“Shit!!”
Viers was already in battle mode the instant the teleportation was complete, because there were hundreds of pony-sized beasts all around him.
Their body structure was designed for agility and melee combat. A variant of insectoid dogs, only they had spikes of bone growing out of their body. They had six legs with an additional twin-mantis claw-like limbs growing from their segmented-armored backs. Their eyes were emitting hunger and hostility, which was why Viers was s...
2021-12-15 14:08:04 +0000 UTC
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“Greetings, Aletro,” Viers gave a respectful bow. He didn't like bowing and loathed kneeling but he understood that Aletro had given him so many opportunities and he was much stronger now because of it. Villain he might be, Viers knew gratitude. “I’ve been thinking about our first conversation.”
Viers implied about the time Aletro told him he was not the candidate for number one and that he would prove him wrong.
“So Anne is the most likely champion in this co...
2021-12-11 18:44:41 +0000 UTC
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Once more Viers and the rest of the trial takers found themselves in the Quantum Main Hub where they were all floating as if in zero gravity. The sky was a blend of bright colors like many painting dyes jumbled together, slightly ever-flowing.
The two Aletro, one wearing white and the other wearing black garments, loomed over them like titans made of smoke.
From the 382 people at the start of the trial, 26 was all that was left.
Not all of the lost were dead, some chose to b...
2021-12-10 15:41:30 +0000 UTC
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Stage 4 was the grandest Stage thus far. The sight of a towering tree appeared before the trial takers, its trunk larger than a city, reaching far above the clouds and into the heavens took everyone’s breath away, including Viers’.
Out of 226 people that entered Stage 3, only 65 people made their way to Stage 4 of Aletro’s trial.
Stage 4 was a 1-month-long marathon race. Inside the World Tree’s trunk was full of uncountable maze-like paths, where they had to trek upward. T...
2021-12-07 18:01:09 +0000 UTC
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“There, how are you feeling?” Anne extinguished the fire in her hands.
“Much better,” Troy checked his body. “Incredible healing Arte. Not only extremely rare for fire elements, but it works wonders despite my space affinity.”
“It’s because it is my mother's fire,” Anne, the young girl around sixteen years old, became squeamish with the praise and changed the topic. “The talk with your friend isn't going well, right? Is there anything I can do to help?”
2021-12-03 10:08:00 +0000 UTC
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At the late phase of Stage 3, a gigantic war broke out.
The start was a three-sided conflict between Noble Tiger, Dark Zero, and Oscar. At first, it was just the first two but Oscar joined to reap some benefits. From that, the powder keg blew up. Many more trial takers dipped their toes in that troubled waters.
The trial takers’ Ranking for Stage 3 would be based on how many NPCs they had under their command. Strictly speaking, a war between settlements where the NPCs were dying...
2021-12-01 10:06:38 +0000 UTC
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“Oscar… What have you done?”
Troy felt sinister energy close to his friend’s location so he came to investigate. He found Oscar standing in the middle of a field of corpses. They were the trial takers that flocked to Oscar, followed him, and trusted him.
Oscar had killed them all.
“Troy, who am I?” Oscar said to Troy with his back facing him.
Troy didn't answer.
“I am… Oscar Regisea. I was born as the sole son of a Level 5. I received the best tra...
2021-11-30 08:58:58 +0000 UTC
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“When you left to kill Scorpion, I expected you to return with his head,” Izabella commented. “Instead, you’re carrying an unconscious girl in your arms. Should I be worried?”
“Shuddup,” Viers curtly replied. He had informed her that Scorpion managed to slip away. “Your condition?”
“Nothing major. I just thought this would be a lot more… difficult,” Izabella contemplated. She had killed people before but never from the same side as her. She chose to betray ...
2021-11-28 06:48:50 +0000 UTC
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Viers and Sakuya were in a standoff, the heavily injured Scorpion didn't continue his escape, to Viers’ bedazzlement. Perhaps he’d rather watch a good show.
“...Tanael-san, I-”
Sakuya stopped as the words stuck in her throat. Viers didn't react or show any uneasiness. He knew in one glance that she was here not because she wanted to be.
Stage 3 was a place where natural disasters were common. The ground shook as an earthquake visited the area. It was mild and didn't ...
2021-11-26 14:48:38 +0000 UTC
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“What are they doing? Demon summoning?”
Viers plus four of the Blood Church were observing Green Scorpion and the gang. Both sides were all far from any settlement, near one of the giant Rank 4 monsters, Putrepos Skunk.
The monster’s decaying presence turned the area into a wasteland devoid of flora and fauna. Dead trees, animal bones, and dusty earth but somehow the Gardeners made a thirty meters wide strange garden in the middle of it.
The plants and flowers were abn...
2021-11-24 09:05:46 +0000 UTC
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In a closed, magically secured tent, four people were sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed. Rhythmic breathing, in a peculiar state of mind. In the center of the circle, a white clam was emitting the sound of a waterfall as if it was a bizarre music box.
The magical sound of the waterfall was soothing and calming, making Viers, Izabella, and Jaime smoothly progress in their cultivation meditation.
The fourth member was Kaari. Cultivation was useless to her so she didn't med...
2021-11-22 16:33:34 +0000 UTC
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RR took down the cover again so I think it is time to get my own cover.
Searching for artist now. If you can give me suggestions that would be great.
2021-11-21 05:06:25 +0000 UTC
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Viers was walking with an earring on the top of his open palm.
“It’s this way,” he said to his companion after getting a reaction from the item.
“...Just kill me,” Jaime said hopelessly.
“What are you talking about?” Viers controlled expression as much as he could so the amusement didn't surface on his face. “You’re gonna get revenge on Aravin aren't you? ‘Man up’ and endure some discomfort.”
Jaime, unable to move because of his injury, was bein...
2021-11-19 14:46:19 +0000 UTC
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Jaime gasped as he opened his eyes.
I… I am not dead?
“Yo,” a frivolous voice said. “Welcome back to the world of the living.”
“Tanael… Why did you save me?” Eyes still fixed to the night sky, unfocused, tired, empty.
“Oh? You said it like you wanted to die. Are you sure about that?”
Bonfire crackling, soup boiling, an appetizing aroma was in the air.
“...You did not answer my question,” Jaime said.
“Neither did you....
2021-11-16 05:23:49 +0000 UTC
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“Urrrggghh…”
Jaime coughed a glob of blood as he lay broken after the attack of the hateful Aravin and his accursed wolf-girl pet. As if rubbing salt on injury, Dark-Life Invigoration Arte’s after-effect was ravaging his already smashed body.
The battle was over. Seeing their leader lost, the surviving forces of Jaime were routed to the wilds, less than a dozen of them. Aravin’s fighters were in hot pursuit as per their lord’s command. If they got wiped out, even if he...
2021-11-13 12:39:00 +0000 UTC
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“What happened to you?”
Viper Lady asked when Viers approached her. She and her group were consoling the two women that the scum duo had captured. Macho Hunk was lying on the floor with a spear in his chest, lifeless.
“I won.”
Viers said the words without emotion. His clothes were in tatters and his skin was at medium-rare thanks to the lighting strikes. He extended his hand to the corpse and the Lady jumped back out of caution. She felt the wrongness in the air with...
2021-11-10 17:19:11 +0000 UTC
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By the morning of the second day, Viers’ had already taken two lives. Viers and his marauders found another settlement before noon. He aimed to hit five before nightfall.
The third settlement was a bit strange. This one was so much better. The buildings were nicer, the fighters were more numerous, they even had a farm set up.
How? They shouldn't have the time or resources to afford those. This means their starting goods were better than mine. I’m in the top 10, how is this...
2021-11-08 16:29:00 +0000 UTC
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Viers could admit without shame that he had never ruled a village before or sat on any other position of leadership. Not even a class rep at school. He was an introvert rather than an extrovert.
But base-building video games were right up his alley.
Confidently, Viers took note of the manpower he could utilize, divided them into groups, and sent them to work. Those who needed to go outside of the village were sent with protection details.
Among his 100, there were 20 childre...
2021-11-06 08:27:08 +0000 UTC
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Before Aletro explained about Stage 3, someone wasn't having a good time.
“Hells and Damnations!”
Green Scorpion, whose real name was Fajrin, threw his drinking glass to the ground, shattering it.
“Fucking Tanael… Now everyone knows I’m a mind user. Gathering information has become significantly harder!” Fajrin was fuming in front of the other four of their little group, the Garden of Perfection.
It didn't take a genius to suspect Tanael spread the rumor to...
2021-11-04 10:03:14 +0000 UTC
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The trial takers found themselves back in the Quantum Main Hub. The Path of Paradise resort still stood out like a sore thumb in the distance. What welcomed them was the ranking list plastered in the air, big and bold.
Anne - 33,990 spark shards. Rank 1
Blade of Justice - 33,210 spark shards. Rank 2
Daystar - 24,860 spark shards. Rank 3
Divine Punishment - 24,800 spark shards. Rank 4
Oscar Regisea - 24,530 spark shards. Rank 5
Tanael - 21,010 spark shards. ...
2021-11-01 15:36:30 +0000 UTC
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“Hey look. There’s another ‘marked’ ruin over there. Must be housing other good things like the one we’ve just entered. Not going to go in, Viers?” Paina pointed out.
“My marks from the two temples are gone. I won't be able to go in.” Viers said.
“Use your space-jumping whale form then,” she suggested. “What use are walls before the power of teleportation?”
“Actually, there are plenty of ways to prevent teleportation. Enchanted walls, space disrupto...
2021-10-29 14:55:00 +0000 UTC
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Viers, Fithel, and Sakuya, the three survivors, were putting black bones into their sacks.
Hm, I’ve gained 3,333 shards. Since we split Pyke’s remains into three, Pyke’s full worth is 10,000 spark shards then. Now there’s only one thing left.
Viers didn't do the logical thing to maximize his chances of getting into the next top 10 rankings: taking the whole remains of Pyke for himself.
He reckoned he had a fair chance to begin with. Fithel and Sakuya might b...
2021-10-27 19:22:48 +0000 UTC
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After seeing the unimaginable, the short-lived silence turned into a cheer. The remaining players that refused the evil god’s offer felt like they had been saved from a death trap.
The hundreds of weapon-bearing skeletons stopped dead in their tracks, no longer moving like the dead thing they were. Fithel and Sakuya managed to defeat the remaining two pelagic lieutenants not long after. They had been greatly weakened by Pyke’s decapitation.
While the people let down their guar...
2021-10-26 13:06:55 +0000 UTC
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After the Dread Pirate's offer, information appeared in the players' minds.
If they accepted the Deep Dweller God’s offer and swore fealty to him, they would instantly gain 3000 spark shards. When Stage 2 came to an end, automatically qualified for Stage 3.
Or they could refuse and prevent the revival of the Deep Dweller God.
One choice gave a clear benefit while the other specified nothing specific.
“I-I will join you,” one player said with a hoarse voice.
2021-10-24 06:39:39 +0000 UTC
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The last day of Stage 2 was a beautiful one, two full moons illuminating the dark night. The waves were shy and there was barely any wind. The Frozen Siren floated in tranquility amidst the watery desert. The crew was singing a sea shanty adding more colors to the atmosphere.
After getting both Favor of the Sea and the Sky, Viers took his pirating duty very seriously, preying on NPCs and fellow players alike.
If the Crystal Trident was as good of an item as rumored, Viers wanted t...
2021-10-22 18:47:49 +0000 UTC
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After he swam back and the Frozen Siren was in his sight, only then did Viers’ adrenalin level start to return to normal.
The Bull Shadow Intimidation was a paper tiger technique but it was very convincing. How could such an illusion give off an aura of a high-level monster? It was the same reason why a fake painting could be mistaken for a real one, because the fake had been given a soul.
But at the end of the day, a fake was still fake. If the Devadom Orca saw through it...
2021-10-20 02:51:44 +0000 UTC
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“ICE SHIELD!”
A half-dome shield of ice was raised by Viers in an instant. He created the toughest defense he could in anticipation of what was coming.
The assailant did not slow down. It broke the shield and slammed Viers behind it, making the both of them rise meters above the water’s surface.
Amidst the broken icicles, Viers saw the form of his attacker.
A body of black and white, elegant and fearsome, cute face and predatory. Its purple eyes left light streak...
2021-10-16 11:32:00 +0000 UTC
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Viers -in the mood for something grandiose- felt that he had graced the gigantic island which the Favor of the Sky slumbered with his presence.
His arrival was not unnoticed, coming from the front as he was. In fact, everyone with eyes and ears who had seen the famous white ghost ship approaching cursed its Captain in the same breath.
Viers made his way alone to the island after anchoring the Frozen Siren. Telling the crew to protect the ship. No players dared to give him trouble,...
2021-10-15 19:00:12 +0000 UTC
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“Hm, my treasure senses are tingling. Stop by that island, lads.”
Despite the island with the ‘Favor of the Sky’ thingy -a key item for the main quest- that was right in front of his eyes, Viers instructed the crew to make a stop at a nearby island.
“What kind of treasures have you picked up, Lord Viers?” Farley asked. This happened frequently enough during their ship travel.
“I don't know. Even using Euryale Sight I cannot unravel it,” Viers confessed.
2021-10-14 14:27:00 +0000 UTC
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“Haha! That will teach them.”
Felix, a youth that used the alias ‘Youallsucks’ had just fended off pirates. This was the second unsavory company that tried to rob Felix’s vessel today. The pirate ship slunk away because of all the damage.
“Ooh, look what they have done, my poor girl,” Felix lamented the damaged hull. It wasn't easy to complete the quests that gained him a ship of his own.
“Sir, ship sighted to the west.”
“Hm,” Felix used the teles...
2021-10-12 13:44:04 +0000 UTC
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