The Grand Duelist

[Quest: Impress the God of Fighting is successful!]

[The difficulty of the quest: Impress the God of Fighting is revealed!]

[Quest Difficulty: SS]

[You gained 5 levels.]

[Your affinity to the God of Fighting, ??? has increased by 50 points.]

"Come, worthy child..."

Bang!

A clear flash of lightning amidst the clear skies descended and accurately pierced through the ceiling of the cave.

It aimed precisely at Joseph.

Bang!

A loud explosion occurred.

When the dust cleared up.

One could see that Joseph's figure had disappeared...

[You have been abducted to the Arena of the Gods, Colosseum!]

[Your location within the world of Victory couldn't be identified. Access to the Map and Minimap has been disabled.]

[As a reward for being the first player to enter the Arena of the Gods, Colosseum. You will acquire the interest of every Bard in the world. If you can sell your stories to them for a great price!]

[Your title, "Watched by the God of Fighting" has changed to: "Blessed by the God of Fighting".]

Joseph opened his eyes and saw a series of system notifications that floated before him. He turned to look at his surroundings and was amazed.

He found himself standing on green grass, he could vaguely see that something surrounded him in the area but even when he squinted his eyes and strained himself so that he could clearly see his surroundings.

His eyes couldn't penetrate the smoke that covered what he wanted to see.

[Your eyes are too weak to perceive the truth.]

[You failed on seeking what you sought.]

Several system notifications informed that it was physically impossible for him to see beyond the vague smoky like-haze around the area.

[In your current state, what you are doing is futile, my child...]

Joseph heard a faint masculine voice. He turned around but found nothing.

[With your current abilities, you are not qualified to see the form of a god, my child...]

Joseph frowned, 'I am not qualified to see the form of a god? Then why did you bring me here in the first place if you're not going to come out and talk to me?' He couldn't help but feel irritated.

It was common sense that one would show himself towards his guests, but why was the God of Fighting hiding from him?

[Oh, so you already know that I'm the God of Fighting? The Law of Causality really is favoring you, my child. But fear not, I mean no harm to you. I brought you here so that I could bestow upon you the rewards that you deserved for impressing a god like me.]

When Joseph heard what the God of Fighting said. His eyes gleamed with anticipation and he no longer held any bad impression against the God of Fighting.

After all, why would someone slap the face of someone who bestows upon them rewards?

[You are weak, but you possess determination, willpower, and persistence that reminds me of my past. You are qualified to be my vessel in the human realm. Bring my gospel with you and spread my name. I, the God of Fighting, ??? declares you as a worthy Disciple of mine...]

Joseph's expression changed when he heard what the voice within the skies was saying. At the end of the voice's sentence, a system notification appeared before Joseph.

[The God of Fighting, ??? has declared you as a worthy Disciple!]

[If you accept then you will become the 1st Disciple of the God of Fighting!]

[Access to the Disciple of the God of Fighting's Skill Tree will be opened and perks, exclusive for a distinguished person like you will be opened!]

[Title, "Blessed by the God of Fighting." will change to "Disciple of the God of Fighting".]

[Everyone will look favorably at you at first glance.]

[The strong will feel an inclination to fight you!]

[The weak will feel overwhelmed by your mighty presence!]

[Do you want to accept the God of Fighting's appointment?]

[Note: Once you accepted the appointment then there is no turning back! Think carefully!]

Reading all of these system notifications. Joseph understood that these rewards were far too good than he expected, but Joseph couldn't help but feel something strange. He had an idea that he couldn't quite grasp, but it was at the tip of his tongue.

He frowned and mused...

The God of Fighting seemed to have noticed his hesitation and asked.

[My child, why are you hesitating?]

Joseph didn't know that much about the God of Fighting.

He was someone that instantly went for the Festival of Battles once he had made his character and entered the game. He didn't bother on reading more on the lore of the game since he wasn't even sure if he could continue on playing Victory in the near future.

However, when he remembered that the God of Fighting and the God of Darkness reached a concession back when everything turned around earlier.

Joseph couldn't help but hesitate.

His frown deepened as the God of Fighting asked once again.

[My child, I will give you infinite power...]

The God of Fighting enticed.

[If you accept the God of Fighting's offer, you will acquire all rewards listed above! Affinity with the God of Fighting will also increase to 20, do you want to accept?]

Reading the system notification floating in front of him. Joseph wore a small smile on his face. He faced the heavens and asked: "Who the hell are you?"

The skies visibly shook.

The God of Fighting was shaken by Joseph's unexpected question.

[My child, why are you asking me that? I am the God of Fighting, the God of Fighting, ??? that looks favorably upon you!]

Joseph's smile deepened: "I don't think that the God of Fighting would use such a creepy voice when speaking towards someone that he looks upon favorably..."

"And also, my affinity to the God of Fighting is already 50, while the system notification here is saying that my affinity to the God of Fighting will increase to 20..."

"Does that even make sense?" Joseph shook his head before he snapped and continued: "Of course not! This is the ironclad proof that you are not the God of Fighting! Who are you? Are you the God of Darkness?" Joseph cried out and the skies trembled once again before turning silent.

After a short moment, the skies shook once more and a voice filled with uncertainty came out.

[What are you talking about?]

Of course, understanding the game system was impossible for NPCs that were controlled by the game system itself so, of course. It couldn't understand what Joseph meant by system notifications.

Joseph didn't reply to the so-called God of Fighting's inquiry. He just calmly waited.

Then, finally...

After a short while. The skies visibly shook once again, and a laughter-filled with mirth rang out.

The laughter felt distant, but it rang so closely within Joseph's ears.

[Hahaha! Like I told you, someone that I looked favorably upon wouldn't easily fall to your tricks!]

The voice sounded like it came from a middle-aged man, and Joseph wore a smile on his face when he heard it.

It was because he knew that his gamble worked.

He felt that something was wrong when he saw the listed rewards that felt lacking and the weird tone of voice that the so-called God of Fighting had when talking to him.

Having interacted with a lot of NPCs.

Joseph knew that every NPC's tone of voice when talking to you always changed depending on how high, or how low your affinity was to them.

If you talked to an NPC with zero affinity towards you...

They would treat you like a total stranger. Likewise, if you had a high affinity towards that NPC. They would treat you like a close friend and their tone of voice wouldn't sound so distant like the so-called God of Fighting's tone of voice when they talked earlier.

Joseph had 50 affinity points to the God of Fighting with 100 considered as the maximum. 50 affinity points meant that the God of Fighting would treat him like a friend and his tone of voice upon speaking towards him should be relaxed and leaned more on positivity.

But how did the so-called God of Fighting spoke to him when he arrived here?

He spoke like Joseph was beneath him, he spoke like he was doing a great favor for Joseph and couldn't wait until Joseph accepted his offer.

Joseph gambled on these facts and from what he noticed...

Right now, his gamble thankfully paid off.

[Vell, keep in mind that you lost the bet. Better send what I won to my residence after this.]

[Yeah, I know, I know...]

The middle-aged man talked towards someone and a voice replied. Joseph understood that the voice who replied to the middle-aged man was the one who tried to deceive him on becoming a Disciple of the God of Fighting.

However, Joseph couldn't help but frown when he realized all of these.

'Are they really Gods? To think that they would gamble about the fate of a mere player like me... If their followers knew what they were doing then I'm pretty sure that most, if not all of them would be devastated by how the God that they worshipped, acts behind the scenes!' Joseph thought to himself.

[Well, well, well... You're finally here! I've been observing you ever since you started your journey at the Festival of Battles. You are weak, but your determination, willpower and persistence have impressed me.]

The middle-aged voice rang out once again and Joseph couldn't help but shiver.

'Deja vu?' He thought.

[But anyway, I must thank you! Really. If you accepted that guy's proposal then you would've become his disciple, not mine!]

"His disciple? Pardon me asking, sir. But who was that?" Joseph thought from the start that the one who disguised himself as the God of Fighting was the God of Darkness.

After all, only the God of Darkness who had such a twisted imagination could think of something so wrong and disgusting as that.

[Yeah, that's the God of Darkness, Vell. When you defeated his Apostle, he made a bet with me that he would be able to turn you into his disciple.]

"Why did you accept such a bet, sir?" Joseph couldn't help but ask. His tone remained respectful but a frown could now be seen on his face.

[Well, I knew it from the start that someone that I look favorably upon wouldn't be so stupid as to fall to his tricks. That's the reason why I accepted it, and who would refuse an offer for something free? That guy, Vell. Was practically giving away his precious items to me. I'm not so stupid as to refuse him...]

The middle-aged man's voice rang out like thunder.

Joseph's frown turned into irritation.

As if sensing Joseph's irritation, the voice rang out once again.

[Calm down, calm down. I know you are annoyed about being the subject of all of these but no worries. How could I cheat a mortal by forcing him to all of these and not giving him any sufficient rewards?]

The middle-aged man's voice rang out and Joseph couldn't help but raise his head and smile upon hearing all of these.

'Rewards bestowed by a God, I wonder what would those rewards be...' He thought.

[You are weak, but you possess determination, willpower, and persistence that reminds me of my past. You are qualified to be my vessel in the human realm. Bring my gospel with you and spread my name. I, the God of Fighting, Tryndamere declares you as a worthy Disciple of mine!]

Thunder rang out behind the clear skies as the God of Fighting loudly declared.

A series of system notifications appeared behind him.

[The God of Fighting, Tryndamere has declared you as a worthy Disciple!]

[If you accept then you will become the one and only Disciple of the God of Fighting!]

[Access to the Disciple of the God of Fighting's Skill Tree will be opened, and perks only for a distinguished person like you will be opened.]

[Title, "Blessed by the God of Fighting." will change to "Disciple of the God of Fighting.]

[Everyone will look favorably at you at first glance.]

[The strong will feel an inclination to fight you!]

[The weak will feel overwhelmed by your mighty presence!]

[Do you want to accept the God of Fighting's appointment?]

[Note: Once you accepted the appointment then there is no turning back! Think carefully!]

The clear skies that didn't radiate any heat nor that much light earlier now looked glamorous.

Joseph could finally see some features of the surroundings around him.

These transformations made Joseph feel that the God of Fighting really wanted him to become his disciple.

But when Joseph finished reading all of the system notifications.

He couldn't help but frown once again as he cried out...

"God of Darkness! Why are you doing this to me? I am someone that fought fair and square for the sake of the quest, don't act like this just because I defeated your Apostle! Do you really think that I wouldn't recognize who you are just because you changed your voice?!"

Joseph cried out.

The skies dimmed and the world turned silent.

[Your affinity to the God of Fighting, Tryndamere has decreased by 10 points.]

"Oops, he really is the God of Fighting." Joseph innocently scratched his head as if he was a child that made an innocent mistake. But could you really blame Joseph for this mistake? The God of Fighting offered rewards that sounded so similar to what the disguised God of Darkness offered!

Seeing the note at the end of the system notifications, his hesitation deepened even further as he once again gambled.

At first, he succeeded in his gamble. But now, it was obvious that he failed for the God of Fighting's affinity towards him dropped by 10 points.

"Ermmm, sir... Are you mad that I mistook you for the God of Darkness?" Joseph carefully asked.

The voice behind the skies replied.

[Not really... Why would I be mad? It's understandable that you will feel hesitant since the rewards that I am giving you is similar to the God of Darkness. But then, how about it. Will you accept, or not?]

[The God of Fighting is asking you to become his Disciple.]

[Note: Once accepted the appointment then there's no turning back! Think carefully!]

Reading these system notifications. Joseph sighed and stared at the skies.

"I refuse."

The heavens visibly shook.

It was evident that the God of Fighting was shocked about what Joseph said.

[Why are you refusing my appointment? I am not the God of Darkness! This is me, the God of Fighting! The legitimate God of Fighting revered by most people at the Southern Continent!]

"I know that you are the revered God of Fighting. But I will refuse."

[If you're refusing just because I accepted the God of Darkness' bet earlier, then. I will be disappointed at you.]

[The God of Fighting, Tryndamere's affinity to you has decreased by 10 points.]

"I am not refusing your appointment because of that sir. I am refusing your grace because I don't think that being your Disciple suits me." Joseph sincerely replied.

[Being my Disciple doesn't suit you?! Are you saying that being my Disciple... Being the Disciple of a God, like me is beneath you?!]

[The God of Fighting, Tryndamere's affinity to you has sunk to the lowest and has reached negative values.]

Joseph felt a shiver down his spine and the heavens looked like it was collapsing above him. Heavy pressure weighed on his shoulders, and his knees looked like they were on the verge of folding.

However, Joseph remained steadfast in the face of this pressure.

"Forgive me sir, but I refuse your offer."

Joseph's nature was unyielding. His determination and willpower made it so that he would become someone that overlooked everything, not beneath anyone. Although he was someone scarred by his past and wasn't so confident with doing something for as long as he had something to lose...

That doesn't mean that Joseph would just bow his head in front of a god and serve him.

But of course, it would be false if you'll say that Joseph didn't feel tempted on accepting the offer.

Unfortunately, he really didn't feel uncomfortable about the idea of living under someone's protection.

A Debt of Gratitude was something incredibly hard to repay, and Joseph learned that lesson the hard way.

The offer that the God of Fighting made wasn't that bad.

But being a disciple of the God of Fighting meant that he had to unconditionally serve the God of Fighting.

Serving another wasn't something that Joseph really liked due to his past experiences, and he also didn't want to garner any debt of gratitude from the God of Fighting.

Confirming his resolve, a light smile spread on his lips as he stared at the heavens.

[Ungrateful bastard!]

[You are stripped off your title, "Watched by the God of Fighting".]

[The God of Fighting has considered you like a stain in his life and now hates you to the core for your ungratefulness.]

[You remained steadfast against the will of a God. You completed a dangerous quest yet acquired nothing in return. The system is currently searching for suitable rewards for your effort.]

[The Title, "Deemed Ungrateful by the Gods" has been obtained.]

[Every follower of a God will look unfavorably towards you, affinity towards some tribes and species will increase.]

[The mythical class, the Grand Duelist has been obtained.]

[Title: "Mythical Authority has been obtained.]

[All skill and stats acquired are now reset.]

[Duelist's Reveal Vitals skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Parry skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Graceful Swordsmanship skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Grand Challenge skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Dash skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Precision and Grace skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Fame and Honor skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Composure skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Overwhelming Presence skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Sharpened Eyes skill has been created.]

[Duelist's Tenacity skill has been created.]

[All Duelist's skills are now mastered to Extreme Limits, and they are now converted into Mythical Rank with special scaling and effects.]

[Grand Duelist's Reveal Vitals skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Parry skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Graceful Swordsmanship skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Grand Challenge skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Dash skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Precision and Grace skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Fame and Honor skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Composure skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Overwhelming Presence skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Sharpened Eyes skill has been created.]

[Grand Duelist's Tenacity skill has been created.]

[Title, "The Sun that Overlooks Everything", has been acquired.]

[Access to Spirit Stat acquired.]

[Access to Reputation Stat acquired.]

[Access to Divinity Stat acquired.]

[Access to Tenacity Stat acquired.]

[Your level has dropped.]

[You are now Level 1.]

A mysterious world message that everyone couldn't decipher, emerged.

[The sun has everything underneath it. Bards sang the journeys of a myth. But now everything has come to light. For an existence, comparable to a dazzling sun has appeared.]

These words, decorated the headlines of most media stations dedicated to Victory for a short while.