Chapter 905: The tournament master |
In the arena, Tartaros’ head rolled on the floor, lips curved up in a wide, demented smile.
The fight had been clean, surgical, an exchange of precise, vicious blows between two incomprehensibly talented by-the-books fighters, one physical, one magical. On this day, magic prevailed.
Astelia landed, panting, exhausted, a serious frown on her delicate face. One last hurdle remained, and if it had to be more difficult than this, she seriously questioned her chances.
Thus concluded the main part of the Ark’s tournament.
Nex crossed out a crude drawing of Tartaros’ face on a whiteboard.
“What a tournament again. Rayra defeated Sen in the quarters only to fall to Tartaros in the semis, she could rightfully complain about her bad luck with those matchups… And on the other side of the tree… What a mess. Pareth’s solo imprint still made it to the quarters but still lost to Alith, hmm.”
Mid chimed in, “bonus damage against undeads doesn’t matter when your opponent has minutes on invincibility to stack a damage taken debuff on your face. His spec is pointless in solo play, too.”
“Never thought I would see you take the skeleton’s defense,” Afil commented.
Mid shrugged, “Just bein’ fair, always have been.”
“And then we have arguably the one with the worst luck in light of the final results. Azranovakerfen of Dread… Going up against Moon’s Oracle in the quarters. He fought well. Might have stood a chance in a more favorable matchup against Rayra or Sen. And now for the grand finale…”
“Which one will it be? The new one?” Mid asked.
“No. Not against her. Not to mention, the tournament master remains undefeated. Perhaps this time. Plus we should not retire him until someone grabs the prize, don’t you all agree?”
In the front row of the spectator seats, hugging Bookie who sat on her lap, Sofia watched the scenery of the arena change after Astelia was sent back to the waiting room.
There it is!
The fight that I skipped. The battle against earth was nice but. I want to see how you fight, Jin.
Aaaah… It’s so strange to see it from this angle.
Go Asty! Show him! Show them all!
As a good friend should, Sofia had bet the entirety of her remaining money on her friend, down to the last gold coin. She had even pawned off the dark epoch space box at the local Red Carpet branch just to scrounge up a bit more.
Astelia laid like a dead fish on the royal blue silk bedsheets in the grand finale’s waiting room, a silly smile on her face.
Name : Astelia Glacier
Age :18
Class : [Moonlit Oracle] ♢
Level : 299
Health : 2 999 000 / 2 999 000
Stamina : 299 / 299
Mana : 2 999 000 / 2 999 000
Main Specialization: [Directionless Hegemony]
Secondary Specialization: [Celestial Eternal]
Signature Skill (SSS)
[Moon Titan]
Mana Heart Abilities (3)
[Sunless Soul] SSS Rank
[Sunless Infusion] SSS Rank
[Lesser Resistance]
Active Skills (7 / 7)
♢ [Flicker] ♢ - Level 5
[Gates] - Level 299
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
[Lunatic Lunations] ♢ - Level 4
[Orbital Armaments] - Level 299
[Weight of the Moon] - Level 299
[Celestial Realm] - Level 4
[Godly Incarnation] - Level 3 ♢
Passive Skills (4 / 7)
[Greater physical negation] ♢ - Level 4
[Greater magical negation] ♢ - Level 4
[Greater impairment negation] ♢ - Level 4
[Moon Benediction] - Level 299
Classless Skills (5 / 5)
[Model Housekeeper] - Level 100
♢ [Dream eater] ♢ - Level 4
[Identify] - Level 4
[Aspect of the Lazy Knight] ♢ - Level 299
[Mana manipulation] ♢
Racial Skills (1)
[Blood Curse] ♢
[Mark of The Moon]
[Current Mana heart Awakening progression: 100%]
Finally done!!!
So stressful!!!!!!!!!!!
Uuuuuugh… And now, one more.
I can do this.
Fighting the bed’s evil attraction, Astelia got up, standing on her tiptoes to get a better view out of the circular room’s windows.
Grandia? No, Revinthius?
Could also be Ezerion… The descriptions are always so vague. Oh, no! Totally Revinthius. I see where Sof got the idea, eheh…
I am meant to fight an old human champion from back then? No, no… That would be too easy.
Astelia distracted herself with the books on the room’s shelves until the time came. In a heavy silence, her set of black moon armor gifted to her by Moon herself appeared on her body piece by piece as she stepped down the stairs of the tower.
There was no hesitation as she got to the last step. A resolute fire burning in her eyes, she opened the final door and stepped outside.
The sound of trumpets sounded her arrival as she stepped outside of the tower, stepping onto a long white road cutting straight through the city from the tower to a white palace. A row of knights in silver armor on either side of the road separated her from the crowd behind them. Most knights stood stoic with their sword in hand, but a select few were holding tall banners.
There were two different designs of banners, one bore the image of a long and sleek white sword piercing through a gleaming diamond from the top, the other, a full red moon floating above a mirror-like lake.
Not bad.
After Astelia took a few more steps, the trumpets paused.
Nex materialized in the air over the street, in a full set of white ceremonial clothing.
Is he getting married?!
Astelia quickly chased away the distracting thoughts.
“Greetings to our champion!” Nex announced, causing the crow to cheer.
“As promised, you will now have the privilege of fighting an ultimate round, against none other than the tournament master themself. Do you, Astelia Glacier, still wish to proceed?!”
“Yes!” Astelia answered, feeling the distracting thoughts return for an instant.
“Very well, then, proceed!”
The trumpets blared again, and white flower petals started raining over the road as the Administrator faded out of existence.
Under the ceremonious gaze of the hundreds of knights lining the road, Astelia floated through the city until she was only fifty meters away from the entrance doors of the grand palace. A knight slightly stepped out of line, a hand extended out to stop her. “You may stop there, young lady,” he said in a low voice, before stepping back in line with a deep bow.
A man in long priestly robes came out of a side door next to the palace’s main gate, and stood atop the steps leading to it, “His excellency, tournament master Jewel of Truth!” he announced, before standing to the side, bowing towards the colossal closed gates of the palace.
So that was it… No wonder his scores were so good. A system insider from the start.
Astelia heard heavy footsteps from the other side, and as the doors started to open, the city’s bells began to ring.
Seeing the person emerge from behind the doors, Astelia gave a slight respectful bow while she analyzed every little detail of her opponent.
Heavily enchanted armor. Human. About Sofia’s height. Slightly narrow shoulders… Male gait. Posture… Dangerous.
He walked until he was only a few steps away.
“Well met, champion. Your talent impresses me,” a calm voice greeted from behind the helmet’s visor, as the man returned Astelia’s light bow.
“I hope yours will impress me.”
“Have no fear, oracle. For I am undefeated. I wish to see you at your full potential,” he announced, clapping his hands.
The fanfare, the crowd, the knights, all disappeared in a heartbeat. The sun, high in the sky, flipped like a tossed coin, becoming the full moon as the sky instantly darkened.
“Here we are,” the tournament master declared, “the rules are as simple as they go. This is a deathmatch. Should you fail to defeat me by sunrise, it is your loss.”
“By sunrise?” Astelia repeated, “Win or lose, either way, it will not take that long.”
The tournament master nodded, “An admirable spirit. Then, take all the time you need. I am ready.” A scabbard with a sheathed sword appeared at the tournament master’s waist, his hands already in place to unsheath.
[The final duel]
[Reward for first completion: Tournament Master’s Ultimate Form Divine Mantle]
“Wait, before we begin,” Astelia called out, “I have two questions.”
The tournament master nodded in acknowledgement.
“Did you not duel Sofia and Pareth?”
The tournament master’s helmet shook slightly, “No. They were presented with… A different challenge.”
“Understood. Second question, how far can we go?”
“As far as the eye can see, as far as mana can reach,” he answered with an open-handed gesture.
“Thank you for your patience.”
Dozens of handle-less swords appeared in a fan shape floating behind Astelia’s back, as she slowly rose to the sky, enveloped in cold moonlight.
Here I come, tournament master.
