Duel Tournament (1)
After this, Duamutef's words appeared to Perigit in a vision, saying, "Perigit, do not be afraid. I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward." (Omitted) "Behold, I establish my covenant between me and you, and I will make you exceedingly fruitful." And she spoke again, saying, "Behold, my covenant is with you, and you and your husband Albus shall be the parents of all mankind."
"A human child?"
Perigit looked Duamutef up and down.
"Albus. Is this child someone you know?"
At least it was a relief that the person she'd run into was Perigit.
She wasn't the type to go blabbing to others, so if he just explained things well to her, he could probably smooth this over somehow.
"Yeah, this kid is—"
……Huh?
Albus opened his mouth to explain to Perigit, but his words suddenly caught in his throat.
What do I even say?
She'd end up staying in the dorm anyway, so should he just call her a kid he was looking after temporarily?
What if that hurt Dua's feelings?
But he couldn't exactly say, "This is Duamutef, she's a goddess. She was born from gathered divinity. She's my daughter. Take good care of her. Dua, say hi. This is Daddy's friend."
"……?"
As Albus abruptly fell silent, Perigit gave him a puzzled look.
"Why'd you stop talking mid-sentence?"
"Just a sec, Perigit. This kid is, like……"
Right then, as Albus floundered—
"Perigit al Brigand. Faithful and devoted believer."
A voice laced with mystical aura flowed from Dua, who was hugging his leg tightly.
"You and your father are ancestors of faith, and your devotion always brings me joy."
"Fear not. I am the shield of you beastkin, and you shall receive exceedingly great rewards."
Thud.
"……."
Upon hearing that voice, Perigit unwittingly dropped to her knees.
"Eh?"
Tears were already streaming down her cheeks.
Why?
She couldn't comprehend her own state.
"Done! Let's go, Daddy!"
Confirming Perigit was fully lost in the vision, Dua grinned and turned to Albus.
"……?"
What the hell.
Why was she suddenly crying and kneeling?
What just happened?
"Dua. What did you do?"
Albus couldn't keep up with the situation.
From Dua's reaction, it seemed like she'd done something to Perigit, but……
"Daddy looked troubled, so I showed that kid a little vision. Don't worry. She's probably seeing what she wanted to see."
"A vision……?"
Did that mean Perigit was seeing the vision she desired?
More importantly……kid?
"Yeah. She's one of my favorites. Her and her daddy. They believe in me. And they seem close to you, Daddy. So I just gave her a vision. Let's go now, Daddy."
Made sense, given she was a god embodying the beastkin faith.
"Right. Gotta make sure Dua only shows up for me from now on, so this doesn't happen again."
Divinity flowed from Dua, enveloping her body.
"Done! Now no one can see Dua!"
Dua was suddenly speaking in full sentences again.
Unlike her cute appearance, Albus no longer saw her as just a child. Not a kid……a true god. Her real self.
"……Ugh, no good, Daddy. I'm tired……"
Her legs gave out, and she slumped against Albus.
"Dua used up all her divinity."
Albus chuckled and piggybacked her. No.
Even if she's a god, to me she's just a cute kid. Why am I getting spooked?
"Up you go."
"Hehe. Daddy smell."
Riding on Albus's back, Dua buried her face in it.
"More importantly, Dua. You used up all your divinity?"
"Yeah. That's right."
Was it because she was a newborn god with limited divinity?
Or was there a limit on how much gods could intervene in the mortal realm?
"That place earlier was Dua's home, right?"
"Yup."
The desert from before.
"Once I leave home, Dua gets super weak. See? Dua's ears are gone."
Dua pointed to the top of her head.
The perky ears she'd had in the desert had vanished.
So that's how it was.
Born in the desert as the desert's goddess, she faced restrictions outside it.
Born from beastkin faith, she might have become a localized land god tied to their worship and the sands.
Did that mean she'd have to stay weakened at the academy?
He couldn't keep her somewhere harsh just for his selfish desire to stay together.
"Dua. If staying here is uncomfortable……"
"No way!"
Before Albus could finish, Dua shrieked.
"Dua stays with Daddy!"
As if she knew what he was about to say, she rejected it outright.
"Anywhere without Daddy means nothing to Dua! Dua stays here!"
"……Alright then."
Yeah, even if it was her home and territory, leaving a kid alone in that desert?
What was I thinking.
"Sorry, Dua."
"S'okay. So let's go eat quick."
Pat pat.
Like a god absolving sins, Dua patted Albus.
"Pfft. Yeah."
To Albus, she was just small and cute.
Chucking, he headed to the restaurant with Dua on his back.
This is a message from GM:
- PVP tournament to be held on Labyrinth Tower 6th Floor
- Tournament format: One-on-one duels between players
- Tournament-style progression
- Winner receives the floor itself as reward, plus prizes
- Top rankers receive tiered prizes by placement
- Prizes: [New Miracle Spring Water] and Labyrinth Shop items ([New Miracle Spring Water] is a new item that cures a different debuff from regular Miracle Spring Water)
- Date: Three days from now
- Interested players sign up on Labyrinth Tower 6th Floor (deadline: right before tournament starts)
- All players can spectate from the stands
"Battles between players, huh."
The Demon King muttered as she scrolled through the comments on the notice she'd posted.
This morning, she'd received a message from GM about a tournament in the Labyrinth Tower.
The content was a martial arts showdown of player slaughter—completely different from the tower's content so far.
Naturally, the rewards were shocking.
The winner got a whole floor, and even top rankers without victory snagged Labyrinth Shop items.
"Showing off those radiant divine treasures, then holding this tournament."
The continent had already tasted the greatness of these treasures via Miracle Spring Water.
She couldn't even imagine how this one event would shake the continent.
"GM. What are you really aiming for?"
Events on each Labyrinth Tower floor.
Plus the shop incident and Miracle Spring Water event.
All connected, no doubt.
GM's plan was unfolding step by step.
So what did he want from this one-on-one tournament?
The sole possessor of the strongest martial might would win……
"I see."
The Demon King grinned.
"Scouting apostle material."
He was surely seeking talent fit to receive his authority and serve as his apostle.
It was odd a god of GM's caliber lacked apostles still.
Probably sifting through tournament standouts for the pick.
"All this……just to find apostles?"
Greater change than millennia of continental shifts, for that single goal?
The Demon King's body shivered with thrill.
"Ahh. GM. You're the best."
This tournament would draw out the continent's hidden powerhouses.
How much would the 6th floor upend things?
"If I could, I'd join myself."
If not for her pact with the Ma Shin, she'd ditch her demon realm duties and go wild.
The Demon King eagerly awaited the new era GM would bring.
"PVP tournament……."
Beep.
"Interesting."
The one-eyed man in an eyepatch, leaning on his greatsword, closed the community screen.
"Time to loosen up a bit."
"So win everything and you get that floor, right?"
"Yeah."
"I got this! I don't lose!"
Boom!
The giant slammed his hand down, shattering a massive boulder.
"Gonna smash it all."
Clang.
"Prizes are Miracle Spring Water?"
The bushy-bearded, muscular dwarf at the lava forge wiped his sweat after swinging his hammer.
"I drank that and only fixed my ED—hair loss stayed. Another one's useless…… Huh? What?"
Clunk.
His hammer slipped from his hand.
"A new spring water that cures different debuffs? ……Hey! Bring the gear quick. Hurry!"
"A tournament……."
"No need for you to step in, Master. Just give the order, and we'll offer the 6th floor to you."
"No. Forget it."
Rumble.
"I'll do it myself."
"A tournament hosted directly by GM."
"Yes."
"Hm……."
The Beast King pondered after hearing the report from his adjutant.
"A tournament hosted by GM. How could we, his servants, not attend?"
Battle aura gathered along his arm.
Over the mana condensation, faint strands of divinity glimmered.
"We'll show the continent the power of us beastkin, reborn by the grace of the Savior."
Shock and terror to our despisers.
True faith and service to our savior.