n

n

nEldrian did not rush his dinner, only heading to his room nearly half an hour later. He truly felt like getting to know Flavia a little better, thinking back to how he and Erik had gone clubbing shortly after they had met. He thought they should do it again. And that he should invite her and maybe his sister too.

nIt was only as Eldrian entered the room that he realized he had completely forgotten about the tourney matches. Jumping onto his PC he sent Elizabeth a quick apology, the chat function linked to the game allowing people inside and outside to communicate. Similar to how Eldrian could inform Joren of his plans, if he planned something risky.

n

"Oh, I have a message.

" Eldrian opened it and chuckled as he realized he had totally forgotten,

"Sorry Erik, I will make sure to ask tomorrow.

" He said and type, after which he opened the forum.

n

"An update? It's been a while, well... This type of update has.

" Eldrian corrected himself as he recalled the PVP and virtual homes were also updates and massive ones at that.

nThis update was actually a really nice one. So far the only method of traveling was physically going there or forking up a few gold coins to teleport. The latter was not something players could afford.

nNow the developers had added a unique feature for players. Much like their inventory, map, and most importantly revival specialties. Players would now also be able to teleport between temples.

nThere were a few restrictions, and it still cost a little bit. The cost however was just a few silver for inside of their current kingdom and up to 10 for a neighboring kingdom.

nThis function should greatly help players to organize and grow stronger. However, this also risks breaking the balance of the game. As such a few restrictions are added on top of the cost.

n'Of course, it won't be as simple as just that,' Eldrian mumbled as he read on. 'Well that isn't too bad.'

nThere were two more restrictions, the first was a cooldown of 1 day. This, added onto the fact that you can only teleport to a neighboring kingdom meant that jumping from empire to empire was not possible.

nThe second was that you had to have visited the temple before and, now with the new feature, select it as a temple you want in your list of possible teleportation hubs. With players currently only allowed to have 6 in their list.

n

"That really isn't too bad, sucks that you have to add the temple with the new feature. Else I would have been able to probably teleport to Avgi. I am sure that they used temples as a reference for respawn points, and the spring there was one.

"

nWhile lamenting this, Eldrian read on. Finding that the rest of the post was just them stating their hope for what this would accomplish as well as trying to hype up the championship in two weeks.

nThey had actually decided against making it like traditional Esport championships. There would not be a physical location, at least not until the very last matches. The semi-finals and finals. The rest will all be done similar to how the fights had been done.

nHowever, instead of being in a random patch of land, they would fight in true arenas. With players having the choice to join, the new teleportation update linking to this. They would need to pay 10 silver or 10 dollars, and then they would have themselves teleported to the arena.

n'Wait, doesn't this mean the arena is somewhere on Gaia?' Eldrian reread that part three times and each time it came out the same. 'What about the current fights? Are they also on Gaia?'

n

"Likely, I mean how else could they include magic? Now that I think of it, why did no one else... Wait, no one else knows that is the aim of the game.

" Sighing Eldrian truly had to admit they had played it well.

nNow he was curious where on Gaia the 'arenas' were and were going to be. More specifically how on earth they could even accomplish having arenas there. 'Well, if the AI helped it should be easy to clear even an empire of whatever races are native.'

nIt was at this time that Eldrian read another shocking piece. 'The arenas are going to be 250x250m. Are they insane?' More than that the environment of the arenas were also going to be up to a coin flip. The two teams each deciding among 6 types, with the outcome a 50-50.

nWhen Eldrian exited the forum he found that there was even a photo of what one of the arenas looked like. A massive structure much like a stadium in the center of nowhere.

nThe final bits at the end of the post were the prizes reclarified. With a mention that people who had up till now not joined should do so. Since it was never too late to try one's luck.

n

"I really want to join the individual championship,

" Eldrian could not help but truly, truly, wish to join it. While the team matches were no guarantee win, he felt confident he could wipe anyone if he could use magic in a 1v1.

n

"One hundred thousand dollars, a hundred coin, and a Tier 4 item. That is really generous.

" The team rewards were not lacking, in fact, it was the same except that the dollars were for the entire team.

nThe other categories however had minuscule rewards in comparison. They would also not be fought in the arena, in fact, only the team matches would be in those massive arenas. All the others will be in a simple 100x100 grassland arena.

n...

n

"W-what happened?

" Vivian stuttered as she flinched after trying to move. Her side in such pain that she failed to hear the first reply. Her 'nurse' repeating his sentence after realizing that she completely missed it the first time.

n

"Good to see you are awake, sorry for the inconvenience but we can't heal everyone. There are just too many casualties coming in. Best we can do is patch you up and let nature take its course.

" A ruff-looking demi-human with black fur replied.

n

"What about-

"

n

"Those you were fighting with, a good number of you made it out. Though if it was not for Kydone you would have all died.

"

nHearing that most of those in her squad had been killed stung deeply. She knew that a good number meant just a handful. Else he would have said most. Falling back onto her back Vivian cursed both the physical pain and the pain of loss.

n'Why am I always too weak?' She asked herself repeatedly as she lost consciousness. The demi-human casting Anthisei(Tier 4 rejuvenation) and moved on to the next patient who was stirring. The tent was filled with recovering people, the true healers all on the front lines helping those at the edge.

nThey simply did not have the number of healers required to care for so many injured.

nThey had sent out calls for more, and more were on their way. However, a soldier marches far faster than a cleric or a healer. The official healer division of most legions were also naturally with that legion, and currently, only the Thunder Legion had arrived. And they were in a heated battle trying to stop the undead reinforcements from ever arriving.

n...

n

"How is the situation?

" Farest asked as he looked at the map indicating their crumbling wall. It was absolutely shocking how many undead there were in the forest. Most of those sent at those defending the makeshift construction were just simple animals turned undead.

nYet even such weak enemies could cause massive damage when used to ensure that the defendants could never rest. Their pilling carcasses also adding to the hit in morale their attacks were sure to inflict. The rot spreading and a constant reminder of death to those tasked to protect the line.

nLuckily disease had yet to start spreading, however, it was only a matter of time. And a disease born from undead was nothing to scoff at.

n

"We are going to run out of people to defend the walls, how far is Stalwart Legion?

" Pelaros replied, sporting many new wounds all of which had scarred as there was no healer to take care of them.

n

"They should arrive by nightfall, however-

"

n

"However will not work, your majesty. We cannot afford to give the line, we need their healer division more than their people.

"

n

"Yet if we take their healers then they would lose a great deal of morale. It is one thing fighting to the death knowing that if your side is winning you might be revived, and fighting to the death knowing it will be your end.

"

n

"Then we keep them here, the healers will only allow us to resend those already weakened and injured. Fresh troops are a must!

"

n

"But then the other undead army will reach us without any delay!

"

n

"If I may,

" A tiger demi-human nearly 2,5 meters tall stepped forward. The tent had a total of 7 people inside, three new commanders. The one who stepped forward was an elite mercenary, Berg. He had rushed to their aid, with his mercenary group of 50, when he had heard the news. All in his group Tier 5, with plenty of Tier 6's and even a handful of Tier 7's.

n

"It is true that the line won't hold, however, why have we not utilized the lake just a few hundred meters deeper into the forest?

"

n

"You know it is in the corrupted part.

"

n

"So? Will that stop us from eliminating nearly a quarter of the line from needing protection?

"

n