MMORPG: Rise of the Primordial Godsmith

“…Did you really have threaten the guy at the end?”

Heading back underground after securing his first victory in the final round, Valyr could not help but wryly smile as he heard these words the moment he entered the tavern.

“You know what would have happened if I didn’t do that,” he replied, ordering a new beverage as he sat down. “Would you really watch a fight till the very end if it turned into a battle of attrition?”

“I wouldn’t.” Ataraxia shook his head, briefly taking a sip of his drink. “However, there’s nothing stopping you from letting that happen, no? It’s not like you’d be hurt by his attacks anyway.”

“That may be the case.” Valyr nodded back in agreement. “But imagine it as an actual fight. What do you think would be the wiser decision? Turning it into a battle of attrition? Or forcing the other side to forfeit before incurring great risk?”

Hearing those words, Ataraxia remained silent, prompting the young man to easily understand what kind of answer the former had towards the question.

Letting out a slight chuckle at his other identity’s silence, he decided to shift the topic of their conversation as he took a few gulps of his new drink. “In any case, I still have to go through five more battles if I wanna enter the top 128.”

“Six if I wanna guarantee I wouldn’t be kicked out of it.”

“Seven fights in a row to guarantee the top spot in the tournament, then,” said Ataraxia in response, to which Valyr nodded in agreement.

“Say…” Briefly glancing at the ongoing fights on the magic screens, Ataraxia eventually had a question in mind, prompting him to lean closer towards his other self as he whispered.

“You think the director is gonna give us preferential treatment during this round?”

‘Don’t know.’ Valyr shrugged, sending the response through their shared thoughts. ‘It’s still too early to conclude something like that.’

‘However, I do have to admit that although my opponent was not weak by any means, he was definitely weaker relative to me.’

Going through the messages in his mind as he looked back at Valyr directly in the eyes, a faint smile soon appeared on Ataraxia’s face.

‘Let’s hope it stays that way.’

…

After Valyr was called to come up to the surface for the first round of fights, the two continued to linger in the tavern for quite some time, their gazes focused on the fights that were being broadcasted from the surface.

Considering that any of the people on the screens could be their potential opponent at some point during the final round, the two mentally kept tabs on those that caught their attention, jotting down the skills and quirks these people had.

Surprisingly, the two continued to collate information on their potential opponents until the end of the 8th batch, prompting both Valyr and Ataraxia to wonder whether the latter would only be called near the end of the first round of fights.

Coincidentally, just as this question popped up in his mind, one of the organizers appeared in the underground town once more, announcing the participants that would make up the 9th batch.

“Please head up to the surface once I call your designated number!”

“…No. 82 and No. 3,257, please head to Stage A-4.”

“…No. 512 and No. 2,048, please head to Stage C-2.”

Listening to the numbers that were being called, Ataraxia’s expression gradually became solemn as he grew more certain that he was going to be part of the final batch of fights.

Though, just as the organizer was announcing the latter half of numbers that made up the 9th batch…

“Making up the 73rd battle, No. 58 and No. 1,327, please head to Stage G-6.”

“…Oh.” Realizing that his number was finally called by the organizer, Ataraxia inwardly let out a sigh of relief as he hastily made his way up the surface in response.

Whoosh!

“Ah—” Not expecting his other self to leave the tavern so soon the moment his number was called, Valyr was briefly left at a loss for words before shifting his attention to one of the magic screens.

Seeing Ataraxia already appear within his designated stage, a slight hint of amusement appeared on his face as he took a sip of his drink.

Then, glancing at the opponent his other self would be fighting against, the young man soon placed his drink to the side with an amused smile, deciding to take a quick nap for the meantime.

…

“…Glad to finally meet the Rising Star in person.”

Briefly assessing his current surroundings with a hint of enthusiasm, Valyr paused his assessment as he noticed his opponent appear before him.

In contrast to the opponent his original identity fought a few batches earlier, his current opponent was quite stocky, causing him to faintly give off a slightly oppressive aura thanks to his tall height.

Add on the fact that the man wore an entire suit of heavy plate armor, he could not help but immediately assume his opponent to be more of a defensive fighter.

“Glad to meet you as well,” Valyr said with a nod, extending his hand out for a handshake. “Name’s Ataraxia. You?”

“Jameson,” the man replied, reciprocating the handshake with a slight smile on his face. “Once our fight starts, don’t hold back, okay?”

“No matter what you throw at me, I’ll be able to handle it.”

Hearing those words, a slightly odd expression appeared on Valyr’s face as he looked back at the man in return.

Then, letting the gears in his mind rotate for a bit, he eventually nodded as he gave the man a slight smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“…Ready?”

Seeing that both Valyr and Jameson had taken it upon to themselves to put a fair distance between them, the arbiter took it as a sign to announce the start of the fight.

Receiving affirmative nods from the two in response to his question, the arbiter’s voice soon boomed across the platform, prompting both fighters to make their move.

“…Fight!”

Whoosh!

Activating a series of buffing skills to bolster his might, Jameson charged at Valyr head-on, making use of his stocky body to intimidate the latter.

“Don’t mind if I make the first move!”

“Be my guest,” replied Valyr in a calm tone, activating his own set of buffing skills while gauging the remaining distance between them.

Feeling that only a couple meters separate the two of them colliding, Valyr watched as a grin formed on his opponent’s face…

Only for him to finally make his move in retaliation.

“…Bind.”