The assembled Leaders, having overwhelmingly voted in favor of unlocking the gates of Level 36, were now poised for departure. The Caretaker granted us a tight timeline, allocating a mere three weeks to traverse the treacherous journey and reach Level Seven. A remarkable 42 alliances, united in purpose, undertook the arduous trek.
Once the ground rules were meticulously approved, we formalized our commitment by signing a contract with the envoys of the Arena. As the last droplet of the formidable beast’s purple blood marked the ancient parchment adorned with cryptic symbols, portals materialized behind us, seamlessly transporting us to our next destination.
Under the radiant sun against the cerulean sky, I blissfully closed my eyelids. Upon landing, the unyielding ground beneath my feet hinted at recent rainfall, saturating the air with its earthy aroma.
Opening my eyes, I found myself surrounded by statues, their forms blurred by the muddy residue. Tossed over a low hill onto a narrow road, I discovered an avenue flanked on both sides by stone statues.
Sculpture of monstrous creatures, frozen in time, bore inscriptions revealing their tragic fates:
“Died in the fangs of the enemy.”
“Died fighting on Level Seven.”
“Couldn’t survive the poison of the Desert Scorpion.”
“Saved his fellow man at the cost of his own life.”
“Heights were not his nature, the wingless one climbed into the Dragon’s jaws.”
As I strolled along a narrow yellow-tiled path, I marveled at the juxtaposition of life and death. Emerald plants intertwined with white flowers adorned the statues, creating an unexpectedly well-maintained cemetery. Small creatures, drawn by the tranquility, darted among the blooms, adding an unexpected touch of life to the solemn scene.
On a colossal bench, a giant adorned with a necklace of human skulls sat. His eyes widened, and a relieved smile spread across his thick-lipped face.
“Leader,” he acknowledged. “I was sent to meet you.”
Identifying himself as Aris, a general, he knelt as a gesture of respect. Drawing closer, I acknowledged his service, and he reciprocated with gratitude, his scarred hand pressing against his bare chest.
“Master,” he spoke with a muffled voice, blood still oozing from his broken claws as I handed him a vial of Restorative Elixir. “Do not neglect yourself during the battle, before and after.”
Acknowledging my words with a nod, the general stood up.
Level Five, renowned for its once-thriving landscapes, now presented a gloomy scene. The remnants of former grandeur danced in a sullen boredom, with hues evaporated and an enchanting yet hopeless darkness prevailing. Faint sunlight filtered through overcast clouds, casting a subtle glow on the wet lawn.
Mina, inquisitive, voiced a question, “So you’re saying that after Level Seven, we’ll be in the anomalous zones?”
“That’s right,” I outlined. “It is not known exactly how long we will be there. However, one thing is clear: after the channel is closed, everyone can leave the Arena.”
“Understood. Now, regarding the distribution by teams.” Gosha turned the blue disk in his hand, its surface catching the ambient light as he hummed in contemplation.
“Each group should consist of no more than 150 creatures; exceeding this limit risks overloading the portal.” I extracted a hologram copy and tapped my fingers rhythmically on the armrest of the throne, the holographic projections shimmering in the air.
The residential neighborhood lay to the west of the Rulers’ skyscrapers, a stark contrast to the opulence of their towering structures. It was the territory of the Bloodthirsters, where the purple haze flowed in wisps, and the wind howled through the broken windows of once-popular establishments. n this realm of desolation and hopelessness, we found ourselves in a position of authority.
The palace we had secured resembled a pyramid, but instead of a pointed top, there was a small island of land completely overrun by carnivorous plants.
“Considering that most of the alliances are heading there, I believe we should take an active role. The only question is how we’ll divide our forces.” Uchi passed the yellow parchment to Chang Qing.
“There’s a saying, ‘The best defense is built around fire.’”
“What does that mean?” Madeleine inquired.
“It means we need to split the army into several units and try Goshi’s plan.” Chang Qing smiled as he observed the lively creature on his plate. The sticks pierced straight into the eye socket, tearing off the hard shell of the baby Flat-Toothed.
“Scrrr... Scrrr... ” The creature recoiled, seemingly realizing the futility of its maneuvers. At the last moment, it scraped its twin gills against the sides of its torso, and the pink body entered the mouth with full fangs. The sound of slurping echoed through the spacious hallway, leaving purple blood splattered on the white tablecloth where the bones of the delicatessen were nibbled.
When I assumed the role of Leader, I prohibited the consumption of live and infant races, but today called for an exception. As I finished my herbal tea, I glanced at the fried vines in the black cauldron and exhaled, finding the sight repulsive.
A dozen long tables clustered near our seats, piled high with various dishes, and creatures and beasts feasted as they listened to our discussion. Of the 750 fighters, 735 had survived the previous jump to Level Five, which wasn’t too shabby.
“We will initiate a comprehensive study of the fighters’ skills and then divide them into groups. It is more expedient to form independent teams, with mages, vanguards, and fighters with advanced defensive skills concentrating on their respective levels.”
“Agreed. I’ll prepare a detailed report card.” Gena nodded, traces of oil on his chin betraying his appetite.
[Participant 137 has purchased new Accelerated Absorption cards.
31 pieces for 155,000 points.]
“While we lack free space for group training, solitary cells are plentiful.” A slender creature in a kimono explained, its gray hair bound in an unkempt rag, wrinkles smoothed by a kilogram of powder and a bright pink blush. With little expression, I entered a musty room with crevices in the walls. The hole in the middle of the floor begged a question, but I averted my gaze and presented a purse of Spirit Stones to the lady:
“We need chambers for 741 creatures.”
The creature accepted the payment with a joyful gurgle and continued in a contented tone:
“Tea and sweets are on the house; thank you for using Raduka’s services”.
“And to you for providing... necessary services. Please do not disturb us during the day.”
“Then I will continue to assign the fighters to their rooms.”
The expansive corridor housed a variety of creatures and beasts, each casting curious glances as they contemplated their first stop.
Mina and Gena, engaged in the bustling corridor, were diligently implementing the basic plan. They orchestrated the splitting of the army into small groups, each alternating between leveling up and engaging in collective sparring sessions. The urgency was palpable; less than three weeks remained to reach Level Seven.
After shutting the door behind me, I settled into a corner and placed the Concentration Talisman, the key item for developing Side Skills, on my tongue. The intricate symbols on the talisman pulsed with energy as I focused, immersing myself in the process.
The Bone Mountains skill beckoned me, and the experience points from the last battle were staggering.
[Experience Points: 1,817,070.
For killing Hell Wasps + Queen’s Mate.]
[Your subordinates’ experience points:
1,607,000/200,000.]
[Side Skills Participant 137:
Sound Attack (Level. 19):
139,000/140,000.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Melee (Level. 27):
232,988/234,000.
Dragon Scales (Level 35):
330,949/340,000.
Bone Mountains (Level 22):
151,800/162,000.
Fire Threads of the Abyss (Level 33):
304,000/312,000.
Ignition (Level 35):
338,000/340,000.
Iron Stomach (Level 12):
60,001/70,000.]
[What are these numbers? Why haven’t I seen them before?]
[When a fighter becomes a Leader, he gains secondary bonus points. The average score threshold is usually 200,000 points. Once enough points are accumulated, a similar window opens. This is the amount of experience you’ve spent to upgrade a certain skill.]
[I see. Can you show me all the characteristics of the 3 Transfigurations?]
[Sure.]
[Transfigurations #1:
Race: Humanoid.
Rank: 6.
Strength: 10,900.
Dexterity: 11,000.
...]
[Transfiguration #2:
Race: Inferior Loose.
Rank: 4.
Strength: 8,970.
Dexterity: 5,090.
...]
Examining their low stats, I was taken aback. Against the bulky silhouettes, the Dark Elf appeared squat and feeble with the smooth contours of their naked body.
But...
[Updating Participant parameters 137:
Race: Dark Elf.
Rank: 15.
Strength: 137,700.
Dexterity: 136,500.
Endurance: 168,200.
Magic Resistance: 131,000.
Cursed Welfare: 5.
Mana Perception: 130,900.
Intelligence: 170,800.
Mental Strength: 152,200.
Regeneration: 154,000.
Skills:
Spectral Familiars (Level 23):
266,010/276,000.
Spiritual Weapons (Level 36):
353,500/354,000.
Poison Arrows (Level 35):
337,800/340,000.
Shadow Steps (Level 33):
299,000/312,000.
Shield of Light (Level 7):
* Light magic consumes 50,000 points per level, 344,999/350,000.
Hypnosis Of Breathing (Level 26):
220,780/222,000.
Steel Claws (Level 25):
199,500/210,000.
General’s Armor (Level 32):
297,999/298,000.
Aura Enhancement (Level 6):
23,000/30,000.]
[What numbers...]
[It’s nothing. As the levels increase, the difficulty increases. Even if you defeat armies of Infernal Wasps, your experience points will not rise above 10,000. But if you manage to defeat a Queen or an individual with developed intelligence, you’ll hit the jackpot!]
[So the weak will soon stop earning me points? Although I don’t like killing those who can’t stand up to me... What about treasure sales?]
[They are participating in the auction. So far, no one has any intention of buying gold.]
I inhaled the stagnant air, and with a decisive sweep, I pulled out a pile of Spiritual Stones. The stones rattled, and I observed the flickering cards floating in front of me, rectangles adorned with small symbols on the edges. They absorbed the energy of the Spirit Stones and transmitted it to me.
Thus, they would bring twice as much result with only half the effort.
Day after day, I absorbed the Spiritual Stones without interruption, forsaking both sleep and rest, training like a man possessed. Occasionally, I’d realize that my body was at its limit due to an overabundance of energy. Then, I would grit my fangs, refining the Aura Enhancement, aligning the furious forces beneath my skin. The bones absorbed the filth, impurities amassed, and at some point, I envisioned myself as a colossal leech attached to a person—exhausted and teetering on the verge of fainting.
Varga timidly knocked on the door. To my surprise, I could easily see through the thin wall without straining, my senses heightened by the extensive use of Spiritual Stones. I opened my eyes and stared at a mound of black dust and a few remaining stones.
[You have consumed over 650,000 Spirit Stones. At the moment, there are too many impurities in your body. Use an Iron Stomach to eliminate impurities in the lungs, heart, and internal organs. Dragon Pollen will no longer be able to help you with this.]
I got up from the floor, my joints cracking as if I hadn’t moved in years. Dust fell from my shoulders onto the wooden boards. Stepping over the living mold, I leaned against the wall, feeling dizzy. Activating the Iron Stomach, I opened the door.
“Representatives of the Black Market are waiting for you.”
“I see. Tell them I’ll be down in 5 minutes.”
“No need, beauty,” said a baby rhino standing behind the girl. Smacking his lips, he laughed, “You don’t need to clean yourself up; this grandfather is already ready to appreciate your beauty.”
A green light lit up in the corridor, and two arrows flew a short distance, piercing the wall behind the rhino, slightly grazing his chubby cheeks.
“Hello to you too, Uncle Sam,” I said icily. This rhinoceros, who at first glance looked like an adorable cub, was an old geezer who used a secret skill on himself that rejuvenated him. Despite his deceptive appearance, he was a reputedly bloodthirsty fighter, a henchman of the owner of the Black Market.
Except we didn’t get along very well. Or rather, I didn’t get along with him.
Quickly passing Varga, he accidentally brushed her waist with his shoulder and with an apologetic gesture lightly patted the thin buttocks of the subordinate.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry about this ancient old man,” he chuckled. Varga squeaked, stepping back and clutching the hem of her hoodie in her fists.
Lifting my foot, I slammed the rhino’s muzzle into the floor, making another hole in the stuffy corridor.
“Don’t mind him.”
“Please.” She handed me a Purification Talisman. As if not noticing the efforts of the old man to tear off his heavy body from the floor, I thanked her and, after reading the spell, burst into a dark glow.
All the black frost fell off me like a second skin, and I hurriedly put on gray robes and soft armor, nodding to Varga:
“Come on.”
“W-wait for me.” With a crash breaking a wooden board, the rhinoceros got up from the floor and peered at us through the crack of the board, from which his blunt nose protruded. “I’m with you.”
[Updating Participant parameters 137:
Race: Dark Elf.
Rank: 15.
Strength: 137,000 (+99,800).
Dexterity: 136,500 (+99,800).
Endurance: 168,200 (+128,500).
Magic resistance: 131,000 (+98,800).
Cursed Welfare: 6.
Mana perception: 130,900 (+96,850).
Intelligence: 170,800 (+128,500).
Mental Strength: 152,200 (+93,900).
Regeneration: 154,000 (+135,500).
Skills:
Spectral Familiars (Level 42), Spiritual Weapons (Level 49), Poison Arrows (Level 47), Shadow Steps (Level 47), Shield Of Light (Level 15), Breath Hypnosis (Level 37), Steel Claws (Level 37), General Armor (Level 47). Aura Enhancement (Level 22).
Remaining Experience Points: 49,089.]
[Side skills:
Sound Attack (Level 27).
Melee (Level 34)
Dragon Scales (Level 43).
Bone Mountains (Level 35).
Fiery Threads Of The Abyss (Level 47).
Ignition (Level 48)
Iron Stomach (Level 23)]
---
B.D:
Each subsequent tenth skill level brings 2000 points to increase:
Level 1 - 5,000.
Level 10 - 10,000.
Level 20 - 12,000.
Level 30 - 14,000.
Level 40 - 16,000...