Chapter 302 The Cultists’ Goal
When the semi-final match was over, one more Player came to join the other murderous Players who were scrounging through Lancaster for cultists.
“We’re actually hearing their cheers from way out here. Aren’t the Lancaster citizens being a little too passionate?” Princess Leah shook her head after listening to the roars of the crowd from the west side of the city, before turning to the youth beside her. “By the way, are you really not watching the finals?”.
“…I’m not that keen on meeting other Players right now,” Edward said, keeping a straight face even as he quietly turned off his System page-new messages were streaming in without end after the Explorer of the Seven Seas was beaten by the Pink Flatfish, which in turn made it the hottest topic there was.
“Still, it really was a shock.”
The equally miserable Marni who in fact didn’t even make it into the Third Round was smiling kindly-either in schadenfreude or consolation, while gently clapping the youth on his back. “That said, I’m not too sure since I never challenge other players to duels, but if I remember correctly, Pink Flatfish… I mean Mufasa was considered the weakest Player who couldn’t join any party to farm the Living Dead Cellar… and yet he made it into the Third Round and even defeated you, Edward. Could he have learnt some foreign skill?”
Foreign skills were techniques unavailable in the Players’ skill tree but could be learnt from believers, mages or martial artists of other churches.
However, such skills require a huge investment of skill points and the effect was not assured, which was why rarely any Player would try to learn it.
“No, Pink Flat… Mufasa was weak in his earlier days as a Swordmaster because the class is hard to level, especially because he took the branch of Kengyoku which doesn’t have any attack skill upon class change, which was why it wouldn’t even compare to other classes.”
As a first-rate Player, Edward was naturally more knowledgeable than Marni about such things compared to Marni, who was only focused on getting rich instead of PKs. “Even after reaching Level 20,” he explained, “most Kengyoku skills remain chicken feed… if I had to put my finger on it, that is because Kengyoku skills is very dependent on the person’s awareness and skills, and they need a foundation of sword skills to even things out.”
“The most obvious of that aspect is the skills derived from that class: parry and block. Those skills would not work if you mistimed it for the slightest fraction, which means the Swordmaster would be defenseless and take one blow without being able to retaliate. What makes it worse is that their HP growth isn’t high and they can’t tank, and one blow leaves them half dead…”
“Oh! Now that you’ve mentioned it, I did read on the forums that many Swordmasters were complaining that the Kengyoku branch is useless and it’s like having one less skill tree compared to other classes…” Marni exclaimed, looking enlightened. “Well, they are not going to complain after the tournament.” “That’s right. As difficult as it is to master Kengyoku, there are great rewards-perfect mastery of the timing would allow the user to guard against almost any attack, leaving only a few AOE skills capable of hurting them. And as everyone knows, while AOE skills does deal significant damage, it also cost much strength. Therefore, if the Kengyoku user could exploit his chances and fight guerrilla style, it’s a matter of time that mages like me who are weak at close quarters combat to lose.” Even if he was still upset about losing to Pink Flatfish, Edward actually acknowledged Mufasa’s abilities. “Mufasa must have ground for a long time to come up with a flawless fighting style like that and master the right timing for all his Kengyoku skills.”
“He didn’t give up even though he had fallen to the bottom, and by persistent training, he eventually rose to the strongest ranks amongst us Players… that mental fortitude alone really makes Mufasa outstanding.”
Marni stroke his chin and began to consider how he should draw Mufasa to his side. “I wonder if he could become my escort.”
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“It’s like I’m useless what with the way you’re putting it, Mister Marni. Strongest is just some nonsense joke amongst the other players who don’t understand the truth-I would never win against Eleena or our highness over there.” Edward complained, before showing a teasing smile while nudging Marni in the back. “And I have the feeling that aside from a select few, anyone who knows who you are won’t be your guardsmen.”
“Urgh…” Marni had no comeback, and merely stared unhappily at the ceiling.
“I think there’s a reason Mufasa improved so quickly.”
That was when Princess Leah, who was walking ahead both of them turned back-she did not deny that she was the strongest, but merely said, “I’ve actually sparred with him just after winter, but he wasn’t that strong yet… if I had to put my finger on it, his ability only improved rapidly after he took in the three children from the slums…”
“Fathers are strong huh…” Edward muttered thoughtfully. “Your Highness!”
Just as Edward was about to say something, Boris, who had been scouting far ahead of them returned. “Other royal guards had found three places where there was recent cultist activity, and from the rituals they held, they must have been from the same cult!”
“So many?”
This time, not even Marni could stay composed. “You are right, Your Highnesswith that many rituals, the cultists must be up to something with Lancaster empty and defenseless.”
Nonetheless, that was when the trio realized something
The Twin City Cup was almost over.
In other words, their window of an unguarded city would close immediately with the conclusion of the tourney.
Therefore, this moment right now is the best chance the cultists have to accomplish whatever they were up to!
“Mark the location of the cultists’ activity!” Leah told Boris even as she started pulling out her System map without hesitation, with the latter pointing out the coordinates as told.
“There are several arcs if we connect the three locations and the spot where Her Highness found the cultists before.”
Marni said as he helped studied the cultists’ base as well, but unlike Edward and Leah, he was knowledge enough to connect the arcs into a circle. “Most rituals or even spell layouts are circular, and if we line them up together, the building at the center of the circle would be…” “The envoy’s lodgings!” Princess Leah immediately recognized the location and knew what goal the cultists had in mind. “They want to assassinate the new emperor’s envoy and start a war!”