READ NOVEL ONLINE 42: Trial rankings
Kai woke up to mild discomfort. Someone was tickling his exposed chest. No, that’s not quite right. He opened a groggy eye; a young man was stabbing his chest repeatedly. His Hotplates sparked each time the common dagger failed to pierce his flesh; the damage was so minor that his new Vortex Heart failed to even activate. Kai sat bolt upright and grabbed the sobbing man’s wrist.
“What are you doing?” Kai said, shaken.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I had to try! The trial is almost over and I don’t want to die,” George pleaded.
Kai blinked in alarm. He wasn’t sure what was more troubling, the fact that someone had tried to kill him in his sleep and he’d been so exhausted that even with his improved senses he had not noticed, or that after checking the trial timer, there was only 1 minute and 12 seconds left. I’ve been sleeping for over 2 days?
Without any time to spare, Kai tossed George aside and slammed 40 points into his Senses stat. He resisted the urge to claw his eyes out from the itching discomfort for the few seconds it lasted.
-Vital aura-
Level: 41
Free stat points: 5
Mind: F-Awakened (0/40 stats)
Body: E-Purified (0/80 stats)
Senses: E-Purified (0/80 stats)
Your Sense-based vital traits have improved slightly: Apex Explorer, Primal Eyes.
Kai could feel his senses sharpen, however he was not paying much attention to the changes as he scrambled out the ramshackle tent. Adrenaline surged through his body like lightning. He reprimanded himself; he should have asked someone to wake him up sooner. There was no time to earn more trial tokens, but he did need to speak with Milah, perhaps Hawkin too. He noticed the camp was bustling with activity, and even glimpsed someone sculpting trees into living cabins with aura. Woah… His roving eyes spotted Milah co-ordinating something nearby. Various butterflies lazily swooned around her.
“The first trial is almost over!” Kai shouted.
Milah fluttered over, opening her mouth, then closing it before settling on her response, “What do you need?”
“We need to speak about the future of… Skyhearth,” Kai said, nervously.
“Sure thing, M’Lord,” Milah said with a mock bow, her scarlet hair whipping in the breeze.
I guess my titles are openly displayed? “You stop that, you stop that right now,” Kai huffed. “Just for that, you are second in charge.” Kai had already planned on asking for her assistance, he’d seen everything she’d done over the days he was incapacitated and he knew she cared deeply about creating a safe space for her little sister. She was also strong enough that people would listen to her.
Milah raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. “That was quite authoritative.” She tilted her head to the side with a smile. “You know I was originally planning to flee right?” She looked around. “However this is literally a floating island and there’s no-where to go but down, which from what I have learnt, is substantially more dangerous.”
She nodded, more to herself than Kai. “So, yes, I’m happy to stay here and grow this into a safe place for Emma and these people.” She then turned to face a small crowd of people that had gathered. “Told you!” She thumbed her chest and grinned.
Kai nodded. “Thank you,” he said, truly grateful, the relief plain on his face.
“I have no idea what’s going to happen when the trial ends in…. seven seconds,” Kai said, then gestured to George sniffling behind him, a dagger on the floor between his knees. Milah raised her eyebrow curiously.
Kai pointed at George. “He tried to kill me, he’s competing in the trial too.” Before he could finish his sentence Milah’s aura exploded, an inferno of copper butterflies circled her like razor blades, the air hot and sharp against his skin.
“Woah woah!” Kai said, holding his hands up. “He’s failed the trial. I’m not sure what’s going to happen to him and I’d like to find out. Just keep an eye on him,” Kai said. Milah nodded; he noted she seemed frustrated at herself.
Sovereign’s Odyssey
Trial 1: The Strength to Survive
Results:
10 Achievements
7 vital traits
6 aura traits
3 Primals Slain
1 Title
1 Protocosmic Fruit
Trial 1 Bonus:
Level 40: +25% Tokens
E-Soul: +25% Tokens
Slay 50 humanoids: +25% Tokens
Conquer incursion: +25% Tokens
Hidden bonus:
Native species: +50% Tokens [Disabled]
Unsponsored: +50% Tokens [Disabled]
You are currently 46/3000.
Dominion bonus:
Would you like to trade crystals for additional trial tokens?
You have:
224 F-grade Crystals
17 E-grade Crystals
Yes / No
10 seconds remaining.
What the hell! Kai scrunched his eyes. Why are the hidden bonus multipliers disabled? Something is rigged here. He huffed, someone or something was making rules then just breaking them. Apparently rules were nothing to the strong. But that was fine. If rules meant nothing and power was all that mattered, then he would reach for power.
Kai took a calming breath and looked at his position, he was the 46th strongest —by tokens anyway— on Earth. For some reason he felt a responsibility to ensure humans would be taken seriously across the universe.
You rich unfair bastards! Two can play this well-funded crystal game. Kai looked at Kura on his finger and slammed yes, then traded all his crystals except for 1 E-grade, just in case.
Kai heard a draconic wail in his mind. Kura shifted from a dragon into a kitsune fox and curled up on the cold earthen floor, lips quivering, eyes wide at her empty crystal hoard. A huge chunk of her pride, lost.
I’m sorry, Kura, we have to do this. I promise to make it up to you with your evolution, whatever you want.
Your final position and rewards will be revealed after the conclusion of The Reaping.
Relocating to Rakis A36R000473.
3…
Kai rested his hand on the large red beads around his neck; they felt warm and comforting. He calmly watched twin rivers of aura snake down from the heavens to instantly swallow him and George.
2…
He sighed when he looked at himself, at least my pants are on this time, still no shirt though.
1…