Second World

The crowd was still silent as Jack and Four Winds stood in the arena. Even Makadi who was in the arena as well didn't say anything. Everyone had been expecting the natives to mow down the players.

The sound of clapping broke the silence. Everyone turned and saw it to be Samuhn Spiritcrier who was clapping.

"Amazing, outworlders! Amazing!" Samuhn praised. The others started clapping as well after hearing the shaman king.

Players who had just realized that their fellow players had won started yelling their cheers. Some even threw insults at the native spectators next to them who had mocked the players before the match started.

The native spectators were of course unhappy about that. Quarrels ensued and the guards had to interfere and threw those troublemakers out.

"Congratulations on winning the first match," Makadi finally said something. "Please, go wait for your next round on the waiting bench. Don't worry about your skills' cooldown. All skills are reset before the match began."

Makadi then called the next participants. Guild Liberty Fighters against Slavebinder Tribe.

Jack and Four Winds walked out of the arena as the four next participants walked in.

"Good luck!" Jack said to Vivian and Ursa as he walked past them.

The two looked at him uncertainly before nodding.

"Why are you wishing them luck? Even if they win, they will be our next opponents," Four Winds said.

"It's common courtesy, man. We are all contestants who are trying to do our best," Jack replied. He then thrust his hand out, palm facing up.

"What?" Four Winds asked.

"Don't act forgetful. Give me my mana cores!" Jack uttered.

"I didn't forget. Let me sit down first, will you?" Four Winds said. They sat on the prepared bench before Four Winds fished out the mana cores from his inventory. As he gave them to Jack, he asked, "What do you need so many mana cores for, anyway?"

Although mana cores are important since they could be used to supplement the guild's mana, other guilds' need was not as urgent as Everlasting Heavenly Legends. Jeanny needed them for her Book of Creation, while Jack needed them for his Amulet of Summoning.

Jack had reaped a large number of mana cores when he was slaughtering those Volatile Firefly Ants. Now he got another 1,000 more. Even so, he was still short around 40,000 mana cores to summon the archdemon.

"Guild secret," Jack answered Four Winds' question.

"Hmph," Four Winds grunted. He didn't push further. Every guild had its secrets.

They gave their attention to the fighters in the arena. The four were taking their positions. Vivian and Ursa were both level 61, while their opponents outleveled them by quite steeply. Utum Slavebinder was a level 70 rare elite while Kumata Slavebinder was a level 69 special elite.

"What do you think of their chances?" Jack asked, indicating the players.

"They are both good martial artists and gamers. Their cooperation is also very good," Four Winds answered. "But unless they are extremely lucky, I say the natives bag this match."

"What about their special classes? Do you know about them?" Jack asked.

"No. I think they had just gotten them recently," Four Winds answered.

Makadi announced the beginning of the fight. Utum came forward, brandishing a large axe, while Kumata stayed back. Kumata was holding a staff and started casting a spell.

Vivian came forward to meet Utum with her sword and shield. She was not intimidated by her opponent's much higher level. She activated Paladin's skills, Sacred Flame and Divine Armor.

Behind her, Ursa similarly prepared his assassin's skills, Combat Clone and Poison Mastery. Then, he added another buff. A layer of dark mist swirled around him. His entire body became slightly darker.

"That's Shadow Form," Peniel informed. "Shadow Warrior's first skill. Aside from increasing his movement speed, it also reduced all damage he received by 30% and every attack on him had a small chance to simply phase through him."

Vivian and Ursa's combat clone engaged Utum in a frontal clash while Ursa sneaked to Utum's flank.

Vivian's sword which was covered with white flame clanged with Utum's large axe. Who was stronger was clear from that single clash. Vivian was thrown back a few meters.

After forcing Vivian back, Utum slashed to the side. His axe struck Ursa's combat clone with Power Strike, damaging him as well as throwing it away. His body then dashed forward using the Charge skill.

Vivian braced herself by putting her shield in front of her while activating Heaven's shield. A large shield image appeared before her as Utum arrived.

Utum swung his axe which was now coated with ice. Swirls of icy wind accompanied his swing. When it struck the large shield image, the shield was frozen instantly before shattering into pieces. His axe continued forward and slammed into Vivian's real shield.

The powerful force caused her to lower her shield. At the same time, vines erupted underneath her. It was Kumata's spell. The vines wrapped around Vivian's body, holding her down.

Unable to move, she could just take it as Utum's axe slashed her. Utum used a skill that conjured multiple ice axes that barraged Vivian's body.

Vivian was not a native. Although her class provided high defense, she didn't have as much HP pool as a native. Getting struck repeatedly like that, her HP was soon depleted.

"Hey, I thought you said they are good at cooperation? Why didn't her partner do anything to save her?" Jack asked.

Ursa had completely disappeared. He had used Vanish when Vivian was bound. Jack expected him to backstab Utum to save his partner, but even after Vivian's HP reach zero, Ursa didn't appear.

"Wait… Probably he wants to…," Peniel was still speaking when Ursa finally appeared.

He came out behind Utum and immediately landed a backstab using his dagger. As he did. An unexpected thing happened. Within less than a second, Utum's HP dropped to zero.

Next to Ursa now lay both Vivian's and Utum's fallen bodies.