"There it is, the coastline of the second continent, Eldoria," Luna exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement, as the bright lights illuminated the shoreline.
"Well, it seems this is where you get off, huh?" Anon remarked casually as he smiled a bit.
"Yes," Luna replied, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes.
"Is something bothering you, Luv?" Anon inquired with a confused expression on his face.
"N-No. Why do you ask?" Luna replied, her voice betraying her true emotions.
"You seem a bit down," Anon persisted as he looked at luna.
"No, I don't. Just drop it," Luna snapped, adamantly denying any sadness.
[Why am I feeling like this? It's a mix of sadness and excitement. What is it that I truly desire?] Luna pondered silently.
"Perhaps it's love, and you wish to have sex with me ?" Anon teased, having heard everything that was going on in Luna's mind.
"W-W-What? Love a commoner like you? Absolutely not! I am a noble lady, and I can't possibly fall in love with a pervert like you," Luna blurted out, her cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment.
[Do I truly love him?]
"I believe you do. That's why you feel sad when I'm leaving," Anon stated, a smile playing on his lips.
"H-Hey, cut it out," Luna protested.
"Cut what out?" Anon asked, a mischievous grin on his face.
"And how in the world are you able to read my mind?" Luna questioned.
"I've already told you, I can read the minds of girls who have a crush—"
"Nonsense! There's no such thing. Tell me the truth," Luna demanded, her tone serious.
"Your stop has arrived," Anon stated, stopping near the coastline where several people were waiting.
Seti, Letti, Samantha, Jake, Frank, Ren, and the first aid team.
"Ladies and gentlemen, after a series of mind-boggling and bewildering events, we have reached the end of the first Kingdom and the beginning of the coastline of the second continent, Eldoria. Anon is clearly in the lead in this race.
The second runner in the Kingdom's Night Run will be Samantha Grey. Will she be able to surpass Anon? Does she possess the qualities required to outshine him in this race?" Landon announced.
"Are you all right, Ms. Warwood?" Seti asked, thoroughly examining Luna.
"Yes, I'm fine," Luna replied, beginning to walk towards the teleportation portal.
Seti briefly glanced at Anon before hurrying back to the portal.
"Well, well, don't think you're almighty just because you defeated Luna Warwood. Defeating me will prove much harder than her," Samantha warned Anon, assuming her position to run.
'I never considered myself almighty; it's you nobles who do,' Anon thought, a smile playing on his face as he readied himself for the race.
"3...2...1, BOTH OF YOU, START!"
"Swiftshadow Run," Samantha activated a skill.
[Swiftshadow Run]
[Swiftshadow Run is a mystical skill employed by adept witches to traverse vast distances with remarkable speed while maintaining a controlled and consistent pace. Infused with the essence of shadows and enhanced by the witch's arcane abilities, this skill allows them to move swiftly and effortlessly through the world, as if becoming one with the fleeting shadows themselves.
When a witch activates Swiftshadow Run, a subtle transformation takes place. Their form becomes momentarily blurred and indistinct, enveloped by a faint veil of shadowy energy. As they begin to move, their steps become light and agile, barely making a sound as they glide across any terrain with uncanny swiftness.
Applies one shadow stack every three minutes while running.
Each shadow stack increases the user's speed by 20% and can stack up to 50 times while running.
Despite its incredible speed, Swiftshadow Run allows the witch to maintain precise control over their movements. They can navigate intricate paths, dodge obstacles, and adjust their speed to match the demands of the terrain. Whether running along forest trails, across open plains, or through winding city streets, the witch remains steadfast in their stride, propelled forward by otherworldly energy.]
[Mana: 500/minute]
"See you never, loser," Samantha taunted as she started running, but her speed appeared ordinary.
"What the hell? Why is she running so slowly?" Anon wondered to himself.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you can see, Samantha has started running, but her pace seems considerably slow. I don't think it will be enough to defeat Anon. Is Samantha utilizing some mysterious spell, or will she also be bested by Anon?" Seraphina commented.
[Master, she used a stacking spell. Every three minutes, a shadow stack will be added, increasing her speed by 20%. She can stack up to 50 times.] Link promptly explained.
"A stacking spell? Do I possess any stacking spells, system?" Anon asked.
[Master, search for purging spells.] Link suggested.
"What? But what good would a purging spell do?"
[Master, if you purge her stacks, she will only run at a single speed that you can easily surpass.] Link clarified.
"Excellent, system, search for purging abilities."
[45 purging skills found.]
"This one seems suitable."
[Astral Purge]
[Astral Purge is a potent skill wielded by those attuned to the mystical forces of the cosmos. When invoked, it allows the user to strip away the accumulated strength and advantages of their opponents by purging their buff stacks.
Upon activating Astral Purge, a surge of celestial energy envelops the caster, imbuing them with the ability to disrupt and cleanse the enhancements bestowed upon their adversaries. It is not a skill that relies on brute force or raw power, but rather on the manipulation of cosmic energies and the unraveling of magical influences.
The unique aspect of Astral Purge lies in its interaction with verbal communication. When the caster engages their opponent in conversation and poses a question, every time the opponent responds, their accumulated buffs are forcefully stripped away. It is as if their words carry the weight of their own undoing, triggering the purging effect.]
[Mana: 5000/use]
"Why isn't Anon running? Is something wrong with him? He's just standing on the starting line, gazing into the air in front of him," Landon remarked.
Anon smirked as he strode past the starting line, taking a seat on the ground, leaving the audience in awe.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as you all can see, Anon has crossed the starting line, indicating the beginning of the race feom his side. However, instead of continuing, he chose to sit down, creating another perplexing situation for us to decipher," Landon spoke, his voice tinged with confusion.
"I believe that he is taunting Samantha," Seraphina chimed in with a taunting tone.
"Why do you say that, Seraphina ? Is there any particular reason for you to say a comment like this ?" Landon inquired with a smile.
"It's just a hunch, but what if Anon wants to demonstrate to everyone that he can easily catch up to Samantha even if she is far ahead of him ?" Seraphina proposed as she tried to figure out the situation.
"Yes, that could be entirely possible, Seraphina. In fact, i believe that is the only reason he have." Landon replied, his gaze fixed on the screen in front of him.
"Why would he rest if he still has mana and stamina ? It doesn't make any sense, what are you planning now Anon ?" Luna pondered, her eyes focused on the screen.
Meanwhile, Anon was deep in calculation at the starting line.
"1,567... 1,566... 1,565..." Anon counted down.
'Okay, if Samantha gains a shadow stack every three minutes, increasing her speed by 20% each time, she'll need 25 stacks to reach 500% speed, equivalent to my Phoenix Ignition. But I shouldn't purge her at 25 stacks; otherwise, I won't be able to catch up, and she'll accumulate more stacks over time. I should aim to purge her between 10 and 15 stacks.'
"That means my first purge will occur in 1800 seconds. It's already been 200 seconds since she left the starting line, so I have approximately 1600 seconds remaining," Anon calculated.
"Eh, that's more than enough time," Anon muttered, retrieving something from his inventory.
"What is Anon withdrawing from his dimensional pocket? Is it an artifact for running or a doping agent?" Seraphina announced, her gaze fixed on the screen.
However, what Anon withdrew from his inventory left everyone shocked and amazed.
It was a long, black cigar that only nobles used to smoke.
"Is that a...?" Seraphina tried to ask but Landon interpreted immediately.
"Yes, Seraphina. It's a cigar, and Anon is about to smoke it if I am not mistaken, that's a high quality cigar, i have to tell you." Landon announced.
Click
Anon snapped his fingers, conjuring a small fireball that hovered over his middle finger. He used it to ignite the cigar and took a puff as he released the smoke from his nostrils.
For the next 25 minutes, the same scene played out. Anon sat near the starting line, smoking his cigar, while Samantha continued running, under the impression that she had already bested Anon.
"That fucker must be thinking of catching up to me just like Luna but today you will be faced with truth kid. Not everyone is Luna Warwood." Samantha spoke as an evil smile appeared on her face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, while Anon continues to enjoy his cigar near the starting line, Samantha has already covered half of the kingdom, surpassing two hurdles with her increasing speed. Will Anon be able to catch her now? Will Samantha claim victory in this race and complete the Kingdom's Night Run?" Landon posed the questions.
"3... 2... 1," Anon murmured, dropping the cigar and rising from the ground.
🎵Best to give me your loyalty, 'cause I'm taking the world, you'll see.🎵
Anon suddenly burst into song, assuming a running stance once again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Anon Agreil has finally risen from his spot, adopting a running stance. Will he now start running?" Seraphina exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
"He can't defeat her now. The best he can do is briefly overtake her, but it won't last long. She's already accumulated over nine stacks," Jake stated, his smile betraying his confidence.
"What do you mean by 'stack'?" Frank inquired.
"Every three minutes, she gains a shadow stack, increasing her running speed by 20%. She already has over nine shadow stacks, meaning a 180% speed boost. Anon has wasted so much time, and the time he'll spend catching up will only allow my sister to accumulate more stacks, granting her greater speed. It's already a victory for us. My sister can't be stopped now; her speed will keep increasing. If Anon had run alongside her from the start, there might have been a slim chance of his success, but now it's simply impossible," Jake explained.
"Hmm, so she's using a stacking spell. I was wondering why she was initially running so slowly," Frank remarked with a serious expression.
"My sister has calculated everything. Anon pauses every ten minutes, triggering a cooldown for his skill. By the time he catches up, which will take at least six minutes, he'll need to stop for another four minutes for his cooldown. That will be his true moment of defeat. After that, even if he uses his skill, he won't be able to surpass her," Jake continued, unaware of Anon's hidden plans.
🎵They'll be calling me royalty.🎵
As Anon uttered these words, his entire body ignited in crimson flames, propelling him forward from the starting line at an astonishing speed.
"Anon has resumed running, and with this velocity, he'll catch up to Samantha very soon," Landon declared.
"An effort in futility. Even if you run faster than that, you'll still lose, Anon," Jake laughed, confident in his assessment.
'Hmm, Anon must not have realized that Samantha was using a stacking skill. His overconfidence has led him to believe he's invincible. I believe he can be defeated now,' Frank chuckled to himself, observing the screen before him.
Seventh ring, House of Alchemists...
"Hmm, so that's what overconfidence looks like, huh?" a man remarked, sitting in a chair inside his chemical lab, his eyes fixed on Anon on the screen.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Anon has taken off, already a quarter of the way through the kingdom and halfway to catching Samantha. Will Anon truly turn the tables on Samantha, or will Samantha defeat him?" Landon announced with anticipation.
"Here comes the first hurdle of the second kingdom, the Desert of Kalahari, but I don't believe it will pose a problem for Anon. He has already conquered the most treacherous deserts and the most dangerous sea across all seven continents." Seraphina declared confidently.
"There are a total of 23 hurdles scattered across the seven continents, but only five of them are truly perilous. The rest are considered mere race tracks. I have already cleared three, leaving only two remaining—the Forest of Nightmares and Darkthorn Grove Forest in the last kingdom. According to Letti, I will receive assistance in the Darkthorn Forest, and the Forest of Nightmares is my own territory. I am already in a winning situation, but you never know when circumstances may change and you die." Anon pondered as he traversed the Kalahari Desert.
"Hmm... I have already crossed it, well that was easy ?" Anon mused, glancing back momentarily before resuming his rapid pace.
"It has only been two minutes, and Anon has effortlessly conquered the first hurdle of the second kingdom as he continues to close in on Samantha but i still think that Samantha can win." Seraphina announced.
"Well, judging by his speed, I believe this guy truly has a chance of winning the race. What do you think, Seraphina?" Landon inquired.
"I'm afraid I don't share your optimism now landon. Upon closer observation that i did right now, it seems that Samantha is employing a stacking spell, gradually boosting her speed every few minutes," Seraphina responded, analyzing the situation.
"I knew it! She's utilizing a stacking spell. Now, hand over my winnings," A noble student spoke.
"Damn it! I thought she was using a standard spell," Another noble student spoke as he tossed two silver coins towards him.
"So, it appears Samantha will emerge victorious." Another one spoke.
"Care to make a bet? I can still wager on Anon,"
Bets began to circulate among the nobles and commoners alike.
"Ms. Letti, care to place a wager?" Seti proposed with a wide smile on her face.
"Hmm... What kind of bet?" Letti inquired, her eyes fixed on Seti as she smiled.
"Considering you support Anon and his astonishing speed, I assume you believe he will emerge triumphant, correct?" Seti questioned.
"Yes, undoubtedly," Letti confirmed.
"How about another blank mana contract as a bet? I propose that Samantha will win. What say you?" Seti proposed, a confident smile on her face.
"And what do you want in return?" Letti asked with a suspicious expression.
"If you lose, you will have to destroy the first blank mana contract that I gave you," Seti replied with a cunning smile.
Suddenly, a tense expression crossed Letti's face.
"What do you say? Care to make the bet? You have nothing to lose, and you stand to gain another contract if you win," Seti enticed, employing the Gambler's trick.
The Gambler's trick was a wordplay tactic used by gamblers to lure others into placing bets. It focused on emphasizing the potential gains to the other party while distracting them from the possible losses from the bet.
"No..." Letti responded.
"What? But you could earn an additional mana contract through this bet. Don't you desire another blank mana cont—," Seti began, only to be interrupted by Letti.
"Let's bet two mana contracts," Letti proposed, her smile taking on a psychopathic quality.
"W-What?" Seti grew alarmed at Letti's unsettling grin and stammered.
"Let's bet two mana contracts. If I win, you will give me two more mana contracts. If you win, I will nullify your first contract and provide you with one of my mana contracts. How does that sound? You stand to gain so much if I lose, and I already possess one of your mana contracts. What harm could two more do to you?" Letti expertly employed the Gambler's trick, turning the tables on Seti.
Unlike Letti, Seti quickly fell into her trap, and...
"I accept. Let's do this," Seti declared, a wide smile adorning her face.
Both teachers had made a bet before thousands of students, and breaking it would result in their reputations being shattered throughout the entire academy.
'You have no idea what you've done, you commoner bitch. You're finished now,' Seti thought with a smile.
'Well, two more mana contracts for me. I can't refuse that,' Letti thought, smiling in return.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Anon has triumphantly cleared the second hurdle of the second kingdom—the Frozen Lake of Eldoria. He is now closing in on Samantha," Seraphina announced.
"Yes! Surpass her, Anon! The moment you overtake her will mark your ultimate ecstasy, the sweet taste of victory. But four minutes later, when my sister surpasses you, you will experience the cruelest moment of your life, a memory that will haunt you forever," Jake proclaimed, a peculiar smile on his face.
'What a fucking weirdo,' Frank thought as he observed Jake's expression.
'Can this dishwasher girl truly defeat Anon? I have a dreadful feeling about this,' Frank contemplated, his gaze fixed on the screen before him.
Anon drew closer to Samantha, and their eyes met as he effortlessly surpassed her.
"As you can see, Seraphina, Anon has overtaken Samantha and is now surging toward his victory," Landon commented.
"Better have those mana contracts ready," Letti quipped, smiling at Seti.
"Yes, we shall see who will be preparing the mana contracts and who will receive them," Seti responded, her smile carrying a hint of mockery.
"We certainly will," Letti replied.
'Everything is proceeding as Samantha informed me,' Seti thought as she observed Anon surpassing Samantha.
Five minutes before the commencement of the second round...
Eldoria's coastline...
Jake, Samantha, and Seti were hatching a plan.
"He's utilizing a cooldown skill along with Phoenix Ignition to maintain his stamina," Jake explained, displaying Anon's previous race clips on the screen.
He's utilizing a cooldown skill along with Phoenix Ignition to maintain his stamina," Jake explained, displaying Anon's previous race clips on the screen.
"What exactly are you trying to say, Jake?" Seti asked, her expression filled with confusion.
"What Jake means is that Anon takes breaks every 10 minutes because the skill he uses to maintain stamina with Phoenix Ignition goes on a cooldown for 5 minutes after every 10 minutes," Samantha explained.
"Correct," Jake confirmed.
"So, how do we win with this? He'll just keep running with his monstrous speed and defeat all of us. Once his cooldown is over, he becomes unstoppable. Damn it, this Commoner is giving me headaches," Seti spoke, grabbing her head in frustration.
"No, I have a plan. I'll use a stacking spell in this race," Samantha spoke confidently.
"What difference does that make?" Seti asked.
"Stacking spells don't provide instant speed; instead, they gradually boost your speed over time," Jake explained.
"Okay, so what? Can you guys get to the point, for fuck's sake?" Seti blurted out, immediately realizing her choice of words.
"Oh shit, I-I didn't mean to say that. I'm so sorry, I just-" Seti began to apologize.
"Stop it. Judging by that Commoner's attitude, I can confirm one thing. He doesn't like nobles and wants to show his superiority over us. He'll do something foolish at the start of the race, and that's when we'll seize the opportunity to win. Once I safely accumulate over 9 stacks, no one can defeat me," Samantha explained.
"Even if Anon catches up to sis, he'll still have to stop for his cooldown, and that's when we'll hammer the final nail of victory in that Commoner's coffin," Jake added.
"Okay, I can arrange for some guys to delay him at the starting line for a while, want--"
"NO," both Jake and Samantha shouted loudly.
"Whoa, okay, okay, chill. What's gotten into both of you?" Seti asked, bewildered.
"We've seen your brilliant mind already. We're only sharing this plan with you because there are certain things we, as students, can't do in emergencies. That's why we're entrusting you with this. Understand?" Samantha explained.
"Okay, I understand. Just tell me what you need, and I'll arrange it as quickly as possible. We have to win this race, or the nobles will become a laughingstock," Seti replied.
"Good. We'll take care of it."
Seventh ring, Dragon House of Flames...
A woman practiced in the training room, striking the immortal dummy with her sword repeatedly.
She had long black hair cascaded down her back, complementing her fierce red eyes that gleamed with determination. Her fair complexion radiated an aura of confidence, and her well-toned body boasted chiseled six-pack abs. She was a formidable warrior, and her dedication to honing her skills was evident in every movement.
The wooden sword she had been using to strike the dummy finally snapped under the force of her blows.
"Still struggling to break it, huh?" A man in royal attire asked from behind as he laughed a bit his voice resonating with a mix of pride and curiosity.
His red eyes gleamed, and his sturdy frame emitted an aura of authority.
"Ah, Father, is there something you need my help with?" the woman asked, donning her plate armor and securing her sword at her waist.
"Yeah, I could use your assistance," the man replied.
"It's been 21 years since you last spoke to me. Today, you suddenly show up and ask for my help. I don't think you want me to be your bodyguard since you have Alex. So, what brings you here after all this time?" She questioned, her words laced with a boldness that had long been absent from their interactions as she wiped the sweat from her forehead with a white towel.
"Oh, it has been 21 years, huh? Well, I don't have such a good memory. But for now, I have a great offer for you," the man said, handing a screen to the woman.
Curiosity piqued, the woman accepted the device, her fingers deftly navigating its interface. As she activated the screen, a series of race clips featuring a talented racer named Anon unfolded before her eyes. Each clip showcased Anon's remarkable skills and undeniable potential.
"Hmm... Such remarkable progress at such a young age. Impressive," she murmured, her gaze fixated on the screen, captivated by Anon's abilities.
"So, what do you think, Sherly?" the man inquired.
"My name is Silk, and this kid is good. He'll make a fine knight. However, no matter what you offer him, he will never join our house. His demeanor suggests he has no interest in material wealth, and he possesses skills beyond our teachings. He's a self-learner who hones his abilities over time," Silk stated firmly.
"So much insight from just watching a few clips... How do you know he doesn't lack money? After all, he's just a Commoner," the man questioned.
"You're the family leader of our house, Bolge, the greatest dragon warrior, and you still can't figure that out?" Silk mocked.
"Well, you could say I'm more of a Berserk than a gentleman. Care to explain how you concluded that this kid lacks neither money nor skills, despite being a Commoner?" Bolge asked.
"Here, look at this clip. He jumped over an incredibly long valley and used four skills simultaneously. It's called a quadracast," Silk responded before Bolge could.
"This demonstrates that he possesses skills that you cannot teach him in exchange for recruiting him."
"And after this quadracast, his mana dropped significantly. What would a Commoner with no money do when they run out of mana?"
"Hmm... Drink a high-quality mana potion?" Bolge suggested.
"No, he waits for his mana to regenerate. But this kid did something almost unbelievable. He produced a special-grade mana potion and consumed it all at once, as if he had a stock of them in his dimensional pocket. This indicates that he is not poor and possesses a significant amount of gold," Silk explained.
"Hmm, he'll be challenging to recruit," Bolge murmured.