Chapter 335 - [Restriction] (Patreon)

The piece of metal I bought floats in the air in front of me, kept there by the mana that surrounds it. To do that, I'm even using my crown to increase my control.

At the same time, I'm releasing thermal energy and melting it, which allows me to mold it into the shape of a dagger. All things I have learned from Nevan.

I would like to use better materials or even kinetic energy to pummel the metal more or experiment with alloys, but it's all currently out of my reach. Things I will experiment with more in the future. For now, the goal is to create a rare item and sell it through the tournament system shop auction.

The materials must be bought from the tournament shop as well, but their prices aren't that high, which of course means that the quality isn't that high either, but that is enough to make some rare items.

I let the dagger land on the table of the facility near the house I rented and look at Isabella and Sophie, who are also experimenting in the corner. Both sisters seem to be having fun together. Isabella creates flames that Sophie helps to move around and they use it to mimic something akin to what I do.

It was Isabella's idea and the mind manipulator, Sophie siscon sister, of course, agreed.

“Flames need to be more even at the edges and slightly hotter in the center,” I warn her for the fifth time.

“I know. You told me already!” the little girl complains.

Turning back to my dagger, I absorb the rest of its heat, making it cool faster, and observe it.

It's made of simple gray metal with another more conductive metal going through, creating rough pathways that are connected to a mana stone that is imbued in the metal dagger. The dagger is entirely made of metal. If someone doesn't like it, they can work on it later.

I spend a few more minutes sharpening it, heating up pieces of the blade, and hitting it with bits of kinetic energy.

The result is ugly as heck but functional enough.

Manabound Stiletto (rare) - This dagger is bound with mana, sharpening its edge when mana is sent through. It can slightly disrupt magical armor or barriers.

Should be fine for now.

“I want to sell this and the other five daggers I made.”

To be able to sell the items in the tournament shop, register as a seller. Please, pick your alias.

Huh? This again?

For a moment, I think of just using Noname, but then I change my mind and pick a different name.

Would you like to register as "Fuckyouintentbitch"?

“Yes,” I confirm. I hope that the stalker is watching. This one is for you, Duplicaniel. I know you would appreciate it.

Congratulations, you have been registered as “Fuckyouintentbitch”, you can now offer items made by you for sale.

What starting price do you wish to set for Manabound Stiletto (rare)?

The low rare items are usually 200 shards outside of the tournament. As for this one, it did cost me around 50 shards worth of materials.

“150 shards,” I say, and then set the same price for the other 5 daggers I made and then close the window.

I should get a 600 shards net profit if they sell for the price I'm asking. If someone bids more, my profit will be better. After the 1st event, I plan to make a few more to while away time here and make some shards. Others can have fun with people.

Next, I move closer to where Isabella and Sophie are experimenting and observe the process. I don't say anything but watch.

Sophie is still using her [Manipulation] to help Izzy control her flames while her little sister tries to copy what she saw me doing. They are practicing on a piece of metal I brought here from the 6th Floor. The result can't be sold in the tournament shop, but it's good for practice.

Curious, I observe Isabella's blue flames and try to compare them to my golden ones. As of now, I still haven't gotten what exact difference there is between flames made with thermal primordial energy and normal ones so I'm curious.

Could it be that the true power will be revealed later? Are there any steps I missed? Is there just a slight difference?

Isabella's flames are the result of her [Pyrokinesis] and they are beautifully blue, with no hint of another color no matter how strong she makes them. With her subclass, which is Kindness, she can even control them. It's to the extent that she can burn the monsters in a big area while her flames do not damage people she doesn't want them to damage. Not even heat touches them.

I'm also sure her subclass strengthens her [Empathy].

When she makes a mistake and more than the intended amount of flames leaks from her, I absorb some so she won't destroy what they are working on. Then I depart while holding blue flames over the palm of my hand and observing them, leaving the sisters to experiment.

Entering the house, I meet Brainiac, Lootenant, and the boys in the living room.

The red-haired Brainiac shouts, “Nice place, Noname! I always knew you were rich.”

“Yes, yes,” I wave at him and continue to the next room.

From behind, I hear as he talks to Dennis, “To be honest, I thought he would be leaking mana all over but he seems… normal? Was he just trolling us with all that Mana stuff?”

Escaping the range of his extrovert debuff area, I plop on the chair next to a big window with a nice view. Outside of that window, Lily and Maya are lightly sparring, barely using any mana because the 1st event is coming. Even then, they are both moving surprisingly quickly, both the healer and the athletic Maya.

Once again, I'm reminded that I'm in big trouble if I lose my mana. Even with my Active Tempering, their physical stats are that much higher. Especially Lily, who upgraded her Constitution and puts a lot into physical stats. There is also her weird thing she does to slowly strengthen her muscles and bones.

“You won't spar?” I ask Tess, who sits nearby, reading some papers.

I notice that her haircut is different once again. Mid-back long blonde hair is nicely put into a braid. She likes to do that.

“I have no time,” she gestures at the papers. “We are exchanging information with Gareth. Oh, did you know there are only 31 people from hell difficulty? 10 from Gareth's Whitewing, 4 from IDK, 9 from our group, Tacita who is apparently alone in her group, Savant who is also alone in his group, and 6 from The Guild. So 7 people decided not to join. The ones that never talked in the Community.”

“We are also missing 1st Beyonder guy, remember that.”

“I do, it's hard to forget the guy.”

“I wanted to fight him.”

Tess sighs, “Of course, you wanted. But don't worry, you have Savant, Tacita, and Gareth. Oh, and me and Lily too so be careful.” She smiles before looking back at the papers. “We tried to share more information about the 6th and 5th floor with Gareth's Whitewing but the system censored the words, muted them.”

“Well, no surprise here.”

“Yes. We tried to set ciphers, we tried telepathy, and we tried to hint or write the information down. But the system is adapting and censoring the words no matter what we try. Even if we tried to leak them by 'mistake' or make them barely hear them from a distance.”

“Tried things like sign language?”

“Yes, the system blocked even that.”

So very annoying.

The 1st event - The Survival Domain will start in 1 hour!

In one hour everyone will be transferred to a randomly picked map, all difficulties together. The terrain will be picked from within the database of the system.

You will be facing the environment, other competitors from the 5th round of the tutorial, and a shrinking domain.

The 1st event will take 5 hours, and the contenders will be rewarded according to their performance and final proximity to the center of the domain.

Note: You can't restore your mana or stamina during the duration of the event.

Note: No equipment is permitted to be brought inside the Survival Domain.

Note: There will be items of different rarities randomly placed within the domain to be used during the event. The items are:

1 low arcane grade item

10 low epic grade items

50 low rare grade items

100 uncommon grade items

500 common grade items

Note: You can use [Restriction] for this and the remaining events.

Placing [Restriction] allows you to restrict your status to the state from the end of a certain floor you decide. [Restriction] can be broken by you, but doing so after accepting it will be counted as a loss and you will be immediately removed from the event.

To place [Restriction] you need to call out to what Floor level you want to limit your status. The stricter [Restriction] you impose upon yourself, the larger the improvement in your rewards.

“Fuuuuck, is the rarity after epic arcane? How crazy must those items be?” Brainiac shouts from the living room.

Well, it seems like everyone got the message.

“What do you think?” I ask Tess who seems to be reading the notification again.

“I like the part with [Restriction].”

I knew she would like that. “What if you restrict yourself to your power level of the 3rd Floor and someone like me will stay on the 5th or 6th Floor level?” I ask.

“That makes it risky and fun, doesn’t it?” she smirks.

“Oh yeah, it does,” I agree.

This is fun. Being able to put [Restriction] on myself could make even a fight against lower difficulty people fun while also giving out better rewards. For example, Gareth and his group are in the middle of the 5th floor and Savant is at its end, so the group 4 members that are on the 6th floor with rewards for the 5th floor should have an advantage.

But with [Restriction]?

“Dennis, you were right, it's Battle Royale,” I call out to Dennis who sits with the other boys in the living room.

“Told you!” he shouts back.

“Are you not worried about your mana not restoring?” Tess looks at me with interest.

“With my reserves, I should have an advantage against people weaker than me.”

“That’s true,” she nods. “So what if you meet someone from Beyond or someone from our group?”

“No holding back,” I answer simply.

“Maybe I will throw something your way when I spot you,” she muses with a cheeky smile, “should be easy enough.”

“Are you sure you want to risk missing with your pitiful mana reserves?”

“We will see about that,” she declares.

Now that I think about it, plenty of people will probably group up to get to the end and survive 5 hours before fighting among themselves. I could ask Tess for it now, but somehow I don’t feel like it, seeing how competitively she looks at me.

Well, I'm sure it won’t be that easy for her to snipe me between close to two thousand people. The map will surely be massive.

 ***

With a few minutes remaining, group 4 reaches the central part of the common area. There are plenty of pretty trees planted, flowers, and benches all over in nice shadows. There is even a fountain and a small lake nearby with more seats. It’s massive.

People are all over, everyone excitedly checking the timer. It all feels like some celebration.

I wonder how the mood will be after the 1st event? Will fighting against each other make it sour? Will they behave the same way after seeing what people from other difficulties are capable of? I have noticed it already but Easy and Normal difficulty are mostly soft. I can tell just from the way they look at me or how cluelessly they move around, not using their senses at all. Either incapable or not used to doing it because of no constant danger.

They grill outside, they drink, and they trade. There are even a few a few months old babies. I saw them fight among themselves too, but being under level 50 for Easy or 100 for Normal, they are not that strong. Even weaker when I consider group 4's power during that period.

In ten seconds, you will be moved to the 1st Event's area!

The countdown starts and I look around, meeting the eyes of a few people from group 4. I even notice Gareth and he waves at me.

Quickly averting his gaze, I notice another man looking at me and turn to him.

The man has a slim face and pale green eyes. His long black hair is tied into a ponytail that rests on his back. Under his left eye, there is a beauty mark. He doesn't avert his gaze and my eyes meet his.

I feel my mana rouse up and my heart pumps Primordial Energies through my body. Instinctively, I feel myself collecting my mana.

The man is dangerous.

You will be transferred to The Survival Domain. You have three seconds to place [Restriction] if you wish to do so.

I watch as he mouths a few words, and I do the same.

“4th Floor [Restriction],” I call together with him.

Then both of us disappear together with 2,355 more people, and the 1st event of the tournament starts.

***

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