The question was not about how, but when.
It had to be fast. It had to be incredibly fast, for not even the legendary wizard to notice. Mr. Beedle was often in his scared, crazy state. Often didn't mean all the time, though. So, Kai needed to be as fluid as thin morning mist, and as quick as the bolt of lightning.
Yet, the question had persisted. When? When to swap?
The moment Desmond had talked to Kai about his mission's nature, this one thing had been taking roots in his mind; in his heart even more so. The lure was so great, so enticing, that Kai could scarcely think about something else.
When he saw the similar-looking black book in Shae's hands, during their break after crossing Hidden Moor Hills, that greed had erupted with a bang.
Shae's black book was the key.
The opportunity had come so suddenly that Kai had to rely on his beastly instincts. It was the attack from the official wizard, Peter.
With his hands around Mr. Beedle, Kai had crashed over the rocks. The legendary wizard must have high Mana, Kai knew. But Defense? It was another thing. The impact was tremendous, shaking both their figures.
It was then. In a single motion, Kai had thrust the ordinary book in between Mr. Beedle's hand and his chest.
By the time he stood back up, facing the official wizard, he had already swapped the real book, sending it to his Inventory.
Smooth! Swift! Snaky!
All the time, Kai had been on his toes, thinking if Mr. Beedle would recognize the fake book. But the events that had followed turned out to be in Kai's favor. Mr. Beedle's wrath, his raging spell, and him getting scared witless all screamed in the joy that Kai had won half the battle.
The only thing that had remained was to make sure no Contestant would ever get to look at the fake book ever again.
By then, Kai had found out that one can see an Item's Stats by touching or being extremely close to it.
What to do then? Kai had asked himself. This question had the simplest answer.
Mr. Beedle was covered in mud, his face filthy. No one could have recognized him as a legendary wizard. But the book was still visible, pressed against the wizard's chest. So Kai acted. He acted fast and prudently.
Hide the book! Hide Mr. Beedle… under a coverlet!
It was just an idea, but Kai had planted it in Arlen's mind with absolute success.
The next roadblock was to hand over Mr. Beedle to the upper floor's Contestants. Kai had known what future awaited him if anyone would get to see the book up close.
It was a risk Kai Stormborn had been willing to take.
"The Tales of Beedle the Bard!" Kai spoke out loud as if thinking about it wasn't enough to give reality to it.
But even if he didn't believe himself, how could the Stats hovering over the Item be untrue?
…
[
Item: The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Original)
Grade: Common (Growth - 0/3)
Specification: An anthology of magical tales handwritten by Beedle the Bard
Requirement:
1. Worth 55
2. A Glitch
3. Extreme Emotion
4. Presence of Characters
Attributes:
1. Store Magical Tales
2. Current Status: 5
Skill: The Song of History
Skill Effect:
1. In the presence of Characters, automatically write a tale about them
2. Proximity required: 10 ft.
3. The Contestant must say the true name if multiple characters are present
4. The depth of the written tale depends on the current grade.
5. The tale can be expanded by repeating the procedure with the upgraded Item
Skill: Thousand Tales Parasite
Skill Effect:
1. Devour tales to upgrade itself
2. Automatically writes a Hidden-Tale of the Contestant.
3. When the Hidden-Tale is completed, devour the Contestant's memories
4. When opened, the Item gains an intention, rejecting an unworthy tale
Skill: Primordial Theater
Skill Effect:
1. Imbue life to the magical tales
2. The Characters within the tale come alive and can be used by Contestant
3. Activity Radius: 100 ft
4. The strength of enlivened Characters depends on the tale's completion-status
5. Each tale and its Characters have their own requirements and limitations
WARNING:
1. Only one tale can be imbued with life at a time
2. The enlivened Character cannot exist outside the Activity Radius
Quality: 100%
]
…
Kai was happy. It felt like it had been months or even years since he had been happy.
The last time he was so happy, he had blown himself up, killing the one man he hated the most.
From just its requirements, Kai could tell what it was.
Something that shouldn't exist.
The Worth. The Glitch. These two alone made it one of the most demanding Items in the Primordial Tower. Then there was the fact that it was a Growth-type Item.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
Kai was holding it, risking everything, bringing up a sign of courage only demons like him could possess. He didn't understand its Skills completely. Nor did he understand the meaning of Contestant's Hidden-Tale entirely. But he knew he would figure it out.
I will manage, Kai told himself. Like I always have.
Suddenly, a blue hue enveloped him, soothing his entire body. The Item returned to the Inventory as Kai felt an unknown force squeezing and stretching him.
But it wasn't painful.
Kai stood up, the boyish charm vanishing off his face, like a forgotten dream. His fingers balled into fists, his gaze became resolute, and the hotness in his chest burned furiously with anticipation.
The blue blinded Kai's sight then.
When he disappeared, a distant rumble reached where Kai had been. The dark thunderstorm, which once was adamant to destroy the place called Dufftown, was coming right towards it.
The thunderous sounds marching in its van felt like hundreds of raging roars.
*
*
The whiteness greeted Kai.
Kai had an inkling he would return to this place. But not in the state he was. His torn clothes had vanished, and he was as naked as his name day. The lack of pain, injuries, and bruises all had disappeared like a phantom memory. Everything about him was fresh, and he could even smell himself.
A grassy, rainy scent, Kai told himself, taking many sniffs. Whatever happened to that coin?
It was the same White Room in which he had found himself resurrected. Just quieter, and somehow emptier than last time. Kai took a deep breath, closing his eyes.
The notification appeared the moment he opened his eyes.
…
[
Congratulations Contestant Kai Stormborn…
You have completed your Initiation Mission
How are you feeling?
]
…
How am I feeling? What the…?! A chill went down Kai's spine, seeing the question. No, it can't be! Isn't Chaos just a System? A medium to gain Power? It can interact… This?! Why did Arlen, and others, say nothing about it?
"I am alright," Kai said, reluctantly..
…
[
Good.
You are a valuable Contestant, Kai Stormborn
Let's check if you are Worthy as well, shall we?
Analyzing Contestant's actions in the Random World…
]
…
Kai's heart had jumped to his throat, and there it sat, waiting for the result.
From the Main Mission's Summary, Kai knew the value of The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Chaos wanted imbalance, and the worldwide presence of the book was the key to it.
…
[
Analyzation Complete
Judgment: Worthy
Reward: Worth +10
Are you thinking about the Book, Kai Stormborn?
]
…
Kai had just felt relief when he stiffened again. "Yes," he said, not finding it reasonable to lie about the obvious.
…
[
Not all Contestants have the authority to interact with Chaos. It all depends on one's Worth.
Chaos prefers imbalance.
When you stole the Book, you became the cause of an even greater imbalance.
Chaos commends your unquenchable thirst for Power and the avarice that fuels your decisions even more.
Though the Contestant must know…
It worked this time. Will it work the next time as well?
]
…
Kai wetted his thin lips, his tongue rolling up and down.
There was a coldness in that warning. A chill.
“Display my Stats,” Kai said, ignoring the coldness within him for now.
…
[
Status of Contestant: Kai Stormborn
Code Name: Red
System: Chaos
Equipped Title: NA
Equippable Titles: NA
Unequippable Titles:
1. Traitor: (2/10)
2. Poacher: (1/10)
Mission Credits: 875
HP: 100
MP: 70
SP: 60
Active Attributes - (1st Set Quota: 2/20) [ Unassigned Points: 2]
Strength: 12
Agility: 14
Stamina: 10
Perception: 12
Correspondence: 7
Breath: 6
Passive Attributes -
Charisma: 20
Luck: 2
Worth: 110
Abilities:
1. Elementary Slither Footsteps (Proficiency: 45%)
2. Elementary Twin-Saber Style (Proficiency: 35%)
3. Elementary Snake Instinct (Proficiency: 13%)
4. Elementary Snake Language (Proficiency: 5%)
Skills: NA
Glitch: Blood Devour
1. Blue-Tailed Boa Constrictor (non-magical)
Items:
1. Castle Forged Longsword
2. Pokeball - Generation 1
3. The Tales of Beedle the Bard (Original)
Pain Factor: NA
Inventory: 1 Cubic Meter-1000 kg
]
…
Kai noted a few discrepancies immediately.
The Murderer Title in not here, he thought. It’s Specification mentioned I must complete it in a single Random World. So it got locked again? Hmm…
Another thing that stood out was that even though he had unlocked the Titles, without completing their status, he couldn’t equip them.
Hippogriff’s legs aren’t mentioned either, Kai reflected, seeing his Items’ list. I also have 2 unassigned points…
Kai’s fighting style varied too much depending upon the circumstances and opponents. He had always found it prudent to keep some hidden cards, surprising the enemies during the heat of the battle.
Let’s keep them for now, Kai concluded.
But the most striking things were the Abilities.
I had only two, Kai noticed. Now the Blood Essence’s Abilities are also there. Doesn’t it mean…
From what he had learned, Abilities were one of the most difficult stats to obtain in the Primordial Tower. Even having one Ability could change the course of a Contestant’s life.
But, with his Glitch, Kai could practically farm the Abilities.
Of course, he also noticed the lack of the presence of Skills, despite having two in this Blood Essence.
If I ever discard the Blue-tailed Boa Constrictor, Kai analyzed, then the Skills will disappear with it as well. Fair enough…
…
[
If there isn't anything else, are you ready to leave the White Room?
]
…
Kai thought about it. But he still had much to learn before knowing which questions to even ask. So he said, "Send me away."
…
[
Sending Contestant, Kai Stormborn, to the 1st Floor of the Primordial Tower
Good Luck
]
…
A bright blue flash, and Kai disappeared, beginning his journey in the Primordial Tower.
----------------------------------------
VOLUME 1: THE TALES OF BEEDLE THE BARD - ENDS!!!