The tournaments right around the corner , I thought I'd be excited about this event but why , why do I feel so restless.
The powerscaling in this world is nothing to scoff at, that other dragonkin combat prowess aside from the Sultan's own aura which dwarfed even my own. He is objectively speaking the strongest NPC to ever exist standing before him proved how little I know of this world.
'For once.....
In my life.....
I want to win....'
That was my wish Lithea , you brought me here for a reason, I fail to see why. Out of the millions that played this game , It had to b3 me. The hero you called upon is a petty loser, as much as I'd like to laugh right now unfortunately i can't.
-the Qala'a rest quarters-
"Why did you drag me all the way to the castle."
"You know your way around these parts besides I could use your ingenuity and your product."
"What you're suggesting is preposterous we won't come out unscathed if you go through with this."
"You have no say in this matter Ozwald , I came here looking for royal blood and hers shall sate my thirst."
"I could give a flying shite about your quest for vengeance , I'm warning you my product will have an adverse effect especially with your contract reinstated."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take."
"You'll be putting my whole operation in danger, you've just got the contract back but the same couldn't be said for me. This is my base of operations for goodness sake, your stunt could jeopardize my business."
"rest assured your drug operations will likely resume as scheduled, no one is connecting myself to you Ozwald."
"Are you daft!!, XIII explicitly ordered us to wait until half of us gain our contracts."
"I've come here to settle the royals debt not to look after the XIII's or your interest Ozwald." Rostoff sighed as he walked out the door unbothered by Ozwald's scowl
Rostoff strolled the grounds of the courtyard, while contemplating on his next move unbeknownst to him a feline figure stalks behind him in the shadows. He passed through guards guarding another residence that of visiting royalty. The Hero also lays there he thought clicking his tongue in frustration before going onto his own merry way.
His destination being the desert , while the heat drives away most monsters during daytime , at nighttime the desert teems with life those of prey and predator classifications. What Rostoff seeks is a hunt, as he treads through the thick of the night.
"There you are." He says ecstatically
'Iron Armada' he says as he summons an iron bow from thin air and fires it at the feline figure
The figure dodges every hit and unsheathes a curved sword (scimitar) knocing the arrows as they chase after her, before using a smoke screen to completely vansih from Rostoff's sight.
Rostoff does not bother as giving chase would simply dampen his mood instead choosing to continue his nightly stroll.
"Father forgive me, I couldn't get a clear hit!."
'He was right there' she thought to herself grinding her teeth in frustration, her father's murderer. For the first time in her life she'd felt helpless she thought , she wouldn't let this bout hinder her path of vengeance unfulfilled.
"Right, there's a way. The secret market's pearl."
The black pearl , a stimulant developed for warriors in this very oasis. Though its consumption is illegal in every metric, that didn't stop warriors of the oasis from consuming what is very likely their way up a promotion.
And for Sara, who stood at the very top of the caste, she wouldn't stoop so low to resort to a power-up however for this once she'd set onto forsake her ideal.
"Sara , why are you up so late?."
I came accross Sara as i finished tuning my body for the upcoming tournament, Otto has proved that no matter the circumstances i shouldn't neglect to work on myself, enough about me I wonder what got Sara up in this hour.
"I could say the same thing about you."
"I-I was training ahaha."
"The overconfident hero trains long after the sun had set, are you that eager for battle."
"more like frus- nevermind enough about me, I want to know why you're here."
"I-I was taking a walk hmm , yes a walk. Don't mind me hero. "
As if in a hurry she dashed with the wind giving me absolutely no chance to speak.
-The Castle training ground-
-early morning-
Its midnight and I've started training in the grounds, as for the reason. I've sensed the strength in each and every participant, their wills alone could thrash me thousands of times, when was the last time I felt this much expectations. I'm just me , the boy that blew away his future prospects in a fit of rage.
'I hate your guts that's why'
'I'm sorry'
'He's dead to me'
"What am I doing having these thoughts!!?."
Haven't I come to save this world, haven't I put my everything for Reifa. Then why do I feel so frustrated with myself, am I afraid of giving my all again?
Would I end up disappointing her again like I did my dad. I'm not playing through the screen anymore I need to take it seriously and what ?
"Hero."
"Ruen what are you doing here?."
"I saw a man training vigorously , that sight is quite rare at this hour."
"Haha, sorry about that Ruen."
"Don't be , I've come to join you after all."
"You're getting slower hero."
Its early morning in the castle's training ground I ran into Ruen who in return forced me to spar with him, little did i know about his fighting style. He carries an Eastern sword similar to a Samurai wearing a similar armament to a yoroi casted in metal.
He flash strikes the sword cutting through the wind producing a gale that rushes toward me to which it took my everything to dodge.
"H-have you ever thought I was holding back."
I say deflecting his upcoming strikes , while we engage in melee a thought crossed my mind. Had the game been too easy or had I been too strong Ruen and Otto were an all new experience.
"If this is holding back , this is me bringing the best in you."
He says stoically as his sword clashes with mine sparks fly as we are locked on o a fierce combat. He'd infused wind with sword to which I respond by calling upon my own.
While his reach is commendable mine is still superior as a lance wielder i thrust mana infused attacks followed by swift footwork , the moment he closes in , I shift my body backwards. He moves fast but I'm faster.
" its been years since my last battle, never in my life have I met a young man like yourself"
"What do you mean?."
"You are strong, yet theres something holding your potential back. Is it regret?."
"Regret?."
Is he talking about my past life, i gave it my all but my all secured envy. W-what is this old man saying.
"Regret?, oldtimer you talk as if you know about me." I say in absolute derision spitting venom his way.
"Worry not young dragonkin, I was the same up until I met his majesty. Now onto the final phase." He replied calmly , his face taking a kindly expression.
Ruen takes a moment to breathe and leaps back a few inches , he takes up a stance and focuses it on his sheath.
Our dance continued for a few minutes before the yells of the guards interrupted us.
"Oi Sara!!, did you call for a raid without my knowledge."
A big wolf-like beastman stood blocking the gate alongside him was a mixed platoon of man,halfman and beastman.
The man armor was chest piece and leg piece plated in silver akin to that of Sara's silver coated breastmail and skirt.
"Stay out of my way Rashid, I won't repeat myself."
"Do i need to talk some sense into you, I'm the captain of the guards everything that happens in the capital goes by me."
"And I'm the Sultan's chosen champion, in our hierarchy my standing is above yours."
"Urrkh."
"Men! Follow me!."
"R-Ruen wait a minute!."
Ruen took leave the moment Sara issued an order in all of that confusion I forgot to ask let alone follow.
"Well, way to give a man advice and take off like my dilemmas all trivial *sigh*."
"Regret huh?."
He's right but what am I supposed to do, I for sure can't talk about let alone remember most of my past life's detail, alone in that dark room the world shunned me and now all I'm a sudden playing myself into others expectations just like my past life. I haven't learned a thing, I put a front for Reifa but in reality the me that is here 'now' is just like the me from 'before' I'd end up...
A failure.
To be continued.