Weapons of Mass Destruction

Chapter 581: Start of the third event

The third event is going on in the same way as during the 1st tournament.

Each common area has dozens of dedicated viewing spaces, each centered around its own huge screen. It’s a bit chaotic, even more so than before, due to the many challenges happening all at once. And yet the influx of people gathering around the screens doesn’t slow, as groups claim their own spaces at the tops of the surrounding hills, waiting for the more notable participants to take on their challenges.

Such attention is primarily reserved for individuals from Hell difficulty. Whenever one of them steps forward, groups gather round to watch like hawks. Often, itʼs simply curiosity and free entertainment. In other cases, it might also provide satisfaction, as individuals from Hell difficulty tend to challenge much stronger opponents in an attempts to learn something new. Watching them get severely beaten is something I find entertaining, and many from lower difficulties share this opinion.

For me, at least, it’s fascinating. There are groups of people keeping track of the aliases of everyone from Hell difficulty. They even have something akin to cards with notes, and copies of these cards are made to be shared, often in exchange for items such as a common dagger or an uncommon cloak.

One of these cards even made its way to me, loaded with details on Swordmaster from the 8th group called TheGuild. According to the card, Swordmasterʼs level is estimated to be somewhere around 250, and his stat distribution is estimated to be something along the lines of 3 parts dexterity, 2.5 parts strength, 2 parts constitution, and 1-2 parts mana.

It’s even been rumored that he possesses an upper epic sword and cloth armor. His attribute upgrade is estimated to be for mana potency, and there are even guesses about his skills, such as [Sword Manipulation], [Quick Step], and [Swish Swoosh].

It is clear that people from lower difficulties have been having some fun with it, but it also shows that when it comes to skills that they don’t tend to have the same understanding of the system. Even in Hard difficulty, people tend to have skills like [Water Bullet] or [Fire Wall], while a person from Hell would have something more along the lines of [Water Manipulation] or [Pyrokinesis].

There are a few rare people from lower difficulties, the talented ones, who, through concerted effort, manage to acquire skills similar to Hell difficulty. But that’s just another place where the difference in capability becomes apparent. For them, these skills tend to be much more difficult to control and level. Their minds and bodies aren’t quite as attuned to them, and they generally lack our intuitive use of these abilities.

It is something I am sure they could work on, given time. They can learn, study, develop their own theories, and vastly improve. Given enough time and resources, their abilities could develop even further. I am sure there will be theories to be discussed, knowledge traded, and disciples to expand upon them. They might even establish schools to exchange and share knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding of their skills.

Meanwhile, in Hell difficulty, it is just like ”I just feel it, bro.”

People, especially from Hard difficulty, are busy forming theories on mana and other energies and the nature of their influence on reality, or thinking about the ways teleportation twists spacetime. Some have already proposed that subtle shifts in ambient mana density could alter fundamental physical laws, potentially allowing for entirely new interactions between mana and matter.

Meanwhile, we from Hell smash sticks and rocks together just to get a spark out of it.

Just as the system intended.

During the hours leading up to the event, I find myself being joined by Dennis and Aaron, who hand me a card that seems to contain a rough estimate of my abilities.

When I look at the two of them, they simply say, ”Just read it. Itʼs funny as hell.”

And so I do as I’m told.

Community alias:Noname

Appearance:Slightly above average height, black hair, heterochromia – the right one is brown and the left one is gray. Heterochromia possibly existed before the tutorial, though it may still be some kind of fancy trait.

His eyes are rumored to sometimes have a golden circle around his pupils.

Note: Calm expression perhaps part of a concentration skill? [IDGAF], [Punchable Face], [Concentration]?

Attribute upgrade:Mana Amplificator.

Note: 100% for sure; the man literally shits out mana.

Note: Lol, yeah, maybe thatʼs how he flies.

Estimated Stat allocation:5 mana, 2 constitution, 1 strength, 1 dexterity? Very confusing; it could be more skewed towards mana, but his physical stats almost seem too strong. Trait? Skill? Passive? Possible transfer of mana into physical stats?

Note: No shot this is natural; heʼs definitely cooking.

Traits:Eye based trait, possibly indicated by a golden circle around the pupil – theorized to be related to mana.

Second trait:roughly theorized to be something to do with mana.

Note: No shit.

Active skills:rough guesses: [Mana Manipulation].

Note: No shit.

A concentration skill or a skill allowing for expanded mental capacity, and something enabling flight. He is rumored to possess primordial kinetic energy, which he uses to fly.

Note: two people from Hell difficulty shared their expert opinion, noting how “fucking hard” it would be to fly that way.

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Often uses “orbs of fucking destruction” – multiple varieties and strengths.

Sometimes uses fire skills. It is believed to be another primordial energy. Two guys from Hell difficulty were unable to confirm whether it is possible that Noname has two of them - very rare if true.

Teleportation over long distances – often even a mile or more.

Shown to have a moderate capacity for regeneration.

Note: prefers to replace his missing body parts with mana based prosthetics.

Note: wtf

Long-range mana projectiles observed – anyone below Hell difficulty is unable to block them.

Disruption confirmed – capable of piercing even the natural barriers of Hell difficulty attendees.

Black mana observed – absorbs all surrounding mana? Disruption based skill? No more information.

Passives: Highly likely to support body and mind. Something turning mana into physical stats?

Level: One of the highest in the earth tutorial, based on capabilities of large-scale destruction – possibly (while unlikely) over 300.

I look at the two of them and ask, ”Who are these two guys from Hell difficulty who got asked these questions?”

”No idea!”

”I thought so,” I say as I hand them the card back.

”There are a lot of people watching you, and even if these guys were just making these cards for fun, Iʼm sure people like Samuel and those from the other rounds have much more detailed information, especially after seeing you fight in the events.”

”It could cause trouble during the 4th and 5th events,” Aaron adds.

”Yes,” I confirm, ”I’ve already noticed a few people from the other rounds snooping around; they’re probably collecting information.”

”What, really?” Dennis asks, surprised.

”You dumbass,” Aaron shakes his head, ”Sophie’s got a few guys doing the same thing for us.”

”I wasnʼt surprised about that! Itʼs just that I didn’t even notice.”

I point them out to the two, ”The guy on the bench, in the yellow shorts and black beanie. The woman in the group of our Easy difficulty, wearing jeans and a white shirt, the boy under the trees eating a snack. And a few more.”

”How do you know?”

”If I had to say, it’s because they’re trying too hard to suppress their mana, they’re probably from Hell difficulty, but I don’t recognize them as anyone from our round. There’s probably more mixed in with the lower difficulties, not to mention the ones who aren’t even bothering to hide their mana.” I shrug, ”Honestly, there’s not much we can do about it.”

”We could send Lily after the ones we find,” Dennis observes, regarding the people I’ve just pointed out.

”You or Aaron could take them out yourselves if you really want. Iʼm also fairly confident that Sophie’s detected a few more using the web she’s woven around our zone, so go ahead and have fun if you want to.”

”Will do,” Aaron says, grabbing Dennis by the shoulders and pulling him away, ”Later, Nat, and good luck; if you need anything…”

”I will ask, of course. See you later.”

Left on my own, I observe more fights while refraining from training for now. At this point, I’ve thoroughly tested my limits. I know how far I can push myself before my heart bursts and/or my brain melts. I have tested it in so many ways and explored every possible application of nearly all my skills.

So, for the moment at least, I’m focused on coming up with new ways to push myself further, to drive myself past that limit. Perhaps a slightly different rhythm of my heartbeat, just a slight delay between pulses to prevent my body from burning. Maybe I could sacrifice a bit of efficiency and channel my mana through a more durable pathway to allow myself to channel it for longer, with much more force.

Where at the start I just did whatever came to mind, I’ve steadily grown more deliberate. A small part of my mind serves to take mental notes of all the things I’ve tested. And every few tests, I review those notes and either continue or change my objectives.

I’m not generally a fan of those methods, but it’s going to be necessary to get as much as possible out of this tournament. Especially now that more and more people are getting to know my abilities and working to come up with ways to counter them.

From Victoria, I even got information that a few rounds are working together to take her and me down. Vic, Jean, and I are all considered wild cards. Jean, maybe to a lesser extent, given that he often listens to people from his round, who have shown themselves to be more reasonable.

Victoria has full control over her round, with it being entirely under her command through her power and the power of her group, which has the most members left out of any Hell group in the Earth tutorial. Each of these group members is someone capable of surviving 7 floors and is currently on the 8th. So itʼs no surprise her round is rated as very dangerous.

Our 5th round is also considered threatening. Tacita, for example, was given one of the highest threat ratings, and the same goes for Savant and Sophie. Tacita, Savant, and Lily are each considered to be at the level of kings, and Sophie, in certain situations, can be considered one of the most dangerous people in the tutorial.

There is just so much information being leaked or uncovered about the attendees, and I suspect this might be one of the systemʼs intentions behind the tournament.

Considering that, I continue observing the Challenges. Savant goes in and challenges the same man he did during the first tournament, and just like before, Champion Tristan handles him effortlessly. The only difference is that Savant endures the attack for a fraction of a second longer.

Lily steps up against a Greater Mimic, immediately activating her mantle and blocking its attacks with her bone axe. The fight is impressive, and I watch as she takes damage, only to regenerate in an instant and continue facing down the powerful monster. She combines an incredibly durable body, near-instantaneous healing, and possibly the strongest offensive skill Iʼve ever seen. Her disturbingly high potential is clear. Numerous paths are open to her, any of which could transform her into something extraordinary.

The rest of Group 4 steps in as well, and almost all of them choose to face a Greater Mimic. That makes me realize that they’re using this as a training opportunity and preparing for our return to the seventh floor. Only Sophie faces a man who I assume is an Archon from the sixth floor, as he resembles Beatrice, while Maya challenges her lynthari teacher, just like in the previous tournament.

Each of these fights is carefully scrutinized, and I notice the dark expressions on the faces of some of the people from Hell when they see certain members of our group fight.

It grows especially interesting when some from the 5th roundʼs Hell difficulty begin challenging the winner of their roundʼs first tournament.

Myself.

All four who attempt it lose. My Avatar from a year ago tears through them. Injured or damaged, it continues to bite, spit, sacrifice parts of its body, and willingly tanks powerful attacks just to land another strike. The last two challengers are especially fun to watch. Both rely on mana, and they get obliterated almost instantly. However prepared as they might be, the power of my Avatarʼs disruption takes them by surprise, and when that isnʼt enough, the black mana it creates leaves them helpless.

And as the timer ticks down, I make my move.

Reaching one of the platforms, I look at the screen and declare, ”I want to challenge Absolute Candidate Ruby.”