Chapter 249: Plano Town (5)

This chapter is sponsored by The Bitch in the Fantasy World Patrons:

• Adventurer GrimV

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1:32 p.m.

Elio stood in front of a large gate that showcased the vast and spacious sand arena of the Coliseo.

Two armed Guards were standing on the corners of the gate and a personnel of the Coliseo standing beside him.

Elio wasn't wearing his usual dark-hooded cloak and instead was wearing a simple sleeveless leather vest, a belt pouch, pants and a pair of boots. And of course, he had his Lore Item sword [Fiamma Oscura] on his waist.

"Listen up," the personnel said in Marbleamean. "Once you and your opponent step in the middle, you are both required to give your salutations to His Excellency Viscount Lozario before engaging in battle."

Elio didn't say anything and continued to focus on the gate in front of him.

Truth be told, he has never participated in a fighting tournament. However, since it was generally still a battle, he placed himself in the same mindset whenever he was in one.

"Although this is just the preliminaries, the Feugo Tournament is a show in honor of the God of Fire and also to entertain the people of Plano Town, Tapa Village and all of the guests. If you can't defeat your enemy in a flashy way, you have to at least make it dramatic and let the crowd see your movements."

Elio heard the voice of the announcer introducing his opponent and the crowd cheering.

"And lastly, His Excellency and his family will only cover the cost of healing, resurrection and repairs. Equipment and potions replacement are not included."

The sound of chains and metal roared and the gate in front of him started moving up.

"...FIAMMA OSCURA ELIO FROM THE LA SPADA KINGDOM!!!" the announcer said.

As Elio entered the arena, he received mixed reactions. Some were cheering, others were booing and a few were simply shouting incoherently. However, he paid all of them no attention and simply focused on his opponent.

Standing in the middle of the arena was a pink-haired woman in her early 30s with sun-kissed skin and wearing a somewhat provocative set of leather and plate armor -- she wore a chest and shoulder plate, bracers and gloves, a belt pouch, a mini-skirt, and boots.

Anyone below 40 years old are allowed to participate in the Feugo Tournament. As to why 40 was the cap was due to two reasons:

One- 35 is the average age when fighters would start to retire or slow down in training and fighting.

Two - 35 is also the average age when fighters would've already mastered a Mastery or two. Of course, for Aristocratic Nobles, Priests and anyone with healing magic, the age could be younger. However, not everyone had the same gifts/talents, options and resources as them.

In fact, if Elio had a Status Panel, the basic overview would've looked like this:

***

Name: ElioClass: WarriorRace: HumanAge: 35 Affinity:• Sword - x2.1• Throw - 1.4• Darkness - x2.0• Wind - x1.6• Earth - x1.2

Stats:• Str - 10 (+180) (+30) (+30) (?60)• Vit - 10 (+180) (+30) (+30) (?60)• Agi - 10 (+180) (+30) (+30) (?60)• Int - 10 (+150) (+30) (+30) (?60) Mana: 440/440 Class Magic:• Intimidate - releases a 10-meter-wave that instills fear on target(s) (40 mana points) • Battle Cry - releases a 10-meter-wave that provokes target(s) (40 mana points)• Warrior's Body - increases Physical Force by 1 grade, increases physical stamina• Warrior's Mind - increases Magic Force by 1, increases mental stamina• Warrior's Heart - Increases Physical and Magic Force by 1

Physical Arts:• Power Slash (10 mana points)• Explosive Sword (30 mana points)• Mana Sword• Power Leg (10 mana points)• Explosive Leg (30 mana points)• Mana Leg• Power Throw (10 mana points)• Explosive Throw (30 mana points)• Mana Throw• Power Fist (10 mana points)• Explosive Fist (30 mana points)

Magic Arts:• Dark Arrow (20 mana points)• Dark Spear (30 mana points)• Enchant Dark (30 mana points, 1 mana point)• Dark Sanctuary (100 mana points, 10 mana point)• Dark Golem (100 mana points, 10 mana points)• Dark Body• Wind Arrow (20 mana points)• Wind Spear (30 mana points)• Enchant Wind (30 mana points, 1 mana point)• Earth Arrow (20 mana points)• Earth Spear (30 mana points)

Equipment:• [Lore Item] Fiamma Oscura - A sentient saber created by an unknown blacksmith in the La Spada Kingdom from a long and bygone era by fusing Mithril-metal, crushed Origin Crystals, and the remains of an unknown creature or creatures. It grants its chosen Master a Physical and Magic Force boost of 2 grades and can summon a 3-meter-tall version of its chosen Master. However, in exchange, it absorbs the remaining life force of its chosen Master.• Earring of Spirit- boosts mana recovery• Earring of Vision - allows the bearer to see in low-light conditions (30 mana points for activation, 1 mana point per second)• Necklace of Physical and Magic Mind - Reduces Physical and Magic Art cost • Ring of Light - [Heal & Cleanse - Rune - 5/5] (?? mana points)• Anklet of Light - [Heal & Cleanse - Rune - 5/5] (?? mana points)

***

When Elio finally reached the middle of the arena, he and the woman turned to the Royal Box and then saluted.

After saluting, they immediately returned their attention to each other and got into a fighting stance.

"I've heard of you," she said in Marbleamean and activated a skill.

[Mana Dagger].

A long dagger that was almost a short sword with a curved blade made out of mana appeared on her right hand.

"They say that your Lore Weapon [Fiamma Oscura] chooses its master and is quite picky.”

She licked her lips.

"Do you think I, Carmina La Ladrona De Corazones, can have it?"

She raised her left hand forward.

[Steal].

A blinding green light flashed on her hand and then a normal anklet appeared on her palm.

Tch!

Vooom!

She clicked her tongue as she threw the anklet away before charging.

The Thief's Class Magic spell [Steal] randomly steals any item from a target, it costs 40 mana points to cast, and it can be cast multiple times. However, it would only work on a single target every 60 minutes. So a Thief can't spam a single target with [Steal] until they can steal the item they want, unless multiple Thieves cast [Steal] on a single target at the same time.

Seeing Carmina charge, Elio activated a Class Magic spell as well.

[Battle Cry].

An invisible wave of 10 meters shot away from him and affected Carmina, causing her to slow down.

[Cleanse - Rune].

A green light enveloped her body and then she activated a spell.

[Fire Golem].

A 3-meter-tall golem made out of fire began to manifest near her as she continued charging towards Elio.

Elio decided to meet her halfway and activated a spell swell.

[Dark Sanctuary].

A 10-meter-incantation circle that was oozing with dark and vile matter appeared on the ground.

[Power Leg].

Wooom!

Carmina immediately leaped away from the dark and vile substance using the skill’s momentum and was at least 20 meters above the ground.

The Fire Golem that she summoned, on the other hand, wasn't lucky. Dark and vile slime-like hands reached out from the spell, locking and pulling the golem to the ground.

A dark expression flashed across her face as she stole a glance at the golem.

A golem's Physical and Magic Force is based on the summoner's Magic Force. The same applies to legendary AOE spells like [Dark Sanctuary]. On top of that, both the [Fire Golem] and [Dark Sanctuary] spells cost mana to maintain. So in the end, she had no choice but to deactivate it. 

"What?!" she said with wide eyes.

She just deactivated the Fire Golem and was still in the air when Elio with a Mana Sword in his hand appeared in front of her.

Whoosh!

Before she could even activate [Explosive Dagger] with her Mana Dagger to block the attack, Elio's sword already sliced through her, splitting her in half.

Unfortunately, the difference in their stats was just too high.

Elio who was 35 years old, had 3 Magic Affinities, a Warrior, and had a Lore Item had:

• Str - 10 (+180) (+30) (+30) (?60)• Vit - 10 (+180) (+30) (+30) (?60)• Agi - 10 (+180) (+30) (+30) (?60)• Int - 10 (+150) (+30) (+30) (?60)

Carmina, on the other hand, who was 31 years old, had 2 Magic Affinities and a Thief had:

• Str - 10 (+135)• Vit - 10 (+135)• Agi - 10 (+135)• Int - 10 (+105) 

***

6:46 p.m.

Elio was dressed in his usual dark-hooded cloak and had his Lore Weapon on his side as always as he walked into one of the hallways of the Coliseo.

In front of him was a female personnel or what he believes is one of the personnel of the Coliseo who was leading him somewhere.

The female personnel was a gorgeous woman in her late 20s with a sun-kissed skin wearing a white flowing dress that barely covered her body and was oozing with sex appeal. Just with the way she walked was enough to awaken any living being's sexual desires.

The two of them finally reached the end of the hallway which was a large double-door guarded by two topless muscular men.

The female personnel turned to Elio and bowed.

"Master Elio, Lord Homerico and your fellow semi-finalist qualifiers are beyond this door," she said in Marbleamean.

The two topless muscular men opened the large double door and revealed a grand and luxurious hall that was filled with food, drinks, people who even wore fewer clothes compared to what the female personnel leading Elio were wearing, and all kinds of entertainment.

"Please enjoy," she said as she bowed and stepped aside.

When Elio stepped inside the hall, he was immediately approached by a handsome androgynous man in his late teens. If not for the fact he was only wearing white transparent pants, eyeliner and his arms adorned with bracelets, no one could tell if he was a man or a woman.

The androgynous young man bowed.

"Master Elio, welcome to the victory party for the semi-finalists," he said and then gestured with his hand. "Your fellow semi-finalists are over there. Please allow me to escort you there."

Near the center of the hall, there were 9 carpets laid out on the floor. At the top was a single carpet, and below it were 2 columns with 4 carpets each and had a distance of 1 meter from each other. And at the moment, only the carpet on top and the last carpet on the right column were unoccupied.

Elio let the androgynous young man escort him to the last carpet on the right column. And as he sat down on the carpet, he immediately swept his gaze to each of his fellow semi-finalist candidates.

Not counting himself, there were 7 people and all of them were between the ages of 25-40. Some of them were indulging themselves with the pleasures being offered by the party, while others didn't partake in anything and were meditating. However, he could tell that they were all sizing him up.

"Master Elio, this party is dedicated to all the semi-finalist qualifiers," the androgynous young man said. "So feel free to order anything you like -- food, drink, women, men, young or old, we will try our best to grant all your desires."

Elio swept his gaze around his surroundings once again and he found no sign of demon-kins around.

"Wine and food will do."

"As you wish, Master Elio," the androgynous young man said before leaving.

"Hey."

Elio heard a male voice that seemed to be coming from the carpet next to him on his right side but he ignored it.

"Hey!"

He closed his eyes and then proceeded to meditate.

"Fiamma Oscura Elio!"

He opened his eyes and turned to where the voice was coming from.

It was a man in his late 20s with orange hair and a sparkling smile wearing a simple set of leather armor while being fed and massaged by four barely clothed beauties who were between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.

"Zon-Are zon-all zon-you zon-Southeners zon-this zon-rude?!" the man said in Zonian with an accent that seemed to indicate that he was from the Orion Kingdom.

Elio turned away and resumed meditating.

"Zon-Hey! Zon-Don't zon-ignore zon-me!" the man said.

Seeing Elio ignore him, the man broke free from the beauties feeding and massaging him and then sat beside him.

"I don’t know if you’ve heard of me, but I’m Kyle of the Blood Tree. I got my moniker after discovering and killing a tree-type Lore Monster that's been secretly preying on living beings for years in one of the roads of Orion Kingdom," he said in Marbleamean and then glanced at the sword on Elio's waist that was emanating a dark aura despite being kept on its sheath before returning his gaze to his face. "They say that you have a sentient Lore Weapon that chooses its master and gives its master unfathomable strength but also kills its master."

Elio continued to meditate.

"Just out of curiosity, if we fought tomorrow and I killed you, would I be chosen as its new master? I mean, I don't want to be an owner of a Lore Item that kills its owner, but I also don't want to lose in front of a crowd because I got a reputation to protect."

"Master Elio, we have your food and drinks," a male voice said.

Elio opened his eyes and saw that it was the androgynous young man from earlier and he brought companions with him, two men and three women who were between the ages of 18 and 25 years old.

"And if you like, we can accompany you to make your meal more ENJOYABLE…" the androgynous young man said with glistening eyes and flushed cheeks as his companions placed down the food and drinks in front of Elio.

"Put down the food and drinks and leave me alone," Elio said.

For a split moment, a tinge of disappointment flashed in the androgynous young man and his companion's faces.

"Yes, Master Elio…" he said and bowed before leaving.

His companions bowed and left as well.

"Not interested?" Kyle asked.

Elio turned to him and didn't say anything but his eyes said everything he wanted to say.

"What? You're afraid it's poisoned? Here, let me help you."

Kyle placed his hand on top of Elio’s cup and activated a spell.

[Cleanse].

Elio stared at the cup for a moment before returning his gaze to Kyle.

"Go back to your spot."

A sparkling and bright smile appeared on Kyle's face and he slapped Elio's back.

"Don't be like that! We're all here forced to attend this party! The least we can do is to socialize with each other, right?"

Veins appeared on Elio's neck and forehead and he took a deep breath. After that, he picked up his cup and decided to resume ignoring Kyle.

"So what's your reason for participating in this tournament? Are you looking for a cure for that Lore Weapon of yours? I heard that your sword also showcases a fire-type spell, but has a dark color.

"Me? I joined because I heard that you can fuck a demon-kin here without facing any repercussions. Of course, not just any demon-kin, but a Verin.

"Now that I think about it, you're from the Southern Continent, right? Fiamma Oscura, that's from the La Spada Kingdom. Have you ever fucked a Verin? I tried to search for a Verin prostitute or slave in the La Spada Kingdom. However, the prostitutes I found were all old and fat, and mostly male. Meanwhile, the slaves, the young females are just so damn expensive that the cheapest one is 10,000 plats!

"Anyhow, they say that once you win the semi-finals of the Feugo Tournament, you can make a request to the Viscount's family to fuck a young and beautiful demon-kin!

“Oh, by the way, have you ever been to the Housan Empire? They say that all races there, including Necromancers, coexist. I’ve never been there. I mean, I always planned to go there one day, but it keeps getting postponed because something always comes up, you know what I mean? I’m sure you do. It’s always the --”

At this moment, Elio didn’t hear a thing that Kyle said and was meditating deeply.

All of a sudden, the sound of trumpets erupted within the hall.

"Lord Homerico has arrived!" a barely dressed male announced.

An extremely obese man who looked like he weighed close to 400 pounds with black balding hair in his late 30s and wearing a gaudy black and gold robe embroidered with numerous jewels entered the room with an entourage behind him.

He made his way to the unoccupied carpet located at the top of the two columns and sat down.

"Looks like we now know why we were all forced to sit on the floor," Kyle whispered to Elio.

One of the obese man's entourage, a young and handsome man in his late teens wearing a robe similar to his but with fewer decorations and less sparkly, presented a golden cup decorated with rubies on a golden platter. The obese man's fat arms wiggled as he reached out for the cup and it wiggled once more as he raised it.

"I am Homerico G. Tapa," the obese man fat with a voice that all fat people have in common -- out of breath and sounded like there was something clogging their nose and throat. "I would like to dedicate this toast to all of you semi-finalists and I pray that the God of Fire will bless you all with victory tomorrow!"

The semi-finalist raised their cups.

"To the God of Fire!" Homerico said and then emptied his cup.

“To the God of Fire!” everyone in the hall made the same gesture.

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

By the way, I’ve posted this chapter at WebNovel, Royal Road and Patreon. However, the main is P-a-t-r-e-o-n (Immortal_Shades) because I want to post pictures and videos there without any restrictions.

https://www.patreon.com/Immortal_Shades

Don’t worry, the chapters there are free. And if you want to donate because I have no talent in being a writer, feel free to consider any of these titles:

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Thank you once again and I will see you at the next chapter.

Chapter end