Flames, burning debris, and the smoke— it's all coming back, just to haunt him, remind him that there is an evil out there to be slain. The orphanage burning through the ground. His first kill, the blood, and the orphans. A painful memory, that's what it is.
Deron woke up from his short episode of a nightmare. Fatigue got him good this time. It was a satisfying battle, and once more, he is feeling his strength soaring to new heights.
Thanks to the academy's recovery pill, he recovered plenty of his stamina.
Deron looked at the scores in the group battle with an aggravated sigh... clearly, a slight discontent that he's not in the game anymore, but what can he do? But just suck it up.
[TOP SCORERS
Sheila— 721 points
Deron— 699 points
Lorie— 582 points
Pierre— 312 points
Cain— 309 points
Jana— 305 points
Zia— 152 points
Heather— 132 points
Rodney— 128 points
Philip— 120 points
Trom— 114 points
... and so on... SEE MORE]
Though he got quite a high place, Deron is uncertain whether he could maintain it. Maybe confronting 'eggplant' and 'snowflake' might be a mistake. If he were still in the game, he could've earned more points and maybe taken 1st place for himself.
The only reason he is in second place right now is because of the bonus points he got by slaying the Ogre Giant. It wasn't mentioned beforehand from the assembly, but Deron was notified through a psychic connection that he got an additional 400 points after he fell the Ogre Giant.
Deron slumped on the couch, his exhaustion finally getting into him.
The mental exhaustion is still there despite taking a recovery pill. The Group Battle isn't finished yet, Deron would love to watch, but he's too tired. Who wouldn't? Cain and Pierre similarly could be seen dully resting in their seats in the lounge.
…
Meanwhile, on the Enclosed Forests, the battles are just getting more intensely tangled. Kill-stealing has become a norm just this recently thanks to a certain pink-haired lass strongly encouraging her fellow students,
Zia Zaratul, a duke's daughter, and one of the unique villains of the novel 'Mutagenic Medieval'— she's a remarkable character from this world's perspective at least.
As an empath, it has always been her strong point to create schemes and the like. She doesn't know her 'placing' when it comes to points, however, she is confident that she's within the top 10.
Her pink hair is quite a contrast to the 'mobs' around her.
Surrounded by her lackeys accruing points for her, the hunt has become more manageable for an empath like her who lacks greatly when it comes to monster hunting. Her entourage composes of nobilities that share a connection with her father, there were even kids in her group who possess relative fame like Rodney and Philip.
Rodney and Philip, are too easy for Zia to coax since they are boys. If there is something that Zia knows about mind reading, it's that hormones never lie. Even Philip who is said to be a clever plotter, fell victim to Zia's persuasions.
Her understanding of her mutant ability has gone way past the point of 'internalizing' its mechanisms. Scientific knowledge privileged for the nobility— the knowledge of the Endocrine System— is her trump card.
"Heather, you should know your place…"
"What are you doing, miss Zia? Your flunkies keep on harassing my group. As a responsible leader, shouldn't you educate your subordinates properly? I came here to hear an answer from you… Play fair!"
Heather, a peasant from the boonies, is gifted with the mutant ability of 'Healing'. This peasant strongly denounced Zia, and with her words, invoked the fighting spirits of her compatriots.
"Yeah! Stay on your lanes."
"We have barely half an hour, do you not care for your points?"
"That's right. Rather than harassing us, why don't you just hunt monsters instead?"
With the Special Ability of Healing, Heather was able to gather her own team. Though her group's quality pales in comparison to Zia's, they can make up with their numbers.
"Filthy low percenters, you're just talent grades… low potential footholds! You should prostrate yourself to lady Zia, fucking peasants." Rodney reprimanded the crowd on Heather's side with stronger momentum. His eyes glowed orange for a while, threatening to use his deadly mutation on the crowd.
"Don't be like that Rodney, I believe we can settle this matter with a more peaceful method. Don't you think, Zia? How about a fight? A duel between the leaders of both sides. If we were to engage in an open battle, it would be a catastrophe. What do you say, leader?" Philip said in one breath as if anticipating this very moment. He chided Rodney, but to whom he is really addressing, is actually Zia.
Zia smirked. Philip's plot is certainly entertaining.
"Oh, dear Philip. Since you chose to follow this leader, please, let me show you that I am worth it." Zia read between the lines and answered courteously in response.
She flicked her weapon, a whip comprises of wyvern scales, it's a weapon that would shred and grind its victim. Heather frowned at the sight, however, she won't back down from a fight.
"I had my fair share of battles. As a villager girl, I've seen much more of the world than you. I challenge you, Zia Zaratul, to a duel."
"At least, you know how to show propriety. If it were me who was issuing the challenge, it would be a hit to my reputation, you know? In a sense, I thank you. I'll make sure not to hurt you severely." Zia condescendingly said, there's poison in her tongue, her malice laid bare.
Heather raised her fists, sleek steel gauntlets covers her hands up to her arms.
"I accept the challenge." Zia finally said, officializing the duel between them.
Heather liked their current situation. This is better. With her contingent, she hoped to occupy Zia's main group. The more people who'd watch this duel from Zia's side the better. It's so that the few detached personnel from her own group can earn more points in the process.
This strategy is nothing to be applauded for. Heather is sacrificing herself for others, a pretty heroic way to move on.
Zia didn't wait for Heather, as she swings her whip with unexpected strength. Since she was a child, Zia pushed herself to the limits of her abilities. Her emphatic powers don't offer her anything as 'visible' as attributes. She's closer to an ordinary human, however, that didn't stop her from getting stronger.
She trained again, again, again, and again. Until her skin is bloody and showing its bones, she didn't stop breaking through her limits. Her Special Ability further mutated in the process, while her body adapted and grew with the change.
When the whip came at her, Heather decided to receive it and withstand the attack. But she regretted it at the moment of impact. She has flung some distance away as the bones in her arms shatter. Even her steel gauntlets showed signs of cracks.
Heather rolled in the dirt, but she persevered to get her bearings fast. Activating her mutation, she healed her bones. Despite the searing pain and her flawed healing, she dug into the dirt using her fingers to counterbalance the force generated by the whip's impact.
She doesn't understand it. Heather is also an Ability-grade, 43% to be precise, but she was still this miserable. They are both Ability-grades, of the same gender, and are non-combat Special Abilities… So just why?
Maybe perhaps, was there a slight difference in their potential grades slightly tilting in Zia's favor? But that's still impossible.
Heather is confused. Why is Zia so strong? Is it because she is of the nobility?
…