Level Up Legacy Chapter 8
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When he opened his eyes, he was standing on a headland by the sea, where seagulls flew and danced. On the other side of the headland stood an armored knight wearing the same armor as him. Arthur looked around in fascination as he realized the advancement of virtual gaming.
The game asked him to enter his nickname, and he chose a plain The Arthur before changing it to Golden Arthur. The latter came from an unknown desire to be recognized, and Arthur was reminded of Jizo once again residing within him.
"Warriors, choose your weapons!"
The game's narrator had a familiar voice, but Arthur couldn't remember who it belonged to. A famous warrior probably did the voice acting for the game. These days, awakeners found all sorts of ways to earn money. Arthur scanned the list of weapons and realized they were all close combat weapons, like swords, lances, sabers, or claymores. He mastered none of them.
However, while remembering his father teaching him some basic sword techniques when times were happy, he smiled nostalgically and chose a sword, and it appeared in front of him.
His opponent was waiting with a lance in hand already. It seemed he was a veteran at this game, given his lack of hesitation in choosing it. His nickname was Sier.
"Ready! Set! Fight!"
After the countdown was over, the fight began, and Sier charged forward. Although the armor looked heavy, it was weightless. They were fighting using their bodies but with different appearances. As the opponent drew near, Arthur realized that he was at a disadvantage. Their weapons had different ranges. Although the sword was easier to use, Arthur wasn't that good at it.
With a flawless stance, the opponent thrust his weapon toward Arthur's heart. The game would end once a vital part was struck three times by one of the players. Arthur panicked and tried to dodge to the left, but the attack pierced his shoulder nonetheless.
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A stabbing pain was transmitted, although it was nothing compared to the real pain if this happened in reality. Arthur tried to slash his opponent, but the latter deflected it easily before stabbing again. The opponent didn't miss this time and pierced Arthur's heart, and he lost a single life.
What followed was the most pathetic scene in Arthur's recent life. He tried to make a counterattack, but his opponent left no room and riddled his body with wounds. He lost his second life in no time and had only one left while his opponent had three.
'Should I just quit?' Arthur hesitated but decided against it. He was already feeling pathetic, and quitting now would make it worst. In his mind, losing was okay too. However, he needed to land a good strike on his opponent's body before he loses.
Arthur tried to focus like the time he searched for even the tiniest bit of artifact in dungeons. He kept looking for a gap, a chance, or a distraction to land a proper strike. Suddenly, Arthur felt lighter and stronger. He panicked for a moment as this was the feeling of his runes activating, and it was draining his mana.
The opponent gave no time as he drew back his lance to strike his heart for the third time; Arthur slashed toward his opponents' neck. The increase in strength and speed startled the opponent and left a gap in his calculations. As this game reads your body's biometrics, it seemed that applying the runes had a similar effect like real life.
"K.O!"
[Sier has requested a rematch. Accept?]
Arthur declined and left the game. As he came to his senses, he found himself tired and sweating. He didn't feel it as he was in the game, but he did once he logged out. He checked his mana, and it was empty.
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He felt quite tired as he drained his mana, but he was still stronger than usual as the runes remained active. It seems he could apply two runes at the same time now, with his mana reaching 2.
Arthur found a couch and laid down there to rest. He checked the time, and it was 1:02 PM. He still had some time to rest, so he set the alarm for an hour and slept. Although it was an arcade, it was usually quiet because most people were inside the virtual reality games.
An hour later, his favorite song woke him up. Groaning, Arthur decided to change it later because he realized he would only hate the song if it kept waking him up. Arthur walked to the reception to reclaim what's left in the credit card he bought.
He had one more hour before his test, so he was contemplating what to do until then. He was walking past the lounge when a man sitting alone spoke to him and he halted his steps.
"I see why you're called golden." The man chuckled, but his back was facing Arthur. The latter turned around and scrutinized the man checking if he was talking to him. Arthur didn't know how the man could see him, but it seems he was talking to him.
"Are you Sier?" Arthur guessed since his nickname was Golden Arthur. Although it was a game, he felt bad for using his ability as there was a no-ability rule in the arcade.
"I am. You can call me Si as well, that's what my friends call me anyway." The man raised his hand to his face, and Arthur could see the smoke rising. Since he was still at the man's back head, he realized the man was smoking a cigarette. His hair was curled up but tied in a ponytail, giving the man a stylish yet delinquent-like ambiance.
"I'm not your friend."
"Not yet, yes." Si turned around, and Arthur was finally able to see his face. He was a light brown-skinned man who looked in his mid-twenties. His yellowish-green eyes gave him an amiable yet sharp appearance. "Why don't you have a seat?" Si offered.
As he was thinking about turning him down, Arthur felt his head throb as he felt the Legacy telling him something. The pain was gone after a moment, and Arthur decided to sit down. He didn't trust this man nor the being residing within him, but Jizo's will seemed to want to meet this man.
"What is it that you want? An apology?" His voice rang apathetic in his ears, and so it did for Si. The latter grinned and handed Arthur a cigarette, but he shook his head. He was never a smoker.
"No, I don't care about the game. I'm simply interested in your ability." Si took a second to smoke and continued, "What guild do you work for?"
"I'm not working for any."
"Oh? That's rare."
"I guess." Arthur tried to keep his words short, as he didn't want to reveal his only recent awakening. "So, tell me, if it's not about the duel, then what?"
"Scouting." Si gave a thin smile as he lit another cigarette before tapping twice on the ashtray with the cigarette. "I'm looking for talented individuals."
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Hellfire Across the Heavens
Three centuries of FTL space travel has spread the people of Terra far across the stars and for nearly half a millennia people have asked the question, "are we alone in the universe?" The answer to that question is a resounding no. To one side, humanity is boxed in by an ancient empire whose light has burned up long ago. To the other, is a federation of alien races known as the Senate. Mankind rejoiced the knowledge that they were not the only life in a cold dark galaxy. But as first contact was made, ET's who transited into the Warp seemed to disappear without a trace, technologies traded with the other races malfunctioned or refused to work entirely, and simple translation errors led to grave misunderstandings. Before long, humanity was outcasted by the Senate and relationships soured, but even still the sons and daughters of Terra worked hard to earn the respect and trust of the Xeno's.
8 125Second Chance
After being defeated by his brother, his loss leads to the destruction of this world. In his last moment, he vows to returns his betrayal to him and saves the world. Edlic was taken back into the past where all the tragedy yet to fall on him, knowing one day, his brother, Valerie, will betray him and take away everything. To save this world, and those are dear to him. Edlic sets on the path of revenge that soon will be entangled in the chaotic world, finding the peace hidden behind the veil of hatred. Discover the world of Orbis as Edlic goes on his mission to prevent Valerie from destroying the world and finding the truth, the secret to his reversal in time.
8 106The Retribution of the Ice Cold Maiden
Selena Booker, the daughter of a Marquis with an ice-cold personality almost dies due to a scheme. She is rescued by a voice in her head who comes from the modern world. Follow their adventure as they foil numerous plots against Selena and try to uncover the secret behind Soul's existence.
8 188Dream Theater
Long casted shadows danced in the background, as a man squibbled and jotted words on yellow papers. A mere novelty, remnant and ghost that was left to age away along with the forgotten theater, a man grasped for inspiration to salvage what was left of his soul. Abandoned in the squalid room, Pxan was left hauntedly in the furthest corners of insanity that bubbled in his mind. No one would listen to his plight, denouncing him and claiming his mind was not right. Even though the world left him with nothing, turning their backs to him, he knew the books would never betray him in the same fashion. Faceless pages and books yet to be read ogled puppy eyes, ready to be penned by the madman. “Pxan! Pxan! Over here! To me!” Clamored the unpublished manuscripts. Pxan’s fingers quivered nervously, thoughts of failure flooded his mind. Wanting to surrender to the pressure. “No!” He cried. “I’ve had enough of writing.” Books with eyes all stared at him, begging for the tales to be written. Their pleaful eyes were all that Pxan needed to be moved to writing again. The man sighed and raised his pen again, stroking the first letters of inspiration that bore fruit from his mind. A maddening tale of a policeman, cultists and a violent revenge… -Currently on Hiatus while writing the second volume.The first volume is up. I will take a few days to rewrite a few chapters. Afterwards, updates will proceed as usual.Current rewrite progress 17/59 chapters rewrited. This is my first real novel, any kind of criticism or feedback is appreciated. I am looking for an editor, if someone wants to help me avoid typos please contact me. The cover is a detail of Faust in His Study by Ary Scheffer, c. 1831, watercolor and gouache on paper.
8 164Bottled up wishes
The desires of man is unfathomable. Clearly wanting it all, but afraid to even reach out for it. And then there was a boy, a socially inept and akward one at that. Who just happens to stumble upon something when he was trying to find his way home, but little did he know that he was soon going to run for dear life. He's a hapless one. ... Or is he?
8 185In The Eye of Her Storm // Klaus Mikaelson
She would never fall below a man, never share his last name nor bare the burden of his legacy. She was power internal and strength incarnate.Yet she was also everything he had ever wanted. And who was Klaus Mikaelson if not the man who got everything he craved for?'Updates everyday until finale'
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