'Imani Oreto.'
The same challenger that had boldly antagonized millions of youths to reap personal benefits. The same one who asked two questions to a deity- one of them serving only himself- might seem quick-witted and courageous to others, but to Alex, he was unwise. He had broadcasted his name, earning himself infamy when he knew next to nothing about the possible repercussions of his actions.
His actions appeared short-sighted, yes. That did not mean Alex would label him as incapable so soon. Anyone was a threat until proven undoubtedly otherwise. She had enough lingering scars from the most unsuspecting angles. Complacency was a dreadful weakness.
'Imani Oreto, number one and two hundred points. He killed twenty humans in such a short amount of time.'
Alex's expression remained neutral even as she began playing speculative scenarios and her possible counters in her head.
'Imani, you better not be a problem.'
Alex had set her eyes on the first rank after all the stages, and she certainly would not be settling for anything less.
Alex leisurely stood. Her round chakrams had transformed into the piercing wakizashi instead. Both blades were grasped tightly by firm yet slim fingers at the handles.
Alex watched as a figure ascended the steps tiredly, they had a short sword secured in a sheath on their waist. Alex's hazel orbs studied the approaching male. She remained on guard, despite the obvious strain on the newcomer. Trusting appearances would only get you killed.
Alex continued staring at the young male that steadily approached her: his entire body was riddled with countless fresh and old scratches, and his clothes, which were issued in the first stage, now bore shameful tears and holes. His entire apparel was more suited to be referred to as rags.
Alex had waited on this mountain for over eight hours, with him being the first,aside from her, to succeed in ascending the towering behemoth of nature.
The boy had directly skipped over most of the zooming wind with the boost of the [ leap potion ].
Previously, Alex had fiddled with her map for some time before she found a setting to split her map viewing in two.
When one long pressed on a certain icon for fifteen seconds, they could lock into that location with half of their vision. The other half would be a fully functional map.
Therefore Alex locked her view on the mountain's central area and adjusted her view in such a way that she could see the top of the mountain and herself clearly, while also spying on other people shamelessly.
" Hello." Alex's naturally emotionless voice leaked out, her predatory gaze still fixed on the pitiful young adult before her.
" I- p-peace… ?" His reply was hesitant and weak, the tremors in his words betraying his confident expression. The second he closed his lips, his eyelids did the same. He fell down with a thud, probably unconscious from everything he had suffered to get here.
Alex's face twisted into disgust - she knew the real reason why the guy in front of her just fainted.
'Those ludicrous potions.' He may have been the first person that Alex had physically witnessed fainting, but her map had shown her tens of others faint right after utilizing those cursed potions.
She was still unsure of what exactly the 'energy' consumed by the potions was, as a few people had actually died after using the [ limit breaker ] potion. Right after subduing their enemies, they faced death.The potential implications of using the unknown substances that had only brought unappealing results so far, was not particularly enticing to Alex. Her disgust for the deity's antics rose in her heart. Every description was deflecting or covering one flaw or the other.
Alex had efficiently stalked many people across all zones.
For the first three hours, locating enemies and brawling to the death was commonplace, but the vastness of the map impeded the progress that was made by killing.
Therefore many rushed to the central area, trying desperately to break in upon reaching. No one had succeeded, save the boy.
After 2 more hours, someone else found their way into the central area. This time, it was in the 'fire zone'
The ring of molten lava deterred many, leaving them disappointed and distraught at their limited options until a slim girl with shimmering golden hair, a demure face, a petite stature and an exquisite tracksuit threw a familiar solid raindrop-shaped object into the river of lava, then, she dashed away from the area.
Those around her did not seem to get the hint as they stayed to observe the following phenomenon.
Alex watched on, anxious to see the results of the clash of two wildly opposing elements of nature. Lava meeting water could have varying outcomes, yet Alex was sure none of them would bode well for the unsuspecting spectators.
And she was right.
In a cataclysmic eruption, volatile plumes of sizzling vapour erupted violently. Lava shot out in varying directions, melting human flesh, organs and everything in between. Beneath the vapour, the lava had hardened. However, those around were far too busy swimming in puddles of their former flesh to care.
Alex watched with narrowed eyes, as the very same girl that had initiated this deathly reaction, ran through the billowing steam. She then emerged on the other side, unscathed. Every part of her was unfettered, completely unaffected.
'Heat immunity potion.'
Alex closed her interface and stared at the leaderboard section.
A name was rapidly rising through the ranks.
'Dahlia Ansfrid.' Alex thought it was likely that this was the girl's name.
'She's receiving shards for indirectly causing deaths. Oh, she's something, definitely something…' Alex's expression darkened considerably.
The exploding lava shower struck not everyone, but the unfortunate ones experienced agony. Alex could not hear their screams, but their expressions exposed the searing pain erupting through them. Their agony painted across their features pleaded for soothing liberation.
'Could I do something like this?' Alex frowned, knowing this was where she drew the line. At least she hoped it was so, doing something like this was unearned cruelty to the undeserving. One of the few things 'that man' would approve of.
Alex went back to her map and its previous set up, and decided to focus on the 'cold' zone. Aside from her, two people had gotten into the central areas. Only the central areas of the 'cold' and 'water' zones remained unentered.