Devouring Dragon Heir

[RANKING LIST:]

1. Arthur: 1260 points

2. Damian Blade: 1200 points

3. Julie Ashburn: 1150 points

4. Michael Helios: 995 points

5. Klaus Bennet: 950 points

.....

Klaus observed his position. Earlier, he had primarily focused on finding the EX-ranked monster and had been nonchalant about gaining points from smaller sources.

He had only targeted strong monsters and a few rare individuals who had crossed his path directly, not actively seeking out low-point targets. His current score although not enough was still more than he had expected.

However, it was still only the evening of the first day of battle and the competition lasts three days.

The Academy had introduced a new feature in the VR system called Time Dilation, a groundbreaking technological marvel.

This feature allowed them to accelerate the flow of time within the virtual realm. While in real life, the battle would only last for six actual hours, within the VR environment, it would be a full three days.

This feature had been just announced at the start of the tournament and had taken the world by shock. The sheer technological prowess required for such a feat was immense.

But for Klaus it was too normal now at this point, he had seen a lot already in a short period of time.

He remembered that at some point after hearing about this new feature of the VR, the System had immediately told him not to be sad, implying that his own fused realm, the Sanctuary, would eventually be able to replicate this time dilation feature.

But the System did not spoil the details on how and when that would be possible.

Klaus strategized. "Anyway, even if I kill the EX-rank monster with Julie, we will both get the points halved," he thought.

The rule of point distribution in a group kill meant the 5,000 points would split, making her first and him second.

"After that, to overtake her, I'll have to speed up killing others."

His thoughts did not last long when he heard the bushes moving nearby, a soft rustle that was too distinct to be a mere beast.

Immediately, he activated his Omniscient Tracking skill and saw familiar energy signatures appearing on his map. He identified them instantly.

A bruised and battered Arthur, being supported by a slightly injured Ellara, and Flora, who was also wearing a grim expression.

Arthur and his group had just stumbled upon Klaus's campsite.

Klaus saw their bruised and battered forms. He did not greet them or even walk up to them immediately.

For him, at that moment, they could potentially be a good source of points if they were exhausted enough. He knew that if he killed Arthur here, he would instantly reach the first spot on the leaderboard.

But in his peripheral vision, he saw Julie. She had already noticed the new arrivals.

She was hurrying up to them, moving with surprising speed, her face showing genuine concern. She began helping them settle down, offering comfort and support.

Klaus, observing Julie's actions, casually walked towards the group, his sword, Lost Echo, still in his hand. He maintained a neutral expression, masking his thoughts.

"What brings you all here?" Klaus sneered, his voice flat, tinged with a subtle disdain.

He held his sword loosely, a silent threat. "I don't think we are all close enough to camp together."

Elara's and Arthur's faces paled. Their expressions shifted to immediate fear and desperation.

Meanwhile, Flora looked at Klaus with an embarrassed expression, clearly uncomfortable with his aggressive tone.

"Please, help us" Elara cried, her voice strained, filled with a raw desperation.

"We are being chased down. Arthur is injured severely. We just need to rest for a while, and we will leave, I promise!" Her tone was desprate as she pleaded for mercy.

Klaus was about to retort, to press his advantage and to refuse their request.

But Julie suddenly turned around. She faced him fiercely, her angelic face contorted in a look of warning.

She immediately took Klaus's free hand, shaking it frantically, her small fingers digging into his palm. She also poked his shoulder with her finger, a clear signal of displeasure.

"What?" Klaus asked in an annoyed tone. He looked at Julie, his face showing genuine confusion at her sudden outburst.

His thoughts churned at julie's touch again. He felt a strange sense of relief, a subtle easing of his internal tension, yet a lot of confusion crept up in his mind.

Why are my thoughts fluctuating so much? he wondered. This unexpected emotional response to Julie's touch baffled him.

Julie just looked at him, her eyes wide and direct. She gave him a straight look, an expression that conveyed a silent warning, as if a determined wife was warning her husband to comply or he would regret it later.

She then started pouting furiously, looking directly into his eyes, trying to convince him with a silent, intense plea.

Klaus sighed, a deep, weary sound.

"Fine, fine," he conceded, giving in to her silent demand. "They can stay here for a while. But let me make it clear,

if someone comes here chasing after you all, I am not saving you." His voice was firm, setting a clear boundary.

Julie and the others nodded with relieved expressions. Elara and Arthur immediately slumped with visible relief, their bodies relaxing from the tension. Flora offered a small, grateful bow.

As Klaus walked back to his makeshift camping chair, he saw Arthur being surrounded by the three beautiful women Elara, Julie, and Flora all helping him to settle down.

Elara and Flora immediately started tending to Arthur's wounds, offering him water. Julie simply sat near the trio.

"What a pussy," Klaus thought, a flicker of disdain passed through his mind as he watched Arthur receiving aid.

Klaus picked up his bowl of noodles. He sat there, eating quietly, absorbing the scene.

Soon, Julie came by his side, settling down quietly, eating the same noodles.

The silence with Julie, which had once been awkward, did not feel awkward anymore. It was much comfortable now.

After a bit, Elara and Flora also came out of the tent.

They sat down near Julie, beginning to discuss the events that led to their current predicament.

Elara recounted how Arthur had been valiantly fighting the groups of noble scions ganging up on them, systematically targeting Arthur.

"Those bastards!" Elara cried in frustration, her voice filled with anger.

"First at the banquet, and now in the ranking evaluation, why the heck do they keep coming after Arthur? What has he done to them?"

Her voice was laced with resentment. She recalled how Arthur had been valiantly fighting Michael when that person had appeared suddenly.

"Veridian" Flora stated, her voice became grim.

"He is from the Ashford family, and he has a very sinister skill that traps a person in an illusion. He teamed up with Michael to defeat Arthur." Flora's tone held a hint of lingering terror from her own experience.

"I don't even know how my Arthur survived their combined assault. He somehow resisted Veridian's skill, and then took them by surprise, disorienting them by an explosive attack before we three ran away from there.

They chased after us until they lost track of us in the forest." Elara's voice was grim, filled with a mix of fear and sadness, recounting the tough escape.

"I couldn't even do anything. If only I was stronger than this," Elara teared up, her hands trembling.

Julie sympathized with her. She reached out and gently rubbed Elara's shoulders assuring her about her and Arthur's safety

Klaus, however, was just having a conversation with his System.

He did not care one bit about Elara's tears or Arthur's predicament. His mind was elsewhere.

"System, can this Veridian be a threat?" Klaus asked. He wanted to understand the capabilities of an opponent who could bypass Arthur's defenses.

although he expected system to deny such possibility.

[No, Host. The chances are low, less than 1%.]

"Huh? System, I remember. I still remember how you used to be so certain about what you used to say. Now, even here, you are uncertain.

Why?" Klaus asked, a note of frustration in his internal voice.

[Host, the quest you are currently going through has a condition that has temporarily lifted the System's mental and soul defenses that usually shield you from unknown cosmic influences.]

the System explained.

[So, until the quest is completed, you are vulnerable, but still not that much.

Because your unawakened dragon bloodline, even if its concentration is minuscule right now, gives you an inherent mental fortitude greater to even most high-ranked biengs.

And also, your Draconic Pride trait also negates any direct manipulative attempt targeted to break you down.

So, until this Veridian has a 'beyond mortal' skill, whose rank is higher than Legendary, the Host doesn't need to worry at all.]

"Still, why did you keep a 1% chance on his side? Why aren't you certain enough to say it surely?" Klaus pressed he was noticing the difference in system's behaviour these days.

[the System learns as it gains experience with Host. The System till now has registered many anomalies around Host.

So it has been adjusted to not be rigid with its scope of thinking. It accounts for unknown variables based on observation.]

"Oh, what more anomalies now? How many anomalies have you detected that were out of your expectations?" Klaus asked, a thread of sweat appearing on the side of his forehead.

The idea of constant unexpected variables propping up randomly was unsettling to him.

[First anomaly is the Host itself, your unique Divine Absorption skill, and the question mark guy inside you that holds administrator access to the System.]

"what?? so that guy was inside me all along, i thought he came with you."

the system did not reply to his surprise and kept counting.

[Second anomaly is the appearance of a gate core in front of Host in the past, an object previously believed to be impossible to detect and interact with]

[Third anomaly is the 'Outlier' ranked trait 'Buddha Incarnate'.]

[Fourth anomaly is the dreams Host has been experiencing, they are not your normal dreams]

[Fifth anomaly is the girl beside Host, Julie Ashburn. Her presence and nature are highly unusual.]

[Since there have been so many anomalies that have appeared in Host's path, the System is trying to adapt itself to better serve and protect Host by being less rigid in its predictions and taking in account even the most rare possibilities and preparing host to face them]

Klaus sighed, rubbing his forehead. "I guess you have been having a hard time, huh?"

[Affirmative.]

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auth note - the 1st chapter [prolouge] has been updated again as i have added an action packed sneak peak to the future you can check it out again.