《I Died on The First Day of the Tutorial》 Chapter 1 - The hundredth time Today, Verity woke up feeling quite groggy, more so than usual. His back hurt like hell, and his head felt like it was about to split open, if it hadn¡¯t already and he had awoken as a paranormal spirit. ¡®As if.¡¯ The idea was too far-fetched, even for him who loved surreal stories, but still everything did hurt, a lot. In his place, others might have been worried, but not Verity. Though today might have been more intense than what he was used to, this had become a routine for him. ¡®Stupid headache and even stupider back pain¡­¡¯ When he was fired from his job due to lack of productivity, Verity locked himself in his small studio apartment, and had been eating nothing but instant ramen noodles for the past three weeks, that, and pizza at times when he sought diversity, even though he was lactose intolerant. Truly, It¡¯s no wonder his body was scorning him and protesting his actions. He was nearly starving and he hadn''t seen the sun in days. ¡®Ah, who needs the sun? The light from my monitor is more than enough.¡¯ He might have thought that, but today Verity absolutely needed to leave the comfort of his home. His rent was due, and even though he had been fired, the severance check from his workplace never arrived in the mail, despite how patient he had been. Sighing heavily, he picked out a pair of jeans that had been laying on his bed and an old t-shirt with a graphic he did not know the meaning of. The two hardly went together, but Verity could not care less, he wasn¡¯t going to a fashion show after all. ¡®I¡¯ll be outside for twenty minutes at most.¡¯ Any normal person put in his position would have surely raised hell and even hired lawyers if need be, but not Verity, he couldn¡¯t be bothered to claim what was his, or at least that¡¯s what he tried to convince himself of. Deep down, he knew that he just couldn¡¯t handle confrontation, especially not if he had to confront that tyrant of a boss he had. He shivered just remembering how incessantly he was yelled at and abused by her. ¡®Hmph, they¡¯re lucky I don¡¯t feel like going back!¡¯ He thought, looking across the street to where he used to work.¡¯ He had hesitated for a moment, considering the option of homelessness, but when he had finally laced his shoes tight, Verity stood up, and opened the front door. As his hand turned the knob, he realized that he had almost forgotten this feeling, and for a moment, felt ashamed that he had reached a point where such a thought crossed his mind. ¡®Argh, whatever, let¡¯s just go.¡¯ Surprisingly, despite being a homebody, and despite never really crossing the doorstep of a gym, Verity wasn¡¯t unfit. A walk that would take a normal person ten minutes only took him seven, and he wasn¡¯t short of breath at all. Of course, he didn¡¯t notice this as he was too focused on entering the bank and leaving as fast as possible. He was relieved when he stepped inside. Unlike the scorching summer heat that permeated the outside world, the interior of the bank was well ventilated and surely a fancy cooling system had been installed within its walls. Verity felt refreshed upon entering, but this brief moment of relief was quickly washed away once he saw the line before him. ¡®Did the entire city decide they needed to be at the bank today?!¡¯ He could complain all he wanted, but he knew that he had no other choice. So, after a gruelling wait, Verity was finally called to the counter where a pretty black-haired lady greeted him with a smile. Verity knew that she was just doing her job, and that smiling was part of it, but he still looked away, slightly embarrassed. ¡°How can I help you today, sir?¡± She asked him, her gaze scrutinizing him. ¡°I¡¯m here to take out a loan.¡± Her smile beamed even more. She asked Verity to provide a form of identification and his account number, and so he did, handing his driver¡¯s license to her. She had been doing this job for a few years now, so she had seen her fair share of strange names, but the one before her just now still caused her left eyebrow to raise. She looked at it for a second more than she usually would, and Verity did not miss it. He was used to that reaction. ¡°Yes, I know, my name¡¯s weird.¡± He said, holding back a sigh. The woman¡¯s face flushed. She was a professional, she couldn¡¯t let something like this destabilize her. ¡°N-no at all, sir! I was just thinking that it was a very pretty name!!¡± She frantically replied, her eyes darting back to her computer screen. Watching her try to salvage the situation, Verity simply rolled his eyes and waited for her to open his account. ¡°How much would you like, sir? We have multiple interest packages if you¡¯d like me to list them ou-¡± ¡°Fifteen thousand.¡± He knew that this was no small sum, just as he knew how ridiculous it was to take out such a loan to pay rent, but he really had no other choice. At his reply, the woman¡¯s eyes widened slightly. She never felt comfortable telling customers that they were ¡®inadequate¡¯ for a loan, but today she had to. ¡°W-Well, your past income certainly would have permitted this loan, but since you¡¯ve recently been laid off¡­I¡¯m afraid such a sum won¡¯t be possible, sir.¡± He knew this of course, but Verity had hoped he could pass the wool over her eyes. ¡®How does she even know that?!¡¯ He asked himself, wondering if the bank had private investigators check up on all their customers. He bit his lip in frustration, and leaned in closer. He did not need the whole city to hear that he was unemployed. ¡°...Then how much can you give me?¡± She tapped on her keyboard a few times, her fingers moving at lightning speed, and came up with an answer. ¡°Eight thousand would be the maximum sir, but the interest would be-¡± ¡°Fine, give me that.¡±Stolen novel; please report. Verity did not care about the interest, and that was because he had a plan¡­ probably. When she heard him, the woman was confused, but the customer was king at the end of the day. If he did not want to know that the interest was crippling and that this was an incredibly unfair loan, she couldn¡¯t force him to listen. Thus, restraining a grimace from forming on her face, she finalized the matter for the young man and bid him farewell. ¡®This should last me a while.¡¯ Verity thought as he exited the bank, a new source of funds acquired. The first stop had gone well, and his next stop for the day was the supermarket, where he was to obtain more instant noodles. Then, he would return home as fast as he possibly could. He couldn¡¯t stay outside for too long, a new chapter of his favorite webtoon was supposed to come out today, and he wanted to be the first to leave a comment. However insignificant it was, he secretly loved the recognition he obtained from being the first, and would sometimes be frustrated if someone commented before him. ¡®It¡¯s fine, I still have a lot of time. I made sure I would make it even if the sky was to fall on my head.¡¯ Surprisingly, as if it heard his challenging words and thought ¡®So you really think you¡¯ll be fine even if I try to stop you?¡¯ , the sky responded. A sense of dread filled his immediate surroundings, the clouds gathered and the color of the sky itself began to change from a pure blue to an ominous and sombre color. ¡®What the¡­?¡¯ There hadn¡¯t been any warnings of a storm in the weather forecast, and he surely had never seen one form like this. Verity was quite confused at the sight above him, and so were the other people around him. Everyone looked to the sky with curiosity, unsure as to what was happening. Despite their confusion, it was happening, and It happening fast. Out of nowhere, a veil of clouds formed, obscuring the sky, and thunderous noises roared from it. It was concerning, frightening even, and yet, nothing else really happened. Eventually, after a minute had passed with no other changes, Verity¡¯s curiosity still hadn¡¯t quite subsided, but he was not a weather scientist, and so looking at the sky longer wouldn¡¯t give him any answers. Still perplexed, Verity assumed that this was indeed the formation of a storm of some kind, and decided that he had better run back home if he didn¡¯t want to end up drenched, or worse. That¡¯s when he heard a strange voice in his head, and that¡¯s when an even stranger interface appeared before him. [Congratulations! You have met the requirements to awaken as a challenger. You will now be transported to the tutorial area! Good luck ;) ] ¡°What the fu-¡± Verity blurted the words out loud, but before he could finish his sentence, a lightning bolt descended from the sky and struck him. Instead of dying, however, Verity was transported to a place resembling a colosseum, much like the one the Romans had built in the past. The spatial transportation had been very disorienting, nearly causing him to regurgitate his breakfast, or maybe last night¡¯s dinner since he hadn¡¯t eaten this morning. However, glancing at his surroundings, he quickly noticed that there were many other people, and they were just as confused as he was, some actually spitting out their breakfast. Not giving them enough time to compose themselves, from the sky, a voice resonated. ¡°Welcome, welcome to all of you! I¡¯m elated to see so many of you here today!¡± The voice was soft, yet harsh at the same time, as if the words of welcome were not meant literally. Hearing it, the only plausible action was to look up, and so that¡¯s what all present did. Verity did not know what he was expecting but what he saw when he raised his head was something that couldn''t be described as anything else but an imp. A small devil-like creature floating above them with two horns and a set of bat-like wings. It was strange, sure, but he didn¡¯t know if he could describe it as menacing. The imp took a deep breath and spoke for all to hear. ¡°Rejoice! You¡¯ve been selected as participants for this place¡¯s apocalypse, meaning that you are the chosen ones who will save the world!¡± The initial shock now fading, those words made something click within Verity. ¡®There¡¯s¡­ no way..!!!¡¯ The imp kept on talking, uncaring for his realization, however. ¡°There is a lot to explain, too much even! For now, I want you to think ¡®status¡¯ and wait for something to happen.¡± Verity immediately thought, and he thought hard. ¡®Status!! Status!! Status!!¡¯ Soon after, a window appeared in front of him. Status Window Name: Verity Age: 22 Level: 1 Alias: N/A Class: N/A Traits : Shut-in, Unemployed, Listless Skills: N/A Sponsor: [-Error-] ¡®This is real!!! It¡¯s really there, the status window!!¡¯ Verity¡¯s eyes widened as much as they physically could. He simply could not believe this was happening. How many times had he read this exact plot in the webtoons he loved so much? How many times had he wished he could be the main character of those stories? The answer was simple, more than he could count! Sure, at first glance, his skills and traits seemed lackluster. Why was his status window insulting him? Unemployed? Shut-in? In all fairness, it was true, but even then. Verity quickly pushed those thoughts away. He wasn¡¯t pleased by his traits, but still, he couldn¡¯t let that bother him right now. There was something much more important that deserved his concern. Thinking of it, his emotions were on the verge of exploding outward. The imp continued. ¡°Now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve all opened your status window. If you focus on certain words, such as a specific skill, trait, or, although none of you have one for now, a sponsor, an additional window will appear, giving more information. On that-¡± Verity did not bother listening to the rest of the explanation, and immediately focused on the words which had piqued his interest the most. With all his might, he focused on his sponsor, and an additional window popped up. Sponsor: [-Error-] Description : A being who [-Error-] who does not wish to identify herself has taken an interest in you and declared herself your sponsor, disregarding administrative norms. She is [-Error-] She is [-Error-] She is simply observing. Sponsorship Perks : [-Error-] This was his breaking point, Verity could contain himself no longer. The words were there, and he had seen similar things happen to his favorite characters much too many times. He knew exactly what this meant. He felt it, deep within him, and so he cried out, louder than he meant to. ¡°THIS IS IT!! YESSSS, I¡¯M SPECIAL!! I¡¯M A MAIN CHARACTER!!¡± Everyone heard him, and everyone turned to look at him. When he realized what he had done, he felt a bit embarrassed, but nothing could extinguish the flame of his excitement. Verity clenched his fist in joy and looked up at the sky once more, thinking he should at least listen to what the imp had to say. In the stories, these types of guys were ill-intentioned, but often provided good advice at the start. When he looked up, however, what he saw was not an imp rambling about how everything worked, but an imp who was looking back at him, and the imp spoke. ¡°I hate being interrupted more than anything.¡± The imp said, its gaze piercing through Verity. He felt a chill run down his spine, and in the next moment, Verity¡¯s vision had turned upside down. ¡®Eh?¡¯ His head then rolled on the floor, a few others around him screamed in horror, watching his body fall to the ground. His head separated from his body, his consciousness rapidly faded and the world turned black. The end. Or it should have been. Instead, Verity found himself in an even stranger space where he felt as though he was standing on the void itself, but where he could not tell up from down or left from right. Around him was nothing but darkness, pure, absolute darkness, and from that darkness, a voice emerged. ¡°HAHAHAH!!!!! YOU¡¯RE HILARIOUS!!¡± The voice wasn¡¯t ominous, or god-like, or otherworldly, it was laughing, and hysterically at that, as if it had heard the best joke in existence. ¡°I MEAN, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING YELLING LIKE THAT? ARE YOU FIVE YEARS OLD??!!! HAHAHAH!!!!¡± Verity frowned. ¡®She¡¯s¡­ mocking me?¡¯ The voice imitated the way he spoke. ¡°I¡¯M A MAIN CHARACTER!!¡± and then it burst into laughter again. ¡°ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THAT¡¯S JUST TOO FUNNY!!¡± The space lit up, ever so slightly, and what he managed to see across the endless void was a female looking silhouette. Strangely, he couldn¡¯t quite make out any of her features, the color of her hair, her height, and what she looked like, he had no idea. All he knew was that the entity was indeed female and that she was clutching her stomach laughing at him. Soon, when the laughter did not subside, and the mockeries did not end, Verity began to feel embarrassed. ¡°A-are you done?! I get it alright!!¡± He said, irritated. ¡°Sorry, sorry! But not yet! This is the hundredth time!! Allow me to laugh a bit more!!!¡± Her words rang in his ear, but he did not understand the meaning. ¡°The hundredth time?¡± Finally, the laughter died down, if only a little, and the entity did something that resembled wiping tears from her eyes. ¡°Yes! It¡¯s now the hundredth time that you¡¯ve died on the first day of your apocalypse!!¡± Verity frowned. ¡°...What?¡± She wasn¡¯t done, however. ¡°And the best part!? Half of it was because you kept yelling out something stupid when the imp was talking!!¡± She took a deep breath and faced Verity. ¡°Do you get it??? Half the time, you don¡¯t even get to the first trial of the tutorial! The tutorial!!! HAHAHAHA!!!¡± Chapter 2 - A skill?! To be honest, Verity really could not understand what the entity was saying. He knew that the tutorial she was speaking of likely referred to the colosseum-esque place he had been in moments prior, but did not know what she meant by him dying a hundred times. He furiously tried to make sense of his situation, hoping to reach a conclusion that had a modicum of sense. Unfortunately, despite the gears turning in his head furiously, Verity could not focus. Ringing in his ears, there was an irritating, incessant laughter which prevented him from thinking. It took mere moments for Verity to reach a breaking point, and he could hold himself no longer. His emotions exploded outward momentarily. ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s going on, dammit?!!¡± Finally, the being before him stopped, or rather she was forced to. For a moment, she even seemed shocked at his outburst. Truth be told, Verity shocked himself. He had never really yelled at anyone before, save for internet trolls. He used to believe that no reasoning was ever good enough to laugh at someone in real life, until now at least. The being stood up straight and she looked toward destiny, the silhouette of her smug smile well outlined. ¡°You want to know what¡¯s going on? Well, it¡¯s simple, you¡¯re dead, Verity.¡± She told him, the grin never fading. Perhaps this should have engendered a greater reaction from him, but Verity had expected that much. He still distinctly remembered his head being severed, and seeing his own body fall to the ground, and so that was not really his question. ¡°No! I mean, where are we!? Who are you!? And what are you talking about?!¡± Another chuckle escaped the being¡¯s mouth and she sat down on a chair that may have always been there, or may have not, Verity was not sure. She then pushed her hair backward and inhaled deeply, putting a definite end to her laughter at last. ¡°Sure, sure, no need to get angry.¡± A chair appeared beneath Verity as well and a warm cup of tea materialized in his hand. He looked at it incredulously. ¡°What? Not a fan of tea? What would you like then?¡± The being asked. Verity scratched the back of his neck, staring at the soft movement of the tea within his cup. ¡°N-no, this is fine.¡± He said before taking a sip, even more appalled by the fact that he could taste the tea, and the fact that it tasted good. After taking a sip herself, the being leaned backward, resting her back against her chair. ¡°I¡¯m using quite a bit of power to talk to you so I¡¯ll make it quick.¡± Verity''s chair was propelled forward, toward the mysterious entity, but even when he was much closer, he could still not make out her features. They appeared to be obscured by some strange force. ¡°In order. This is a place I created, don¡¯t worry about the details. I am¡­¡± It seemed like she was choosing her words. ¡°Well let¡¯s say that I am someone who enjoys watching you and for your last question¡­¡± A multitude of screens appeared to his right, each depicting Verity in similar settings, but none quite identical to the others. ¡°It¡¯s just that you¡¯ve repeated this tutorial many times, in [-Error-]¡± ¡®What was that??¡¯ The being clicked her tongue. ¡°Seriously? I can¡¯t even say that? Let¡¯s see¡­ how could I put it..¡± Verity interrupted her, his hand trembling, threatening to throw the tea out of his cup. ¡°I think I get it¡­ It¡¯s not my first time doing the tutorial¡­ that¡¯s what you mean, right?¡± ¡°Exactly!!¡± Something was welling up within Verity, excitement. A crooked smile creeped up his lips, which he tried to cover with his hand, but even that could not hold back the maniacal giggle escaping his mouth. ¡°I-I¡¯m a regressor?! Then I really am the main character?!! This is¡­awesome!¡± He mumbled to himself. Ecstatic, he looked up, meeting the being¡¯s eyes, only having one question. The smile on his face made even her evaluate Verity¡¯s sanity, and she knew crazy. ¡°Why can¡¯t I remember my past lives? After all, that¡¯s all I¡¯m missing to be a true regressor, just like him!¡± He exclaimed, his fist clenched, tremoring with joy. The mysterious being looked at him with a raise of her eyebrow, half-expecting the conversation to steer in that direction.¡°...Are you sure you want that?¡± She asked him, hoping he''d say know, but knowing he wouldn''t. As she predicted, Verity didn¡¯t even need to think about it. ¡°Yes!! With a power like that, I¡¯ll be-¡± Not letting him finish his sentence, the being snapped her fingers, and a torrent of memories entered Verity¡¯s mind. At first, it was bearable. The new information was fascinating, exhilarating. He marveled at things he¡¯d never experienced, never seen, but the flood did not stop when Verity was satisfied. The torrent swelled. Things he did not need, or want to remember began to pour in, piling on top of one another until he could no longer tell which life they belonged to. Soon, the flow became a deluge, and then a tsunami. Verity felt as though the current of memories completely tore through a dam in his mind. It was swelling, swelling with memories of times bygone, more than he could handle.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. He felt as if this continued, he would burst open. And then, when he was already past his limit, came the deaths. He would die from a gashing sword wound, an angered imp would decapitate him, and sometimes an arrow would pierce his throat. The pain of each death was the most vivid of the memories, and he was experiencing the hundred of them at once. It was overwhelming, unbearable, and endless. ¡°AAHHHHH!!¡± Verity yelled, tears dropping from his eyes, and drool from his mouth. ¡°M-make it stop!! Make it stop!!¡± He pleaded, barely able to speak coherently. The being snapped her fingers again, and the memories vanished from his mind. It was a strange sensation. His breath was still quick, and shallow, but he was not in distress anymore. He could remember asking her to show him, and he could remember the snap of her fingers, even how he felt, but could not remember what had made him feel that way. ¡°Get it?¡± The being asked. ¡°Yea¡­¡± Verity¡¯s hopes of being a regressor main character were crushed rather quickly. He wondered how then, the protagonists of his favorite stories managed. ¡®Well, they are fictional¡­¡¯ He let out a long sigh, and leaned back against his chair. ¡°Why did you bring me here then if not because I¡¯m a regressor? It wasn¡¯t just to make fun of me, was it?¡± He wouldn¡¯t have put it past her. Verity did believe that she was fully capable of bringing him here simply for her amusement, but sincerely hoped otherwise. ¡°Of course not! What do you take me for?!¡± Verity decided not to answer. ¡°I felt bad for you, so I decided that I was going to help you a little.¡± Before Verity could even say anything, she stood up, approached him, and placed a hand on his chest. ¡°You should be grateful. This is quite the effort, even for me.¡± The being recited something in a language Verity could not understand. When she finished, the chair under him disappeared, and without even bidding him farewell, she pushed him through the ground, sending him flying through the void. It was all too bizarre. Verity did not know where he was being sent to, or even what had happened, but a voice resonated in his ears. [You have gained the Unique skill: Lesson Learned (Passive) Lv.1.] ** [Congratulations! You have met the requirements to awaken as a challenger. You will now be transported to the tutorial area! Good luck ;) ] ¡°What the fu-¡± Clearly, everyone around him was just as confused as he was, but before they could compose themselves, a voice rang from the sky. ¡°Welcome, welcome to all of you! I¡¯m elated to see so many of you here today!¡± Above them, a small devil-like creature with two horns and a set of bat-like wings floated. It was strange, sure, but Verity didn¡¯t know if he could describe it as menacing. The imp took a deep breath and spoke for all to hear. ¡°Rejoice! You¡¯ve been selected as participants for this place¡¯s apocalypse, meaning that you are the chosen ones who will save the world!¡± The initial shock now fading, those words made something click within Verity. ¡®There¡¯s¡­ no way..!!!¡¯ The imp kept on talking, uncaring for his realization, however. ¡°There is a lot to explain, too much even! For now, I want you to think ¡®status¡¯ and wait for something to happen.¡± Verity immediately thought, and he thought hard. ¡®Status!! Status!! Status!!¡¯ Soon after, a window appeared in front of him.
Status Window Name: Verity Age: 22 Level: 1 Alias: N/A Class: N/A Traits : Shut-in, Unemployed, Listless, Favored Skills: [Lesson Learned] Sponsor: [-Error-]
¡®This is real!!! It¡¯s really there, the status window!!¡¯ Verity¡¯s eyes widened as much as they physically could. He simply could not believe this was happening. How many times had he read this exact plot in the webtoons he loved so much? How many times had he wished he could be the main character of those stories? The answer was simple, more than he could count! Sure, at first glance, his skills and traits seemed lackluster. Why was his status window insulting him? Unemployed? Shut-in? In all fairness, it was true, but even then. He also was perplexed by the ¡®Favored¡¯ trait that appeared next to them. All the traits seemed to originate from the way he had lived his life, but he could not recall if anyone had ever favored him in his twenty-two years of life. Had the status window made a mistake? ¡®Ah, who cares?!¡¯ Verity quickly pushed those thoughts away. He wasn¡¯t pleased by his traits, but still, he couldn¡¯t let that bother him right now. There was something much more important that deserved his concern. Thinking of it, his emotions were on the verge of exploding outward. The imp continued. ¡°Now, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve all opened your status window. If you focus on certain words, such as a specific skill, trait, or, although none of you have one for now, a sponsor, an additional window will appear, giving more information. On that-¡± Verity did not bother listening to the rest of the explanation, and immediately focused on the words which had piqued his interest the most. With all his might, he focused on his skill, [Lesson Learned]
Skill: [Lesson Learned] Rank : S Level : 1 Rarity : Unique Type : Passive Description : Although sealed for your well-being, your mind holds fragments of times bygone. When the time is right, those fragments will resurface, guiding you onto the right path. The clarity and use of the fragments are dictated by your proficiency with the skill.
The description was rather vague, but an S-ranked skill?? That had to be good, right? ¡®Sure, it¡¯s not something like ¡®Heavenly Martial Body¡¯ or ¡®Sage¡¯s Wisdom¡¯ but it still looks really cool!!¡¯¡¯ Overwhelmed with joy, Verity reached his breaking point, and could contain himself no longer. The words were there, and he had seen similar things happen to his favorite characters much too many times. He knew exactly what this meant. He felt it, deep within him, and so he- [The skill : Lesson Learned, is being activated.] Verity heard the words in his mind, and while he did not know exactly what the skill did, he did not need to. The skill itself did not speak, or give him instructions. There were also no other words resonating in his mind, or an additional window appearing before him, but that did not mean the skill had no effect. Immediately, dread welled up inside of him, sending shivers down his spine. A fear so potent, so raw, permeated his body. Because of it, Verity was not able to move, and he was not able to speak. He completely froze, and while he was in that state, he heard something coming from the crowd of people, somewhere on the far right. ¡°HEY!! I don¡¯t know if this is some sort of joke or social experiment, but I need to get to work!!! Let me out of here!¡± The man¡¯s voice was loud, very loud. Enough for everyone in the colosseum to hear him, and enough to draw attention away from the imp who was still talking. As such, the imp, flying high above them, stopped speaking, and its gaze pierced through the man who had yelled out in anger. ¡°I hate being interrupted more than anything.¡± The imp said, before Verity heard a cacophony of screams coming from that part of the crowd. He couldn¡¯t see what happened, but he could make out what they were saying. ¡°HE¡¯S DEAD?!!¡± ¡°WHAT JUST HAPPENED??!¡± ¡°AHHHH!!!¡± [Usage of the skill : Lesson Learned was successful. You have gained a bit of Exp.] Verity¡¯s eyes widened, and he wondered, frightened. ¡®Without this skill, W-would that have been¡­me?¡¯ Though he asked the question, he felt that he knew the answer. Chapter 3 - The first trial (1) Once the screams had started, they did not end, only growing louder and more chaotic. It was to be expected. In the modern world, people knew of death, but hardly ever really understood what it entailed. Perhaps they were acquainted with individuals who had passed away, but they had never been so close to death before, especially in such a gruesome manner. Such a sight could even be traumatic for some, and in such a large crowd, once panic had set in, it was almost impossible to quell. Like a stampede, the horde of humans gathered in the colosseum ran away, in all directions. Some ran toward the stands, others toward the sole exit, while a few balled up in fear, clutching their heads, hoping this was a dream, or praying for salvation. Although Verity had not seen the man¡¯s end himself, he also felt the panic permeating the crowd, as if it was an infectious plague. In fact, most of those present here had not seen the act either, but they were running because everyone else was. It was almost comical how herd-like humans could act under the right conditions. Despite what he wanted to believe, Verity himself was no different. He wanted to run just as much as anybody, but partly thanks to his wit, and mostly thanks to his skill, he understood that the best course of action was to not do anything that might anger the imp, and so he simply stood still, staring at the sky. ¡®In any case, if this follows the logic of those stories¡­ there¡¯s no escape¡­¡¯ Verity was right. It didn¡¯t take long for all those who tried to escape to run into an invisible wall. No matter where they tried to go, the invisible barrier was present, which only caused more panic. What was occurring now was beyond chaos. The humans tried everything they could think of. Hitting, kicking, shooting, piercing, and anything else that could cause damage. Looking at them, Verity could only describe what he was seeing with one word¡­ ¡®Madness¡­¡¯ At the sight, the imp¡¯s mood had clearly worsened. It was pinching its eyebrow in exasperation, and after a while, it let out a long sigh. It had plenty of ways of bringing order to the situation, but it also secretly wished that it had spent more time studying human psychology before coming. ¡®Is this place even worth it¡­¡¯ The imp thought, before its eyes began glowing. ¡°Enough.¡± The imp said, its words carrying unimaginable power. As soon as they were spoken, the world itself came to a stop. There was no longer any movement, or noise. All grew still, except the imp. ¡°Look at me.¡± It ordered. Awkwardly, each and every single head turned in the imp¡¯s direction, except Verity¡¯s, since he was already looking at it. The glow in its eyes grew dimmer, and the spell it had cast onto the crowd dispersed as well. Verity was once more able to move, but he did not dare to, and it seemed he was not the only one with that thought. The silence remained, and the prior chaos had utterly disappeared, save for faint sobs and inaudible mumbling. Verity couldn¡¯t help but be in awe at this display of power. ¡®Are the admins usually that strong¡­?¡¯ Verity thought, once again glad he was not the one to anger the imp. ¡°You¡¯ve all spoiled my mood, so we will start the first trial without further ado.¡± It spoke as if it was trying to get it over with. ¡°It¡¯s simple. A few goblins will appear. Kill them, and you win. If you fail, you die. Bye now.¡± It said, before vanishing out of sight. A window appeared in front of all those present.
First trial Stage : Tutorial Objective : Defeat all enemies. Reward : Performance dependent. Failure Penalty : Death.
¡®Enemies, not goblins?¡¯ Verity thought as he looked at the trial window. ¡°...It said we had to kill goblins? What even is that?¡± Someone not too far from him asked. It was not a word that most were familiar with, especially if they had no interest in fantasy. Layered onto the sheer panic and confusion that they were all feeling, those who understood and steadied themselves for the trial could be counted on one hand, perhaps two. Thankfully, Verity was one of those people. He ignored the discrepancy between the imp''s words and the trial window.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡®Goblins shouldn¡¯t be any stronger than human children! If they follow the trope, the only scary part about them should be their numbers and their viciousness!!¡¯ Verity was mostly right, but he was forgetting a crucial detail. [The skill: Lesson Learned, is being activated.] Verity was a quick-learner. From what he had just lived through, he understood that if the skill was activated, then something terrible was likely to happen. ¡®Is it because of the goblins?? Are they that dangerous!?¡¯ In the next instant, Verity heard a whisper in his ear, much different from the system¡¯s voice. The whisper was faint, barely audible, but Verity managed to catch its meaning. Ri¡­.Right¡­. That one word could have a multitude of meanings, but Verity wanted to believe that the skill warned him of danger, and so if it said ¡®Right¡¯, then the left was safe. Trusting his gut, and taking the decision in a split second, Verity jumped to his left, rolling on the ground, right before an arrow whistled past where he previously stood. The arrow lodged itself in the throat of an older man who had been standing behind him, and he barely took another breath before his lifeless body dropped to the ground. [Usage of the skill : Lesson Learned was successful. You have gained a bit of Exp.] There it was, the detail that Verity had forgotten. Goblins were never unarmed. They appeared out of thin air within open spaces in the crowd. Goblin warriors, archers, and even goblins with strange staffs and long robes. As soon as they came, the slaughter began. Arrows flew, swords slashed, and strange spells were being chanted. There was no question about it, the tide of the battle was clear, the humans were being slaughtered. Except for a few who likely always carried weapons with them, most of the crowd was defenseless, and most modern people had never been in a proper fight before. A lone goblin warrior approached Verity, sword in hand, and a mischievous smile on its lips. Upon seeing Verity, its yellow eyes narrowed, as if it was looking at prey. ¡®I-It¡¯s just a goblin¡­!! I can do this! They¡¯re supposed to be the weakest of the weak¡­!¡¯ That¡¯s what he wanted to believe, but reading about it through the pages of a fantasy story, and experiencing it firsthand were entirely different things. The goblin was holding a sword, and a single swing of it could end Verity¡¯s life. He did not want to admit it, but he was afraid. ¡®Come on, man!! You can¡¯t be a main character if you can¡¯t even kill a goblin¡­!!¡¯ The goblin warrior approached him slowly, its smile never fading. In response, Verity took a few steps backward, hoping to keep the gap between them large enough. Then, the goblin¡¯s pace quickened, and so did Verity¡¯s. Finally, the goblin yelled, and jumped at Verity, brandishing its sword high in the air. The normal response in the face of imminent death, though many would swear they would be different, is to freeze. Verity was not special. He had never been in a fight, and had never even seen a sword in real life. So, when he saw the goblin lunging at him, and its sword gleamed under the sun, Verity froze against his will. And he died. [You really, really suck. You know that?] ¡°Wha-¡± *** He had never been in a fight, and had never even seen a sword in real life. So, when he saw the goblin lunging at him, and its sword gleamed under the sun, Verity froze against his will. And he heard a voice in his head, and a whisper in his ear. The whisper was followed by a sharp headache, so sharp it jolted him out of his stupor. Because of it, Verity moved out of the way, barely avoiding the edge of the deadly weapon. Perhaps not expecting Verity to snap out of it, the goblin had put too much strength in its blow, and its sword was now stuck in the ground, unable to be pulled out. [Usage of the skill : Lesson Learned was successful. You have gained a bit of Exp.] [The skill: Lesson Learned has reached Lv.2. Your proficiency has increased.] ¡®I-I did it!! I¡¯m still alive!!¡¯ Verity thought, patting his body to make sure he was still intact. His gaze then shifted to the goblin, who was struggling to pull its sword out of the ground. Still fueled by the adrenaline, and furious that it tried to kill him, Verity ran toward the goblin and kicked it in the stomach. It reeled on the ground under the impact of the blow, and glared at Verity as it painfully stood back up. ¡°Not so smug now, are we?¡± Verity growled, looking down on the small creature. ¡°Grrr!!¡± The goblin screeched and scrambled to its feet even faster. Its movements quick and feral, it lunged at him and it hit him in the stomach before Verity could react. The blow landed, and it caused Verity to take a step back, but then a grin formed on his face. When he had described goblins earlier, Verity had been right. Remove their proficiency with weapons, and goblins were no scarier than small children. The blow did sting a little, but it was far from enough to genuinely harm him. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± He asked the goblin, knowing he would receive no answer. Whatever fear he had previously was mostly gone now. He was the one in power. Verity gripped the goblin¡¯s wrists and although he had never fought someone before this, Verity at least knew how to throw a punch. He clenched his fist and struck the goblin squarely on its temple, sending it tumbling on the ground. ¡®I¡¯m really doing it¡­!! The goblin moaned in pain, sprawled on the ground and unable to stand again. It was still alive, but it clearly could not fight any longer. There was now only one thing left for Verity to do. Verity¡¯s chest heaved, and his breathing was laborious. The fight had not been physically taxing but the sheer emotions had drained him. He approached the goblins'' sword trapped in the ground, and easily pulled it out. He was no blacksmith or swordsman, but even Verity could tell that it was poorly made and poorly maintained. Still, it would have to do. Verity approached the hurt goblin, and stood over it, sword in hand. He knew what had to be done. ¡®I¡­I just have to kill it now, right?¡¯ It was just a goblin, he knew that. These guys were always at the bottom of the food chain in the stories, and if they really followed the trope, they were evil beyond redemption. He knew all this, and still, the hand that was holding the sword trembled. Imagining himself slashing through a horde of goblins at lightning speed, and having one laying on the ground before him, groaning in pain was just so, so different. But that didn¡¯t mean that Verity would just let it go. He might have been slightly disconnected from reality, but Verity was not an idiot. He very well understood that if it had been him on the ground instead, unable to defend himself, the goblin would have been the one to end his life. He did not need to have mercy, as he would have gotten none. Steeling his resolve, Verity brought both of his hands upon the handle of the sword and drove its tip into the goblin¡¯s throat, ending its suffering. [You have slain an enemy.] [You have reached lv. 2.] Chapter 4 - The first trial (2) The sensation of a level up was new to Verity. The change was subtle, but it was definitely present. When he drove that sword through the goblin¡¯s throat, Verity suddenly felt a little stronger, a little faster, and his mind was a little clearer. His grip around the handle of his weapon grew more confident and he sensed that if another one were to attack, he would be able to defeat it as well. ¡®Amazing¡­¡¯ Verity understood that if he wanted to experience the same sensation once more, then he needed to slay more goblins. How many would it take to reach level 3? Verity wanted to know, and there was only one way to find out. He pulled the sword out of the goblin and it spilled green, putrid blood. Its smell was horrifying, worse than anything Verity had experienced before. ¡®Is that¡­ poison?¡¯ He did not know, and was not willing to test it out, but it was something worth investigating at a later date. Doing his best to forget the smell, Verity stood tall and inspected his surroundings. He had not expected otherwise, but he was disappointed to see that most were not doing as well as he was. Many had already died, and many more were on the verge of suffering similar fates. The goblins were rejoicing in the massacre, some even feasting on the remains of fallen humans. Still, throughout the carnage, Verity understood something. ¡®Wait¡­¡¯ The scene was gruesome, almost unbearable to watch, but Verity was able to look past that. It may have been because of his increase of power, but he was now easily able to analyze the horrific sight before him, and he identified one glaring detail that others seemed to have missed. He had wondered briefly before, but he now understood why no other goblin had interrupted his duel, and why still no other goblin was attacking him. ¡®There¡¯s so few of them¡­!!¡¯ It was so obvious, evident at a glance. In comparison to the humans, the goblins were very few in number. Even considering that they wielded weapons, there was no real reason for the human side to lose this battle. The only reason they were was because they were afraid, and the goblins likely knew that very well. ¡°AAAHHH!!¡± Pulling him out of his thoughts, a woman was screaming to the right, and Verity whipped his head toward her. She had fallen to the ground, a gashing wound on her forearm. A goblin warrior was not too far away, licking the blood off of its blade, and slowly approaching her. Its steps were slow, measured, it wanted to enjoy the moment. The old Verity would have hesitated for a moment, maybe longer, and that moment could have cost her her life. However, when he saw it, he moved almost instinctively. If after his initial scuffle with the goblin warrior, Verity¡¯s fear had faded, the level up had made it completely disappear. Because of that, and the fact that he believed that was what the protagonist should do, he did not think twice about rushing to her aid. Before the goblin warrior could lunge at the woman, Verity shouted. ¡°MOVE!!!!¡± Thankfully that seemed to have woken her up, if only a little. Crawling as fast as she could, the woman created distance between her and the goblin, and it missed its strike by a hair¡¯s breadth. It really wasn¡¯t much, and the next attack would have killed the woman for sure, but that gave Verity enough time to reach them. With his newly acquired sword, he swung at the goblin, and surprising even himself, his strike landed. A large incision appeared on the goblin¡¯s chest, and green blood leaked from it. The wound was deeper than even Verity had predicted. The goblin patted its chest, dragging its fingers across the incision, and a trickle of blood spilled from its mouth, before it fell face first to the ground. [You have slain an enemy.] [You have gained Exp.] Verity wiped beads of sweat from his forehead, and took a few heavy breaths, before turning to the woman, who still seemed to be in shock. ¡®Isn¡¯t that¡­¡¯ He remembered because she was pretty to a point where he was forced to look away when she smiled. It was the woman who had approved his loan at the bank, or rather declined it, well both really. Verity extended a hand to her, but she was clearly still in shock, understandably so. Moments prior, she had been behind a desk in a well-ventilated building, helping customers with their financial requests. Now, after being struck by lightning and listening to a demon-like creature speak nonsense, she was in a colosseum, running from even stranger creatures who wanted nothing more than to kill her. ¡®W-What the hell is going on!!!¡¯ She thought, clutching her head in despair. She wanted to believe that it was a dream, that perhaps she had dozed off during work hours, but when that green creature had cut her with its sword, pain she had never experienced before forced her to face reality. But who could accept this kind of reality? She could not. ¡°Hey! It¡¯s alright, the goblin is dead!¡± Verity shouted at her with his best attempt at a smile. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Her eyes did move to him for an instant, but ultimately it was useless, she wasn¡¯t listening. ¡°T-this can¡¯t be real¡­it can¡¯t¡­!!¡± She mumbled to herself, completely ignoring Verity. ¡®Damn, it¡¯s bad¡­¡¯ He understood how she must have been feeling, but he did not really know how to calm her down. He was no therapist, and he was not that good with people to begin with. He also didn¡¯t feel right about just abandoning her here, especially after the effort he exerted to save her. He thought hard about what to say, or what to do. He could try his hand at consoling words, but he sincerely doubted that would help, if it did not make it worse instead. He also thought that maybe he could hug her, like in those emotional scenes in movies and books, but he did not know her, and he felt that this would make him seem like a creep. Truly, he was stumped, but then suddenly, an idea opposed into his mind. He had seen it many times before in those stories of his, and it always seemed to work. ¡®Of course! How could I forget about that!¡¯ The method he had thought of was unconventional, but he was certain that it had a high chance of success. Slowly, he crouched before the woman, and opened his palm. Then, he slapped her across the face with it. The sound resonated like a thunderclap, and a red imprint in the shape of Verity¡¯s hand appeared on her cheek. The woman fell silent. She was no longer mumbling and her gaze really met Verity¡¯s this time. Still in stupor, she brought her own hand to her cheek, where the blow had landed, and rubbed it slowly. ¡°Did you just slap me¡­? Even my parents have never slapped me before¡­¡± She said, in disbelief. Verity scratched the back of his neck and took a step backward. He was afraid that she might lash out in anger. ¡®Did I mess up? Should I have tried shaking her first?¡¯ He stumbled over his own words. ¡°Yes... I slapped you¡­ but you were-¡± She knew what he was going to say. ¡°I was panicking, right. But still¡­ You could have held back a little¡­.¡± She was still rubbing her cheek. Had Verity slapped her harder than he meant to? ¡®I¡¯m sure I didn¡¯t slap her that hard though¡­ Is it because of the level up?¡¯ The woman suddenly stood up, and the hand that was not rubbing the zone of impact was outstretched to Verity. ¡°Regardless....I¡¯m Felicia, and¡­ Thanks for saving my life.¡± She said with a deep bow. Verity shook her hand, embarrassed. ¡°I¡¯m-¡± Felicia interrupted him. She already knew who he was. ¡°Yes, Verity, I remember you from the bank.¡± There was a faint smile covering her lips. The one at the bank was professional, practiced, but this one was genuine, at least that¡¯s what Verity believed. The latter was even more enthralling than the former, and Verity was forced to look away, lest he wanted to be bewitched. After offering her thanks, Felica approached the dead goblin and freed the sword from its lifeless hand. The poor sight she had shown earlier was now gone. Her hands still shook as they wrapped around the handle of the sword, but her grip was firm. ¡°You looked like you knew what you were doing...¡± She said to Verity, her voice steadier than she expected. ¡°I¡¯ll help you... If you¡¯ll have me, I''ll help you kill them all...!¡± Her eyes were different. They were now filled with determination. Her whole atmosphere had shifted. It was as though a new gear had taken position in her head, shifting her train of thought and her understanding of common sense. She had now accepted that it was killed or be killed. Forget the bank, the modern world, laws and regulations. She had to kill those creatures or they would kill her, and that suddenly became all that mattered to her. Even Verity was taken aback by the sudden fire burning in her eyes, but he couldn¡¯t say that he was displeased. Rather, he was glad that she did not need any further convincing, and quite grateful for the time that was saved. Now that they were introduced to each other, Verity got to the point, and shared what he was thinking. ¡°I noticed that there¡¯s many more of us than there are goblins. We¡¯re dying for no reason!¡± He was speaking with many hand gestures, a habit of his when speaking of things he cared about that he did not know he had. ¡°If you and I can come to other people¡¯s aid, we can slowly gather allies, steal the monster¡¯s weapons, and eradicate them!¡± He said, confident. Felicia thought that the plan was simple, but it made perfect sense. She did not know how to wield a sword, but she was certain that Verity was in the same boat, and yet, he killed that goblin with incredible ease. If he could do it, then why couldn''t she? She had at least seen movies before, so she raised her sword with both hands, and placed it in front of her. Her reach was longer than a goblin¡¯s and they bled just as easily as she did. ¡®I can do it...!¡¯ She thought, her resolve steeled and her body ready. Verity explained to Felicia how exactly he planned to help others in their fights with goblins, and how he would recruit additional allies. At times, Felicia would add her own input, improving upon the plan, but they both knew that they had little time to discuss, a minute, maybe two. So, in the end, the plan was rough around the edges, but still, it could work. Together, they would rush toward someone in need of help. While the goblin was preoccupied with its prey, Verity would execute the first strike. If it landed, then the fight was as good as won, if not, it was Felicia¡¯s turn. In a one on one duel where the goblin had all of its attention on Verity, the smallest mistake could spell his death, but thankfully, he was not alone. When that happened, Felicia would catch the goblin off-guard and swing her sword, and if even that did not kill it then¡­ then they would have to improvise. There was nothing else to discuss, really, and so both of them tightened their grip around their swords, and searched for their first ally. ¡°That guy over there!¡± Felicia said, pointing to a man who was wrestling with one of the goblin archers. When Verity turned to where she was pointing, he saw that he had evidently not been as lucky as they were. While he was busy with the archer, right in front of him, there was another goblin waiting for the chance to slay him, and Verity doubted that the man would survive if he did not receive any help. ¡°Perfect! Let¡¯s go hel-¡± BOOM [Pfff.] ¡°Damnit! Don¡¯t lau-¡± *** Thanks to his only skill, Verity was able to defeat the goblin warrior and take its sword. Then, he rushed to a nearby woman¡¯s aid after hearing her screams and recruited her as an ally. Verity remembered her from the bank, and she introduced herself as Felicia, a name as pretty as she was. Together, they concocted a plan to help more people and push back the goblin force. At one point, there was nothing else to discuss, really, and so both of them tightened their grip around their swords, and searched for their first ally. ¡°That guy over there!¡± Felicia said, pointing to a man who was wrestling with one of the goblin archers. When Verity turned to where she was pointing, he saw that the man had evidently not been as lucky as they were. While he was busy with the archer, right in front of him, there was another goblin waiting for the chance to slay him, and Verity doubted that the man would survive if he did not receive any help. ¡°Perfect! Let¡¯s go hel-¡± [The skill Lesson Learned is being activated.] Chapter 5 - The First Trial (3) Verity knew that if his only skill activated, then it meant that he was in imminent danger. His muscles tensed, and all his senses were on high alert. That¡¯s when he heard the familiar whisper in his ear. Below¡­ This time, the whisper was clearer, but still maddeningly cryptic. His pulse quickened, he did not know what misfortune was about to befall him, but he did not need to. The skill had not failed him yet, so there was no reason to hesitate. ¡°Watch out!¡± Without wasting another second, Verity sprung forward and tackled Felicia before she could even react. Together, they hit the ground hard, sliding across the dirt entangled in each other¡¯s arms. ¡®Are we safe?¡¯ Verity thought, sincerely hoping that he had interpreted the meaning of the whisper well enough. He barely had time to look back. In the next instant, a luminescent circle appeared where they had just stood, and from it, a pillar of flames erupted, incinerating even the air itself. The heat hit them like a wave, and both of their breaths got caught in their throats. At the sight, Verity secretly thanked his skill, and as for Felicia, she could only widen her eyes in shock. She stared at the flames, her face pale and her chest heaving wildly. She knew that if she hadn¡¯t moved, not even ashes would have remained of her. ¡®If it wasn¡¯t for Verity..¡¯ She thought, as a shiver ran down her spine, and her heart pounded wildly. She swallowed, her voice trembling. ¡°How did you¡­¡± ¡°Felicia! Get up! We can¡¯t stay in one place too long!¡± ¡®Right¡­!!¡¯ It did not matter how, and so Felicia stood up. Even more so than she had been before, she was convinced that sticking by this unassuming man was the right choice. At first glance, he didn¡¯t seem to be anything special, and his fashion sense was questionable, but it was twice now that he had saved her life. If she wanted to survive, her best bet was to stick by him. Still, that did not mean that she would mindlessly follow him. The threat the pillar of fire posed was considerable, but Felicia had noticed something crucial, and she sensed that it was not as dire as it was made out to be. ¡°Verity!¡± She called as they ran, her breath coming in short gasps. ¡°What?!¡± Verity replied. ¡°The fire circles! I think they¡¯re happening because of the monsters with the robes and staffs!!¡± Verity glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Right, I had that figured out already, but thanks!¡± It was already obvious to him. They were probably goblin shamans or mages, that much he had already gathered. The question now that he knew what they were capable of, was what to do. Felicia did not appreciate his slightly condescending tone, but she ignored it since it didn¡¯t matter right now. ¡°I imagine, but I don¡¯t think they¡¯re that dangerous!¡± She continued, slightly out of breath from running with a sword in hand. It was heavier than she had expected. ¡°Huh?!¡± Verity¡¯s confusion grew, and he barely managed to stop himself from tripping. ¡°Did you not see that pillar of fire!? We would have been ashes if that had hit us!!¡± She agreed, of course, but that was not her point. ¡°Right, if it had! Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s weird that we were only attacked after staying in one place for a while?!¡± She recalled their previous encounters. ¡°Think about it! While we were fighting the sword guys, if they could have, they would have roasted us!!¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Verity placed his hand over his mouth and his eyes widened as the pieces clicked. ¡°Right¡­!!¡± ¡°They¡¯re slow! That attack is probably super slow! We can¡¯t defend against it at all, and It wouldn''t make sense for it to be that strong otherwise!¡± She took a few breaths before continuing. ¡°So what I¡¯m saying is, we can still go help that guy! We just have to keep moving and we¡¯ll be fine!!¡± Verity turned his gaze to the man they had picked out earlier. He had managed to kill the goblin archer in the end, but the warrior was now upon him swinging its jagged sword wildly. The man was fast on his feet, impressively so. His evasion was stellar, but he was tiring, and without a proper weapon, his chances of victory were slim to none. ¡°Alright! What you¡¯re saying makes sense! Let¡¯s do it!¡± He said, nodding. Verity was honestly surprised at how calmly she analyzed the situation. She knew nothing about goblins, and yet, she managed to observe and come to this conclusion in such a short amount of time. He had decided to help her completely on a whim, but with each moment, he became more and more happy that he did. Their goal was set, and they sprinted toward the man and the goblin warrior. The two had not been too far, so they reached their position quickly. As agreed upon, Verity was the first to attack, while Felicia circled behind the goblin. Verity raised his sword high, and he slashed down at the goblin with all the force he could muster. It had been easy the first time. His sword had slashed through the goblin unhindered, but now it was different. This one was quick to react. Its ears twitched as it sensed Verity approaching. Its attention immediately shifted to him, now uncaring for its previous victim, and it was able to see the sword descending upon it. To the goblin, Verity¡¯s strike was slow, crude and amateurish. It grinned as it saw the edge of his blade approaching him. It might have been weaker physically, but with a simple motion of its arm, it easily deflected Verity¡¯s strike, which left him wide open. The man before the goblin was now as good as dead, and it was already salivating at the idea of eating his flesh once this was done. It cocked its arm back, ready to stab at Verity¡¯s heart, but before it could, a sword, much similar to that of its brothers and sisters, pierced its chest. ¡°Die, you scum!¡± It heard, before the sword was pulled out and the light from its eyes faded. [You have assisted in slaying an enemy.] [You have gained Exp.] Verity blinked as the words were spoken in his head. ¡®Oh? I get Exp for assists too?¡¯ ¡°Nice work!¡± Verity told Felicia, who had been the one to end the goblin¡¯s life. She pushed the hair out of her face, and looked down at the goblin, panting heavily. Unlike Verity, she had not even considered showing it any mercy. ¡°I¡­ leveled up?¡± She murmured, a flicker of wonder in her voice. She flexed her fingers, an unfamiliar warmth coursing through her body, and marveled at how light the sword now felt. ¡°I feel stronger too¡­!!¡± His eyes still scanning his surroundings, Verity approached the man they had saved and outstretched a hand. He had a few minor wounds, but nothing that could threaten his life. The man readily accepted Verity¡¯s hand and stood up. ¡°T-thanks for saving me, really¡­¡± He seemed strangely calm, but in this chaos, that was a good thing. ¡°I¡¯m Verity, and that¡¯s Felicia.¡± Verity told him, pointing to Felicia who was now swinging her sword through the air with a smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯m Marco. You guys¡­ can you tell me what the hell¡¯s going on?¡± Marco asked, his voice tinged with confusion. ¡°Listen Marco, I¡¯d love to chat, but we need to get moving, except if you want to end up as a pile of ashes. Grab that goblin¡¯s sword and follow us.¡± Verity showed him his own sword he had stolen from a goblin warrior. ¡°They¡¯re not pretty, but they get the job done.¡± Marco hesitated, his heart still pounding from his previous battle. ¡°What¡­? I¡¯m a wrestler¡­I¡¯ve never even held one before¡­¡± Felica¡¯s voice cut through their conversation. ¡°Verity! We need to move! I¡¯m not sure how long we can stay here, but I¡¯m not willing to take any chances!¡± She said, an anxious look on her face. Verity was also feeling the urgency of the situation. There was no way to predict where and when the pillars would erupt, only that they targeted the stationary. He placed a hand on Marco¡¯s shoulder, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead, and gave him two options. ¡°Listen, if you want to fight these things barehanded, fine by me! We¡¯re going to move now, you either pick up that sword and join us, or you don¡¯t and you probably die! I¡¯ll be off now!¡± Verity really did not want to risk arguing with Marco any longer than this. They had to stay in motion. He just hoped Marco would make the smart choice. Marco¡¯s mind was racing. Verity and Felicia had approached him like whirlwinds, slaying the goblin and asking him to fight with them. They had not even given him a proper chance to process everything, and yet, he was meant to take a decision. Still unsure, he looked at the sword of the now lifeless goblin. ¡®So I have to use that sword and kill goblins like these guys¡­? This can¡¯t be reality¡­¡¯ He thought. But it was real, and he understood that. The sensation of that goblin archer¡¯s neck snapping under his hold felt too real for this to be a dream. He wasn¡¯t going to die here, so he shook his head, picked up the jagged, rusted sword, and sprinted after Verity and Felicia. Chapter 6 - The first trial (4) The three of them, Marco, Felicia, and Verity, located on the left side of the colosseum, which was separated from the right by a path dug in the earth, repeated the same tactic restlessly. Marco was not as comfortable as the other two at first, but he was soon brought up to speed, and in no time, they were slashing through goblins as though it had been second nature. The tide of the battle was slowly tipping in their favor on the left side of the colosseum, but not all was perfect. Some, they could not save, others had wounds too terrible for them to move. They could not afford to carry someone, and although it had been an impossible decision, with the threat of the shamans, they had to be left behind. Making that choice left a bitter taste in Verity¡¯s mouth. All he could do for them was to try his hand at emergency first aid, and tell them to walk if they could not run, and to crawl if they could not walk. Still, despite the grim reality, he was able to recruit new allies. A blonde-haired younger girl, barely fifteen or sixteen, who had killed the goblin warrior on her own by digging her nails into its eyes. A grey-haired older man who had possessed a firearm, but ran out of bullets quickly. A very tall man who had been stabbed but appeared strangely fine, and many more. The ranks of their team were growing rapidly. Verity had the chance to use his mysterious skill twice in that time, once to avoid an arrow flying toward his chest, and another to narrowly evade a bullet ricocheting from the blade of a goblin. Through it all, he was glad to find that his skill proficiency had increased to level 3 as needed every advantage he could have in this mess. When the warriors had been taken care of, and they saved everyone that they could, they finally turned their attention to the shamans and archers. All this time, they had been dispersed throughout the edges of the colosseum, and were plagues to avoid while taking care of the warriors as well as a constant burden on their minds. They realized it was useless to go for each one as a group, so they separated into teams of three, Felicia, Marco, and Verity ended up sticking together. The clean up process had not been very long. ¡° huff huff I.. I think we got all of them, for our side at least.¡± Marco said, panting heavily. He was bruised and a few more wounds lathered his body, but he was alive, and he was happy about it. Most of the people who had fought on the left side were now gathered, having taken care of matters on their end. They were all wielding a weapon, most armed with the jagged goblin swords, while some had switched to the bow. A few had wanted to try the staff, but none managed to obtain any results from it. They were all discussing, sharing accomplishments, what they understood of the situation, and what to do next. The fact that it was this calm, meant that the humans had managed to push back the goblin force. Verity exhaled slowly and opted to use the momentary respite to look down at his status window.
Status Window Name: Verity Age: 22 Level: 4 Alias: N/A Class: N/A Traits : Shut-in, Unemployed, Favored, Goblin Slayer Skills: [Lesson Learned Lv. 3], [Why me?! Lv. 1] Sponsor: [-Error-]
¡®Level 4 isn¡¯t bad¡­ I think?¡± His eyes lingered on his new trait Goblin Slayer which replaced the Listless trait. ¡®Guess that¡¯s an upgrade.¡¯ He thought, before his eyes drifted to something even more interesting. Verity had noticed his new skill, but could not remember when he had obtained it, and had not heard the system¡¯s voice in his mind informing him of its activation. Since he had time, he decided to focus on the words and opened the skill window, he was much too curious to put this off for later.
Skill : [Why me?!] Rank : B Level : 1 Rarity : Unique Type : Passive Description : Your luck is truly terrible, so much so that it is pitiful to witness. A mysterious being granted you this skill to ensure her amusement, and to keep you alive just a little longer. Effect: 10% chance to automatically dodge any unexpected attack.
¡®Seriously, who writes these¡­¡¯ He had the feeling that the skill description had not been written by an impartial, emotionless entity, as the system should have been, but had no way to confirm it. Verity also noted the new ¡®effect¡¯ category which had not been present in the window of the Lesson Learned skill. ¡®10% chance to dodge an attack...¡¯ It was not a bad skill. Although its chances of activating were low, evading an unexpected attack automatically was the difference between life and death. And yet, Verity mulled over the implications of the skill. He was not as happy as he should have been. While the description had called his luck terrible, the skill¡¯s use relied on him being lucky, ironically. Did the ¡®mysterious being¡¯ realize it was contradicting itself by giving him this skill, or was it just meant as a cruel joke? Felica¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts. ¡°Hey, Verity, what¡¯s your level?¡± She asked. This was good for Verity, as he had been curious too. He dismissed his status window and turned to her. ¡°Four, what about you?¡± He replied.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I just reached level three.¡± She said, a grin on her face. ¡°Got a new skill for it too.¡± Verity¡¯s eyes widened and his interest piqued. ¡°Really? What¡¯s it called?¡± She brandished her sword. ¡°It¡¯s called [Horizontal slash]. I tried it earlier on a goblin, and it does exactly what the name implies.¡± Verity was now very curious. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind¡­ Can I see it in action?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Sure.¡± She then placed the sword behind her, held it firmly in both hands, and closed her eyes. It seemed she needed complete concentration to call upon the skill. Soon, her sword glowed faintly. She opened her eyes, swung her sword and the air before her was split in two at a speed Verity could barely follow. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure, but Verity believed that this strike might have been able to decapitate a goblin, even if it attempted to block it. ¡°Amazing¡­¡± Verity said with awe. Felicia planted the sword in the ground, allowing her tired arms to rest. ¡°Yeah¡­ It¡¯ll help, that¡¯s certain.¡± Her hands were trembling, backlash from using the skill. ¡°What about you? You must have a skill too, right? I talked to the others, and they said everyone unlocked one at level three.¡± ¡®So that¡¯s why I have this new skill¡­¡¯ Before Verity could respond, Marco joined the conversation. ¡°Then, should I demonstrate mine?¡± he said with a smug smile. ¡®I don¡¯t remember asking you though¡­¡¯ Felicia thought, but of course she did not say it out loud. Without waiting for an answer, Marco took many steps back, breathed in deeply, and with a flash, covered the distance between himself and Verity in an instant. ¡°Not bad, huh? This one is called [Dash].¡± He said with heavy panting. ¡°That¡¯s also really good¡­!¡± Verity replied, even more amazed. Both of their skills seemed to be active, unlike his, and Verity could immediately see how useful they would be in direct combat. By comparison, his felt a little underwhelming. They now both shifted their focus to Verity. ¡°Your turn now.¡± Marco said eagerly. ¡°Seeing as to how you¡¯re the reason the left side survived, you must have gotten something incredible!¡± His eyes were full of expectation. Others who had listened in on the conversation also glanced at Verity from the corner of their eye. There was no reason to believe that skill attribution was reliant on contribution to the trial, but they did remember that rewards were ¡®performance dependent¡¯ and wondered if it applied to this as well. Verity scratched the back of his neck. Unlike the others, he had two skills now but¡­ he hadn¡¯t unlocked the first one at level three, and he couldn¡¯t even describe it, let alone demonstrate. It just activated on its own whenever it deemed fit, and Verity had no control over it. So, instead of speaking of the cryptic [Lesson Learned], Verity opted to share his second skill, [Why me?!]. He could sense the gazes on him, and felt that he would be letting down the other¡¯s expectations if that was the skill he revealed to them, but he was not willing to lie and he had no other choice. He sighed. ¡°The skill I got is called, [Why me!?]. It¡¯s passive.¡± ¡°What does it do?¡± Felicia asked, tilting her head. Verity hesitated, then muttered. ¡°It lets me dodge any unexpected attack¡­ 10% of the time.¡± Amidst the short silence that ensued, Felicia was the first to comment. Her eyes narrowed, and her gaze lingered on Verity. ¡°I see¡­¡± she said, stroking her chin. Her reaction was what he had expected to a certain extent. She did not sound impressed, and Verity could tell from the glances of the others around him that they shared a similar sentiment. Again, his skill wasn¡¯t bad, it just wasn¡¯t great. Marco slapped his back, startling him. ¡°Don¡¯t look so down, man! It¡¯s not a bad skill at all! Unexpected attacks are the ones you aren¡¯t meant to evade. This skill could really save your life!¡± A dry chuckle escaped Verity¡¯s mouth, and he wanted to thank Marco for his attempt at comforting him, but before he could, Verity heard a whisper. ¡°[Horizontal slash.]¡± SWOOSH [The skill Why me?! Is being activated.] Verity had no time to react, but that was inconsequential as an external force took control of his body. It moved on its own, and Verity jumped backward. Where he had stood, Felicia¡¯s sword drew an arc at an incredible speed, missing Verity¡¯s stomach by a hair. She nodded as she planted her sword back into the ground. ¡°...I knew it. It¡¯s a better skill than you think, Verity.¡± A few gasps could be heard among the other survivors, but there was none more shocked than Verity himself. ¡°Are you insane?!¡± Verity shouted, a shallow incision on his t-shirt. Felicia, meanwhile, looked completely unbothered. ¡°Relax, I was certain you¡¯d dodge.¡± Verity¡¯s expression was clear, he was waiting for an explanation. Now exhausted, Felicia planted her sword back into the ground. ¡°You received the skill when you were level three, but you¡¯re level four now. From my calculations, It should take around four to five goblin kills to go from level three to four. Yet, in that time, I didn¡¯t see the skill activate once, and trust me, if it wasn¡¯t for me and Marco, you would have died to many unexpected attacks, nine or so.¡± She flicked her hair backward, a confident smirk curling her lips. ¡°Of course, a 10% chance generally means that an event will happen one in ten times. Sure, it could never happen or it could happen every time, but that¡¯s unlikely. From what I gather, the system may use strange words, but it means what it tells you, and this confirms it.¡± She grinned, and clenched her fist as she looked at Verity. ¡°Again, this is better than you think, Verity. There¡¯s a high chance that the skill is consistent and that means that you can predict when it will activate.¡± Verity blinked a few times, appalled by her analysis. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I should call you a genius, or insane.¡± Felicia shrugged. "Listen, if this skill is what keeps you alive, you need to understand how it works, no matter the method.¡± She then threw Verity one last glance. ¡°You can also consider this payback for that slap earlier." She told him with a wink, before turning around, and joining a group of girls she had been discussing with earlier. ¡®She¡¯s still angry about that?!¡¯ Verity wanted to pursue the matter, but then he exhaled deeply and decided it would be better to contemplate Felica¡¯s words instead. Her interpretation was intriguing, and he had to admit, gutsy. Still, there were too many unanswered questions. Verity had not been sure how she managed to accurately count the number of unexpected attacks that befell him, and truth be told, he did not know what exactly was considered an unexpected attack. In a battle at Verity¡¯s level of skill, almost all attacks were unexpected, and he could only react the best he could. Did it have to be something that he could not physically see coming, or that he would not be able to evade by himself? If he could avoid the unexpected attack without the skill¡¯s help, or if someone rescued him, would it go toward the unexpected attack count? There were many questions to answer and experiments to perform. Verity sensed that he would not be able to do so himself, and was glad that if anything, Felicia would gladly use her [Horizontal Slash] to aid him. ¡®Is that something I should be happy about¡­?¡¯ Verity shook his head, banishing the thought. Usually, there would have been no time for all this chit-chat. The left side should have gone to help the right side a long time ago. There was no physical barrier between them, save for a shallow ditch separating the two, but that could easily be crossed. Yet, they did not, and the reason for that was simple. Verity once again looked to the right side of the colosseum, where a lone man wielding a goblin sword was standing by himself. He was wounded, his long black coat was full of holes, and his pale skin was drenched in goblin blood. Yet, he was covered by an air of calm which showed no sign that he had just been through a life or death battle against an army of monsters. Verity was not sure what had happened, but what he did know was that on that side, he was the only one left. Human or goblin, he was the only one that still lived. Verity had many questions, and so did everyone else, but none dared to approach him, and he did not care to interact with anyone. Short black hair, much like Verity¡¯s, clung to his forehead, and he possessed sharp eyes that seemed as though they could cut through a person. Verity hated to admit it, but he was handsome, blindingly so, and most importantly, he was unbelievably strong. So strong that he was able to take an army of goblins by himself with a poorly made sword, and only suffered minor wounds at the end of it all. One thought crossed Verity''s mind when he looked at the man. ¡®Now that¡¯s¡­ a main character.¡¯ Chapter 7 - The first trial (5) Time passed, and despite the gruesome battle that had just unfolded, the atmosphere was light. It needed to be, as the human mind needed reprieve. Of course, not everyone could act as though all was normal, but those who had survived until now at least had the mental fortitude to pretend. Vertiy sat on the dusty floor of the colosseum, and stared at the trial window, a conflicted expression on his face. ¡®Something¡¯s wrong¡­¡¯ He had dismissed his initial worries as paranoia when he first read the trial description, but the more time passed, the more anxious he became. He wanted to say that the trial couldn¡¯t possibly be this easy, but the problem was that it had not been easy at all. More than half of the participants had died, and many more were wounded, or traumatized. He did want to believe that this was all there was to the trial, but he simply could not shake the thought that there was more. As Felicia said, the system did not seem to pick its words haphazardly, and while the imp told them that they had to defeat goblins, the system said ¡®enemies¡¯ not ¡®goblins¡¯. Goblins were enemies, but enemies did not necessarily have to be goblins, and that is what was gnawing at Verity''s mind. For now, he could only wait and hope for the best, but the longer it took for the trial¡¯s end to be announced, the more concerned he became. Eventually, once a few minutes had passed with no news, Verity approached Felicia, the only person he felt comfortable enough to speak to, and nudged her shoulder. ¡°There¡¯s something wrong. The trial isn¡¯t ending.¡± He said as he pulled her away, and whispered for no one but her to hear. She frowned as she turned to him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He did not want to say that he had read about it before, as that would engender another train of questions, so he based himself on the trial window. ¡°The trial window said that we would be rewarded once the trial was over. Have you gotten a reward? I know I haven¡¯t.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°There was the skill. Does that not count?¡± Verity knew that this couldn¡¯t be it. ¡°And yet, we¡¯re still here, the imp hasn¡¯t reappeared, and the trial window is still there.¡± Felicia¡¯s frown grew deeper, and she slowly placed her hand on the hilt of her sword. ¡°...You think there''s more to it? A hidden goblin, maybe?¡± ¡°Maybe not a goblin.¡± Felicia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Defeat all¡­. enemies¡­¡± And her pulse quickened. She drew the sword with one fluid motion, and her voice rang with urgency ¡°EVERYONE, PREPARE FOR-¡± A ripple of laughter cut through her warning, and finally, the imp reappeared, floating in the sky above. ¡°And here I thought I could surprise you all.¡± It scanned the survivors, mumbling. ¡°There sure are more of you than I expected.¡± And its gaze lingered on Verity. ¡°It also seems there are some among you with a tad bit of brains¡­¡± Verity felt a shiver going down his spine as the imp¡¯s obsidian eyes looked down at him. ¡°Congratulations on killing the goblins!¡± It continued. ¡°But your battle is not yet over! You see, the smell of dead goblin flesh has a very distinctive smell. A delicacy really, for the orcs that is. If adequately prepared, it becomes one of their favorite meals!¡± It covered its mouth as an eerie grin replaced the innocent smile it had shown before. ¡°Of course, there¡¯s one delicacy orcs love even more than goblin flesh¡­ ¡± It tried to stifle a laugh. ¡°The meat of a Prime Race¡­ Like humans, for example, it is very tasty to them¡­ I wonder how they¡¯d react to such a banquet if they were here, though I sense I won¡¯t have to wonder much longer!¡± It said before vanishing once again with a mocking wave. Verity cursed himself for being right, and drew his sword which had been resting at his side. ¡°Sh*t sh*t sh*t!! All of you draw your weapons and be ready to fight!!¡±Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Most drew their weapons, as they already understood that this place was unforgiving, but after their victory against the goblins, confidence had gotten the better of their judgment. ¡°What the hell is an orc?¡± One of them asked, their voice tinged with curiosity rather than fear. ¡°No idea, but if we work together I¡¯m sure it¡¯s nothing we can¡¯t beat, especially with these new powers of ours.¡± Another replied as he clenched his fist. ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve read about this in fantasy books. It¡¯s bigger than the goblins, but they¡¯re usually stupid. I think we¡¯ll be okay if we stay focused.¡± A last one added, a relaxed inflection in his voice. ¡®These guys aren¡¯t afraid at all! This is bad!!¡¯ Verity thought, cold sweat running down his face. They were stronger now, but if the goblins had eradicated over half of them, he couldn¡¯t even imagine what the orcs could do. His gut screamed that this would be incomparable to the enemies they had just faced. Then, the ground trembled. It felt as though an earthquake was shaking the entire colosseum. It was faint at fists, but with each passing moment, the rumble grew louder, and louder, until it was the only thing they could hear. ¡°How many of them are there?? This sounds like an army!!¡± Felicia asked Verity, agitated. Verity bit his lip. ¡°I¡¯m not sure but¡­ probably not that many¡­¡± He said. A dry chuckle escaped her mouth ¡°Seriously¡­?¡± And from the shadows permeating the sole exit to the colosseum, five figures emerged. Only five. Marco scoffed in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s¡­insane..¡± They were gigantic, at least ten feet tall. Large fangs protruded from the bottom of their mouth, and their skin was of a crimson red, which seemed natural, but may have also been the blood of their enemies. Every single muscle on their bodies was built solely for strength, for war. Their very existence spoke of unrestrained, savage power. Towering mountains of might and lethality. The earth broke beneath the soles of their feet. Their armor was simple, yet equally terrifying. While their chest, stomach and head were not covered, impressive sets of bone armor covered their shoulders, shins, and forearms. ¡°That''s¡­ an orc?¡± Felicia mumbled. ¡°I think that thing¡¯s weapon is bigger than I am¡­¡± Marco muttered beside Verity, taking a hesitant step back. Once they had all crossed the entrance to the colosseum, the orcs stopped their advance, and they scanned the battlefield with their predatory eyes. The air was tense, and Verity could only hold his breath as he laid eyes upon these terrifying beasts. They had come, and yet, there was no charge, as if they were contemplating something. All five of them were inspecting every inch of the battle field, and they spent an especially long time looking at the man standing by himself on the other side of the colosseum. Finally, one of them grinned, its lips parted, and it spoke in a language Verity could not understand. ¡°Grakk Vorr!!¡± The orc shouted, before throwing its massive axe straight toward Verity¡¯s group. It sliced the air as it traveled at a speed barely perceivable, and it cleaved straight through a man who did not have time to react. Blood sprayed in an arc as both halves of his body fell to the ground. Verity only felt the gust of wind the attack produced before the real carnage began. ROAR!! The orcs charged toward the humans, drool leaking from their mouths, and their stomachs already growling at the thought of the feast ¡°[B-Bullseye]!!¡± A woman screamed, as she drew her bow and fired at one of the orcs. It was a skill that allowed her to never miss the vital points of her target when used, though it could still be blocked. The orc caught the arrow out of the air, and crushed it with one hand. With a dismissive grunt, it jumped, and landed only a few inches before her. When they were side by side, the size difference was almost comical. The orc was literally twice, maybe three times as wide as her and twice as tall. Standing before such a monstrosity, the woman¡¯s bow slipped through her weakened fingers, and she fell to her knees. That seemed to amuse the orc. It snickered, and placed its thick clawed finger under her chin. ¡°Krag Marr.¡± It said, its putrid breath hitting the woman¡¯s face like a tidal wave. Felicia¡¯s grip tightened, and she was the first to decide to move. ¡°Damnit!! [Horizontal Slash]!¡± Felicia¡¯s blade struck true, drawing a black substance which they could only assume to be its blood. Hope sparked in the group for a moment, but that only seemed to amuse the orc even more, as if it thought it was cute. The orc dismissed Felicia as if she was no more than an afterthought, and in no more than a second, the wound she had inflicted closed before her very eyes. The orc could not help but snicker at her shock. Its massive hand wrapped around the woman¡¯s head, and in one swift motion, it crushed it between its fingers. Its attention then turned to the rest of the participants, and it once g again stood tall towering above them. Some found their hands trembling, some found tears leaking from their eyes, and others even dropped their weapons. The orc, on the other hand, was laughing, mocking the weak, pitiful humans. Its laughter echoed within the walls of the colosseum, followed by that of its kin. The hierarchy had been made clear with that action. The orcs were the hunters, and the humans the prey. ¡®There¡¯s five¡­ like this¡­?¡¯ Chapter 8 - The first trial (6) Truth be told, there were only three orcs that Verity¡¯s eyes needed to deal with, not that it was a small number by any means, but still better than five. The other two, including the strongest among the orcs whose hair was of a different color and whose weapon seemed to have been fashioned of much better material, decided to face the lone man on the other side of the arena alongside one of its subordinates. When they had entered the arena, the orc leader had pointed out the lone human and spoke the words ¡°Grakk Marr¡± in a low voice to its subordinate before rushing toward that man. This of course didn¡¯t mean that three orcs could not make mincemeat out of Verity and the other survivors, and if that man was not as strong as they all thought, it would be five very soon. Verity¡¯s heart was racing, having witnessed another gruesome death before him, he could only grip his sword tightly, plant his feet on the ground, and wait for the orc to make its decision. At this stage, running was pointless, and they all knew it. Finally, the orc turned its attention to the group after having a taste of the woman¡¯s blood. It scanned them, as if picking slices of meat from the butcher, and its eyes ultimately locked with Verity¡¯s. A grin curled the orc¡¯s lips and it raised its bloody finger, pointing straight to Verity. ¡®Shit, am I ne-¡¯ The orc lunged at him before he could even finish the thought, and just as it had done to the woman moments before, it stood tall before Verity, ensuring that the size difference was made clear. Verity, however, albeit barely, was able to remain standing, and he tightened his grip around the crude weapon he had stolen from a goblin warrior. This made the orc chuckle, and drool began leaking from its mouth, droplets falling onto Verity¡¯s forehead. ¡°Grakk Vorr.¡± [The skill Lesson Learned is being activated] [The skill Lesson Learned has reached Lv.3. Your proficiency has increased.] A splitting headache assaulted Verity. He wasn¡¯t sure before, but he felt as though the headaches that came with the usage of the skill were becoming more and more intense. Yet, he could only endure and listen intently to the whisper of the skill in his ear. Flee¡­ ¡®Flee?!¡¯ In the next moment, struck by the edge of a blade he could not even see, Verity¡¯s head flew off his shoulders. [That¡¯s twice now. I see, I¡¯ll make some adjustments. Should I add something like that too for later?] ¡°What are you talking about, and who are you?¡± Verity¡¯s voice echoed in the void, disoriented and panicked. [I¡¯m growing tired of these conversations after you die, and it¡¯s costing a lot of power. We won¡¯t be seeing each other for a while, little boy.] ¡°huh?¡± *** [...] Verity¡¯s heart was racing, having witnessed another gruesome death before him, he could only grip his sword tightly, plant his feet on the ground, and wait for the orc to make its decision. At this stage, running was pointless, and they all knew it. Finally, the orc turned its attention to the group after having a taste of the woman¡¯s blood. [The skill Lesson Learned is being activated] Verity¡¯s eyes widened, he knew what this meant, and so he intently waited for a whisper in his ear. You¡¯re next¡­. He did not hesitate, and he had no reason to since this skill had been reliable so far. ¡°It¡¯s coming after me!¡± He said, not in a shout, but loud enough for those around him to hear. Some wanted to question how he knew, but it was evidently not the time for that. Felicia was the first to react. She closed her eyes, and prepared her skill, ready to unleash Verity¡¯s direction. Though many had yet to understand it, once she obtained the skill, Felicia immediately realized that the more time and patience one put into a skill, the stronger it became. It was as though she was pouring a mysterious, new type of energy into her attack, increasing its lethality. The others imitated her. They all prepared various skills that were meant to be unleashed in Verity¡¯s general direction, hoping to attack the monster as soon as it moved. The orc could not understand what the puny humans were babbling about, and it did not care. It had already understood that these humans could not hurt it, and so ignoring their strange movements, it scanned them, as if picking slices of meat from the butcher. Its eyes ultimately locked with Verity¡¯s, and he felt a shiver run down his spine. A grin curled the orc¡¯s lips and it raised its bloody finger, pointing straight to Verity. The orc lunged at him, and just as it had done to the woman moments before, it stood tall before Verity, ensuring that the size difference was made clear. Verity, however, albeit barely, was able to remain standing, and he tightened his grip around the crude weapon he had stolen from a goblin warrior. This made the orc chuckle, and drool began leaking from its mouth, droplets falling onto Verity¡¯s forehead. ¡°Grakk Vo-.¡± ¡°[Piercing arrow]!¡± An arrow flew toward its eye. It was already in the motion of swatting away, when somethin else happened. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°[Ice arrow]!¡± ¡°[Wind arrow]!¡± ¡°[Stab]!¡± ¡°[Dash]!¡± Many more attacks were being launched, coming toward the lone orc warrior from all directions. No matter how fast and strong it was, it could not deflect them all. So, despite the orc¡¯s savage attempt at protecting itself, more than a few arrows found their marks, lodging themselves deep within its flesh, and bringing with them some type of elemental damage or special effect. ROAR!! Verity was not sure what the roar meant. Was it just angrier, or was it actually feeling pain? There was no way to know. While all the arrows were being launched, It was the role of those who wielded a sword to strike at the orc and inflict even more pain As the closest one, Verity was the first to attack, but without a special skill, he could barely get through its muscles. He felt pitiful, and while his sword was stuck in the orc¡¯s tough skin, Verity was launched away by the back of the orc¡¯s hand. Thankfully, its large cleaver weapon was too busy deflecting worries to be used against him. Pushed back by the orc¡¯s impact, Verity landed near a dead goblin warrior who was bathing in a puddle of its own blood. Surpassing even the pain from the blow, the smell that assaulted Verity¡¯s nostrils made him reel back, moving as far away as he could from the puddle. ¡®Seriously, is that stuff pois- ¡® Something clicked. ¡®That¡¯s¡­ is it actually¡­.?¡¯ [Your sponsor rolls her eyes and says ¡®finally¡¯.] The system spoke in his mind, but Verity ignored it, or rather, he did not care to pay attention to it. He had discovered something crucial to surviving this trial. This time, he remembered the imp¡¯s words. It was less reliable than the system, but now everything pointed to the idea that its phrasing couldn¡¯t have been a mere coincidence. Just as the system said enemies instead of goblins, was it possible that the imp had been giving them hints. Verity remembered its words. ¡®A delicacy really, for the orcs that is. If adequately prepared, it becomes one of their favorite meals.¡¯ Why would it need to be adequately prepared? Looking at them, Verity couldn¡¯t imagine that the orc¡¯s culture was so advanced that they had developed culinary traditions. Yet, the imp spoke of the orc consuming ¡®prepared¡¯ goblin meat. What¡¯s more, while the orc had rejoiced in tasting the woman¡¯s blood, none of them, even the other two who were still standing back, had touched a single of the goblins laying on the ground. Why ignore such easy prey? It could be that they simply liked to focus on the battle at hand, the habit of a warrior species maybe, but then, why did it take the time to taste that woman? To intimidate? Why bother? Verity¡¯s group was already so much weaker than they were. Sure, they wanted to enjoy the moment, which is why they hadn¡¯t killed all the humans already but was it really necessary to intimidate them in such a way? No, it just couldn''t hold itself back, it was an instinct. They¡¯re a predatory species. It saw food, and it ate, just as its impulses dictated. So why would it not feast on the goblins, then? The answer hit Verity like a hammer, and he smacked his forehead, angered by his slowness. He felt so incredibly stupid. He had noticed it before, and all the clues were there, but the fear had prevented him from thinking into it any further. ¡°It¡¯s not that they like to prepare goblin meat, they have to..!!¡± He mumbled to himself, his voice trembling with realization. The others were still attacking the lone orc, and while he was certain, he did not want to disrupt their momentum with potentially false information. So, he did something a little strange. He held his breath, picked up the goblin warrior''s body, and brought it near Felicia who still had her eyes closed. She had completely shut out all outside information, and was still charging her attack while other wielders of the goblin sword were doing their best at holding it where Verity had been. Then, he cut into the wound the goblin had suffered, allowing more of the viscous blood to flow. He let the liquid coat Felicia¡¯s sword, and watched as it fell onto the blade, covering it in the green substance. Then, he stood back and waited. Felicia slowly opened her eyes, and they gleamed at an intensity Verity had not yet seen from her. With a swift movement of her hand, Felicia¡¯s sword moved at a speed incomparable to the first, and second slashes she had shown everyone before. Perhaps even faster than the orc¡¯s cleaver. ¡°[Horizontal Slash]!¡± Verity could not understand, but the sword seemed different this time, as if it had a will of itself. And while Felicia did not know it, or meant to do it, she had managed to incorporate intent behind her strike. It was something that swordsmen were not able to do until they reached the summit of their abilities, the peak. Her low level would have never allowed this, and yet it happened. The intent that Felicia had used was simple, ¡®cut¡¯. The orc, who had seen the humans as nothing more than prey, could not even see the after image of the sword before it cut its stomach open, and a torrent of black blood flowed from its inside. Had it not stepped backward instinctively, its entire body might have been cut in half. ¡®Please work..!!¡¯ It was surprised, impressed even, but the orc could see that the woman who had attacked him had gone past her limits. She was now on her knees, her hands bleeding and trembling, gasping for air. The orc doubted she would even be able to stand before it was finished with the other humans. It would have praised her strength if they could understand each other, but they could not, so with a grin, it decided to leave her for last. ¡°...Grakk Marr.¡± Now, all it had to do was wait for its wound to heal, while it defended itself from the rest of the humans. After all, as long as its head was intact, and it had eaten sufficiently, the orc knew it could not die. Of course, there was another thing that may harm it, but it doubted the humans knew that. One second. Two seconds. The other humans were watching it, and it was ready to resume the battle, but why couldn¡¯t it move? It looked down and it had now realized that it was on its knees. It patted its stomach, where the wound was. Why wasn¡¯t it healing? The orc had feasted before a strange demon brought it to this place, so that was no issue. It then touched its head, and it was still there. Yet, it wasn¡¯t healing. That¡¯s when it finally noticed. The woman¡¯s sword, although now full of cracks and on the verge of breaking, was covered in a substance it knew very well. It was doused in goblin blood. ¡®Impossible¡­¡¯ It thought. The arena had not been lacking in goblins, but how could they know? This was one of the most well guarded secrets of the orcs. Even the goblins did not know that their blood was toxic to the orcs, as it was not toxic to any other race. That is why the great meal providers of its tribe performed special rituals so that they could consume the goblins, but not even regular orcs knew how they were performed, so there was no official remedy if one were to consume raw goblin flesh. The orc grunted as it looked down once again. Its wound was not closing, and its strength was leaving its body. It was dying. Its eyes then drifted to another human near the woman who had struck him. The human was holding a goblin body, leaking blood. Had he been responsible for this? He needed to warn its brothers who had allowed him the first taste, that their prey was- Verity drove a sword through the orc¡¯s throat. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re thinking, but please just die.¡± The orc gasped for air, and its towering figure fell to the ground. [You have slain an enemy.] Verity¡¯s voice rang out, urgent. ¡°GOBLIN BLOOD!! DRENCH EVERYTHING IN GOBLIN BLOOD. IT¡¯S THEIR WEAKNESS!¡± Chapter 9 - The first trial (7) The two orcs who had decided to stay back and let their brother handle the prey could not understand human tongue, but their keen eyes told them all they needed to know. Their brother had fallen, and once the small human with short black hair and pale skin had screamed, the rest of the humans had moved. Even to the orcs, what was unfolding before them was clear, the humans were rushing toward goblin corpses. The orcs were furious at the death of their comrade, and the fire of hatred burned within their bodies. No matter what, they could not allow the humans to reach the goblins. Though weak, this prey dared to challenge them, so they would show it the consequences of its resistance. ¡°ROARR!!¡± The roar shook the very air within the colosseum, sending a wave of pressure outward that hit Verity like a wall. When he heard it, Verity¡¯s body froze. Invisible chains gripped his heart, and forced his body in place. His pulse quickened, his hair stood on end, and dread like he had never felt before wrapped around him. [You are under the effect of a skill.] ¡®Of course¡­!!¡¯ It wasn¡¯t only Verity, none of them could move, none besides the orcs. The creatures lunged forward, and the massacre began. The first victim was a middle-aged woman with a bow. She had only just begun taking an arrow out of her quiver to dip it in goblin blood when her head was sliced in half. The second was a young man wearing a suit, his chest caved in with a devastating blow. The third¡­ ¡®Move!! Move!! Move!!¡¯ Verity¡¯s mind screamed. How long did he have until it was his turn? Verity was surprised that the orcs had not approached him and Felicia first, but he was also afraid that they had not done so because they had something more sinister in store for them. They were the reason their friend was dead after all. His hands trembled, his entire body spasming to free itself from the skill. He ground his teeth, and blood leaked from his nostrils as he tried to undo the restraints put upon him. If he could not move, he would die within the next minute, and so would everyone else present. He had to move, he needed to, they needed him. Not even a day had passed, and Verity had already burdened himself with everyone¡¯s survival, much like a hero would. He was now different from the lazy man who had been fired from his job due to a lack of productivity. Thankfully, here, not everything rested on Verity¡¯s shoulders. A woman holding a sword had also managed to free her mouth from the restraints before one of the orcs got to her. She was trembling, her face was pale, but her lips could move. When she had reached level three, she obtained a skill that she did not really understand, and had been too shy to seek answers from the others. She skimmed over the description and dismissed it, disappointed that it was not a combat skill or something that could help her, against goblins at least. ¡®Remove most status ailments in an area around you.¡¯ It said. It made no sense to her, and she still had no idea what a status ailment was, but in this desperate moment, it didn¡¯t matter. The skill was all she had, and if there was even the smallest chance that it could work then¡­ She inhaled deeply, and cried out defiantly. ¡°[C-Cleanse]!!¡± The woman glowed, and with her as the nexus, a wave of energy spread outward. When it hit him, a warm sensation covered Verity, and as if the chains holding him had been broken, he regained control of his body. ¡®What a convenient skill¡­!!¡¯ Verity thought. He briefly glanced at the woman to see the face of his savior, but did not waste another second. As soon as he was free, he finished the process of covering his sword in the blood of the goblin he had been holding. Those in the radius of her skill were free now, but it didn¡¯t mean that they had won. The orcs were still upon them, and nullifying their healing factor did not guarantee victory, only that they now stood on equal footing with the orcs. Plus, the orcs could always use the roar again, though Verity did hope that it had some sort of cooldown. In either case, they had to act fast. ¡°Felicia! Can you stand?!¡± Verity asked urgently. Felicia¡¯s body was still shaking from the strike she had just used to finish the first orc, but her determination had not been weakened in the slightest. She leaned on her brittle sword, and painstakingly, she rose to her feet, her legs quivering with effort. ¡°Y-yes! I¡¯m fine!¡± Verity got straight to the point. ¡°How many more times can you do that attack?!¡± Felicia bit her lip. ¡°... Once, maybe, and even then, I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be as powerful¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s fi-¡± ¡°[Dash]!¡± A large cleaver barely missed Verity as Marco slammed into him, the both of them barely avoiding the strike. The orc snarled, its murderous gaze fixed on Verity. ¡°GRRR¡± ¡®Me?? Not the woman who freed us!?¡¯ He thought. Its face twisted with rage, and its intent was clear. The orc would not leave until Verity was dead. Verity¡¯s hands were shaking. He had seen the orc¡¯s strength. They were not opponents one was meant to face head-on. Having it in front of him, its bulging musculature, and the pure lethality exuding from it, Verity doubted he could even follow the arc of its strike with his eye, much less avoid it. The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Still, he raised his sword. If he was going to die anyway, he would at least try to inflict as much damage as he could. Marco had no intention of letting him face that fate. ¡°Hey, ugly! Over here!¡± He shouted, waving his arms wildly. The orc glanced at him, its lips curling in disdain, but it ultimately ignored him. It could kill Marco whenever it wanted. For now, the human with the short black hair had to perish. It raised its cleaver high in the air, and prepared to strike the human down, when it felt a searing pain in its side. ¡°Don¡¯t you ignore me, damn it!¡± Marco roared. The orc growled as it looked down on the goblin sword lodged deep in its side. Was the goblin¡¯s blood making its skin easier to penetrate? The weak human would have never been able to pierce it otherwise, and the orc was certain of that. It would have to report this when it returned to its tribe, if it returned. ¡°Come on! Lit this guy up!¡± Marco shouted. Someone rapidly responded to the command. ¡°[Piercing arrow]!¡± An arrow pierced through the orc¡¯s arm, and it felt a stinging pain at the area of impact. It was clear, the goblin blood¡¯s effect was dire and it would need to find the healers of its tribe soon. Still, its focus had not changed. More arrows were flying toward it, but its eyes were fixated on Verity. ¡®If Marco did it, then I should be able to stab it too!¡¯ Verity thought, failing to notice that the orc¡¯s gaze had never left him. Its cleaver, which was still raised high, then fell on Verity, intending to split him in half. ¡°Verity!¡± Felicia pushed him out of the way, taking the orc¡¯s strike instead. ¡°Felicia!!¡± Verity shouted. She could no longer dodge, and even if her sword had been in a perfect state, it could not block the orc¡¯s cleaver. That¡¯s why Felicia did neither. She calmed herself, and she used the orc¡¯s power against it. She had never tried this before, but somehow, it felt right. With a fluid motion, she deflected the orc¡¯s cleaver to the right, redirecting its immense power into the ground. The orc snarled in frustration, launching a flurry of strikes, all its blows aimed at Verity standing behind Felicia. Yet, Felicia stood her ground. Her concentration was out of this world. Whether it came from the left, from the right, from below, or from above, she deflected every single strike with almost inhuman precision. ¡®Was she a master swordsman in another life??¡¯ Verity thought in stupor. It was now the fifth strike that was aimed at Verity that Felicia had deflected. Her blade met each one with unyielding defense. Each arrow, and each other sword that lodged itself within its skin had made the orc grow weaker, but what Felicia was doing was nothing short of spectacular. She seemed untouchable. ¡®She might be able to hold it off until the end!¡¯ Verity dared to hope. Unfortunately, reality came crashing down. Felicia was extraordinary, but she was still only just level four. On the sixth strike, her body, her technique, and even her sword faltered. The blade shattered under the weight of the orc¡¯s cleaver, and Felicia screamed out in pain. Her muscles were spasming, her breathing was erratic, and she could no longer stand. On the other hand, the orc was littered with wounds, but it was still moving. Marco was just as relentless in his assault from the sides as the orc had been on Felicia, and another person from the rear had been using the [Piercing Arrow] skill to hit its vitals. One through the heart, one through its stomach, and it had avoided the one aimed at its head. Despite it all, the orc had not fallen. ¡°I huff huff I¡¯m out of arrows!!¡± Someone shouted from the rear. Marco exhaled, his breathing coming in short gasps. ¡°Why won¡¯t this guy die damn it!!¡± Black blood flowed from every wound in the orc¡¯s body, and leaked from its eyes and mouth. Yet, it was moving. The orc¡¯s knees seemed to be giving out, but they wouldn¡¯t before Verity was dead. It would accomplish its mission no matter the cost, so that its brothers would no longer have to worry about this man. With a lightning-fast movement, it slammed Marco into the ground, ridding himself of that pest. Then, it raised its cleaver high in the sky, and it gathered every ounce of strength in its body to deliver one last strike at the apex of its abilities. This time, there would be no one to save the man. No one to push him out of the way, no one to protect him. Even if another arrow pierced its head, nothing would be able to save the man from the orc¡¯s strike. ¡®I win¡­ human!¡¯ The orc thought, one final grin curling its lips. Verity knew this strike was unavoidable. He could feel the aura gathering around the strike of the orc. It was clear. It was going to use a skill, and a powerful one at that, something it had been saving. There wasn¡¯t a single person here who could evade, block, or parry such a strike. Strangely enough, however, Verity smirked. His hands were trembling, and cold sweat was running down his forehead, but he smirked. Felicia was out of commission, and Marco was unconscious, but still, Verity smirked. The orc paid it no attention. It could not understand the facial expressions of humans. So, as its final, finishing strike, it brought down its cleaver at the speed of lightning. The [Lightning Strike]. SWOOSH In the next instant, Verity should have been dead. [The skill Why Me?! Is being activated.] Before he was torn to shreds, an otherworldly force took control of his body and Verity moved even faster than the cleaver. His figure blurred and when the cleaver crashed into the ground, his body was a few steps from the zone of impact. ¡°It worked!! It worked!! It still counts!!!¡± Verity laughed, hysteria creeping into his voice. The reason Verity had been smirking was because he expected the skill to activate. It was a gamble, with his life on the line, but he had no other choice. The last blow had been the tenth, and now Verity was sure. The skill interpreted an unexpected attack to be an attack that he could not see coming¡¯¡®, and he had been subjected to exactly nine of those. If the orc¡¯s last attack had been at its previous speed, something that Verity could follow but could still not defend against, then his skill would not have activated. But it had been too fast. Verity knew the attack was coming from above, but he was betting on the orc pouring everything into that strike. He was hoping that it would be something so incredibly fast and powerful that he would not be able to perceive it, and thus not be able to see it coming despite knowing its path. The smirk was meant to further provoke the orc, though Verity was not sure if that worked as intended. Regardless, Verity¡¯s gamble paid off. When its final strike missed, The orc stumbled. It had put everything into this last attack, but the human still lived. The light was beginning to fade from its eyes. The poison had infiltrated too deep. How could a human move so fast? They were supposed to be weak, nothing more than prey, and yet this human easily avoided its greatest attack. How? It could ponder the question in the afterlife. The orc let out one last grunt, and fell face-first into the ground, its dark blood creating a puddle under it. The crash of its body echoed on the battlefield and the system spoke in Verity¡¯s mind. [You have assisted in slaying an enemy.] [You have reached lv. 5] [The skill Why Me!? Has reached lv. 2. Your proficiency has increased.] [You have completed the trial.] Chapter 10 - Class Advancement Verity fell down, he was sapped of strength. Once he heard the system¡¯s voice speak in his head, the resolve which had been keeping him standing until now dissolved. They had done it, all the orcs were dead. The lone man in the long robe must have taken care of the two orcs who went for him, while the rest of the participants surely killed the remaining orc. It was now okay to rest. Now, Verity was allowed to lay on his back and look at the sky. ¡®It¡­ never looked this hard in the webtoons¡­¡¯ This trial had been vastly different from what Verity had hoped when he entered the colosseum. Many had died, so many that Verity could not remember them all. His muscles were screaming and the strain his mind had been put under left him with a terrible headache. If this wasn¡¯t enough, the system still disturbed its thoughts. It had a lot to say this time. [You have reached a milestone.] [You have met the conditions for your first class advancement.] [You have unlocked the stats window.] [You have unlocked the inventory feature.] [You have unlocked the tutorial shop function.] [...] ¡®Will you just shut up and leave me be for a second¡­¡¯ Felicia was lying down next to him, her breaths ragged but steady. ¡°So you ended up trusting me in the end, huh?.¡± She said, her tone a mix of exhaustion and amusement Verity scoffed. ¡°Yeah. Good thing both you and I weren¡¯t wrong about the skill.¡± ¡°You would be dead if we were. The orc would have cut through you like butter.¡± She tried to motion with her arm, but winced when it refused to cooperate. ¡°I¡¯m also alive thanks to you.¡± Verity turned his head to Felicia. ¡°Did you practice the sword before this?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± She admitted. ¡°Never even seen one outside of movies.¡± He sighed. ¡°...You¡¯re insane.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± Both chuckled. It was all so ridiculous. They had just fought and survived against orcs and goblins, creatures that only appeared in fantasy books. They wielded swords, some bows, and they used superpowers to vanquish their foes. If someone had told Felicia that she would one day live through this, she would have called them crazy. Who would believe them when they returned? If they returned. A voice echoed from the sky, smooth yet taunting. ¡°I¡¯m impressed by your performance! Out of the three hundred people who were brought here, only fifteen remain. Congratulations!¡± It was the imp. It had returned. ¡°Without further ado, I¡¯ll allocate the rewards for this trial!¡± It said as it snapped its fingers. [A mystery box has been placed in your inventory.] ¡°Before we move on to the tutorial¡¯s next trial, I¡¯ll briefly explain the class advancement process!¡± two windows opened before Verity, glowing faintly. ¡°In front of you, a number of system windows should have appeared, each bearing the name of a class. The system has labelled one of them as having the greatest affinity with your current set of abilities, but you are free to choose any path.¡± The imp¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Before you make a decision, allow me to warn you. Once a class is chosen, while it can evolve, it can never be changed. This means that a warrior may evolve into a paladin, but the warrior will never be a priest.¡± It covered the grin on its mouth with its clawed hand. ¡°That¡¯s why I suggest you make the right choice my dear challengers, lest you want the wrong decisions to haunt you for the rest of your life! Now, please make your choices so we can proceed.¡± Felicia¡¯s eyes narrowed at the imp¡¯s sinister tone. ¡°Why is it making it sound like we¡¯re signing a contract with the devil?¡± ¡°...Maybe we are.¡± Verity said as he intently analyzed the three options before him. Warrior : The warrior is a close quarter combatant who can use an array of weapons, from the sword to the axe. They use their sturdy bodies to dominate the frontline, putting everything on the line for victory. While their mastery with any weapon may fall short of that of any specialist, their versatility allows for a highly flexible battle style. Preferred stats : Strength, Dexterity, Stamina. Strategist (Greatest affinity): The strategist¡¯s keen mind provides them with a bird¡¯s eye view over the entire battlefield. While this is not a combatant class, their presence in battle is invaluable. From tactical enhancements to terrain manipulation, the strategist controls the flow of battle like a puppeteer. Preferred stats: Intelligence, Mana, Speed. Verity read the descriptions, and though they were vague, he had a good idea of what each class represented. The warrior was a straightforward combatant class where he would need to stand as the frontline and put his body on the line. It didn¡¯t seem like a bad choice. The strategist, however, spoke to him more. Its use seemed more situational, but Verity felt that in the right hands, and accompanied by the right teammates, it could be a class that really made the difference between victory and defeat. But were his hands, the ¡®right¡¯ hands? Beside him, Felicia¡¯s voice broke through his thoughts. ¡°So, what are you picking?¡± She asked. Verity frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± Her lips curled into a smile, though just that simple movement was painful. ¡°Just don''t pick something useless. My muscles still ache from protecting you.¡± Verity glanced at her and simply rolled his eyes. He knew she was joking, but he was no good at banter. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°What about you?¡± he asked. ¡°I already picked the swordsman class. It¡¯s got the greatest affinity and I even have the ¡®Sword Genius¡¯ trait. It wouldn¡¯t make sense not to pick it.¡± Verity¡¯s eyes widened and he blinked a few times. ¡°Sword genius? Makes sense...¡± He was in awe at her decisiveness, and he had to admit that she was right. After what she had shown, she would have been a fool not to pick the swordsman class, and it also confirmed that they did not all have the same options. He then looked to Marco to ask him, but remembered that he had been slammed into the ground. He was still breathing, but was unconscious. ¡®Should i try to wake him up¡­?¡¯ The imp¡¯s voice resonated once more. ¡°Ah, I almost forgot.¡± The imp snapped its fingers again, and Verity felt a foreign energy enter his body. His wounds healed, his fatigue dissipated, and he felt more energized than he ever had before. Filled with the same energy, Marco promptly woke up. ¡°I don¡¯t like repeating myself, so for those who have just awoken. Choose a class, but be careful to pick the right one because there are no do-overs. I¡¯ll be back in thirty minutes.¡± The imp said before disappearing. Marco¡¯s confusion was clear when he stood up. His body was in perfect condition, but he was disoriented and his memory was hazy. Because of that, he had not even been able to pay attention to the imp¡¯s words. ¡°Did we beat the orcs!?¡± he asked, agitated. Their bodies now healed, both Verity and Felicia stood up as well. ¡°What a neat trick! I feel even better than before!¡± Felicia said with excitement, swinging the hilt of her broken sword around. Verity looked at his body, where wounds had stood before. ¡°What can¡¯t it do? I feel amazing..¡± He said. Marco felt that he was being ignored. ¡°G-guys? Did we win?¡± Felicia jumped when she heard him this time. She had completely forgotten about him. ¡°Ah! Sorry! Yes, we did!¡± Marco let out a sigh of relief. ¡°Good, good. Now, what¡¯s this class thing the monster talked about?¡± He asked. Verity was the one to answer this time. ¡°In front of you, there should be a few windows with classes. You¡¯re supposed to pick one that will be with you forever.¡± Marco looked in front of him where he saw two windows opened. ¡°A class huh? So it really is like a game¡­ What are you guys picking?¡± Verity shrugged. ¡°Well, Felicia picked the swordsman class, and as for me, I¡¯m still not sure¡­.¡± Marco stroked his chin and started seriously considering the class he should take as well. ¡°Hmm..¡± Now that his comrade was up to speed, Verity could focus on making a choice. The classes before him both seemed good in their own right, but he simply could not make up his mind. This was a choice that he could not go back on, after all. Reading the descriptions of the two classes over and over, he really wished he had discovered an unparalleled talent for something like Felicia had, then his choice might have been easier. ¡®What a dilemma...¡¯ Just as he thought that, Verity heard a voice in his mind. [Your sponsor wants to suggest a class.] ¡®...?¡¯ He had completely forgotten there was such a thing, and just now remembered that he had never bothered to check the sponsor window ever since the start of the trial. Now that his sponsor was speaking to him, he thought it would be the perfect time to do so. Perhaps it would help him assess the credibility of her suggestion. So, he focused on opening the sponsor window, and it appeared separately from the windows displaying the classes.
Sponsor: [-Error-] Description : A being who [-Error-] who does not wish to identify herself has taken an interest in you and declared herself your sponsor, disregarding administrative norms. She is [-Error-] She is [-Error-] She is intently watching you. Sponsorship Perks : [-Error-]
¡®That¡¯s¡­ weird, and it¡¯s not helpful at all¡­¡¯ If he had seen it when he was first summoned here, Verity might have jumped with joy, thinking that he was special. Now, however, though his wounds had been healed and his fatigue had been lifted, his mind was simply too tired for that. He was simply disappointed that he could not know more about his sponsor. ¡®So¡­ What¡¯s the suggestion, miss sponsor?¡¯ He thought. [Your sponsor has gifted you a class.] ¡®She can do that!?¡¯ Verit was shocked, but even more than that, his expectations were now very high. His eyes widened, and a surge of excitement flowed through him. If there was a time to jump for joy, it would have been at that very moment. He could only imagine what a class gifted to him by this mysterious being could be. Was she going to give him something unique, and completely overpowered? Despite his tired mind, Verity¡¯s heart raced in anticipation. Then, a new window detailing a class materialized itself before Verity. His eyes immediately darted to it and he intently read its description. Fool : You lack wit, strength, and charisma, but you aren¡¯t without qualities. Where others see failure, a mysterious being sees promise. The Fool is a combatant who¡¯s persistence is their greatest, and perhaps their only redeeming quality. They may be mocked, ridiculed, and tossed aside, but in battle, they are the first to rise and the last to fall. They prove to all that even a fool can turn the tide of fate. Preferred stats : Stamina, Agility, Strength. ¡®...This description totally just insulted me, didn¡¯t it.¡¯ This was a far cry from what Verity expected. [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] ¡®Right¡­ but the name and the description¡­ I mean¡­¡¯ Despite the recommendation from the mysterious being, Verity couldn¡¯t be sure that he wanted to pick the ¡®Fool¡¯ class. Sure, the concept of being given a class by a ¡®mysterious being¡¯ was incredibly cool, but still¡­ The Fool? What kind of class was that? [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] ¡®Yes, yes, I heard you the first time.¡¯ Despite his sponsor¡¯s recommendation. Verity felt that the strategist class was the best option. He was not confident in being a proper frontline combatant, and though he wasn¡¯t one to tooth his own horn, his analytical skills were above average. So, the strat- [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] ¡­So, the strategist class was the best option for him. He would be able to support from the rear and- [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] And- [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] ¡­ [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] ¡®Alright, alright!! I get it!!!!¡¯ The words of the system in his mind were incessant. It seemed Verity was not being given a choice. But still¡­ he was hesitating. Who was to say that this sponsor of his had his best interest in mind? If she really wanted him to pick that class, shouldn¡¯t she have given it a better name? [Your sponsor is strongly recommending that you pick the class she has gifted you.] She was not giving up, which only made the choice harder for Verity. Since it was clear that his sponsor could hear his thoughts, Verity decided to ask a question ¡®...How can I trust you?¡¯ [Your sponsor smirks and says ¡®...What do you want?¡¯.] Verity¡¯s eyes widened. He had not expected her to actually answer. He stroked his chin thinking of what to say. He did not know how powerful she was and where the extent of her power stopped. So, he asked for something simple, and incredibly difficult at the same time. ¡®...A show of good faith?¡¯ The ball was now in her court. What Verity meant was left entirely up to his sponsor¡¯s interpretation and he would be the judge of whether it was a show of good faith or not. Now, what would she do? [Your sponsor smirks and sends you a gift.] [A mystery box has been placed in your inventory.] Verity raised an eyebrow and immediately tried to open it. [Mystery boxes cannot be opened during class advancement.] Verity clicked his tongue. His sponsor was not going to let him take the reward without fulfilling his end of the deal. The ball was now in his court. He did not doubt that his sponsor could take the mystery box away should he decide not to pick the Fool class. With his options now clear, his foot furiously tapped the ground beneath it and his mind raced. Strategist or Fool? The safe option or the gamble? He simply could not decide. Even with the system¡¯s voice in his mind repeatedly telling him what his sponsor wanted, he could not choose. He was on the verge of closing his eyes and picking at random when Felicia, who had been standing beside him this whole time, placed a hand on his shoulder. She wore a smile that could illuminate a room by itself. ¡°Just go with your gut!¡± She told him. When he heard those words, It was as though a fog had been cleared in Verity¡¯s mind. She was right. It was simple. If the decision was too hard to approach logically, then what other option was there? So, he decided to trust his gut. He wasn¡¯t the type of person to do such a thing usually. He liked to be absolutely certain of things before making a decision. But today, he decided to trust his gut. ¡°Ah, screw it!¡± he said, before he thought of the class he wanted to advance to. [Your class advancement was successful. You are now a Fool.] His class window immediately opened up before him.
Class : Fool Level : 1 Rarity: Unique Description : You lack wit, strength, and charisma, but you aren¡¯t without qualities. Where others see failure, a mysterious being sees promise. The Fool is a combatant who¡¯s persistence is their greatest, and perhaps their only redeeming quality. They may be mocked, ridiculed, and tossed aside, but in battle, they are the first to rise and the last to fall. They prove to all that even a fool can turn the tide of fate. Class exclusive skills. 1st Skill : [Accumulate Lv. 1] 2nd Skill : [Never again Lv. 1] 3rd Skill: [Unlocked at class level 10] 4th skill: [Unlocked at class level 25] Ultimate Skill: [Unlocked at class level 50]
Chapter 11 - Thirty minutes of respite *This is an info dump chapter* [Your sponsor is pleased.] ¡®This is¡­ a lot¡¯ Verity thought, looking at the class window. The imp was not back yet, and with his new class, there were many things that he needed to investigate before it returned. Once he had received the Fool class, similarly to a level up, Verity felt different. He was not sure if he felt stronger, or faster necessarily, but he definitely felt different, and he had to find out why. In any case, even if the imp had been back, Verity doubted he would be able to control his curiosity. Even if he understood that this was reality, and that the people around him could die at any moment, his excitement had not completely faded. This was still what he had dreamed of for many nights, after all. To enter the world of a story, or in his case, for the story to come to his world. ¡®Should I start from the beginning?¡¯ Verity thought of his status window and it opened before him.
Status Window Name: Verity Age: 22 Level: 6 Inventory : [Mystery Box x2] Alias: N/A Class: [Fool Lv. 1] Traits : Shut-in, Unemployed, Favored, Goblin Slayer Skills: [Lesson Learned Lv.3], [Why Me!? Lv. 2], [Accumulate Lv.1], [Never Again Lv.1] Sponsor: [-Error-] Stats Unallocated stats points : 14 Strength : 7 (+1) (+2) Stamina : 8 ( +1) (+8) Speed : 7 (+2) Intelligence : 13 (+3) Dexterity : 4 (+1) Arcane : 2 (+1) Agility : 5 (+1) (+2)
Verity took notice of his stats which had not been there before. ¡®I remember the system telling me about that¡­ and the inventory too now that I think about it.¡¯ His attention was then drawn to the additional stat points in parentheses. Others would have been confused, but from his experience with games and webtoons, Verity could guess where they came from. He supposed that one came from his class, while the other surely came from one of his skills. As for which one, he would find out soon enough. There wasn¡¯t much else to see here. Even if Verity focused on a specific stat, no additional window opened. He would have liked to know precisely what each one affected, but it seemed the system was going to let him figure that out on his own. ¡®Oh well.¡¯ Before moving on, Verity thought about allocating his stat points, but he ultimately decided against it. ¡®I¡¯m still not sure what exactly I need, so I won¡¯t use them right now¡­¡¯ He thought. His next endeavor was to investigate his new skills, starting with [Accumulate].
Skill : [Accumulate] Rank : A Level : 1 Rarity : Unique Type : Passive Description : All is erased, but the reality lingers, echoing through the present. Forgotten struggles are woven into you, shaping your being anew and gracing you with might.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Effect: You receive a fraction of the stat points from [-Error-].
¡®Huh huh¡­¡¯ Another cryptic description which made absolutely no sense to Verity. The only normal skill he¡¯d gotten so far was [Why Me!?] and even its name was strange. Verity understood that the skill gave him a stat bonus, but as he was unable to draw any other conclusion on the conditions for that stat bonus, he sighed and moved on. Lingering wouldn''t help, and he was just happy that it did something. He thought of his next skill, [Never Again.]
Skill : [Never Again] Rank : A Level : 1 Rarity : Unique Type : Passive Description : Fool me once? Jokes on me. Fool me twice? That won¡¯t happen. Effect: Gain resistances or immunities once a challenge has been surmounted. Immunities are absolute, but the potency of the resistance is dependent on yourx and the skill¡¯s level. Current Effects [Indomitable will] - Grants resistance to all fear and intimidation-based skills.
¡®That¡¯s much better!¡¯ Verity¡¯s eyes widened and he clenched his fist in joy. He had finally received something that he could call useful. There were conditions and caveats to the skill, but still, with time, it would only make him stronger and stronger. If he wanted, he could even engineer resistances himself by creating dangerous situations, such as eating poisonous plants to gain poison resistance, or putting his hand through fire to gain fire resistance! Yeah¡­ if he wanted. He¡¯ll decide whether that¡¯s necessary or not later on. With his spirits uplifted, Verity closed the skill window and was now ready to continue. It was still disappointing that he did not have an active skill or something that he could show off, but what could he do? He could only hope that what he would see next could fulfill his desires. Truth be told, he was itching to open the mystery boxes, but he wanted to go through everything else first before doing so. Hence, he decided to finally investigate his traits. They were less exciting than the skills and stats were, and definitely less exciting than the mystery boxes, but Verity was still curious. He focused on the first of his traits ¡®Shut-in¡¯ and waited for the window to open. He waited. ¡®Weird¡­¡¯ He tried to focus harder, perhaps the system was not registering his thoughts this time? But when it still wasn¡¯t working, he tried to put his fingers on his temples like he had seen in movies. He hoped this would increase his brain power. He waited some more and still nothing. Verity frowned, he had not expected this. He tried the same with his other traits, but it all led to similar results. All but Goblin Slayer, which startled Verity when it opened as soon as he thought of it.
Trait : Goblin Slayer Rarity : Common Type : Passive Description : You¡¯ve killed quite a few goblins. Great work! Effect: +10% damage against all goblin related species.
¡®That¡¯s the only one that¡¯ll open?¡¯ Verity could not wrap his mind around why. Something differentiated his other traits from this one, but Verity did not know what. Still, he was extremely curious, so he tried something. He asked the only person he thought might have an answer and who would not babble about his status window to others. ¡®... Do you know why, Miss Sponsor? Oh and, what should I call you by the way¡­?¡¯ [Your sponsor shrugs.] ¡®...Are you answering the first, or the second question?¡¯ [Your sponsor says you can call her ¡®The prettiest flower in existence¡¯.] Verity sighed. ¡®...I think I¡¯ll stick to Miss Sponsor, but thanks anyways¡­¡¯ [Your sponsor giggles and says ¡®Just call me Vera¡¯.] ¡®That¡¯s your name?¡¯ Verity did not miss how similar it seemed to his. Was she just saying that, or was that actually her name? [Your sponsor is feeling sleepy. She will return after a nap.] ¡®Hey! You didn¡¯t even answer my first question!!¡¯ Silence. ¡®Hey!!¡¯ She was already gone, leaving Verity alone. Even after shouting in his head a few more times, she still refused to answer. Verity did not know that god-like beings needed naps, but now he knew. He had tried to talk to her to obtain answers, but now he had more questions than he began with. He rubbed his hand across his face and sighed. If she wasn¡¯t going to help him, he had no way of understanding why he could not study his other traits. He could ask the others, but feared his case was unique. If he knew one thing, it was that humans hated those who were different, and he did not want to be the target of such hatred. Now, his only remaining option was to open his mystery boxes, and as he thought that, a smile creeped up his lips. He tried to remain stoic on the outside, but he could not hide his anticipation. It was similar to what he would feel when playing gacha games. It was all luck based, but still, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that all his hard work or hard earned money would surely be rewarded when the time came for a pull. ¡®It¡¯s got to be something cool right!?¡¯ He thought, as he opened his inventory and mentally prepared to open the mystery box. The term ¡®mystery box¡¯ sounded luck based, but the system did say that the rewards were performance dependent, and Verity believed he had performed rather well. So, if the system never lied, it would give him something good, or at least something decent. He wasn¡¯t sure how exactly to open the mystery box, but since everything was the system, appeared to rely on the thoughts of the user, he just thought that he wanted to open it. ¡®Open mystery box!¡¯ A flash of light blinded him, and when his vision returned, an item description stood before him.
Item : Final Embers Quality : Refined Description : Forged with the dying breath of its creator, this spear carries his will. It is neither his best, nor most beautiful work, but it is his most meaningful. To wield it is to carry the flame of his legacy. Effects [Burning Resolve] - The spear shall not break so long as the wielder has the will to fight. [Vow of Fire] - Once per day, summon the flames in which the spear was forged to incinerate your enemies.
Verity covered his mouth, he was shaking. ¡°Yes¡­!!!!¡± He mumbled, ensuring that no one around him could hear him. This was unbelievable. He was not proficient with the spear, but it did not matter. Not only was its quality described as ¡®Refined¡¯ which had to be good, but it had no less than two effects! One made the spear virtually indestructible, while the other allowed him to manipulate fire. This was almost too good to be true. He wanted to summon it right here and right now, but decided to wait when he really had the time to inspect it in detail. All he knew about its appearance for now was the image that appeared on the item window. It was a simple spear, but Verity found it quite nice to look at. It was long, meant to be held with two hands, with a crimson red shaft and an angular blade made of steel. At the base of the blade, there was a ribbon wrapped which floated in the wind, and unlike the rest of the spear it seemed old, and used. After taking a good look at the image, Verity dismissed the spear, and took a deep breath. Perhaps his next gift, the one from his sponsor, would be even better. ¡®Open mystery box!¡¯ This time he closed his eyes, expecting to be blinded, and when he opened them, the item was there.
Item : Vera¡¯s Ring Quality : Mythical Description : A reward from its creator for following her will. Effects: [Vera¡¯s Blessing] - Upon receiving a lethal injury, the ring will bring its wearer back from the brink of death once, after which, it will shatter.
It was a ring of a silver hue with strange engravings and a single viridescent gem embedded in it. Words could not even describe how pretty it was. Verity wanted to summon it right away and put it on his finger, but that could also wait for later. For now, he was simply ecstatic at the fact that both items he had received seemed tremendously useful, especially the ring. As long as its effect existed, Verity could not die. There was no better item than that. Paired up with his skill [Why Me!?], and [Never Again], while Verity was not necessarily strong, he was becoming harder to kill. ¡®Looks like I¡¯m off to a good start.¡¯ These would surely be invaluable in the next trial, no matter what it was. Chapter 12 - Let the Second Trial Start Verity had wanted to approach Felicia, or even Marco, when he had finished choosing a class but they were both busy with their own conversations, and he was much too shy to interrupt. He didn¡¯t really have anything else to do, so in his boredom, his gaze lingered on the other dead orcs lying on the battlefield. He was curious as to how exactly they died. On the other side of the colosseum, the lone man was sitting next to the two orcs who had chased after him. He seemed to be studying his status as well, his annoyingly handsome face staring into nothing. As for the orcs, both of them had been beheaded, with little to no effort at that. In fact, it looked like the man had a harder time dealing with the goblins than with the orcs. Verity could only sigh looking at him. He really did seem like the perfect protagonist. ¡®Ugh, I should have been isekai¡¯d into a handsome dude¡¯s body instead...¡¯ Verity pushed the thoughts away and searched for the last orc, the one who had fought his side, but when his eyes finally landed on it, he blinked a few times. He was quite far away, but he could see well enough what had happened to it. Clearly, this one¡¯s death had been much messier than the other orcs. Its flesh was torn open in multiple locations, its eyes were gouged out, and even its large axe had been shattered to pieces. There were many rusted swords stuck in its body, the most daunting one being a short goblin sword stabbed through the opening in its mouth. The contortion of its face showed that it must have died in incredible pain. Verity had to look away. The sight was truly gruesome. If it hadn¡¯t massacred so many of them, he might have even felt bad for that orc. ¡®Scary..¡¯ When thirty minutes had finally passed, the imp returned. ¡°I hope you¡¯ve all had the chance to pick something good, because you¡¯ll need it!¡± It then snapped its fingers, and a window appeared in front of Verity, as did one in front of all the challengers.
Second trial Stage : Tutorial Objective : Learn Reward : Performance Dependent Failure Penalty : N/A
¡®Wow¡­ Can these get any more vague?¡¯ Many raised an eyebrow, or looked back at the imp in confusion. This trial window was not telling them anything. What was that objective? What was ¡®Learn¡¯ even supposed to mean? Verity scratched the back of his neck. He wanted to ask the imp for clarification but he knew better than to try to speak to it. He already knew that it had an extremely short temper. So, all he could do was wait for it to explain further. It might not have liked to interact with humans, but it did seem to enjoy the sound of its own voice. ¡°Have you all taken a good look?¡± The imp sneered. ¡°Simple, right? All you need to do is learn, and there is no penalty for failing! Any questions?¡± A silence filled the colosseum. No one dared to speak up, no one but the lone man standing on the other side, who raised his hand. The imp¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Oh? I haven¡¯t had a question in eons! Please, go ahead!¡± The man stood up, his cloak floating in the wind, and for the first time, Verity heard his voice. ¡°What.. exactly do you intend for us to learn?¡± he said with an impassive tone. The imp seemed overjoyed with the question, as if it wanted nothing more than to answer it. ¡°Great question!!¡± Its wings were falling around wildly. ¡°You see, all of you are weak, very weak. If I were to send you to the last trial of the tutorial right now, you would all perish without a doubt. So, what I intend for you to learn is how to be strong, and you¡¯ll understand how soon enough!¡± The man seemed satisfied with the answer, or he simply did not care for it. Verity could not tell as the expression on his face had barely changed. Verity, however, certainly was not satisfied. ¡®What the hell does that even mean¡­?¡¯ ¡°Any more questions?¡± The imp asked, satisfied with its answer. The man¡¯s bravery seemed to have inspired courage into the other participants, as many more hands were now raised. There were many with questions that needed answers such as; When can we go home? What is this place? What are you?This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. But the imp had no intention to answer such questions. It clasped its hands together and its smile grew even wider. ¡°Great! Since there are no more questions, let¡¯s get started, shall we?¡± It snapped its fingers, and before anyone could react, say their goodbyes, or even prepare, their world turned to black, their consciousness fading. When Verity woke up, he found himself in a completely different setting from the blood filled colosseum he had been in moments ago. His mind was hazy, and he felt slightly nauseous, but that was of no concern to him at that very moment. ¡®Where¡­ am I?¡¯ Verity thought, as he looked around him. He was standing on a dirt road surrounded by grass plains for as far as the eye could see. The air smelled fresh, much different from that of the metropolis he used to live in, and a soft breeze was caressing his skin. The sun was high in the sky, accompanied by¡­. Another sun? ¡®...What?¡¯ Indeed, there were two suns in the sky, or should he simply call them stars in this case? The sky was still blue, and clouds were covering it, but no matter how many times Verity rubbed his eyes, there were still two suns above him. ¡®Was I transported to another planet?¡¯ That was only a speculation as he could simply be hallucinating, but he remembered that the second trial was supposed to have started, so he called upon the trial window once more. Against what he hoped, nothing about it changed. The objective was still simply to learn, and it told him nothing about how to do that or how much he needed to learn. Verity sighed. He could walk on the road until he found something, or someone, but there were no signs of human life in his field of view, and he would not know which way to go. So, he thought that since there was no one around him, he might as well summon the items he was rewarded with during the trial. The first one he summoned was Vera¡¯s ring, which was just as pretty in reality as it had been in the image. For some strange reason, it only fit on his ring finger, and Verity felt awkward at the idea of putting it on that finger. He wasn¡¯t married, after all, and he did not want others to misunderstand. He hesitated for a moment, but who was he kidding? It¡¯s not like he had a girlfriend or even a love interest who¡¯d be mad at him for wearing the ring, and the effect was too good to not put it on for such a stupid reason. ¡®I guess it¡¯s at times like these that I¡¯m happy to be single¡­¡¯ The next item he summoned was the spear, Final Embers. It was around one and half times his height, and although it was definitely heavier than the short goblin sword, Verity could lift it with ease. He swung it around a few times, and did think about activating its effect, but decided that he did not want to be the cause of a forest fire. He could try it on an enemy if he ran into one eventually. ¡®Or would it be a grass fire?¡¯ Grasping the spear in his hands, Verity felt like a child with a new toy. He tried all sorts of stances he had seen in web novels and webtoons with the spear, and even shouted the names of a few finishing moves. He imagined himself creating his own battle style, and tearing through enemies on a battlefield. Here, alone, and with no one to judge him or to call him cringe, the scenarios in his mind ran rampant. He let loose for an hour or so, until he noticed that the two suns¡¯ position in the sky had lowered slightly. There was still a childish smile curling Verity¡¯s lips, but he wiped the sweat off of his forehead, and with the planted the spear in the ground, realized that it was high time he decided where to go. He looked in front of him, then behind him, and finally on both sides of the grass plain. ¡®Well, walking on this road until I find something is just as good as any other idea.¡¯ Verity couldn¡¯t read the stars on earth, so he wouldn¡¯t even think of trying it here, if this really wasn¡¯t earth. Plus, he had never gone camping, which made sleeping under the stars an absolute no. So, his best bet was to keep walking on the dirt road until he found a hotel or something similar. He was preparing to dismiss the spear, when he heard a voice from afar, calling out to him. ¡°Hey! You!!¡± After the voice, he heard the sound of hooves smashing into the ground, and the wheels of a carriage rolling toward him. When he looked toward the noise, he saw an older man with grey hair and an unsavory mustache signal toward him. Verity wasn¡¯t really sure what to do here, so he just¡­ waved back. This didn¡¯t seem to amuse the older man. As he neared Verity¡¯s position, the carriage driver pulled on the reins of his horses, and brought the carriage to a stop. ¡°Hey! Are you trying to get run over??¡± The older man yelled. Verity looked around him. ¡®Can¡¯t he just go around¡­?¡¯ Before he could answer, a woman, even younger than Verity, perhaps a girl in this case, opened the carriage door and stepped out. She was wearing a beautiful, old-fashioned beige dress, and her blond hair was tied behind her head. ¡°What¡¯s the matter Mister, why have we stopped?¡± The older man rubbed his palms together and gave her an awkward smile. ¡°I-It¡¯s nothing Lady Eleanor! Please, get back inside the carriage!¡± Then, two other people stepped out of the carriage. ¡°Is it bandits?¡± The first asked. She was a darker skinned woman wearing what could only be described as light fantasy armor. Small silver shoulder pads, silver arm guards, a leather vest on top of a white shirt, and leather shorts. Her hair was of a soft pink and wrapped around her thigh were two sets of daggers resting in their holsters. Her expression, accentuated by her vertical pupils, seemed very uninviting to Verity, and although her figure was striking, what attracted Verity¡¯s attention the most was the accessory atop her head. She wore cat ears, and as he looked at her intently, Verity noticed a tail behind her. ¡®Cosplay?¡¯ The second to come out of the carriage was very different, and he was a man. His hair was of a crimson red, and he did not possess ears or a tail. Instead of daggers, he had a sheathed longsword resting at his side. He wore a long brown coat with all sorts of adornments, among which was a skull serving as a shoulder guard, and unlike the woman, a pleasing smile was covering his lips. Both of them seemed nothing like the people he was used to seeing in everyday life. If anything, they looked more like¡­ Verity must have been staring. Before he could finish his analysis, the woman clicked her tongue, approached him, and grabbed his collar. ¡°Whatcha starin¡¯ at, punk?¡± She said, her tail standing on end. Verity finally understood something he should have realized a while ago. ¡®A carriage, cat-people, two suns, swords¡­¡¯ It was all so clear. ¡°I¡¯VE BEEN ISEKAI¡¯D!??¡± He shouted. Chapter 13 - A Carriage Ride (1) Verity had shouted so loud, surely the people in the next city could have heard him. At the sound of his voice, the woman with the cat ears pushed Verity away, a disgusted expression on her face. ¡°Ise-what?...Are you a crazy person?¡± She wanted nothing more than to get back inside the carriage and leave this strange man behind. ¡®Ah shoot, I totally said that out loud¡­¡¯ Verity thought, embarrassed. The man with the long cloak then approached Verity, much more politely than his partner did. He offered Verity a polite bow and extended a hand covered by a black glove. ¡°...Perhaps we should introduce ourselves first.¡± He wore a soft, gentle smile. ¡°I go by Ash, and the beast woman next to me likes to call herself ¡®Midnight¡¯. May I ask who you are?¡± ¡®Ash and Midnight¡­ So cool!!¡¯ Verity squeezed Ash¡¯s hand, an awkward smile on his face. ¡°M-my name is Verity. Nice to meet you!¡± Ash retracted his hand, and although Verity missed it, he briefly glanced at Midnight, prompting her to reach for something behind her back. ¡°If I may be so bold as to ask. What exactly are you doing out here all by yourself?¡± Of course, Verity couldn¡¯t say that he had been transported here by a demon as part of the tutorial, so he lied. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ lost?¡± He told Ash. Before Ash could reply, the beast woman interrupted. ¡°I¡¯m telling ya! This guy¡¯s crazy! Let¡¯s just leave him here and move on!¡± But Ash ignored her. ¡°Where were you going? Perhaps I can guide you in the correct direction.¡± He said, the soft smile never leaving his lips. ¡®Ugh, this guy is asking all the hard questions¡­¡¯ Verity knew nothing about this world, so he had to come up with a believable lie. He thought for a second, stroking his chin, but there was only one thing that came to mind. He had seen the trope many times, and didn¡¯t see why it would not work in his situation. He scratched the back of his neck and let out a dry laugh. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not sure actually. I can¡¯t remember much¡­I was just here when I woke up¡­¡± He was feeding them a bold-faced lie, and could only hope that they would believe him. He¡¯d expected the woman, Midnight, to doubt him, or for Ash to question him further, but their expressions suddenly changed. Replacing their previous countenance, what showed on their face was closer to concern than anything else, indignation, even. Midnight sighed, and shook her head as her gaze dropped to the ground. ¡°Another one¡­?¡± Ash frowned, and looked Verity up and down. ¡°Yeah¡­ the confusion, and the memory loss... It checks out.¡± Even the carriage driver rubbed his hand over his face. ¡°How many times does this make¡­¡± What the hell were they talking about? Has this happened to them before? ¡°Excuse me, but are there others like me?¡± Verity asked. They all seem pained at the question, so much so that Verity almost regretted asking. ¡°You¡¯ve surely forgotten this as well but it¡¯s¡­ the demon king¡¯s curse.¡± Ash said. Midnight clenched her fist and continued. ¡°Makes people forget who they were¡­ Oblivion they call it¡­¡± She looked away as she placed a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Sorry for being rude earlier, I didn¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡®What kind of twist is this¡­?¡¯ Now it was the young girl¡¯s turn to speak. She had a soothing voice which seemed to have been trained since birth. The way you¡¯d have expected a noble woman of older times to speak. ¡°Please, traveler, ride with us to the next city. We¡¯ll take you to the Holy Temple of Terras. They¡¯ll take care of you.¡± ¡®That easy?¡¯ Verity was taken aback. This encounter had surprisingly gone much better than he had expected. Not only were they bound to be nice since they seemed to pity him, but they were going to let him ride along for free and enter the next city with them. ¡®I guess I am lucky after all.¡¯ Verity cusped his fist in his palm and bowed. He had seen it in a martial arts webtoon before and thought it would be appropriate here. ¡°Thank you for allowing me to come with you.¡± When they opened the carriage door for him, he grabbed his spear which had been planted in the ground, and entered with it. He sat next to the young lady on one side, while both Ash and Midnight sat on the other side of the carriage. He had not noticed it before, but now that he had a closer look, the carriage they were riding on was quite luxurious. The seats were especially comfortable, made of a white fabric, and the whole interior was adorned with gold flowing in intricate patterns along the wooden walls. Even the air inside the carriage was different. A faint smell of roses filled Verity¡¯s nostrils and calmed his mind. Verity glanced at the girl beside him. ¡®Is she really a noble?¡¯ ¡°So, seeing as to how you¡¯re carrying a spear, you must have been a spearman?¡± The young lady said. Her eyes were gleaming as she eyed Verity¡¯s spear. ¡°Ah, but feel free not to reply if you do not remember. It¡¯s just that¡­ Oblivion affects individuals at different degrees¡­ and I¡¯ve always been fascinated with adventurers.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. ¡°Haha¡­ sorry Miss¡­¡± Verity did not know her name. ¡°Eleanor!¡± She replied excitedly. ¡®Ah, right. The carriage driver did mention it at the beginning.¡¯ Verity coughed. ¡°Sorry Miss Eleanor, but I don¡¯t think I was. Though, I believe I wanted to learn it at one point.¡± ¡°Ah, if it¡¯s that, then I can introduce you to a spearman ship school. There is a fee to enter, but it¡¯s rather cheap, and if you just mention me, you¡¯ll get a discount.¡± Ash said, also eyeing Verity¡¯s spear. Midnight sighed. ¡°Then I guess you don¡¯t have a class. Maybe you were on the path to getting one?¡± This immediately drew Verity¡¯s attention. ¡°A class?¡± he said with genuine confusion. A silence filled the carriage. ¡°...Is it that severe?¡± Midnight mumbled, a tinge of pity in her voice. ¡°Do you know of Terra¡¯s Touch?¡± Ash asked him, as if he was talking to a child, but the lack of recognition in Verity¡¯s face told him all he needed to know, so he proceeded to explain it. He sighed. ¡°...Terra¡¯s touch is what grants humans, demi-humans, and monsters, skills, levels, and classes. It¡¯s what allows us to surpass the limits of our bodies. It¡¯s¡­ everything!¡± He told Verity ¡®Oh! He¡¯s talking about the system!¡¯ Despite knowing what they were referring to, Verity ultimately told them that he had no idea what they were talking about, for fear of differences between his and their system. This increased the worry on their faces, and they became even more gentle toward Verity, almost treating him like a psych ward patient. This did make him uncomfortable, but if ¡®I forgot¡¯ was a sufficient answer for any question they asked him, Verity could not complain. Apparently, Ash used to be an instructor of his town¡¯s adventurer academy, but recently quit because he was inspired to get back into the adventuring lifestyle. Because of this, Verity was also able to extract much more information from Ash as he was eager to tell him. The system was frustratingly vague, but Ash seemed more than happy to fill in the gaps. They started by telling him the basics. The place he was in was called the Terras Kingdom, where its citizens worshipped the goddess of the earth, Terras. They believed that she was the source of their ability to use skills and the like. Ash spoke of neighboring nations, the culture, and even their favorite foods. It was all very interesting, but that was not what Verity was most curious about. By adeptly probing, he was able to steer the conversation in the direction of classes. Ash leaned against the cushioned seats of the carriage, gesturing with his hands as he explained. ¡°Take the spearman class, for example. It¡¯s a basic combat class that most people who wield spears obtain at level five. Its first and second skills are ''Spear affinity¡¯ and ¡®Spear body enhancement.¡¯¡± He glanced at Verity¡¯s spear. ¡°They¡¯re skills that only those of the spearman class can obtain, just as ¡®mana sense¡¯ is reserved for the mage class. We call those class-exclusive skills. No matter how hard they try, a swordsman will never learn ¡®spear affinity¡¯. It¡¯s locked to the class¡± Verity nodded, attentively listening to Ash. He would probably never get such a clear explanation again. ¡°Those skills allow a spearman to have a considerably greater understanding and prowess with the spear than a non-spearman.¡± Ash continued. ¡°Of course, even with the class, there are still levels of talent, wit and physical stats, which is why we rank adventurers.¡± ¡®So it¡¯s not all about skills¡­¡¯ Ash was about to continue, when Verity asked a question. ¡°What if someone who was not of the spearman class wanted to learn the spear?¡± Ash smiled, as if he had heard that question many times. ¡°That¡¯s a good question. It¡¯s possible, and may even have its advantages at times. Take a priest, for example. If they train hard enough with the spear, their class may advance to paladin! That said, while it has happened, it is rare. Most paladins started as paladins when they reached level five.¡± Midnight scoffed. ¡°Basically, you should forget about it.¡± She cut in bluntly. ¡°It¡¯s not because you aren¡¯t a spearman that you can¡¯t learn spear aura or something like it, but since it¡¯s a class exclusive skill you¡¯ll never get the real deal.¡± She gestured sharply with her hand. ¡°Meaning that your aura will suck in comparison to a real spearman who has the skill.¡± Verity frowned. He honestly doubted that his class would evolve, as it did not seem to fit into what a ¡®typical class¡¯ should be. This meant that if he wanted to learn how to fight, he needed to accept that he would never be as good with the spear as a real spearman. This stung a little, but he was glad to understand where he stood. Ash raised a hand, his expression thoughtful ¡°Well, that¡¯s true¡­ but there are other variables.¡± He said, not fully agreeing with Midnight. Verity sat up, curiosity reignited. ¡°What kind of variables?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say, two fighters learn the same style, have the same weapon, and the same skills, then of course the one with the class will win.¡± His gaze turned pensive. ¡°...But what if one had a Masterwork weapon, while the other¡¯s was Crude? What if one had a considerably better style? What if one was smarter? What if one had so much more talent that it even surpassed the ¡®spear affinity¡¯ skill?¡± Midnight groaned, throwing her head back. ¡°Is it about her again?! The Heavenly Sword?¡± Ash shrugged, a faint smile on his lips. ¡°What can I say? She¡¯s a Druid, of all things, who achieved the Ultimate Skill of the swordsman class without the help of Terra¡¯s Touch. She¡¯s said to be on par with the Spear of Hell, even. I admire her deeply.¡± ¡®The Spear of Hell and the Heavenly sword¡­ That¡¯s almost poetic.¡¯ Midnight crossed her arms with a dramatic sigh. ¡°She¡¯s the exception of exceptions. We don¡¯t know if this guy was, or is a spearman, but don¡¯t get his hopes up.¡± Despite what she said, Verity was getting his hopes up. Though he couldn¡¯t say that he regretted picking the Fool class, he had always dreamed of wielding a weapon and standing on the frontlines. Now, he just had to hope that he was talented. With those last words from Midnight, he noticed the young girl standing next to him, was silently listening to the conversation. Her eyes were full of wonder, and Verity could infer why. If she was truly a noble, then she must have been sheltered her whole life, held far away from adventurers, and even farther away from danger. He wasn¡¯t sure whether that was a bad thing, but he did feel a tightness in his chest when he saw how excited the conversation made her. Before he could ask more questions, partly to entertain the little girl, however, the carriage came to a sudden stop. Midnight sighed. ¡°Ugh, what is it this time?¡± ¡°Please¡­ come out.¡± The carriage driver whispered from the front. Ash grabbed his sword, and both him and Midnight exited, closely followed by Verity who was holding onto his spear. Surprisingly, no one stopped Verity from exiting the carriage, but he was instructed to stay back by Midnight. ¡°I have a bad feeling about this. Please stay inside this time, young lady.¡± Ash muttered to Eleanor. She promptly nodded and watched as the three of them left. A rough looking middle aged man with a round belly and a greasy beard greeted them when they exited the carriage. Verity realized that they had left the grassy plains and that they were now crossing a dense forest, though the dirt road was still clearly visible. The man was accompanied by others resembling him in their hygiene. At least ten or so of them. ¡®These are really bandits¡­!!¡¯ Verity thought, his heart beating with a mix of fear and excitement The large one at the center brandished his rusted blade and spoke to the group. ¡°Ah travelers!¡± He said with a wide smile that revealed a row of yellowed teeth. ¡±Welcome to the Green Forest, but¡­ It¡¯s a dangerous place, you know? Luckily we offer safe passage¡­ for a price!¡± Chapter 14 - A Carriage Ride (2) Verity gripped his spear tighter. There were many of them, and truth be told, they did look scary. Not as scary as the orcs, of course, but his hands were still trembling. As it shivered under the pressure, he felt a soft hand land on his shoulder. ¡°Relax. We¡¯ve prepared for this.¡± Midnight told him, a reassuring tone in her voice. This didn¡¯t really calm his nerves but it did allow him to take a deep breath, and it at least slowed down his racing heart. Ash took a few steps forward, and the gentle smile he had showed Verity was now directed toward the bandits. ¡°Of course, of course. We wouldn¡¯t dare cross through here without your permission.¡± From one of the pockets inside of his coat, Ash pulled out a pouch, in which Verity could only assume rested a sum of money. ¡®Are we not going to fight¡­?¡¯ ¡°This should be enough, right Bagua?¡± Ash told the leader, who¡¯s name Verity now knew to be Bagua. ¡®Weird name.¡¯ He thought. Bagua looked inside the pouch with a greedy gleam in his eyes. He pulled out a few golden coins, placed them against the sunlight, bit them, and even tried to break them with his fingers. When he was satisfied, he tossed the pouch to one of his goons, and his smile grew wider. ¡°You see, my good friend Ash. Times have been hard lately.¡± He patted his round belly, which jiggled slightly under his brown tunic. ¡°Look at me! Do you see how much weight I¡¯ve been forced to lose? I¡¯m practically starving here!¡± Starving, was not the word Verity would have used to describe the man. Quite the opposite in fact. ¡®You could have at least tried to come up with a better lie¡­ Understanding what Bagua was getting at, Ash¡¯s hand slowly slipped toward the hilt of his sword. ¡°This was the agreed upon sum, Bagua. I¡¯m being civil but¡­ don¡¯t push your luck.¡± Bagua erupted into laughter. ¡°BAHAHAHAH!¡± Before he drew his own blade. ¡°The Flame Sword himself is threatening me! Boys, we¡¯ve made it big!¡± His underlings cheered for him. ¡°Our boss doesn¡¯t care who you are!!¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s a blademaster now!! He ain¡¯t scared of no one!!¡± This only widened the grin on Bagua¡¯s face, who pressed the tip of his blade against Ash¡¯s neck. ¡°Listen, Flame Sword. Considering our history, I¡¯ll only ask for half a pouch more hmmm? How¡¯s that sound?¡± He said, his face much too close to Ash¡¯s. Midnight clicked her tongue beside Verity. She drew both of her daggers, and crouched slightly, ready to strike. ¡°I guess we gotta earn our pay at one point.¡± Before she could use a skill, or perform an attack, however, Bagua raised his hand. ¡°Since you won¡¯t comply¡­ lit them up boys.¡± Midnight reacted lightning-fast. ¡°You worthless pigs!!¡± Verity heard leaves from everywhere around them rustle, and he did not have time to move before he felt a stinging pain at the base of his neck. ¡°What the¡­¡± Before he could do anything, his body went limp, and it slumped to the ground. [You are under the effect of a life-threatening neurotoxin.] [You have failed to resist the effect of the neurotoxin.] ¡®A-a neurotoxin¡­!?¡¯ Verity felt as though he was under deep anesthesia and his body refused to listen to him. He could still see and hear, but he could not feel anything. Whether it was the dirt under him, the warm sun touching his skin, or the bugs which had begun crawling on him, he felt nothing. Midnight had managed to defend against more than a few of the darts aimed at her by adeptly swinging her daggers but she eventually made a mistake, and her fate wound up similar to Verity¡¯s. The poison was now spreading through both of their veins, and they were rendered powerless in mere instants. ¡°These damn bandits and their cheap tricks!!¡± She spat, her voice venomous and her eyes defiant. The only ones who were spared were Eleanor, who was still inside the carriage, and the carriage driver himself, for some strange reason. ¡°Bagua!! You¡¯ve crossed a line!!¡± Ash¡¯s voice thundered, his anger palpable. He had not been shot, most likely due to his proximity to Bagua himself. Bagua sneered. ¡°My offer is still on the table, you know? Half a pouch more and you can go on about your day.¡± He then glanced at Verity and Midnight. ¡°Ah, but then I suppose you would need the antidote, wouldn¡¯t you? That would have to be another half a pouch.¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Ash grit his teeth and clenched his fist. He evidently wanted to slice through Bagua right then and there, but he never unsheathed his sword. He glanced at the carriage, then at Midnight and Verity, and he seemed to understand that Bagua had left him with no choice. His title of Flame Sword was not underserved, but even Ash could not defeat dozens of bandits, especially if Bagua was truly a blademaster as he had said. Regretfully, he reached into another pocket, and pulled out an additional pouch of money. ¡°Give me the antidote first.¡± Ash told Bagua, a contorted expression of anger on his face. Bagua laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I hold the cards here. Give the pouch first, then we¡¯ll negotiate.¡± It was then that the atmosphere suddenly changed. Verity felt that it was suddenly getting hotter, and he could immediately identify the reason. The air around Ash was getting denser, more dangerous, and raw power was emanating from him. His fist clenched around the pouch, nearly crushing the coins inside. ¡°Bagua¡­¡± He said, his voice low and somber. ¡°I¡¯ve been more than lenient with you. Give me the antidote and let us go, or I''ll make sure that at least, you do not live to see the next rise of the two suns.¡± Standing so close to the heat emanating from Ash, it seemed Bagua had finally lost a bit of the bravado he had been showing. A droplet of cold sweat ran down his face, and he clicked his tongue. ¡°...So serious. Can¡¯t even joke around anymore.¡± he signaled to one of the other men, who brought a small brown bag sealed shut with a rope. The exchange was swift. Ash gave him the pouch, and Bagua handed the antidote over. ¡°Always a pleasure doing business with you, Flame Sword!¡± Bagua said, before whistling and ordering his entire group to leave. Just like that, the bushes rustled once more, and any traces of the bandits had disappeared. All that was left was a terrified carriage driver, a furious Ash, as well as a paralyzed Verity and Midnight. Eleanor had stayed inside the carriage as instructed. Ash made sure to reiterate the warning. ¡°Do not come out until I tell you to, young lady.¡± [Warning. Death is imminent.] ¡®Thank, system!! Very helpful!¡¯ Verity thought, scorning the voice in his head. Thankfully, it wasn''t a painful type of poison. It just made him numb, and Ash had gotten the antidote from the bandits. Speaking of him, he was now leaning next to Midnight, feeding her a flask full of a purple-ish liquid that he had gotten from the pouch Bagua gave him. When he was finished with her, he immediately moved on to Verity, and fed him the rest of the flask. The effect was almost instantaneous. He felt various sensations returning to him. The prickly feeling of the pebbles and branches on the ground, the warm tropical-like breeze of the forest, and even the cold steel of his spear. [You have survived the threat of a lethal poison.] [The skill Never Again is being activated.] [You have gained a new sub-skill, Minor Poison Tolerance.] ¡®Ohhh!!¡¯ The fear from the entire ordeal almost completely vanished when he heard the system¡¯s voice. Verity did have his suspicions on how he could utilize the skill, but this gave him solid evidence. Unlike what he had thought, he wouldn¡¯t simply be able to place his hand in fire to gain a fire tolerance skill. It seemed that he needed to, at minimum, be in a life threatening situation. Of course, two cases couldn¡¯t count as solid proof for that theory, but the system always chose its words well. It specifically mentioned that he had survived the threat of a lethal poison, which may have meant that a non-lethal poison would not have activated Never Again. Either way, this trial gave him the opportunity to test it out, and hopefully, gather a library of resistances. A smile creeped up his lips. The excitement of novelty and a goal to pursue was growing within him. Something he hadn¡¯t felt in months. Something he craved, but that his old job could not provide him with after only a year and a half. ¡®I¡¯ll need to experiment more¡­!!¡¯ He thought, his heart racing. Pulling him out of his thoughts, Midnight was the first to rise to her feet and voice her indignation. ¡°We have to report this to the guild!! They¡¯ve gone too far!!¡± She yelled as she clenched her fist. ¡°Agreed¡­ Maybe even the knights. Their numbers have grown far beyond my expectations¡­¡± Ash replied in a low voice, before returning to the carriage. ¡°For now, however, let¡¯s finish the escort mission.¡± He said as he looked at the two of them, prompting them to get back inside the vehicle.. That¡­ somehow felt off to Verity. ¡°You want to just keep going?¡± He blurted out before even realizing he had spoken out. But despite his surprise at his own words, he doubled down. ¡°W-what if they just come back later on and ask for more money? Or what if they¡¯re no longer interested in money at that point?¡± He asked. Verity had felt like a free-loader until now, and did intend to leave all the decisions to the two experienced adventurers until they got to the city, but this just didn¡¯t make sense to him. Midnight crossed her arms. ¡°I gotta agree with the kid here. If they¡¯re acting like this, I think we should turn back¡­Or at least go around the forest.¡± It was almost imperceptible, but Verity could swear Ash clicked his tongue. Still, a soothing smile decorated his lips. ¡°I understand how you both feel, but we¡¯ve already given them the money, haven¡¯t we? They¡¯ve already agreed to let us through, and turning back now would take longer than reaching the next city.¡± Verity wasn¡¯t going to let this one go. He couldn¡¯t explain, but he just had a bad feeling. Perhaps it was the foreign environment, the imminent night fall, or being here with these strangers, but Verity could not help but feel that he shouldn¡¯t cross that forest, at least not that day. ¡°You¡¯re trusting them to make good on their word? After they essentially robbed us, attacked us, and humiliated us?¡± Verity asked. He thought Ash couldn¡¯t possibly be that naive. Verity certainly wasn¡¯t. He knew this type from the novels he read. You couldn¡¯t trust them to tell you the color of their eyes. It also seemed that Midnight agreed with him, though she remained silent and only stared at Ash. Noticing the unease of his companions, Ash made a proposition. ¡°Listen, how about this.¡± He removed his sword from his waist and dropped it on the ground. ¡°No matter how our opinions differ. I think we can all agree that going anywhere right now would be dangerous, seeing as to how night is quickly falling. Why don¡¯t we find somewhere hidden to camp and discuss this in the morning? Even the bandits have better things to do than to scour the entire forest for us.¡± Midnight¡¯s tail moved slightly, though Verity could not interpret what that meant. ¡°Hmm¡­ The terrain is flat.. And the carriage could come along¡­That¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± She went ahead of everyone. ¡°I know of a small clearing near a river close to here. They won¡¯t find us there. Follow me.¡± This was certainly better than staying on the track where it was impossible to remain hidden, but it rubbed Verity the wrong way regardless. Still, what they said made sense, and he couldn¡¯t argue against it. Hiding and waiting out the night was better than backtracking if the threat of more bandits really was the problem. Plus, now that Midnight agreed with Ash, he couldn¡¯t really oppose the decision this time, lest he wanted to be kicked out of the group and have to fend for himself. Verity bit his lip and started walking. ¡®Damnit¡­Was it a mistake to tag along?¡¯ Chapter 15 - A Carriage Ride (3) The walk was done in silence, and this time, instead of getting inside the carriage as they had done before, Verity, Midnight, and Ash all walked alongside it. The suns had now set, and it was hard to see further than one¡¯s nose. Darkness had completely followed the dense forest. Verity could hear a cacophony of sounds coming from it, none of which put his heart at ease. Still, the hardest aspect of this walk was definitely the somber mood. No one had made a sound since the incident with the bandits, save for Midnight who did speak from time to time because she had to lead the way. There was a tension in the air which made everyone uncharacteristically quiet, and Verity only hoped they would arrive at the clearing fast so this mood would pass. Finally, after around thirty minutes, Midnight abruptly stopped, which did earn her a displeased grunt from the carriage driver, but she could not be bothered to care. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± She said, pointing ahead of her. Again, because of the impenetrable darkness, Verity could not really tell what she was showing them, only that there did seem to be less trees where she pointed. He wondered how Midnight was able to so adeptly lead the way. ¡®Does she have night vision, like a real cat?¡¯ He asked himself, although he would never have the courage to really ask Midnight that question. ¡°Make yourselves comfortable.¡± She told them, as she sat down on what seemed to be a rock placed in the center of the clearing. Verity scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Are we sleeping¡­ on the ground?¡± He asked, hoping it wasn¡¯t so. Midnight smirked. ¡°Grass, actually. You¡¯ll get used to it if you want to be an adventurer kid.¡± ¡®What¡¯s with the ¡®kid¡¯? She can¡¯t be much older than me¡­¡¯ Verity sighed, but before he could resign himself and sit down, Ash pulled a pouch from his coat. He flipped it upside down, and from it, much more material than should be able to fit in there, fell out. ¡°Stop teasing him, and help me set this up, Midnight.¡± A long displeased sigh escaped Midnight''s mouth, and she reluctantly stood up from her rock. ¡°Is it okay for me to come out now?¡± Eleanor asked from the inside of the carriage. Verity had completely forgotten about her. ¡°Yes, Lady Eleanor.¡± Ash replied. The carriage driver helped the young girl step out as she carried a small candle which lit her surroundings. It illuminated her face, making it visible to Verity, and on it, he could clearly see worry. Verity imagined that a noble like her couldn¡¯t have been used to sleeping outside. Well, he wasn¡¯t either, so really, he should have worried about himself. Together, Midnight and Ash set up camp for the night. In the meanwhile, Verity did not have much to do. He offered his help in setting up the tents, but was quickly rejected, Ash giving him an entirely different task. He was on ¡®lookout¡¯ duty, which Verity felt was just another way of telling him to sit tight and let the adults do their jobs. He found a good spot on Midnight¡¯s rock, crossed his arms, and sat down while the two worked. Verity thought they might have been afraid he¡¯d mess it up, and they weren¡¯t wrong, really. He was certain it couldn¡¯t possibly be that hard, but Verity had never camped before, so he would not even have known where to begin. Also, who was to say that camping supplies from this world even resembled those from his world? They did come out of a magical bag after all. Speaking of that bag, Verity thought this might be the perfect opportunity to ask more questions. ¡°That pouch, it¡¯s a special item, right?¡± Verity asked, speaking in Ash¡¯s direction. Ash reached into his pocket, and promptly tossed him the pouch. ¡°It¡¯s dimensional magic.¡± He said as he anchored the tent into the ground. ¡°It¡¯s a cheap version, though, as it doesn¡¯t alter the weight of the objects inside.¡± Midnight scoffed. ¡°Cheap for you, maybe, but it¡¯s a whole month¡¯s salary for me.¡± Ash coughed. ¡°W-well, I did get it as a gift from the academy¡­ if that makes you feel any better.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t.¡± Midnight cut sharply. Verity looked inside of the pouch, only to see nothing. Its workings were a mystery to him. Was magic in this world the kind that had no rules? ¡°So¡­ you can just put anything inside this, as long as you can handle the weight?¡± He imagined it would be very convenient for higher leveled individuals who can effortlessly carry heavy loads. ¡°Not really. The space inside is distorted, but it¡¯s not infinite. Now that would cost a fortune, if even possible.¡± Ash stood up and stretched, proud of his finished work. ¡°Also, it doesn¡¯t have any preservation magic, so it¡¯s not great for food. Plus, if I want something from it, most often, I have to empty it all out.¡± Verity tossed the pouch back, satisfied. ¡°Huh, so not all perfect.¡± ¡°True, but it is handy.¡± Midnight straightened, dusting her clothes off. Uninterested in the conversation, she entered her tent. ¡°I¡¯m getting some shut-eye. Go ahead and take the first watch, Ash.¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. Eleanor hesitated, glancing at the tents. ¡°T-then, if you don¡¯t mind, I will also take my leave. It¡¯s been¡­ a long day.¡± She said as she blew out her candle, and entered Midnight¡¯s tent. ¡°Have a pleasant rest, Lady Eleanor.¡± Ash told her with a curt bow. Verity was surprised that she did not want to hear more about magical items. Did the incident with the bandits perturb her that much? He couldn¡¯t help her, but he hoped she¡¯d feel better the next day. His gaze then drifted to the crimson haired adventurer, who was now standing near the outskirt of the clearing. Before he could say anything, however, Ash dismissed him. ¡°I¡¯d love to keep talking, but¡­¡± Ash rolled his shoulders. ¡°You should rest too, Verity. And don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t have to take a watch.¡± He told Verity. Verity sighed. He was very curious, but Ash really did not seem in the mood to talk. Plus, Verity was tired, very tired. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was because of the constant stress, or the inter-dimensional travel, but now that night had fallen, and he saw the opportunity to rest, his body was screaming for him to take the chance. ¡°I¡¯ll head to sleep then¡­¡± Verity scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Have¡­ fun?¡± He said awkwardly, immediately wincing at his own words. Verity wanted to slap himself as he laid down on one of the three blankets laid out before him. ¡®Have fun?? What the hell am I saying!?¡¯ Ash, who was now alone, standing outside in the dead of night, simply chuckled and waved at him. He sat down on a rock, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, and he waited. Hours passed. Verity had a lot to think about, but he was exhausted, so slumber found him quite soon. Even with the carriage driver in the same tent snoring incredibly loud, it took no more than an hour for Verity to fall asleep. The same could be said for Midnight who, although was wary of the dangers of the forest, trusted Ash to keep watch and wake her should anything happen She had come to be wary of humans, especially the ones that seemed the nicest, but she could let her guard down around Ash. She hadn¡¯t known the locally famous adventurer for long, but in the time that they had spent adventuring together after coincidentally ending up on the same orc subjugation mission a month ago, she had come to find that Ash was, at least, a decent human. So, she closed her eyes, and waited for him to wake her up when it was her turn to take watch. After a few more hours, Verity was deep in sleep, but the system¡¯s voice in his head jolted him awake. [You are under the effect of a life-threatening neurotoxin.] [the skill Never Again is being activated.] [The sub-skill Minor Poison Tolerance is being activated. You have partially resisted the effects of the neurotoxin.] Verity could feel a distinct numbness invading his body, but he could still move slightly. Slowly, barely making any noise, he looked around the inside of the tent, only to see the carriage driver still soundly sleeping next to him. Half-asleep, he couldn¡¯t fully understand what the system was telling him. ¡®Neurotoxin¡­?¡¯ That couldn¡¯t be good. Verity frowned. His first thought was that the bandits had come back, but the lack of noise from the outside, or even that no one came into his tent immediately, made that unlikely. Still, someone had poisoned him, so what the hell was going on? His mind raced. ¡®Ash!¡¯ He thought. Was he okay? If enemies had invaded the camp, they¡¯d have to get through him. Since he couldn¡¯t see Ash in the tent, he imagined that he and Midnight hadn¡¯t had the chance to switch yet. Now, Verity¡¯s heart was racing. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but he couldn¡¯t act rashly. He brought his spear inside the tent with him, so he wasn¡¯t defenseless. He furiously thought of what to do, what his options were, when he heard voices outside which gave him pause. He stayed still, and listened closely. ¡°The poison has taken effect, Lady Eleanor. They will not be waking up any time soon.¡± The voice said, highly resembling Ash¡¯s, though more cold than Verity knew it to be. ¡°Yes, yes. Good work.¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice was unmistakable, though her usual timid tone had been replaced by something more confident, and sinister. ¡°You¡¯ll be rewarded handsomely for this.¡± She said, a hint of joy in her words. Verity¡¯s blood ran cold. ¡®What the..¡¯ As a noble lady, Eleanor was asked to keep up appearances constantly. Whether it be banquets, at home, and even with friends, she always needed to be perfect. Still, tonight, she couldn''t hold herself back as she looked upon the two tents. She only hoped that the veil of darkness offered by the night could mask the greedy sneer covering her lips. She turned to the Flame Sword, someone she had paid no small sum to hire. ¡°I suppose it worked in the end, but was it really necessary to expand all that effort to capture one filthy beast-woman? Couldn¡¯t we have just called it a day after having Bagua and his goons poison her?¡± Ash¡¯s tone remained neutral. ¡°Higher leveled adventurers often have more than once last resort skill. If she felt her life was truly in danger, the chances of her escaping would have been quite high. This method guarantees success.¡± He said as he kept a bow toward the young noble lady. Eleanor huffed, crossing her arms. ¡°Fine, as long as it¡¯s done. In any case, father will be delighted!¡± Ash raised his gaze. ¡°As for our deal¡­ I trust you¡¯ll make good on your end?¡± ¡°Her blood, wasn¡¯t it? Of course! I¡¯ll even throw in a bonus for this Verity fellow. Planewalkers are the craze lately. I can¡¯t even imagine how much the magic towers would pay for his body.¡± She laughed softly, her hand covering her mouth Verity¡¯s pulse quickened. The situation had turned so wrong, so quickly. ¡®They¡¯re going to sell my body!? And what the hell is a plane walker??¡¯ He had many questions, but for now, that could wait. His situation was indeed dire, but they were still under the impression that he was asleep, or paralyzed, or dead. In either case, he could surprise them. He just had to bide his time while they kept on chatting outside of his tent. Ash smirked as Eleanor mentioned Verity. ¡°To think he¡¯d just blindly go with my lie about Oblivion, and that Midnight would even make it more credible¡­ And I have to give it to you, Lady Eleanor, your acting was stellar.¡± ¡°You flatter me.¡± Eleanor said with a grin. ¡°The idiot should have ran the moment I mentioned sending him to the Holy Temple. If only he knew what they did to Planewalkers there¡­ I almost couldn¡¯t keep a straight face when he climbed into the carriage.¡± ¡®Sh*t!!¡¯ Most of that they were saying was complete nonsense to him, but Verity knew one thing. He was in real danger. He thought that the only thing that could save him was his spear. If he could just activate the [Vow of Fire] effect, perhaps he¡¯d be able to create enough chaos to escape. His heart was pounding, but he knew he could do it. He instinctively knew that he could not activate the effect from a distance, meaning that he had to be in direct contact with the spear. Thankful it was awfully close. He just had to be careful. Slowly, without making a sound. He absolutely needed to take them by surprise. From the glimpse he had gotten earlier, Verity was certain that facing Ash in a direct confrontation was the same as asking for death. Unfortunately, what happened next was almost too stupid to be true. Verity felt something crawl up his leg, and before he could understand what it was, it bit him, sending a wave of pain coursing through his body. ¡°ARGH!¡± He blurted out against his will. The bite had truly been painful, and he¡¯d messed up. The outside of the tent was now silent, and Verity¡¯s heart was beating faster than ever before. He¡¯d been found out, he was done for. He no longer had any time to be careful. He rushed to grab his spear, hoping to put up at least a semblance of a fight, but the Flame Sword hadn¡¯t earned his alias for no reason. Faster than Verity could react, Ash came into the tent, and stabbed through Verity¡¯s arm before he could reach for his spear. ¡°ARRGHH!¡± Even more pain coursed through Verity as his forearm was stabbed through. ¡°Hmm. Curious.¡± Ash¡¯s voice rang cold. Chapter 16 - A Carriage Ride (4) The pain Verity felt as Ash¡¯s sword tore through his forearm was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Not that he had a habit of being stabbed, but even when reminiscing of the goblins, it was incomparable. It was as though the blade itself was made of fire, and Verity felt that he was being incinerated from the inside. He cried out in pain as Ash twisted his sword in Verity¡¯s wound. ¡°Strange.¡± Ash stroked his chin, his head tilted in curiosity. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t even be able to feel this.¡± Eleanor was the next to come into Verity¡¯s field of view. The tent had been utterly destroyed by Ash¡¯s quick response, and now Verity was completely exposed to the outside world. She wore a mix of anger and disgust on her face as she stared at Verity. ¡°Did the toxin not work!?¡± She demanded, her voice sharp enough to cut. Ash shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. We confirmed its effectiveness earlier.¡± With a flick of his finger, Midnight¡¯s tent turned to ashes. Much unlike Verity¡¯s predicament, Midnight seemed to be in a peaceful slumber, unbothered by what was happening next to her. ¡°See?¡± Ash told Eleanor. Verity finally understood the feelings of unease he had felt earlier. ¡°I knew the whole thing was off¡­¡± The pain was numbing Verity¡¯s thoughts, but his anger was palpable. He regretted not having trusted his instincts. He forced his lips to move through the torment and shot a fiery glare toward Ash. ¡°You bastard¡­¡± Ash silenced him with another brutal twist of his sword, sending Verity¡¯s body arching in pain. ¡°Hush now, the adults are speaking.¡± Eleanor clicked her tongue, her brows furrowing. ¡°Fine! I¡¯ll confirm it myself!¡± She said as she stormed toward Midnight, muttering curses under her breath. When she was upon her, Eleanor lifted the hem of her dress, and knelt beside the beast-woman. ¡°Give me something sharp!¡± She ordered Ash as she extended a hand. He quickly tossed her a silver dagger he had stored in his coat. Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she stabbed the dagger into Midnight¡¯s leg, deep enough so that the blade was no longer visible. The sight of it plunging into Midnight sent a jolt of fear through Verity. ¡®This is really bad..!!¡¯ He thought. He wanted to move, do something, anything. But with Ash pinning him to the ground, that was nothing more than a hopeless struggle. Midnight, however, did not even react. Although her thigh was now pouring rivers of blood, her slumber remained unperturbed. By all means, this should have calmed Eleanor¡¯s worries, but it only increased her agitation She whipped her head toward Verity, looking him straight in the eyes. ¡°Why the hell can you move!? Is it a skill?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not possible. The toxin clearly affected him earlier. Without the antidote, he would have died. I¡¯m certain of it.¡± Ash corrected Eleanor. This only aggravated her even further. ¡°Then explain this! This was supposed to be perfect! What if something else went wrong!?¡± She clawed at her hair, her nails digging through her scalp. ¡°If we screw up and father learns of it¡­!!¡± Her voice faltered, bordering panic. Ash¡¯s eyes narrowed, as he stared at Verity who was writhing in pain at his feet. ¡°Two explanations I can think of.¡± He twisted the sword, earning another scream from Verity. ¡°One, he gained a skill within then and now, which is extremely improbable. Or two¡­ he has some sort of adaptive type skill. Though they¡¯re extremely rare, and most in existence are class exlusi-¡± Eleanor¡¯s fingers found themselves in her mouth as she furiously tore through her nails. ¡°Spare me the adventurer jargon!¡± She hissed. ¡°Couldn¡¯t the beast woman have something like that!? What if she wakes up soon??¡± Again, Ash shook his head. ¡°As I said, that¡¯s not possible. Midnight¡¯s class is Thief to begin with, which doesn¡¯t have any skills like that¡± His tone was deliberate, as if speaking to a child. ¡°Lady Eleanor, It¡¯s centered around stealth and shadows, not resistance.¡± He paused as his gaze drifted to Midnight. ¡°...the only way she could have resisted the toxin is if she had an external skill for it in the first place, which we confirmed she didn¡¯t. And as you verified yourself, the toxin is having the expected effect on her¡± He turned back to Verity. ¡°I think the most likely explanation is that¡­ this man had a poison resistance skill on the verge of leveling up before he was exposed to the toxin, and the level up made it strong enough to resist it¡­¡± He smirked, his voice laced with malicious amusement. ¡°Miraculous timing¡­ or terrible luck. Depending on how you see it.¡± Eleanor was undoubtedly not seeing the amusement in the situation. ¡°You think this is funny!?¡± She paced back and forth going through scenarios in her mind. ¡°What if he contacted someone, or what if-¡± She was muttering to herself, her heart racing furiously. Seeing her, Ash couldn¡¯t help but sigh and roll his eyes. It was always like this with her. Ash already knew that she had a few screws loose, based on the other ¡®jobs¡¯ he had helped her with, but every time something deviated even slightly from the plan, she just completely lost it. If it wasn¡¯t for the safety and credibility her name provided, he would have left long ago. ¡®It¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t be with her much longer.¡¯ He thought, as he lifted his gaze from the panicking noble lady. What met him when he glanced back at Verity however, wasn¡¯t a look of terror, like he had expected. Instead the man, the Planewalker really, was smirking, chuckling, even. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Ash raised an eyebrow. ¡°Have you lost it too?¡± He asked the black-haired man. Evidently, Verity was in unimaginable pain, but he still found the strength to chuckle hoarsely, and indulge Ash with an answer. ¡°Nah just¡­I also used to have a crazy, annoying boss. Total pain in the ass.¡± He told Ash, a smirk plastered on his face. For a moment, Ash blinked. Then, he scoffed, and the scoff turned into a chuckle, only to end up as genuine laughter. He laughed loudly, even clutching his stomach. It was so out of character for him that Eleanor was brought back from her spiraling panic. She turned toward the crimson haired adventurer, confusion in her eyes. The joke hadn¡¯t been that funny, but what really amused him was that this man could make jokes in his situation. Well, Ash knew part of the reason as to why Verity didn¡¯t seem as afraid as he should have been, though he still planned on playing along for now. Eventually, when his laughter died down. Ash wiped a tear from his eye and stood up. ¡°You¡¯ve got guts, I¡¯ll give you that.¡± He pulled the sword out of Verity¡¯s forearm, and dragged him by his collar, only to sit him up against a rock. ¡®Damn¡­ I¡¯m even further from the spear now¡­¡¯ Ash crouched in front of Verity, Eleanor standing close behind him. ¡°Frankly, I wanted to know how you did it, out of pure curiosity, but I don¡¯t think we have time for that.¡± He pressed his blade against Verity¡¯s neck, drawing a trickle of blood. His gaze was cold, and there was an eerie tone in his voice. ¡°You know how this ends, don¡¯t you? You could have died peacefully in your sleep, but I¡¯ll just have to kill you now¡­¡± Verity closed his eyes, feigning resignation. ¡°Do what you have to do...¡± Though he seemed resolved to die, Verity obviously wasn''t. His eyes were closed, and he seemed calm, but his heart was racing. No one was ever ready to die, no matter what they claimed. ¡®Please¡­ please don¡¯t notice¡­!¡¯ No, instead, Verity was relying on something. He had just obtained it, and he wished he could have used it for something more important, but this was as good as any other situation. Verity was relying on the sole effect of the ring he had gotten from his sponsor. It could save him from death once. He wasn¡¯t sure how exactly it worked, but the effect description couldn¡¯t be clearer. Now, he just had to pretend that he wasn¡¯t planning on fighting back and that he had accepted his fate, and this guy would surely kill him. Then, hopefully, the way the effect manifested would give Verity the chance to either escape or return to his original plan to activate [Vow of Fire]. Seeing the young man who had seemingly accepted death, Ash scoffed. Did this planewalker think Ash was stupid? He slicked his hair backward as he began. ¡°As an adventurer. It¡¯s expected that the first skill you obtain from the guild is [Appraise]. It¡¯s inexpensive and crucial to the job. They learn to use it on anything and anyone they encounter during their missions.¡± Verity¡¯s eyes widened, but Ash continued. ¡°What do you think I did when I first met you?¡± He stared into Verity¡¯s eyes, his crimson pupils basking in the moonlight. ¡°Level 7 it said. Imagine my surprise when it told me that your class was ¡®hidden¡¯, and when all your skills were ones I had never heard of before¡­ but can you guess what I did find.¡± ¡®Sh*t!¡¯ Verity knew he had been seen through. Mustering all of his strength, he rushed toward his spear, leaving Ash behind. He knew he wouldn¡¯t make it, but he had to try. ¡®Just a bit mo-¡¯ The crimson haired adventurer quickly caught up to him, however, sending him crashing into the ground with a wave of his hand. The impact sent a shockwave through Verity¡¯s body, causing him to spurt out a handful of blood, and clouding his vision. Ash continued. ¡°That spear of yours¡­¡± He whistled. ¡°Refined, with no less than two effects at that. This would go for millions of gold coins at an auction house, but that wasn¡¯t what caught my attention the most.¡± He leaned down, grabbed Ash¡¯s left hand, and pulled the ring off of his finger. ¡°No, it was this. An ordinary ring at first glance, but all that I saw when I tried to appraise it was¡­ a question mark.¡± He put it to Ash¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s special, isn¡¯t it?¡± Ash asked him. Verity¡¯s face contorted, which made Ash sneer. ¡°I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I? Is this what you were counting on?¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening!? What¡¯s so special about the ring!?¡± Eleanor asked, confused by the whole situation, and especially by the generally cold and stoic Ash¡¯s demeanor. Ash inspected it closely, his foot pressing Verity against the cold grass. ¡°No idea, but I doubt he¡¯ll be a threat without it.¡± He turned to Verity. ¡°What happens if I kill you now?¡± Verity could only bite his lip until blood trickled. He had no ¡®out¡¯ for this situation. None of his skills would help him, Ash had taken the ring, and Verity doubted it would work if he wasn¡¯t wearing it. Tears started to well up in his eyes. Some part of it was fear, some sorrow, but most of it was frustration. He felt that he was going to die here, without accomplishing anything, and that frustrated him to no end. His fist smashed into the ground. ¡®F*ck, f*uck, f*ck!!¡¯ In his desperation, his lips parted, and he turned his head toward Ash. ¡°Listen! You don¡¯t have to-¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± In an arc of searing fire, Ash¡¯s sword cut through Verity¡¯s neck, ending his life almost instantaneously. He heard a few faint words as his brain shut down. ¡°You idiot!! Now he¡¯s damaged goods!! Do you have any idea how much less they¡¯ll pay for this! Are you [...]¡± Verity died. *** [...] His heart was pounding, but he knew he could do it. He instinctively knew that he could not activate the effect from a distance, meaning that he had to be in direct contact with the spear. Thankfully, it was awfully close. He just had to be careful. Slowly, without making a sound. He absolutely needed to take them by surprise. From the glimpse he had gotten earlier, Verity was certain that facing Ash in a direct confrontation was the same as asking for death. Suddenly, a headache overcame him. [The skill Lesson Learned is being activated.] He knew what this meant. Something was about to happen. He was in danger. Fighting through the headache, he listened closely to the voice in his ear, but no such thing came. No, instead, Verity''s world went blank, and a scene was displayed before him. It was hazy, fragmented, and only showing silhouettes, but this one he understood. The scene showed what he could only guess to be him lying down in the tent. Then, in an explosion of impossible speed, someone impaled him through the forearm. However, something had happened between the two. There was no sound in the scene, and it was hard to tell, but Verity could see that something had startled him, causing him to be noticed. As abruptly as it came, the scene disappeared, and Verity was back to reality. [The usage of the skill Lesson Learned has been successful. You have gained exp.] He knew it. He only had a few more seconds before he was impaled. What would startle him so much that it would cause him to be noticed? He didn¡¯t really have the time to think about it, so he covered his mouth, flexed all his muscles, and braced for whatever it was. What happened next was almost too stupid to be true. Verity felt something crawl up his leg, and before he could understand what it was, it bit him, sending a wave of pain coursing through his body. But he was ready this time. His body shifted because of the pain, but he held his voice in, albeit barely. He waited for a moment, making sure that he had not been discovered, and internally sighed with relief when he realized that the two outside were still discussing. There was only one thing left for him to do. He slowly placed his hand on the spear. Still being as careful as possible, as to not be found. Then, he grabbed it, and pointed it to where he believed Eleanor to be from the sound of her voice. Cold sweat running down his face, and his hands trembling, he felt his energy being drawn into the spear as he activated its most destructive effect. ¡®[Vow of Fire]!¡¯ Chapter 17 - A Carriage Ride (5) Ash leaned lazily against a tree, his sharp gaze on Elanor, the young lady who had been hiring him recently to capture beast-people and turn them into slaves. Although that had been outlawed in the Terras Kingdom long before either of them were born, she was droning about their most recent success. It was immoral, and dirty work, but Ash couldn¡¯t care less, as long as he got what he wanted out of the deal. Morality was for the privileged, and he couldn¡¯t afford it. For what he desired, he could play along, pretend he felt any type of amusement, indulge her whims. So long as he could get even one step closer to the power he desired, Ash was prepared to do anything. Though¡­ today, even he had to admit, his emotions had been stirred. For some reason, he had especially enjoyed toying with the young planewalker. Something about him¡­ ¡®Maybe I should seek out more of them¡­¡¯ He thought, his gaze still on Eleanor. But that would have to wait. He had already thought of his next target, and the path that would bring him closer to his goal. He had come a long way ever since he obtained his first skill at level three, [Flame Sense]. Just as the name implied, it allowed him to sense and feel nearby flames, making him an especially dire opponent for anyone who used them. It was in no small part thanks to this, and thanks to his enchanted sword imbued with flame sorcery, that he had earned his Alias, the Flame Sword. ¡®Ah that was so long ag-¡¯ He straightened. Something tugged at his mind. He knew this sensation very well, and just as he was thinking of it, his very first skill had activated. Somewhere near, he could feel the presence of flames. He didn¡¯t even bother to interrupt Eleanor who was still babbling. Rapidly, he looked around him. ¡®What is it?¡¯ They hadn¡¯t lit a fire so as to not be noticed, Ash had already made sure that there was no one around with his [Surveillance] skill, and he wouldn''t make the mistake of accidentally activating the enchantment of his weapon. His head whipped toward the tent where the planewalker had been restrained, and his eyes widened. With his experience and skill, it took him no more than a fraction of a second to understand what was happening. He drew his sword with a speed defying reason. The flames were coming. ¡®The boy? But that¡¯s impossible, I¡¯m sure the toxin-¡¯ The time for thoughts had since long ended. Suffocating heat was emanating from the tent, and a frightening amount of magic power was being released. Ash could feel it, flames had been conjured, powerful ones, and they were heading in his direction. No, not his direction. ¡®Damnit!¡¯ They were heading straight for Eleanor, who still hadn¡¯t suspected a thing. It would have been one thing if the attack was aimed at him. He was confident he could deflect it with his own flames, and even if he couldn¡¯t, his body would be able to handle the flames themselves. Judging from the strength of the magic power he felt, he might not emerge unscathed, but not harmed enough to be unable to fight. But they weren¡¯t aimed at him. Eleanor was the target, and she would not survive the attack. Ash had no particular care for her, but despite how she acted, she was still a prominent noble child of this region. if she died when it was known that she had last been seen with him¡­ if he wasn¡¯t thrown in prison and executed, he would at least never be able to step foot in the Guild.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Eleanor!¡± He had to protect her. Simultaneously, he activated three skills. [Accelerate] to reach Eleanor before the attack. [Blaze] which was more so the sword¡¯s enchantment rather than a skill. And [Sword Aura] which he had learned after finally advancing to level 10 in the Swordsman class. Layering it on top of [Blaze], made for a frightening combination. In a spiral, flames exploded from the tent, but instead of Eleanor¡¯s flesh, what met them was Ash¡¯s blade. BOOM Eleanor fell backward when she felt the impact beside her. In a flash, the air was suddenly unbearably hot, Ash appeared behind her, and he struggled to protect her from an attack she had not even seen coming. ¡°W-wh¡± She stumbled upon her words. ¡°ARGHH!!¡± The attack was even more powerful than Ash had expected. He was badly positioned, and caught off guard, but to think it could even contest with his Aura enveloped [Blaze]. His grip struggled under the pressure and his defense threatened to break. In what remained of the tent, Verity¡¯s hands were trembling as he held the spear. His shot, which had been aimed at Eleanor, carried much more power than he had expected. It had drained him of all his strength, but in a manner that was foreign to him. He felt an energy he had never known before be extracted from his body without him being able to control just how much of it left. The attack left him completely exhausted, but still¡­ It worked! He knew that firing toward Ash would be stupid. He was stronger than Verity could imagine, and if he didn¡¯t easily avoid the attack, Verity didn¡¯t doubt he would be able to block it. But what if he was taken by surprise, and with no preparation, had to rush to someone¡¯s aid? Surely, the result would be different, assuming of course that Ash cared in the slightest about Eleanor, which Verity was glad to find that he did. Now, he just had to muster whatever was left of his energy and get the hell out of this damn forest while Ash was occupied. His breath came in short gasps, and he had to lean on the spear as he painstakingly walked away from the clash. With every step he took, he couldn¡¯t help but hesitate, however. His head turned right ¡®What about Midnight?¡¯ Then left. ¡®And the old man?¡¯ His mind screamed for him to run, but his feet refused to take another step. Wasn¡¯t he supposed to be the hero, like the protagonists of his stories? Could he really just¡­ abandon these two here? His fists clenched. He wasn''t a hero. Just a delusional idiot who had yet to separate fiction from reality. His ¡®plan¡¯ was half-baked, and he was facing an enemy he could never hope to defeat. He knew that. Yet¡­the conversation he had eavesdropped on earlier replayed in his head. Whatever they were going to do to Midnight, it wasn¡¯t going to be anything good. As for the old carriage driver, Verity doubted Ash and Eleanor were willing to leave any witnesses, which made his fate essentially set in stone. He grit his teeth, enough for them to hurt. ¡®Damnit! What do you want me to do!? Sometimes those guys make the ¡®wrong¡¯ choice too! Why can¡¯t I!?¡¯ He told himself. The only reason he even had the time to think right now was because of a nearly miraculous surprise attack. It wouldn¡¯t happen again, literally because this effect of Final Embers couldn¡¯t be used until the next day, and because Verity felt that Ash wouldn¡¯t fall for the same trick twice. Weighing his options, he bit his lip. ¡®Damn it all¡­!!¡¯ Ash was still locked in the clash, but not for long. It had been truly mighty, but the attack was finally losing power, and to begin with, his own blade had been superior. With one final grunt, and a bead of sweat rolling down his face, Ash deflected the burst of flames into a nearby patch of trees, lighting them ablaze, and finally bringing light to the darkness of this place. ¡°What was that!?¡± Eleanor demanded to know, but Ash did not reply. He exhaled slowly as he lowered his sword. His attention was onto something else. He smirked as the smoke created by the clash dissipated. The boy they had supposedly poisoned was now standing in front of him, spear in hand, and an anxious grin on his face. ¡°Well¡­¡± He said, his voice low and mocking. ¡°Would you look at that¡­¡± Verity heard the system¡¯s voice in his mind. [You are engaging in a challenge where the odds are overwhelmingly stacked against you.] [You have gained experience toward your class.] [Your sponsor laughs and says, ¡®You truly are a Fool¡¯.] ¡®Shut up, damn it! Both of you!¡¯ A grin curled Ash¡¯s lips. ¡°You should have ran.¡± ¡°I know¡­¡± His hands could barely hold onto the spear. Chapter 18 - Fateful Meeting (1) A soft breeze blew through the clearing, sending some of Verity¡¯s hair flying in front of his eyes. This may have bothered him¡­ in any other situation. Now, however, he had much larger issues to address. Without thinking- No, he had thought about it. By no one¡¯s fault but his own, he pointed his spear toward an opponent he could not defeat. Facing him was a crimson-haired adventurer known as the Flame Sword. He seemed amused at the simple fact that Verity would dare challenge him. Why would he do something like this? Verity wasn¡¯t sure, and he didn¡¯t have the leisure to think about it. ¡°How is he still moving!? I thought the poison worked! You told me it did!!¡± Eleanor barked at Ash, her fists clenched in anger. Ash heard her voice, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to soothe her. This situation was simply too amusing, and Ash was planning on enjoying it. To ensure that she would not interrupt again, he turned to the noble young lady with a smile that sent shivers down her spine. ¡°Be quiet for now.¡± Her outrage flared. ¡°How dare yo-¡± His gaze froze her words mid-sentence. He spoke softly, and at first glance, his face might have seemed amicable, but Eleanor could feel it. She was quite good at discerning people¡¯s true nature, given time. It was how she had singled out Ash as someone who could help her in her endeavors. That¡¯s why she knew just now that this Ash was serious. If she spoke again, she felt that she might lose her life. So, she shut her mouth, biting her lip in frustration. ¡®How dare he¡­I¡¯ll get father to punish him later for this¡­¡¯ She thought bitterly as she swallowed her fury. Ash turned back to Verity. ¡°You know how this ends, don¡¯t you?¡± He said as he slowly raised his sword. ¡®Why do I feel like I¡¯ve heard that before¡­¡¯ Verity tightened his grip around the spear. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­ and neither do you.¡± Ash scoffed. He really was going to enjoy this. ¡°Let¡¯s see how long you last.¡± He raised his sword. ¡°Left.¡± Ash¡¯s figure blurred, and he appeared in front of Verity, his sword drawing an arc starting from the left. Verity was less than prepared, but because of the warning, he instinctively placed the shaft of his spear on his left side. ¡®Fast!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t evade, and the blow was still much too mighty for him to withstand. When both of their weapons came into contact, Verity was launched away to tumble on the cold grass. The shock had reverberated in his very bones and had completely disoriented him. It took him several moments to stand up, and as he did, he coughed a handful of blood. The shock had clearly given him internal damage. ¡®Sh*t¡­¡¯ Could he hold out long enough for his only hope to show themselves? He tried to breathe, to regain some strength, but Ash had no plans to give him any more time to recuperate. ¡°Right.¡± This time, the sword came from the right. He had time to place the shaft of his spear in the way, but he was still sent flying the other way. Once the momentum of the clash had carried him as far as it could, he found that getting back up was harder than it had been the first time. Verity leaned on his spear for support, his breaths coming in long, excruciating gasps. ¡®Why is he announcing his attacks¡­?¡¯ As she watched, Eleanor also found it strange, but she dared not speak out, not right now at least. She had truly never seen Ash act like this before. She knew him as slightly sadistic and quite strange at times, yes, but his selling points were his caution and his cold practicality. Why was he toying with this man? It almost¡­ frightened her. ¡°Up.¡± The next strike came from above. Verity raised his spear, and braced himself. Even so, when the impact occurred, he almost feared that his arms would break. His feet first sunk into the ground, before he was sent crashing into it with devastating force. Blood dripped from his lips as he stood up. A dry laugh escaped Verity¡¯s mouth as he attempted to focus his blurred vision onto Ash¡¯s face. The pain coursing through his body made it difficult to even speak. ¡°Anybody¡­ever tell you¡­ playing with food¡­ is bad?¡± Ash chuckled darkly. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Below.¡± Verity was sent flying into this sky this time. He landed a few meters away, writhing in pain after the ground collided with his body. He was in pain, so much pain. Still, he stood up. It took longer than the previous time, but he planted the spear into the dirt and raised to his feet.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Heh. Great.¡± Ash mumbled. The blows did not cease. Ash could have easily killed Verity a long time ago, but this was simply too entertaining. ¡®He thinks that by pointing a spear at me, he suddenly has a chance to win?¡¯ Ash thought. The reason why he enjoyed this so much, despite never being emotionally invested in these missions, was simple. The man before him was just pathetic, to a point it fascinated Ash. When he had first met him, Verity had attempted to feed them a poorly constructed lie, decided to trust strangers with his life, and now he was attempting to point a spear at him without even knowing how to hold it properly. If that wasn¡¯t enough, Verity might have been able to, against all odds, escape this situation, but he had decided to stay instead. For what? Two strangers he had made a few hours prior? Now he was just going to die alongside them. Ash wanted to show him what an idiot he was. His death would not be quick, and Ash would make sure of it. Every time he swung his sword he would give Verity just enough time to block it, he would ensure that the strike just barely didn''t kill him, and he would always give him just enough time to get up. ¡®This guy¡¯s toying with me¡­¡¯ Verity thought as he stood up for the ninth time, clutching at his bruised shoulder. But it was fine, he wouldn¡¯t have to hold on much longer. For now, he could only wait for Ash¡¯s next attack, and grit his teeth when it came. Verity was ready for it, but unexpectedly, Ash lowered his sword, and his lips parted. ¡°Were you counting on that skill of yours?¡± He asked Verity. Verity¡¯s eyes widened, but his thoughts betrayed his face. Still, he put on an act for the crimson-haired swordsman. ¡°The one that gives you a certain chance to evade any unexpected attack? Were you planning to use that to catch me off guard?¡± Ash continued, sneering. Verity pretended to stutter as he replied, giving Ash his best performance. ¡°W-what!? You can see that much with [Appraise]!?¡± He stammered, his tone trembling. ¡°Why do you think I¡¯ve been announcing my attacks?¡± Ash said, a confident smile on his lips. ¡®That¡¯s right, waste more time¡­dumbass.¡¯ Verity lowered his arms slightly, feigning defeat. ¡°T-that¡¯s why¡­? You¡¯ve been toying with me¡­ all this time¡­?¡± He¡¯d give himself an oscar if he could. Ash, however, looked toward the blazing forest, the result of the attack he had deflected earlier, and his sneer grew wider. ¡°No¡­ that¡¯s not what you were waiting for.¡± Verity¡¯s feigned confusion slipped into a frown. ¡°You were hoping someone would notice this¡­. Someone like Bagua and his goons, maybe?¡± Verity¡¯s grip tightened, and his face darkened. ¡®Alright, he¡¯s figured it out, but still, if I can just hold on a while longer then-¡¯ Ash wasn¡¯t done, however. Turning away from the dancing flames, his crimson eyes stared through Verity. ¡°...Who do you think gave me the toxin?¡± Verity¡¯s face dropped, and an image of Ash exchanging a pouch with Bagua flashed in his mind. ¡®Was it then¡­?¡¯ Ash seemed sincere, but Verity wasn¡¯t convinced. Of course, he felt that the encounter with the bandits wasn¡¯t mere coincidence, and he did have his suspicions, but the rage Ash had shown toward Bagua had felt so¡­ real. It felt more plausible to Verity that Ash and Eleanor had simply used the bandits to their advantage. Plus, the simple idea of them being in cahoots was outright ridiculous. Why hire an entire bandit group to halt their journey and demand ransom? To test the toxin on Midnight? They could have easily done that in countless other ways, such as spreading it on a night like this, and blaming it on a monster if it didn¡¯t work. To force them to sleep in the forest, away from prying eyes? Night would have fallen before they had left the forest even without their interference. No matter how Verity looked at it, while employing the bandits may have had its uses, it not only added uncontrollable variables, but must have, or would cost quite a sum, as well. Then why would they have done it? Was Verity missing something? His mind raced, but no answer came to him. Eventually, he sighed, and he met Ash¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re lying¡­. It doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡± He said. Ash scoffed. ¡°Doesn¡¯t it? Midnight¡¯s disappearance would have to be explained to the guild.¡± He took out the pouch from his coat where the poison had been stored. ¡°This is a commonly known poison that bandits use. Of course we¡¯re using a much more concentrated and purer version, but still, it¡¯s essentially the same.¡± He shook the pouch. ¡°Do you see what I''m getting at?¡± The pieces were falling into place. ¡°Scapegoats¡­.¡± Verity whispered, realization setting in. ¡°Pay them to show up at the right time¡­ use them to not only test the toxin, but to make a show¡­¡± His eyes darted to the carriage driver. ¡°Then¡­ He was never supposed to die¡­!!¡± ¡°Bingo.¡± Ash slicked his hair backward, grinning. ¡° Status is a wonderful thing. The guild¡¯s investigators would never dare search the memories of a platinum ranked adventurer or the daughter of a Marquis if there was a better option. This leaves only the old carriage driver¡­ and the bandits themselves, which we¡¯ll point them to by leaving traces of the toxin in my body and in the surroundings.¡± He hadn¡¯t even known about memory magic, and Verity was surprised that even that had been included in their plans, but its existence also brought another problem with it. ¡°But if they searched the bandit¡¯s minds, they¡¯d know you made a deal with them! That still doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± Ash wagged his finger. ¡°My deal was only with Bagua, and I made sure he wouldn''t speak of it to anyone.¡± ¡°And when they search his memory!? What then!?¡± Verity snapped back. Ash tilted his head and smiled, like a teacher pitying a slow student. Verity stumbled upon his own words as the final piece fell into place. ¡°Sh*t¡­ you were planning to kill him too..!!¡± It all made sense. Verity¡¯s hands trembled, and the sturdy metal from which the spear had been made echoed as it slipped from them. He fell to his knees, his eyes dropping to the ground. ¡°Haha¡­I¡¯ll be worse off when they do get here¡­ I¡¯m doomed¡­¡± He muttered to himself, in disbelief. Thanks to [Surveillance], Ash knew Bagua had not entered his surroundings yet, but he also knew that no other monster, or human, had either. He had won. Verity could not defeat Ash, no one was coming to save him, and he had finally made him acknowledge it. He hated naive idiots like Verity the most. It irritated Ash that Verity would dare think that he had a chance against him, and he¡¯d uncovered a new found pleasure in crushing him so thoroughly. ¡®Yes, I should do this more often¡­¡¯ He was satisfied. He could kill Verity. He layered Aura onto the flames of his sword, and dreadful power emanated from him. Now, he just had to swing once, and this would all be over. He¡¯d have to deal with Eleanor again, he knew she wasn¡¯t happy, but at least he¡¯d had his fun. He stared at the pathetic man in front of him muttering to himself in defeat, and prepared to attack. ¡°Now di-¡± The leaves rustled beside him, halting his blade. ¡°Ah, here I was hoping for a quiet retreat in the woods, now someone¡¯s gone and set the whole place on fire¡­ Tsk Tsk.¡± Chapter 19 - Fateful Meeting (2) A lone figure made her entry into the clearing, and all heads whipped toward her. From the voice, it was clear that the figure was female, but beyond that, nothing could be discerned. A long cloak was covering her entire body. It appeared darker than the night itself as it fluttered in the wind, and though it hid her in the literal sense, it also seemed to do more than just that, as if it held powerful mystical properties. Her mere appearance brought the chaos to an abrupt halt, and with the words caught in their throats, no one had taken the initiative to speak. As she stepped further into the clearing, the woman finally seemed to notice Verity, Ash, and Eleanor. She tilted her head, her eyes fixed onto the trio. ¡°Well? Won¡¯t you young ones put this fire out? Don¡¯t you have any respect for nature?¡± She said, a strange compelling force in her voice. It wasn¡¯t a skill, or magic, but when the sound of her words reached their ears, they felt a faint sense that they should obey. Still, no one dared reply, unsure of how to approach the situation. As he stared at the lone woman, the gears in Ash¡¯s head ground furiously. How could she possibly be here? His [Surveillance] skill hadn¡¯t detected anyone for kilometers, and even now, as she stood within his line of sight, his skill remained silent. He only saw two possible ways for this to be true. Either she possessed a stealth skill that overpowered his own, or¡­ she was simply that much stronger than him. Though the simple thought made him shiver, his mind leaned to the second option. If it had been anyone else who had entered the clearing, even if Ash had been startled, it wouldn¡¯t have stopped him from swinging his sword and killing Verity. However, when she appeared, he felt it, pure, indescribable dread. As if someone had plunged their hand into his chest and gripped his heart, threatening to crush it if he moved so much as a muscle. As experienced as he was, he knew instantly. This person was dangerous, more so than he could handle, and nothing would come out of antagonizing her. He might have a chance in an all out fight, but he doubted he¡¯d emerge unscathed, if even alive. After carefully weighing his options, he moved his sword away from Verity¡¯s neck and offered the woman a curt bow. ¡°I apologize if we¡¯ve offended you, great warrior. May I ask-¡± The woman clicked her tongue. ¡°Didn¡¯t I already tell you to put out these flames? I don¡¯t like repeating myself.¡± Every word that came out from her mouth cut like a blade, and the longer he stayed in her presence, the warier Ash became. Fortunately, she did not seem outright hostile, so he would indulge her for now, if that meant she would leave. ¡°[Flash Freeze].¡± Ash pointed his sword toward the fire, and in mere moments, everything, down to the smallest spark, turned to solid ice. The woman whistled. ¡°You were a mage?¡± Ash had exhausted a third of his mana with this one skill, and took a moment to adjust to the sudden dizziness before answering. ¡°No¡­ I got this from a scroll, from the magic tower.¡± The woman scratched her head as she studied the flames trapped within the ice. ¡°Huh. I really haven¡¯t been keeping up with the times.¡± She lingered on the sight of the ice without uttering another word. The hood of her cloak obstructed her face, so Ash could not tell what kind of expression she was making, but the silence stretched uncomfortably. Even Eleanor, who had the habit of being rash and arrogant, seemed uneasy in the presence of this woman. ¡°Then¡­ would it be alright if we left?¡± Ash ventured. He could always take everyone here away, and finish the job somewhere else. It would be inconvenient, but at this point, he was willing to do it if it meant getting away from this enigmatic woman. He could only hope she¡¯d agree and let them go. For a moment, Ash felt her gaze settle on Verity. ¡°Hmmm.¡± She looked back at him. ¡°Not before you tell me what¡¯s going on here.¡± She said coldly. When he heard those words, the flame of hope finally re-ignited in Verity¡¯s heart. At least, this woman was not an accomplice of Ash and Eleanor. He wanted to shout, to explain how evil these two were, but Ash was still too close. Even if it wasn¡¯t pressing against his neck, a single glance at the edge of Ash¡¯s blade made him swallow his words. Having felt the genuine fear of death for the first time, Verity couldn¡¯t yet risk doing anything that might put an abrupt stop to his life. He¡¯d wait for the situation to unfold further, or a real opportunity, before saying anything. Ash¡¯s brows furrowed. He may have just understood who this person was, and this would explain the pressure he felt from her as well. ¡°...Are you an investigator?¡± The woman scoffed. ¡°...Who knows? Will you tell me, or not?¡± Eleanor¡¯s eyes widened. This could be troublesome. If this woman really was an investigator, this definitely would get complicated. Thankfully, as a noble woman, if she was good at anything, it was diplomacy. And if that didn¡¯t work, then Ash knew what to do. She cleared her throat. ¡°Dear Investigator, sorry for not introducing myself earlier. ¡° She bowed, lifting the hem of her dress. ¡°My name is Eleanor Vandervite, eldest daughter of Marquis Vandervite. Please forgive my subordinate¡¯s rudeness.¡± She glanced at Verity, feigning distress. ¡°You see¡­ this man poisoned us with a sedative while we slept, hoping to kill us and take our valuables.¡± She lingered, pretending to have been shaken by the ordeal. Tears even welled up in her eyes. ¡°I cannot even imagine¡­ what would have happened if I had been alone¡­ but thankfully, this adventurer reacted rapidly. While it incapacitated our other companions, he managed to warn me in time of the threat, allowing me to move away from the mist until it dissipated.¡± Her hands trembled as she continued. ¡°The adventurer, in all his bravery, even managed to locate, capture, and bring the culprit back here. And now, as per the authority granted to me by the Kingdom, I am exercising my noble right to execute him without trial for a direct affront to a noble.¡±Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Verity couldn''t believe his ears. Eleanor¡¯s words were a web of lies, but she sprinkled enough truth to make it believable. Most impressively, she said it all with a straight face. A vein bulged on the side of Verity¡¯s forehead and he could no longer stay silent. ¡°She¡¯s a liar!¡± He shouted, the words burning with frustration. A shiver shot through his body when Eleanor glared at him, but he pushed through the fear, and continued. ¡°They¡¯re the ones who spread the poison, and they were planning to kill everyone here!! You have to believe me!¡± If he didn¡¯t speak now, then perhaps he would never have the chance to. Verity tried his hardest to defend himself, but frankly, Eleanor¡¯s story had no holes, and she really was a noble, she had to be. No one was crazy enough to impersonate one, especially not the eldest daughter of the Vandervite family. For others to trust her words simply because they came from her mouth was a privilege she had from birth, and she was well aware of that. On the other hand, Verity had been beaten black and blue, his clothes were torn and his overall appearance was laughable. His sentences were barely comprehensible as they were spoken by his swollen mouth, and he was no more than a nobody. Even if she really was lying, no sane investigator, save perhaps for one, would have considered angering a noble for the sake of a poor, powerless, pathetic man. They might have even taken this chance to enter Elenor¡¯s good graces. This investigator, however, if she even was one, simply chuckled. Her laugh echoed throughout the clearing, much to the dismay of both Ash and Eleanor. ¡°You¡¯re good.¡± She said. ¡°What was it again? ¡®Status is a wonderful thing¡¯, right?¡± This is what Ash had told Verity before explaining his plan. This meant that she had heard almost everything. Perhaps he shouldn''t have been so talkative. ¡°Ash!¡± Eleanor shouted. He layered Aura on top of his sword and shot forward. It had come to this in the end. The supposed investigator had to die. It would cause trouble, but nothing that the Vandervite household couldn¡¯t handle. Ash moved much faster than he had shown Verity before, putting everything into this attack. This one was meant to kill as quickly, and as surely as possible. The woman smirked under her hood, pulled a spear from under her cloak and stopped Ash¡¯s attack. She had drawn a spear of an obsidian as dark as the void from the veil of her cloak, and with the tip of its blade pressed against the edge of Ash¡¯s, she had completely put an end to his assault. The impact sent a shockwave across the clearing, knocking both Eleanor and Verity to the ground. In the struggle, Ash¡¯s blade trembled, but the woman didn¡¯t even budge. ¡°Hmm. Your Aura isn¡¯t bad, but it¡¯s still rough around the edges.¡± She said, as if speaking to a novice. Ash was pushed back, his feet sliding across the grass, and a somber expression on his face. ¡°Who¡­ are you?¡± He asked the mysterious woman. She spun her spear, and readied her stance. ¡°Does that matter?¡± Ash sighed. ¡°I suppose not¡­¡± The furious battle commenced. Without warning, both of their figures blurred, leaving a shockwave behind. They moved far faster than Verity could perceive. Each time their weapons came into contact, a wave of energy was sent through the clearing, and the ground itself seemed to tremble under their might. ¡®Holy¡­¡¯ Was this a level Verity was supposed to reach? [Your sponsor chuckles ¡®Maybe one day¡¯.] Each exchange was more violent than the last. The flames of Ash¡¯s sword thinned the ambient air, while the mysterious woman riposted with grace and elegance, wielding her obsidian spear which appeared to absorb the night itself. Both of the fighters seemed evenly matched, or at least that¡¯s what it might have looked like to the untrained eye. The truth was that the woman had yet to perform a single attack. She simply blocked everything Ash threw at her, and occasionally pointed out his shortcomings. ¡°Your basics are solid, but you rely too much on skills.¡± ¡°You have too many openings when you channel your Aura.¡± ¡°Your bloodlust makes your attacks predictable.¡± ¡°The style you learned mixes poorly with your personality.¡± No matter what he attempted, or how many skills he used, everything he did was effortlessly countered. After a feint that was sent sliding across the shaft of her spear, Ash backed away, taking a moment to rest. His breathing was now erratic, and his muscles were screaming for a moment of respite. This woman was simply too strong. Seeing him retreat, she tilted her head. ¡°Is that all?¡± She asked, amused. Ash did not bother answering, too focused on preparing his next move. ¡®[Blaze], [Accelerate], [Sword Aura], [Sword Body Enhancement], [Slowed Time], [..]¡¯ ¡°Oh¡­ that looks fun.¡± The woman mused as she stared at him. He was layering multiple skills on top of each other and preparing to use the ultimate attack of the Salamander Style he had learned from his deceased master, one of the strongest swordsmen of the Terras Kingdom. At least that¡¯s what he hoped the mysterious woman would believe. Ash wasn¡¯t an idiot. His muscles ached, his breathing was uneven, and he had used everything he knew. It had become clear to him long ago that he couldn¡¯t defeat her. It stung to admit, but he was no match for her. That didn¡¯t discourage him, however. He was well aware that there was always a bigger fish, and believed that one of the greatest virtues for a warrior was to know when to retreat. His plan wasn¡¯t to attempt a last ditch effort and use his ultimate attack to cause some damage, not even close. He was just putting on a show for her, while his real intentions rested in the [smokescreen] skill he planned to activate. ¡®If it¡¯s just me, I should be able to escape, even from her¡­¡¯ It sucked for Eleanor, but Ash wasn¡¯t planning to die here. She¡¯d probably be fine either way, her being a noble and all. Verity watched as the moment of the final clash seemed imminent. Though he couldn¡¯t tell what exactly happened during their exchanges, even Verity could see that Ash stood no chance against the mysterious woman, something he could not be happier about. Still, it was too early to celebrate. If he knew anything, it was that in the right conditions, a weaker opponent could always prevail. His fight against the orcs had been proof of that. He held his breath, waiting for Ash to make his move. Finally, Ash was ready, but instead of rushing at the spear-wielding woman, he enacted his plan. First, he activated his [Smokescreen] skill, filling the entire clearing with dense, grey smoke. Then, he used [Blaze] to ignite the smoke itself, creating a literal storm of hell fire. Finally, layering all of his body enhancement skills he just¡­ made a run for it. Flames had just begun to spread through the smoke as his figure disappeared, and he moved at impossible speeds toward the forest, far from where the woman stood. The woman would survive, of course, but if she really was an investigator, she wouldn¡¯t let everyone here die. If nothing was done, the hellfire Ash had created would turn Verity, and Eleanor, and everyone else really, to ashes, and judging from its intensity, maybe even that wouldn¡¯t remain In any case, Verity was going to die, gruesomely so. But before the flames could reach him, time seemed to slow down. The woman whispered something under her breath. ¡°Boring.¡± She lazily swung her spear, and the world bent to her will. The hellfire vanished, the smoke dissipated, and before Ash could even take one step out of the clearing, a hand reached for him. ¡°You lack guts.¡± She said, before puncturing several areas of his body with the tip of her fingers. Instantly, Ash fell to the ground, his body going limp, and his strength leaving him. The woman seemed annoyed. ¡°If Gerard saw me using this, I¡¯d never hear the end of it.¡± Just like that, the Flame Sword, a renowned platinum ranked adventurer who had even gone so far as to use obscure methods to gain power, was defeated. Chapter 20 - Fateful Meeting (3) He couldn¡¯t believe it, but he had to. After the woman had struck him, Ash¡¯s body fell to the ground. He couldn¡¯t move a finger, but he was still fully conscious, he could even speak and see around him. He wasn¡¯t sure if that was done deliberately. ¡®She hit my pressure points!? Me!!?¡¯ He thought, gritting his teeth. Pressure points, to begin with, were not widespread knowledge, just because of how difficult it was to put said knowledge into practice. To have any effect, the right pressure points, at the exact right location, and in the right order had to be pressed, with the exact right amount of strength, all of that while fighting! It just wasn¡¯t something realistic, and the time spent to learn how to do it, far outweighed the benefits. Moreover, if it was ever used, it would be by a martial artist, but the woman clearly wielded a spear, and Ash could tell she was definitely a spearman. Her class was hidden, but a martial artist would not be able to wield a spear as she had. Then again, a spearman wouldn¡¯t have been able to block his pressure points either. It just didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°Who the hell are you!??¡± He shouted in anger, still unable to move. He simply couldn¡¯t believe he had been beaten in such a way. She had to be someone special. The chief investigator, perhaps. It would be too hard to believe otherwise, and Ash wouldn¡¯t be able to accept it. The woman stared at him for a moment, then placed a finger in front of her mouth, and though her face was still obstructed by the hood, Ash could tell she was smirking. ¡°I already told you, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Eleanor, standing a few steps away, could not believe her eyes. It was hard enough to accept that Ash had lost. He was this city¡¯s strongest adventurer, and it had cost a small fortune to hire him. There were only two ranks above platinum in the guild, and the people who reached those ranks were more like legends than anything else. All things considered, Ash was the strongest adventurer money could buy. She knew that to be true, and yet, he had lost miserably. She, of course, couldn¡¯t see the battle, but it was clear from that last exchange, Ash had been treated like a child. A novice standing in front of a master. Eleanor was afraid, more than she had ever been in her life, but she couldn¡¯t break down now. She knew she had a habit of panicking, of blowing small problems out of proportion, but there was no one left to fix things for her. Only she could save herself. She swallowed her saliva, her voice trembling. ¡°Listen, I¡¯m not sure what you think you heard, but I told you the truth Investigator.¡± She glanced at Ash. ¡°We can all return to the city, and I¡¯ll stand trial there. You can stop this now.¡± In the end, Eleanor was still a noble. At most, they¡¯d be charged with attacking an investigator, and with her father¡¯s support, that would earn her a slap on the wrist at most. He would certainly be furious, and the mere thought of her father¡¯s fury made Eleanor shiver, but she felt it was better than antagonizing this investigator any further. Instead of answering Eleanor, the enigmatic woman tossed a flask to Verity, no larger than the palm of his hand. Startled, he reached out to catch it, and almost dropped it. He wasn¡¯t exactly sure what it was, and found that in it, there was a translucent red liquid which seemed to contain special properties.. ¡° Drink it.¡± She ordered, her tone flat. Without saying a word, Verity immediately drank it. Sure, it could be dangerous, but after seeing what she had done to Ash, it wasn¡¯t like he could refuse her demands. Once the last drop of liquid had gone down his throat, he felt a warmth envelop his entire body. It was soothing, and comfortable, as if he was soaking his body in the northern hot springs of his parent¡¯s hometown. Soon, his wounds closed, his bruises faded and he even felt his fatigue be slightly alleviated. When the effect had finally reached its ends, Verity almost felt like he had been born anew. He felt even stronger than before. ¡°T-thank you.¡± He stammered as he stood up and dusted his torn clothes. She had saved him and even healed him. It seemed he¡¯d survive this night after all. ¡®A high-rank potion¡­? This isn¡¯t some regular investigator..¡¯ Eleanor thought as she witnessed the scene. The woman¡¯s glance lingered on Verity who looked around him, still struggling to take in the situation that had just transpired. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She asked. Verity looked back at her in confusion. ¡°...me?¡± ¡°Who else?¡± She pointed the tip of her spear to Ash. ¡°He¡¯d have killed you if I hadn''t come. Are you just going to keep standing there looking like an idiot?¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Verity¡¯s confusion only grew. ¡°...Thanks for saving me¡­ really, but I¡¯m not sure what you mean?¡± ¡°Do I really have to explain this to you?¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°End it.¡± She said, finality in her words. The air seemed to freeze for a moment. Ash¡¯s eyes widened, and so did Eleanor¡¯s. Their breaths quickened, and to them, the situation had gone from bad to worse. ¡®...What?¡¯ Verity thought, puzzled. His own heart was now racing. The clearing felt colder, darker as she spoke those words. ¡°But¡­ You already defeated him, and it doesn¡¯t look like he¡¯ll get up anytime soon. Is that¡­ really necessary?¡± Verity asked her. The woman clicked her tongue. ¡°So? What happens when he does get up? You think he won¡¯t come after you? You can¡¯t be that stupid, can you?¡± Slowly, Verity¡¯s gaze turned to Ash, and when their eyes met, cold sweat ran down the crimson haired adventurer¡¯s face. It had been a long time since he¡¯d genuinely felt the fear of death. He was powerless to move, so he pleaded with Verity. ¡°Wait! I swear on my honor as a warrior that I¡¯ll never look for you after tonight! You can believe me, our paths will never cross again!¡± His voice trembled in submission, but his thoughts betrayed him. ¡®Just you wait until I get out of here you worthless pig¡­ I¡¯ll skin you alive and feed you to the wolves.¡¯ He would have to endure for now, though, and ensure he could get out of the forest. Conflicted, and unable to make a decision, Verity asked the woman a question. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you kill him then? If you¡¯re so worried about his revenge?¡± She scoffed. ¡°The privilege to step on an ant, but spare the next, is reserved to the one who is not afraid of the wrath of the swarm¡± She paused. ¡°That¡¯s something you cannot afford, kid.¡± The words resonated in his mind. She could choose to spare him because it didn¡¯t matter how, or when Ash tried to retaliate. Nothing he was capable of would ever reach her, and Verity was sure that Ash knew it as well. Again, he looked at Ash, he gripped his spear, and took a few steps toward him. ¡°Wait!!¡± Eleanor shouted. ¡°We¡¯ll sign a contract! It¡¯ll have the Vandervite seal on it! You might not know, but that means we have to honor it!¡± Her smile was shaky as she looked at the approaching Verity. But Verity did not stop. ¡°Is it money you want!? Women!!? Power!?¡± Eleanor¡¯s voice broke, her desperation spilling out. ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯ll give you plenty!!¡± She¡¯d never care so much about another¡¯s life usually, but she felt that if Ash really did die, she would be next. Still, Verity kept walking, until he stood over Ash, his spear in hand. ¡°You can¡¯t do this!¡± Ash shouted. ¡°I can¡¯t even defend myself, how is this fair!?¡± This one was addressed to the mysterious woman, but she did not answer. Verity stared at him, as he pleaded for his life. Could he really kill a person? He gripped his spear with both hands. ¡°You say you won¡¯t look for me if I leave?¡± He asked Ash. A flicker of hope appeared in Ash¡¯s eyes. ¡°Y-yes!! That¡¯s right! I¡¯ll leave you alone!¡± Ash replied, stuttering. [Your sponsor scoffs, ¡®He¡¯s a bad liar¡¯.] He really was. Even without Vera¡¯s input, Verity could almost feel the obvious hate seeping from his eyes. He hadn¡¯t given up, he was a simply looking for his chance. He wasn¡¯t that good with people, but even Verity could tell that if he let Ash live, he¡¯d die sooner rather than later. He hated that the woman was right. Biting his lip, he raised his spear above Ash¡¯s head. Eleanor¡¯s voice grew more agitated. ¡°V-Verity, right!? Name your price, and consider a deal!!¡± Verity ignored her. ¡°Just look at me! Think about my offer first!!¡± She begged. When Verity continued to raise his spear, Eleanor¡¯s pleading devolved to threats. She grit her teeth. ¡°Y-you think you¡¯ll be safe after this!!?? When my father hears of this, there isn¡¯t a single corner of the Terras Kingdom you¡¯ll be able to escape to!!!¡± Her voice faded to the background as Verity put his focus on Ash. His heart raced, his palms were moist, and he felt a tightness in his chest as he continued to raise his spear. Killing a person? Could he really do that? As he looked up at him, Ash realized something and he began to laugh. It sounded almost hysteric. He was nervous, and afraid, but his lips curled into a sneer. ¡°Hahaha!! You can¡¯t, can you!? You¡¯ve never killed someone before!!¡± Verity¡¯s hands trembled and Ash sensed that he finally had a weakness to hold on to. The man before him had never killed, maybe never even really hurt someone before, and that was something he could exploit. Ash¡¯s grin grew wider as Verity continued to hesitate, clearly affected by his words. ¡°Taking a life isn¡¯t that easy, kid! Your first kill stays with you forever! It haunts you when you sleep, and the face they made as they drew their last breath becomes ingrained in your memory!¡± Verity wavered, the little resolve he had gathered disappearing. ¡®Just a bit more¡­!¡¯ But suddenly, Verity asked him a question, his voice quiet but firm. ¡°... Do you remember your first kill?¡± He wondered. There was a pause. ¡°Of course¡­?¡± Ash replied, puzzled by the question. ¡°How many have you killed since then?¡± ¡°...?¡± ¡°Do you remember all of them too?¡± Verity¡¯s grip around the shaft of his spear tightened. ¡°Do you remember their faces as they died?¡± ¡®What the hell is he talking about¡­?¡¯ Ash thought, but he¡¯d tell him what he wanted to hear. ¡°O-Of course! As I said, taking a life is no trivial matter! It takes a toll on-¡± ¡°Every single one of them?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Verity closed his eyes. ¡°What color are they?¡± Ash was confused by the question, so Verity made it clearer. ¡°My eyes, what color are they?¡± Ash froze, and Verity scoffed. A soft breeze passed through the clearing as silence grew between the two. It was almost comical. Ash was about to kill him just a few minutes ago, but he couldn¡¯t even remember the color of his eyes. All that nonsense about guilt, and remembering every single kill. ¡®Trash.¡¯ With one swift motion, Verity dug his spear through Ash¡¯s throat. He gasped for air as blood welled up within his mouth, and before Eleanor even had the time to gasp, the light faded from Ash¡¯s eyes. ¡°Amber. Hard to miss.¡± Verity muttered. [You have slain an enemy.] [You have leveled up.] [You have leveled up.] [You have leveled up.] [You have leveled up.] [You have leveled up.] [You have overcome a dire situation. You have gained experience toward your class.] [Your class has leveled up.] [Your class has leveled up.] [Your class has leveled up.] [Your class has leveled up.] [You have reached a class milestone.] [You have gained a new stat.] The system was speaking in Verity¡¯s mind, but he couldn¡¯t focus on what it was saying. He had killed a person for the first time, and Ash might have been right about one thing, this moment would stick with him for a long, long time. Chapter 20 - Fateful Meeting (4) The blood had flown everywhere. On his hands, mostly, but some had gotten on his face. It felt warm, perhaps soothing in another setting, but the strong smell of iron that came from it made Verity feel nauseous. He¡¯d just killed someone. Ash was no longer breathing, and the light from his eyes had faded. He hadn¡¯t died peacefully, which was made evident from the last expression on his face. When Verity looked into the dead man¡¯s eyes, all he could see was final, desperate anger. Perhaps strong enough to curse him from the afterlife. Verity stumbled back, his breathing quick, and his hands trembling. He let go of the spear still embedded in Ash¡¯s throat. He tried to look away but couldn¡¯t remove his gaze away from Ash¡¯s body as the pool of blood under him widened. ¡®I killed someone.¡¯ It was to be expected. He¡¯d read about stories with this kind of setting thousands of times. Killing someone else was inevitable. It¡¯d have to happen eventually. If not of his own free will, he¡¯d certainly have to do so because others would want to kill him. But he couldn¡¯t even explain how he felt after doing so. Killing monsters¨Ca goblin, or an orc was one thing, but this was different. Ash was a terrible person, greedy for power and with no regard for life, but still, he had his own dreams and aspirations. Perhaps his mother awaited his return, silently counting the days, or perhaps he had a child he needed to take care of when he returned. What about his friends, or his partner even? How would they feel when Ash never returned from his mission? Verity had robbed them of Ash, and he had robbed Ash of everything, forever. His heart raced and his mind spiraled. He looked at his hands, lathered in a thick and warm crimson liquid. ¡®Blood¡­.It¡¯s¡­ everywhere¡­¡¯ As he slowly entered a state of panic, a firm hand landed atop his shoulder, and he suddenly felt a tranquil energy enter his body. The guilt had not disappeared, but he could now at least think clearly. ¡°You¡¯ve done well, kid.¡± The mysterious woman whispered in his ear. Verity couldn¡¯t tell what kind of expression she was making. She then turned to Eleanor, and the young girl jumped. ¡°I¡ªW-wait!! You can¡¯t kill me!!¡± Verity wondered if he was going to be tasked with killing her too. Would the second time be easier? Suddenly, Eleanor showed the back of her hand where a seal was engraved. She was shaking, terrified of what might happen to her. ¡°S-See this.. I-it¡¯s the seal of m-my family!! If I die, they¡¯ll b-be notified immediately and they¡¯ll know exactly where you are!!!¡± By all means, Eleanor should have been fleeing by now, but she still had the composure not to do so. Whether it was Verity or the woman, she had no chance to outrun them. She could only stay here and plead, hoping her silver tongue, or her family, would save her once again. Verity stood up, and marched toward his spear. In the end, he understood what he needed to do. He killed Ash because he could not handle the consequences of letting him live, and so he would kill Eleanor for the same reason. His location might be revealed, but if she returns, then, his death is ensured. His steps were heavy, so heavy he nearly dragged his feet. Verity was exhausted, but he still put one foot in front of the other, and grabbed his spear. Eleanor could see the newfound determination in his eyes. Verity was seriously going to kill her if she just stood still.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I said wait dammit!! Did you not hear what I just said?!¡± Tears welled up in her eyes. ¡°T-this seal will mark you if I die!! You¡¯ll seriously never be able to escape my family!! J-just let me go and I promise I¡¯ll never even think about you again! Please!!!¡± Lies. Verity wouldn¡¯t waver twice. He slowly walked toward her, ignoring her frantic pleading. But before he could reach her, an outstretched hand blocked his path. He turned his gaze toward the woman, an unreadable, cold expression on his face. ¡°Why are you stopping me?¡± He asked her. ¡°She¡¯s telling the truth¡± The woman replied, her soft voice echoing throughout the clearing. ¡°You can¡¯t kill her, lest you want to be chased until the ends of the earth, not that you¡¯ll make it there with your strength.¡± Verity frowned. ¡°And if I let her go, won¡¯t I die regardless?¡± ¡°Yes, you will.¡± She replied flatly. ¡°¡­Then what would you do if you were me?¡± The woman shrugged. ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d think the situation was utterly hopeless.¡± Verity¡¯s irritation sparked. ¡°Wha-¡± ¡°But luckily, I¡¯m not you, and you ran into me, so you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Before Verity could say anything, the woman pulled back the sleeve of her cloak, and a seal, similar to Eleanor¡¯s, but also quite different was revealed on the back of her hand. Verity had never seen anything like it. Eleanor had, however. When she laid eyes on the seal, it was almost as if Eleanor had forgotten how to breathe. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. The color in her face drained, and cold sweat ran down her face. For a moment, she could only mumble incoherent words under her breath, and clutch her dress as if it were a lifeline. Then, having regained a semblance of sanity, she raised the hem of her dress and bowed. Her voice cracked as she stammered out the few words she could. ¡°I-I offer my late greetings to the Duchess, Ev-¡± The woman held a finger to her lips. ¡°Shhh.¡± She said with a finality in her voice that made Eleanor tremble. ¡°Now run along, kid, or I¡¯ll have a word with your father about this.¡± ¡®Duchess¡­? I¡¯m pretty sure that¡¯s the highest rank besides King or Queen, right?¡¯ Verity thought. Seriously, just who was this woman? Eleanor seemed to know, and she was quick to heed the command. ¡°O-of course, Duchess. I¡¯ll leave as soon as the carriage driver awakens¡­¡± Eleanor said, her whole body shaking. ¡®How could this go so wrong¡­!!¡¯ She thought, her mind racing. From the beginning, the mysterious woman hadn''t been someone as insignificant as an investigator. No, Eleanor now knew that she was much more powerful, and much more dangerous. It made sense now. Ash had never stood a chance, no matter how hard he had tried. From the moment she entered the clearing, their fates had been sealed. Eleanor still couldn¡¯t see her face because of the cloak, but she didn¡¯t need to. The seal had been enough. The woman standing in front of her was¡­ Duchess of the Terras Kingdom, and the Heroic rank adventurer known as the Spear of Hell, Evangelina Dreadmoore herself. More than a person, she was a legend, and someone she should never, ever mess with. ¡°Good. Looks like we¡¯re done here.¡± She seemed satisfied. ¡°Ah, and as for the beast woman and the old man, I¡¯d hate for anything unfortunate to happen to them.¡± Her voice dropped an octave as she tilted her head. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to have to get angry, you see.¡± She said as she turned around. Feeling the bloodlust from that last sentence, Eleanor nodded frantically, keeping her head low and her hands clasped together. ¡°Y-yes, of course!¡± She had to obey, or her entire family might suffer the consequences. Content, Evangelina gave a satisfied nod and slowly made her way toward the dense forest which surrounded the clearing. She was ready to return to her original task. As Verity watched her leave, he felt something. It was as though the world itself spoke to something deep within his soul. This moment was incredibly important, it would define the rest of his life. He suddenly remembered the objective of this trial : ¡®Learn¡¯. ¡°Wait!!¡± He shouted without even realizing he had spoken the words out loud. The woman paused mid-step, and turned her head, looking over her shoulder. ¡°What is it, kid?¡± She asked, her voice carrying a sense of curiosity. Verity¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. His spear in hand, Verity ran toward her, and his knees hit the dirt as he bowed low. He had not learnt the proper manners of this world, so he did it as properly as he could. ¡°Please¡­ Allow me to become your disciple.¡± Verity knew that he had met someone who would be incredibly important to him for the rest of his life. He didn¡¯t know why exactly, but he felt that this encounter couldn¡¯t have been mere coincidence. He wasn¡¯t the superstitious type, but he genuinely believed he¡¯d just experienced a fateful encounter. And he wasn¡¯t the only one. In a vibrant forest bathed in golden sunlight, far from Verity¡¯s, Felicia woke up, her vision blurry and her head throbbing. She slowly opened her eyes, and she looked around her, more confused than ever. ¡®Just where the hell am I now¡­?¡¯ Chapter 21 - Queen of the Forest Felicia was still disoriented, and slightly irritated that she had been sent here with no warning, but it all quickly vanished when she really took in the surroundings. Truly, the sights before her were mesmerizing. If foreign and unfamiliar, the forest Felicia had landed in was at least incredibly beautiful. It almost felt like she had landed in the midst of a fairy tale. She couldn¡¯t explain how exactly, but every color seemed more pronounced, every smell that surrounded her more enticing, she even felt an urge to consume the berries hanging from a bush not too far from her. But she held back. Who knew if they were poisonous? They were green in color with a red stem securing them to the branches of the bush, nothing she¡¯d ever seen before, or she knew existed on earth. Plus, she¡¯d always been told not to eat anything given to her by strangers, and this forest counted as a stranger in this case. [A certain being is impressed by your mental fortitude.] [A certain being wants to offer you a sponsorship contract.] ¡®This again¡­?¡¯ She¡¯d been receiving this notification ever since the first trial had ended. She¡¯d read over it a few times by now, but Felicia still decided to open the contract offer and read it again.
Sponsorship Contract Contractor : [-Revealed upon agreement-] Contractee : Felicia Harbridge Duration : Indefinite, terminating upon death of either party Terms : The Contractor promises the following benefits
  1. Regular rewards fitting your level
  2. A rank A, Legendary rarity skill upon reaching level 30/ class level 25
  3. A rank S, Mythical rarity skill once [Sword Domain] has been achieved
  4. A scaling stat increase when wielding a sword.
In exchange, the contractee promises the following
  1. They will fulfill one wish of the contractor, so long as it does not result in the contractee¡¯s immediate or subsequent death.
*Beware that breach of the contract will result in dire penalties to either party. Do you accept?
Honestly, she still wasn¡¯t sure what to think of it. She didn''t know much about this ¡®system¡¯ or this world as a whole, but the rewards did seem good. Her skill with the highest rarity and rank was [Sword Body Enhancement] which was rank C, and Uncommon rarity. Yet, this person was offering her two skills light years beyond what she currently possessed, on top of the other rewards. It really looked incredible, but that condition seemed¡­ strange. She would have to fulfill one wish of her contractor. What could such a being, able to shower her in rewards, possibly want from her? The fact that she couldn¡¯t understand the being¡¯s motivation was what made Felicia hesitate in the end. She was someone who relied on logic, and she knew that anyone who was a functioning member of society functioned according to a certain logic. Of course, different people had different logic, but that could be elucidated by simply digging deeper. It wasn¡¯t as if Felicia was an emotionless, manipulative monster, either, just that she understood social cues very well, and knew how to get along with others by accommodating their internal logic. That is why she did so well at the bank, and also why she would have risen to a credit officer within the next month, had this whole thing not happened. ¡®Ah¡­My promotion¡­¡¯ She thought melancholically. She looked back at the window, and still, it made no sense. Felicia would have understood if the being had asked her to act as some sort of prophet, or enact its will as it deems fit, but the phrasing of the entire thing made it seem that this being needed Felicia, and not the other way around. Like a noble drowning his queen in gifts to obtain more land. As far as she knew, Felicia was no queen, so she could not understand this contract, and so she would not sign it, for now at least. Intruder! Intruder! Felicia stumbled, startled by the sound. ¡®What the hell was that!?¡¯ Human! Evil! The voices seemed close, but simultaneously far. They sounded like children, and every time they spoke, Felicia¡¯s head throbbed.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Pretty human! Not evil! The voices multiplied. They all spoke in unison, but with each sentence, there seemed to be an added one or two voices. Each addition made it more painful to listen to them, and Felicia plugged her ears. ¡°What the hell..!!¡± She muttered. Hurt! Hurt! She hears! She hears!! Human? Fairy? Which? They were growing larger and larger, and the strangest of it all was that Felicia still couldn¡¯t see anyone, or anything around her whom this voice could belong to. The headache grew. Felicia grit her teeth, and stood up. If the pain wasn¡¯t going away, then she had no choice but to fight this invisible enemy. She placed a hand on the hilt of her shattered goblin sword, and channeled mana into- Human-fairy! Breathe!! Calm! Calm! No harm! No harm! ¡®Are they telling me to calm down¡­?¡¯ Her head still hurt like crazy, and she still wished she could make them shut up, but strangely, Felicia felt that she should listen to them, so she stopped her attack. Breathe! Calm! No harm! ¡®They¡¯re telling me to relax? Can¡¯t hurt to try¡­¡¯ If it was going to make this headache go away, she was willing to try anything. She sat down cross-legged, clasped her hands together, and took deep breaths. Feel! All around! Everywhere! She wasn¡¯t sure what they meant, but she complied. With each breath, she tried to feel the environment around her, the rustling of leaves, the soft breeze, the smell of grass, the soothing sunlight, everything. The more she breathed, the more she felt ¡®something¡¯ open up within her. The more that something opened, the milder the headache became. It was a strange sensation, as if¡­ she was accepting foreign energy that her body had been rejecting until now. It was different from the sense of ¡®everything falling into place¡¯ that she had gotten when she fought against that orc, but it didn¡¯t feel bad¡­ The sensation of that energy seen grew clearer, and more potent, until the headache had completely disappeared. Yes!! Open eyes! Open! She slowly opened her eyes, as instructed, and now, in front of her, were a dozen or so wisps of light flying around frantically. ¡®Wow¡­¡¯ She almost felt like a child. Felicia tried to touch them, but they seemed to be incorporeal, only able to be seen. This was disappointing, as she¡¯d have liked to pet them, but she could live with only talking to them. She even thought it appropriate to show her appreciation. After all, it was thanks to these wisps of light that she was able to feel this new energy. She bowed her head. ¡°My name is Felicia Harbridge. Thank you for your help¡­ strange beings.¡± She said. Felica! Harbrudge! Friend! Hears us! Hears us! ¡°It¡¯s uh¡­ Harbridge, not Harbrudge¡­¡± Felicia corrected them. Harbrudge! Harbrudge! ¡°No, seriously. That sounds really-¡± A voice emerged from the trees, cutting through the conversation. ¡°To think a human would have an affinity to spirits¡­¡± Felicia whipped her head to the side. Was there someone else in the forest? Would she have to fight? She rushed to her blade, but what met her gaze, was something straight out of a fantasy story. It was a wolf, at least five times her size, with sky blue fur and emerald green eyes. It was imposing, and Felicia felt that it was stronger than anything she had met thus far, but surprisingly, she was not afraid. Perhaps intentionally, a soothing aura emanated from the wolf, which made Felicia feel at ease. This didn''t mean that she wasn¡¯t startled, though. ¡®Can this get any crazier¡­¡¯ She asked herself. Since the wolf did not seem hostile, she thought she¡¯d show some manners. She bowed again. ¡°My name is-¡± The wolf interrupted her. ¡°I¡¯m aware. Call me Erilsa.¡± It then turned around. ¡°Come, the Queen awaits.¡± Felicia stood starstruck for a moment as the wolf slowly walked away. ¡®I.. don¡¯t even know anymore¡­¡¯ Wide-eyed, she ultimately sighed and followed after it. They walked through the beautiful forest for quite a while. They met a few monsters along the way, mostly goblins, and white-skinned humanoid creatures as well. None of them had been friendly, some even salivating at the sight of Felicia, but as soon as they laid their eyes upon Erilsa, they were compelled to avert their gazes in fear. It looked like this wolf was quite the big-shot around here, which made Felicia more hesitant to ask who the hell this ¡®Queen¡¯ was. Suddenly, the great wolf stopped, causing Felicia to bump into her surprisingly soft coat of fur. ¡°We¡¯re here, walk forward and you¡¯ll find what you¡¯re searching for.¡± It told Felicia before disappearing into thin air, only leaving a gust of wind in its wake. Felicia did as she was told. She couldn¡¯t very well go back in the forest. Those pale skinned monsters, at first glance, exuded a much more dangerous aura than the orcs. She couldn¡¯t afford running into one of those. Plus, if the mystical wolf, Erilsa, had wanted to harm her, she wouldn¡¯t have needed to do it in such a roundabout way. So, she moved forward, and when she exited the trees, what she saw was a lone woman standing atop a rock in the middle of a pond. The woman was¡­ strikingly beautiful. More than Felicia herself, and more than anyone Felicia had ever seen in her life. She had long, flowing hair as green as the leaves of the trees, only accentuated by her eyes as deep as the sea. There was not a single imperfection on her porcelain skin, and her entire body seemed to have been sculpted by divine artisans harboring no other emotion but pure, passionate love. She was perfect. But more importantly, the woman carried a thin sword of a shining silver glow. And as Felicia witnessed her swinging the sword in the air, she realized that even more perfect than she was, was her swordsmanship. It was¡­ more than perfect. Transcendental was the word. She was a novice with the sword, but because of her Sword Genius trait, Felicia could tell immediately. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary person. Instinctively, she drew her own sword, and started swinging it. She entered a deep trance, hoping to imitate a fraction of what she could see before her. She swung her sword over, and over again, until she could grasp every last drop she could before she inevitably collapsed. [Your understanding of the sword grows.] [Your understanding of the sword grows.] [Your class has leveled up.] The woman waving a sword on top of a rock quickly noticed the human woman by the edge of the pond. She did not want to jolt her out of her trance by stopping her sword practice, so she kept going as she scanned her. Queen! Queen! Good human! Good human! No harm! No harm! The queen smiled, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. ¡°I¡¯m aware, young ones. The great spirits have warned me of her arrival.¡± She studied the human woman intently. ¡°...But she¡¯s even better than I had expected.¡± That is how Felicia met her master, Queen of the Forest, Senna Rella, also known as the Heavenly Sword. Somewhere, on a snow mountain, far away from Felicia¡¯s forest, another was experiencing a similar encounter. ¡°Damn it! Why is it so cold here!!¡± Chapter 22 - Top of the Mountain Marco¡¯s awakening had not been as tame as Verity¡¯s or Felicia¡¯s. Instead of slowly coming to, and taking the time to ingest his surroundings, Marco was jolted out of his sleep by the merciless bite of the cold. He had no idea where he was, but could only assume that he had been sent here by that damn imp, and no matter where he looked, it didn''t appear that anyone had been sent alongside him. ¡®Oh fantastic, no really, just great!¡¯ More than he hated the aggressive cold, he cursed the fact that he had been sent alone. He surely wouldn¡¯t have complained if the stunning woman, Felicia, had been sent here alongside him¡­ ¡®What the hell are you thinking about, dude!?¡¯ He shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. He wasn¡¯t some beast, and it wasn¡¯t the time to think about women. Even if it was Felicia. ¡®Is this¡­ the top of a mountain?¡¯ He thought as he analyzed the scenery. Snow covered his legs up to his calves, and from the incredible view before him, he could only be at an extremely high altitude. He looked down, and ahead. He couldn¡¯t see any type of road, or path that he was meant to follow. Still, he managed to obtain a better idea of the setting he was in. He seemed to be at the very peak of this mountain, and he quickly realized that it was no more than one unit within a mountain chain extending for as far as the eye could see. ¡®Can I go down, maybe?¡¯ It was a reasonable idea, but it was quickly extinguished when Marco walked to the side. He immediately understood that the only way to head down from here would be to scale the side of this mountain which stood perhaps just a bit above a ninety degree angle. Marco sighed. ¡®I¡¯m totally screwed, aren¡¯t I?¡¯ And he was cold, very cold. Thankfully, he had a solution for the latter. As a reward for the first trial, he had received a brown coat donned with a hood covered in white fur. According to its description, it was supposed to provide him with moderate resistance to cold weather and increase his defense. He didn¡¯t hesitate to put it on. With a single thought, the coat materialized in front of him, and without wasting a second, Marco put it on top of the black tracksuit he wore as he returned from wrestling practice¡­. right before a lightning bolt struck him. ¡®At least I wasn¡¯t struck by another one before being brought here¡­¡¯ Marco immediately felt warmer as he zipped up the coat, even in the areas of his body that were not covered. He stopped trembling, and though it was still a bit frisky, he at least felt comfortable enough not to complain about it. The coat truly worked as advertised. It almost seemed magical, and it probably was, to be fair. This whole thing had to be magical. Monsters straight out of fantasy books, strange powers, and now he had even become a ¡®Martial Artist¡¯. It was what he had ended up picking during the class selection process. Alongside his current class, Marco had been offered the Warrior, and Archer classes. He did consider them for a moment, as he felt it would have been smarter to at least use a weapon against these monsters, but in the end, he chose Martial Artist. He was a competitive wrestler before being transported to the tutorial, after all, and wrestling was a martial art. To choose that class just seemed¡­ right. The cold now being repelled by his coat, Marco could take a second to think. He seemed to be in the middle of nowhere, with no one in sight, and no way to call for help. So, what should he do? Where should he go? He thought he should check if he had any skills that could help with his situation. Perhaps Martial Artists unlocked a flying skill or something similar at one point, who knew? He already knew what [Dash] did, so he started with his class window.
Class : Martial Artist Level : 1 Rarity: Rare Description : A Martial Artist¡¯s greatest weapon is their fists, and their best defense is their skin. They embody the raw power that courses through their blood, fueled by a valiant heart and an unyielding spirit. Rejecting weapons, or armor, the Martial Artist wagers their very flesh in battle, securing victory through guts and grit. Their body is not a mere vessel, it is their greatest asset. Class exclusive skills. 1st Skill : [Iron Body Lv. 1] 2nd Skill : [Power Surge Lv. 1] 3rd Skill: [Unlocked at class level 10] 4th skill: [Unlocked at class level 25] Ultimate Skill: [Unlocked at class level 50]
He smiled. He was still happy with his class choice, and it was rare to top it off, which had to be good. Still, it wouldn¡¯t be of help to him at that very moment. No new skill had appeared. He had already checked out [Iron body] and [Power Surge] during the class selection process. The former apparently granted him, and enhanced a new stat called ¡®Toughness¡¯. He could imagine its purpose from the name, but since the system didn¡¯t give more information about stats, he could never be sure. The latter, meanwhile, according to the system, gave him an explosive all-around stat increase, in exchange for stamina. He hadn¡¯t tried it yet, and he surely wouldn¡¯t do so on this forsaken mountain. What if it left him incapacitated after use? He wouldn¡¯t want to die buried in snow up here without being able to do anything. He closed his class window, and sighed.. Marco still did not know what to do. His skills sounded cool, but they were utterly useless here. He thought momentarily about using [Dash] repeatedly to cover as much distance as possible, and hopefully find a way down the mountain, but quickly discarded the idea.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. [Dash] cost ¡®something¡¯ within him, and he still didn¡¯t know what. He had just understood during the goblin fight, that the more that ¡®something¡¯ disappeared, the harder it was to stay conscious. If he over used it, he feared he would end up in the same condition that he believed [Power Surge] would leave him in.. By all means, Marco¡¯s situation was terrible.. He sighed again. ¡®When in doubt, just move forward¡¯ That was what his coach used to tell him, though that phrase was usually followed by ¡®then go low and grab his legs¡¯, but that didn¡¯t make the first part any less applicable in this situation. So Marco began his march. After one hour, it seemed to him that the temperature had gotten colder, even penetrating the barrier created by his clothes. He could feel it gradually invading his body and slowing down his pace. ¡®It¡¯s fine.. It¡¯s fine¡­I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll find a path down soon enough¡­¡¯ After two hours, it began to snow. It wasn¡¯t terrible, and nothing Macro couldn¡¯t handle, but it still impeded his vision, and he had to pay more attention to where he placed his feet as he continued along the mountain chain. ¡®Just a little snow never hurt anybody¡­ I think.¡¯ After three hours of walking without rest, the snowfall had gotten more ferocious, bordering a storm. Snow had accumulated up to his knees, making every step he took demand twice as much effort as it did in the beginning. And by that point, another problem had arisen. He was hungry. He hadn¡¯t eaten anything since before wrestling practice, and with all this exercise, he had worked up an appetite. His stomach grumbled, but there was nothing to eat on this desolate mountain. Except his own body, maybe, but they only did that stuff in survival movies. Where would he even cook it? Would he have to eat his own arm raw? ¡®Let¡¯s look at it positively¡­ At least I won¡¯t run out of water with all this snow. Wait¡­ is it okay to drink snow water? Probably, right?¡¯ Marco was an optimistic person. Perhaps he should have been more worried when he landed in this place, in a panic, even, but that just wasn¡¯t him. He had been taught that giving way to negative emotions never solved any problems, it just created more of them. So, he liked to keep a positive outlook on things. He¡¯d find a path down soon enough, and this would end up being nothing more than a bad memory. After four hours, the temperature had dropped even further, and Marco found the tip of his fingers had changed in color slightly, going from their normal hue to a darker blue. These were the first signs of frostbite. He didn''t dare remove his shoes to see how his toes were doing. Walking for four hours by his lonesome in this setting was a challenge in and of itself, but doing so in the midst of what appeared to be a budding snow storm really tested his resilience. How many mountains had he crossed by now? He had no idea, and at this point, his hope of finding a path down seemed no more than a pipe dream. He could barely see in front of him because of all that snow, and the cold made it hard to even think. ¡®Sh*t¡­I¡¯m gonna make it out of here, right? If the imp sent me here just to die, I swear I¡¯ll haunt it after I die!¡¯ Marco thought before a soft chuckle escaped his mouth. If he could still make jokes, then he wasn¡¯t doing that terrible, and that reassured him. The fifth hour was the most challenging. By that point, he could no longer feel his legs, and he wasn¡¯t even sure if he was still walking in the same direction. For all he knew, he could have turned around at any moment and been none the wiser. He had stumbled and struggled to get up more than a few times, after all. He thought of using one of his skills as a gamble, but that was just plain stupid no matter how he looked at it. He was already weak enough as is, and from their descriptions, he just didn¡¯t see how they¡¯d help him in a way that warranted the energy cost. ¡®Damnit¡­¡¯ Marco¡¯s optimism was wavering. He was tired, hungry, and he was losing feeling in his extremities. His breathing was laborious, and every time he had to raise a leg, and push it against the snow to move forward, his energy depleted further. He didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he was reaching the end of his rope. He really didn¡¯t know how much longer he could go on. ¡°I¡­really hope¡­ everyone else¡­ is having a¡­ hard time¡­ t-¡± A strong gust of wind suddenly sent Marco crashing face first into the snow. He sunk in, a few inches deep, at least¡­. But he did not get up immediately. More than five hours he¡¯d been walking. No one in sight, no way to leave, no food, and no hope. Just snow, everywhere. He couldn¡¯t see himself, but he was sure that his lips had turned just from the way they felt. His fingers and toes, even if he descended the mountain and warmed up, Marco sensed that they were done for. Was there really any meaning in continuing? Realizing that he was giving up, Marco tried to push away the dark thoughts. ¡®Just¡­ a bit more¡­ I¡¯m sure something will turn up¡­¡¯ He thought, failing to convince even himself. As if it wasn¡¯t bad enough, Marco also felt that what he was experiencing wasn¡¯t ¡®normal¡¯ weather. The cold felt stronger than it should have been, and the longer he walked, the less he wanted to continue. It was as if the mountain was sapping more than just the warmth of his body. If this continued, he- ¡°ARRGHHH¡± Marco shouted, and in one swift motion, he stood up. ¡°I¡¯M NOT DYING HERE YOU @%$& MOUNTAIN!!!¡± He looked ahead. He knew there would be no one, that nothing could save him, but if he continued to march forward, then Marco was convinced that his efforts would be rewarded eventually. Even if he had to walk for one hundred more hours. As he expected, when he raised his head, and wiped the snow off his face, he saw nothing but the silhouette of a middle-aged man sitting with his legs crossed. ¡®Just some old dude. Don¡¯t be too disappointed. You knew there would be no one. Just keep walking, and-¡¯ His eyes widened. ¡®Just¡­ some old dude¡­?¡¯ He had to rub them a few times, just to make sure he had not gone crazy. The sight refused to change, however. A middle-aged man with a large beard and short brown hair was sitting, shirtless, fifty meters or so, away from Marco. ¡®Is this¡­Am I dead already!? Is this the afterlife!?¡¯ He pinched himself, and didn¡¯t feel anything, which could have suggested that this was indeed the after life, but that could have also been due to the extreme cold. Should he approach? Marco couldn¡¯t look away. This was the first person he¡¯d met in hours. He had to talk to him, right? But then again, what kind of person meditated shirtless at the top of a frozen, deadly mountain? Only some lunatic would do that. ¡®Do I really want to associate with that kind of person¡­?¡¯ He asked himself. Something whistled through the wind. ¡°Hmmm, how did someone like you reach up here?¡± A booming voice resonated behind Marco.. He had never let the man out of his sight, but it was only when he heard the voice that Marco realized that he was no longer there. The young wrestler turned around in stupor, and the old man studied him, stroking his chin. ¡°Do you know where you are, little one?¡± Marco could barely speak, but he also couldn¡¯t simply not answer. He mustered whatever strength he had left. ¡°N-no. I-I¡¯m l-like, s-s-super lost, o-old man.¡± He said, trembling. The man blinked a few times, and then burst into laughter which resonated across the entire mountain range. If Marco had the energy to cover his ears, he would have done so. ¡°HAHAHAH!! GREAT! THIS IS GREAT!¡± The man kneeled, and it was only then that Marco realized just how massive he was. At least twice his height standing up, and just his arm must have been as large as Marco¡¯s entire torso. ¡®Is this guy even human!?¡¯ The most glaring feature of the man, however, was a gruesome wound in the middle of his chest. It was the only scar he had on his body. Marco couldn¡¯t fathom its origin,, and while it had mostly closed, it did not look like it would ever fully heal. Marco was no martial arts expert, and he could not yet sense the strength of his opponents, but just from the old man¡¯s physique, Marco had a hard time imagining what kind of creature could do that to him. It sent shivers down his spine just thinking about it. Meanwhile, the man studied Marco intently, lifting his arms, poking at certain areas of his body, and with another burst of laughter, he stood up. ¡°A Martial Artist who made it all the way up here and ran into me! This is no coincidence! This is fate!¡± Marco raised an eyebrow. ¡°From today onward. You are my first, and only disciple!¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Without waiting for a reply, the old man grabbed Marco¡¯s waist and leaped off the mountain peak. Gerard, also known as the Martial Emperor by most, and the ¡®Meathead¡¯ by a few, had selected a disciple he¡¯d met by coincidence during one of his relaxation sessions. Chapter 22 - New Beginning Verity did not, and could not know what was happening in every corner of this new world. Whether it be the two he had encountered first, Felicia and Marco, or any of the other survivors of the first trial. He did not know of the young man who¡¯d ended up at the doorstep of the magic tower, the older woman who¡¯d found herself captured by cult practitioners, or even the young girl who¡¯d wound up enrolling as a mercenary only a few days after being transported to this place. All he knew at that point was that he needed to learn from this mysterious spear-wielding figure, through any means necessary. Something within told Verity that this was the person he was meant to meet when he was transported to these foreign lands. Fate, perhaps, or simply desperation. Once she¡¯d heard his request, the woman paused for a moment. ¡°..What¡¯s your name?¡± She asked, her tone unreadable. ¡°Verity..¡± He replied, straightening his back. The woman tilted her head. ¡°Sounds like a girl¡¯s name.¡± ¡°...I know.¡± Verity exhaled. ¡°I¡¯ll just call you kid.¡± Verity wasn¡¯t really bothered, he was never a fan of his own name anyway. The way she phrased it did sound promising, however. ¡®From now on¡¯ insinuated that they¡¯d spend more time together. Hopeful, Verity attempted to get a more definite answer out of her. ¡°Then¡­ Can I call you Master?¡± He asked hesitantly. There was a long pause, where the woman seemed to study him intently. Eventually, she sighed, and turned around. ¡°Nah, I don¡¯t take disciples. Sounds like a hassle.¡± She took another step toward the forest, before being interrupted again. ¡°W-wait!¡± Verity stumbled. He knew he couldn¡¯t let this opportunity slip by. The woman sighed again, longer this time, her patience thinning. ¡°Look,¡± She said over her shoulder. ¡°I get it, you want to be stronger. Everyone does, but there¡¯s plenty of spearman ship schools out there. Plus¡­¡± She looked him up and down. ¡°...You might have a half-decent spear, but you¡¯re not even a spearman. You won¡¯t learn anything from me.¡± It was true, what would a non-spearman want with the Spear of Hell herself? Strangely, Evangelina couldn¡¯t see his class despite the high-level of her [Appraisal] skill, but she wasn¡¯t curious enough to ask him about it. She just knew from the shape of his muscles, the way he held himself, and especially the way he held the spear, that he was not a Spearman, most likely not even a combatant. Even if he was, Evangelina had no intentions of taking him in as a disciple. She hadn¡¯t taken one in a very, very long time, and she wasn¡¯t planning on doing so now. She hoped a few words would discourage him, and if it didn¡¯t, she was planning on just leaving without saying another word. ¡®He¡¯s not in danger anymore. I¡¯m sure he can find his way to the next town.¡¯ She thought. But Verity had no plans of letting a few words stop him. He remembered something Ash had talked about in the carriage a few hours prior. ¡°Is the Spearman class imperative to wielding a spear?¡± He asked. Evangelina frowned under the hood of her cloak. ¡°...Not necessarily.¡± She admitted. ¡°But I won¡¯t teach someone who isn¡¯t one.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Verity asked, his lips curling into a smirk. ¡°You¡¯re not confident enough to teach someone without the support of the sys- Terra¡¯s Touch?¡± The words that had left Verity¡¯s mouth created a tense silence. He tried to look into the woman¡¯s hood, but there was only an unnatural darkness covering her face. ¡°I understand what you¡¯re trying to do, kid, but¡­¡± Suddenly, Verity felt a crushing force descend on his shoulders. His knees buckled, and his vision blurred. It was as though a ferocious beast had grabbed the back of his nape, ready to devour him whole. ¡°...Watch your mouth. I am not someone you can afford to offend.¡± Despite the threatening aura, Verity¡¯s grin remained. ¡°It¡¯s only¡­ offensive.. if it¡¯s true¡­!¡± He managed to reply as his head hit the ground. For a second, the pressure seemed to become heavier, threatening to cause serious harm, but Evangelina quickly scoffed, and she retracted her bloodlust. ¡°So young, yet so stupidly bold.¡± She crouched to Verity¡¯s level. ¡°To begin with, regardless of my teaching abilities, I can tell at a glance that you do not have the talent to learn the spear without Terra¡¯s Touch.¡± Perhaps she was right, but that didn¡¯t mean that Verity would simply accept her words and move on. He had already decided that he would learn the spear, and that he would learn it from her. Verity could be extremely stubborn when he wanted to be. He raised his head slowly, staring into Evangelina¡¯s obscured eyes, and clenching his fist. ¡°...That¡¯s what you think, but there¡¯s only one way to really find out¡­Or¡­ are you afraid of being proven wrong?¡± Evangelina stared back at him. She wondered how such a weakling could be so bold. Was it bravery? Or just foolishness? ¡®Those eyes.¡¯ Either way, Evangelina became unable to control the grin forming on her lips.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. In one, deliberate motion, she removed the hood of her cloak, and the first thing that caught Verity¡¯s attention were her dull, gray eyes, like the moon veiled behind a curtain of clouds. They seemed stale, and yet, they also shimmered with something indescribable, of an unfathomable depth that seemed to pull him in. As Verity stared into them, it was as though he was losing himself to their embrace. He couldn¡¯t very well put it into words how they made him feel, and what he sensed from them, but what he knew for sure is that those eyes had seen a lot, much more than a normal person could handle. What came next was her hair, following down like a cascade. They were of a silver matching her eyes, creating a harmony that vastly contrasted her porcelain skin and her lips as crimson as fresh wine. She truly was beautiful. ¡°Don¡¯t stare too hard.¡± She said with a faint smirk. ¡°You¡¯ll make me blush.¡± Verity blinked, snapping out of his trance. ¡°S-sorry.¡± He mumbled, before promptly looking away. Evangelina chuckled, and extended Verity a hand. ¡°I¡¯m willing to see if you¡¯re more than just talk.¡± She helped Verity stand, holding onto his hand firmly, and grinned. ¡°My friends call me Evie, kid, but I don¡¯t have many of those anymore.¡± She turned toward the forest. ¡°Come with me. I¡¯ll decide if I want to teach you a thing or two after testing you.¡± She said as she started walking. Verity¡¯s heart leapt. ¡®Yes¡­!!¡¯ He couldn¡¯t hold back his smile as he ran after her. ¡°Yes, Master!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, I already told you I don¡¯t take disciples. It¡¯d be more¡­ like a teacher and student, so call me Teacher instead.¡± ¡°Of course, Master!¡± ¡°Oi, did you not hear-¡± She turned around to admonish the young man, but when she saw the light in his eyes, she couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. Evangelina¡¯s few friends would say that she wasn¡¯t the most¡­ compassionate person, but even she wasn¡¯t a monster. She remembered what the boy, perhaps no older than twenty-five, had just gone through, and couldn¡¯t bring herself to say another word. Perhaps this could at least help him forget the dried blood that still lingered on his hands. ¡°...Whatever.¡± She whispered under her breath, the faintest of smirks on her lips. She wouldn¡¯t admit it, but in the boy, she was reminded of memories she believed she had forgotten long ago. When the two disappeared among the trees, Eleanor, who had practically been holding her breath until now, fell down, finally able to breathe. This was supposed to be a simple operation, and yet it had gone so wrong, so quickly. Midnight, and the carriage driver, were still asleep, Ash was dead, and Bagua would be getting here soon. She didn¡¯t know what she would tell him once he arrived, and she was afraid of what they¡¯d do to her if they understood she was alone. After all, the seal activated only if she died, and there were fates far worse than death. She glanced at the forest around her. She knew had no hope of escaping the bandits at night, in their home territory, by herself, so she also couldn¡¯t run. She regretted not having bought more communication scrolls before leaving. They weren¡¯t exactly cheap, and they had used the last one to contact Bagua about the change in location. Her nails dug into the earth as frustration boiled over. ¡®Damn it..!! Why would the Duchess be here of all places!! Damn it!! Damn it!!! Damn it! No matter what, Father cannot know about this!!¡¯ She crawled toward the deceased Ash, his blood staining her expensive dress. Frantically, she looked through his coat for the antidote to the poison as she forced herself not to gag. Inferior as Eleanor believed her to be, Midnight was still familiar with the area. If Eleanor woke her up, as well as the carriage driver, she could make up some lie about being attacked, and have the beast-woman lead her out of here. Having to rely on what she saw as such an inferior species rubbed Eleanor the wrong way, but she¡¯d do what it took to survive, even casting her pride aside if necessary. She gritted her teeth as she searched for the antidote, cursing her luck, and most importantly, cursing the planewalker. ¡®If it wasn¡¯t for him, it would all have gone perfectly!! I should have stabbed him as he slept, damn it!¡¯ At last, after searching every pocket, and every inch of his coat, Eleanor found the flask where the purple liquid was stored. She crawled to Midnight, and she pried her mouth open, quickly letting a few drops drip into Midnight¡¯s mouth. Then, Eleanor backed away, and began crying, waiting for the two to wake up. The effect was almost instantaneous. Feeling her head throbbing, Midnight opened her eyes. ¡°Is it my turn¡­?¡± She asked, but she sensed something was wrong when she received no answer. Her sharp gaze first fell on a large patch of charred trees and bushes, accompanied by a strong smell of smoke. Then the sounds of sobs, coming from Eleanor, drew her attention and that¡¯s when she saw it. Eleanor was leaning over Ash, who was bathing in a puddle of blood, and from the smell, Midnight could tell that it was his own. She jumped up. ¡°What the hell happened!!??¡± She asked, agitated. Eleanor could barely speak through her make-believe crying. ¡°I-It¡¯s that man¡­¡± She wiped a few tears from her eyes as her voice wavered. ¡° From the beginning, he was an accomplice of the bandits. He spread the poison throughout the camp, and he¡­ he¡­¡± She burst into a wail before getting the words out. Midnight clenched her fists, shaking with fury. She couldn''t sense anyone around. ¡°WHERE IS HE!?¡± She demanded to know. ¡°H-he left with them¡­He¡¯s gone¡­¡± Midnight¡¯s rage flared and her tail lashed wagged furiously as she tried to constrain herself. ¡°Dammit!! ¡° She spat, her gaze flickering to the still unconscious driver. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wake me sooner!?¡± Eleanor pretended to be startled by the outburst. ¡®Tone it down, you beast.¡¯ She thought inwardly. ¡°I-I tried!!¡± Eleanor cried, her voice cracking. ¡°We.. We were taken by surprise, by the time Ash had noticed, I was the only one who wasn¡¯t affected yet. H-he had to fight while protecting all of us, against that man, and Bagua, and his gang. He¡­tried his best! It was only now that I could feed you the antidote!!¡± Eleanor said as she stuffed her face in her palms. Midnight¡¯s fist was now clenched with such force that her nails dug into her palms, drawing blood. She covered her face with her other hand, and cursed under breath. Still, she was an experienced adventurer, so she pulled herself together. ¡°We¡­ We need to leave the forest, I don¡¯t know how they were driven off, but they will come back. I know of a path that¡¯ll lead us near a small town¡­¡± She looked around her. ¡°I-I¡¯ll grab¡­ Ash, you pack your stuff, and feed the driver the antidote too. Sorry Lady Vandervite, but you¡¯ll have to run, we¡¯re leaving the carriage here. ¡° Eleanor nodded. ¡°O-Okay!¡± She said as she hid a smirk behind her hands. ¡®So gullible!¡¯ Midnight crouched near Ash¡¯s body as she prepared to carry him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She whispered, biting her lip. The driver was woken up, and he was quite frightened as the situation was explained to him. Immediately, after retrieving the essentials such as water and a few emergency potions, the three of them made their way into the forest, hoping to leave its premises before being caught by Bagua¡¯s gang. All were silent as they walked, and that night, for different reasons, both Midnight and Eleanor had similar thoughts. Two silent vows were made under the light of the moon. ¡®Verity¡­ I¡¯ll make you pay for this¡­!¡¯ ¡®Planewalker¡­. I¡¯ll show you what it means to mess with a Vandervite¡­!¡¯ Chapter 23 - By the Light (1) ¡°Achoo!¡± Verity wiped his nose, feeling a shiver run down his spine. They¡¯d been walking for a little over ten minutes, and he¡¯d been feeling fine, so the sneeze felt rather out of place. ¡°Sick already?¡± Evangelina asked. Verity shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­¡± ¡®Is someone talking about me?¡¯ He wondered. Evangelina frowned. ¡°Well don¡¯t get any snot on me, kid. This cloak wasn¡¯t cheap.¡± ¡°Of course, Master!¡± Verity exclaimed, cupping his hand in his fist. ¡°I already told you to call me Teacher!¡± Evangelina barked. Verity, however, only smiled back, which caused Evangelina to grunt in exasperation. Verity had seen this trope before. He would of course never mention it to her, but his new Master seemed to be somewhat of a¡­ tsundere. To him, it was clear that while she genuinely seemed reluctant to the idea of a disciple, she didn¡¯t exactly hate it, or maybe it was Verity that she did not hate. Either way, Verity didn¡¯t plan on calling her anything but Master since she was going to teach him the spear. Evangellina sighed. ¡°...Stay quiet for now, we¡¯re passing through monster territory, and I don¡¯t feel like babysitting you.¡± ¡®Monster territory¡­?¡¯ Verity couldn¡¯t sense anything, but that did not discredit his master¡¯s words. He imagined that she must have had a detection skill of some sort, so he wasn¡¯t going to argue. Plus, he did feel uneasy. The forest was eerily quiet, and the darkness permeating it seemed to contain things that he better avoid. For now, he¡¯d stay on her tail and make himself unnoticeable. In the meantime, he thought that he could finally look at his status. He¡¯d missed a lot of notifications from the system during that battle, and he was curious to see what he had gained from it.
Status Window Name: Verity Age: 22 Level: 11 Inventory: Alias: N/A Class: [Fool Lv. 5] Traits : Unemployed, Favored, Goblin Slayer Skills: [Lesson Learned Lv.3], [Why Me!? Lv.2], [Accumulate Lv.1], [Never Again Lv.2] Sponsor: [-Error-] Stats Unallocated stats points : 24 Strength : 12 (+1) (+4) Stamina : 13 ( +1) (+13) Speed : 12 (+2) Intelligence : 18 (+3) Dexterity : 9 (+1) Arcane : 7 (+1) Agility : 10 (+1) (+3) Foolishness : 1 (+1)
His stats had risen, and it was now obvious to Verity that he had been gaining one point toward every stat for every level up. His strength went from seven to twelve while his dexterity went from four to nine, matching the five levels he had gained. What¡¯s more, his stat multipliers also made more sense. His stamina was the most obvious. The second modifier simply doubled it, and since the value of the added stats had increased alongside the stats themselves for both his stamina and dexterity, it was likely that both of them were also increased in proportion to the base stat. ¡®Since I get three points for my agility which is at 10¡­ then it¡¯s probably a thirty percent increase.¡¯ Verity smirked, pleased by his own mental math skills. The second multiplier was quite easy to understand but his first modifier, on the other hand, was still unclear to Verity. Its value hadn¡¯t changed, and it seemed to differ for some stats. There didn¡¯t appear to be any logic to it, and no matter how hard Verity tried to make sense of it, he could not. He racked his brain for a moment, but ultimately gave up. ¡®Yeah, that one¡¯s weird¡­ let¡¯s put it aside for now.¡¯ He then looked at his unallocated stat points, which had gone from fourteen to twenty-four. Since he was level eleven, that meant two points for every level¡­ plus two free points? ¡®Haha¡­Was I supposed to use those during the first trial¡­?¡¯ That really might have made things easier.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Verity sighed, there was no use in thinking of the past. Even now, he wasn¡¯t entirely sure where to put them, but he was leaning toward strength. He had realized in his fight against the orcs that he could not take hits at all, and that was only further confirmed in the beatdown he received from Ash. Upon any impact, he would be sent flying, unable to even deflect, let alone stop, the blows of his opponents. He really was too weak, in the literal sense of the term. Verity thought that, at the very least, he should be able to receive a blow or two without flying away. And so, he put a few points into strength. He remained conservative, and used up only three points, bringing his strength from twelve to fifteen. As his stat was modified, the sensation was minimal, but Verity definitely felt a difference. Sensing a flicker of power grow in his body, Verity felt a sudden urge to put more points into strength, but quickly decided to hold himself back. ¡®Let¡¯s not make any rash choices.¡¯ He told himself before moving on. While Verity made sure to carefully study his entire status window, what drew his attention the most, was of course, his new stat : Foolishness. ¡®A shame we don¡¯t get more information about stats.¡¯ Frankly, he could not even begin to guess what the stat could do. The others, he could all infer to a certain extent, but this one left him stumped. Foolishness? Really? ¡®First of all, I don¡¯t know if I should take the growth of this stat as a good thing or an insult¡­¡¯ Would it increase if he did something stupid? He imagined that he obtained the first stat point by standing up to Ash, but only one point for all he went through? That seemed rather underwhelming. ¡®No use thinking about it too hard, not like the answer will suddenly pop up in my head¡­.¡¯ He waited for a moment. ¡®Not like the answer will pop up in my head¡­right? That would be way too convenient¡­right?¡¯ [Your sponsor rolls her eyes, ¡®I¡¯m not telling you¡¯] ¡®Tsk, worth a try.¡¯ [Your sponsor chuckles.] Verity could only click his tongue again and move on. He hadn¡¯t expected much from his mysterious sponsor anyway. Besides giving him that ring, she hadn¡¯t done anything useful since the start of the tutorial. [Your sponsor frowns at your thoughts.] ¡®What? It¡¯s true!¡¯ [Your sponsor turns away, ¡®Then let¡¯s see how well you do without me!¡¯] Verity was the one to roll his eyes this time. ¡®Yeah yeah, whatever.¡¯ He opened his class window next.
Class : Fool Level : 5 Rarity: Unique Description : You lack wit, strength, and charisma, but you aren¡¯t without qualities. Where others see failure, a mysterious being sees promise. The Fool is a combatant who¡¯s persistence is their greatest, and perhaps their only redeeming quality. They may be mocked, ridiculed, and tossed aside, but in battle, they are the first to rise and the last to fall. They prove to all that even a fool can turn the tide of fate. Class exclusive skills. 1st Skill : [Accumulate Lv. 1] 2nd Skill : [Never again Lv. 2] 3rd Skill: [Unlocked at class level 10] 4th skill: [Unlocked at class level 25] Ultimate Skill: [Unlocked at class level 50]
He had gained many levels ever since that battle with Ash, and Verity could now say with a high-level of confidence what exactly prompted a class level-up. For him, it appeared that he was rewarded if he went through some sort of hardship. As the system had said, Verity had gained experience toward his class for overcoming a challenge where the odds were against him. While this made it simple for him to level up his class, it also meant that it was highly likely that he would not gain anything from killing goblins, or at least not much. His class was actively telling him to put himself in danger if he wanted to grow stronger. Still, there was an important factor as well. He didn¡¯t necessarily need to resolve the situation with his own abilities. Perhaps that would have granted much more experience toward his class, but as he saw, as long as he managed to get himself out of the situation, his class recognized it as a success. ¡®Maybe even successfully running away would have given me experience¡­¡¯ Could he throw a rock at a dragon, then immediately escape to farm experience? Then again, could he really escape from a dragon set on killing him? ¡®I could have someone carry me away¡­¡¯ Verity shook his head. His hypotheticals were getting ridiculous. He¡¯d have time to properly understand what leveled up his class, and felt that he wouldn¡¯t ever feel the need to look for faster ways to do so. He had no doubt that from now on, danger would lurk everywhere he went. His next stop was his ¡®special¡¯ skill, which granted him sub-skills after overcoming challenges. He hadn¡¯t heard the system mention anything about it, but he might have simply missed the notification, or perhaps there was an update, but the system hadn¡¯t announced it. In any case, he was eager to find out.
Skill : [Never Again] Rank : A Level : 2 Rarity : Unique Type : Passive Description : Fool me once? Jokes on me. Fool me twice? That won¡¯t happen. Effect: Gain resistances or immunities once a challenge has been surmounted. Immunities are absolute, but the potency of the resistance is dependent on yours and the skill¡¯s level. Current Effects [Indomitable will] - Grants resistance to all fear and intimidation-based skills. [Minor Poison Tolerance] - Grants a minor resistance to all substances with debilitating properties. [Painkiller] - Grants resistance to physical pain.
Verity was surprised to see that he had gained a resistance, although disappointed it was not an immunity, but something bothered him. ¡®Hmm, the poison tolerance is listed as Minor, but both Painkiller and Indomitable Will have no level of effectiveness.¡¯ He suspected that Poison Tolerance, unlike the other two, might not scale with his level, as described by the skill. Or, since the system never chose its words blindly, it did scale with his level, but simply at a much lower rate compared to the other two. Would that mean that there is a Moderate, or Greater poison tolerance? An evolution of the skill, perhaps? Also, had the system simply not felt inspired when naming that sub-skill? Minor Poison Tolerance was¡­ boring, to say the least. Verity felt he¡¯d have found a better name for it if given the chance. ¡®Something like¡­Elixir of a thousand poison¡­or Anti-Venom!¡¯ He did not know that venom and poison were two different things, of course. ¡°Why are you giggling to yourself back there?¡± Verity was jolted out of his thoughts, and covered his mouth in embarrassment. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Evangelina rolled her eyes. ¡°Did I pick up a crazy one?¡± She mumbled to herself. ¡°In any case, we¡¯ll be setting up camp here, I¡¯m hungry.¡± They were in the middle of the forest, and it was still too dark for Verity to see anything around him. ¡°Sit.¡± She told him bluntly. Verity did not retort. He carefully felt the surroundings with his hands, until he found what seemed to be a rotten tree log, and sat down. It was moist, and cold to the touch, but it was at least better than a rock. Not wasting a moment after giving her command, Evangelina snapped her fingers. ¡°[Light].¡± And a mote of light appeared in front of her, illuminating the expanse of darkness surrounding them as it floated in the air. ¡°Is that¡­ a skill?¡± Verity asked. He couldn¡¯t help but ask when he was curious about something. ¡°Magic.¡± His master replied flatly. Verity frowned. ¡°You can use magic¡­? I thought you were a Spearman?¡± She smirked. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one who said classes weren¡¯t everything?¡± ¡®Touch¨¦¡¯ Verity cleared his throat. ¡°But still¡­ Without Terra¡¯s touch, swinging a spear seems easier than using Magic.¡± He studied the light intently. ¡°To be honest, I even thought magic itself was a class-exclusive skill.¡± Evangelina sat across from Verity, her arms resting on her thighs. ¡°You¡¯re right about the first part. Magic, at its core, is more difficult than wielding a weapon. Without the help of Terra¡¯s touch, it took me ten years just to produce this small mote of light.¡± She brushed her hair backward. ¡°But it¡¯s not class exclusive, and you¡¯ll eventually come to learn that nothing really is.¡± Verity stroked his chin, still studying the magical ball of light. ¡°I see¡­¡± He tried touching it, but his finger went right through it, which made sense, since it was entirely made of light. ¡®Fascinating¡­¡¯ He thought. ¡°Kid.¡± Evangelina¡¯s voice cut through the silence. ¡°You¡¯re not from this world, are you?¡± Chapter 24 - By the Light (2) There was a long pause. The question took Verity by surprise, and he wasn¡¯t sure how to answer. Usually, in these types of stories, the main character rarely revealed that he was from another world, and kept to the story that he was from a ¡®faraway land¡¯. He had also seen stories where being from another world resulted in discrimination, or even hatred, at times. As those thoughts crossed his mind, Verity remembered Eleanor¡¯s words. He was panicked back then, and barely focused on what she had said, but her voice still echoed in his head. She had called him a ¡®Planewalker¡¯ and had been planning on selling him for obscure purposes. What¡¯s more, Verity clearly remembered her mentioning that because of his status as a Planewalker, he should never go to the Holy Temple. Hence, there was clearly a stigma associated with the existence of other worlders. He could only imagine what would happen to him if he was caught. The more Verity thought about it, the more he felt that the safest option would simply be to pretend he was a lost traveler from far away who¡¯d set out to become an adventurer. It sounded plausible, and it was difficult to fact-check. He had no doubts it could pass as his story, and it would allow him to protect his real identity for as long as possible. ¡®...¡¯ It was, of course, the most logical option, and yet, it didn''t feel right. ¡®...Should I really just lie?¡¯ It seemed safe, and he could always tell her the truth later, when they knew each other better. But Verity shook his head. What was he thinking? Wouldn¡¯t it be hypocritical of him to want to be the disciple of someone he could not be honest with? If he lied now, and she ended up uncovering the truth on her own, their relationship might worsen unnecessarily. Plus, Verity had not sensed any ill intent in the question, just simple curiosity. Verity genuinely felt that she wouldn¡¯t chop his head off the moment he admitted to coming from another world¡­probably. ¡®Anyway, if she¡¯s asking, it¡¯s because she knows already.¡¯ Verity ultimately sighed. ¡°Yes, I am.¡± There was a moment of silence before Evangelina acknowledged the answer. ¡°I see. That explains the strange clothes.¡± She said bluntly. ¡®Ah right, I¡¯m wearing jeans and a t-shirt.¡¯ ¡°And the accent.¡± Evangelina added. ¡°...I have an accent?¡± Evangelina shrugged. ¡°Don¡¯t we all?¡± ¡°Pff.¡± Verity couldn''t help but snort. ¡°I didn¡¯t picture you as the type to make jokes.¡± Evangelina looked away without replying, and since she was not saying anything else, the conversation seemed to be reaching its end, but her tone suddenly darkened as her lips parted. ¡°...Change of plans.¡± The light almost seemed to flicker more intensely. ¡°...If that Vandervite girl has already reached town, then the Holy Order knows of you.¡± A cold shiver ran down Verity¡¯s spine. This was the most serious he had seen her. ¡°...Will I have to hide?¡± He asked. ¡°No.¡± She replied. ¡°I can vouch for you with my authority, but you¡¯ll at least look the part.¡± She looked him up and down. ¡°Let¡¯s start with the clothes.¡± She pulled a pouch from her cloak, flipped it upside down, and three items of clothing fell from it: A gray tunic, brown pants which seemed to be made of linen and a pair of leather shoes. ¡°Put this on.¡± She ordered. Verity raised an eyebrow. ¡°You just carry men¡¯s clothing on you?¡± ¡°No it was for-¡± Evangelina seemed to wince for a moment, before grunting and clicking her tongue. ¡°Just put it on!¡± She snapped. ¡°Yes Master!¡± Verity replied, startled. A few seconds passed in utter silence. Evangelina frowned. She had given the kid the clothes, but for some strange reason, he was not getting dressed. He simply stared at her, a confused expression on his face. Evangelina¡¯s patience thinned as the seconds passed without any action from the boy. ¡®Is this kid slow?¡¯ She wondered. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to put it on?¡± She asked. She expected the boy to snap out of his apparent stupor, but he instead scratched the back of his neck, and seemed almost embarrassed as he gathered the courage to speak. ¡®Seriously, what is up with him!?¡¯ Evangelina frowned, now irritated. ¡°Speak! What is it!?¡± Verity wasn¡¯t sure how exactly to say this, so he took a deep breath and said it the simplest way he could. ¡°...Aren¡¯t you going to turn around?¡± He asked his master.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Her eye twitched. She would have hit him on the head if he really was her disciple, but she held back. She could only clench her fist, and grind her teeth as the boy¡¯s words echoed in her head. ¡°Are you a man or are you not!? Stop acting like a sheltered maiden and change, damn it!!¡± When Verity did not move fast enough, she stomped her foot, extinguished her spell, and turned around. ¡°There! Now change before I really get angry!¡± ¡®Are they less prude in this world or something..?¡¯ Verity thought to himself, keeping his mouth shut as to not anger his master any further. He rapidly cast aside his former clothes, only keeping his underwear, and put on the ones Evangelina had given him. They were old-fashioned for modern Earth standards, resembling the clothing of the medieval period, but, against all odds, they were extremely comfortable. Verity was shocked by how soft the fabric felt against his skin, and the leather shoes he¡¯d been given were even more comfortable than the running shoes he¡¯d been wearing. ¡®Are these made with special materials? Or maybe they¡¯re items!?¡¯ It really was in cases like this, that the [Appraise] skill might have been useful. Verity made a mental note to acquire it as soon as he got the chance. ¡°I¡¯m done!¡± He announced once he¡¯d laced his second shoe. Evangelina snapped her fingers, grunting as she did so. ¡°[Light]¡± And when she turned around, her student reappeared before her eyes. She studied him up and down, scrutinizing his new set of clothes. ¡°Hmph, at least you don¡¯t look half-bad.¡± She said, still irritated by the previous ordeal. ¡°Now, get some sleep. We¡¯ll be passing by a friend of mine in the morning before returning to town.¡± ¡°Yes Master!¡± Verity saluted instead of cupping his hand in his fist this time. He still wasn¡¯t sure which gesture was appropriate, so he was going through all those he knew until he obtained a satisfactory reaction. Evangelina¡¯s raised eyebrow told him all he needed to know. ¡®Not that one, got it.¡¯ Evangelina sighed, and retrieved a large coat of fur from her dimensional storage. It seemed to be the processed fur of a large animal. It bore grand blue stripes and the coat itself was made of silver, as if the animal it belonged to was a mis-colored tiger. She instructed Verity to sleep on it, and so he did, laying down and using his former clothes as a pillow. He was more than happy to get some rest after all that had happened. His body was fine thanks to Evangelina¡¯s potion, but his mind was incredibly tired. He closed his eyes, and he fell into a deep slumber. Or at least he¡¯d have liked to, but Verity couldn¡¯t sleep. As soon as his eyelids fell, the night¡¯s scenes replayed in his mind constantly, especially Ash¡¯s last gargle of blood before the light faded from his eyes. His stomach twisted. ¡®I had to kill him! What else was I supposed to do!?¡¯ ¡®But what if he was telling the truth? What if he really was going to leave you alone?¡¯ ¡®Do you honestly think that was true!? You saw it!! He couldn¡¯t even tell me what color my eyes were!¡¯ ¡®So what!? It was dark! He could have simply missed it!¡¯ "Even then, he was trying to kill you to begin with, don¡¯t you remember?!!¡± Verity shook his head. ¡°Shut up, all of you!¡± He whispered to himself, turning and tossing in his attempt to sleep. Both voices were his, but because of his poor social life, Verity often tended to argue with himself when he was troubled. It had always been a pointless endeavor, as the side that won was always the side Verity wanted to win. Still, he couldn¡¯t help it. He needs to validate himself. Killing Ash was the right choice, and Verity knew that, but despite that, killing someone wasn¡¯t easy. It wasn¡¯t that Verity regretted killing Ash, or thatt he would have done any differently if he had the chance to do it again, but it still weighed on him. As much as he would have liked to, Verity wasn¡¯t like the heroes in those web novels, where the main character who lived in the 21st century was able to murder anything and anyone with little to no moral burden. The most ironic part is that he¡¯d dreamed of this scenario for many nights, fantasizing about slicing through his enemies with lightning or fire covering the blade of his weapon. But now that it was happening to him, he struggled to accept the blood on his hands. Verity scoffed. ¡®Idiot.¡¯ No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t sleep. The image was too vivid, and the guilt too strong. He wondered how long it would take until he was at peace with it. As he was about to curse himself once more, a voice broke through the darkness. ¡°You know kid¡­¡± Evangelina¡¯s voice resonated. ¡°...I¡¯ve lived a life where I¡¯ve had to do a lot of things I didn¡¯t like.¡± Verity opened his eyes, catching a glimpse of her face illuminated by the light. Her sharp features, even further enhanced by her spell, seemed almost melancholic as she spoke. ¡°At times, I had no choice.¡± She continued, her tone even but distant. ¡°Other times, I couldn¡¯t control my own emotions, and sometimes¡­ It was by accident.¡± She brushed a strand of hair from her face, looking into the distance. ¡°But whenever I doubted myself, or wondered if I was the right person for the task, there was only one thing that, if anything, let me forget about it all for a moment.¡± ¡°...And what was that?¡± Verity asked. A faint, almost wistful smile curved her lips. ¡°My spear.¡± She stood up, and pulled the obsidian spear from her cloak. It was darker than anything around them, and yet it shimmered against the dim light. ¡°I swung my spear.¡± She said, her voice firm. ¡°Until I could no longer remember my worries.¡± She began, splitting through the air with a sharp, deliberate motion. ¡°Everyone has their demons,¡± She murmured. ¡° But when my spear is in my hands, at least I can fight them off.¡± She took another swing, and then scoffed, her usual sharpness returning. ¡°Or at least that¡¯s the way I see it. She continued, performing a basic kata with the spear. One she¡¯d practiced at least a million times. Decades upon decades of repetition. Each movement¡¯s precision was surgical, and even though they were merely for show, each strike¡¯s lethality was unmistakable. Verity watched, in awe, despite his lack of knowledge of martial arts. He understood that she was doing this for him, although he felt she¡¯d never admit it. So, without wasting another moment, he grabbed his spear, the weight of it strangely unfamiliar in his hands. ¡°I¡¯ll try it too.¡± He said, his voice quiet but resolute. Evangelina didn¡¯t look at him, focusing on her swings, but he felt faint approval from her. ¡°Suit yourself.¡± She told him. He clumsily imitated her swings, raising and lowering his spear half a beat after Evangelina. They moved together, but they were incomparable when it came to wielding the spear. One had reached the peak of swordsmanship, while the other had barely touched one before. Yet, surprisingly, both of their figures seemed to overlap, resembling each other in more than just technical skill. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Verity said, glancing at Evangelina mid-swing. She snorted. ¡°This isn¡¯t for you, I¡¯m just training. And I¡¯m not your Master, kid.¡± Another swing cut through the darkness. ¡°...But I could show you a few simple swings if you ever feel the need to use your spear.¡± "...I''ll take you up on that offer." Both of them swung their spears until the two suns rose. Chapter 25 - Gorrak the Bold Verity yawned as he walked through the forest, following closely behind Evangelina. ¡®Maybe I really should have gotten some sleep¡­¡¯ He hadn¡¯t dared to ask until now, but he couldn¡¯t hold himself back anymore. ¡°Do you have anything like toothpaste in this world?¡± His stomach grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m also kind of hungry.¡± It had been more than a day since he¡¯d eaten anything, after all. ¡°Toothpaste?¡± Evangelina asked. ¡°Yeah, to clean my mouth, and I¡¯d also need soap to clean my body.¡± Verity continued. Upon hearing those words, Evangelina stopped abruptly, and turned around to face Verity. ¡°Your world must have been quite different, huh.¡± She reached into her cloak, and threw Verity a pill. ¡°Eat this.¡± Then she threw him a few pieces of dried meat rolled into what seemed to be cabbage leaves. ¡°And this.¡± Verity caught both, and closely inspected the pill. ¡°What does it do?¡± He asked. ¡°It¡¯s a hygiene pill. Only nobles use those, so count yourself lucky.¡± ¡°Ohhh.¡± Verity flicked the pill into his mouth, and swallowed it without chewing. ¡°How does it work?¡± He asked, waiting for it to take effect. His master shrugged. ¡°Hell if I know. Ask the alchemists who made it. I just know it works.¡± ¡®So there are alchemists here..?¡¯ ¡°Is ¡®Alchemist¡¯ also a class?¡± Verity asked, even more curious. He¡¯d been wondering if everything and anything could be a class, or if they were limited to combat, or combat-adjacent jobs. Could someone have the ¡®Farmer¡¯ class, or even the ¡®Merchant¡¯ class? Where did it begin, and where did it end? Evangelina sighed. ¡°You really don¡¯t know anything.¡± She pointed to the grass beneath her feet. ¡°If I wanted to, I could rip grass from the earth for a decade or so, and perhaps I¡¯d gain the ¡®Grass Picker¡¯ class, or perhaps not.¡± ¡°I see¡­¡± Verity said, stroking his chin. Evangelina had meant for that to be the end of the conversation, but she could tell that Verity didn¡¯t quite understand what she meant by that. ¡°Walk with me, I¡¯ll explain while we¡¯re on the way.¡± She marched forward, and continued, but not before letting out another long sigh. ¡°To put it simply, Terra¡¯s touch can make anything into a class, so long as you make it recognize your efforts. Different classes have different conditions, and some might only be obtained through sheer luck, or fate itself.¡± She paused, trying to put it into perspective. ¡°You see, I¡¯m a Spearman because I¡¯ve wielded a spear my entire life, but fairies, on the other hand, often end up as druids because they spend most of their lives in the forest, communicating with spirits.¡± ¡°...Then, is it possible to have more than one class?¡± Verity wondered. ¡°No.¡± The response was blunt, and immediate. ¡°To have the benefits of two classes, the only way is to have such a class to begin with, or to evolve your current class in that direction, but the latter is extremely rare." She seemed pensive for a moment. " In my lifetime... I¡¯ve only known one evolved Magic Swordsman, maybe two.¡± Evangelina explained. Verity couldn''t help wanting to know more despite the apparent annoyance of his master. ¡°How come it¡¯s so rare?¡± He asked. Evangelina clicked her tongue. ¡°So many questions...¡± She placed both of her hands in front of her. ¡°Take a Spearman wanting to become a Magic Spearman, for example.¡± She raised one hand. ¡°Their proficiency with the spear is, inevitably, disproportionately higher than that with magic.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Verity nodded. ¡°Well, for the system to recognize their efforts, and grant them the class, they would have to practice and improve their magic without the basic Mage skill [Mana brain].¡± She looked over her shoulder, to make sure Verity was following. Verity narrowed his eyes. ¡°...So they¡¯d learn slower than mages, but why would that stop them from achieving the Magic Spearman class?¡± Evangelina snapped her fingers, reminding Verity of last night. ¡°Kid, it took me ten years to learn the most basic of spells, and for a non-mage, my talent is nearly average." She snapped her fingers again, snuffing the mote of light. "The absolute worst of Mages learn [Light] in no more than a week or two.¡± ¡°So¡­ you¡¯re saying it¡¯s a waste of time, then?¡± ¡°Of course! Perhaps I¡¯d have learned it in less time if I put my mind to it, but in the time I invest taking a step forward in magic, I can take a hundred steps with the Spear!¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Verity¡¯s mood soured slightly as he mulled over Evangelina¡¯s words. Of course, he knew it¡¯d be difficult to learn the spear without the class, but from the way she phrased it, it seemed almost impossible. He clenched his fist, thinking of the future, but eventually sighed. ¡®I¡¯ll deal with it when I get there. How can I worry without even having started my training?¡¯ He almost felt like slapping himself for being discouraged so easily. Evangelina, who had noticed her discipl- no, her student¡¯s expression, cleared her throat. ¡°Ahem, but of course, swinging a weapon around, and harnessing the power of mana are completely different things.¡± She flicked her hair backward. ¡°There are half-decent combatants who don¡¯t have the right class, and with a good enough teacher, anything is possible.¡± Verity chuckled. ¡°Then I should not worry with you as my Master, isn''t that right?¡± ¡°Teacher!¡± Verity looked away, not answering, but audibly giggling to himself. ¡®This damn kid!¡¯ Evangelina thought, before halting her march abruptly, causing Verity to bump into her. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± she said. Verity rubbed his nose, soothing it after the sudden impact. He hadn¡¯t seen her without the cloak, but his master appeared quite slender, toned, at most. Yet, running into her felt like running into a brick wall. He could imagine someone breaking their hand just by trying to punch her. ¡®Her stats have got to be crazy high.¡¯ He looked up, trying to see what ¡®here¡¯ was, but he couldn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Are we¡­? He asked. His master ignored him, however, and spoke toward the seemingly empty forest in front of her. ¡°Zog grath, drozh-urn.¡± Verity did not know what she had said, or who she had said it to, but as soon as the words were spoken, there seemed to be a ripple in the air in front of them. First, a long, lanky, blue arm passed through the ripple. It was vaguely humanoid shaped, but Verity could immediately tell that it did not belong to one. Its fingers ended in sharp, white claws, and there were many strange black markings all around its arm. When the rest of the body came out, if Verity was not sure before, it was now clear that the creature before him was far from human. It bore a long mane of black hair, extending from its head to its knees, and the markings which had been on its arm, also covered the entirety of its body. It was tall, perhaps twice Verity¡¯s height, and its long arms reached all the way to its feet. Upon seeing the creature, Verity felt tense, gripping his spear tighter, and preparing to attack, if need be. ¡°It has been some time, friend.¡± The creature said. Evangelina smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve been practicing human language, Thragnuk?¡± A faint smile curled its purple lips. ¡°Yes¡­ And you have been practicing the troll language, Thrundia.¡± He replied. He then looked behind Evangelina, where a human nervously gripping a spear was standing. ¡°Gruk daz uk?¡± He said as he pointed to Verity. Evangelina had expected the question, and was thus prepared to answer it, but before she could say anything, Verity stepped forward, and cupped his fist in his hand. ¡°My name is Verity, sir, and I am Master Evangelina¡¯s disciple.¡± The troll raised an eyebrow. ¡°You understand troll language?¡± Verity smiled awkwardly. ¡°No¡­ I guessed, from the context. ¡®Who is he?¡¯, or something, right?¡± Thragnuk blinked a few times, and then burst into laughter. There were few humans who could look at a troll without contempt, or disgust. This one had seemed afraid at the beginning, but in no more than a second, he had conquered that fear, and even taken the initiative to speak to him. ¡°I like him!¡± Thragnuk exclaimed. ¡°If he is your disciple, then he is a sworn friend of the trolls!¡± Thragnuk moved his long arms, placing the tip of his nail on Verity¡¯s head without even moving from where he was. ¡°From now on, the trolls will know you as Gorrak the Bold!¡± ¡®Just like that? For real?¡¯ Verity bowed. ¡°T-thank you, Sir Thragnuk the¡­¡± ¡°The Wise!¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Thragnuk the Wise.¡± Verity repeated. The troll then patted Verity¡¯s head with its long arms, another loud laughter escaping its purple lips. This had all happened so fast that Evangelina hadn¡¯t found the chance to intervene. Hearing it all unfold, she couldn¡¯t help but rub her palm over her face and sigh. The kid was more brazen than she¡¯d initially thought, and Thragnuk seemed to have taken a liking to him. Plus, he introduced himself as her disciple, and Evangelina couldn¡¯t very well correct him at this point, especially now that he¡¯d received a troll name. ¡®He got me¡­¡¯ She thought as she glanced at Verity. She shook her head. ¡°Whatever.¡± She mumbled. ¡°Now that you two have met, I need your help for something, Thragnuk.¡± Thargnuk¡¯s attention drifted back to Evangelina, his grin growing wider with every moment. ¡°Zug-zug! Anything you need! By the Authority of the Thragnuk the Wise, it shall be done!¡± He boomed with such force that the trees themselves seemed to sway in response. With a final resonating laugh, he stepped back into the forest, disappearing beyond the invisible ripple, and a voice echoed from the other side. ¡°Let us discuss this over a meal. You might be fine, but your disciple is hungry! Thruk Grash!¡± Evangelina groaned softly. She¡¯d hoped for this to be a quick stop, but if Thragnuk offered a meal, she could not refuse. The last time she¡¯d done so, he pestered her until she gave in. So, she walked through the ripple, a soft sigh escaping her lips. Verity quickly followed behind both, his spear still in his hand. ¡®Is this also magic¡­?¡¯ He wondered as his feet disappeared through the ripples in space. With another step, his entire body had phased through, and what he saw on the other side left him speechless. What first hit him was the cacophony of sounds all around him, the clinking of metal, the distant voices chattering in a language he could not understand, and the wing rustling among the trees. He¡¯d expected some sort of troll camp, with huts made of hay, perhaps, but this was a long way from that. Thragnuk, him, and Evangelina, had emerged on an elevated wooden platform after passing through the ripple in space. As he looked around, he noticed that most buildings were made of wood, or stone. Though they seemed primitive in style, they exuded an air of rich culture and sophistication. Rather than a camp, it was more accurate to call this a village, or a town even. It thrummed with life, trolls of all colors marched down the dirt paths, carrying goods, chatting and some even singing. The town itself was illuminated with lanterns hanging from¡­ nothing. They floated in the air, moving with the winds, and providing light wherever they passed. All of it truly was a sight to behold. ¡°Woah¡­¡± Verity mumbled. Evangelina scoffed, a knowing smile on her lips. ¡°I reacted the same when I first saw it.¡± Thragnuk, already descending the broad, wooden staircase that led to the town, let out a satisfied grumble. ¡°Come, come! There is much more to see!¡± He said over his shoulder. As they went down, Verity was still absorbing the surreal beauty of this place, and a sudden spark of curiosity gnawed at him. He couldn¡¯t help but ask his master another question. ¡°So your name, Master, is Thrundia¡­ The what?¡± She snorted. ¡°First of all, it''s teacher!!" She then wore a smug smile on her lips. "And it''s Thrundia... The invincible.¡± Chapter 26 - A Pair of Trolls As they walked through the town¡¯s main plaza, many heads turned toward the trio. Some couldn¡¯t believe their eyes upon seeing Evangelina. ¡°Thrundia¡­!¡± Others were simply happy to see their chief. ¡°Thragnuk!!¡± But most lingered on the last one, following behind them both. ¡°Thruk¡¯lak¡­?¡± Verity could clearly feel the many eyes on him, and to say that it made him uncomfortable was an understatement. ¡®Ugh¡­this is why I never go outside¡­¡¯ Soon, a small troll, which was Verity¡¯s height, but was still small for a troll, came up to him. His hair and skin was much like Thragnuk¡¯s, but his claws were much shorter and his body was nearly devoid of any markings. Verity wondered if they held any significance, or if it was just a coincidence. ¡°Thruk¡¯lak, draz uk?¡± The young troll asked, stepping before Verity and blocking his path Vertiy raised an eyebrow, startled by the troll, but even though the words were spoken in a language he did not understand, they rang familiar in his head. ¡®draz uk? I know that one¡­.Is he asking me who I am?¡¯ It was a question he could answer, especially since he had received a troll name not long ago. The only problem was how to answer it. Verity¡¯s vocabulary was still extremely limited, and besides ¡®draz uk¡¯, there was nothing he knew how to say. So, he pointed to himself. ¡°Gorrak.¡± Then to the young troll. ¡°D-draz uk?¡± The young troll¡¯s purple lips widened in a smile, and his yellow eyes sparkled with joy. ¡°Gorrak!!¡± he exclaimed before pointing to himself. ¡°Thragnar!¡± ¡®Thragnar¡­¡¯ Verity repeated in his mind. Not sure how greetings were performed in this place, Verity smiled awkwardly and bowed, earning himself a confused expression from the troll, who replicated the motion nonetheless. Thragnar then grabbed Verity¡¯s hand and tried to drag him away to play, but before he could, Thragnuk stepped between the two, his face clearly showing signs of exasperation. ¡°Forgive me, Gorrak. My son is¡­ a curious one.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ so that is your son.¡± Verity¡¯s eyes darted between the two, and he waved his hand in the air. ¡°It¡¯s alright Thragnuk, really, I don''t mind.¡± Thragnuk sighed. ¡°Thank you for your understanding, but Thragnar must learn manners. Give me but a moment to correct him.¡± Verity could definitely see the resemblance now that they stood next to each other. Thragnar really was a miniature version of Thragnuk, even in their mannerisms. As Thragnuk scolded his child for speaking to visitors without permission, Verity locked eyes with his master, who looked at him with a grin. ¡°Look at you, making friends already.¡± She said, a smugness in her voice. Verity looked at the trolls around him, feeling conflicted. ¡°Master,¡± he said. A vein bulged on the side of Evangelina¡¯s forehead. ¡°I told you-¡± ¡°Before I came here, I was forced to kill goblins, and orcs.¡± Verity continued, paying her no mind, and making sure that Thragnuk could not hear. ¡°I was under the impression that¡­ all these creatures were ¡®monsters¡¯ and that they couldn¡¯t really think, not like me at least¡­.¡± Verity could not lift his eyes from the different scenes before him, no different to what he¡¯d see in a human town, and his master listened intently, an unreadable expression on her face. ¡°But now that I see all this, I¡¯m starting to wonder if¡­¡± Evangelina looked at him intently. She understood how he felt, but did not have the words to help him, so she stayed silent, and let him finish. ¡°.... I¡¯m not sure what I¡¯m trying to say, to be honest.¡± Verity sighed. ¡°It¡¯s just, you know¡­¡± A booming voice resonated behind him. ¡°Ha! Do you feel conflicted now that your prejudices are being challenged?¡± ¡°Sort of¡­¡± Thragnuk¡¯s lips curled in a smile, and he began walking, compelling both Evangelina and Verity to follow after him. ¡°Among trolls, there is a saying ¡®Grakk¡¯tar thruk¡¯lak, grakk¡¯tar zu¡¯ak nar¡¯gor¡¯ It means-¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Evangelina interrupted. ¡°Trusting a human is like trusting the suns not to rise.¡± ¡°Exactly! You really have been practicing, Thrundia!¡± ¡°Of course.¡± She said smugly ¡°You see, there was a time where I believed that saying to be true...¡± He then quickly glanced at Evangelina. ¡°But I was proven wrong¡­ more than once. So, what I want to say is-¡± Verity sighed, longer this time. ¡°...Yeah, I get the idea. There¡¯s good and bad everywhere. I¡¯m being naive.¡± The troll chief laughed. ¡°Haha! That¡¯s right! Although, for you to ask yourself these questions does make you better than most humans, haha!!¡± With a swift motion of his long arm, Thragnuk rubbed his hair backward, and turned to Evangelina. ¡°In any case¡­ I did say I¡¯d discuss it over a meal, but it¡¯d be a shame to spoil good food with serious matters, no?¡± Evangelina sighed in relief internally and thanked the gods that he had brought it up. She had experienced how Thragnuk handled business when his stomach was full, or in the process of being full. To put it simply, he didn¡¯t, and she would have had to wait a few hours, at least. Evangelina wasted no time to grasp the opportunity. ¡°The kid¡¯s a planewalker, I need a spell to hide it.¡± She said casually. ¡°You¡¯re just going to reveal it like that!?¡± Verity protested, nearly choking on his own saliva. He was ignored, though. Thragnuk glanced at Verity. ¡°Zug-zug¡­That explains the strange smell on him.¡± The troll chief had already suspected something of the sort from the moment he had laid eyes on the disciple of his sworn friend, Gorrak. His scent was unique, unlike that of other humans. It wasn¡¯t exactly better, or worse, just¡­. Different, and different usually meant other-worlder, at least it did the last time he ran into one. ¡°But why the need for a spell? There¡¯s no way to tell by simply looking at him, and he doesn¡¯t look any different from other humans.¡± Evangelina sighed. ¡®Not like you¡¯re the best at telling humans apart¡­¡¯ She thought. ¡°Something happened, and there¡¯s a high chance the Holy Order will get involved.¡± Her expression hardened. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re familiar with¡­ their ways.¡± At those words, Thragnuk¡¯s face became much more serious as well. It seemed that the Holy Order getting involved was no laughing matter, even for a troll who rarely interacted with human society. ¡°I see¡­ If it¡¯s a priest of Terras then-¡± Evangelina shook her head. ¡°It¡¯ll be a bishop, or in the worst-case scenario, an Archbishop..¡± Thragnuk paused. ¡°...Are you sure?¡± ¡°No¡­but it¡¯s possible.¡± Evangelina replied with a shrug. ¡°Then I¡¯ll need my wife¡¯s help. Good thing we are headed to my lodgings.¡± Hearing his master speak with the chief, Verity couldn¡¯t help but be anxious. Wasn¡¯t the Holy Order supposed to be some sort of religious group? How much power could they possibly hold? He¡¯d seen this trope in novels before, but seriously, from the way the two talked about the Holy Order, they seemed more like a gang than anything. He coughed, interrupting the conversation.¡°...Is the Holy Order really that bad?¡± He asked. Evangelina chuckled, but there was no joy in it. ¡°...You have no idea.¡± She said with a somber expression that sent chills down Verity¡¯s spine. At last, after walking through the streets for a few more minutes, the three arrived at Thragnuk¡¯s house. Like the other buildings of the town, it was made of stone and wood, though it was slightly bigger than the rest, perhaps because he was the chief. The first thing Thragnuk did as he entered, was rush to another troll, presumably his wife, and embrace her. Her skin was of a deeper blue than Thragnuk¡¯s and she was slightly shorter than him, though still incredibly imposing. When she noticed Evangelina however, she pushed Thragnuk away, and grasped her hands firmly, an excited expression on her face.. ¡°Thrundia!!¡± She exclaimed. Evangelina smiled softly. ¡°Zog grath, Grukla.¡± The deep blue troll¡¯s smile grew wider. ¡°Zog grath! Zog grath!¡± Then, it looked as if she remembered something, and she stepped back. As if preparing herself, she took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. When she deemed herself ready, her lips parted. ¡°I¡­ am Grukla..the S-Sharp. I am from the¡­ black-haired troll¡­ tribe, and...I¡­am¡­ very strong!¡± Evangelina¡¯s eyes expanded slightly. ¡°Grukla, that¡¯s-¡± ¡°Wife! You are amazing! Grah znak brak!!¡± Feeling it would fit the mood, Verity clapped, and although the trolls were not sure what exactly the gesture meant, they did the same, forcing Evangelina to join in. When the clapping was done, and the congratulations that were in order were given, Thragnnuk explained the matter with Verity to his wife, and she nodded pensively. They both spoke in their language, so Verity did not understand anything. This meant that he could only wait for them to be done next to his master, who was also intently listening, and participating in the conversation. Eventually, the three seemed to have come to a consensus, and Verity was ordered by Evangelina to remove his shirt. This time, Evangelinamade it clear he better not act like a prude maiden, lest he wanted to suffer the consequences. Not wanting to find out what these ¡®consequences¡¯ were, Verity threw his gray tunic to the ground, and stood there, as the two trolls stared him down. ¡°Znuk Thruk¡¯lak.¡± Grukla said, prompting Evangelina to muffle a laugh. Seeing it from the corner of his eye, Verity made a note to ask what that meant later. Grukla placed herself behind him, and Thragnuk in front of him. Both pressed their long nails on Verity¡¯s skin, and simultaneously, they drew a circle. When they removed their nails, a thick, black circular series of characters appeared on Verity¡¯s chest, and back, resembling the markings drawn all over the trolls. ¡®Huh, so that¡¯s how they¡¯re done?¡¯ Wasting no time, the two trolls then recited some sort of incantation, and the circles began to glow more intensely with each passing second. There was no pain, or even discomfort, but Verity did feel a strange sensation invade his body. It felt strange, but thankfully, it did not last long. When the incantation was finished, both trolls took a moment to catch their breath, as it had drained a significant portion of their strength. Designing a spell that could go against the Holy Temple was no simple task, after all, even for them. ¡°It is done.¡± Thragnuk said with an unsteady voice. ¡°Even an Archbishop will not be able to break this.¡± Meanwhile, Evangelina helped Grukla reach one of the chairs as the latter tried to catch her breath. ¡°Thank you, Thrak uk.¡± She said, bowing slightly. Verity looked down at his chest. He did not feel any different, and he wasn¡¯t sure if he was supposed to, but if anything, the marking did look cool. ¡®I knew I''d look good with a tattoo.¡¯ He¡¯d take a picture of himself if he could. Regaining his composure, Thragnuk threw his arms in the air and shouted. ¡°DROK!!!!¡± And soon after, the feast began. Chapter 27 - The City Gates (1) ¡®Ugh¡­ I feel like I¡¯m going to explode¡­¡¯ In troll language, Thragnuk had said ¡®DROK¡¯ which meant ¡®Feast¡¯, and he hadn¡¯t used the words lightly. Mere minutes after placing the spell on Verity, he had brought the two humans to a grand dining hall where what seemed to be all of the town¡¯s trolls had gathered. Upon Thragnuk¡¯s signal, dozens of plates had been brought out, all holding items of food that Verity had never seen before. Now through the mystical gates of the town, he stifled a burp as he recalled the scene. As it turned out, trolls were vegetarian. Not because of some respect for nature, but simply because they could not digest meat. ¡®Well, that makes them more herbivore than vegetarian, I guess¡­¡¯ Verity mused. In any case, this meant that all the food present was foreign to Verity, as he had never even considered the vegetarian lifestyle, and even more so because he knew nothing of this world. Seeing only greens, beans, and fruits come out, he had been disappointed at first, but soon, a plate with a cube-shaped, chewy food was brought out. It was unlike anything on the other plates, and even the smell was totally different. Of course, Verity had been drawn to it, and as soon as he had put one of the cubes in his mouth, an explosion of flavor took him by surprise. The food, with a name he found difficult to pronounce, had the texture of tofu, but the taste was incomparable. It wasn¡¯t trying to replicate meat, but instead, it was meant to be something more, something better. It was everything tofu tried to be, amplified ten times. To put it simply, it was¡­ ¡®So damn good..!¡¯ Verity licked his lips as he reminisced the flavor. It was to such a point that before leaving, he¡¯d asked if he could have some more for the road, and Thragnuk had gladly agreed, pleased that Verity had enjoyed their culinary staple. Verity reached into a pouch attached to the belt around his waist, and flicked one of the cubes in his mouth, avidly submerging his taste buds in its juices. ¡°Shank yew for the food, Thragnuk!¡± He exclaimed, forgetting to finish chewing before speaking. ¡°Haha! Come back anytime if you¡¯d like some more!¡± Swallowing with a gulp, Verity gave Thragnuk a wide smile. ¡°Oh, trust me, I will.¡± Considering he¡¯d been eating instant ramen and frozen pizza in his apartment for who knows how long, the chances of him returning for such a delicacy were sky high. Truth be told, he was tempted to learn how to make it himself. Internally condemning her student¡¯s gluttony, Evangelina sighed. She rubbed her palm over her face, and she glanced at Thragnuk over her shoulder. ¡°Yeah¡­ thanks for everything, old friend. Give Grukla my regards as well.¡± As per the tradition, the chief of the tribe was the sole individual who could bring in and send off visitors, so Grukla could not be there, even if she was his wife. ¡°I will! I will! Make sure to visit her soon! She¡¯ll know more words by then!¡± Thragnuk said, speaking from the other side of the magical ripple in space. Evangelina scoffed. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll think about it.¡± All appeared fine, and they seemed on the verge of departing, but as he ate another cube, Verity noticed a strange shift in his master¡¯s mood. The air around her changed, and before Thragnuk could close the gate, her lips parted. ¡°One more thing before I leave¡­.¡± Her gaze grew cold, and her tone menacing. She was not emitting any bloodlust, but the casual air that usually surrounded her completely disappeared. ¡°...I trust your character, so I¡¯ve been polite until now but¡­¡± Her fist clenched, and the soil beneath her feet seemed to sink. ¡°For the next time, you better have gotten rid of that disgusting thing you¡¯re hiding¡­or I can¡¯t promise I¡¯ll be able to keep my composure.¡± Reality still rippled before the two humans, meaning that Thragnuk was still there, listening, but he took a moment to reply. Since they could not see him, it was impossible to know what kind of expression he was making, yet, Verity could definitely feel an ominous aura oozing from the other side of the gate. Eventually, Thragnuk chuckled, a low, bestial cackle. ¡°....I¡¯ll keep that in mind, old friend.¡± And as soon as he uttered the words, the gate disappeared, returning the forest back to its natural state. This last moment had been especially eerie. The way Thragnuk had said those last words were unlike anything he¡¯d said before, which had made even Verity uneasy. Plus, sensing just how enraged his master seemed, Verity couldn¡¯t help but ask. ¡°...What exactly is this disgusting thing you¡¯re talking about¡­?¡± Evangelina turned around, her cloak fluttering in the wind, and she clenched her fist harder as she began walking. ¡°...I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s up to, but that place¡­it reeked of demons.¡± He wanted to ask what exactly that meant, but he felt it wasn¡¯t the right time. His master was furious, and she was already using everything she had to hold back. Verity thought it best to at least not bother her with questions. Stolen story; please report. The rest of the way to the nearest human town was done in silence. If they ran into a hostile beast, Evangelina would destroy it, and if they ran into a ¡®monster¡¯ she¡¯d try to dissuade it, and then destroyed it if that didn¡¯t work. She was really, really angry. ¡®She must hate demons¡­¡¯ Verity thought. He wondered if the demon king curse Midnight and Ash had mentioned had anything to do with it. After an hour or two traversing the forest, the city gates finally came within view. Upon seeing them, Evangelina abruptly stopped, and took a deep breath. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m over it.¡± Just like that, she¡¯d forced herself to move on. Thinking any further about what Thragnuk was up to wouldn¡¯t solve anything, and she could always go back if it really bothered her that much. Now though, she had other matters to take care of. Quickly, she removed her pitch black cloak, stuffing it in her dimensional storage bag, and for the first time, Verity was able to see her in full. The first thing he noticed was her cape which rippled behind her. It was of an emerald blue, with inscriptions he could not read written in gold around its edges. Over her cape, she wore armor, and a full set at that, which was surprising since Verity had never heard the clinking of metal until now. Perhaps that was another property of the mysterious cloak. The armor, which left nothing but the back of her joints, her head, and a portion of her thighs, uncovered, was of a silver which complemented her hair, and gold that accentuated the whole. A dragon-like emblem was engraved into the steel of the breastplate, and her imposing shoulder guards were clearly made in the image of one. If her armor was the sun given form, then her spear was the darkness that swallowed it whole. Made of obsidian, its impenetrable hue greatly contrasted the luminescent steel. Staring at the entrancing image of his master, Verity felt as though an impossible union between the divine and the profane was before him. It was as though she had stepped out from legend itself. With a swift motion of her arm, she brushed her hair aside. ¡°You follow behind me, and you don¡¯t say a word unless I tell you to, got it?¡± She told Verity firmly. Still in a daze, Verity stumbled over his own words. ¡°G-got it!¡± With a measured step, both of them walked toward the city gates, and they quickly reached them. ¡°Halt!¡± A spear stood in Evangelina¡¯s path, its polished steel glinting in the harsh midday sun. It belonged to a gate guardian, who was preventing them from passing through. ¡°Identify yourself!¡± The guard demanded. Evangelina lifted her hand, and revealed the back of her palm, earning herself a gasp of disbelief from the guard. ¡°The D-Dreadmoore family!?¡± He stammered His eyes then darted between her silver hair, silver eyes, and flowing blue cape. He paled. ¡°D-Duchess Dreadmoore!!! Forgive my rudeness! Please, proceed!¡± He exclaimed as he lowered his spear and opened the gates. With a grunt, Evangelina walked forward, and Verity followed closely behind. Of course, Verity was promptly stopped by the guard before he could enter the city. ¡®Yeah, I figured it wouldn¡¯t be that easy.¡¯ ¡°He¡¯s with me.¡± Evangelina growled, expecting this outcome. The guard could barely string together a sentence but he still managed to retort. ¡°E-even then..¡± He mumbled. ¡°W-we can¡¯t let him in without proper identification¡­¡± Evangelina sighed, which caused cold sweat to roll down the guard¡¯s temple, and she recited the scenario she had prepared. ¡°He¡¯s a relative of a good friend, but he was a slave of the Empire until now, so he has no proper identification.¡± Verity raised an eyebrow. He was not aware that this was the story they were going for. ¡®I wish we¡¯d discussed my origins a bit more¡­¡¯ Evangelina then glared daggers at the guard. She leaned in slightly, and made it clear that her patience was running thin. ¡°And as I¡¯ve said already¡­ he¡¯s with me, so it¡¯s fine.¡± The guard could clearly see the Spear of Hell¡¯s irritation growing, but he was new to this job, and he was afraid that he¡¯d lose it if he let her through so easily. His hands shaking, barely holding onto his spear, he protested. ¡°S-Still, Duchess D-Dreadmoore, we have to go through the proper procedure¡­¡± Evangelina raised an eyebrow and tilted her head. She had not expected the guard to resist this much. ¡°....Seriously? What¡¯s your name, guard?¡± The guard felt his knees grow weak. ¡°It¡¯s R-Regias¡­¡± He winced with every word, feeling that he was cutting his own lifespan short. ¡°N-new orders¡­ No one gets in without proper identification. No exceptions¡­¡± Frankly, Verity was impressed by the guard¡¯s courage. In his place, he would have already backed off. His master was terrifying, even if he wasn¡¯t the target of her anger, so he couldn¡¯t imagine what it felt like on the other side. Still, the guard was pushing it. ¡®I just hope he drops it before she gets angry¡­¡¯ Being denied access for the third time now, Evangelina¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°So you¡¯re saying my word isn¡¯t reliable enough? Is that it, Regias?¡± The guard stiffened. ¡°N-no! It¡¯s ju-¡± Evangelina raised her palm, interrupting him. ¡°That¡¯s the same as calling me a liar, isn¡¯t it?¡± She said as she looked at Verity for approval. ¡®She wants me to back her up?¡¯ Verity coughed, clearing his throat. ¡°A-ah yes Mas- Lady... Dreadmoore. If this guard says your word isn¡¯t enough, then¡­ well¡­ he¡¯s essentially calling you a liar.¡± Evangelina hummed in agreement, her gaze weighing down on the guard. ¡°Then you¡¯re insulting me. Tell me, what¡¯s the punishment for insulting a noble?¡± Verity thought of many options. ¡°...Flogging? A public apology? Something¡­unpleasant?¡± The question hadn¡¯t been directed to Verity, but Evangelina smiled faintly, forcing herself not to break character. ¡°Yeah¡­something like that.¡± By that point, Regias was barely holding onto his spear. He¡¯d heard that this job was easy, had good benefits, and was relatively safe ¡ª nothing like this. This was a nightmare. What was he meant to do in front of a Duchess? He was just a low ranking knight from a poor baron household, and this whole thing was way above his pay grade. So, Regias went with the safest option, and he closed his eyes. This job wasn¡¯t worth his life, or worse, angering Duchess Dreadmoore. ¡®Damn it all¡­¡¯ He thought. Feeling that he had no other choice, he lowered his head, and turned around, facing away from Evangelina. He then glanced at Verity, and stepped out of the way. ¡°You may pass¡­ sorry for the inconve-¡± Stopping Regias mid sentence, a slow clap echoed form beyond the gate. ¡°Now, now. This is most unbecoming of a Duchess, don¡¯t you think?¡± The guard immediately straightened, and showed a level of fear comparable to what he had felt in front of Evangelina. ¡°C-Cardinal Farey!!¡± Verity did not know who that was, but he could only imagine that it he was bad news. He had barely managed to catch his master''s expression before she masked it, and from a simple glance, whoever this Cardinal Farey was, Evangelina did not like him. Chapter 28 - The City Gates (2) Slowly, a man draped in a long white robe stepped out of the city. He walked with his hands behind his back, and his sharp hazel eyes fixed onto Verity. He most definitely carried himself like a highly ranked member of the clergy, but the faint smile on his lips sent shivers running down Verity''s spine. As he approached, Regias pressed his palms together and bowed his head. ¡°Please forgive me Cardinal Farey, I-¡± The Cardinal, however, had no interest in the guard, and his attention promptly shifted to Evangelina. ¡°What a pleasure it is to see you, Duchess Dreadmoore. It has been quite a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± He said as he stroked his neatly trimmed beard. Seeing him, Evangelina¡¯s eye twitched and she clicked her tongue in irritation. ¡°What are you doing so far away from the capital, Farey?¡± There was clear aggression in her voice, but she still managed to keep her hostility in check. Farey¡¯s gaze flicked to Verity, scrutinizing him with almost surgical interest. ¡°You see¡­ the Holy Temple has received an anonymous tip.¡± He tilted his head, like a predator spotting his prey. ¡°Reports of a planewalker¡­ And of course, we cannot take such matters lightly.¡± The Cardinal marched in Verity¡¯s direction, stopping only when they were but a few inches apart. The man was slightly taller than Verity, and he seemed to enjoy the fact that he could look down at him. ¡°Black hair, eyes of fire, and skin as white as snow¡­¡± Farey¡¯s voice almost conveyed admiration, but there was something unsettling in it. Evangelina tensed, and her stance tightened. ¡°I¡¯ve already told the guard, but this is-¡± ¡°Yes, an enslaved relative of a friend, was it?¡± He placed a hand on Verity¡¯s shoulder with strength that did not match his stature. ¡®Damn, is he trying to crush my bones!?¡¯ Verity gritted his teeth as he felt a tinge of pain. Farey let go before causing any lasting damage, and patted Verity¡¯s shoulder like one would a misbehaving child. ¡°Still, it¡¯d be better to perform the appropriate tests.¡± He said, before glancing at Regias. ¡°Bring the orb.¡± He ordered Regias jumped at the opportunity to flee the two leviathans, if only for a moment. ¡°Right away, your Eminence!¡± He turned his heel, eager to escape, but a sudden pressure weighed down on him. ¡°Move another muscle and see what happens, Regias.¡± Evangelina growled as her brows furrowed. Regias froze instantly, and he held a tear from running down his cheek. ¡®I¡­I should have enjoyed my life a bit more¡­¡¯ He thought. Evangelina then took a step toward the cardinal, the ground cracking under her feet. Her sheer presence made the air around them heavy, almost unbearable. ¡°I¡¯ve already vouched for this man¡¯s identity. Hence, there is no need for any tests, Cardinal Farey.¡± The Cardinal smiled softly, but there was nothing soothing about it. ¡°If it is as you say, then there should be no issues if we perform the test, no?¡± Evangelina¡¯s fingers flexed around the shaft of her spear. ¡°Indeed, but now I feel as though you¡¯re insulting my character, and insulting a Duchess does not come cheap.¡± ¡®Oh! The insult card! There¡¯s no escaping that one!¡¯ Verity thought as he watched the two titans clash. The Cardinal scoffed, not intimidated in the slightest. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, Duchess¡­ but despite your feelings, the law is the law, and I am simply upholding it, as per the authority granted to me by the Holy Temple of Terras.¡± Evangelina¡¯s patience thinned. She couldn¡¯t believe she was arguing with this child, and even more so, she couldn¡¯t believe she was losing. She took a deep breath, and she decided to show him that she could fight with more than just a spear. ¡°You know, Cardinal, forget his Holiness, even the Great Saint himself must compromise with me, and yet you still stand in my way?¡± She tilted her head, giving the cardinal an accusatory look. ¡°...Or is it that you hold yourself in such high regard? Above even the Great saint?¡± A sneer curled her lips. ¡°That would be quite¡­ blasphemous, wouldn¡¯t it?¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡®Ohhh!!! Good one!!¡¯ Verity thought, barely able to keep his face neutral. For the first time, Farey¡¯s mask slipped, and his eye twitched. Even the faint smile he¡¯d kept on his lips wavered, but still, he¡¯d been doing this for a long time, so he composed himself immediately. With a dry chuckle, he passed his fingers through his beard. ¡°Of course, I cannot compare to the Great Saint, or you, who is just as¡­. Respectable.¡± Then his voice dipped lower. ¡°But you seem to forget something.¡± Evangelina raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do tell.¡± His smile grew a little wider. ¡°...This isn¡¯t the mere demand of a Cardinal, but the law of the Terras Kingdom. To refuse the law put in place by His Highness, the king, is to think yourself above him.¡± This time, he took a step toward the Duchess, drawing closer, and his voice was quiet, but it carried a suffocating weight behind it. ¡°...Perhaps that means nothing to you, famed and powerful as you are, but¡­ what do you think will become of a Duchy that rebels against the royal family?¡± Verity grimaced as the Cardinal said those last words. ¡®That¡­ sounds an awful lot like a threat¡­Won¡¯t master lose her sh*t¡­?¡¯ But that was not the case, his master was cal- CRACK Well, mostly calm. A hole with the shape of her fist been created into the city wall. ¡°Fine! Do what you have to do, Farey, but trust that I will not let this one go easily.¡± She spat as she planted her spear in the ground and crossed her arms. Farey smiled, and clapped his hands. ¡°Fantastic! Now, go, bring the orb, guard.¡± ¡°Y-Yes, your Eminence!¡± Evangelina bit her lip as she watched the guard scurry away. ¡®I know Thragnuk said it could fool an archbishop, but we¡¯ll have to hope he outdid himself on this one...¡¯ If someone she¡¯d vouched for was exposed as a planewalker, even she would be in trouble. Plus, though she would never admit it, she somewhat liked the kid. She didn¡¯t want to have to choose between him and her house. Verity shot her a glance. From what he remembered, a Cardinal was supposed to be higher ranked than a bishop, which meant that chances of him being found out were extremely high. ¡®Is this going to be okay?¡¯ He tried to convey with his worried eyes. His master simply nodded, as that was all she could do. ¡®It¡¯ll be fine¡­¡¯ Her eyes answered. ¡®Probably¡­¡¯ ¡®What!!?¡¯ His master looked away. ¡°I¡¯ve brought the orb, your Eminence!¡± Regias exclaimed with heavy pants. It seemed he¡¯d sprinted there and back, hoping to at least not anger the Cardinal any further. Farey snatched the orb from the man¡¯s hands, and he approached Verity with it, his gait slow and measured. ¡°If you really were a slave of the Empire, you might not know this, but this orb is quite special.¡± Suddenly, as he held it within his palm, the orb shone with a bright blue color, illuminating their surroundings. ¡°You see, we all have what we call a ¡®mana signature¡¯, and although they all differ, it so happens that all creatures from one singular world will have at a least a fraction of that ¡®signature¡¯ in common. This artifact was designed to recognize just that.¡± With his outstretched hand, he extended the orb toward Verity. ¡°The test is simple, young one. Place your palm on this orb, and if it shines blue, then it is my mistake¡­ ¡° His smile grew eerie, almost sadistic. ¡°...If it shines red, however, I¡¯ll have no choice but to escort you to the Holy Temple myself.¡± Verity stared at the orb, then at Farey, then back at the orb. ¡°Uh, yeah, totally¡± He muttered, his heart racing. He didn¡¯t really have a choice anyway. ¡®Here goes nothing.¡¯ He thought. But before he could place his palm on top of the orb, he heard a voice in his mind. [Your sponsor coughs, ¡®I would advise against doing that¡­¡¯] Verity raised an eyebrow as his fingers froze an inch from the orb. ¡®What? Why?¡¯ [Your sponsor looks away, embarrassed. ¡®I¡¯m not exactly on¡­ good terms with Terras¡­¡¯] Verity¡¯s brow twitched ¡®...Can the orb find out we¡¯re connected?¡¯ [Your sponsor nods. ¡®If it¡¯s this man, and if Terras happens to be paying attention, then probably, yes.¡¯] Verity sighed. ¡®So if I¡¯m found out, it''ll be bad¡­ Thanks, I already had that part figured out.¡¯ He thought as he prepared himself to place his hand on the orb once more. Due to the short pause, the Cardinal had a slight frown on his face, and was ready to force Verity¡¯s hand on the orb if it came down to it. [Your sponsor crosses her arms. ¡®...Well, go ahead if you really want to, but if Terras finds you, forget torture, or even death, she¡¯ll have those guys destroy your soul entirely as retaliation against me.¡¯] Verity¡¯s hand froze, again, and a bead of sweat rolled down his temple. ¡®That sounds¡­ bad¡¯ [Your sponsor scoffs. ¡®It is. Really bad, even.¡¯] ¡®¡­ I guess you also came with some sort of solution if you went out of your way to warn me, right?¡¯ [Your sponsor twirls a strand of her hair. ¡®Maybe¡­ but if I remember correctly¡­ I¡¯m useless, right?¡¯] Verity closed his eyes, now regretting having said that. ¡®...Seriously?¡¯ Chapter 29 - The City Gates (3) Cardinal Farey couldn¡¯t very well understand what was happening before him. He¡¯d asked the man to place his fingers on the orb, and a mere inch away from it, he had stopped, his expression suddenly turning pained, annoyed even. ¡°What¡¯s the matter¡­?¡± He asked Verity cautiously. With a grunt, Verity raised his palm. ¡°Hold on.¡± He said, not even bothering to look Farey in the eyes. Farey raised an eyebrow. It would have made sense for the man to be panicking, looking for an opportunity to run, but that was not the air he was getting from Verity. The more he looked at the amber eyed young man, the more annoyed his expression seemed, as if he was thinking of something else entirely, not even caring about his current predicament. This made the Cardinal uneasy. He was also putting a lot on the line by antagonizing a Duchess so openly. As Evangelina had said, Farey would not usually find himself so far away from the main Temple, in the capital. In fact, the only reason he¡¯d come here was because he had received a tip from a local Marquis family, who promised him significant rewards, and support in his ascension to Papacy if he personally rooted the heretic out. It seemed like overkill to send a Cardinal for such matters, but they assured him, putting their house on the line, that one other than Evangelina Dreadmoore would be arriving at this city in the company of a planewalker. Even though he¡¯d made the trip, Farey had his doubts, of course, but when he saw the Duchess approach the gate with this man who apparently had no proper identification, and when he saw how aggressively she refused any testing, he jumped at the opportunity. This was a once in a lifetime chance for his fame to skyrocket. ¡®The Holy Temple needs stronger leadership¡­ ¡® Farey thought ¡®Someone unafraid to do what it takes¡­ Someone like me.¡¯ Farey glanced at the planewalker once more and smiled faintly. His expression was strange, sure, but in the end, it did not matter. Whether he chose to run, or place his hand on the orb, the result would be the same. He did not know what preparations they had made, but there was nothing that could fool an Orb of Truth operated by a Cardinal. ¡°Take your time.¡± He told Verity softly. He could wait a minute or two. As Farey relished in the visions of his future glory, Verity¡¯s argument with Vera did not seem to be reaching a conclusion. ¡®In the first place, am I not in this situation because of you!? Why are you being so difficult about fixing something you caused!!?¡¯ [Your sponsor crosses her arms. ¡®Hmph, well then go on and get your soul erased. I don¡¯t care.¡¯] Verity winced. ¡®Wait! Wait! I¡¯m sorry, alright? You¡¯re very useful, is that what you want to hear??¡¯ [Your sponsor leans forward with a grin. ¡®I don¡¯t know¡­it doesn¡¯t sound like you mean it.¡¯] Verity barely held himself from yelling out curses. ¡®Fine. You want something, right? Tell me what it is!¡¯ [Your sponsor strokes her chin. ¡®Let¡¯s see¡­ I want a real apology, and¡­ I want you to call me by my name when you speak to me.¡¯] Verity pinched the bridge of nose and sighed. What kind of sponsor was he stuck with? Why was she so childish? Still, if he wanted to survive this, he had to soothe her tantrum. ¡®Yes, of course that¡¯s what you want¡­¡¯ He then pressed his hands together and lowered his head, which earned him a confused glance from the Cardinal, and Evangelina. ¡®Then¡­Vera, I promise I¡¯m sorry about what I said, I was foolish! You¡¯ve been more than helpful enough!! So¡­ Please help me out on this one!¡¯ [Your sponsor smiles faintly. ¡®I¡¯m not fully convinced but¡­ that will do.¡¯ ] Verity sighed with relief. ¡®Alright, now can you¨C¡¯ [Your sponsor nods. ¡®Of course, and quite easily too. If the orb detects mana signatures, then I can just change yours to match this world¡¯s.¡¯] ¡®Really!? You can do that!? Let¡¯s not waste any more time then!¡¯ [Your sponsor is channeling her power and directly interfering with your world. ¡®Oh, it¡¯ll hurt like hell though.¡¯] ¡®Wha-¡¯ Instantly, Verity felt a burning, searing pain grip the deepest part of his soul. Taken by surprise, he gasped, his knees buckling as an inferno raged within him. The pain was deeper than flesh, and sharper than any blade. It felt like something within, something extremely important, was being torn apart forcefully. He hit the ground, his breath coming in short gasps, and his vision blurred as he endured the torment. This was unlike any pain he¡¯d felt before, and there was absolutely nothing he could do to alleviate it. He could barely hear Evangelina¡¯s startled cry as he focused all of his attention on not collapsing. He gripped his chest, and groaned in pain as he waited for it to pass. ¡°Kid!!¡± Evangelina cried out as she rushed to his side. The ordeal had even startled Farey. He looked down at the man on the ground with a complicated expression on his face. ¡®That pained expression¡­was he having a heart attack?¡¯ He wondered.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. He then bent a knee, and placed a palm on Verity''s back. ¡°Let me pray for you.¡± He said before activating the second Priest skill, [Prayer]. ¡°O Holy Mother of the Earth, please ease this child¡¯s suffering and [...]¡± Verity felt a warm rush throughout his body. He could clearly feel a difference. As it passed through him, the warmth soothed his skin, his muscles and all matters of the flesh but¡­ It did nothing for the agony of his soul! Blood trickled from his nose, and both of his palms hit the ground as he felt another jolt of pain. Farey stumbled backward as Verity slipped from his grasp. ¡°W-what? My [Prayer] didn¡¯t-¡± Enraged, Evangelina pushed the Cardinal aside, and tried to feed Verity one of the health potions she¡¯d been carrying. ¡°And you call yourself a Cardinal!?¡± she barked at him as she forcefully opened Verity¡¯s mouth. But before she could use the potion, Verity took a deep breath, and straightened. The pain had been intense, but also short-lived. Though¡­ He couldn¡¯t really tell if anything had changed, and was unsure how he could verify it. [Your sponsor lowers her hands. ¡®Done.¡¯] ¡®Neat¡¯. He let out a dry chuckle as he painstakingly stood up. ¡°Sorry¡­ haha, it¡¯s a.. medical condition.¡± ¡°Kid, look at yourself! You need rest! We can do this some other day.¡± Evangelina exclaimed as she helped Verity up. Sensing the situation slip from his grasp, the Cardinal tried to interject. ¡°I don¡¯t¨C¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Verity¡¯s voice cut through the air. ¡°it¡¯s fine. Bring me the orb, and let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Verity said, still feeling the after effects of Vera¡¯s help. The Cardinal frowned. ¡®Has he realized there¡¯s no point in delaying the inevitable or¡­ did he do something just now¡­?¡¯ He questioned as he stared at Verity. But that couldn¡¯t be. If someone had used some sort of spell just now, he¡¯d have felt it. Sure, there existed beings who could pass the wool over his eyes, but when it came to the arcane, no such person was present. Evangelina may have been a grand warrior once, but her magic was worse than a child¡¯s. The Cardinal composed himself, and his smile returned. Whatever the amber eyed man was plotting, it would be useless in front of him. With a measured motion, he extended the orb to Verity. ¡°If you say that you are fine¡­ then you may go ahead.¡± Evangelina tried to protest. ¡°Fare¡ª¡± But Verity instantly placed his palm on the orb, and as soon as he did, he felt an energy within him, likely mana, being sucked into it. He closed his eyes. ¡®Let¡¯s hope Vera knows what she¡¯s doing¡¯ And Evangelina bit her lip. There was nothing she could do now. ¡®I can only hope Thragnuk¡¯s spell holds up¡­¡¯ At first, the orb shimmered with a soft blue radiance, to Evangelina¡¯s joy, but the Cardinal quickly injected more power into it. The Orb of Truth¡¯s performance depended on its wielder. The more power was given to it, the deeper it would see. As Farey fed the orb his divine power, the blue light gradually grew dimmer, and although no one could see it, the black markings under Verity''s tunic shone brighter, as if the two were now battling in a tug of war. It was growing dimmer, but it was not disappearing. Rather, it was almost threatening to brighten again, which the Cardinal could not allow to happen. Farey grimaced. ¡®As if I¡¯d lose..!¡¯ He thought before placing his other hand on the orb and sending out a torrent of divine power onto it. ¡°Farey! It shone blue! Is that not enough!!?¡± Evangelina cried out. But Farey did not answer. She wouldn¡¯t interfere, and Farey knew that. If she did, she risked seriously injuring him, and although Evangelina was known to be hot-tempered, even she knew that she¡¯d lose all credibility if she did that. Ignoring her, Farey grit his teeth, and send every last drop of his divine power into the orb. Met with this fervent opposition, the markings under Verity¡¯s tunic ultimately failed, their radiance extinguished. Farey panted as he felt as though he¡¯d managed to get through a bottleneck, and his eyes expanded as the luminescent blue of the orb shined in a dim red instead. His smile grew wider, and he already thought of the glory he¡¯d acquired. ¡°Ah, so it is-¡± ¡®Damn it Thragnuk!!¡¯ Evangelina thought as she pulled her spear from the ground. She¡¯d have to make a choice, and she¡¯d have to make it quick. The situation seemed to be reaching its climax, but as it turned out, the orb¡¯s investigation had not ended. Against all odds, the magic tool¡¯s crimson hue was erased, and in its place, a bright blue glow appeared. It grew stronger and stronger, until it reached its peak, forcing Verity to look away to not be blinded. Farey¡¯s brows furrowed ¡®That can¡¯t be!!¡¯ . Desperation overtook him. He tried to pour the last of his divine power into the orb, in hopes of breaking whatever trick the man had prepared, but the brightness of the orb did not even flicker. ¡°What trick did you pull?!!¡± Cardinal Farey;s voice cracked with fury. But Verity simply scratched his cheek. ¡°Can I remove my hand now?¡± Not hearing an answer from the Cardinal, Verity pulled his palm away, and the orb¡¯s radiance vanished. Farey took a step back, refusing to believe what he¡¯d just seen. ¡°N-no! It was red! You all saw it!!¡± A smile curled Evangelina¡¯s lips as she loosened her grip on her spear. ¡°¡­All I saw was the orb shine blue, quite brightly, at that.¡± She then turned to the guard. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you say so, guard Regias?¡± ¡°D-Duchess!! Are you trying to falsify the results of this sacred test!!?¡± Farey exclaimed in agitation. Evangelina¡¯s smirk widened to a smug grin. ¡°Hah? The orb shone blue, and we have a third-party witness. I think you¡¯re trying to falsify the results.¡± ¡°S-Still-¡± Evangelina clicked her tongue. ¡°Enough.¡± And her palm landed on the Cardinal¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s over, Farey.¡± She said as she leaned forward, her voice now a low, menacing whisper. ¡°I¡¯ve been going along with your humiliation but¡­ if you insist on insulting me then¡­¡± Her grip tightened. ¡°...Would anyone blame me for what happens next¡­?¡± Farey¡¯s blood ran cold, and he found his body trembling against his will. This was more than a threat. She meant it. He had to accept it. He¡¯d lost, and there was nothing that could change that. Nothing good would come out of staying here for a second longer. ¡®Damn it! I shouldn¡¯t have trusted the tip from that backwater family!¡¯ With a grunt, he pushed Evangelina¡¯s hand aside, and he reached for a tool from the inside of his robe. It was a hollow spherical object made of steel. He threw it in the air, and with a flash, what appeared to be a portal leading to somewhere far away opened. ¡°Then...I shall¡­ take my leave.¡± He stepped through, turning back only once. ¡°May the Goddess be with you.¡± Before the portal closed, however, Evangelina left him with one final message. ¡°I¡¯m not one to forget a grudge, Cardinal.¡± Farey paused for a moment, but did not reply. With a click of his tongue, the portal closed behind him. Verity held back a smirk. ¡®That totally worked! Thank you, Vera!!¡¯ But he did not receive a reply. ¡®Has she gone to take a nap again?¡¯ Before he could ponder any further, Evangelina grabbed his arm and dragged him across the city gates. She seemed rather content. A wide smile curled her crimson lips. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you did, but good work kid! I¡¯ll make that bastard regret ever messing with me!¡± The duo soon disappeared beyond the doorstep to the city, and the heavy doors slammed shut behind them. Finally able to breathe freely, Regias dropped to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m quitting this job.¡± He wiped the sweat from his forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll go back home and open a restaurant, like my wife always wanted¡­ Yeah, that sounds nice.¡± He mumbled to himself. Chapter 30 - Doll Evangelina did not waste any time showing Verity around the town. As soon as they had entered, they had traversed the paved streets at quite the pace, and she had dragged him all the way to her lodging without a single word, or a single stop. ¡®Why are we in such a hurry!?¡¯ Verity wondered as he could do nothing but be swept along. Of course, along the way, heads had turned, and gasps could be heard among passersby. After all, Evangelina¡¯s impressive set of armor was far from subtle, and she was carrying a rather imposing weapon. Still, she wouldn¡¯t have garnered so much attention if it was only that. She was well-known around these parts, and it wasn¡¯t that uncommon to see her walking the streets of Plamodel. No, what drew attention the most, was that Evangelina wasn¡¯t alone. To many¡¯s surprise, she walked with someone else, whose wrist she was holding, no less. Ever since that day, the Spear of Hell had been known as a loner who hadn¡¯t even returned to the main estate of the Dreadmoore house in decades. Few had seen her interact with anyone else beyond absolute necessity, and many did not even know the sound of her voice. This was exciting news for Plamodel, a relatively quiet town with little opportunity for gossip. ¡°Who do you think that is!?¡± A woman asked her husband. The man stroked his chin. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ but he seems young¡­¡± His eyes widened. ¡°A bastard son, perhaps!?¡± An older gentleman with a pint of ale attached to his hand spit on the ground. ¡°Ah! You young ones don¡¯t know anything!¡± He swallowed a large gulp, and slammed his beer on the counter. ¡°Look at how passionately she holds him! That¡¯s her boy toy!¡± Thankfully, Evangelina herself had not heard him¡­.probably, but the women, and even some of the men grimaced. No matter how long it had been since she had unofficially retired from her duties, Duchess Dreadmoore was still a highly respected figure. One of the women shot him a glare.¡°...Why don¡¯t you keep drowning yourself with that ale, old man.¡± It had been meant as an insult, but Gunter took it as a challenge. He smiled, and brought the cup to his lips. ¡°Watch me!¡± ¨C ¡°Is¡­ everything alright¡­?¡± Verity wondered as Evangelina slammed the door behind them. She had led him to a remote part of town, and they had needed to cross a few dark alleys to even reach it. In one of the alleys, a wooden door had been embedded into the brick wall. Evangelina approached it, and after speaking a few words, the door opened by itself, allowing both of them to go in. Evangelina clicked her tongue as she fixed her hair. ¡°Ugh, I can hear them gossiping from here¡­I should have worn the cloak before entering town¡­!¡± Verity raised an eyebrow. His previous question had been ignored. ¡°Can I know where we are, at least?¡± he asked. ¡°This is where I live.¡± Evangelina turned away, now looking toward the ceiling. ¡°Lights please.¡± And a set of lamps immediately illuminated their surroundings. Verity took a good look at the place. There seemed to be two, perhaps three rooms, and the one they were currently in was most likely the living room. A worn-out couch occupied most of the space in this one, and Verity could see a lone wooden chair resting next to a table of the same material in the next room. ¡®Is she minimalistic¡­?¡¯ He wondered. Even if she was, this seemed rather extreme. Confused, he scratched his head. ¡°I thought you were a noble?¡± He asked. Evangelina shrugged. ¡°What? You don¡¯t like it here?¡± Verity stumbled over his own words. ¡°N-no¡­ I thought it¡¯d be more¡­I don¡¯t know, grand?¡± He said with a tilt of his head.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Evangelina rolled her eyes. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not. Follow me.¡± Not even giving him time to respond, she led Verity to the other room, with the table and the chair, and then walked toward one of the walls. Softly, she placed her right hand on it, and her lips parted. ¡°Open.¡± Upon her command, the wall split in two, and a long staircase was revealed. ¡®Yeah, that makes more sense.¡¯ Verity thought. They both walked down the long flight of stairs, for at least a dozen minutes, and when they finally reached the end, it seemed another dead end blocked their path. Again, Evangelina placed her hand on the wall. ¡°Open.¡± She said softly. As soon as the wall parted, Verity was blinded with light. He covered his eyes to ward some of it off, but not without letting a groan escape his mouth. ¡°Come in, kid.¡± She ordered. Verity¡¯s eyes still hadn¡¯t adjusted to the light, so he simply walked forward while keeping them closed, and once he could feel the ground¡¯s texture change, he stopped. He heard the wall close behind him, and he soon regained his sight. His jaw dropped as he looked around. ¡°Woah¡­¡± This room was much bigger than Evangelina''s small living quarters. If he had to compare it to something on Earth, it was almost the size of an Olympian gymnasium. Verity¡¯s feet stood on a tatami floor, and on the walls were a plethora of spears of varying lengths, thicknesses, and designs. Some bidents and tridents had even been thrown into the mix. ¡®Is this where she¡¯s going to train me?¡¯ His master walked forward, and approached a strange object lying on the floor in the center of the room. Once she stood above it, she leaned down, and pressed her finger against it. ¡°Stand.¡± She whispered, and Instantly, life seemed to seep into the object as it raised from the ground. Now that it was put in motion, Verity could see it for what it was, a wooden doll. It stood on two feet, its arms hanging at its side, and its head turned toward Evangelina, awaiting its next command. Seeing Verity¡¯s face show a mix of confusion and apprehension, Evangelina smirked. ¡°You¡¯ve been cheeky until now, calling me master however you pleased, but did you forget the condition we had agreed on? Of course, he hadn¡¯t. Verity nodded. ¡°The test, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Evangelina patted the doll¡¯s head. ¡°This is Doll, and it will be the one to test you.¡± Verity pointed to the wooden doll. ¡°...So I guess I have to defeat it to officially become your disciple?¡± Evangelina stifled a laugh. ¡°Ha! You? Defeat Doll? Not in a million years!¡± At a speed Verity could not follow, Evangelina moved and grabbed a spear from one of the walls to then return and drop it in Doll¡¯s hands. ¡°Doll is as strong as me when I was around your age, and they called me the Spear Demon back then.¡± She said. She brushed her hair aside, a smirk still curling her lips. ¡°Your test is much simpler than that. All you need to do is force Doll to take a single step.¡± Any normal person would have said something like ¡®That¡¯s it?¡¯ , but Verity wasn¡¯t stupid. He¡¯d seen this trope way too many times. This thing¡­Doll¡­. had to be monstrously powerful, and as it stood, he still didn¡¯t know how to even use a spear. Plus, Evangelina had said that Doll was as powerful as her when she was Verity¡¯s age. He frowned. ¡°...You¡¯re not going to teach me anything first?¡± Evangelina shook her head. ¡°Of course not. This isn¡¯t an academy. I have no obligation to prepare you for a test.¡± ¡°B-¡± She pointed to a door on their left. ¡°Still¡­I¡¯m not a monster. That room is filled with health and mana potions. There should also be enough rations to last you a month, maybe a month and a half if you¡¯re careful.¡± She stepped away from Doll, and approached Verity. ¡°Doll will never leave the circle in the center of this room. You have as many attempts as you¡¯d like, and you can use any method that comes to mind.¡± An ominous smile covered her lips. ¡°The only condition is that you cannot leave this place until you surrender, or until you defeat Doll.¡± She patted Verity¡¯s shoulder and headed toward the exit. ¡°Wait!¡± Verity exclaimed. Evangelina stopped. ¡®Has he realized there¡¯s no hope?¡¯ She thought. Evangelina believed that It would be better if he gave up now. As soon as she¡¯d seen him, she had already assessed Verity as someone with slightly below-average talent when it came to wielding the spear. From the beginning, the test¡¯s purpose was just for him to understand that. But that wasn¡¯t the case. Verity wasn¡¯t going to let this chance go, no matter how likely it was that Doll was an impossible opponent. Rather, he seemed embarrassed as he tried to find the right words. ¡°How do I¡­ relieve myself.?¡± He finally asked. Evangelina took a second to reply and eventually pointed to the wall opposite the exit. ¡°There¡¯s¡­ a waste disposal unit over there¡­¡± Then, she took a few more steps, and the walls closed behind her, leaving Verity alone in the room with Doll. His test had officially begun. Covering her mouth, Evangelina leaned against the cold stone of her underground training room, and a stifled chuckle escaped her mouth. ¡®Seriously? ¡®How do I relieve myself?¡¯ Pff¡­. I thought he¡¯d give up¡­ or ask for pointers at least¡­¡¯ She threw her head back, and let out a long sigh. ¡°If only I had just a bit longer¡­ I could have taken time to train him¡­¡± She whispered to herself. Chapter 31 - An Insurmountable Wall Verity stood in the training room, facing the doll, and considered his options. His spear, which he had never let go of, was still in his hand, so he had no need for the myriad of weapons on the walls. He had had his fill of food thanks to Thragnuk, and he was pretty much in top condition as far as he was concerned. He stared at the doll, and it stared back, or that¡¯s what it looked like. It had no eyes, so it was hard to tell. ¡®She said I had to force it to take a step¡­ As in take a step outside of the circle, or did she mean it literally?¡¯ He stroked his chin. ¡®In a lot of sports¡­ pivoting isn¡¯t considered ¡®taking a step¡¯, is it the same here too¡­?¡¯ He wondered. Verity approached Doll cautiously, until he stood an inch from the circle it was forbidden from leaving, which seemed pointless now that he thought about it. If it couldn''t move anyway, what was the point of keeping it confined inside of this circle? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to attack me?¡± Verity asked, but Doll did not reply. As a matter of fact, it did not react at all. If he didn¡¯t know any better, Verity could have very well confused Doll for some sort of contemporary sculpture. ¡®I see¡­ So it probably won¡¯t do anything to me as long as I don¡¯t enter its zone.¡¯ He then had an idea. Stepping back slightly, Verity lifted his spear, and pointed it toward the human-like doll. ¡°That feels like cheating¡­¡± He muttered. Since almost a day had passed, his spear¡¯s powerful enchantment, Vow of Fire, should be usable again. From what he remembered, the conjured flames could not be taken lightly, even giving Ash some trouble, given he was caught by surprise. Plus, wasn¡¯t this thing made of wood? Even if said wood was of a special kind, fire of that strength should at least do decent damage. Since Doll couldn¡¯t leave the circle, or move, It had no choice but to endure Verity¡¯s attack. Then, Verity could use that same attack every day for as long as it took to bring it down. ¡®Genius, if I do say so myself.¡¯ In the gaming community, which he¡¯d been an avid member of, this kind of strategy was referred to as ¡®cheesing¡¯. Surely, Evangelina wouldn¡¯t expect something so shameless from someone trying to become a Spearman but¡­ who cared!? She should have made the rules clearer if she truly wanted him to fight Doll properly. ¡°... Besides, she did say I could use any method I¡¯d like!¡± He whispered to himself as he channeled mana into the spear¡¯s enchantment. ¡®[Vow of fire]!¡¯ As he thought of activating the effect, Verity¡¯s inner energy drained, flowing into his spear. Soon after, a large spiral of flames was released form his weapon, comparable to the one he had shot in the forest. It was power that did not match Verity¡¯s level, and was entirely due to the skill of the blacksmith who¡¯d forged the spear, but since the spear was his, it was now his power. The flames burst forth in Doll¡¯s direction, merciless and with the intent to scorch everything in their path. Still, Doll did not panic, not that it could even if it wanted to. No, instead, it lowered its center of gravity, and it raised the spear Evangelina had given it. With a firm grip, its hands held the wooden spear with the blunted tip high, and it watched as the flames approached it. Verity could only frown as he observed the clash. He was still fairly confident the attack would do some damage, but the doll¡¯s calmness made it uneasy, even if it literally could not display any other emotion.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. When the inferno was but an inch from Doll, the magic artifact flexed its artificial muscles, and at a speed that made the air whistle, it swung. BOOM The attack had literally split the air apart, and everything with it. In an instant, the flames had been extinguished like the fire from a candle and worst of all, Doll was utterly unscathed. Verity¡¯s eyes widened. To him, it didn¡¯t even seem as though Doll had put any real effort behind that attack. ¡°Well sh*t¡­¡± Verity whispered as he gripped his spear tighter. ¡°You didn¡¯t think it¡¯d be that easy would you¡­¡± Evangelina said as she watched him through one of the magical devices planted in the room. Evidently, this trial would be much more difficult than Verity had initially thought it to be. Left with no other choice, for the first week, Verity entered the circle, and attempted the trial as it was meant to be. Tens of times per day, he¡¯d face Doll¡­ and be immediately defeated. At the end of the day, he¡¯d be riddled with bruises, cuts, and a sore body. By the end of week one, Verity had faced Doll at least five hundred times, and not once had he lasted more than one move against the opponent. Verity could barely understand what it did at first, much less react, but after putting half of his free points into dexterity, strength, and agility he began at least understanding what was happening to him It was simple, really. Doll was much, much better than he was. No matter what angle he came from, no matter what he did, Doll simply brushed his spear aside, and countered flawlessly. There was simply nothing he could do, and even if he thought about it, he couldn¡¯t come up with a way to respond. On his last attempt of the seventh day, Verity dropped to the ground, and sighed. Doll looked at him indifferently, its spear in its hand, waiting for Verity¡¯s next attempt. ¡®I guess I¡¯m really not talented with the spear¡­¡¯ Verity thought. On the other side, Evangelina, who had been following Verity¡¯s progress, closed her display. She¡¯d wanted to monitor the first few days, but she¡¯d seen what she needed to. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s as I expected.¡± She mumbled. ¡°This kid won¡¯t be able to defeat Doll.¡± Even though she trusted her judgment, she still held a glimmer of hope in her heart that Verity would prove her wrong. That he would show her something unexpected, or awaken his talent for the spear through real combat experience. In fact, somewhere deep within her, she had wanted such a thing to happen. But she had to accept reality. Mindless repetition wasn¡¯t a way to learn, and she knew that Verity would not overcome her trial. She stood up from her chair, put her magical cloak on, and left her apartment. She¡¯d put her business aside for Verity, but there were still many things she needed to do. Plus, many people had decided to offend her lately, perhaps forgetting who she was. These people needed to be put back in their place. ¡®Starting with that Gunter kid and his foul mouth¡­!¡¯ Feeling an inexplicable heaviness in her heart, she slammed the door behind her, and left her lodging, leaving Verity behind. She¡¯d be back in three weeks to let him out. Verity, who was still sitting on the ground, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled. Evangelina was no longer there to see it, but Verity was far from giving up. Rather, he felt as though he had to overcome this challenge, and the system¡¯s voice which buzzed in his ear only emphasized that feeling.. [You are engaging in a challenge where the odds are stacked against you.] [You have gained experience toward your class.] Everytime he stepped into the circle, this message played in his mind. So what if he couldn¡¯t do anything to Doll yet? So what if an immovable wall stood before him? So what if Evangelina herself didn''t believe in him? Verity had already decided he¡¯d pass this trial, and so he would. When he set his mind on something, it was very hard for Verity to let go, and he had set his mind on being Evangelina¡¯s disciple. It was clear he had no talent for the spear, that much he could not deny. Yet, his combat prowess was never his selling point in the first place, and that was not why he had been given the Fool class. If facing Doll a hundred times per day was not enough, then he would face it a thousand times. If that was not enough, then he would do so then thousand times per day. Imperceptibly, his eyes shined brighter, a fire dancing in them. ¡°Let¡¯s see which one of us will fall first¡­!!¡± He shot at Doll. He dumped the rest of his points into stamina, his stat with the greatest multiplier, and he stepped into the circle. And so time passed. Two months later, somewhere far away, an exquisitely beautiful fairy with viridescent hair, and a large scar spanning both of her eyes sat next to a tree, watching over a human woman swinging her longsword. A wolf spirit lay down beside her. ¡°What do you think, Erilsa?¡± The fairy asked. ¡°....She¡¯s a monster.¡± Chapter 32 - To the Capital (1) Felicia¡¯s sword flew through the air as she repeated her usual training routine. Her breath was even, her movements graceful, and her face calm, but she always poured all of her being behind every swing. Whether it was meant to split the leaves in front of her, or to bring down an ogre, Felica always swung her sword sincerely. ¡®Sharper, more precise¡­better..!¡¯ She repeated those words constantly as she trained. When Felicia performed her last movement, a gust of wind brushed past both Sinna Rella and Erilsa. As she fixed her hair, the glowing energy which had been surrounding her sword dimmed, and her blade soon found itself in its sheath. Felica then turned to the Queen of the Forest, and bowed, her fists pressed against each other. ¡°How was it, Master?¡± Sinna smiled softly. ¡°Magnificent.¡± She stood up, slowly walking toward Felica. ¡°You still have much to learn, but to think you¡¯d manifest aura already¡­¡± Erilsa scoffed. ¡°Two months¡­That¡¯s even faster than you, Sinna.¡± In the past two months, Felica had trained restlessly with Sinna, and Erilsa at times, which she now knew to be this forest¡¯s Guardian Beast. She had been swept by the moment upon their first meeting, but Felicia had had a hard time shaking the unease of training under a complete stranger. She knew nothing of this place, and although speaking animals -or spirits- weren¡¯t enough to surprise her anymore, she couldn¡¯t say that she had felt comfortable. Upon their initial meeting, Sinna had been the one to approach Felicia and request to become her Master. Of course, this only made the young woman even more apprehensive. What could this person want from her? It was already clear to Felica that Sinna¡¯s swordsmanship was unfathomable, but what reason would she have to share it with a complete stranger? The Queen¡¯s explanation had been convincing, however. The Heavenly sword needed a successor, and the reason was simple. Sinna Rella had immediately noticed Felicia¡¯s unease when they had first spoken to each other, and she had quickly identified the reason. So, with a measured movement of her palm, she had removed an inconspicuous mask which had covered her face. What Felicia had seen under it had almost made her gasp. Under the mask which displayed deep blue eyes that soothed any who looked upon them, rested a deep scar. It spanned the entire top half of her face, and as Sinna had explained, it was the scar that had made her blind. A vestige from a battle that had occurred decades prior. And a wound that made it so that she would never perfect her swordsmanship. She compensated with aura, her spatial awareness and a detection skill, but the wound could not be healed, and her eyes could not be replaced. Sinna had accepted it long ago. She would never reach the summit of swordsmanship she had so often dreamed of, and she did not know of a person with sufficient talent to pursue that goal¡­ until Felica had run into her, that is. The spirits had warned her, but it was only when she saw Felicia in action that Sinna firmly believed that they were meant to meet. It was fate, Sinna was meant to teach the human woman. Hearing her master¡¯s praise, Felicia smiled back. ¡°So then¡­ Is today the day I can leave the forest?¡± She asked, her eyes glinting with hope. She¡¯d been informed about the world¡¯s outlook on other worlders, and the consequences she may face if she did not have the strength to protect herself. That¡¯s why she¡¯d confined herself to this forest for two whole months, despite her burning desire to find others from Earth and to know more about this strange place. Of course, Sinna had made sure that Felicia¡¯s mana signature was masked, using the magic of a trusted elf, but even with this safety measure, she was still hesitant when it came to that topic. Sinna sighed, and placed a hand on Felicia''s shoulder. ¡°...Do you wish to see your friends, my disciple?¡± Felicia shrugged. ¡°Yes¡­ but I also want to see what¡¯s out there.¡± Sinna let go of Felicia¡¯s shoulder and turned around, an unreadable expression covering her face. ¡°Perhaps¡­ you¡¯d need slightly more training, for good measure...?¡± Erilsa chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re too protective of her.¡± She said, amusement in her voice. ¡°The child has been isolated, she grows tired of us old souls.¡± Felicia nearly tripped. ¡°N-No! I appreciate you both! Just¡­ you know?¡± she stammered. She looked at the trees surrounding her, trying, but failing to see past them. ¡®I wonder how that guy, Verity¡­ is doing.¡¯ Sinna could sense that her disciple no longer wished to be shackled in this place, but even then, she hesitated. Felicia Harbridge was a talent that could exist only once in ten thousand years. If, Terras forbid, something happened to her, the loss to the world of swordsmanship would be unimaginable.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Sinna wished she could just go with her disciple but to keep her safe but¡­ ¡®I cannot leave the forest¡­ not right now.¡¯ Her hands were tied. Sword Aura, especially in its earliest stages, was far from enough to guarantee Felicia¡¯s safety. It was impressive, yes, but it was not all-powerful, so Sinna bit her lip. Though she knew it would displease her disciple, she had no other choice but to refuse. The Queen¡¯s lips parted, on the verge of delivering her will, but just as she was about to speak, Erilsa¡¯s body shrunk in a flash of light. Now no larger than a bunny, the Great Beast sighed. ¡°What I wouldn¡¯t do for you Sinna¡­¡± She said as she jumped onto Felicia¡¯s shoulder, startling the young woman. ¡°I¡¯ll go with Felicia, that should be fine, right?¡± Felicia¡¯s head slowly turned toward Erilsa. ¡°...You can do that?¡± She asked in shock. Erilsa wore a smug smile. ¡°I can do a lot of things, human.¡± Both Erilsa and Felicia¡¯s gazes turned back to Sinna. The former was full of exasperation while the latter was filled with hope. Sensing those strong emotions, Sinna could not help but pinch the bridge of her nose. ¡°...Alright.¡± She whispered almost inaudibly. Felicia''s eyes widened. ¡°Serious-¡± ¡°But¡­ there are conditions.¡± Sinna cut sharply, turning around to face them. She raised one finger. ¡°Your training is not over, hence, I will allow no more than three weeks of absence.¡± That was a short amount of time, but it had to do. She then raised a second finger. ¡°Erilsa is powerful, yes, but do not fight something you cannot defeat by yourself. Erilsa is your last resort, in case of emergency, not your bodyguard.¡± Felicia nodded. That was a reasonable condition, and she wasn¡¯t planning on picking fights either way. Well, at least not unwinnable fights. And finally, Sinna raised a third finger. ¡°We¡¯ve taken precautions¡­ but if you ever run into a Terras Templar of the Cardinal rank or above¡­run¡± Her expression turned somber, and Felicia could feel the gravity in her voice. ¡°...Do not engage, do not speak to them, simply. Run. Is that clear?¡± The last part sounded especially ominous, but Felicia nodded nonetheless. She assumed that, even if her master believed them to be quite dangerous, such a person wouldn¡¯t be that common. Plus, if she did run into one of them, she doubted they¡¯d be able to catch up to her in a foot race. Even if high-ranked, how physically fit could a Templar be? She pressed her fists against each other. ¡°Yes, master! I promise I¡¯ll respect all the conditions!¡± Felicia exclaimed excitedly. Sinna sighed once more. She couldn¡¯t even believe she¡¯d agreed to let such a disciple go before she was complete. ¡°...Erilsa, your first stop should be the capital. Felicia needs to register at the guild or she will not be allowed anywhere. Oh, and¡­¡± Her brows furrowed in worry. ¡°...Make sure she comes back, alright?¡± Erilsa rolled her eyes. ¡°Yes, yes, and you protect the forest in my absence.¡± Before allowing Sinna to reply, Felicia stormed toward the small wooden house to pack her few belongings. That included the clothes Sinna had given her, a handful of hygiene pills, and a handy communication bracelet she¡¯d bought in the tutorial shop not long after arriving. It was useless, since the person she wished to speak to also needed to own one, but it was quite pretty nonetheless, and she thought it fit her well. ¡®It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve spoken to another human¡­!¡¯ She thought as she stuffed her dimensional bag with the essentials. Still attached to Felicia¡¯s shoulder, Erilsa chuckled. ¡°If she were to see you right now, poor Sinna¡¯s feelings might be hurt.¡± Felicia froze for a moment. ¡°...You know that¡¯s not how I mean it.¡± And hastily finished packing her things. She could have waited a day or two before leaving, but there was no time like the present. Plus¡­ she needed to make sure she left before the Heavenly Sword changed her mind. As she stepped out of the wooden house, Felicia turned toward her Master and bowed deeply. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll be off, Master.¡± When she raised her head, her eyes lingered on Sinna¡¯s scarred face. She wished she knew the full story behind it, but Felica was not insensitive enough to ask, so all she could do was wait for her Master to tell her. For a moment, all that existed between the two of them was the rustling of leaves. Felicia hesitated. A strange, irrational thought crossed her mind, but then she shook her head. ¡®What am I thinking¡­ There does not exist a blade that can cut Master.¡¯ Swiftly, Sinna turned around, allowing Felicia to only stare at her back. ¡°Be safe, my disciple.¡± Her words, carried through the wind, reached Felicia¡¯s ears, and she smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± She replied. Soon after, she stormed off into the trees, leaving the camp behind. Sinna told herself that Felicia was so precious because of her talent in swordsmanship, but in these past two months she had spent with the young woman, she¡¯d come to enjoy her presence, not for her sword, but for who she was. Her fingers twitched as she sensed Erilsa and Felicia¡¯s energies fade into the distance. ¡®I must be getting old¡­¡¯ Erilsa, who was enjoying the wind brushing against her fur, turned her snout toward Felicia. ¡°Do you even know where you¡¯re going?¡± She asked. Felicia grinned smugly. ¡°Better! the spirits will guide me!¡± Erilsa raised a brow, a knowing smile on her face. ¡°Oh, really? Do demonstrate.¡± Ignoring the Guardian Beast¡¯s skepticism, Felicia closed her eyes, and felt the energy of the forest. When she was ready, she called upon the spirits surrounding her. ¡®O spirits, please lead the way to the capital.¡¯ The spirits loved Felicia, and so they were quick to respond. Harbrudge! Harbrudge! She was still working on getting them to say her name correctly. ¡®Can you all tell how to get to the Terras Kingdom¡¯s capital?¡¯ Capital! Capital! Over here! Over here! ¡®Too easy!¡¯ Felicia thought as she ran, but a she could hear the stifled chuckle trapped in Erilsa''s mouth. Over where? Over where? Capital! Capital? What¡¯s that? What¡¯s that? Not Forest? Not Forest? Capital where? Where? Felicia¡¯s triumphant grin froze, and she halted her stride. Erilsa laughed. ¡°Was that your great plan?¡± Felicia had no answer. She looked away, embarrassed. Erilsa then glanced at the young spirits floating around them, an amused smile on her face. ¡°You ask for too much. These children have never even left the forest.¡± She told Felicia. Felicia sighed. ¡°...It seems I still have some things to learn. Please lead the way, Erilsa.¡± ¡°With pleasure.¡± Erilsa answered. Chapter 33 - To the Capital (2) ¡°Get out of my face before I really get angry!¡± Fearing for his life, the man who had been yelled at scurried away, but not without cursing under his breath. ¡°Tsk¡­ what¡¯s so great about you anyways¡­¡± He mumbled. Of course, the one who the insult was meant for had clearly heard it. Still, he did nothing to retaliate, and instead pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. A rough looking man, with two rows of rotten teeth, and a round belly sat on a rock, cursing his fate. The man was Bagua, the bandit whom Verity had run into upon his arrival in this world, or at least what was left of that man. ¡®If this was before, I would have cut that idiot¡¯s head clean off!!¡¯ Bagua thought as he stared at one of his foul-mouthed underlings walking away. He had to control himself. His group was now much smaller than it had been. Every pair of hands was precious if he wanted to rebuild his empire. Still¡­ he would not forget that insult. Bagua sighed, running his fingers through his greasy hair. If everything had gone right, by now, he would have been drowning in alcohol and surrounded by women, but it hadn¡¯t. Instead, he was hiding among the trees by the side of a rarely traveled road with about ten or so other members of his newly established bandit group. The plan he had concocted with the Flame Sword was flawless and they even had the support of a prominent noble Lady. There was no reason for it to fail, and yet, it did. How could it have gone so wrong? ¡°Damnit!¡± Bagua shouted as his fist sunk into the cold stone beneath him. He had spent no small amount of money to obtain that poison from the Alchemists of the Capital, but the return on his investment should have more than made up for it. If it just wasn¡¯t for that monster, he would be rich! Shivers ran down his spine just as he recalled that night, and his fingers traced the faint scar on his neck. That night, Bagua had received a communication scroll informing his crew of a change of location. He had found it strange, but the scroll bore the Flame Sword¡¯s seal, so he could not ignore it. He had hurried, moving his entire group toward the new location, but before they could reach it, a person¡­ or perhaps a beast with the voice of one, had stood in his path. That thing hadn¡¯t even bothered with a discussion. It had only said a few words before exterminating them. ¡°...Repent in the afterlife.¡± It wasn¡¯t something that humans could face. It possessed speed beyond belief, unparalleled strength, and technique that could only be met with awe. Its entire appearance had been concealed by a cloak that absorbed the night itself. As if they had been attacked by a shadow, all Bagua had heard from his comrades as the fighting began were screams, and stifled pleas for help. Bagua had only managed to escape due to his quick thinking. He¡¯d understood quickly that he had run into a fearsome entity, and so, he had activated a single-use magical tool he¡¯d spent a fortune on. Even so, he had not escaped without almost dying. After being teleported miles away, he could still remember the droplets of blood trickling from his neck. He remembered shuddering at the thought of what would have happened had he been a second slower. Two months had passed since then. Two months of traveling the forests and plains of the Terras Kingdom. He had gathered lone bandits, or errant warriors with nowhere to go, until he¡¯d amassed the handful of people surrounding him now. With them, he had settled a few days by carriage away from his former base, hoping to return one day, but not now, especially if that monster was still there. There were some useful ones among those he¡¯d gathered, but compared to what he had been used to, this entourage was¡­ pathetic. No discipline, no loyalty, no fear. ¡°Boss!!¡± The sharp voice jolted Bagua out of his thoughts. ¡°We¡¯ve got something on the radar!!¡± It said. Bagua clenched his fist and raised his gaze. ¡°Go on then. What is it?¡± The young bandit stumbled over his words as he stared at his device. ¡°I-It¡¯s moving toward us, fast! Faster than a carriage! Faster than a lone horse!¡± Bagua narrowed his eyes. ¡°...Magical tools then, which means they¡¯ve got money.¡± He smirked, and stood up. ¡°What are you all waiting for!? Go block their way!¡± ¨C Dashing through the dirt road, Felica turned to Erilsa. ¡°I¡¯ve been running for a few hours now. Is it still not close??¡± Erilsa hesitated, avoiding eye contact. ¡°Err, keep going straight, and we should arrive by nightfall¡­I believe.¡± Felicia raised an eyebrow. ¡°Are you sure you know wher-¡± ¡°Woah there!¡± A booming voice resounded in front of them, forcing Felicia to come to an abrupt halt, and kicking up a cloud of dust. As it settled, what she saw before her was a well-fed man surrounded by haggard warriors with rusted swords and poor hygiene. Faint whispers could be heard among the ruffians. Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°Damn¡­!!¡± ¡°She¡¯s by herself¡­?¡± ¡°Is she a noble?¡± ¡°Maybe we should stick to this road in the future¡­¡± Felicia furrowed her brows in confusion. ¡°...Yes? Can I help you?¡± Bagua observed the woman before him intently, but not for the same reasons his colleagues did, though he had to admit Felicia was quite¡­ easy on the eyes. ¡®I don¡¯t see the artifact¡­ It must be hidden somewhere.¡¯ He thought. He cleared his throat. ¡±Welcome to the Gr- the Sader Forest but¡­ It¡¯s a dangerous place, you know? Luckily we offer safe passage¡­ for a price!¡± Felicia waved her hand dismissively. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s okay, I don¡¯t need safe passage. I can protect myself.¡± She said confidently. But before she could resume her stride, Bagua spoke again. ¡°No, I don¡¯t think you understand.¡± He slowly unsheathed his blade. ¡°If you do not pay the price¡­ your passage won¡¯t be safe.¡± Felicia narrowed her eyes. ¡°Oh¡­ you¡¯re criminals?¡± She looked around her. ¡°Still, in broad daylight? Though¡­ I guess there aren¡¯t any cameras here, and we are in a forest.¡± She had seen robbers at the bank before, but they tended to be more prepared, and more cautious about the way they did things. A smile then found itself on her face, and she unsheathed her sword. She wouldn¡¯t admit it as she still tried to not let this strange reality consume her, but as a Sword Genius, she had a constant insatiable desire to test her skills against that of others. ¡°This is good!¡± She exclaimed. ¡°Who¡¯s first?¡± ¡®Huh?¡¯ The bandits seemed rather¡­ at a loss, but one of them made a move. A man covered by a tattered cape, and bloodshot eyes stepped forward. ¡°Young lady¡­ Perhaps you don¡¯t understand the situation you¡¯re in?¡± He said as he drew a set of daggers attached to his waist. ¡°Seeing that nice sword, and your confidence, you must be from a knight family. Well¡­ this isn¡¯t your fenced-in cottage, this is the-¡± His voice was low and dangerous, but Felicia couldn¡¯t even pay attention to what he was saying. ¡®His stance is all wrong¡­ Can he even cut through a marshmallow like that¡­?¡¯ She then shook her head. ¡®No, he might be deceiving me. Master has done it before. I must stay careful.¡¯ Felicia lowered her stance. ¡°Then, let¡¯s start.¡± In a blur she disappeared from where she stood, and in the next instant, she was upon the dagger wielding man. She expected him to react quickly, just as he Master did, so she weaved a faint into her initial attack. However, when her sword was only an inch from his neck, she hesitated, sending a wave of air crashing against his face. Felicia then leapt, placing both of her hands on her sword. Her expression turned wary, and she lowered her stance. ¡°Do you have some special defensive abilities? Was it a trap?¡± She asked. To Felicia, it seemed as though the man hadn''t even moved whether it was her pretend, or real attack. Yet, her sword was a mere moment from severing her head, so she could only conclude that he had some sort of trump card in store. The moment finally catching up to the bandit, he gasped. ¡°W-What!?¡± And fell on his behind, his trembling hands brushing the spot where Felicia¡¯s blade would have severed his head. The men around him all stiffened. It took a moment for them to pull themselves together and draw their weapons. Their expressions were grave and they stared at Felicia with apprehension. Some of them now thought that perhaps the young lady was not just from a knight family, but instead was a knight. Even Bagua, their leader, hesitated before drawing his own blade. ¡®That speed¡­ Is it an artifact again?¡¯ He wondered. Erisla chuckled, looking down onto the pitiful bandit sprawled on the dirt.. ¡°Does he look like someone with a trump card?¡± Felicia frowned. ¡°...But I was about to kill him. Does he want to die, maybe?¡± ¡°No.¡± Erilsa sneered. ¡°You¡¯re simply too strong for him. He failed to react.¡± ¡°What-¡± Bagua puffed his chest and his voice boomed over the tension. ¡°What are you all doing!!?? She¡¯s a knight! Surround her from all sides and bring her down!!¡± More afraid of Bagua than they were of her, they swallowed their hesitation and ran toward Felica, weapons in hand. The battle was over in less than ten minutes, and most of it Felicia had spent against their leader. CRACK His breathing erratic, and his hands trembling, Bagua fell to his knees. His blade, his Sword Aura, and his will, had been utterly shattered. He looked around him, and realized that he was once more all alone. The others had escaped and had left him behind. Felicia approached him. ¡°This was underwhelming.¡± She said as she lifted his head, her hand clutching his greasy hair. ¡°Since you¡¯re the only one left, I guess I¡¯ll ask you a few questions.¡± There was no magic tool to save him this time. Bagua clicked his tongue. ¡°I know how you knights operate. You¡¯ll kill me regardless of what I say, so let¡¯s just get it over with¡­.¡± Felicia grimaced. ¡°This place really is like those medieval movies¡­¡± She then let go of his hair and wiped her hands. ¡°First of all, I¡¯m not a knight. Second, I¡¯m not going to kill you, I just have questions.¡± ¡°Yeah right-¡± Felicia sheathed her sword, and crouched to Bagua¡¯s level. ¡°How do you compare to other humans? In terms of strength, I mean.¡± Bagua blinked. ¡°...What?¡± ¡°You heard me. How strong are you? Bagua was so taken aback by the question, that he answered without thinking. ¡°When it comes to bandits, you won¡¯t often meet one as strong as me¡­ I guess.¡± Felicia stroked her chin. His answer was¡­ disappointing. If this was the best other humans had to offer, perhaps staying in the forest was best? Erisla jumped down from Felicia¡¯s shoulder, and circled the burly man with a critical eye. ¡°It is true that his level is quite high, higher than yours, Felicia. Even your Sword Aura falls short compared to his, granted you just awakened yours.¡± She paused, scrunching her nose. ¡°But considering his age, his third-rate technique, and his lack of battle sense, and his horrible weapon¡­ I¡¯d put him just slightly above average.¡± She then jumped back onto Felicia¡¯s shoulder, who seemed to have regained her spunk. ¡°So there is stronger¡­!¡± She turned back to Bagua, a glint in her eyes. ¡°If I keep going this way, when will I reach the Capital?¡± She asked. ¡°...The Capital?¡± Bagua sighed. ¡°If that¡¯s where you want to go, then you¡¯re going the wrong way. If you continue down this road, the largest town you¡¯ll run into is called Plamodel. There¡¯s a Guild office there but nothing else¡­¡± Felicia slowly turned her head, but Erilsa avoided her gaze. ¡°As long as there¡¯s a Guild¡­ you can still get your identification card¡­ I think¡± Erilsa mumbled. Felica pinched her eyebrows. ¡°...How many days to the Capital, and how many to Plamodel, from here?¡± ¡°At the speed you were going. You¡¯d reach Plamodel quite fast, probably in another day or two. As for the Capital¡­ A week? Perhaps more?¡± Bagua replied, still not fully understanding why he was answering all of her questions. Letting out a long sigh, Felicia tidied her hair. ¡°So, if I keep going straight, I¡¯ll reach that Plamodel place?¡± ¡°No¡­ Well, Yes. Once you leave the forest, you¡¯ll find yourself in a vast expanse of plains. The town should be visible in the distance. Just head straight toward it.¡± Without bidding him farewell, Felicia ran off, kicking up dust behind her. ¡®Plamodel¡­ That¡¯s a weird name.¡¯ She thought. A dry laugh escaped Bagua¡¯s mouth as the dust settled. ¡°Beaten by a kid who just awakened Aura recently¡­Maybe it¡¯s time to retire¡­.¡± Chapter 34 - Return to Plamodel A man in a strangely theatrical outfit stood before a group of children. He opened a thin book and read from its pages. ¡°Gather around children, for I shall tell you a story you¡¯ll never forget. Long ago, long before the stars whispered your names, there walked six mighty warriors upon this earth. The first fought with nothing but his fists, yet none could stand against him. His skin was tougher than steel, and his bones as unyielding as stone. With a single blow, mountains crumbled, and rivers changed course. Before he¡¯d spoken his first word, he¡¯d taken down bears, wolves, and men alike. The second was a miracle. In the deepest and darkest depths, he emerged as the Goddess'' favored son. Her light coursed through his veins, turning his touch into salvation and his words into prophecy. The light of the Divine shone upon him, and so they called him a Saint. The third was loved by all, even those without form or voice. When he called, the elements responded and heeded him as an old friend. They danced at his fingertips and moved where he willed them to. Even lightning, wild and untamed, descended at his command like a loyal beast. The fourth was meant to hear the words of nature, and yet she chose steel. The sword had spoken to her more than the forest ever could, its voice clearer, and its purpose sharper. When she first grasped one, it became a part of her, an extension of her will. Steel and soul became one, a bond so heavenly that none could deny its existence. The fifth was bathed in riches since birth. Gold and silk filled her cradle, yet no treasure could fill the void within. With only herself to trust, she brought her spear to perfection beyond perfection, and in the end, her strikes carried the weight of the world itself. The sixth¡­ was lost to the annals of time. Their name, their deeds, even their face¡ªerased, as if they had never been. Together, these six vowed to defeat the root of all evil. They traveled the lands together, uprooting corruption, shining light upon the shadows, and slowly vanquishing their enemies. They laughed and smiled, but they also cried and bled. In a world that sought to break them, they found solace in each other, and because of that, they were able to reach the Final Evil. They were close, so very close, but they failed. Face to face with it, even these six warriors of legend fell. The Final Evil, rotten and despicable, took not their life, but something they held even dearer. It left them broken in ways that a blade never could. From the first, he took the heart, so that the vitality he had enjoyed his entire life would drain away, his body betraying him with each passing day. From the second, he took the hands, so that he could never worship the Goddess again, the blessings he had once taken for granted now useless. From the third, he took the voice, so that he could never call upon the world again, his power fading into silence. From the fourth, he took the eyes, not only so that she could never again witness the glint of her blade, but so that she¡¯d never again see the beauty of what she¡¯d thrown away. And from the fifth, the Final evil took¡­. nothing. Not a scar, not a wound. She alone, was left with nothing. In the end, they were defeated, never to be spoken of again. Their names faded into dust, their deeds unspoken, and their legend unwritten. Forgotten. The end.¡± The man slammed the book shut, and a strange silence coursed through the children as if they were waiting for more. One of them tilted her head and raised her hand. ¡°What about the sixth?¡± She asked. The man smiled and shrugged. ¡°A mystery, my dear.¡± He replied. Another young boy spoke, unable to contain his curiosity. ¡°Why didn''t the Final Evil do anything to the last one?¡± ¡®Let me guess, no one knows?¡¯ Marco thought as he listened to the whole thing from afar. But the man did not shrug this time. He placed his fingertip on his chin. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not what I said, is it?¡± The answer, of course, confused the boy, but before he could get clarification, the strange man bowed and returned to the convoy. The smile on his face was almost unnerving, his steps slow and deliberate.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. When Marco saw him approaching, he too, could not hold his curiosity. ¡°...What did you mean, by that last part?¡± The man threw him a glance, a faint smirk playing on his lips. ¡°I wonder.¡± He said, before entering his designated carriage. His question unanswered, Marco entered another carriage, behind that one, and sighed as the storyteller¡¯s words replayed in his head. ¡®It was probably just a kid¡¯s fairy tale. I should focus on getting my ID card from the guild.¡¯ He shook his head and unfolded a map his master had given him. ¡®Plamodel huh¡­It¡¯s far, but if it¡¯s a break from that muscle-head, I¡¯ll take it¡­¡¯ His eyes drifted to the peculiar figure sitting across from him. He had tried speaking to them but had had no luck, so their carriage was mostly silent now. The person in front of him was covered in a dark cloak that seemed almost magical. It obscured all of their features and appeared as if it was absorbing the light around them. Marco sighed again. ¡®Why does everyone have to be so mysterious around here¡­¡¯ Meanwhile, Evangelina, who was sitting across from him, cursed wildly in her mind. ¡®Damnit!! How could I forget!?? Can¡¯t this stupid carriage go any faster?!!¡¯ It had been two months, and she hadn¡¯t let Verity out of her basement yet. She whipped her head, looking outside of the carriage¡¯s window. ¡®What a day to not have a portable gate on me!! Should I just run!?!? AHHH DAMNIT!!¡¯ To put it simply, she was panicking. She had left him around a month¡¯s worth of food and water to pass the test, maybe a month and a half if he rationed it well, but two months? She hadn''t accounted for that much time. Of course, since Verity was level 11, he could survive longer than a level 1 human without water, but probably not two whole weeks. Plus, Evangelina hadn''t installed a ¡®surrender¡¯ feature in the room, so she was certain he was still down there. Her heart raced, and sweat rolled down her temple. Was this how she became a murderer? By leaving an innocent man to die, alone, in her basement? Her stomach churned just at the thought of it. She slammed her fist into her leg, startling Marco slightly. ¡®How could I forget!? How!?¡¯ In the end, she leaped from the carriage. It was still a long way, but she¡¯d gotten quite close thanks to the caravan. if she ran, she¡¯d certainly arrive before it, though she might have to use less secure routes. Cursing herself again, Evangelina disappeared in a blur. ¡®Be okay¡­!¡¯ She thought as she ran. Marco blinked. ¡°Fast¡­ maybe even faster than Master¡­¡± He whispered to himself. ¡ª Running faster than the wind, and perhaps faster than she ever had before, Evangelina had traveled so far that Plamodel was in sight at last. This time, she did not have the leisure to argue with the gate guardian, and so she was willing to break the doors down if need be. At the speed she was running, Evangelina¡¯s arrival caused quite a shock among those near the gates. A cloud of dust rose as she stopped in her tracks, and two silhouettes could be heard coughing because of it. Evangelina had no time to pay attention to them. With a swipe of her hand, she cleared the dust cloud and approached the guard. She pulled the sleeve of her cloak and lifted her hand, revealing her family¡¯s seal. ¡°Let me in.¡± She demanded. The guard blinked, still trying to process what had happened. ¡°W-what?¡± With one swift movement, Evangelina lowered the hood of her cloak, revealing her features, and grabbed the guard by the collar. Staring into his eyes, she exuded a palpable amount of bloodlust. ¡°Let. Me. In.¡± She repeated. The guard¡¯s hair stood on end, but more than the fear he felt, his attention lingered on the woman¡¯s unique hair and eyes. As he looked at her, he remembered a ridiculous story his friend, Regias, had told him a few months ago, and his eyes widened. ¡°D-Duchess!! Of course! Right away!!¡± A young black-haired woman who¡¯d been arguing with the guard threw her arms in the air. ¡°What!? She just waltzes in!?¡± She exclaimed. But the guard could only avoid eye contact as he opened the gates for Evangelina. ¡°S-sorry ma¡¯am¡­I promise it shouldn¡¯t be much longer before they return with the magical tool¡­¡± The woman sighed and crossed her arms. ¡°...Alright.¡± Evangelina threw the woman no more than a glance before rushing in. ¡®...Was that a pet on her shoulder..?¡¯ She wondered for a split second before her mind went back to Verity. It only took her a few seconds to reach her living quarters, and as soon as she arrived, she tore through the front door. They slammed open, splintering at the hinges as she rushed to the room where the secret entrance was located. To her dismay, the walls were still closed. ¡°Sh*t..!¡± She pressed her hand against the wooden panel, forcing it open, and rushed down the set of stairs. Her heart pounded as she reached the stone wall blocking the entrance to the room. Some part of her wanted to close her eyes, but she knew she could not do that. If Verity was still alive, she would need to bring him to a temple- no, a clinic, immediately. Evangelina pressed her hand against the wall, and after what seemed like an eternity, they finally gave way into the room. Light spilled into the dark entrance. BOOM Something crashed into the floor beside her. She looked down and saw Doll, the magical puppet, riddled with gashes and dents, struggling to stand. Verity stood on the other side of the room, and Evangelina frowned as her eyes snapped to him. He wasn¡¯t dead, or dying. He was sweaty, bruised, and bleeding, but still very much alive. Somehow, he even seemed in better shape than when she had left, and most importantly¡­ there was a strange fire dancing in his eyes. It was unlike anything she¡¯d ever seen before. When Verity noticed her, the spark in his eyes dimmed, and he bowed awkwardly. ¡°Oh, greetings Master.¡± He said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. Evangelina¡¯s gaze swept across the room. The entire place had been thrashed as if a storm had gone through it. Her confusion only grew. ¡°What the hell happened here¡­?¡± She wondered as she contemplated the damage. Verity scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Ah, well, I guess it started moving at one point.¡± He stared at Doll, which was still failing to raise to its feet. ¡°Though now I think¨C¡± ¡°When was the last time you ate or drank?¡± Verity raised an eyebrow and shrugged. ¡°Not sure. It¡¯s not like there¡¯s a clock in here.¡± Evangelina stared at him. ¡°...When was the last time you rested?¡± Verity tilted his head in thought. ¡°Now that you mention it¡­ I think it¡¯s been a while¡± He gestured at Doll. ¡°But ever since I erased the circle on the ground, it hasn¡¯t really let me.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Not that I¡¯ve felt the need to, especially not with such a good training tool.¡± Evangelina exhaled sharply, partly in relief, but also partly in disbelief. ¡°You might not be talented¡­¡± She dragged a hand through her silver hair. ¡°...But you¡¯re completely insane¡­¡± A smirk tugged at her lips. ¡°Which might be even better.¡± Chapter 35 - Master and Disciple Sill taken aback by the whole scene, Evangelina crouched and pressed her fingertip against Doll¡¯s forehead, finally allowing it to rest. The mechanical puppet fell down, and its beaten wooden body hit the floor with a thud. Then, she turned to Verity, a complicated expression on her face. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She asked. Verity raised an eyebrow, confused. ¡°Is there something I need to do¡­?¡± Even sighed as if the answer should have been obvious. ¡°Well, you passed the test, didn¡¯t you?¡± But Verity was still not quite getting it. He looked around, as if the answer would be lying somewhere in the room, yet found nothing that could help him. Evangelina groaned and rolled her eyes. ¡°Are there no manners where you come from? She brushed her hair aside and looked away. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ my disciple now, so bow and accept me as your master, kid...¡± Verity¡¯s eyes widened, and he immediately lowered his torso. ¡°O-Of course!!¡± He exclaimed. He might have forgotten it for a moment due to the thrill of fighting against Doll, but this was initially why he¡¯d gone through so much. From the beginning, the purpose of this test was for him to become Evangelina¡¯s disciple, and to learn the spear from her. Barely able to contain his excitement, Verity clenched his fists. ¡°Now do it seven more times.¡± Evangelina demanded. He blinked, then quickly bowed seven more times without question. ¡°What else?¡± He asked once the seventh bow was done. ¡°...I¡¯ve accepted your bows, so raise your head.¡± She approached him, and placed her palm on his chest. ¡°You are now a¡­probationary disciple of the Nine Hells spearman ship style.¡± Verity frowned. ¡°Probationary?¡± ¡°Yes¡­ when the time comes, I¡¯ll accept the ninth bow, and you¡¯ll become a full-fledged disciple.¡± She told him. Verity stroked his chin. ¡°I see¡­ That¡¯s fine, I guess, but does that mean you were also a probationary disciple once?¡± He asked. Evangelina¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Pointing to Doll, a smirk grew on Verity¡¯s lips. ¡°Well, I did beat that thing, and I remember you saying it was as strong as you back then soooo¡­¡± Evangelina clenched her fist but then took a deep breath, and reigned in her temper. ¡°That was¡­ a figure of speech. Doll used a training spear, could not use Aura, was instructed not to kill, and was limited to only the first stance of the Nine Hells style¡­¡± She met his gaze, her eyes sharp. ¡°The me from back then, unbound by those restrictions, would have crushed you.¡± She told him. But Verity pursed his lips, unconvinced. ¡°Hmm¡­ If you say so, Master.¡± Evangelina nearly popped a vein, and a stone-hard fist crashed against Verity¡¯s skull. ¡°Ouch!!¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you get for messing with me.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°You might be probationary, but you¡¯re still a disciple, so expect to be disciplined.¡± The threat was convincing, but Verity wasn¡¯t sure if he¡¯d be able to restrain his teasing. ¡®The tsundere-like responses are way too entertaining.¡¯ He thought as he tried to hold back a smile. Evangelina sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s start your training. In the next three months, I¡¯ll teach you all that I can, kid.¡± Her eyes seemed distant. ¡°After that¡­ I¡¯ll be busy.¡± Verity wanted to ask why exactly, but her somber expression told him not to. It seemed serious, and if she wanted to tell him, she would, eventually. Instead, Verity straightened. ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± His master scoffed. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± She looked Verity up and down. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m still convinced you have no talent when it comes to the spear, so there¡¯s no point in learning theories or trying to enlighten you through words. The best way for you to advance is to have the techniques beaten into your body.¡± ¡®Should I be offended¡­?¡¯ She pulled the obsidian spear from her cloak. ¡°Thankfully, due to your class no doubt, your stamina is ridiculously high. That means I can beat it into you all day.¡± She said with a smirk. Verity blinked. ¡°What does tha-¡± ¡°Lower your stance, bend your knees, and raise your spear.¡± Instinctively, Verity complied. Evangelina adopted her own battle stance, mirroring Verity¡¯s. ¡°You might learn slower, but if you work ten, no- a hundred times harder than everyone else, that won¡¯t matter.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. She grinned. ¡°Block.¡± She said before disappearing in a blur, but not so fast that Verity could not see her coming. Raising the shaft of his spear, Verity barely stopped her attack, a grunt escaping his mouth as he did. ¡°Doll fought you using the first stance of the Nine Hells style, Limbo.¡± She pressed forward, knocking him off balance before striking at his side. ¡°Its purpose is simple. It¡¯s a starting stance centered around patience.¡± She attacked from above this time, and Verity¡¯s spear almost failed to meet hers. His arms trembled as he blocked it. ¡°In Limbo, you are an immovable, infatigable opponent.¡± Her next attack swiped at Verity¡¯s legs, forcing him to jump. Seizing the opening, Evangelina slammed her food into his chest and sent him flying away. He was sent crashing into the opposite wall of the room and Verity gasped for air as he stood up. ¡°Can¡¯t you go easy on me?¡± He wheezed as he clutched his torso. Before he could get out another word, a spear shot toward his chest, and Verity narrowly deflected it, causing it to only scrape his arm. ¡°As you saw with Doll, you must have the strength to endure, and the ability to thwart their every attack.¡± A sharp kick to his leg sent him kneeling, and the cold tip of her spear pressed against his throat. ¡°Watch them. Study them. Conserve your energy by using minimal movements to respond. That¡¯s Limbo.¡± ¡ª Evangelina exhaled sharply and planted her spear into the ground. ¡°I think the suns have set. That¡¯ll be enough for today.¡± Even with his monstrous stamina, Verity¡¯s hands were trembling, and despite his pain tolerance, every single muscle in his body ached. Those few hours with Evangelina had been more demanding than two whole months with Doll. Beaten and tired, Verity could only stop himself from collapsing. He tried to control his breathing, but even that was too much for him. ¡°Y-yeah¡­ huff huff¡­. let¡¯s stop it here¡­ I agree.¡± ¡°Sit.¡± She told him, her tone absolute. She did not need to ask him twice. His lower body, allowed to relax at last, completely gave out under him and he quickly found himself on the ground. ¡°Of course¡­huff¡­Master.¡± In a flash, Evangelina appeared behind him. ¡°Inside of you, as in anyone else, there are two main energies: Mana, and Aura.¡± She explained. She then placed a palm against his back. ¡°Mages use Mana to empower their souls and cast spells. Combatants like us? We use Aura to strengthen our bodies.¡± She paused, and Verity felt something stir within him, as if an awakening was taking place. ¡°What separates a great battle style from a mediocre one, is how it incorporates the user¡¯s Aura into every movement. ¡° She continued. ¡°Obviously, because my battle style is the best, proper Aura usage is mandatory to bring out its full potential.¡± Verity felt Evangelina¡¯s hand press harder against his back, and the sensation inside him intensified. ¡°Normally, it takes months, even years, for a normal person to understand how to move the Aura within them, but we don¡¯t have that kind of time.¡± From the tip of his toes to the strands of his hair, Verity felt a strange, uncomfortable sensation fill his body. ¡°That¡¯s why, right now, I am injecting some of my own Aura into your body, and using it to move yours.¡± A grunt escaped her mouth. ¡°...Of course, this is extremely dangerous. The simplest mistake and either you or I could die, but since it¡¯s me, that won¡¯t happen.¡± Those words hung in the air, but for a reason he could not entirely explain, Verity felt that he¡¯d be safe in his Master¡¯s hands. He could only wait as Evangelina manipulated the Aura within his body. It was still faint, but Verity could distinctly feel it. A new energy, different from the one that seemed to drain away when he used skills, now roamed within his body. It flowed like water, but it also carried the warmth of fire. With every new part of his body that it reached, Verity felt a change that he could not explain¡­ as if he¡¯d unlocked something. Evangelina smirked. ¡°Good¡­ don¡¯t resist my Aura, let it flow, let it reach every inch of you.¡± The process was slow and grueling, especially for Evangelina, but her concentration did not slip for even a second. She masterfully forced Verity¡¯s stagnant Aura to flow through each corner of his body, and in mere hours, she broke through paths that should have taken weeks to open. [You have gained the Uncommon skill: Minor Aura Circulation (Active) Lv.1.] ¡°Phew.¡± Evangelina said, wiping the beads of sweat dripping from her pale face. ¡°That should do it for now, but we¡¯ll be repeating this every day from now on.¡± Verity slowly opened his eyes, and looked at his hands, as if he¡¯d become a new person. ¡°So¡­ that¡¯s Aura¡­¡± He murmured, testing the feel of the strange energy now coursing through him. His gaze drifted to his Master. ¡°You even gave me hints¡­ about Limbo, right?¡± Evangelina smirked, an expression of pride forming on her face. ¡°I would have been disappointed if you hadn''t even caught onto that.¡± She turned her head toward the exit. ¡°I need a cup of tea.¡± She mused almost to herself. As Verity slowly stood up and made his way toward her, Evangelina raised an eyebrow. ¡°Hmm? Where are you going?¡± She asked. Verity froze. ¡°...Aren¡¯t we done?¡± Evangelina scoffed. ¡°You don¡¯t get to rest, kid. Get used to it.¡± She pressed her hand against the wall and walked through. ¡°You¡¯ll stay here tonight¡­ and keep practicing.¡± Before the walls closed behind her, a grin curled the corner of her mouth. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a few minutes but¡­ I¡¯d suggest you don¡¯t lower your guard for too long.¡± Verity couldn¡¯t get another before she left him alone. He sighed, running a hand through his hair as the walls slammed shut. ¡°How am I even supposed to practice in this empty room¡­?¡± ¡®Should I check my status?¡¯ It¡¯d been some time since Verity had last heard the voice of the system. At some point, it stopped considering Doll as a challenge worthy of experience, so there hadn¡¯t really been a reason for it to speak to him. Even Vera had been silent recently, though Verity wasn¡¯t sure why. Since Evangelina had mentioned giving him a few minutes, he thought this would be the perfect opportunity for him to check his status for the first time in a while. ¡®Status Window.¡¯ It still felt surreal to be able to say such a thing and not feel like a complete nerd. It reminded him that he really was in a webtoon-like story.
Status Window Name: Verity Age: 22 Level: 11 Inventory: Alias: N/A Class: [Fool Lv. 11] Traits: Unemployed, Favored, Goblin Slayer, Martyr Skills: [Lesson Learned Lv.3], [Not me! Lv.1], [Accumulate Lv.1], [Never Again Lv.3], [Beyond Reason Lv.1], [Minor Aura Circulation Lv.1] Sponsor: [-Error-] Stats Unallocated stats points : 0 Strength : 18 (+1) (+7) Stamina : 30 ( +1) (+60) Speed : 14 (+2) Intelligence : 18 (+3) Dexterity : 17 (+1) Arcane : 7 (+1) Agility : 14 (+1) (+6) Foolishness : 10 (+1) His eyes widened upon seeing it. ¡®What the¡­!!¡¯ Chapter 36 - New Skills What Verity saw before him was¡­ shocking. His status window was now a lot different than when he had last opened it two months ago. Of course, his level hadn''t changed since he had not slain anything, but his class level had increased, by six whole levels at that. ¡®That¡¯s gotta be from the constant fights with Doll¡¯ He thought. This confirmed what he had somewhat suspected. The leveling of a class was different from one''s own level. For Verity, to level the Fool class meant to undertake challenges where the odds were stacked against him, and surely, the greater the challenge, the greater the amount of experience gained. ¡®So the system rewards me for being an idiot.¡¯ A grin tugged at his lip. He could work with that. His eyes moved down the window and fell onto his new Trait, ¡®Martyr¡¯. It sounded grand, so of course Verity focused on it, and opened the Trait window.
Trait : Martyr Rarity : Common Type : Passive Description : Do you enjoy being beaten to a pulp? Effect: +0.1% physical damage resistance
Verity¡¯s grin faltered. ¡®....Just who makes these¡­¡¯ He sighed and closed the window. The ¡®Martyr¡¯ trait was essentially useless, almost a joke. It¡¯s not that he¡¯d expected otherwise, considering what his other traits were, but it still stung to be so sorely disappointed. On the positive side, this trait could be viewed, which was something to rejoice¡­. Verity supposed. His attention then drifted to another piece of information on his status window. Something he was especially excited to learn about. With a thought, a window for his new skill [Beyond Reason], opened before him. The name alone had an air about it, so Verity could only imagine what it actually did.
Skill : [Beyond Reason] Rank : A Level : 1 Rarity : Unique Type : Passive Description : Only a Fool would persevere where the outcome has already been determined. Only a Fool would press forward where all others have fallen. In this world, there are those who know their limits, and those who do not. You, Fool that you are, belong to the latter. Effect - Gain a percent stat increase proportional the height of the wall you face.
Verity pressed his hands against his mouth, preventing a wide grin from spilling out into the open. ¡®This is kind of cool, isn¡¯t it!?¡¯ He thought. This time, although the description still insisted on calling him a moron, it at least sounded like what you¡¯d expect an all-powerful entity like the system, or the person behind it, would say. Plus, its effect seemed genuinely useful, even more so than his previous skill, [Never Again,] was. Its rank was not any higher, but if he understood it correctly, the stronger the opponent he faced, the stronger he would become. Now, this skill really gave Verity what you¡¯d expect of a main character. It would give him the strength he needed, when he needed it. This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Of course, the skill probably had its limits, scaling with Verity¡¯s proficiency, and surely had conditions to activate. Even considering all of that, however, Verity was quite happy about it. What¡¯s more, the ¡®height of the wall¡¯ he faced was an ambiguous way of putting it, and since the system never chose its words haphazardly, Verity expected that there was more to this skill than met the eye. ¡®Still¡­ why are all my skills passive¡­?¡¯ Was it just a coincidence, or was it intended? Verity had no way to know, and in any case, there were more changes to be explored in his status window. Of course, there was his very newest skill, [Minor Aura Circulation], but considering that he was not sure exactly how much time he had, Verity decided to skip over it. Its name was descriptive enough, so even without the system¡¯s help, he could somewhat guess what it did. What required his attention next were his stats of course. They too, had changed, and Verity needed to see which ones, by how much, and perhaps even understand why they had changed. His eyes left the row detailing his skills and- ¡®Wait a minute.¡¯ Something was amiss. Verity squinted, and looked at his skills very carefully, but no matter how intensely he stared, Verity¡¯s eyes did not adjust the error in front of him. He frowned. Had his vision gone bad? Most likely not. If anything, it should have gotten better. So then, why was he seeing this? He placed his finger on top of the skill that seemed out of place. ¡®Not¡­Why Me...but Not Me¡­?¡¯ He was certain his skill had been called ¡®Why me!?¡¯. In fact, he thought the name was ridiculous, which is why he was certain he had not just seen wrong. If his eyes did not betray him, then this meant that the name of his skill had changed. He hovered his finger over it, about to open the window. ¡®Might as well look at i-¡¯ SWOOSH An arrow flew past him, grazing his cheek, and drawing a few drops of blood. ¡°Circulate your Aura, and defend¡± a calm voice echoed through the room. ¡°If you want to survive the night, of course.¡± Verity blinked, and immediately raised his spear. ¡°That wasn¡¯t even a five minute break¡­¡± He mumbled. Soon, a dagger flew toward him. Remembering the day¡¯s teachings, and his battles with Doll, Verity anchored his feet into the ground, clumsily circulated his Aura, and sliced it in half. A rush of satisfaction filled him, but the voice echoed again. ¡°Stay alert.¡± Three spears, and three arrows shot out of the walls, all headed straight for Verity. He let out a dry chuckle, and prepared to stand his ground. ¡°Figures.¡± He gritted his teeth, Aura surging, and prepared to meet them head-on. ¡ª Sitting at the small wooden table in her kitchen, Evangelina scoffed, and took a sip of her tea. Closing the display which let her watch over Verity, she leaned backward, and let out a long sigh. ¡°You have to do at least that much if you want to improve, kid.¡± She whispered. For someone with his kind of talent, his growth thus far had certainly been decent, but that was it. Out in the world, real prodigies roamed. The kind of people who crushed dreams, hopes, and the spirits of their peers. There was also nothing to say that those guys didn¡¯t just work as hard as everyone else. For Verity, simply training a little more than them wouldn''t cut it. If he wanted to catch up, he¡¯d need to go further, push past reason, past sanity. He¡¯d have to be crazy. Evangelina thought back to the large young man she¡¯d shared a carriage with on her way back to Plamodel. To her standards, that man was more than decent, and that was a compliment coming from Evangelina. His talent when it came to circulating his Aura was above average, and he seemed to have received the teachings of an especially powerful martial artist. But that girl at the gate? The one with the eye-catching beast on her shoulder. That one¡­ Evangelina¡¯s eyes narrowed just remembering her. That one was a once in a millennia kind of genius. Evangelina could tell at just a glance that she had already attained Sword Aura, which was impressive enough for her age, but there was something more¡­ something about the way the world seemed to become quieter around her, that really grabbed Evangelina¡¯s attention. It was evident, that girl, she had already gained insight into the next step. ¡®There was someone else like that, wasn¡¯t there¡­¡¯ As she mentally re-designed Verity¡¯s training regimen to further propel his growth, Evangelina thought back to the Aura circulation session they¡¯d had together. Verity was no prodigy, but he was no ordinary man either. ¡°Just what was that energy¡­.¡± She whispered. As she forced Verity¡¯s paths open, Evangelina had felt something strange¡­ a power, or rather presence within him. When it came to Verity¡¯s control over his own Aura, that strange energy was neither helpful, nor harmful, yet a strange chill coursed through Evangelina''s body just remembering it. It wasn''t divine power, spirit force or even miasma. She had never seen anything like it before, and with her life experience, that wasn''t something that happened often. It had truly piqued her interest, but she had decided not to inform Verity on it so he could focus on his training. With a deliberate movement, Evangelina reached for a large, worn down book resting on the table, and flipped its pages. ¡°Aurelius...¡± She read through the old notes on the page. ¡°Yes. He might know...¡± Chapter 37 - Violence At the crack of dawn, Evangelina made her way down the long stone staircase. Her boots echoed in the dark expanse of the passage, and theirs was the only sound that could be heard in the underground stillness. She had taken the time to prepare a tight schedule for Verity, and she intended to abide by it. When she reached the entrance, she fixed her hair, and opened the walls leading to the training room. ¡°I hope that wasn¡¯t too difficult, kid.¡± She said, her voice calling out to her disciple. Verity stood in the center of the room, his spear still attached to his hand. He was covered in cuts and bruises, blood dripping from multiple wounds on his pale skin. His breathing was uneven, though not erratic, and he¡¯d only gotten three hours or so of rest. When he saw Evangelina, a proud grin tugged at the corner of his mouth and he barely managed to push out a sentence in between breaths. ¡°Didn¡¯t even¡­ huff huff¡­. Break a sweat¡­¡± Evangelina smirked. ¡°Fascinating, your stamina¡¯s risen again¡­¡± She said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°What a ridiculous amount you have¡­ Perhaps I should increase the intensity?¡± Verity grimaced at the thought. He had already understood that his stamina was better than most. During the battles with Doll, he had been too consumed by the fight to notice, but how could he not after spending an entire night defending against flying weapons? During the night, he had even gained some insight into the ¡®Stamina¡¯ stat. More than simply delaying exhaustion, it also made his recovery much quicker. While it did not heal wounds or injuries, Verity found that within minutes, he could somewhat recover from hours of physical exertion. Most surprisingly, it even reduced his basic needs, such as sleeping, eating, or drinking. It was as if his body could function indefinitely, almost making him feel undead. Of course, the last part wasn¡¯t that major. He was still a little hungry after training restlessly with no food or water since the last morning. Verity wasn¡¯t sure how he¡¯d managed to fight Doll for so long without supplies, but dwelling on it would not give him answers. As Verity stretched his sore body, Evangelina looked him up and down. ¡°How many hours per day do you think others train, kid?¡± Verity shrugged. He thought highly of warriors from fantasy stories, so he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. ¡°Twelve hours?¡± Evangelina scoffed. ¡°Not even close. Four for most, six to eight for higher level warriors, and ten for the crazy ones, and that can lead to more harm than good without the proper stats and equipment.¡± She then stepped forward, approaching Verity and carefully gripping the bulging muscles of his arm. ¡°But you, I can almost see you recovering in real time¡­ Even if you mistreat it, your body can handle it.¡± Verity raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look on his face. ¡°Are you justifying this insane training regimen?¡± A fist flew toward his cranium, much too fast to avoid. ¡°Ouch!¡± Verity yelled, rubbing his head. ¡°There¡¯s nothing insane about it.¡± She said sharply. ¡°You need to realize your advantage. You can push yourself much more than anyone else. If we account for recovery time, days of rest¡­. What you do in a day might take others a week.¡± Verity nodded absent mindedly. ¡°Yeah¡­ that¡¯s prett-¡± ¡°But even that¡¯s insufficient.¡± Evangelina continued as she crossed her arms. ¡°With your talent¡­.Against geniuses, a week , a month, or even a decade of extra training means nothing.¡± ¡®Ouch¡¯ Was he really that terrible? Verity thought he had been doing quite well. Evangelina reached for Verity¡¯s shoulder and pushed him to the ground. ¡°In the time we have, we need to go further.¡± She placed her hands on Verity¡¯s back. ¡°Close your eyes.¡± She instructed. ¡°I¡¯ll teach you the Aura circulation method for the seventh stance of the Nine Hells Spearman ship ¨C Violence.¡± Verity straightened. ¡®That sounds so cool¡­but¡­¡¯ ¡°...Didn¡¯t I learn the first stance just yesterday? If my talent is as bad as you say, then wouldn¡¯t that overwhelm me¡­?¡± He asked. Evangelina scoffed. ¡°Yes, and usually, Aura circulation isn¡¯t even taught before the fighting style is mastered, but here we are.¡± She began pouring her Aura into Verity¡¯s body. ¡°You¡¯ll have to do things in parallel if you want any hope of catching up, and if you aren¡¯t good enough to do that, then I¡¯ll just beat it into you so much it won¡¯t matter.¡± She replied with a smirk. As his master¡¯s energy slowly coursed through him, Verity¡¯s curiosity got the better of him. ¡°So¡­ why the seventh stance, and not the second?¡± When she heard the question, Evangelina simply shrugged. ¡°They¡¯re not in order of difficulty, except for the last one. Violence is just the simplest after Limbo.¡± ¡°I see¡­ So then I have seven more to learn after Violence?¡± Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Evangelina paused, and her tone suddenly grew colder. ¡°No, six. I won¡¯t teach you the last one.¡± Before Verity could ask anything more, a rush of Aura poured into his extremities, and he felt a surge of power gathering. Skillfully shifting the subject, Evangelina began her explanation. ¡°Violence is just that, a stance based on violence. It is centered around short, but fast bursts of power meant to be decisive. Next to Anger, Violence is the stance with the highest offensive power.¡± As she continued the process, a bead of sweat rolled down Evangelina¡¯s face. Unlike mana, Aura was not meant to be a depletable resource. Forcefully emptying one¡¯s own reserve to guide another¡¯s Aura was a gargantuan task that required surgical control and incredible amounts of experience. Though Evangelina made it seem easy, it was anything but. After another hour or so, Evangelina had implanted into his body all that she could. So she took a deep breath, and instructed Verity to stand up. ¡°Attack me.¡± She ordered him. It was blunt, but as she had said many times before, there was no time to waste. Hence, Verity raised his spear without protesting, a determined look on his face. He paused for a moment. Of course¡­ there was no time to play around, but surely no one would blame him for this. Now that he¡¯d come this far¡­ he had to say it. Verity took a deep breath, tightened his grip around his spear, and his lips parted. ¡°Nine Hells Spearman ship, seventh stance¡­.Violence!¡± He mumbled to himself, an uncontrollable grin forming on his face. He really did feel cool, but as he pooled Aura to his arms, much less than attacking, Verity screamed and dropped his spear before he could even use the accumulated Aura. ¡°AHH!!!¡± Evangelina brushed a strand of hair backward and rolled her eyes. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for acting like a fool. Focus, kid.¡± She said coldly. His arms were suffering, but Verity bit his lip and picked up his spear. ¡®So much for that¡­¡¯ It wasn¡¯t hard to tell what he had done wrong. He¡¯d allowed too much Aura to gather in his arms, causing some sort of backlash. If not talented, Verity was at least a decent thinker. Once more, he gathered Aura to his arms, less, this time. The process was slower, more careful, but at least there was no pain. Following what his master had taught just moments ago, Verity held the Aura in place, and he rushed toward Evangelina. He definitely felt more powerful than he had before, to the point that he believed if he had used this against Doll, he would have beaten it much faster. Surely, even his master would have to defend against this properly, or so Verity thought. Unsurprisingly, when Verity¡¯s spear reached Evangelina, she sent him flying with a kick as if swatting a fly away. Disappointed, she crossed her arms. ¡°Are you made of glass? Do it again.¡± Verity stood up, spitting droplets of blood. As Evangelina said, the amount of Aura Verity used was safer, but also much too low to be used for a proper attack. ¡®Damnit¡­,You can do better than that man..¡¯ Without uttering a word, Verity adjusted and tried again. With more Aura than the second attempt, but less than the first, he flew toward his master with a downward swing of his spear. This time, Evangelina¡¯s heel dug into his side before he could even bring his spear down. Once more, he was repelled. His timing was wrong. The Aura had already been depleted by the time he reached Evangelina, something that was common for combatants who were unfamiliar with circulating their Aura. With a sigh, Evangelina lowered her stance. ¡°Watch.¡± She said. In a blur, she appeared before Verity. The poor young man believed he¡¯d be struck without knowing what hit him, but against all odds, her next movement was easy to track, almost slow. Verity had more than enough time to raise his spear and so he did, placing it in the way of Evangelina¡¯s strike. However, as soon as her foot came into contact with it, it was almost as though an explosion of force took place. BOOM Verity crashed into a nearby wall and desperately gasped for air as he reeled from the impact. ¡®I should thank the system for [Painkiller]....¡¯ Evangelina stood over him. ¡°Your turn.¡± Verity grit his teeth. ¡°Yes, Master!¡± ¡ª The suns had already fallen by now. Evangelina planted her spear into the ground. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Verity fell to his knees. Training with Aura was different than simply exerting himself physically, especially with Evangelina¡¯s methods. Using Violence was like torturing his own body again and again, and that was without counting the times he¡¯d almost burst his own arms or feet open by using it clumsily. His muscles burned, screamed in pain, and they would certainly take more time to recover from the abuse he¡¯d put them through this time. Assessing her disciple¡¯s condition, a sharp exhale came from Evangelina. ¡°A runt like you training with Aura for almost an entire day¡­ridiculous.¡± She tossed him a pouch of water and another filled with nutrient pills. ¡°I¡¯ll give you half an hour to recover. In the meantime, I¡¯ll get some tea.¡± As she exited, Verity fell onto his back, not even touching the pouches he¡¯d been given. ¡®What I wouldn¡¯t give for the food Thragnuk gave me¡­¡¯ He thought nostalgically. This was the perfect chance to resume his analysis of his status wind- ¡®Screw that.¡¯ It could wait. The status window wasn¡¯t going to run away. [Your sponsor chuckles.] Verity¡¯s eyes widened. That was something he hadn¡¯t heard in months. ¡®And here I thought I hadn¡¯t heard from you in a long time.¡¯ He closed his eyes as he lay on the ground. ¡®Got anything to say?¡¯ It felt weird thinking that he was speaking so casually to what was probably some sort of god, or higher being, but Verity was too exhausted to consider that. ¡®I have some time to chit-chat if you want.¡¯ ¡­ ¡®Guess not.¡¯ Even though she hadn''t made her presence known in quite some time before that, Verity was not too concerned. Who knew what Vera was up to. In the first place, applying his own logic to her actions was pointless. She¡¯d talk when she felt like it. With a sigh, Verity strained himself and he reached for the pouches of water and food. In any normal conditions, he¡¯d have devoured the contents, but he was much too tired. Plus, nutrient pills didn¡¯t taste like anything, something he¡¯d learned in the two months with Doll. ¡®Shouldn¡¯t a noble have all the food she could ever want? Why is this the only thing she eats¡­?¡¯ He thought as he flicked a pill into his mouth. ¡°Are you ready?!¡± A voice echoed from the entrance Very straightened. ¡°It hasn¡¯t even been ten minutes!!¡± A smirk formed on Evangelina¡¯s lips. ¡°Seeing how full of energy you are, looks like it was more than enough.¡± Before he could react, Evangelina had already grabbed his waist. ¡°We¡¯re going out.¡± And they vanished from the training room. They traveled a long distance, traversing multiple sceneries Verity did not recognize. Though, in all fairness, they were going much too fast for Verity to recognize anything. When they finally reached their destination, a flat mountain peak with a small wooden fortress standing in its center, Evangelina threw him to the ground. Verity groaned as he stood up, and tried to hold back what he¡¯d eaten. ¡°...Should I ask why we¡¯re here?¡± Evangelina pointed to the wooden fortress. ¡°Over there resides an especially vicious local bandit group. You have the entire night to take care of them.¡± Verity blinked. ¡°....What?¡± She tossed him a mask. ¡°Ah, put this on.¡± Then, she picked him up, and launched him toward the flimsy gates where two bandits were standing guard. Unsurprisingly, Verity crashing into the ground near them attracted their attention, and a wide-eared bandit was the first to lay his eyes on him as the dust cleared. ¡°...The hell?¡± Chapter 38 - The White Fang Bandits (1) The wide-eared bandit raised an eyebrow, and carefully approached Verity who still had his head buried in the ground. ¡°Seriously¡­ what the...¡± But before he could get too close, Verity jumped up and took several steps back. Awkwardly, Verity cleared his throat and dusted off his clothes. He then looked up at the two guards in front of the wooden gates, and offered a clumsy smile. There was a long pause of confusion between the three of them before Verity finally said something. ¡°...Are you gentlemen¡­bandits, by any chance?¡± A breeze blew through the mountain peak, and Verity mentally slapped himself in the face. ¡®You couldn¡¯t come up with anything better to say!?¡¯ Standing beside Wide-ears, the bandit with the eye-catching mohawk shook his head and raised his voice. ¡°W-what are you doing here!!?? Who are you!!?¡± He demanded to know. Surely, his loud voice would soon attract the other bandits that lived here. Due to the outburst, Verity instinctively took a step back. In the civilized world, it was common to move away from the hot-tempered after all. However, as soon as his foot moved, Wide-ears suddenly pointed a curved blade at him. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going!? Answer us!¡± Verity let out a long, exasperated sigh. ¡°L-listen. I¡¯m here for¡­ training. I was told to bring you all down by the end of the night¡­¡± he waved his spear in front of them. ¡°Maybe we can go about this in a civil way?¡± Steam practically shot out of Mohawk¡¯s ears. ¡°Take us down!!?¡± He yanked a bow and arrow from his back, and pointed it at Verity. ¡°Do you know what we do to runts like you!? You better answer our questions if you don¡¯t wanna find out!¡± He said, his eyes filled with rage. Verity considered his options. ¡®I obviously can¡¯t run away, unless I want Master to beat me up, but I don¡¯t think I can just attack either¡­¡¯ He then had a bright idea, or at least he remembered something he saw in a webtoon. Verity planted his spear in the ground and crossed his arms. He then puffed his chest, and shouted. ¡°Bring me your leader! I am a wandering warrior who wishes to test his skills! Come out, if you dare!¡± Again, all that could be heard was the breeze howling through them. The two bandits exchanged glances, unsure how to respond, then turned their attention back to Verity. Verity¡¯s cheeks reddened. Theirs did too, but for completely different reasons. The bow nearly snapped under Mohawk¡¯s grip, and he knocked an arrow on its string. ¡°Krieg! Let¡¯s teach this brat a lesson!¡± ¡®Damnit.¡¯ Verity immediately picked up his spear and met Wide-ears, or ¡®Krieg¡¯, head-on. This was Verity¡¯s first real battle after he had started learning the spear. What his Master did to him were not battles, but rather¡­ instructive beatings, and while there had been the spars with Doll, the magical artifact had been greatly limited in what it could do. Hence, Although he was confident in applying what he¡¯d learned, Verity was a little nervous. All of that nervousness vanished when both of their weapons clashed, however. Perplexed, the young, black haired man could not help but raise an eyebrow. ¡°...Are you going easy on me?¡± He asked. Krieg gritted his teeth, and pulled his back. ¡°So you¡¯re a little strong, huh?¡± He looked back at his companion. ¡°Cover me!¡± He said before lowering his stance and closing his eyes. Hearing the command, Mohawk nodded and released an arrow which flew toward Verity at a blistering speed, but Verity simply tilted his head and avoided it. ¡®....huh.¡¯ A few more came, of course, as rapidly as Mohawk could knock them onto the string of his bow, but it was the same result each time. Verity easily avoided them, or swatted them away with his spear. ¡®Are these guys just¡­. Regular people?¡¯ Verity looked back at the darkness where he supposed his Master hid, not even bothering to care for the oncoming arrows, and shot her an accusatory glance which went something along the lines of ¡®This is supposed to help me improve¡­?¡¯ But as soon as he thought that, Krieg, the swordsman, shouted. ¡°I¡¯m ready! Stop shooting!¡± And unleashed an attack. ¡°[Double Slice]!¡± Had this been any normal attack, Verity would have blocked it with no issue whatsoever, but he had never seen this skill before. As if Wide-ears had grown a second arm, two attacks came toward him at once. One toward his abdomen, and another toward his neck. Taken by surprise, Verity managed to block the first, but was forced to awkwardly twist his body to evade the second. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Wide-ears stumbled back, eyes wide. ¡°Y-you dodged that? No one ever dodges that¡­¡± Then his face paled.. ¡°H-He¡¯s an adventurer!! The guild has come¨C sound the alarm!!¡± He urged Mohawk. Verity softly pressed his fingers against his cheek, where droplets of blood flowed. ¡®I see¡­¡¯ So this was what he was here for, to experience. These bandits were not strong, but who knew what skills or tricks they possessed. This kind of experience wasn¡¯t something he could gain in Evangelina¡¯s training room, hence why she had brought him here. Verity raised his spear, and stabbed Wide-ears in the leg, sending him tumbling to the ground. ¡°AAHHH!!¡± The bandit cried out in pain. ¡°S-Sound the alarm damnit!!¡± Mohawk stumbled as he reached for a large horn hooked onto the wooden gates. To be honest, Verity was unsure what Evangelina meant by ¡®take care of them¡¯, but he was not planning on killing them. Even though it seemed commonplace in this world, he still couldn¡¯t take killing lightly. Still, someone who came at him with a sword should at least have been prepared to suffer this much. A loud noise resonated as the alarm was sounded and several more bandits rushed out. ¡®Two swordsmen, one spearman, three bow-men and one with a large axe.¡¯ Verity lowered his stance, and began circulating his Aura. He was still not confident in using Violence, so he settled for Limbo. He could have defeated them without circulating Aura, but he was here to train. The battle began, and Verity seven bandits well. Of course, he did not remain unscathed for long. Their skill was subpar, and their weapons even worse, but dealing with skills was a lot more difficult than he¡¯d originally anticipated. None of the bandits seemed to have a class, as all the skills appeared random, but most of them had already reached level 3. One of the archers could make his arrows curve in the air to hit their targets, even if they were cleaved in two, while the other archer could increase the force of theiri impact making blocking a perilous endeavor. As he fought the vanguard, Verity was forced to pay attention to which one of the two shot the arrow in order to respond properly, and having to divide his attention in such a way lowered his efficiency greatly. The spearman had a truly strange skill which allowed him to step on the air. He was a lousy combatant, and even lousier at using the ability, but it still made it difficult for Verity to deal with him. The two swordsmen appeared to both have an ability similar to Felicia¡¯s, which increased the strength behind one of their strikes. This was the easiest to handle, as it was evident when they planned to use it. Verity could have beaten them in no more than three exchanges, if not for the archers, and that damn axe-wielder. He was the strongest of the seven, by a large margin. He too, appeared to not have a class, but he had an overpowered ability which allowed him to move at an extreme speed for a fraction of a second. Plus, each of his blows packed decent power despite his low level. Worse even, the other bandits heeded his every order, which increased the coordination and made the battle even more challenging. Verity quickly made a decision That man would be his first target. Taking advantage of a gap in the archer¡¯s volley of arrows, Verity gathered Aura toward his arms and swung his spear with blinding speed. The man tried to block, but he¡¯d just activated his skill, and his movement without it was too slow to do such a thing. So, Verity¡¯s spear slashed him across the chest, and he fell to the ground. He took one pained breath, and grew still. [You have slain an enemy] [You have gained Exp.] Verity grimaced. On one hand because of the kill, and on another because of what he¡¯d just attempted. A sharp pain coursed through his arms as he released his Aura. ¡®Damn¡­ ¡¯ He still had much practice to do. One of the bandits took advantage of the momentary lapse in attention, and sliced at Verity¡¯s stomach. The blow surprisingly landed, and a shallow wound appeared on Verity¡¯s torso. He leaped backward, and suppressed the tremors which were settling in his arms. He¡¯d really messed up his use of Violence¡­ or at least that¡¯s what he convinced himself the reason behind the tremors was. He had a complicated expression on his face. ¡°...I¡¯ve¡­. defeated your leader. Do we have to keep going?¡± The bandits, themselves in no better shape than Verity, looked at each other, and one of them grinned. ¡°He wasn¡¯t our leader, idiot!¡± The archer then shot a special arrow in the sky which exploded in a rainbow of colors. Soon after, the wooden gates opened, and two figures stepped out. The first was a gigantic man in the image of a barbarian. He wore a cape made from the skin of a bear, and a metal helmet with two horns protruding from it. A large axe, even more so than the opponent Verity had just faced, rested on the bulging muscles of his shoulders. The man reminded Verity of the pictures of Vikings he¡¯d seen a few times back in his world. Behind him, a much shorter woman came into view. She wore a dark robe etched with white patterns all over, and lustrous purple hair cascaded to her waist. Her face was pale, almost ghost-like. The only thing that betrayed its eeriness were her crimson lips which captured Verity¡¯s attention for more than a moment. Verity frowned. These two seemed different from the bandits he¡¯d just fought. The large man stroked his thick beard, scrutinizing Verity. ¡°You an adventurer, kid? I¡¯m sure the Guild and I had an understanding though¡­¡± He looked around, searching for others. ¡°Ah, did you take the request from a villager without going through the Guild, perhaps?¡±. Unlike his appearance, the man spoke eloquently and his voice was quite soft. Verity grew tense, and prepared to engage at a moment¡¯s notice. His large axe then fell to the ground, and he grinned. ¡°So serious¡­. Still, don¡¯t you think coming alone is too bold? Especially against the mighty White Fang Bandits?¡± The woman behind him groaned impatiently. ¡°Just kill him already! I don¡¯t have time for this.¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°I don¡¯t even know why you brought me out here in the first place!¡± The man looked toward the robed woman with annoyance. ¡°I brought you here for you to earn your keep.¡± He waved his hand toward Verity. ¡°You¡¯re going to kill him, you good for nothing mage.¡± A vein bulged on the woman¡¯s forehead. ¡°What did you say to me, you oversized sack of meat!!?¡± She shot him a glare. ¡°You think I won¡¯t turn you to ash where you stand!?¡± The large man chuckled, teeth flashing. ¡°I suggest you do as I say, or should I remind you of yesterday, my dear Melinda?¡± Melinda froze, and she grit her teeth with so much force they almost ruptured under the pressure. Verity watched the scene unfold with confusion. ¡®What¡¯s even going on¡­?¡¯ The mage then turned to him, and Verity felt a shift in the atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯ll make you pay for this¡­¡± She closed her eyes. ¡°Burning Fire, scorch the sky and raze the lands. Consume and devastate. Hear my call and obey my command --¡± Heat prickled against Verity¡¯s skin, and his instincts screamed at him. Melinda opened her eyes which gleamed with something far more dangerous than anger, and pointed her open palm toward Verity. ¡°- Inferno¡± Chapter 38 - The White Fang Bandits (2) This attack was different from a skill, or anything like it. Verity could see no change in the physical world, but he could feel it, a subtle shift in the atmosphere around him. In some sense, it reminded him of the fire pillars the goblin mages had assaulted him with back in the first trial. Back then, he could not tell when or where it would come without the use of his skill, [Lesson Learned], but now his sharpened senses screamed at him that danger was near. As Melinda finished her chant, the ground beneath Verity¡¯s feet sparked. He immediately understood what would happen within the next moment. ¡®Shit!!! It¡¯s the same as the goblins!¡¯ Without even thinking, Verity¡¯s Aura rushed to his feet, and he leaped to the side with all his might. A fraction of a second later, a magical circle appeared where he had been moments prior and with no delay, a pillar of flames which would have put the goblins¡¯ to shame rose from the ground. Verity slid across the stone floor and barely avoided being turned into ashes. He had gotten away, but the mere heat from the flames was enough to make him grimace. The pillar rose high into the sky, incinerating all within its path, and any who looked upon it shuddered at the thought of being caught in that attack. Even the large man with the horned helmet let out a disgruntled scoff at the sight. ¡®This is why I hate fighting mages¡­¡¯ He thought. When fighting a mage, a swift death was thought to be one of the best case scenarios. Magic was a complex phenomenon, and the ways in which it could be applied were limitless. As such, mages were beings who possessed a thousand ways to torment their opponents, and a thousand more to kill them painfully. Verity did not know that since it was his first time encountering a real mage, but he would soon come to understand the common sense of this world. The young man gritted his teeth as the pillar of flames showed no signs of disappearing. ¡®Whoever this woman is, she¡¯s much stronger than the goblins, and probably stronger than me¡­.¡¯ When she put an end to her spell, Melinda raised an eyebrow. ¡°You dodged that?¡± She asked before her gaze then fell where the magic circle was fading. There lay the charred bodies of two of the bandits. The man with the horned helmet groaned. ¡°Do you think I can just get these men anywhere? Learn to aim, mage.¡± Melinda rolled her eyes and barely spared the corpses a glance. ¡°They were in the way. Their deaths are no one¡¯s fault but their own.¡± She said with a disinterested tone. The other bandits who had been lucky enough to not stand in the line of fire found their hands trembling. A few of them could not help but step back, and some even dropped their weapons, ready to turn tail and flee the scene. But before such a thing could happen, the large bandit leader¡¯s foot slammed into the ground, and he spoke with venom in his voice. ¡°Run, and I will make you wish you burned instead..¡± He said coldly, the implications clear. Silence. The bandits froze in place, fear holding them in place as surely as chains Verity stared at his opponents apprehensively. If the bandit leader was anything like the mage, his chances of winning were slim, so what could he do? He could run, but his Master would not help him if that was his choice. He was unfamiliar with the area, and in any case, he doubted those in front of him would allow him to turn tail and flee. He could- ¡°Daydreaming while fighting my esteemed self? How arrogant.¡± Melinda grinned and snapped her fingers. ¡°Burst and devour - Combust.¡± Before he could react, the air beside Verity¡¯s leg twisted violently before a sharp crack could be heard.. Heat flared against his skin, and the explosion sent tiny embers flickering into the night. He grimaced at the pain and he looked down at his leg. ¡®She can do that too¡­?¡¯ Melinda¡¯s grin grew wider, and Verity understood he had to move. And so the chase began. ¡°Combust.¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. He barely avoided losing his face with a twist of his body. ¡°Combust.¡± This time the attack was aimed at the hand which held onto his spear. Verity failed to avoid it so he simply endured it, something made possible by [Painkiller]. ¡°Combust.¡± His arm. ¡°Combust.¡± His thigh. ¡°Combust.¡± ¡°Combust.¡± ¡°Combust.¡± ¡°Combust.¡± ¡­ Melinda sighed. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just let me kill you already? Isn¡¯t the outcome evident?¡± Verity groaned. He had suffered burns all over his body, and Melinda had been adamant about making him drop his spear, so his right hand was in an especially terrible shape. He had incredible stamina, so he was not exhausted yet, but the mental fatigue was piling up and he could feel his decision making slowing down by the moment. It was not that each attack carried devastating power, but instead that each explosion could sprout from anywhere. Plus, Verity did not know how a mage¡¯s mana reserves functioned, but at least Melinda did not seem as though she would run out any time soon. Rather, she seemed almost bored as she drowned Verity in her combustion spells. Melinda sighed, stretching her arms. ¡°Seriously? Do we have to keep going? Just lay down and let me kill you¡­¡± She grinned as she eyed Verity¡¯s body. ¡°How¡¯s this? I swear I''ll make good use of your body. You might be weak, but an adventurer¡¯s body still has some worth.¡± Her words did were not enough to make Verity flinch. The young spearman ignored her and exhaled sharply as he looked at his hands. ''What am I doing?'' He¡¯d just been running around for the past ten minutes. He hadn¡¯t even attempted a proper attack, not that he could, since his spear would not reach Melinda from where he stood. But that was exactly the problem. Why was he fighting this mage at this range? Why fight on her terms? In games, the most effective strategy to battle long-range types was to close the distance. They were fearsome from afar but often fell short when it came to close quarter combat. Instead of doing that, however, Verity was letting her bombard him with her spells from a safe distance. ''Am I an idiot?'' No he was not, Well- not for that reason at least. The reason Verity had yet to attempt bridging the gap between them was the large man standing beside her. He was immobile, but his mere presence served as a deterrent. Verity could not get close without risking being cut down the moment he let his guard down. So then, what could he do? That was an easy question. Verity grinned. He knew the answer to that one. At last, some of his real world experience would come in handy. He pointed his spear forward. ¡°Hey you, big guy! Aren¡¯t you going to fight too?¡± He asked. The large man arched an eyebrow. ¡°The name¡¯s Vindiel¡­¡± He rumbled. ¡°And why should I do that? I think you¡¯re losing well enough as is.¡± Verity smirked. ¡°You say that, but you standing next to her with your axe in hand makes it no different from a two against one, so stop half-assing it and just attack me!¡± Vindiel tilted his head, confused by Verity¡¯s outburst. ¡°...You want me to attack you?¡± Verity rolled his eyes impatiently. ¡°Sure, why not? You both don¡¯t believe you can take me by yourselves, so just be honest about it and come at me for real!¡± Melinda immediately burst out in anger. ¡°What!? Look at you! You haven¡¯t been able to do anything against me alone! Where do you get the confidence to say such things?!¡± Verity shrugged, a smug smile on his face. ¡°Easy to say when you¡¯re hiding behind your boss." He made sure to linger on that last word. "...Not that there¡¯s anything wrong with it, but just be honest about it, you know?¡± Melinda¡¯s eye twitched, and Vindiel tried to calm her down. ¡°He¡¯s obviously trying to provo-¡± ¡°Leave.¡± Melinda ordered. ¡°...I thought you wanted to finish this quickly. Just ignore him and kill h-.¡± ¡°Move.¡± Her voice was calm and composed, but behind it was a hint of palpable rage. ¡°Or do you also think you''re my boss...?¡± Vindiel rolled his eyes, and moved away. ¡°...Fine. Just don¡¯t come crying to me when you get impaled.¡± She clenched her fists and her enraged gaze fell on Verity. ¡°You think you can talk to me like that, brat? I¡¯ll make sure you regret every word! I¡¯ll show you that there are worse fates than deaths¡­!¡± Vindiel sighed as he saw Melinda lose her temper. He did not honestly believe Verity would win against the mage, even in a fair duel, but he did not wish to take any chances. He¡¯d intervene if it got dangerous. He couldn¡¯t let her die, after all, no matter if her pride was hurt. ¡®Got her.¡¯ Verity thought as grin tugged at his lips. This was called rage-baiting back on earth, and Verity was very good at it. Melinda shot Verity a glare filled with animosity. Then, she chanted, and a large wooden wand appeared in her hand. ¡°I¡¯ll make you swallow your words¡­¡± She spat. ¡°O crimson flames, rise, stand tall. Let none pass through thy burning might. Turn flesh to ash, devour light - Flame Wall!¡± The mana in the air rustled upon her call. Soon after, four walls of incandescent flames rose from the ground, encasing both Verity and the mage, and isolating them from the rest of the bandits. ¡°Oh, an arena? How considerate.¡± Verity said with a smirk, but his smugness was betrayed by a drop of cold sweat sliding down his temple. ¡®Looks like she wasn¡¯t serious before¡­¡¯ Verity thought apprehensively. Still, this was better than his previous situation, so he could not complain. Now even more irritated, Melinda glared at him and brandished her wand forward. ¡°Burst and devour. Swallow all that stands in your path. Incinerate my enemies and-¡± Verity tensed. ¡®As if I¡¯d let you!¡¯ Using a toned down version Violence on his legs to propel himself forward, Verity lunged at Melinda. Why would he let her chant? His spear was aimed at her abdomen, as he had already found that people tended to instinctively protect their neck. Melinda did not seem physically strong, despite her prowess as a mage, so Verity did not doubt that one clean hit would put her out of commission. However, just as his spear was about to pierce through her, an invisible obstacle stopped it in its tracks, mere inches from Melinda¡¯s tender flesh. It was as though Verity had hit an impenetrable wall. ¡®What?!¡¯ The mage groaned under the impact, a sharp breath escaping her lips, but a grin formed on her face as she looked down at the verity. Her wand softly landed on Verity''s forehead. ¡°Combust: Barrage.¡± BOOM