The next day, in the second week of July 2024, on Tuesday morning, Rowan felt he hadn't rested much. He had spent the night studying Selene's Status Window. He seemed to need to use his mana to unlock and activate her locked skills, which had numerous requirements due to her being a Legendary Tier character. This meant that skills from higher tiers would also require his mana but in much larger quantities.
The NPC mercenary groups dispatched yesterday are now prepared to bring his fiancée and the other members here. However, according to their reports, they are unable to do so because they have discovered an altar to gather points. He was contemplating whether there was a way to connect or consolidate the points from the small and medium altars into one. Just then, an announcement was made at the perfect moment.
Director and Founder Isidore Caelum Brightmoor: "Welcome to the 2nd Day of the Prelim Battle Royale! A very good morning to all students! Today, I will introduce some new features regarding this battle royale. Altars can now be upgraded to the next level. Small Altars will increase point rewards from 10 to 25, and they also provide 5 beginner-level fortifications to help protect both yourself and the altar."
All the students were a bit confused because they already understood the importance of protecting themselves, but they questioned why it was also necessary to protect the altars. Some students began to grasp the concept of protecting the altars after noticing the durability health bar displayed on them. Now, they could see the importance of safeguarding both themselves and the altars.
Director Isidore: "The durability health bar is now being displayed because, starting today, monster dummies will be released throughout the battle royale. Your objective is to protect yourself and the altar. Forming teams or alliances is allowed, but keep in mind that points will be distributed differently when a team is created. Additionally, once the altars are upgraded to the next level, they will unlock the ability to absorb point rewards."
"When absorbing or combining the Altars, the Small Altars provide an additional 5 points, Medium Altars give 15 points, and Large Altars offer 30 points. When upgraded, Medium Altars increase their reward points from 25 to 50 points, while Large Altars increase from 50 to 100 points per hour. Medium Altars also grant 10 beginner-level fortifications, whereas Large Altars provide 5 intermediate-level fortifications and 5 beginner-level fortifications. That is all!"
After the announcement was sent to all students participating in the battle royale, monster dummies were randomly spawned in four different seasonal areas. Their colors and abilities are based on the characteristics of each area, which specialize in different ways. And a report came from Rowan from the basic watchtower that enemy forces were coming this way.
He was supposedly commanding the NPC characters, but unexpectedly, Knight Commander Selene's sword techniques annihilated all the monster dummies, even though her skills were locked due to MP requirements. He was shocked by how powerful Selene was with just a sword technique, without relying on any skills. Perhaps her ability to do this was linked to her "Supreme Sword Mastery."
Rowan: "Selene, I command you to bring my fiancée and her teammates here. Anyone who is not one of her friends or allies will be eliminated without mercy."
Knight Commander Selene: "Understood, my lord."
Selene dashed forward at incredible speed, almost being blown away by the wind. She slashed at every enemy that tried to block her path. Her destination was the location where the NPC mercenaries were escorting Rowan's fiancé and her teammates to the altar.
Thirty minutes have passed, and at Rowan's Large Altar, located somewhere between 3 km and 5 km away, the NPC mercenaries of Rowan are currently battling snowy monster dummies. These formidable dummies possess strong bodies and utilize ice-based attacks and magic. Since most of Rowan's NPC mercenaries wield daggers or hidden weapons, they are forming an encirclement to protect three girls who are mages and a healer.
Elira Valenwood: "Activation of Fire Magic! Fire Dart!" [Shots 3 Fire Darts]
[Fire Dart: A common-tier fire magic spell that deals small blast damage in 3 different targets.]
Nimue Ashvale: "Activation of Earth Magic! Stone Wall!"
[Stone Wall: Temporarily creates a small wall that can protect any physical or magical attacks within 2 meters, the durability is not strong so magic that is higher than the beginner level will immediately break down.]
Rhiannon Stormwarden: "Activation of Healing Magic! Healing Aura!"
[Healing Aura: Also common-tier healing magic that heals anyone who is on the aura with a radius of 3 meters, depending on the user's mana he/she can heal all targets without a time limit.]
As time passed, they struggled to keep up with the snowy monster dummies. Suddenly, a massive blast erupted before them—it was Knight Commander Selene. With her sword, she slashed through the enemies, either annihilating them or cutting them in half.
Knight Commander Selene: [Kneels] "Hello, Mistress Elira. I am Knight Commander Selene Evanthe Ravenshade. I served under Lord Rowan Ashbourne."
Elira: "Huh? And how? Rowan was supposedly a Solo Team, why is there another one? Are you on a different team? And how did you become someone who is serving him???"
Knight Commander Selene: "Please calm down, Mistress Elira. Lord Rowan will explain everything about it. [Whispering] It's a matter of importance that cannot be told or listened to by others."
Elira: "Fine, I know more about him and he will not let this one be kept a secret from me. So, your mission is to escort us, Knight Selene?"
Knight Commander Selene: "Yes, but please just call me Selene, because I serve under Lord Rowan and he is your mistress."
Elira: "Alright, Selene. Let's go before things get complicated here."
Knight Commander Selene: "Understood, the designated location of Lord Rowan is near already, I will deal with all enemies." [Commanding the NPC Mercenaries.]
After that, Rowan is now engaged in a battle against the snowy monster dummies. Despite his efforts, he was initially defeated due to the traps he set and the fortifications he built to prevent them from getting near the Altar. He plans to establish a central base, an inner base, and an outer base to ensure that no enemies can pass through.
On the second day in the late morning, Rowan and Elira finally met. However, Elira pulled Rowan's ear and dragged him to a small wooden cabin. Once inside, Rowan quickly instructed Selene to accommodate the other group members and to handle the core of the small altar. Their goal was to combine the core of the small altar with that of the large altar to gain more points.
At the small wooden cabin, Elira pushed Rowan to bed and she went on top of him...
Elira: [Mad] "So, who is she?"
Rowan: "Umm... Let's see, she is not technically human, but has similarities as a human."
Elira: "Hmm... Really? You mean an NPC that can talk and freely move?"
Rowan: "Yes, something like that."
Elira: [Jealous] "As I thought, you prefer girls to have bigger breasts."
Rowan: "Wait! That is not the issue here."
Elira: "Liar, she has bigger breasts than me and she is also strong. I think it's time for another round in bed, that who do you belong."
Rowan: "Wait, we can't do it now. We are still middle of an examination! No! Stop! Stop, taking off my clothes! No!!!
And with that, Rowan and Elira spent a few hours having intense fighting in bed. And of course, Rowan lost the fight, but she wanted more and squeeze him dry as a form of punishment...
[End of Chapter 12]