Chapter 31: I’m A Little Lamb

The air picked up around Josephine as the match started. It was quite the visual, seeing it all swirl around towards the scepter in her hand. I instantly changed to ‘Vanquisher’ and loaded a mana bolt. She may have a higher Potential Level than me, but that wouldn’t mean much to my weapon. How could other players possibly receive such high-grade equipment like mine? After all, my equipment ignored restrictions and was received through unorthodox methods.

I took aim, launching my mana bolt at Josephine. I saw her open her mouth as she looked at me, the wind carrying her voice to me, “Sleep well, little lamb.”

It wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but it seemed like a threat. My mana bolt approached ever closer when suddenly it completely reversed direction and came towards me, not dropping in speed at all. I quickly dodged my own mana bolt before loading another one, when I sensed behind me the previous mana bolt still attempting to hit me. Shit.

I instantly spent 20 mana to merge into the shadows. To be honest, this was a cop-out. I wasn’t sure if magic attacks activated the automatic portion of {Shrouded Shadow}, as Kaiser’s magic attack previously had a silence effect which didn’t allow me to avoid it. Though perhaps it would be better just to test it out now.

The mana bolt no longer knew where I was—rather Josephine didn’t know. The bolt of mana was still being controlled by her somehow. I ran towards her while keeping an eye on the mana bolt, finally reaching close enough to her to put my hand out. You’ll be the one sleeping, ‘little lamb’. I activated {Sudden Slumber} and thrust my hand towards her body. But my hand wouldn’t go any further. It was caught in some wind veil surrounding her body, and I couldn’t move it towards her at all.

I tugged on my hand to no avail, and she turned around as she now knew where I was. She waved her scepter around as the wind picked up speed, lifting my body off the ground and tossing me away. I was now mid-air, tangled up in winds that were quickly picking up speed, unable to settle my body the way I wanted. I felt completely helpless. The wind continued picking up speed as my body was stuck in the air.

[You took 50 damage from Player: Tempest Weaver, Josephine Maxine, Champion of Gallant Tempests, Lv19—Potential Level: 83. Current health: 260/310]

[You took 50 damage from Player: Tempest Weaver, Josephine Maxine, Champion of Gallant Tempests, Lv19—Potential Level: 83. Current health: 210/310]

I started taking some high damage over time from the clawing winds, hitting faster than my regen could keep up with. I tried to use {Shrouded Shadow}, but I was instantly knocked out of the shadows as the wind kept me within itself. My health kept dropping faster and faster, and then I received some disappointing system notifications, my own mana bolt doing me in.

[You took 8500 damage from Player: Miraculum, Zeryn Felix, Favored by Tethralin, Lv11—Potential Level: 57. Current health: 0/310]

[System Notice: You were defeated.]

I was surrounded by an aura, freeing me from the ravaging winds as I was placed in the coliseum’s waiting room. Another aura appeared shortly after—Josephine appearing from within. She took light steps as she walked over to her seat, not sparing me a glance.

[System Notice: As you were defeated by a player, you will have three consecutive mob encounters before fighting another player. Current progress: 1/10, 0/5]

How the hell am I supposed to beat someone like that? I was played with like I was some toy. I sat there, a bit grumpy at how easily I was defeated, trying to figure out what I could have done differently. Though, I don’t think I could have done much. I couldn’t even put a finger on her. Sigh.

Other players started coming back from their fights shortly after, but the newcomer took a while to return. Come to think of it, he looked a tad familiar, but I couldn’t place my finger on it. Perhaps he was someone I encountered on a prior life.

[System Notice: Quest progress: 1/10, 0/5]

[System Notice: Your match will soon begin. Countdown: Two minutes.]

I tapped my foot as the system counted down. Three mob encounters. I’ll be here for sometime… Even if I got through my fights quickly, I still had to wait for other players for my matches. The way this whole ordeal conducted itself was annoying and bothersome. I again sighed. So much bull—

[System Notice: Your match is about to begin.]

An aura of white light enveloped me as I was once again placed on one side of the coliseum. The lights danced on the other side as purple and black swirled around, bringing forth my enemy. As soon as the beast took a step out from the aura, I felt a raindrop on my face. Looking up, I noticed the sudden appearance of dark clouds and rain started pouring down.

The beast itself was somewhat small, white in appearance with blue streaks, looking sort of like a raccoon. Its coat was long and it looked majestic as it sat down on the now wet ground. I heard a loud crackle—thunder—just overhead when a lightning bolt struck the beast. The blue of its fur vaguely glowed as its hair stood on end.

[Elite Raijukin, Tan Tan, Chaser of Storms, Lv57]

I really hope everything I fight isn’t a boss, this is getting ridiculous. Tan Tan quickly disappeared from my sight as the clouds covered the coliseum in darkness. Lightning bolts fell in its path as the Raijukin appeared instantly before me. It was insanely fast, but I’ve dealt with fast before. I really hoped my future fights didn’t all end up like this, but I had to make my way through the mobs anyhow.

Tan Tan dove through my body in full force as its speed increased several fold before puncturing through me. {Shrouded Shadow} activated, negating the damage and allowing me to blink towards where Tan Tan landed after its speedy dive. I put it to sleep with {Sudden Slumber}, losing 75 health points from its electrically-charged fur before creating distance and letting my health and mana regenerate. Forgot to activate {Adrenaline}—god dammit what’s wrong with me? I could blame it on the heat of battle, but it was my own carelessness that allowed it to happen.

I kept my eyes on Tan Tan, hoping it would sleep long enough for me to regenerate enough so that I could charge a {Mana Bolt}. After this coliseum floor, I should upgrade ‘Vanquisher’. Right now would not be good due to it increasing my Potential Level. Or should I wait to see what {Spin!} can give me? Only two ‘Upgrade Jewels’ left… A quick light interrupted my vision as a bolt of lightning slipped up from the ground in front of me, returning to the clouds above. Kill it before it kills you. I charged up {Mana Bolt} with 50 mana, preparing to fire at the boss with ‘Vanquisher’. Do not wake up before it hits you.

The bolt traveled towards the Chaser of Storms, successfully impaling it with its increased might.

[Elite Raijukin, Tan Tan, Chaser of Storms, Lv57 takes 87000 damage. {Lucky Strike!} Elite Raijukin, Tan Tan, Chaser of Storms, Lv57 takes additional 174000 damage. ]

[System Notice: You gained 240000 EXP.]

[System Notice: You gained attribute(s) through battle. Vitality increased by 1.]

[System Notice: You leveled up to Lv12! Congratulations! Health increased by 10. Mana increased by 2. You received 2 AP.]

I was back in the waiting room as the match swiftly ended. That quickly, huh? I was the first person—no, another person was here before me—Josephine. What the hell?

[System Notice: Quest progress: 2/10, 0/5]

[System Notice: Currently awaiting all players. Three more players remain.]

Josephine was undoubtedly a Hardcore player, and she could handle mobs her Potential Level with ease just like that? It was quite concerning—and scary. If I encountered her in a PVP situation, would I die just like that? Her title… she was a champion—perhaps she is some god’s champion, similar to what the Ashen Flame goddess offered me? That must explain it.

Before I knew it, the other players arrived from their battles. I received the familiar system notifications and the countdown started ringing down. Guess I’ll take the easy way out—wait. I quickly added the two points I received from leveling up to my Luck, bringing it to 40. Luckily for me, a notification popped up.

[System Notice: Congratulations! You have reached 40 Luck. You unlocked the class ability: {Lucky Resist}.]

{Lucky Resist} - A passive ability. All defense values scale off Luck. You have a chance of resisting 95% of received damage.

What’s the chance? I looked at my new ability, quite happy with it. Though it was disappointing most of my skills are now useless outside of abilities, those can be leveled through {Battle Prowess}—or so I hoped.

The aura took me to my side of the coliseum, and I awaited the arrival of my next enemy.

[System Notice: Recalculating your Potential Level…: 61]

...right. I did level up and receive a new ability. This battle would be number two of three for my back-to-back mob encounters. I would take it easy, doing what I had before—sleep and strike. The malicious aura swirled on the other side of the arena, and I met my next enemy. Well, it turns out, I’ve actually met this enemy before.

[Ogre, Baar Tuugi, Lv61]

Baar Tuugi was the Floor 10 boss I encountered on the lower difficulty—and should have encountered on Hardcore, but was instead met with Raash Miira Guugi. It was practically a carbon copy of that boss, the only difference being its new level. Does the coliseum just pull mobs straight from the game, not showing new enemies?

Luckily, this mob didn’t have a title, meaning its difficulty shouldn’t be as high. I stuck to the simple method of putting it to sleep, creating distance and powering up ‘Vanquisher’. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a lightning ability to make me faster! If I can’t be caught by magical or physical, then my survival chances will just increase. I fired off the powered up bolt of mana. Lucky strike this guy so this whole process goes by faster, please.

[Ogre, Baar Tuugi, Lv61 takes 99000 damage.]

Dammit. The ogre woke up, and I started evasive maneuvers. It was level 61 but didn’t seem to have any new tricks as it just tried to chase me with its giant, wooden club. It smashed the club into the ground but moved slowly and sluggishly. I waited for my mana to regenerate while {Sudden Slumber} came off cooldown. I repeated the simple process, placing Baar Tuugi under sleep and finished waiting for my mana to come to a decent number—enough for me to be able to use {Shrouded Shadow} and deal close to 100,000 damage. It took three minutes for my mana to regenerate enough, and I fired off a shot similar to my first, but with a tad bit less mana.

[Ogre, Baar Tuugi, Lv61 takes 90000 damage. {Lucky Strike!} Ogre, Baar Tuugi, Lv61 takes additional 180000 damage.]

[System Notice: You received 180000 EXP.]

[System Notice: You received a new title: Slayer of Mighty Foes.]

[Title: Slayer of Mighty Foes] - Passive effect: +10 Strength. Active effect: +5 Strength, +5 Vitality

[System Notice: Quest progress: 3/10, 0/5]

[System Notice: Currently awaiting all players. Two more players remain.]

I had to admit, the experience and rewards I had been receiving were great. I wasn’t sure if I should stay here and farm, but the answer was probably not to do that. I needed to continue climbing the tower in one piece and get strong enough to not be played with like a toy, or be a pawn in anyone’s scheme. Especially when I get out of here—I’ll have to fix the mess they put me in.