New Era City—Oracle Hotel.
This hotel could be considered as one of the best, if not the best, hotel in Alpha..
Although the price of staying in Oracle screamed the word 'expensive', it boasted the best and most advanced leisure facilities and relaxing amenities in the world, suggesting that the price was worth every penny. The hotel guaranteed a luxurious and glamorous time befitting that of its widespread reputation.
Political leaders, celebrity superstars, rich tycoons, foreign royalty, nearly all of Oracle's clients were VIPs and were amongst the top 1% of the country, or even the world.
Elites or nobility, they could be seen coming and going throughout the hotel.
Towering up the sky with one-hundred-and-one stories in total, rumors said that from the 90th floor and above, there was only a single presidential suite on each one, and only the most important of the most important people could stay there.
They were the 0.01% of the top 1% of the elites. Their backgrounds were illustrious; they possessed enough power to change the flow of the country's economy! Some of them even held positions in the military comparable to that of the highest officials!
At this moment, at Oracle's 99th floor, there was a grandiose presidential suite. The suite was so large that there was even an indoor swimming pool and a personal gym inside. Be it the living room, the bedrooms, the bathroom, the kitchen, they were all built using the latest modern designs, displaying an incredibly laving lifestyle.
Right now, inside the master's bedroom, a woman in her early 20s could be seen lying down on a king-sized bed.
She had a high-straight-edged nose, big black eyes that resembled crystalline obsidians, and red lustry lips. Pair those with her silky black hair and unblemished olive-like skin, her features displayed the epitome of beauty.
"Mmmh..." despite the soft, satin-like bathrobe that she wore, her perfect hourglass-figure was presented as she charmingly stretched her body.
If Jaden were to see this person, then he would immediately recognize that familiar face which one couldn't mistake for someone else's.
It was Queen.
At this moment, a ringing sound was heard coming her wrist.
Riiiiiiiiinngggg! Riiiiiiiinnngggg!
Glancing at the high-tech watch on her wrist, Queen saw the number that was on display. Her delicate brow rose as she tapped the watch's surface twice.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a tiny hologram projection appeared and displayed an old man nearing his 60s. The quality of the project could be said to be perfect, suggesting how advanced the tech, that was the watch, was.
The old man had a beard and mustache that was the color of snow and wrinkles could be seen on the corner of his eyes, his forehead, and his cheeks.
Despite his looks, one would be surprised that this person was actually already in his 90s!
The serums developed by the Global Health Care and Pharmaceuticals were simply miraculous! To think that such drugs could bring back decades of youth was simply a miraculous achievement.
"Mr. White, any news?" Queen asked, her voice graceful and melodious.
The butler, Mr. White, immediately answered while shaking his head. "Answering young miss, we still haven't gotten any result or information about that child. Our people have looked all over the world and even turned cities upside down, however, it was all unsuccessful."
'Nothing at all?'
Queen's forehead creased as she went silent for a few seconds. Then, she shook her head while saying. "That poor child, I still can't believe that father actually resorted to such methods just to save our wealth."
Hearing her words, Mr. White hesitated for a moment before saying. "Young miss, although what happend was indeed terrible, the master did it for the family's sake—"
"Yes, I've heard that countless times." Queen interrupted, frowning. "It was all for the family's survival. However, his actions and its result nonetheless broke apart another family! But it seems that he doesn't care about that fact one bit... We must repay our debt to that child... and also to his late parents."
The butler was silent in response, his eyes full of complicated emotions.
Queen sighed bitterly. "They said that he should be around 19 to 20 years old now, right?"
"Indeed, young miss."
"You know, I was only four years old when that happened, but I remember everything as clear as day". she said, sadness present in her voice. "For years, I've been wondering what happened to that child. Did he die after the accident? Did he survive? What happened to him?"
Mr. White remained silent, however, the hologram projected the bitter expression on his face.
"Our family have sinned. For years, guilt and shame gnawed on my heart." Queen said, her voice trembling. "So when you gave me the news saying that the child was alive, I was ecstatic. I immediately thought of telling mother and father, however, when I thought about it, and I thought about it for a long time, I realized that they won't apologize and ask for forgiveness for what happened, let alone atone for their sin. How would that child react if we met in such circumstances?"
The butler's lips trembled as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't in the end.
Taking a deep breath, Queen closed her eyes and exhaled. "Whenever I thought of that time, I would find my heart tightening, I found it hard to breathe. Although it was my parents that did it, I can't stop feeling like this, feeling this depression..."
Opening her eyes, she glanced at the butler's projection. "Please, use all of our resources, take all measures, and find him. So we can finally correct the right from wrong, once and for all."
Tapping the watch's surface twice, Mr. White's hologram projection vanished.
Walking towards a large window, Queen took in the scene which overlooked nearly all of the city and sighed bitterly.
* * * * *
Tower of Trial, 20th Floor.
Inside the seemingly never-ending dark passageway, dozens of silhouettes could be seen dashing between the columns that supported the corridor's ceiling.
The sound of metals clashing could be heard alongside painful howls and cries which reverberated in the surrounding, echoing everywhere.
Flashes of sparks briefly illuminated the passageway, shedding the darkness within and displayed the numerous figures that were battling.
Clang!
A clashing sound was heard followed by a cracking sound, suggesting that a weapon had been broken.
Crimson red energy circulated Sky as he swung Forsaken, unleashing a barrage of attacks.
[You have recovered 1 sword energy.]
[You have recovered 1 sword energy.]
[You have recovered 1 sword energy.]
[You have recovered...]
[You have...]
[You...]
[...]
The red-colored sword energy was translucent as it revolved around Sky. When Forsaken shone with blue light, hacking a barbarian to death, the circulating sword energy became thinner, becoming more transparent. However, after every slash which was followed by bloodshed, the red aura, albeit slowly, once again started becoming denser.
While the consumption rate of the sword energy was rapid and brisk, the recovery rate speed was only a bit inferior when compared.
Thanks to that, Sky was able to use «Chop» after every short while when his sword energy was depleted.
[You have dealt 1,820 damage to the target.]
[The enemy has been slain.]
[You have dealt 1,900 damage to the target.]
[The enemy has been slain.]
[Critical hit!]
[You have dealt 2,350 damage to the target!]
[The enemy has been slain.]
One by one, the one-hundred barbarians that encircled Sky were reduced to half their total number as multiple shining loot dropped down the ground.
Dodge.
Can't dodge this one, block it.
Deflect!
Parry and counterattack.
Under the assault of dozens of greatswords, Sky's expression was that of absolute focus as he weaved, dodged, and parried the enemies' non-stop attacks.
Currently, his mind could only be described with the word calm. Right now, he didn't even rely on his ability to catch minute body movements or neither did he calculate or predict the enemies' attacks. He solely used his instincts and impulse, which were honed for more than a decade in the wild.
With his mind clear and heart steady, the synergy between his motor nerves and decision-making processes was at its optimum state as he displayed the acme of body control that reached perfection.
If one observed from afar, one would think that Sky was dancing in the battlefield as his figure remained untouched under the violent duress of the barbarians.
Ting!
Clangggg!
Crack!!!
Using the weight behind his enemies' attacks, Sky would use softness against hardness and would gently parry their greatswords and unleash a fatal counter which would reap the aggressor's life.
Their necks were lacerated, their chests penetrated, and their forehead stabbed.
There were no wastage of movements when opportunities to strike presented themselves. A barbarian would die every time Forsaken was swung in the air.
[You have slain the enemy.]
[You have slain the enemy.]
[You have slain the enemy.]
[You have slain the enemy.]
[You have slain...]
[You have...]
[You...]
[...]
[...]
Argghhhhh!!
Half an hour later, the resentful cry of the last barbarian resounded in the quiet surrounding as he collapsed on the ground.
The animal hide that he wore bathed in his own blood as a massive gash on his stomach could be seen.
Seeing this scene, Sky's expression remained emotionless as he whipped his arm, ridding the blood off Forsaken's blade.
As the blood splattered on the ground, the system message regarding his reward popped up.
[You have cleared the 20th Floor.]
[Reward(s): Strength, Fighting Spirit, and Perception has increased by 1 point. You have obtained: «Barbarian Tribal Headband».]
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[Barbarian Tribal Headband]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 110/110
Defense: 55
• Strength and Vitality +5
• Attack power increases by 1% when you lose 1% of your health (Up to a maximum increase of 10%).
User Restriction: None.
----------
Holding a cloth that was the color of blood on his hand, Sky read the Barbarian Tribal Headband's information.
The headband seemed to be made from a monster's skin but its surface wasn't coarse, it was smooth and soft instead.
He equipped the headband and started eating a scone to recover his stamina while looking at his status window.
____________________
[STATUS]
Name: Sky
Level: 5
Class: None
Title: [One Who Challenges his Limits]
Coins: 8,003 gold - 98 silver - 25 copper
Health: 2,040/2,040
Mana: (Locked)
Sword Energy: 12/500
• Strength: 46 (+35) • Vitality: 51 (+35)
• Agility: 39 (+30) • Intelligence: 11 (+45)
• Dexterity: 36 (+30) • Fortitude: 75 (+5)
• Comprehension: 30 • Luck: 15 (+15)
• Fighting Spirit: 40 • Charisma: 5 (+50)
• Charm: 5 (+80) • Perception: 11
• Perseverance: 15
Stat points: 240
-----
Skills:
[Intermediate Sword Mastery] (Lv. 6)
[Skeleton Summoning — Locked] (Lv. 2)
[Chop] (Lv. 2→3)
[Cooking] (Lv. 2)
[Keen Sensitivity]
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