569. Preliminaries XI


    The young knight and the young Iyrman circled around the arena, allowing the people to make time for their bets. Adam had bet the typical amount again, though he thought about betting more. Simultaneousness, he found out that Jaygak was fighting too, and so was Timojin.


    Once the pair were ready, they faced against one another, greatsword against axe and shield. The young knight was first to spur into action, and though Jurot managed to deflect a blow with his shield, another blow managed to draw blood out of his side. The knight stepped forward, walking into the jaws of the Iyrman, managing another blow against the Iyrman, managing to wound the Iyrman greater than any of his previous foes.


    Adam noted theck of thunder.


    Jurot’s entire body shed red hot, and Phantom blurred. The knight tried to block the blow, and though his de had managed to do so, he skid back and almost dropped to a knee, before Jurot brought the axe down towards his helmet, and crushed it, dropping the knight.


    “Woo!” Adam shouted, pping wildly as Jurot raised his axe into the air.


    The priests approached quickly and checked on the young knight, healing him with their magics. The knight gasped for air, ncing around as the light blurred his vision. He looked towards the Iyrman and pointed with his de.


    “You wicked savage!” The knight managed to stand with his own strength, still pointing his de to the Iyrman. “You must have used some sort of sorcery to defeat me.”


    Jurot turned to face the young knight as the crowd fell silent. The priests nced between one another, and the nearby guards clutched their spears tighter. The Iyrman remained ring at the young knight, who had groomed to be one of the Great Five Knight’s sessor.


    “Heal,” Jurot said, cracking his neck from side to side, flexing his muscles. “I will show you no mercy.”


    The knight red at the Iyrman, but seeing that Jurot was unmoving, even as his blood trickled out of his side, he felt a chill run through his back. He sheathed his de and turned.


    Jurot raised his axe once more, and the crowd fell into another thunderous apuse.


    “You’d never catch me calling an Iyrman a cheater,” Adam said. “Even I’m not that stupid.”


    Vonda sipped her water. “It was quite the shame he marred his defeat. Being gracious in defeat is greater than being gracious in victory.”


    “Something like that.”


    Adam found out that Jaygak had done well too, having fought quite the difficult match. ‘Should I have created a Greater weapon for her too?’


    Adam’s thoughts then fell to his winnings. He had made so much money that he didn’t need to ce in order to earn coin. However, he still had a bet on himself, and losing free money on the table didn’t sit right with him. ‘Am I bing too enamoured by gold?’


    The names of those who were beginning to sweep was bing more evident. By this time, everyone understood who would ce in the top ten in each segment, as long as nothing too crazy threw the rankings off track. It was a wonder to most of the tournament goers that the most of the names belonging to those sweeping in certain segments were all sponsored by the same figure, a young noble whose name would have faded into irrelevance within a decade, and yet was beginning to be the talk of thergest city in East Alnd, and one of the greatest four in all of Alnd.


    Omen: 4, 9


    Adam’s opponent this time was a Priest of the Golden Sea, an order of Eastern Aswadasad. He had pale skin, bright blue eyes, and golden hair.


    ‘Noskan?’ Adam thought. He wondered how a Noskan had managed to be a member of an order of Eastern Aswadasad, before recalling that Noska was roughly north east, across the sea. ‘Right, I guess that does make sense actually.’


    The Priest wore full te mail, and carried a shield with the symbol of his order, three golden swiggles atop one another, representing the sea, Adam supposed. He wielded a de which crackled with lightning.


    “It’s my honour to face you, Priest of the Sea,” Adam said.


    “You as well, Guardian of Death,” Sir Jorn replied.


    <em>Battle Order</em>


    <em>D20 + 1 = 19 (18)</em>


    <em>Attack - Wraith</em>


    <em>D20 + 10 = 11 (1)</em>


    <em>Critical miss!</em>


    <em>Attack - Wraith</em>


    <em>D20 + 10 = 29 (19)</em>


    <em>Critical hit!</em>


    <em>Mana: 21 -> 20</em>


    <em>Ability: Divine Smite</em>


    <em>4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 33 (2, 2, 3, 4)(1, 3, 3, 6)</em>


    <em>33 damage!</em>


    <em>Wisdom Save</em>


    <em>D20 + 4 = 21 (17)</em>


    <em>Sess!</em>


    <em>Health: 78 -> 72</em>


    Adam charged into battle, but the warrior priest was ready for Adam’s first blow, raising his shield. He also charged towards Adam, causing him to almost slip to the side. Somehow, Adam’s second swing managed to clip the warrior priest against his side, his axe shing white hot.


    Sir Jorn winced, but he focused through the pain to chant the words to his spell. “Lord of the Sea, give me the strength to drag him into the depths!”


    Adam raised his shield, but the divine magic mmed through him as the entire area was filled with bubbles made of divine magic. The bubbles seared Adam’s skin, and he felt as though he was under the sea from the force of it pressing down atop him. However, with such little damage, Adam thought little of it.


    <em>Attack - Wraith</em>


    <em>D20 + 10 = 11 (1)</em>


    <em>Critical miss!</em>


    <em>Attack - Wraith</em>


    <em>D20 + 10 = 29 (19)</em>


    <em>Critical hit!</em>


    <em>Mana: 20 -> 19</em>


    <em>Ability: Divine Smite</em>


    <em>4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 44 (4, 5, 5, 6)(1, 5, 5, 6)</em>


    <em>44 damage!</em>


    Adam and the warrior priest shed together inbat once more, this time the warrior priest managed to catch Adam’s first strike with his de, which crackled with even greater lightning, before the pair made to swing at one another. Adam’s axe managed to strike the warrior priest first, and he managed to score another strike against his opponent’s side, Wraith shing white hot with divine magic.


    Sir Jorn almost stumbled to his side, but Adam caught him. The warrior priest dropped his de, nodding his head to Adam as he surrendered, before he chanted the words to a healing spell.


    <em>Victory!</em>


    <em>XP Gained: +400</em>


    <em>XP: 11 000 -> 11 400</em>


    Adam raised his axe towards the crowd, taking a victoryp around the arena. He wondered if he should start a chant, or perhaps create a victory pose for himself, but even the thought caused him to flush crimson with embarrassment.


    As Adam returned back to his group, he heard the warrior priest to call out to him. “Adam!” the warrior priest shouted. “Thank you for catching me.”


    “Of course,” Adam replied, waving back at the warrior priest, before heading back to his group. ‘I shouldn’t have beaten him so easily. The nobles are probably going to get annoyed at me.’


    “Did you guys bet on me?” Adam asked as he sat down with hispanions.


    “Yes,” Jurot replied.


    “Even Iyrmen enjoy picking up easy money,” Jaygak added.


    Adam nced to the others. “What about you all?”


    “Yes,” Rick said.


    “Aye,” Jeremy said, nodding his head.


    Adam looked to Nobby and the others, before remembering he hadn’t given them any money to spend. ‘Oh, crap.’ “I was nning on splitting some of the winning with everyone anyhow. The party fund has grown, and my own pockets have gotten fat too, but I can’t just let you all do the work while I’m raking in the gold.”


    Rick remained silent, though his mind was abuzz with more thoughts about how queer Adam was. Jeremy and the others looked to Jurot, as if to have him sort the Half Elf out.


    “You do not need to share your winnings with us,” Nirot said. “We bet using money from the Iyr.”


    “Alright, then all your shares can go to Nobby then,” Adam replied, before looking to Brittany. “Did I give you money to bet?”


    “No.”


    “Then I’ll give you some of the winnings too.”


    “Me?” Brittany asked. “Why?”


    “You’re one of ours too. You didn’t join the tournament for one reason or another, but as an Expert, wouldn’t you have ced quite high?”


    “Against the Iyrmen and Nobby?” Brittany replied. “I’m best with a bow.”


    “You’re not too bad with a rapier or shortswords, right?”


    Brittany wasn’t sure about Adam’s statement. She preferred the bow, since it felt morefortable to wield. “I don’t know.”


    “You’re not really here for the money, but for the freedom, right? Don’t worry. Give it a few years and you’ll be strong enough to explore thend without us. Though, you’ll probably need some coin to hire some guards with you.” Adam thought about what he could do with Brittany. “Or we could send you to othernds for the business?”


    Brittany thought back to Shama, who hadpletely defeated Adam, the craziest person she knew, with about as much effort as it took to sneeze. “I’ll work hard at the business.”


    Adam returned a smile towards her. “I’m d to hear it! Don’t worry, we’ll treat you right. I’ll be sure to let you explore differentnds, as long as it’s rtively safe.”


    “Yes,” Brittany replied. She had already given up her freedom to join the business. ‘As long as I’m alive, then I can still have the chance to be free.’


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    Ah man it''s so good to see Adam and the grouppletely dominate in a tournament.


    I should mention that gold rank patrons are seeing some really fun stuff too!