Since rooms would only be assigned after the Crown Game had come to an end, Vahn idled about alongside Phae and Gandr within the cafeteria, a black sphere floating silently in front of him.
Though it wouldn't have been that great a setback for them, it quickly came to light that Vahn and his companions were never presented Pockets, the devices that effectively served to identify and facilitate communication between Regulars.
Pockets were also used to keep track of points, the currency used throughout the Tower, so, after an hour or so had passed, Quant arrived with three E-Rank Pockets. Each was loaded with a point value of 1000 by default, but, most importantly, at least in Vahn's opinion, each Pocket had the potential to translate all languages into a unified structure known as Macsethian.
Without realizing it, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr had been speaking Macsethian ever since their arrival in the Tower. This was actually a pretty big deal, as, while Macsethian had the unique quality of being understood by everyone that heard it, there were no native speakers. Its basic structure was closer to that of a machine language than anything that could be spoken, so, once Phae pointed out they had never received Pockets, everyone present looked at her like she had said something completely ridiculous.
Fortunately, as Irregulars were already abnormal existences within the Tower, it was quickly glossed over by Phae's explanation of 'Translation Magic'. This also garnered quite a bit of attention, but, as there was nothing compelling them to give a detailed explanation on the structure and existence of Magic, Phae simply refused to comment further, a teasing smile visible on her face. Since then, she had been analyzing the structure of the Pocket alongside Vahn while Gandr devoured enough food to feed a small village...
---
After scanning the Pocket's structure with her [Eyes of Truth], Phae plainly stated, "Invisible Mode.". In response, the Pocket seemed to vanish from existence, and, after sweeping her hand through the area, there was absolutely no feedback. It was almost like it had phased out of existence, but, from the moment they had first linked with the peculiar device, Vahn, Phae, and Gandr could all sense the location of all three Pockets.
With a thoughtful look on her face, Phae made the Pocket visible again before grasping it with her hand and saying, "Whoever produced this is a genius. We should purchase one later and have Da Vinci analyze the internal structure. If we can reverse engineer the property that allows it to phase out of existence, it should be possible to make weapons and armaments with similar traits."
Since it would be strange if they never spoke to each other, Vahn had Phae externalize his thoughts so they could bounce ideas back and forth in an organic manner. Thus, in response, he issued a curt nod of approval before stating, "I understand the merit in such a proposal. Once we reach the 20th Floor, we should also establish contact with the Workshop. Our status as Irregulars will undoubtedly cause us a few problems so it would be beneficial to associate ourselves with a neutral party."
Chuckling lightly in response to Vahn's words, Phae leaned forward slightly, supporting her upper body with her elbows as she mused, "I'm curious to see the Workshop's Artisans with my own eyes. Though there are certainly some exceptional items in this world, I can't help but feel as though their technology has advanced in a strange direction..."
Though it was mostly for theatrics, Vahn's eyes briefly wandered to Phae's rather prominent bosom, accented by her low-cut collar. He was trying to promote the idea there was either sexual tension or an ongoing relationship between them. This would direct the focus of any love interests onto Phae, and, though it would also make his enemies conspire against her, it didn't really matter considering they were one and the same. She would also be equipped with most of the equipment he intended to create within the Tower, so, even if she wasn't meant to be combatant, it wouldn't be long before she was famous for her strength and craftsmanship...
Finished with admiring his own creation, Vahn met Phae's smiling face, earning a light chuckle from her as she suggestively moved aside her bangs. This made Vahn feel as though he had gone a little too far, so, without having to pretend, he awkwardly smiled before turning his attention to the tea in front of him and saying, "I agree. The fact they actually use Needles and Hooks to fight is more than a little peculiar. It seems like the Tower has fully embraced the theme of the deep sea...not only does Shinsu emulate the properties of water, but even the Positions are all related to fishing...at this point, I'm fully expecting to see fleets of ships shaped like fish..."
Understanding the reference to the Akamatsuverse, Phae giggled in response to Vahn's words as all three of them contemplated introducing Airfish into the Tower. Most floating objects within the Tower made use of a precious mineral known as Suspendium, but that didn't mean it was the only way for objects to float. Rather, the existence of Shinsu was almost perfectly suited to the creation of Airfish, something The Path had assuredly accounted for prior to sending Vahn into the Record...
With the thought of the Record crossing his mind, Vahn's attention shifted to system display for a brief moment, his eyes drawn to his Status. He didn't have enough Karma to incorporate the system created by Da Vinci, but, as this coincided with his desire for a 'fresh start', Vahn wasn't particularly bothered by it. Instead, he was interested in the default values assigned by the Record, and, most importantly, the name of the Record itself...
-----------------------------------------------
[Status]
Name: [Vahn Aldrnari Mason], Sobriquet: N/A
Age: 304 (Ageless)
Race: Progenitor, True Dragon
Parameters: [Transcendental Path to Heaven: 1-6]
Position(s): N/A
Strength: D-Rank Regular
Durability: B-Rank Regular
Intellect: C-Rank Regular
Agility: A-Rank Regular
Control: C-Rank Ranker
Shinsu: [Quality: Divine], [Total: 56,520], [Baang: 9], [Myun: 314], [Soo: 314], [Tension: 100:1]
Soul Tier: 4 (Divine Soul)
Karma: 117
Origin Points: 108,419,332
Skills: [Will of the Emperor: SSS], [Rakshasa Body: SS], [Keeper of the Akashic Tome: B], [Eyes of Truth: A], [Chainbreaker: A], [Veil of the Traveler: A], [Hands of Nirvana: SSS], [One Who is Loved by the Heavens: SSS], [Smithing(Divine): C], [Swordsman(Divine): C], [Cooking(Master): E], [Cutting(Ranker): B], [Wave Control(Ranker): D], [Reverse Flow Control(Ranker): B], [Flow Control(Ranker): D]
-----------------------------------------------
Though it didn't really provide him with any quantifiable data, just knowing how he compared to others within the Tower already gave Vahn a tremendous advantage. He even had Ranker levels of Shinsu Control, so, while he might not know much about it at this point in time, it wouldn't be long before he became a powerhouse.
For obvious reasons, Phae and Gandr had similar stats to Vahn, but, due to the seal placed upon his body, the young Vanargandr had the Strength of a B-Rank Regular and the Agility of someone who had just become an E-Rank Ranker. This placed him a little higher than Vahn would have liked him to be, but, considering the Record had a name like 'Transcendental Path to Heaven', it was only a matter of time before he encountered enemies that simply defied logic.
Fortunately, that was exactly the kind of enemy Vahn was searching for, so, while the Tower might not provide too many challenges for him in the beginning, it would only take a few years before he was facing off against enemies with continental or planetary levels of power. Endorsi's statement regarding there being people faster than light all but guaranteed this, as, unless the Physical Laws of the Record were fundamentally different than anything he had previously observed, relativistic speeds and continental level power combined with cataclysmic results.
Imagining his foes throwing punches that ripped through the void and collapsed continental plates, a smile gradually spread across Vahn's face. He could even imagine some enemies throwing literal planets and stars at him, their power so grand it caused the very fabric of reality to tremble in the wake of their blows. These were exactly the kinds of battles he was looking forward to, but, for the time being, he needed to remain patient.
Vahn's primary objective within the Record was to increase his Soul Tier, so, while it would certainly be thrilling to engage in heaven-shaking battles, the most important thing was to 'experience' the world itself. He couldn't keep distancing himself from the residents of the world just so he could consolidate power. Instead, he needed to tackle challenges head-on, pushing through his limits to overcome foes that greatly exceeded him. It didn't matter how many setbacks he would face, as, in the end, each and every encounter would only make him stronger...
---
With a little less than thirty minutes until the Crown Game was scheduled to being, Quant finally showed up to announce, "Okay, you guys can follow me. I'll show you the way to the arena. After that, you're someone else's problem!"
Though she wasn't genuinely offended by Quant's words, Endorsi pursed her lips slightly, asking, "Is that any way to speak to a Princess of Jahad? I might be a Regular, but that doesn't mean I have no sway within the Imperial Palace. If you keep being rude, I might just sick the Royal Guards on you~."
Undaunted by Endorsi's words, Quant loudly snorted, hands behind his back in a cocky manner as he plainly stated, "Go ahead and try it, Bratty Princess. I'd like to see Royal Guards try and interfere with the affairs of testing Regulars. Evankhell would have a field day and you would lose your status as a Regular, but who really cares? At least you would have proven your point, am I right?"
With those parting words, Quant spun around on his heels and started walking down one of the adjoining corridors. In his wake, Endorsi could be seen with the vein of her temple slightly pulsing, but, once she noticed everyone else quickly following after Quant, she quickly recovered her senses and shouted, "Hey! Wait for me!" before bypassing her own team to walk alongside Gandr.
---
After following Quant through various corridors for the better part of twenty minutes, Vahn and co inevitably found themselves within a massive circular room that was easily 500m in diameter. In the center of the room, located atop an elevated platform, an inordinately large throne could be seen, upon which sat a rather ordinary-looking crown.
Even without an explanation, the presence of twenty teams, a single crown, and a throne made it pretty clear what kind of competition the Crown Game was. It was clearly meant to be some kind of free-for-all, but, based on the fact each team's rooms were blocked off by heavy gates, it could be surmised there was a limit to the number of teams that could participate. This was proven to be the case, as, immediately upon entering their own waiting room, Vahn noticed a giant red button and a list of rules written along the wall.
-----------------------------------------------
[Crown Game Rules]
1: The goal of the Crown Game is to both steal and maintain possession of the Crown.
2: Stealing the Crown means wearing the Crown and sitting upon the Throne.
3: Possessing the Crown means the person must maintain physical contact with both the crown and Throne.
4: The team member who first wears the Crown must retain possession of the Crown until the game has come to an end.
5: If at any point a team loses possession of the crown, that team immediately loses the game.
6: The game lasts for 5 rounds and each round lasts until someone has either taken possession of the Crown or 10 minutes has elapsed.
7: If no teams have taken possession of the Crown before time has elapsed, all participating teams will be disqualified.
8: The team in possession of the Crown by the end of the 5th game is declared the winner.
9: In each round, only five teams can participate.
10: The right to participate is determined by which five teams press their respective buzzers first.
11: Failing to press the buzzer before the allotted time has passed renders the team unable to participate in said round
12: Teams can only participate once, and, upon elimination, can no longer press their buzzer.
13: At any point in time, a team can either declare their surrender or return to their waiting room.
14: Attacking a team that has surrendered or returned to their waiting rooms is grounds for disqualification.
15: Entering the waiting room of another team is grounds for disqualification.
-----------------------------------------------
Though there were quite a number of rules, the basic premise was: obtain the crown, stay on the throne, remain there until the fifth round has ended. This provided a major advantage to any team that would participate in the latter matches, but, so long as they were confident in their skills, it was also a perfect opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities and distinguish yourself from the other Regulars.
With this thought in mind, Vahn stroked his beard in consideration, a smile on his face as he spread his domain to probe the nearby waiting rooms. There were a number of people present that caught his interest, but, more than anyone else, it was the presence of a young boy with messy brown hair and golden eyes that captured his attention.
Realizing he was likely linked to events occurring within the original timeline, assuming there even was one, Vahn's smile became even more prominent as he looked over his shoulder and asked, "It might not be my throne, but I can't help but feel it is improper to allow others to adorn a crown in my presence..."
Hearing Vahn's musings, Phae replied with an amused chuckle while Gandr, more than keen to do battle, offered a toothy and slightly predatory smile...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Macsethian, mothaf*cker, do you speak it!?','Ranker level control before the first fight xD...','Gandr's mood mirrors the comments section (UwU)...')
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paypal.me/Einlion
Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh
With Vahn's and Endorsi's groups being the last to arrive, it was finally time for the Crown Game to get underway. Facilitating this, a rather tall man, standing just over two meters, appeared before the throne with a casual smile on his face. He had permed blond hair that created two peculiar curls at the base of his neck, a handsome face, and glistening golden eyes that were accented by two black dots situated underneath.
Understanding not everyone knew who he was, the blond-haired man, dressed similarly to Quant, performed a small bow before saying, "Welcome, Regulars. My name is Lero-Ro, Test Administrator, and the Ranker assigned to preside over this evening's Crown Game. Now that the final two teams have arrived, allow me to explain the rules of the game..."
As he had already read the rules from the wall, Vahn didn't pay much attention to Lero-Ro's words. Instead, he continued to inspect each of the teams' waiting rooms, curious to see who they would be up against. Unfortunately, with the exception of Baam's team, consisting of a handsome youth with pale blue hair and a three-meter tall alligator-looking fellow, the only teams worthy of mention were those led by Endorsi, a group headed by a man in a purple tracksuit, and a peculiar team with one of its members taking a nap.
Though the man had wrapped himself up like a cacoon within his blanket, Vahn could sense that he had several times the amount of Shinsu as everyone else. He was also able to manipulate the flow of Shinsu within the environment while unconscious, passively scanning others and even marking those he seemed to have an interest in. It was quite the peculiar sight to behold, but, never one to allow others to freely probe him, an amused smile spread across Vahn's face as he sent a small jolt through the invasive flow of Shinsu.
Like someone who had just awoken from a nightmare, the man wrapped in a blanket sat up with a layer of sweat covering his forehead. His outburst drew the attention of the Test Administrator, but, rather than intervene, Lero-Ro just smiled slightly before continuing his explanation. This illustrated the point Endorsi had made during her earlier conversation with Gandr, her claim asserting that the Test Admins did not interfere when Regulars tried to investigate and compromise one another. They only stepped in when the machinations of the Regulars directly interfered with the Tests, so, as long as you had the means to assemble information and sabotage others, there were no rules preventing you from doing so...
---
Finished with his explanation, Lero-Ro scanned each of the waiting rooms with a smile on his face before saying, "Well then, if you have any further concerns, please check the details posted on the wall next to your buzzer. Remember, you only get one chance to participate so make sure you have a proper understanding of what you're getting yourself into~!"
Following his words, Lero-Ro placed the Crown at the very center of the throne before tapping an invisible icon that allowed him to teleport to an observation room located above the arena. There, he made himself comfortable, raising his feet up on his desk before pulling out an intercom and saying, "Now, let's get this game underway! Following this final reminder, I will count down from five. Only the first five teams to press their buzzers will be allowed to participate, so, if you don't want to miss out on this incredible opportunity, make sure to press your team's buzzer before the time is up!"
With that said, Lero-Ro began a very slow yet consistent count down from five. In response to this, most of the teams became exceptionally tense, but, perhaps fearing they would overtax themselves by participating too soon, only three groups had the confidence to press their buzzers...
---
Seeing the two teams that had come out alongside his own, Vahn could be seen casually stroking his beard with an amused smile on his face. Across from him, separated by a few hundred meters, a group consisting of a young girl with green skin and a lizard-like tail stood next to a tall man with a purple tracksuit and rather plain features. Accompanying them was a comparatively handsome yet short youth that would have seamlessly fit into a crowd of samurai cosplayers.
Though the man in the tracksuit gave off the impression of a relatively normal person, the petite lizard-like girl and the eastern-looking swordsman were easily two of the strongest people present. The former even had a strange green hook that gave off a rather dangerous vibe, and, based on the three-eyed emblem embossed into the handle, Vahn assumed it was similar to the Black March that was currently in Baam's possession. As for the swordsman, he had two swords, a katana with a red hilt and a wakizashi with a blue. Neither weapon seemed particularly impressive, but, based on the aura the youth gave off, it was safe to say he had already stepped into the realm of mastery...
Shifting his eyes away from the much more dangerous trio, Vahn quickly inspected the other team, but, other than an inordinately tall and lanky man with short blond hair, they were nothing special. Even the boy standing up front, possessing a peculiar horn near the back of his head, seemed to be around the same strength as the plain-looking man in a purple tracksuit. Despite this, he appeared very confident, his expression fixed in a serious and focused glower while he gripped the handle of his red, needle-like, weapon...
Interrupting the tense atmosphere that had begun to build, a smile spread across the face of the man wearing a purple tracksuit. He had appeared slightly stressed moments prior, but, as if he was absolutely certain of his team's victory, he grinned confidently and said, "You guys are going to be sorry!"
Responding to the man's taunt, the boy with the horn at the back of his head scoffed, his glower turning into a resolute look as he remarked, "Doubt it...". At the same time, his third companion, a rather stout youth with messy brown hair quickly drew the two swords on his back, both appearing more than ready for a fight.
Unfortunately, before a single blow could be exchanged, Vahn restored the tensions by releasing a slight chuckle as he balanced the Crown on the edge of his finger. With the exception of the lizard-like girl, none of the others had noticed his short-range teleportation due to his momentary use of the State of Nothingness. As a result, he appeared atop the throne in a functional instant, casually claiming both it and the Crown for himself.
Confused by the sudden turn of events, the tracksuit wearing man showed an incredulous look on his face as he shakily muttered, "What...how...?"
Smiling in response to the man's stupor, Vahn placed the Crown atop the armrest as he explained, "What matters is not how I got here, only that I am present. Now, if you'd like a chance to claim the Crown for yourselves, you will do battle against my young protege. Should you emerge victoriously, you have my word as the Sage Dragon Emperor; this Crown shall belong to you."
With that said, Vahn used the armrest for support, resting his cheek against his hand, his intentions clear. He was going to observe the battle, only interfering when someone tried to target him. Then, depending on the methods they had used, he would show them why people had come to fear him in all three Records...
---
Seeing the self-professed Emperor seated atop the throne, the tracksuit-clad man, known better as Shibisu, couldn't help but laugh awkwardly before muttering, "Man, he really got us..."
Hearing Shibisu's remark, the lizard-like girl, known by very few as Anak Jahad, snorted through her nose before grumbling, "I should have attacked immediately after the gates were opened..."
Following that utterance, Anak looked towards the boy she presumed to be the man's protege, a youth with midnight-blue hair, golden eyes, and a fluffy tail. Her gaze seemed to draw his at that exact same moment, a teasing smile spreading across his face as he gripped the hilt of the katana strapped to his back.
Feeling even more annoyed, Anak turned to her final companion, the swordsman who had earlier introduced himself as Hatsu. She had dueled against him during the first challenge, so, confident in his strength, she commanded, "You deal with these three idiots. I'll take care of the dog boy."
Hearing the girl's remark, Gandr's ears twitched slightly, his expression turning fierce as he stated, "I am a Vanargandr, not a dog. Unless you want me to start calling you lizard-brat, you'll fight me with your actions, not your words. Now, come at me...!"
Without waiting for the girl's response, Gandr used a short-range shundo, but, similar to what Vahn had experienced earlier, it was a lot harder than normal. Shinsu acted like a membrane that resisted anything trying to move through it, so, while he was able to execute the technique, it made his skin and eyes feel as though there were tiny needles stabbing each individual cell.
Despite the surprisingly intense pain, Gandr didn't even flinch as he swung the sealed Laev-tan to meet the girl's green hook. It was readily apparent she thought herself stronger than him, as, rather than try to evade, she attempted to intercept his downward swing with one hand. At the same time, she formed a fist with her left hand, clearly intending to strike him during the brief moment where their weapons would be interlocked...
Though she had been prepared to teach the boy a lesson, Anak's mind wasn't even able to process what was happening as she instinctually jumped back. All she knew was that, rather than arrest the boy's blow, it felt like an unstoppable forced had connected with her weapon, one of the Thirteen Month Series known as the Green April. As a result, she felt an incredible strain in her wrist as her weapon was forced toward her, clearly unable to block the force that had impacted it.
Fortunately, due to the battle sense she honed over the last three hundred years, Anak was able to redirect the blow at the last moment, leaping back with explosive force. What she didn't expect was the fact that, rather than allow his blade to impact the ground, the boy somehow managed to easily change the trajectory of his strike. He even managed to match her speed perfectly, his golden eyes glowing with an intense light as he swung his sword in a graceful arc that she was somehow able to see but entirely unable to react to...
Seeing her precious weapon spinning through the air, separated from her hand, Anak didn't even try to defend herself from Gandr's follow-up strike. As a result, she was kicked squarely in the torso, her body creating triple shockwaves as she slammed into the walls of the arena in an instant. There, she lay embedded in the wall with her head hanging slightly, largely uninjured with the exception of her pride.
Feeling the bones of his right foot creaking, Gandr couldn't help but tilt his head to the side, ears flopping as he shouldered Laev-tan and remarked, "Your body is ridiculously hard. It's too bad you let your ego cloud your judgment. If you had gone all-out from the start, you would have been able to trade at least a few blows before suffering a defeat. Remember this lesson in the future: the only enemies you can be absolutely certain you are stronger than are those you have already defeated..."
Hearing the boy's remark, Anak tightly balled her hands into fists before glaring at him through her neatly trimmed bangs. At the same time, her peculiar pupils contracted to fine points, and, though she had lost her weapon, that didn't stop her from bursting free from the wall, shouting, "Who are you to lecture me...!?"
Though Anak was blitzing him at around Mach three, it wasn't a speed that Gandr had any trouble with. His Agility rivaled that of an E-Rank Ranker, far beyond the realm of Regulars who had just begun their climb. As a result, he gave Anak her second surprise of the evening, his hand seemingly moving in slow motion as he intercepted her fist and deviated its trajectory. This would have been more than enough to ensure the defeat of a normal opponent, but, having experienced just how durable the lizard-like girl's body was, Gandr took things one step further.
Just as it felt like she was able to be sent crashing into the ground, the contents of Anak's stomach were forcibly ejected when Gandr intercepted her tumble with his knee. All her forward momentum was completely negated, replaced by excruciating pain as the back of her blouse burst open due to the shockwave that had torn through her body. The last thing she remembered before blacking out was the sound of a woman's voice lightly chiding the boy who had defeated her twice in as many minutes...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'A system that encourages deception...','Don't mind me, just sitting on my throne...','An inordinately large gap in speed, power, and skill...')
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paypal.me/Einlion
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