Episode 11
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At first he thought the Lady of the Sword was the second strongest.
However, Freddy realized that, in reality, she was not.
She made it to number four in the Rankers, the ranking of the strongest.
Once you are in the top 100, you are a Ranker, awakened who have that position because of a level above 80.
If you are below level 80, then you are not a Ranker.
Also, the ranking is based solely on the level or fights that each Ranker achieves throughout this time.
The Lady of the Sword was number 4 in the past, but, after her death, someone else took her position: number 5.
The first five Rankers are the strongest in the world.
That is, only of the Earth dimension, but not of the Abyss.
The Nine Monarchs are the pinnacle of power that humans know, including the other races that inhabit the Abyss.
The Abyss is a dimension that appeared a century ago. At that time, the world collapsed in less than ten minutes after their arrival.
The Creative Abyss is a land with owners. Each Creative Abyss is located somewhere in the Abyss.
That is why they are called "Creative Abyss", because they are created using land, small or large, owned by the creator within the Abyss.
He met Isabella, better known as the Lady of the Sword, in the future.
The future Ranker number 4.
Freddy was considered number 2 in the past, while number 3 sought him out to snatch his position. However, it never came, because Freddy had already died.
It would have been funny his reaction.
"That guy was really annoying."
In fact, the first five Rankers at this time should be normal awakenings, with levels between 30 and 40, except for Gustang, who is currently number 1.
Soon, the current Rankers will lose their positions to the new and future Rankers I know.
'The evaluation for the desperado license will be a measurement of skills and level, nothing more.'
Evaluating the skills of each desperado before was a completely difficult task.
Of course, it was very different than it is now.
It consists only of testing a single skill, since at the time of awakening only one or two skills are accessible. As the level goes up, the skills are unlocked uniquely.
However...
Freddy burst out laughing.
"I have more than two skills to use."
But he wasn't supposed to use them, because, if he did, he might draw unwanted attention from several people, even the Verdance.
No one could use more than two abilities just awake, anyway.
Yesterday was his awakening, and yet he entered an Abyss immediately.
It sounded ridiculous: a rookie entering an Abyss right after waking up. But Freddy was different. He had experience from the future and sword skills.
Using skills along with the sword was an even more incredible thought when he tried it.
Freddy continued walking.
The wide and long corridors, full of doors with identification and high level awakened people constantly passing by, were impressive.
But.
"No matter how many high-level awakened they are, it's impossible to even scratch a Monarch."
Even for those of level 99, it was impossible.
You had to advance to the next realm.
Level 100 was considered the Second Awakening Realm.
The First Awakening is when you reach level 1. However, humans discovered that demons call level 100 "Second Awakening".
It is unknown if there is a third awakening.
Although it is not known what benefits the Second Awakening grants, rumors say that they are incredibly powerful, even twice as powerful as a level 99.
It was absurd, yes.
But Freddy fought Arhat and confirmed it.
"The assessment test will be conducted in turns according to the queue. Wait here until it is your turn. Also, if you want to practice your skills, the training room is available."
The woman pointed to a white double door, which when opened revealed a huge room with dozens of people struggling inside.
"Understood."
After nodding, the woman left.
Isabella and Freddy took seats as the minutes ticked by and several newly awakened people came and went.
However, the number of people in this room was overwhelming.
More than 2,000 new awakenings were there.
The average time to complete the licensing exam was around 30 minutes.
"There were still more than 1,000 people to go."
The process would take more than a full day, but if Freddy decided to leave and return the next day, the situation would be the same. It was better to wait there than to return to face the same thing.
Anyway, the next abyss would appear in two days.
"Skills will also be tested on the licensing exam..."
Freddy quickly realized as he remembered his own skills.
He hadn't reviewed the features in his room, and now seemed like the perfect time.
"Skills."
Freddy spoke, and the system popped up. He quickly looked for the skills tab and selected only one.
The information popped up immediately.
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-Sword of Eternity
-Type: Innate Class Ability.
-Concept: Said to be the master of all swords. However, using it could lead to death, though it also provides a massive increase without limit, similar to "Lord of Calamity".
-(1) Unlimited "%" increase of all auras; however, excess leads to death.
-(2) Information locked; unlocks at level 50.
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Now Freddy understood.
A 200% increase in the aura of death was due to the first rule of the skill. However, the concept of this skill was as strange as it was unknown.
In his last sentence he mentioned the Lord of Calamity.
"Was it really some being and not a class?"
This raised several theories; however, Freddy did not come to any concrete conclusions.
He couldn't deduce anything at this point without more information.
The ability itself remained a mystery.
Where exactly did it come from? Why was it part of the class he had obtained?
Only one rule of the skill was available for now, while the second would be unlocked at level 50. Would the third appear at a much higher level?
Rules were the number of bits of information a skill, class, title or item could provide. Some had as many as five rules, while others showed only one or two available.
It was clear that this skill had requirements that were too high to be fully unlocked at that time.
But.
"An unlimited increase in the power of any aura I can use could kill me."
Previously, he had been unable to control the 200% increase in death aura. He had nearly died from that alone, especially since the increase was automatic.
If Freddy had done it voluntarily, that increase would not have happened.
It was as if... the ability had a will of its own.
It was impossible, but it could not be completely ruled out either.
He looked once more at the skill information.
At the moment, it was the only one he would be using.
If he got to use two skills at the same time, then it would be problematic.
However, that didn't mean he couldn't check the information on the other skills.
Meanwhile, Isabella looked at Freddy with a smile and spoke:
"Would you like to have a combat for now?"
A sparring match would not affect the current position in the queue.
That was why there was a training room and a combat room: to prevent the newly awakened from sitting in the same place all day.
However...
"....."
Freddy looked at Isabella sideways for a second.
"You're a high level."
This was too much for him at that moment.
Even though he had defeated a level 30 enemy, even with equipment equivalent to level 35, he was nearly killed.
Freddy managed to kill him thanks to the aura boost, but that had dangerous side effects.
Isabella had to be level 30 or higher by now.
She knew this from the information she remembered from the past of the leaders of the last resistance.
A level 30 awakened had left this building in the past, and that was Isabella, known as the Lady of the Sword.
So...
The answer was obvious.
A level 30 or higher... Did he have any idea what he was proposing?
"It's not what you think. I just want a sparring match to exchange sword moves. I'll try to reduce my strength."
It was a tempting proposal.
Freddy, who had faced the Lady of the Sword in the past, wished to test this woman's skills with the sword.
For, in truth, he represented the true meaning of the sword.
Freddy, who had mastered even the limits of swordplay, was the ultimate exponent in its use.
Isabella, known as the Lady of the Sword, had been considered the best swordswoman.
He wanted to test her skills and see if she really deserved that title, but now things were different.
"Level 30 versus level 1."
It was a tempting idea, but the prospect of testing the Sword Lady had completely changed due to the regression.
The regression had occurred unexpectedly and suddenly. Still, his old desires remained, and one of them was to have a match with the Lady of the Sword.
"All right."
I agreed.
It would be nothing official, they would not test her true abilities, but it would be enough to appease that desire for now.
"Then follow me."
They entered through the door from before, and the training room opened up before them. It was vast, with hundreds of awakened fighting each other.
Freddy held his sword firmly.
Isabella unsheathed hers.
"As promised, I will reduce my strength to balance sword skills," Isabella said.
A simple sword exchange would suffice for the time being.
Then...
Freddy looked at Isabella, and she looked at him.
The two exchanged glances as the air grew thick. Sparks flew instantly as both swords clashed at the same time.