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Volume 5
Chapter 40: The Birth of Erebus
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“This is my territory.” Heller’s voice rung.
Following that, he vanished and then appeared next close to the confused and surprised Volt.
With flickering flames and after particles of using a short-ranged teleportation magic, the shadow of the Leaf Blade appeared to cover and loom over the entirety of his enemy.
“If you are the one that instigated this whole thing, then I commend you. You have taken upon yourself the honor to be brought to justice by my hands.”
When Heller spoke, his tone and bearing had a feeling of righteous dignity in it.
It was as if everything in here was a sinful sight.
Falling from 150m height wasn’t that high considering their abilities and while they are doing so, they were actually still contending against each other.
Heller wanted to finish Volt while Volt just wanted to buy time.
CLANG!
Volt crossed his arms to block the attack and the resounding sound of it echoed in every direction as he was sent flying horizontally.
But just a second later, Volt vanished and Heller turns around to block a slash from his right side with an upward slash from him.
“Just die already!” Heller roared.
That short clash only lasted for a moment and after that is the two of them vanishing, the reappearing somewhere along the side of the tree. They should have been on the surface of the arena by now but this type of combat between was actually something very eye-catching and astounding.
Heller could teleport almost instantaneously and the hack on to Volt while the latter can move in midair in almost all directions and it was so fast that Heller was practically only defending himself.
Volt was even using telekinesis to lock on to Heller’s Leaf Blade, an «object» under his territory, and that’s what he was using to agilely toy with him head on and even give Heller the headache of a lifetime.
It was clear that they were on a deadlock and the minutes passed by that the arena was practically in an impasse between the forces that wanted to join the Top Ten.
The arena… is still filled with players and many more are still pouring from the entrances and the walls like bees on a hive.
Small shadows fall down from the heavens, sparkling lights of magic and spells flicker like flies in a pond.
The battle was never ending and the players were still wary of those whose names are on the top.
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*****
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“Done.”
Siva sighed as he stored the orb on his inventory.
When he obtained the Weapon Builder, there was an extra inventory space meant for [input items] and the [output items].
If the PDT and the nano furnace are not in use, he can use these spaces as extra inventory slots.
“Also, even as an informal Weapons Builder, I have the rare and locked privilege to take items from the Loot Inventory and directly place them in the [input items] slots of the PDT for adjustments and redesigning and then get them from the [output items] as finished products. I don’t have to go through the trouble of visiting the Trade Center just to unlock these items! So this is how people with the crafting professions on most RPGames feels like. This is the feeling of being able to create anything!”
Siva couldn’t help laughing at this. And this laughter was also being transmitted to the Akhenaton at this moment, that, when the players heard that large object spotlighted above the coliseum laughing so hard its shoulders were shaking, they all felt that it was the very manifestation of the God of War Donar taking pleasure on the chaos of the arena.
An existence that towers above the Mortals, laughing in delight seeing the chaos he had caused, was all but normal when they thought about it.
Perceiving after the fact that everything was made and in all intent for his benefits, it was all the more that Rentaw, from below, couldn’t help but feel the hairs in his body stood in horror.
“He could create this scene and take delight in it. He really is a God of Chaos, not of war.”
Ren saw the pouring of bets and people, and he could only laugh out loud in midair as he hovered a hundred meters above in the middle of the arena, just below the global sphere.
“These numbers ware just crazy!”
Because of the announcement that it was a city-wide event and the closing of the other nine arenas, all of the spectators and fighters are now gathering in the Southern Coliseum.
The bets now have easily breached the 10M Zentra and the number of people betting more of their money to their roosters was increasing by hundreds.
“Warjillis has around 70M citizens with 60% being players and 25% are NPC Fighters. The rest are either merchants or the slaves, and the families of the NPCs living in the city. Adding the wealth of the players, this number is around 40% of the entire net income of at least 20% of the players.”
Of course, the higher the hunter rank of the player or NPC, the wealthier they are. Of all the total number of fighters, there are around 20% being S-Ranked.
Adding the equation that not all of them will be joining the event and is contented to watch from the sidelines, at least there are around 10,000 S-Ranked Hunters who are expected to throw in their game.
That’s a staggering 10,000 S-Ranked Equipments!
Even just 10% of them are enough to make anyone salivate. What more, if a player kills someone who is part of the ‘test’, then there are chances that they can loot their equipment or even a MOD.
And then the rest of the players… will be betting their money in the event.
Narrowing down those 10,000 S-Ranked players into ten will not be easy. Still, there are so many players and NPCs that are betting right now that with their accumulated numbers and voting polls, their nominees will be displayed in the global sphere, thus giving more options for those who hasn’t placed their bets to bet more chances to other undercard names.
And that’s how the numbers in the global sphere appeared and continued to increase in amount every second.
“Even with the announcement that those who can choose the top ten members exactly will earn twice their bets, the rest of the bets compared to the losses are still a staggering 99% win! Money!”
Ren was ecstatic and his body was shaking. He really wanted to join in the fight but because of his status and his identity, he can’t.
“But it doesn’t matter…” he glanced back to Deb and the other two guys. Only Bladey was the one who couldn’t hold her blood an dashed to join, only to be defeated and shown mercy by her enemy in the end. “This entire arena is our playground.”
The whole arena is Siva’s battlefield. If one would ask why there are practically very few people who could use an AOE magic spell, it is because casting one needed a lot of time and within this chaotic battle field, only those like the Ebony Sanctuary and Mages who are at the level of Coralline are able to cast one and with each successful cast, great numbers of their opponents either fall or get injured.
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But the two of them are now in an all-out battle.
Magic against Magic, an entire Guild’s elites versus her alone… and yet they were in an equal footing; one could only imagine how terrifying Coralline is to actually be on a stalemate with an entire Guild alone.
Their part of the arena had always been in perpetual darkness as black-substance AOE magic spells were cast one after another, illuminated against by fiery lights and aurora spells coming from every wave of Coralline’s wand.
Looking at that direction, there was actually not ten but in fact over a hundred members protecting the ten core members in their side of the arena.
The audience rack of the Ebony Sanctuary came in and joined in on defense against Coralline’s attacks.
The Nine Dragons Gate –federation– had also called in their reinforcements as well as the Sisters of Valkyrie, the Night Locking Victory, the Big Bang Guild, and the other guilds of Warjillis.
What these Guilds were thinking is that, even though only the top ten amongst the strongest will be chosen it still doesn’t mean that others can’t help for that to happen.
As this idea came into their minds, the battle in the arena had risen to another level. It wasn’t only about players against players now. It’s now about alliances versus guilds!
These reinforcements were here for the sake of their own guilds or alliances –to support their own Ten in the limited slots as an Elder God’s Acolyte.
In fact, from all over the city, flying arcs, cyclones, and all kinds of vehicles were utilized for the sake of getting to the Southern Arena the fastest. There are only ten slots on being chosen as an Acolyte and the time limit was only 6hrs.
A rare chance to be regarded as being part of a God’s Party, to face a multitude of challenges unique to those ten… such an event was actually something not predicted to happen again in the near future.
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*****
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“I am happy that he is enjoying himself. At least by rediscovering this world and the potential of mankind, it will help with his future decision.”
Atop a mountain outside Warjillis, Janus looked over the conjuring dots of people going towards the southern side of the city.
Listening to his mumblings were Gabriel and Garin on both his sides. Gabriel looked at him with a sigh then eventually at the sight of Warjillis.
“You say that he will eventually remember… is this part of it?”
Janus looked at Gabriel and kindly smiled, “Yes.”
Garin was still confused but already used to all of the things he’s been listening. He only took note of a few things in their conversations before recording them and gathering more.
Janus glanced back at the city and then said, “For 56 years those memories are locked away because it was so painful and so sorrowful for him to remember everything, he chose to abandon himself and turn his back –never to return again. But he wasn’t the only one who remembers everything had happened and those people will never stop unless they get his power or at least make him remember himself so they could convince him to let go of that power…”
Sighing, Janus’ short pause only made the two beside him think of the gravity and weight of his mumblings.
“Eventually, when he does recall the things that had happened that year, I cannot guarantee that his decision will be for the best of everyone else––” At this part Janus looked at Garin and said with a softer tone like a father, “––since the world outside were so eager to change the world of mortals and create a God that they can present to the world as an item that they are neglecting the most crucial part.”
There are meanings behind these words. Garin could at least notice them.
But he was oblivious of many things and had no courage to ask his employer so he had no way of actually clearing up the questions in his mind.
To him, this place is just a place for his job to get paid but ever since he went with Janus’ party, he’d always noticed these few ‘hints’ coming from the old man.
Although Janus doesn’t have the air of danger to him, it was his secrets that Garin felt are the dangers.
He felt that the secrets he knew, the secrets that his employer, AG, wanted to have possession of, were the most dangerous things in this world. Although he still had no idea what it is, he could still tell from the few ‘hints’ that Janus is deliberately letting him hear.
Looking at the city, Janus lamented. “Time sure flows by cruelly… I cannot recall how many years it’s been but I clearly remember the day when Pegasus had first given me those tasks…”
“For everything that has a beginning has an end…”
Garin was taken aback by Gabriel’s words. How many times have he heard these two spoke of this specific set of words in this phrase?
[Everything that has a beginning has an end.]
If he wasn’t a player and was instead a citizen of the world inside RPG: Terroa, he would even think that these words spoke of a downfall of something big and important for their planet.
But he wasn’t and so he felt that… it didn’t matter to him whether these guys spoke of it as something very important.
In fact, he’d notice long ago that Janus and Gabriel seem to take this Game World as something like their own personal home. Well, he had already met many players who also felt that way. Because the real world they were in were more cruel than here, they all felt that living in Terroa was more worthy than in the world outside where everything is grey and dull.
So Garin only sighed and didn’t pay it heed. He had a simple task and the payment was big so he will do his job while maintaining and never breaching any kind of restriction in this party.
After letting go of another breath, Janus looked away from the city and walked off from the cliff.
“Where are we going?” Gabriel asked, glancing at the far side near the forest to signal for the five youths to come to their direction.
“The last spire.” Janus paused his steps then looked up to the sky as if to think of something sad as he said with helplessness. “I have already lifted the restrictions of those kids so whatever comes from here on will just serve as to hinder the plans of the outside world… even just for a little bit.”
“Will they be…”
“Soon, Gabriel, very soon, and by then, I know you will have surpassed your tribulation and be completed.”
Gabriel sighed and then looked back to the city as he murmured the name, “Siva…”
Garin took note of this and looked back to the city as well but because of their distance, he can’t pinpoint anything aside from that distinctive golden figure floating above the city grounds.
In fact, in Garin’s vision, there was no darkness that was engulfing a 10km diameter from the southern arena.
“That thing’s really big.” He couldn’t help saying.
From his distance, to be able to see it clearly was a big blow to the size concept he has of things.
Janus looked back and told him, “Akhenaton.” then gave Garin an encouraging smile. “You will eventually find out about it someday but today isn’t the time. So I suggest that you keep following us along and see all that we will be doing from now on. Besides, it’s really destiny that he has that. I have no connection to it or anything. Hohoho…”
With this carefree laugh as he walked away, Garin is even more confused than anything. Seeing that face, Gabriel lost all of his antagonism towards him as he walked over and tapped his shoulder.
He shook his head and only told him, “Believe me, if he laughs like that, he’s always has his finger on one or two things.”
“What does that mean?” Garin was more confused.
“It means… what he said. Today is not the day you’re allowed to know of it.”
After saying that, Gabriel followed Janus and became the respectful retainer again. The five youths were behind as Garin took a last glance towards the city.
“So that’s called The Akhenaton…” After taking note of it all, he followed the group and asked Gabriel, “So where are we going next?”
“Alexandria.” Gabriel told him and then flicked his right index finger up followed by his sleeve.
FLASH!
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*****
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Siva immersed himself from his work, not minding anything and anyone.
The time in Terroa is three times faster in the real world so an hour of time passed here was only a quick 20minutes on the other side.
With a PING sound like an oven, Siva’s ears were pricked as he looked back to the side of the Nano-Furnace. And then behind him, the Nano-Furnace’s red light turned green as the holo-panel above it had a display showing Siva’s third design.
Seeing it, Siva’s eyes glowed with anticipation. He spoke in joy, “Beautiful.” and then took out the Black Ball from his inventory, caressing it as if it was a cat that needed petting. “I am temporarily removing my primary disguise settings from my three quick set up options. From this moment on until I remove the curse of my body, I am Donar… the God of War.”
With it, Siva gathered the other two items from the PDT and removed the seal on the Black Ball.
It was like a black hole, completely pitch black, without the ability to reflect light so there was also no shadow. If this item was lost in a dark cave, it will forever be lost until it was accidentally kicked by someone lucky.
The Black Ball, the source energy of the Demon Commanders…
“My Black Tech will be called… Erebus.”
Siva took two items from the [output items] space of the PDT, the ones that he had taken a liking to from the ones he had won over the arena, the ones he’s been working on for a while now, and then took all of the items, including the last one fresh from the Nano-Furnace, and put them all in front of him.
Between the Portable Design Table and the Nano-Furnace itself, there was a space for assembling and dismantling parts and weapons.
Here, Siva began to assemble the [form] of Erebus.
“The Black Ball is the power source and to use it, it needs Mana. I can’t use Magic and I can’t meditate to recover Mana when used, my only option is to drink Blue Potions after using this…” even while he spoke, Siva was moving his hands with delicate precision because he only had one shot at this. “The [form] of a Black Tech will depend on what is assimilated by the Black Ball… and according to the quality of the Black Ball, the number of forms that can be summoned depends on it. I can summon at least five forms, half of what Alice can summon. But the number of forms of the Black Tech doesn’t determine how powerful it will be. Essentially, they are all the same and only the number of forms summoned is the only difference between black Tech users.”
Siva placed everything in the assembly table and then lastly placed the Black Ball in the midst of the five Inventions in front of him.
“The Orb is my core and the Black Tech is the avatar. I have the whale whiskers, I can hide it there. And as for the rest…”
After he completed the assembly, a holographic panel prompt appeared, confirming, and warning, that the assimilation process will take place.
Siva breathed in a deep breath and then pressed the button. A dark light came from the Black Ball and five strands of tangible light rays spiraled out of the Black Ball to creep over the five items like an octopus.
The whole process was somewhat slow as Siva’s heart was beating fast in anticipation.
In his vision, there was only the [2%] progress bar that indicated how much progress in the assimilation process was taking place.
Siva could only wait.
In his calculation, this will only take about 30 minutes.
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Erebus…
How can this Black Tech help Siva?
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Next chapter: Heller’s pissed off.