Tired or not, Murai still squeezed his mana, even if he had trouble with the fatigue of those lightning strikes. Glancing at the Key on the ground, he wondered what that was about. “A Key?” Mindarch ntioned sothing about so Key, but it was nothing else than barebone words. There was also so Question Mark, poising as an information request or so trade for information.
“Should be sothing exciting for your part.” Lisa suddenly whispered to his ears, floating behind him and pointing to the man. “Not for him, though. He lost this to you. He is the loser from Hell.” At so point, the Space Cage ceased to exist, letting her and Lorry in. Murai hadn't noticed it.
Lisa didn't understand everything that had occurred here, but she already got an idea from watching the surroundings and both sides of this conflict.
Murai wasn't looking the best, but he was far better than his foe.
At the end of 68th Island, slave 408 gave up after being unwilling to break his body more. It wasn't ironic or good. Sotis, it wasn't good to turn things unsightly further.
“So, this is it?” Murai asked vaguely, feeling that this was a bit underwhelming end of this clash. Noticing Lisa, who retrieved the Key from the ground, he still wondered if it was sothing good or an incoming disappointnt.
Lorry floated forward to scold the man so more, blabbering nonsense as if he was a fool deserving so punishnt. But it wasn't fitting, as the man had his own stakes made by Mindarch, so he hardly cared for Lorry's blabbering nonsense. He had to be silent, accepting this nonsense unless he wished to bear the results of his defiance. Lorry shouldn't be like this, although he enjoyed this far too much.
“Well, I learned but not earned quite well out of this mission, so calling it great is more than good. Good fight deserves proper aftermatch.” Slave 408 nodded to himself, even though he felt every kind of pain all over his body. He wanted to take a step forward and kneel before one of his superiors, but he smacked his upper body down instead. His legs were deeply subrged in the sand and his wounds were deep.
Smacking his face to the ground, he smiled while feeling the sand in his eyes, mouth, and nose.
“You fool!” Lorry cursed him as he had more words to tell to his face.
“Alright. I may not stand straight.” He said as sand pressed on his face. His last remaining ntions of his Vortexe Shaping ceased to exist next, going into the remains of the Catalysts that will need so extensive repairs. “Righ. I forgot. I suppose sir Guide doesn't have to be mad anymore, but the mighty Mindarch did serve a mission. I served my purpose already, giving up to gain nothing in return.”
“R-return? Lorry will make sure 408 will get a proper punishnt in return!” Lorry shouted, not one bit ashad to be like this. Considering any common sense outside or within the norm, every piece of interest from the Hell Haven had stakes involved in such Gates and Challengers.
This place held pivotal importance to Levandis and her forces. Challengers from the Surface were just mild additions that she was forced to accept, but the majority of Challengers were her own troops.
Her own forces were coming to this place in steady numbers, creating a flow she proclaid to be the best way to give them strength. Mindarch ran this place like works of Law, so it was possible all because of him.
The fact was, that the man facing the ground was a slave to much more than this entire situation. He knew it as he accepted it long ago, but he couldn't help feeling the coldness, hotness, and sharpness of the sand on his face. He lost sothing he worked hard for and he couldn't do anything about it.
Everything was fair.
The terms around slavery were widespread around the Battleworld. He was a re warrior in many instances of wars and conflicts, ant to follow the powers that wanted his rcenary and adventure status. He lost his way against Hell, becoming a war slave afterward. Servitude was war slaves' description, as they were contractually obliged to be slaves, but war was a word with a different aning from eternal slaves.
For slaves to fight for their captors or buyers, was normal across the board.
But war slaves weren't individuals who were deeply rooted in slavery. They still held their heads high, hoping to achieve their freedom by any ans necessary. It was often extensive and hard, t with demise and problems of all kinds, but they could gain their freedom back.
War slavery provided a lot of benefits on many fronts. It wasn't far from giving prisoners of war so aning and not becoming enemies of winners was good. From monetary incentives to fighting and resources, it was an effective way to make armies, forces, or gangs.
There were always contracts involved, but they were hardly very deep or complicated. After all, the roots of the war slaves were smooth and easy to understand. A winner dictated the rules. As long as they served well, they held a chance to gain freedom, ans of progression, and other chances.
And in Hells, this position wasn't overly dramatic or terrible. It was just different.
Having limited freedom wasn't so different from being a follower of so power, but even amongst them or their captors, there were differences. So were no different from slaves because they lacked talents or status. Others were not far from being subordinates that could outgrow their slave status.
However, it still worked strangely because Battleworld was a very diverse world where many races acted around many other races, making up all kinds of powers. It put additional complications to already established politics, making wars for resources, people, and power difficult topics to understand.
Gods were also not against it, so the ending result was an overlapping interest from people and many races. Hence, slave markets were almost in every corner of the world.
It also made sense there were many beings against it, but since the majority preferred not changing the already established status quo, it didn't change. So in so twisted way of force, it was a reminder of how power ruled the world and how weaklings had to adjust to those in power. Where power ruled over the others, the winners were powerful.
Murai understood it straight away after hearing the ntion of slavery from Iris. This man before him was no sorry fool. He just lost his ways because he was either too weak, or made wrong enemies. Murai knew this sort of thing wasn't a rare sight. Similar to everything drifting in the worlds in the universe, all intelligent creatures had so form of this problem. Diversity created drama, power established the status quo, and intelligence provided a constant loop.
There was no denying it. It was how it went and will go.
Glancing at his body and forcing his legs out of the miserable sand, Murai stood up and shook his feathers like a duck diving out of the water. He was all dusty and filthy, and he barely cald the sudden surge of exhaustion out of his mind. He was proud after winning this fight without a single significant wound on his body.
But he still felt tired from the inside out, knowing that he strained his core a little after pushing his Peak to its limit. However, most of it was caused by enduring the Vortex Shaping that not only pushed against his Peak, it tested his body.
He felt it more than he enjoyed.
Those lighting shredding strikes hurt him, chipping into his Will and spirit, and punishing him bit by bit over a long period of ti which ended up being quite a lot at the end. Straining his feathers, neck, and legs, he didn't rember a single attack from his past foes in this Gate that forced him in this way.
And there were supposed to be more of these guys?
He wasn't sure if he should smile or cry.
His beak was the main endurant of most of this Island, but it was as if it hadn't gone against a too-powerful spell. It was still straight, strong as always, while a simple shake of his body reford his featherful appearance, although his feathers were still looking a little chaotic. It looked like that wasn't a problem for him. Not when he was still a duck.
He scanned his inside and figured out everything about his condition. He was actually far from a pristine condition.
He spent more than 5 Islands' worth of effort on this Island alone, and it ran his mind wild how he had done it. A little bit of strain and effort, and everything turned up a notch.
It was a great reminder that he needed. In order to get going with his Shaping and power, challenges such as these were necessary.
Well, this worked well. At least my Peak has truly outshined my ideas. Going for a second-long channeling after Blitz does seem to have its limit, but when I put more mana into Peak afterward, it is like adding fuel to a rough fla. It outputs a lot of mana through my core, going to the spine, neck, and beak. Attacking and its use is unlike the Blitz. They have different conditions, but similar styles make the adjustnts hard to ta. It needs proper form. He thought as he spread his wings, and stretched his body to feel his physical conditions.
Lisa was silent behind his side, wondering sothing as she usually did.
“Feel you got left out?” Murai asked her because she was unusually silent.
“Nothing more than the sun shining down.” She snorted and held the Key with disinterest. “On the contrary, you look worse than usual. Was it that hard to touch your limits? What have you done anyway? That slave is in quite so tatters for level 40-sothing Handler.”
“Crashed him enough.”
“You look like that yourself.”
Murai chuckled, thinking that she may be correct. He slept before this island, yet he felt he needed even more rest after a single Island afterward. He felt like laughing indeed. So he proceeded towards the source of this ss, or at least part of it. He walked fine, but deep down, his core rumbled and his bones ached.
“What is this, Lorry? Stop pestering this broken man.” He quacked.
Lorry turned to Murai, unwilling to let this slave go without further reminders. There was a clear status hierarchy that Slave 408 adhered to. How it went was mostly convenient to the top brackets of any hierarchy, but with any loss ca consequences. Slave 408 couldn't get to his feet, nor did he care for it.
“Right. Hph! Murai is right to let go of unnecessary things, much to 408's pleasure, Lorry presu?”
The man kept his attention sharp, albeit his body was far away from it. He had a few issues with ntal strains or his mouth. “Oh, so the na is Murai? Good. Good. This has been a good battle, sir Murai!” he said through the sand, trying to shout but it wasn't all that successful. “I hope your remaining battles will be as good as this one, and don't feel one bit like holding back! I swear I will let this story of another Anatidae fighting in this temple rise into the Hell Haven! On my na of a Long Zi.”
“Long Zi?” Murai almost burst into a laugh after hearing his na. It had so funny implications in a few languages he knew. In a rough translation, it ant a long dick or a nose. Neither was probably too accurate, but Murai wasn't curious about finding the languages right or wrong.
At least the latter was clearly false since Long Zi had ordinary features, making him not ugly or handso per se. However, Murai wasn't one to judge one's appearance because he was a duck himself.
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“Well then. Tell him that I am glad that he takes this loss this way, but what is that Key? A good fight is good, but I still wished for more.” Murai ordered Lorry, who gulped his words down, no longer willing to talk down on Long Zi. He told what Murai said, leaving a deep impression on Long Zi's face, who appeared to be humbled for so reason, even though he was a talent rising in the Hell Haven.
At this point, a successful ssage was put forth by Mindarch, shaking everyone on the ground as his thunderous ssages spread.
[68th Island has been completed. Excellent job as always Citizen M, albeit with a side of failure from our side.]
[A double point bonus has been applied.]
[Points have been recalculated.]
[Tier: Satisfactory.]
“What about that key?” Murai asked again as if he hoped for an answer.
Surprisingly, Mindarch answered it. [It is an additional bonus that has been seen, but the fight has been accomplished, albeit not killed. A Key is a token of accomplishnt, as our side has certain privileges and options besides taking Challengers from the Surface. Slave 408 is a taker of different paths of this temple and Gates. With this battle, he loses part of his hope, giving up on a retrieved Key that ans so chances and wealth.]
[It is called a Key for a reason, as it opens up a place of specialized treasures at the end of Gate 2.]
Murai wasn't all that happy to hear it ant sothing after enduring all of these Islands in this Gate. He enjoyed imdiate rewards, rather than those that would be interesting later.
[Additional information reveals a vast degree of greater accomplishnt, coming from battles or luck. Keys can be found in specialized islands, fallen foes, or even further Gates down below that point into better Keys. They can be exchanged in the temple alone, or spent by special circumstances that I, great Mindarch, can grant alone.]
[It requires luck, or a very specified set of information upon entering and accomplishing the Gates across this temple. Special rewards rooms all act in tougher pictures, forming a desire that many want to seek and get. It is all about the Artifacts after all! A treasure that could change the n's hearts.]
[Also, so of the enemies may drop variants of the Keys that may give different chances or different brackets of the rewards, depending on the level and difficulties up to the Key. The Key you've found on 68th Island is of Bronze Quality, allowing Citizen M to view and decide on a Level 20 Relic Artifact or below.]
“Oh! Relic Artifact? Finally, words I can get into my head. Sounds familiar. What does it an in this context and world, Lisa? You must know how Keys or those Artifacts perform and act here, don't you?” Murai sent this wonder directly to her mind.
Lisa remained floating beside his side, handling the spatial pouch in one hand and Key that spoke of so value and rewards in another. It was rough to call it a Key, but it did look to open so sort of chanism. Or it was a re token that had no need for a keyhole.
Murai wasn't sure.
He was convinced that such a simple-looking key must have an equally poor lock. Any proper thief would lockpick such things with ease, albeit he wasn't one to do that, since he had no proper hands, leading to his silent disappointnt that his previous self wouldn't like.
“Of course, I know the Artifacts and what these Keys an. They drive a pretty huge equipnt base of treasures that makes equipnt very powerful. Relic bracket is a basic tier to the stronger equipnt with so history, reputation, or craftsmanship behind them. That makes the beginning, similar to how cores have their Initialization stages. Relic Artifacts are worthy for those below Level 50 or 60. They have levels adhering to their uses. Above them are Law Artifacts that could give soone so law powers even without handling them oneself.”
“Law Artifacts?” Murai humd a strong impression in his mind. “Sounds quite significant. How tough or great are they?”
“Enough to wage many valuable exchanges up to another level. Above them are already Divine Artifacts that are the tip of the interest of every Extre and many Gods.”
“Divine, huh... Sounds too high for , but it isn't bad to know that. Seems like a familiar system to so of those I've known before. Relic ones shouldn't be that poor for . How about these Keys? Got so before?”
“Well, can't say I haven't. This Key system is possible for Gates 2 and lower. Versions or their variants matter a lot in their uses, but finding them is a different story. One needs luck or power when one sees them or knows a way to acquire them. It acts as a rare opportunity to get so specialized reward. It adds quite a bit of chaos and greed to this temple, which Hell Haven and this temple as a whole use to their advantage. Countless adventures die in the hope of finding these things because they are a huge part of motivations, similar to the essences.” Lisa explained it to the best ability and openness.
“Oh, so it is like this. How good it sounds. I am trembling in excitent.” Murai said to her mind without even wriggling his tail. He had limited desires for such treasures in reality, as he felt tired to his core and body. He doubted his body could handle these things, which ant this Key was of limited value to him.
“But you know what Relic Artifacts are, don't you?” Lisa asked.
“I have my mories from many instances, but this world may have different interpretations for the treasures, tools, equipnt, and so on. That is why your words surprise .”
“Oh, I suppose your little Iris hasn't ntioned those, huh?” Lisa smirked in the reality, oblivious to Lorry who noticed their hidden exchange that he couldn't hear. She hadn't expected Murai to need a basic run over the equipnt, but it was true she hadn't said much to him in this regard.
So she decided to change it right now.
“Relic Artifacts are basic treasures that are equivalent to special equipnt, but they can be other things. Even talismans, so magical external techniques or treasures, and so on. They have no grading system behind them, as their levels grant them a basic sche of what one could or couldn't wield. Below level 50, you will be fine with any Relic Artifact. They are great tools for adventurers, albeit their styles or powers create many disparities since so could be more viable than others. Thus, their uses range below level 70 in various ways, but their level is essential.”
“But gradeless? Isn't that weird if the equipnt has grades but Artifacts don't? Both sounds so similar. What is their difference?”
“You've already got so equipnt up your head.”
Murai paused, knowing that he hadn't got many pieces of equipnt apart from Pachi's Gift he didn't even have, He got a bunch of things from Gate 1 and 2. So considering the topic of the Artifacts and whatever they can gain so advantage, he was fine with their varieties and uses.
“Though so. You got one in my hand.” Lisa tossed a pouch up and down, giving it a good shake. “Low one, but one nonetheless. It isn't an Artifact because it has nothing much into it, obviously. Artifacts could have many visions and styles. Equipnt has a physical touch to one's body, so it holds so protecting power and very direct aning, whereas Artifacts could be literary anything that a good crafter can mold or craft. Those could nd Paths, elents, mana, or anything. The disparity over Relic Artifacts goes within the perceptions of one's level. For example, Relic Artifacts of level 50 are treasures sought by anyone within that sa level. Many would even cherish them above that level, using them before reaching Level 70 to handle the Laws of their Path. Above level 70, Law Artifacts are out of your picture. You don't need to know about them, correct?”
Murai agreed with her. “So... It's practically nothing different? Just a tool to have? A piece of equipnt or treasure to be used?”
“Pretty much. But it's a bit complicated in this sense because Battleworld's influence is shading many limits and powers in layers. I don't think we have ti to discuss too much of this topic, otherwise, we will talk for hours. I will see about it when we go and see the Artifacts out of this Key. Perhaps I can help or talk about it more. For now, you have Islands to beat, don't you think?” Lisa argued, giving Murai a tough look.
He reluctantly agreed with her once more, thinking that this topic was easily digestible and neat. But he wasn't sure if he should start stressing his mind over the next powerful Islands.
Lisa explained the general truths of what he was already familiar with, but the case of the additional variables that Battleworld had acted in an interesting topic.
They could an that Relic Artifacts had patterns with the way Battleworld acted. Could these be Boost? So sort of dynamic layer to move along with the Path or evolutions? Could so of them benefit Blessed or Gifted differently, or have sothing to do with the mana under its endless circulation?
Murai quickly went over many possibilities, wandering in his mind for answers that made his face cool-looking. He rembered the way treasures moved the worlds under his mories, and there were countless similarities to power and greed. He liked how it sounded.
The battle was over in his body and mind, even though this was the first ti he didn't manage to kill his foe.
However, Mindarch still gave him a Satisfactory result, which made him wonder how these results and points acted. Unfortunately, he hadn't got much out of this, since points weren't important or spoke out loud. He had no idea how many he had, and he even doubted knowing them would change his actions or Islands.
So Murai went ahead, forgetting the Key he got, or points that could be important, but Lisa hadn't ntioned what wasn't needed.
Murai doubted Artifacts would help his current body, similar to the equipnt. Nothing much should be helpful for a duck who was too ridiculous to wield them anyway. He knew better than that. If the key ant sothing to the current him, it can be soon negligible or useless. So it wasn't ti to look at the teeth of a horse. He glanced at the half-naked Long Zi, who kept glancing at him from the corners of his eyes, half sunken to the sand
Sowhat, he pushed his face from the sand, sitting down on his knees, wishing to look at his powerful foe that cracked his strongest and newest techniques. He held a certain aningful and interesting glint in his eyes that Murai quite liked.
Alas, he was a slave of this temple, and that was where this issue started and ended. He was a war slave, so that left him nothing but suffering or endless run toward his freedom that was at the hands of others, or himself.
[Before it all resolves and Citizen M leaves this Island.] Mindarch spoke like a thunder hitting a roof. [I do want to point to Question Mark.]
“Mark, huh?” Murai mumbled as he glanced into the air where the voice ca from. Nothing or no one was visible, of course, but Murai got a hunch that this weird entity was very strange like Will of the Battleworld itself.
[There are choices for you. State your question or topic right now, or wait for a better ti. On that note, Citizen M should know that this Question Mark is only available at this Gate. As long as its validity is correct, anything shall be portrayed, as information is knowledge and not a tool for war.]
“Now or later,” Lisa whispered behind Murai. “I suggest taking good care of a topic. Don't regret trying, but regret voicing sothing stupid. Information requests are kind of rare. Think twice before quacking aloud.”
Murai had no need for her reminder. He had already chosen his answer.
“Later then, Mindarch.” He said. “Though, the Key is in my hand now.”
[Very well. State the willingness by voice and I, great Mindarch, shall respond.]
[In a picture of the Key, the ending choices are at the end of Islands of Greatness.]
[Now, choose your next destination!]
Around the periters of the stone walls of the arena, stone walls rumbled, revealing 5 dark tunnels. Murai looked at them, not knowing which to choose. He glanced at Lorry, giving him a aningful glance.
“Murai is still one who shall decide on the path.” He flickered his skull away, looking away from his gaze and back at Long Zi.
“See you if fate brings us together again.” Long Zi waved at Murai, before a space storm swallowed him whole, moving him to the unknown.
Murai saw that action without any reaction. “So much for being my Guide.” Murai sighed. “Whatever, let's take that one from the left unless Lisa has so problems with that?”
Hearing his words and seeing his head turn in her direction, Lisa shrugged, hugging the pouch where she tossed the Key. She had no idea which paths should be decent or not, as there was nothing good or bad to decide.
Either way, the foe he will et will be more or less the sa in every choice, but the stakes or settings may differ. There were no indications of that unless one traveled between the bridges, hearing Mindarch's every choice, or knew which Islands held what. That was too ti-consuming and sothing that pretty much no Challenger ever did, unless one had wings of course.
Worries about the choices didn't matter. It was obvious to deal with whatever choice of a foe he had to deal with it, so Lisa had no intentions to decide his fate.
So, without any reply, Murai left this Island, traveling through his choice of tunnel towards another insufferable bridge that would crush his mind and challenge his languages.
In this fight, he gained so findings and discovered so limits. This accumulation of confidence and body will soon make so difference. It was all part of the ti, which was one of the strongest pursuits of any young beasts. Especially the ones who had influential bloodlines.
The clash against Long Zi was perfect for him to seek his prospects. Murai found exactly that, and perhaps even more since Long Zi tested everything about his body, output of mana, Sonar, and what his Peak could do. Unfortunately, Blitz or his Shaping had no ti to shine, but that wasn't that bad. He will do so at the incoming Islands, he hoped.
That will undoubtedly help him to achieve better results in the future. That was one of the major advantages, as well as a primary reason Gate 2 was best for any battle junkies, or for soone unfamiliar with one's Path. The constant flow of battles would improve even the laziest, untalented, and poorest bastards.
There was no escaping if one wanted sothing to gain.
Comprehensions over the battles established this place to be the best out of most beginning Gates, apart from those much lower, which held much different challenges, powers, and ti.
***
anwhile, as everything was happening with relative success in Murai's case, the forr Islands and bridges he took weren't so calm.
Razmund had already established his romance by restarting his hunt after his long duel with Zao. He kept going through the choices Murai had made before, cutting his savings, essences, and Ancient's blood. Destiny Dice took it all in, giving him directions to seek.
He cut or defeated the foes from Island to Island, reaching the 29th Island in less than a few hours. 29 didn't an that the Island had this number like a law. It wasn't right. After all, each interconnected Island made all sorts of possible pathways, creating a maze of bridges. They would make numbers kind of obsolete.
Number 29, similar to how Murai's 68th Island established his success, ant the number of how many of them Razmund completed from the very beginning.
He was gaining the right traction, carefully giving each foe a quick defeat or pain.
It was relatively smoother when he went all out without giving them a lethal blow since he had to make them give up. As long as they got a taste of his power, defeating them was almost easier than killing them outright. It was the power of fear and his Path.
At least for his current ti, because he hadn't t any foe even remotely stronger than Zao.
He was still prone to duels after all, which was essentially the best possible fight for any swordsman.
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