4 meters tall. Gleaming obsidian armor. Red glows in the eye sockets. A billowing cape. And to top it all off, a 4 meter black longsword.
This monstrosity and I are currently trapped in a triangular prism with dark energy walls, and the only method available to extricate myself out of this situation is to fight a duel to the death against an Inferior Ruler.
I don't even see it move; it's as if the sword just teleported to its final position, not having executed a slash. I can feel my death approaching, and the Black Snake Armor hardly envelops my sensitive regions before black, vaguely crescent-shaped arcs carve gashes on the sturdy scales composing the armor.
I say 'vaguely' because my eyes lack the processing speed to visualize the Dark Swordmaster's movements and the subsequent projectiles, even with the Demon Element's enhancement to all aspects of my flesh. I estimate I'll need to advance to the Super level and reach the advanced realm of Spiritual Attainment before the motions of Rulers stop being blurs.
For now, I'm sent flying by sheer force: the disheveled armor saved me from certain death, but several of my ribs received cracks, and they aren't far from breaking entirely.
[Come on.]
Another web of slashes hurtles me into the onyx walls, my ears ringing as I crash onto the ground. There goes a rib.
[Come on!]
As if smirking at my plight, the horrid creature tilts its helmet to the side. Bizarrely, I understand the voice emanating from its helm: it's speaking in English.
"A pitiful, weak creature like you dares challenge the God of Darkness? I cannot comprehend your stupidity."
I respond in kind. "How fresh. A sword 'expert' calls me weak, yet bullies me with these overbearing attacks impossible to execute without your strength. If you restricted yourself to my physical might, I'd decapitate you within a minute of exchanging sword blows."
Its visor clatters in an eerie form of laughter. "Ridiculous. Come, succumb to your fate."
Yet another overwhelming maelstrom of blows shatters the Black Snake Armor, the hastily cast Light Scale Holy Armor, a Water Curtain. And my ribs, along with a few bones in my arms and legs. I'm sprawled on the ground for the third time in a row, hemorrhaging internally.
I'm met with a surprising respite, since there isn't another attack to finish me off. I shakily force myself upright, realigning my broken bones as I watch the menacing onyx creature. Endless darkness coalesces around its raised sword, slowly mounting to a crescendo of whirling dark energy.
[An ultimate? Then I had better prepare my own.]
Blood gushes out of my nose and eyes as I force all the mana out of my Chaos Galaxy, pouring it into a growing Chaos Vortex. I position the hole in front of me, 'shielding' my front from the ensuing onslaught, but I'm hardly conscious after casting the spell. My Spiritual Attainment isn't high enough to sustain such large-scale manipulation of Chaos mana without severe backlash.
It's all I can do to remain standing with my eyes open, awaiting my fate. The Dark Swordmaster finally slashes. Torrents of dark energy converge into an imperious spear over 100 meters long, radiating a chilling aura. The creature's glowing red sockets fixate on my figure with a mocking gaze, anticipating the annihilation of every speck of dust composing my being.
As the spear of dark energy hurtles towards me, I brace myself for the inevitable impact. The Chaos Vortex, fueled by the mana from my Chaos Galaxy, swirls with increasing intensity. It attempts to capture the dark energy spear within its chaotic whirl. The onyx walls quiver with the force of the collision, and for an instant, the entire prism is ensconced in a blinding vortex of chaotic energies. The fractal-like edges of the vortex expand and contract in a frenzy, hardly able to contain the spear's might.
But contain it the vortex does. It's the 5th-tier Chaos Vortex. That means a +80% amplification when I…
"REVERSE!"
The dark energy, once meant to obliterate me, now rebounds with unrelenting force. The spear of annihilation turns upon its creator, the Dark Swordmaster, as the Chaos Vortex mirrors the attack. Torrents of dark energy twist and distort, converging upon the imposing figure that had sought my demise. It thrashes in agony, but its struggles are futile. The overbearing dark energy crushes and eviscerates its armor, sword, and cape, not to mention its horse. Underneath the armor is a fleshy pile of dark worms, now naked and exposed to the elements.
As the echoes of the cataclysmic clash fade, I find myself still standing behind the dissipating Chaos Vortex. I march to the Dark Swordmaster, shakily at first, but I quickly familiarize myself with how to place weight on my broken legs.
[Not so imposing without your armor and sword, huh.]
The squirming, shadowy mess coalesces into a body and materializes a shadow sword in its hand, but the item lacks the overwhelming power of its predecessor. Nevertheless, it's still a dangerous creature. I deflect two of its stabs with a sword while stabbing at its gut with the other. Its speed allows it to bring the sword back to block, but I was feinting. I aim my other sword at its head, but it realizes I was feinting yet again when that hand loses all momentum before reaching its target. My original attack cuts open its stomach, causing dark goo to pour out, and I withdraw before it hacks down on my arm with extreme prejudice.
I don't forget to lambaste the creature; breaking down its pride will expose more weaknesses in its swordplay. "Our first exchange, and you already suffered a wound that might kill a lesser being. And you call yourself a sword master?"
It hisses in anger and charges, slashing crisply. However, I deflect every strike, catch every feint, defuse every maneuver. Each sequence of blows ends with more dark goo spilling from its body. The forearm. The thigh. Upper torso. Side of the neck. Arm. Ankle. Arm. Waist.
Its last hurrah is throwing the sword at me. I lazily duck beneath the projectile, simultaneously lunging at its legs, slicing them off at the knee. Light gathers and forms a golden circle the size of me, which subsequently expulses a dazzling beam of Light. It shrieks in agony and starts evaporating under the immense purification of the Descending Light: Beam. The dark energy flees its body in fear, leaving behind a disgusting pile of worms in the shape of a humanoid corpse.
The onyx walls of the triangular prism start to crumble, their purpose fulfilled with the demise of the Dark Swordmaster. The ancient entity, once so imposing, now dissipates into ethereal shadows. Glowing red sockets flicker and fade as the Dark Swordmaster succumbs to its fate.
Exhausted, battered, devoid of all mana except for Shadow, I lower my gaze upon the remnants of the chaotic battleground. The onyx walls disintegrate, leaving behind the traces of a duel that transcended the scale of any battle I've ever fought.
Sunlight has never seemed so pleasant as now. I collapse onto the ground, though I spot Xinxia rushing to my aid from the corner of my eye.
…
…
[Is it my 5th time waking up in a hospital bed with people surrounding me? I lost count.]
I take in my surroundings. White room, check. Sole patient in the room, check. Teary, sleeping Xinxia, check. Authority figure looking both concerned and pleased, check.
Said authority opens her mouth. "A few minutes after you defeated the Dark Swordmaster, I breached through the defense of the Brutal Sword Death Servants and placed the burning light device on the pyramid, erasing the mirage. The sword of Damocles over Puccini City's head has been eradicated; we no longer fear an undead invasion."
"Marvelous. I suppose I'll be leaving the city soon."
"... Yes. Unfortunately, we possess little to offer you in thanks. However, the city and I will never forget your contributions; there's crowds of people outside the hospital as we speak, clamoring to see you. Someone in the army spilled military secrets. I'll have them court-martialed when I find them!"
"I don't do these things expecting reimbursement. If I did, I wouldn't risk my life, would I? Even gratitude is unnecessary, though I appreciate it (and rewards) if offered. Hey, Xinxia?"
I nudge her sleeping figure. She blearily raises her head, then wraps me in a hug. No words are spoken: a silent embrace is sufficient.
…
…
Amidst appalling fanfare, I board the plane after my teammates.
[It's quite unsettling to see the letters of my name in English tattooed across the torsos of 10 half-naked femboys. I can only hope they were temporary tattoos and not permanent.]
On the plane ride to Venice, Zhao Manyan and Jiang Shaoxu tease me to no end.
…
…
After arriving in Venice, I find the city built on water has a unique charm that no other city in the world has. The old clock towers, churches, and colorful buildings from the Middle Ages feel like a journey back in time, revisiting Europe's history.
Venice does not have vehicles, nor even bicycles: they're banned. All transportation consists of boats and a Water-type beast called a Gondola, and the only land option is walking.
The Gondola Water Beast perfectly suits the atmosphere in Venice. Their backbones are slightly sunken, but around their tails and heads, a bone pokes up. If they lie still with half their bodies in the water, they perfectly resemble a small, crescent boat that can fit around five people. If necessary, they can pull a large boat as well.
These Gondolas can be thought of as the cabs of Venice. They are specially trained, and each is 'driven' by a special person. The Gondolas can bring visitors and the locals to any corner in Venice. Going out to the sea is an option, too!
When I arrive in Venice, I immediately go to take a ride on the unique beasts with Zhao Manyan as I explore the City of Canals.
"I heard every person in Venice is a Water Mage, is that true?" I ask the driver as I sit on the Gondola.
He explains with a smile, "Not everyone, but at least half of the people here can cast one or two Water Spells. Unfortunately, I'm from the other half."
"Half of the people are Water Mages, that's pretty scary!" Zhao Manyan exclaims.
A small, wealthy city like Venice can sustain the nurturing of so many Mages. I'm reminded of Bo City, where an exam filtered out more than 90% of students aspiring to receive the Awakening Stone… The difference is night and day.
"If you're heading for the San Marco Auction Hall, you'll find it by going down this way. The World College Tournament is just around the corner, meaning that there will be lots of people coming to this city. I bet I will be quite busy soon too," the driver grins.
…
…
When we climb onto the docks, the Piazza San Marco is right in front of us. The luxurious San Marco Auction Hall is within sight too, with two live griffins guarding the entrance.
"Zhao Manyan!" As soon as we enter, a handsome man in beach shorts with a pair of sunglasses comes up to Zhao Manyan.
Beach shorts and slippers, the man's simple outfit is ill-suited to the snobbish atmosphere here. Only the branded sunglasses offset his casual temperament.
"Big Brother, you're so busy, why did you bother waiting here to receive me…" Zhao Manyan says excitedly.
However, before he can finish, the man raises his brows and interrupts, "Why the heck are you here?"
"I told you I was coming! Did you seriously not read any of my messages?"
"Oh, I didn't pay much attention to it. Speaking of which, didn't Dad send you to some other countries for training? Why are you here, then? I'm warning you, it's useless trying to hide here if you have done something shameless. I'm too busy to even care about you, every minute of mine is worth a hundred million, do you understand?" the man berates him.
Zhao Manyan's face darkens. He forces the words out between the gaps of his teeth, "I'm here for the World College Tournament. Could you at least pay some attention to me?"
"Oh, I heard someone mentioning it before, saying that you've wasted a lot of money," the man murmurs.
I can easily tell that the man is none other than Zhao Manyan's brother, Zhao Youqian.
"This is my good brother, Yang Jianyu, the one I mentioned to you before… oh, forget it, I bet you didn't read any of my texts. I was asking you to help me…" he explains.
Before he finishes, Zhao Youqian interrupts yet again, "Just head inside, I have an important guest to receive."
"…" Zhao Manyan is left speechless. He has no choice but to bring me inside the San Marco Auction Hall.
Only the richest and most powerful people in the world are able to hold shares of the San Marco Auction Hall. The Zhao Clan is the richest family in China, and its stake in the San Marco Auction Hall is no minor contribution to its wealth: the Zhao Clan is involved in every world-class auction that is held here.
"Your brother is quite interesting!" I can't help but be amused.
Zhao Manyan says helplessly, "It's been the same since I was born. I'm always invisible to him. To be honest, I'm quite surprised that he was able to recognize me just then from so far away. The guy only has money in his eyes. If I say an extra word, he thinks that I'm wasting time that he could use to earn more money. He is not interested in women, food, magic, or any kind of relationship. His only interest is making more money, just like my dad."
"So, did your family adopt you?" I tease.
"Maybe. If I was not relatively talented as a Mage, and if the Zhao Clan didn't start harboring desires to foster strong Mages instead of focusing on business, I bet no one would bother to come and find me if I went missing," Zhao Manyan admits.
As the two of us jest, we enter the most luxurious VIP structure, reserved for the Zhao Clan. Walking inside a room, it resembles pictures of guest rooms in a royal palace I've seen online.
Soon, a receiving staffer in a blue dress comes up to us and says with a smile, "Mister, we only accept reserved guests here, may I ask you to move to the next cabin?"
"I am Zhao Youqian's brother," Zhao Manyan tells her calmly.
"I'm sorry, but Director Zhao has made it clear that this cabin is reserved for a VIP guest. I will bring you to the next room. You can ask the staff there to make arrangements for you," the woman firmly states.
Zhao Manyan's expression darkens. Perhaps my presence instilled in him a desire to flaunt his wealth and authority, so he berates the lady.
"Even though Zhao Youqian is fully in charge of this place, you must know that I possess shares here. I'll be taking this cabin, and if there's any problem, ask Zhao Youqian to come talk to me, I would like to see who the VIP guest is!"
Zhao Manyan sits on the couch made of the feathers of a swan like a properly arrogant fuerdai. The woman in a blue dress is as stunned as I am. Zhao Manyan is usually willing to stay in both run-down inns and high-end mansions, so it is unlikely that he would insist on taking the luxurious cabin. Unless…
[Could it be that the relationship between the Zhao brothers isn't harmonious?]
Regardless, he shoos the disgruntled woman away. We're left to enjoy the current auction, presented to us on an enormous screen, with an Ipad for us to participate. Zhao Manyan assisted me with placing the 7 Warrior rare bones and 200 Soldier Soul Essences in the auction, but their value is outshined by staggering bids on other items. At minimum, hundreds of billions of yuan are being spent here, while I gained 350 million from the bones and 1 billion from the Soul Essences. My account boasts 1.55 billion yuan, but it now feels like a paltry sum.
Shaking my head, I continue relaxing with Zhao Manyan. We overhear the VIP guest simply taking the adjacent room without inciting a ruckus, but nothing else of note occurs. He takes his leave to explore Venice, while I stay, intrigued by my first auction experience.
…
…
I nearly slam the door into someone's face upon exiting the VIP cabin.
[Wait…]
"You're the VIP guest?!"
"Hey, Jianyu!"
It's Ye Meng'e, the Parthenon Saintess who accompanied me part of the way on my journey to find Zhang Xiaohou. She's wearing a billowing golden robe that sets off her saintly aura, but she's more down-to-earth than one might imagine. Conversation with her feels as natural as breathing.
We walk alongside each other as we leave the Markos auction hall.
"Regrettably, Zhao Youqian and I didn't come to an agreement. Anyway, why are you here?"
"To sell some loot. And to acquire Soul-grade Elemental Spirits, but I didn't find any to my satisfaction."
"For which Elements?"
"Light and Water. Haven't you seen me use them? Also, I'm not about to reveal my new Elements to you. I'm well aware you might participate in the World College Tournament."
She giggles, "Should have known you wouldn't fall for it. Nevertheless, there's no need to be so wary. That boring competition doesn't require my attention; the Greek team is quite strong."
"How arrogant."
"You'll taste their might firsthand. Ah, I might be able to assist you so that you won't get beaten up too badly. You said you were looking for Light and Water Spirits?"
"Yes. A few appeared in the auction, but none possessing the power I desire. I faced a foe wielding an imperious Ice Domain and hardly escaped with my life."
"And therefore you're searching for something similar. I see."
She briefly pauses, collecting her thoughts. "I'm renowned as an information dealer in various circles, and I happen to know where you might find a Water Spirit to your liking. One at the pinnacle of the Soul grade…"
Shocked, I stare at her. "Are you serious? Wait, you said 'where I might find', meaning it's natural? Why isn't it claimed?"
She rolls her eyes and drawls, "For the reasons you might expect. It's extremely obscure, to the point where I'm confident that my informant and I are the only two people on the planet who are aware of its existence. It's useless to us both since neither of us have the Water Element, so obviously our only means to make use of it is by selling it to a third party. And before you ask, it's extremely temperamental and will not cooperate with our efforts to transport it, so we can't just auction it like all the other Soul-grade Spirits on offer here."
I narrow my eyes. "What's the catch?"
"What makes you think there's a catch? I'm willing to sell it to you," she pouts.
"...For how much?"
She raises 1 dainty finger. "1 billion yuan. I'll make it nice and even for you."
[Nice and even my ass!]
"I'll… I'll have to consider it," I manage to get out.
She tilts her head. "Well, you have my number. Call me when you make a decision. No negotiating the price, by the way."
"Have it your way."
I begin pacing away, heading for another possible transaction.
…
…
"Jiang Yu?"
I poke my head into his hotel room. We're all on the 3rd floor of a Venetian hotel; Jiang Yu and I agreed to meet at noon, coincidentally occurring the day after I met Asha'ruiya.
"Yang Jianyu! Come in, come in."
The glasses-clad youth ushers me onto a chair opposite a… Well, 'old' might be an understatement.
An ancient man stares at me with unfathomably deep eyes. He wears a permanent scowl; the wrinkles indicate he's smiled at most once a year for decades. "Yang Jianyu, is it? I heard you were trying to fleece Jiang Yu for 2 billion yuan. Taken at face value, a liter of Time Liquid is worth at most 2 billion. And that's if a rich, extravagant young master wants a trump card to save himself from Rulers. It's next to useless for Super Mages worth their salt. I'll give you no more than a billion for it."
I stand up and plod towards the door. "What a waste of time. I could have handed it to Zhao Manyan at any moment, and he'd sell it for at least 3 or 4 billion. The only reason I even entertained this exchange is the fact that an ill-principled fuerdai might purchase it for use in the tournament if I have Zhao Manyan auction the Time Liquid. A shame, Jiang Yu, really."
An overwhelming aura abruptly torrents out of Pang Lai, forcing me to crumple onto the floor. However, the next words I hear lack the hostility I might associate with that action.
"Don't be too hasty, young man. I was merely testing your resolve and confidence. If it's 2 billion you want, 2 billion you shall receive."
Bewildered, I stand up, extracting the crystal container from my backpack. Pang Lai cautiously examines the fluid within, then nods to Jiang Yu. My teammate excitedly taps Pang Lai's phone, and I receive a notification informing me that my account now contains 3.55 billion yuan.
"Off you go. Seems not everyone on the national team is a wuss like you, Jiang Yu."
"Master!"
…
…
When I enter the hotel's courtyard, reserved for our team's training purposes, Zhao Manyan approaches me. Strangely, he wears an inscrutable expression.
"Do you know… what happened?"
"Huh? Regarding what, precisely?"
"Mu Ningxue."
"... Isn't this old news? She went to Tianshan Mountain and advanced her strength at a terrifying rate. She's already back."
"No, you idiot. This morning, she was taking a stroll around the city. A Mu Clan elder's right hand man, Pan Xi, tracked her to a bridge and surrounded her with Advanced Mages."
I cease stretching, swiveling my body to offer him my utmost attention.
"That's right, this is serious. Mu Tingying and Nanrong Ni were also there. Pan Xi's goal was to strip Mu Ningxue of her Ice Crystal Bow, since it's a Mu Clan forbidden weapon, but they underestimated her control over it. She froze everyone on the entire street, and they only thawed after an hour passed."
"..."
"Also, Pan Xi was planning to give the bow to Nanrong Ni to forge an alliance between the Nanrong Family and the Mu Clan, since the Nanrong Family is one of the most influential renowned families, almost on par with a renowned clan."
"Nanrong Ni? She doesn't even possess the Ice Element."
"The bow is null-attribute; it was Mu Ningxue's Innate Talent that influenced it to manifest itself as the Ice Crystal Bow. In fact, the bow is so entrenched within her Spiritual World that extracting it would cripple her cultivation. Pan Xi, Mu Tingying, and Nanrong Ni are well aware of this, naturally.
"There's more to the bow that I should explain, however. Essentially, the Mu Clan places fragments of the Ice Crystal Bow into various Mages' Spiritual Worlds, where the pieces are nurtured. And when they're extracted, the Mages lose their cultivation! Mu Ningxue was originally intended to receive all those pieces from other Mages to obtain the entire bow, but the Mu Clan changed its mind after considering her relation to a Black Vatican member and the alliance with the Nanrong Family. Pan Xi actually brought all the remaining pieces here to give them to Nanrong Ni, but after Mu Ningxue froze the entire bridge, she stole them. She's now a runaway that has the entire forbidden bow of the Mu Clan."
A slight edge leaks into my tone. "I hadn't imagined the Mu Clan was so ashamed of Mu He that it'd leave his niece with no dignity, no status. Crippling her in exchange for an alliance? What a fantastic deal."
I stomp over to Mu Tingying and Nanrong Ni, fixating a smoldering glare upon them. "Jealousy is natural. Lashing out at her is to be expected. But I hadn't anticipated you'd drag your elders into your disputes. Especially you, Nanrong Ni. I thought Mu Ningxue treated you as a friend."
The poisonous she-devil of a healer offers a cutesy smile. "She was! I just happened to want that bow, and she happened to have it. No hard feelings, really."
Mu Tingying, appearing as smug as I've ever seen her, chimes in. "I disagree, there's definitely hard feelings for me. That arrogant, cold bimbo treats everyone like air simply because she has a halfway decent Innate Talent. And you all lap it up! Worshiping her as if she's some ice fairy that descended from heaven."
My brows knit together. "Who's 'worshiping' her? Certainly no one on the team, aside from Guan Yu."
She sneers, "You men are all the same. No matter what males we run into, they're ensnared by that succubus. Tripping over themselves just to please her. All this aside, it's over for her now that she dared to attack the Mu Clan's members in public. We have the right to pursue retribution for this offense to its end, to her grisly end."
"Revolting. You both disgust me."
Without warning, I fire Shadow Nails into their bodies, immobilizing them. At this proximity, they'd never react in time: I draw Star Patterns as fast as I used to draw Star Paths, with a single thought. Star Constellations take a mere second to cast.
[Now we wait.]
I must talk sense into the advisors' heads; they simply can't allow this injustice to occur without consequences.
…
…
All the team members arrive after some time, confusedly glancing at the frozen pair of girls before focusing on training. Sure enough, the five advisors, headed by Dean Song He and the irritable Feng Li, stroll into the courtyard after 2 hours. Following them is…
[... ???]
"Mu Ningxue? You're here?"
She coldly gazes at me, not deigning to reply. Feng Li heatedly berates me in her place after scanning the courtyard.
"Release them at once! Seriously, why are you immature students so hellbent on causing trouble? Unbelievable!"
I frigidly glare at him, but I comply, dissolving the Shadow Nails with a thought. "Advisor, this attitude you're bearing… it seems repercussions aren't on your mind. And to think I expected you all to uphold justice." I shake my head. "I'm the true fool here."
He furiously points a finger at me, blustering, "DON'T SPEAK ON MATTERS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! Do you have any idea how much convincing it required for the Mu Clan and Nanrong Family to pursue matters after the tournament and not immediately? And you want to go even further, punishing those girls? In your dreams! Establish an organization that looks down on the world first, then you can 'uphold justice' all you please." He spits on the floor, incensed.
I'm fuming as well, struggling to regulate my breathing. Then, something flashes past my mind, and I regain my cool, smiling at everyone. "I see. I apologize for my outburst, how unbecoming of me. By the way, you'll be missing me for two weeks: I have an urgent matter I must take care of. I'll leave tomorrow, right before our first battle."
Feng Li's mustache twitches in sheer anger. "You… you… you! Is the national team something you can just take leave for on a whim? China and Japan were randomly selected to start off the tournament, and that means we must win. It's the first match of the tournament, for heaven's sake! Japan is no easy opponent; they were 21st place 4 years ago. And investigation reveals they might place even higher this time."
"Fine, I'll leave after our first battle. But wasn't I supposed to be our team's unfathomable trump card? It doesn't make much sense for me to participate, in that case…"
"Who gave you that title?! Certainly not us! You will join, or… yes?"
Dean Song He whispers something to him, coloring his face a deep purple. He opens his mouth, at a loss for words, so Song He takes over, genially beaming at me. "We've investigated the Japanese team's strength. Our team of 5 will be Ai Jiangtu, Mu Ningxue, Jiang Shaoxu, Guan Yu, and Jiang Yu."
Mu Tingying, who had been quietly listening, jumps up in outrage. Zu Jiming, Li Kaifeng, and Nanrong Ni follow suit, and they all release outcries concerning their importance, respectively.
"Advisor, what about us?! My Ice is stronger than that bitch's Ice!"
"My Poison will be essential to victory! I'm our strongest asset in team battles!"
"There's no firepower on that team! You need my Fire Element!"
"Advisor, if you're so cautious of Japan's strength, wouldn't a Healer be useful?"
Dean Song He raises a hand, silencing them. "As compensation for what she suffered this morning, Mu Ningxue will take the spotlight with her offense and stability. Over time, she'll concentrate the Ice Elemental particles with her Ice Domain, conjuring up a blizzard that'll wear down the team. We need Ai Jiangtu's strength to handle Shou Watani, Japan's captain. To handle their Psychic Mages, Jiang Shaoxu. In fact, she'll make a complete wipe easy if they don't have countermeasures for Psychic magic. Guan Yu, an agile assassin, will harass the opponents' offensive Mages. Jiang Yu's Summon Element will be useful for both defense, with his Rock Golem, and offense, with his Night Rakshasa. There, a solid team that'll guarantee victory. I don't want to hear another word on this."
[Serves that poisonous pair right.]
When the advisors dismiss us, everyone heads to their rooms. I walk over to Mu Ningxue.
"Ningxue… are you alright?"
Her frigid expression contrasts my concerned one. "You should stay away. I don't need your help. In fact, you just make things worse. Did you really think it'd benefit me to paralyze Mu Tingying and Nanrong Ni?"
[What the…]
I tilt my head, befuddled. "Earth to Ningxue. You're definitely not alright. Did Pan Xi deal some damage to your cranium?"
"This isn't a joke, Yang Jianyu. And stop referring to me by my given name. We're not that close."
All traces of a smile on my countenance vanish. "You're serious."
"I've always been serious, you just never listened. How do you think it reflects on me when you pull these stunts in my name? Quitting the team, firing Shadow Nails, even this extended leave nonsense."
"What do you mean you've always been serious? I don't recall you ever telling me off for doing any of those things," I snap.
"I'm trying so hard to clear my name, hence why I willingly quit back then to establish my strength in the eyes of the advisors. Hence why I'm not pursuing anything now with Mu Tingying and Nanrong Ni. Hence why I only froze those people on the bridge for one hour, when I could have crippled or even killed them. And there you are, muddying all my efforts to prove my righteousness and worthiness to the advisors."
"You've spoken more words to me now than you have for the past year. I'd be in shock if it wasn't all so stupid. What the hell do you mean by clearing your name? Is it the Black Vatican nonsense? Are you now going to blame me and Xiaohou for exposing Mu He?"
Her chest heaves as she angrily breathes. "Do you have any idea how many hate letters I receive, just because my uncle was Mu He? I'm not blaming you or Zhang Xiaohou for exposing him, but at least try to understand why I'm treating this tournament like it's my lifeline. It quite literally is. Once I display my strength and secure victories for China's team, it'll be hard for the public to think of me as a Black Vatican associate. They'll see a star student, a bright young woman. That'll make it harder for the Mu Clan to erase me without justification, which you so nearly offered today. Just stay out of the way in the future, stay away from me."
[Does that year we spent together mean nothing? The time we worked together to escape Jinlin City with our lives? I thought it might prod her frozen heart a little when I quit the team to embellish the fact that dismissing her was a mistake. I guess I never meant anything to her. Nothing more than a nuisance.]
"Ningxue. Do I really amount to nothing in your eyes?"
She stares at me, her solemn features etched in stone. "Go away. I hope the mess you concocted today doesn't impact my future. Your answer is yes. Stop interacting with me."
I abruptly turn around, heading for the courtyard exit. I've nothing more to say.
[Have it your way. Distance yourself from me, from everyone.]
Right as I reach the exit, I look back. Impulsively, I blurt out, "I liked you, you know. The cute princess. The bright young lady. My feelings renewed after Jinlin City, and again after an extended time together during the training for the tournament. I thought you might've felt something too. Anything. Now… Now I don't know. It's as if you're a stranger."
I jerk my head forward, forcing myself to stop thinking about her. Even after all that, her permanently neutral face didn't shift by the tiniest of fractions. No mocking smile, no hollow gaze, no tearful eyes, no angry brows. Just impassiveness.
I walk back to my room, although my legs feel like lead. Later that night, sleep eludes my grasp.
…
…
I'm currently walking around Venice. It's nearly dawn; I elected to clear my head outside instead of tossing and turning on my bed.
I don't feel like watching the match. I don't feel like doing much of anything, honestly.
[Why am I here? Where is the meaning in anything I'm doing?]
Resolution clears my brown irises.
[Am I here to chase after a girl?]
No. I want to win the tournament. Because…
There's usually a prize for first place that'll permanently enhance one's strength. And I want to increase my combat prowess because…
Evil exists. My parents fell victim to it.
Injustice exists. Uncle Mo suffered it for decades.
Corruption exists. Renowned clans, renowned families, their members arrogantly strut about, stirring up mayhem and reaping none of the repercussions.
I'm dissatisfied with the state of the world. No, it's beyond mere dissatisfaction. An unrelenting rage kindles within me whenever I recall my mom's slit throat, or my dad's bloody hole in his chest where his heart should be.
To alter the world's nature, I must wield power and authority beyond anyone's match. Winning the tournament is a step in both directions. Wallowing in pathetic abjection simply because a girl shoved me aside is not helpful to my current circumstances.
I watch the rising sun illuminate the horizon. While the gorgeous orange hue pervades my vision, I contemplate my choices.
…
…
"Wise decision, contacting me so soon. You're the third person I've told about this Soul-grade Water Spirit, but since you asked before the others: first come first serve."
"Well, I wouldn't want to miss an opportunity to spend time with you."
Asha'ruiya and I, disguised as an ugly honeymoon couple, are currently on a plane. Our destination: Madagascar. The route consists of a 14 hour drive from the capital city of Antananarivo to the western part of the island, near the town of Bekopaka. From there, a daily shuttle grants access to our true destination. Tourists visit Tsingy de Bemaraha unceasingly: it's one of the most majestic locations on Earth, albeit littered with deadly creatures. Guides steer clear of known territorial beasts, but tourists must sign forms that place zero blame on Madagascar if they die. Quite unsettling, though people still flock to the location because there haven't been any deaths for the past decade. At least, not among the tourists that stuck to the guides instead of wandering off.
In other news, my bank account dropped to 0 yuan. Asha'ruiya only demanded 1 billion, so what about the remaining 2.55 billion yuan?
Enormous gambling circles congregate to engender a truly colossal enterprise, centered around the tournament's matches. The largest betting ring revolves around guessing the first place in the tournament. In a close second comes ranking the 64 countries, where the closest match wins it all. Dozens of other bets exist, pretty much anything reasonable goes.
Bet payoffs are extremely straightforward. If my bet for China winning first place makes up 10% of all money that people bet on China winning, then if China does end up obtaining first place, 10% of ALL money gambled for the first place ranking goes to me.
The odds for China winning the tournament after betting closed were about 1 : 15, meaning for every yuan bet in favor of China, 15 yuan were bet in favor of other countries. Honestly, I anticipated a far greater payoff, considering our abysmal 34th place in the previous tournament due to unfavorable matchups. I suppose others also realized that that ranking didn't represent the Chinese team's true strength. Besides, the truly big bettors also possess exemplary information gathering means, and my presence alone is a swinging factor, to say nothing of Ai Jiangtu or Nan Yu. The fact that we're still not the lowest odds means the feats of other stars outshined our own.
On that subject, the English team's odds were 1 : 4, the lowest among all the countries, though I haven't heard of any outstanding performances from its members. Clearly, authority figures participating in the betting are aware of things I am not.
As a matter of fact, I placed a bet of 2.5 billion yuan in the largest and most popular ring: I bet that China would win the tournament, mere hours before the first match began and the bets closed. This means that my net worth will skyrocket to 40 billion if my bet pays off.
Naturally, information gives people an edge, so all bets regarding final ranking close right before the tournament officially begins. However, lots of individual match bets close just before the titular match starts, so the gambling is far from over. If the odds suit my tastes, I might participate in those as well. In fact, I bet 50 million yuan on China's victory against Japan in the opening match. It'll grow to a tidy 100 million yuan if Ai Jiangtu and Mu Ningxue don't disappoint.
…
…
For the umpteenth time, I hold a thorny bush out of the way, allowing Asha'ruiya to pass through ungrazed. As usual, she kisses my cheek in thanks, eliciting expressions of disgust from the other tourists. I maintain a lust-filled gaze in response, fighting the urge to hurl.
[Sorry about the PDA, but we're putting on a show here.]
We're on a portion of the hike close to the underground section of the Tsiribihina River; there's little visibility for hundreds of meters around us due to dense woods and foliage.
"If I may direct your attention to these patterns on the felled trees, they indicate…"
While the tour guides continue babbling, Asha'ruiya and I slip away unnoticed. Dashing a few hundred meters away, we rapidly tear off our tourist outfits to reveal sleek black leggings and hoodies.
Asha'ruiya breathes a sigh of relief. "I know we were posing as an obese husband and wife pair, but I hated every second of being under those suffocating layers. Here, I'll remove your face mask and wig."
I do the same for her. The flabby silicone peels off smoothly; it was necessary both to conceal our identities and our jawlines unbefitting of heavyset folk. We complete the assassin getup with accessories from our backpacks: black masks, black gloves, and special black boots Asha'ruiya loves. Apparently, they're custom-made to be comfortable, whisper-quiet, light, yet sturdy and scratch-resistant.
Asha'ruiya wrinkles her nose at the containers I extract from my pack. A sour, pungent scent permeates the air as I pour the sticky white substance onto a few leaves, subsequently drowning the area with human blood from a large sealed bucket. I ensure the sex session remnants, and the following grisly blood splatters, are as realistic as possible. A gross couple had sex here, then were eaten by some wild animals.
"Hey, don't give me that look. You know my idea was fantastic."
She scrunches her brows together in frustration, electing to jog towards the underground portion of the Tsiribihina River. Laughing, I prance after her.