Chapter 293 Chapter292-First Taste of Competitive Dueling
"What nonsense are you spouting, Master? Mr. Galewind is already spoken for. You might just scare away our major patron like this!" Isabella said, her face flushed with embarrassment as she stamped her foot before covering her face and darting out of the room.
Master Reo remained in his playful demeanor, all smiles.
John, on the other hand, shook his head in amusement, playfully chiding, "You shouldn't jest so, Master. Miss Isabella is still a young lady. Tarnishing your student's reputation isn't quite the role model behavior, is it?"
Master Reo burst into hearty laughter at that.
...
After leaving the Dawn Breeze Auction House, John found himself standing on the bustling streets of Silverglow, momentarily uncertain of his next move.
He had just come from an intense battle with the Soul-Devouring Devil Ghana and wasn't in the mood to grind levels or tackle monsters.
Indeed, given John's current level, such endeavors hardly yielded enough experience for significant growth.
Ever since he exited the Godslayer Temple, he had slain numerous creatures, including god-tier bosses like the Fallen Angel Leviathan.
Yet, John's level hadn't budged an inch. To ordinary players, the staggering amount of experience that would have elevated them by hundreds of levels barely made a ripple for John.
As he aimlessly meandered through Silverglow's streets, numerous players of varying levels passed by him.
Many would turn their heads curiously towards the figure with the menacing Asura mask.
It couldn't be helped.
John's appearance was rather striking.
The mask on his face looked like a high-end piece of equipment.
Yet, he wore plain, undistinguished gear and a tattered cloak.
The ensemble gave him an oddly incongruous look.
John paid no mind to the stares, continuing his leisurely stroll until he reached the end of the street, where a new building stood.
"Godslayer Arena"
These words illuminated prominently on the building's facade.
It was then that John recalled the recent game update, where the competitive feature had been unlocked.
Since he was already here, he figured he might as well dive into the player-versus-player duel, offering him an opportunity to gauge the collective strength of the current players.
Heading towards the Godslayer Arena, he noticed a throng of players already gathered, each eager to step inside and test their mettle.
As per the update's official announcement, the inauguration of the arena also introduced a range of competitive ranking rewards.
Every month, the top ten players in the arena rankings would receive generous rewards from the system, including high-end equipment, items, and even powerful skill scrolls.
Furthermore, rumors circulated about rare hidden class change scrolls nestled within the rewards.
Setting other incentives aside, the mere prospect of acquiring a hidden class change scroll was enough to send the player community into a frenzy.
Participating in the arena also granted players the chance to hone their skills against others, elevating their gameplay.
As a result, any player confident in their abilities would certainly not pass on such a competitive feature.
Stepping inside the arena, a palpable fervor greeted him.
The expansive hall was teeming with players from various classes, congregating closely in one area.
Before them stood dozens of screens, conjured from magic energy, displaying intense duels unfolding within the arena.
John momentarily furrowed his brow, only to relax moments later.
While he wasn't keen on having his own battles broadcasted for all to see, he reasoned that this kind of live-streamed setting could be beneficial for the average player.
Those without the courage to partake in duels could learn from watching expert players clash, thereby enhancing their combat prowess.
John positioned himself at the edge of a queue, his gaze transfixed on an ongoing duel showcased on the screen ahead.
Two magus players, clad in robes, stood on opposite ends of the virtual battleground, both raising their wands in anticipation.
One wielded a fiery spell against the other, who countered with an icy defense, resulting in a burst of dazzling light.
John's eyebrows knitted together; the fire magus's attacks were fierce and ruthless, while the ice magus, though defensively adept, seemed lacking in offensive power.
From the unfolding duel, John deduced the fire magus would emerge victorious.
True to his prediction, after just a few exchanges, the ice magus found himself gradually overwhelmed.
John shifted his gaze away, no longer engrossed in the scene on that screen.
The head-to-head casting of spells between the two maguses, while visually captivating, was in practice a foolish combat approach.
Powerful spells often required an extensive chanting duration.
True adversaries wouldn't just stand idle, allowing a magus to complete their incantation.
It was evident that these two magus players were greenhorns, likely wealthy ones with little in-game experience.
On another screen that caught John's attention, a player stood at the heart of the virtual arena, dual swords in hand.
Adorned in a black hat and cloak, his every move radiated an iron-willed determination.
Clearly a warrior, yet his attire and demeanor differed from the typical warriors who often flaunted flamboyant skill sequences.
Instead, he seemed reserved and unassuming.
But John could discern at a glance that this player was unmistakably a seasoned expert, perhaps even a professional.
As expected, accompanied by thrilling combat sound effects, the player swiftly demonstrated his exceptional combat prowess.
Agile and fluid in his skill combinations, he crushed his opponent in just a few moves, effortlessly clinching victory.
Onlookers clapped in admiration. Glancing to the side, John was surprised to see some spectators hastily setting up betting odds.
Numerous players rushed to place their wagers.
John had no inclination towards such gambling antics.
Even with his keen insights, which allowed him to predict the outcome of a PvP duel with great accuracy, the small scale of these bets held no allure.
A mere gain of a few thousand gold coins was hardly tempting for him.
He approached the nearby registration counter and quickly completed the procedures with the NPC for joining the PvP competition.
Soon after, John's name appeared on one of the screens.
"Holy shit, Galewind? Why does that name sound so familiar?"
"Isn't that the top-tier player who defeated Dawn Guild's guild leader, Kingserp, in one blow? What's he doing here?"
"With such an expert joining the PvP, won't this be a cakewalk for him?"
"Well, you can't really say that. You know, there are hidden talents among the commoners. With so many players, some prefer staying under the radar. Galewind might not be invincible."
"Anyway, so far, I haven't heard of any player capable of resisting the system's lightning punishment."
"Who's Galewind's opponent?"
"Don't know them, never seen them before."
...
John's name quickly drew the attention of other players, especially since he hadn't chosen to hide his ID.
Consequently, a throng of gamers flocked towards him in droves.
No other duel caught anyone's attention anymore.
All eyes were fixated on John.
By then, John had already entered the virtual battleground crafted by the system: an expansive, unending desert.
Opposite him stood a warrior garbed in black armor, wielding a crimson blade.
The warrior gazed coldly at John, a smirk of disdain playing on his lips.
"So, you're Galewind? I've heard tales of you defeating Dawn Guild's guild leader, Kingserp, with a single move and even enduring the system's lightning punishment thrice. But I'm not one to believe in such rumors," the warrior scoffed, a trace of arrogance evident in his tone.
It was clear that he was overly confident in his abilities, though from where such confidence stemmed remained a mystery.
John shot him a cursory glance, sure he had never encountered this brash individual before.
He calmly responded, "Sometimes, rumors bear truth. Perhaps you'll experience it firsthand."
The battle quickly ensued. John stood relaxed, hands behind his back, nonchalantly offering, "I'll grant you three moves. Make them count."
The warrior's face turned crimson, his lips quivering in sheer indignation.
Clearly, he'd never been insulted to such an extent.
"How dare you be so presumptuous! I don't need your charity of three moves. Try to withstand my first strike if you can!"
With that, he advanced several steps, his intentions clear as his blade sliced the air, aiming directly for John.
Yet, John remained immovable, seemingly unthreatened as the gleaming blade, radiating energy, swung heavily towards his head.
But the expected outcome of a devastating blow never came to fruition.
Instead, the blade halted just inches above John's head, as though an invisible force shielded him from harm.
Tilting his head slightly, John remarked with a chuckle, "If that's all the strength you possess, you might as well spare me your next two moves. Even if I stood here and let you strike 300 times, you'd never breach my defenses."
Flustered, the warrior, his face as crimson as his blade from exertion, gritted out, "Just... what level are you?"
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