The meeting location was a restricted training area outside the country, on empty, desolate land surrounded by forests and abandoned factories.
The gate, one managed by another awakened group in Europe, had been moved here, only for it to reactivate. As a result, they had to clear it first.
Barriers had been raised around the gate, each one filled with high-level mana capable of withstanding any attack thrown at it.
Officials from the special Awakened Military Division, the official hunter association, a masked guest, and the leaders of the Awakened Response Mercenaries were already present when Cashel and Andeen arrived.
They were immediately pulled aside for a briefing and the rules were simple but brutal.
Cashel would fight three opponents in succession; One Hero-class fighter from the military side, one high-ranking hunter from the Association and one elite from the Black Market Mercenaries
Whoever defeated him and the other two would gain the rights to claim him. If he defeated all three, he could choose with ease.
But if he fought alongside one of them after coming to an agreement, then they both would have to fight another pair to obtain official rights to him.
’Ridiculous.’
Cashel thought once the person briefing them finished and walked away. They were treating him like some kind of object or property that they needed rights to.
And the one who actually had the rights... they didn’t even care about how she felt.
It was like she was invisible, and she was one of their best.
Cashel took Andeen’s hands in his when he saw the gloomy expression on her face. "Relax, I’m not going to die."
Andeen glared at him, but he quickly averted his gaze.
He was glad she couldn’t see, but that didn’t mean it would stop her from knowing what was happening. Still, he was glad for that.
That way she wouldn’t worry much.
Once it was time, everyone stepped into the gate. Cashel went in last, following closely behind Andeen.
The gate opened onto a massive stadium with spectator seats and various people, probably from the organisations and individuals who found something like this entertaining.
In the distance, from the top of the stadium where they entered, hunters were fighting beasts, and a few more were moving around the stadium.
Cashel was surprised at how easy it had been for them to set up something like this.
The physical enhancement from earlier was still active. Despite being nervous it would clear once the undisclosed time ended, it surprisingly remained, but it was barely enough.
He summoned the system screen and slipped his hands into his pockets as he made his way down the stairs to the field.
[Available Credits: 5000]
[Note: Spend in the System Global Shop]
Cashel narrowed his eyes. ’I spent five thousand on physical enhancements and potions, huh?’ he thought, subconsciously summoning his inventory.
[Inventory (fold)]
[Potions: Healing x3]
[Weapons: Cowbell Bell x1]
’Wow,’ he thought, unimpressed and sorry for how empty it looked. But it wasn’t like he could put weapons that didn’t belong to him there.
Cashel dismissed the inventory and opened the system shop instead.
[Global Store — Exclusive Access]
[Warning: Unauthorized purchases will result in severe penalties]
[Expanding Designated Player Isle...]
[Consumables]
• Healing Potion (Rank C) — 100 Credits
• Greater Healing Potion (Rank B) — 5,000 Credits (Available Upgrades)
• Recovery Potion (Full) — 800 Credits
• Growth Catalyst (Temporary) — 1,000 Credits
• Stat Increase Potion (Single Attribute, 1 hour) — 5,000 Credits
• Sensory Stabilizer — 1,200 Credits / 100 System Tokens
• Anti-Suppression Serum — 2,500 Credits
[Weapons]
• Standard Longsword (Rank B) — 50,000 Credits (Available Upgrades)
• Butterfly Knife (Rank A) — 1,500 Credits
• Mana-Conductive Pistol (Rank B) — 2,200 Credits
• Dagger Set (Rank A, Temporary) — 6,000 Credits
• Gravity-Impact Gauntlets (Rank A) — 7,500 Credits
• Elite Weapon Set (Rank A) — 100,000 Credits (Locked)
Note: Weapon upgrades. More weapons are available in Gacha Draws.
[Clothing & Gear]
• Lightweight Combat Suit (Rank C) — 900 Credits (Flammable)
• Stealth Cloak (Rank B, 20 min) — 3,000 Credits
• Flame-Resistant Coat (Rank B) — 2,800 Credits
• Combat Boots (Rank B) — 1,100 Credits
• Adaptive Armor Vest (Rank A, Temporary) — 5,500 Credits
[Special Items]
• Emergency Escape Token — 40,000 Credits
• Temporary Flight Module (10 min) — 6,500 Credits (Permanent Alternative Available after Player upgrade)
• Sensory Amplification Lens — 2,000 Credits
Cashel stared at the long list for a few seconds, pausing just by the person with the weapon case.
’Why does this system feel exactly like a game?’
He couldn’t understand it, but he also didn’t care. It wasn’t his business anyway. As long as nothing gamey happened, he was fine.
But as he stared at the tempting options and the even more tempting ones to come, he couldn’t help feeling complicated.
He selected only what he needed for the moment.
[Purchase Confirmed]
• Sensory Stabilizer ×1 — 1,200 Credits
• Stat Increase Potion (1 hour) ×3 — 5,000 Credits (Discount applied: 20%): 1,000 = 3,000, 1200= 240
[Remaining Credits: 1760]
The items materialised in his inventory. He immediately used the stabilizer and the potions as he came off the remaining stairs and made his way to the centre of the field.
[Stat increase potions: Agility, Luck and Speed have been picked and are in effect.]
He couldn’t tell if it worked, but it was in effect, and he hoped it would.
He dismissed the system interface, adjusted his grip on the heavy case, and lifted his head.
Three figures were already waiting under the artificial lights of the stadium.
The first wore a pristine white military uniform similar to Andeen’s, but the beret on his head carried the word Hero.
The second was in a black combat uniform with the letters ARM printed across the chest. The man had broad shoulders and a huge build, a stark contrast to the Hero individual, who was lanky yet fit at the same time.
The third was a woman in a deliberately revealing black outfit that clung tightly to her body, with asmooth black mask covered her face completely.
She stood behind the men, one hand resting on her hip and the other twirling a fancy dagger.
Cashel stopped a short distance away and carefully crouched down, setting the case on the floor.
However, the system screen flickered back into view without being summoned.
[Warning!]
[Dungeon Environment Detected]
[All temporary skills and enhancements will suffer progressive degradation]
[Estimated safe duration remaining: 60 minutes, 30 seconds (Unstable)]
[Recommendation: Conclude combat and exit before time limit expires]
Cashel’s eyes narrowed slightly as he read the final line. The fight had not even started, and the system was already telling him to leave.