CHAPTER 72: [ DAY 1 ]

Really?

Alexander was walking through the various corridors that felt like a maze inside the stadium.

A notification flicked before him.

[ Level up! ]

[ Your stats have increased! ]

[ Your companions grow stronger! ]

Level 35 already?

He opened his spell list, a new addition showing at the end.

[ Chained Ritual ]

Where one body falters, another is made to endure.

The tether is drawn, and the rite begins—not of mercy, but of conversion. Life is siphoned, quiet and exact, bound by a design etched beneath reality.

He read the description quickly, another spell described cryptically.

A nice forward explanation would’ve been appreciated, for once, yet this wasn’t the moment it would happen.

He juggled meanings in his mind, passing several dungeon runners he didn’t pay attention to.

[ Chained Ritual ] most likely meant a sort of bonding spell, the use of the word ’chain’, ’tether’, ’bond’ and ’rite’ all pointed toward it.

When one thought of cultists, they also thought of the different rituals they could perform, either for the entity they served or themselves.

The part where it said ’Life is siphoned’ most likely meant he would extract something out of the target.

Life is a broad word, it could mean mana, or stats, or maybe both...

Alexander’s thoughts were interrupted.

"If it’s not my favorite cultist!"

Alexander sighed, everyone in the corridor turning to see Sunder walking up.

He wore his usual gilded garments, his jewelry glistening even if they were far from any natural light.

"You’re on soon, aren’t you?" asked Sunder once nearby.

"Yeah."

Despite being deep inside the stadium, they could feel the rumbling caused by the people in the stands above.

People who cheered, jumped, stomped.

When an epic fight came close to an end they could even fear the distant echoes of the chants and cheers through the vast corridors.

"You know," said Sunder, laying his hand on his shoulder. "I could swear I just saw you level up, right there."

"I did, level 35."

Sunder whistled with amazement.

"So, I’m guessing you sent your companion into dungeons, while you fight through the tournament here?" he asked.

"Yeah. She’s completing a D-tier dungeon right now, she doesn’t want to go too far so the choices in dungeons are limited..."

Sunder nodded with his eyebrows raised.

"Impressive. I don’t know many summoners or tamers that are able to do this much."

Alexander slowly came to a stop in the middle of the corridor, Sunder stopping with him.

"Many?"

Sunder chuckled.

"What? You thought you were the only one cheating the system? There’s a summoner in Sleeping Giants who barely ever leaves home, and sends his summons instead."

"Sleeping Giants? Why am I not surprised?" said Alexander under his breath.

"Oh, talking about Bell?"

Alexander rolled his eyes, turning around to see Titan behind him.

He wore another anime t-shirt paired with jean-shorts. He nonchalantly walked with his hands in his pockets, nodding at the nearby dungeon runners greeting him.

"Titan! Been a while, I’ve missed you!" said Sunder with a bright but devious smile.

"I didn’t miss you at all. I still can’t believe you forced us into that A-tier monster invasion event downtown. You know how sacred bowling night is to us? You should’ve called Gilded Order, they’re the ones who get off fighting monsters."

"Don’t be like that, we still managed to get back to bowling."

"See, that’s the problem. "We". There’s no "We." Every time you join us you cheat! With your weird-ass magic!"

"Cheating? You’re just jealous I’m the better bowler."

Titan waved his hands in the air.

"Whatever you say, man."

He then arrived in front of Alexander.

"So, it’s the big day huh?"

"I guess," said Alexander.

"You look tired," said Titan.

"He’s fighting without his companion today," said Sunder.

"Really?" replied Titan raising his eyebrows.

Alexander nodded, confirming Sunder’s words.

"I’ll do just fine without her."

"I know. From what I’ve seen, you excel in combat against humans, while your companion most likely excels against monsters."

He figured that much out? Only from our single encounter a while ago?

"How do you know?"

Titan shifted his weight on one foot, while tilting his head and looking at the ceiling.

"Meh, just how it feels."

Sunder’s smile widened, creepily revealing his pointy teeth.

"Cultists are known to be powerhouses when it comes to what you may call ’PVP’. Fighting monsters and fighting other dungeon runners is extremely different. Although, Titan doesn’t know or care much about anything. He probably guessed by the nature of your spells."

Titan didn’t fuss about the comment, even doing a slight nod at the words ’doesn’t care much’.

While looking at the time on his phone, he felt the rumbling increasing in intensity while the announcer’s voice echoed on the walls.

"I think it’s my turn," said Alexander.

"We’ll be watching," said Sunder.

They split, Sunder and Titan heading one way while Alexander went the other. He could hear their banter, realizing the both of them being friends wasn’t such a stretch, in terms of personalities.

Alexander suddenly turned around.

"I have a question," he said.

They both turned around, surprised.

"What?"

"Some of my spells don’t work on the both of you, why?" he asked.

They scratched their heads while exchanging a glance.

"As he gone insane?" fake-whispered Titan.

"Maybe... You know how cultists are..." replied Sunder, twirling his finger next to his head while making a stupid face.

Alexander took a deep breath, stone-walling their banter.

Titan ultimately was the one to speak up.

"We’re S-tier dungeon runners."

Alexander nodded, "Purely stats?"

"Mostly. Our stats are worlds apart, you don’t even come close."

Sunder raised his fingers, his jewelry clinking.

"There’s a lot of factors; gear, items, stats. You were able to affect higher-tier runners, but when it comes to S-tier you just don’t stand a chance. For one, your spells are incredibly weak."

"So, leveling up is what’s holding me back..." said Alexander.

"You have two levels to increase. Your base level, and your class level. The one that increases through your inner path."

Alexander thanked them, before turning around once more.

"I really need to get in there again... My inner path."