<h4>Chapter 102 A Deste World: Divide And Conquer</h4>


    [New Message]


    [Sender: Tower Administration.]


    [Congrattions, those who have passed the first tier. For the second tier, all of you will choose teams of ten. There will be around 80 to 90 teams. All of you will then be teleported to a world in which heat rises as you near the center. Each person has to gather 10 gemstones spread across the world and reach level 3, the center of the world. The first 25 people will be able to be yers. Extra gemstones can be used to exchange for items. Remember, there are only 1000 gemstones in the world, so only 100 people can even gather enough. Good luck!]


    [Receiver: Arthur Sce (Newbie)]


    Arthur gazed expressionlessly at the translucent, blue window that manifested before his eyes. His expression was dull, but internally, hemented on how subtle the Tower Administration was being.


    He nced at the other newbies before cracking a smile.


    1000 gemstones, 100 possible yers, 25 slots.


    That was the crux of the game.


    *


    Once everyone had stepped into the portal, each newbie was spread out across the deste world in which the game was being held. The sky was ashen, and the circting air smelled of mes.


    As Arthur''s eyes opened, he took in the simplicity of the world.


    This was Level 1, the outskirts of the deste world in which the second tier was being conducted. After collecting 10 gemstones, Arthur simply had to reach Level 3 of the deste world and be a yer.


    But he had to be quick.


    ''The concept of teams is worthless,'' thought Arthur, cracking a smile. It was amazing how subtly the Tower Administration was manipting the newbies. They had chosen teams before teleporting, but the newbies had instantly been separated from their allies.


    This was done not only to even the ying field, but also to prevent too many battles during the initial phase of the trial.


    Also, the fact that there were 1000 gemstones in the world, but only 250 of them could be used to be a yer was concerning. The remaining 750 would either be carried in vain by other newbies, or harvested by the winners.


    ''They just want to spark more battles at the end,'' thought Arthur. Preventing conflicts during the beginning, and triggering them during thetter phase. That was how the Tower Administration had decided to conduct the second tier of the second trial.


    Sabotage.


    The Tower Administration wished nothing but sabotage upon the newbies. By providing them with extra uses for gemstones if one possessed extra, they sparked the newbies'' greed intentionally.


    Now, it''d be difficult for even 25 people to be yers.


    ''They truly want the best of the best,'' Arthurmented inwardly, observing the world thaty before his eyes with a look of curiosity. There was no prejudice against the newbies. The Tower Administration simply only chose the prodigies.


    The world was simr to the one in which Arthur fought the necromantic beasts. The infertile soil, the peculiar, squalid smell that radiated across the area, and theck of any infrastructure as far as his vision could reach.


    It was truly worthy of its name; A deste world.


    Arthur traversed across the world aimlessly, hoping to identally acquire a gemstone. However, his luck wasn''t so amazing. But, what he did discover after a few minutes of searching was a valley.


    The valley was not too steep. It was akin to a crater, but much, muchrger and deeper. However, one could easily exit the valley by simply climbing one of the sides, the barriers of the valley.


    It was the first form of natural obstacle that Arthur had witnessed.


    And, it seemed like he wasn''t the only one who managed to notice the valley. As Arthur looked into the valley, he spotted two people.


    One was a fairly tall, dark-skinned man dressed in a bloody tank top. He wore ck gloves and held a sword between his fingers. With a distressed expression, he stared at the man standing opposite to him.


    The dark-skinned man had pitch ck hair and caramel-colored pupils. He was quite muscr, and covered in sweat; probably due to battle and the heat that permeated across the atmosphere.


    The deste world sure was hot.


    On the opposing side, there was a fair-skinned man with a beanie. Arthur wondered how one could wear a beanie in such weather, but didn''t think too long about the subject. The fair-skinned man had slicked back, cyan hair that fell to the bottom of his neck.


    He wore a warm sweatshirt for some reason, and held a halberd in his hands. It was truly an oddbination, considering the size of his body was quite tiny. Wielding a halberd with his size was like a baby swinging a hammer around.


    Arthur observed for a few seconds, and realized they were fighting.


    It was unusual for newbies to engage in battle for no reason. There had to be a reason for their battle.


    ''Ah, there it is,'' thought Arthur, allowing a smile to blossom on his face. He nced at the shining object in the middle of their battle, which seemed to resemble a purple diamond. It was a gemstone.


    It was shaped like a cylinder but with sharp edges. It shone despite the dim lighting, emanating a purple aura.


    It seemed the two were fighting because of a gemstone. Now, their battle made sense, considering there were stakes. The gemstones increased their chances of bing a yer, which was most likely their dream.


    With erratic breathing and exhaustion creeping up, the two fought mindlessly for the purple gemstone, paying no mind to anything or anyone in proximity. Their absent-mindedness allowed Arthur to spectate from the shadows, granting him a ticket to the show for free.


    It was an amazing deal.


    As he watched the battle, his crimson eyes asionally shone with intensity, and he prepared to strike.


    Divide and conquer.


    The oldest trick in the book.


    After a few minutes of waiting, it was time to strike.


    The time was ripe.