NOVEL SIMPLE B1 | Chapter 52
Ashley
The result of the meeting to decide our Planetary Leader ends up as Chaos and I pretty much expected.
No one gets more than thirty-five percent of the votes, much less the seventy percent that’s required to win the position.
Unsurprisingly, from what I found on the internet back in my Spire, the one who gets the most votes – exactly thirty-five percent of them – is the Black Enforcer. What with him pretty much having had the most control over society before the System came.
What is surprising though is the fact that Chaos doesn’t immediately arrive after the vote falls through.
Instead, a notification appears on our interfaces.
This concludes the first Planetary Council of Val.
All Lords and Ladies of the Council may leave via the exit option located at the bottom left corner of your interfaces.
The next Planetary Council meeting will be held in one month’s time.
Should the Lords and Ladies wish, you may stay within the Council Chamber to discuss amongst yourselves whatever matters you deem necessary.
And just like the notification says, an icon with the form of an open door appears on the bottom left corner of my interface.
I find the corners of my lips trying to turn upwards at the sight of it. Only for me to narrow my eyes at the sight of more than a few of the people in the chamber moving straight towards me. No doubt wishing to talk.
But amongst them are both the White and Black Enforcers, who surprisingly have regretful yet hopeful expressions on their faces. Unlike the completely cold and stoic expressions they wore the entire meeting.
Sorry, but not sorry.
I quickly select the exit icon before finding myself reappearing on top of my Spire. Then I just fly over the edge to go down to the lower floors. At which point I land on a balcony and enter my Spire, heading straight for my bedroom.
A quick nap, then I’ll go ahead and get that tenth Official System Event out of the way. Claiming my lovely win streak reward in the process too.
System Event #1,001,012
Princess Arlene Visthal has never been particularly happy with her job as an MC. The only reason she became one was because her Skill Tree is not meant for combat at all, and her father ordered her to become one so that she wouldn’t have to continue competing herself and most likely die.
And, yes, she is grateful that he cares. But she also wishes for more.
He also mentioned that it would be great for their kingdom – one of the lesser kingdoms of the grand universe with only a few Class Bs within their kingdom – for her to make connections with powerful up and coming users.
Not that she ever expects to meet one.
The princess lets out a sigh before taking a deep breath and teleporting into the main spectating ring of the System Event. Having arrived surprisingly later than a few of the competitors, along with-
Wait, why are there so many people in the crowd?!
She tries as hard as possible to not frown in her confusion, but more and more people keep flooding into the stadium. Soon filling them with over a hundred thousand spectators.
Her events normally don’t even make it into the ten thousands by the climax of the events.
Meaning there must be something strange going on.
Arlene turns her attention to the screen as it begins to appear, revealing the competitors and making the crowd go wild in the process.
Then she just blinks in surprise when she realizes why there are so many people here.
A wide grin stretches across her face, and she shouts, “Hello everyone! How’re ya doin today?!”
This’ll be fun.
Ashley
After joining the Official System Event, I immediately appear inside of the waiting chamber. Turning on the ‘no interviews’ feature without missing a beat.
Because no.
I look around at the other competitors, finding there to currently be two others. Neither of whom look very happy to see me here.
Fair enough. The typical reaction to seeing a Successor in your event seems to vary between greed at killing them, fear of being killed by them or losing because of them, and lastly, the fans who try to talk to you and don’t pay much attention to the event.
That’s what I’ve experienced so far at least.
Anyways, the two competitors – three now, since another one just joined – don’t look all that strong to me. So I walk to the edge of the pitch black cube we’re in.
This particular event is a solo challenge tournament event. Kind of like the Planetary Event that’ll be in a few months but with me being on my own instead of in a team of five.
I decided on this particular event in order to prepare me for the Planetary Event one. So here’s hoping it goes well.
There aren’t many restrictions in it, as usual for Class E events, but everyone is not permanently killed. With everyone being brought back to life again after the Event. A rule created by the MC of this event, surprisingly.
Probably a nice person. MCs don’t generally spend their own credits to add their own rules. Especially considering how restrictive it can be on what types of rules they can add.
Which is very restrictive.
This is my tenth Official System Event, which means I will qualify for Class D in terms of completed System Events after this. Even if I don’t qualify for Class D in terms of my level.
I will also get another win streak reward. Which is nice.
Then I can go ahead and focus on clearing out the many Gates in my territory.
At this point I should be fine with the crowd that will probably gather outside of each Gate. After what happened in the council meeting at least.
I glance up at the ceiling where the spectating area is shown before looking at the competitors still slowly filling the chamber.
And after a brief pause, I pull up the description of the Official System Event on my interface.
Solo Challenge Tournament
Description: A challenge tournament to decide the strongest amongst the participants. One where challenges are made left and right, duels occur one after another, and every participant must fight to the death. But don’t worry, for death is not permanent. This time around, at least.
Participant Count: 10/24
Rules: After each user’s first challenge, they may only challenge another user to a duel once after every victory in a duel. Users may only refuse one duel, and the one they refuse cannot challenge them again until they have won another two duels. When a user is killed in a challenge, they will have one more life to continue challenging others. If they are killed again then they will be revived at the end of the event.
Victory Condition: The user who win the most challenges wins the event.
Rewards: Every user slain in a challenge grants the winner 10 Skill Points. First place receives an additional 100 Skill Points. Second Place receives an additional 50 Skill Points. Third Place receives an additional 25 Skill Points.
Pretty much nothing unexpected.
I sit here in the corner of the cube as the MC goes around interviewing the other participants, with them occasionally glancing in my direction. No doubt talking about me.
Meanwhile the number of participants in the event continues to climb higher and higher. All the way till all twenty-four participants are present and accounted for.
After that another several minutes passes with the MC moving between the more well-known participants.
Then the Official System Event finally begins, with each one of us being teleported away in a flash of light unique to each participant. Following which we reappear on different tiny meter-diameter platforms surrounding a massive platform.
I look around for a second before glancing at the platform beneath me. A crimson and black one, of course.
Only for a menu to appear in front of me with pictures of each one of the other participants and the words ‘Pick a Competitor to Challenge’ above them.
And before I even get a chance to look at the pictures, I find another message appearing in my vision.
You have been challenged by the competitor known as ‘Arval de Ruthe’, will you accept?
I glance around for a second to search for them before finding the person to be a couple levels below me.
So I shrug and select ‘Accept’, leading to the two of us appearing in the arena in front of everyone.
Guess I’m up first.