Chapter 05 - The King’s Tournament
I met up with Nemun on the way to the stadium.
Of course Nemun had qualified as well.
When he arrived a guard waved us over and led us to a waiting room. The others that qualified were there as well.
On the first day of the King’s Tournament we are to present ourselves to the king. So the first order of business for today was for us to be brought out to the arena, lined up and introduced to the king and the others in the audience that may have missed our matches.
This will probably take half the day so I will spare you most of the details.
Before that Nemun informed me that the tournament listings were hung on the wall of the waiting area.
“Your first match will be against Valencil.”
“Really? Hmm, I’ll look forward to it then. when is my match with him?”
“It’s the third match today. Mine is the 9th match and I’m against the 7th son of his royal highness the king, Valt of Atitria.”
“We had someone like that doing classes with us?”
“Yes Knife, you were paired with him multiple times in your classes. There was also a rumour that you were engaged, as well as many other rumours though.”
“What a load of shit! Really? And I never noticed?”
“Apparently not.”
“We were even in the same classes?”
“I just said that didn’t I? He was practicing magic and martial classes the same as you, since he’s royalty it is actually expected of him.”
I scratched my head, I can’t believe I never even noticed this person existed.
“You’re really telling me the truth about him being in the same classes as me?”
“Please stop making me repeat myself Knife, he is the short skinny one that looked like he’d hurt himself if he ever even lifted a weapon. He would stare at you for most of your classes with googly eyes and hurt himself trying to impress you. Followed you around at school? He’s the one you threw over the district wall because he started trying to court you.”
Suddenly I remembered an idiot that I could only call a stalker and that I wanted to forget existed, just remembering him made me want to throw up.
“THAT discussing puke pile that followed me around and wouldn’t leave me alone until I literally shattered his spine by throwing him over the district wall?”
Nemun nodded.
“I don’t understand how you forgot about him, he still sends you letters.”
“You mean those scraps of paper I throw in the fire every day?”
I thought for a moment but, nope. I only remember throwing dirty paper in the fire.
“Nope, I only remember throwing away paper with dirt on it.”
Nemun sighed before laughing weakly.
“You know, you can be really mean when you want to be Knife.”
“What do you mean?”
Nemun just shook her head and I decided to change the subject.
“So when do I fight you?”
“Tomorrow if you don’t lose to Valencil.”
Thankfully Nemun took the hint and we moved on.
“I make no promises, I might lose on purpose so I don’t have to fight you.”
Nemun punched my arm.
“You better not damn you.”
I rubbed the pain from my arm.
“Okay, okay, I won’t lose on purpose.”
I waved my hand at Nemun as I said this offhandedly.
Nemun and I just stood wait waited after that. The others were all talking about how they were going to get to see the king. I didn’t care for him, or any king. The monarchical system was an archaic system that allowed one man or woman to hold a tremendous amount of power. This was never a good thing in the world of my first life.
Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The burden of power is too much for one person to carry on their shoulders.
Eventually it either destroys them or everyone else around them.
Any governing system that is based on the decisions of a single person is a government that should not exist.
Needless to say, I do not like royalty.
In my first life, the world was governed by a world senate, the representative of each country gathered to make decisions about the world and the lives of everyone. Much like how the Under Kingdom governs itself.
The world of my first life prospered.
However that changed after the war turned for the worst. Citizens were forcefully conscripted and the manufacturing of weapons, ammunition and space bound military vessels were prioritised.
Before I died, more than half the world’s population was employed by the World federation military.
But I’m getting off track, what scraps of life I lived before becoming a creator is unimportant. I was nothing.
Nemun noticed me frowning and pat my head, I guess that’s her attempt at making me feel better.
Before long a guard in ornate armour walked in, it looked very impressive.
“I am Wendil of the king’s guard, follow me. You will be presented to the King and the Kingdom’s Nobility during the pre-tournament celebrations.”
Eight more guards in equally ornate armour walked in.
We followed them our into the stadiums arena and were lined up.
‘’’’“Stand tall, the king arrives!”’’’
All 9 of the guards in the ornate armour yelled once we were lines up.
Around 100 soldiers in incredibly immaculate armour began walking out into the arena, and then an old man in a large deep red cloak and wearing a crown made of iron and bronze, walked out followed by a few more soldiers.
The soldiers took up positions before parting in perfect organized unison to reveal the king.
The old man slowly but confidently walked towards us, his stride was powerful, but not rushed. The walk of a man that fought to get to where he is and fought to stay where he is and wouldn’t give it up to anyone.
I could only say that he seemed very competent and like he deserved to be where he was. It wouldn’t be strange to see him on the battlefield standing side by side with his soldiers.
At least that’s the feeling he gave off.
The King stopped a few metres before the 30 of us, his guard took up positions on either side of him and took stances with their sword raised in front of their faces before lowing the blade to the ground and resting on it.
The crowd was silent as they waited for the king to speak.
“I welcome you brave newly trained warriors!”
He paused for a moment as his voice echoed through the stadium. I had wondered how the announcers were loud enough to be heard over the entire stadium, but now I know that it’s technique similar to using mana to speak. I can tell from the clouds of white glowing mana puffing out of his mouth whenever he speaks.
The ceremony went for several hours and I stopped paying attention for most of it. Ceremonies are always so boring. I’ll shorten what I payed attention to.
The king talked about how he hoped we would become incredible warriors in the future to further show the superiority of Atitria’s learning system. Which is essentially a ‘hands off and let the academy do what it wants’ attitude, which I feel is admirable but also maybe a bit questionable.
Then the king walked out of the arena and a few minutes later he sat in what looked like a special area set up just for him. Nemun whispered to me that the 2 women and the man other than the king that were standing there was the kings 3rd and last surviving wife Belitha, she was an elven woman that seemed just all around unhappy. Then was the kings first daughter Aerith, and the crowned prince Fenriel, he was surprisingly young for the crowned prince however, only around 14 years old or younger, though I couldn’t really tell from this distance.
“Why’s the crowned prince so young?”
“All the others were either killed or illicit.”
“What about Valt?”
“Illicit, but recognized, he is 4th in-line at the moment, though he is by far the oldest.”
That makes sense I suppose? Then again I really have no idea about anything like this.
“Does that mean he killed the others?”
“No, he’s stupid and useless, but is loved by the people. The others were killed by one another.”
“Oh so they fucked up and got each other assassinated at the same time, that’s so dumb.”
Nemun nodded in agreement.
One thing of note is that the king has the same appearance as someone that had been resurrected a countless number of times.
With that, I wondered why the rest of his children hadn’t been revived. But I suppose the bodies must have been hidden or were taken away.
The even the strongest resurrection spells will no longer works if the deceased has not been revived with 24 hours of the death. It is because of this that nobles dread dying alone where no one can see them, because that means that they will not be found before the time limit.
So the nobility always make sure to surround themselves with servants and guests at all hours of the day, even while sleeping.
After the king sat down a man in fancy clothes and with a stupid hat began reading out our introductions one after another.
Dalmic Trilltiller of Calmic Hills, from a long line of bread makers. Blah blah blah something about their family having run their business for 200 years, blah blah.
I really don’t care about their and their family’s life stories.
He uses a rapier imbued with magic that casts ‘wind cutter’ when he swings his rapier, that’s actually pretty impressive. In the Qualifying tournament he fought against some random people that I don’t care about and beat them easily.
Nemun Vulk of ‘Ripping Fangs’ Village. From a family of hunters, member of the Vulk clan.
Deadly with their clan unique weapon, won her matches without effort. Doesn’t use magic and simply perseveres with the incredible strength and speed commonly associated with her clan.
A few other people of note were,
Miu Wansimi of Alces. A magician that seems to specialize in ancient water spells.
Fenric Farcaster. A Spell Swordsmen from a faraway land called Pou theoi ypokypsei, for some reason that wasn’t translated, even though I just heard it I have trouble pronouncing it when I tried. He came to Atitria for unknown reasons and began learning at the royal academy around four years ago.
However he has wowed his teachers and the crowd with his abnormal magics.
Julin of the Razor Mountains. A Bowmen from a family of prized hunters. He uses some kind of strange spell that allows him to slide across the ground as if it were a frictionless surface. That must require a pretty impressive sense of balance.
And a few others that aren’t really worth mentioning.
The rest I didn’t really care for, they were just generic family, family, this, heritage, heritage, that. Nothing actually about anything they achieved. Oh and I’m going omit my own introduction, it’s just the usual princess bullshit and spreading the ‘SECRET’ about the Under-Kingdom.
After another speech about how joyous an occasion it was because it commemorated Atitria’s founding.
After the speech was done we all clapped along with everyone else.
I stared emptily into the distance as I clapped mechanically, this was really boring.
They let us leave at last. My match is one of the first ones today so I went and sat in a special viewing area for the contestants of the tournament. The viewing platform was only a few meters from the king’s.
It was literally right at the back of the crowds seats, so I we were really far away. A few of the others, that were waiting, wanted to move closer so they could see better. The guards didn’t see any issue with it so they let them in and out as they wanted.
I sighed after watching two swordsmen having an ‘epic’ duel, running around and meeting swords on numerous occasions. It was dragging out and I didn’t care for fighting, especially not watching it.
There were people here that were acting as servants to retrieve food and drink from the chef the king had brought. I asked for them to get me something burnt but edible, they looked at me strangely before lowering themselves and leaving to get me something burnt and edible.
I saw them go off behind a wall a start talking with another servant, their looked both confused and angry. They must be confused about what I asked them. I wonder if he’ll get me what I asked for or he’ll think it was some kind of test and just get me something normal, if he does I’m going to be unhappy.
Eventually he returned with some meat slices that were moist and cooked medium-rare in some kind of source. I took it from him and frowned while looking at it. I then faced him and placed it on the ground before pushing it towards him with my foot.
“Please take it back, I can’t eat this.”
He frowned.
“May I ask what is wrong with it?”
“I can’t eat it.”
I stated simply.
He frowned further.
“I see, what would you like me to get you instead?”
“Get me something burn but edible like I asked before please.”
His expression seemed to darken.
“Right away...”
He walked off again and eventually a short pudgy man approached me, he looked really angry.
“Do you have an issue with my cooking you commoner bitch!?”
I was turned away and watching the two from before still having their ‘epic’ battle, how long do they intend to keep going? At his words I froze and turned slowly to face him.
This seems annoying.
“I’m sorry is there an issue pleb?”
His face reddened further.
“HOW DARE YOU!!!! I am the master chef Gountue, head chef of the honourable king Zurepalthic Genzzil Atitria! I make the kings meals and it’s not good enough for you? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?”
This guy needs to settle down, he looks like he’s going to burst a blood vessel if he keeps it up.
“I am Knife, I’m fighting in the tournament and no your food sucks and you have horrible taste. Now make me something burned but edible or go away. I swear I don’t know how hard it is to fulfil someone’s simple request.”
“NHRAAAAAH!!!”
The short little demon spawn jumped and me and started clawing at my face, the little gremlin holy shit! Not the face!
“Get the fuck off me!”
I yelled as I stood with him clinging around my waist as he tried to claw my eyes out. Seriously what the fuck!? I started trying to shake him around and I moved towards a wall and then slammed him against it.
The little gremlin lost his grip and let go, his fingertips were all bloody. I brought my hands up to my face to check for damaged.
“You little shit, what the hell?”
I complained as he slowly got up.
“What are you?”
The short man said as he looked at his bloody hands, the finger nails peeled back.
I finished checking my face… there wasn’t any damage?
“That was a nice iron skin technique.”
One of the other contestants commented. Apparently I used a technique, I never learned it so... why? Is it something to do with level?
The chef was taken away, I assume to some healers so he could continue doing his job.
But not before some parting words.
“You watch yourself you monster!”
Says the crazy guy that just attacked someone because they said the truth. I shook my head as I turned back to the fight.
The other contestants began talking with me about various techniques and skills, I participated but they did most of the talking.
Eventually my fight with Valencil came up. He gave me a thumbs up as he left to go to his preparation room.
I waved my hand at him half-heartedly as an indication of my intent that I will destroy him.
In the preparation room we were given quite a lot of time since there were far less matches than the Qualifying tournament. I put my armour on while making sure it fit properly.
I took my sword out of my inventory and put the scabbard back into my inventory.
Sigh~
I have to kill someone I know… Oh well, I don’t want to die for numerous reason, so please do me a favour and die Valencil.
Eventually I was led out to the arena where both Valencil and I were introduced again as well as a brief history on our past fights and our life stories or at least what they know about them.
I ignored everything they said and drew and sword. I have to psyche myself up so I can do this, okay, I’m angry, really angry, I want to kill Valencil.
It isn’t working but it was worth a try. I’m not sure how I’ll do this, run away and cast spells?
I don’t really want to get close to him, that sword in really big and I think my arms might break if I try to block on of his swings.
This is a predicament…
Maybe I should just los- no Nemun would kill me if I lost of purpose…
Sigh~
I sighed as the announcer finished our introduction.
“Let the battle begin!”
Ugh… I cringed as Valencil charge forwards.
I turned and ran as I started changing ‘Urea’. I’m faster than Valencil, so I could probably win like this. I could hear him cursing at me as I turned and ran.
“I who possess power, twist and bind, bend and bind, stretch and bind, I form my defences. Smash, crash, pierce, my defences can’t be brok- eeen-“
My eyes almost popped out of my head as I cut off my chant and jumped to the side in a panic to avoid the sword he threw at me.
“YOU’RE CRAZY!!!”
I yelled at him as I rolled to a sitting position and got up.
He ran right into me tackling me to the ground and began bashing my helmet with his fist, it didn’t damage my armour, but it was knocking my head around and disorientating me.
Enough of this.
Transcend the Limit Activated
I threw him off me like I was flipping a table and he learned what it felt like to be in a washing machine flying ten feet through the air.
“I ask of the water beneath the earth to wash away with terror and still the flow, [Water Globe]”
I compressed it and threw it at Valencil.
I missed completely because I was still disoriented from having my head bounce around as he hit me.
The spell sprayed water everywhere and that was about it.
Valencil roared as he ran into me again, but this time instead of tackling me to the ground he caught me in a bear hug and lifted me up. It felt like he was trying to squeeze out my insides like a tube of tooth paste. He then spun twice and threw me like a shot-put. I went flying about as far as I threw him but probably further, it was hard to tell because I was busy flying through the air and then meeting the ground with my face.
I got up as fast as I could, but I could feel that my teeth were all chipped and broken and the inside of my mouth was cut up… that’s going to be fun for the healers later.
I spat out my tooth chunks but the clattered on the inside of the bevor, my neck and face guard. My mouth was full of blood that just kept gushing out of the numerous cuts. Shit he really messed me up.
I can’t chant like this. ‘Transcend the Limit’ is still in effect so I should be able to overpower him if I try.
I got up and started running to meet his charge. We clapped together as our charges met. He attempted to wrestle me but I countered him this time and pushed away his attempt until I lifted him and threw him into the ground. He kicked my knee and I fell to the ground, to avoid his grappling I rolled away from him instantly and got up.
When I got up he was already charging again, I went to meet his charge again and when we clashed again I punched his helmet using my full strength which was further increased from the speed of my run, I feel like I might have broken my hand. Valencil tackled me to the ground but I created a deep dent in the top of his helmet.
We fell to the ground, but Valencil didn’t move.
I pushed him off and stood with difficulty. Standing over Valencil I stomped him once to make sure he was dead and then sat back down, but it was more an exhausted collapse.
“AND WE HAVE A VICTOR!!!!!”
The crowd got louder, they’d started to cheer when we’d lost our weapons and resorted to fist fighting. Now they were just going crazy.
“The Goblin Princess has once again won after showing us a very entertaining battle, we can only look forward to her next fight. Who will she fight next? The Zvyar of the Vulk, Nemun or Valt of Atitria, beloved son of our beloved king? Only time will tell!”
With that I awkwardly gut up and walked out of the arena and returned to my Preparation area.
The first thing I did as the Healer rushed up to me was take off my bevor, I was choking in my own blood in tooth bits. When I took it off they all just fell out and scattered onto the ground and I also spat out a great deal of them and a large amount of blood.
“Geh meh ourt ouf huis ahrmour!”
Get me out of this armour! I wallowed to them with my swollen mouth, it hurts just to breath.
As they took my armour off me a few of them were making comments about my injuries and noting my injuries while feeling up my body.
“A broken jaw, multiple teeth fractured and broken, broken collar bone…”
“The left hand is shattered.”
“Hmm, a fractured skull?”
One of them said quizzically as they felt up my head. A more senior looking healer came over and felt up my head as well.
“The knees are no good either.”
Someone added before the old senior looking guy said.
“A fractured skull, we can assume severe head trauma and brain damage. Just with that this will require a class 4 restoration and mending spell.”
They all nodded to the old guy, I nodded as well, just going along with them.
“I think I’ve found 7 broken ribs.”
Move people started feeling around my ribs all nodding even now and then and giving acknowledgement that 7 were broken.
They continued for a long while using various methods to find broken bones and fractures, asking me multiple times if something hurt after they touched an area.
“Edryding hurds”
Everything hurts was my own reply.
Then the true hell started when they carried me off to the healer’s tent, by then I was too weak to even resist.
Never again Valencil. I never want to fight you again, this is the worst.
Shortly after they began ‘surgery’ I passed out. And of course they didn’t use anything to dull the pain, or even knock me out.
I woke up to find numerous other people in beds around me.
I was already in a clean set of clothes, seemed they changed me after they healed me. As usual the healers were all already gone by the time I woke up. I’m just glad I have teeth again, that just feels like nightmare now, though I know it actually happened.
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I picked up my armour that they left by my bed and left the tent. On the way out I noticed Nemun in one of the beds, she was sleeping pretty soundly so I nudged her to wake her up.
“Wah? What? Oh it’s just you Knife.”
“Just me huh?”
Nemun laughed weakly.
“I hope you’re not going to say you lost Nemun. If you did then I fear fighting Valt and I really didn’t expect it of him.”
“No, I won. But he hit me with a spell I wasn’t expecting, damn silent chanting.”
“Oh so he used that kind of gimmick?”
I shrugged.
“Well rest well because today we get to fight it out. Though I’m sure you’ll win.”
“Don’t sell yourself short Knife, your actually really strong.”
Nemun paused for a moment.
“Just be sure not to get hit by my opening move. I’d hate for you to die instantly, it’d be a disservice to all your efforts so far.”
I shrugged.
“Maybe I should get hit on purpose, make things quick and painless. I don’t even want my teeth shattered ever again.”
“That actually happened?”
I became grim and nodded.
“It really isn’t something I think I needed to experience.”
With that Nemun laughed again, it’s not something to laugh at, it was horrible.
I narrowed my eyes at her and then left the tent.
Lately I’ve noticed I’ve gotten really good at keeping my anger to a cold burn. Good, now I’m at the level of control over my emotions as in my first life before I let my mind decay.
I think the only reason I won was because he made me angry when he messed up my teeth and I had ‘Transcend the Limit’ activated. Strength and other stats were increased by almost 3 times and then my strength was multiplied by 4, resulting in my strength at that moment being 632. I’m surprised I didn’t knock his head off and sent him flying into the horizon. I probably came close, but I hit him into the ground so I just won’t know if he would have become a bird or not.
Though I doubt having only 632 strength would result in that kind of comical scene. Not to mention that it’s impossible biologically for something like that to happen. His skin, muscles and bones would all give out before he even got close to being lifted off the ground. It’s be more likely that someone would become like a tomato that you stomped on, rather than that they would fly into the horizon.
Honestly ‘Transcend the Limit’ and ‘Berserker’ are kind of overpowered, though one only lasts for around 2 minutes and the other has the condition that I must be experiencing high amounts of anger.
I get angry pretty easily so ‘Berserker’ activates constantly without my consent because it’s passive. It doesn’t even notify me when it activates, it’s pretty annoying at times.
It’s too bad I missed out on watching Nemun’s match yesterday, but I was really messed up so it can’t be helped.
‘Steadfast’ still has yet to activate, I think I have a good enough reason to be fighting in this tournament. Why don’t you agree with me sub-conscious?
I sighed as I stood in front of the healer’s tent thinking.
My last match really didn’t go well, I can’t keep having matches like that. If only for my sanity, I need to stop being so close to death after each match.
I made a mistake learning only spells with longer chants and not learning anything I can cast quickly in a pinch like ‘wind cutter’. I do have the spell I’ve been working on ‘Smite’ but I’m having difficulties with the equation so I can’t make use of it yet without there being a backlash.
I didn’t want to do this, but I think I’m going to have to modify my armour’s ‘Wind Spirit’ enchantment so that it instead casts the spell ‘Wind Dance’ with a power word. I haven’t done this before and it might make my armour unstable because the grid I built into my armour wasn’t made for it. However without it I won’t win against Nemun, I know that for sure.
Of course I could just attempt to cast it as soon as the match starts but Nemun would definitely take me out before then.
‘Why didn’t I make it so my armour would allow me to cast a spell instantly with just a word before?’ you ask? Because it’s incredibly difficult. I can make one that will work temporarily, but it’s most likely that the magic grid won’t hold for the rest of the tournament. The semi-finalists tomorrow have to fight it out and then the finalists have the rest of the day to fight and decide the winner of the tournament.
If I do this my armour will literally explode before the finals. But if I don’t then I won’t be in the tournament tomorrow.
Zvyar like Nemun, a pure-blood Vulk Zvyar, have insane strength, endurance and agility, however they have low magical capabilities and are vulnerable to magical attacks. If I could keep my distance I would be able to buy enough time to cast ‘Bluntoph’, this spell cannot be dodge as easily as my other spells. ‘Bluntoph’ lingers and I can move it around using equations, it also helps that Zvyar are weak to the Void element.
This is like having a Zaku Tank fight a Zaku II High Mobility Type. Those poor unfortunate Zaku Tank’s that die instantly for the cause.
Though they are hard workers I refuse to be a Zaku Tank!
I need to upgrade to a Guncannon A, at least then my chances of winning are higher than zero.
I have 5 hours before I need to go and check what time my match with Nemun is. I should be able to alter my armour in half of that since I’m not trying to make it stable. I cast manipulate and bent around the mana veins in my armour, as well as adding extra’s. After 3 hours I finished implementing the pattern for the command word ‘Wind Dance’, as well as the output. Since it was taking longer than I’d though I decided to leave out the pattern for the equation, I’ll do that myself.
I found that I could still have the ‘Wind Spirit’ enchantment take effect while using the armour to cast ‘Wind Dance’ and it wouldn’t make my armour any more unstable than it was already going to be.
I finished it, it won’t explode from impacts but it will eventually explode. Hopefully it doesn’t explode while I’m wearing it. I’ll know when it’s getting close because it will start making creaking sounds, like the metal is bending, that would be the mana veins reaching critical and expanding in an attempt to avoid an explosion. Of course you can leave that fail safe out while weaving the grid, but then any mistake will cause the grid to explode.
Because my armours magic grid was based off a spider’s web, the failsafe for overloads was very advanced, because of this my armour should last for 17 hours.
It is less than I was hoping for.
My armour will explode at midnight tonight.
I’ll miss you armour, because without you I’m as good as dead.
I did this at the inn I was staying at on the bottom floor where they served food. I had stew as always, I haven’t been eating properly since the start of the Qualifying Tournament. I really need to be eating a lot more than this. From the small amount that is written on Green Elves, I can go for years drinking only water so long as a receive enough sun.
There is an account of an adventurer that found a women deep in a forest that hadn’t been explored before, she was standing completely naked while basking in the sun light. They woke the Green elf from what appeared to be her sleeping while standing and asked her what she was doing.
“I was waiting for someone but they never arrived, so I decided to continue waiting.”
After saying these words she turned back to the sunlight and ignored them. After much persuading they convinced her to stop, when they did she asked for their rations and ate them all.
What appeared to be he clothes were laying on a rock, however one of the tree roots had grown over it, pinning it to the rock. They couldn’t retrieve the cloths because the root was too thick for any of them to cut through.
One good thing came out of my match with Valencil, I came up with a good idea to distract Nemun. I’ll throw knives while I’m chanting and keeping my distance. I haven’t thrown knives before, but I know the principle.
Grip the back of the blade, bring your arm back and then bring your army through and while releasing the blade letting it slip from your hand while using your wrist as a lever. The important parts are strength and dexterity, okay maybe I have a very loose understanding of how throwing a knife works. But it’s relatively easy to learn just by trying to do it, it’s possible to learn how to throw within a few minutes. Perfecting it takes years, but for now just hitting my target is good enough.
I put on my armour after finishing the alterations and quickly ran down the street, weaving through the crowd. I got stern stares from the guards, but I ignored them, I didn’t have long before I needed to go to the stadium.
The Stadium is right by the market, but I need time to look for what I need.
I asked different stalls and stores were I could find a place to buy weapons, a few pointed me to some blacksmiths saying,
“If you need weapons made this blacksmith I know is pretty skilled”
And so on. But I did get a few recommendations for stores, most of them were high class expensive weapons stores that would have been a waste of time if all I wanted were throwing knives. Eventually I got someone that actually told me about a good place that sells low-grade iron throwing knives on the cheap. I went there and found that they were only 2 Bronze jots each, so I bought 30 of them and a sack to carry them in.
“Thank you for your business lady Knifelim.”
The store owner said to me as I left.
“Not a noble.”
I mumbled to myself before I closed the door to his store.
After that I went to the stadium.
The guards took me to the waiting area, my fight against Nemun is in the afternoon. I have nowhere to be so I’ll just stick around on the viewing platform for contestants.
I watched a fight with one of the people that I’d found interesting that qualified.
Julin of the Razor Mountains, he moving around like he was on ice-skates while shotting his bow. It looked like he was having a lot of fun, kind of makes me envious.
He won with ease after a few moments of his opponent trying to run after him while batting away the arrow being shot at him. Yes he was actually hitting the arrows out of the air like he was swatting flies… I feel like I shouldn’t be here.
I then watched Miu Wansimi of Alces get defeated by Fenric Farcaster. For most of the match it seemed like Miu was winning by keeping her distance and casting spells, until Fenric’s movements became strange and it almost seemed like he turned into a blur as he appeared beside Miu and cut her in half.
“Was that a spell? Or a technique? “
I asked the other contestant that were watching the fights with me, they all seemed to have a cold sweat.
“That… that was a technique.”
One of them said weakly, it sounded like they were going to be sick or something.
“That was Cloud step, an advanced technique. He- how did he learn that? We shouldn’t have access to advanced techniques yet!”
Yelled one of the others.
All the other students seemed to slump their shoulders.
“It seems we know who’s going to win the tournament, this isn’t even funny.”
“I just have to work hard on looking good in front of the nobles.”
“Dammit!”
“This was a waste of time!”
“I’m withdrawing from the tournament…”
They all started admitting defeat already…
That’s just sad guys… but I know I probably can’t beat him either. It doesn’t help that if I win, I won’t have my armour tomorrow.
How am I going to fight without my armour? Damn I really fucked up, I should of just taken the chance with Nemun. Why’d I make a stupid decision in the moment and alter my armour.
Unfortunately it can’t be undone.
I sighed as the others continued to freak out.
Then came the guard calling for me to come the preparation area, it’s time for my fight against Nemun, she hadn’t been watching the fights from our viewing platform. But I know she’s here.
I went to the preparation area and took out my sword from my inventory, leaving the scabbard in my inventory again.
I can’t let myself be distracted when I fight Nemun, she’s like nothing I’ve fought before. I have to be focused.
I won’t lose, I’ve already decided it.
They started introducing me and I ran out.
“Today is a match between the warriors Nemun Vulk of Ripping Fangs Village and The Second in-line to the Goblin Emperor Princess Knifelim Blindsight.”
“In her last match Nemun Vulk of Ripping Fangs Village was up against the much beloved and formidable 7th son of his royal Highness the King, Valt of Atitria. After a protruded battle, The Prince managed to land a blow against the unstoppable Zvyar Nemun. However much to everyone’s disappointment the prince was delivered a fatal blow, and fell to Nemun Vulk of Ripping Fangs Village,”
“In the Second in-line to the Goblin Emperor Princess Knifelim Blindsight, the Golbin Princess’s last battle. She fought against Valencia Ulphes of Burntinder. Their battle was a harsh one, both losing their weapons midway through the fight. Valencil resorted to using his fists and his history of wrestling to attempt to gain victory. The battle devolved into a show of strength, the Goblin Princess was thrown through the air and heavily wounded. However in a clashing of bodies the eventual victor was the Goblin Princess. Deforming the helmet of Valencil and killing him instantly with a single blow to the head from her fist.”
“We can only wait and find out who will be victorious in this battle!”
It seemed like it was getting close to the battle beginning so I raised my sword and took a low stance my feet spread apart, hands brought up near my ear and the sword pointing out behind me. I rolled my weight from foot to foot. [Ice Fang Touch]
“I won’t lose.”
I said to myself as I gripped my sword tighter.
“Let the battle begin!”
“[Wind Dance]”
Instantly I used the command words for my armour to begin casting ‘Wind Dance’ I got the timing perfect, less than half a second after the signal to begin was given. I ran the equation for the spell through my head as the spell cast and then I felt the wind pushing on my back, an indication of the spell working.
I didn’t explode, that’s good.
I started chanting ‘Bluntoph’ as Nemun fell low with her clan’s weird glass and wood sword in one hand and then shot towards me like a bullets. I moved at the same time she did, Nemun deflected my sword and then kicked my side before I could even see it and then threw me at the wall.
This is complete bull shit! I righted myself mid-air and landed feet first on the vertical wall. My teeth rattled from the impact. I pushed off the wall as Nemun jumped and struck the wall where I was, it crumbled from the impact of her weird sword thing, I think it was called a Macuahuitl?
Nemun pushed off the wall with her sword and sent herself into a spin which ended with her Macuahuitl hitting me square in the chest and knocking me back. There wasn’t as much force as there could have been behind it because neither of us were standing on the ground. The blow knocked the wind out of me, however I was able to keep chanting because from the start I’d been channelling my mana into my throat and using it to chant with. This is all or nothing, I’m relying on this one spell to get me the win, I can’t risk it being interrupted.
I attempted to get distance after hit the ground and rolled to standing, however Nemun was still much faster than me despite my spell being active. She swept my feet out from under me and while I was falling she grabbed hold of my arm and struck my armpit with her full force using her Macuahuitl and severed everything below my shoulders from everything above it.
Nemun brought the top half of my body up to her face as the blood gushed out of me, it’s a sign of respect of the Vulk to look into the eyes of your enemy after killing them.
After that Nemun threw the top half of my body away like a use rag and waited for the word that the match was over.
My head hit against the ground, my face and the ground splattered with my translucent orange blood.
Let these filthy worms return to nothing…
“I am of no origin, from all points there is nothing. I am the ruler of destruction and I shall lay waste to your lands, your field, your homes, and your castles. With my omnipotent presence you who hold power are but weak pawns in a game of Creation. I will devour and stagnate, I am void, and I am the end, I am Metrath. Let these filthy worms return to nothing, [Bluntoph]”
I finished casting the spell, too late, but I can try for a draw. Doing the equation is pretty hard when most of your body is missing and you’re suffering from shock, missing a heart and both lungs. I think the only reason I’m conscious is because of my extra powers as a Creator.
Nemun as she was distracted was consumed by the spell, the spell instantly ate the top half of her body and then disappeared because I died.
I was floating above my body. Or well, I was above the top half of my body looking down at myself. I think this is the most of my blood I’ve ever seen… Nemun is really scary like I’d thought, she most of been trained form a young age in her Clan. It feels like for most of that she was playing with me.
Nemun, you’re so strong I can’t help but laugh. Nemun is supposed to only have a few extra years on me, yet the difference is so large. I didn't even get to attempt my strategy of using throwing knives...
I could try making trinkets and items that cast spells with a single word, however that method consumes more than 10 times the normal amount of mana, I used up half of my current mana just by casting ‘Wind Dance’ with my altered armour once.
I looked over to Nemun’s corpse, it was like the parts or her that came in contact with the spell simply disappeared. That is a horrifying spell and it seems Metra was the one that created it.
Metra, I’m not sure about my opinion of you anymore. Are you evil like your world claims? Or is that just how you seem to them as a Creator doing what they need to in order to progress?
Will I eventually be seen the same way by the world I create?
Is it possible to hate the things I create?
I’ve been putting it off developing my own world because I fear the answer to these questions.
As I stared at my body and thought about these things everything around me disappeared and I felt the nostalgic feeling of motion.
I had returned to my ‘Personal Space’.
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Authors note's,
Hey it's Arukorstza again, this time in less than a week.
I'm attempting to finish two chapters this week because the 9th is the wonderful day when I am classified as being 22 years old. It's also the day I am officially 1 year closer to dying of old age, oh the unbound wonders of getting older.
I will admit that I intended this since a few chapters ago. I was very tempted to have the mc somehow win the tournament, but no. Nemun is too op.
I'm not sure how you guys are going to feel about the next chapter mostly because it doesn't have the mc in it. Though there will be a half chapter after that about the mc doing Creator stuff.
Thanks to Zeratul for proofreading.
Zeratul has proofread about half the chapter which he read over yesterday, however I read over the second half that I finished today and didn't notice anything. I know I read over some of the chapter!? Something must be wrong with me.
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Stats
Spoiler :
Rank F | CreatorUseless Shady of Life and DeathNAMEKnifelim Blindsight (Aneir)RACEGreen ElfLevel25Health2770Mana4345Strength79 (44) +20%Intelligence129 (84) +2%Agility71 (47)Mind98 (65)Endurance45 (30)Luck47 (31)Charisma44 (29)SKILLSWell Rested (Passive)Strangeness (Passive)Suspicious (Passive)Berserker (Passive)Sore Shoulder (Passive)Slap-Slap-Palm Arts (Martial)Push the Limit (Passive)Transcend the LimitBlind (Oulosc)(Curse)Creeping FeelersCreeping TendrilsContact Reading (Metra)Understand Speech (Metra)Dampen PainSteadfastMoney:167120MaP | 4 Gold Marks, 3 Silver Tapers, 4 Iron Sticks, 2 Bronze JotsRank Points:11912RP
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