Chapter 42 - Fair quest

[Welcome to the Champion's Challenge!]

[Before we start - this place is completely save, you cannot die here.]

[So give it your all!]

A few seconds passed...

"Is that all you moron?"

It looked like it was indeed all! 

No more prompts appeared!

"Are you not going to explain shit or something?.."

He couldn't believe what was happening.

First of all, Norn was standing in the middle of nowhere.

Literally, there was literally nothing. 

Just a blank, white space with nothing but him here.

He wasn't even sure if he was standing, it all just looked somewhat eerie.

No earth, no sky, no left and no right.

Just a blank white space... and him, just standing there.

"Dont tell me you fucking broke..."

It could be possible, as it's not the first time something broke on him...

Thankfully, however...

[Your challenge will start shortly...]

[OO:05:00]

"Do i not get an explanation or something?.."

"Hell, even dungeons explain what you need to do, and this "challenge" doesn't?.."

"Oh well, that might as well be a part of the challenge."

If anything, Norn didn't care.

So what if there's a challenge? The system just said that he wont die, so why bother?

He didn't go here to show how good he is or anything, he was just curious what this place actually was.

A dungeon he needs to register for? That's the first time he heard about such a thing!

Well, now that he thought about it a little he was somewhat sure that he wont be able to beat it even if he tried.

First of all, this place was a "Champion's" dungeon, who the fuck was a champion?

He didn't really know, but he didn't even need to.

That word itself meant that it was for big boys.

Yeah, his stats were great for his time, but... He himself was far from that.

He only knew a few spells, only one of which was of any use in actual combat.

"My only chance if it's a 1x1 fight."

"I can just spam out with magic arrows or whatever..."

"If not... Well, it's better to surrender early."

Norn thought about fighting, and remembered that he only "fought" with one pig and some goblins.

He didn't even fight them properly, as he ambushed at least 90% of the goblins he killed...

And the pig? Well, it was just dodge the charge and then hit, that's all it was.

In an actual fight he will probably lose in a matter of seconds...

[00:02:03]

"2 more minutes of fear eh?.."

He wasn't actually afraid, but in case someone spied on him right now...

It's better to show that he's a weak bitch, then, maybe, he'll get an easier challenge.

If not - he didn't lose anything, he wasn't posing himself as a strong guy anyway.

Also, he thought that it would be beneficial for him to lay low.

At least for now, that is.

After all, his plan failed completely, he didn't know anything about magic even after coming up with a genius plan.

It would've worked if not for the fucking system that just blocked him from getting it...

...

[00:00:01]

[The system has concluded t...]

[The sy ca ot com./en>?]

[//////////////////]

[********* ******* **** is interfering!]

[Your challenge is about to start!]

[Since you are a mage, here's a challenge for a mage!]

[Create an [Offensive], a [Defensive] and a [Support] spell in a given period of time!]

[24:00:00]

[Based on your speed, understanding of the assigment and the grade of the spell you will be given a reward!]

[Do not waste time, o Challenger!]

"What fucking bullshit is that?"

Norn wasn't exaclty sure what this whole thing was about.

Okay, sure, he registered for a challenge.

But who in the world would think that he needs to create a fucking spell?

First of all - creating spells wasn't something he was even slightly confident in.

More than that, he needed to make 3! 

Who the fuck came up with this thing?

He doutbed that there would be even 1 person on earth that could create all 1 in 24 hours! 

"Oh well, can i get a hint? I dont know how to create spells."

He said out loud, in hopes of at least getting a clue.

Technically, it was quite simple, just imagine whatever you want to do and pour your magic power into your intent, that's it.

But in reality it wasn't just as simple...

[TH CH C ORD >KF?F?>?F?>F?F????]

[To create a spell, one needs to understand that spells are nothing more than your intent infused with your power.]

Wait, it's that simple? [Yes]

What's the point of the challenge if the system just told him how it's done? [Purpose]

Well, whatever.

"Intent? Like in cultivation or something? Okay then, thanks."

He didn't understand why the system would just spill the beans like that, but oh well.

What's done's done! Thanksies!

"Well, now that i know..."

"Nothing changes, yeah, infuse your intent with power, good luck with that i guess."

Even his overwhemingly high [Intelligence] stat compared to other people in his world didn't help.

How could one infuse intent with power?

"Wait, why did it say power and not magic?.."

"Those two are somewhat different, are they not?.."

"Well, if i were to think about it..."

Now he's done. He's thinking! 

Holy shit! Norn actually knows the process! 

Well, the question is - how good is his thinking ability?

I mean, yeah, he has something around 60 intelligence, but is that enough for him to come up with spell creation?

I think not.

Spell creation is a thing not all 8th circled mages understood, what about a random fuckaroo who knows just a few spells?

Hell, even Erika couldn't create spells.

Yeah, she was powerful and all that, but first of all - she wasn't even a mage in the first place, she w... oh right.

That's a spoiler, so shhh.

Still, her [Intelligence] stat was like 1300 or something, she wasn't exactly stupid, yet, she was far from spell creation.

Now, this guy is trying to come up with it? 

Yeah, dream on.

...

[17:03:44]

"But then again, if power and magic are indeed different, why did it say power?"

"I need to create a magic spell, but the system told me not to use magic?"

"Quite suspicious if you ask me..."

"If anything, i shouldn't even listen to it, but again, it wouldn't just give me a false road..."

"It's not supposed to lie?.."

"Also, it feels somewhat right to just use power instead of magic, which is strange."

"Power..."

Norn was busy with thinking.

Just so you know, for the past 6 hours he's been doing just that.

I dont mean thinking, he's been repeating the same thing over and over again.

Power, magic, haha, power, magic, haha.

I dont know what he's doing since the only place he'll get to with that logic is a psychward.

Also, i myself dont quite understand why would the system say something like that.

Spell creation in itself is based on mage's power and his will.

There's no "power" element in it.

What power could it be talking about?..

Well, i should probably think about it as well, maybe i'll even give this guy a hint, otherwise he'll fail miserably and the story will be boring.

Wait... Why does he even have a s/.t//r.t?T?

[Interesting]

Honestly, i dont even think that i would've found a person that keeps failing over and over again but is still alive, somehow.

So yeah, this guy is indeed pretty interesting.

But it doesn't really matter if he's interesting or not, him creating even one spell in 24 hours is out of the picture.

Even the idea behind it is somewhat stupid, i've already explained it.

...

[09:43:12]

"Okay, power is power, magic is magic, then how do i even differentiate between the two?"

"Technically, power is a somewhat innate ability, magic could be accessed by literally anyone who has access to mane."

"So why would it tell me to use power to create a spell?"

"The only innate thing that i have is my beautiful self..."

"Oh, the system, right!"

"This piece of barely working shit is an innate ability of mine!"

So what? 

Oh [Me], what is this guy even thinking about?

He cant create a spell just because he has two systems!

As he himself said - one is barely even working, i dont even know why he has it! 

Even then, just having two systems doesn't make you a heavenly genius!

I had to sacrifice so much just to become what i am now, even i cant create spells as i want! 

But this guy is seriously thinking that just that is enough?

He's just delusional, nothing ever works just because you want it to! [False]

Why am i even talking about myself so much now?

Well... I guess it's because i'm a little bored out here.

There's literally nothing but this guy and me here... [False]

What is there to talk about? 

...

[02:31:15]

"Okay then, to create a spell i need to infuse my power into my intent..."

"So... like this?"

Norn stretched his hand and...

Nothing happened.

"Hm..."

"Maybe i just need to want it to happen?"

He then stretched it again, making it seem as if he was grabbing something.

On the other side on his hand was hit shirt that he took off.

"God damn it, telekinesis should be the easiest shit ever, just grab and pull!"

"Why cant i do it!? It'll count as a support spell will it not?!"

While yes, telekinesis is somewhat easy for a mage, but...

Norn isn't a proper mage.

He doesn't know shit about magic, he's delusional to think that just him wanting something to happen - will happen.

Nothing ever works because you want it to work.

I even tried to find a solution myself, to create a spell without actually using any magic!

I knew that i'll fail miserably, but...

Why would the sistem advise him to do it then?

He's not special apart from the fact that he has two systems, he could as well be a remnant of it for all i know.

People like him aren't even that rare.

Yeah it's cool and all, but most of the time those systems are just useless and wont work at all.

His system is exactly that, so he's nothing that special in my opinion.

But oh well, who the hell am i to talk like that?..

...

[00:03:48]

"Come on you piece of shit, just work!"

Norn tried his hardest to pull his shirt closer to him.

Obviously, it didn't work.

However, as he was about to stop...

Something actually happened! 

It was black smoke that left his palm!

...

It didn't do anything, it was just there.... smoking, i guess?

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

However, that smoke was better than nothing.

He played around with it for a while, but it wasn't doing anything.

It didn't even cost him any mana, as if it was just his body that started fuming.

Norn could clearly feel that this smoke wasn't just that, it was there for a reason, but what?..

Just as he thought of a stupid thing...

[00:00:00]

[Evaluating challenge resulsts...]

[Challenge failed!]

[You challenge was: Create an [Offensive], a [Defensive] and a [Support] spell!]

[Offensive: Failed]

[Defensive: Failed]

[Support: Failed]

[Rewards: None]

[Challenge failed!]

[Please exist the dungeon!]

"Well, at least i know how to make them now, it wasn't all that bad."

"I finally have a gist, that's way better for me than some useless fucking stats..."

"Also that smoke or whatever the fuck it is..."

Norn wasn't dissapointed.

That hint from the system alone was worth going here! 

He couldn't make a spell now, but he felt that he's doing everything right! 

Even his gut told him to continue practicing, and one day he'll definitely succeed!

"Whatever, now, what to do with people outside?.."

Thinking that, he left the dungeon!

Well, not that i think his gut is correct, but whatever.

It just feels somewhat... wrong to do it? 

He doesn't have any innate powers other than the broken system, so what can he do using it? 

I doubt that he'll succeed, but i'm sure that he'll at least achieve something due to his persistence.

It's a very good quality to have! 

Even if you're persistent at doing something absolutely retarded, like he is.

But oh well, who am i to judge?

I'm just a...

Wait... who am i again?

W/.h/.at>?T/.

W./how/.h?a./.M/i?//.m/.e/e?

[Silence]