Chapter 22: Glitch and Worth - Choosing the 2nd Random World!
[How was your first visit to the Primordial Tower, Contestant Kai Stormborn?]
…
If Kai still didn't know that he was getting special treatment, then he wouldn't be Kai Stormborn anymore.
The White Room was the same as always. It had no means of escape, a fact Kai hated to the core.
Another thing which he didn't like was how it always appeared buck naked here. It was as if the System was saying he had no secret to hide in its presence.
There was one another thing…
I wish I could charge the System for these questions, Kai grumpily thought. A 100 Mission Credits for each question will suffice, I guess.
"It wasn't anything impressive," Kai said. "The City of Assignments was full of empty bellies and even more greedy mouths. No wonder the Contestants from upper floors are thinning out the crowd by killing them off earlier."
…
[
A deed of necessities.
Chaos doesn't interfere in the game of men. So long as there are always Contestants to play the game and it never stops…
You seem to have questions for Chaos, Kai Stormborn.
]
…
Is it that obvious?! Kai rebuked himself. Fooling people is much easier…
"What are Glitch and Worth?" Kai asked. "How are they interrelated?"
None in the Primordial Tower had spoken about them by themselves. It felt odd to Kai that Contestants like Roland knew of newbies with Ability, but not of Glitch. And he wasn't foolish enough to mention it by himself, either.
The System, though, was different. Here Kai could ask freely…
…
[
Processing the questions…
Calculating the questions' worth…
Analyzation Complete
…
As per you privilege, you can know the answers to these questions for free.
]
…
"…?"
Privilege? Kai's eyes narrowed. But the lure of free answers was just too much for him to think about it for now. "Tell me."
…
[
Every being has an Individuality, Contestant Kai Stormborn.
This Individuality is one's imprint on the vast cosmos. The one that was, is and will be, forever and beyond. The Rules of Heaven restrict these Individualities from manifesting into the Material Plane.
Rules can be broken, though.
All things have a certain price. You would know that, wouldn't you, Kai Stormborn?
But the outline of some imprints is darker than others; their depths deeper. Hence, the price required to free them from Heaven's Rules also differs.
These Individualities when manifested into the Material Plane are called Glitches and the price paid for their freedom is called Worth.
]
…
So that's how it is, Kai reflected, his eyes gleaming with realization. That's why those of higher Worth get looked at in a different light. Because the System has deemed them worthy enough to pay the price for their Individuality.
"I am ready to be teleported to the next Random World," Kai said, hoping dearly for it to be the Magical World of Harry Potter, or even better, the World of Pokemon.
…
[
Very well.
As you have completed the Initiation Mission, a new function, "Milestone" is available.
Milestones are hidden achievements that a Contestant can achieve in the Random Worlds. Unlike Titles, they aren't triggered and result from the actions taken within the Random Worlds.
Milestones often give rewards that have a permanent nature.
…
Analyzing Contestant Kai Stormborn's Stats…
Analyzation Complete.
Contestant Kai Stormborn, as per your Privilege, you can choose one of the two Main Missions.
]
…
This Privilege again… "Show me."
…
[
Main Mission: Report the Infiltration of Team Minato in the Village Hidden in the Grass
Mission Summary: Third Shinobi World War. The Village Hidden in the Grass has been invaded, and now serves as an important front between the Hidden Stone Village and the Hidden Leaf Village. The Kannabi Bridge within the country is a vital pathway to Hidden Stone Village's line of supply. Team Minato of the Hidden Leaf Village, led by the newly promoted Jonin Hatake Kakashi, is given the mission to destroy it
Mission Objective: You are a rogue practitioner seeking asylum within the Hidden Stone Village. But to get the privilege you must report the infiltration of the Team Minato with proof and their current location to the Stone Village's Ninjas
Mission Time Limit: 5 days
Mission Grade: E
]
…
Ninjas… Jonin? Kai tasted the word at the tip of his tongue. An infiltration team won't be weak, right?
He had trust in himself to scout and spy on others. But gathering solid proof needed more than silence.
Sigh! Kai shook his head, putting the tumultuous thoughts at the back of his mind. He adjusted his eyes and looked at the second Mission then.
…
[
Main Mission: Thwart the Assassination of Jon Arryn
Mission Summary: Year 298 After Aegon's Conquest. King Robert of House Baratheon had dethroned King Aerys II, claiming the throne for himself. After his coronation, King Robert had named Jon Arryn, styled Lord of the Eyrie, as the Hand of the King. The Hand, Jon Arryn, has recently uncovered a secret that will cost him his life. His enemies have hired many assassins (including Contestants) to kill him before he can reveal the secret.
Mission Objective: You will act as a page, newly hired by Jon Arryn, in the guise that he has become old and the younger pages don't suit his needs. In truth, you are a sellsword who will be given exclusive duty to guard the Hand against the assassins.
Mission Time Limit: 1 week
Mission Grade: E
]
…
Page? Kai deliberated over the word. Isn't that the title for a servant to Nobles?
Kai felt conflicted.
The first mission threw big and enticing words at him, promising great opportunities. But, when Kai looked back to his experiences, his heart quivered imagining the potential danger involved.
What good all the opportunities would do him, if he wouldn't remain alive to convert them to power?
Moreover, Kai didn't recognize the names mentioned in the mission itself. He didn't know who was Hatake Kakashi, or how powerful was this Team Minato.
In the last three days, Kai had tried his best to gain as much information as possible. Alas, on the 1st Floor, the general info about the Random Worlds available barely scratched the surface.
If I want some real data, I need to ascend to the 2nd Floor, Kai reflected before sighing again. Best not to gamble when I don't know the variables involved.
"I choose the 2nd Mission." Kai then thought about something and said, "Also, I would like to keep the Pain Factor value same."
Pain didn't bother Kai too much as the worst years of his life had passed in constant pain and hunger. However, from his Initiation Mission, he had learned there were many kinds of pain. He also didn't want them to affect his ongoing Mission in anyway.
Moreover, with every minute rise in Pain Factor, the cost in Mission Credits rose exponentially.
…
[
An amount of 200 Mission Credits is deducted for the Miscellaneous Rent Box and the Pain Factor of 0.5
Sending Contestant Kai Stormborn to the Random World…
Good Luck.
]
…
What the… Kai's figure twisted and turned as a blue shimmer surrounded him and took him away.
*
*
"Tarland!" a voice boomed. "3 jars of wine here."
"Where is the stable boy?" another voice asked.
"Ah! Ser, not here, please…" a girl squeaked.
Even before Kai's eyes adjusted to dark, damp place, his face had already twisted in rage.
Kai had expected to appear in a room again, cut off from the outside world and with no concept of time. He had already filled a vial of poison for himself in the Primordial Tower. After teleportation, Kai had been preparing himself to fill at least another vial before stepping out.
The noises annihilated Kai's plans, though.
Thump!
A service boy, no older than 7, put a heavy cup filled with red thick liquid on the table in front of him.
The place was full of leather-armored soldiers, common people in rags, half-naked girls running barefoot, and yes, the stink of piss, shit, smoke, and wine reigned proudly within this inn.
Kai looked down at the mug. A fly was floating in the wine, and the wine looked like its filthy blood to him. But his gaze didn't linger on the wine for long. There was a finger-length scroll beside the mug, which Kai hadn't noticed before.
Kai unrolled the scroll with bubbling anticipation.
The beautiful cursive writing written over the parchment stood out like a lotus blooming in the mud.
…
[
There was a time when the roar of dragons was the sweetest song known to this world.
Old Magic was feared, and the horrors were respected for what they were; what they signified! But no more. The last dragons had died many years ago, and magic had vanished from these lands, leaving behind nothing but a mist in its memory in very distant places.
This has become a world of hard men and harder decisions. Seven Kingdoms there were, but now one. Yet, the ambitions of mortals never cease. This is a world where people battle at whim, die like flies, and get forgotten as if they had never existed.
Chaos welcomes you, Contestant Kai Stormborn to the place called Westeros, but known better as the Game of Thrones.
]
…
No sooner than Kai had folded this scroll, another child appeared by his side.
This time, a small, scrawny girl. She never looked at him, and Kai wondered if she was asking for something to eat. But then she ran away as if she had chanced upon this place by mistake.
What the… Kai followed her back to the inn's main door and then lost her. When he returned to the task at hand, there were two more scrolls placed on his table.
This?! Did the girl place them? Kai asked himself.
When Kai reached for one scroll, he noticed his clothing this time.
The armor, Steel-Bone Brigandine, was still on him. It covered almost all his upper body, including his arms. Under the armor, there was a blue tunic, and for pants, Kai was wearing brown-colored breeches. The leather of his knee-high shoes was biting at his toes with every shuffle of his feet.
Suddenly, Kai remembered something, shoving his hands inside his pockets.
The fingers of his right hand kissed cold metal.
It was still there, defying all logic.
The Iron Coin!
Kai shook his head and unrolled another scroll.
A jet-black bar appeared in front of his eyes. The three red, blue, and yellow bars hovered above it, but the black bar was longer than all the three combined. Unlike the HP, MP, and SP bars, this black bar didn't have any values to show its actual amount.
…
[
The Contestants in this world are subjected to an Abnormality Limiter for the entire length of their Mission.
Magic is nothing but a stranger to the people here. Here, swords, armors, and treachery rule supreme. Contestants must make sure to not get spotted taking actions that can be termed as abnormal and supernatural by any in-world Character from this world.
The Abnormality Limiter bar shows the allowance given to all Contestants. Once the black bar becomes empty, the said Contestant will be judged unworthy.
The Abnormality Limiter Bar will refill automatically, given no further such instances after a certain time limit.
WARNING: Some actions can instantly bring down the allowance to 0.
]
…
Kai mulled over the words some actions and then unrolled the last scroll, not touching the wine at all.
…
[
As a starter, you are given a sum of 1 Stag and 15 Pennies.
You are one of the many sellswords hired to act as a secret guard. The Hand, Jon Arryn, will personally select one of the sellswords.
Your first Side-Mission will be to prove your worth to Jon Arryn and successfully enter his service.
The moment you get chosen, a timer of 1 week will be turned on.
You must complete your Main Mission within the time limit.
]
…
As soon as Kai read that, all the three parchments crumbled. The shout followed that without warning.
"Haven't you had enough, boy?" a manly voice shouted. "Come! Others are waiting for you. We are beginning with the fights!"
*************
AN: What do you think guys, was it a right decision to give up on the 1st Mission or not?
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