[Abandoned Timeline; T-8 days, 14 hours.]

POV – Tobias

The clothing makes the person.

That make me a new person! Look at this?

Gesturing toward my new clothing, a brownish leather jacket and light green T-shirt.

Tipping my new black hat, which I’d found in the closet of our new luxury suite.

It’s looks amazing, right?

Definitely! Much better than those girly clothing.

…Let’s ignore the fact the suite apparently has piles of clothing in it’s closets. (Thus, my entire trip to search for clothes was pointless)

More importantly, I’ve managed to find a watch!

Meaning I can accurately keep time without worrying about being late for the next challenge.

Not that Rin really needs me for them…

With that in mind, I want to check out those training rooms.

Since it’s become apparent I’ll probably never be able to help Rin normal combat, I should begin learning other skills.

I might manage to be helpful in other ways if I can learn some magical engineering, warding, programming, etc.

Either way, I need a specialty.

Compared to everyone else I’m all over the place.

My power is for stealth, but my manual is for endurance combat.

As for combat… Well, I’ve mainly focused on avoidance and counterattacking.

Basically, if I had to describe a specialty at the moment… it’s surviving.

Every single skill and ability of mine is entirely focused toward my overall goal of surviving.

I can avoid enemies, outlast them in combat, and potentially take opportunities to escape.

All that would be fine, if my goal was simply surviving…

But… my goal isn’t simply surviving anymore.

I need to change.

If I head into the 4^th zone with my current skill set, I’ll probably be forced to constantly escape without being able to defeat any monsters.

That would lead to a vicious cycle where I’d forever be unable to properly fight.

Even in the 3^rd zone, I’d likely have trouble on my own without Rin.

So I need to focus on a different specialty.

I haven’t quite figured out what I should focus on though.

But, considering my genius, it might be best to learn something that uses my immense mental capacity.

Such as magical wards or programming/hacking.

Learning how to set up traps with wards, or learning how to reprogram an enemy’s gun to explode in their face might be useful.

Thus, I’m going to explore the training rooms for potential ideas.

I would discuss it with Rin… but she’s disappeared and seems to constantly be spending time with her sister.

In fact, I don’t think Rin has left Kara’s side except for the various challenges and sleeping.

I don’t want to blame her for wanting to spend time with her sister… but, it feels incredibly awkward to be around the both of them.

[Abandoned Timeline; T-8 days, 12 hours.]

I managed to find a training room that involves basic warding training.

It even has inside books that I presume would explain the theories behind it. Except, I’m still effectively illiterate and can’t read them…

Hmmm… Although it’s better to have a systematic foundation, it might be best to attempt to practice warding without them.

I already know some of the basic principles of warding because I described them in the novel.

It’s basically all about restricting the flow of mana to create effects on the environment.

Unlike normal casting it’s far cheaper, but takes time to set up and can go catastrophically wrong if done incorrectly.

It basically requires the equivalent of a degree to use properly.

If I do end up making a catastrophic mistake, Rin’s reload power should be enough to prevent it.

So, theoretically, I should be able to mess around and learn a few new tricks gradually working it out for myself.

That’s something to worry about later though… For now, I need to head to the next challenge.

[Player 4’s Challenge Room]

Arriving and entering the door with label four, a system message appeared.

<The randomly chosen challenge is, ‘Capture the Flag’>

<This is a competitive activity, thus an opponent has also been randomly chosen.>

<’Player 4’ will be competing against ‘Player 9’>

<Capture the opponent’s flag and return it to your base’s flag to steal 2 points from them.>

<Alternative solution: Kill all opposing player’s members to acquire all their points.>

<The game will continue for ‘three’ hours.>

<A time dilation effect has been placed on this arena... 1 second outside:3 seconds inside.>

Capture the flag?

Well, I’ll be more useful at this than archery.

I should be able to sneak past and grab the flag…

Although, I doubt my ability would work while carrying the flag.

Doing something that attention grabbing would definitely be noticeable.

Glancing around, I found Rin poisoning her arrows.

What the hell?

Rin’s planning on killing our opponent?

Deciding to ask, “Uhhh… is that poison deadly?”

Rin glanced up toward me. Briefly replying, “Yes.” Before continuing to apply the poison to her weapons.

No, that was supposed to be a subtle indication to stop poisoning your weapons.

It was rhetorical, not be a genuine question.

The bloodthirsty atmosphere around you already informs me that it’s deadly.

Maybe, I should be less subtle?

Watching Rin slowly poison her weapons. I spoke more directly, “So... you plan on killing Player 9?”

To my surprise, Rin clenched her fists slightly before replying with a hint of anger in her voice. “Edward. His name is Edward.”

What? Since when have you bothered to remembering anyone else’s name?

How do you even know his name?

Wait… that’s also the wrong question.

Why do you want Edward dead?

Rin stared me in the eyes and sensed my hesitation toward killing someone.

Rin glanced back down toward her poisonous arrows and said, “Just stay out of the way. It’s a personal problem anyway.”

That… I’m not really sure what to say.

Rin already decided to kill him.

Yet, his crime could range anywhere on a scale of from standing in her way to potentially being a mass murderer.

Is… is it right to let Rin kill him?

Shaking my head, since when have I cared about the ‘right’ thing to do?

I’m not a ‘good’ person.

I’ve never even pretended to be a good person.

I’m on Rin’s side.

Choosing a side means you’ve involuntarily chosen their opponents as enemies.

Allies and enemies are relative.

Rin’s enemies are my enemies.

Speaking up against her here would only imply that I don’t trust Rin.

I might not agree with her choice, but I have no right to stop her.

Instead, this makes things simpler. I won’t have to worry about Edward dying accidentally.

[Player 9’s Challenge Room]

POV Swap – Edward Thomas, Leader of the Eternal Turtle.

<’Capture the Flag’ beginning in 10…>

<9…>

<8…>

So… I’m against ‘Player 4’?

Dangerous.

Considering they’ve won the last two challenges, if they manage to kill me they’ll have enough points to leave.

Conversely though, if I manage to kill them…

This won’t be some kids game though.

Whoever they are they’re definitely good at archery and arena combat.

That much can be inferred from the last two challenges they’ve won.

I’ll have to charge forward initially.

I won’t stand a chance if ‘Player 4’ constantly runs and avoids me.

<…1>

The familiar flash of light from teleportation appeared and the game begun.

Assessing my surrounding, the arena for this game seems to be a grasslands plains with two giant hills representing our bases.

A black flag with a white number 9 written in the native language of this universe was flying nearby on my hill.

This is potentially the worst possible place to fight someone adept at archery.

I need to change this environment.

There's not enough time to do a more in-depth analysis of the surroundings.

Calling forth magic, I created a magical fog to obscure vision.

The white fog spread rapidly throughout the grasslands.

Okay, that should be good for now.

Your move ‘Player 4’.

Will we be playing a game of change the environment?

Hear the twang of a bow, then whistle of an arrow.

Rushing sideways, an arrow flew past my previous position.

I think I can safely assume the answer is no.

Fine, time to cast spells.

First, ‘Dispel and Repel Tracking’ better to prevent further attacks using targeted magic in this environment.

Next, ‘Locate Person’ in case they haven’t yet cast spells to prevent magic tracking.

I’m getting two responses.

One must be a dummy they set up.

Doesn’t matter though, ‘Arrow Rain’.

I’ll attack them both!

Hearing another arrow fly toward me, ‘Barrier’.

The arrow clanged as it deflected off the magical barrier.

Before, dispelling the barrier to prevent it from eating up mana.

Tsk… Despite the fog and dispel magic, they’re still really accurate with those arrows. That one would’ve hit me in the head.

Seems my own arrows did nothing though.

Fine, How about… ‘Silent Ice Spears’

Sending a wave of Ice Spears in the direction of the arrow.

Didn’t hear a cry of pain… Tsk.

I need to initiate close range combat. ‘Ice Armor’

Building a layer of harden ice around myself.

Then began heading toward the arrow’s origin.

The other response from ‘locate person’ must be the fake.

Slowly making my way in the direction of the archer as I blocked arrows. I reached their base.

Finally spotting my adversary, the teenage wolf-eared girl with an metallic bow.

Hmph, didn’t realize she was player 4.

‘Barrier,’ Preemptively blocking her arrow.

Alright, psychological warfare time.

Sounding as condescending as possible, “How worthless. Can't you do anything beside shoot arrows?”

That explains why she hasn’t use magic.

If she’s used an inheritance manual to acquire those wolf-ear, then she’s physically unable to until she gives it up.

Calmly blocking arrow after arrow.

At this rate, I’m going to run out of mana before the time limit is up.

Damn... To utilize my ability to create mental illusions, she need to be in an unstable state of mind.

Which is difficult considering she has deemed my comment unworthy of response.

I’ll need agitate her further then.

Speaking in as condescendingly a manner as possible, “Please keep trying, It’s entertaining to watch the futile struggle of a dying ant… Not like your arrows will never get through my barrier anyway.”

Receiving no response besides the battering of arrows against my barrier.

Changing my strategy, “Honestly, it’s somewhat disappointing. I was hoping for a decent fight before I leave.”

She was hanging out with Kara most of the time, right?

Grinning evilly for her, I spoke. “Maybe, before I abandon this place, I’ll attack Kara. She’ll probably be able to give me a decent fight.”

Finally getting a decent response, her mental barriers weakened.

Launched my mental illusion ability trapping her in an illusion.

Removing my barrier as the girl collapsed to the floor.

To keep her trapped, I set up a repeating mental illusion of me killing Kara.

I don’t know if that will work again though… and considering how much I had to anger her…

She’s too dangerous to leave around as an potential future enemy.

I’ll probably have to dispose of her soon before she awakens.

Ugh, I hate killing people. Especially, teenagers.

Wait… she couldn’t cast magic, how could she create a fake on ‘locate person’.

Damn, there’s another person. ‘Barrier!’

Creating a barrier behind myself, I barely blocked an ambush strike.

That barrier burned through the majority of my mana though.

How powerful are they?

Jumping away from the attacker, I managed to spot him.

A black-haired kid with golden eyes, probably not much older than the girl, wielding a green scaled dagger.

I don’t have the mana to survive another direct attack.

Avoid direct blocks.

‘Fireball Inferno’

Sending a gigantic fireball engulfed my new opponent as I backed away.

That probably won’t be enough though.

Unfortunately, my fears were confirmed when he walked out of the inferno unharmed.

Those golden eyes radiate danger.

Think, what famous beasts have dangerous eyes?

Basilisks? Uhhh, no time or information to make another guess.

‘Anti-Petrify’

Casting the status protection spell, the danger I felt from his eyes dissipated.

Breathing a mental sigh of relief.

‘Air blade’

I sent off a blade of air toward him to buy time.

Realistically, I can probably only cast four powerful spells or a dozen weak ones.

Who is he? Why haven’t I seen him before?

I’d kept tabs on everyone in the main lobby during the first announcement.

Keep him talking and occupied until I can establish a physiological profile.

I asked tauntingly, “What? You afraid I was going to kill your girlfriend?”

His eye’s flashed a dangerous light, and I felt my ‘Anti-Petrify’ spell activate and disappear.

Damn, that was dangerous. If I hadn’t cast that I would’ve died.

Contrary to my inner thought, my boasting only got bolder, “Pft… Like something like that would work on me… Honestly, petrification?”

Watching as he backed slowly over toward the collapsed girl to check on her.

So, he cares about that girl. Potential weakness.

Still, I continued exaggerating, “Literally the first thing anyone with half a brain would do after noticing golden eyes like yours is cast a spell to avoid petrification.”

His mental state hasn’t destabilized. If anything it’s only gotten sturdier.

Seems talking is having the opposite effect.

How do I destabilize it?

Kill the girl?

I doubt any spell would be able to kill her from this distance.

I’ll have to use that explosive artifact that I’ve been saving.

‘Fireball Inferno’

Casting a spell to disguise my intention.

I quickly pulled the explosive out of my pocket activated it, and attempted to throw it toward the duo.

Something caught my hand… and I never got change to throw it.

What?

Somehow he'd instantly arrived in front of me and caught my hand before I could throw it.

Attempting to jerk my hand away to throw the explosive, I instinctively yelled. "Let go!"

If this thing goes off, it’ll kill the both of us!

However... hearing a sharp beep, I realized it was already too late... *Boom*