The Count of Vermillion City did not appear to be that old.But, if the system is correct, he was 186 years old.And his strength was... average.I'm not sure how he dared to reveal his face in public after nearly two centuries yet only attaining the seventh circle.So, I understand. I can't condemn them because not everyone had a system like mine.Those Brightwing Academy students were all under the age of 20, and the majority of them had already attained the A-rank.It simply goes to show that the younger generation is getting better and better, and it will eventually overtake the older generation....South Of Brightwing Empire.A group of individuals had just emerged from a dungeon's gate.This was an everyday occurrence. After all, it was usual for people to enter the dungeon in search of treasures.This time, however, things were different."That was very close. I can't believe the first time we entered this dungeon, we almost got eaten.""That was anticipated...hufff... Just gi
Solan took a keen interest in the ice core.She had spent so much time inside the dungeon, yet this was the first time she had heard of a core that could give a person an element."Master, why haven't we encountered such a core or a creature that drops such a core?"I squinted.One could argue that only I had access to the dungeon's deeper levels, yet despite this, I never obtained a core that offered the same advantages as the ice core.I had the same thought. "Let's ask Wise after the auction.""The ice core is very mysterious, Master. It enables anyone to obtain an ice element and even advance to the B-rank. I have a feeling that none of the auction items will be simple. And I believe we should be capable of obtaining it.""Ah, a core to go to B-rank."I was dumbfounded as I considered how much effort and peril I had gone through in the past to achieve the B-rank, whereas the mere core of a monster might change one's destiny."Ice Core bidding begins at 50,000. Every bid must be a
"They had better not try any shenanigans. I'm not afraid of destroying this city, let alone an auction."Solan wrung her head in frustration."With this lineup, Master, you'll have no choice but to stay low. Haha. "Anyway, I concurred.This auction was jam-packed with folks I don't want to clash with. I wasn't afraid of anyone, but I don't want to go up against an entire clan, much alone many families."Master, take it easy. A reputable auction company will not play us like that, otherwise, they would lose credibility if news gets out.""Ok. Let us now wait.""The Elven Crown has a starting price of 100,000 gold. Every bid must be greater than 10,000 gold."It was proclaimed by the Count.They were well aware of the specific valuations of the goods as well as they were a well-known auction house."Two hundred thousand gold."As soon as he finished speaking, someone from the first-class stand began bidding and added a hundred thousand.The auction was deafeningly quiet.After all, the
The bid had reached a total of twenty million gold coins. Even the top brass had given up by this point.The imperial's first-class chamber was deafeningly quiet."Never mind, it's just a somewhat exceptional weapon after all, and it can only substantially expand its power once who knows how many lives have been taken.""This weapon is only beneficial to people who live in the dungeons or despicable murderers. Instead, we'll save our money and get a Disasterranked blade.""Who knows if this blade may cause problems? Then we could easily take action and confiscate this sword. After all, it is providing justice for those who have been murdered by the blade."The Imperials were no longer interested in the Devouring Blade.The Devouring Blade was eventually purchased by the Ironwing Ducal House for a total of 23 million gold coins."I never imagined that such a terrible and vicious weapon would be sought after and sold at such a high price after being reforged."I couldn't stop sighing.I
The auction for the Stele of Future Past has begun."Four hundred thousand gold coins.""Four hundred and fifty thousand gold coins."This stele did not capture the attention of many people.By the time all was said and done, it was only a stele. It could be a legendary treasure, endowing the holder with the ability to shake the sky. It could possibly be nothing more than a useless bit of stone."System, do you recognize the value of this stele?""..." The system was deafeningly quiet."If I want to get this, I have to offend some significant individuals here."I thought I heard the system sigh right then and there. Then again, I thought it might have simply been in my head."The host is now in the third circle.""The host can reach the fifth circle in three months after using the stele.""What? Do you mean that this stele will provide me with experience?""Yes."I think I'm out of options. I was prepared to sweep the entire third floor of the dungeon only to get to the fourth circle.
[Blade of Seven Seas-Disaster Rank][Ancient Disaster-ranked sword forged from the corpses of World Turtle, an extinct epic creature species. This enormous sea creature resembles a sea turtle, with a carapace so massive that travellers mistook it for an island. The sailors would then fall on its back, where the beast would overturn and devour them with its massive beak.][The Blade is capable of evolving.]"An Epic Rank Monster that is Extinct?""That is an intriguing subject. I'm curious what was so horrific that it drove an entire species of creatures capable of reaching epic rank extinct.""Unfortunately, I don't have somebody with whom I could discuss such matters.""You make people uncomfortable, Master. You're talking to yourself once more.""You won't get it, Solan. You are still in the dark about such significant issues. The less you know about it, the better." I expressed myself solemnly."Master, why do you always act as though something is immensely complicated and dangerou
A white-clothed youth with a breathtaking radiance emerged from the second-class compartment.He then carefully moved his gaze to the first-class compartment, where the Imperials were seated."Princess, Please accept my apologies for having taken this thing.""It's ok, Mister Hellif. Since Mister Hellif has done so, it must be of paramount importance." The Princess replied gently once again from the First Class chamber.Hellif nodded calmly, but his next words caught everyone's attention: "I wonder how the heroes are doing?"Princess Arika smirked. This was not the place for them to discuss anything related to the heroes. Nevertheless, even if it were, she couldn't access it.Even among the Imperials, her sister, Princess Ladia, was the only one who could speak of the heroes."Please accept my apologies, Hellif. But you are well aware that I do not have access to such knowledge, and even if I did, I am just not required to speak about it."Her usually sweet voice had taken on a faint
While some of the nobility were interested in the four fruits that had been carried out as the final item, others were not."A bunch of idiots squandering their money on frivolous items." The elves' Grand Elder scoffed silently as he and his followers walked away resolutely.His figure flickered and vanished from his chamber with almost anyone noticing.The Imperial Chamber."The Grand Elder has departed."Eleven remarked quietly as he peered into the location of the elven chamber, having a strange feeling.He honestly believed that because elves were historically connected to and associated with nature, they would be the first to realize the value of the fruits. They could quickly detect the aura emitted by any fruit or plant, even if something was blocking the aura.So he paused for a moment, wondering if the fruits were a fraud."It's a good thing that old man is no longer around. I had the impression he was always looking at us. Nothing good will happen if someone of such kind is
"Hey! Why should we listen to a brat like you?" The interjection came from the back of the crowd, a young soldier, his face flushed with anger, his eyes blazing with defiance. The rest of the soldiers turned to stare, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.A genuine smile spread across my face. Finally, someone had the audacity to speak up. A flicker of satisfaction ignited within me. This was exactly what I had been hoping for, wasn't it? Didn't this feel like the natural order of things?I had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. There was no way these esteemed scions of nobility and battle-hardened knights would meekly submit to the commands of a mere child. The moment I was elected commander of one of the three mighty armies, I knew this tension would inevitably arise. After all, who among these talented warriors would willingly follow a teenager with little to boast of in terms of accomplishments? And let's not forget the shadow of my less-than-st
Ladia couldn't help but castigate herself for her lapse in judgment. How had she not seen it before? If the involvement of the magic towers would significantly aid the Empire, then the impact of the very person who had defeated the magicians of the tower participating would be monumental.The princess's heart thrummed with the realization, chiding herself for taking so long to come to this epiphany. Was Ethan's proposal the correct course of action or not? She no longer dwelled on the question.With a steely gaze, Ladia announced, "I have reached a verdict."The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the princess. The final decision lay in her hands, and she was ready to reveal it. The anticipation hung heavy in the air, and Ladia took a deep breath before continuing. "I have decided to accept Ethan's proposal."A murmur of surprise rippled through the room, but Ladia held up her hand for silence. "I believe that Ethan's plan, with a few modifications, is the best course of action for
My suggestion ignited a firestorm of debate among the upper echelons of the capital. The princess convened her officials in the grand throne room, where the air was thick with tension and uncertainty as they deliberated their next course of action. Ultimately, the march toward the City of Aran was postponed by a full day, a delay that weighed heavily on everyone present. The officials found themselves divided, caught between two stark choices: should they attempt to reclaim the nearby City of Aran from the Beast Kingdom, or should they focus their efforts on retaking the more strategically significant City of Northfall?"But, Your Majesty," one of the officials interjected, his voice rising above the murmurs of the assembly, "as we stand now, we cannot afford to risk an attack on the Northfall Fortress! I have heard reports that the beastmen have fortified their walls and laid even more traps to ensnare us! If we allow this farce to continue, we will be nothing more than lambs led to
A chill snaked down Ryle's spine. Ethan's suggestion hung in the air, heavy and suffocating, like a shroud woven from despair. To attack City of Aran, a fortress city now bristling with tens of thousands of Beast Kingdom soldiers, felt like a declaration of utter annihilation. Even Lance, their most valiant commander, had fallen captive within its walls.Ryle's brow creased into a deep furrow. He, too, was a commander of the Initiation Army, a man who had tasted the bitterness of defeat and the sting of loss. He couldn't fathom how Ethan, this newly appointed leader, could so blithely propose a course of action that reeked of self-destruction."I cannot, in good conscience, agree with your plan," Ryle stated, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. "As we stand now, attacking Northfall City is a fool's errand, a suicide mission. We are scattered, depleted, and outmatched. We must first rally our remaining forces, regroup along the borders, and then, and only then,
"Ryle Green, step forward!" the Royal advisor said, seeing Ryle was in a daze.Ryle coughed and stepped forward, his heart pounding with excitement as he knelt before the Princess."Ryle Green, you are hereby granted authority over fifty thousand soldiers," the Princess said, her voice like a melody that soothed the soul. "You shall be the commander of the Vanguard Army!"With a snap of her fingers, the Princess bestowed an insignia upon Ryle's shoulder, its glow of light like a beacon of hope in the face of the looming threat of the Beast Kingdom."I will crush those beastmen for you, Your Highness!" Ryle said, his voice filled with determination and resolve.The Princess smiled, her eyes filled with pride and hope. "We have faith in you, Ryle," she said. "Together, we will defeat the Beast Kingdom and restore peace to our lands."Princess Ladia nodded, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. "I expect a lot from the younger generation, Ryle," she said, her voice laced with both encou
The Dwarven Kingdom, a land renowned for its glittering wealth, held its breath. The Brightwing Empire’s meager offer, a desperate plea for aid, was all they had to entice the notoriously hard-drinking mercenaries. Even if their weapons were outdated, their reputation for unmatched effectiveness in battle preceded them. Surely, that would be enough.“Your Majesty,” a guard murmured, his voice barely a tremor in the air. “They have arrived.”Princess Ladia, lost in a labyrinth of thought, startled slightly. She had wrestled with the decision for what felt like an eternity, but finally, a solution had emerged. All that remained was to face them, to meet their gaze and offer her hand in this desperate alliance.Viscount Lamiel, a man whose arrogance was only surpassed by his thirst for gold, strode into the royal garden, flanked by a legion of equally boisterous mercenaries. Princess Ladia recognized most of them – the nobles summoned by the crown, their faces etched with a mixture of g
The scene unfolded with brutal efficiency. Several soldiers, their faces grim and resolute, descended upon Drew and the other soldier, their movements swift and decisive. There was no struggle, no desperate pleas for mercy. They walked away with heads bowed, accepting their fate with a stoic silence that spoke volumes of their resignation.Ryle, his expression a mixture of weariness and amusement, ran a hand through his hair, a sigh escaping his lips. "What a waste of a perfectly good sleep," he muttered, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation. "Young men like myself need our rest, yet everyone seems determined to disrupt my slumber over such trivial matters."His gaze shifted to me, and a playful smile curved his lips. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said, extending a hand towards me. "Ryle Green, third son of Count Green, and as you might be able to tell, the future commander of this very army." He spoke with an air of unwavering confidence, his words carrying the weight of
Two soldiers from a rival camp, their boots crunching on the gravel path, happened upon the conversation. One soldier, his face contorting with barely suppressed mirth, clamped a hand over his mouth, desperately trying to stifle a chuckle. His companion, sensing the impending eruption, jabbed him in the ribs with an elbow, a silent plea for decorum. But the laughter, like a trapped spring, was too powerful to contain. Tears welled in the soldier's eyes, threatening to spill over as his shoulders shook with silent mirth. Finally, with a strangled cry, he burst into a full-blown guffaw. "Hahahaha! If it's the Young Master leading us! Hahaha! We'll be able to… Pft! Hahaha!"The sound of his uncontrolled laughter echoed through the camp, drawing curious glances from nearby soldiers. Gaston, his face a mask of confusion and irritation, turned to the source of the amusement. "Excuse me, but what's so funny?" he demanded, his voice laced with displeasure.The soldier, still gasping for br
The unyielding army of the Ice Demon City had been journeying for a considerable number of weeks, traversing a multitude of cities and towns along the way. During our sojourns, we would occasionally restock our supplies, find respite in taverns, and often in the great outdoors, before resuming our arduous trek.Given the unfortunate circumstances, we were informed that the Ice Demon City was the most distant of all cities from the capital. This reality meant that we were among the last to receive the urgent message, compelling us to join the ranks of the other nobles and their armies in the capital.It was in the fourth week of our relentless march that we finally arrived in the grand and magnificent Capital city. The journey had been long and arduous, but our determination never wavered, as we knew our presence was required in these critical times. I had already surmised that the majority of the other nobles and their forces would have already amassed in the capital, readying themse