novelraw Chapter 139: Wings of the Butterfly
Chapter 139: Wings of the Butterfly
There weren’t any specific rules for the 5v5 tournament to speak of. The champions of munera followed a format where both sides would be sent to the arena, along with a floating crystal.
The floating crystal was unable to attack or take damage. The sole purpose it had was to preserve players who were near death. This only allowed the players to survive death, so in essence it was disqualification unless they had some miraculous means to heal in a day.
Every team before this had opted for the straightforward approach of a direct assault. Kyle and the spirit leader, Favonious, were no exception.
Zyrus watched from the stand as Shi kun took the central position and immediately used [Taunt] at the spirits. Lauren wasn’t a beat slower as she immediately used her feather boots to create distance between her and the enemies. On the other hand, the spirits used a similar method.
The way they used magic was fundamentally different from other races. Spirit race descendants had the ability to connect with their ancestor and borrow related powers. The way these powers manifested was different, but there was a common aspect among them all: Visions.
A burly woman in full plate armor charged and met Shi kun head on. Behind her was the phantom vision of an ancient copper armor. Similarly, a lanky man also chased behind Lauren. His vision was somewhat unique, a pair of worn leather shoes.
“It’s always strange to see the spirits’ visions. People really sleep with anything.”
“Such words will make you a wanted criminal in their kingdom,” Zyrus replied to Franken who was teaching Pouka some strange words.
“I’m not wrong though.”
“Didn’t say that you were. They look humanoid enough, so most races don’t mind. With thinning bloodlines they’re no different from others except for the vision.”
While the two chatted casually, the things on arena had finally moved on from the probing strikes. The burly woman had negated Shi kun’s taunt while the lanky man was unable to catch up to Lauren. Seeing this, both captains decided to send someone who could definitely deal some damage.
A muscular youth charged over from the spirit’s side and punched at Shi kun from afar. The vision of a throwing axe appeared behind him and merged with his attack, sending the projection of a life-sized axe flying towards Shi kun.
The latter raised Mbeku’s Shattered pride to block, but it was ineffective. The axe passed through his bracers and armor and left behind a bloody gash on his chest.
The spirits’ attacks weren’t that simple to avoid.
At the same time, the one attacking from Kyle’s team was none other than Strongfist. His attack was as headstrong as always. Without any probing strike he directly consumed his HP to form a blood mist around him, entering the Gigantify state.
*Hoooooo*
The spectators erupted in cheers for the more than ten-foot-tall ogre. The woman with the armor vision went forward to block it, but that proved to be a wrong decision.
[Tyr’s Vow]
Noone expected Strongfist to be crazy enough to consume 80% of his own HP to activate the gauntlets. The blood mist congealed above the barbed gauntlets and smashed through the woman’s torso, blowing a bloody hole through her body.
Both she and the vision behind her were broken.
*ROOOOAAAR*
What Shi kun’s taunt failed to do was accomplished by the ogre’s Fear. The remaining spirits had their sight set on Strongfist, and Kyle didn’t miss this opportunity.
[Skrastreg]
Kyle disappeared with his twin blades in a red blur, and in the next moment, the lanky man chasing behind Lauren was surrounded by multiple blade lights. Lauren also used this chance and threw out all her poisonous knives, taking out the enemy in one go.
On the other side, the spirit captain Favonious had summoned a sword’s vision to pierce through Strongfist’s heart. In just one attack the ogre was down to last few % of his HP.
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The crowd once again erupted in cheers at the exciting match. Most of them were impressed by the various moves, but in the eyes of true experts, the match was nothing more than a rookie’s brawl.
“Not sure whether to call them smart or stupid,” Zyrus smiled and shook his head. Both Kyle and Lauren had some experience when it came to strategy and combat, but an arena was different. Their inexperience in taking the bigger picture into consideration was showing through at the moment.
“Good for you, you’ll be going tomorrow!” Franken patted Pouka’s shoulder while the latter wore a confused expression.
On the stage, Strongfist had once again attacked the other spirit without caring about Favonious. This took them by surprise once again as the spirit race member didn’t even get a chance to summon his vision before he was punched to half death.
Strongfist fell, and the spirits were left with only two who could battle. With Druv providing support from behind, Kyle and the rest were sure to win with a landslide.
The only ones who had gloomy expressions were the gamblers who had betted on the spirit’s victory. No one had expected the other side to have such a fierce ogre. He had single handedly turned the tide of battle.
“You guys watch the rest and discuss with others. I’m sure Kyle will learn from this,” Zyrus stood up and walked towards Anansi to collect his spoils.
It wasn’t an easy thing to command an ogre, nor should one do that. Each race had their own advantages and disadvantages. What Kyle had used was the textbook example of a battle that was suitable for humans who didn’t have any specific racial trait.
‘He has a lot to learn, which is why I brought them here.’
Zyrus collected the gold from the grinning Anansi and left through the entrance. The city below would open soon enough, and he wanted to be the first to enter the place he had in mind. Just as he was about to leave the stands, his eyes caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.
Without hesitation he weaved through the crowd and walked towards the man wearing a rusty metallic armor.
“Been a while.”
The man turned his head and looked at Zyrus with six eyes. After a nod of approval, he didn’t say anything else. The man with the ever-detached personality was none other than the elder soul Zyrus had met in the first ring, Navrino.
“The reward you gave me regarding aura was pretty useful. I know you’re not that interested in the players’ affairs, perhaps even after knowing of my circumstances. What I have here, though, is a different matter.”
Zyrus took out a tiny mechanical object and held it in his palm. It was an intricate box holding a compact chip.
*Shhhhhh*
Navrino emitted a steam like noice from his body and turned towards Zyrus. The detached expression from before was nowhere to be seen.
“Thisss…does not belong to the Sanctuary.”
“It’s from my home world.”
Both Navrino and Zyrus looked at each other in silence. The existence of other worlds was somewhat of a taboo topic since none of the elder souls or merchants ever talked about it. It wasn’t for no reason that the players treated them as NPCs for the most part.
“I am interested…but I can’t trade with this if that’s your intention. As per the system’s rule my sole task is to give out quests. Nothing more, nothing less.”
“You do just that then. Come to my faction, and give quests. As for the rewards, I’m sure you can be flexible with that.”
Navrino remained silent for a good few minutes. Someone with his wisdom was sure to understand the implication behind Zyrus’s words. The device in his hand was sure to contain something that could be used in the sanctuary.
It was, as Zyrus said, possible to assign quests and rewards related to that. As long as it didn’t affect the working of the sanctuary there shouldn’t be an issue.
“Fine. I will visit your place. As for the rest, it depends on what you have in your hand.”
“Perfect. See you later then,” Zyrus waved his hand and was about to leave when Navrino asked all of a sudden,
“Were you… not afraid that I would just leave after taking the item? No matter how powerful, the players are unable to harm us and vice versa.”
“Hahahaha….it’s not that simple to take something that’s mine, old man.” Zyrus left without saying anything further. Recalling the look in his eyes, Navrino felt an emotion he hadn’t felt in a long…long time.
It was Fear.
***
Elsewhere, two more pair of eyes were looking at the interaction between the two.
“Slurp, that tin man’s getting senile. Forgot to even ask my permission if he wants to leave.”
“I doubt that.” The veiled woman answered Aurora who was busy stuffing her mouth. It wasn’t anything significant to bribe this particular administrator of the first ring.
“What’s with that look? Want some?”
“No.”
“Slurpp~ Your loss. Why are you even here by the way? That spider’s scraping for gold, Matope is just there because of Zy, and then there’s me.”
“At least you’re self-aware,” the veiled woman shook her head with a smile.
“Didn’t answer my question!”
“The strings of fate are entwined by the acts of the regressor. He has yet to realize that every action of his causes consequences, such as his leaving right now.”
“Fate huh. I doubt he’d believe in that.” Aurora wiped her mouth and was about to open another pack of noodles, however, Citlalli’s next words caused her hands to pause.
For unlike usual, the woman’s eyes were filled with golden radiance. As someone who had been an administrator for eons, Aurora knew that the next words would be anything but trivial.
It was a prophecy.
“Child of time, since when does Fate need others to believe in it? It simply exists. The butterfly has flapped its wings, throwing the sanctuary into chaos. This loop…will be the final one.”
*Splat*
The cup of noodles fell from Aurora’s hands. Both because of Citlalli’s words, and looking at the dwarf that was walking towards the arena.