they¡¯re really ahead.¡±
Kara sighed as she heard the numbers. Richard ran a hand through his hair, visibly frustrated. ¡°We¡¯re looking at a massive gap, and they¡¯ll probably use the points for one hell of a debuff in the final battle.¡± He looked around, sensing the tension rising among the team leaders who overheard. ¡°It¡¯ll hurt, but we¡¯ll have to face it head-on,¡± he added resolutely.
Sora turned and looked at his company, all divided into squads and teams, some of them discussing the results of their recent battles. He saw the mix of relief and frustration on their faces¡ªmany had given it their all, but a handful wore faces full of self-blame. They knew the stakes were only getting higher.
He turned back to Richard, a question forming in his mind. ¡°Are there bonuses from winning flawlessly or killing all enemies in the next battle?¡±
Richard laughed, his tone a little lighter this time. ¡°That¡¯s the kind of wishful thinking only a newcomer would have! Both generals tried going for full Aces and flawless wins in the second wave of fights. Even when Generals got close, there were always casualties on both sides. If one player tries to hog all the kills, it means the rest have to hold back¡ªand that¡¯s when it starts falling apart.¡± He shook his head. ¡°People lost entire companies that way. So, no one tries it anymore.¡±
Sora nodded slowly, taking in Richard¡¯s words. It made sense; even the strongest players faced limitations, especially when held to level 80. Still, something in him stirred, a lingering desire to attempt the impossible.
''My strength and innate skill would be wasted if I don''t even try going for it''
The second wave of battles was set to start in 30 minutes. Sora opened the company chat, summoning everyone. He could feel their collective focus shifting towards him as they connected.
¡°Let¡¯s talk strategy for the 100 vs. 100,¡± he began, his voice calm but carrying a weight of authority. ¡°I¡¯ve been watching your fights, and I¡¯m gonna be honest with you: our company didn¡¯t perform as well as others. We¡¯re below average. We can¡¯t keep handing points over to the enemy like this.¡±
A murmur rippled through the company, a few voices muttering in agreement. He continued, ¡°We racked up 4 flawless victories and 4 Aces, thanks to Kara, Richard and Jordan. But our results were lacking. Our company handed Dark Elves 13 fights and a whole lot of extra points.¡±
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He took a breath, steeling himself as he prepared to lay out his plan. ¡°What I¡¯m about to suggest, plenty of others have tried before us. I¡¯m not pretending it¡¯s a new idea.¡±
One of the Team Leaders, a grizzled soldier named Slim, cut in. ¡°You¡¯re talking about a total Ace? One player taking out all the enemies? Or a Flawless?¡±
Sora nodded. ¡°We will attempt both. But the main goal is the Ace.¡±
A chorus of skepticism filled the group, mingled with curiosity. Another Team leader spoke up, ¡°But that¡¯s crazy! If we try that and mess up, we¡¯re handing over points like candy.¡±
The company may be presented to the world as an army corps, but it was full of players, and players of company weren''t real soldiers. They saw how real soldiers fought and lived, and they weren''t ready to live such a life.
Richard''s voice chimed in, steady and resolute. ¡°Look, our captain is right. I''ve seen his strength, and we can do it. If you listen to the arrangements, we can make it work. And let¡¯s face it, the current strategy isn¡¯t cutting it. We¡¯re going to keep losing ground unless we try something new.¡±
Sora continued, ¡°Right now, we''re considered one of the weakest companies in this Coliseum. And we have to make use of that. We''ll take them by surprise. And they''ll regret giving us the chance to act. And I swear you can count on me to make these words into reality. We will crush them.¡±
They didn''t know why, but the players in the company started believing Sora as he made his speech.
Richard smiled, an evil grin on his face. ¡°Let¡¯s give them a reason to sweat. They''ll taste hell, like I did.¡±
Over the next ten minutes, Sora outlined his strategy, detailing the timing, the roles, and the adjustments each squad would need to make. As he spoke, the doubts in the company gradually turned into murmurs of disbelief.
One squad leader chimed in again. ¡°There is no way you can do all of this, right? If we believe you, we''re basically cheerleaders.¡±
Sora finished, ¡°Follow my instructions, I''m confident in doing my part! But you need to stay alive at all costs.¡±
As the players buzzed with newfound determination, Sora looked at the sky, feeling the weight of their expectations settling on his shoulders. He glanced at Kara and Richard. ¡°This will go down as an epic victory.¡±
Richard smirked, his eyes glinting with excitement. ¡°This strategy ... This is not a strategy! This is madness! But if we¡¯re going out, we¡¯re going out with a bang.¡±
Soon, words appeared in the sky:
| [Companies who have been notified, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight.] |
Five companies from each side were summoned. Sora and his teammates barely spared them a glance, too focused on preparing a plan to counter each situation. Their captain¡¯s plan was undeniably bold, maybe even crazy, but they were tired of handing points over to the enemy. They trusted Richard when he said the Captain was a monster. It was time for a change.
Sora took a moment to review the skills in his arsenal, refined over hours in the [Time Space] and during his relentless training since arriving in Paris. His Martial Titan class had unlocked a variety of powerful skills, some of which he copied and recreated and evolved as he pushed his limits.
''It''s been a while since i''ve last used my class skills. The Martial Titan really has decent skills for a tank class''.
| [Blood Clone]
Description: Summon copies of yourself by drawing on the strength of your blood. These clones can be ordered to use skills at the cost of blood. Their strength is a portion of the original¡¯s power, scaled to your achievements in Supreme Skill.
Effect: Affected by your [Eternal Body Craft] and limited to ten clones at present.
Effect: Affected by your [Mana Evolution], it gains the ability to store mana and self-detonate. |
| [Wind Whip]
Description: Shape wind into a thorned whip that can extend at will, lashing out with incredible reach. |
| [Earth Dome]
Description: Create a protective or trapping dome of earth around a designated area. |
| [Ice Rain]
Description: Summon rain with mana-controlled droplets that freeze mid-air. The size of ice drops, velocity and quantity of the ice depend on the amount of mana used. |
|
[Titan''s Might]
Description: Plant your feet in the ground, make your blood boil, and unleash your full potential. You will be immune to any crowd control effects for 10 seconds.
|
| [Titanic Strike]
Description: Channel your maximum strength into a ground strike, sending a shockwave that stuns or trips enemies within a radius proportional to your body level. |
| [Extreme Bloodlust]
Description: Unleash your emotions, strength, and mana to create an overwhelming shadow of yourself that terrifies enemies and disrupts their ability to use mana. The skill¡¯s effectiveness depends on the intensity of your emotions, mana control, and strength. |
| [Blizzard]
Description: Summon water and slow its mana flow until it freezes, forming a blizzard around you. Enemies on the frozen ground are slowed, and those caught in the blizzard experience further effects. |
|
[Floor is Lava]
Description: Combine Earth and Fire to cover the ground with a layer of molten earth with intense heat, covering it in a substance that burns all who step onto it.
|
Sora¡¯s most significant development, however, was a new addition to [Mana Evolution]: a sub-effect within his Mana Customization that allowed for unparalleled flexibility.
| Sub-effect: [Elemental Control]. By recreating elements through [Mana Customization], you unlock a sub-effect allowing for perfect skill creation based on your comprehension of each element.
Elements Unlocked: 5. |
Sora grinned as he scrolled through his skill panel. With this range of abilities, he felt like the sky was the limit. He was ready to unleash everything in the battles ahead.
Chapter 62 : Massacre
As the sixth wave of battles concluded with a Dark Elf victory, both sides were neck and neck, each winning 15 battles so far. The humans were performing better than in the previous round, but they had already used three out of their five colonels, and even their general, Asami Hito, had fought. She nearly achieved a flawless victory, but two players were picked off by a suicide squad of assassins who struck at the edges of the company¡¯s formation, narrowly avoiding a perfect outcome for the New World Kingdom.
More words soon appeared in the sky:
| [Companies who have been notified, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight.] |
This time, Sora¡¯s company was summoned.
He turned to his team, meeting each gaze and seeing the hope they''d placed on their strategy. ¡°Let¡¯s get those points!¡± he commanded, and his company roared with a fighting spirit that echoed across the field.
They soon appeared on the battlefield. However, the sight that met them made many in Sora¡¯s company falter. Confusion and a hint of fear flickered across their faces.
Seeing this reaction, Sora asked Richard, who had a grim expression as if he¡¯d tasted something foul, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
Before Richard could answer, a voice boomed from across the field. The enemy company leader sneered, ¡°The strongest Dark Elf Colonel Company versus the weakest Human Company... Looks like I get to farm some free points today. Let me show you the way to Heaven.¡±
Sora instantly understood. They had been matched against one of the strongest enemy companies. His lips twitched with a grin¡ªthere might need to be a small tweak in the plan to avoid casualties, but that would be it. His confidence remained unshaken.
In response, he retorted, ¡°That¡¯s what she said.¡±
The human troops paused, a few stifling laughs that quickly turned into uproarious guffaws.
¡°Who?¡± demanded the Dark Elf colonel, confused by the joke.
¡°Your mother,¡± Sora shot back, an embarrassed smile on his face.
The Dark Elf colonel was left gritting his teeth, but before he could react, the countdown started, and he had no choice but to bottle his rage and focus on the fight.
Sora called to his troops, ¡°Let¡¯s get it started. Regroup! ¡±
His company had already gathered, forming a solid, protective mass around their weakest members. It looked even more shameful than a turtle formation...
As the fight began, Sora summoned an [Earth Dome] that surrounded his company, leaving only a narrow horizontal slit at the front to allow them to see and use skills from within. A larger doorway at the front allowed the Vice-Captains to defend if necessary, and this opening could be reinforced easily. He then summoned [Blood Clones], placing two clones by the entrance and two to patrol the rear of the dome, and sending the other 6 all over the place, ordering them to distract the enemy.
On the Dark Elf side, soldiers were beginning to murmur, sensing Sora¡¯s intent. ¡°Is he seriously going to try soloing us all?¡± muttered Echo, a Dark Elf Vice-Captain, in disbelief. ¡°He can¡¯t be that confident, can he?¡±
The colonel¡¯s face turned red with fury. ¡°No one has ever looked down on me to this extent¡ªnot even enemy generals dared treat me like this,¡± he snarled, recalling past battles against some formidable foes. He composed himself and gave orders in the voice channel. ¡°Squads 17 and 18, go on the hunt. Find a way in¡ªthrough that dome or from below. Ray, choose a support, and break through. Make them regret this!¡±
He then turned his attention to the rest of his troops, barking, ¡°Archers, prepare to stun. Wizards, freeze the ground around him. Everyone else, you know what to do!¡±
Sora watched them advance, fully buffed and ready for a bloodbath. He rooted himself with [Titan¡¯s Might], a skill that made him immune to crowd control for ten seconds, knowing full well he would be targeted with all manner of control skills. His feet planted firmly on the ground, he began casting [Ice Rain]. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the first shards of mana-infused ice rained down across the battlefield.
The Dark Elf soldiers scrambled to dodge the hail, but the ice shards quickly became dense and unavoidable. As they struggled, a few scoffed, ¡°This barely hurts¡ªwhat¡¯s he playing at?¡±
The Dark Elf colonel, called Captone, quickly picked up on the skill''s effect and shouted, ¡°Ignore the damage! It¡¯s weak, but watch for the frost¡ªthose shards are slowing us down. Wizards, heat the ground and clear it of ice!¡±
Several wizards complied, casting fire spells to melt the frost.
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But Sora had anticipated this. With a smile on his face he murmured "Let me help you heat the floor then", and unleashed [Floor is Lava]. The ground beneath the Dark Elves turned red-hot as lava covered up the floor, forcing them to scramble as the fire spread beneath their feet.
Captone¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What are you doing? I told you to melt the frost, not burn us!¡±
¡°It¡¯s not us!¡± shouted a panicked wizard. ¡°It¡¯s him!¡±
Realizing the enemy''s skill, they began to counter by using fire resistance potions and lifting themselves off the ground. Some of them began to fly, while others braced for the next attack.
He summoned another dome, made of wind to imprison the air surrounding the opposite company, making the space airtight.
''This is the part i don''t control perfectly yet'' he thought to himself
Sora¡¯s expression grew grave as he focused his fury, channeling thoughts of betrayal and loss to activate [Extreme Bloodlust]. His emotions spiraled, fueling his skill. He felt his eyes burn, his vision tinged with red as blood trickled from his nose¡ªa clear sign of how much he had let go of his mental barriers.
The Dark Elves in front of him froze, their expressions twisted in terror. Sora clenched his fists, grappling with a wave of anger he hadn¡¯t felt in months. But beneath that fury was a profound sense of loss that threatened to choke him. He let the emotion surge through him, activating [Titanic Strike] and sending shock waves that stunned or tripped his opponents.
¡°DEFEND THEM!¡± Captone roared, desperate to rally his troops. Tanks, who had barely managed to avoid the stunning effects, moved to shield their allies, wary of the attack that Sora would unleash next.
An explosion was heard in the middle of the stunned troops, making all heads turn, trying to find the source of the explosion.
Sensing imminent doom, Captone¡¯s voice was a hoarse scream, ¡°Get out of there! FLY! RETREAT! MOVE!¡±
His troops scrambled to obey, abandoning their allies as they scrambled to escape the lava field. But explosions followed them.
Like water boiling on a heated pan, Sora had made sure the lid covered the pan. Each drop of icy rain that hit the superheated ground triggering yet another blast, resulting in a rapid, chaotic series of detonations. There were also extremely powerful explosion that painted the battlefield red..
As each blast tore through the arena, Sora¡¯s heart hammered. He hadn¡¯t anticipated the destruction being so absolute. His stomach twisted as he observed the aftermath¡ªhis enemies reduced to light particles in a matter of seconds. The sight left him hollow, not triumphant.
His hands clenched, and he could feel the bile rising. These weren¡¯t just monsters¡ªthey were players like him, with lives and stories. He tried to swallow down the shock and guilt, focusing on the mission.
The battlefield was nearly silent, with only the distant echoes of retreating Dark Elves.
''What am I doing?''
Sora felt a lump in his throat. It was a massacre. They were defenseless, and his combo made sure they had no chance of surviving. The weaker party would always fall to the weak, that''s what he was taught when he first joined the Adventurer''s Guild.
However ...
''Why do I feel so bad ? Isn''t this a ... game ?''
He could see the tears on the face of the last warrior desperate to run and survive, his mana in turmoil, and his voice buried by the sounds of explosions before he died too.
As Sora turned back to his company, he expected to see shock or perhaps even fear. But what he found instead left him momentarily speechless.
Some of his soldiers looked at him with wide-eyed admiration, pride swelling in their expressions. Others were still processing what they had just witnessed, their faces reflecting a mixture of awe and disbelief.
But then his gaze met Kara¡¯s.
She stood behind the group, her shoulders tense, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. He felt a pang in his chest as her sorrow struck him with an intensity he hadn¡¯t expected. She must have sensed his turmoil through their [Soul Link], sharing in his pain as he grappled with the enormity of what he had done. Her empathy was overwhelming, and it made the weight of his actions all the more real.
Through their connection, she understood his heartbreak¡ªthe shame and sorrow that came from wielding such savagery against others, even enemies. She knew that in the final battle, he might have to do it again. That time, however, it would be against players who would never respawn.
Sora¡¯s heart sank further. The prospect of taking permanent lives, the brutal inevitability of what lay ahead, settled like a stone in his stomach. Kara¡¯s silent tears were a testament to the horror they both shared¡ªa grief for what they might yet have to do. Neither of them was truly prepared for the violence that awaited, nor for the toll it would take on their spirits.
Yet, as they stood there, each processing the moment in their own way, a resolve began to build within him. He couldn¡¯t let the others see his doubt, not when they looked to him with such hope and conviction. In this war, if he didn''t kill enough enemies, his allies would pay the price.
Outside the scorching range of Sora¡¯s [Floor is Lava] and the ice-covered ground, the Dark Elves gathered themselves, gasping for air as if they had just survived an apocalypse. Except the twelve who had attempted to infiltrate the [Earth Dome], only eight players remained, the others lost to the relentless explosions. Twenty players were left.
Captone scanned the battlefield, his eyes narrowed with grim determination. It was clear now: the biggest obstacle to their victory on the Northern front wasn¡¯t a a general or a colonel but this new captain. He was a powerhouse standing alone, commanding both the elements and the battlefield.
He opened a communication channel with the remaining troops, urgency sharp in his tone. ¡°Everyone left¡ªno holding back. I don¡¯t care what it takes, but if we¡¯re going down, we¡¯re taking one of them with us.¡±
The surviving Dark Elves, hardened by the sight of their fallen comrades, steeled themselves. Each felt the weight of the task ahead, knowing there was a high chance of failure. But even if this battle was lost, they could still force the others players to take one of them denying the total ace to this monster Captain.
With one last collective breath, they moved, surging toward the [Earth Dome] with renewed ferocity, willing to give everything to tear through its defenses and claim at least one little victory for their side.
Some disappeared, entered undergrounds, or flew above the dome. They wanted to make it impossible for Sora to get them all before they killed someone.
As they charged, Sora stood his ground, anticipating their final, desperate onslaught.
Chapter 63 : Above you !
Sora quickly scanned the remaining Dark Elves. The survivors were clearly among the best of their company, stronger than the ones who had already fallen. He ordered his remaining clones to intercept the enemies rushing towards the Earth Dome, doing their best to slow them down.
Before he could leap into action to stop one player phasing through the dome, he felt a sudden force locking him in place. He looked up to see Captone, the Dark Elf Colonel, angry.
¡°Not so fast,¡± Captone fumed, a glint of hate in his eyes.
Sora struggled but found himself immobilized. Before he could try to break free, he heard Kara¡¯s voice from behind the dome, ¡°[Cleanse]!¡±
In an instant, the stunning effect vanished, and Sora was back in action, nodding in silent appreciation.
For the company, this was when the real challenge began. Most enemies were down, but these remaining twenty had the potential to ruin his entire plan if they managed even one kill. After all, his own company was holding back to avoid getting any kills, while also trying to have everyone survive...
Richard¡¯s shout pulled him back to the present. ¡°Ralph! I¡¯ve got a slippery one here trying to phase away. Finish him off¡ªI can¡¯t hold him much longer!¡±
The mole-like player was squirming in Richard''s grasp, desperate to escape. Without a second thought, Sora sent a blast of [Wind Blades] toward the struggling enemy. A barrier flickered to life around the Dark Elf just before impact, but to his shock, the blades sliced through it effortlessly, cutting the enemy down in a flash.
Captone¡¯s eyes widened, his disbelief clear. ¡°How is your damage that high? You¡¯re not even level 80!¡±
Sora didn¡¯t bother responding, his focus entirely on clearing out the remaining players. Behind the dome, his allies launched spells relentlessly, while Kara moved closer, imprisoning any enemies who entered her range, and keeping all allies who came under attack alive.
Kara¡¯s voice cut through the chaos, ¡°Forget about us, Ralph! Focus on them!¡±
He met her gaze briefly and nodded, redirecting his attention to Captone¡¯s squad. Though Sora¡¯s strength was leagues beyond any regular player, this Colonel had a skill set that backed up his arrogance. Captone threw everything he had at Sora, each spell and maneuver calculated to gain the upper hand. But gradually, his squad diminished, falling one by one.
As the dust settled, only Captone remained, along with fourteen other Dark Elves who were trapped in [Life Cages] or other binding spells.
Captone¡¯s red eyes blazed with fury, his face contorted in frustration. He couldn¡¯t believe what was happening. All of his allies had been subdued, and now he stood alone, completely outmatched.
¡®Is this real?¡¯ he thought, gripping his weapon tightly. His mind raced as he contemplated using other skills. But in a moment of clarity, he realized it he had nothing to turn the tide. With one last burst of desperation, he threw himself at the Human soldiers, hoping to take down at least one.
Sora appeared in his path, wielding [Ruyi Jingu Bang] with a deadly calm. The staff pulsed with electricity, and as Sora swung it, the shocking effect surged through Captone, stunning him completely.
Sora wasted no time, delivering strike after relentless strike until Captone¡¯s form shattered into particles of light. Watching the effect, Sora thought, ''This feels like a giant taser... But this guy sure had amazing stats even with his lowered level.''
He brushed the thought aside, channeling [Wind Blades] to finish off the last of the subdued enemies. They fell quickly, each one reduced to nothing in seconds.
Notifications filled his vision:
| [Your Company won a Company Showdown. +100 points.] |
| [Your Company won a Company Showdown Flawlessly. +1000 points.] |
| [You Aced in a Company Showdown. +2,000 points.] |
| [XP Gained: War Experience Boost x5] |
| [Level Up!] |
| [Level Up!] |
A surge of power flooded through him as he leveled up twice, now reaching level 73. Glancing back, he could see his company members cheering, the rush of victory palpable in the air. Most of them had leveled up once or twice, their eyes alight with newfound determination.
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Everyone in the company was cheering and erupting with joy over the feat they had just accomplished. They knew they were getting carried by their Company Captain, but that detail didn¡¯t matter now. What mattered was the massive merit they had earned and the flood of experience points they¡¯d gained.
The moment they were transported to the stands, Sora barely glanced at the ongoing battles. Instead, he shifted his focus inward, fully immersing himself in training and self-development. Kara, seated nearby, mirrored his intensity, diving into her own growth. They both understood that, despite their strength, they were still only at levels 73 and 74. This meant there was more potential to unlock and more power to harness.
Sora activated his [Eternal Body Craft] skills, feeling the familiar, potent rush of energy pulsing through his muscles, bones, and organs. His time spent in the [Time Space] had amplified his physical prowess, fortifying his body to levels far beyond what his current energy capacity could sustain. Even then, with each level, he sensed his body¡¯s growth rate accelerating, pushing him further and further.
¡°Want me to help you with Body Forging?¡± he asked, opening his eyes and glancing over at Kara.
She nodded, steeling herself as he moved closer. He channeled the same skills he was using on himself to aid her in her own forging. As the intense energy coursed through her, Kara clenched her teeth, enduring the familiar but agonizing pain. She focused on what this process would yield.
¡®It¡¯s worth it,¡¯ she thought, pushing through the discomfort. ¡®Every time he trains me, I feel my body shattering its limits, like spending years breaking through bottlenecks all at once.¡¯
After a few minutes, Sora released her, sensing a bottleneck she couldn¡¯t quite break yet. Unlike him, her body still had limiters preventing it from reaching its peak.
''I thought my [Eternal Body Craft] had no limit as well, but the speed of body forging gets slower and slower the further I go, as the mana supporting the active forging is too weak, and the passive growth gets slower over time... I can not just train forever in [Time Space], I also need to raise my level to grow faster.''
Closing his eyes again, he let his mana flow freely, connecting deeply with the elements around him. The connection became more profound, each strand of mana clearer and more defined. With [Mana Evolution] active, he could feel each elemental particle vividly, his control growing sharper by the second.
¡®This skill is something else,¡¯ he mused, excitement rising within him. ¡®It¡¯s as if each element has become a part of me. And the more I level up, the easier this connection becomes.¡¯
He opened his eyes and observed the battlefield, watching the unique, trained skills of his allies. With a smile, he thought, ¡®If I see a skill enough times, I can almost feel its structure¡ its essence. A dozen times, maybe less, and I¡¯d probably be able to recreate it.¡¯
The prospect thrilled him. Imagining himself using these abilities¡ªan archer¡¯s precise shot, a wizard¡¯s intricate spell, buffing abilities of support players¡ªhe could feel the essence of each, his [Mana Evolution] giving him the insight to understand and, eventually, recreate them.
He briefly thought of his [Mana Amplifier] class, regretting that he hadn¡¯t learned more of its skills. But now he felt renewed hope that he could regain those abilities without needing to reset.
¡®It¡¯s like I¡¯m unlocking a new language, one spell at a time,¡¯ he reflected, sensing his connection to the mana around him grow even deeper.
Kara glanced over at him, catching a glimmer of excitement in his expression, and smiled. ''Even in the middle of a war, we¡¯re growing,¡¯ she thought. ¡®Who knows who¡¯ll come out victorious on the final battlefield?''
Sora and Kara were soon brought out of their reverie by Richard¡¯s voice. ¡°Come on, Ralph! Smile a little more, you did fantastic down there. The combo of skills to deep fry them? That was brutal !!¡±
Sora felt a mix of emotions between happiness and fear and quickly opened the war menu, changing the topic. ¡°Alright, listen up! In our fight, we earned 3100 points. As for the other four matches, we had two wins and two losses. That means we racked up 3300 points, while the Dark Elves only gained 200.¡±
Richard and the surrounding Company members stared at him, mouths agape.
¡°A flawless + Ace victory in a Company Showdown brings in that many points? That¡¯s insane!¡± a Team Leader blurted out, visibly astonished.
¡°You really surprised us out there, Captain,¡± added Jordan, the former Vice-Captain, his admiration evident. ¡°I thought we were done for when I saw the enemy company. Looking back, that was a crazy battle. You''re like god on the battlefield, playing with them¡±
Before the excitement could fully settle, Richard stepped forward, hands on his hips. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough celebrating! There¡¯s still a big battle ahead of us. Everyone, get back to focusing on improving your strength! Most of you gained levels, so follow your Captain and Vice-Captain¡¯s example, increase your combat power and stop slacking!¡±
His stern words cut through the group¡¯s excitement, reminding them of the difference of attitude they had. Motivated, they nodded and began to disperse, practicing their techniques to solidify their power and to push themselves further.
Sora however, received a [Military Summon].
| [Summons by Colonel Oliver Evans ¨C "ABOVE YOU"
|
| This is a military order by your superior. Disobeying orders will result in punishment by military law.] |
Sora chuckled at the description of the meeting spot, scanning the area above him. He looked up, and there was¡ nothing but open sky.
''What does this guy mean by that... He''s not above me.'' Sora thought, confused.
¡°Are you an idiot?! I meant higher in the stands! Get up here, you little genius!¡± a voice called out from above. ¡°And bring your Vice-Captains with you. Jordan, bring your ass up here too!¡±
Recognizing the voice, Sora glanced up to see Colonel Oliver Evans sitting comfortably in the higher stands of the Coliseum. Four familiar faces surrounded him¡ªthe same ones Sora had seen during their last meeting. But this time, there was someone new among them.
Asami Hito.
Chapter 64 : Mana isnt an issue
Sora and his group ascended the long staircase. They heard less and less chatter, as if the players around them were different from their company. They noticed an increasing number of players from Sweden, mostly soldiers and volunteers for the war effort.
The mood among the locals was vastly different from that of the foreign players¡ª focused, and resolute. ''Players that didn''t follow strict training in a military environment are less disciplined. We have many shortcomings, and I hope it will not be costly in the final battle'' Sora couldn''t help but see a problem in their division composition.
Finally, they reached the summit, where Colonel Oliver Evans and the other high-ranking officers were seated.
Oliver stood up with a broad smile, his bald head catching the sunlight as he clapped his hands together. ¡°Ah, here they are! Going from the worst company of my battalion to the best in one fight...The heroes of the round! Let me introduce you all properly.¡±
He first gestured to the man on his left, a rugged figure with short green hair and a scar cutting across his eye. ¡°This here is Colonel Cero Vux, from Sweden. Known for his incredible swordsmanship and insane damage output.¡±
"Welcome to the Swedish Front. It¡¯s good to have someone like you ready to step up on the front line."
Cero¡¯s gaze softened as he sized up Sora and Kara.
Moving to his right, Oliver indicated a woman with green eyes and long black hair. ¡°And this is Colonel Lois Nale, from Ireland. A tactical mastermind, she¡¯s one of our main contributors to the war effort¡ªsecond only to the General. If you need a strategy to turn the tide, just ask her.¡±
Lois offered a smile, her gaze full of admiration. ¡°Your first battles, and you¡¯ve already given the Northern European Union its first perfect victory in a Company Showdown. I¡¯m impressed! Who came up with that strategy? How did you convince your soldiers to turtle under a dome and pray for victory?!¡±
Sora felt his face turn red at her her intense gaze and the mix of taunt and admiration in her words.''Is she making fun of us, or praising us?''
Combined with her beauty and unexpected words, he found himself at a loss for words. Kara spoke up when she saw him lost in thought. ¡°Thank you for the praise, Colonel. Aware of Captain''s overwhelming strength, Vice-Captain Richard and me convinced our company to leave it to him and focus on surviving. Our company has full trust in the Captain.''
Satisfied with the answer, Lois said "You did well ! Those 3000 points might turn the tides later. Thank you"
Before Sora could respond, Oliver moved on, gesturing to a man with a vibrant aura. ¡°This here is Colonel Edward Schwartz, also from Ireland. He liked your fights and, well, he¡¯s itching to challenge you.¡±
Edward grinned, raising his hand for a handshake. ¡°Let¡¯s spar after this meeting. I want to see how strong you are.¡±
Sora smiled at the playful challenge, shook his hand and answered. ¡°Let¡¯s win the war first, you''ll see more from me in the next battles.¡±
Oliver then turned to a lean, sharp-eyed man who looked as if he were studying them. With short black hair on the brink of extinction, he radiated a cool confidence that suggested he didn''t mind losing hair. ¡°Finally, we have Colonel Aang Li, from China. He¡¯s our powerhouse¡ªafter our General, of course. And a fun guy to be around¡ .¡±
¡°Watch your words, baldy,¡± Aang replied, crossing his arms. ¡°Who¡¯s fun to hang out with? We¡¯re here to win a war, not fool around.¡± Despite his admonishment, he extended a hand to Sora.
Oliver chuckled, ignoring Aang¡¯s words. ¡°Sure, sure, put on airs. But don¡¯t bring up rank if you want your little secrets kept, poussin.¡±
Aang¡¯s face turned crimson, visibly embarrassed by Oliver¡¯s comment. Sora quickly shook Aang¡¯s hand, trying not to laugh.
With introductions nearly complete, Oliver turned to the final person, who had been watching in silence. She had a smile on her face, her dark eyes meeting each of theirs with a measured calm.
¡°And last, but definitely not least, General Asami Hito, from Japan. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of her reputation. She¡¯s our overall commander here in the region and someone I won¡¯t dare tease.¡±
Asami nodded, her gaze locking onto Sora with an intensity that seemed to dissect him in an instant. She exuded power and control, her mere presence commanding respect.
With a satisfied grin, Oliver turned back to Sora and his team. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve covered the intros, let¡¯s get down to business. We¡¯ve got a lot to discuss, and I think you¡¯ll want to hear what the General has in store for us next.¡±
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Asami greeted them with a warm smile. ¡°Congratulations on your victory. Your battle was an incredible show to watch. We¡¯re glad to have you here for the final battle. Lois is in charge of organization, and she suggested we meet with you to learn more about your capabilities for the next two steps: the final battle of the greeting phase and the second phase of the war. Lois?¡±
Lois took the cue, leaning forward with an encouraging look. ¡°Yes, indeed. I¡¯ve observed how you two fought, even during the initial phase of the PvP Event today, and I must say, I was impressed ! Your skills are extremely powerful, and your potential for team play is incredible because of your classes and versatility. Would you be willing to share more about your abilities? This way, we can better plan for the upcoming fights.¡±
Noticing the surprised glances exchanged between Sora and Kara, she quickly added, ¡°Of course, you don¡¯t need to reveal everything. But any information that could help the army could significantly increase our odds of victory.¡±
Sora and Kara exchanged a glance, and it seemed as if they were silently communicating through the friend feature¡¯s voice channel.
Kara broke the silence. ¡°What do you think? Should we share anything?¡±
Sora replied without hesitation. ¡°There¡¯s no way we should reveal our innate skills. I don¡¯t plan on mentioning my ability to reset to anyone, let alone using it here. It¡¯s irrelevant to the war. And honestly, revealing your innate skill could be dangerous, too. Save it for emergencies. And for our supreme skills, we can just make up something to explain what we can do and stay vague about it¡±
Kara nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Maybe¡ but if we could sign a contract with them, we could reveal some of what we can do to improve the team¡¯s coordination.¡±
Sora agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s talk to them about it.¡±
He looked up at the others and spoke. ¡°Sorry for the brief delay. I needed to discuss this with Kara. We¡¯re a team.¡± He paused, glancing at each of the high-ranking officers. ¡°We understand your concern and don¡¯t intend to hold back our support for the division. However, I¡¯d prefer not to share everything about what we¡¯re capable of just yet. Could we agree to sign a contract? One that keeps anything we reveal strictly confidential?¡±
Asami, Lois, and the other officers exchanged looks, intrigued by his proposal.
¡°We¡¯ll decide what we¡¯re comfortable revealing,¡± he added, his tone firm but respectful.
Asami nodded, clearly understanding Sora¡¯s position. ¡°I¡¯d do the same if I were in your shoes,¡± she said. She then turned to Lois. ¡°Lois, take them and discuss things privately. There¡¯s no need to involve everyone in the details.¡±
She nodded to the group. ¡°Alright, everyone, back to your seats. Your companies are about to fight again, and I don¡¯t want anyone missing the action.¡±
The officers began to disperse, returning to their places in the stands.
Sora and Kara followed Lois as she led them further away from the group. As they walked, Sora quickly summoned a contract, his mana flowing through it as he thought of the terms. Lois¡¯s eyes widened as she sensed the mana fluctuations from the contract, glancing at him in awe.
¡°You have a high-level law-related job ? That''s remarkable!¡± she exclaimed. ¡°It¡¯s rare to see someone wield that kind of ability on the battlefield. Usually high level mages learn such skills and use it to create guilds or earn money...¡± Lois'' was surprised at his job.
They signed the contract. With a final nod from Sora, Kara began detailing her abilities.
¡°Alright,¡± she started, ¡°My healing abilities are strong, but that¡¯s only part of it. Anyone I link myself to can take damage on my behalf, or I can take damage for them. My life force is vast, and if I¡¯m hit, I recover quickly. Plus, every fallen enemy boosts my life force, making me ideal for taking damage through my soul link.¡±
Lois¡¯s eyes widened with each word. Kara continued, ¡°I can link myself to anyone, but I can¡¯t protect everyone on the battlefield as creating a link is not instantaneous. I have limits, and overwhelming damage the allies receive can kill me, if I were to absorb it all.¡±
Kara hesitated, then added, ¡°I can also trap a fallen ally¡¯s soul and bring them back later. Maybe that could help in the final battle? And finally, I can create life force clones, drain life force from enemies and even group-heal or imprison ten enemies.¡±
Lois¡¯s mouth hung open, visibly stunned. ¡°You can revive players? Not just one, but many?¡± She paused, regaining her composure, but suddenly sounded serious. ¡°Listen carefully: never revive anyone in front of others. If people find out, you¡¯ll have every group on Earth trying to exploit you. If you ever happen to revive someone, make them sign a contract immediately. And if they refuse, you instantly end them. Am I clear?¡±
Kara and Sora exchanged a look, both taken aback. They had always understood that Kara¡¯s ability to revive was exceptional, but Lois¡¯s words almost scared them to death.
After a moment, Lois turned to Sora, still processing what Kara had revealed. ¡°Thank you, Kara. Now, what about you, Sora?¡±
Sora hesitated, sorting through the array of skills at his disposal. ¡°I¡¯m an all-rounder. My primary ability is being able to learn and enhance skills from others. Once I acquire a skill, I can make it even stronger. Also, I have a skill that gives me a vast amount of mana, so I don''t have to worry about running out. Oh, and I trained my body a lot...¡±
Lois looked puzzled. ¡°Learn skills from others? You mean you copy low-level skills?¡±
¡°Not exactly,¡± Sora replied. ¡°I can actually enhance them. With the right buffs, I can make those skills a few times stronger than they¡¯d be normally.¡±
Lois¡¯s disbelief was evident, but she nodded, asking, ¡°What ?! And you say mana isn¡¯t an issue? You mean like in the last fight when you played with elements?¡±
Sora chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. ¡°Yeah, something like that. Actually, if we have any Mana Amplifiers in the army, I¡¯d love to copy a few of their skills. Buffing allies would increase my impact on the battlefield.¡±
She raised her eyebrows, intrigued. ¡°We do have around fifteen or twenty Mana Amplifiers. That¡¯s a good idea; we can meet with them later. But I still have trouble believing this. How can your mana be sufficient ??¡±
Sora didn''t tell her about his [Supreme skill], but still said "I guess I''m loved by mana ?"
Lois seemed to understand he would not say more, her expression a mixture of understanding and respect. ¡°You two really are something else. From what you said and what I have seen, there might be hope¡± She paused, looking thoughtful. ¡°We¡¯ll need to incorporate these abilities for the final battle. Thank you for trusting me with this.¡±
Chapter 65 : You win some, You lose some
Soon after, Lois regrouped with the others, and wasted no time. "We need a few [Mana Amplifier] players here, right now. The more, the better," she announced.
The other officers exchanged confused glances, and Aang raised an eyebrow. "Why do we need [Mana Amplifiers]?"
Lois gave a sly smile. "It¡¯s classified. Just trust me on this¡ªit might be a game-changer."
Without further questions, the four Colonels tapped on their menus, summoning the Mana Amplifiers. Within moments, 18 players gathered before them, each one wearing a puzzled expression as they looked at the high-ranking officers. Most of them exchanged glances, clearly curious as to why they were all called here together.
Asami turned to Lois, tilting her head. ¡°What¡¯s the plan?¡±
Lois looked to Sora, who gave her a slight nod, then addressed the Mana Amplifiers. "All right, I need each of you to use [Mana Resonance]. Just one at a time, and keep going until I say stop."
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[Mana Resonance]
Type: Buff
Description: Mana Resonance creates a link between the Mana Amplifier and one or more allies. When linked, any buff the Amplifier applies to themselves is also applied to their allies at 50% of its original potency. Mana is drained from the Amplifier for both themselves and their allies, meaning the Amplifier must carefully manage their mana reserves to avoid exhaustion. The skill grows stronger with additional allies, amplifying mana efficiency within the resonance network.
Effect: Amplifies any self-buff applied to allies at 50% strength. Mana cost scales with the number of linked allies.
Limit: Maximum of 3 allies linked at level 1, but the number increases with skill level.
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Sora thought to himself as he remembered the skill description from the time he unlocked it when he was a Mana Amplifier class player. He never had time to master this skill but always considered using it. But having no allies made training it really difficult.
The Mana Amplifiers exchanged hesitant looks. A man with sandy brown hair named Emil stepped forward, scratching his head. "What exactly are we doing here?"
"We''re trying something," Lois reassured. "I need to observe something."
Emil shrugged and activated [Mana Resonance], a faint glow surrounding him as the skill released waves of mana in pulses and linking him with a few players.
The others watched him curiously, while Sora narrowed his eyes, focusing intensely on the waves of mana as they rippled through the air.
He could see the mana moving in patterns, each pulse of [Mana Resonance] creating a rhythm that connected with the mana around it, amplifying and stabilizing it. His [Mana Eyes] allowed him to witness how the mana interacted with other sources, absorbing and harmonizing it. Emil seemed to be the source of all things as his allies started glowing as well.
¡®Fascinating¡,¡¯ he thought, tracing the skill''s structure in his mind. ''My eyes can see much more, and i feel like i can touch upon the essence of the skill, seeing through much more details than in the past''.
He focused even deeper, sensing the core of the skill, looking for its intricacies. His own mana subtly adjusted as he mirrored the flow, mimicking the way Emil¡¯s mana vibrated in harmony with the surrounding allies.
Emil stepped back, and the next Mana Amplifier took his place, repeating the skill. Sora watched each of them, his gaze intent, etching each variation to memory, noting how slight differences affected the resonance : the level of his allies, the player''s level, the player''s control over his energy and other factors all seemed to affect the skill usage.
As the process continued, he started to feel the skill¡¯s rhythm become a part of his own mana pool, adapting to its unique flow and frequency. With each repetition, he gained more clarity, feeling as if the ability was gradually becoming his own.
One of the Mana Amplifiers, a woman with curly red hair named Faye, looked at Lois and asked, "Are we just going to keep going like this?"
Lois glanced at Sora, noticing his intense focus. "Yes, just keep going. We¡¯ll stop once we¡¯re done."
Faye shrugged, and activated [Mana Resonance]. She noticed Sora observing her intently, and raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. The other Mana Amplifiers started murmuring among themselves, some starting to give him weird looks because of his intense gaze.
Finally, Sora gave a satisfied nod to Lois, his mana pulsed with the newly absorbed frequency. He could feel it, the resonance perfectly attuned within him. He had successfully ¡°copied¡± the skill.
With an excited smile, he turned back to Lois. I¡¯ve got it."
He glanced at the notification:
| [You have unlocked the skill: Alternate Mana Resonance] |
¡®It''s no imitation... The copy¡¯s as strong as the original. For the first time, this is not a ''Fake'' version¡¯ Sora thought, satisfaction filling him as he read the skill¡¯s description.
The players kept on showing the high ranked officers all the skills they had mastered, and each time this new Captain nodded to Colonel Lois Nale, they would be asked to perform a new skill.
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After a while, Lois snapped Sora back to the moment, calling out to the Mana Amplifiers, ¡°Thank you everyone, you''ve shown us skills you¡¯ve unlocked up to level 50. Time''s up for more testing. We¡¯re entering the final stage of the ''Greeting Phase.'' Go back to your companies¡±
Leaving the group puzzled, without further explanation, she turned to Sora and asked "Is the harvest sufficient?".
Sora nodded and looked at his new abilities:
| [Alternate Echo Strike]: Channels mana into a weapon for enhanced damage. Power scales with the number of allies buffed by the Amplifier. |
| [Alternate Mana Cascade]: Temporarily increases the target''s mana regeneration. |
| [Alternate Arcane Overload]: Amplifies the next physical or magical attack based on mana input. Comes with a penalty to mana regeneration. |
| [Alternate Mana Burst Field]: Boosts all mana-based abilities by 30% within the field, including healing and offensive spells. The Amplifier¡¯s mana cost rises by 50% while active. |
While he wasn¡¯t sure how often he¡¯d use all of these, [Mana Cascade] and [Echo Strike] seemed invaluable for the task ahead. [Mana Cascade] was perfect for boosting the mana regen of large groups at once, and [Echo Strike], which he hadn¡¯t utilized in over a month, could serve as his ultimate tool for the first time.
He even sensed that his mastery over these spells was soaring, as his [Mana Evolution], that grew with his mana usage and level, pushed these low level skills to new heights, quickly heading towards a perfect version of the skill.
''I will probably not be able perfect them before the main battle, but it should help reduce their penalties and increase their efficiency'' Sora thought, satisfied with the addition to his skills.
Turning his attention to the arena, he read aloud:
| [Battalions who have been notified, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight.] |
Sora exhaled, feeling the mounting intensity. The scale of these battles was becoming absurd, and he wondered if it was even possible to earn bonus points at this size. ¡®The arena¡¯s way too vast¡ªI can¡¯t affect such a large area all at once even with my elemental skills,¡¯ he thought, shaking his head. ¡®I¡¯ll just have to give it my all and see how it goes.¡¯
In the first battalion battle, Asami led Lois and nearly a thousand players against Captone¡¯s forces. Captone, still seething from the last encounter, directed his battalion with renewed determination. Sora, Kara, and the other colonels watched, curious.
Captone¡¯s tactics were impressive. He arranged his troops in clusters of three or four companies, each with distinct objectives. Some focused on long-range strikes, using hit-and-run tactics. Others were melee-heavy, shielded by healers and buffers. Each company seemed purpose-built: some provided cover with elemental walls, others summoned mist to conceal movements or called down lightning to mask the sounds of their attacks.
Sora was impressed by Captone''s leadership. Though Captone had shown quick thinking against his own company, Sora''s overwhelming might gave him no room for adjustments. Here, however, he was in his element, leading with precision his battalion.
Asami, meanwhile, let Lois take charge of troop arrangements, supervising from the back and clearly placing complete trust in her Colonel¡¯s leadership. Despite their seemingly stronger striking power, the battle was hard-fought. The superior level and coordination of the Dark Elf forces made any gains arduous for the Human companies, heavily relying on Asami to turn the tides.
| [Your Faction''s Battalion led by Asami Hito won in a Battalion War. +1000 points.] |
Without Asami¡¯s speed and stealth¡ªqualities that allowed her to eliminate company leaders and ultimately take down Captone¡ªthe victory might have slipped through their grasp.
The scale and challenge of the battalion battle left Sora thinking. ''I might as well forget about bonus points...''
Edward led his battalion with extreme fighting spirit, charging into battle with his battalion of local soldiers against the Dark Elf General. The enemy General, in dark armor and wielding dual blades, cut through the ranks with deadly precision. Edward¡¯s troops fought hard, moving in unison, but the General¡¯s power was overwhelming. One by one, his soldiers fell, and despite Edward¡¯s best efforts, his battalion was crushed.
Next up, Cero faced off with a Female Dark Elf Colonel wielding a spiked mace. The two forces clashed in a brutal, close-range fight. Cero¡¯s battalion held the line, pushing back with everything they had. But the Dark Elf Colonel smashed through their defenses, breaking their formation again and again. Cero fought hard but ultimately, the Dark Elf faction won the battle.
Looking at the notifications, and at the close last fight, Sora was scratching his forehead, looking for a way to reduce the gap in points between both sides, but it looked more and more difficult as time passed. The gap was widening.
| [Your Faction''s Battalion led by Edward Schwartz lost in a Battalion War. +0 points.] |
| [Your Faction''s Battalion led by Cero Vux lost in a Battalion War. +0 points.] |
Aang¡¯s battalion was up next. He unleashed his full strength on the battlefield. Moving like a blur, Aang hunted down the backbone of the enemy battalion, targeting healers and mages with extraordinary efficiency. He slipped through their defenses, massacring players with relatively low defense and lifeforce.
''The general and 1 colonel specialize in assassination... Is this a good or a bad thing?'' Sora thought, watching the battle.
The Dark Elves, led by an old Colonel, fought back fiercely, but Aang¡¯s impact kept them on edge. Aang''s battalion followed his lead, pressing the advantage. With each fallen enemy healer or mage, the Dark Elves lost damage output and healing potential. The battle raged on, and though fierce, eventually became one-sided.
| [Your Faction''s Battalion led by Aang Li won in a Battalion War. +1000 points.] |
It was now time for Oliver Evans'' battalion to join the fray, and battle for the final 1000 points.
Once more, it was time for Sora and Kara to shine.
Chapter 66 : This is capped ?!
Oliver Evans¡¯ battalion prepared to take the field, the tension thick as everyone understood the stakes. This was the final match of the round, and the chance to secure the last 1,000 points ¡ª or more ¡ª depended on their performance. The hopes of the entire division seemed to rest on their shoulders.
Sora and Kara stepped forward, their strength a more than welcome presence for their comrades. Oliver looked their way, trust in his eyes. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s time. Let''s wipe the floor with them. Sora, Kara, don''t underestimate their colonel, she''s a top-notch assassin.¡±
As they appeared on the battlefield, the Dark Elf troops stood in formation on the opposite side, their expressions determined. Their Colonel, a woman with a small frame and hidden features, watched the human battalion, prepared for the fight.
Sora sized up the arena, estimating it was at least a kilometer in radius. He noticed Oliver ordering a captain to lead the troops and was puzzled.
Oliver caught Sora¡¯s look and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m a swordsman, specialized in damage and combos,¡± he explained. ¡°Leading in the thick of battle isn¡¯t my style. Jeremy was a high ranked officer before the update and has been leading troops since then.¡±
Kara, a little skeptical, asked, ¡°How many wins does the 5th battalion have under its belt?¡±
Oliver pretended not to hear her question. ¡°Just focus on the battle!¡±
Sora and Kara exchanged a look, shaking their head at this bald colonel.
Kara¡¯s healing energy radiated outward, reinforcing her allies as they took their positions. Sora moved to the front, resolve etched on his face. This was their chance to seize victory and make a statement. The final battle of this phase was about to begin, and they were ready to bring everything they had.
For experts like them, the kilometer distance between the two forces would be covered in the blink of an eye.
The battle soon started.
Sora was fully focused. He had the previous 4 battles in mind. He knew how both factions relied on their powerhouses to defend or eliminate the maximum of players to break the balance of the fights between companies. And according to Jeremy''s calls, it seemed that they relied on Oliver''s great damage output to butcher as many enemies as possible.
''Maybe I should focus on buffing as many allies as possible, and then enter the melee with [Echo Strike] ?''.
| [Final Battalion War is about to start] |
Three... Two... One.
Both sides exploded with power as buffs and crowd control skills blanketed the battlefield. Sora wasn¡¯t one to be left behind, immediately stacking his own buffs on himself and his allies. He cast [Mana Shield] on many vulnerable class players, followed by [Amplify] to boost their skills, and then [Speed Surge] on those who needed quick mobility.
He used his newly acquired skills to buff his allies, link himself to them, through [Alternate Mana Resonance] and [Alternate Mana Cascade].
[Alternate Mana Burst Field] was active in a large area, boosting everyone''s abilities
The players in the battalion felt an immense surge of power due to the buffs, turning to each other with disbelief. "Who¡¯s the God buffing us like this?" one of them asked, barely hiding his awe.
Jeremy, their temporary battalion leader, shouted over the chaos, "Keep your mouths shut and focus on the battle !"
Satisfied with his work, Sora glanced over his allies, estimating he had buffed more than 500 players. He thought with a smirk, ''With this... I should have at least +25000% damage, right?''
Not wasting time, he appeared in front of a tank who was locked in combat with another tank, right in the heart of the battlefield. Channeling [Alternate Echo Strike], Sora absorbed mana into his body, feeling it surge through him like a flood. The power amplified as it flowed into his arm and then into the [Monkey King''s Staff], which began to glow. With all his might, he swung the staff, smashing into the enemy tank and the dozens of Dark elves behind him.
The result was devastating¡ªthe tank flew back like a cannonball, disintegrating into light particles soon after and the staff continued its trajectory, killing dozens of players.
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Yet, Sora found himself frowning. ''That wasn''t even ten times my max power... What¡¯s going on?''
He glanced at the notification logs, a sinking feeling in his gut.
| [You hit your enemy with Echo Strike (10 stacks)]
[Critical Strike!]
[You have killed an enemy player!] x 25 |
''Ten stacks? But¡ I buffed hundreds of players!''
Understanding dawned on him, painfully. ''It¡¯s strong, but capped. Guess I¡¯ll have to do with what I¡¯ve got.'' He let out a sigh, but couldn¡¯t deny the skill''s effectiveness. Even if it wasn¡¯t what he imagined, the destructive power of [Alternate Echo Strike] was still more than enough to slaughter regular enemy troops.
Sora¡¯s brutal display of power had Jeremy rallying his forces with a shout in the Battalion Voice Chat, ¡°Ralph, take the back line while Oliver handles the front! Kara, keep Colonel Oliver and tanks alive ! THIS ROUND IS OURS!¡±
Energized by his orders, Sora, Kara, and the rest sprang into action, each trusting Jeremy¡¯s command. Sora quickly moved to the other side of the battlefield, where rows of Dark Elf troops expecting someone to flank them were ready to protect their long-range players and healers. They were determined not to let the massacre of the last round repeat itself.
But Sora wasn¡¯t deterred. He infused his staff with lightning, activating [Alternate Echo Strike] as electric sparks crackled along the growing weapon. With a single horizontal swing, he crushed almost thirty players in one strike. The surviving players were trembling from the remaining electricity in their body, stunned. The overwhelming force left the Dark Elves trembling.
Having witnessed his earlier fight, they knew of his incredible strength. This person was now the most wanted human on their radar, a merciless enemy. ¡°Where did this monster come from?¡± a Dark Elf Vice-captain murmured to his team, fear clear in his voice. ¡°We were supposed to hold him off until backup came¡ what can we do now?¡±
Sora gave them no chance to regroup. He was a whirlwind of chaos, smashing through opponents with relentless precision, always on guard against any crowd control skills they attempted. He parried, dodged, and countered with all kind of strikes, leaving them powerless. To the Dark Elves, he was like a level 100 powerhouse in their midst, wiping them out like mere beginners.
Then, a notification appeared before him:
| [You have killed 215 players! 528 players remaining.] |
Sora¡¯s eyes widened at the message, and he glanced towards their frontline, noticing that their forces were making considerable progress. But then a call from Jeremy broke his focus. ¡°RALPH! Great work back there! But Colonel Sarsha is tearing through our side, and we can''t do anything to her. We need your help!¡±
With a final swing, Sora obliterated another ten players before he went back to his battalion. He arrived just in time to see their Colonel, Sarsha, slicing through backline players like they were nothing. Only a few, connected to Kara by [Soul Link], managed to survive her assault.
Jeremy approached him urgently. ¡°Kara and Oliver are pushing hard in the front line, thanks to the damage you dealt in the back. But Sarsha is cutting through us fast. She¡¯s a monster focused on speed and assassination. Her attacks ignore shields and defenses, based on her enemies'' HP, so she¡¯s lethal and incredibly fast.¡±
Sora nodded, taking in Jeremy¡¯s words.
¡°Plus,¡± Jeremy added, ¡°she¡¯s immune to control skills and has skills that let her vanish mid-attack. We¡¯ll need to be careful. Me, you, and four of the remaining captains should be enough to handle her if we coordinate well.¡±
Sora¡¯s gaze narrowed. ¡°Then let¡¯s end this.¡± He grabbed his staff, and started looking for Sarsha.
Sora activated his [Mana Eyes], honing in on every trace of mana around him. He noticed something odd: while Sarsha¡¯s presence didn¡¯t register in the usual sense, the places she passed through had no more mana fluctuations, creating a gap. A gap he could track.
A smile crossed his face as he vanished, instantly reappearing in relentless pursuit. But Sarsha was slippery, phasing out of his reach with uncanny speed. Frustrated but focused, he decided on a different approach.
He called on the elements, summoning dark clouds above. Within seconds, heavy rain began to pour, and bolts of lightning split the sky, drenching the battlefield with raw elemental power.
He surrounded the area with a [Wind Barrier], trapping Sarsha. She halted, finally realizing her escape route was blocked. She scowled, her expression fierce and defiant. ¡®If it¡¯s a fight he wants, I''ll give him a fight. Let''s see if you can catch me,¡¯ she thought, clenching her fists.
Sora couldn¡¯t hear her thoughts, or see her expressions, but he had the same idea. ¡®Let¡¯s see who¡¯s faster,¡¯ he mused. Borrowing an arc of lightning, he dashed forward in a flash, reappearing right behind her. Her eyes widened in shock, and she phased, his [Ruyi Jingu Bang] going through her.
Sora continued to press, refusing to let her take a break as he followed her every step. She used every evasion technique she had in her arsenal, disappearing and reappearing in desperate attempts to survive. She was quick, but each attack pushed her closer to exhaustion. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally faltered, breathless and weak, her figure appearing in front of Sora, charred, battered, and the mask she was wearing, cracked.
Not giving her a chance to recover, Sora attacked once more. [Earth Spikes] erupted from above, while arcs of lightning and blades of wind closed in from every direction. The rain, now dense with mana, pelted down with unyielding force, ensuring she had no room to escape.
As the final blow struck, a notification appeared in his vision:
| [You have killed the enemy¡¯s Colonel! 127 Players remaining.] |
Sora exhaled, steadying himself as he watched the light particles where she once stood. Her resilience had been impressive, but now, she was gone.
Chapter 67 : Buy Phase
Sora canceled the effects of his elemental skills, the clouds dissipating as he moved toward the ongoing battle where his allies were locked in combat with the remaining Dark Elves.
He could see that the enemy fighters, though clearly outnumbered and overpowered, battled with an unwavering resolve. None of them showed signs of surrender.
Their fierce determination surprised him. It didn''t seem to be born of hatred ¡ªif anything, their expressions held a certain purpose, as if this war wasn¡¯t about defeating humans but achieving something greater.
Sora shook his head, dispelling the unease creeping into his mind. ¡®Whatever their reason, it doesn¡¯t change anything,¡¯ he thought. ¡®As long as they¡¯re attacking us, we have no choice but to fight back with everything we have.¡¯
With that resolve, he joined his allies, helping cut down the last of their foes, all while pushing aside the questions lingering in the back of his mind.
Soon after, Sora received a notification:
| [Your Battalion won a Battalion War. +1000 points.] |
| [XP Gained: War Experience Boost x5] |
Sora and Kara leveled up, reaching level 75. Just as they adjusted to the surge of new power, they found themselves teleported back to their original positions. However, the atmosphere had changed drastically.
Earlier, the stands had been filled with lively cheers and excitement each time a battalion returned victorious, giving the impression that this was just an intense competition. But now, aside from a few players who nodded in silent congratulations, the crowd was quiet.
The mood among the soldiers had transformed entirely. The final battle was imminent, and the reality that death would be permanent this time added a pressure that had been absent before.
For many, fighting without the threat of true death had been exciting¡ªa chance to level up quickly and return home as local powerhouses. But those who had joined the war solely for growth soon realized that there was no escape; any attempt to leave the PvP event would be counted as treason, with the penalty being death.
The thrill had vanished, replaced by tension. Small groups formed, and hushed conversations filled the air.
"I was level 70 when I joined the war in the first week, and now I¡¯m at level 84. I always saw this war as some sort of incredible opportunity," said Suraj, a team leader, his voice trembling slightly. "But now, I¡¯m starting to feel scared. What if we¡¯re wiped out in the final battle?"
Mirai, another team leader in her late twenties, replied, "I felt the same at first. I came here for the chance to get stronger, and quit soon after the first fights but it¡¯s too late to think about that now. We have to trust the General and the others. And we¡¯ve got those monster rookies¡ªmaybe they¡¯ll turn the tide for us?"
Suraj sighed heavily. "Don¡¯t forget, with the points they have, they¡¯ll make it a living hell for us. Haven¡¯t you heard about the war in Madagascar last year? They lost because of the debuffs they couldn¡¯t overcome despite having the advantage in large scale battles."
Mirai looked at him, concern clear in her eyes. "I hope the points earned by the 5th Battalion can reduce some of that pressure. They might be the key to us surviving this."
They both fell silent, knowing that no matter how flawlessly they fought, they were still behind. The final results of the ¡°buy phase¡± would reveal what each side could use to gain the advantage.
Overhearing similar conversation, Sora checked the final standings as he approached the colonels and General Asami.
|
Battle results of Week 4:
[Dark Elf Kingdom: 9945 points]
[New World Kingdom: 12,670 points]
|
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Greeting Phase Final Results:
[Dark Elf Kingdom: 46,370 points]
[New World Kingdom: 33,370 points]
|
Sora shared the summary with Richard and the others, his brow furrowing. ¡°Is being 13,000 points behind them very bad?¡±
Richard let out a sigh. ¡°Only Asami and Lois truly know what each faction can buy with those points. But judging by other wars, every thousand point difference will count in the final battle. It¡¯s incredible that they didn¡¯t reach 10,000 points this round. In the first three rounds, they racked up over 36,000 points while we barely hit 20,000.¡±
Lois, overhearing, approached with a faint smile. ¡°Congratulations on your victory. Come and attend the final war council meeting. We¡¯re about to discuss how to use our points and speculate on the enemy¡¯s purchases.¡±
She motioned for them to follow, her expression a mixture of hope and concern. They quickly joined the other five colonels and a few select officers. The small group exchanged congratulatory nods, but the meeting quickly shifted to the task at hand.
"As you all know, we have 33,370 points, and the Dark Elves have 46,370," Lois began, her tone somber as she summarized the situation. "We need to make the best use possible of our points, so let¡¯s first take a look at the War Shop and discuss our options."
Asami shared the panel in front of her, browsing through a huge list of items.
Sora started by looking at items that affected the whole battlefield
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|
[White Flag]: Deploying the white flag means forfeiting the battle, granting the faction a 72-hour period to evacuate the territory.
Price: 1 point
Hint: Not buying this item grants the buff [Never Back Down].
|
| [Never Back Down]
Description: A buff granted to all soldiers who refuse the option of retreat. It''s either victory or death!
Effect: All player Power +5% |
| [Healing Aura]: Deploys a persistent field that heals all allied troops for 2% HP every 5 seconds, providing gradual recovery for minor injuries.
Price: 10,000 points |
| [Crowd Control Immunity]: Creates a field across the battlefield, granting all allied troops immunity to crowd control effects.
Price: 100,000 points |
| [Death Denial]: Any ally that dies on the battlefield is revived for 60 seconds with 30% health. If they manage to defeat an enemy, they can revive fully.
Price: 100,000 points |
| [Mana Waste]: Increases mana consumption by 200% for all enemies, making their abilities more costly.
Price: 30,000 points |
| [Prying Eye]: Reveals the enemy¡¯s purchases in the War Shop.
Price: 3,000 points |
| [Second Guessing]: Allows access to the War Shop after the purchasing phase, enabling returns and adjustments on items.
Price: 2,000 points
Hint: Use before entering the battlefield, as it¡¯s ineffective mid-battle. |
| [Reinforced Armor]: Increases all troops'' physical defense by 20%, providing better protection against melee and projectile attacks.
Price: 5,000 points |
| [Elemental Armor]: Enhances all troops'' elemental resistance by 30%, offering greater defense against elemental damage.
Price: 5,000 points |
| [Forest Jump]: Boosts all troops¡¯ endurance by 30%, allowing them to sustain combat for longer periods.
Price: 5,000 points |
| [Speed Buff]: Increases all troops¡¯ movement and attack speed by 50%, enhancing their agility in battle.
Price: 5,000 points |
| [Suppression]: Lowers the level of all enemies by one upon entering the battlefield.
Price: 3,000 points (Stock: 5) |
After reviewing the larger buffs, Sora scanned through a variety of individual buffs and items that could provide targeted enhancements.
| [Revival Token]: Allows the player to reappear at any Adventurer''s Guild within faction territory for revival upon death.
Price: 100 points |
| [Damage Immunity Token]: Grants immunity to damage for one minute, during which the player cannot deal damage.
Price: 100 points (Stock: 100)
Hint: Any abilities involving reflection, damage transfer, or damage-taking for others are nullified during this period. |
| [Crowd Control Immunity Token]: Grants immunity to crowd control effects for one minute.
Price: 100 points (Stock: 100) |
| [Level Up Token]: Temporarily boosts the player to the next level for the duration of the battle.
Price: 100 points (Stock: 100)
Hint: Effective only up to level 80. |
| [Speed Token]: Provides a 50% increase in movement and attack speed for three minutes.
Price: 100 points (Stock: 100) |
Looking over the options, Sora felt the weight of their decisions bearing down on them.
There were countless ways they could enhance their chances¡ªor potentially devastate their enemies. He couldn¡¯t help but linger on the [Level Up Token] and [Crowd Control Immunity Token] options. They were tempting tools, ones that could shift the odds in their favor.
The sheer variety of buffs and debuffs available allowed them to prepare for every situation, but it was equally frustrating to have so few points to spend.
The atmosphere was thick with tension as Lois continued, her tone sharp and resolute. ¡°Every decision now could mean the difference between victory and defeat on the battlefield.¡±
She looked around the room, her gaze intense. "As you all know, we need to set our goals carefully. We¡¯ll purchase items and buffs based on those objectives. Then, we¡¯ll analyze the Dark Elves and try to anticipate their moves.¡±
Lois took a breath, then said, ¡°Before we dive in, I need to inform you of an order from the Adventurer''s Guild. We¡¯re to buy a few [Revival Tokens] for the most talented individuals in case of defeat. These people will also serve as witnesses to the war and bring back valuable information to our Kingdom. We can¡¯t afford to lose everything ¡ª even if we fall, someone must live to tell our story.¡±
The room was quiet, the meaning of her words sinking in. Many of the troops had seen the [Revival Tokens] in the shop, and it would be a lie to say they hadn¡¯t been tempted. Each of them wanted to believe they might survive this war.
Sora¡¯s thoughts turned to Kara. ''I don''t need the Token thanks to my [Prestige] skill, but Kara... Kara needs to survive.'' He resolved to push for a token for her. ''Surely, we can at least ask for 100 points, right?''
Looking around, he noticed the gazes of many high ranked players changing, as if they were eyeing a few specific items ...
Asami¡¯s voice cut sharply through the quiet, dispelling any doubts. ¡°I don¡¯t care what any of you are thinking right now. No colonel will enter this battle expecting a ticket home. Those tokens will be for Captains and Vice-Captains, not us. Colonels and Generals shouldn¡¯t fear death, and we shouldn¡¯t fight with a safety net.¡±
She cast a cold gaze over the room. ¡°I¡¯ve also seen some of you Captains eyeing that list a little too greedily. Set your personal ambitions aside. For this battle, I expect nothing less than loyalty and bravery. You can propose someone for a token, but it won¡¯t be yourselves. We won''t buy more than a few [Revival Tokens]. This topic is closed.¡±
Her words were harsh but true, and they were a reminder of the gravity of their task. The captains, now sobered, accepted her words with silent nods.
Lois took over again, her voice calm yet determined. ¡°You¡¯ve heard the General. We¡¯re fighting for victory, not for individual gain. Anyone who can¡¯t accept that is welcome to leave this meeting¡ª or we might as well use that [White Flag] and surrender. Now, let''s spend every point on maximizing our chances, no matter what it takes.¡±
They all knew what that meant. Today, they were warriors first and players second.
Chapter 68 : Trust
The room grew tense as everyone considered the items they could buy. Lois stood at the head of the table, looking at each Colonel as if encouraging them to speak first. After a moment, Colonel Edward cleared his throat.
¡°We should focus on defensive buffs first,¡± he began firmly. ¡°The [Reinforced Armor] and [Elemental Armor] buffs are very good. Boosting both physical and elemental defenses will increase our troops'' durability and let them endure longer in combat. It¡¯ll cut down on casualties and buy us crucial time to strategize and adapt to their debuffs during battle.¡±
Lois shook her head, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Sure, they¡¯re good for defense, but they¡¯re not worth the cost. Remember, those buffs only add 20% to physical defense and 30% to elemental resistance. With the enemy¡¯s power and tactics, that increase might buy us an extra few minutes, but it won¡¯t turn the tides of battle... They''ll have much more buffs on their sides¡±
Oliver leaned forward. ¡°What about [Crowd Control Immunity]? If our troops can¡¯t be stunned or held down, they can keep pressing forward and wear down the enemy. It''s game-changing!¡±
[Crowd Control Immunity] would prevent stuns and holds, but it costs 100,000 points, Oliver. Did you even read the prices before suggesting something? We have 33,370 points! Are you trolling?¡±
Colonel Cero smiled at Lois'' expression before suggesting. ¡°Why wouldn''t we heavily invest in our best players and make them one-man armies? Let''s say we buy [Crowd Control Immunity Tokens], [Damage Immunity Tokens], and all individual buffs in bulk to arm the strongest 10 players and send them to slaughter the enemies. I''m confident we can wipe them out quickly with Ralph, Asami, and Aang''s might and protect our troops with elites like Kara.¡±
Colonel Aang responded with his own suggestion. ¡°Then maybe we need to invest in [Mana Waste] to cripple them. If the Dark Elves are forced to spend more mana, they¡¯ll run out faster, weakening their attacks over time. We¡¯d be leveling the playing field by draining their resources.¡±
[Mana Waste] would hurt them a lot. It¡¯s the best item we can afford, and I feel like it¡¯s really worth the price. , However, we¡¯d be spending 30,000 points on one item... It would leave us with next to nothing for other game-changing options. We only have a little over thirty-three thousand points after all.¡±
"And think about it," she continued, "they¡¯ll likely spend their points on [Mana Waste] and add five levels of [Suppression]¡ dropping our max level from 80 to 75. If I were them, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯d do with this many points¡¡±
The tension rose in the room at the idea of losing five levels during the main battle. Players above 90 and 100, like them, were all limited to level 80 during the war, and losing even more levels would make a dent in their power.
"One of the strategies I''m considering that would give us the maximum chance to win the war is... combining Aang and Cero''s ideas. We¡¯d invest on Captain Ralph, General Asami, and Aang for destruction, and criple the enemies with [Mana Waste] as Colonel Aang suggested. However, the points left after buying that buff would be minimal."
Colonel Oliver raised an eyebrow. ¡°You¡¯re planning to sink nearly all of our points into one debuff? That¡¯s too risky. We¡¯ll be left with almost nothing for buffs.¡±
Lois countered, ¡°We need to hit them with the harshest penalty we can afford. Without a debuff like [Mana Waste], they¡¯ll obliterate us.¡±
3370 points.¡±
Lois scanned the list one last time, then turned to Sora. ¡°If we go with this, I need your opinion, Ralph. Do you think you can handle the responsibility of crushing them with the support of [Mana Waste]? General Asami and Colonel Aang are our other powerhouses, but I know what they need.¡±
Sora replied confidently, ¡°If you want me at my best, I¡¯ll need [5 Level Up Tokens] and a few [Crowd Control Immunity Tokens]. With these, I can maximize my strength.¡±
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Lois blinked, surprised. ¡°I¡¯d almost forgotten you¡¯re not even level 80 yet¡ You were barely level 70 when you joined the war, and you were like a God of war on the battlefield. But if you reach level 80¡¡±
The surrounding crowd gasped at the thought of this overpowered Captain harvesting the lives of their enemies.
With a final nod of agreement from Asami, Lois locked in their purchases. ¡°It¡¯s settled then. Let¡¯s make sure the Dark Elves are as outmatched as we can make them. Every point will be invested in Ralph Eden, Asami Hito and Aang Li. Ralph will be our Ace, allowed to do whatever he can to make the most value of his Skill kit. As for the rest of us, we can not complain as we have 3 monsters taking the pressure from us and 30,000 spent on making sure we''re not sending 5000 players to their deaths.!"
Asami then addressed the room, her voice unwavering. "Lastly, a warning: we¡¯re not buying the [White Flag]. I want that 5% power bonus because I trust our chances of victory, and I intend to push them even further. This choice will reduce casualties on our side. Do you understand?"
The room fell silent after Asami¡¯s declaration, the gravity of her words sinking in. Faces reflected a mix of determination and anxiety, everyone knowing that the decisions made here would impact their very survival.
Colonel Oliver was the first to break the silence. ¡°Alright, so if we¡¯re sinking most of our points into Ralph, Asami, and Aang, we need to make sure the rest of us are fully prepared to support them. This means every effort goes into stalling and surviving¡ªno holding back.¡±
Colonel Aang crossed his arms and said ¡°I still have my reservations about this. If the Dark Elves adapt faster than expected or have bought countermeasures, we¡¯ll be left outnumbered, without even the option to retreat. That said¡¡± he cracked his knuckles, a dangerous glint in his eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure I take down as many of them as possible.¡±
Looking at Lois and Asami, Sora added ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever it takes. You can count on me today. But I have one request.¡±
Lois raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ¡°And what¡¯s that?¡±
Sora¡¯s expression turned solemn. ¡°Please get Kara one of those [Revival Tokens]. I can¡¯t guarantee I¡¯ll be able to watch her back every second, and I won¡¯t risk losing her.¡±
Kara looked stunned, her expression quickly shifting to anger as she shot Sora a sharp glare. ¡°I don¡¯t need one, Ralph! I¡¯m stronger than most of the enemies! We¡¯ll win, and I¡¯ll survive without an-¡ª¡±
Asami placed a hand on Kara¡¯s shoulder, silencing her, and nodded at Sora, making a note. ¡°Consider it done. Vice-Captain Kara will receive a [Revival Token]. She¡¯s one of the most talented players in this war and has more than earned it with her wins. Now, everyone, get your troops ready. Prepare for [Mana Waste]; it¡¯s likely the debuff they¡¯ll invest in. Let¡¯s be ready.¡±
The Colonels exchanged uneasy glances, each mentally steeling themselves for the fight ahead. They had battled side by side countless times, but never with stakes this high.
With those final words, the group dispersed, each determined to fulfill their role in the upcoming battle. The air felt heavy with resolve as they prepared to meet the enemy head-on, fully aware that every decision made today would ripple through the war¡¯s endgame.
Shortly after, Sora, Kara, Aang, and the other selected players gathered their items and set off to ready their battalions and companies.
Sora glanced at his inventory, noting the items with a mix of gratitude and pressure.
5 x [Level Up Token], 3 x [Crowd Control Immunity Token], 1 x [Damage Immunity Token].
''They really invested heavily in me¡'' he thought, eyeing the small but powerful stack of tokens in his hand.
[Mana Refill] items, which cost a mere 10 points each, but when she offered one to him, Sora declined. She had stocked up on them, distributing the items among the elite players. In this battle, those small boosts could make all the difference.
Then, a notification flashed across everyone¡¯s vision.
| [Everyone who has been notified, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight.] |
The final battle was upon them, and each soldier braced themselves.
Sora took his place beside an angry Kara and Richard. Ahead, Oliver, the other Colonels, and Asami stood at the front lines, their faces set and determined. Across the field, the enemy army mirrored their formation, standing resolute and ready.
Silence filled the space between the two forces. Only the distant clink of weapons against armor and a few unsteady breaths disturbed the silence, each soldier feeling the immense weight of what lay ahead. The tension was thick, pressing down on everyone as the field lay waiting for the inevitable clash.
Asami stepped forward, her voice calm yet filled with conviction. "I may not be from these lands, and I didn¡¯t grow up here. To most of you, I might even be a stranger."
"Yet, from the moment I first set foot on this soil, I fell in love¡ªwith the snow covering these landscapes, the fierce brilliance in your eyes, and, yes, even the beauty of your men."
She had a warm smile on her face. "I came here alone, on a simple mission. But with every step, I found friends, comrades who fought by my side."
She paused, letting her gaze sweep over the faces before her, touched with memories and emotions.
"I watched every fight you entered, always rooting for you. It feels natural now, seeing you all here."
Her expression grew serious, her tone heavy with meaning. "Today, we stand on the edge of everything we love, and it hurts to know we¡¯re risking it all on this one battle."
"We were given the opportunity to forfeit and save everyone here from death in case things went south."
Her eyes shone with fierce determination. "Make humanity proud. Do not yield. Do not give up. Fight to the death!"
Chapter 69 : Assassination
Asami¡¯s words seemed to hang in the air, and the silence that followed was deafening. The weight of her speech bore down on everyone, and the gravity of the battle ahead became clearer than ever.
Sora clenched his fists, his eyes looking around to see how others fared. Richard, usually the one with a joke to lighten the mood, stood still, focused, his hands trembling betraying his real emotions and young age.
The colonels exchanged glances, some nodding slightly, encouraging each other.
Edward¡¯s usually cocky grin was replaced with a look of deep focus. Oliver, despite his usual playful demeanor, was tense, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword too tightly.
The players in the ranks changed slightly, many taking in slow, deep breaths as if to absorb the words and prepare themselves. Some cast glances at their neighbors, to see how others reacted, or looking for comfort and encouragement. Murmurs of quiet encouragement were heard among the troops, the fear quickly giving place to courage.
Others straightened up, eyes locked on the enemy. These players who coped best were those with real battle experience¡ªthe former soldiers of Sweden, and some other soldiers from allied countries, who had become players. For them, the sudden shift from reality to this game-like world didn¡¯t mean much. They were still soldiers, and they had sworn to protect their country, no matter what form it would take.
Sora who was seeing the clear distinction between battle-hardened players and beginners regardless of their level was brought out of his thoughts when he noticed the reaction of the person closest to him.
Sora''s eyes changed at the thought, as if slowly trying to adapt to this situation and make sure he was ready for what he was about to do.
Sora placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll survive this, I promise.¡±
Kara shook her head, her voice low and strained. ¡°It¡¯s not about us... Don¡¯t you see all these players? Most of them are barely over twenty, Ralph. Sure, we might survive, but how many of them will make it? You saw them earlier¡ªsome of them are here for fun, or to get stronger.¡±
Sora flinched, realizing the weight of her words. Five thousand enemies. And with the Dark Elves holding far more points, victory¡ªeven if achieved¡ªwould mean massive losses.
His gaze changed, his mind slowly adjusting to the gravity of the situation to make sure he was ready for what he was about to do.
Kara clenched her fists, watching Sora standing before her, trembling slightly. They hadn¡¯t prepared themselves for this¡ªmaybe they¡¯d avoided thinking about it altogether. Sora felt her gaze and forced a reassuring smile, turning to her with quiet resolve.
¡°You don¡¯t have to kill anyone today,¡± he said softly. ¡°Let me take on that burden for the both of us. I¡¯ll do what needs to be done. You¡¯re too kind, Kara, and I want to protect that part of you for as long as I can. Maybe one day you will have no choice, but today, I will give this my best so you won''t have to make that choice yet... If I don''t give it my all... We''re going to lose many ... comrades. And I''d rather feel the guilt of killing than the guilt of letting more comrades die in front of me... Again... ¡±
Kara¡¯s eyes softened as she took in the mix of pain, fear and resolve etched into his face. She let out a calm breath, then shook her head with a faint smile. ¡°Ralph¡ thank you for worrying about me. That was not what I meant earlier. But I can¡¯t hold back now. I need to grow too. I¡¯m not some damsel in distress.¡±
She laughed at her own words, the sound light in the somber atmosphere. ¡°I might have been one back in that dungeon¡ but not anymore. Not after everything I¡¯ve learned¡ªmostly thanks to you and all the time spent ... there.¡±
Sora was taken aback by her answer, a pang of guilt hitting him as he realized he¡¯d been more patronizing than he¡¯d intended.
Staring at each other, any lingering hesitation faded from their faces. They had made their decision.
Suddenly, glowing letters appeared in the sky above the coliseum:
| [PVP Event: Dark Elf Kingdom vs New World Kingdom] |
| [Category: Tier 4 War] |
| [Reward: Sweden Territory Ownership] |
|
[Content: Final Battle]
|
Then, a series of notifications flashed in front of them, each one hitting with the force of a hammer:
| [Enemy Faction uses Suppression. Your level decreases by one!] |
| [Enemy Faction uses Suppression. Your level decreases by one!] |
| [Enemy Faction uses Suppression. Your level decreases by one!] |
| [Enemy Faction uses Suppression. Your level decreases by one!] |
| [Enemy Faction uses Suppression. Your level decreases by one!] |
| [Enemy Faction uses Mana Waste. Mana consumption is tripled!] |
The enemy had chosen to cripple their levels, reducing their access to even less power than before. Most average players now found themselves operating with only a third, or at best half, of the strength they had when capped at level 80.
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The effect on higher ranked players was lower, as they had ways to keep part of the lost power through various means.
Stunned murmurs spread through the human ranks as they processed the penalties. The highest level on their side was now capped at 75, and those who had just reached that level¡ªlike Sora and Kara¡ªwere suddenly knocked back to level 70. But just as worry began to creep in, another notification appeared:
| [Your faction uses Mana Waste. Enemy Mana consumption is tripled!] |
Relief and cheers replaced the worry and murmurs. While they were now several levels behind, they had crippled the enemy¡¯s mana usage as well. They may be at a disadvantage, but they still had a chance.
¡°We¡¯ll make up for it, trust in our three ACES and focus on surviving !!¡± Edward shouted, rallying his battalion. His words ignited a wave of battle cries as the soldiers raised their weapons, their fighting spirit blazing.
Across the battlefield, the Dark Elf soldiers looked to their general with unwavering confidence. They had seen victory after victory under his command, and today would be no different.
Klunor Sapher, the Dark Elven general, spoke to his colonels, his voice carrying a resolute calm. ¡°Who would have thought we¡¯d be here, chasing people from their homes, fighting for land. Once, we were defenders. Now, we¡¯re invaders. The world has turned us into conquerors, but that¡¯s the fate we¡¯ve been given. We will break every limit, dirty our hands, and ensure our people¡¯s survival, even if it means marching over innocent civilizations.¡±
The colonels nodded solemnly, sharing in his fierce conviction. They were all prepared to pay the price for their people. As the two armies locked eyes across the field, it was clear: this was no longer a simple battle. It was the goal they had worked for this whole month.
-------------
Soon after, everyone received a notification:
| [Everyone, advance to the field number prepared for you, and fight.] |
The final battle was upon them, and everyone was ready.
Sora quickly used his [Level Up Tokens] to regain the levels he¡¯d lost to the suppression debuffs. With the tokens, he was back to his full strength¡ªit was time to fulfill his promise.
The battlefield was vast, and each side''s army was spread out in formations optimized by the strategists based on the knowledge accumulated through the previous battles. Troops were spaced to minimize the effects of area-wide skills that some damage dealers favored, ensuring no single skill could wipe an entire section out.
Above everyone, a countdown appeared in the sky, ticking away the last few moments of calm before the storm.
When the countdown reached zero, the battle started.
Spells rained from both sides as buffers boosted their allies, healers cast shields on their tanks, and archers released their first arrows.
Lois¡¯s voice sounded on the communication voice channels, directing the five battalions, while Sora, Aang, and Asami awaited her orders to fill their roles.
While both armies tested each other cautiously, reluctant to fully commit before understanding the other side¡¯s strategy, the first casualties were suffered, and the tension in the air thickened.
Kara, buffed by Sora''s [Mana Cascade], relied on her powerful skills to cover her allies with protections and heals. With every enemy that fell, her power grew, feeding her abilities and reinforcing her, rendering the enemy''s debuff useless.
On the other side, Sora listened intently to Lois¡¯s orders.
¡°Target the enemy Captains and Vice-Captains first,¡± Lois instructed. ¡°Isolate and eliminate them. If you encounter a particularly strong opponent, leave them and move to the next group. We need to disrupt their chain of command, starting from the farthest companies. Each Colonel will handle an enemy Colonel, while Asami keeps General Klunor busy. You''re the only one who''s free to roam.¡±
Sora leaped into action, moving toward the distant edge of the battlefield, where two companies clashed. He joined the fray, instantly casting [Mana Shield] on nearby allies and buffing them with [Amplify] before swinging his staff with a fully stacked [Alternate Echo Strike].
| [You have killed an enemy Captain] |
| [You have killed an enemy Vice-Captain] |
| [You have killed an enemy] x18 |
The power of his strike obliterated twenty enemies in one blow. He appeared behind another Vice-Captain, who stared at him in disbelief, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be weakened? How can¡ª¡±
His words never finished as Sora¡¯s staff connected, shattering his defenses.
| [You have killed an enemy Vice-Captain] |
Sora didn¡¯t pause to let him speak; he was here to end this battle as swiftly as possible. Moving through the chaos, he continued his assault, leaving each company he struck weakened and leaderless. He only had one purpose: to minimize human casualties as much as possible.
After the eighth company, he felt a sudden, crushing pressure behind him. A chill ran through him as mana trembled in his whole body, as if announcing an inevitable catastrophe.
He knew this feeling. He had the same feeling when entering the level 80 zone to activate his prestige skill through death activation.
He was about to die.
Chapter 70 : Ill be ... leaving first
A chill ran through him, and he instinctively channeled his lightning to fly away from the spot, reappearing above his own army, sweat beading on his forehead.
''What was that?'' he wondered, trying to catch his breath. Whatever it was, it had nearly taken him out.
Lois¡¯s voice came through his earpiece, slightly annoyed. ¡°Why are you back already?¡±
He quickly explained the sensation he¡¯d experienced, and Lois responded, her tone serious. ¡°That was Sarsha, the Dark Elf Colonel you faced before. No wonder we could not find her yet. She¡¯s lying in ambush, hidden among the companies. When she strikes, her first hit is nearly impossible to defend. " Pausing for a moment she added, with a different tone "She wants to assassinate you? Let her try again. Keep targeting Captains, and if you meet her again, make sure to survive with your lightning fast reflexes, and tell me immediately.¡±
Sora took a deep breath, nodding to himself. This battlefield was vast, chaotic, and dangerous even to him. But he¡¯d made his choice, and he would see it through. With renewed focus, he resumed his mission, darting back into the fray.
From the early probing, the battlefield had transformed, with powerhouses from both sides locked in combat, effectively holding each other back. Meanwhile, he roamed the field freely, harvesting lives without opposition.
As Sora continued cutting through Company Captains one by one, and he was starting to feel the effects of his harassment. The might of the enemies, who had much higher levels due to the debuff on humans, was starting to show signs of weakness, as their officers died and their companies were crippled.
He wondered how Kara was faring on her end but trusted in her resilience and skill. As he approached his fifteenth Company Captain, a familiar, and overwhelming, pressure bore down on him.
Sora immediately reacted and used lightning movement to evade Sarsha''s attack as he had before. But this time, the tactic failed. Just as he attempted to disappear, a strange barrier appeared around him, stopping his movement skill.
He quickly contacted Lois, who replied, ¡°Stall her¡ªWe have a way to kill her.¡±
Acknowledging her command, he paid attention to the notification.
| [The enemy has used {Cut Retreat Scroll}] |
| [You are bound to this space for 30 seconds. You cannot exit this area] |
He glanced around, realizing he was trapped within a limited space. Turning to the area where Sarsha had aimed, he smiled. ¡°You don¡¯t remember how it ended last time, do you? I¡¯m not the one trapped here with you. You¡¯re trapped with me.¡±
Despite his challenge, he was disappointed to see that Sarsha ignored him, staying out of sight. He activated his [Mana Eyes] and scanned the area, only to find¡ªnothing. The space around him was empty. He could only see ... Mana ?
¡®She must have figured out how I kept tracking her and started letting the mana flow through her differently. How can she adapt so fast? Is this the effect of an item from the [War Shop]?¡¯ Sora mused, unfazed by the challenge.
While Sarsha''s ambush technique was formidable, he wasn¡¯t intimidated. With a calm resolve, he summoned thousands of [Wind Blades], commanding them to spin around him in a relentless storm.
Hidden nearby, Sarsha watched him, shocked. ¡®He dodged my ultimate skill... twice?! How can a player who hasn¡¯t even reached level 100 have such reaction time?¡¯
She charged again, preparing to launch a different strike. But as she approached, her gaze fixed on the wall of [Wind Blades] that appeared. ¡®How does he have so much mana? Controlling so many blades takes insane compatibility with the Wind Element, not to mention mana reserves and precision control.¡¯
Frustrated, she gritted her teeth. ¡®This [Cut Retreat Scroll] was totally wasted on him. There''s no way I can break through that storm. Argh, I hate this!''
She made the decision to wait out the remaining time, blending back into the air around her.
Sora stood alert, sensing no immediate threat. After a moment, he sent his [Wind Blades] outward in a sweeping wave, effectively scanning the space ahead of him. Suddenly, he felt a faint impact from the blades. Without hesitation, he rushed to the spot were blood appeared, grabbing Sarsha as she materialized, eyes wide with shock.
Through gritted teeth, Sarsha spat, "I let my guard down... Damn it!"
She quickly activated her [Damage Immunity Token], barely avoiding the deathly slap from Sora''s hand, which glowed with the yellow light of the [Earth Element].
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Realizing her precarious position, she immediately sent a message to her faction, requesting help.
On the human side, Sora reported to Lois, ¡°I¡¯ve got Sarsha, but she''s immune to damage. Just let me know what you want me to do.¡±
Lois replied swiftly, ¡°On my signal, bring Tom and get back here as soon as possible!¡±
Sora was puzzled ''Tom ? A signal ? What is she talking about?''
But before he could fully process, Sarsha vanished from his grasp¡ªreplaced by someone else entirely. Startled, Sora raised his other hand, ready to strike, until he realized he was holding onto a human, instead of the Dark Elf Colonel.
The man held up a hand, scared but smiling slightly. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Tom.¡±
Sora¡¯s eyes widened as realization dawned. Without hesitation, he threw Tom on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and flew back towards his faction¡¯s side.
As they approached, he saw Sarsha in panic, desperately pounding at the walls of a familiar cage.
Nearby, Kara stood with five copies of ... his Ralph appearance, each one radiating with power and focused on Sarsha in her [Life Cage].
Around them, a team of players was diligently debuffing her, while a few others buffed the damage dealers preparing for the one final burst.
Overhead, Lois hovered, casting her gaze across the battlefield and preparing her skills for a devastating attack the moment Sarsha¡¯s [Damage Immunity] wore off.
The terror in Sarsha¡¯s eyes was almost palpable.
Dropping Tom, Sora readied himself, joining the team¡¯s efforts, determined to finish this once and for all.
Sora charged his [Alternate Echo Strike], now capable of stacking up to 15 layers and positioned himself.
¡°Thirty seconds,¡± he relayed over the team channel.
Suddenly, Lois shouted into the communication channel, her voice urgent and strained, ¡°Stop him! Don¡¯t let him get close! Oliver, I need you now¡ªforget about Captone. You¡¯ve got to hold Klunor off for a few dozen seconds! We can¡¯t let him save Sarsha!¡±
It seemed that Asami, with her skills restricted to assassination and harassing enemies, couldn¡¯t stop General Klunor from breaking through the front line, rushing straight for Sarsha.
¡®Twenty-six seconds,¡¯ Sora noted, checking the time in his head. ''No point reminding them; it¡¯ll only add pressure'', he thought.
He glanced upward, catching sight of Klunor tearing through their faction¡¯s lines, his speed relentless and seemed unfazed by crowd control. He was bulldozing through them like a missile, unstoppable.
An explosion shook the air as Klunor¡¯s path was intercepted by a bald warrior.
For a moment, Oliver held Klunor back, but the Dark Elf General¡¯s power proved overwhelming. A few seconds later, Oliver was sent crashing to the ground like a meteor.
Wounded, Oliver scrambled to his feet, visibly exhausted from his fight with Colonel Captone. Low on mana, he resorted to physical strikes to hold his ground.
Quickly, support-class players flooded him with buffs, Kara and Sora among them.
With renewed strength, Oliver leaped back into the fray, charging to intercept Klunor once more.
Sora, keeping an eye on the timer, debated whether he should join in¡ªbut with only twenty seconds left, would he make it in time to stall Klunor and return to strike Sarsha?
He decided to send his [Blood Clones] to aid Oliver, hoping it would buy them precious seconds.
Seconds ticked by.
¡®Fifteen seconds,¡¯ he counted, feeling the tension rise.
Oliver held the line, but Captone soon reappeared, backed by hundreds of reinforcements. The battlefield erupted into chaos as buffs began raining down on Klunor, his strength surging as he sent Oliver flying once again, surviving only because of his allies impressive buffs, heals and shields.
The Dark Elves were breaking through¡ªrushing forward with brutal momentum, sacrificing dozens of their elite troops.
Sora¡¯s instincts kicked in the moment he saw the Dark Elves breaking through.
Without hesitation, he cast [Earth Dome], layering it thickly, pouring mana into it like never before.
He focused on reinforcing the Northern side where the enemies pressed hardest, even if it meant leaving the Southern side weaker.
The mana cost was absurd, and he could feel it draining him every second. But as soon as his mana dipped low, [Mana Evolution] kicked in, flooding him with fresh reserves, keeping up with the endless casting.
Simultaneously, he cast enormous [Wind Wall] spells, pushing his allies out of harm¡¯s way and replacing their positions with more [Earth Domes], the barriers forming in quick succession, each one bigger than the last.
Klunor¡¯s furious shout echoed across the battlefield, ¡°Damn you, Ralph Eden! How can you have so much mana? This is impossible!! ¡±
Sora ignored the general, but understood his frustration. As soon as the enemy saw a sliver of hope, he snatched it away.
¡°Two seconds!¡± Lois¡¯s voice crackled in their comms, her tone tense but relieved, seeing the dome imprisoning hundreds of allies with one lone enemy inside. ¡°Get ready!¡±
Inside the cage, Sarsha sat in eerie stillness, her earlier struggles proving futile against the powerful trap she was in. She had tried every trick to escape, but this cage was beyond anything she could overcome, even impossible to phase through.
Her heart raced when she saw her friend and general, Klunor, charging with Captone and reinforcements in tow.
For the first time in what felt like forever, she dared to hope. She even felt tears welling up as she watched them breach the outer defenses. ''Maybe¡ just maybe¡''
But then, the sun vanished as something appeared above, casting a shadow over everything. The smile faded from her face as her heightened senses slowed the scene around her, each agonizing detail clear as day.
She saw the enemy captain, her nemesis, casting [Earth Domes] one after another, his mana reserves seemingly endless.
''So, this is it'', she thought, tears streaming down her cheeks. ''To fall to a monster like him¡ it¡¯s not the worst way to go, I suppose. But it¡¯s a shame¡''
She glanced at the timer, her heart heavy. Two seconds.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself for the inevitable and stood up. Her life had brought her to this final stand, and she would face it with dignity.
As her immunity disappeared, the cage vanished, and the sky seemed to explode with spells and weapons, each one aimed directly at her.
In that split second, she felt the crushing weight of Captain Ralph''s staff among the barrage.
Her voice trembled over the comms, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for today¡¯s losses. I¡¯ll be¡ leaving first.¡±
Chapter 71 : Conclusion
[Ruyi Jingu Bang] descended upon Sarsha, his heart was in turmoil. She wasn¡¯t the first player he¡¯d killed, but never before had he encountered such an expression on an enemy¡¯s face.
Despite her status as an opponent, the tears in her eyes and the look she was giving her allies beyond the walls were heartbreaking.
Isn¡¯t this too much? The thought tightened his chest even as his staff met its target.
The familiar, cold notification jolted him back to reality:
| [You have killed an enemy Colonel] |
The battlefield seemed to shift the moment Sarsha fell. There were no cheers, just a deep, quiet resolve among his allies¡ªa shared realization that victory in this war might actually be within reach.
Lois''s voice cut through the silence. ¡°Ralph, drop the dome! This is our chance to take their leader. Focus on Klunor. Oliver and I will deal with Captone. Kara, block everyone else with the battalion''s help¡±
Lois had noted Kara¡¯s immense potential and trusted her with such a task. Even before the battle, she had considered plans that could make the most of her exceptional abilities, including trapping Sarsha or trapping groups of ambushers.
As Sora released the domes, he swiftly guided his allies out of Klunor¡¯s range, clearing a wide-open space for a duel.
Summoning new [Earth Domes] to trap his enemy with him, he began heating the entire area, raising the temperature inside.
Dark clouds formed above, releasing a steady rain that turned into mist on contact with the scorching ground. Trapped in the enclosed space, each raindrop landed with a soft pssht, which gradually turned into explosive bursts, increasing the pressure inside.
He summoned more [Earth Domes].
Now at level 75, Sora could handle most opponents with ease, his refined body, powerful skills, and solid foundation making him an unstoppable force. But even with Klunor¡¯s level reduced from 127 to 80, the dual swordsman exuded a pressure that surpassed his own.
Sora raised his hands, summoning hundreds of [Ice Orbs] that began to float around him in unpredictable patterns, their size growing larger by the second. Lightning also crackled around him, extending to cover the entire enclosed space.
Klunor¡¯s gaze remained fixed, his expression hardening as a dark red mist started seeping from his body. His eyes glowed red, and two sharp horns began to protrude between his pointed ears, amplifying the already overwhelming aura. The presence he released intensified, pushing the pressure under the dome to a higher level.
¡°This is costly, but you left me no choice,¡± Klunor said, his tone heavy with resignation and hesitation. He swung his twin blades, releasing a surge of energy that crackled through the air, thick with imminent danger.
He swung his blades, and Sora felt a surge of danger.
In an instant, Sora transformed into lightning, dodging the strike to reappear hundreds of meters behind Klunor. But the threat wasn¡¯t gone¡ªtwo energy beams shot from Klunor¡¯s swords, tracking Sora¡¯s movements. He was forced to keep evading, using lightning to move around.
Klunor¡¯s eyes locked onto Sora, tracking his movements as he moved in and out of sight. Anticipating his reappearance, Klunor dashed forward, only to be hit by a shockingly fast [Ice Orb] smashing into him from above.
The [Ice Orbs], ricocheting off the dome¡¯s surfaces with each explosion, accelerating unpredictably with each impact. Each collision sent them flying in unpredictable directions, and Klunor found himself struck repeatedly, their impacts distracting him as more of them appeared, bouncing violently throughout the dome.
Sora was not satisfied, continuously summoning more [Ice Orbs].
The dome became a chaotic space where extreme heat, explosive Ice Orbs, and extreme pressure met. The oppressive atmosphere grew more intense with each passing moment, transforming the battlefield into a living hell.
Sora who had pushed his elemental resistance to the limit, and refined his body to an extreme level could manage under such condition. Klunor however rapidly felt his endurance declining, having no choice but fly after Sora in hope of catching him.
Sora, however, was doing his best to avoid a direct confrontation, wanting to tire his opponent out and break his resistance.
Klunor gritted his teeth at such a strategy and focused on slicing through the [Ice Orbs] to minimize the damage he took, but they were unending. His blade beams, which had pursued Sora for over ten seconds, dissipated, and he turned back to find his opponent standing unfazed.
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Klunor glanced at his panel and flinched at the grim notifications. Reality hit hard¡ªCaptone was dead, and Sarsha was gone. His hand trembled, a defeated sigh escaping as he thought, "Is this the end? Can we truly conquer [Earth]?"
He raised his head and looked at Sora, lost in thought for a moment before saying "Little Human, you were amazing in this war. To be honest, if we had a few individuals like you on this serv- planet we may have a chance. But our race''s focus is somewhere it shouldn''t be. I envy your people. You''re fighting as one in the face of enemies. Don''t blame us [Invaders] too much, as maybe someday we will not face as enemies anymore. I''m not allowed to say too much to you, but I can only tell you something, that maybe you can consider a favor from this old one. Death may not be the end. In this [World]... Maybe you should just play ?"
"I will remember your name"
Resolute, he pulled a small item from his pocket, raising it high above his head.
| [General Klunor is forfeiting the battle. Please stop fighting. Your enemies have 3 days to retreat from the territory.] |
| [Congratulations to the [New World Kingdom] for the victory in the PVP Event!] |
| [Reward: Sweden Territory Ownership] |
Suddenly, powerful shields appeared around everyone on the battlefield as the notification registered.
On the dark elves side, a ripple of despair washed over their ranks, and tears streamed down the faces of soldiers. To many, this defeat¡ªbringing dishonor to their families and tribes¡ªwas a fate worse than death.
On the human side, the reactions were mixed. Some stood stunned, others cheered, elated to have defended their homeland. Kara felt a wave of relief, letting out a deep breath as she took in the realization that the war was finally over.
All the spells had ceased and the factions regrouped to count their casualties, Sora flew forward, halting Klunor in his tracks.
"Wait. Thank you for putting an end to this,¡± he said, meeting Klunor¡¯s eyes with a solemn gaze. ¡°If we meet again and I understood what you meant, I¡¯ll return the favor. I will not forget this."
Klunor regarded him for a moment, his face unreadable, before he gave a single, simple nod.
Without a word, he turned to rejoin his remaining colonels and troops. In heavy silence, they walked out of the coliseum, their steps echoing through the emptying battlefield as they departed, leaving only memories of weeks of hard-fought battles.
Sora soon landed beside Lois, Kara, and the others, feeling the toll from expending so much mana so quickly. He¡¯d experienced this before during Areva¡¯s test in Paris, where he was pushed to the edge, relying heavily on his mana regeneration just to survive the test.
He could feel a headache spreading through his head, making it difficult to focus on everything happening around the coliseum. His mental strength lagged behind his physical capabilities, as he fought his weakness, trying to stand tall despite the mounting fatigue.
Just as General Asami Hito turned to address the troops and congratulate the incredible recruit who had turned the tides, she noticed him suddenly falter, his body falling forward.
She moved to catch him, but Kara was faster, reaching him just in time to stop his face from hitting the ground.
Kneeling beside him, Kara channeled her life force, scanning his body for injuries. To her relief, she realized his body was perfectly fine. Instead, it seemed he had reached the limits of his mental endurance.
Asami surveyed the battlefield, her eyes falling on the tired expressions of her troops. The exhaustion was palpable, etched into the faces of many players. She knew they needed rest.
Kara carried Sora on her back and took in the scene around her, her gaze falling on survivors scattered across the battlefield. Many were kneeling beside dropped items¡ªthe last remnants of their fallen friends. Some of them had only known each other a short while; others had shared countless battles together, forming friendships that had now been abruptly severed.
Her eyes landed on a familiar figure. ¡®That¡¯s¡ Suraj, isn¡¯t it?¡¯ she thought, recognizing the squad or team leader from earlier. He was on his knees, fists pressed into the dirt, his entire body trembling as silent tears traced paths down his face.
A pang of sorrow hit her as she remembered him speaking to a young woman before the battle. They had exchanged words about their fears of permanent death, but while he seemed anxious, his friend was more optimistic, reassuring him. ¡®Where is she? What was her name¡?¡¯ Kara thought, her heart beating faster as she scanned the faces around her.
She remembered the woman¡¯s plate armor and tall frame, which should have made her easy to spot. But she was nowhere to be seen. An uneasy feeling settled in her chest. ''Is she¡?''
Kara moved closer to Suraj, stopping a few meters away. His voice was barely audible, but she could make out the broken words. ¡°Mirai¡ why did you have to die¡ I wanted to propose. Fo... for us to leave this life and start fresh¡ together. Why was I safe when you fought in the front lines?¡±
His words sent a chill through her. The battle was over, but the echoes of loss were just appearing. She glanced down at Sora, unconscious but breathing steadily. His current state weighed on her heart, a reminder that he was not invincible.
She knew this was only the beginning, as the reality of their sacrifices would soon hit everyone with painful clarity.
Chapter 72 : Portrait
Sora found himself in a dimly lit room, where the faint sound of brush on paper filled the silence. As he looked closer, he saw someone hunched over, carefully sketching a portrait¡ªhis portrait.
The artist paused, glanced up at him, and he realized he was looking into his own face. The version of himself across from him continued to draw, capturing every detail with a astonishing accuracy.
Once finished, the other Sora stood up, placing the portrait on a nearby support. Sora stepped closer to examine it, feeling an odd sense of distance from the face staring back at him. This version of himself looked hopeful and innocent, with a faint smile that hinted at youth and naivety.
This was his appearance before the world changed...
Suddenly, the scene shifted, and Sora found himself standing in a valley, his heart pounding as he watched Enzo and Lara fall in slow motion. They reached out to him, eyes wide with terror, as life drained from their bodies.
He wanted to scream, to run to them, but he was rooted to the spot, powerless to change their fate. Then he felt a sharp pain in his back and turned, only to see Rachel, betrayal etched across her face as she withdrew the blade.
Blood splattered onto the portrait, marking it with crimson streaks before being absorbed by the paper, and the once-clear smile faded, replaced by a grim determination.
The innocence was gone, and Sora in the portrait seemed to have aged ten years in an instant. His once-youthful expression now had grief and revenge written all over it. The face looking back at him was slightly colder, as if the kindness that once inhabited it had been scorched away.
Yet, in this darkness, new figures entered his life. Hiyoko, the little Piou, was sleeping in his arms one night in the cold forest he was training in. He helped his parents find their smile again. And Kara appeared, and with her came a warmth he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time. Her gentle smile radiated a healing light, and he felt his own heart soften, the bitterness easing as he remembered her kindness. The man in the portrait reflected this change; his cold expression softened, and the faintest hint of a smile began to return, bringing back a semblance of the youth he¡¯d lost.
But then the ground beneath him shifted, and enemies surrounded him. He stood alone, his staff at the ready, and with a deadly precision, he watched himself cutting them all down.
Blood sprayed around him, coating the valley in crimson. Sarsha appeared next, her tear-streaked face meeting his gaze as he delivered the final blow. Her blood, like that of the others, splattered across the portrait.
Control over his body slowly returned ...
As he turned back to the image, he saw the lasting marks of his actions.
Most of the blood faded, absorbed into the paper, but a few drops remained, staining the portrait. The smile in his reflection dimmed once more, the weight of his sins etched into his face.
Blood covered his hands, and a thin stream trickled from his nose. His stance was more powerful, exuding strength, but also a chilling detachment that hadn¡¯t been there before. This was a man who¡¯d been forged in battle, no longer just a warrior but a haunted figure, carrying the marks of every life he¡¯d taken, every friend he¡¯d lost.
Sora did not like the portrait he was seeing. This was not him. He remembered and regretted every life he took, and it was always by necessity. This was unfair, he was portrayed as someone cold, but he was not that guy... Was he?
The artist turned to him, as if waiting for him to do more things to know how to portray him in the future...
Sora¡¯s eyes snapped open, his heart pounding in his chest.
For a moment, he lay still, staring at the dim ceiling above him, the images from his dream lingering like ghostly shadows. He could still feel the weight of his staff in his hands, the warm blood splattering against his face, and the last look in Sarsha¡¯s eyes, frozen in his mind.
He sat up slowly, his breaths uneven. He glanced down at his hands. But they were clean, shaking slightly as he clenched them into fists.
The room around him was quiet, a contrast to the chaos in his dream. Yet, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling in his chest, the echoes of guilt reverberating in the silence.
The dream had felt so real. The loss, the betrayal, the blood¡ªit was all too vivid, reminding him of the things he couldn¡¯t outrun, the choices he¡¯d made and the people he¡¯d left behind.
After a few moments, he exhaled slowly, the chill of the early morning air brushing against his face, grounding him.
He sat up, forcing himself to focus on the present. He needed to move on. With new weight on his shoulders, and hidden scars no one could see.
Sora used the messaging feature in his friend list and was about to send a quick greeting to Kara.
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Surprised at himself, he thought, ''Since when did I start expecting her presence? Can we be considered real friends now?''
He shook his head, dismissing his thoughts, and turned his attention to Hiyoko. Through their link, he sensed her outside the room.
''Where am I? Since when does Hiyoko wander freely? Isn''t she afraid of bullies?''
Because of her unusual appearance, people often mistook Hiyoko for a wild creature, trying to pet her or even cast spells on her. Though her level and power far surpassed any civilian¡¯s, she still shrank away when surrounded by strangers.
Sora left the room, tracking his familiar. Soon, he found her standing with her head buried in a basket of fruit, her tail feathers poking up and her butt looking at the ceiling in what seemed to be a modern kitchen.
He gently grabbed her by the feathers, pulling her in front of him. Her eyes widened, mouth red stained with strawberries.
¡°Whose fruits are these? Didn¡¯t I teach you not to steal?¡±
Hiyoko chirped and shook her head, as if protesting. "Chirp, Chirp, Chirp!!"
Through their bond, Sora understood her chatter, learning that the homeowners had allowed her to eat. Apparently, he and Kara were resting here as guests.
Scanning the surroundings with [Mana Eyes], Sora noticed four people in the house, and soon he heard approaching footsteps. Kara appeared, dressed in an unexpected shade of yellow.
¡°You¡¯re awake... How are you?¡± she asked.
¡°I¡¯m fine. What about you? How long was I out?¡± he replied, lying about feeling better than he did.
¡°Half a day,¡± she replied. ¡°We¡¯re in Kiruna. It¡¯s not close to Treriksr?set, but it¡¯s the safest place we could find. General Asami gave us all three days to rest before we return to Stockholm.¡±
¡°Kiruna¡¡± Sora recalled the maps he had memorized while searching for good hunting grounds, realizing how far they were from the battlefield. She must have carried me all the way here, he thought, glancing at her.
Staring at her for a few seconds ¡°Thank you, Kara. For everything.¡±
Before she could respond, a couple in their early thirties entered the kitchen. The woman, with light hair, carried a baby in her arms, while the man, nearly two meters tall and bald, looked at Sora with a warm smile.
¡°I¡¯m Sven,¡± he introduced himself. ¡°I work in a small inn in the core area. We¡¯ve heard so much about the war these past few weeks, and you can¡¯t imagine how grateful we are to you soldiers... Some people call you players, but to us, you are Soldiers, you are even Heroes. Knowing that one of the heroes behind our safety is here, in this house my father and I built, it gives us hope. Thank you for fighting for us and giving us the chance to stay in our territory.¡±
Sora felt a mix of emotions. After that dream, he felt dirty, and weak, but this family''s happiness and their looks told him a different story. Maybe it was worth having dirty hands if he could protect people from harm.
"Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for having us in your home".
The woman quickly added, ¡°No need to thank us! This is the least we can do for our country¡¯s heroes. Please, join us¡ªwe were just having breakfast.¡±
Sora followed them, and the morning passed peacefully. He watched as Kara played with the baby, who looked no older than one or two years. Genuine happiness shone in Kara¡¯s eyes, a rare softness that made her seem almost carefree.
At one point, Kara tried to hand the baby to Sora. He flinched, and she immediately noticed the fear and hesitation in his eyes. Without missing a beat, she brushed it off, tactfully moving to stand near the window with the child instead.
Sora glanced down at his hands, a hint of sadness in his gaze. He didn¡¯t want to touch the baby, afraid that his newfound strength might harm the fragile little life. In his mind, his hands still felt stained¡ªmarked by the battles and lives he¡¯d taken. Holding a child seemed too pure of an act for someone who¡¯d known so much violence.
During their three days in Kiruna, Kara often took Sora on walks to explore the city and its surroundings. They visited the Institute of Space Physics and Lule? University of Technology, both of which were now integrating mana and game mechanics into their studies of Space Technology and Space Physics¡ªfields that had shifted dramatically over the past decade.
One day, they made their way to Luossavaara Mountain, spending the hours watching the sun rise and gradually move across the sky until it dipped below the horizon. The landscape was breathtaking, and Sora felt a quiet peace settling over him.
With the beauty of the scenery, Kara¡¯s steady presence, and Hiyoko fluttering nearby, Sora¡¯s heart¡ªso often weighed down by grief¡ªfelt like it was slowly beginning to heal, each moment spent here gently easing the pain he carried.
Chapter 73 : Exposed
A few days had passed. Sora and Kara had just bid farewell to Sven and Catherine and were looking at the panel in front of them.
It was a [Military Summon].
| [Request from General Asami Hito ¨C "Stockholm - Adventurer''s Guild." Your presence is requested. Attendance is encouraged but not mandatory.] |
They moved swiftly through the land. Sweden had no zones with danger levels above 90, allowing them to pass through effortlessly. With their speed, traveling overland posed no challenge.
In no time, they reached Stockholm.
They could see that most people had already gathered. It seemed few had spent the full three days in Kiruna, opting to return to Stockholm early for various reasons.
Sora and Kara entered the Guild.
Inside, the hall was packed. As they stepped in, a few heads turned, and gradually, more people took notice of them.
This was their first public appearance since the Final Battle.
One player began clapping. Another joined in, and soon, everyone in the room was looking at Sora and Kara, clapping in unison.
¡°Make room for the strongest couple!¡± someone shouted, causing Kara to glance around, trying to spot the culprit.
Players started making room for them, splitting the crowd and creating a passage for the duo.
Sora didn''t know how to react, but part of him knew they really were two of the most valuable players in the war. Maybe they deserved such treatment?
Oliver soon came to greet them.
¡°Hey, Ralph, Kara. Did you get some good rest?¡±
¡°Yes, thank you,¡± Sora replied. ¡°We¡¯re here for the military summon. Is everything okay?¡±
¡°It¡¯s to distribute contribution rewards to everyone. Come upstairs; upper ranks are gathering in the Guildmaster¡¯s Office.¡±
The Guildmaster¡¯s Office was spacious, but with 50 captains, some vice-captains and all colonels packed inside, it felt cramped.
Sora and Kara entered and quietly found seats in a corner of the room.
The Adventurer¡¯s Guildmaster stood, speaking with the Vice-Guildmaster. She wore red armor, and her long silver hair flowed freely. Sora couldn¡¯t help but think, ''She¡¯s really beautiful.''
As their conversation ended, she turned to address the crowd. ¡°You might not know me, so I¡¯ll introduce myself. I¡¯m Hannah, Representative of the New European Union Region of our New World Kingdom and acting Guildmaster of Stockholm during the war.¡±
A ripple of shock spread through the room¡ªthis meant she was a player, and one of the strongest in West Europe. Sora was surprised to see her name and question marks appearing above her head, as if she was in control of the information showing above her head. Her level didn¡¯t appear, indicating she was over 50 levels above him.
"Congratulations on your victory. However, we will not celebrate too much. Finland and Norway have been lost, and we''re now surrounded by the Dark Elf Kingdom. They will end up attacking us again when they think it''s time.
¡°Players who want to take part in the next war need to focus on missions, travel, and grow stronger. The next conflict may be far more difficult than a simple Tier 4 war.
¡°You might not realize it, but our continent is one of the weakest regions in the New World Kingdom. Our average level is low, and we struggle in Tier 4 Defense Wars, while China has already conquered half of the Demon Kingdom.
¡°The Americans are fighting three kingdoms at once, from Canada to Cape Horn, and have never lost a battle. Southeast Asia has produced the first known player to reach level 180 and is a high-level region. And Lagos has recently become the largest city in the world, boasting the strongest adventurer squad globally.
¡°If we want to avoid relying on everyone else and bringing shame to our Kingdom, we need to catch up¡ªone way or another.¡±
¡°This means that each of you, considered elites in Spain, France, England, or Italy, must continue to grow. We have high-level players who left Europe to train elsewhere, but elites who don¡¯t return to help when we¡¯re under attack aren¡¯t worth mentioning. And those of us who are too high-level, like myself, are restricted from participating in Tier 4 wars.
¡°Before Captain Ralph¡¯s arrival, our two strongest players were from other regions. Let that be a reminder of where we stand. We must use this period of peace to strengthen each of you.¡±
¡°For now, you¡¯ll all be rewarded for your service. You¡¯ll receive Contribution Points, which you can use to gain experience points or items, though I highly recommend using it to boost your growth factor or talent level for players who can afford them.¡±
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Everyone was stunned at the announcement. Increasing their talent level or growth factor had always been a distant dream. Many had fantasized about multipliers of 2, 10, or even more, imagining themselves becoming gods in a matter of weeks.
A notification appeared before each player:
| [Congratulations on your victory!] |
| [You have been awarded 12,550 contribution points.] |
| [Please spend them in the War Shop, accessible through your system panel.] |
Eager to see what the War Shop offered, Sora quickly opened it.
[War Shop]
- Armor / Accessories: Click for more details
- Weapons: Click for more details
- Materials: Click for more details
- Temporary Effects: Click for more details
- Permanent Effects: Click for more details
- Job Promotion: Click for more details
- Class Promotion: Click for more details
- Miscellaneous: Click for more details
Hint: You can accumulate your contribution points and use them anytime.
|
Sora opened a random category and was immediately overwhelmed by thousands of items. He was even more surprised to discover that he could accumulate Contribution Points (CP) and use them whenever he wanted.
Curious, he explored various categories to get a sense of the prices. There were weapons of all rarities and levels, but anything above level 105 was locked. He couldn¡¯t even view those items, as if the system was preventing him from biting off more than he could chew.
Skipping over items and materials, he went straight to the Permanent Effects section.
| [Talent Boost]: Increase your talent by 1.
Price: 20,000 CP
Warning: Cannot be traded |
| [Growth Factor Boost]: Increase your growth factor by 0.5
Price: 20,000 CP
Warning: Cannot be traded |
| [Lucky Hand Boost]: Increase your item drop rate by 20%
Price: 15,000 CP
Warning: Cannot be traded |
| [Gold Hand Boost]: Gold earned from hunting increases by 20%
Price: 15,000 CP
Warning: Cannot be traded |
There were all kinds of permanent boosts, some being expensive and others extremely so. Sora checked the Temporary Buffs instead.
| [Temporary Talent Boost]: Increase your base talent by 1 for a week. (Cannot be stacked with the same item)
Price: 500 CP
Warning: Cannot be traded |
| [Temporary Growth Factor Boost]: Increase your growth factor by 0.5 for a week. (Cannot be stacked with the same item)
Price: 500 CP
Warning: Cannot be traded |
Sora ignored most other buffs, focusing on the Talent and Growth Factor boosts. After reaching a new highest level, his Growth Factor had reset to 1, causing his experience to grow as slowly as anyone else¡¯s. Boosting it temporarily when needed seemed pretty useful.
He had no idea whether the boost in talent level and growth level affected his total value, or changed his base value. If it boosted his base value, his overall talent would soar. He needed to test these items.
Exploring other categories, he found countless intriguing items but decided not to spend his Contribution Points without a clear purpose.
¡®This class promotion category is making me drool¡ I want everything,¡¯ he thought, reluctantly closing the shop and deciding not to buy anything for now.
Around him, everyone wore excited expressions, like kids told they could pick any toy in a store. Sora glanced at Kara, who looked equally enthusiastic.
¡°Find anything you liked?¡± he asked. ¡°And do you have enough points for it?¡±
¡°There are so many good options. I¡¯ll ignore gear for now, but those permanent effects are amazing¡ just so expensive. I don¡¯t even have 10,000 Contribution Points,¡± Kara admitted. ¡°I might go with a temporary buff or decide later.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll also wait to buy items until I really need them,¡± Sora replied, nodding in agreement.
After a few more minutes, Hannah spoke again. ¡°Now that you¡¯ve received your CP, I encourage you to take your time before making any decisions. If you¡¯re unsure of what to choose, the Vice-Guildmaster can offer advice.¡± She glanced at him, and though he didn¡¯t look thrilled about the task, he had no choice.
She continued, ¡°You may now leave. Asami, Colonels, Ralph, Kara¡ªplease stay behind.¡±
Everyone stood up, and the captains left the office.
The remaining group turned to face the Guildmaster who pointed at the colonels and general. ¡°What I said earlier was mainly for you six. It¡¯s a miracle we won with such a margin, forcing the enemy to retreat. You each have potential, and if you¡¯re interested, I can suggest paths that could lead you to even greater heights. In return, I¡¯d like your promise to support the NEU if we ever face trouble in the future. Can you do that?¡±
Lois, Edward, Oliver, and Cero agreed to her request.
Asami and Aang hesitated, weighing their commitments and the freedom their backgrounds afforded them. After a moment, they agreed, on the condition that they would help if they weren¡¯t otherwise occupied.
Hannah accepted their terms, recognizing that while it wasn¡¯t a firm guarantee, the seeds she planted in these six might one day aid her region. She looked at Sora and Kara specifically and said, ¡°You may already know this, given your strength at your levels¡¡±
She paused before turning her head toward the other players ¡°You¡¯ve probably heard of Innate Skills¡ªabilities unique to certain players. While these are rare, some players have discovered abilities even more powerful, capable of raising potential to unimaginable levels. We call these Supreme Skills.¡±
The group was stunned. Sora and Kara, in particular, felt exposed, realizing that Hannah had likely seen through their abilities. The others were equally surprised, learning that something existed beyond Innate Skills, a revelation they hadn¡¯t encountered despite years of experience.
Chapter 74 : Does she want babies?
¡°I¡¯m not here to harm any of you, nor do I have any interest in doing so. As you travel and encounter top players, you¡¯ll eventually come to understand these things. There¡¯s a limit to how far you can go without Supreme Skills.¡±
Sora and Kara were about to leave the Adventurer¡¯s Guild when her words stopped them in their tracks. She suspected they were hiding Supreme Skills, but now they were intrigued instead. So, they weren¡¯t the only Supreme Skill holders¡ and these abilities had even become something top players competed over?
Sora asked, ¡°Are all high-level players using Supreme Skills?¡±
Hannah shook her head. ¡°If they were so easy to acquire, they wouldn¡¯t be called Supreme Skills. I¡¯ve only heard of a limited number of players with them, and it¡¯s no surprise¡ªone must do something truly exceptional to unlock one. Quite a few humans started experimenting early on, so some have gained access. But you must know that no two Supreme Skills are the same, and the lower your level when unlocking one, the greater its potential.¡±
She paused, then added, ¡°I have one myself, and it¡¯s what allowed me to reach my position and level. I¡¯ve never seen anyone below level 80 flaunting a Supreme Skill , so be cautious¡ªdon¡¯t flaunt your power too openly when you¡¯re traveling.¡±
¡°My advice to you is simple: head to Japan. An event will take place there in a month, and such events have created powerhouses before. Missing this opportunity would be a waste. Every region can send 20 players to participate. I¡¯ll recommend the eight of you, though the final decision isn¡¯t mine alone. There will be a competition among all recommended candidates, so focus on growing your power. I suggest reaching level 120 or higher by then¡ It may sound ambitious, but I believe you¡¯re capable.¡±
Hannah turned to Sora and Kara. ¡°You¡¯re free to go. I¡¯ll be guiding these colonels and Asami, helping them understand how Supreme Skills are gained. I hope to see you both in Japan.¡±
They nodded and left the office, ready to exit the guild, when Kara suddenly had an idea.
¡°Don¡¯t you want to upgrade your badge?¡± she suggested.
¡°Upgrade my badge?... Why¡± Sora asked, puzzled.
¡°Maybe it might come in handy later. And I want to undergo another test!¡± Kara suggested with a smile. Seeing her excitement, Sora couldn¡¯t help but smile back, warming to the idea and aware of Kara''s attempt to change his mood.
They approached the counter and greeted the clerk.
¡°Hello, esteemed adventurers. It¡¯s been a while! Congratulations on your return. How may I assist you today?¡±
Sora replied, ¡°We would like to apply for the Astral Badge.¡±
In their discussions with the colonels, they¡¯d learned that the Astral Badge came after the Celestial Badge. Beyond that were the Sovereign and Vortex ranks; most captains held an Astral Badge, while the colonels were Sovereigns, except for Aang, who held the Vortex rank. Asami held the prestigious Primordial Badge.
Sora now understood why he¡¯d drawn so many skeptical looks when he¡¯d assumed the Captain¡¯s position with only a Phoenix Badge.
The clerk looked at the two players with a mixed feeling of awe and surprise. It had been less than a week since he¡¯d last seen Sora, who had requested only a Shadow Badge back then.
With a sigh, the clerk pulled out two badges. ¡°Here you go. These were prepared for you in advance. I¡¯m glad you came to pick them up.¡±
Sora was taken aback. They¡¯d anticipated his request and prepared the badges in advance? ''What kind of sorcery was this?'' He thought, smiling, and they both took their badges.
Sora and Kara spent the day catching up with their company members and bidding farewell to everyone. Soon after, they left Stockholm, heading for Paris. Kara wanted to visit her master, Areva, at the Paris guild. After catching up, she rejoined Sora, who was waiting outside, lost in thought.
¡°Sora, what¡¯s your plan now?¡± she asked, noticing he hadn¡¯t even realized Hiyoko was tugging on his hair with playful bites. Kara couldn¡¯t decide whether to laugh or be concerned.
¡°I want to figure out what my Innate Skill¡¯s new effect does¡ªit¡¯s the perfect time to test it out. Plus, I want to see what the next effect will bring. I¡¯m level 78 now, and I feel like reaching the next milestone shouldn¡¯t be too hard,¡± Sora explained, his eyes thoughtful.
He needed to discover the effects of Soul Power and unlock the level 90 effect description.
¡°Mind if I tag along?¡± Kara asked, glancing at him with a mix of hope and determination. ¡°Honestly, I¡¯m a bit at a loss. My master told me she couldn¡¯t teach me anything more and that I should forge my own path. I know what I need to do to grow, but¡ I don¡¯t want to walk this path alone.¡±
Sora opened his mouth to respond, but he wasn¡¯t even sure what to say.
Kara raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re actually hesitating? When I ask to join you?¡± She folded her arms, half-serious, half-teasing. ¡°You¡¯re the worst teammate ever. Forget it. I¡¯m coming with you, your mother asked me to take care of you after all. ¡±
Sora couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud at her teasing. This girl was becoming more honest with him by the day.
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Kara quickly pulled out her phone and snapped a picture.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Sora asked, puzzled.
¡°You laughed! I needed proof that you actually can laugh¡ªin case I forget.¡± She grinned, checking the photo.