《A Cultivators 10X System》 Chapter 1 - A Strange New Beginning Mordred lay face first in the dirt. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. The pain blossoming from the previous blow was tight against his chest. Around him, the Plum Blossom Sect¡¯s training grounds were serene and deceptively peaceful, with plum trees in full bloom and their delicate petals drifting in the air. But a proudful stink loomed over him. ¡°Junior brother, all of this for a few measly spirit stones?¡± Senior brother Tianling said, looking down at him. His pure white robe glistened proudly in the high sun. ¡°I¡¯d advise you to stay down this time. My hand is growing itchy.¡± Mordred¡¯s lips curled. ¡°They all add up. In the outer sect, spirit stones are difficult to come by. If I hadn¡¯t challenged others for everything I''ve got, I¡¯d remain here, wouldn¡¯t I? You wouldn¡¯t know that, born into the Inner. Besides, If your strikes were as powerful as your words, maybe I wouldn¡¯t have to get back up,¡± Mordred said in an attempt to incense the young man. ¡°You really are a cocky bastard.¡± ¡°You try having my talent at my age,¡± Mordred continued through a mouthful of dirt. He could feel it: he was close to pushing his senior brother into making a mistake. ¡°Go on, I¡¯ll wait. Oh, wait¨C¡± Senior brother¡¯s foot came flying at him. Mordred grit his teeth and rolled to the side. He channelled the qi within his core, and with the thought of his family''s movement technique: Plum Step, leapt up, sword in hand, slicing at Tianling¡¯s leg. Red blossomed through his white robe. Mordred was quick to return to his feet, his previous mocking and arrogant smile was no more; only a cold remained. Tianling, with venom in his eyes, swung his blade in a savage arc. Mordred bowed his head. Not a movement to dodge, but one out of profound respect. He shouted loud and clear, ¡°This junior greets the honoured grand elder!¡± Senior brother Tianling¡¯s sword halted in horror. However, there was no one nearby. Mordred used Plum Step one more time, flower petals spawning around him. Ignoring the shocked expression taking hold of Tianling, Mordred struck the underside of the disciples chin with the pommel of his blade. With a harsh thud, Tianling fell to his backside, eyes wide in shock. ¡°You¨Cyou scoundrel! You¡­ you understand the essence of the plum blossom?¡± Mordred bowed his head properly this time. ¡°There are many paths to victory, senior brother. Many believe that they must bow to the strong, that they can¡¯t beat the superior¨C¡± Mordred raised his head. ¡°But I say that they just haven¡¯t tried hard enough.¡± ¡°You¨C¡± Tianling rose to his feet, qi energy circling madly around his core. Eyes flashing with a gorgeous and profound pink, Mordred circulated his own. ¡°I¡¯d advise against that, senior brother. The blood around this arena is not for mere show.¡± Tianling breathed heavily for a moment, before he spun on his heels. ¡°You¡¯ll regret these actions, junior brother. You may have all the talent in the world, but that talent won¡¯t save you from your pathetic background.¡± Mordred¡¯s face turned expressionless. ¡°Senior brother,¡± he said, not caring an ounce about respect. ¡°You seem to be forgetting something?¡± Gritting his teeth, Tianling removed a pouch from his waist, and threw it at Mordred¡¯s feet. Picking it up while Tianling was busy walking away, Mordred blew a stand of long, black hair out of his face, and then counted them happily. While he may be talented, the outer sect was a lawless land where everyone scrambled to gain any spirit stones at all. Maybe worked menial jobs, some acted as sparring partners, incurring grievous wounds in the process. But Mordred played to win, no matter the situation. He bore the scars of the disrespect he had dished out over the years, but those scars had forged him into the young man he is now. Even if he had to live a life of pain, he would just grit his teeth and bare it. After all, immortality waited for no man. He had to reach out and grab it, stamping on people''s toes, just like they had to him, in order to pluck it from the heavens. Just as Mordred was about to return to his lodgings, everything turned blindingly white. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a forest, surrounded by people equally confused as he was. There were at least 100 of them. Most wore clothes that he had never seen before, along with shorter hairstyles. However, there were a few wearing robes just like Mordred. He even recognised one, Mordred¡¯s brows rose. It was the current generation crowned genius¡ªLittle Demon Jiang. Strange, alien words flashed in front of his face.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. You have been selected as a participant in the Tutorial zone number 1. | Difficulty: Nightmare. Mordred waved at the words, but they refused to disappear. What the hell has happened? Mordred felt a pit forming in his stomach, his heart smashed against his chest. What supreme elder was playing games with him? This wasn¡¯t a time for jokes. He had a tournament to attend the next day. There were spirit stones to rob. More words joined it. Tutorial Mission: Find and defeat the tutorial Boss ¨C Titan of Smoulders. | Secondary condition: Be 1 of 10 survivors. | Time Limit until Tutorial collapse: 5 years. | Reward: Unique Class. Tutorial? What is that? Mordred wondered. System Activated ¨C 10x Reward System. | Perform feats that are worthy of achievement until you have enough to upgrade anything of your desire. | 10x Upgrade: Ready. Huh? Mordred tilted his head in curiosity. As if asking his question, a wall of text appeared. Mordred | Level: 1 | Class: N/A | Titles: N/A | Profession: N/A Attributes: | Strength: 17 | Vitality: 22 | Dexterity: 21 | Qi: 23 | Core: 25 Skills 3/6: Plum Blade-Arts (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï) Plum Step (¡ï¡ï¡ï) Blossom Circulation (¡ï¡ï) He focused on his so-called skills, and more information popped up. Plum Blade-Arts: This technique blends fluid movements with explosive power, allowing the wielder to dispatch enemies with grace and efficiency. Limited to the 1st tier. | Current Improvement: Damage increased by 40%. Mordred nodded. The description was correct. This was truly fascinating. Mordred urged on. Plum Step: The user can glide through the battlefield like falling plum petals, making them harder to hit and allowing for quick repositioning. | Current improvement: Speed increased by 30% Blossom Circulation: A rudimentary cultivation technique belonging to the Supreme Plum Blade. Limited to the 1st tier. | Current improvement: Improves Qi regeneration and power by 20%. Mordred was enamoured, the grand elder was really going all out with his new technique. Disrupting him from his awe, Mordred snapped his head to the nearby forest. He felt something watching him and the others. Mordred frowned. The air swished. Mordred watched as a young man nearby was impaled by a lance. The force of the blow threw his body backward, and the lance continued its deadly path, impaling others in its wake. Hairs rising on the nape of his neck, Mordred used Plum Step, increasing his speed as he barely got out of the way of another javelin. It fired into the crowd, spewing red mist. Mordred, forcing his turbulent heart to calm down, spotted the attacker. Just at the tree-line, was a small green creature. It picked up another javelin, and threw it at them. It arrived at a crazy high speed, ravaging the people once more. People screamed, people ran in every direction. It was chaos. Mordred remained calm. He didn¡¯t know what was going on, but all he knew was that he had to survive. The creature had run out of pointed sticks. Mordred thought it would retreat now that it was out of weapons, but instead, it bolted straight at them. It was a single creature, one that Mordred had never seen before. A demon from the Devil Sect? Mordred moved back, heading to the centre of the stampede. He watched as the creature killed anything in sight, clever in hand; its strength was staggering. Each attack split apart limbs, tearing through flesh shoulder to waist. It wasn¡¯t a creature he could kill. But if he could use these people as bait? Maybe he could. ¡°Is that a fucking goblin?!¡± Someone wailed in shock. ¡°We can¡¯t run,¡± Mordred shouted above the screams. ¡°We have the number advantage. Pick up whatever you can and fight! Brother Jiang¨C¡± However, the Little Demon Jiang paid his words no heed. He ran faster than the others, until he was just a vague black spot in the distance. Mordred spat. The cowardly were never rewarded. None of the disciples listened. They were too focused on their own escape. But the strangely clothed people did. Mordred seemed to be the only one with a sword in hand, while the others picked up rocks, sticks, whatever they found on the lush grass floor. They turned to fight, they screamed, and they died. But they did it together. More only seemed to join in. It was strange. Did they know each beforehand? Why were they so desperate to help one another? Mordred didn¡¯t complain. It was the perfect situation to dispatch the creature¨Cto see what rewards came his way. While it was busy hacking a young woman to death, Mordred activated his sword arts: Plum Blade. Blossoms appeared in the air as his blade tore into the creature''s throat. An intensely uncomfortable impact shook his hand. The blade only entered 3 fen deep. Cursing under his breath, the monster¡¯s attention bore down on him. It felt like when a senior brother directed their qi directly onto him. Mordred broke free, dashing amongst the crowd of people with his Plum Steps. A young man with golden haired shouted words Mordred didn¡¯t understand. But the strange people found their spirits raised. The golden haired man struck the beast with a large stick to the side of its head. The young man¡¯s eyes widened as an attack came his way. However, the man seemed to predict it, slightly. He leapt out of the way, the monster¡¯s attack grazing his arm. Blood fell. The creature continued its rampage. Mordred would attack periodically, charging his attack. Finally, after the blades of grass underfoot feasted on blood, Mordred¡¯s blade found its mark: the so-called goblin¡¯s eye. A plum blossom dropped on the flat surface of his blade, and Mordred pushed it deeper. Plum Blossoms exploded in the air as Mordred felt the severe strain in his arm. His flesh torn asunder. Like a kite¡¯s string severed, the beast finally fell. You have defeated: Goblin (Level 4) | You have Levelled up: 1>2 | You have 2 unspent Stat points. | You have earned 6 achievement credits. Stat points? Mordred wondered. He focused on it. It let him place one in one of his ¡®stats¡¯. Most peculiar. Lets put both in Qi and see what it does. Mordred did exactly that. Placing 2 points straight into Qi, he flexed his Plum Blade, noticing the difference in potency. His eyes widened. This was so much easier than cultivation! Activate the 10x reward System? | The reward system can be used on anything; recent Level ups, skills, equipment. (Can only be used once after 100 Achievement Credits have been earned.) Just like the words before, Mordred thought, a budding excitement growing. I¡¯m really not sure how this works, but, upgrade Blossom Circulation? As his words ended, new system words appeared, much to his confusion. But that confusion instantly transformed into disbelief and fright. Evolving Plum Circulation by 10x. Chapter 2 - Understanding the System Plum Circulation evolved by 10x. (¡ï¡ï) (Common) Plum Circulation -> (¡ï) ( Celestial) Omniscient Blossom Confluence: The profound, original cultivation technique that the Supreme Plum Blade spent an entire lifetime to uncover its secrets, only to fail. | Ability 1: Focus, gathering a ring of blossoms around you as the centre, you can detect anything that moves, and heal anyone inside. | Ability 2: While activated, strength and speed is increased. | Ability 3: Increases Qi regeneration, purity, and potency. | Ability 4: Create a defensive ring of frigid winter blossoms. Anything that enters the ring, will be attacked. | Current improvement: Improves effectiveness by 10% | Limited to the 3rd Evolution Tier. | Earn 1000 achievement credits to evolve. ¡°Patriarch above¨C¡± Mordred mumbled excitedly, his hands trembling, ignoring the pained groans all around him. Wars had been waged spanning centuries over said technique. Rivers flowed with blood, cities were raised over millions of bones; all to get their hands on such a technique. And now he had it. Because of¡­ a System? Mordred thought it was too good to be true, but as he circulated the skill, he took in a sharp, incredulous breath. He felt the might of the blossom swirl in his container like the winter¡¯s blossom. It felt incredible. Everyone around him was swept up by gorgeous pink blossoms, their wounds healed naked to the very eye. They all looked at him incredulously. With a thought, Mordred commanded the blossoms to turn to ice. From a bright pink, to a frigid blue. They looked sharp as they swished powerfully through the air. The circumference of the ring was about 30 zhang. Achievements consumed. | Earn 100 achievement credits to activate the 10x System. Mordred was about to question what all of this meant when a man blinked into existence, in the middle of the corpses. It looked eerily similar to his patriarch¡¯s mastery of the Plum Step. He just appeared. He had slicked back hair, budding horns, golden eyes, and wearing a strange set of attire that tied into his otherworldly, grand appearance. ¡°Hello, everyone, my name is Bartholomew, and I¡¯m the and welcome to the Nightmare tutorial, first zone.¡± he coughed awkwardly, his voice scratchy like a worn-out zither string that had seen too many battles in the celestial arenas of the sect. He seemed embarrassed as he gazed at the bloody carnage around him. *** If Bartholomew had known the current generation tutorial would decide to fritz itself on his watch, he¡¯d have never become an administrator in the first damned place. But here he was, and there was nothing he could do about it. He had watched the fight with the goblin¨Ca tier 1 creature¨Cand it had cemented his decision. These people were doomed. What went wrong? He swore he didn¡¯t touch anything, not this time, at least. This millennium, there were 4 designated Nightmare zones, 452 Challenger zones, and 4,582 Novice zones. The Nightmare zones were designed for noble children belonging to gods, demi-gods, and celestials. Not this rag tag bunch from a pathetic world named¡­ Earth? No, there was also one person from a planet called Verdant Star. It had to because of those pesky Vironous rats again. It must be. Bartholomew nibbled his clawed fingers. Shit, the Lord is going to kill me, his limbs trembling at the thought. He was ready to turn tail and run, but he had a job to do. If he didn¡¯t, then the Lord would definitely terminate him. He didn¡¯t want that. He liked his life; this life, anyway. So, sighing, he had to atleast make an effort for these poor souls. ¡°Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Nightmare tutorial, first zone.¡± he coughed awkwardly. They were all going to die. My bad, guys. ¡°Per Birthright guidelines, you have been chosen to become part of the Birthright System that governs the multiverse. Everyone, every living organism is required by Supreme Law to have a chance at higher life. Everyone deserves a chance to become great. This is a place that will prepare you for the rest of your lives. And don¡¯t worry, for as long as I am here, no monsters can attack you.¡± Silence reigned. Bartholomew counted 72 of them. There were more in other parts of the tutorial, but as the place was huge, he¡¯d have to make lots of stops. It was a good thing he arrived when he did. Only members from this group died. Let¡¯s see¡­ 41 of them¡ªby a single goblin. Truly, my bad, Bartholomew shook his head. No, not it isn¡¯t. This isn¡¯t my fault. It¡¯s all the rats. Yes, the rats. Well, there was at least something he could do for them. ¡°Ah, my apologies,¡± he said. ¡°There are people from all different walks of life here. There¡¯s even people from an ancient cultivation world, how exotic!¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. He continued, ¡°Now, let¡¯s help you with your current situation.¡± *** Mordred Pov. System Integration, skills are being added¡­ Myriad Tongues of Babel: You can now converse with every language in the multiverse. System Storage: You can now store up to 10 items, the same item can be stacked up to 100 times. Can only be taken out one at a time. ¡°Now,¡± the crazy horned man said. ¡°Those from Earth may be quite familiar with how things are laid out here. Yes, it is similar to your ¡®video games¡¯. And yes, the Masters will find it very offensive if you happen to accuse them of plagiarism. ¡°Anyway,¡± he continued his ramble. ¡°For those unaware, the gist of it is if you kill enemies, and yes, you can kill your fellow tutorial participants, you gain experience towards Levels. These Levels will offer Stat Points that strengthen you beyond regular means. The higher the level the monster you kill, the more experience you will earn. You can also level through your profession, so for the pacifists, you¡¯re in luck. ¡°For this tutorial, you will defeat the grand boss, the Titan of Smoulders!¡± He said, almost unconvinced they could ever accomplish the task. ¡°This here is a Nightmare Difficulty Zone, meaning that the monsters are¡­ stronger than usual. Weaker variants that you may know about are entirely different, with various skills to make them terrifying opponents.¡± ¡°How the hell is that fair,¡± One of the so-called Earthlings shouted, he had a deep gash gouged into his shoulder. He was the one with golden hair. Mordred understood him now. ¡°How is this fair?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± another added. ¡°Take us back!¡± ¡°I can not take you back,¡± Bartholomew said, ¡°nor can I move you to another zone. You have been chosen. This is your fate. You will either die here, like those lying lifeless on the ground right now, or you will ascend. It all depends on your efforts.¡± The golden haired man¡¯s eyes fell to those around him, then he looked up, finding resolve. ¡°Then, this is clearly the most difficult of the zones given the name. What do we receive as compensation?¡± I wonder if that 10x system is the compensation? ¡°Good question.¡± Bartholomew clapped. ¡°Experience gain in this zone has increased dramatically. Treasure and equipment will be legendary. Not only that, but there will be bonuses as well when you reach Level 5. That is when you will gain your Classes. Of course, the nightmare zone will make it so you bypass the more common Classes. There is more, but I can¡¯t say anymore than that. I don¡¯t wish to ruin the surprise.¡± Surprise? Mordred thought. But I already have it. Mordred concluded that the others would receive something else. But what could that be? ¡°That will be all,¡± Bartholomew said with a wide smile. ¡°There is a 5 year limit to complete the tutorial, but if I was you, I wouldn¡¯t bide my time. Try and find the others. Maybe you can make it out alive if you find everyone and work together. Once I leave, you will experience my newly created extra-tutorial, where you will face waves of monsters. Starting from weak, to, well, weak? For children of demi-gods, anyway.¡± Bartholomew coughed awkwardly. ¡°Fight, survive, and Level-up. The Birthright system demands it. Good luck, Nightmare Zone participants. You¡¯ll need it.¡± With a click of his fingers, Bartholomew vanished. Time resumed. The grass swayed under the light breeze, the stench of metallic blood wafted across the grass plains. Extra tutorial has been activated - Monstrous Waves: Defeat 3 waves of monsters. | Time until arrival: 10 minutes. | Reward: Extra Stat points, creation of Safe Zone, Profession unlock. | Extra unique Reward for participant Mordred: 25 Achievement Credits. So more of those points to make me stronger? Mordred thought. Upon seeing the extra reward, Mordred couldn¡¯t help but lick his lips. What would he upgrade next? He turned feverish at the thought. Numerous wooden boxes spawned where the dead bodies were not. Etched onto the front of them were the words ¡®Birthright¡¯. ¡°Shit,¡± The golden haired young man spat. ¡°What the fuck do we do? How can we handle waves of those things?¡± he looked around, and then his gaze focused on Mordred. He scanned the robes he was wearing, along with his long, wild hair. ¡°You saved us back there,¡± he said. He was clearly terrified. His bones rattled, as did everyone else. They were in shock. Did they not experience battle? Live through death? Endure the hardships of sect life, the bullying, and stealing? He continued, extending his hand, ¡°the name¡¯s Alex. Yours?¡± Mordred tilted his head, ignored the handshake, and gave a slight bow instead. ¡°Mordred.¡± ¡°Mordred, huh?¡± Alex took back his hand. ¡°Strange name. Even weirder clothes. You¡¯re from that cultivation world?¡± Alex rambled. ¡°I know you¡¯re in no mood for small talk,¡± Mordred said. ¡°We need to prepare ourselves. Two goblins like that and we won¡¯t live to see the sun rise.¡± ¡°Right,¡± he said. ¡°Let¡¯s check these boxes then. Might be something good.¡± Mordred claimed one for his own. Judging by how many of them there were, there was one for each person. Opening it revealed a bottomless pit of an assortment of various weapons; swords, maces, spears, clubs. Every weapon, from every branch was displayed. Mordred spotted a longsword that had a beautiful, large cross guard. He had never seen anything like it before. He wanted to pick them all just in case, but he was worried if he picked one, the others would disappear. Alex quickly turned to everyone, ¡°Hey, guys, stop.¡± Everyone listened, Mordred glanced at him. ¡°If we want to survive this, we need everyone to pick up spears. Shove the pointed tip forwards, easy. If we have a line of them, that will be great. Combine that with a shield and choose the heavy armour. If we want to survive this, we need to become a unit. Remember that movie, 300? Yeah, we wanna do that.¡± Everyone seemed to be on board with the idea. But Mordred had other thoughts. These earthlings may be untrained, but Mordred had the skills. He picked up the longsword, and all the other weapons vanished, only leaving behind an assortment of armours and shields. A surge of strength and dexterity flooded him. What was that? You have chosen an (Uncommon) weapon: Longsword. | Pick your armour to complete the selection process of the tutorial chest. Mordred unsheathed the blade and swung it. The air swished. The balance was perfect. He could tell the material used, and the forging process, was of the highest quality. The more he focused on it, words popped up in his vision, to his surprise. (Uncommon) Longsword | Added Stats: Dexterity +5, Strength +3 So that is the reason for my body undergoing forging? This System is truly miraculous. He placed the sword back in its sheath. It was time to pick his armour. After a couple moments, Mordred decided on a white, hard leather set of armour. It covered his torso, lower legs, and forearms. It didn¡¯t come with a helmet. It focused on manoeuvrability which was perfect for Mordred. Then, he picked a shield to go with it: a kiteshield. He tossed it to the floor the moment he received it. Other than that, there were bandages and food and water and everything they needed to survive the wilds. You have chosen an (Uncommon) set of armour: Kela Shelled Armour. You have chosen an (Uncommon) shield: Kiteshield. Mordred looked at the others. Alex had rounded up the others and were busy moving the dead bodies to one side. They were all wearing thick plated armour and spears. Mordred couldn¡¯t help but praise his quick thinking. Maybe they¡¯d survive this after all? Extra tutorial has been activated - Monstrous Waves: Defeat 3 waves of monsters. | Time until activation: 3 seconds. And then, from the border of the forest, 2 goblins arrived, javelins in hand. Even from a distance, Mordred could feel their overwhelming might, their savagery, their need for human flesh and the bloodthirst lingering in the air. Yeah, perhaps they wouldn''t. Chapter 3 - Its a Cultivators World ¡°Shields!¡± Alex yelled out his command. Those at the front were the burliest amongst them. Many of them had tattoos all over their bodies, some even had them on their faces. Muscles bulged bigger than anything Mordred had ever seen. It was as if each and everyone of them had used mystical pills to temporarily enhance their muscles. But now they were covered in thick armour, even their faces were covered in a full face helmet. The two goblins picked up their javelins, and threw them with considerable force. They swished through the air, hurtling at insane speed. One of them smashed into a man at the front. With a sickening crack, his entire body was sent flying through the air, colliding with the others behind him. However, he got back up. He cradled his arm; it was clearly broken. But he still had his life. The other man wasn¡¯t so lucky. Another spear struck another, but it had gone straight through his helmet''s visor with impeccable aiming. He was killed on the spot. Those at the back hadn¡¯t taken Alex¡¯s advice. Amongst the 71 that were still alive, at least 20 of them had chosen other weapons, mainly bows. It was a good weapon, but against monsters that could dodge, and had durable skin, it was akin to throwing toothpicks at them. That wasn¡¯t to mention their lack of skill with it, either. Many of them fumbled around with the arrows, dropping them on the floor the moment the goblins began their attack. However, Mordred did notice one woman in particular who was remaining calm. Somewhat. She still had fear stricken behind her eyes, but she was remaining composure. She had an arrow knocked, ready to fire the moment the goblins got into reach. Mordred doubted she¡¯d do much damage, but that was the same with the men at the front with spears. Admirable, Mordred thought as he summoned his new skill: Omniscient Blossom Confluence. The moment the blossoms appeared around him, like the centre of a beautiful storm, Mordred heard a crack from behind him. The man that had suffered a broken arm, had it broken back into place. Behind his visor, he gazed at Mordred in shock and awe. He played with his arm, picked up his severely dented shield, then nudged towards the front of the crowd once more. Mordred was surprised at the man¡¯s bravery. He was born into a harsh world of cultivation, where one had to battle for their own resources. Especially given Mordred¡¯s peasantry background, with no family to rely on. Was Earth the same in that regard? Mordred focused. In just the span of 1 minute, 6 of them had already died. Some of the heavily armoured people in the middle had already fallen to the ground, sobbing. Not to mention those cowering at the back. Just like before, when the goblin¡¯s had run out of pointed sticks to throw, they bolted towards them like little green lightning. ¡°Spears!¡± Alex yelled. Almost at the same time, those at the front aimed their own pointed sticks ahead. It took only 15 seconds for the goblins to arrive from the treeline. Like a battering ram, they smashed through the wall of shields and spears. Alex¡¯s own spear had penetrated one of the goblin¡¯s eyes, spewing blood, eliciting a pained howl; which only made it turn furious. It¡¯s own pointed anger turned to Alex. It moved, threatening to rip him apart. But Mordred was there to back him up. With his skill activated, Mordred used his new sword to strike at the goblin. Longsword aimed for its throat, Mordred felt the increased power radiate through his body. However, the goblin was quick to duck. Then, it activated a movement skill. Green mist covered its legs, and in a burst of movement, was already standing in front of Mordred. However, Mordred¡¯s defensive ring activated. Pink blossoms turning frigid, Mordred commanded them to slice and dice the monster. Each one left a mark in its flesh, drawing blood. But they were just a flesh wound, and they were already healing. Shit, Mordred thought, and quickly used Plum Step, increasing his own movement speed. He dodged the goblins machete with a step to the side, barely avoiding it by a hair''s breadth, then swept his blade, nicking the creature¡¯s throat. Mordred wasn¡¯t done there. Using the defensive ring of his cultivation technique, the frigid blossomed seeked out the newly created wound. Petal after petal sliced at the gash in the goblins throat, widening it, blood spurting. Noticing the situation it was in, the goblin raised its hand to block the petals. But how could it focus on defence when Mordred was aiming for an assault? Activating his sword arts, the petals of the blossoms swished with his every sword strike. Each time he swung his sword, it only grew more powerful. While Mordred was focusing on his prey, the others were struggling. People were dying by the second. The short haired girl that was well practised with a bow, found her mark. She penetrated its eye; she was the only one to deal any significant damage. However, Mordred couldn¡¯t spare the attention, even as others were cleaved in half. Soon, his moves ended in a crescendo. Petals laying on his blade, the air turned pink. Mordred grit his teeth and slashed with all his might. His blade found its mark, slicing half way into the goblin¡¯s already wounded neck. His blade continued, slicing through resistance until it glided all the way through, decapitating the wretched beast.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. You have defeated: Goblin (Level 4) | You have Levelled up: 2>4 | You have 4 unspent Stat points. | You have earned 13 achievement credits. Mordred immediately placed all his points into Qi. If he was going to endure the waves of monsters, he had to be able to cut them down with ease. He felt the startling distance a moment later. The inside of his core was a gas, but it was quickly transforming thicker. Mordred was stunned. If he wanted it to grow to such a state, he¡¯d have to cultivate it for at least 2 years. Now, it was instant. ¡°Now focus on the other one, Mordred!¡± Alex shouted, blood seeped from his helmet. Perhaps he was only able to continue because of Mordred¡¯s healing ability. So, Mordred turned his focus on the other. The goblin was about to tear into the short haired girl. Bolting, Mordred only barely made it in time. His ice petals moved in front of her like a wall as the goblin¡¯s cleaver descended. Mordred felt the strain as the monster¡¯s weapon cleaved into his petals, destroying, shattering each and every one. It brought enough time for Mordred to take the blossom¡¯s place, and defend with his own sword. The weight of the strike came crashing down, blade on blade. Mordred changed the direction of his sword so the flat of the blade rested on his shoulder. The goblin¡¯s blade crunched against his collarbone. Alex¡¯s spear arrived, digging into the creature¡¯s ear. It screeched, blood trickling down. It snapped a kick straight for Alex¡¯s chest, the impact struck true, sending him hurtling to the floor in a groan of pain. Summoning his Qi, activating his sword arts, Mordred put every ounce of his strength into the tip of his blade. It shot through the goblins eye, penetrating its brain, killing it instantly. You have defeated: Goblin (Level 4) No level up, Mordred thought in pain. But there was something else. Your skill has Levelled up ¡ú Plum Blade Arts (¡ï¡ï¡ï¡ï) | When using Plum Blade Sword Arts, your attacks are 40% more effective. | Progress to next Level-up ¡ú 0/25,000xp | Achievement Credits awarded: 10 1st wave complete! | You have 10 minutes to prepare for the next wave. Sighing, Mordred checked his current Achievement Credits. If he wanted to get out of this alive, he needed 10x reward desperately. Current Achievement Credits: 29/100 Still so many more to go, Mordred frowned. It looked like he¡¯d need to complete these monster waves in order to gain it. Or at least approach the 100 mark. Mordred kept his ring of blossoms up, despite how taxing it was to utilise it for so long. After just 30 seconds more, Mordred cancelled it. People were still in pain, their wounds still there, but if Mordred wanted to come out of this alive, he had to be in tip top condition. Of course, not everyone was so pleased about that. ¡°Hey,¡± Kyle said, frowning. Mordred had heard of his name from the others. ¡°You need to keep that ring up. Look at us¨C¡± he motioned towards those who had died, and those who were grievously wounded. ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Mordred said without an expression. ¡°I need to rest for the next wave.¡± Kyle stomped forward. Alex was quick to intercept, he placed his hand on Kyle¡¯s chest. ¡°Woah there,¡± Alex said. ¡°Mordred is right. We need his power in the next stage. If he can¡¯t use that ring, can¡¯t fight, we¡¯re screwed.¡± ¡°Then what do we do?¡± Kyle threw off Alex¡¯s hand. ¡°Rest,¡± Alex explained. ¡°Use the bandages. They¡¯re magical. Listen up, everyone,¡± he shouted to the others. At least half were already sitting on the floor, looking in a daze. ¡°If we can reach Level 5 and obtain our Classes, it will prove a massive boost in our strength. Remember what Bartholomew said, if we get there, we¡¯ll be granted a stronger than average Class. We can turn the tide against these green bastards. So get on your feet, this isn¡¯t over yet.¡± Mordred wondered how much stronger a class would make him, so as Alex broke free from the crowd, Mordred stopped him. ¡°Tell me more about these classes,¡± he said. ¡°You seem to know more about them than I.¡± Alex nodded. ¡°You see, in our world; Earth. We have these games where you can pick classes. Each class changes your style of fighting, and not by a small amount either. You can pick a magic class and hurl fireballs. Or pick a warrior that makes you much stronger physically.¡± Mordred nodded along enthusiastically. ¡°So, if Bartholomews words are correct, then we skip the most basic of them. In theory, we should get those classes later on if we were in an easier tutorial. But because of¡­ our situation, we seem to get them earlier at Level 5.¡± I need to reach Level 5 as soon as possible, thought Mordred as Alex approached the others, spending his time helping bandage others, helping encourage them. Mordred admired it. Thanks to those who had decided to choose heavy armour and spears, it made defending so much easier. He had to admit it, but if it wasn¡¯t for Alex, perhaps they¡¯d have lost at the first hurdle. As a cultivator, Mordred was born to be selfish. It was his life above all the rest. So, he only thought of himself first. He had to change his thinking. He had to utilise all the resources available. People were resources, too. Heading over to the short haired archer girl, he handed over his bandage. ¡°Your arm, wrap it up,¡± he said, pointing at the girl''s wounded arm. ¡°Thank you,¡± She said. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it,¡± replied Mordred. ¡°I don¡¯t need it. I seem to heal faster with my skills.¡± ¡°I meant for saving my life,¡± she said with a wry shake of her head. ¡°I would be dead if not for you. I¡¯m Mia.¡± ¡°Mordred,¡± he bowed. ¡°Just make sure you pick a good class. We¡¯ll need every ounce of strength we can get.¡± She nodded, and just as she was busy bandaging her arm¨C The second wave is beginning in 2 minutes. Get ready. Mordred excused himself with a bow, then headed amongst the heavily armoured earthlings just like before as he awaited the monstrous beasts to appear. How many would it be this time? Double? Or more? The anticipation left him feeling itchy. He gazed around at the people, looking for a target to¨C Kyle sent him a nasty look. ¡°You should be in the front with that skill of yours. You really are a¨C¡± Mordred instantly flicked his blade with no hesitation, severing the man''s head from his body in one swift motion. Blood spurted violently, leaving the onlookers frozen in shock and disbelief. You have defeated: Kyle Watters (Level 2) | You have Levelled up: 4>5 | You have 2 unspent Stat points. | You have earned 3 achievement credits. You have reached Level 5! | Granting Common Class Selection¡­ | Nightmare Difficulty Zone detected, upgrading Classes by one whole tier¡­ | Granting Uncommon Class Selection¡­ Mordred smiled at the words filtering in his vision. Now¡­ what would be his choice for power? Chapter 4 - The Cold Truth ¡°What¨C¡± Alex¡¯s eyes widened in horror. ¡°What the hell?!¡± ¡°If we want to stand a chance against these monsters,¡± Mordred said, his expression cold and unfeeling, ¡°I need to unlock this class. His death won¡¯t be in vain.¡± ¡°How can you treat life like that?¡± Alex was on the verge of exploding with rage. ¡°Focus!¡± Mia shouted, her gaze lingering briefly on Kyle¡¯s lifeless body. ¡°Those monsters are coming again. We can deal with this later.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± yelled a man from the front, one of the warriors, Elias, who had been with them from the start. ¡°I¡¯m not fighting alongside a murderer!¡± ¡°Then stay out of our way,¡± Mia snapped. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this. Everyone, if you want to live, focus on the oncoming monsters.¡± She gave Mordred a frosty stare. ¡°I hope this Class is worth it.¡± Elias wanted to say more, but he only gave Mordred a look of repulsion as he returned his focus to the treeline. Alex clenched his fists, reluctantly turning his attention back to the impending threat. The others edged away from Mordred, their faces a mix of fear and disgust. Despite their trembling hands, they listened to Mia, gripping their spears tightly in a desperate bid for survival. Mordred felt no remorse for Kyle. His sacrifice was for the greater good. And now, with his new class, they stood a better chance. Maybe. Class Selection in progress¡­ Nightmare difficulty zone detected¡­ Skipping over basic Class tiers. Class offerings are now given at Uncommon tier. Presenting list of Uncommon Classes available to participant Mordred¡­ Swashbuckler: A daring combatant wielding a light sword with agility, using acrobatic manoeuvres and quick reflexes to outmanoeuvre opponents. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Duelist, Blade Dancer, and more. Cultivator: Harnesses spiritual energy to unlock extraordinary abilities, mastering martial arts and mystical techniques through inner Qi cultivation. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Grandmaster, Patriarch, and more. Ranger: An expert tracker and survivalist, skilled with a bow and knowledgeable about nature, striking with deadly accuracy. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Sniper, Beastmaster, and more. Bard: A charismatic performer whose music and tales heal, bolster courage, and cast spells, supporting companions and turning battles. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Minstrel, Maestro, and more. Elementalist: Commands fire, water, earth, and air with mana to unleash devastating spells and control the battlefield with elemental power. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Archmage, Stormcaller, and more. Shadowblade: A lethal assassin striking from the shadows with martial prowess and shadow magic, moving unseen and disorienting foes. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Shadow Assassin, Phantom, and more. Qi Scoundrel: Adept at thievery, qi mastery, sword arts, excelling in stealth and deception, outmanoeuvring foes with agility and cunning. | Unlockable upon Class evolution: Trickster, Plunderer, and more. After scanning through the available classes, Mordred immediately dismissed all but Cultivator and Qi Scoundrel for one main reason: Qi. Other classes, like Elementalist, sounded intriguing, but they used mana, which he wasn¡¯t even sure what it was, let alone being compatible with his current abilities. He wondered if his qi would transform into this so-called mana, but he wasn''t willing to gamble on it. Mordred had spent nearly six years accumulating his current energy. Losing it would be devastating. His body was like a tower, built one block at a time to become taller and stronger.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Time left until the second wave: 20 seconds. Mordred clicked his tongue in frustration. Choosing Cultivator seemed logical. In his world, everyone aspired to be a cultivator, and he was already one. However, the skill set of a cultivator was straightforward and limited. The Plum Blossom techniques, though powerful, had their constraints. Mordred stroked his bare chin. Cultivator was the obvious path, one he knew well. But then he considered the Qi Scoundrel. Thievery, qi mastery, sword arts, stealth, and deception. Compared to Cultivator, its skill set was broader. In this world, in any world, sometimes you need to run and hide. He didn''t need more attacking skills. If he could use the 10x upgrade on Plum Blade, that would suffice. The further class evolutions suggested a focus on thievery. What could he steal? Anything? Everything? He recalled the tales of the Reverend Phantom Thief. There wasn¡¯t a thing he couldn¡¯t steal: qi, pills, even crypts of fallen patriarchs. All was within his reach. He was the most wanted man in all the realms. Mordred always respected his tails of grandeur. Time left until the second wave: 5 seconds. Without further ado, Mordred had come to a decision. You have selected the Uncommon Class: Qi Scoundrel. | Added stats: Qi +10, Core +5, Dexterity +5 Mordred felt the immediate difference. He flexed his Qi, summoning the Omniscient Blossom Confluence. It was stronger now, the heal more potent, the area effect of the skill had also grown by a small amount. You have received an (Uncommon) Class Skill ¨C Shadowed Pilfer: Extends a hand-shaped Qi projection that can pick pockets, pick locks, steal items, or manipulate objects from a distance without being noticed. You have received an (Uncommon) Class Skill ¨C Qi Drain: Allows the Scoundrel to syphon Qi from an opponent upon striking them, weakening the enemy and strengthening the Scoundrel. You have received an (Uncommon) Class Skill ¨C Cloak of Concealment: Envelops the Scoundrel in a cloak of Qi, removing noise around them, and making them invisible to both the naked eye and spiritual senses for a limited time. Mordred didn¡¯t have time to test out his new skills as monsters spawned in the forest. They spotted their targets: the participants. Snarling with yellowed, pointed teeth, they picked up the javelins at their feet once again. Alex grit his teeth. ¡°Everyone, ready your shields!¡± The sound of metal shields clinking against each other rang across the battlefield. ¡°Behind!¡± Mia shouted in horror. Everyone turned their heads. At their flank, was a long goblin. Of course, the damage just a single one of the green monsters could dish out was evident. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with him,¡± Mordred said, circulating his qi. ¡°Deal with the others.¡± Before Mordred dashed, Alex said, ¡°You need to finish up the fight fast. We¡­ need you.¡± Mordred nodded and darted towards the lone goblin. The goblin quickly picked up a javelin and tossed it at Mordred. The strength of its arm was truly baffling. The spear hurtled towards him at crazy speeds. Sparing no qi, Mordred activated Omniscient Blossom Confluence. Petals turning solid, they formed a shield and attacked the incoming projectile. It was of little use, however, they did by some time. Thanks to the insight given from his skill, Mordred could see anything in his vicinity. It made calculating the distance needed to parry easy work. Blade against the incoming long stick, Mordred guided the projectile to the side. Just barely, it scraped by his arm, slicing his robe, and crashed into the ground with a startling thud. Ignoring the throbbing pain of almost having his shoulder dislocated, Mordred neared the beast. But he wasn¡¯t close enough. The goblin readied another attack. Mordred activated Plum Step, increasing his movement speed. Bending its arm back, the goblin tossed the javelin with all its strength. Mordred ducked and bent his head, the attack sliced his cheek as the projectile disappeared behind him, but he had dodged it. Close enough now, Mordred joined a brutal brawl with the monster. With his sword arts active, every time Mordred swung his sword, it grew more powerful. Not only that, but Qi Drain seemed to be always active. Every time he scored a hit, his core would sap qi away from the beast. The goblin seemed to recognise a pattern in his movements as the beast snapped its leg to Mordred¡¯s armoured torso. The hardened leather made no difference as Mordred was sent reeling back, mouth trickling down his lips. Stifling back a groan, Mordred made sure to get close once more. Making sure to change his pattern of attack, he flicked his sword at its eyes, sliced its throat, or aimed for the arteries on its legs whenever he could. Aware of the urgency behind him, Mordred activated Cloak of Concealment. A black cape draped over him, blending him into the shadows. The goblin sensed his presence and retaliated, narrowly missing a lethal strike. Grinning, Mordred adapted, using the cloak to his advantage. He vanished and reappeared, thrusting a translucent blade formed of blossoms into the goblin''s eye, ending the fight instantly. You have defeated: Goblin (Level 5) | You have earned 3 achievement credits. Spinning around, Mordred surveyed the battlefield. The goblins were closing in fast, threatening to overwhelm the other participants at any moment. Without hesitation, Mordred sprinted back, sword gripped tightly in hand, ready to join the fray and defend his shields.