The Tomb Tournament
A few people stood before the special magic orb crafted by Ulan's shamans.
"Can you see it? Adel is really challenging the Tomb Tournament."
"Is that okay? He's only been at the Nest for a month."
"But he qualifies. Any trainee at the Nest can challenge the Tomb Tournament."
The Nest instructors exchanged serious glances as they conversed.
"What do you make of him?"
"He's excellent. His archery is superb, and his swordsmanship is beyond reproach. Even though he joined late, he's the best among his peers."
Combat instructor Jazin answered Myurn's question.
"His monster dissection work is solid too—from skinning to carving the meat."
Hunting instructor Rugen nodded in agreement.
"What are the odds he'll defeat the upperclassmen and claim victory?"
"Hmm... To be honest, though Adel's outstanding, winning is impossible."
"It's outrageous, but the upperclassmen seem to have coordinated among themselves."
"But there's no way to stop it. They formed their clique on their own."
Tactics instructor Roberian spoke with a regretful expression.
"Since when has the Nest's tournaments favored certain individuals...? Yoran—that boy surely didn't return from his final mission. He should be graduating soon."
"Yes. After winter ends in three months, he'll graduate from the Nest."
"They're using their heads. You all know what the Tomb Tournament's reward is. This is just a scheme to boost their chances at the Desert's Grace challenge upon graduation."
"Hanging around Syrin must have sharpened his cunning, at least. He's got some skill to back it up. Yoran... tsk tsk."
The instructors nodded in agreement with Myurn's words.
"Still, if there's any chance, it's Adel. Didn't he use Nazan's Yo-yeon during the tribal rite? That means he can wield a God's Blessing."
"Plus, the Tomb Tournament has engraved blessings on artifacts inside. If he's lucky..."
But Myurn shook his head at the instructors' words.
"I'm not so sure. Engraved blessings are literally God's Blessings etched into artifacts. Why do you think they did that? So even non-contractors could use the blessing's power."
Myurn gazed at the trainees gathered beneath the tomb in the magic orb and continued.
"Trained upperclassmen can all use engraved blessings. This actually puts Adel at a disadvantage."
"Then why enter this tournament? He could've waited until after Yoran graduates..."
"Who knows. He must have something up his sleeve."
Even Myurn couldn't quite fathom it.
"Well, unless he's contracted a god... Honestly, his odds look slim."
The other instructors echoed their incomprehension.
A month after Adel arrived at the Great Bow Nest.
Before winter set in, the Nest trainees began the Tomb Tournament to test their progress so far.
If the graduates' trial, the Desert's Grace, granted the power of gods, the Tomb Tournament offered human-made power: special artifacts.
But no one knew that what Adel sought far surpassed the artifact awarded to the victor.
"It's real. Adel's in the tournament."
"So cocky..."
"He wasn't particularly standout this past month. Does he really think he can beat us?"
The gazes of the trainees participating in the Tomb Tournament fixed on one spot.
"Greedy for treasure... Heard he gave the treasure from Hien to that Kargon thing?"
"Yeah."
The treasure given to the Day of the Hunt's victor was theirs to use as they pleased, yet they all saw Adel's handling of the relic as wasteful.
Nothing is as pathetic as the envy of the have-nots.
Adel ignored the upperclassmen's piercing stares, eyes closed, as he listened to Kalderet.
Grrr...
A black wolf lay beside him, swishing its tail like it was swatting flies, annoyed by their stares.
"Eek?!"
"Ahem..."
The trainees hesitated to approach, overwhelmed by the inexplicable pressure from the black wolf before them.
"Look at that punk? Doesn't even greet his superiors..."
Yoran, at the center of the upperclassmen, glared murderously at Adel.
Since enrolling at the Great Bow Nest, Yoran had expected Adel to seek him out at least once, but he'd been thoroughly ignored—no greeting, no glance.
'According to Heila's reports, he goes straight to his room and sleeps after training... Nothing special. What does he have to be so arrogant?'
Yoran's mind was a whirlwind. He'd assigned a servant to monitor Adel's every move, yet the reports said he did nothing unusual, only fueling more suspicion.
The reports from her over the past month had all been the same.
"Hm."
Adel opened his eyes. The upperclassmen who'd been glaring scattered as if nothing had happened.
You've opened five of the forty-seven meridians. Honestly, I didn't expect you'd reach this level in just a month. "Excellent" doesn't do it justice.
Meridians around his arms, legs, and heart had pierced through one by one. He nodded at the faint divine power he sensed.
'I've only just entered the initial stage past the introduction. Over forty meridians left to open. Still, it's enough to conquer the demon archer.'
You must've truly been my contractor in your past life. To handle the Void so naturally.
Maybe you're better with the Void than this novice god.
'Joking.'
Everyone thought Adel had spent his days ordinarily, but one knew better.
Adel had poured every moment into mastering Kalderet's divine power, the Void. As a result, he'd finally entered the early stage of the five divine stages.
'Just reviewing, that's all.'
Still, your achievement is remarkable. You've thinned the Void to suit a 13-year-old body, stacking it steadily like building a sandcastle.
And that breathing technique of yours—it's unfamiliar to me. Adjusting breath to accept divine power more easily? I'm impressed.
'Had to. This training method comes five years from now, created by the Eastern druid Elune.'
Humans are wondrous. Now that I think about it, the true unknown realm might be humanity, not gods.
'Naturally. Gods stagnate, but humans keep evolving.'
Gods stagnate...? Perhaps you're right. Gods can't directly interfere in human affairs, so we convey our will through oracles.
Blessings followed the same logic. Since gods exerted power through humans rather than directly, all continental events ultimately hinged on human autonomy.
'Sure, but a god's power varies by contractor, and gods choose their contractors. So gods aren't entirely uninvolved.'
Adel shrugged lightly at Kalderet's words.
'Besides, human change isn't always positive. It could be evolution—or regression.'
Intriguing. Sorry to my past self, but experiencing one failure lets me witness more evolution.
In a way, if you regress again, the "me" from that time would envy you. Time reversal is beyond gods' domain—you'd see more than I ever could.
'No. This regression is the first and last. Can't do it again.'
Hm? Why? Whatever tool or spell reversed time should still exist in this world.
'That's...'
Adel started to speak but closed his mouth.
'I'll tell you later.'
Something to do with me, then.
At his response, Adel gave a wry smile without a word.
Fine. I understand. Actually, that's even better. If this is the last without a next-life "me," then I'll see more of the world than any other "me." Nothing could excite me more.
It was truly godlike magnanimity.
So you must show me. Gods entrust the world to humans because human change is the true divine amusement. I'll watch your evolution with pleasure.
'Of course.'
Adel opened his eyes and slowly scanned his surroundings. In the stands, he spotted Kasla and Harun watching him. He gave them a wave.
"Watch closely."
"The Tomb Tournament begins now."
The noisy starting point fell silent at the instructor's words.
"This tournament is at Anok's Hills. A sand orc colony in the northern desert."
The challengers nodded at the instructor's explanation.
"As you know, the Tomb Tournament recreates conquered dungeons via shamanic rites. The monsters are illusions but identical to the real thing. Instructors will monitor for safety, but it's a perilous contest where lives could be lost."
Woooong.
As the instructor finished, the magic circle before the starting point began to glow.
"Enter, and the dungeon starts. The rules are simple: the first to slay the orc lord, Anok, wins."
Fwoosh—!!
He swung the torch he held down with all his might.
"Will he be okay?"
In the stands, Harun asked in a trembling voice.
"Maybe we should've joined the tournament."
Forty challengers. Everyone knew the other thirty-nine were in cahoots against Adel.
"We can't join. Even if we helped him win, it wouldn't count... Winning with our aid means nothing."
Kasla watched Adel step into the magic circle and said.
"But if he wins the Tomb Tournament alone, it'll be a feat no one has achieved."
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Every junior trainee at the Nest will want to follow him."
Woooong.
As the magic circle's ripples faded and vision returned, Adel checked his position first.
'Anok's Hills has four entrances total.'
Confirming red quartz growing like jewels at the cave mouth, he knew he was at the third eastern entrance.
'Lucky. Closest to the target.'
Adel nodded, satisfied with the promising start, then turned.
'No Yoran.'
The other nine summoned challengers around him wore dazed expressions, still recovering from the magic circle's effects.
'Makes sense. They're not used to the circle yet.'
Whoosh!!!
Adel launched forward, drawing the sword issued before the tournament.
The Nest forbade bladed weapons, but the Tomb Tournament against monsters was an exception.
"Gah?!"
Adel thrust his sword into the thigh of the nearest challenger.