Kill The Old Ones!

15 minutes wasn’t nearly enough to plan for what’s about to come. If anything, it just served to prolong the agony and make the participants more anxious.

Each team looked at the map, which was still displayed on the big screen as the countdown ticked. They were doing their best to memorize the map, but what’s on screen was just a general map, not a detailed one, and that’s probably on purpose.

They were frantically discussing what should they do if they happen to spawn in a disadvantageous biome...which is a bit weird because the Verdant Expanse, as a whole, doesn’t seem too friendly for humans.

What really made them feel the pressure was the fact that this is actually happening now. This tournament, this competition, it’s real; it has stakes, which forces them to do well, and the expectations on their shoulders felt heavy.

A lot of participants are nervous, regardless of which city they represent. What their home would look like for the next 10 years depends on their results here, and they cannot fail.

Eventually, the countdown ended.

They heard no additional word from Terry. They just felt themselves being transported somewhere else. And when their visions readjusted, they were now somewhere within the Verdant Expanse.

"Where are we?"

That’s the question, isn’t it?

Adrian and the representatives of C-City adjusted after the transfer pretty quickly.

"In some kind of forest, I assume," Julius Vermont said while eyeing the surroundings. "I can scout ahead if you guys want; I’m pretty fast."

"I’ll come with you," Erickson Kupkha declared. "I can smell monsters and lairs around. Although we’re still in the invincible phase, it’s better to be safe than sorry."

"I think we’re in the Whispering Forest," Alden Silvereye stated. "Well, don’t quote me on that just yet; it’s also my first time here. But if this is a huge forest that will take us days to cross at a normal pace, then it’s very likely that I am correct. If not, then I don’t know."

"Julius, Eric, we’ll trouble you for a bit," Adrian said. "The rest of us will move as a unit. Don’t go too far, though. About five kilometers minimum to ten kilometers maximum away from us is preferred; that way I can still somewhat sense you."

"Take note of possible dangers and return to us once the invincibility phase is over. If you see other teams ahead, don’t alert them if you can; try to learn which city they’re from and then return to us so we can discuss what we do next."

"Got it." Julius and Eric nodded; they then jumped on the trees and moved ahead of the team.

Adrian led the rest of the team in exploring their initial area. They saw shadows of monsters around, but they didn’t do anything yet. Right now, their task is to learn their environment.

It’s been about five minutes since Julius and Eric left when they encountered the first change.

[BEEP!]

That sound wasn’t that loud, but with how quiet this forest was, it might as well be a bomb that detonated. They all looked at the source and found Magnus Stoneheart wearing a blanched expression, acting as if he were caught with his pants down.

"Whatchu got there, big guy?" Charles fearlessly asked despite the tension. He saw the big guy holding some kind of a rock while wearing a guilty expression.

Magnus looked as if he were ready to cry, but he answered anyway: "It’s a Smooth Sound Stone. I just picked it up subconsciously because I recognized it and its value. I didn’t expect that picking it up would give me merit points and would make a loud sound."

The poor dude looked as if he wanted to shrink under the heated stares of his teammates. For someone at his size and height, he sure acts like a wimp.

"It’s alright, big man. We don’t blame ya’," Charles comforted Magnus, patting his arms because that’s what he could reach.

"Smooth Sound Stone..." Elena muttered softly, but the quietness of the forest made her voice audible to the team. "...that’s the main component for the Sound Transmission Talisman, right?"

Adrian’s eyes shone when he heard that.

"Yes, yes it is," Adrian confirmed, feeling a bit excited. He knows this because he often reads crafting texts in his free time. "But I don’t know how to make one. Does anybody know?"

Magnus hesitantly raised his hand, making Adrian’s eyes light up again.

"How many can you make?" he asked.

"Uh, as many as we’ll need. But I need the ingredients, though; they should be available here and pretty common too."

"Okay, tell us so we can help you look for them," Charles eagerly asked.

"First, obviously, is this..." Magnus showed them the Smooth Sound Stone; he knocked on it, and it produced a sharp and clear "Ting!" ’, indicating its uniqueness. "...Smooth Sound Stone, it should make that sound when you hit it lightly. Next is..."

Magnus told them what he needs, and he was right; the ingredients to make the Sound Transmission Talisman were pretty common so that everybody recognized what they’d need to find.

"...with those, I can make talismans with unlimited use. However, the range can only go as far as 30 kilometers."

"More than enough!" Lucian exclaimed. "That’s way more than enough. I don’t expect us to be separated beyond that range. Come, let’s gather the ingredients while we’re still invincible."

The eagerness of the team surprised Magnus. But what made him happy is the fact that he’s able to contribute to the team.

Heaven knows he feels insecure. He never expected to qualify as the city’s representative. He only defeated his fellow sect representatives because of his awakened physique. Compared to the Clan and Family Heirs, though? He was nothing.

He knew he was dead weight in this team.

And don’t even compare him to Soren—that anomaly. He might be taller and bigger than that man, but Soren can fold him easily with a single hand.

Coming here, he resolved to at least not burden the team with his presence. That was the best he could offer. He might be the biggest and tallest around, but he’s the weakest in this team, that’s for sure.

He wasn’t expecting that he’d be able to help the team this early on. And that really made him feel relieved.

That’s why as soon as he received the ingredients, he began his craft.

He didn’t need tools; just his bare hands, technique, and raw strength were enough to craft the Sound Transmission Talisman.

Before the invincible phase was gone, he was done.

"Here, wrap the talisman on your wrist. It will turn invisible to the naked eye, but you should still feel it there. To use it, you pour a little bit of chakra on it and then speak."

"Your voice will be transmitted telepathically to the receiver. You can send a message to one person or multiple people if you want; just clarify your intent, and the talisman will do the rest."

"I made some backup just in case. The talismans can be damaged, after all. And please remember that it only has a 30-kilometer range; the talisman won’t receive messages coming from beyond that."

Magnus gave them the full rundown of how the talisman worked. And just like that, the team now had an efficient way to communicate with each other in case they were separated.

The team then began testing each talisman, and to their delight, it worked. Magnus was relieved; he made sure that each talisman was made as best as he could, after all.

Unexpectedly, though, Magnus gained 100 merit points after making the Sound Transmission Talismans. Add the merit points he earned after he picked up the materials, and he now has 115 points.

The others only had two-digit merit points. This made him the one that has the highest merit points on the team.

"Picking up materials for the first time gains merit points," Alden said out of nowhere. "Depending on how rare the material is, the points earned vary. Picking up more afterwards doesn’t seem to work."

He then looked at Magnus and said, "You earned 100 points after you made all the talismans, not before. Either crafting a tool or helping the team caused that. I don’t think it’s both because you got 100 points at once, not 50 and then 50."

"Well, at least that’s how I see it so far. We’ve yet to hunt monsters, by the way," Alden shrugged after stating his observation and analysis so far.

Charles gave him a thumbs-up. "As expected of Young Master Alden."

"Shut up," Alden chuckled.

Adrian looked up and saw Julius and Eric returning from their scouting mission. His heart clenched when they saw their grim faces.

"What’s the matter?" he asked.

"We have the worst luck ever," Eric spat. "We’re not alone in this forest."

"We saw two teams, and they were fighting." Julius took a shuddering breath and revealed, "One of those teams was the Royal City Team."

Adrian inhaled sharply when he heard this.

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