abcnovels
Chapter 65 Knowing One's Limits
Chapter 65 Knowing One's Limits
[You have successfully killed the leader of the Gemless-Tailed Scorpions.]
[The Gemless-Tailed Scorpion King and 'its' subordinates have submitted to your rule.]
Anya and Leon tacitly became the leader of the Species they led.
After Leon's termination, his surviving group mates also turned into pixels, leaving the Virtual World of the 'Desert of the Luminous Scorpion'.
After that, a group notification appeared in Anya and her company's vision. The virtual world seemed to freeze, stopping the time inside.
The army of the Luminous Scorpion King, as well as the Sand Beetle King and the Gemless-Tailed Scorpion King, stopped their movements as no sound echoed in the ears of Anya's group anymore.
[You have won the 'Virtual War']
[Your group has received the qualification to continue the frozen virtual reality as a bonus challenge.]
[You have been given a choice!
1. War of the Species - Part 2
- An attempt to continue to fight the Luminous Scorpion King and his army with the given duration of 15 minutes virtual time.
- During this time, you will have full control over the command of the Gemless-Tailed Scorpions and Sand Beetles.
Rewards:
- Data Copy of this virtual dungeon.
- ???
1. Virtual War Recognition.
- Choose to end the 'Virtual War' as a winner.
Additional Rewards:
These rewards, aside from Group Grade and Individual Grade, were given for participating in the Main Quest.
- ???
- ???
Virtual System Note:
Pain Reduction remains at zero percent]
...
Anya looked at the Virtual System messages that appeared in front of her, and her group members.
She then took a glance at them to observe their conditions.
Celiya and Erina, the Elydine sisters had a look of exhaustion, but they were just looking at Anya, their leader while waiting for her decision.
It was the same for Arash Hood who was slumped down on the back of one of the Sand Beetles he was riding that was frozen in time, the perfect place to shoot from using his metallic arrows.
It was the case for Arist Stallion as well, he squatted down as one of his hands was touching the top of his metallic shield.
[Please make your decision]
[War of the Species - Part 2]
[Virtual War Recognition]
Anya heard another Virtual System notification and checked the messages it sent. This time, it was only available in her vision.
After pondering for some time, she didn't hesitate to click what was 'necessary.'
...
[You have chosen 'Virtual War Recognition']
[You have won against the opposing group]
[Your group will receive the 'Group Grade' of 100 Points]
[Logging out of the Virtual World]
...
~ Whoosh-!
The lid of the Virtual Capsules opened at the same time, where Anya's group was lying down, causing some cold air or fog to be released.
After ten seconds, Anya and her group members stood up in front of the Virtual Capsules as various gazes landed on them.
Some clapped, some had words of praise, while some had a look of wonder because of Anya's decision.
It was the same for Leon as his fists clenched uncontrollably as he sat from the distance, near Elizabeth, Rumia, and Han Jiho's seats.
'Why...!?'
He asked himself silently as he couldn't believe why Anya made such a decision.
Although Leon acknowledged Anya as stronger than him, he was someone who would not give up to do anything to surpass them.
It was not an excuse for his loss to complain about the restriction of using 'attack skills' directly against the enemies because it could tell one thing, one way or another.
If someone who has quite a good weapon control fight against someone who was great at it. Even using attack skills would make no difference, especially if the rank of each other didn't have a huge gap.
...
"Anya... why?"
It was Celiya who asked as they walked from the Virtual Capsules to their seats.
The others also had a look of wonder, but after a few seconds, Anya replied succinctly.
"We wouldn't win."
These words left Celiya, Erina, Arash, and Arist's mouths slightly agape as if they couldn't believe it came from someone like Anya who was the daughter of the 3rd Rank Player, Guild Leader of Olympus Guild.
But after some time, Celiya reined in her thoughts as she said inwardly...
'Maybe it's because she's the daughter of the 3rd Rank Player that she could make such a decision.'
Although each of them wanted the Data Copy of the Virtual dungeon map of the Desert of the Luminous Scorpion, they realized their limits, especially when their leader made an unexpected decision.
'Come to think of it, what are our additional rewards?'
Celiya was just about to tap Anya's shoulder when she received a 'mail' notification from her smartwatch. It was the same for Anya and the company.
[From Obelisk Academy Player Management]
[Due to reaching 'almost' the end of the Main Quest, and winning the 'Virtual War' arranged by Professor Murak ahead of time...
You have been given the following rewards:
1. 15,000 Obel
2. A Rare-ranked weapon of your choice.
- To claim your rewards, please visit the Obelisk Weaponry Building and just present your Obelisk I.D.
Thank you for participating! I hope you will continue to grow for the sake of humanity!]
...
Anya's group members didn't have enough time to process what have they just read as Professor Murak's voice resounded in their ears.
"I'm sure you've received the emails just now, it's my personal gift for all participants for your efforts.
And you, Rumia, and Elizabeth's group will receive something, too. Even if your fight earlier was bland enough!"
Although whatever Professor Murak would give them later, it would be nothing of value to Elizabeth and Rumia as Princesses of their respective countries, but to their group members, it might be of great help at some point.
The other students who have yet to participate seemed confused about what Professor Murak was talking about.
Professor Murak who saw others' expressions said...
"Anyone who will participate in this Virtual War will receive something from me personally. It depends on your participation, as well as what you achieved during the activity.
The reason I just announced this right now and not earlier is simply that I wanted to see the first groups of participants on how serious they would take this activity..."
Elizabeth and Rumia who heard that felt embarrassed, especially Elizabeth who was playful during her match against Rumia.
"The rewards are unknown, but the important matter is whether you will fight to gain something... or just to survive."
Those last words reverberated across the Room of Virtual Technology designated for A-1 students.
...
Anya's group members, especially Arash and Arist who were not from an aristocratic family thanked Anya because of the rewards they received. The money amounting to 15,000 O, as well as gaining a Rare Weapon had equal value in their perspective. The weapons they conjured during the Virtual War inside the virtual world were also Rare, but having a spare one wouldn't be, too bad for them.
...
~ Whoosh-!
The lid of Virtual Capsules opened at the same time from left and right as Samantha Hall, and her group members, and Han Jiho, and his group members lined up in front of the Virtual Capsules.
It was now their turn for Virtual War.
"I'm glad we just need to wear our P.E uniforms."
Freya Moon said randomly.
Samantha who heard her just nodded slightly because, on other Player Academies, students needed to wear an uncomfortable suit before laying down inside a Virtual Capsule.
"Good luck, Freya!"
Amelie said as she waved her hands in Freya's direction, prompting Freya to look at her, she then also saw Amery who just nodded slightly as her way of saying 'you can do it.'
After twenty to thirty seconds, every participant from groups 5 and 6 lay down inside their respective Virtual Capsules.
It, then closed as fog emitted outside, indicating the coldness of the atmosphere.
Freya entered the void of the program as a blue holographic screen appeared in front of her, and a woman's voice of unknown origin entered her ears.
[Checking the user's Retina Imprint]
[Checking the user's Brain Waves]
[Accessing the user's Subconscious]
[Loading... 1%]
[Loading... 99%]
[Loading... 100%]
[Perfect Avatar representing the student's physique and skill information has been created.]
After a few seconds, her view changed. She saw her group members from her side.
It was Samantha Hall, their leader, with a look of aloofness as if she considered this situation as something that needed to end quickly.
Celine Cello-ana, the student who Professor Murak called in the front during the assembly before the Virtual War information was given to them. Her slightly long green hair was fluttering around before she took something out of her Dimensional Inventory, it was something to tie her hair.
After that, she was darting a glance with her green eyes at her surroundings with a look of apprehension. It was the kind of person who didn't know what to do next.
The other two group members were named Ethera Crimson, and Markin Harbor.
Ethera Crimson has black hair and red eyes with a height of 167 cm, and her class was called Black Mage, while Markin Harbor, who came from Country of Desert, Bhaskara has brownish hair and brown eyes, and his class was called Sand Tanker.
After reorganizing themselves, they proceeded to read the notifications in front of them.
[You have arrived at the 'Cemetery of Oblivion']
[Warning: Pain Reduction is NOT available]
[There will be NO Pain Tolerance]
[Every stat, rank, and skill was retained in the Virtual World as per the Virtual Capsules settings]
[Due to the Fog of Oblivion emanating in the virtual dungeon, you must remain close together with a distance of at least 5 meters maximum, or else, if you get far away from one another, you will vanish in 5 seconds, resulting in death.]
...
On Han Jiho's group side.
[You have arrived at the 'Cemetery of Oblivion']
[Warning: Pain Reduction is NOT available]
[There will be NO Pain Tolerance]
[Every stat, rank, and skill was retained in the Virtual World as per the Virtual Capsules settings]
[Due to the Fog of Oblivion emanating in the virtual dungeon...]
Each of them read the subsequent Virtual System Messages.
They looked at the surroundings where the night was evident, there were numerous graves scattered almost everywhere, as well as ten to fifteen meters of trees.
"Hey, these gravestones were laid in front of some trees..."
One of Han Jiho's group members said.
He has silvery hair and grayish eyes with a height of at least 170 cm.
An inhabitant from the Country of Ice, Arka.
While maintaining a distance to avoid vanishing which was equivalent to instant death, some of them approached some gravestones to take a look.
Then, a woman with red hair and yellowish eyes wrapped her arms around Han Jiho's, causing him to frown slightly as he said inwardly.
'This woman is annoying.'
"I'm scared..."
With a cheeky smile, she said with a fearful tone, but Han Jiho knew that she was faking it.
"Wait, let go. I'll check that..."
Han Jiho pointed to a nearby gravestone, but he felt something ominous towards it.
The woman followed him before she said...
"What's that...?"
The woman read the lines written on the gravestone as her voice reverberated to the forest enveloped with fog, prompting other group members to look at her.
"Moon of Oblivion
"Vanquisher of Souls
"The White of the Sky
"Its Eyes Opens Wide..."
Suddenly, shivers run down their spines as if a mighty existence was looking at them from above.
The woman's figure turned Illusory as it vanished instantly.
[Your teammate, Nicole Summer, has died due to an unknown existence.]