Chapter 581 - Start of the third event

The third event is going on in the same way as during the 1st tournament.

Each common area has dozens of dedicated places, each with its own huge screen. It’s a bit chaotic, the same as before since there are many challenges happening at once. Yet people are gathered around, with groups sitting on the hills and waiting for more notable participants to take on their challenges.

Such attention is primarily reserved for individuals from Hell difficulty. Whenever one of them steps forward, groups observe them closely like hawks. Often, it's simply curiosity and free entertainment. In other cases, it might also provide satisfaction, as individuals from Hell difficulty often challenge much stronger opponents in an attempt to learn. Watching them get severely beaten is something I find entertaining, and many from lower difficulties share this opinion.

To me, it is fascinating. There are groups of people who know the aliases of everyone from Hell difficulty. They even have something akin to cards with notes, and copies of these cards are made to be shared, often in exchange for items such as a common dagger or an uncommon cloak.

One of these cards came to me, showing Swordmaster from the 8th group called TheGuild. According to the card Swordmaster's level is estimated to be around 250, and his stat distribution is estimated at 3 parts dexterity, 2.5 parts strength, 2 parts constitution, and 1-2 parts mana.

It is also rumored that he possesses an upper epic sword and cloth armor. His attribute upgrade is estimated to be for mana potency, and there are even guesses about his skills such as [Sword Manipulation], [Quick Step], and [Swish Swoosh].

It is clear that people from lower difficulties have some fun with it, but it also shows that when it comes to skills they are not as knowledgeable as we are. Even Hard difficulty often has skills like [Water Bullet] or [Fire Wall], while in Hell we would have [Water Manipulation] or [Pyrokinesis].

There are a few rare people from lower difficulties, the talented ones, who, through their efforts, acquire skills similar to Hell difficulty. That is also where the differences in capabilities become apparent. For them, such skills are much more difficult to control and level. Their minds and bodies are not as attuned to them, and they often lack our intuitive use of these abilities.

It is something I am sure can be worked on in the future. They can learn, study, create theories, and vastly improve. Given enough time and resources, their abilities could develop even further. I am sure there will be theories created, knowledge traded, and disciples taken. They might even establish schools to exchange and share knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding of these skills.

Meanwhile, in Hell difficulty, it is just like "I just feel it, bro."

People, especially from Hard difficulty, are forming theories on mana and other forces and their influence on reality, or how teleportation twists spacetime. Some propose that subtle shifts in ambient mana density could alter fundamental physical laws, potentially allowing for entirely new interactions between mana and matter.

Meanwhile, we from Hell smash stones and sticks together to get a spark out of it.

Just as the system intended.

During these hours, I am joined by Dennis and Aaron, who hand me a card that estimates my abilities.

When I look at the two of them, they simply say, "Just read it. It's funny as hell."

I do as told.

Community alias: Noname

Appearance: Slightly above average height, black hair, heterochromia – the right one is brown and the left one is gray eye. The heterochromia possibly originated before the tutorial or could be some fancy trait.
His eyes are rumored to sometimes have a golden circle around his pupils.
Note: Calm expression perhaps a concentration skill? [IDGAF], [Punchable Face], [Concentration]?

Attribute upgrade: Mana Amplificator.
Note: 100% for sure; the man shits out mana.
Note: Lol, yeah, maybe that's how he flies.

Estimated Stat allocation: 5 mana, 2 constitution, 1 strength, 1 dexterity? Very confusing; it could be more mana, but at times his physical stats look strong. Trait? Skill? Passive? Possibly transferring mana into physical stats?
Note: No shot this is natural; he's definitely cooking.

Traits: Eye trait shown by a golden circle around the pupil – theorized to be related to mana.

The second trait: roughly theorized to be something to do with mana.
Note: No shit.

Active skills: rough guesses: [Mana Manipulation].
Note: No shit.
A concentration skill or a skill allowing for expanded mental capacity, and something enabling flight. He is rumored to possess kinetic primordial energy, which he uses to fly.
Note: two people from Hell difficulty shared the expert opinion, noting how “fucking hard” it would be to fly that way.

Note: Often uses “orbs of fucking destruction” – various versions and strengths.

Sometimes uses fire skills. It is believed to be another primordial energy. Two guys from Hell difficulty were unable to confirm whether it is possible that Noname has two of them - very rare if true.

Teleportation over long distances – often even a mile or more.

Shown to have a moderate capability for regeneration.
Note: prefers to replace his missing body parts with mana based prosthetics.
Note: wtf

Long-range mana projectiles observed – anything below Hell difficulty is unable to block them.

Disruption confirmed – capable of piercing even the natural barriers of Hell difficulty attendees.

Black mana observed – absorbs all surrounding mana? Disruption based skill? No more information.

Passives: Highly likely to support body and mind. Something turning mana into physical stats?

Level: One of the highest in the earth tutorial, based on capabilities of large-scale destruction – possibly (while unlikely) over 300.

I look at the two of them and ask, "Who are these two guys from Hell difficulty who got asked these questions?"

"No idea!"

"I thought so," I say as I hand them the card back.

"There are a lot of people watching you, and even if these guys made cards like this for fun, I'm sure people like Samuel or from other rounds have much more information, especially after the events."

"It could cause trouble during the 4th and 5th events," Aaron adds.

"Yes," I confirm, "I have already noticed a few people from other rounds around here; they are likely collecting information."

"What, really?" Dennis asks, surprised.

"You dumbass," Aaron shakes his head, "Sophie got a few guys to do the same."

"I wasn't surprised because of that! It's just that I haven't noticed anyone."

I point them out to the two, "The guy on the bench, the yellow shorts and black beanie hat. The woman in the group of our Easy difficulty, wearing jeans and a white shirt; the boy under the trees eating a snack. And a few more."

"How do you know?"

"I guess that because they are trying hard to suppress their mana and are likely from Hell difficulty, but no one I would recognize from our round. There are probably plenty more from lower difficulties or ones not even hiding their mana." I shrug, "Not much we can do about it."

"We could send Lily after the ones we find," Dennis observes regarding the people I have pointed out.

"You or Aaron could take them out yourselves if you want. I'm also fairly confident that Sophie has detected a few more through the web she set around our zone, so go and have fun if you want to."

"Will do," Aaron grabs Dennis by the shoulders and starts pulling him away, "Later, Nat, and good luck; if you need anything…"

"I will ask, yes. See you later."

Left on my own, I observe more fights while refraining from training for now. At this point, I have tested my limits fairly well. I know how far I can push before my heart bursts and/or my brain melts. I have tested it in so many ways and applications of nearly all my skills.

So currently, I am coming up with ways to push myself further past that limit. Maybe a slightly different rhythm of my heartbeat – just a slight delay between them to prevent my body from burning. Maybe I could sacrifice a bit of efficiency and channel my mana through a more durable pathway to allow myself to channel it for longer and much more.

Where at the start I just did whatever came to my mind, now I am a bit more deliberate. A small part of my mind serves to take mental notes of all the things I have tested. After every few tests, I review those notes and either continue or change my objectives.

I am not a fan of such methods, but to get as much as possible out of this tournament, it is necessary. Especially now that more and more people know my abilities and are trying to come up with ways to counter them.

From Victoria, I even got information that a few rounds are working together to take her and me down. Vic, Jean, and I are all considered wild cards. Jean, maybe to a lesser extent, as he often listens to people from his round, who have shown themselves to be more reasonable.

Victoria has full control over her round, with it being entirely under her command through her power and the power of her group, which has the most members left out of any Hell group in the Earth tutorial. Each of these group members is someone capable of surviving 7 floors and is currently on the 8th. So it's no surprise her round is rated as very dangerous.

Our 5th round is also considered threatening. Tacita, for example, was given one of the highest threat ratings, and the same goes for Savant and Sophie. Tacita, Savant, and Lily are each considered to be at the level of kings, and Sophie, in certain situations, can be considered one of the most dangerous people in the tutorial.

There is just so much information being leaked or uncovered about the attendees, and I suspect this might be one of the system's intentions behind the tournament.

While thinking about that, I also observe the Challenges. Savant goes in and challenges the same man as during the first tournament, and just like before, Champion Tristan gets rid of him effortlessly. The only difference is that Savant endures the attack for a fraction of a second longer.

Lily steps up against a Greater Mimic, immediately activating her mantle and blocking its attacks with her bone axe. The fight is impressive. I watch as she takes damage, only to regenerate instantly and continue facing the powerful monster. She combines an incredibly durable body, near-instant healing, and possibly the strongest attack skill I've ever seen. Her disturbingly high potential is clear. Numerous paths are open to her, any of which could transform her into something extraordinary.

The rest of Group 4 also steps in, and almost all of them face a Greater Mimic. That makes me realize they are likely training and preparing for the continuation of the seventh floor. Only Sophie faces a man who I assume is an Archon from the sixth floor, as he resembles Beatrice, while Maya challenges her lynthari teacher, just like in the previous tournament.

Each of these fights is carefully observed, and I notice the dark expressions of some people from Hell when they see certain members of our group fight.

It becomes especially interesting when some from the 5th round's Hell difficulty begin challenging the winner of their round's first tournament.

Myself.

All four who attempt it lose. My Avatar from a year ago tears through them. Injured or damaged, it still bites, spits, sacrifices parts of its body, or willingly takes powerful attacks just to land another strike. The last two challengers are especially fun to watch. Both rely on mana, and they get obliterated almost instantly. Even as prepared as they might be, the power of my Avatar's disruption takes them by surprise, and when that isn't enough, the black mana it creates leaves them helpless.

And as the timer ticks down, I decide to move.

Reaching one of the platforms, I look at the screen and declare, "I want to challenge Absolute Candidate Ruby."

***

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