Prince opened his eyes four hours later, completely rested.
He only needed a few hours of sleep now to be well rested. Prince yawned, stretching. His cape was already mostly rebuilt, and his shorts were fully rebuilt.
Prince quickly checked the leaderboard to see his new place.
World Leaderboard (Top Ten):
1. Dante King
2. Itzel Morales
3. Eric Walker
4. Ilyanna Carrera
5. Fukushima Takeo
6. Mose Ebrume
7. Ku So-Yeon
8. Malikov Luka Igorevich
9. David Walker
10. Luke Collins
Your Ranking: 16th
Interesting, Prince thought. Luke had overtaken Tou He. Prince scrolled down further. Tou He had been pushed to the 11th spot.
Prince's conclusion now was that everyone above him was either E-Grade, or since they were all at the same level everything was randomized. But if Luke could overtake Tou He, that meant that everyone in the Top 10 were already E-Grades.
"Shit… I'm behind." Prince muttered.
Prince looked at the person in front of him, the #15 spot.
15. Sylvia Volkovich
Where did I see that last name before…? Prince scanned his memory. Finally, he found it.
Irina Volkovich. Hm… They're related, then. I wonder how that will come into play.
Prince mused for a bit. Then he finally sighed. He had been here way too long. He didn't want to get a sickness or something from being underwater. He swam out of the store he was in.
Already squids were fighting for supremacy, to see which of them would become the new ruler over the carcass of the last one.
Two peak F-Grade squids were locked in a battle, the remains of other squids floating around them in a strange, bloody display.
Prince shook his head, ignoring them, and swam out of the mall.
He examined his insides again. Now his Essence ran throughout his body, free. It coursed through his every vein. Now, even his casual attack would be powered with waves of Essence.
When his Essence was sluggish before, he had adapted to use it to its maximum efficiency.
Now, it was so easy to push Essence that a regular attack from him would carry more than he intended. It would take some time getting used to this.
Prince dove through the water like a fish, gliding along with an ease. The Water Essence parted for him. He felt like a new, stronger man. Once he got back, he would immediately buy a manual on breaking into the E-Grade.
The golden runes on his soul vibrated.
Prince forgot about that. He tsked. What problem did he have to deal with now?
The vibrating stopped abruptly, and the golden runes went back to sleep. They weren't seeming to do anything, though, so that was good.
Prince was finally heading to warmer waters. He had noticed it, but the thickness of the water near the mall was higher than here, on the outskirts in which he had just entered.
He passed a few fish that were converging into a building for something and continued onward until he entered the edge of the dungeon.
Prince, still swimming, burst through the other side.
He fell onto the floor, his face planting itself into asphalt.
He forgot. He couldn't swim through the air- not yet, of course.
"Are you alright?" A male voice asked.
Prince lifted his head. Without the resistance of water, his head snapped up so fast it had the jerky motion of a bird. Prince blinked, standing up carefully. Everything was so easy, now.
Before him were a group of ten. At the head was a bald, muscular man. His muscles were covered with red and golden robes which radiated a faint aura, which meant they were E-Grade items.
On his back was a plain, wooden staff. The bald monk had a slimy grin.
Name: Tou He
(Freedom Monks Faction of #2Y-B379)
Race: Human
Origin: Earth (#2Y-B379)
Level: 49 (F-Grade)
Behind him, the assortment of people watched Prince carefully. They all wore red and golden robes, though in various styles. They were all level 25 at the very least, though some were also level 49.
But those level 49's didn't emit as solid aura as Tou He.
"Tou He." Prince said, crossing his arms.
"Ah, you know me, friend?" Tou He smiled wider. He seemed kind, but his kindness was just a front.
This man would kill, and he would kill ruthlessly for treasure. Prince wouldn't be surprised if he ate meat.
"Why are you here?" Prince asked.
"We heard an E-Grade dungeon was here," Tou He said solemnly. "To protect the people, we made our way here to conquer it. But then we found that this was a Faction's Territory."
"Where is your team?" Tou He finished.
"I don't have one." Prince said.
Everyone's eyes widened at that. Tou He laughed. "How funny! I see you like joking. Since we are all the way over here…"
"Do you think you could split the treasure with us for all our troubles?" Tou He asked. Prince wasn't a fool. He could see the monks tensing. They were ready to beat him up.
"How about this?" Prince proposed. "I will fight you. You win, I give you my treasure. I win? You leave."
Prince didn't want to pass up this opportunity to compare himself to a former Top World Ranker. He had no intention of giving them treasure.
"Ohoho!" Tou He grinned. "On one condition. This is streamed to the entire world." He said.
"Streamed?"
"Do you not know? System TVs, system channels. A whole network to replace our old." Tou He said. His ring flashed, and he summoned a blue crystal within his hand.
He threw it. The crystal spun until it was upright, floating. Then it began to glow.
"The screen is recording us and broadcasting it to the whole world." Tou He's smiled widened.
"I see." Prince said. "My offer still stands."
"...Is that so?" Tou He said, disappointed. His followers backed away as he retrieved his staff.
Prince assumed a stance.
Match has been scheduled. World Rank #11 Tou He versus World Rank #16 Prince Collins.
They both leaped.