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Chapter 78: Targeting by changing the rules? Sterl Takes the Stage
Chapter 78: Targeting by changing the rules? Sterl Takes the Stage
[Inheritance Stone (Arcane Skill: Mountain)]
[Type: Special Item]
[Effect: Pressing your forehead against this item allows you to directly learn the Arcane Skill: Mountain.]
[Note: Learning Arcane Skill: Mountain requires meeting specific conditions.]
"They're really offering a B-grade arcane skill??" Sterl couldn't help but be surprised. Divine Mountain Empire was being quite generous.
After this interlude, the fourth round of the tournament had yet to officially begin.
The princes of the Divine Mountain Empire seemed to have reached some sort of agreement.
With a clap of their hands, attendants entered the arena, guiding the players and NPCs to nearby accommodations for rest, supplying them with ample food and drink.
Naturally, Sterl accepted the offerings, indulging for a while before replacing his night's sleep with training. The next day, he returned to the arena with the other players to spectate.
The tournament battles continued until the afternoon, and once again, Sterl used his bye to complete his training and allocate points.
He was still in considerable pain... mainly because he was out of Life Storage Potions. If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't die in his consciousness space, Sterl would have waited until the next day to allocate points. He needed to evolve a life-saving potion first.
But as soon as Sterl looked at his evolved panel, all his pain seemed to vanish in an instant.
[Arcane Skill: Star Soul Rotation (Grade E)]
[Effects: ? Converts experience, gaining an additional 40% bonus]
[? Increases all attributes by 20%]
[? Talent enhancement, effect increased by 20% (Chosen: Celestial Descent)]
[Proficiency: 156/4000 [Phase One]]
Sterl was overjoyed at the content on the panel!
He had initially thought that advancing to Grade E would only slightly increase experience gain and attribute boost. But the Grade E arcane skill had undergone a qualitative change!
A 10% bonus to experience, no need to say more.
A 10% increase in attribute effect, equating to nearly twenty points in all attributes. But the best part was that the first phase of the Grade E arcane skill already enhanced Sterl's talent.
The effect of Celestial Descent increased by 20%, meaning that when this talent was activated, all attributes increased by 60 points and an additional 120%!
Moreover, this wasn't just a simple enhancement of Celestial Descent because the more attributes there were, the greater the overall attribute effect boost!
The upgrade from Grade F to Grade E made Sterl feel like he had hit the jackpot! His strength skyrocketed!
Compared to the other players in the arena, Sterl's strength was already quite formidable. His purple skills were matched with a 3S-class profession, he had Mastery, and his attributes were boosted by double SSS-class talents.
Even the Holy Maiden Faye from the Water Blue Tribe likely couldn't match the output of Celestial Stars enhanced by Stardust!
But Sterl continued to push forward, managing to max out his arcane skill to the current phase's limit and completing two point allocations and evolutions, achieving qualitative change before the next match.
While other players might have purple-quality skills at best, still within their second-tier systems, Sterl had already started using arcane skills nearing the legendary realm!
The main focus was to beat the crap out of those primitives!
Sterl sensed the changes in his internal energy and slowly opened his eyes, a smile on his face.
His actions immediately irked the other players, especially those who had been eliminated. They gritted their teeth, their eyes nearly popping out in anger.
The players were visibly annoyed with Sterl.
"Damn it! We're fighting for our lives up there!"
"And this Earth human trash just sleeps his way into the top twenty-one?"
"This is ridiculous!"
"Get him out of the tournament!"
...
However, this time, the prayers of many players were finally answered.
After the fifth round of the tournament's draw, to the dismay of countless players, Sterl once again drew a bye card!
But without waiting for the angry outcries of other players, the princes proactively announced, "There is a change in the ranking rules for determining the top 21."
"From now on, we will implement a battle royale mode. Everyone will enter the arena at once. The longer you last, the higher your rank."
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire arena erupted in excitement.
The remaining 20 players' faces changed, each scanning their potential opponents, silently cursing. This type of competition meant that relying solely on strength would make it difficult to be the last one standing.
Instead, the strongest would likely be targeted first, as the weaker players would unite to drive them out, maximizing their own chances of securing a higher rank.
This made the outcome of the upcoming ranking battle highly unpredictable.
Of course, there were a few who remained unfazed. One was the Holy Maiden of the Water Blue Tribe, Faye, who still wore a faint smile, standing gracefully to the side like a statue carved from jade.
Another was the elderly player who had caught Sterl's attention. He hunched over, hiding in a corner of the audience, his gaze sharp as a knife.
The last notably calm player was a burly man with a bare torso, an exaggeratedly large sword strapped to his back. His demeanor was composed, indifferent to the new rules.
While the top 21 players stayed quiet, those who had been eliminated were overjoyed.
"Yes! Finally, that Earth human trash is going to be eliminated!"
"I've been waiting for this moment for so long! Make sure he's the first to go! He shouldn't get any rewards for being in the top 20!"
"Asshole! Did you think your luck would last forever? Luck alone is useless!"
"Wait and see, you'll be running around like a beaten dog!"
...
The alien players were ecstatic, wildly mocking Sterl. Meanwhile, the few Earth human players present didn't dare to show support, fearing they'd be targeted as well.
In fact, even they were fed up with Sterl, who had seemingly lucked his way into more rewards. They were eagerly waiting for his downfall.
As for Sterl, despite the hostile atmosphere and collective taunting, he remained calm.
So, these princes don't have the authority to redraw the bye slots? Instead, they can only change the format of the competition? This consciousness space definitely has some tricks up its sleeve.
He pondered.
As for being the first to be knocked off the stage due to relentless attacks...
A glint flashed in Sterl's eyes, and the more he listened, the happier he became!
I just upgraded my arcane skill! My strength just skyrocketed!
This is a perfect opportunity to show off!
Sterl took the lead, stepping onto the stage with a confident stance, hands behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a master. He was waiting for some oblivious person to challenge him. Then he could unleash his formidable strength, instantly defeating them and impressing the audience in one fell swoop!
As he stood there, a space opened up around him. After the other top 21 players stepped onto the stage, they collectively chose to ignore Sterl. Although they were somewhat annoyed by this luck-based climber, they were more focused on securing their own ranks!
The slightly weaker players grouped together to attack the stronger ones, while the stronger players formed alliances to first eliminate the weaker groups. As for the three experts Sterl had previously noticed, who remained calm in the face of the new rules, they stood their ground, awaiting challenges.
Sterl, being a lone weak player without a group, became an outcast from everyone's target list.
This made things awkward!
Sterl stood there, unsure of what to do. If he were to move, how should he move, and towards whom?
If he didn't move, all he could hear were the shouts of the players below.
"This Earth human is still putting on a show. Why aren't you guys attacking him? Get him out first."
"No way, is he going to luck his way into a few more ranks? How can everyone ignore this asshole?"
"I'm about to explode with anger. How can this waste have such good luck!!!"
The players below were stunned! The rules were explicitly set to target this lucky guy, yet he was still surviving?
This is absurd!
Sterl was even more frustrated. He was itching to show off and put everyone in their place, but no one was giving him the chance.
Meanwhile, the central battlefield had turned chaotic.
Faye swung her staff, and instantly, the entire stage was engulfed in a terrifying torrent of water. Her full-force attack was affecting everyone present!
Several weaker players were directly drowned and vanished in flashes of light. Even the remaining players, including the two previously calm experts, had their expressions change dramatically!
"Take her out first!" The players roared, unleashing a barrage of lightning, flames, and frost. But under the Water Blue Tribe's Holy Maiden's Mastery and purple-grade ability, none of their attacks could penetrate her water shield.
Instead, several players were ensnared by the water, pinned to the ground. The water then transformed into blades, not only simulating the effect of drowning but also cutting them from the inside!
On the stage, the pool formed by Faye's skill gradually turned crimson.
The match had completely become her stage, as she took on nineteen opponents by herself!
Except for Sterl, who stood in a corner looking completely unbothered. His position was so out of the way that even Faye's ultimate attack didn't reach him...