Chapter 7
The Varhales Tournament
Richard Smith woke up at four in the morning as per his usual routine. He took hour of exercise, followed by a moderate breakfast, followed by form and stance practice. After checking on his students and subordinate instructors, Smith logged onto Royal Road.
It had been two weeks since gaining the class, Aurora Monk, and using his newfound strength he had taken over a dozen 'F' and 'D' rank quests. The unarmed combat attack bonus and aura cost reduction allowed him access to attack combos with high damage, but overall his defense was low even with his stats. The guild gave him a higher level monk gi to replace his worn one, but cloth armor had the lowest defense of all armors.
The class's weakness was due to the lack of the auto-generated monk skills. Ryuu only found out after getting the class that when most characters convert to monk, the skill Monk's Body is generated. The skill grants high physical damage resistance to make up for a monk's inability to wear armor, and at higher levels the skill even grants status and magic resistance. Ryuu could gain the skill manually, but the guild master said doing so required him to constantly get damaged and raise his vitality stat to 300. Since the vitality stat increased health and ki, he had no problem with adding all his level up stats to vitality to reach the goal. At level 88, his vitality was 221.
The other problem with the class was that he had yet to gain access to any color to use the only skill his class gave him. According to the guild master, the emotion to unlock a color had to be specific, pure, and intense. Ryuu tried feeling several intense emotions, but either because it wasn't strong enough, it wasn't natural, or because he was trying the wrong emotions, his aura's color never shifted.
Until he figured out the skill's secret, he did all the quests he could. Most often he chose quests whose givers were too poor to offer a decent reward so no one else would take them. Besides giving experience and increasing familiarity with the NPCs of the city, the quests gave him something to do to pass the time until the end of the month. At the end of each month in the real world, Brent Kingdom's capital city held a tournament within a large colosseum.
Ryuu had just finished a rank F quest to protect a farmer's crop field from monsters overnight, and was on his way back to Varhales. Today was the day of the tournament sign ups and preliminary, those who passed would take place in the main stadium the next day.
He sprinted on the road as usual, he found that giving his all as often as he could would occasionally generate a bonus stat, though the more he got the longer it took to get the next one. The rocks of the gravel road ate away at his feet with each step. Although the guild gave him a new gi for joining, he still needed new shoes. However Ryuu decided it was better to travel barefoot. Every once in a while he would receive a message saying that the toughness of his feet increased and that attacks using his feet increased in damage by 0.2%. It was a tiny amount to be sure, but after a long while it would surely add up.
The line to the tournament sign ups had over 100 people consisting of every type, level, and class. The limit of the Varhales tournament was level 220, anyone below that could enter freely. The tournament itself was split into four brackets, the Under 220, Under 180, Under 140, and Under 100. The higher the bracket, the greater the prize to the champion. As someone below level 100 Ryuu could enter any bracket, but entering a bracket higher than one's level usually guaranteed defeat, so for his first Royal Road Tournament he planned to enter the under 100 bracket.
After a few minutes of waiting, Ryuu witnessed a confrontation between a swordsman standing in front of him and a mage who just signed up.
The mage said, "Oh ho, Colman, good to see you again."
The swordsman responded, "You're entering again? What bracket?"
"Same as last time." He replied
"Aren't you over level for that?" asked the swordsman.
He snickered a bit, "No, I'm only seven levels higher than last month, so I still, barely, can stay in the same bracket. Hope to see you again in the finals. Hehe."
The mage left, and after looking down at the ground for a while, the swordsman got out of line.
Ryuu asked the man next to him in line, "Who're they?"
"Hmm? Oh, Zack and Colman. They fought in the finals of the under 140 last month, and although Colman is a great swordsman, Zack was practically playing with him using magic. It was painful to watch."
When it was Ryuu's turn at the front of the line, he signed his name in the Under 140 bracket.
The man at the table looked over him and gave him a piece of paper and said, "Your preliminary exam will be in two hours in Hall C, read this over before entering."
Ryuu took the page and left. It was a pamphlet of the basic rules for the tournament.
Valhares city Tournament
Rules
#1 You cannot enter a bracket lower than your level.
#2 Equipment you wish to compete in must be registered.
#3 Any equipment deemed to provide an unfair advantage is not allowed. If primary weapon or armor provides unfair advantage, replacement equipment of the appropriate level will be provided for the participant.
#4 Participants under the effect of an enhancement buff before the start of a match will have any such buff negated.
#5 When a participant's health reaches 1/2 of their maximum, the match will pause, and the participant will be given the opportunity to forfeit. If the offer is rejected, the match may go on to the death or until the contestant says "I give up." Standard death penalty applies.
#6 The size of the ring is the size of the space available to fight. If a participant takes one step out, even by force, it is a automatically loss.
#7 Each round will last no more than 10 minutes. At the end of which, the participant with the highest percentage of health remaining will be declared victor.
#8 A prize will be given to the first place winner of each bracket, and the audience will choose their favorite from among the winners to receive an additional special prize.
#9 Only 8 participants will be chosen from each bracket of the preliminary to fight in the main tournament the following day.
The rules were basic enough and seemed fair. Ryuu went to Hall C and waited for his name to be called.
Several others came and went from the hall before him, about one every fifteen minutes. Some looked over at him and let slip an arrogant smile at the state of his equipment, or lack thereof.
When the time came, Ryuu entered the door.
A woman in uniform asked, "Participant Ryuu for the under 140?"
Ryuu nodded.
"Ok, remove all the equipment you wish to use in the tournament and let me see it."
Ryuu did so.
After a moment, she said, "Well, there is nothing against the rules here, but you don't intend to wear shoes, or gloves, or at least bandages? If you have none on you, some can be lent for the tournament."
"No thankyou, I'll be fine without."
"Very well, re-equip and come with me for the preliminary test."
Ryuu walked into the preliminary testing area wearing only a monk gi. Other than that, he was practically defenseless.
The testing hall was a miniature arena without a ring, just high walls all around and several people looking at him from their tops. Immediately they started discussing, likely due to his lack of shoes.
A man from the top of the wall spoke, "The test will begin shortly. A monster of the appropriate level for the Under 140 bracket will be released into this arena. How you face it will be scored, and the eight participants with the highest scores will advance to the main tournament. Are you ready?"
"Let's go."
At Ryuu's affirmation, a steel bar door opened at the far side of the arena. A moment later, a three meter tall monster that looked like a giant four armed ape with shaggy brown hair shuffled into the ring. Mountain trolls were level 120, and trolls had a high regeneration rate.
It spotted Ryuu and their eyes met. Ryuu understood it in that moment, it was afraid. Not of him, but of its situation. A wild beast caged and trapped and brought to fight and die. It charged Ryuu to kill him before it could be killed. Basic survival instinct.
Ryuu charged forward, when the beast raised its arms to grab him, Ryuu's hands caught the lower two arms and their fingers interlocked. Ryuu felt at once this creature's strength was more than twice his own. The troll raised its upper arms to smash Ryuu into pulp, but it didn't get the chance. Besides feeling its strength, Ryuu also felt the position of its muscles on its arms, the location of the tendons, the size and thickness of the bones, and even the maneuverability of the troll's joints. With a snapping jolt, Ryuu rotated his hands against the troll's, repositioning the joints and pushing them in a painful direction. Although his strength was far less than the troll's, by using bursts of muscle strength rather than continuous use, he could overpower the beast for an instant, all the time he needed to adjust the troll and lock him in place.
The new position of the troll's lower arms cause the upper arms to spread back. Trying to put them together hurt, as did trying to move its lower arms. The troll tried to use its legs to move away, but Ryuu forced it into a lower position, and using its legs to move up caused immense pain. The troll met Ryuu's eyes again, trying to emit strength, but the attempt faltered when it saw them. Ryuu's glare was one from a position of power over another, the stare of one who held life in his hands and could take it at a whim.
After a tense moment, the beast broke eye contact and gave up. Fear turned into acceptance and it awaited its fate.
Ryuu released the beast. It backed away quickly, watching Ryuu, but not meeting his eyes. It turned slowly and returned to the door it came through.
You have defeated a mountain troll without combat. Fighting spirit increases by 2. (+1 FSp)
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
You have defeated a wild mountain troll without harming it. Affinity to nature increases by 5 (+ AtN)
Ryuu didn't like killing wild animals, even dangerous ones. They could not help their instincts. The bonus stats were unexpected, but welcome. Good deeds in Royal Road gave their own rewards it seemed.
The people in the stands above the wall were discussing loudly, though Ryuu could not understand it from the distance.
The man from before said, "The scores the judges have given you place you 5th overall. There are only three more participants yet to take the test, and even if all three place higher than you, your place in the tournament tomorrow is assured. Congratulations."
Ryuu gave a bow and left. The woman from before said, "Congratulations on making it. Here is a key to the Ram's Horn Inn. A room there is available for you tonight. Good luck."
Although he thought his performance was impressive, placing only 5th damaged his pride a bit.
The Ram's Horn Inn was attached to the stadium and for exclusive use of the participants. Because he got a key before the results were posted, Ryuu expected to be the first inside, but he was the third. A man in a half-plate armor saw him enter and said, "Hey, I saw you sitting outside Hall C. You're in the under 140 right?"
Ryuu answered, "Yea, I remember you too. Seems like we may be fighting tomorrow." The man had left Hall C a few moments after Ryuu started waiting.
"Maybe. What place you get? They told you right?"
Ryuu sighed, "5th, with three more to go."
The man nodded, "I was in the Under 100 last month but I don't remember seeing you there. Is this your first tournament?"
"Yea."
"Well, the prelim fight ain't just about skill or speed, it's about flashiness. People pay for tickets to the tournament to see amazing fights. Plenty of strong fellas been turned away at the prelims for just quickly slayin the monster there without any flash. You read in the rules that there is a prize that goes to the audience favorite right? That's prize is better than the one that goes to the under 220 bracket champ, it is incentive for everyone to fight real flashy."
Ryuu felt he understood now why he only got 5th place. One could say his fight was impressive, but it wasn't flashy, in fact he had not used a single skill. It was likely the only reason he got enough points to make 5th was because he had the judges curious enough to make them want to see him fight.
At this point Ryuu realized he had a problem. Although his style was efficient and effective, it lacked in 'flashiness.' Even in the world martial tournament he did nothing that appeared flashy to observers. If he really wanted to show off his style, he needed an audience to be interested, and to do that, he needed to be flashier.
Ryuu said, "Can you tell me about some of the better fights you've seen?"
"Sure, I got loads of stories."
The fighter told Ryuu of the most exciting fights he had witnessed in the tournament. What was required to gain the favor of the audience boiled down to exotic skills, fast paced fighting, and come back victories.
An hour after the pair begun talking the doors to the Inn opened and some two dozen people came in. The only one from the line Ryuu recognized was the mage, Zack.
After a delicious meal Ryuu went to his room. Other contestants chose to talk amongst themselves but he refrained from doing so. One of the biggest draws to the tournament was the high concentration of skilled players. Many entered not for the prize, but to meet people to form parties with later. However, as Ryuu was one of the lowest level participants and had never been seen in the tournament before, no one even attempted to talk to him. Even the fighter was busy talking with other people. Ryuu decided it would be best to go to his room, log out, and return when the tournament started.
The Varhales Tournament took place over eight hours, with each bracket's champion decided within two hours. The cost of a ticket for a bad seat was about 12 gold, a front row seat around 75, with others inbetween. The stadium could hold over three thousand fans who could watch 32 fights and choose their favorite afterwards. Needless to say it was popular.
Ryuu watched the Under 100 bracket from the competitor stand. He felt a small twinge of regret for his rashness in not entering it. The combatants were skilled and he would've enjoyed himself. The bracket winner ended up being a battle priest. Such was not uncommon because when the time runs out the one with the highest health percentage wins, so a priest who can do a little damage and evade until the end then heal himself to maximum is a common sight.
The announcer for the tournament had blonde hair combed back, a black suit, and sunglasses. He spoke into what appeared to be a magic microphone that emitted his voice to all corners of the stadium.
"Ladies aaand Gentlemen! Wasn't that a Great Fight! It just goes to show you that anything can happen! Now, that the champion for the Under 100 has been decided, we will move right into the first match for the Under 140!"
The audience cheered on, the announcer had a very high charisma level so he could easily move the audience with his voice.
The lineup was decided earlier on at random. Ryuu's match was the last of the four, and the fighter he met the previous day had the first match.
"For the First match match of the Under 140, we have the level 121 Fighter Chase versus last month's Under 140 Champion, the now level 138 Mage Zack! Contestants to the Ring!"
Before being allowed to enter the ring, both contestants had Dispell cast on them by a shaman to ensure a fair fight.
“Let the Match Begin!”
Chase used Dash to close the distance between the two in an instant, but before he could get within striking range and explosion occurred on ground beneath him, sending him into the air and dealing great damage.
“Ohhh! Before Chase could get close, Zack opened with his signature spell from the last tournament to blow the fighter back!” yelled the announcer.
Instead of using a powerful spell with a long casting requirement, the mage used a weaker one with a short cast.
“Chase is back on his feet ladies and gentlemen and charging!”
Zack used the time he gained from blowing Chase back to cast a longer spell, one that dealt far more damage.
“Zack has launched Homing Fireballs! Will this be the end of the Fighter Chase?!”
Ryuu watched with great interest. Chase ran up to and between the fireballs, they turned to track him of course, but he had gotten through.
“WOAH! Chase dodged all the homing Fire balls and is heading straight for Zack!”
A fighter could use weapons or fight unarmed, Chase used a sword, and in an instant slashed Zack three times before the fireballs struck him in the back.
“Direct Hit! Both Zack and Chase are down.”
DING DING
“That sound means at least one of the combatants has lost half their life, in this case both have, the match will pause for a moment. Will either competitor give up the match?”
Both Zack and Chase got up. Zack shook his head no, Chase said aloud, “You kidding, one more hit and I’ve got him. Let’s Go!”
The announcer continued, “That’s what we like to hear! Continue the Match!”
Zack cast the explosion spell a few more times but Chase moved unpredictably and closed in. Eventually He got close enough to deliver a fury of slashes, afterwhich Zack collapsed.
Chase walked away expecting to be declared victor, but turned back when he heard Zack mumbling an incantation. Chase rushed to finish him off, but flames erupted around him and a circular wall of fire enclosed on him.
Zack could be heard laughing.
The announcer yelled, “Just when we thought it was over for Zack, he cast Firewall on the weakened Chase!”
Chase roared and jumped through the wall of fire, but collapsed on the other end, dead.
“Ohhh! Chase’s health has reached Zero! The fire wall was too much to push through, we have ourselves a winner!”
Ryuu was both irritated and confused. As if to answer both, two of the other contestants in the waiting room began discussing.
“Hey, how come that Zack fellow didn’t die? Did he cheat or somethin?”
“Not that I could see, more like a trick. Some mages have a Mana shield spell that takes damage with mana instead of health. The second round of attacks did affect him, but it only depleted a chunk of his large pool of mana instead of the rest of his small pool of health..”
“Then why did that fighter’s first attacks affect him?”
A third contestant said, “That’s what Zack does in every tournament. This is his seventh kill. He never casts Mana shield until the opponent agrees to fight to the death, then he kills them. Most everyone here knows that, but that Fire wall spell is new. He didn’t use that in any of the tournaments before. Just rotten luck for the Fighter i suppose.”
The other contestants left the waiting room, leaving only Ryuu staring at the empty arena.
Ding*
Righteous Fury has unlocked the use of Aurora: Red.
The room glowed scarlet around him, his aura like fresh blood. He barely registered that he had been unconsciously using Aura, but he knew who he wanted to test it out on.
?Chapter 8 To the Victor goes the Spoils
?Chapter 5 The Class with one Skill
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