The men laughed loudly.
"It's a ghost! Hahaha, that's crazy, a dead guy got scammed!"
They were laughing at the fact that I didn't have a physical body.
'Wow~ what a funny joke.'
One was wearing a blue tai chi fu*, and the other one a green one.
*Tai chi uniforms
"Hahaha! You really got him! Huh? What's up with this gamemode?"
One of the men with the blue clothing looked at the screen suspiciously.
"Oh, I was worried for nothing. It's just the stat change gamemode."
I looked at Alius silently.
"Haha, sorry about this."
[2/4]
Alius apologized while entering the game.
'I guess I should check my d rank skills.'
I checked my skills slowly and casually.
[Skills list]
sort: (lowest to highest rank)
Kick(F+), Quick reading(F+), Catch(D), mana breathing(D+) 29 more...
All other skills were of a higher rank.
'Wow, I forgot I had these. Mana breathing, huh.'
[Passive skill: Mana breathing(D+)]
Increases mana regeneration or accumulates mana by breathing.
This skill turn into a passive skill at a higher rank.
'This skill isn't bad. Although it was useless on earth.'
There wasn't enough mana and of what was there it was impure.
I continued looking at my skills. This time it was passive skills.
[Passive skills list]
Sort: (lowest to highest rank)
Card throwing proficiency(F), Jump proficiency(D+), Trap resistance(D+) 56 more...
'Card throwing? Oh, yeah, from my childhood.'
I sighed lightly and looked at the three people in front of me.
"Are you finally done? So did you find something that will save you?"
One of the men mocked me while joining.
[3/4]
"Let's just end this quickly."
I said while yawning.
'But seriously, I have to figure out a weakness or something.'
My chances of winning were low. They were still constellations even though they acted like immature bullies.
[4/4]
[Ding!]
[The match will start in one minute]
'My specialty is practically all weapons. Whips, knives, swords, bows and shields. Oh, magic? I haven't used magic yet.'
I made a small realization.
'Since mana was corrupted I didn't even consider trying magic.'
It would stunt my growth and possibly even make me weaker if I interacted with corrupted mana.
'But if I try now. What would happen?'
The reason my mana stat was still SS rank was because of elixirs and legendary potions given by the fighting goddess.
'Wow, she really helped me a lot. Wait, what is corrupted mana really?'
I suddenly had a question about the origin of corrupted mana.
[Starting match...]
But I didn't have time to think about it.
My eyes were filled with a blue light and when I opened them again I was in a colosseum.
'Oh, this feels old fashioned. I kind of expected a big blue box.'
[Please select your weapons!]
Sword
Staff
Bow and arrows
Gauntlets
Fan
Saber
Click to expand....
'Weapons? Can I choose multiple?'
[You have selected the sword!]
I clicked on sword thinking this to myself.
'Card throwing....'
[Please select your second weapon!]
Dual weapon
Dagger
Shield
Throwing knives
Needles x10
Bow and arrows
Click to expand....
'Oh, so it's like an offhand. Hmm.'
I thought about it for a while and choose the dagger.
[You have selected the dagger!]
'A common choice but common for a reason.'
[Warning! These weapons do not have infinite durability!]
A thought crossed my mind on how to win in that moment.
'Dang, there are conditions that have to be met though.'
[The match will begin]
As that message popped up I saw the three guys.
'Ah, the two of them chose swords I can try to break them. Alius chose gantlets though.'
[3]
[2]
[1]
'I gotta focus.'
[Start!]
[Equipping: Standard steel sword(D+)]
I immediately summoned my sword, and stood with my sword seeing its size and weight.
Right after, the three of them huddled together and formed a triangle.
'This sword, it's the same size and weight as the goddess's sword.'
I looked at the three opponents preparing myself.
"My name is Nith, the swordsman of the north."
The blue clothed man said.
"My name is Syrus, the swordsman of the south."
The green clothed man said.
'They're probably from murim. But to call themselves that.'
I sighed lightly. My pride as a swordsman wanted to destroy them.
"My name is Alius, the martial artist of the west."
When they finished talking they slowly approached me.
"Pathetic, you are not swordsmen. You do not deserve your titles here."
I ran up to them weirdly annoyed.
*Swish!*
I attacked the Nith first.
*Clank!*
He blocked without much trouble and immediately Alius and Syrus attack me in unison.
'They have good teamwork.'
*Swosh!*
I quickly spun around to deflect Syrus's attack and barely dodged Alius's fist.
*Clank!*
Immediately after Nith attacked after recovering his stance.
'I can't break their weapons. They're too strong to let that happen.'
*Swish!*
'I have no room to breathe.'
I dodged his sword and backed away.
[Activating skill: mana breathing(D+)]
[Mana regeneration has increased]
[Accumulating mana...]
'I expected my skills to deteriorate. I guess that's not how weapon mastery works.'
My stats were D+ rank so I could only use the strength of a C rank at maximum.
'But if I had weapon mastery I could even beat an A rank awakened.'
I realized the importance of passive skills and sighed.
'In this fight, I have to become stronger to win.'
Nith quickly lifted up his left arm.
'W-'
*Fiis!*
I barely heard something go past my head.
'A needle?!'
"Tsk, he dodged it."
Quickly the other two approached.
'Hah, am I some kind of raid boss?'
I laughed to myself and held out my left hand.
[Releasing accumulated mana!]
*Boom!*
[Mana breathing(D+) is on cooldown]
A shockwave released from my body.
Alius looked shocked while Syrus was quickly retreating.
I didn't miss the opportunity and ran towards Alius.
'Not powerful enough. All it will do is buy a moment.'
The mana wasn't even released from my hand.
But Alius's shock bought enough time.
*Swish!*
*Clank!*
I swung my sword and Alius barely redirected my attack.
'Continuous slash.'
*Clank!*
*Clank!*
*Clank!*
*Boom!*
Alius took the full brunt of my attack and was knocked back.
*Fiis!*
I quickly jumped back and looked around.
'Alius is there and Nith was the one who threw that needle. Where is Syrus?!'
I instinctively swung my sword behind me.
*Swish!*
*Swush!*
*Boom!*
I was knocked down to the ground.
I quickly rolled back up using my falling speed to try and recover.
'Crap.'
[Skill: mana breathing(D+) is available!]
I sighed internally.
[Activating skill: mana breathing(D+)]
"Cough! Hey, it's unfair to go three against one. Cough!"
"Hah, you may be strong on your own, but your nothing against us."
Syrus said smiling.
"That depends on you and me."
I focused intensely closing my eyes.
[The efficiency in mana breathing(D+) is steadily increasing]
"Attack him!"
*Fiis!*
I took a step to the left while tilting my head.
I moved my sword slowly trying to be efficient.
*Fiis!*
Another needle was thrown.
This time it was aimed at my chest.
I quickly jumped left towards Syrus.
'Slash.'
As I swung my sword and Syrus also swung his.
[Releasing accumulated mana!]
"Wha-?!"
A more concentrated shockwave spread from my right hand.
It affected Syrus almost instantly because of how close my hand was to him.
*Boom!*
*Swish!*
[One opponent is down]
"Damnit! I'm not gonna hold back anymore!"
[Two remaining]
"Alius! Pressure him!"
[Mana breathing(D+) is on cooldown]
Alius quickly ran at me.
*Fiis!*
*Fiis!*
*Fiis!*
*Fiis!*
*Fiis!*
Five needles were thrown simultaneously, and with Alius on my tail I didn't have the chance to dodge.
'Crap, I can't dodge this.'
"Fuck, I hope I don't regret this."
I heard someone say.
[One opponent is down]
[One remaining]
'Huh? What?'
The figure of Alius quickly disappeared.
My mind went blank.
"Why would you do that!? I had him! I fucking had him!"
I was reminded of countless comrades and friends.
'Regret huh. No, no you won't.'
I dashed towards the remaining opponent.
"Ugh, just die!"
*Swish!*
He swung his sword sharply aiming for my neck.
*Clank!*
I redirected his sword and stabbed at his throat.
He barely dodged and threw a needle.
*Fiis!*
"You're nothing but an assassin with a sword."
*Clink!*
I blocked the needle with my sword.
I let the needle slide of the sword and swung.
*Swish!*
*Clank!*
*Thud.*
He barely blocked getting knocked down.
"Kurgh! Damnit!"
[Skill: mana breathing(D+) is available!]
'Stop swearing already.'
I jumped towards him this time with enhanced speed.
"Wh-what the f-"
*Boom!*
Once again he barely blocked.
"I may have overestimated you."
I lifted my sword up.
He grinned as if he found a weak spot and stabbed quickly.
"I win!"
*Step.*
I simply side stepped to dodge his stab.
"I tried to show some leniency as a swordsman but I guess not."
*Swish!*
*Crack!*
*Shatter!*
I broke his sword. Nith looked at his broken sword disappearing in front of him, silently.
He didn't realize the condition of his sword.
"As I said before, you guys are not swordsmen."
*Swish!*
[One opponent is down]
[You are the last survivor!]
[Congratulations!]
[You have gained experience!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
'Huff, that was though.'
If they all got the chance use their sub weapons, I don't know what would have happened.
[You have achieved something special!]
'Huh? An achievement? A title?'
I had gained many titles before so I knew what this message meant.
[You have won your first match in battle room!]
[You have won the first battle you fought in the battle room!]
'Yeah, it worked like this.'
[You have eliminated every opponent in your very first match!]
'More? I don't think I eliminated everyone though.'
[You have obtained the title: Super rookie(Rare)]
'Oh, rare? That's the same level as my current title.'
Then I remembered something.
'Oh, yeah I got a title after saving my world!'
I quickly looked for my titles.
[Titles]
Highest to lowest
[Saviour of corruption(Mythical)], [Weapon master(Rare)], [Super rookie(Rare)]
'Yeah, this!'
I quickly clicked on my title, Saviour of corruption(Legendary).
[Title: Saviour of corruption(Mythical)]
Details: You have saved your world from the otherworldly corruption! The few survivours can live in peace thanks to your sacrifice and power!
Active title effect 1: You will be able to resist the corruption!
Active title effect 2: You will be able to remove minor traces of corruption without your authority!
Passive effect: you will emit a minor aura of purification
'Hmm, now that I think about it. I don't know much about my authority.'
[You have obtained: 400 coins!]
[Authority: Slash that protects people(SSS)]
Details: A slash imbued with the will to save people.
Effect: Your slashes become helpful to those you want to help and harmful to those that you want to eliminate.
'This is very useful.'
When I just got my sword I ended up doing major damage to property, and therefore didn't get any rewards after and all the things I did, what should have gone to me were sent to the people who owned the property.
'But it ended up being a happy accident. I learnt to use my power properly. But now I can avoid that situation from repeating.'
[Your achievement will be recorded!]
I checked my second authority.
[Authority: Slash that purifies(SSS+)]
Details: An authority gained from saving the world from corruption.
Effects: A slash that purifies corruption and clears the mind.
'Did I just become a support?'
[You are being sent back...]
My thoughts couldn't continue because I was sent back to reality.
******
"Wow, your cute little guy became so strong~."
Two people were watching a big screen.
"Ugh, stop saying so many embarrassing things."
One was a man with hair that was constantly changing colours.
The other was a yellow haired woman with bright yellow eyes.
"So, how long do you think it's going to take?"
The man asked materializing a piece of candy.
"What do you mean?"
The woman looked at the man.
"I mean when do you think he'll reach rank one, if ever?"
The woman blushed slightly and answered.
"Ehrm, maybe one thousand years?"
The man looked surprised and summoned another piece of candy after finishing the first.
"Really? Does he have some special talent?"
She shook her head.
"No, but he still achieved multiple miracles already. So I'm betting on that again."
The man sighed lightly.
"Alright, good luck goddess."
He waved goodbye and swiftly teleported out.
The woman looked at the screen again, excited and curious as what was going to happen.