Weapons of Mass Destruction

Chapter 554: Winner of the 4th Round’s tournament

1st (7,530 pts) - Noname

2nd (1,031 pts) - Grumpy

3rd (922 pts) - Tacita

4th (799 pts) - Savant

5th (650 pts) - Soph

6th (600 pts) - StrongestOne

7th (498 pts) - Gareth

8th (497 pts) - Izzy

9th (450 pts) - Knight

…

Congratulations, you have placed 1st in the 1st event – Clash of the Rounds – and you have also achieved the high score for the event – 7,530 pts.

You can exchange your points for shards. 1 point = 5 shards = 37,650 shards

The reward for placing 1st overall is an additional 10,000 shards. You will receive an additional 5,000 shards for the fastest win in the first part of the event across all rounds. An additional 5,000 shards will be awarded for your performance.

You may either receive the shards and choose one of three rewards or forfeit them to choose from a selection of higher quality rewards once the tournament has concluded.

“I reject the reward, I want to put it all toward my final reward for the tournament,” I say, and with that, the window disappears.

Congratulations on reaching the 2nd round of the 1st event.

For the second half– the remaining 5 winning rounds – will be placed onto a single map with the same rules and a few slight modifications!

The second part of the event will start in 24 hours.

In one hour, the barrier around your area will be removed, and you will have a chance to visit the areas belonging to the other rounds still participating in the 1st event.

How interesting. So, a first round to reduce the number and get us used to the place, see all the entrapments there could be, and then throw us all in for the highest possible chaos?

The fact that we have the chance to visit the other rounds at this point probably means the second event is meant to incorporate an element of politics. Alliances, betrayals, and the like. But that also means a chance to meet Victoria. There’s no way her round didnʼt make it.

The silence becomes more noticeable, and I look up from the notification window. Immediately, some people start avoiding my eyes, and there is also a clear path through the common area for me.

Poor, misguided souls—have they forgotten what this place is all about?

In an effort to avoid causing any more commotion, I ensure that I have my mana well under control and rejoin the rest of group 4. Meanwhile, I take the opportunity to go through the rest of my notifications.

[Empyrean Lance – lvl 14 > Empyrean Lance – lvl 15]

[Empyrean Lance – lvl 15 > Empyrean Lance – lvl 16]

[Empyrean Lance – lvl 16 > Empyrean Lance – lvl 17]

[Perception – lvl 58 > Perception – lvl 59]

[Eclipse – lvl 23 > Eclipse – lvl 24]

[Eclipse – lvl 24 > Eclipse – lvl 25]

[Eclipse – lvl 25 > Eclipse – lvl 26]

It’s pretty decent, if I do say so myself.

I proceed to the cobbled area around the fountain, when the others finally make their approach. Samuel is there as well, with his signature greatsword on his back. His Hard difficulty group has the most surviving members out of all the Hard difficulty groups, and they’re all dressed in the same style. Almost as if they had taken it upon themselves to create their own uniforms, and the chain of command is on clear display.

For a moment, I think he might come to me—I even see him taking a step while I tilt my head slightly and watch him, curious what he might want.

His eyes meet mine, and he hesitates mid-step. His pulse changes, and I notice a nervous twitch. As I scan through all the little things Whitey taught me to notice with kinetic energy.

In the end, Samuel averts his eyes and heads over to Sophie and Maya, who are already talking with Gareth.

Lily stops by my side, “If the start of each round removes all the healing marks I put on you, we’ll have to keep reapplying them whenever an event starts.”

“It also removed the mana from my [Mana Crown]. Surprisingly, itʼs all back now, so it clearly is just for the events.”

Lily sulks. “Taking away your arms is probably because it considered them similar to my healing marks, but it still sucks.”

I shrug, “Thatʼs the system for you. But that’s fine; if the rules apply the same way to everyone, I donʼt really mind so much. Good job out there by the way—were their Beyonders strong?”

“Somewhat,” Lily confirms, “but they underestimated me a lot, and I killed some. The one with [Mana Crown] and another one with black armor and that iron crown were actually pretty good.”

“Look at you, already beating the shit out of your fellow Beyonders. I still remember how you used to be such a crybaby.”

“Have you considered that Iʼm still that same old crybaby? Perhaps I’m just hiding it better,” Lily chirps, smiling brightly. “Was their tournament’s winner strong?”

“No idea. I didnʼt give him much of a chance to show off—probably yes, against anyone else. But I think you and Tess could take him. The others from our group? Probably not.”

Lily sighs in pretend disappointment, “If not for you, I might have been the winner of the 5th round’s tournament. So are we going to keep playing the role of bad cop while Sophie and Maya pretend to be reasonable ones?”

I nod. “For now. Tess would probably come up with something better, but the rest of us aren’t smart enough for any of that.”

“Do you think we will be able to form an alliance with the other rounds? Fighting all 4 at once could be difficult.”

“Thatʼs up to others. But I know I can get Victoria and her round to join us.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Lily looks at her feet for a moment before looking back up at me, “You’ll get to see her in less than an hour. How… how do you feel about that? You seem to place a lot of trust in her.”

“Iʼm not certain yet; I’ll have to meet her to be sure.”

Then I glance up at the branches of the tree hanging over our heads. Tacita lies there, clearly listening.

ヽ( ಠ_ಠ)ノ

Sure.

I just shoot a few orbs toward her, and she flings them away with her hand coated in a skin-tight mana barrier.

Then Lily notices her as well and shouts, “Taci!”

I could swear the messy brown hair of the silent assassin rises up in a way similar to goosebumps, and she rushes away with Lily following her.

Noticing Min-Jae looking at me, I wave at him and he waves back awkwardly before I teleport away, taking refuge in my workshop.

I died twice while speaking with Lily.

Thirty minutes after I start working on the item for Channeler, Miwa comes to visit. The same as when I met her the first time and waited for her to finish her work before talking, she also waits for me to finish mine.

I just sense her entering the area around our space, and proceed to the workshop Iʼm in. She does so quietly and takes a seat in one of the manabloc chairs I’ve made, which retains the design of plastic monobloc chairs.

Ten minutes later, I finish the next piece, pull back the heat I’ve filled the room with, and let the item cool.

Miwa is sitting there, smiling brightly. Her skin is red from the heat, and she’s covered in sweat.

Oh, maybe I should have reduced the output when she entered.

“It’s crazy to think that you can work with such high temperatures, Noname,” she says, smiling, then stands and gives me a short bow, “Itʼs nice to meet you again.”

I return the gesture and nod toward the Fracture lying in the corner, “You can look at it.”

There is no way I wouldnʼt notice her gaze locked on the mid-arcane item and the new piece Iʼve been working on. Her smile broadens, and she gives a quick series of nods before rushing, barely hearing my warning not to draw Fracture from its scabbard.

She hasnʼt changed much. Even though she must be somewhere in her forties, she looks closer to her thirties with that typical youthful Asian face and slim figure. And it even seems like no one’s stolen her right arm. Yet. The arm is made entirely out of metal with a pinkish shine and entirely covered in inscriptions. It even moves more naturally than before.

It also might just be me, but it feels almost stronger, as if Miwa had learned to harness more of its power. Maybe itʼs a sign that I should stea… borrow it for examination. I bet she wouldnʼt mind. I could let her hold Fracture for a few minutes in exchange.

In the next ten minutes, Miwa moves from Fracture to the unfinished arcane item and even takes a moment to examine some of the materials and items I’ve started preparing to sell.

“Why did you go with Tent Creep? I was shocked when I saw you on the ranking with that name!” she says, with great difficulty, as she puts the Fracture back in its place and turns to me.

With a shrug, I explain, “I just felt like it.”

“You felt like it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?” she asks, not seeming to understand.

“It is silly and lame, but I thought it would help my group feel better. Donʼt ask why.”

“I…Alright. So what did you need me for?”

“Is Adam still trying to get you to work with him, and do you still have a problem with it?” I ask.

I remember from the previous tournament that Adam, a man in his sixties who generally prefers to wear a suit and serves as one of the members of WhiteWing, had a habit of pestering her. The man, apparently some kind of rich German guy, isnʼt used to being refused.

Miwa confirms, “Yes, he does, and I continue to refuse.”

“Good. I want to give you the same offer, but slightly different. I want to learn more from you and, in exchange, I’m willing to show you all I know and help you as much as I can. I will notify you each time I go to work here so you can come and observe and help—if you want that is. I also want to extend an invitation for you to work with group 4. We would protect you against anyone too annoying, and in exchange… well, I donʼt know yet. You can talk to Channeler; we gave him the same offer. Soph and Knight will have more for you.”

The heat is still pretty high, and would likely be causing trouble even for most non-specialized Hell difficulty attendees, yet she handles it much better and carefully thinks over my words.

Her answer is simple, “I will think about it.”

I nod, and as she is leaving, I notice her glancing at Fracture in the corner.

POV Lily Chen

The barrier has been removed. The following rounds may now visit each other:

1st round

4th round

5th round

8th round

10th round

The second part of the 1st event will start in 23 hours.

Even though they wonʼt be able to participate, the non-participating rounds will be able to observe the event from their respective common areas.

The barrier that even my [Disintegration] couldn’t touch disappears.

(Teleporting) comes the message from Nat.

He does that when teleporting near me, only because I attacked him a few times when he appeared next to me out of nowhere.

Not like he can complain! Everyone would do that, and I even think some part of him is proud of me for that. I think so.

(Sure,) I send back, and he appears next to me.

There is still heat lingering around his body, and his mana is leaking slightly, and even that little is enough for some Easy difficulty people nearby to be affected.

They have such weak bodies. It constantly reminds me to be careful. Just a playful punch from me would probably be enough to kill a weaker one. But at least we from Hell difficulty seem to be much better at controlling our powers.

Nat notices it as well, and his heat, as well as his mana, disappears as we watch people jumping or flying from their hills and heading to the unlocked areas that will participate in the 2nd part of the event. These hills are even marked by a huge green orb that floats above us, while those that lost have a red orb floating over the hill. There are even some people heading our way.

Strengthening my sight, I see a figure jump high into the air over their hill, and from her, a few flashes appear—one heading even in our direction.

I prepare to defend in case something happens, but after seeing that Nathaniel doesnʼt react, I do nothing.

Then a finger plops onto the ground near the center of our common area; some Easy difficulty people there scream in shock and move away from it.

In a blink, a figure grows from that finger. It materializes with clothes on it as well.

Itʼs a beautiful woman with a calm expression on her face, wearing simple clothes and not seeming to have any items at all. Even her clothes aren´t enchanted at all, just simple gray pants and a black shirt with sleeves rolled up comfortably.

From there, I see how she turns to the people around her and calmly addresses them, “I would like to talk with your tournament winner if possible.”

After a moment of surprise, some people around her start looking around, and some find Nat and stare his way.

She follows their stares, and the moment her eyes lock onto his, she freezes. Recognition flashes across her face, and I notice her fingers twitch at her sides as if resisting the urge to move.

Then she does.

A blur of motion, far faster than expected. In an instant, she stands before him, searching his face with wide, unreadable eyes.

Her hand lifts, hesitant at first, then steady as her fingers brush his skin—light, fleeting, as if confirming he is real.

The speed she moved at is far quicker than I remember from the first tournament. Much quicker. That image of her is still burned into my mind, along with the pain of being torn apart by her. Now, standing in front of Nathaniel, she watches him closely, just as he does her.

A stunning woman, slightly older than Nat, sharing his slim build and height. Her black hair is identical in color, and one of her brown eyes is a shade lighter than the other. Even their faces carry a little bit of similarity.

Nat, on the other side, has his gray and brown eyes and wears equally simple clothes, black pants, and a white shirt rolled up in the same manner.

As she touches his face and an incredibly gentle expression appears on her own. She whispers something I cannot hear, ending with a question.

Nat nods in answer. Then he smiles at her and whispers something as well.

Victoria Gwyn lets out a brief laugh, a beautiful, genuine sound of happiness.

Another laugh follows, softer, hesitant, and almost shy, as if unfamiliar with the act yet filled with joy.

Nathaniel opens his arms and pulls his sister into a hug, an act of closeness he rarely initiates on his own.